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Monthly News & Updates from across the MBA...
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News from our churches, our associational missionary, our WMU, and our convention...
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Check out our information center, contact info, and a printable version of this newsletter!
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Registration forms available for our MBA
Children's Camp, July 16-19, 2018
Coastal Empire Christian Camp (Hiltonia)
Cost: $100/child Registration form: on website
Kids who have finished 1st grade thru just finished 6th grade
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Missionary's Musings by Bobby Braswell, Jr.
Resurrection is a powerful reality in Christian understanding and theology. The historical reality of Jesus rising from the dead is the compelling force behind every missionary venture, every journey of local church renewal, and every story we could celebrate of God's Kingdom breaking in among us. I am so grateful for the ways that God is clearly giving new life among his people. I want to share a few examples.
Elam Millen -
Pastor Jody Bryant quietly led this congregation to baptize 31 new followers of Jesus last year. Elam is located in Four Points Community in rural Jenkins County on the old "Woodpecker Trail", but their impact is being felt among their neighbors and as far away as El Salvador and as near as Savannah where the church regularly travels to feed the homeless. Jody is leading the church to practice community engagement through child fostering ministry and caring for "the least of these."
FBC Springfield
- Pastor Mike Spivey came to a church that was entrenched in turmoil. Following the death of a beloved pastor of 25 years and a subsequent crisis of identity and direction, God is using Mike and the members of FBC to reach many new young families. I love seeing the social media posts, week after week of new families who are connecting with FBC Springfield.
Rocky Ford -
In a town of fewer than 200 people, the church at Rocky Ford is a great turn-around story. Mike Johnston, a marine veteran and first time pastor has seen sustained growth through his first five years of ministry. He recently travelled with me to the Georgia Baptist Associational Missionary's retreat to narrate the story of God's faithfulness to His church there. Mike also is engaging the community and County by serving them. Through Mike's efforts to patiently know and love the congregation God is consistently adding to His body there.
Newington -
Following a Baptist Collegiate Ministry retreat at Georgia Southern University recently, Pastor Aaron Webb is looking at baptizing between 12-15 middle and high school students on Easter Sunday. I recently preached at NBC on a Sunday morning when Aaron was down with the flu and the congregation is an amazing phenomenon: black, white and Hispanic worshipers and an incredible number of school age children and youth (who were intensely engaged) greeted me. There is a faithful core group of believers there who God is greatly using to transform their community.
Pineora -
Pineora recently held a community outreach event (Easter Eggtravaganza with 10k eggs!) that attracted 557 registered guests from their community (not including the members of the church who were there in support of the event). These guests were registered for drawings and give-aways (and follow-up). This was truly a "low-risk/high grace" event. God is using pastor Brian McElveen and His people at Pineora in a phenomenal way.
Double Heads -
This congregation recently called a young pastor (Joel Vancil), who at a mere 24 years-of-age has already been used by God to lead a church through revitalization in his hometown of Sunfield, Illinois. God is leading Joel to serve Double Heads and continue his education simultaneously at Brewton-Parker College. I had the opportunity to meet Joel and Alexis, his wife on their candidating visit and I am so excited for Double Heads! Joel has been connected to his former association and is committed to cooperative missions.
Conclusion -
There are so many more stories that could be told about God's work among His churches. Hopefully we can tell those stories later, too. But here is the main takeaway for me lately: there is no reason God can't do this where you are. There is absolutely nothing preventing God from breaking out in resurrection power in your church. These communities where God is working are mostly rural, sometimes (not always) flat-lined population wise. It's not stopping God from working (Ephesians 3:20)!
Blessings!
Bobby Braswell
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First Baptist Springfield will host Sunrise Services on April 1st at 6:30am with breakfast to follow. On April 15thcelebrate "Hope on the Hill" following morning church services with lunch, kickball, inflatables, Kona Ice, and much more fun!
Newington Baptist Church is having a community Easter event with food, fun and games on Easter Sunday for all, Sunday April 1st.
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All are invited to a Community Sunrise Service at 7am at the Sylvania Amphitheater on Easter Morning with Rev. Pete Wall preaching. Christ Arose!
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Bay Branch Baptist Church welcomes Rev. Bo Fulginiti (Cedar St., Metter) as their Revival speaker, April 15th (6pm) through April 18th (Weeknights-7pm). Come be REVIVED!
North Newington Baptist Church is planning a 225th anniversary celebration on May 6th. Rev. Mike Everson (South Georgia State Missionary) will be the guest speaker and a covered dish lunch will follow. Begins at 11am, COME!
North Newington Baptist Church is seeking a pianist for their church services. Please call Rev. Slade Speir (229-308 -1179) or Lynn Sheppard (912-682-7712).
Elam Baptist Church will host the Jenkins County 5th Sunday sing on April 29th at 6pm. The Screven County sing will be at Farmdale Baptist Church at 6pm.
Oak Hill Baptist Church welcomes their new Youth Pastor, Joseph Gomez. He grew up in Emanuel Co., graduated from GSU and SEBTS. Welcome to the field! Easter Sunday Sunrise Service starts at 7:30am followed by breakfast and worship at 11am. Children's Movie night is April 21st at 7pm. The Youth Lunch Fundraisier to go to IMPACT camp is April 22nd after worship. The Ladies Retreat is April 27-28, details TBA.
Millen Baptist Church hosts Narcotics Anonymous meetings on Mondays and Fridays at 8pm in the youth house. Call the church office for details.
Friends of Screven County Animals (FOSCA) will host a "Spayghetti" dinner at the Mission Center on April 10th. See FOSCA members for tickets.
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Bay Branch Baptist Church's pastor,
Rev. Blake Hicks (912-682-3176), would like to enlist pastor's/citizen's resistance to the proposed Sunday alcohol sales that Screven Co. Commissioners/ Sylvania Councilmen are putting before voters. Please call or text him with your ideas or plans to deter this local legislation.
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"Thrive"
with Larry Wynn
at Mission Center
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Servant Leader Group
meets
10am at Mission Center
April 30th
"Revitalize" by Andrew Davis
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Celebrate the Risen Lord on Easter Sunday! A great time to reflect and renew your commitment to missions! I hope a lot of you will be attending the WMU Spring Event at Stone Mountain this month. There are always inspirational speakers on the agenda. Also, if you are struggling to keep your group afloat, plan on attending the MBA's Spring Summit. The speakers will have fresh ideas for revitalization and for building children's ministries.
Keep the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering front and center in your churches. Our missionaries here in North America (NAMB) have a vast field to work in. We need to support them with our dollars and our hands, feet and prayers. Spotlighting our home missionaries is easy by downloading videos (https://www.namb.net/media-public-relations). Follow the link for the "2018 AA Press Kit".
Your WMU leadership team is meeting to plan for the coming months. Email your ideas to Annora at the MBA ([email protected]). If you need WMU training or help call me, Chris, at the number below.
Happy Resurrection Day!
DATES TO REMEMBER:
►
Georgia Baptist Women's Spring Event, April 13-14 Stone Mtn... gabaptistwomenspringevent.com
5 "But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."
Matthew 28: 5-7
Chris Oglesby, W.M.U. Associational Director, 912-863-3631
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REGIS
TER NOW of our Spring Summit! Revitalization!
April 21, 2018-FBC Springfield
with Chuck Lawless, Josh Hunt & Ron Klassen
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2018 Pastor-Deacon-Spouse Retreat
April 27-28 GBCC Toccoa
$75/person double $95/person single
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Public Affairs Training
GBMMC, April 9-10
Minister to legislators
gabaptist.org
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Happy Birthday to:
Lillian Ray -4- retired
Ralph Dixon-8-Jackson
Tiffany Speir-8-North Newington
Frankie Braswell -9- MBA
David Buie -13- retired
Paul Curry-16-Green Fork
Pat Lanier -17- retired
Terry J. Joyner-27-Retired
(Mrs)
Happy Anniversary to:
Paul Moore - 06 - Elam Egypt
Slade Speir-13-North Newington
Chad Cofield-15-Little Horse Ck
For Basic help with websites...
call Annora at the Mission Center!
Event Trailer
request form is on our website for our member churches to access or call (912)564-2884 for calendar check. First come, first serve basis.
VBS sign-up has BEGUN!!!
Food Pantry
:
Grits (1 or 2lb), powdered milk, peanut butter
For Pastors-confidential phone counseling
(844)727-8677 thru NAMB
SUPPORT MISSIONS WITH EMPTY INKJET CARTRIDGES. THERE
'
S A COLLECTION BOX
&
POSTPAID MAILERS AT MISSION CTR. PROCEEDS SUPPORT MISSIONS. RECYCLE
!
We still recycle Sunday School literature to foreign countries. We
do
not
want Mission Mosaics, Home Lifes, Modern Maturity, Guideposts, RA/GA magazines etc...
Check Out our updated Website: www.middlebaptistassociation.org
Like us on Facebook: Middle Baptist Association
Not receiving this Newsletter: send us an email!
Guido Bible
College
, Metter, GA
Associate & Bachelor Degrees
(Now Accredited!!!)
Call (912)685-2222
Online: www.guidobibleinstitute.org
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On Mission Demographics:
Knowing the Community and
Knowing what to do about it.
Interested in learning to think about your community with a more missionary focus? Learn about your community demographic trends (5-10 mile radius) combined with a ten year in-church statistical overview plus interesting sociological studies from the most recent US census and other sources. Call to schedule a time w/ your congregation (912) 564-2884. Even if your population growth is flat or negative, this study can be valuable.
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Coming in
May...Thrive finale, National Day of Prayer (5/3), Mother's Day, Children's Home Day, Memorial Day, VBS season starts...
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Invest in the Kingdom
The MBA Ministry Foundation
The MBA Ministry Foundation will provide resources to strengthen and serve churches and equip Biblical leaders. This fund supports ministries outside of our normal operating budget.
Please pray & give generously.
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"The Calling and Preparation of Deacons"
touches on the foundations, qualifications and pitfalls of deacon ministry. If it's been a while since you have done any deacon
training, this would be a good, 1-hour primer. Call us at
(912) 564-2884 to arrange a time with your church's deacons.
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Middle Baptist Assn. P.O. Box 160, Sylvania, GA 30467 (912)564-2884
Bobby Braswell, Jr. - Associational Missionary
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