Sent from Arizona to Serve Abroad |
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Executive Director David Johnson talks with Levi Thomason*, an Arizona Southern Baptist who recently returned from serving as an IMB Journeyman in South Asia. |
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IMB Journeyman from Arizona sees we're in it together
When Levi Thomason* was sent out by an Arizona Southern Baptist church through the International Mission Board as a Journeyman two years ago, he did not go alone. Community, as he had experienced it, was about to expand.
“I had taken for granted the community of believers that was available to me before I left on this assignment,” Thomason said. “We didn’t have the familiar potluck fellowships, Bible studies and corporate worship times once I arrived on the field.”
The community Thomason experienced during his two-year term grew to include new team members, local believers, as well as his Arizona home church.
*Name changed for security
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Council approves 2022 CP formula, hears financial update
The Convention Council of the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists approved a Cooperative Program distribution formula for 2024, received a financial update and heard a report from Executive Director David Johnson during a meeting held via Zoom May 9.
After nine consecutive years of increasing the percentage of Arizona Southern Baptists’ giving to the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program, the 2024 distribution formula will continue the percentages in the 2023 budget: Arizona Mission Network, 46.9%; SBC national and international missions and ministries, 40%; Arizona Baptist Children’s Services, 7%; and Arizona Campus of Gateway Seminary, 6.1%.
The Cooperative Program distribution formula, which was recommended to the Convention Council by the Executive Team, will be presented with the 2024 budget for approval at the annual meeting in November.
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Biblical manhood grows best in a group where “there’s no condemnation, but there’s lots of accountability.” So explained Tierce Green while speaking at ZonaMen 2023 in Williams on April 28-30.
This event is an annual retreat held at Lost Canyon, a resort-quality camp owned and operated by Young Life. This year’s retreat had the theme of “Fight Club, Some Things are Worth Fighting For.” It was attended by about 330 men representing 30 churches and ministries.
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David Johnson, who will celebrate his 10th anniversary as executive director of the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists on June 1, reported on a statistical analysis of Arizona Southern Baptists’ last 10 years during a Convention Council meeting held via Zoom May 9.
The analysis highlighted bright spots regarding church planting, Cooperative Program giving and giving to churches but also noted areas of decline in membership, baptisms and Bible study. The data was gathered from the North American Mission Board, Annual Church Profiles and AZMN annual reports.
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AZ Dessert Fellowship
Let's meet at the SBC in New Orleans
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Join fellow Arizona Southern Baptists attending the SBC annual meeting for a dessert fellowship at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel on Monday, June 12, 7-9 p.m. No cost.
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Disaster Relief Training
Cochise Association
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Attend Arizona Southern Baptist Disaster Relief training in your area!
Cochise Association, May 26-27
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Unity Conference
Yuma, June 22-24
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Unity Conference is an event made to engage youth and to invite them into being the Church. Join us at Tierra Fertil Church in Yuma on June 22-24. For details, call Alma Cruz at the AZMN office, 602-843-1030. |
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Arise AZ Conference
Sedona, Sept. 29-30
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Invite women from your church to recharge, reconnect and grow in their relationship with Jesus at Arise AZ in Sedona Sept. 29-30. The conference will feature a weekend full of worship, teaching of biblical truth through main sessions and breakout sessions meant for practical and biblical growth.
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Keep up with Baptist news beyond Arizona through Baptist Press.
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Fred & Damaris Castro
Long Branch, New Jersey, is a diverse community with people from a variety of Hispanic backgrounds, including both European-Portuguese and Brazilian backgrounds. God led Fred and Damaris Castro, a couple with a passion to reach internationals, to plant Redemption Church among the Hispanic community here. The church started an English as a Second Language (ESL) ministry to help reach people with the good news. Since the church’s launch in 2019, the ESL ministry has helped them connect with more than 200 people in the community. Many of those participants have heard the Gospel and responded in faith to God’s free offer of salvation. Your financial support through the Cooperative Program helps communities throughout our nation and the world have a faithful Gospel witness in their heart language. Pray for the Castros and Redemption Church’s work among their community as they continue to reach people with the Gospel.
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Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists | azsbc.org |
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