Newsjournal Of Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists

www.baptistdigest.com

October 2012Vol. 56 No. 10

Baptistigest

This summer was packed with activities for church planter Scott Murphy (pictured above). He and his wife, Melissa, and their family are starting a new church in Atchison, Kan. Celebration Church held its first service in March. Three summer mission teams came to help the young congregation. (Read more on page 6)

Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kansas will host the 67th Annual Meeting of the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. (see page 5)

KNCSB Annual MeetingOctober 15-16

Jon Sapp has a Passion for College Students

See the KNCSB Proposed Budget for the year 2013 on page 4

(read more on page 3)

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES:INFORM -- Regularly share information about ongoing training, curriculum, events, support and personnel.RESOURCE -- Serve as a resource pool for practical ideas about what is working in KS-NE congregations and how it relates to all sizes of churches.GENERATIONAL -- Cast the widest net, providing sto-ries and information that will appeal to all generations of Southern Baptists in NE-KS.FAMILY-FRIENDLY -- Be family-friendly with stories, regular columns and helps for families and leaders who work with families.AGE DIVERSE -- Publish stories that address the diversity of age, ethnicity, and geographical regions of KS-NE.MISSION-ORIENTED -- Publish stories about people and congregations involved in missions and regularly publicize ministry opportunities.PART OF WIDER MISSION - Help congregations discover that they are part of the larger work of the Kingdom of God through their ministries.

To give local news:Local church and associational news may be submit-

ted by mail, phone, fax or e-mail.

Advertising:Advertising policy and rates are available upon

request Call 800-984-9092 or e-mail: tboyd@kncsb.org

STAFFEditor: Tim Boyd, PhD.

Associate Editor: Eva Wilson Printing Coordinator: Derek Taylor

Robert T. Mills, D. Min. KNCSB Executive Director

AFFILIATIONSAssociation of State Baptist PapersBaptist Communicators Association

The Baptist Digest (USPS 018-942)Vol. 56 No.10

Leadership Newsjournal for Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptists is published

monthly 12 times a year.

5410 SW 7th StreetTopeka, KS 66606-2398Phone: (785) 228-6800Toll Free: 800-984-9092

Fax: (785) 273-4992E-mail: tboyd@kncsb.org

Web site: baptistdigest.com

POSTMASTER:Periodical postage paid at Topeka, KS 66606 and additional entries. Send address changes to: The Baptist Digest, 5410 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS

66606-2398.

By Georges Boujakly KNCSB State Director of MissionsE-mail: gboujakly@kncsb.org

The Formative Power of TroubleJesus promised: In this world you will have trouble.

But be of good cheer I have overcome the world.The story of the people of God from its beginning

is riddled with trouble. It’s like someone lined up all the pages of the Bible on a wall and filled them with trouble pellets.

Human life is appointed unto trouble says the testi-mony of Scripture. In bearing children Eve will have

pain. In making the earth fruitful Adam will drip with the sweat of trouble.

Jesus came into our troubled world without being spared any of it. His conception was trouble-some. Mary was unwed. His birth was troublesome. There was no place for him in the house but an ani-mal’s trough. His immigra-tion to Egypt and return were troublesome. His parents risked sneaking him out and back in a few years later while potential

murderers passed on. He started ministry not being accepted by the religious elites. He taught troubled people how to overcome their troubles and in the pro-cess got into trouble for it. In the end he died because of the trouble he generated among his detractors.

Truth be told this is also the story of all who are “in Christ.” Disciples are not above their teacher. But when disciples are formed they will become like their teacher (Luke 6:40).

Trouble is “good” for us. It’s one way God uses to help us be more like Christ.

The apostle Paul’s life story is full of trouble. It’s like this servant of Christ was born for trouble. He and his friend Barnabas proclaimed a gospel that brought them trouble. In Acts 14 they said to the disciples: “If we are to enter God’s kingdom, we must pass through many troubles.” So they did what any caring leader would do: “They strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith.” Can anyone read 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10 and come up with any other

conclusion than that ministry is messy and full of trouble? But the outcome of trouble can be the shaping of our hearts to be like the heart of King Jesus.

Sure, the story line of Christianity is one of ultimate victory. After trouble comes the march of shalom. Troublemakers will bow before our God. But meanwhile, if we mind ourselves, defeats help us grow. Thorns that trouble us are spring-loaded with sufficient grace to move us further along the path of perfect love. In these defeats lie the dormant seed of the power of transformation into Christlikeness. Trouble for the Christian is always wrapped by the transformative ways of grace, mercy, faith, hope and love.

Jesus knew that trouble awaits his followers. That’s why he invites us: “Come to me”. In trouble we must go somewhere. We are not meant to be troubled in isolation. He promised never to leave or abandon us. He is constantly personally present through the person of the Holy Spirit. Come along and please bring your troubles with you. Don’t check them out at the door (as sometimes we are told in worship). Troubled, we come to Jesus, a man of sorrows and familiar with grief. He cries, nay he wails at the brokenness of his people and the trouble of his friends Mary and Mar-tha.

Recently I visited a woman who breathes by means of a tube in her throat. Take it away for a couple of minutes and she will expire. In the year that this trou-ble has been with her she has learned so much about herself, about God, and the willingness to suffer. She said to me on a recent visit “What God wants me to

do in the time remaining for me is to tell people about Jesus.” Previous to this she had drifted away from the faith she grew up with. But now trouble has been her teacher and she has learned to come to Jesus for all the strength that she needs.

“When you’re weary and troubled.” One day a few people came to Jesus. Four of them carried their para-lyzed friend. His trouble: shunned by society, forced to beg, couldn’t enter the temple to pray, couldn’t go to the bathroom on his own, and couldn’t muster enough self-confidence to claim any dignity. Paralyzed in limbs and in spirit, friends brought him to Jesus. Weary and troubled, at Jesus’ feet he received heal-ings physical and spiritual. He came troubled he left renewed, whole, and full of praise and bounce (Mark 2:1-12). He entered through the trouble of the roof he went out through the gates of praise.

“I will give you rest.” God is our refuge in times of trouble. At the streams of water he restores our spirits. Augustine taught us that our hearts will remain rest-less until we find our rest in God. Trouble follows humanity but rest and restoration come to those who seek it.

The Beatles sang: When I find myself in times of trouble mother Mary (the name of Paul McCartney’s mother who had previously appeared to him in a dream in a time of trouble) comes to me, speaking words of wisdom: Let it be, let it be. Those who walk with the master hear the whisper: Come to me and let it be. I will give you all the rest that you need. Rest in me and look forward to your trouble-free eternity.

The Thought Occurred to MeBy Bob Mills KNCSB Executive DirectorE-mail: bmills@kncsb.org

Recently, Southern Baptists lost two giants in the faith, Dr. Calvin Miller and Dr. Roy Fish. Both of these men influenced countless numbers of people. Calvin Miller was perhaps the most creative and innovative person I have ever met. He was an out-standing writer and author as well as an insight-ful speaker. Calvin served the Kansas-Nebraska Convention in many ways. Our Convention is richer because of his service. Thank you Calvin Miller! In the encyclopedia, under the heading of evange-list, you will find a picture of Roy Fish. His teaching and his life were consistent. Dr. Fish’s driving desire was to see people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through the years, he has taught count-less numbers of students how to share their faith.

Georges Boujakly

Bob Mills

Walking With the Master

His influence has caused many of those who became pastors, missionaries, student ministers, etc. to keep their focus on the main thing, sharing Jesus with a lost world. Thank you Roy Fish! I just returned from the annual Executive Directors meeting with the North American Mission Board, (NAMB) in Dallas, Texas. I wanted you to know it was probably the best meeting with NAMB in a long time. I think we are beginning to see some very positive movement in how we can work together in the years to come. I want to thank Kevin Ezell, for his ability to listen and respond positively to our needs. We still have missiological difference, yet I think we have found common ground that will be mutually benefi-cial to our working together in the future. Dr. Ezell will be a keynote speaker at our annual meeting in Salina this year. Let’s welcome him with Great Plains hospitality.

Scan image above for Baptist Digest online.

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By Jon Sapp KNCSB State Director of Evangelism E-mail: jsapp@kncsb.org

The Viola Webb Offering contributes significantly to work on the college campuses across Kansas and Nebraska. Through this offering, Kansas-Nebraska

churches support 29 of our collegiate staff on 12 campuses in the two states. Together, through the Viola Webb offering, we are providing a portion of salaries and benefits. No campus director is fully funded and many raise the vast majority of their support. However, with the faithful contributions from KNCSB and the Viola Webb Offering we stand with these collegiate mis-sionaries as they reach out to the students on the col-

lege campuses of our two states.Jason Huebner, Director of Christian Challenge at

Emporia State, explains campus ministry best by stat-ing that it “connects with so many students.” He goes on to share the kind of students that they find there. “Many of these students grow up going to church and are taking the next step of faithfully following Jesus boldly in college. Many seem to be struggling to figure out who they will be as adults outside of the influ-ence of family and home. Their lives seem to bounce between light and darkness on a day to day basis. Some students desperately need the healing work of the Savior in their lives.”

As the fall semester began, returning student lead-ers are meeting new students on their campus. At University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Jeremy Pape, Christian Challenge Staff, shared that the theme for their out-reach was “Fake a Mustache, Not Your Faith.” This simple outreach tool attracted a lot of attention at the Big Red Welcome. The event was a lot of fun and enabled the UN-L Christian Challenge to find thirty more interested students as school has started.”

Training student leaders to develop a heart for their

Jon Sapp: A Passion for College Studentscampus and reach out to the other students multiplies these campus ministries. Bob Anderson, Director of Christian Challenge at Kansas State, reports that “a week before the semester begins student leaders gather for prayer, vision casting and training.” Students walk-ing and praying over the campuses of KS and NE ask God to do a work on their campuses and draw stu-dents to Himself. Training at the beginning of the year for these student leaders promotes beginning small group Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship relation-ships, and casting a vision of the potential of their lives. These leadership training opportunities make a dif-ference as young leaders continue to grow and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

The opportunities on these campuses are as diverse as the campuses themselves. At Washburn University Christian Challenge they “had numerous opportunities to serve the campus”. Meeting international students and many new students, Craig and Janene Freerksen “are thrilled to see what God will do through Christian Challenge this year.” One student at Kansas State saw her Chinese friend turn to Christ. What an opportunity there is to reach out to students from around the world on these college campuses.

At Pittsburg State, a volunteer stay at home mom with children and a husband deployed in Afghanistan helps with the student women’s small groups. This

ministry to the women on the Pittsburg State campus not only invests in the students’ lives, but helps to keep her mind off of the dangers her husband faces. Mike Trent states, “Our women’s ministry is off to a good start.”

In Salina on four campus ministries in that city, Terry Baldwin and Logan Henry are focusing on “LIFE groups that will meet weekly on the various campuses. God’s Word is the basis for all they are teaching. We want to do our best as the Spirit reveals God’s move-ment in the lives of these young people.” Small group Bible studies are foundational to every campus minis-try with both believers and unbelievers attending.

Justin Brown, Director of Christian Challenge at Chadron State College in Chadron, NE recently wrote of students that served their community in working with the Disaster Relief teams as they helped to fight the wild fires there. What an opportunity to live out their faith through serving in disaster relief. A good percentage of the students across Kansas and Nebraska will participate in some sort of mission experience during this coming year. It could be overseas serving alongside an IMB team through FOCUS International, starting a church in Kingman, KS, working on youth camps, or a number of other channels to live out their faith in a very real way.

Large group meetings provide yet another oppor-tunity to impact these campuses for Christ. At WSU Jamin Still says they’ve “had high numbers this year – last week we had around 140, many of them being freshmen. Although we thank God for this, ultimately numbers mean nothing if God is not moving. We pray that He moves powerfully this semester and uses us for His purposes.”

So thank you Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists for your contribution to the Viola Webb State Missions Offering. By participating in this offering you impact the future of the church by building into the lives of university students and our future members and leaders!

Associational & State Missions Offering

Resources for this page can be found at http://www.kncsb.org/ministry/article/viola_webb_pro-motional_material_downloads/

And then I heard the voiceof the Master:

“Whom shall I send?Who will go for us?”

I spoke up.Isaiah 6:8

Pray for: Existing student ministries throughout Nebraska and Kansas.

Campuses that do not yet have student work. Pray that we will be able to pen-etrate those campuses.

50% of the Viola Webb Missions Offering comes back to your local associa-tion for mission projects there. 50% goes to mission work throughout Kansas and Nebraska. Of that 50%, 40% goes to student work in the two states.

Jon Sapp

The Washburn University mascot, Mr. Ichabod, introduces students to the Christian Challenge table during the WU Fest at Washburn University in Topeka.

Dave Gevock preparing Kansas State leaders for the fall semester and new ministries across the KSU Campus.

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In accordance with the constitution, the proposed 2013 KNCSB budget is presented below. Messengers will vote on the proposed “Resources for Min-istry” at the Monday evening session, October 15, 2012, when the conven-tion meets at Webster Conference Center, Salina Kansas.

PLANNED RECEIPTS: 2012 Proposed 2013Cooperative Program $2,100,000 $2,100,000 Cooperative Program Shared Causes 804,000 804,000 North American Mission Board 1,474,356 1,558,320 National Student Ministries 4,500 4,500 LifeWay Christian Resources 53,700 53,700KS-NE Foundation (Field Missionaries) 90,000 72,000Viola Webb Missions Offering 84,000 90,000Collegiate Ministries Fundraising 520,272 692,520Baptist Digest Advertising 2,004 2,004Miscellaneous 38,508 67,020TOTAL PLANNED RECEIPTS $5,171,340 $5,444,064

PLANNED DISBURSEMENTS: 2012 Proposed 2013 A. Field Missionaries $2,382,240 $2,543,244

Church Planter Catalysts (DOAM’s)Church Planter Catalysts (Missionary/Strategests)

Extension Work/Small Church NebraskaChurch Planting Funds (CGA)Church Planting Field Operations (Ministry Assistance)

NAMB-State StaffLove Loud Missionaries (Church Community Missions)

Collegiate Ministries

367,356 360,276

7,452 381,264

71,568241,380149,448749,496

367,356 360,276

7,452 473,076

71,568252,960105,996904,560

B. Annuity and Insurance $ 509,544 $622,152C. Foundation $50,916 $50,916D. Webster Conference Center $6,600 $6,600E. Baptist Digest $38,004 $36,012 Printing/Distribution Postage Production Expenses

13,70422,500

1,800

13,70420,508

1,800F. Broadcast Communications $6,000 $3,000G. Convention Meetings/Reports $84,204 $84,204

President’s TravelMission Board/Committee MeetingsKNCSB Leadership Team MeetingsAnnual MeetingAnnual/Book of Reports/CalendarPrinting SuppliesProfessional Fees

1,800 10,500 9,504 16,500 3,000 21,900

21,000

1,800 10,500 9,504 16,500 3,000 21,900

21,000

H. Office Administration $138,012 $138,012PostageTelephoneOffice SuppliesEquipment Maintenance/RepairsEquipment RentalEquipment Computer NetworkContingency

24,300 40,008 21,000 3,000

6,000 5,004 25,200

13,500

24,300 40,008 21,000 3,000

6,000 5,004 25,200

13,500

PLANNED DISBURSEMENTS: 2012 Proposed 2013Cooperative Program (32%) $672,000 $672,000A. Field Missionaries 2,328,240 2,543,244B. Annuity and Insurance 509,544 622,152C. Foundation 50,916 50,916D. Webster Conference Center 6,600 6,600E. Baptist Digest 38,004 36,012F. Broadcast Communications 6,000 3,000 G.Convention Meetings and Reports 84,204 84,204H. Office Administration 138,012 138,012I. Building Operations 81,204 93,504J. Field Missionaries 465,336 463,332K. Employed Personnel 441,096 414,144L. Elected Personnel 350,184 316,944TOTAL PLANNED DISBURSEMENTS $5,171,340 $5,444,064

I. Building Operations $81,204 $93,504UtilitiesInsurance

36,000 18,600

45,000 21,900

“RESOURCES FOR MINISTRY”

J. Field Ministries $465,336 $463,332 Evangelism Youth Evangelism Collegiate Ministries Local Campus Programs International Student Ministries Men’s Ministries Chaplain’s Support Innovative Ministries Ministry Evangelism Missions Mobilization Student Missions Family Ministry Partnership Missions Viola Webb Missions Offering Promotion Women’s Missions & Ministries Sunday School Discipleship Training Church Leadership Development Church Worship Stewardship/Coop Program Promotion Eagle Retreat Church Library Lending Library Historical Data/Archives Staff Travel Auto Lease/Maintenance

45,276 59,124 4,500 5,670 450 1,800 1,302 4,092 32,232 8,004 5,772 7,002 10,002 4,002 14,688 8,004 4,404

11,004 15,000

1,8007,002

2,004 1,002 1,200

72,000 138,000

45,276 59,124 4,500 5,670 450 1,800 1,302 4,092

32,232 8,004

5,772 7,002

10,002 4,002

14,688 8,004 4,404

11,004 15,000

1,800 7,002

0 1,002

1,200 72,000

138,000

K. Employed Personnel $441,096 $414,144 Personnel Service Awards Travel Payroll Taxes Workers Compensation

322,572 28,200 4,500 72,244

11,580

315,564 2,556 8,640 75,216

L. Elected Personnel $350,184 $316,944

PLANNED DISBURSEMENTS: 2012 Proposed 2013

Building Maintenance/Repairs 18,000 18,000 Building Maintenance Contingency 5,004 5,004 Kitchen/Bath Supplies 3,600 3,600

12,168

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Annual Meeting Session 1Monday Evening, Oct. 15Theme: “Seeing the Need” 6:30 p.m. — Prayer: Bryant Moran

Worship and Praise: Kansas-Nebraska Singing MenCall to Order: John Shields

6:40 p.m. — Church Planting Testimony: Bryant Moran 6:50 p.m. — Reports: Credentials Committee: Richard Deimund

Committee on Order ofBusiness: David MannerKNCSB Mission Board Re-port: John ShieldsCommittee on Committees Appointed: John Shields

7:00 p.m. — KNCSB Future Directions Task Force Update: Andy Addis/Donnie Simpson 7:20 p.m. — Misc. Business 7:25 p.m. — Presentation of 2013 KNCSB Budget: Bob Mills 7:45 p.m. — Worship and Praise: Kansas-Nebraska Sing-ing Men8:05 p.m. — President’s Mes-sage: John Shields8:35 p.m. — Introduction of New Pastors and Church Staff/KNCSB Staff: David Manner8:50 p.m. — Closing Prayer: Mark Jackson

Annual Meeting Session 2Tuesday Morning, Oct. 16Theme: “Strength to Begin” 9:00 a.m. — Prayer: Lane Gregg

Worship and Praise: Jeremy Harris

9:05 a.m.—Church Planting

Testimony: Lane Gregg 9:15 a.m.—Bible Study: Andy Addis 9:45 a.m.—Committee on Com-mittees Appoints:

Time, Place and Preacher CommitteeResolutions Committee

9:50 a.m.—KNCSB Nominating Committee Report 9:55 a.m.—Introduction of Representatives of SBC Boards and Agencies: Bob Mills10:05 a.m.—Viola WebbMissions Offering Report: Mari Parker10:15 a.m.—Misc. Business10:20 a.m.—Partnership Report: Mari Parker10:35 a.m.—Election of Officers10:45 a.m.—Worship and Praise: Jeremy Harris11:05 a.m.—Annual Sermon: John Mark Hansen11:35 a.m.—Closing Prayer: Matt Maestas

Seminary Luncheons

Annual Meeting Session 3Tuesday Afternoon, Oct. 16Theme: “Strategies for the Task” 1:30 p.m.—Prayer: Matt Miller

Worship and Praise: Nathan Sapp

1:35 p.m.—Church Planting Testimony: Matt Miller 1:45 p.m.—Bible Study: Andy Addis 2:15 p.m.—Committee on Committees Appoints:

Committee on Order of BusinessCredentials Committee

2:20 p.m.—Resolutions Committee ReportMiscellaneous Business 2:30 p.m.—KS-NE Southern Baptist Foundation Report:Doyle Smith 2:40 p.m.—Evangelism Report: Jon Sapp 2:50 p.m.—LifeWay Report: Tom Hellams 3:00 p.m.—Break 3:30 p.m.—Worship and Praise: Nathan Sapp3:50 p.m.—Webster Conference Center Report4:00 p.m.—KNCSB Missions Report: Georges Boujakly4:20 p.m.—Bible Study: Terry Williams4:50 p.m.—Disaster Relief Re-port and Closing Prayer: Larry Thomas

Annual Meeting Session 4Tuesday Evening, Oct. 16Theme: “Celebrating the Journey”7:00 p.m.—Prayer: Abraham ArevaloWorship and Praise: Jason Waller7:10 p.m.—Church Planting Testimony: Abraham Arevalo7:20 p.m.—Committee Reports:

Time, Place and Preacher CommitteeCredentials CommitteeMisc. Business

7:25 p.m.—Bible Study: Terry Williams7:55 p.m.—Worship and Praise: Jason Waller8:15 p.m.—Keynote Address: Kevin Ezell8:45 p.m.—Introduction of New Officers8:50 p.m.—Adjourn

Annual Meeting to be held Oct. 15-16 at Webster Conference CenterWebster Conference Center

2601 N. Ohio StreetSalina, Kansas 67401

785-827-6565

Please join us for a reception honoring

Bob and Sandie AndersonBrett and Mary Yohn

For forty plus years of service toKNCSB

Tuesday night, October 16

at Webster Conference Centerimmediately following the annual meeting

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Mission Teams Provide Boost to New Church Start

Sabrina Adkins (center), her husband and four children served in Atchison, Kan., in July as a part of the first “inter-generational” mission team sent by CrossPoint Church, Hays, Kan. The CrossPoint team helped with Celebration Church’s outreach during the annual Ame-lia Earhart Festival in Atchison. Celebration Church is a new church start and held its first service in March 2012. Groundwork for the new church began in the summer of 2011.

Scott Murphy is the pastor of Celebration Church, a new church start in Atchison, Kan. His wife, Melissa, and their three children serve at his side. Groundwork for the new church began in the summer of 2011. Mission teams are playing key roles in helping Celebration Church reach Atchison. Black River Baptist Association in Arkansas has sent teams along with Covenant Baptist Church, Topeka, Kan., and CrossPoint Church, Hays, Kan.

(Editor’s note: Celebration Church is a new church start in Atchison, Kan. Groundwork began in the summer of 2011, and the first service was held in March 2012. Volunteer teams are playing a key role in helping the church reach the Atchison community. CrossPoint Church, Hays, Kan., sent its first “inter-generational” mission team to Atchison in July to help with Celebration Church’s outreach during the annual Amelia Earhart Festival.)

By Sabrina AdkinsCrossPoint Church, Hays, Kan.

A team of 13 traveled to Atchinson, Kan., to reach the community for Christ. We ar-rived Thursday night, July 19, and jumped right in. We met up with Pastor Scott Murphy of Celebration Church to get the rundown of the mission at hand.

Celebration Church wel-comed us with open arms and shared about their recent church plant and their vision for the community.

As the evening closed we traveled across the river into Missouri where we settled into the Short Creek Baptist Church parsonage, a charming three-bedroom-one-bath home. It was just right for our team of 13 which included four children —two 12-year olds, a 10-year old, and a spunky 3-year old. This home was a blessing to us and suited our Cross Point Hays family perfectly.

We divided our team into two groups. One group of five worked up at God’s Mountain, a camp in Rushville, Mo. The guys were eager to work on some building projects for the camp/retreat center. They were hard at work on some railings for a new set of stairs and a new dorm building for the camp.

The remainder of the group focused on the downtown area of Atchison and started with a few hours of prayer walking. The kiddos did great walking up and down hills and even a visit in the park. All of the people we met on our prayer walk were pleasant and recep-tive to our offers of water bottles and prayer.

It was a great joy to walk alongside others and hear the pleas for the broken. We were given a brief history of the com-munity and the darkness that has tried to creep into the area. We also saw many beautiful homes with damaged founda-tions; this inspired a lot of our prayers to be focused on people having Christ as their founda-tion.

We finished our Friday by walking along the Missouri River, praying for the masses of people who would be attending the area for the Amelia Earhart Festival.

As a united team, we joined with Pastor Scott and talked with people, prayed with them and handed out invitations to Celebration Church. The

evening walk along the river’s edge was much cooler than the morning walk. This was a relax-ing end to a great day.

Saturday morning we hit the ground running. The two teams headed out to embrace the day and all that the Lord would allow. My team arrived at the Amelia Earhart Festival and set up. We had three tables full of items for the kiddos. We made approximately 250 wooden airplanes. We had a baby pool with bubbles, coloring sheets, sidewalk chalk, silly bracelets, stickers and candy.

We greeted each of the children with the love of Christ. There were some who showed a bit of hesitation, but we insisted that the items we were hand-ing out were in fact FREE. We were able to share with them the hope of Christ and love on them just a bit. The Lord and His providence placed us right next to the children’s stage, a free fire truck ride and a petting zoo. This was the Lord and His gracious blessings for our little

ones for sure.On Sunday morning, we

took a quick stroll across the yard of the parsonage to attend Sunday School in the quaint country church house. The Lord used the service to convict our hearts to continue to pray for others. Just as the Lord’s grace has been bestowed on us, we should also demonstrate grace and mercy to others.

As we packed and cleaned up, we pondered all that the Lord had done in four short days. We were encouraged in our faith as we saw the Lord work.

For our family, this was the first time we have traveled on mission together. In the past, my husband had done many projects while I stayed back to watch the children and I have gone on mission without him. But it was such a great joy to be able to serve the Lord as a family. We were inspired to do more for the Lord. Our children even suggested that we sell our belongings and get an RV to do

this ALL the time! It brings joy to my heart to

raise children up in the Lord and see Jesus shine through them. We were honored to be able to serve this way. We are praying that the seeds that were planted would come to a point of harvest.

We may never see the fruit of our labor this side of Heaven, but we can trust that the Lord has His hand in it. We know that He has begun a good work there in Atchinson, Kan. With the Celebration Church plant, we pray that many will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There were many faces and stories that I pray the Lord will impress upon me often that I may continue in prayer. There were lives that I pray the Lord would send another worker to water the seeds we planted and perhaps even be the worker of the harvest. My heart breaks for these souls!

I pray that this testimony is an encouragement to families to go on mission for the Lord.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 2012Resources to promote the Lottie Moon Offering are now available on the International Mis-sion Board Web site at http://www.imb.org/main/default.asp. Under “Quick Links” on the left side of the page, click on “Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.”

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October 2012

When you we younger did you ever make your eyes go cross-eyed so you could see double of every-thing? Or just to freak people out? Me too! But that’s not the cross eyed living I want to share with you in this article. I normally write to you on the scripture/challenge that I personally have been learning from. Luke 9:23 is the passage and cross eyed living is the challenge.

The scripture says, “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny him-self, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

What first jumped out at me was the ‘If anyone wants’. I mean seriously, this is red-letter-Jesus talk-ing! Doesn’t he know already who will follow him? What? Oh that’s another topic? Ok, then…

Luke’s account of this passage is the only one that uses the word daily when it says, ‘take up his cross daily, and follow Me’.

Shine 2012, a mini-conference for girls in the 6th-12th grades sponsored by KNCSB Women’s Leadership, is coming to Webster Conference Center November 9-10.

Singer and songwriter, JJ Heller

By Patti BoswellKNCSB Ministry Wives Consultant

Have you noticed that society keeps trying to tell us who we are? Just watch a few com-mercials on television or glance at a magazine cover while standing in line at the grocery.

Luke 4:9 describes a time when Satan and Jesus were standing at the highest point of the temple. Satan told Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here….”

Jesus knew who He was! And Satan knew who Jesus was! There was no need to argue or prove anything!

Satan told Jesus that if He did that, God would “command his angels concerning you, to guard you carefully, they will lift you up in

their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”.You and I do not have to “throw ourselves down” to trust in God to be

with us, to guard us, and protect us. His Word is full of promises that we can claim, promises about who He is, and who we are in Him. So memorize a few of these with me, write them on note cards, and place them where you can see them! Our God is powerful, the Creator of the earth, and yet He

is with us at every cry of our heart. We are His children, and He loves and cares for us! In her book, The Resolution for Women, Priscilla Shirer takes a good portion of one chapter to simply list some great verses, paraphrased in a “personal” format, that are so meaningful. These can be used at those times when we are doing battle!

I’ll list a few, and then challenge you to go find some of you own! Write them down! Personalize them! Sing and shout them out to our God, because we are who HE says we are!

I walk by faith and not by sight. ( 2 Corinthians 5:7)The Lord is on my side. I will not fear what man can do to me. (Psalm

118:6)I am competent not in my own abilities but because He has made me com-

petent by His Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)I have the mind of Christ; therefore I act in a way that is consistent with His

actions. (1 Corinthians 2:16) Sisters, we are His daughters, His vessels, and He is the lifter of our heads! Stand firm, stand strong, and serve joyfully, as we claim God’s promises.

We have the victory! Blessings,Pattigranaboz@mac.com

I Am Who He Says I Am

That’s the nugget for me. Jesus knew that denying self would be a daily choice when trying to live a life focused on following Him. It’s all about obedience, every day, and in every moment. Think about how that might change our lives if we were to become obedient to the moment. Would our reactions, thoughts, choices, commitments, calendars be altar’d? Jennifer Kennedy Dean writes in her new book altar’d, “On the altar, flesh is sur-rendered to crucifixion. Crucifixion is the prelude to resurrection. Altar’d living frees us to live in the power of His resurrection.” Denying self is denying our flesh, and we’re not talking physical here, but rather our parts that continue to operate on our sin-producing power. It’s yielding and sur-rendering our wants and gotta-haves to Jesus purpose and desire for our existence.

Where does this find you? Cross-eyed, or Cross Eyed?

Shiggaion! (a song of impassioned imagination)

Mari

Cross Eyed Living

(www.jjheller.com) will be leading this year’s Shine event!.

Registration Packets are in our churches now for Shine 2012. You won’t want your girls to miss this weekend! There is a registration deadline, but we will take girls until Webster is full.

For more information please contact Heidi Nelson at hnelson@kncsb.org.

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WCC Update

1. The WCC Strategic Planning Team met on August 30, 2012 to review the 2009-2013 Strategic Plan and to begin the development of the 2014-2018 Strategic Pan. They were pleased with the progress to date on the current plan. 2. User Days and Revenues continue to set new records every month! 3. The 2012 $50,000 Matching Challenge Grant has re-ceived about $40,000 to date. This is matched dollar for dollar as soon as the money is received. 4. The 2012 Matching Challenge Grant is being used to remodel the Main Lodge. 5. WCC is excited to be the host site for the 2012 KNCSB Annual Meeting. Housing and meal packages are available for anyone attending the meeting. Call 1-877-WCC-RESV and ask for Melinda for details.

By Marie ClarkKNCSB Team Leader of Bible Teaching and DisciplingEmail: mclark@kncsb.org

Looking back on the summer of 2012, many of our KNCSB churches con-ducted Vacation Bible Schools. The result was reaching a host of children across Nebraska and Kansas, helping them discover God’s awesome power, and seeing kids accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.

But VBS is not really over until you conduct follow-up and send in a report.

Whatever curriculum you used, we want to know about your VBS this sum-mer. If you have not already sent in a report you can find the form online at www.kncsb.org/ministry/bible_study.

Your church is an important part of the big picture for this important evan-gelistic effort. Your report becomes an encouragement to others.

Looking forward, it’s time to turn VBS upside down! Through every twist, turn, and dive, LifeWay’s VBS 2013 Colossal Coaster World: Facing Fear, Trusting

God will challenge kids to face their fears and trust God.

There’s excitement around every curve as kids learn that God has given them a spirit of power, love, and sound judg-ment (2 Timothy 1:7). This evangelistic VBS is the ultimate ride. At the end of the week, kids will want to do it all over again!

Club VBS: Jungle Jaunt for 2013 is jam packed with fun. It will allow churches to jump into a Vacation Bible School experience as big as the Amazon Rainfor-est. Each day, kids will discover the One True God, and be challenged to respond to Jesus as the Living Savior and Lord of All.

Reserve the date for VBS Jumpstart 2013 on March 10, 2013 at Webster Conference Center in Salina to help your church VBS leaders get a strong start on preparation for VBS. For VBS questions, contact Marie Clark at 1-800-984-9154 or mclark@kncsb.org.

VBS: Looking Forwardand Looking Back

Nall Avenue Baptist Church in Prairie Village, KS is currently seeking a part-time student minister for 20-25 hours/week. We offer a competitive salary and a friendly work environment with support and encouragement from a warm-hearted congregation in the Kansas City area that enjoys a strong spirit of unity. Please visit www.nallave.org for more information about the church and the job description. Send resume or questions to resumes@nallave.org. Resumes will be received through October 31.

Parents of overseas workers traveled from Nebraska and across Kansas to attend the 4th annual International Parents Fellowship meeting August 24-25, 2012. They met in Topeka at Western Hills Baptist Church spending time supporting, encourag-ing and learning from each other.

Eddie and Debbie Cox presented helpful material from the International Mission Board about the prayer and strategy office. Alan and Beth Locke, IMB workers in South Africa on stateside assignment in Great Bend, KS, Sandie Anderson, KNCSB trustee for the IMB, and several Third Culture Kids (TCKs) answered questions regarding stateside assignment, how to best support the missionaries and about adjustments in returning to the USA.

The meeting ended with a concert of prayer for the workers, their children, the people that they minister to and a song of blessing written by Debbie Cox for these parents.

One family shared that the time together helps them channel their loss of time with their children and grandchildren in a positive way to benefit others and their rela-tionships. Another expressed gratefulness in hearing from a TCK how to relate to his grandchildren.

Sharing pictures, telling stories and praying about overseas children and grandchil-dren with others that share this experience brings hope and joy.

Two KNCSB Staffers Recognized

At the September Mission Board Meeting of KNCSB, two staffers were recognized for their service at KNCSB. Peg Davis, who serves as the administrative assistant for Bob Mills, was recognized for fifteen years of service. Jana Gifford, who works in a variety of roles including administrative assistiant to Jon Sapp, was recognized for thirty-five years of service at KNCSB..

State, NAMB Leaders toMove Forward ‘in Unity’

GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) -- State Baptist convention and North American Mission Board leaders “have determined to move forward together in unity to impact the lostness of North America,” according to a statement issued Sept. 14.

The agreement was shared during the annual NAMB-sponsored state executive directors meeting Sept. 13-14 in Grape-vine, Texas.

Representatives of the state execu-tive directors, led by David Hankins of Louisiana, met with NAMB President Kevin Ezell and other mission board execs as part of the two-day gathering near Dallas.

The session follows the creation of a special study committee in February during the Fellowship of State Executive Directors’ annual meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. The study committee’s assignment: to evaluate relations and cooperation between state Baptist conventions and NAMB.

Apprehension and uncertainty have marked the relationship between NAMB and a number of state conventions as the mission board has increased funding for its Send North America church plant-ing and evangelism strategy prioritizing

Southern Baptist missions efforts on those areas of North America with the greatest spiritual lostness and the small-est number of Southern Baptist churches. The shift has reduced joint funding for staffing for longstanding missions and ministries in the states.

The full text of the three-paragraph statement by representatives of the state execs and NAMB follows:

“On September 13, 2012, state execu-tive directors met with North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell. David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and chair-man of the special study committee, pre-sented a report that was enthusiastically received by the Execs. The result is that the Conventions and the North Ameri-can Mission Board have determined to move forward together in unity to impact the lostness of North America.

“’It is our desire that all of us can join ranks around the task of evangelizing and congregationalizing North America,’ said Hankins. ‘Southern Baptists can have confidence in our united effort.’

“Ezell added, ‘We are excited to be moving forward together in unity for the sake of the kingdom.’”