A network of diverse churches seeking to stimulate church health, develop leaders and transform communities. 

MID-STATE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

AUGUST 2016 VOLUME 54, ISSUE 8

MEMBERS ON MISSION

SATURDAY

This conference is a cooperative partnership between the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Rehoboth, Mid-State, Central, Kimball and Centennial Baptist Associations to strengthen and grow group ministries in central Georgia churches.

PAGE 2 MEMBERS ON MISSION

August 

Storehouse Tuesdays, Sewing ministry Thursdays 

  BCM Mercer – Church Days booths,  

  Breakfast Sunday 

  ACP (Annual Church Profile) training 

  GA DOM training conf, Macon, MBA, 10‐3:30  

2  Revitalization Roundtable, 2:00‐4:00 pm 

4  Leadership Team mtg, 11:30 

5‐6  GBC SS Conference, Prince Ave Baptist, Athens 

16  Church Financial Compliance, McDonough 

18  Pastor Lunch, 11:30  Bellevue Baptist 

23  Discipleship Roundtable, 11:30 am, Northway 

25  Pastors invited to Church Day at Mercer 9‐Noon 

27  SS Conference (5 Associations) 9:00‐12:00,  

  Second Baptist, Warner Robins  

  Preschool, Children, Students, College, Multi    

  Generational, Small Home groups, Young Adults,  

  Older Adults, Pastors and Directors 

 

September 

Storehouse Tuesdays, Sewing Ministry Thursdays 

8  Student Ministry Network, 11:30 am 

15  Leadership Team, 11:30 

22  Pastor Lunch, 11:30, Ingleside, Tim McCoy 

  “Leadership” 

27  Discipleship Roundtable, 11:30‐1:00, Northway 

29  New Ministers Retreat, Duluth, GA 

 

October 

Storehouse Tuesdays, Sewing Ministry Thursday 

2  Association Semi‐Annual Mtg @ Northway 6pm 

6  Student Ministry Network 

13  Leadership Team, 11:30 

20  Pastor Lunch, 11:30,  Wesleyan Drive Baptist, 

  Garry Goodin 

21‐22  National Sunday School Director Seminary, 

  Norman Park, GA 

25  Discipleship Roundtable, 11:30‐1:00, Northway  

November 

Storehouse on Tuesdays, Sewing Ministry on 

Thursdays 

___  WMU/BCM Thanksgiving for Internationals 

8  Pray and Go Vote on Election Day, Do AOKs at 

polling places 

10  Leadership Team, 11:30 

14‐15  Georgia Baptist Convention, Marietta, GA 

17  Student Ministry Network, 11:30 am 

29  Discipleship Roundtable, 11:30‐1:00, Northway 

  Combine with Pastor Lunch for this month  

December 

  Storehouse Tuesdays, Sewing Ministry Thursdays 

4‐11  Week of Prayer for International Missions 

8  Leadership Team, 11:30 

2016 MBA Associational Calendar 

IT IS TIME TO SIGN UP TO USE THE EVANGELISM TRAILER FOR FALL FESTIVALS!

LARGE MOON BOUNCE, POPCORN, SNOCONE, MUSIC, TENTS, TABLES, GENERATOR… A PARTY ON WHEELS! NOW TAKING

RESERVATIONS FOR SPRING EVENTS! CALL TO RESERVE!

Please note: The MBA’a Annual Fall Meeting is scheduled for 6:00pm on Sunday, October 2nd at Northway Church.

The meeting is open to all MBA church members. We look forward to the outstanding time of worship and ministry testimonies that reveal how God is working in our

churches and our association.

PAGE 3 MEMBERS ON MISSION

Is it time for a church ministry

tune-up? Call the Mid-State Baptist

Association today to schedule church leader training !

Choose the Topic Choose the Date

o Sunday School o Month?

o Deacon Ministry o Day?

o Evangelism o Time?

o Discipleship o How many hours to meet?

o Community Ministry, Acts of Kindness

o Worship Choose the Target Group to Attend

o Church Finance Bookkeeping/IRS o Pastor and staff

o Fellowship Strategy o Teachers and Directors

o Start a Second Worship Service o Deacons

o Children’s Ministry o Married Couples

o Student Ministry o Strategic Long-Range Planning Team

o Women’s Ministry or WMU o Missions Committee

o College or Single Adult Ministry o Church members

o Reaching Young Married

o Growing Our Senior Adult Ministry How Many Coaching Meetings?

o Starting a Support Group o One-time workshop

o Divorce Recovery Ministry o Once a week help to start a ministry or class

o Reaching Neighbors o Once a month coaching meeting

o Bible Studies in Homes o Once a quarter coaching

o Social Networking and Technology

o Strengthening Marriages

o Prayer

Doing Ministry Together By Garry Goodin, Association Missionary  

Churches Helping Churches 

As we kick off the Fall season, be thinking about small projects that our Association Missions volunteers could help with at your church. 

∙ Do you need a website or Facebook page? 

∙ Do you want names and emails organized? 

∙ Would you like pictures taken and a church directory created? 

∙ Would you like to create a 12 month calendar of outreach/fellowship activities? 

∙ Would you like to start a new Small Group Bible study to reach a certain age group? 

∙ Are you trying to reach college students or single adults? 

Contact Garry Goodin to discuss your church’s needs. 

Strong Groups 2016 Sunday School/Small Groups Conference Saturday, August 27, 9:00‐12:00 2nd Baptist Church, Warner Robins 

Our joint conference with 4 Associations is coming up in August. It is free and will feature 

speakers from all over Georgia and workshops for teachers of all ages of Sunday School 

classes. 

 1. Invite as many teachers, prospective teachers and class members as you can to        

attend. It is easier to discuss new ideas when several people attended and heard the 

same information. 

 2. When they attend, ask them to take notes. 

 3. Get the people who attended together for lunch that same day, or for a meeting that 

week at your church. Discuss the ideas you heard, decide which ones might work at your 

church. 

 4. Set some small steps or small goals that will help you achieve the big goal and recruit 

some church members who will help you carry it out. 

 5. As leaders meet weekly or monthly, let them share what they tried and how it is 

working in their classroom. 

2016

Jan - July General Fund Storehouse

Aletheia 0.00 July General Storehouse

Avondale 750.00 Receipts 16,086.18 4,124.15

Bellevue 1,894.47 Expenses 10,472.16 1,048.31

Bethel 1,338.81 Net Income 5,614.02 3,075.84

Calvary 300.00

Church of the Harvest 0.00 556.90 Countryside 0.00 Evergreen 0.00

Faith 314.56 200.00

Filipino-American C Flshp 0.00

Glenwood Hills 250.00

Greenwood 0.00

Houston Heights 983.99 195.00

Immanuel 542.00

Ingleside 21,951.75

Lake Wildwood 0.00

Lanier Heights 0.00

Lawrence Drive 5,844.00 2,567.00

Mabel White 6,000.00

Macedonia 400.00 72.00

Macon Korean 3,617.10

Morningside 1,070.94

Mt Pleasant 2,208.00

Mt Zion 1,750.00

New Heights 0.00 90.00

New Hope C Fellowship 961.00

New Life Bible Fellowship 181.99

New Piney Grove 125.00

New Providence 4,500.00

Northridge 4,100.32

Northway Church 3,550.00 1,033.00

Parkway 150.00

Pine Forest 3,631.00 81.50

Plentitude 6,475.00 260.00

Porterfield 1,614.57 383.00

PPK 575.38

Safe Harbor 1,106.00

Tabernacle 1,750.00

Tattnall Square 663.63

Unity Baptist Church 3,485.48 100.00

Vineville 10,045.01 4,789.12

Wesleyan Drive 910.00 2,918.00

Wheeler Heights 1,345.00

Individuals 4,191.69 6,448.10

Did you Know we have a Sewing and Knitting Ministry? 

That’s right!  If you love to sew or would 

love to learn to sew for  missions…  

We make clothes to send all over the world, 

as well as specific items requested by our 

mission teams.  We also make items to sell 

to raise money for  missions.   

We meet on Thursdays at the MBA office.  

We have sewing machines, cutting tables, 

fabric and notions, but we need you!    

Join us at 9:30 and we sew until lunch… or 

as long as we like!   

If you have any questions…   call Janie 

Kitchens 788‐6372. 

For WMU News I would like to report that 

there were 62 people present at our        

Elegant Tables Prayer Retreat in 

June.    The tables were lovely but most of 

all the prayerful atmosphere was felt by all 

present.  Our speaker left us with a       

challenge to reach out and open doors that 

are closed to us.  Her husband, who is a 

pastor, prayed a heartfelt and soul     

searching prayer for not only reaching out 

to others, but also for our Country. 

WMU News 

Builders for Christ Dublin, GA Mt. Green

Baptist Church

July 2016

Thanks For

Praying!

We had a successful Trip!

July 29, 2016 

Dear Macon congregations, 

  The Baptist Collegiate Ministries and Wesley Foundation of Mercer University wants stu‐dents involved in local congregations.  Churches are always asking me how they can network with incoming students.  Mercer Church Days is the best way to connect with incoming Mercer fresh‐man.  Baptist Collegiate Ministries and Wesley Foundation are not churches, but they are an ex‐cellent way for students to grow in Christ and share their faith and the love of Christ with the world.  Church participation is vital for college students in their spiritual growth. 

  Mercer Church Days are August 24th and 25th and will be in the Connell Student Center lobby.  Refer to the form enclosed.  Each church will pick only one of these days.  First come, first serve, so send in your reservation form quick.  You can arrive as early as 9:00 a.m. and stay until 4:00 p.m. although most churches leave around 2:00PM.  We will provide the table & chairs and you provide materials and staff.  It helps to have free snacks or free stuff available to help you attract more interest.  The first day of classes at Mercer is August 18th so this is the first week of classes.  Also, upperclassmen will be around as well as the new students.  I am sure there will be many students looking for a church home, and this is an easy way to give them the information they need. 

  Be aware that an issue which has come up in previous years was over‐aggressiveness by church representatives at some tables. Please allow students to come to you instead of standing in front of tables shaking hands and initiating conver‐sation with anyone who comes within reach.  We want to be friendly and available but allow the students to initiate the in‐terest.  Everyone receiving this letter is responsible for passing along this information to all their helpers. 

  If you have questions, please give me a call at 478‐301‐2993.  Remember, the earlier you send in your form, the more likely it will be handled properly and promptly.  A word to the wise is sufficient. 

In Christian partnership, 

Chris Fuller & Alaina Harrison 

Chris Fuller            Alaina Harrison Campus Minister          Director of Spiritual Formation Baptist Collegiate Ministry        Wesley Foundation of Macon 

Church Days 2016   Reservation Form Church/Congregation Name____________________________ 

Contact Person______________________________________     Contact Phone ___________________________ 

Additional Contact Phone Number (Cell or Home)___________ 

Pick ONE (1) Preferred date (remember, it is first come, first serve): 

Wednesday, August 24th     or    Thursday, August 25th  

You can call in your participation at 478‐301‐2993, OR, you can mail in your response to: 

Chris Fuller 

Religious Life Center  

Mercer University 

1400 Coleman Avenue 

Macon, Georgia  31207 

OR, you can fax it to:  478‐301‐2491      Questions?  Call 478‐301‐2993 

If churches want to get involved with the Wesleyan College Church Days event, please contact Debra Williams at: (dwilliams@wesleyancollege.edu) for more information about when it is and how to sign up 

EASTER EGG HUNT 2016 

PLAINS TRIP TO HEAR PRESIDENT CARTER 

HELPING ONE ANOTHER 

Brazil Team Report for 2016

We were blessed to have two Brazil Teams this year. Team #1 and Team #2 left together on June 22nd and once in Brazil, went in different directions. Team #1 went to Aquidauana where we served last year. This team consisted of the two pastors and our translators, Mark and Leslie Vance. They held the Pastors Conference and then joined Team #2 in Pimenta Bueno at the Centro Canaa on June 28th. After our introduction last year to a Bible Institute in South Western Brasil that is undergoing a rebirth after years of neglect, we were excited to be asked to lead a Pastors Conference for indigenous pastors and their wives. Troy Dykes and Tommy Freemen led the sections for the pastors with Mark Vance translating and Leslie Vance lead the sessions for the pastors’ wives. About a dozen pastors attended to learn about subjects ranging from the Biblical Role of the Pastor to How to Prepare a Sermon. Whenever you teach in another culture, and especially when you teach through a translator, you wonder if those listening are getting anything out of what you are saying. The leaders of the school assured us that the Pastors were excited to be receiving "practical, biblical training." It turns out that this was the first Pastors Conference that had been offered in 23 years! They expressed their hope that we would return. Other doors are opening to teach in the villages of other tribes. “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” This verse from Proverbs 14:1 was the theme for the pastors’ wives’ time together. We began our study looking at the seven days of creation in Genesis 1, paying attention to everything we could learn about God in those verses, and then stopping to praise Him for who He is – a special time! We then focused in on Day Six of the creation story and also Genesis 2, considering how men and women are equal before God, but have different God-given roles. After this, we took time to pray for our husbands, asking that God would help them to fulfill their God-given roles within the family. Genesis 3 brought the destruction of everything, including men and women’s relationships with each other and with God, but even then God promised a Redeemer who would crush the serpent’s head. Lastly, we studied Ephesians 5:22-33, thinking again about our roles as wives to submit to and respect our husbands. One highlight was a game where we read made-up comments of things we said and did and had to either put blocks on a block house or take them off, depending on whether our actions built up or tore down. This brought lots of laughter, and hopefully some conviction of what to say and do to build up our houses. Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray that we will all consciously work to be wise women before the Lord with respect to our relationships, especially within our homes, as we work side-by-side with our husbands in ministry. Team #2 arrived in Pimenta Bueno on June 24th right after midnight. Everyone was thrilled to have us back after not being there in 2015. We spent the first day getting organized and gathering all the materials that we needed to move forward. The ladies, seven of us, had the responsibility for procuring the food needed daily, performing laundry for the Team daily, and the painting the inside and outside walls of the Day Care Center and the inside walls of the school office area. Two of the girls that went with us are budding artists and their role was to paint animals on the inside of the Day Care Center walls. It took us a day to get the inside walls painted so they could even begin to paint the animals. In the nursery room, they painted colorful fish of the sea. Kendall and Kylie sketched out some of the fish and sea shells so that the other ladies could paint following their instructions. Once that room was completed, they worked on the larger activity room where they painted the animals. The ladies took turns doing the laundry and painting. They did a wonderful job and such great team work. The six men worked on the outdoor playground equipment. This consisted of a raised covered platform with a slide attached. The area beneath the platform affords the children to play out of the sun. The slide was donated by a client of Richard Bell in Brazil. We praise the Lord for that donation as the slide was very expensive. A Seesaw was also made and installed. Everything was completed except for painting them. The Indians are working to complete the new Married Couples Quadraplex. We were able to leave funds for the supplies needed to complete that project. The next building projects needed are as follows:

Medical Clinic Building for the Indians to receive their medical and dental care from the government. Currently they have to clear out a classroom so that they can set up as an office. This interrupts the daily class schedules.

Multipurpose Auditorium needed for meetings, conferences, indoor sports activities for the students, especially during the long rainy season!

Funds, approximately $40,000 are needed for these two building and we ask that you please pray about what the Lord would have you do. All funds can be sent to Mid-State Baptist Association and designated for Brazil Mission. Mario Ribamar, the Director of Centro Canaa, is so grateful for the continued support of Mid-State and the individuals that have gone each year, giving up their vacation time to assist in the construction of the buildings thus far.

This year he dedicated a memorial to Bob Franklin, for his leadership and commitment to training the Indians from all tribes, to know God’s Word, with the goal for them to return to their tribes and the tribes who have never heard the name of Jesus. Bob Franklin and Mid-State made the commitment to continue the work for a total of 4 years. This was now the 7th year!! Praise the Lord!! How grateful we are to have a part in this ministry! He also dedicated the workshop to Richard Bell Sr., father of Bonnie McAllister and Richard Bell. Their father was a missionary in northern Brazil, where he was responsible for the missionary children’s home and school, and the construction of the new home and school as the need arose. Bonnie shared how their father had loved Brazil and the people of Brazil. The main group left to return home July 1st, but the McAllisters, Bells, and Vances continued on to Belem, where they visited and encouraged old friends and co-workers in the Lord’s work. It was a great time of fellowship. This group returned home July 8th. We appreciate your many prayers and please continue to pray for the work there in Brazil among the Indians. Thank you for your contributions to assist the team members in going and we pray the Lord’s blessings on each of you. Again, please pray about your part in funding the continued construction for God’s glory! Some of the fish painted in the Nursery

The gals in front of the animals Kendall painted in the Activity Room. All contributed in some way with various fish and animals painted.

Playground construction in process