Be sharp for ministry. Read the Baptist Bulletin! Coming in the November/December issue of the Baptist Bulletin:
• What Baptists are doing to plant churches in New York City
• How to become an adoption-friendly church—just in time for Adoption Awareness Month
• Why the emergent church defends the idea of universalism
• Five insights from a first-time church historian
Baptist Bulletin Special Report: VBS and the Gospel
A special report at Baptist Bulletin.org asks, “Is Your VBS Taking a Vacation from the Gospel?” You won’t want to miss this informative article that investigates evangelical publishers who now have licensing agreements with Catholic publishers. The four publishers—Gospel Light, Group, Standard, and Augsburg Fortress—sell their Vacation Bible School logos, art, and content to Catholic organizations who release VBS material that looks the same as the evangelical version, but teaches Catholic doctrine.
Build Your Children’s Ministry Engage your children’s ministry workers and Sunday School teachers with great training from RBP. Dynamic presenter and experienced teacher Andrea Chamberlain hosts an enjoyable and effective seminar that will help your teaching staff develop their ministry skills.
During the seminar participants will learn:
Appropriate teaching techniques for different age groups
Ways to engage children with the Word of God on a level they can understand
How to develop available resources to make lessons come alive
Register for the following seminar or inquire about hosting a seminar:
Oct. 10: RBP Blueprint Seminarfor pastors and wives, ministry leaders, and deacons and wives, led by John and Daria Greening, hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Wash.
Online Mentoring Program Begins
Five pastors in five states spanning the country have had three online mentoring meetings with John Greening and Jim Vogel, GARBC representatives. The group meets for an hour every two weeks to discuss pastoral leadership, develop ministry competencies, and build friendships. To read more, see Baptist Bulletin. For more information or to put your name on a mentoring waiting list, contact John Greening. Participants may call in or enter online for the mentoring hour.
September 15- Parenting Workshops by John and Daria Greening, sponsored by the Garden State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches, at New Life Island in Frenchtown, New Jersey. For more information contact Pastor Gary Tum Suden at gtumsuden@fbcwillingboro.org.
October 10-RBP Blueprint Seminarfor pastors and wives, ministry leaders, and deacons and wives, led by John and Daria Greening, hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Washington.
October 10-RBP Impact Teaching Seminar for Sunday School workers and teachers and Bible study leaders, led by Alex Bauman, hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Washington.
Children’s Ministries Seminarfor Sunday School workers and teachers, children’s ministry leaders, church education directors led by Andrea Chamberlain.
September 19- Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Jasper, Georgia
October 10- Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Washington
October 24- First Central Baptist Church, Chicopee, Massachusetts
November 7- Fellowship Baptist Church, Jasper, Indiana
November 14- Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio
Don’t Stop Loving the Church Seminar
West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont, MI is sponsoring a one-day Pastors’ Seminar on Tuesday, September 22. Mark Cizauskas, executive pastor, writes, “It is a joy for our church family to provide an opportunity for fellowship, encouragement, and renewal for those who are battling on the front lines. God has blessed us and we want to be a blessing to you and your church family.
It is our desire this year to exalt the church. There are many rallying cries today beckoning Jesus followers to abandon the church for something more authentic or relevant. Some even condemn loyalty to the church as disloyalty to Jesus. It’s time to turn our ears and eyes to God’s Word, remember the beauty of the Bride of Christ, and fall in love with her again. As pastors and church leaders, we must not abandon the call to be “shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Join us we consider why we must continue to love and defend the church in spite of her flaws.
We are thrilled that Kevin DeYoung, Ted Kluck, and Mike Wittmer are joining us this year. Each of them is committed to the church; they have written excellent books on this subject.” To register, visit the conference website.
Are you keeping current in your awareness of theological issues and ministry trends? The Quest website offers resources in these topics and more. On the Quest website you will find book reviews and information on preaching, Christianity and culture, preaching, theology, and worship. Young Baptist leaders are making thought provoking and knowledge entries almost every day! If you are a young Baptist leader under forty, connect with your peers. “Old guys” are encouraged to connect with the “young guys” as well! Go to Quest!
Mentoring by the Reps
John Greening and Jim Vogel are offering the opportunity for young Baptist leaders to interact with them in a six-month mentoring relationship. The men must be currently in vocational ministry or preparing for vocational ministry in college or seminary. This one-hour online biweekly interaction on ministry practices will pursue the following learning objectives:
to gain an understanding of the dynamics of pastoral ministry; e.g., leadership, interpersonal relationships, communication, circumstantial appropriateness, etc.
to aspire to a godly “best practices” approach to ministry
to develop the competencies of Christlike pastoring.
to enhance ministry effectiveness through intentional involvement with other pastors/churches/ministries within the GARBC.
If you are interested in participating in this inaugural mentoring relationship, please email John Greening or Jim Vogel stating your desire to be included and your reasons for wanting to be involved. A maximum of seven men can participate. Mentoring will begin the first week in September. The one-hour session will occur every two weeks.
Synergy for Those in Ministry
The summer issue of Synergy is now ready for your viewing. Short articles and ideas on pastoral, women, and children’s ministry offer great help and encouragement. A special thanks to contributors, Jeanie Augsburger, Laird Baldwin, Chris and Deb Hindal, William King, John Lineberry, Linda Nemmers, Mike Plog, Steve Poludniak, Jim and Jeannie Vogel, and Debbie Weil. Please share your ministry thoughts and ideas for Synergy!
Seminars for Church People and Leaders
September 15- Parenting sessions by John and Daria Greening, sponsored by the Garden State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches, at New Life Island in Frenchtown, New Jersey. For more information contact Pastor Gary Tum Suden at gtumsuden@fbcwillingboro.org.
October 10-RBP Blueprint Seminarfor pastors and wives, ministry leaders, and deacons and wives, led by John and Daria Greening, hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Washington.
October 10-RBP Impact Teaching Seminar for Sunday School workers and teachers and Bible study leaders, led by Alex Bauman, hosted by Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Washington.
Children’s Ministries Seminarfor Sunday School workers and teachers, children’s ministry leaders, church education directors led by Andrea Chamberlain.
September 19- Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Jasper, Georgia
October 10- Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Washington
October 24- First Central Baptist Church, Chicopee, Massachusetts
November 7- Fellowship Baptist Church, Jasper, Indiana
November 14- Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio
Young Baptist Leaders now have a venue for communicating and sharing information, http://garbcquest.org The Quest website features sections on books, Christianity and culture, preaching, theology, and worship/ministry resources. Connect through Quest!
Baptist Bulletin Bullets
Relevant news in timely fashion comes to you via the Baptist Bulletin!
Check it out:
Online at www.BaptistBulletin.org:
• Calvin: Still Making Points with Baptists by Paul Hartog
• Growing Churches in Nebraska
• Church Planting in Chalco Hills
• An evaluation of The Multisite Church by Ken Fields
• Norm Olson’s Q & A Column
In the July/Aug print edition
• “Easter in Africa,” an international report from Chris Hindal
• GARBC Annual Report
• GARBC church news in Soundbytes
Exceptional offerings are all under one roof at the GARBC Annual Conference, June 22-26, Elyria, Ohio. A record number of workshops are available. Register now.
Look at what our pastors and ministry leaders have to offer you!
Theology and the Church: A Plea for Priority and Precision
Tom Alexander, Wellington, OH
Setting a Vision for Women’s Ministry
Barbara Anderson, Elyria, OH
Church 2.0: An Internet Site for Your Ministry
Dave Bosket, Schaumburg, IL
Empire State Fellowship’s Shop Talk for church leaders on May 14 will feature topics on church relationships and ethics by Jim and Jeannie Vogel, associate GARBC representative and wife. The Shop Talk will take place at Brooktondale Baptist Church, Brooktondale, New York.
Multi-Ethnic Ministries Round Table
Leaders and educators interested in cross cultural and multi-ethnic ministries are invited to a discussion forum at Baptist Bible College, Clarks Summit, PA, on May 18 and 19. The round table will focus on the opportunities and challenges to reaching the millions who have come to our country from all areas of the world. By reaching internationals, churches have the means of impacting areas of the world that are closed to traditional missions. For more information contact Eldon Brock of Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc, 863.471.6061.
Your church may be experiencing financial strain due to the economic downturn in our country. The GARBC Resource Center offers help to you in thinking through your church budget. Read Six Ways to Respond to a Budget Shortfall by Jim Vogel and Church Leaders Discuss Tight Budget, a synopsis of Michael Nolan’s financial webinar. You may contact Jim Vogel and Michael Nolan to seek church financial counsel.
BBC&S Church Ministries Conference
Develop and refine your skills for serving the Lord! Whether you teach, greet, counsel, witness, pastor, lead worship, or minister to teenagers or senior saints, you will gain ministry savvy by attending Baptist Bible College and Seminary’s Church Ministries Conference, April 17 & 18, Clarks Summit, PA.
Pastors, register now for the GARBC Annual Conference. Free books for your personal library will be distributed at the Conference for the first 250 pastors who register!
Upcoming GARBC Webinars
Our GARBC Resource Center offers complimentary Webinars to assist you in your ministry. Register at www.rbptraining.org, and we’ll respond with an email explaining how to join the Web conference. It’s free! Upcoming Webinars include:
Surviving a Tight Church Budget presented by Michael Nolan, hosted by John Greening,
Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 2:30-3:30 p.m. CST
When the Church Gathers
a panel discussion in response to the March/April 2009 Baptist Bulletin article, When the Church Gathers, hosted by Kevin Mungons
Tuesday, March 24, 2:30 p.m. CST
A Webinar for Women: Mentoring Models
hosted by Jeannie Vogel
Thursday, April 2, 11:00 a.m. CST
Professional Enrichment at Piedmont
Dr. Michael D. Stallard will be the featured speaker during the Charles H. Stevens Lecture Series, hosted by Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Stallard of Baptist Bible College and Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, will address topics on the theme of Hermeneutical Pitfalls in Evangelicalism during chapel services, 10:45 a.m.- 11:30 a.m,. on Monday and Tuesday, March 30 & 31, and during a Monday luncheon. For more information, contact Michelle Bolin, 336.714.7940.
Other Training Seminars this Spring:
Next Generation Seminar—March 28, 2009, Hollis Center, ME
Children’s Ministry Seminar—April 4, 2009, Niles, OH
Impact Teaching Seminar—April 25, 2009, Kennesaw, GA
Blueprint Seminar—April 25, 2009, Kennesaw, GA
Advice on Pastoral Sabbaticals
Is your church considering a pastoral sabbatical policy? Grace Baptist Church in Westlake, Ohio, recently invited Jim Vogel, GARBC assoc. national representative, to discuss this topic with their pastoral staff and deacons. Jim answered questions, shared specific examples, and encouraged the team to pursue a process that would benefit both pastor and church. Contact Jim Vogel for more info regarding GARBC consultation services. See Baptist Bulletin.
Clergy Renewal Program
The following announcement was released by Lilly Endowment, Inc.:
WHAT WILL MAKE YOUR HEART SING?
“O Sing to the Lord a new song.” Psalm 96:1
At the center of the congregation is the pastor. Spiritual guide, scholar, counselor, preacher, administrator, confidant, teacher, pastoral visitor, and friend, a pastor has a privileged position and performs many roles. In season and out, a pastor is called upon to lead communities to the life-giving waters of God.
The National Clergy Renewal Program, offered by Lilly Endowment, Inc., is intended to strengthen Christian congregations by providing an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the demands of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. They are asked: “What will make your heart sing?” They are invited to plan the steps that will make that happen. The Endowment will provide up to 120 grants of up to $50,000 each directly to congregations for support of a renewal program for their pastor. Applications are now being accepted. They must be postmarked by May 14, 2009, and the award announcement will be made by October 20009.
For information: Contact the Endowments Web site: lillyendowment.org, click on Religion, then on National Clergy Renewal Program, Request for Proposals; e-mail lergyrenewal@yahoo.com; call 317/916-7302, or write to Program Director, Religion, Lilly Endowment Inc., 2801 N. Meridian St., P.O. Box 88068, Indianapolis, IN.46208-0068
Be sharp for ministry. Read the Baptist Bulletin! Coming in the November/December issue of the Baptist Bulletin:
Appropriate teaching techniques for different age groups
Oct. 10: 
Five pastors in five states spanning the country have had three online mentoring meetings with John Greening and Jim Vogel, GARBC representatives. The group meets for an hour every two weeks to discuss pastoral leadership, develop ministry competencies, and build friendships. To read more, see 
October 10- 
West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont, MI is sponsoring a one-day Pastors’ Seminar on Tuesday, September 22. Mark Cizauskas, executive pastor, writes, “It is a joy for our church family to provide an opportunity for fellowship, encouragement, and renewal for those who are battling on the front lines. God has blessed us and we want to be a blessing to you and your church family.
Online at 
Free Books for Early Registering Pastors