Weatherford College BSM

Mission trip to Graffiti Church

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York

See page 2 to read about their trip!

Parker Baptist Association Staff

Director of Missions: John Thielepape, D.Min. john@parkerbaptist.org 817-613-7990 Director of Baptist Student Ministry: Mark Nelson mark@parkerbaptist.org 817-597-1990 Financial Coordinator: Leah Newman leah@parkerbaptist.org 817-629-9085 Administrative Assistant: Lauren Johnson lauren@parkerbaptist.org

Office Phone: 817-599-6586 Office Hours: M-Th 8:30am – 4:30pm Friday 8:30am – 12:00pm

Investing in Kingdom-focused churches that make a local and global difference for Christ.

Volume 42, Number 2 February 2016

The 360

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Coyote BSM Reaching Out into the New Semester Mark Nelson

We had a very successful Mission Trip to New York City before the spring semester began. Ten students and two adults traveled to the big city to see what God was doing in Coney Island with Stephen Trainer and Graffiti ministries. I was impressed by the way our students handled themselves in the city as well as how they worked to accomplish some great things for others they might never know. When we reach out of our comfort zones to do something like we did that weekend, God shows us how simple and special the gospel can be. Crime and poverty are very evident there, but we saw the power of love break down barriers and allow times for healing in that community as we showed others what God’s love is like in real practical ways. Continue to pray for Stephen and his family as they work there in the midst of this community. Pray for a place to open up to have a gathering, and a place for ministry.

What is your perspective on life? I thought about this over the break as I was walking in New York City. We saw some tall buildings in the city, some that were the tallest in the world or the USA. My perspective was shaped by my environment. In the city you could get lost, and we did, by our surroundings. Height of buildings hide things, and trains going one direction are re-routed without warning. I am pretty small compared to many of the buildings that surrounded me. But nothing can compare to God! God is greater than the greatest skyscraper and is greater than any person that ever lived. When I get lost, I know where to turn. My perspective is being focused by the Creator of the Universe. And what I am doing and seeing is an amazing part of God’s complete plan. As we begin a new semester, we are reaching out into places we have never thought about going, sharing His grace and mercy with those that need it most. Hopefully, sharing God’s love with those who know not His love. In the end, may we proclaim the gospel to all.

One of our newest projects we are working on this semester are 3+ groups. These groups are formed by 3-4 people. Our goal is to have a time during each “Free Lunch” where students can: (1) Read Scriptures, (2) Discuss the text using questions provided, and (3) pray for one another.

We are continuing to be present on 3 out of 4 of our WC campuses providing opportunities for students to build relationships with one another as well as Christ. Will you continue to pray for God’s direction on our campuses and for co-laborers to join with us. If your church is interested in joining us in this ministry, we would love to hear from you.

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Recently I watched my two sons playing football with two other boys in our neighbor’s front yard. They blocked, tackled, ran, and passed just like you do in football with imaginary boundaries and goal lines known only to them. They were having a grand time playing football in utter simplicity. Later on, we sat around the television watching a more sophisticated version of a football game with the stylish uniforms, the best equipment, highly-paid coaches, officials, trainers, a perfectly-marked field, and tens of thousands of spectators. Despite their obvious differences, both games were, in essence, the same. Because all you really need in order to play a game of football is a football. Everything else just adds to the experience. The same analogy could be carried forward to the church. I recently received a visit from the man who was my missionary supervisor when I served in Zambia. He spent forty years in Zambia planting churches and discipling believers. We reminisced for a while about our church planting methodology back then. We would go into a village as a group of church leaders and missionaries. After receiving permission from the village elder we would visit house-to-house, telling people about Jesus and inviting them to a service later in the day, say underneath the big Mango tree at the bottom of the hill. When a group would gather in the afternoon then we would teach them some songs because music is a very important part of Zambian culture. Then one of us would present a simple message of the gospel and invite anyone who wished to respond.

We would arrange to disciple those who responded and they would share Christ with their family and friends and teach them to walk as disciples. Eventually, we would provide training for a Pastor to lead the new church. But initially, without organization, a budget, a building, or a strategic plan a church would be birthed and grow. Today I worship in much more sophisticated versions of church with climate-controlled buildings, comfortable seats, professionally-trained staff, and modern technology. Despite their obvious differences, both of these versions of church are, in essence, the same. Because all you really need in order to have a church is the gospel, the good news of the Kingdom as Jesus would say. I have no quarrel with most things that make up our modern worship experience (I am particularly fond of air conditioning). But I do believe that we have to be sure that we don’t forget that the most important element is the gospel. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us how easy it is to become encumbered and entangled in such a way that we are unable to “run the race” set before us. If we are not careful, we can become encumbered with the details of managing and maintaining the organization which can cause us to become entangled with conflict or pride. Whether we worship under a Mango tree or inside a modern state-of-the-art facility, the common element that truly makes us the church is the gospel of Jesus Christ and its hope for humanity.

All We Really Need is…the Gospel

John Thielepape

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2015 Angel Tree Ministry

Vivian Conrad

She has custody of six grandchildren – two 3-year olds, a 4-year old, an 11-year old and two girls both aged 17. When we contacted her to say we were bringing Christmas gifts, the grandmother could not stop crying. “I have nothing,“ she sobbed, “I didn’t know what I was going to do for the kids. You have no idea what this means to us.”

It’s amazing how many times we heard those same words from Angel Tree families. The December 2015 Angel Tree ministry touched the hearts and lives of 247 children whose parents were incarcerated. Each Christmas gift included an age-appropriate booklet containing the good news of God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ. Love was the theme as participants prepared and delivered packages to people weighed down by life’s struggles.

I am deeply grateful to all the churches and individuals that participated in this most recent Angel Tee project. Many thanks to Greenwood Baptist Church member Tammy Unangst, who took Angel Tree information to her office and ended up gathering 71 gifts from co-workers.

We appreciate the time and energy invested by members of Ballew Springs, Brazos Trails, Brock, Calvary, Center Point, Clear Fork, Friendship, First Baptist Willow Park, Hilltop, Lakeshore Drive, Midway, North Side and Trinity Bible Church. Teams from Calvary, Clear Fork and Trinity joined our own Mercy Heart members in delivering the presents. Reece Reeves and his wife took a whole day off work for gift deliveries, and Mercy Heart participant Anji Henson devoted over 24 hours to helping log, sort, wrap, organize and deliver gifts over a 2-week period. In addition, we also owe thanks to the Weatherford Optimist Club for its generous donation of toys from a Christmas drive.

To borrow the words of Ephesians 3:20, the Lord blessed the 2015 Angel Tree ministry immeasurably more than all we could have asked or imagined. Our whole Mercy Heart team is filled with awe at what God accomplished as churches in our association worked together to enable this project. We are excited to see what God will continue to do through Mercy Heart and Angel Tree in the coming year.

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Church News: The Missions Committee of Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church would like to invite local, regional, national and international ministries to have a booth at our upcoming Missions Fair on Sunday, April 10, 2016. The fair will begin at 8;30 and continue until at least 10:45. Those who would like to participate can request a form by emailing . The church is located at 200 S Lakeshore Drive, 76087.

Howdy, from Soda Springs Baptist Church!! We had a wonderful holiday season mixed in with some sadness as our pastor decided to move on in his ministry…but we are searching for a new pastor, so if you her of anyone looking for a church please have them send a resume our way. We’ve had some GREAT stand in preachers and have enjoyed hearing them… and thank the Parker Baptist Association in sending them our way. Coming up in February: Sunday, February 7 at 11am we will be having the Sawyer Family come and preform for us during worship time. Please come join us in supporting and enjoying this wonderful family. Sunday, February 14 we will be having our annual Valentine Banquet at 6pm. We are expecting to have lots of fun playing games, singing Valentine songs and sharing a wonderful meal from Natty Flats Barbeque. If you would like to join us, please call the church and leave a message.

February Prayer Focus: February 1 - 7:

• Harmony • Hilltop, Weatherford • Horseshoe Bend - FBC

February 8 - 14: • Iglesia Bautista Nueva Jerusalem • Lakeshore Drive • Lighthouse

February 15 - 21: • Midway • Millsap - FBC • New Hope Baptist – Boyd • New Hope Baptist – Weatherford

February 22 - 28: • North Side • Oak Ridge • Parker County Cowboy

February 29 - March 6: • Poolville - FBC • Primera Iglesia • Shady Grove

Churches currently without permanent Pastors:

• Calvary • Central • Fellowship • Oak Ridge • Soda Springs

Job Openings: First Baptist Church Willow Park is currently accepting resumes for Student Minister and Children’s Minister positions. Both are part time. Please send resumes to pastor@fbcwillowpark.com. For complete information and up-to-date changes check the Job Openings link on our website.

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Brazos Trails Cowboy Church is proud to present a concert here at the church on Wednesday, February 17, at 7pm, featuring the Chuck Wagon Gang. This musical group has been in existence for the past 80 years and has sold over 40 million albums. The group, originally started in 1935, could never have imagined that they would sustain as long as they have and would be praised in America’s Gospel Singers: The Legacy Lives On, a 2015 PBS documentary film detailing the lives of the original founding members up thru the current members. Cost of this concert will be by donation only. So mark your calendars and invite your friends and neighbors to join us on this night of American roots in gospel music at 300 Sharla Smelley Rd, Weatherford, TX 76088. Please contact John Luckie at 817-609-6952 for any questions.

Wyatt Nations is well known in this area for his Ministry to the Lord Jesus through Song in concert worship. Wyatt Dreams "God Size Dreams" and he's truly an inspiration to anyone who meets him, and for that reason we at Fellowship Baptist Church extend a warm invitation to each of you to join us on February 7, 2016, to hear him in concert during our 11:00am Worship Service. Wyatt Nations is a former Rodeo competitor, that now uses his God given talents, as an Inspirational Christian Country singer / song writer. He grew up in Azle, Texas, and he started writing and singing country music when he was in his 20's.

After giving his life to the Lord, Wyatt started writing and singing Christian Country music, and he released his first CD, “No Greater Love” this last spring. His single release, “If It Satisfies You” charted with two of the Christian Country Charts. He also released, “Guiding Light” to radio for his second single release, and is working on his next CD and has has recorded two new songs “Living Proof” and “Back To Our Roots”. Be sure to put February 7, 2016 on your calendar and come to the Fellowship Baptist Church at N Hwy 51 and 173 Green Branch Rd, Weatherford TX, expecting a “God Size” Blessing.

Parker County

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Warning…Disciple-making Can Be Dangerous Gerry Lewis knew that his idea would have to be bold, perhaps even dangerous. As Director of Missions for the Harvest Baptist Association Lewis was participating in Tarrant Baptist Association’s re:Focus with a group of other Directors of Missions. TBA’s re:Focus Journey is a two-year process for Pastors and church leaders designed to help them “refocus their congregations on making disciples and impacting their communities.” Toward the end of that process, Lewis looked at the task of developing a disciple-making model in the context of an Association. “For me, it was going to be a radical departure from the typical “y’all come” training events that are typical association fare,” Lewis recalled. “To invite someone into an intensely focused disciple-making journey that would last for a year would involve some risk.”

“My hope was that it would be life-changing and would get pastors re-energized toward changing the discipleship climate in their churches. I also knew that the risk for me would not approach the risk for them. To move away from the status quo would be dangerous. They would not be universally admired and appreciated.”

“So, a slogan was born: Dangerous Pastors – Risking the journey of Discipleship.”

The journey began for Pastors in the Harvest Association in 2014, as a small group began a year-long process of examining their own personal relationships with Christ and moving toward defining what it means to walk as a disciple of Christ. Ultimately, each participant would create a model for discipleship for his own context.

Through the first two years, 18 participants have completed the process. When the year ends, Lewis hopes that each participant will take the model he has created to change the “climate” of discipleship in each congregation. “The single most important thing I want participants to gain is a practical and personal process that takes them from being those who talk about discipleship to those who are actively discipling disciple-makers.” In 2015, Lewis led a group from Parker Association through Dangerous Pastors. Jay Ditty of Silver Creek and Zach Crook from Friendship joined Association staff members Mark Nelson and John Thielepape for the journey. Together, they considered how to move beyond the status quo of talking about discipleship to create cultures of discipleship. Watch for the journey to continue in Parker Association beginning in September.

Calendar of Events: March 13: Daylight Savings Time begins March 20: Palm Sunday March 25: Good Friday (Office Closed) March 27: Easter March 28: Executive Board Meeting @ PBA Office

• Lunch served at Noon • Meeting starts at 12:30pm • RSVP to leah@parkerbaptist.org

Our purpose: Investing in Kingdom-focused churches that make a difference for Christ. Our Roadmap: Church Vitality - creating vitality in church leaders that reproduces disciples, develops new leaders, and generates spiritual vitality in churches. Church Multiplication - partnership that multiply the vital ministry of existing churches results in new ministries and new churches both locally and globally. Community Impact - Loving and serving our communities in a manner that produces transformation in Jesus’ name.

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