NEVADA, Iowa—The Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches held its 80th Annual Conference April 13 and 14. Approximately 150 messengers from the 99 churches met at Nevada Baptist Church to consider the theme “God’s Church: Doing the First Works.”
“The First Works” refers to Revelation 2:4 and 5: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen and do the first works.” Tim Capon, state representative for the association, says, “It is our burden to reclaim, by God’s grace, a Great Commission focus for our lives and ministries.” He hoped that the main sessions and workshops would compel attendees “to go with greater passion, power, and purpose.”
Capon opened the conference by preaching from Revelation 2:1–7, focusing his challenge on the words “remember,” “repent,” and “redo.” With only one hour of the two-day conference set aside for business, the schedule emphasizes the preaching of the Word of God. Main speakers were Pastor David Strope of Ankeny Baptist Church (“Reviving Our Spiritual Health”), Pastor Daniel Hartwig of Calvary Baptist Church in Dysart (“Remembering Our Great Commission”), and Pastor Mike Augsburger of Willow Creek Baptist in West Des Moines (“Rethinking Our Theology of Gospel Outreach”).
In addition to hearing from these pastors, conferees were invited to attend two of five practical workshops: “Connecting with Your Community” with Dennis Reynolds, pastor of Nevada Baptist, and James Reynolds, associate pastor of Nevada Baptist; “Developing a Disciple-Making Culture” with Joe Earle, pastor of Grace Baptist in Harlan; “Leading and Training for Effective Evangelism” with Jason Reynolds, program director at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp; “Disciple-Making through Community Bible Studies” with Scott Onofrio, associate pastor of Faith Baptist in Mason City; and “Woman to Women: Reaching Out” with Sandy Capon, wife Tim Capon.
At the business session on the first afternoon, the association received Community Baptist Church in Ankeny into its fellowship and voted on new members for its Council of Ten.
