James A Marcus,

DOM

3320 Corunna Road

Flint, MI 48503

(810) 238-5901 www.geneseebaptistassociation.com

E-mail - jimarcus@sbcglobal.net

Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Vol. 19 No 6

THE GENESEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION HELPING CHURCHES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY

DEVELOPING CHURCHES AND LEADERS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

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seen Jesus. One day she told us that she had seen heaven, and that it was all flowers and feathers. She stated that she was wearing something like feathers -- at least it reminded her of feathers. These glimpses of heaven gave her hope, I'm sure, as well as the strength to go on. They also were comforting to us. I'm not telling you that it is always easy caring for an elderly parent, but there were more good times than bad times, and more blessings than challenges. Toward the end it was very difficult for Margaret to watch her mom go through the valley of the shadow of death, be-cause her mom experienced increasing discomfort apart from medication. But thankfully hospice was just a call away from coming like the cavalry to help out. Now, after 39 years, Margaret and I have an empty nest again (we've been married 42 years). We have adjust-ments to make, and a new lifestyle to learn. We still have Amazing Grace (Gracie our wonder dog) to put some limits on our wanderings, but we now have greater free-dom to minister together, and just do life together. I can't say we hadn't been looking forward to this, but we do miss Mom -- she was part of our home and daily lives for over a decade. If you are considering having an elderly parent live with you, pray about it to be sure that this is what you should do. Make sure you are ready for the long haul, if it comes to that. There will certainly be blessings that come with caring for your parents, like there are blessings that come with caring for your children, but there will also be challenging times, as with children. If you know of someone who is caring for an elderly par-ent or other relative, remember to pray for them. Also, consider offering to help them by staying with their loved one so that they can have a break out to dinner and maybe a movie -- even out shopping. You can't imag-ine how good and how needed such breaks are from constantly being "on duty." And thank you for your prayers on our behalf, your expressions of concern, and your words of comfort as the end of this life came for Mom Carlson.

In Christ, Jim

Recently Margaret and I experienced the physical death of her mother, Mildred Carlson, who had lived on this earth 100 years, 2 months, and 7 days. Mom Carlson lived with Margaret and me for 10 1/2 years, moving into our home, at our invitation and encouragement, from her home in Ocala, FL in April of 2005. We felt that it was our responsibility to provide a home for her and care for her when she came to the point of needing it, because God says in His word that children are to honor their parents (Ex. 20:12), and this was one way of honoring Marga-ret's mother. Our parents cared for us and provided for us all when we were younger, and it just seemed fitting for us to re-turn that blessing in her later years. For the first several years Mom was actively helping in our home, which became her home. She helped with laundry (although she never went into the basement where the ma-chines are located), helped with the garden, helped with the dishes, helped by setting the table, helped with cooking, helped clean the house, even helped make bread (YUM!). But as the years passed, she was able to do less and less as her body wore down. Yet even this past summer and fall, she still helped snap beans and fold laundry. It was a blessing to have Mom with us the last 10 1/2 years. For the last several months, however, life became more and more difficult for her, and more demanding on us, especially on Mar-garet. There were limitations that came because Mom could not be home alone for long periods of time. After having some dental surgery this fall, preparing foods that Mom could eat became more challenging for Margaret. During the last few weeks, Mom was under hospice care -- and the hospice nurse and aid were wonderful, helpful, even encouraging -- letting Margaret know that she was doing a good job and that Mom was much better off with us than anywhere else. In the final days, as death approached, a couple family mem-bers came in to help share the load of keeping a vigil with Mom. They, along with Margaret, stayed with Mom during most of her final 72 hours. Finally the end came, and Mom moved out of the body in which she lived for over 100 years -- yet Mom is still alive, and better than she had ever been while in her body. Toward the end, the Lord gave her glimpses of what lay ahead. One day she told us that she had see Dad and her mother wait-ing for her on the other side of the river. She also saw others, but they were like shadows. One day she told us that she had

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New: Breathe Making Room for Sabbath

By Priscilla Shirer

5 Session Study or weekend retreat

Session Titles: The Freedom of the Sabbath

Stops Along the Sabbath Journey Double-Portion Friday

Coming Into Focus Sabbath Margin

Breathe—it’s time to set aside the activities and busyness that swallows up our time. It’s time for us to breathe and build quality time

into our lives for God. Using Old and New Tes-tament Scriptures discover the boundaries

God enables us to put around things we enjoy so that we never become slaves again.

New: The ManCode Unlocking the Potential of

Life’s Most Important Relationships By Dennis Swanberg

6 Session Study

Session Titles:

Lighten Up So You Can Man Up! Don’t Leave Home Without Him!

Four Words Every Man Wants to Hear! Shaped and Sharpened by a Few Good Men

What You Need More Than It Needs You Man Up For The Multiplied Life!

New: The Armor of God By Priscilla Shirer

7 Session Bible Study

Session Titles:

Sizing Up The Enemy The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness The Shoes of Peace The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation The Swords of the Spirit

The Armor of God—this means war. Using

Ephesians 6:10-20 and other Scripture refer-ences to learn to be strong in the Lord and in

the strength of His might.

New: The Leader’s Edge Practical Principles for Pastors, Staff and

Leadership By O. S. Hawkins

12-12 minutes Sessions

Session Titles:

Back To The Basics Building A Team That Will Endure

From Vision To Reality Above All Else

When Conflict Comes The Be-Attitudes—Part One The Be-Attitudes—Part Two

Preparation in 3D Four Questions Every Leader Must Answer

Mobilizing For Ministry Marketing Is Not A Dirty Word Finding The Lost Generation

Downloadable discussion outlines are available

for the 12 sessions.

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Genesee Baptist Association Executive Board Meeting

GBA office

January 18, 2016 7:00 PM

2015 Annual Minutes and 2015-2016 Directory will be

available. Vote on Minister’s Estimate Housing Expenses for

DOM.

Men’s Retreat Bambi Lake Retreat/Conference Center

Fresh Encounter!

January 15-17, 2016

Guest Speaker: David Ring, Evangelist

For more details and register @ register.bscm.org

Save the Date

February 5-7—Men’s Retreat, Speaker: Eric Ramsey, Bambi Lake Retreat/Conference Center February 19-21—Women’s Retreat, Dr. Tony Lynn & Sharon Hessling, Bambi Lake Retreat/Conference

Center March 6-13—Annie Armstrong Easter Offering/NAMB Missions Study

March 12—GBA WMU Brunch, Speaker: Sharon Hessling, Ainsworth Baptist Church April 18—GBA Executive Board Meeting, 7:00 PM, place to be determined

Youth Net Meetings

January 5, 2016 February 2, 2016

12:00 PM

Planning Youth Activities

Contact Bryan Fenner for more information at 586-

453-8281 or email bfenner2000@yahoo.com

GBA Winter Youth Retreat Bambi Lake Retreat/Conference Center

Registration January 11, 2016 at GBA office from 9 AM — Noon—$41 camper fee due for

each camper

Heroes

Cost $75

Camp Pastor: Mac Cockrell

More information will be mailed to the churches along with a signup sheet.

Men’s Retreat Bambi Lake Retreat/Conference Center

February 5-7, 2016

Guest Speaker: Eric Ramsey, President of Tom Cox Ministries

Special Speaker: Pastor Tim Patterson,

BSCM Executive Director

For more details and register @ register.bscm.org

Women’s Winter Mission Retreat Bambi Lake Retreat/Conference Center

A mission Trip to Africa: Up close and personal

February 19-21, 2016

Bible Study Leader: Dr. Tony Lynn Mission Study Leader: Sharon Hessling

Worship with: Legacy and Friends

For more details and register @ register.bscm.org

To: Jim and Margaret Marcus in the death of mother-in-law and mother Mildred Carlson on November 8th.

To: Jerome and Melinda Taylor in the death of brother and brother-in-law Eric Taylor on November 20th.

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HERE’S WHAT IS HAPPENING

Among Our Churches

TO THESE PASTOR FAMILY MEMBERS

Eastgate has continued to grow in covenant mem-bership numbers. The Awana ministry has increased their attendance on Wednesday nights. In October free Bibles were given out to families at Light the Night. Operation Christmas Child is in full swing with November 15th as the collection date. Hanging of the Greens, Sunday November 29th and Candlelight Christmas Gathering on December 24th at 6:30 PM. North End in September called Youth Director Ben Bauer. 400 children with parents and grandparents attended first Trunk and Treat Event.

January February

3- Rita Bishop 6- Naomi Taylor

3- Jewel Fenner 11- John Grantham

4- Gail Sharp 12- Walt Rose

7- Cindy Truesdail 12- Heather Fenner

10- Sean Payne 14- Caroline Stephens

16- Ted Stephens 16- Alisa Maloney

21- Jackson Taylor 19- Kyung Ho Cho

27- Ed Emmerling 20- Briella Stewart

29- Givett Calzada 22- Sandy Nyhof

30- Becky Nelson 28- Joshua Bishop

Congratulations: Matt and Brooke Wagner had a baby boy, Isaiah Matthew October 11th, 5lbs. 15 oz., of Westside

North End Baptist Church February 6-7, 2016

6th 1:00 PM—Sister Churches in-vited to hear Galilean Baptist Church Choir and guest speakers.

7th Guest Preacher: Tim Patterson

Highlights from GBA 59th Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting was held at Westside Baptist Church on October 19th at 7:00 PM. Thanks to all the work-ers that prepared the wonderful snacks and decorations, and we don’t want to forget those that ran the sound and prepped the building for the meeting! We most certainly appreciate it all! Business actions taken:

Vice-Moderator Tedd Culver presided. Youth Retreat, Heroes, scheduled for January 22-24, 2016. Women’s Ministry, a brunch is scheduled for March 12, 2016, 11:00 AM at Ainsworth. Time and Place for 60th Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church, Swartz Creek on October 17, 2016. New Moderator: Ron Emmerling (Westside) and Vice-Moderator: Marc Burnett (The Potter’s Wheel) Voted to accept 2015 Constitution, 2016 Budget, Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual. New Pastor and Staff introduced: Heritage--Administrative Associate Pastor Dan Bradley (Angie); La-

Familia MC3--Pastor Eduardo Calzada (Lucy); Eastgate--Worship Leader Steffan McCubbin (Alison); First Clio—Transitional Pastors Jim Marcus (Margaret) and Rick Bowen (Diane); First Flushing—Pastor Adam Maloney (Alisa); Out Reach—Pastor Gary MacManamy (Jeanine); ONElife—Pastor of Disciple-ship Tedd Culver (Michele).

Our Worship music was led by Matt Wagner. BSCM Executive Director/Treasurer: Pastor Tim Patterson delivered the message.

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This association is a family of churches. Your church is important to all the rest.

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Flint, MI

Permit No. 170 GENESEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

3320 Corunna Road

Flint, MI 48503

THE COMMUNICATOR

GENESEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MISSIONS RECEIPTS from churches for October.

DOM—James A. Marcus

Ministry Assistant:

Joanne Whitehead

GBA Church 15-Oct YTD 2015 YTD 2014 GBA Church 15-Oct YTD 2015 YTD 2014

AINSWORTH $413.10 $5,006.40 $5,990.73 HARMONY $283.00 $3,170.00 $2,137.00

BETHEL $60.00 $774.00 $804.00 HERITAGE $1,371.00 $24,587.00 $15,246.00

BRAY ROAD $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 LAFAMILIA MC3 $194.00 $2,126.00 $2,369.00

CENTRAL $377.00 $3,753.90 $2,467.00 LIGHTHOUSE CHAPEL $56.00 $507.64 $552.00

CORUNNA ROAD $293.93 $2,624.36 $3,036.62 MOUNT CARMEL $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

CROSS WAVES CHURCH $17.10 $85.50 $0.00 NEW HAVEN $150.00 $1,500.00 $775.00

DAVISON MEADOWS $100.00 $500.00 $150.00 NORTH END $1,171.71 $12,467.82 $9,286.42

EAGLE'S NEST $0.00 $500.00 $500.00 ONELIFE $30.91 $2,142.42 $468.63

EASTGATE $0.00 $6,648.29 $6,663.73 OUT REACH $25.00 $250.00 $450.00

FAITH $562.00 $958.52 $0.00 SHAWN $225.00 $2,225.00 $525.00

FELLOWSHIP $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 THE FIELDHOUSE $150.00 $1,500.00 $775.00

FIRST CLIO $0.00 $1,157.37 $103.00 THE OPEN DOOR BIBLE $0.00 $1,050.00 $431.25

FIRST FLUSHING $90.00 $360.00 $360.00 THE POTTER'S WHEEL $0.00 $1,601.43 $1,260.27

FIRST SWARTZ CREEK $0.00 $9,009.76 $17,814.68 WESTSIDE $668.00 $9,309.00 $8,280.00

GALILEAN $0.00 $0.00 $150.00 TOTALS $6,357.75 $95,014.41 $81,714.75

HANMAUM INT'L $120.00 $1,200.00 $1,000.00

BUDGET RECEIPTS YEAR TO DATE $95,014.41

BUDGET REQUIREMENTS YEAR TO DATE -$107,090.81

AMOUNT UNDER BUDGET YEAR TO DATE -$12,076.40