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Post by Church News on Jul 13, 2008 6:13:35 GMT -5
The Blame GameThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Baptisms are down and many churches are in decline. Much research is being conducted and books are being written as part of the effort to find a solution. In a ChurchCentral.com article entitled “Eight signs of spiritually dead churches and six signs of resurrection,” adapted with permission from “A Second Resurrection” by Bill Easum, Easum blames denominational and church leaders who are spiritually dead. “The only solution for a spiritually dead congregation is resurrection,” Easum said, adding that only God can give new life. Easum, a well known church consultant and former pastor, wrote that the starting point for unfreezing a stuck organizational system is the development of a solid community of faith that includes spiritual leadership, trust, a desire to connect with the unchurched world, and the absence of major conflict. “True spiritual maturity is approached when people turn their attention to those outside the church and seek ways to spread the good news rather than exercise their entitlements as members,” Easum said. He believes that the pastor and church leaders must first experience a personal resurrection and then the church will follow. “Spiritually alive churches, no matter what their form or where they are planted, always grow,” Easum concluded. “That is what the church was put on earth to do – spread the good news.” During his final address as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Frank Page said, “we have been ignoring God’s call to repentance and failing to be relevant to a culture that sees us as representatives of death, not as representatives of life. … The problem is not somebody else, the problem is me.” I would like to suggest a couple of things that God has shown me recently. When I stood at the gravesite of a close friend recently, I not only dealt with my grief but the fact that God has left me here to share the good news with fire in my soul. Secondly, God has shown me that I can deal with temptation by quoting scripture as Jesus did. We must deal with sin that quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit and renders us powerless. Brokenness over our sin and disobedience leads to repentance. Then we can praise God for His forgiveness through the atoning death of Jesus on the cross. It is a privilege to be forgiven and to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit. We can tell our story with humility and joy of how God is transforming our lives each day and the Kingdom will grow through His church. I want to encourage you to respond to God as the Holy Spirit guides you in becoming all that God has called you to be. Blame no one; just claim what God has available for you! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Aug 3, 2008 12:42:14 GMT -5
Transformed Kentucky ChangersThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Every summer, Kentucky Changers spend a week working to transform the homes of those who cannot afford much-needed repairs. However, it is the transforming of the lives of those who are involved that continues long after the projects are complete. This year Kentucky Changers repaired more than 80 homes in Monticello, Maysville and Williamsburg. There were also 22 professions of faith and 15 commitments to vocational Christian ministry from among the 972 participants. Homeowners are greatly impacted by Kentucky Changers. Crewmembers always have an opportunity to share the Gospel with homeowners, and several of them pray to receive Christ each summer. Homeowners include widows, single moms, older couples and disabled persons. A homeowner in one recent case had become bitter after being unfairly treated many times by people who took her money without completing the work. When the Kentucky Changers demonstrated Christ’s love to her while repairing her roof and 19 windows and window frames, she was overwhelmed and grateful. “The homeowners felt the love of the crews,” said Michelle Paschall, youth minister for Memorial Baptist Church, Murray. During the Friday night celebrations following each week of Kentucky Changers, most homeowners are present and the crews have the opportunity to rejoice with them while viewing before and after pictures of their homes. Paschall, a 13-year veteran of Kentucky Changers and an experienced crew leader, added that the week of Kentucky Changers ministry continues to impact teens and adults throughout the year. “There was great improvement in the house, but the greatest improvement was in my life,” one teenaged participant said. In Williamsburg this summer, the preacher for the week asked those who made professions of faith during the week and those who had made commitments to vocational Christian service to come forward. Three young men professed their faith in Jesus Christ, and seven young men and women acknowledged their calls to vocational ministry. The audience of their peers applauded each one and promised to pray for them. The celebration there was made possible by a partnership with the University of the Cumberlands Mountain Outreach program. Director Mark Hensley and 12 student “runners” helped make sure the Kentucky Changers crews had the materials needed for their projects. “You worked in the rain, sun and mud, and still completed the assignments,” Peggy Murphy, ministry assistant for the Baptist Men on Mission Dept., said in commending the students. Churches in the areas where Kentucky Changers worked are also to be commended for providing noon meals at the job sites for participants. Pray for all teens as they return to school soon and pray that Christian teens will remain strong in their Christian values. Missions gifts through the Cooperative Program enable ministries like Kentucky Changers to exist. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Aug 10, 2008 7:26:09 GMT -5
Crossings Sets RecordThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Over the past nine years, Crossings Camps have provided incredible spiritual experiences for teens and chaperones across Kentucky. This summer alone, Crossings hosted 6,118 participants – a new record. And while final counts have yet to be reported, Crossings has already celebrated more than 220 professions of faith and 430 calls to full-time vocational ministry. “God chose Crossings for us…and it was exactly what we needed,” wrote Troy Richardson of First Twelve Mile Baptist Church, in an e-mail to Scott Bidwell, program director for the Jonathan Creek Camp and Conference Center. "We had four students who made first-time decisions for Christ, and many more who said they needed to get back on track with God,” he said. “It felt like the ‘Blueprint’ theme had been chosen specifically for our group. Everything that we learned was what we needed to hear.” Richardson shared the following quotes from students: “My Bible study leader explains things in a way that I can understand.” “The TAWG booklets (Time Alone With God) are awesome…they are written so I can understand them. I finally get it.” “We can’t wait to go back to Crossings.” He also shared examples of two students whose lives were touched during their camp experiences. He told of one student who got off the bus and ran to her grandmother, wrapped her arms around her and said, “I’m sorry for the way that I have been acting. I love you!’” Richardson said another student “did not eat on the way home because she had given all of her money to the missions offering used to help kids go to camp in Zambia.” “It is hard to put into words, but you and your staff have made a difference in our lives,” he said. “Thank you for your willingness to serve in this capacity.” This is just one example of how Crossings is impacting church youth groups across Kentucky. By the end of the summer, Richardson’s testimony could be multiplied more than 250 times for all of the youth groups that will participate in the camps. David Melber, president and CEO for Kentucky Baptist Assemblies, is hoping more churches will bring unchurched teens to the camps. Melber said unchurched teens can come at half the cost, but only 42 applications were received this year. According to Melber, the 65-member summer staff works hard to build relationships with camp participants, unlike other church group-based camps. Crossings asks youth leaders to send a prayer request for each camper before they arrive at the camp, which enables counselors to pray specifically for students in their group. It was my privilege to visit Crossings at Cedarmore recently and to thank God for young lives that are being transformed by the Gospel. Thank you, Kentucky Baptists, for making these experiences possible by your gifts through the Cooperative Program! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Aug 26, 2008 15:48:57 GMT -5
It’s Not Too LateThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Have you ever had something you wanted to do but then discovered you were just too late? Maybe the tickets were all sold out because you waited too long. Or, maybe you missed a deadline for getting in a registration form. Well, while it may be too late for some things that you’d like to do, let me share some things of great value you can do for which you’re not too late. It’s not too late to invite someone to church this Sunday. According to George Barna’s research, 25 percent of unchurched persons say they would go to church if someone invited them. If every Kentucky Baptist invited someone to go to church with them, the results would be incredible! It’s not too late to share your personal story of faith in Jesus Christ. Research shows that a high percentage of unreached persons would listen to someone share how their life had been transformed. It’s not too late to build relationships. Our culture is so task oriented that we often have difficulty building friendships and relationships. Kay and I were traveling through Mississippi recently and visited with her cousin during worship at the First Baptist Church of Newton. I was captured by the warm welcome by so many people at FBC. It’s not too late for you to provide a warm greeting on Sunday at your church. It’s not too late to give to support your church’s ministries. The Gospel is being shared and lives are being changed locally and around the world. Most Kentucky Baptist Convention churches share a percentage of their undesignated receipts with world missions efforts through the Cooperative Program. Through these gifts, thousands are reached for Christ, churches are planted and ministries are extended in Kentucky, across North America and around the world. It’s not too late for churches to mail in their Cooperative Program check for August so it will be counted in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. It will be too late if the check is not received by Sept. 2. Since Aug. 31 is a Sunday, the check should be mailed by Aug. 28, in most cases. It’s not too late to be an encourager. In response to a recent letter that I sent to KBC pastors, I have received several encouraging responses about increased baptisms. James Keeling, pastor of Ferguson Springs Baptist Church in Benton, said his small church (35-50) has been blessed with seven baptisms this year. Charlie Davis reported that Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church in Louisville has baptized 20 people the last five Sundays. And, Bob Hardison from the First Baptist Church of Sebree, reported on plans for a prayer, contact, and FAITH Evangelism plan for this fall. Is there someone who needs your encouragement today? It’s not too late! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Sept 7, 2008 18:45:26 GMT -5
Ten Reasons to Support EBOThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention The 2008 Season of Prayer for State Missions and promotion of the Eliza Broadus Offering is coming up Sept. 7-14. One million fifty-two thousand eight in 2008! The theme is “Celebrate God’s Love” so I thought I’d use this column to share what I consider to be the top 10 reasons we can celebrate and support this vital offering. 10. More than 69 percent of the Eliza Broadus Offering for State Missions goes to the Kentucky Baptist Mission Board for direct state missions. The rest of the offering helps to support missions education, camping, and special mission projects across Kentucky. All efforts to strengthen churches and carry out missions work across Kentucky serve to build a strong spiritual foundation for world evangelization. 9. The offering helps to fund state missionaries who serve associations. Twenty-five associations are able to have stronger programs due to the support of the offering. 8. The offering provides significant support for ethnic work and church planting. Much support is provided for the Hispanic Bible Institute and training for emerging Hispanic leaders and pastors. Six Hispanic regional missionaries are supported in partnership with the North American Mission Board. 7. The offering funds the budget for witness and ministry to 8,000 international students studying with student visas on Kentucky college campuses. 6. One of the new items this year will be reaching children for Christ through mission Vacation Bible schools. 5. Interfaith witness training is provided through the offering. With the growth of world religions in the United States and Kentucky, there is a growing concern to understand these religions and to relate the distinctives of the Christian faith in a meaningful way. 4. One of the ways to relate the Gospel to persons with needs is through missions ministries. The offering provides funds for training and to help launch ministries. 3. Church planting is one of the best ways to reach Kentucky for Christ and discipleship through churches. The offering supports training and start-up funds for church planting. 2. Kentucky has 150 self-funded, NAMB-endorsed Mission Service Corps missionaries who receive training and special project support through EBO. 1. The offering helps to reduce lostness in Kentucky. According to the Glenmary Research Center, 41 counties in Kentucky are 70 percent unreached for Christ and His church. My wife, Kay, and I make the Eliza Broadus Offering one of our most significant gifts of the year, and the KBC staff has made commitments to pray for, and to financially support, state missions. It is my prayer that you will join us in praying for Kentuckians to be reached for Christ and in financially supporting state missions efforts through the Eliza Broadus Offering! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Sept 14, 2008 11:17:19 GMT -5
Associational GatheringsThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention This is the time of year when many Baptist associations in Kentucky are having annual meetings. These meetings are wonderful times to fellowship with other believers, learn about Baptist missions and ministries, be inspired by testimonies of those who are involved in life changing ministries, worship together and renew the vision for reaching people for Christ. I believe associations are essential in Baptist life and worthy of our involvement. They are the denominational entity that is closest to the local church and most strategies are conducted in close partnership with local associations. Associations are important because they can work with churches in meeting local needs that one church might not be able to meet on its own. Churches working together can accomplish all that God blesses. The local association director of missions is often the one person who is most aware of the needs of local pastors and churches. He is generally in the best position to recommend local, Kentucky Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention, or other resources that will meet those needs. Associations provide great support for world missions by encouraging churches to support the missions offerings and the Cooperative Program. Associations regularly conduct “On Mission Celebrations,” which brings missions and missionaries to local churches. KBC institutions and agencies also look to the associations to assist in promoting their ministries among the churches. Another important function of the association is the collection of data for the Annual Church Profile. The association forwards information provided by the churches to the state convention and LifeWay Christian Resources. This vital data helps the association, state convention and SBC determine the best ways to meet needs in the churches. Associations also provide training for church leaders. One of the most popular events is the associational vacation Bible school clinic led by local leaders who have received training through the state convention. More than 350 workers are needed to conduct these VBS clinics each year. Church planting is a key to reaching unreached people groups, especially Hispanics, other ethnic groups, and generational groups. Associations play a key role in identifying these groups and determining the best locations for new churches. The focus on evangelism is essential in the local association. The Glenmary Research Center has revealed that 41 counties in Kentucky are 70 percent unreached for Christ. Only 33.5 percent of the people in Kentucky are church members and only 12.1 percent attend on average. The North American Mission Board has a plan for “saturation evangelism” to get the Gospel into every home in America. This emphasis would not be possible without local associations. I am grateful for all of our Kentucky associations and pray for their work daily. Please join me in that and plan to be involved in your local association! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Oct 12, 2008 8:39:05 GMT -5
Across KentuckyThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention It is a privilege to travel across Kentucky and meet so many Kentucky Baptists. We are very diverse in many ways, but committed to the word of God and cooperation in missions and evangelism. My wife, Kay, and I traveled to the eastern and western parts of the commonwealth on six different occasions in September. I spoke at seven churches and association meetings as well as at a missionary retreat. I also attended the Kentucky Baptist Foundation meeting at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College. One of the association meetings we attended was the 50th anniversary of the Pike Baptist Association at the First Baptist Church of Pikeville. Former directors of missions Robert “Bob” Jones and Carl Boyd shared how God had blessed over the years. The music, food, messages and reports were outstanding. It was also a special privilege to speak during the homecoming celebration of Premium Baptist Church in Letcher County. From its beginning as a Sunday school mission with about 20 boys and girls, the church has grown to about 350 resident members. David H. Banks was used by God in the development and growth of the church and Doc Frasier has continued that growth and development. About 65 missionaries were present for the missionary retreat at Mammoth Cave Hotel. Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board, and Bill Henard, dually serving as Kentucky Baptist Convention president and first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, were speakers along with myself. We are grateful to Eric Allen, KBC Mission Service and Ministries Department director, for his leadership in support of KBC missionaries, which include 149 Mission Service Corps missionaries. It was also a privilege to be present for homecoming at South First Street Baptist Church in Mayfield. Pastor David Key and the church had a Saturday night dinner followed by a service of music. God moved in a wonderful way with several persons coming to the altar and two persons requesting membership. I also enjoyed speaking at the Pilot Oak Baptist Church of Water Valley in the Graves County Association. Pastor Jimmy Brown has launched a “Comeback Church” emphasis there. A young boy asked to share before he was baptized. He thanked the church for loving him and helping him to come to Jesus Christ. In addition, it was a very special privilege to be present for the 120th annual meeting of the Ohio Valley Baptist Association at the First Baptist Church of Uniontown. The program featured Bill Smithwick from Sunrise Children’s Services along with Jerrell White who spoke about Job Corps ministries. We also enjoyed inspirational music, great food and fellowship, and the doctrinal and annual sermons. I praise God for the common commitment to God’s word and the cooperation in missions and evangelism among KBC churches! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Nov 9, 2008 8:08:45 GMT -5
KBC Annual Meeting: Sharing Christ With UrgencyThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention The theme for the Kentucky Baptist Convention annual meeting, to be held Nov. 11 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, is “Kentucky Baptists Connect: Sharing Christ With Urgency.” Lostness in Kentucky is reason for urgency. Jesus supported that urgency when he charged His disciples to lift up their eyes and look on the fields and not to delay even four months (John 4:35). This is a time to see the harvest that Jesus sees and to respond as He directs us. I love this theme and I am anticipating some of the best reports we have ever had on evangelistic outreach. I’m sure we’ll hear about the revival in Taylor County that resulted in 397 professions of faith, including 160 by students at Campbellsville University. We will also hear about other recent youth events in our state that have had dramatic results for the Kingdom. An exciting time for me will be the welcoming of new churches into the KBC early in the convention program on Tuesday morning. KBC President Bill Henard will also speak during the morning session. He’s incorporating three powerful videos that will touch your heart. A budget goal of $24,480,000 for 2009-2010 will be recommended by the Mission Board and considered by the messengers on Tuesday morning. Business sessions will be conducted at scheduled times throughout the day. The afternoon session will feature a worship time with music and then a message by Kevin Smith, pastor of Watson Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville. New KBC officers will also be elected during the afternoon session. Throughout the day, attendees will also be hearing about several important opportunities for Kentucky Baptists including “Crossover Louisville,” the Southern Baptist Convention’s evangelistic effort to be conducted prior to the annual meeting in Louisville, June 22-23. Billy Compton, the KBC’s executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources, will also announce plans for a three-year emphasis on education and financial support of missions through the Cooperative Program. Plans are also being developed for “Across Kentucky,” a KBC effort in cooperation with associations to deliver the Gospel to one million homes in the spring of 2010. This may be the largest mobilization of Kentucky Baptists for an evangelism effort ever. The Tuesday evening session will feature David Platt, a former professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary who is now pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala. He is one of our Convention’s dynamic young leaders and is in great demand nationally as a speaker. I believe Kentucky Baptists are a great missionary people. I pray that we will use this year’s focus on urgency as a springboard for seeing the Great Commission fulfilled in our state! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Nov 23, 2008 8:23:55 GMT -5
Heart-felt AppreciationThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Kay and I would like to express our heart-felt appreciation to Bill Henard, 2007-08 KBC president; the Administrative Committee; the Mission Board; and the Convention for honoring our 10th anniversary of service as Kentucky Baptist Convention executive director-treasurer. It was a very special time for us in many ways, but one aspect was especially memorable. The Administrative Committee made it possible for our daughters and grandchildren to be present and to join us on the platform briefly during the recognition. My daughters jokingly asked me to limit my comments to “thank you and God bless you” so they could get the five grandchildren off the platform as soon as possible. Our oldest daughter, Anonda, has two boys, Will, 6, and Zach, 4. Zach did not want to go before the large crowd, but Will did not want to leave the platform. Our youngest daughter, Beth, has three children, Lilly, 7, Mack, 4, and Nate, 2. Nate saw the video screens and kept pointing to the image of his Granddad. The recognition started on Monday during the Mission Board meeting when outgoing KBC President Bill Henard presented us with a special love gift from the Mission Board members. More than any monetary gift, we will treasure their expression of love as long as we live. Then on Tuesday, during the first session of the annual meeting, President Henard presented us with a beautiful clock, along with letters of appreciation from Southern Baptist Convention leaders and local government officials. Kay and I consider it an incredible privilege to serve our Lord by serving Kentucky Baptists. We know that the Lord works through the outstanding KBC staff and leaders of KBC entities. We are grateful for so many church leaders and other volunteers who make all of the ministries possible. One of the values I cherish most about Kentucky Baptists is their ongoing desire to work together in missions, ministries, and evangelism. I pray that will always be true. I also praise God for providing the most heart-rending and worshipful annual meetings in my 29 years of denominational service. I praise God for a young pastor like David Platt who has a passion for the Lord and the world that may be unequaled in his generation or any generation. God spoke to us through his message and we cannot be the same. Pray for all of us who heard from God that evening and responded afterward at the altar. We now must demonstrate radical obedience to the Lord. Also, please continue to pray for the families who lost their sons, Bradley Hall and Tom May, in an auto accident near Berea while returning from a University of Kentucky Baptist Collegiate Ministry retreat. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Nov 30, 2008 8:51:12 GMT -5
ThanksgivingThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:3-6). I am so grateful for the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Baptist Campus Ministry and its faithful service to our Lord Jesus Christ. This area of our ministry recently experienced a terrible tragedy when two University of Kentucky students died in a traffic accident on I-75 near Berea on Nov. 8. Bradley Hall of Rockfield and Tom May of Louisville were returning from a Baptist Campus Ministry retreat at Laurel Lake along with their friend Ben Cooley of Harrodsburg when the accident occurred. Ben was seriously injured in the accident but is recovering. The hours and days immediately following the deaths were marked both by grief and celebration as family and friends remembered the tremendous Christian testimonies presented by the lives of these young men. Students from the Baptist Campus Ministry at UK held their own memorial service at Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington and were present at the visitations and funerals to share stories and encouragement with the two families. I had the privilege of visiting with the May family at the funeral home and to attend the funeral of Bradley Hall at Clear Fork Baptist Church in Rockfield (near Bowling Green). Bradley was very active in Kentucky Changers and leaders from that group were present as was Keith Inman, our director of the Collegiate and Young Adult Ministries Dept. here at KBC. Bob Baker, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington, where all three young men attended while away at school, shared about Bradley’s faithfulness, and encouraged the family. David Daugherty, Clear Fork pastor, and Joel Prickett, the youth director of Grace Baptist Church, also shared at that funeral. Daniel Berry, the campus minister at the Baptist Campus Ministry at UK, was one of the speakers at Thomas May’s funeral in Louisville which was attended by a large number of BCM students. Please continue to pray for these families and for the students as they process their grief. Pray as well for Ben as he continues to recover. I am also grateful for KBC churches and associations, and their partnership in the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. I recently had the privilege of being with Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Nicholasville, Sinking Fork Baptist Church in Hopkinsville and Stanton Baptist Church, Stanton. I praise God for all KBC churches as we trust God together to enable us to move forward in overcoming all barriers to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Dec 7, 2008 9:45:03 GMT -5
GO TELL the Story of JesusThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention The theme for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is “GO TELL the Story of Jesus.” The goal is $170 million, which will challenge all of us to give more sacrificially than ever due to the downturn in the economy. The offering is named for missionary Lottie Moon who for 37 years endured hardship and danger in China at a time when it was a land oppressed by famine, disease and war. In the end, she loved the Chinese more than life itself and gave so much of her own food to starving neighbors that she died of starvation herself. “How many there are . . . who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God,” Lottie Moon once wrote in one of her numerous letters home urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. That letter triggered the first offering by Southern Baptists for international missions in 1888 – enough to send three more missionaries to China. Today we can rejoice over the encouraging results being reported by some 5,318 International Mission Board missionaries (as of 4/9/08). According to the IMB’s 2007 Annual Statistical Report, there were 25,497 new churches, 609,968 new baptisms, and 567,413 new believers in discipleship to rejoice over through the efforts of our missionaries. This is a tremendous testimony to the glory of God as He manifests Himself through the faithful ministries of these missionaries! And yet, there are still so many who have yet to hear of Jesus’ saving love and grace. According to IMB President Jerry Rankin, there are 5,903 “last frontier” people groups where less than 2 percent of the population is evangelical and there is no active church planting. There are another 6,508 unreached people groups with populations that are less than 2 percent evangelical but where there is at least active church planting going on. IMB leaders believe it will take another 3,000 missionaries along with partnerships with churches, national Baptists and other Great Commission groups to reach all people groups. These numbers can be overwhelming, but it becomes personal when you have close friends who are serving in very stressful and challenging places internationally. Every day, our missionaries are pouring their lives into the lives of the peoples of the world just as Lottie Moon did. Remember that every gift is important. $1 can place an audio Gospel tape in a non-reading tribe so that many can come to Christ. Just $4.56 can support a missionary for an hour and $768.02 can support a missionary for one week. By doing what you can, you can make an eternal difference for many! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Dec 28, 2008 7:24:05 GMT -5
Christmas ExperiencedThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Faith), full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). It was an astounding truth in the first century that the creator God of the world and universe could and would become flesh and dwell among His creation. Equally astounding today is that the Word dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. During this Christmas season, we have an opportunity to testify to this truth as we celebrate Christ’s birth. May we remind each other that the greatest gift of all is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to demonstrate the extent to which God would go in order to show His love. The cross stands as a sign against the horizon of all eternity to demonstrate how much God loves each person. The Christmas story expressed in music and message help us to appreciate anew the wonder and the mystery of the gospel. Kay and I experienced this blessing through the ministries of Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville and at Hurstbourne Baptist Church, where we are members. Our pastor, Mike O’Neal, recently focused on “Jesus, God’s Gift to the World” as seen through the eyes of John the Baptist in John 3:22-30. In John 1:29, John saw Jesus and exclaimed, “…behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John also stated in John 3:29 that as a friend of the bridegroom rejoices to hear the voice of the bridegroom, “… this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” In verse 30, John purposed that “he must increase and I must decrease.” John the Baptist provides a great model for us in self-denial and faithful witness so that others will know the Messiah. Our joy should be fulfilled when someone else hears the voice of the bridegroom. During the recent Mission Board meeting, the international missions emphasis was one of the most dynamic presentations we have ever experienced. Riley Byers, who serves as part-time campus minister with international students at the University of Louisville, told of the evangelism and discipleship efforts of the ministry there. One international student shared his testimony of how he had become a believer through the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM). A Korean man then shared how he and his wife minister to 40 international students each week. Finally, a Ph.D. student shared how BCM had helped him understand that church is not a building, but people. Pray that this young man would continue to learn more about the gospel and would confess Christ when he “hears the voice of the bridegroom.” Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Jan 11, 2009 9:32:04 GMT -5
New Year OpportunitiesThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention During the next two years, Kentucky Baptists will have some incredible evangelism opportunities: Crossover Louisville ’09, Across Kentucky and the World Equestrian Games. Crossover Louisville is a series of evangelistic events leading up to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in Louisville, June 23-24, 2009. This is an opportunity for us to: • pray intensely for the city of Louisville; • rally cooperation between churches, the Long Run Baptist Association, North American Mission Board, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and KBC and SBC teams to intentionally touch Louisville for Christ; • use compassion ministries to prayerfully soften hearts; • witness door-to-door and to share Christ through block parties; • plant new churches for assimilation and follow-up. Every Kentucky Baptist can get involved by visiting www.crossoverlouisville.com or calling the Long Run Baptist Association at 502-635-2601. I trust that all Kentucky Baptists will pray for this initiative and that thousands will participate. Plans are also well underway for Across Kentucky, a second major evangelistic initiative designed to deliver the gospel to 1.5 million Kentucky homes during the spring of 2010. Affirmed by the KBC Mission Board in December, the initiative has also received united support and enthusiasm from KBC staff and directors of missions. Across Kentucky will be coordinated through local Baptist associations and will involve extensive preparation and enlistment efforts throughout 2009. Preparation leading up to the 2010 deliveries will include prayer walking and evangelism training. Participants will then deliver bags with gospel literature and invitations to Easter services (April 4, 2010). During the five weeks of follow-up, booklets will be mailed to those who return a response card. We are estimating that more than 50,000 volunteers will be needed to make the 1.5 million deliveries. Cooperative Ministries Consultant Lincoln Bingham is also working to involve African American Baptists in the effort. I pray that every church and association will plan to participate. Can you imagine what will happen when 50,000 Baptists pray for these homes, asking God to send revival and to prepare them as Christian witnesses? The third major emphasis is evangelistic ministry during the World Equestrian Games. The games will be held in Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park, Sept. 25-Oct.10, 2010. It will be the largest equine sporting event ever held in North America, with spectators from more than 100 countries expected to attend. Larry Martin, KBC missions consultant, is serving as chairman for an international committee seeking to establish Christian witness and ministry prior to and during the games. These are major evangelism opportunities for Kentucky Baptists and I want to urge you to pray and plan to be involved in the grand opportunities God has provided. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Jan 18, 2009 12:23:45 GMT -5
Kentucky Baptists Connect ExtensionThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention “The purpose of the Kentucky Baptist Convention is to assist Kentucky Baptist Convention churches and ministries and associations in connecting all people to Jesus Christ.” -- KBC Mission Statement adopted by the Mission Board, May 2003[/b] Since the launch of Kentucky Baptists Connect in 2004, Kentucky Baptists have been working together to reach some very challenging goals to reach the lost, strengthen churches and develop leaders. Kentucky Baptists are on track to reach most of the goals by the end of this year. However, ambitious goals in baptisms, assimilation and church turnaround growth will not likely be reached, although progress has been made. It has been rewarding to have a plan adopted by the Mission Board to provide focused direction and priorities for resources, and to see how God has been at work through KBC staff, associations, churches and individual Kentucky Baptists. To help keep us moving forward as a Convention, the Mission Board has voted to extend Kentucky Baptists Connect for three years by updating existing goals and adding new goals. Some of the goal strengths from the 2004-2009 mission plan have been reshaped and more sharply focused. Goals are included in the areas of baptisms, discipleship/assimilation, church planting, evangelistic outreach ministries, networking (especially with churches and young leaders), new Sunday school and small group units, and Web resources. New goals include a strong emphasis on receiving God’s vision by leaders and churches, training church youth leaders and mentoring campus student leaders, strengthening congregational relationships, helping Sunday schools grow, retaining 16-19 year olds, helping churches with stewardship strategies and assisting churches in plans for annual growth. One of the new tools we will soon be offering churches to help them achieve these goals is a KBC-customized software package called the “Ministry Toolbox.” The software includes a church analysis instrument to assist churches in determining their strengths in 10 vital areas of church life and project suggestions to help them in specific areas. My excitement grows because of evangelism and outreach goals to make 30,000 evangelistic contacts by Baptist Campus Ministry, to work for increases in youth baptisms and youth Sunday school involvement, and to increase involvement of preschoolers and children. New goals in the missions areas include encouraging greater levels of involvement of churches in missions (especially to unreached people groups), training in disaster relief and witnessing, increasing short-term missions volunteers in Kentucky, planting churches and starting evangelistic outreach ministries. A new Mission Advisory Committee will assist the executive director and team leaders in supporting efforts to reach the goals. A copy of the full statement of the objectives and goals of the Kentucky Baptists Connect extension plan can be found at: www.kybaptist.org/connectresourcesDr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Jan 25, 2009 5:51:59 GMT -5
Oppose Expanded GamblingThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention This is an urgent time for the citizens of the Commonwealth to contact their state legislators to express opposition to a bill to place video lottery terminals at Kentucky’s racetracks. House of Representatives Speaker Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg filed the bill. Stumbo has said he will not move forward with bringing the bill to a vote without a “super majority” of 60 House votes, however, so it is urgent that you call now. There are many reasons why you should oppose expanded gambling and especially video lottery terminals. These machines (essentially slot machines tied into a central computer) are the most addictive form of gambling. They are highly popular with the big gambling corporations because they produce the most money in casinos. The fast action, ease of play and emphasis on quick money make falling into addiction with video gambling very easy. In fact, pathological addiction is essential to the VLT business with 33-42 percent of revenue typically coming from gamblers who are pathologically addicted. Here in Kentucky, we could expect 105,000 additional Kentuckians would become pathological or problem gamblers. A study in Louisiana calculated that the annual individual social cost for problem gamblers in that state was $10,958 each. In Wisconsin, the social cost of serious gamblers and problem casino gamblers was calculated to be $9,791 each. The costs include low productivity; unemployment; theft and bad debts; bankruptcy; prosecution, prison and probation costs; aid to families; and treatment/therapy. In addition to taking on the additional social costs, Kentucky citizens would need to put $1.5 billion into the machines in order for the state to receive the $500 million in revenues that are projected. In a time of economic crisis, it is especially poor judgment to attempt to take more money from individuals and families. And, it is unrealistic to expect that the economy in Kentucky will be able to support citizens putting more than a billion dollars at risk every year. Last year, expanded gambling proponents argued that the legislature needed to pass a constitutional amendment in order to expand gambling. Now, the strategy has changed with proponents claiming that the vote that authorized the lottery also allows these kinds of machines. Please call your state representative and senator at 1-800-372-7181, to express your opposition to the gambling bill allowing video lottery slot machines at racetracks. If you don’t know the names of your legislators, the operator will be happy to help you. Also ask the operator to copy your message to the Senate and House leadership, and to the governor’s office. Keep up with this and other public policy issues on the KBC Committee on Public Affairs blog at: www.kybaptist.org/publicaffairsDr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Feb 2, 2009 7:20:33 GMT -5
EncouragementThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention One of the privileges that my wife, Kay, and I have is to encourage ministers and church members. We recently enjoyed a full day of encouraging and being encouraged as we visited three different churches. Our day began at Aberdeen Baptist Church in Aberdeen, Ohio (a Kentucky Baptist Convention church), where I was invited to share with a joint adult Sunday school class about Cooperative Program results and then to preach during morning worship. Phillip Huffman has been pastor at Aberdeen Baptist Church since summer and attended his first KBC annual meeting in November. The church has a strong involvement in missions through international and local missions and through disaster relief ministry. Members helped in New York following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and along the Gulf coast following Hurricane Katrina. The church provides 12 percent of its undesignated gifts to missions through the Cooperative Program. One member shared that during their early days as a church, the KBC, through the Cooperative Program, helped the church to have a full-time pastor and they have never forgotten the benefit. The church reaches out to children through a van ministry and adults sit with the children in worship. More than 75 youth are enrolled in Sunday school. That afternoon, Kay and I had the privilege of participating in the ordination service of Donnie Lamb to the gospel ministry at Flemingsburg Baptist Church. I had previously met Donnie and his wife, Lora, during a revival at Flemingsburg. Chris Beckham, pastor of Flemingsburg Baptist Church, directed a meaningful ordination service. Donnie has been called as pastor of Sharpsburg Baptist Church. It was a privilege to commend Chris for his mentoring relationship with Donnie, and to encourage Donnie in his first church. That evening we enjoyed participating in a surprise celebration at May’s Lick Baptist Church. The church recognized 20 years of ministry by David Cheek. David is a faithful pastor, effective visionary leader, dynamic preacher of the Word of God, a sacrificial servant to the church and community, a mentor of young leaders, and a loving husband and father. David has led the church to experience strong growth. Over the past 11 years, resident membership has increased by 30 percent; Sunday school average attendance by 20 percent and undesignated giving has increased by 150 percent. There have also been over 363 additions by baptism and other additions. For the 20 years of service, recognition plaques and certificates were presented by the city, county, House of Representatives, Bracken Baptist Association, KBC, and Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief. It was wonderful to celebrate with all of these pastors the progress they are achieving. Please pray for, and find a way to encourage, your own pastor and his family this week! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Feb 8, 2009 20:21:27 GMT -5
The Ultimate SacrificeThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention The theme for the upcoming Kentucky Evangelism Conference to be held Feb. 23-24 at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington is an awesome and challenging one -- "The Ultimate Sacrifice, Share God's Gift." The theme verse is Galatians 1:14: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world." God has led KBC Evangelism Growth Team Leader Ross Bauscher to select a great theme and outstanding speakers. What I like most is that the theme for each message is focused on the cross of Jesus Christ and the challenges of living and sharing His message in a post-modern, anti-church culture. The conference begins with praise and worship led by The Specks at 1:30 p.m. with Robert Smith, preaching professor at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., preaching the first sermon. What follows will be two days of outstanding and challenging messages. Dennis Swanberg, inspirational speaker and humorist, will close out the conference on Tuesday afternoon as we prepare to return to places of leadership and service. Due to the Biblically focused topics and outstanding speakers, I plan to be present for all sessions and I hope you will join me. Monday night will be an incredible opportunity to hear two outstanding scholars, theologians and seminary presidents address two of the most challenging topics facing Christendom. Dr. Ergun Caner, the president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va.., will speak on the topic, "The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ." Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, will speak on the topic, "Sharing Jesus Christ in a Postmodern Culture.” On Tuesday morning, we will hear from two well known former KBC pastors and leaders -- Dan Garland from Lifeway Christian Resources, and Kevin Hamm, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Gardendale, Ala. We will also hear from David Burton, the strategic and inspirational Evangelism Division director of the Florida Baptist Convention. There will be informative breakout sessions over lunch Tuesday starting at 11:30 a.m. and a separate conference specifically for women on Tuesday from 9:15 a.m.-1:35 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the host church. For a complete list of speakers and more information about the Kentucky Evangelism Conference, visit www.kybaptist.org/evangelismconferenceor call 502-489-3576. From my earliest days in ministry, the Evangelism Conference has been the event that God has used consistently to inspire and encourage me to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with every person possible. It is my prayer that pastors, church staff members and laypersons will take advantage of this opportunity to renew their commitment to connecting all people to Jesus Christ! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Feb 15, 2009 7:43:32 GMT -5
Churches Respond To Ice StormThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Following one of the worst winter storms in memory, Kentucky citizens are just now beginning to recover. As I am sure most of you know, the ice storm extended more than 300 miles from West Kentucky south of the Ohio River through Louisville and beyond Lexington. Some whole counties were without electric power for several days. I am told that in Hopkins County, more utility polls were down than were left standing. And sadly, some 25 people lost their lives due to the ice storm. Despite the difficulties and tragedies, I have been encouraged by the response of Baptists. Churches and disaster relief volunteers began responding almost immediately. The North American Mission Board has set up a disaster relief headquarters in the Kentucky Baptist Building to help coordinate the many volunteers from Kentucky and other state conventions. In the days following the storm, a number of Kentucky Baptist Convention staff members and I were able to fan out across the state to offer help to churches and associations in areas where the storms had severely limited communications. As I visited, it was gratifying to see how local church staff and members were responding. Many provided emergency shelter, food and spiritual support. Some of the church leaders were sleeping only two or three hours at their church buildings in order to serve others. At Second Baptist Church, Greenville, for example, members brought frozen food to the church and the schools opened their pantries to help feed more than 350 people for six days. Other churches in Muhlenberg County that provided emergency shelters included Bethlehem, Nelson Creek and the First Baptist Church of Greenville. Bob Lowery, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Central City, took time between deliveries of meals to emergency shelters to show me the aftermath of three major storms the area has suffered in the last year. The pastor and staff of the First Baptist Church of Leitchfield were assisting in the distribution of food and water to 750 families on the day of my visit and 80 emergency workers were staying in the church’s family life center. These are just a few limited examples. Hundreds of Kentucky Baptist ministers and church members served and are continuing to serve sacrificially. Many of the churches did not have electric power but the power of love has never been brighter. That may have an everlasting impact as people who experienced the ministry of churches expressed their desire to return to church. Please pray for the safety of the many workers who are restoring services and removing debris. Pray as well that the witness of compassion will result in new and renewed commitments to Jesus Christ and His church! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Mar 1, 2009 6:00:05 GMT -5
God’s Plan for SharingThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention God is at work both in the hearts of those who know Him as well as those who have yet to know Him. The task we’ve been given as Christians is to share the gospel to help people connect with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The North American Mission Board is providing leadership to help us all do just that through a national evangelism emphasis called God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS). The goal is to fulfill the Great Commission in North America by sharing Christ with everyone by 2020. Along this journey are four Biblical mileposts: • Praying – every church praying for lost people, • Engaging – every believer sharing as a trained witness, • Sowing – every lost person receiving a witness, and • Harvesting – every church celebrating every salvation result. The first part of the GPS plan is for Southern Baptists to take the gospel across North America through a special sowing event in 2010. In Kentucky, plans have been developed to help associations and churches prepare for hand delivering a printed Gospel message and an invitation to attend a Kentucky Baptist church on Easter Sunday to 1.5 million households next March. Directors of Missions will work with pastors in dividing each association into manageable geographic areas for each participating church. Each person returning a response card from the packet will receive a booklet and a local participating church will receive information for following up. This effort will be supported by a national media campaign that will run at the same time the gospel distribution is taking place. NAMB is currently producing materials for this media campaign that will use the slogan, “Find It Here.” The KBC will participate in funding this national media buy to make sure all areas of Kentucky are covered. There’s much to be done prior to next March. The preparation goals include Kentucky Baptists prayerwalking every road and street possible beginning September and October of this year; participating in witness training; preparing the church for guests to make the very best first impression; preparing packets for distribution; and recruiting members to help distribute the packets in assigned areas. Five weeks of follow-up after Easter is also built in to the planning. This will be a major coordinated effort among Kentucky Baptists and every church and association is needed if we are to distribute the gospel to 1.5 million homes. We estimate that it will take approximately 50,000 volunteers to accomplish this task. Acts 5:42 tells us that the early disciples “never stopped” proclaiming Jesus as the Christ. One way they did this was by going house to house. I look forward to what God is going to do with His people through this incredible opportunity! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Mar 9, 2009 19:29:28 GMT -5
Renewed Evangelism FocusThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention If the Kentucky Evangelism Conference is a gauge for renewed commitment to evangelism, the large attendance and spiritual energy present at this year’s conference are exciting indicators. I thought the aftermath of the ice storm and the economic downturn could have been deterrents to attendance but the challenge of these events seemed to have created a need for spiritual renewal. The approximately 1,100 attendance figure was the best in recent history. I think all who were present recognized that God had chosen to bless His people through the conference. The theme, “The Ultimate Sacrifice: Share God’s Gift,” selected by Evangelism Growth Team Leader Ross Bauscher was obviously one that God could bless. It is my hope and prayer that the incredible inspiration of the conference will translate into renewed passion for servant ministry and evangelism in communities all over Kentucky. The opening message by Robert Smith was an indication of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was to come. Someone stated that it was good that he preached from the steps of the platform rather than from behind the wooden pulpit or it could have been consumed by fire. Several speakers challenged participants to consider ministry and servant evangelism in their communities as a means of providing genuine help for persons in need and building relationships for sharing the Gospel. Individuals and families were encouraged to consider evangelism ministries. Thomas Hammond, the senior director of the church evangelism division for the North American Mission Board, shared a dramatic experience of relating to resistant neighbors who have now become believers. Speakers also referenced the fact that God often works through challenging experiences, such as the economic crisis, to get our attention and meet spiritual needs. Dan Garland, director of pastoral ministries and church consulting for LifeWay Christian Resources, said recent research showed that population growth is the only external factor that impacts church growth. All other factors, such as structures, processes, expectations and elements of church, are internal. Reading from Ephesians 2:1-10 Garland said the church must be clear about the nature of salvation, which never changes. But, the “alive” church always changes to communicate the Gospel. Kevin Hamm, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Gardendale, Ala., said Acts 8 shows us how God shows up in difficult times. Revival and growth of the early church came during a great persecution of believers. Kentucky Baptists have an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel through ministry and servant evangelism during CrossOver Louisville 2009 and during the upcoming “Find it Here” emphasis in 2010. I pray that you will plan now to participate, and seek God’s blessings as you share God’s gift of salvation and love with all people. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Mar 15, 2009 7:21:19 GMT -5
February CP Receipts Exceed ExpectationsRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsKentucky Baptists gave $1,746,573 through the Cooperative Program in February, despite facing hardships and canceled services following severe ice storms late in January. While not enough to reduce the ongoing CP deficit, KBC Executive Associate for Cooperative Program and Resources Billy Compton said the amount exceeded expectations. Many churches, particularly in western Kentucky, had to cancel one or more services in January and early February because of ice storm aftermath, he said. “Our ministry and missions partners are very encouraged that Kentucky Baptists are continuing to give sacrificially during this challenging economic time. Many needs both physical and spiritual are being met every day through the ministry of Cooperative Program,” said Compton. According to Lowell Ashby, Business Services Team leader for the KBC, churches have given a total of $11,541,217 through the Cooperative Program through February. CP receipts are now behind budget by $458,783, or 3.82 percent, halfway through the fiscal year. CP giving also remains behind last year’s pace by $300,823, or 2.5 percent. After the first six months in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, CP gifts totaled $11,842,040. The CP budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is $24 million. The Cooperative Program is the plan Southern Baptists use to fund missions causes at the state, national and international levels. The program provides foundational support for international and North American missionaries; state convention mission work; training and other help for local churches; Baptist organizations; and more. The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, Ky. including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more information, visit: www.kybaptist.orgThe preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Mar 16, 2009 19:35:54 GMT -5
Kentucky Baptists GiveThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Kentucky Baptists have demonstrated the grace of giving during recent weeks. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul commends the Macedonian churches for their gracious giving. “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity … and they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (2 Corinthians 8:2, 5). During the January ice storm, Kentucky Baptists gave of themselves in ministry to one another and to those in need by providing shelter, food and spiritual encouragement. They also continued to generously give to missions and ministry through the Cooperative Program, despite the fact that hundreds of churches could not meet on one or more Sundays in February. CP gifts during February totaled $1,746,573, which exceeded expectations even though CP remains behind budget year-to-date. The most recent report from Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb demonstrated the impact made by Kentucky Baptists and other Southern Baptist volunteers from 20 states during the disaster: Volunteer Days: Kentucky Baptists - 1,590; total - 9,141 Meals Prepared: Kentucky Baptists - 21,809; total - 56,657 Chainsaw Jobs: Kentucky Baptists - 554; total - 2,771 Professions of Faith: Kentucky Baptists - 18; total - 42 Ministry Contacts: Kentucky Baptists - 292; total - 1,115 In addition, there were 1,819 showers provided, 275 laundry loads done, 431 chaplaincy contacts, and 191 gospel presentations. This is a total of 25 years of disaster relief volunteer service days. These numbers are not even fully representative of the impact, as not all Kentucky churches and individuals have reported back. The response of Kentucky Baptists in the disaster areas was outstanding. Many helped others when they themselves were without power and still had debris in their own yards. Farm equipment was used to clear roads and driveways. Shelter was provided and meals prepared and served. The entire effort has been an incredible witness to the commitment of Kentucky Baptists. In speaking about the generosity of the Macedonians, Paul said, “… they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” (v. 4) Looking forward, we now have an opportunity to share with Baptist leaders in new work state conventions as we plan outreach efforts to 251 million unreached persons in North America. We can help support the North American Mission Board’s Find It Here campaign, the evangelism initiative that is designed to deliver the gospel to homes in Kentucky and across North America. Please pray now for this effort to share Christ and plan to be involved through your church. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Mar 21, 2009 22:27:28 GMT -5
Cooperative Program RalliesThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention A dynamic testimony from a pastor was one of the highlights of the recent Cooperative Program rally at the First Baptist Church of Owensboro. Dan Summerlin, pastor of Lone Oak First Baptist Church, Paducah, shared a stirring testimony of his journey with the Cooperative Program. “I have always loved and supported the Cooperative Program, but I remember the day that I ‘got it,’” Dan said. He said was serving a small rural church while attending seminary in New Orleans. The church gave to CP but did so on the basis that they would give if they had anything left over. He asked them to make CP a priority and they did. After about six months though, Dan became discouraged about making a difference with his life and giftedness. Then God reminded him that the church was achieving many things for the Kingdom through their CP gifts. Dan said he thanked the church the next day for supporting local, state, national and international missionaries and seminary education. As he explained that through the Cooperative Program they were achieving Kingdom work, they “got it” too and became excited about making a difference. He said the church began to grow -- in part because of the focus on the Kingdom through the Cooperative Program -- and that this has become an emphasis in every church he’s served. “Every January I preach on stewardship and tithing…,” he said. “We believe one of the reasons God is blessing us (at Lone Oak FBC) is because of this emphasis.” In five years, the church has increased weekly giving by $15,861, for a total increase of $820,000. In 2008, Lone Oak conducted mission trips to Zambia, Morocco, Mexico, Alaska, Louisiana and Eastern Kentucky. The church has also started a second Sunday school, a third worship service and completed a building project. “Through it all we never lowered our CP giving or even discussed it,” Dan said. In 2008, Lone Oak gave $515,000 to mission causes including CP, Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, West Union Baptist Association and Sunrise Children’s Services. Dan said he recently asked church staff to develop a second budget if needed because of the nation’s financial crisis. “But there are two non-negotiables in the second budget. We will pay our building note and we will not cut Cooperative Program giving,” he said he told them. “At the end of February we are ahead in our budget... What is happening is a God thing. He is blessing his people who are committed to Kingdom growth.” I hope you will not miss the CP rally in your area. For more information on the rallies and information about making dinner reservations, visit: www.kybaptist.org/cprallies Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Mar 29, 2009 19:36:56 GMT -5
WMU Annual Meeting MinistryThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention The Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union’s annual meeting will be held March 27-28 at the First Baptist Church of Richmond. “God’s Amazing Grace” will be the theme. This meeting is always inspirational with a strong line-up of speakers but I am especially excited about a new feature that will give attendees an opportunity to participate in hands-on ministry in the Richmond area on the afternoon of March 27. Ministry opportunities will include prayerwalking, sorting books for Book-Link, sanitizing toys at Telford YMCA, completing cleaning projects at the Baptist Campus Ministry Center at Eastern Kentucky University, visiting nursing homes, and doing clerical work at the Light of Christ ministry. Participants are requested to bring baby bottles for the Pregnancy Help Center, women’s clothing for Liberty Place, creamy peanut butter and old fashioned oatmeal for Grace Now Ministry and Christian books for Book-Link. Some ministry projects require pre-registration. Call Wendy Stout at 866-489-3534 or e-mail her at wendy.stout@kybaptist.org to express your interest. I want to commend Kentucky WMU leadership and Executive-Treasurer Joy Bolton for this noteworthy addition to the annual meeting. It is an incredible way to demonstrate Christian love, to provide significant ministries and offer hope through Jesus Christ. Another special component of this year’s meeting will be the keynote message by the president of the North American Mission Board, Dr. Geoffrey Hammond, on Friday morning. WMU began the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and continues to be a significant partner in promoting North American missions. The annual meeting program will also include a theme interpretation by Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director for the Illinois WMU. Emily Christian and other musicians from the First Baptist Church of Richmond will provide worship music. Other speakers include Greg and Alice Whitetree from the Freeda Harris Baptist Center; Teresa Parrett, the KBC’s mission mobilization coordinator; Charles and Carolyn Dixon, International Mission Board missionaries in Tanzania; Jonathan Barron, campus minister at Eastern Kentucky University; and Dewayne Waldrup, pastor of the Bluegrass Cowboy Church. Kentucky WMU continues to be a great partner in the support of missions and missions education. This historic partnership between Kentucky WMU and KBC has been expressed through state missions for more than 130 years. I am so grateful to Kentucky WMU for its vital partnership in financial support of this June’s Crossover Louisville activities ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Kentucky WMU joins the Kentucky Baptist Convention, NAMB, Long Run Baptist Association, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in making this tremendous evangelism effort possible. Kentucky WMU is also partnering with KBC and NAMB in funding the upcoming “Find It Here” campaign to distribute the Gospel to 1.5 million homes across Kentucky, March 6-21, 2010. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Apr 14, 2009 18:12:36 GMT -5
Crossover Louisville ‘09The following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Exciting plans have been developed for Crossover Louisville prior to the SBC Annual Meeting, June 23-24. There will be opportunities for all Kentucky Baptists and Southern Baptists from other states to be involved. Here are just some of the activities: • Inner City Evangelism (ICE) teams will share the Gospel each day, June 15-27. More than 500 people are expected to participate, including a youth group of about 150 young people. Meals will be served at Walnut Street Baptist Church. • Door-to-door witness will be conducted in partnership with local churches June 27. Volunteers are urgently needed. • Twenty-eight block parties have been scheduled with local churches throughout the city. • An international festival will be conducted near Iroquois Manor on Third Street Road. • Ten Hispanic churches will be conducting daily witness in their communities, June 15-19. Revival services at alternating churches will be held nightly following witnessing. A big festival will be held on June 20 with activities and Christian bands. • The Kindness Explosion Committee plans to hand out bottles of water with the plan of salvation on special labels in six areas: the Great Lawn, the Extreme Park, Smoketown/Shelby Park area, the west end of Louisville, and other high traffic areas. • Baptist Builders will construct a learning center and remodel another facility. • Adult Changers and Youth Changers will remodel 20 homes badly in need of repair. These construction projects are coordinated with the Louisville mayor’s office. Disaster Relief teams will provide food for the volunteers. • A free Youth Evangelism Conference is planned for Sunday night, June 21, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, 6-9 p.m. Follow-up actions have been planned in cooperation with local churches. All survey cards from persons making decisions will be recorded and given to local churches for follow-up. Several church plants are expected to come out of Crossover Louisville. The local coordinator for Crossover Louisville is Charles Barnes, assisted by Wesley Pitts, the director of missions for the Long Run Baptist Association, and Ross Bauscher, KBC Evangelism Growth Team leader. The North American Mission Board is providing national leadership and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is providing opportunities for students to be involved. Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union is helping to financially support possible new church plants. Please ask God to show you how you can become involved and plan now to participate. Believers have been sowing the seed of the Gospel for years and it is “harvest time.” Please pray that God will “send forth laborers into His harvest.” You may contact the Crossover Louisville office at 502-635-2601 or visit the Web site at: www.crossoverlouisville.comDr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Apr 22, 2009 5:28:24 GMT -5
CP Mission RalliesThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Recently 10 very informative and inspiring Cooperative Program rallies were conducted across Kentucky. Each one included testimonies of the impact of CP giving and a special challenge for churches to observe CP Sunday with a special emphasis on April 26. For me, the most exciting part of the rallies was to hear the stories about the Cooperative Program’s impact on lives. In some cases, I already knew part of the story but was able to hear “the rest of the story” at the rally. For instance, Dean Whitaker, the Baptist Campus Ministries director at the University of the Cumberlands, had introduced an international student to me during the Kentucky Evangelism Conference late in February. Although this student was not quite ready to make a decision for Christ at that time, it was obvious that she was seriously weighing the claims of Christ and feeling the pull of the Holy Spirit. At the Corbin rally, Dean introduced her along with 11 other international students. Her smile was radiant as she shared her testimony of confessing Jesus Christ as Lord on March 1. She plans to be baptized at Main Street Baptist Church in Williamsburg. Bud Underwood, president of Oneida Baptist Institute, also shared a follow-up story about the roommate of an international student who had been baptized last year. The roommate visited her Christian friend over Christmas break at Cornell University. They attended church together often, including a church of their native language, which was a first for her roommate. Now the roommate has become a believer. In Ashland, we not only saw the testimony of a young woman named Markquettia on video but also had the privilege of meeting her and her four children in person. Jason Hutchinson, pastor of Mountain Community Fellowship in Paintsville where Markquettia is a member, said Markquettia is one example of the hundreds of lives that are being impacted by the Cooperative Program’s support of new church plants. Several pastors shared testimonies of the special time when they discovered the great value of the unified budget plan to support missions through the Cooperative Program. Each expressed thanks for CP support of their theological education. Space does not permit a full report, but I want to share with readers my gratitude to God and Kentucky Baptists for their ongoing support of the Cooperative Program. I also want to encourage each church to plan a special emphasis on the Cooperative Program during your service on Sunday, April 26. Brief video testimonies (two to three minutes) and various printed resources are available to order or download at www.kybaptist.org/cpmissions. You may also contact Wanda Karolyi (866-489-3374 or 502-489-3374) to request materials. KBC speakers are available anytime on request. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Apr 29, 2009 20:17:17 GMT -5
CooperationThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Cooperation is a frequently used word among Kentucky Baptists and Southern Baptists. As we use it, the word expresses a special kind of partnership that focuses on a common mission. Cooperation is also a great Bible concept expressed in different ways -- “… for your fellowship (partnership) in the gospel from the first day until now; …” (Phil. 1:5). Cooperation represents more than just new partnerships though; it is a covenant relationship between God and His people -- “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).As Baptists, we have known the value of working together to support missions through the unified budget plan known as the Cooperative Program. The CP requires the cooperation of the Southern Baptist Convention, state conventions and local congregations to be successful. We also see cooperation as the North American Mission Board works with state conventions, associations and churches in reaching North America through church planting and evangelism. The six Southern Baptist theological seminaries are a part of this cooperation as they provide training for missionaries, pastors, church staff persons and denominational positions of leadership. Churches also work together through local associations in order to reach people and support each other’s work. Inside the local church, cooperation is required as people with diverse spiritual gifts complement one another in building up the body of Christ. In order for diverse people to work together in close relationships in the local church, spiritual growth is required. Church members must accept people who are different in leadership style, passion, temperament and personal preferences. There are so many ways in which we cooperate as Kentucky Baptists that space could not permit me to mention all of them. But, I do want to describe a recent experience. KBC staff members have been more unified in planning and preparing for the upcoming “Find It Here” evangelism emphasis for 2010 than anything I have experienced in almost 30 years of denominational work. The Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union has been just as cooperative in prayer, planning and support. We may have limited financial resources for this emphasis but perhaps the best spirit of cooperation that I have experienced. I want to take this opportunity to say “thanks” to the KBC staff for their outstanding demonstration of unity and cooperation. This reminds me of the prayer of Jesus for his followers: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:23).Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on May 10, 2009 6:48:46 GMT -5
Spiritual MaturityThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention I recently reviewed notes I took from some research on discipleship conducted by LifeWay Research for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Researcher Scott McConnell shared six of the most important factors discovered in individuals who scored high in the area of spiritual maturity. Here they are: 1. Mature Christians read the Bible. It is important to meditate on a passage until God speaks through it. Memorize the Word of God. 2. Mature Christians live to please and honor God. Seriously and systematically examine your faith. Develop apologetics for your faith. Be the change you expect to see in others. 3. Mature Christians pray for their church and church leaders. We pray about concerns that are really important to us. Every church and the church’s leaders desperately need the prayers of church members. Leaders carry burdens and responsibilities beyond formal assignments. Because of their role, they are the subjects of spiritual warfare in all forms. When we pray for God to bless leaders, we are less likely to criticize and be more likely to help. 4. Mature Christians accept personal responsibility to share Jesus. The Great Commission represents the clear message of the entire Bible that God expects His people to share His message of love and hope through Jesus Christ. If you don’t, who will do it for you? I met a layman, Gene Ray, at Unity Baptist Church in Ashland who has been a model witness since the mid 80s when he received Continuing Witness Training. His pastor said Gene is the most faithful witness he has known. Each of us is personally responsible to God. 5. Mature Christians are comfortable sharing Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to help people to become comfortable in sharing their faith is to help them practice sharing their testimony of how Jesus changed their lives and how He continues to work in their lives today. The benefits of being a Christian, and the values of the local church and Bible study, are abundant. Recent surveys of unchurched individuals indicate that people are willing to listen to your story of life change. What a great time for every KBC church to teach members to incorporate the Gospel in their testimony! 6. Mature Christians intentionally make time to build relationships with non-believers. Simplify ministry and life in order to build relationships with people who do not know Jesus. The Bible records that when Jesus intentionally decided to travel through Samaria, a city of unlikely prospects came to faith. Consider ways you can engage your community and the individuals who are in desperate need of the Gospel. All of us can take steps this week to grow spiritually and trust God to use us as His witnesses. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on May 24, 2009 20:53:20 GMT -5
Associational Emphasis “Find It Here”The following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Associational Emphasis Week is coming up May 17-23, which gives us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the ministries of associations in partnership with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. The importance of associations is especially evident this year as they play a pivotal role in a national evangelism emphasis designed to deliver the Gospel to every home in 2010. “Find It Here,” an evangelistic campaign to reach 1.5 million households in Kentucky, is being conducted jointly and in close cooperation between local associations, the KBC and the North American Mission Board. It is part of the GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) strategy that NAMB is using to reach every home in North America with the Gospel by 2020. Through “Find it Here,” associations will divide their geographic areas so that every street and home is assigned to a participating church. The church will then deliver a specially designed brochure in a plastic bag to each household just before Easter Sunday on April 4, 2010. The brochure contains a Gospel presentation based on an acrostic of the word “cross” and directs the reader to the findithere.com Web site for more information or to call a toll-free number where they can receive spiritual counseling. The brochure also has a mail response card that individuals can return to receive a free book or to request more information. Each church is also encouraged to include in the bag an invitation to its Easter services and information about special events or ministries that would appeal to unchurched individuals. The door-to-door Gospel distribution will be supported by a national and state media campaign from March 6-21, 2010. Beginning this fall, churches are encouraged to prepare for the Gospel distribution and media campaign by prayerwalking their communities and providing witness training to members. This will be a great opportunity to equip the sower of the seed of the Gospel. Each church member should understand and be able to discuss the Gospel presentation being delivered and share a personal testimony. A five-week follow up emphasis has also been planned to help churches continue working with individuals who respond positively to the Gospel presentation. Resources for “Find it Here,” including a church preparation guide, can be found on the KBC Web site at www.kybaptist.org/findithere. Additional resources are also available from the North American Mission Board at: www.gps2020.netI encourage you to get involved with your local association and encourage your church to become a partner in “Find It Here.” If KBC churches partner in this emphasis, 30,000 to 40,000 volunteers could be mobilized for sowing the Gospel and preparing to receive the harvest that God provides. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on May 31, 2009 6:14:13 GMT -5
Attend SBC Annual MeetingThe following article was written by Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.....Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director Kentucky Baptist Convention Kentucky Baptists will have an incredible opportunity to learning firsthand about the Southern Baptist Convention and the ministries and missions supported by their Cooperative Program and missions offering gifts next month. The Southern Baptist Convention will be held June 23-24 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. This will be the first time in 50 years that the SBC has met in Kentucky so it is definitely a special occasion for us! Kentucky Baptists will be heavily involved in Crossover Louisville events in the days leading up to the convention. Long Run Baptist Association is at the very center of this emphasis. Please pray for all of those from Kentucky and other states who will be involved. Please pray especially for the “Intentional Community Evangelism” emphasis, June 14-20. Hundreds of witnesses will be on the streets each day. Saturday, June 20, will see door-to-door survey work, more than 30 evangelistic block parties, Hispanic and international festivals, compassion ministries, and other efforts to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Crossover Changers will repair homes, Baptist Builders will construct a community center, and 1,200 families will receive food for a week. SBC President Johnny Hunt is an inspirational leader who will make sure that this convention has incredible music and outstanding presentations. The president will speak just before lunch on Tuesday and the convention sermon will come just before lunch on Wednesday. You will have the opportunity Tuesday night to hear testimonies by international missionaries and an inspirational report by International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin. Your gifts support 5,500 international missionaries in 190 countries along with 400 staff persons who serve in the IMB offices in Richmond, Va. The North American Mission Board report will be given Wednesday night, June 24. This report will include testimonies, a report by President Geoff Hammond and a focus on “Across America,” a national plan to deliver the Gospel using the advertising tag “Find it Here” in the weeks leading up to Easter next year. This year’s convention is also an opportunity to celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A new entrance and welcome center at the seminary will be named for former president Duke K. McCall during the convention. Kentucky mission work will be featured in the Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting exhibits at St. Matthews Baptist Church. Several Kentucky Baptists will also participate on the WMU program. It is my hope that every KBC church will elect and send their full quota of messengers. Make attending this year’s convention a special event and load up your vans to bring people! You may even want to adjourn your Wednesday evening services that week in order to bring a group to the convention. Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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