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Post by Church News on Jan 12, 2009 18:25:35 GMT -5
Lives Saved, Lives Changed through Kentucky Pregnancy CentersRelease prepared by David Winfrey, KBC CommunicationsA few weeks back, a young mother-to-be visited Pathway of Hope crisis pregnancy center in Greenville, but she wasn’t looking for maternity clothes or advice, according to Director Diana Anderson. “She came in because she wanted to know if I had a man who could talk to her husband about his addiction,” Anderson recalled, adding that she recruited a couple pastors to talk to the man. Long known for counseling women considering abortions, today crisis pregnancy centers are asked to help with a variety of needs for mothers-to-be. “A lot of what we do is helping materially: wipes, pregnancy tests, maternity clothes. Most (women) come in because they have a need and cannot meet their physical needs,” said Anderson, who trains workers at centers in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Anderson, a member of Second Baptist Church in Greenville, serves as a Mission Service Corps missionary for the Kentucky Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board. In Pikeville, the Appalachian Pregnancy Care Center dispenses diapers, formula and baby clothes from its “Bundle of Joy Room,” said Director Kay Hammond. “We do offer alternatives to abortion, but we also want to help the girl as a whole,” said Hammond, who opened the center with 50 volunteers in November of last year. Since then, 66 clients have visited the center for a variety of services. The center also offers educational classes ranging from abstinence programs in schools to substance and physical abuse educational workshops for clients. Anderson said that often the greatest gifts that centers dispense are prayers and positive outlooks. “They (pregnant women) need love. They don’t realize that their life has value, a lot of times,” she said. “We can teach them that God loves them and we love them unconditionally.” “Every woman that walks in the door might not be abortion minded, but we have to keep in mind that they are abortion vulnerable,” she said, noting that family and peers might be encouraging women to end their pregnancies. In the past year, Pathway has seen approximately 375 clients, and volunteers know of only one who opted for an abortion. That woman has since returned distraught over her choice, Anderson added. “She realized that we were offering her hope, and once she had gone through that she had nothing to hang on to,” she said. The staff has led the woman through a Bible study titled “Forgiven and Set Free,” written specifically for women who have had abortions. “She needed to know she was still lovable after making that choice,” Anderson said. “We all find ourselves in rough places at times. We need someone to come alongside us to reassure us that God still loves us.” Anderson serves as a resource to 45 pregnancy care centers throughout the commonwealth. The KBC supports the centers through occasional grants and provides training and support for Anderson’s work. Her ministry includes ongoing training for volunteers and advice for anyone exploring launching a new ministry. “This is not something everybody’s called to do.” She said she felt called to participate in a crisis pregnancy center after visiting a fundraiser for a similar ministry in another county. Anderson still remembers one of the first women she counseled. The young woman was three months pregnant, in an abusive relationship and having physical problems with her pregnancy. “She was afraid for herself and the baby,” Anderson recalled, adding that the woman also had grown distant from her Christian faith. “She felt like she was unworthy and that God wouldn’t forgive her. … Because of some things she had been told by others, she believed God didn’t love her anymore. “We just explained that God’s mercy and grace were there for her and she just had to receive it.” Pathway got the woman to a shelter in a neighboring county. Today, the mother and child are healthy, Anderson said, and the mother helps lead a church youth ministry. “She is a wonderful mother, and that child will be 3 the first of next year. It’s just an awesome thing to see her thrive as a mother.” Today, approximately 35 congregations support Pathway in a variety of ways, including “diaper drives” and other donations to volunteers who come to play with children while their mothers get assistance from the center. Anderson said her appointment as a Mission Service Corps missionary has heightened the awareness of Pathway and her work. As a result, she said, more people are willing to get involved. “It’s just the neatest thing to see people learn about the ministry. They may never see the face of someone who walks through the doors here, but they have the opportunity to eternally change a life.” In Pikeville, the Appalachian center opened in November last year with 50 volunteers. Since then, Hammond said, it has seen support from both churches and community groups. “People have just seen what a need there is for this,” she said, noting the 66 clients who have visited since the doors opened. “One of our own volunteers, her own daughter became pregnant. It’s something that can happen to any family.” Hammond said the center needs a variety of support from churches. “We need money support. We need volunteers. We need prayers,” she said. “We need women throughout the churches just coming in and showing these girls there is support for them.” 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 19, 2009 6:52:27 GMT -5
NFL Lifts Restrictions on Super Bowl GatheringsRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsChurches desiring to host Super Bowl outreach gatherings can now do so without restriction, thanks to a reversed decision by the National Football League more than a year after it cracked down on such events. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) last February that the NFL would allow religious organizations to host “live showings – regardless of screen size – of the Super Bowl.” The announcement freed churches to plan outreach events even as early as the 2009 Super Bowl. The NFL’s letter did stipulate that the big-screen viewings must be free and held on premises that the church routinely uses. Prior to the reversed decision, churches across the country were forced to cancel events in 2007 and 2008 because of the NFL’s restrictions on public showings of the Super Bowl. The NFL first took action in late January of 2007, when NFL officials spotted a promotion for a "Super Bowl Bash" at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Ind., on the church’s website. Initially, the league said the event had to be cancelled because the church had used the trademarked words “Super Bowl” in its promotions and was planning on charging an attendance fee. After the negative backlash, the NFL issued another statement in early February of 2007 in an attempt to be flexible without violating national copyright regulations. Churches could still host events, but many churches were still forced to cancel their events even under the softened restrictions, which included a 55-inch screen size limit. The NFL’s decision to remove the restrictions came in response to a letter to Goodell sent by Hatch, asking “under what conditions would the NFL not object to religious organizations showing live broadcasts” [of the Super Bowl]. 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. 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 19, 2009 17:05:45 GMT -5
Ken Hemphill to Lead Retreat for Deacons, PastorsRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsKentucky Baptist deacons and pastors, along with their spouses, will have the opportunity to be encouraged and equipped for their ministries at the annual Deacon-Pastor-Spouse Retreat, Feb. 6-7. The retreat will be held at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington. Keynote speaker Ken Hemphill, SBC national strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth, will lead two teaching sessions during the retreat, focusing on the Sunday school-based model for deacon ministry. “Ken will examine the Sunday school model and give practical ways to effectively use the model,” said Mike James, KBC strategist and discipleship assimilation coordinator. “We’ll also benefit from his insightful work related to the SBC’s Empowering Kingdom Growth initiative as he brings this perspective to bear on his teaching.” According to the Southern Baptist Convention, Empowering Kingdom Growth is “an initiative designed to call individual Southern Baptists to renew their passion for the Lord Jesus and the reign of His kingdom in their hearts, families, and churches from which God can forge a spiritual movement marked by holy living, sacrificial service and global witness.” Hemphill has been serving in the strategist role since 2003, when he resigned as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, to take the new post. He will be joined by five breakout session leaders, including Roy Saint, associate director of discipleship and family department, Florida Baptist Convention; Shane Garrison, assistant professor of educational ministries at Campbellsville University; Brenda Rick Smith, KBC electronic media specialist; Jim Castlen, director of missions for the Three Forks Baptist Association, and his wife Shelby Castlen, administrative assistant for the Three Forks Baptist Association. Eight breakout sessions will be offered: • Deacon Ministry Today: Practical Ways to Serve • Deacon’s Making Disciples through Spiritual Transformation • For the Rookies: First Year Deacon Ministry • Stop, Drop & Roll: Deacons Dealing with Conflict • Friend Me: Connect and Build Relationships through Social Media • Creating and Maintaining a Church Website • Partners in Ministry: Encouraging Couples Serving Together • Chasing Skinny Rabbits: Overcoming Emotional and Spiritual Exhaustion The retreat will run from 5-10 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Feb. 6, and from 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7. Registration is $40 per person and includes meals and a Friday evening banquet, “A Taste of the Bluegrass.” For more information call 502-489-3581 or 866-489-3581 (toll free in KY) or to register, visit: www.kybaptist.org/dpsretreatThe 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. 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 20, 2009 9:38:11 GMT -5
CP Giving Falls Slightly Behind Last Year’s PaceCooperative Program giving totals have dropped behind last year’s pace for the first time in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. According to Lowell Ashby, Business Services Team leader for the KBC, churches gave $1,639,066 during the month of November, bringing CP totals to $5,207,916 three months into the fiscal year. The amount was $100,883, or 1.9 percent, less than the $5,308,799 received over the same period last year, he said. Ashby said the November figures increased the budget deficit to $792,084, or 13.2 percent. At the end of October, CP giving was behind budget by 10.78 percent. The 2008-09 CP budget is $24 million. In order to meet budget for the fiscal year, just over $2 million is needed in each of the remaining months. “We are grateful for Kentucky Baptists and their continued support of missions and ministries through the Cooperative Program, especially during challenging economic times,” said Billy Compton, executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources. “It’s in times like these that the need for mission funds is as great as ever.” 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. 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 5:43:31 GMT -5
KBC Reports Strong December CP GivingRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications Kentucky Baptists gave $1,984,929 through the Cooperative Program in December, the highest monthly total so far in the current fiscal year. The strong December month also boosted receipts ahead of last year’s pace by 1.4 percent, or $96,448. With the exception of November in the current fiscal year, year-to-date receipts have remained ahead of the 2007-2008 pace. According to Lowell Ashby, Business Services Team leader for the KBC, churches gave a total of $7,192,845 through December. At the close of December during the previous fiscal year, churches gave a total of $7,096,397. Ashby said the December figures also helped narrow the budget deficit to 10.09 percent, down from the 13.2 percent deficit posted at the close of November. CP giving is currently behind budget by $807,155. The 2008-09 CP budget is $24 million. In order to meet budget for the fiscal year, just over $2.1 million is needed in each of the eight remaining months. "Kentucky Baptists continue to make significant investments in our cooperative ministries and missions, regardless of the difficult economy,” said Billy Compton, executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources. “The needs of the mission field are as great as ever and we are grateful for the generosity our churches.” 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. 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 1, 2009 8:03:48 GMT -5
Relief Teams Head to Ice-Coated StatesSouthern Baptist Disaster Relief units are mobilizing to help residents of six states in the aftermath of a massive ice storm that claimed 27 lives. Kentucky and Arkansas caught the brunt of the ice storm, which rolled out of the central plains Jan. 28 and wreaked havoc all the way to Appalachia. Kentucky was hit hardest by the ice, with as many as 1 million customers losing their electricity due to downed trees, limbs and power lines. The next day, more than 542,000 Kentucky homes and businesses -- 200,000 in Louisville alone -- were without electricity, according to news reports. Coy Webb, state disaster relief coordinator for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, was forced to work from his Louisville home, using a cell phone, because of the widespread outage. Webb said two-thirds of Kentucky was affected by the ice storm, which blanketed the state west to east. "We've already deployed a kitchen operation at a Methodist church in Stanford in Lincoln County," Webb said. "We had to use the Methodist church there as a shelter because the Baptist church didn't have electricity." Three Southern Baptist Disaster Relief chainsaw teams have been activated in Kentucky's Christian County, Richmond and Bowling Green, Webb reported. "But we're going to have to have scores of other chainsaw teams from other states activated," he said. "The main problem now is that state emergency management says it's still too unstable for us to go into some areas because of the live power lines down. "We anticipate we'll need help from out-of-state so today we'll start coordinating with the national disaster relief team at NAMB," Webb said. "There's no way we can handle all the needs just out of Kentucky." Webb said out-of-state chainsaw teams will probably be needed for four to eight weeks. Arkansas was clobbered with 2½ inches of ice, according to Robby Tingle of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention in Little Rock. Little Rock itself was unaffected by the storm. "About 250,000 homes from Clinton north lost power," Tingle said, adding that some estimates call for electricity to be out from 10 days to three weeks. Tingle said Arkansas disaster relief feeding teams have set up stations in Springdale, Harrison, Mountain Home, Paragould, Hillsboro and Batesville. "We've already contacted all our affected associations, churches and missionaries, to let them know we'll help them carry out their ministries," he said. Tingle said some Southern Baptist churches may not have power restored in time for this Sunday's services. In addition to the feeding teams, Arkansas Baptists have deployed about 10 chainsaw teams and are getting more ready to go, Tingle said. "While we don't need help from out-of-state at the present time, our white caps and blue caps are still assessing the situation, which is still fluid," Tingle said. "We appreciate the willingness of Southern Baptists from across the nation to help. And I'm so grateful for our volunteers and their willingness to demonstrate the love of Christ in a real tangible way right now." In Ohio, Duane Floro, ministry evangelism strategist for the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, said Hocking and Ross counties in south central Ohio were hit hardest by the ice storm. "We just received a call from the American Red Cross to bring out our feeding units, and we hope to be in service by Sat. ," Floro said. The highest priority for feeding in Ohio is a senior adult retirement center in Hocking County, where power remains off. Some 350 meals a day will be prepared at that site until power is restored, Floro said. In Oklahoma, state disaster relief director Sam Porter said the Sooner State "dodged a bullet" with this ice storm, in contrast with a 2008 ice storm that left 600,000 customers without electricity. "Most of Oklahoma is OK," Porter said. "Oklahoma City, Tulsa and the west side of the state were largely unaffected. The major power loss was in a 30-mile radius in the eastern and northeastern parts of the state." Only 38,000 homes and businesses initially lost power, and that number is now down to 25,000, according to news reports. Porter said two of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma's mobile kitchens were deployed -- at the fairgrounds in Muskogee and at Tahlequah's First Baptist Church. Three chainsaw teams -- with about 15 volunteers each -- were deployed in Tahlequah, Westville and Cookson. Another 15 to 20 volunteers will serve on the two disaster relief feeding units. 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 9:58:08 GMT -5
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief
Ice Storm Relief Encompasses 100 UnitsMickey Noah is a writer for the North American Mission Board; Tammi Ledbetter is news editor of the Southern Baptist TEXANAs 100 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief crews from a dozen states continue to mobilize, more than 160,000 people remain without electricity in Arkansas and Kentucky, the two states hardest hit by devastating ice storms in late January. An estimated 600,000 Kentucky customers initially were without power. Louisville Gas and Electric now is reporting that 16,000 of its customers still have no power, while Kentucky Utilities says 54,000 of its customers remain in the dark. In Arkansas, 350,000 customers' electricity was knocked out by ice-laden trees and power lines, but that number is now down to 97,000 as of Tuesday (Feb. 3) evening, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The national death toll is 55 from the historic ice storm that blew out of the central plains and covered several states in the Midwest and South with as much as two inches of ice. The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management reported that 24 Kentuckians have died as a result of the storm, while 17 died ice storm-related deaths in Arkansas. In Arkansas, 16 Baptist disaster relief teams have arrived from the Kansas/Nebraska, Louisiana and Mississippi state conventions. Most of the volunteers will tackle 150 requests for much-needed chainsaw work for downed trees due to the ice. Five shower units also have been provided by Kansas/Nebraska, Louisiana and the North American Mission Board for disaster volunteers in Arkansas. Work sites include Berryville, Mt. Home, Blytheville, Paragould, Siloam Springs and Springdale. Three disaster teams from Louisiana and two from First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., were welcomed visitors at Al Slimmer's home on Buena Vista Circle in Springdale. Slimmer, 67, and his 64-year-old wife were trapped in their home, in ill health and without power for six days. "We've been in bad health and, without these guys, we would have been in trouble," Slimmer said. Howard Turner, pastor of Live Oak Baptist Church in Denham Springs, La., led the chainsaw team at Slimmer's home, assisted by chainsaw teams from First Baptist Church in Bentonville, Ark., and First Baptist Springdale. Turner said he has served on a chainsaw team for 10 years. Although he's worked Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Gustav, Turner said ice storm work is particularly challenging. "There are two issues with ice," Turner said. "First, you have to be really careful when there's ice on a roof. Second, it's really tough on your chains and equipment when you have to cut through ice. You go through twice as many chains. But we do it because we love the Lord." In Kentucky, more than 20 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief crews are now on the ground. In addition to its own state Baptist DR teams, Kentucky is receiving the lion's share of its chainsaw support from the Tennessee Baptist Convention, which is providing seven recovery units for chainsaw work based in Princeton, Ky. The Mississippi convention has deployed one chainsaw unit in Mayfield, Ky., while NAMB is providing two shower units there. The Illinois Baptist State Association is running a shower unit in Bardwell, Ky. In addition to outside help, the Kentucky convention itself also is operating feeding units in Cadiz, Princeton and Stanford and a recovery unit in Beaver Dam. Karl Ragan, manager of NAMB's disaster operations center in Alpharetta, Ga., said the center is monitoring the situation and is ramping up for more activity in the days ahead by adding NAMB staff. "We keep discovering more and more pockets of needs, especially in Kentucky and Arkansas," Ragan said. Other disaster relief work is under way by Baptists in Oklahoma and Missouri. 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 12, 2009 6:17:26 GMT -5
Caner, York and Hill to Speak at KBC Evangelism ConferenceKentucky Baptists seeking to increase effectiveness in sharing their faith can attend the upcoming Evangelism Conference for inspiration and instruction, Feb. 23-24, at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington. Sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention, this year’s conference will feature 11 guest speakers from across the nation, including Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va.; Hershael York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort; and vocational evangelist Junior Hill. Using the theme “The Ultimate Sacrifice,” speakers for the conference sessions and breakout sessions will encourage participants to keep the message of the cross central as they share their Christian faith. Topics will include the missional church, evangelism in a postmodern culture, evangelistic strategy, and more. “Christians know that the ultimate sacrifice was Jesus’s death on the cross,” said Ross Bauscher, Evangelism Growth Team leader for the KBC. “This year’s conference will challenge us to remember that sacrifice and to share God’s gift with others.” In addition to Caner, York and Hill, conference speakers include: • David Burton, director of the Evangelism Division, Florida Baptist Convention • Dan Garland, director of pastoral ministries and church consulting, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, Tenn. • Kevin Hamm, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Gardendale, Ala. • Thomas Hammond, senior director of the Church Evangelism Division, North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, Ga. • Robert Smith, preaching professor, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, Birmingham, Ala. • Dennis Swanberg, Christian comedian, West Monroe, La. • David Wheeler, evangelism and church planting professor, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Va. • Hayes Wicker, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Naples, Fla. • Worship will be led by The Specks. A special women’s event will also be held Feb. 24 at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in conjunction with the Evangelism Conference. The event will run from 10 a.m.-1:35 p.m. and will feature singer/songwriter Michael O’Brien and his wife, Heidi, as well as registered nurse Wanda Taylor Smith. Registration for the event is $15 and is available online at www.kybaptist.org/ecwomenThere is no charge to attend the Evangelism Conference, and registration is not required. Lunches during Tuesday’s breakout sessions can be reserved online for $8. For more information, visit www.kybaptist.org/evangelismconferenceor call 502.489.3576 or 866.489.3576 (toll free in KY). 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 7:36:35 GMT -5
State Partnerships Key to KBC’s Statewide Relief EffortAfter relying for years on fellow Southern Baptists for Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery aid, Louisiana Baptists have turned the tables by sending $20,000 to the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s ice storm relief effort. Louisiana is just one of 17 state Baptist conventions that have played a role in the KBC’s disaster relief effort, said KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb. To date, nearly 1,000 Southern Baptist volunteers have participated in the effort, which is expected to last at least two more weeks. “Louisiana Baptists understand what it means to face destruction and devastation from storms,” said Mike Canady, Missions and Ministry Team Director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “ We also know what it means to receive help from our sister conventions, including Kentucky. We are happy to help during this time of need.” Even before sending its financial gift to the KBC, the Louisiana convention was already busy doing relief work in Arkansas, another state severely impacted by the ice storms. State conventions that have sent volunteers to Kentucky include Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas/Nebraska, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota/Wisconsin, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee, Virginia (two conventions), and West Virginia. “The cooperative support of Southern Baptists nationwide has been the key to this large undertaking,” said Webb. “We are extremely thankful for our sister conventions, and wouldn’t have been able to meet the overwhelming need across Kentucky without their help.” The Louisiana convention’s $20,000 gift came after the convention learned that the KBC’s disaster relief funds were “dwindling fast,” said Lowell Ashby, Business Services Team leader for the KBC. “Obviously, this is not Katrina, but to have two major wind and ice disasters in six months has taken its toll,” said Ashby. “After many years of Kentucky’s disaster relief teams helping out other states, we are now in the recipient stage.” Webb said the Louisiana gift will go toward funding some of the current disaster relief operations, including repairs that will have to be made to units used in past few weeks. Southern Baptists have so far served more than 20,000 meals and completed more than 400 chainsaw jobs completed, with another 1,000 to 2,000 jobs pending, he said. “We are thankful to our sister convention in Louisiana for their gracious and compassionate gift to those left hurting because of the storm here in Kentucky,” said Webb. “It will make a significant difference in the work we are able to do.” At least 1,700 Kentucky Baptists have been involved in Katrina relief and rebuilding efforts in New Orleans, La., through Operation New Orleans Area Homes (NOAH), a partnership between Southern Baptists in New Orleans, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board and SBC volunteers nationwide. The rebuilding effort was formed to address housing needs after the 2005 storm, which destroyed 50,000 homes. Originally scheduled to conclude in August of 2008, the project has been extended to August of 2009. In addition to those involved through Operation NOAH, thousands more have provided relief in other areas along the Gulf Coast, said Webb. Kentucky Baptists also served in Louisiana in 2008 to assist recovery efforts following Hurricane Gustav. Kentucky Baptists are part of a larger network of Southern Baptist volunteers trained to respond to disasters by manning mass feeding operations, using chainsaws to clear downed trees and limbs, clear mud out of flooded homes and more. Together, Southern Baptists comprise the third largest relief organization in the United States. Contributions to the KBC’s disaster relief efforts may be sent to the KBC, Dept. 5008, P.O. Box 740041, Louisville, KY 40201-9976. Please note “disaster relief” in the check memo. Contribute to disaster relief efforts online here. To learn more about Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, go to www.kybaptist.org/drThe 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 18, 2009 17:35:26 GMT -5
Former Muslim Ergun Caner to Speak at KBC Evangelism Conference First full-time pastorate was at Manchester Baptist ChurchErgun Caner, a former Muslim who now is president of Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va., will be among the featured speakers at the Kentucky Baptist Evangelism Conference at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington Feb. 23-24. Caner, who will speak during the Monday evening session on "The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ," is a University of the Cumberlands (formerly Cumberland College) graduate. He is a Turkish immigrant and son of a Sunni Muslim scholar and architect who helped build mosques in the Midwest. "We came to America as devout, Allah-fearing Muslims. My father built mosques, so for lack of a better term, we were raised as missionaries," Caner said. While Caner was in high school in Columbus, Ohio, in 1982, a persistent Southern Baptist classmate named Jerry Tackett kept inviting him to church, never taking no for an answer. "Finally, basically out of spite, to get him off my back, I told him, 'I will go.' So I went, and of course that was world-changing for me because I had never been around Christians before," Caner said. "I knew nothing about Christianity. The Koran is explicit that you take no friends from among the Jews and the Christians." Caner said it was astonishing to be around Christians for the first time and for them not to be anything like he had expected them to be. People accepted him warmly. "I guess I lasted maybe four days in that church, and then I became a believer in Jesus Christ," he said. Less than one year later, Caner found himself a student at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg. His devout Muslim family had disowned him for becoming a Christian. "Cumberland literally took me in when I had nobody. I had no friends. I had nothing," he recounted. "I wrote letters to 10 or 15 schools, saying, 'I've been disowned. I'm a new Christian. I came out of Islam.' Most of them, I'm sure, just threw them away, but Cumberland responded with a scholarship." Caner's first full-time pastorate was at Manchester Baptist Church in Clay County, and he preached his first full-time revival in Evarts, in Harlan County, so his connections to the state are significant. Caner then went on to earn degrees at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of South Africa. He taught for two years at Criswell College in Dallas before becoming a professor of theology and church history at Liberty University. In 2005, he was named dean of Liberty's seminary. Caner and his brother, Emir, who is president of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga., wrote a book called "Unveiling Islam" in 2002, providing an insider's look at Muslim life and beliefs. Caner soon gained national notoriety, appearing on Fox News, MSNBC and other networks. Evangelism is of utmost importance to Caner because he understands his life would have continued on a drastically different path if not for one unrelenting teenager who badly wanted him to know Christ. "I'm the walking testimony of one kid," he said. "I'm the walking testimony of the people who think, 'Well, I'm a Sunday School teacher but the kids don't pay attention,' 'I'm the bus driver and they don't even know I'm here,' 'I teach Awana but nobody cares.' If it wasn't for that person, I wouldn't be here. "We often focus on the results, and we're not supposed to. We're just called to play the game, not keep score," Caner said, adding that his mother wasn't saved until 1991 and his grandmother didn't accept Christ until 1995. "If you do the math, that's 13 years after my salvation," he said. When people are tempted to give up after praying for someone to come to faith in Christ or working hard to witness to someone, Caner pleads with them to keep at it. "I always tell people, 'You just can't give up. You can't.' Christianity marches on the shoulders of these faithful and yet unknown Christians," he said. "... You cannot measure in human terms the investment of your time -- the work that you do in the background. I'm here because of it." Caner said he looks forward to speaking at the evangelism conference because Kentucky is a familiar place. "A lot of people are discipled in youth groups. Others are discipled during Vacation Bible School," he said. "I had none of that. I was in college just months after I was saved. I was discipled in Kentucky. That's home to me." 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 Feb 22, 2009 7:55:46 GMT -5
CP Rallies Set for March, AprilRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications Kentucky Baptists are gearing up to celebrate the Cooperative Program during a series of rallies across the state in March and April. The rallies will mark the official launch of the CP Missions Challenge, a three-year emphasis aimed at raising awareness of the Cooperative Program and celebrating cooperation between Kentucky Baptists. According to Billy Compton, executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources, all Kentucky Baptists are encouraged to participate in their region’s rally. The events will be held on 11 different dates and locations. • March 3: Owensboro - First Baptist Church, Owensboro • March 5: Hopkinsville - Second Baptist Church, Hopkinsville • March 10: Paducah - Lone Oak First Baptist Church • March 12: Louisville - Hurstbourne Baptist Church • March 17: Corbin - Central Baptist Church • March 19: Lexington - Porter Memorial Baptist Church • March 24: Ashland - Unity Baptist Church • March 26: Independence - Hickory Grove Baptist Church • March 30: Bowling Green - Living Hope Baptist Church • March 31: Elizabethtown - Severns Valley Baptist Church • April 2: Pikeville - First Baptist Church, Pikeville “This is an important time for the Kentucky Baptist family to come together to remember our common goal and celebrate what God has done through our partnership,” said Compton. The focus of the rallies will be “to thank our churches that have given sacrificially through CP, and to reignite a passion for Baptist cooperation,” he said. Kentucky Baptist churches will also be challenged to observe Cooperative Program Sunday on April 26 and to give renewed focus to educating church members about CP. “The CP Missions Challenge is a challenge to pastors and other leaders of our churches to educate their members about the impact of the Cooperative Program. The goal is to celebrate the vital role CP plays in Southern Baptist missions and ministries,” said Compton. Another long-term facet of the CP Missions Challenge is for churches to consider strengthening their contributions through CP as they are able, said Compton. “It would be exciting to see churches increase their giving through CP and yet at the same time, we understand the economic situation is becoming increasingly difficult,” said Compton. “We want all of our churches to know we appreciate their financial commitment to ministries and missions through CP.” The rallies will feature testimonies from individuals, churches and ministries of how people have been connected to Christ, said Compton. Each event will begin at 6:30 p.m. local time. Members of the CP Missions Challenge steering committee are planning the events. The committee, which includes 34 Kentucky Baptist leaders from across the state, is helping carry out the challenge and enlist the participation of other Kentucky Baptist churches. The current 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. Those interested in more information about a specific CP rally should contact the organizer in their area: • Owensboro: Jerry Tooley - 270-684-2377 • Hopkinsville: Larry Purcell - 270-886-0291 • Paducah: Dan Summerlin - 270-554-1441 • Louisville: Charles Barnes - 502-565-4432 • Corbin: Darren Gaddis - 606-528-6650 • Lexington: Bill Henard - 859-272-3441 • Ashland: Floyd Paris - 606-324-7157 • Independence: Will Langford - 859-356-3162 • Bowling Green: Scott Kilgore - 270-843-9462 • Elizabethtown: Gerald Murphy - 270-765-4023 • Pikeville: Paul Badgett - 606-432-8113 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 23, 2009 22:31:53 GMT -5
KBC President on Site with National Guard Not long after he wrapped up his Sunday sermon, pastor John Mark Toby got the call. Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, Ky., was deployed Feb. 1 to serve with the Kentucky National Guard's emergency operations center in Paducah following the ice storm that crippled much of the Bluegrass State several days earlier. Toby has been a lieutenant colonel chaplain with the Kentucky National Guard for 25 years. It's one of many hats Toby wears -- he also is president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Many of the 4,000 deployed guardsmen have conducted door-to-door surveys in communities that still are without power, in addition to distributing water and other supplies to residents who desperately need them. Toby, meanwhile, has focused on the soldiers' spiritual needs. "I've been giving out Gideon Bibles and praying with soldiers and just checking on them, encouraging them," he said. His secondary mission "is working with government officials in trying to be responsive to any needs they might have as well, from the governor on down to county judge executives ... to try and see if there are any kind of needs that we can help with." Toby's contacts included Gov. Steve Beshear, with whom Toby shared a time of prayer and offered a Gideon Bible. While it's important to remember the storm victims who continue to need help, Toby said government officials also need prayer and encouragement. "They're under a lot of pressure," Toby said. "They've all been working long hours ... away from their own families. They've got a task bigger than themselves right now. "God is able to do all things and He can help them even in these tight situations," Toby said. In his journey through western Kentucky on the way to Paducah, Toby made frequent stops to see how Kentucky Baptist congregations were weathering the storm. He also was one of several Kentucky Baptist Convention officials who toured the state in early February, assessing the damage and letting pastors and directors of missions know they were not alone in their disaster response efforts. KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey, who toured cities and towns along the Western Kentucky Parkway, noted that "the response of the churches has been a tremendous witness. I've seen staff people who've gone without sleep and who have been on the job they couldn't even stay in their own homes. I am especially grateful to God for the way I've seen the church staff and churches responding to the needs." 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 2, 2009 17:16:30 GMT -5
'Find it Here’ Set to Reach Every Kentucky HouseholdKentucky Baptists are preparing to reach every household in the state with a Gospel message and special invitation to attend church by Easter Sunday 2010. Ross Bauscher, evangelism growth team leader for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, told participants attending the state evangelism conference on Feb. 23, that a combination of hand delivery to 1.5 million households of a special brochure and the Kentucky portion of a $1.2 million national media campaign would be used to blanket the state during the three weeks leading up to Easter Sunday 2010. “This is going to be the largest evangelism emphasis that the Southern Baptist Convention and Kentucky Baptist Convention has ever done,” Bauscher said about the national evangelism initiative in which Kentucky will participate. The campaign is being called “Find it Here,” which is the tagline to be used in media advertising geared to reach people who do not presently attend church. It is part of the GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) initiative of the North American Mission Board aimed at fulfilling the Great Commission in North America by 2020. Bauscher said there would be three main components to the campaign: prayerwalking the state in the fall of 2009; the Gospel sowing distribution to 1.5 million households in March 2010; and the national media campaign. He said convention officials are estimating that 50,000 volunteers will be needed to hand-deliver the “Find it Here” message which will consist of a plastic bag with a special “Find it Here” brochure that can be hung on a doorknob. The brochure will contain a simple Gospel presentation and an invitation to attend a Kentucky Baptist church at Easter (April 4, 2010). Bauscher said that while numbers like “1.5 million households” and “50,000 volunteers” sound intimidating at first, the process of mobilizing for the task is relatively simple. “Essentially we are working very closely with our associations and churches to make this happen,” Bauscher said. “In each association, either the director of missions or the moderator is working with each church that wishes to participate to divide up the geographic area for the prayerwalking and Gospel distribution. Any church will be able to work as large or as small of an area as it feels it can handle.” Churches can also add a brochure to the bags its members distribute. The brochure could include an invitation to a special seminar or ministry that would appeal to non-attenders. Those receiving the bags will be able to respond immediately by filling out a card or by visiting a special Web site. The KBC will be sending each respondent a book and will notify the church assigned to that area for follow-up. In preparation for the Gospel distribution and media campaign, churches are being asked to prayerwalk their assigned area; train members to be witnesses; prepare their facilities to make a strongly positive first impression for new guests and make plans to follow-up with prospects during the five weeks following Easter. For the national media campaign, Bauscher said that NAMB is producing high quality TV and radio spots in English and Spanish. The ads will feature the stories of people who found life unfulfilling until they found Christ. The spots will also be available to churches and associations to use, he said. In addition to the NAMB Web site for the unchurched person (www.findithere.com, set to launch this March), the KBC is also setting up a Find it Here section of its own Web site (www.kybaptist.org/findithere) that will be used to post downloadable resources to help churches prepare for the campaign. “Stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead,” Bauscher told the Evangelism Conference audience. “We will use mail, e-mail, the Western Recorder and our Web site to get the information out. We are excited about what God is going to do through this and pray that every church in the KBC will participate.” 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. 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 8, 2009 7:27:53 GMT -5
KBC Relief Work Winds Down in KentuckyAfter five weeks of clearing debris and providing relief, Southern Baptist disaster volunteers are winding down their efforts to aid Kentuckians affected by ice storms late in January. Crews are still working in six areas of western Kentucky through the end of this week, but all other teams have finished and the entire effort is expected to conclude by next week, said Webb. “We’re starting to shut down because our number of volunteers is decreasing, and also because we’ve been able to finish our priority projects,” said KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb. “Of course, there are still needs and there will continue to be recovery efforts going on locally.” According to Webb, approximately 1,500 Southern Baptist volunteers have been involved in ice storm relief to date, logging a combined total of 9,074 volunteer days. The volunteers came from 20 state Baptist conventions, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas/Nebraska, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota/Wisconsin, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania/New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia (two conventions), and West Virginia. “We are grateful for the sacrificial service of our Kentucky volunteers and are deeply appreciative of our sister conventions who responded in tremendous ways,” said Webb. “We would not have been able to meet the vast needs across the state had it not been for these conventions sending such large numbers of teams.” To date, 56,657 meals have been prepared, 2,723 chainsaw jobs completed and 1,819 showers supplied. Additional assistance was provided through mud-out and repair jobs, roofing projects, laundry services and chaplaincy outreach. In addition, volunteers presented the gospel 192 times. A total of 42 people made decisions to become followers of Jesus Christ, and 12 more made other faith-related decisions. “This has been the largest relief effort in Kentucky as far as we know, or at least has involved the largest number of other state conventions,” said Webb. “Some from the state emergency management think it is the largest scope natural disaster in Kentucky’s history.” Areas still receiving assistance from Southern Baptist teams include areas in and around Greenville, Hartford, Livermore, Marion, Owensboro, Princeton and Salem. The Kentucky Baptist Building has served as the operations center since the effort first began in late January. The temporary incident command center that was set up just for this purpose will likely be shutting down by March 6, said Webb. Contributions to the KBC’s disaster relief efforts may be sent to the KBC, Dept. 5008, P.O. Box 740041, Louisville, KY 40201-9976. Please note “disaster relief” in the check memo. Online donations are also being accepted at www.kybaptist.org/drKentucky Baptists are part of a larger network of Southern Baptist volunteers trained to respond to disasters by manning mass feeding operations, using chainsaws to clear downed trees and limbs, clear mud out of flooded homes and more. Together, Southern Baptists comprise the third largest relief organization in the United States. To learn more about Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, go to www.kybaptist.org/drThe 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. 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 10, 2009 20:12:04 GMT -5
Acts 1:8 Challenge Conferences Planned for Missions-Minded ChurchesKentucky Baptist church leaders desiring to increase their church’s missions involvement can learn more about the Acts 1:8 Challenge at one of four upcoming conferences. A joint effort of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, the Acts 1:8 Challenge is an opportunity for churches to declare their commitment to a missions strategy in their community, state, continent and world. Acts 1:8 Challenge conferences will be held at the following dates and locations: • Bowling Green: Tuesday, March 31 at the Warren Association Office • Hazard: Thursday, April 2 at Big Creek Baptist Church • Owenton: Friday, April 3 at Owenton First Baptist Church • Salem: Saturday, April 4 at Pinckneyville Baptist Church “Church leaders are often interested in missions but may not know where to start or how to take their involvement to the next level,” said Scott Pittman, KBC partnership missions department director. “Our goal is to help churches identify where they want to go, and to help connect them to opportunities.” According to Pittman, Acts 1:8 Challenge churches partner with their association, state convention, the North American Mission Board, and the International Mission Board to advance their missions endeavors. These churches benefit from denominational training, resources and missions partnership opportunities. “The conferences will revolve around the four areas of missions opportunity commanded in Acts 1:8,” said Pittman. “We’ll also describe how the Acts 1:8 Challenge can help churches of all sizes fulfill these commands.” Each Acts 1:8 Challenge conference will feature a representative from the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board and Kentucky Baptist Convention, as well as a local missions representative. Those interested in joining the Acts 1:8 Challenge will have an opportunity to do so at the event, but the commitment is not a requirement for participation in the conference, said Pittman. The conferences will run from 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. local time at each location. There is no charge to attend an Acts 1:8 Challenge conference, but pre-registration is required at: www.kybaptist.org/challengeLunch will be provided for all registered participants. For event details, go to: or call the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Partnership Missions Department at 502-489-3529 or 866-489-3529 (toll free). 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. 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 19:56:57 GMT -5
River Ministry surpasses 20,000 professionsThe Southern Baptist Mississippi River Ministry has reached a new milestone: More than 20,000 people have made professions of faith in Christ since the outreach began in 1992. MRM is a partnership between eight state conventions (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee), the North American Mission Board and Woman's Missionary Union. In addition to 20,000-plus decisions for Christ, the Mississippi River Ministry has drawn the efforts of more than 100,000 volunteers. It began after the U.S. government-sponsored Delta Commission conducted a study of poverty along the lower Mississippi River. Using data from the study, Southern Baptists began meeting together to explore ways to address some of the many needs. "The Mississippi River Ministry calls attention to this great mission field along the lower Mississippi River, where mission volunteers have been serving since MRM began," said Diana Lewis, Arkansas Baptist State Convention mission ministries team member, who coordinates Arkansas MRM efforts. "MRM ministries serve people who are spiritually and/or physically living in poverty. Southern Baptists are working together to provide ministries, evangelize, strengthen existing churches and start new churches in over 165 counties and parishes of the MRM region." Among the 250 MRM projects in the eight-state region are evangelistic initiatives; construction and maintenance efforts; medical, dental, health and wellness clinics; Vacation Bible Schools and Backyard Bible Clubs; block parties and Bible studies; prayerwalking; children and youth activities; Hispanic outreach; sports clinics and camp ministries; mentoring programs; nursing home visitation; Bible distribution; crisis pregnancy centers; assistance to battered women and their children; and food, clothing, recovery and jail ministries. Lewis has seen God at work through MRM volunteers, recounting, for example, the time when a prayerwalking team paused in front of a home and a young woman got out of a car that had pulled up. She asked if they were there because they knew her brother. No, they answered, then explained what they were doing. The woman had just received word that her brother, who lived in the house, had died that morning. "They prayed for her and asked if they could share her name with a Blytheville church," Lewis said. "I think about how God ordered their steps that day, so they could be right there at the right moment for her." Another volunteer, who had prayed all week for God to give her an opportunity to share the plan of salvation with a senior adult, began visiting with an 89-year-old man at a nursing home. "He shared that he didn't believe there could be a God who could forgive him of all he had done wrong in his life." Lewis said. The volunteer assured the man there is a God who loved him and wanted to forgive him. "That 89-year-old man in his wheelchair prayed to receive Christ," Lewis said. The eight-state, 165-county/parish region has been referred to as the "third world along the Mississippi," according to the MRM website, www.riverministry.com. Low-income families in the region suffer from inadequate health care, reflected in the highest infant mortality rate in the United States and the lowest ratio of doctors and nurses per 1,000 population. In some counties, newborns stand less chance of survival than in Chile, Cuba or Malaysia, the website notes. Many people in the region live in substandard or deteriorated housing or they face homelessness, the website also notes. Only about 50 percent of people 25 and older have a high school diploma, reflecting a high illiteracy rate. Lewis said in addition to the 20,000 salvations and 100,000 volunteers involved, the ministry also has had an economic impact on people's lives in the region, but that impact is difficult to measure. One of the Arkansas projects is in the impoverished Dixsonville area, where Lewis has been personally involved for about 20 years. "I can see economic changes there, but a lot of them are small things to celebrate," Lewis said. "Some things are improvements we won't see in this world. These ministries are changing generations and changing a culture. Such changes are slow to come. We celebrate the small things. Some of the people we have helped may say their lives are better economically because of this ministry, but the region is not better statistically than it was in 1992." Mission volunteers and mission teams from churches and associations can get involved by going to the MRM website www.riverministry.com"Church volunteers should get involved with the Mississippi River Ministry for two reasons: It will change the lives of other people and it will change them," Lewis said. "When we work with people in poverty, we are reminded of how great the Father's love is for all of us. And people's hearts are touched through what we do and their hearts are then more open to the Good News of Jesus Christ." Charlie Warren is editor of the Arkansas Baptist News (www.arkansasbaptist.org), newsjournal of the Arkansas Baptist Convention. 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 30, 2009 23:14:42 GMT -5
Southern Baptists to Collect 5,000 Relief Buckets for AfricansRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsKentucky Baptists desiring to help provide relief to millions of Africans afflicted with the HIV virus and AIDS can once again participate in the Home Care Kits for Africa project this summer. Organized by Baptist Global Response, Southern Baptists’ humanitarian aid organization, the goal of the effort is to distribute essential healthcare items to caregivers and disease victims in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Baptist Global Response is seeking to collect 5,000 filled buckets from Southern Baptists across the nation. During the 2008 project pilot in Kentucky and several other states, 1,400 buckets were collected and sent to Africa for Southern Baptist missionaries to distribute. Individuals and churches can participate in the effort now through July 19 by purchasing requested items and bringing them to a participating Kentucky Baptist church, where they will be packaged into five-gallon buckets. Items include household health products, including soaps, vitamins, healing ointments, bedding and more. “This is a way for us to respond to a critical need in Africa by helping to stop the spread of the disease to caregivers,” said Coy Webb, KBC disaster relief associate. “It also gives our missionaries the opportunity to share the gospel and give hope to the hopeless.” The Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Baptist Men on Mission Department and Kentucky’s Woman’s Missionary Union are again organizing the Kentucky collection. “We know that Kentucky Baptists really like hands-on mission projects, and this is an opportunity to literally pack the bucket and send it,” said Joy Bolton, Kentucky WMU director. “It’s especially effective when we know our IMB missionaries will be the ones distributing the goods to those in need.” From July 20-24, churches will pack the supplies in five-gallon buckets and transport the buckets at one of 16 drop-off locations across the state. BC disaster relief trucks will pick up the buckets from the specified locations from July 27-31 and will deliver them to Baptist Global Response’s offices in Richmond, Va. “These buckets will meet a tremendous need for families ministering to terminally ill relatives at home. They will also support ministries coordinated by Mark Hatfield, Baptist Global Response’s area director for Sub-Saharan Africa, who is a missionary with Kentucky roots,” said Webb. “This project will offer the hope of Christ to thousands of victims and their families as they battle HIV, cancer, tuberculosis, malaria and other life-threatening diseases,” he said. More information and a complete list of needed items are available at www.kybaptist.org/africaprojects or by contacting the KBC’s Baptist Men on Mission Department at 502-489-3527 or 866-489-3527 (toll free in KY). 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. 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 31, 2009 15:21:33 GMT -5
Johnny Hunt: An Invitation to LouisvilleJohnny M. Hunt is pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. I would like to encourage all my fellow Southern Baptist to join me at our annual meeting June 23-24 in Louisville, Kentucky. It has been a joy and privilege serving as your president the past nine months. I have traveled to many of your states and witnessed first-hand the way the Lord is moving in so many places. That has been so encouraging to me. However, we still have so many places nationally and internationally where we need to encourage, motivate and refocus on the mission the Lord has given us to reach others with the good news of the Gospel. That is exactly what we want to accomplish as we gather together in Louisville. We have sought the Lord as we have planned our program for our meeting. I believe He has helped us to do just that. We have some incredibly encouraging worship times planned with some musicians who truly desire to honor the Lord and lead us to the throne of God. I have invited some young men to speak to us who have never addressed our convention. They will have a special and fresh message to challenge us from the Word of God from a little different perspective than perhaps we have been accustomed. I believe that will be healthy for us as a denomination. I have also made committee appointments with many of the young men who are doing a great job in many of our churches. Many of them have never served before. As you may have heard already, I have chosen the theme "LoveLoud -- Actions Speak Louder Than Words." The Scripture is Matthew 5:16. We simply have got to do a better job of showing this generation that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ not only talks the talk but walks the walk. It really is true that "people don't care what you know till they know that you care." All our time together in Louisville will be with that focus in mind. I am asking you to make a commitment to do absolutely all you can to be present in Louisville. I realize this is a bad time with the economy and it will be increasingly more difficult for you to make the effort to come. However, we cannot be encouraged as effectively to make new strides in our efforts to reach the world as we can if we come together for those two days. I believe with all my heart you will leave inspired and grateful you made the effort to come on Wednesday night, June 24, when we complete our time together. I am looking so forward to seeing you in Louisville. Visit www.sbc.net and register as a messenger and bring some folks with you. Join me in praying that our time in Louisville will honor our blessed Lord. That is my desire. If you are not able to join us there, please log on to the sbc.net web site and watch as much of the meeting as you can during those two days. 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 2, 2009 4:26:59 GMT -5
Crossover '09 aims for 'lasting impact'Mickey Noah is a writer for the North American Mission BoardEven storied, 135-year-old Churchill Downs -- home of the Kentucky Derby -- will be among the ministry venues as Southern Baptists engage in Crossover Louisville '09. Now in its 21st year, Crossover is an evangelistic thrust to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ the week before the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in each year's host city. Crossover Louisville '09 will kick off with Intentional Community Evangelism (ICE) on Sunday, June 14, and will culminate the June 19-20 weekend prior to the June 23-24 SBC annual meeting at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Crossover will be jointly sponsored by SBC's North American Mission Board, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Long Run Baptist Association, Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. "Our objective is to share Jesus and have a lasting impact on metro Louisville," said Charles Barnes, longtime Baptist lay leader in Louisville, retired banking executive and chairman of the Crossover Louisville '09 steering committee. "We're not interested in things that will have some glamour for only a week or so and then die," Barnes said. "We want to go at things in a way that will not only win people to Christ but will disciple them thereafter. Hopefully, out of Crossover '09's block parties and festivals, we will not only have decisions for Christ but will have new churches that will emerge. We hope it will spark us to a new era of growth among all our churches and as a catalyst to move forward more aggressively." Barnes said the Long Run Baptist Association includes some 160 Southern Baptist churches, and about 40 of them will participate in 32 block parties in various Louisville neighborhoods. Five churches will band together for a single block party in Veterans Park in the Louisville suburb of Jeffersontown. Hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers from around the nation are expected to come to Louisville to support Crossover events -- the block parties, an international fair featuring nine different ethnic groups, a separate Hispanic fair and door-to-door evangelism by ICE (Intentional Community Evangelism) team volunteers from NAMB and across the country. Metro Louisville's 1 million population includes some 50,000 Hispanics, with several hundred living right around Churchill Downs, working as jockeys, trainers, groomers and in other capacities, said Joshua Del Risco, NAMB's coordinator for multiethnic evangelism in Alpharetta, Ga. With help from Yurian Santiesteban, Southern Baptist chaplain at Churchill Downs, Crossover volunteers will visit the racetrack, witness to the Hispanic horsemen and invite them to nightly revival services at 10 area Hispanic churches, including a new church plant located almost across the street from Churchill Downs, Iglesias Baptista Victoria (Victory Baptist Church). "When we leave Louisville, these 10 young Hispanic churches will be expected to continue their growth and keep implementing the things we learned during Crossover," Del Risco said. Walnut Street Baptist Church will be the host church for the Crossover initiative, with eight other churches serving as ICE "anchor churches": Galilee Baptist Church, Bible Community Fellowship, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Guiding Light Baptist Church, Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church, Immanuel Baptist Church, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Temple of Faith Baptist Church. Victor Benavides, coordinator of urban evangelism for NAMB, said planners are praying for at least 2,000 salvation decisions and six-to-eight new church plants resulting from Crossover in Louisville. "This is an opportunity for Southern Baptists to be a part of something God is doing," Benavides said. "Crossover is an evangelistic effort in a small window when we can go out there and win people for Christ. It will show us what the revival of a spiritual awakening could be like if we got out there and did it on a regular basis. We want people not just to pray for revival, but to get involved in it by coming to Louisville and sharing the Gospel with a lost person." Since Crossover originated during the SBC annual meeting in Las Vegas in 1989, more than 41,000 individuals have prayed to receive Christ. For additional information about Crossover Louisville '09, to register as a volunteer or to participate in ICE, go to: www.crossoverlouisville.comThe 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 12, 2009 7:05:51 GMT -5
Kentucky College Students Use Spring Break for MissionsRelease prepared by Erin Roach, KBC CommunicationsHundreds of students from the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Baptist Campus Ministries used their spring break as an opportunity to share the hope of the gospel on mission trips, including a project called BeachReach in Panama City, Florida. Bill Noe, campus minister at the University of Louisville, led 45 students on a trip to BeachReach, an annual event coordinated by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "A lot of years it seems like it takes a couple of nights to kind of get over the shock of being down there and taking in the atmosphere, but this group did a great job even from night one of turning conversations into spiritual ones," Noe said. Baptist students typically provide free van rides and pancake breakfasts for their peers who are partying their week away on the beach. BCM students also hit the streets and the sand, hoping to strike up a new relationship that might lead to a gospel presentation. "On the first night, one of the guys who got in one of our vans accepted Christ," Noe said. "Then it kind of went up from there. We had so many conversations, sharing the gospel with students down there and have them really ask engaging questions about our faith." Noe said some of his students encountered a couple of international students from Europe and then kept crossing paths with the two throughout the week. "Every time, they just wanted to know more and more about Christianity," Noe said. "One night in particular, our students had given one of the guys a ride, and when they got back to his hotel, he just sat in the van for almost another hour asking questions about Christianity and the gospel. "They ended up walking into his room, and his roommate, the other European guy, was in there," Noe said. "The roommate said, 'Hey, I want to come talk to you all.' So he just sat in the van for another hour and talked to them about Christianity." Noe said he could convey countless stories of people noticing that the BCM students cared about them because of the services they offered. "They wanted to know what made us different and why we were doing this, and that gave us an opportunity to talk about our faith in Christ and the difference he has made in our lives," Noe said. After three weeks of BeachReach, manned by students from across the country, LifeWay said more than 12,000 people ate free pancakes, more than 13,000 people took advantage of the van rides and nearly 100 people made first-time decisions for Christ. "I was so proud of their selflessness in giving up that time, not just because it was a trip to the beach but because they were going to have opportunities to share the gospel with people who needed to hear it," Noe said of his students. Students from Baptist Campus Ministries at the University of Kentucky, Murray State University, Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University also served at BeachReach during spring break. Jeff Finley, a student at Murray State, said he was apprehensive about sharing his faith during his first trip to Panama City last year, but this year it was easier. "This year, I had the awesome experience of getting to lead a fellow college student in prayer to receive Christ," Finley wrote on a BCM blog. "To see a new life begin in an instant made the whole trip worth it. I was continually amazed at how open people are to talking about the Lord, especially when you offer them a pancake or a van ride rather than a megaphone." Also on spring break, 19 students from Georgetown College traveled to Texas for Mission Arlington, a week of ministering to low-income families. "Our group led 'Rainbow Express' -- Mission Arlington's version of a backyard Bible club, with games, crafts, Bible stories, snacks and lots of love and affection," Katie McCracken from Georgetown wrote on the blog. "From day one, the children loved us and were so happy that we were there to play with them. It was especially touching to return each day to find them anxiously waiting for us. "God is calling us to His people and they are anxiously waiting for us!" McCracken wrote. Keith Inman, director of Kentucky's Baptist Campus Ministries, said each year around 500 students use their spring breaks to share Christ on mission trips. "One of our main emphases in Baptist Campus Ministries is to help students be Great Commission Christians," Inman said. "For many students, it's their first mission experience. It's an opportunity for them to serve in community." 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. 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 16, 2009 16:13:02 GMT -5
KBC to Host Disaster Preparedness Fair for CommunityRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications On the heels of the ice storm recovery effort, the Kentucky Baptist Convention will be hosting Disaster Preparedness Fair on Tuesday, May 12, for those desiring to learn how to prepare for future disasters. Representatives from local government and non-profit organizations will be on hand to educate residents from the greater Louisville area. Open to the public, the event will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Kentucky Baptist Building in Louisville. “Everyone knows just how devastating disasters can be and that preparedness is incredibly important, but many people are asking what that should look like,” said Robert Reeves, KBC communications director. “Our goal is to help those in our community prepare themselves and their loved ones for future disasters.” Free lunches will be served by a Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief feeding unit to the first 250 participants. Additional participants include WAVE-3 Meteorologist Kevin Harned, the American Red Cross, Middletown Fire Department, Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness, and E.ON U.S. (LG&E). Topics that will be addressed during the fair include: how to prepare an emergency kit, portable generator safety, fire safety for home and business, how to prepare for power outages, electrical safety and power restoration, food safety tips, pandemic precautions and more. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief communications unit and recovery unit will also be providing demonstrations. “Kentucky Baptists have a long history of aiding people in need. We planned this Disaster Preparedness Fair as a proactive way to help our community and give residents a chance to meet some of the organizations that play a key role in disaster situations,” said Reeves. Kentucky Baptists are part of a larger network of Southern Baptist volunteers trained to respond to disasters by manning mass feeding operations, using chainsaws to clear downed trees and limbs, clear mud out of flooded homes and more. Approximately 1,500 Southern Baptist volunteers were involved in the relief effort following the January ice storms across Kentucky. Together, Southern Baptists comprise the third largest relief organization in the United States. To learn more about Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, go to: www.kybaptist.org/drIn case of inclement weather, the fair will be held indoors at the Kentucky Baptist Building. The building is part of the Eastpoint Business Park and is located at 13420 Eastpoint Centre Drive in Louisville. For more information and directions, visit www.kybaptist.org/preparedor call 502-489-3578 or 866-489-3578 (toll free in KY). 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 Apr 18, 2009 7:17:14 GMT -5
Stetzer to Lead Church Planting ConferenceRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsEd StetzerLifeWay Research President Ed Stetzer will be among the featured speakers at the upcoming Missional Church Planting conference, sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention and Campbellsville University. Designed for those interested or involved in church planting, as well as churches interested in sponsoring a plant, Missional Church Planting will be held May 11-14 at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer planters and potential planters the opportunity to hear from a host of speakers who are passionate about this type of ministry,” said Larry Baker, KBC’s new work and associational missions director, who will lead a conference session on Wednesday. In addition to Stetzer and Baker, speakers include Chuck Lawless, dean of Southern Seminary’s Billy Graham School of Missions; J. D. Payne, associate professor of church planting and evangelism for Southern Seminary; and Jeff Eaton, pastor of Hope Community Church in Lawrenceburg. Stetzer will speak on Monday and Tuesday, covering topics such as Biblical foundations for church planting, planting models and systems, prospect development, planting teams, casting and maintaining vision, assimilation, outreach and more. A special dinner and question and answer session with Stetzer will follow the Monday sessions, beginning at 6 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, participants will hear from Lawless, Payne, Baker and Eaton, as well as a variety of Kentucky Baptist church planters from across the state who will lead breakout sessions. “We’ve worked hard to put together a conference that covers the broad scope of the church planting experience,” said Baker. “It will include in-depth looks at important church planting topics, as well as practical advice and resources.” The conference will run on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration is $65.00 per person by April 10 and $85.00 after April 10. The cost includes all conference lunches and Monday night dinner. For more information, visit: www.kybaptist.org/plantingor call 502-489-3528 or 866-489-3528 (toll free in KY). Those interested in earning college credit for participating in the event should contact Campbellsville University at 800-735-0610. 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 20:59:39 GMT -5
Youth camp slated during Louisville SBCStudents who go with their families to the Southern Baptist Convention's June 23-24 annual meeting in Louisville will have the opportunity to experience Centrifuge on site. Churches from the Louisville area (whether sending messengers to the convention or not) and SBC entity employees also are invited to bring their students to Fuge as a day camp. "The heart of the SBC camp is to create something special for the students who have parents ministering full-time in the local church," said Kevin Spratt, recreation specialist and student events coordinator for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. LifeWay has offered Centrifuge for the past five years as an event for rising seventh-graders through college students to attend while their parents attend the convention. "Offering Centrifuge at the SBC annual meeting location corresponds directly with the SBC initiative to minister to the whole family," Spratt said. "We also think it is very important to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce a new generation to the SBC. That's one reason we opened registration to local churches." LifeWay has sponsored Centrifuge and its various spin-off camps every summer for 31 years, offering ministry, fun, recreation and relationships to thousands of students. Locations for the hundreds of Centrifuge camps have included college campuses and LifeWay's conference centers. SBC Camp, as the convention Centrifuge is called, will feature Kenneth Bruce, student minister at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., and Jeff Pratt, director of LifeWay student training and events. Drew Causey and Hope Community Church from Frankfort, Ky., will lead worship. Late-night activities will feature "American Idol" finalist Phil Stacey and Christian comedy duo Bean & Bailey. The theme for SBC Camp is "MOVE -- A Faith Journey," entailing a character study on the life of Moses. Parents and family members are invited to attend worship each night with the students. Churches and individuals can call 1-877-CAMP-123 for more details and to pre-register. The SBC camp website is: www2.lifeway.com/fuge/index.php/centrifuge/sbcRegistration at the SBC will begin at 4 p.m. Monday, June 22, at the Kentucky Exposition Center and activities will begin at 6 p.m. Worship, Bible study and recreation will run from Monday night through Wednesday night, June 24. Daytime participants also will receive tickets for a Fuge visit to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Students of parents attending the SBC annual meeting may attend all Fuge sessions for $40. Church youth groups in the Louisville and surrounding areas can attend for a prorated fee of either $40 or $60 depending on which sessions they wish to attend. "SBC Camp is extremely affordable," Spratt said. "In the face of hard economic times, we have been able to provide quality camp programming at a reasonable price. We're happy that we are able to open up this camp for churches in the Louisville area." Polly House is a corporate communications specialist and editor of Facts & Trends magazine at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. 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 24, 2009 22:02:52 GMT -5
SBC Children's Registration UnderwayCompiled by Baptist Press editor Art ToalstonRegistration is now open for families to enroll their children in preschool childcare or the children's conference June 21-24 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Louisville. For all information regarding registration, visit: www.sbc.netand click on "2009 SBC Annual Meeting" then "Children/Students." PRESCHOOL CHILDCARE Childcare for newborns through 3-year-olds will be available from Sunday evening through Wednesday. (For children 4 and older, see children's conference below.) There is a non-refundable registration fee of $10 per child for preschool care. This fee is in addition to the session fees for the convention. The cost per session is $5 per child, not to exceed $40 per family, plus the $10 non-refundable registration fee. Lunch also will be available for preschoolers on Monday and Tuesday at $5 per meal. Complete payment is due for all sessions, and lunch if selected, no later than arrival at the first session. Registration is being handled exclusively online at: www.sbc.netTo assure that your child is registered, applications and fees must be submitted promptly. Once the completed forms and registration fee for each child are received, a confirmation packet, parent handbook, security information and procedures for check-in and check-out will be sent via e-mail to the parent. The materials also will include information about preschool policies, hours of operation, fees and registration forms. The deadline for preschool childcare registration is June 1 and is limited to 150 children. Parents wanting to register their children after June 1 may print the required information and bring it to Louisville, where they will be registered on-site on a space-available basis. Questions about this year's childcare can be directed to childcare@sbc.net. CHILDREN'S CONFERENCE Children ages 4-12, meanwhile, can participate in the children's conference at the SBC annual meeting. Children's Conferences International will provide an age-graded, Scripture-based conference for all children ages 4-12. This year's theme, "Pirates of the Cranium!" will include fun songs, crafts, stories, skits and games. The cost for the children's conference is $45 per child. However, only $20 is required per child to register, which is nonrefundable. The balance (an additional $25 per child) is due upon arrival at the conference, although advance payments for the full amount may be made. "We are delighted to again offer and facilitate biblically based conferences for all age groups 4 years old and beyond during the annual meeting," said Clark Logan, convention manager and vice president for business and finance of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee. "We continue to listen to the excellent feedback we receive from parents and are committed to provide the best facilities, activities and leaders for all children so that families will be encouraged to attend the annual meeting in Louisville." To register, visit: www.sbc.netthen click on 2009 SBC Annual Meeting, then click on Children/Students section, or go directly to: www.childrensconferences.comthen click on Louisville, June 22-24. All children's programs will be held in the Kentucky Exposition Center. Questions about this year's children's conference program can be phoned to Children's Conferences International at 248-346-5373 or e-mailed to info@childrensconferences.com. The deadline for enrollment is June 1 and is limited to 400 children. Parents wanting to register their children after June 1 may inquire at the first session, where they will be registered on-site on a space-available basis. 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 26, 2009 7:15:11 GMT -5
Passion for Missions Leads to CP Giving, Pastor SaysRelease prepared by Erin Roach, KBC CommunicationsDan SummerlinDan Summerlin has led his church to remain a strong supporter of the Cooperative Program despite a major building project and the downturned economy, and he says the key is a passion for missions. "If people get involved in missions, then they understand CP giving," said Summerlin, pastor of Lone Oak First Baptist Church in Paducah. "We encourage our people to do missions not only locally but also to go on mission trips because the moment you have somebody go on a mission trip and see where their money is going, then they understand." When he arrived as pastor in 2002, Lone Oak already had a foundation that enabled the congregation to be open to giving through the Cooperative Program, Summerlin said. He sought to build on that foundation by demonstrating a passion for missions that he developed while he was studying at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and pastoring a small church in Mississippi. "We were running 12, and yet we gave money to the Cooperative Program," he said of the Mississippi church. "Here's a church that could not afford to go on a mission trip, who could not afford very much, but they gave some money through the Cooperative Program and they became part of that mission outreach. "It's the strategy of cooperation -- all churches coming together, contributing money, and that money is being used for the Kingdom," Summerlin said. "Regardless of the size of the church, it's something every church can do to fulfill the Great Commission." In five years, Lone Oak has increased weekly giving by nearly $16,000 under Summerlin's leadership for a total increase of $820,000. Last year, the church gave $515,000 to missions causes, including the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong, Eliza Broadus and Lottie Moon offerings. "We've had various mission trips over the last few years," Summerlin said. "People have gone, and when they come back they get very excited about missions and also missions giving." In 2008, members of Lone Oak traveled to Zambia, Morocco, Mexico, Alaska, Louisiana and Eastern Kentucky, and they always try to meet up with Southern Baptist missionaries to get a firsthand look at what their money is helping support. "My passion is missions. I talk about it a lot, and other people started talking about it," Summerlin said. "Once people start going and coming back, they start talking about it. Once they go to Eastern Kentucky to do a mission trip and come back, they talk in their Sunday school class about what's going on. "We spent two years working in Gulfport after Katrina, and people came back and kept saying, 'Disaster relief is important.' Word of mouth is important because a passion for missions is caught," Summerlin said. "You can teach, but I think really it's caught as people start seeing the passion in others." And when an increase in attendance caused the church to undertake a building program, the congregation saw that too as a mission opportunity. "Everything we do, we look at as missions and reaching the world for Christ and Kingdom building," the pastor said, adding that he didn't recall anyone proposing a CP cutback to fund the project. Lone Oak added more Sunday school space, a large multipurpose room and a foyer to accommodate an average of nearly 1,400 people in three worship services and just over 1,000 in two Sunday schools. Despite challenging economic times, Summerlin said the congregation continues to give as God continues to bless. Though some people in the church have lost their jobs, no one has mentioned the idea of reducing CP giving in order to meet budget requirements, he said. The church realizes it's nonnegotiable. "One of the keys, I think, in growing the Cooperative Program is just being good stewards in general at the church," Summerlin said. "Our church is blessed. We're good stewards with money, and we have a lot of checks and balances in place. I think when people trust the system, that helps in giving." For pastors of small churches looking for a way to spark a passion for missions giving in their congregations, Summerlin urges such churches to start with something simple. He recalled a time when he was pastor of a small church and some of the men volunteered to build a wheelchair ramp at a woman's house. "I said, 'Guys, this is missions. This is what we are doing now. People do this around the world,'" Summerlin recounted. "Anything you do in the name of Jesus is missions, so you don't have to go around the world. Just get the people involved, especially in the local area." Lone Oak tries to minister in the local community as well as on the state, national and international levels, he said. "A lot of churches can't afford that. I totally understand, but I'm sure there's something they can do in the community -- maybe just one home. It may be volunteering at the hospital or the nursing home," Summerlin said. "They can get involved in missions, and it's a teaching moment: 'This is what missions is about, and giving through the Cooperative Program is helping other people do that. We're helping our missionaries in North America. We're helping our missionaries around the world do what you're doing.'" 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. 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 27, 2009 16:42:09 GMT -5
Thousands of Southern Baptists to Impact LouisvilleRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications As Southern Baptists prepare for their June 23-24 annual meeting in Louisville, many are also preparing to make a positive impact on the city through Crossover Louisville ’09, a series of outreach events slated for June 14-20. Thousands of Southern Baptist volunteers will participate in the effort, which will include projects such as building a new Shelby Park learning center, low-income home renovations and block parties in at least 30 communities. Other initiatives include an international festival, compassion projects, evangelistic outreach, prayerwalking and more. “Our objectives are to share Jesus Christ and to have a lasting impact on the metro area,” said Charles Barnes, chairman of Crossover Louisville and longtime Baptist lay leader in Louisville. “We’ve tried to look at this as something that will plant seeds to change lives on a permanent basis.” Crossover is a 21-year Southern Baptist tradition held in the host city just prior to the annual meeting. Southern Baptists from across the nation work as volunteers and are responsible for the costs associated with their involvement. A host of Southern Baptist organizations are coordinating this year’s effort, including the North American Mission Board, Kentucky Baptist Convention, Long Run Baptist Association, Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. According to Barnes, Kentucky Baptist churches in the greater Louisville area will play a key role in Crossover Louisville. About 40 churches from the Long Run Baptist Association will help host the block parties, and many others have committed to supply volunteers and serve as anchor points for various projects, he said. One of the long-term objectives for Crossover Louisville is to start new churches in the metro area. Barnes said the planning team designated for this initiative is aiming to start six to eight churches over the next three years. “We hope that the projects completed this June will plant seeds for this group to pick up on,” said Barnes. “It will definitely be an ongoing effort.” Another key focus during Crossover Louisville will be outreach to the city’s Hispanic population. Nightly revival services will be held at nine local Hispanic churches from June 15-19, and a Hispanic festival will be held at Iroquois Park on June 20, said Barnes. While the goal of Crossover Louisville is to leave a long-term impact, some projects like the Shelby Park learning center and the home renovations will yield more immediate results because they will be completed on Crossover weekend, June 19-20, Barnes said. The learning center is a joint effort between Baptist Builders, a group of Southern Baptist construction volunteers, and the New Direction Housing Corporation of Louisville. Barnes said the groups have worked closely with Mayor Jerry Abramson’s office in developing its plans and has secured a private grant to fund the project. Renovation projects will be completed throughout the city by Crossover Changers, a group of young adults and adults who will complete basic repairs to homes and buildings. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief teams will also be supporting the Baptist Builders and Crossover Changers through feeding units during the projects. Crossover Louisville events are made possible through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program, the plan Southern Baptists use to fund missions causes at the state, national and international levels. More information is available at: www.crossoverlouisville.comor by calling Long Run Baptist Association at 502-635-2601. 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. 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 1, 2009 17:40:04 GMT -5
Cooperative Program Receipts Behind Budget 4.65 Percent through MarchRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsSeven months into the fiscal year, Kentucky Baptists have given $13,348,709 through the Cooperative Program, leaving totals behind budget by 4.65 percent. The CP budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is $24 million. According to KBC Business Services Team Leader Lowell Ashby, $14 million was needed through March to stay on budget. In March, Kentucky Baptists gave $1,807,492 through CP. According to Ashby, CP receipts are now behind budget by $651,291, or 4.65 percent, for the fiscal year. CP giving also remains slightly behind last year’s pace by $212,311, or 1.6 percent. Kentucky Baptists gave $13,561,020 through CP over the same period in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. “In the midst of a difficult year, Kentucky Baptists are rising to the challenge to continue their faithful support through CP,” said Billy Compton, KBC executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources. “The needs of those impacted by CP missions and ministries have not changed and are still best addressed through our strong cooperation.” 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. 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 3, 2009 7:28:21 GMT -5
KBC Changes Six-Months Cooperative Program Reporting ProcessRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsIn an effort to reduce costs, the Kentucky Baptist Convention is changing how it will report six-months Cooperative Program giving totals to participating churches. For years, the KBC has printed the six-months Cooperative Program giving report in the Western Recorder, Kentucky Baptists’ state newspaper. According to KBC Assistant Executive Director Steve Thompson, the report cost more than $7,500 from CP funds. “In looking for ways to conserve CP dollars, we have decided to find another way of delivering the six-months report to the churches,” said Thompson. Instead of appearing in the Western Recorder, Thompson said the report will be posted to the KBC’s website (click here to view the report). A printed report will also be delivered to each pastor, treasurer and director of missions that shows the report for all the churches in their respective associations. The report will be posted online and mailed some time in April each year showing the giving record from September through February, he said. “We still believe the reporting function is very important and see this as a good solution,” said Thompson. “Reporting this information reinforces the strong accountability between churches and the KBC, and also reminds each church of its giving record for the first six months of the fiscal year.” The annual CP report will continue to be printed in the October issue of the Western Recorder. In addition to the six-months reporting change, the KBC is also altering the acknowledgement form sent to each church upon the receipt of any gift through the KBC. Thompson said the KBC’s technology systems cannot continue to support the multi-copy form. The new form will be a one-page form with a tear-off portion at the bottom for use in sending the next contribution. For more information, contact the KBC’s Executive Office at 502-489-3577 or 866-489-3577 (toll free in KY). 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. 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 5, 2009 17:32:31 GMT -5
Swine Flu: Church Preparation and Ministry OpportunityPrepared by Ken Walker, KBC CommunicationsWith Kentucky Baptists set to play a key role in the Southern Baptist Convention’s response to a potential flu pandemic, the director of KBC’s disaster relief says churches need to prepare now to help. The North American Mission Board put Kentucky’s Baptist Men on Mission on alert Apr. 30, signaling that disaster relief volunteers could be called out if the swine flu situation worsens. Coy Webb, disaster relief associate for Baptist Men on Mission, foresees great opportunities for churches to meet needs. If the problem expands as many health officials fear, he says Baptists can offer both immediate help and eternal hope. “I think this could open the doors for us to share that message,” Webb says. “Much of it may be linked to how we minister in the crisis. By making ourselves available and by people being able to see our faith is real and that we do care about them, we can create tremendous opportunities for ministry and evangelism.” However, to meet the challenge churches need to consider ways they can maintain existing operations while helping suffering victims. Among the preparations Webb suggests: Planning ways of continuing worship in the event services have to be cancelled for an extended period of time. This could be via television, radio, the Internet or other ways of distributing sermons, greetings and prayer concerns. Ensuring that the church can continue functioning. Webb advises establishing procedures for accepting credit card donations and other gifts so such bills as utilities and staff salaries can be paid. “When the winter ice storm hit us some churches couldn’t meet for two weeks, but in a pandemic it could be six to eight weeks,” Webb says. “That could be devastating to a small church.” Making hand sanitizer and soap available at church gatherings, since hand washing and other precautions are among the best ways to prevent viruses from spreading. Informing people about N-95 masks, similar to the type disaster relief volunteers wear during mud-outs after floods. While it may not be necessary for churches to purchase them, they can let members know about them, Webb says. Develop a calling list so the church can reach everyone, particularly the elderly and others most vulnerable to the flu. “How are you going to contact your shut-ins?” Webb asks. “You may need to develop a plan to minister to them. It may require ministry in different ways, through the computer or phone calls. “If they’re elderly or vulnerable, at least check on them so they’re not isolated to the point they don’t get help. I don’t think any of us know the impact a pandemic could have on local communities.” If the situation became bad enough to warrant setting up mass care facilities, church buildings could serve as such centers, Webb says. He points out that in many of Kentucky’s rural communities, churches are the largest buildings in those areas. Even if KBC churches aren’t used as care facilities, there may be opportunities for members to volunteer at hospitals or health departments. After receiving the NAMB alert, Webb realized that disaster relief could be asked to handle such tasks as a “Meals on Wheels” kind of operation, where volunteers deliver meals to people too sick to prepare food. “We need to look at how we can start connecting with those in need,” Webb says. “There are risks any time we volunteer. At the same time we have to look at what Christ would have us do when our neighbors are hurting.” If it becomes obvious help is needed, Webb says the first step a church should take is contacting the nearest hospital, health department or emergency management agency to ask how it can help. “You wouldn’t want to do something on your own,” he says. “With this issue, there are a lot of concerns your local health care professionals would need to help you deal with.” Preparing for a pandemic will be reviewed in greater detail at a workshop scheduled during the Disaster Preparedness Fair at KBC headquarters on Tuesday, May 12. Leading the session will be a member of the Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness agency’s homeland security unit. Baptist Men’s disaster relief unit is preparing to serve 350 meals, although with the increased interest in the flu virus, that number could go higher. “We had been talking about the avian (bird) flu,” Webb says of discussions in recent months about a possible pandemic. “There’s a fear that if a virus mutates, it could spring from human to human, which appears to be the case with this.” 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. 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 7, 2009 19:32:53 GMT -5
Kentucky Baptist Receives National Disaster Relief Award Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief leader Tom Westerfield received the Distinguished Service Award for 2008 for his outstanding volunteer service last year. Westerfield, a Crofton resident, received the award at the 2009 National Disaster Relief Roundtable in Phoenix, Arizona on April 23. The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board gives the national award each year to five recipients. According to KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb, it is one of the highest awards that a Southern Baptist DR volunteer can receive. Westerfield has been an active disaster relief volunteer since 1993 and currently serves as the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s disaster relief communications team leader, responsible for overseeing correspondence between active volunteer units on site. In 2008 alone, he was a key leader for the KBC’s relief efforts in Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas and the Republic of Georgia. In addition to his volunteer service, Webb said Westerfield has “greatly enhanced our Kentucky communications unit by adding new equipment that has greatly expanded its communication capabilities. “Tom has served in an extraordinary and sacrificial way in 2008,” said Webb. “He has served countless volunteer hours and was instrumental in helping develop a state catastrophic disaster response plan for our state disaster relief team.” Webb noted that Westerfield is also currently working on the construction of a new Kentucky shower unit. Westerfield is an active member at First Baptist Church of Hopkinsville. Kentucky Baptists are part of a larger network of Southern Baptist volunteers trained to respond to disasters by manning mass feeding operations, using chainsaws to clear downed trees and limbs, clear mud out of flooded homes and more. Together, Southern Baptists comprise the third largest relief organization in the United States. To learn more about Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, go to: www.kybaptist.org/drThe 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. 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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