Posted October 17, 2006 in Oct 2006, Greeting, Synergy
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In a world of quick fixes, we find ourselves wanting shorter wait times to see God working. We want, we want, we want—and it may be good things that we want. We desire to see an unsaved acquaintance coming to know Christ, visitors to our services committing to become church members, a previously immature Christian growing in faith, a group of new believers identifying with Christ in baptism, or a deacon board catching the big-vision picture! Dedicated pastors and ministry leaders have a desire to see the ministry develop that far exceeds the vision of their people. Times of waiting can be agonizing.
In this issue of Synergy, we offer these ministry ideas with the thought in mind that we can prompt others to grow spiritually and serve faithfully, but it is God Who works in His good time to bring the increase. Join us in praying that God will stretch our patience and faith during His wait times.
Serving with you,
John and Daria Greening
Posted in Oct 2006, Ministry Toolbox, Synergy
Ministry Toolbox
In 2 Timothy 2:2 the apostle Paul instructed young pastor Timothy, ”And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Paul was calling for the development of reproducers—individuals who have a working theology and know “these things” personally and who will pass their understanding on to others.
To develop reproducers, our church is using the 2 Timothy 2-2 Bible Study by Dr. Bradley Brandt. This resource instructs believers to win people to Christ by teaching believers key areas of theology in a setting conducive for accountability. The areas of theology—Scripture, God, Christ, mankind and sin, salvation, the Holy Spirit, holy living, the local church, and end times—represent the “these things” of Paul’s challenge to Timothy.
In the first year of the three-year study, the potential reproducer should gain a Biblical understanding of the ministry of reproducing, as well as an understanding of the nine theological topics. During years two and three, potential reproducers receive a deeper study that broadens their understanding and equips them to be able to pass on that which they have learned.
(Read more of this article…)
Posted in Children's Ministries, Oct 2006, Synergy
Children’s Ministries
Our small church has been blessed with a large number of children. Through the years we have noticed the availability of programs designed to bring children to make professions of faith but the lack of children’ programs that are useful in making disciples.
Last year we came across Kids’ Quest Catechism Club (Great Commission Publications), a curriculum that takes children through the Children’s Catechism (a preparation for the Westminster Shorter) and allows for the memorization of related Scripture. We have had to make minor adaptations of this Reformed material for use in a Baptist church but have been impressed with the discussions that have arisen as a result of the work the children are doing throughout the week.
Part of our club is a devotional time that I lead. I usually start by asking the children if they have any questions about the material they studied in the previous week (our program is structured so children can work at their own pace). Usually the questions arise from misunderstanding a Bible word or a theological concept.
Here is one example from the Children’s Catechism: (Read more of this article…)
Posted in Oct 2006, Building Your Ministry, Synergy
Building Your Ministry
Small group ministry is not a passing fad. Have you read the stats?
“2 out of 5 adults in the United States reported involvement in some type of regular small group meeting. . . . Sociologists estimate that as many as 2 million small groups (out of a total of 3 million) involve Bible Studies or Bible teaching classes.” —Rev Magazine, January 2005
Local church small group ministry has grown dramatically in the last twenty years. This fall our church began our tenth year of midweek small group ministry. Its popularity and effectiveness continues to grow. Small groups are huge in the lives of our people for reasons such as these: (Read more of this article…)
Posted in Oct 2006, Reach Out, Synergy
Reach Out
Facilitating a gas buy-down event is simple; the most difficult part is securing a venue for the event. I approached gas stations, saying, “This is a win-win situation for you. If you will reduce the price of gas—all grades—to 25 cents per gallon for two hours, the church will pay you the difference. [The gas stations’ computer systems can tally the exact number of gallons pumped during that time.] We’ll even pay for local advertising of the event, which will direct people to your station.” As I made this request of the stations, Shell immediately turned me down, stating its policy prohibited such events. Speedway eventually agreed to participate but took too long in communicating with me. It was a locally owned Citgo station that immediately saw the benefits and agreed to the buy-down.
(Read more of this article…)
Posted in Oct 2006, Reach Out, Synergy
Reach Out
At a conference of the Wisconsin Association of Regular Baptist Churches, Pastors Pete Mothershead and Scott Bixby challenged and instructed us in the areas of evangelism and community outreach. As Pastor Bixby presented ministry ideas for outreach, he encouraged each attendee to implement at least one idea in his or her home church, adapting it to the community. Thus our church’s cookie ministry was born!As my husband and I prayed about this ministry, I approached our church ladies with the idea. They agreed that the ministry was doable and began compiling a list of businesses in our community. Our first delivery was on Valentine’s Day to the Pamida Discount Center. To prepare, I distributed a sign-up sheet for the ladies to commit to making heart-shaped cookies. We determined the number of employees and made two cookies per person. The day before the delivery, we wrapped the cookies in plastic wrap and adorned the package with ribbons. In a card that a lady from our church designed, I thanked the employees for the business and their hard work, and I noted that the cookies are our token of appreciation. We signed it from the folks of Faith Baptist Church, Park Falls, and tied to it a church tract that my husband designed that included our mission, message, members, and an invitation. (Read more of this article…)
Posted in Oct 2006, Holiday Focus, Synergy
Holiday Focus
When people think of Christmas, their thoughts often go toward home and family. In planning our church’s Christmas calendar, we wanted to incorporate the family atmosphere. We challenged our families to get involved in ministering through our Christmas singspiration. The response was wonderful! Volunteers offered to provide Christmas readings; instrumental music; and vocal solos, duets, and small groups. Others would play the piano, guitar, dulcimer, flute, and clarinet. As volunteers told me what they were planning, I grouped songs and readings about angels, the star, the nativity, and traditions (the candy cane) by theme. My aim was to arrange a reading, special music, and a congregational carol for each theme. We printed flyers and encouraged families to use them to invite friends and neighbors. Larger flyers were placed in businesses in town. Several visitors attended our service, including the head coach of the high school football team and his wife. We received positive comments; folks from the church and the community said it was a meaningful way to put the correct focus back in Christmas. The response was so favorable that it led to another “Family Sing” night at church during the summer!
Bill King, Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Park Falls, Wisconsin
Posted in Oct 2006, Holiday Focus, Synergy
Holiday Focus
Since Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, I desired to provide a realistic way for our people to give a gift to Jesus. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40); therefore, giving to those in need is truly a gift to Jesus Himself. Last year, beginning on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (November 14), I encouraged our people to pray for the persecuted and to help them in a tangible way. We launched a “Christmas Presents for Jesus” campaign based on Matthew 25:34–40. During the month of December, we collected an offering to buy religious books for believers in China. At the end of the month, we sent the money to a missionary in Taiwan who makes frequent trips into China.
In keeping with the festivities of the season, we placed an undecorated Christmas tree in the church vestibule. Beneath the tree were envelopes. Each envelope contained a paper snowflake made by a child in our church. When an adult or a child wanted to give a Christmas gift, that person took an envelope, wrote his or her name on the snowflake, and hung it on the tree. Then that person put his or her money in the designated envelope and dropped it in the offering plate during any service. Many people don’t feel they have extra money in December, so I encouraged our people to sacrifice one of their Christmas presents in order to give a gift to Jesus. The campaign was a success—many of our people participated, the tree was covered by the end of December, and we raised a very generous gift for our Chinese brethren.
Wayne Cooper, Pastor
Lowman Baptist Church
Pine Grove, West Virginia
Posted in Oct 2006, Idea Exchange, GARBCnews, Synergy
Idea Exchange
A beautiful, full-color brochure, “LeClaire Baptist Church—Discovering Life at Its Best,” caught my husband’s and my attention while visiting an Iowa Welcome Center along the Mississippi River. We recognized the church and its pastors, Tim Moore and Lane Bleeker (associate), as being part of the GARBC. The tri-fold brochure features on its cover a picture of the nearby church and its Web address. The inside and back of the brochure include a warm welcome from the pastors, vibrant photos of people participating in the church ministries, a listing of service times and ministries, a map, and church contact information. Do you have a tourist center near your church? Why not let its visitors know about your ministry!
Daria Greening, GARBC
Posted in Oct 2006, Inward Look, Synergy
Inward Look
If ignorance is bliss, then when it comes to computer technology and surfing the Web, I must be the happiest man alive. At one time when we pastors would gather together, we discussed sports, hunting, golf, and God’s grace in our ministries. Now the discussion topics often center on authors and subjects of recent blogs or on the latest rants on a discussion board. To be able to participate in conversations with my pastor friends, I decided to surf the Web for myself. After spending time in the world of blogs and forums, I began to feel as if I were in ancient Athens when “the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21). Most of the conversation “threads” resembled what my former college professor described as a pooling of ignorance that happens when a Sunday School teacher opens a book, reads the first paragraph, and then asks the class, “What do you think?” One nonsensical comment follows another.
When traveling through the Internet, I observed the following dangers in the “Athenian” world of blogs and forums: (Read more of this article…)