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April BB Pulse Newsletter

By March 30, 2022March 31st, 2022No Comments

Here’s a closer look at what’s happening around the GARBC this month! 

Letter from the Interim National Representative

Greetings in the name of our wonderful Lord Jesus!

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–14).

We possess a great heritage as a fellowship of churches. For 90 years we have stood faithfully for the gospel of Christ as churches committed to making disciples of all nations. Great servants, wonderful pastors, illustrious Council of 18 members, large and flourishing churches, small and healthy churches. These are all a part of our past. And our past has some “checkers”: internecine wars, dwindling general health of churches, pride, extreme independence, closure of churches and sister institutions.

Yet the good, the bad, the ugly we forget (particularly the good!). We reset our focus. We press on to accomplish God’s purpose in saving us and in the building of His church. With undistracted gaze we focus on our “one thing”: “reaching forward to those things which are ahead” to “press toward the goal” (Philippians 3:13–14).

We hope to see you at the GARBC’s annual reunion, the 2022 GARBC Conference June 27–30. Pastor Jeff Halsted and the pastoral and administrative staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids are working diligently with Regular Baptist Ministries home office staff members to prepare for the conference.

The Council of 18 National Representative Search Committee also meets regularly, reviewing past and present ministries of our fellowship and anticipating the man God will lead to us as our next national representative. Pray much for the search committee!

In life and ministry as followers of Christ and as churches, we must possess a “sanctified forgetfulness”—having a singular, fixed gaze upon the “one thing” and gaining the “prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

I pray daily for our churches, looking through our directory to intercede for our churches and the pastors who lead them.

Serving by His Grace, 

David E. Strope
Interim National Representative

P.S.: Remember to participate in the nomination of men for June’s Council of 18 election. Submit your nominations at garbcConference.org.

 

Ministry Updates

DAVID STROPE, Interim National Representative

ENCOURAGEMENT: When raising our three children, I quite often needed to remind myself to pay attention and affirm them when they did well. Too often I found myself noticing them (scolding) when misbehavior overtook them.

Likewise, we often look at our lives, our churches, our movement, noticing only the need, the struggle, the weakness, the failures.

Last month I visited and ministered at a small, healthy church, Norton (Ohio) Baptist Church, pastored by Sean Yusten. This church has seen better days in previous generations. However, its care for people, innovative and regular outreach ministry in the community, and effective ministry to the body of Christ have brought this church growth, adult spiritual conversions, and renewed enthusiasm. A perfect church? By no means! A small church that is growing incrementally, manifesting spiritual health? Yes! So let’s celebrate this and other churches experiencing God’s blessing.

MINISTRY: The month of March brought me ministry in Colorado, Ohio, and Illinois with churches, state fellowships, and the Regular Baptist Ministries home office. In the words of Rembert Byrd Carter, a past professor of mine, “I have acquitted myself of the charge of laziness.”

SEARCH: The National Representative Search Committee continues meeting, working on big picture items in its search responsibility. A full report will be shared with our fellowship at the 2022 GARBC Conference business session.

2022 GARBC CONFERENCE: Planning for the 2022 GARBC Conference is ramping up. “Truth Matters” is the conference theme, with Nicolas and Venessa Ellen serving as keynote speaker and speaker to women. Plan to attend at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids June 27–30. The conference promises to be a great time of reunion and encouragement. A unique feature will be worship led by Matt Papa.

Register Now

TRANSITION: No April Fool’s joke! Though I had no idea I’d find myself in the role of interim national representative, God is giving grace and joy to both my wife, Debbie, and me in this ministry. We seek your continued prayer that God would give wisdom, joy, and fruitfulness in our service. We yet find great strength in God’s perfect way and His proven Word (Psalm 18:30)!

“I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24, CSB).

 

KERRY WATKINS, Director of Church Engagement

David Strope, interim national representative, and I will continue holding online meetings this year with pastors. The focus will be helping pastors better understand the purpose of the GARBC and encouraging greater participation in the association. These meetings are by invite only, as we want to keep them small enough to allow time to answer everyone’s questions. 

Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 27, at 11:30 a.m. CT. If you are interested in attending or know of pastors who would be helped and encouraged by attending, please email me and I will schedule those interested for an upcoming meeting.

Email Kerry

 

MARK JOHNSON, Controller and Treasurer

Plan to attend the 2022 GARBC Conference June 27–30 at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. We would love to see you there.

Nicolas and Venessa Ellen will serve as keynote speaker and speaker to women on the theme “Truth Matters.” Along with hearing insight from the Ellens, you will enjoy attending engaging sessions on ministry, reuniting with friends across the fellowship, networking with like-minded ministry leaders, and participating in worship led by musician and songwriter Matt Papa.

The conference promises to be a great time of reunion and encouragement. Registration is now open. Don’t miss this opportunity to be equipped and refreshed in life and ministry.

Register Now

 

​​DAVID GUNN, Director of Regular Baptist Press

If you haven’t already done so, consider adding RBP’s new Strong Students curriculum to your church’s educational resources.

Our two courses for Summer 2022 are Ripple Effect (a course on the book of Acts for middle school students, in which the advance of Christ’s unstoppable plan is traced through the earliest days of the church’s existence) and Alpha Omega (a course for high school students on the character, nature, and attributes of God).

In an age of widespread confusion, competing narratives, and relativistic values, students need instruction that is firmly rooted in God’s Word and that challenges them to commit their lives to Christ.

 

MANNING BROWN, Director of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy

In the midst of uncertainty both domestically and around the globe, chaplains endorsed through Regular Baptist Chaplaincy are providing Christ-centered counsel, comfort, and care across the spectrum of ministry. Chaplains are a “force multiplier” for the GARBC as they reach individuals and families in often nontraditional settings. To find out more and how you can support Regular Baptist Chaplaincy, please visit RegularBaptistChaplaincy.org.

Itinerary

  • April 7: Speaking in Clarks Summit University chapel

 

CLARE JEWELL, Director of Generate

We had a good turnout in Rochester, Minnesota, for our Church Solutions Conference. This conference continues to provide the vision and tools for pastors and churches to focus on evangelism, making disciples, developing leaders, and planting churches. I look forward to hosting conferences in Jamestown and Northfield, Ohio, and in Sarasota, Florida, in April. Please pray for pastors to continue to attend and respond as we encourage them to develop a culture of ministry reproduction in their churches.

I’m also looking forward to a weekend retreat with 15 Hispanic pastors from around the country. We will be having deeper discussions about the state of the Hispanic church in North America and how to best mobilize them to fulfill the Great Commission. Please pray for good understanding and transparency as we work through key issues together. Also pray that some of these pastors will consider fellowshipping with the GARBC.

Itinerary

  • April 5: Church Solutions Conference, Jamestown, Ohio
  • April 10: Speaking at Kuna Baptist Church, Kuna, Idaho
  • April 12: Church Solutions Conference in Northfield, Ohio
  • April 21–22: Baptist Network Northwest Annual Meeting, Boise, Idaho
  • April 24: Speaking at Lakewood Park Baptist Church, Auburn, Indiana
  • April 28–29: Church Solutions Conference, Sarasota, Florida

 

DARRELL GOEMAAT, Coordinator of Regular Baptist International

Persecution and natural disasters have continued to plague our Regular Baptist International partners this month. Still, the gospel is being preached and people are professing faith in Christ. In India, 65 people were baptized at a service in December.

A horrible war is raging in the Ituri region of Congo, and civilians are being forced to flee their homes. Pastor Mandela Lutaumbe Lualika, from the Union des Communautes des Eglises Baptiste, reports that the conflict has displaced at least 972 people. In addition, he says 40 people were killed and 20 people were kidnapped. Businesses were looted, livestock was stolen, and many homes and shops were set on fire. Many Congolese are now living in displacement camps without necessities, including food and shelter. “Many Christians of our UCEBA church are also victims of wars,” he says. “We ask for prayer for those people who are suffering. They do not have help. They don’t have food, drinking water, blankets, or clothes.”

The impact from a cyclone in Malawi is getting worse, as “a police station, agriculture, Malawi Revenue Authority, and immigration offices at Muloza are submerged in water following the bursting of Limbuli River,” says Francis Chipukunya, founder and projects leader of Going Home Africa Ministries. In the Chikwawa district, 477 students have been unable to attend a local primary school following tropical storm Ana. Many of the students’ parents lost their belongings when these families’ houses washed away in the floodwaters. About 2,000 members of Francis’s church were among those affected by the storm. Many families have sought refuge in faraway places, preventing the children from attending school.

Thankfully, in another part of Congo, Pastor Ndihokubwimana Pascal of the Community of Baptist Churches of Central Africa reports that two churches are being built. In the past, grants from Regular Baptist International have supported his ministry by providing funds for leadership training and scholarships for pastors. Now the churches need about $1,400 to purchase metal sheets to finish walls and roofs for those buildings.

Even though Regular Baptist International was able to provide assistance to several partners last year, the ministry urgently needs to replenish its compassion fund. Donations to this fund are sent to partnering ministries and their churches when they need to recover from natural disasters or man-made conflicts. Consider donating to the compassion fund, and please remember these displaced people in your prayers.

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