Houston Herald
September 2018
A publication of
Houston Baptist Association
Reaching Our World For Christ
From Your Associational Mission Strategist
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of these things will be added to you”  
Matthew 6:33

In his book, “ The Kingdom Focused Church ” Gene Mims gives a clear understanding of the Kingdom of God in which he states, “The kingdom of God is the reign of God in today’s world. The kingdom is the ultimate reality and sovereign movement of God in the universe. This is expressed in the transforming truth that Jesus Christ rules over all things and is evidenced by God’s supernatural work in and through believers in local churches. The Kingdom of God must be the central life focus that every person should seek and align with in order to know the full and abundant life God created people to experience in Christ”.
It has been my observation through the years that one of the reasons we are not receiving God’s blessings in our lives and in our churches is because we tend to have our focus on ourselves and our preferences rather than having a kingdom mindset. We all have been guilty at times in this area and we need to understand that it’s never about us, but it is all about God and building His Kingdom. Gene Mims also states in his book, “With a kingdom focus any church can and will flourish. A Kingdom-focused church will be strong in time of trouble and change. It will be certain in uncertain times. It will persevere with confidence in God’s work. A Kingdom focused church is a powerful tool the Lord uses to accomplish His purposes”. When we keep our focus on ourselves and our desires, we lose sight of the Kingdom and people will continue to perish and miss out on spending eternity in Heaven. The kingdom will not grow unless we fully understand our mission and purpose and commit our lives to the task God has called us too. I pray that God will help me to stay focused on the Kingdom and I trust that this will be your prayer as well!

I am excited about our Annual Meeting on September 9th. I truly believe that God has a word for us as Rev. Mike Stone (president of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) brings God’s message to us. Mike is an anointed preacher and you do not want to miss out on what God has in store for us. I am also excited that we will spend a few minutes celebrating what God has done this past year through the missional efforts of our churches and our association mission teams. There is no doubt this meeting will be a celebration of all that God has done and we will be challenged to continue to tell the gospel message to every lost person in our communities as well as other places God will lead us in the coming year! I look forward to seeing all our churches at FBC Unadilla. The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. and we will have a time of fellowship after the service! Please be praying for our meeting and that God will stir our hearts to continue reaching the lost in our communities!

Bro. Gary

Church
News


Arabi Church will have revival services September 16-19. Sunday at 11:00 AM & 6:00 PM and nightly Monday-Wednesday at 7:00 pm with Guest Speaker Georgia Baptist Mission Board State Missionary from Church Revitalization and Evangelism, Randy Mullinax. Nursery will be provided.

Ebenezer Church will have revival services September 16-20 beginning at 11:00 am and 6:00 pm Sunday and Monday-Thursday at 7:00 pm.

Northen Heights Church will celebrate Homecoming on September 16 at 10:30 AM with food and fellowship following the service.

Pleasant Grove Church will be having revival services September 23-26 begining at 6:00 PM on Sunday and 7:00 PM Monday-Wednesday with Guest Speaker Blake Westbrook.

Vienna First Church will have Revival Meetings September 16-19. Sunday at 10:55 AM and 6:30 PM and nighly Monday- Wednesday at 6:30 PM with Guest Speaker Dr. Brandon Furr, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Warrenton, Georgia. They will also have HOMECOMING Sunday, October 28th at 10:55 A.M. and Dr. J.W. Wallis will be their Guest Speaker.

Northern Heights Church, participated in the City of Cordele National Night Out.
Morningside Baptist Church also participated in Cordele's National Night Out.
Coming Soon!!
Church Revitalization Conference to be held at Morningside Baptist Church
Save the date now for the first weekend in October.
More details to come.....
Please pray for

■Asssociational Missionary Gary Leutzinger
■Church planters Drew and Shannon Cunningham, Santa Cruz Area, California
■Church planters Adam and Ashley Sewell, Pittsburgh Area, Pennsylvania
■Buford Calhoun
■Mary Linda and Warren Hall
■Janet and John Pate
■Merle Sheffield; Lauralyn & Troy Drew
■ Myra Davis-Hatley Baptist Church
■Pregnancy Care Center–Crisp, Dooly, Wilcox
■Lost and unchurched people
■Revival in HBA churches
■Unity in our churches and unity among our churches
■Churches without pastors: Bakerfield, Dooling, Lakeshore and Penia
■TV ministries of Cordele First, and Pinecrest churches 
■Our schools, teachers and students
■All the events and activities mentioned in this newsletter

Church positions available

Ebenezer Church is seeking a part time worship leader for more information please contact Jared Worthy at jworthy00@gmail.com

Smyrna Church is seeking a part-time minister of music. Contact Linda White at 229-268-6792.

Pinehurst Church is seeking a part-time youth leader. Contact Pinehurst for more information
Opportunities
coming up

Houston Baptist Association events are printed in bold. HBC is an abbreviation for Houston Baptist Center.

Tuesdays Men’s Prayer
Breakfast 8am, HBC

September 2 Single Adult Sunday

September 3 HBC Closed for Labor Day


September 9 188th Annual Meeting, 5:00 pm, Unadilla First
 
September 16 Anti-Gambling Sunday

September 16 National Back to Church Sunday





Save the Date!

Ministers and Wives

Appreciation Banquet

October 29

What to do with all those old Sunday School books?  

Don’t throw them away–bring them to HBC

Bring your old SS literature to Houston Baptist Center. Chad Harris will take it to a Edwin L. Hodges Ministries collection site to send overseas. ELHM is a Christian literature ministry that collects donated Bibles, books, magazines, tapes, and tracts from American Christians and ships them to Bible schools, churches, missionaries, and ministries overseas. ELHM is a non-denominational, nonprofit, evangelical ministry.
Blood Drives
Cordele
Community Clubhouse
108 15th Avenue
Tuesday- September 11 
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Crisp Regional Hospital 
902 7th Street N. 
Thursday - September 6
10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Who: Each Pastor and his spouse who do not have health insurance

What: Complete health screening and dental care by physicians and health care professionals.

Cost: FREE to each minister and his spouse who DO NOT have health insurance. Registration is required

Sponsored by: Church Minister Relations, The Georgia Baptist Mission Board and The Georgia Baptist Healthcare Foundation
For ministers who are new to Georgia and first-time pastors/staff in a GBMB church, who have never attended this event.
The following meals will be provided: Thursday lunch and dinner; Friday lunch. If needed, lodging can be provided for those outside of the metro Atlanta area.
October 6-7
GO:21 is a missions immersion weekend for middle and high school students sponsored by Georgia Baptist Women, Georgia Baptist Student Groups & Faith Development, and Northeast area missions. Students will leave with a greater understanding of people from other parts of the world, of needs in their own communities, and how God is calling them to respond.

Cost $89
Includes: Program fee, Lodging, 4 meals, and a t-shirt
All participants need to bring bed linens or sleeping bag, pillow, and towel.
The Mission Georgia Offering is an annual emphasis which supports the ministries, missions, and evangelism work of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. 
Partner with Lifetouch to create a no cost, updateable directory for your leadership, staff and families and start 2018 with new tools to help your church stay connected.
Be a Church Host or Volunteer in times of disaster!