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Association Updates: November 2018

By November 27, 2018No Comments

REGULAR BAPTIST RESOURCE CENTER STAFF GIVES THANKS!

This Thanksgiving, we at the Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center are especially giving thanks to the Lord for being involved in ministry during the Church Age. We extend a special thank-you to the churches that financially support Regular Baptist Churches, enabling us to serve pastors and churches in our association.

May God bless you and your family as you gather this season and consider God’s abundant grace extended to us through Christ.

REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCHES: NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HESS
Every November our Regular Baptist Ministries administrative team enjoys meeting with the Council of Eighteen. At our recent gathering, we discussed a wide range of ministry initiatives and explored the possibility of forming new relationships with additional ministries as we “make disciples through healthy local churches.” Ministry reports and forward-thinking discussions made for an encouraging and fruitful time. I thank God for the wisdom of the men who serve sacrificially on the Council of Eighteen and for the dedicated work of our Resource Center staff.

REGULAR BAPTIST PRESS: DIRECTOR DAVID GUNN
Looking for Christmas gift ideas? Why not give your friend or loved one a gift subscription to the Baptist Bulletin? Since 1932, the Baptist Bulletin has been contending earnestly for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3) from a Regular Baptist point of view. Our magazine features analysis and discussion on a wide variety of topics, including theological and ethical issues, cultural engagement from a Biblical worldview, ministry tips and highlights, and news stories of particular interest to Regular Baptists. Subscriptions are available at just $9.95 for the digital edition and $16.95 for all access (print and digital). Subscribe online or by calling 847.585.0833.

REGULAR BAPTIST CHAPLAINCY: DIRECTOR MANNING BROWN
My wife, Jennifer, and I traveled to Independent Baptist Church in Towanda, Pennsylvania, where I presented the Regular Baptist Chaplaincy ministry. We are grateful to Pastor Donn and Lynn Hauser for their invitation to minister at the church and for their gracious hospitality. I continue to work toward obtaining 100 percent support for the chaplaincy ministry so I can devote myself full-time to the chaplaincy. Please consider gifting our ministry; $37,000 is needed to achieve this goal. The past few months have evidenced a marked increase of individuals seeking endorsement. Currently the GARBC endorses nearly 100 men and women, serving in a wide range of ordained and lay chaplaincy positions. To find out more about chaplaincy, please go to Regular Baptist Chaplaincy.

REGULAR BAPTIST INTERNATIONAL: DIRECTOR CHRIS HINDAL
During this season of giving, you can adopt a pastor in Rwanda to fund his education. The government in Rwanda has required that every pastor in that country complete a bachelor’s degree in theology within five years. An accredited Baptist seminary in Uganda is willing to offer the necessary curriculum in modules and pay a portion of the costs. The cost for this education will be $300 per year.

When you commit to Adopt-a-Pastor, you will receive information about the pastor you are directly helping. You can make a onetime donation or monthly donations. Every little bit helps. Donate online at Rwanda Adopt-a-Pastor or by check to Regular Baptist International, designating “African Project—Rwanda pastor” on your check. Out of thanksgiving to God, will you be generous with your brothers? May God richly bless you for His glory!

REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTING AND REGULAR BAPTIST BUILDERS CLUB: DIRECTOR CLARE JEWELL
The recent weeks have been a busy stretch of ministry filled with opportunities to encourage and challenge churches and leaders to fully engage in reproducing disciples, leaders, and churches. My ministry itinerary included the following:

  • Bob Jones University—I enjoyed meeting with leaders and staff members. We continue to develop a partnership to raise up leaders to help plant and revitalize churches in the GARBC. Please pray that this partnership continues to grow as we meet again in the winter/spring.
  • Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches meeting—I appreciated the association’s focus on the gospel. The more I interact with pastors and churches, the more I am convinced that we need to reengage in evangelism, personal discipleship, and leadership reproduction. At the conference I focused on these themes in a workshop on the amazing potential of local churches that have a multiplication mind-set.
  • Steamtown Church missions conference, Scranton, Pennsylvania—God keeps expanding the influence of this fairly new church. Please pray for its continued growth and development, especially in its Spanish ministry.
  • First Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Ohio–This church is now Regular Baptist Builders Club’s first official recipient of the new Lift Up grant for church revitalization. Please pray for Pastor Tom Mullins, the leadership team, and the congregation as they work together with The Unstuck Group to engage more effectively in God’s mission in their community.
  • Great Northern University, Spokane, Washington—I taught a “Heart, Mind, Soul: Islam” seminar developed by ABWE, focusing on our attitudes toward Muslims (heart), similarities and differences in beliefs (mind), and a process for developing redemptive relationships (soul). Students packed the room, eager to understand how to reach Muslims with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, a similar ABWE workshop focused on reaching the LGBTQ community. The room was overflowing with people for the presentation, so we moved to the cafeteria to accommodate the demand. Please pray as we release this LGBTQ seminar nationwide in 2019.
  • Regular Baptist Builders Club board meeting, Arlington Heights, Illinois—We discussed a record number of 11 applications for grants to help fund leadership training, church revitalization, facility improvements, and new church plants. We approved several grants and loans and are doing follow-up research. Please pray for wisdom as we finalize these decisions, and pray for God to continue to bless us with the resources we need to help churches in these ways.

GIVING OPPORTUNITY: CALIFORNIA CHURCH RAVAGED BY FIRE
Calvary Baptist Church and its members’ homes were destroyed by the Camp Fire, which swept through Paradise, California. GARBC Resource Center staff has been in contact with Pastor Gerry Zordel, who shared the extent of the devastation. See “Update: Church Suffers Great Losses in California Wildfire.” Won’t you and your church family consider helping a sister church get back on its feet and continue its ministry? Donate at Baptist Builders Club.

BROTHERHOOD MUTUAL INSURANCE PROVIDES VARIETY OF SERVICES
Be sure that your church facility is protected! Regular Baptist Ministries recommends Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company as an insurer for your church to consider. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance works exclusively with Christian ministries and has a proven track record with Regular Baptist churches. Brotherhood Mutual provides valuable risk management services, many of which are free on its website. Not only does the company offer specialized property and liability, missions travel, vehicle, and workers’ compensation insurance programs, but it also offers ministry payroll services through its payroll company, MinistryWorks. Further, A M Best, the insurance rating company, has consistently awarded Brotherhood Mutual an A (Excellent) rating.

Mike Hess, GARBC national representative, recommends Brotherhood Mutual Insurance for your church. Please refer to Mike’s letter endorsing Brotherhood Mutual for details.

INTERPAS: HELPING CHURCHES DURING TRANSITIONS
Interpas, as an extension of the Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches, is an organization of experienced and capable pastors interested in assisting churches that need interim pastors.
Interpas exists to
▪assist local churches in making a smooth transition between permanent pastors;
▪ help make this time one of encouragement, enrichment, growth, unity, and spiritual health;
▪ provide qualified and tested leadership for a church at a time when it is most needed;
▪ provide regular and consistent pulpit teaching ministries; and
▪ provide for the church a mature, spiritual leader who is called to an interim ministry without the desire to be a senior pastor

For more information, see interpas.org.

REGULAR BAPTISTS ACROSS THE STATES
Pray for sister churches during this holiday season as they present Christ as Messiah Redeemer to their communities. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment in the lives of unbelievers as they hear Scripture and listen to carols.

REGULAR BAPTIST ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM ITINERARIES
NOVEMBER 2018

Mike Hess
National Representative
6: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
12–14: GARBC Council of Eighteen meeting, Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois

Manning Brown
Director of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy
10–11: Independent Baptist Church, Towanda, Pennsylvania
12–14: GARBC Council of Eighteen meeting, Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois

David Gunn
Director of Regular Baptist Press
6: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
12–14: GARBC Council of Eighteen meeting, Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois

Chris Hindal
Director of Regular Baptist International
11: First Baptist Temple, Oshkosh, Wisconsin (a.m.)
11: Union Grove Baptist Church, Union Grove, Wisconsin (p.m.)
12–14: GARBC Council of Eighteen meeting, Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois

Clare Jewell
National Church Planting Coordinator for Regular Baptist Churches
Director of Regular Baptist Builders Club
4: First Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Ohio
5–6: Workshops, Great Northern University, Spokane, Washington
12–13: GARBC Council of Eighteen meeting, Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois
14: Regular Baptist Baptist Builders Club board meeting, Regular Baptist Ministries Resource Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois