MINISTRY UPDATES
DAVID STROPE, Interim National Representative
Ministry in July brought a different kind of work, with some respite from travel. My wife, Debbie, and I were caught with thousands of others in United Airlines difficulties, spending extra quality time in the Denver airport and Denver area. God graciously provided for us, allowing for a few days of rest following the 2023 GARBC Conference in Oregon. We returned home weary but rejoicing in God’s goodness at the conference.
July travel brought ministries for me at Walnut Park Baptist Church, Muscatine, Iowa; Bethel Baptist Church, Schaumburg, Illinois; and the RBM office in Elgin, Illinois.
I spent one day planning for the formal rollout of the New Testament Exposition Commentary’s first volume (Matthew) and upcoming volumes. The Matthew volume is now available for sale at ntec.RegularBaptistBooks.com. Responses to this new commentary series have been positive. Plans call for the second volume, on Romans, to be published next year.
Regular Baptist Ministries continues to seek God’s individual to serve as the next director of Regular Baptist Press. Pray with us as contacts are made and interviews held.
I spent considerable time planning upcoming issues of The Baptist Bulletin and writing articles for the fall issue. Planning issues will be a responsibility I hand off to the new RBP director when that person is identified.
Many needs exist in our churches and fellowship. But many blessings are being seen as churches and our fellowship move forward in ministry for Christ.
Office Updates
The RBM staff enjoyed an outing, attending a Schaumburg (Illinois) Boomers baseball game. You may not know the RBM staff, but they all carry out their duties with excellence and aplomb. I am grateful to work alongside them.
I am scheduling ministries in churches and associations for 2024. I’d love to come to your church or association meeting to preach and represent RBM.
This Month’s Preaching and Presenting Opportunities
August 13: Faith Baptist Church, Cambridge, Iowa
August 20 (a.m.): Fosterburg Baptist Church, Bethalto, Illinois
August 20 (p.m.): Brown Street Baptist Church, Silvis, Illinois
Conference Evaluations
Evaluations of the 2023 GARBC Conference were emailed to everyone who attended. Help us by sharing your input and critique. Next year’s conference—Regular Baptist Ministries Conference 2024—will take place June 24–27 at the RBM office in Elgin, Illinois. Mike Bullmore, a pastor in Wisconsin, will speak on “Together: The Incredible Value of Biblical Fellowship.”
Parting Words
The psalmist Asaph declared, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). “May fail” simply means “fail.” Difficulty, despondency, and depression are all normal parts of life and ministry. The psalmist does not declare, “If I fail,” but rather, “I fail.”
Do not, however, yield to discouragement. The psalmist immediately says to himself, “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He does not yield to despondency but drives himself to exclaim his trust and confidence in God.
Should this be you, take special care to spend time with God in prayer. In any discouragement, cry to God in faith, “You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God” (Ps. 43:5). Purchase the New Testament Exposition Commentary: Matthew
KERRY WATKINS, Director of Church Engagement
My main role as head of operations is to get all the parts of Regular Baptist Ministries working well together. I spent the first couple of months in this position identifying and prioritizing areas where we can do better. This process will continue even as particular projects get underway to make improvement. We want to serve our customers, churches, and pastors well. Our desire is to see Regular Baptist Ministries grow and thrive by accomplishing its mission of helping churches to be healthy, disciple-making churches.
We are searching for someone to fill the position of RBP director. Ideally, this person will be a strong leader, have writing and editing experience, have experience in the publishing industry, and be strong theologically. If you know someone who would be a strong candidate to fill this position, please let that person know of the opportunity. If you just want to know more, contact me at 847-585-0837 or kwatkins@garbc.org.
We have begun the search for the next permanent national representative of the GARBC. Visit GARBC.org/national-representative-job-posting to see the specifics of the job, send in your résumé if you are interested, or nominate someone who meets the qualifications of the position.
MARK JOHNSON, Treasurer and Controller
(Budget Updates)
Warm greetings! As we reach the midway point of the year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. It is because of generous donors like you that we are able to fulfill our mission of making disciples through healthy local churches. As I review our budget for the year, I have noticed that we still need additional funding to meet our goals and finish the year stronger. Your valued support is crucial in helping us bridge this gap so we can continue impacting lives through our various ministries.
Regular Baptist Ministries provides resources and community for Regular Baptist churches and their pastors. As of June, we have received $88,200 out of our budgeted need of $200,000 for the year. We’re encouraged to be close to the halfway point, and it would take only a modest additional monthly support commitment from a few churches to reach the finish line this year!
Similarly, Regular Baptist Chaplaincy, which endorses chaplains serving in the military and community services, has received $29,500 out of its budgeted annual need of $62,000. We are encouraged to see this ministry’s budget coming close to full support.
Overseas churches with limited resources rely on support from Regular Baptist International for resources and emergency relief. As of June, we have received only $20,800 out of the budgeted annual need of $60,000. Your generous contribution would allow us to continue providing much-needed assistance to these churches and care for administrative needs.
Last, Generate, which assists churches with grants, loans, and coaching—all of which aid revitalization, leader training, and facility enhancements—is facing a shortfall as well. As of June, we have received just $22,100 out of the budgeted annual amount of $75,000. While past legacy gifts have supported us, continued giving from generous donors is essential in meeting our ongoing budget needs.
With your support, we can ensure that our ministries continue to thrive and positively impact countless lives. Your contributions have already made a tremendous difference, but we need your help to make an even greater impact. By making a gift, you can be certain that your support will directly contribute to the growth and development of churches and leaders, both locally and internationally. Together we can continue to make a lasting impact for generations to come.
I humbly invite you to make a generous contribution by visiting our website or by sending your donation to PO Box 7321, Carol Stream, IL 60197. Every gift, regardless of the amount, makes a significant difference in our ability to fulfill the mission of Regular Baptist Ministries.
DARRELL GOEMAAT, Coordinator of Regular Baptist International
We were grateful to see Joseph Akakpo at the 2023 GARBC Conference in Salem, Oregon. Joseph, a pastor with the Association of Biblical Baptist Churches in Togo, gave a report on his ministry.
A faithful giving partner Regular Baptist International donated $10,000 last month to complete two church building projects in Congo. Pastor Baluki Napoleon of the Evangelical Baptist Mission of Congo is grateful for the gift, which will provide roofing, doors, windows, cement, and pews for Duwuta Baptist Church and Highland Baptist Church. Baluki says, “Thank you for glorifying the Lord Jesus by showing your love for these people. We are blessed to build these churches.”
Also in Congo, Pastor Safari Munyakazi Jean-Bosco thanks Regular Baptist International for a financial grant to help people and church families in his community displaced by war. Safari visited a refugee camp and invited all 106 families to his church, where he gave them food, pots, pans, soap, and basins for laundry and bathing. “The people did not hide their joys,” Safari says. They told him, “God is great” and “He answered our prayers.” He thanks donors of Regular Baptist International for their support. “God bless them,” he says.
Students in Manipur, India, attended Vacation Bible School using Regular Baptist Press’s previously published program To the Edge: Encounter the God of the Universe. Regular Baptist Press International sent the materials digitally, and the association printed about 6,000 copies for its churches. Berean Baptist Ministries has used RBP’s VBS materials for the last five years. “I learned that many Baptist churches in my district like these materials, and many children are saved through this VBS ministry,” says B. T. Pousiam, president of Berean Baptist Ministries. “Together we can reach more children.”
In other parts of Manipur, India, military conflict continues to threaten lives. H. C. Stephen and Thangkhanlal Hangluah are ministering to homeless and jobless people affected by tribal fighting over land rights. “There are gunfights and a total standstill of all normal life activities, including a suspension of internet connectivity since May 4,” H. C. says. Thanghanlal says, “Our lives are in constant danger for 24 hours every day, and our villages and houses can be burnt down at any time.” Thangkhanlal is providing shelter for at 30 people at Hope Baptist Academy, a ministry of the New Testament Baptist Churches Association, and H. C.’s church is ministering to people in refugee shelters.
Please pray for the return of peace in Manipur, and please consider a gift to Regular Baptist International so we can continue to support the needs of our partnering ministries.
MANNING BROWN, Director of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy
Chaplains endorsed by Regular Baptist Chaplaincy continue to demonstrate their excellence in ministry and their adaptability in bringing Christ-centered care, counsel, and comfort to a hurting world. Prayerfully consider joining them. The need is great, and the calling to serve as a chaplain is even greater. To find out how to become a chaplain or to partner with Regular Baptist Chaplaincy through giving, please visit RegularBaptistChaplaincy.org.
CLARE JEWELL, Director of Generate
More than 20 churches signed up to participate in a disciple-making survey that I will conduct in September or October. My goal is to engage with 500 Regular Baptist churches. Please pray for pastors and churches to respond. The survey results will be used to develop a seminar to help churches get more engaged in generational disciple making. It could also form the basis for a book.
Please also pray for Generate’s 50/50 fundraising initiative. I am praying for 50 churches to support Generate at a level of $50 per month. At the 2023 GARBC Conference, a few churches indicated that they would follow through on this. I will send invitations to all Regular Baptist churches in August through October.
Generate will sponsor eight more M3 Conferences (previously called Church Solutions Conference) to help get churches focused on disciple making, leadership development, and church planting. Please pray that many will attend. So far the following conferences are scheduled:
- October 10: Fayetteville, North Carolina
- November 13: Newaygo, Michigan
- November 14: Allendale, Michigan
- December 5: Fort Myers, Florida
- February 19: Vacaville, California
- February 20: Fresno, California
- February 22: Moreno Valley, California
- TBD: Moses Lake, Washington
A new church plant is set to launch in October in Salem, Oregon. Please pray for this church to get off to a great start and to reach the unsaved with the gospel.
Itinerary
August 12–18: Gitche Gumee Bible Camp, Eagle River, Michigan
August 22–25: ABWE leadership retreat, Colorado Springs, Colorado
August 28–30: Parent church bootcamp, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
