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Post by Church News on May 12, 2009 19:20:07 GMT -5
KBC Connecting on Facebook, TwitterKentucky Baptists can now connect online through Facebook and Twitter, two social networking sites that continue to grow in popularity worldwide. To follow the KBC on Facebook or Twitter, go to: www.kybaptist.organd click the icons on the left side of the site. KBC Electronic Media Specialist Brenda Smith said the Kentucky Baptist Convention is using the networking sites as a way “to have a conversation with those we serve and open a dialogue about what’s important to them.” On Facebook Kentucky Baptists can connect to each other and to the Convention by joining the KBC’s “fan” page. Facebook is free and open to everyone, but only registered users can establish profiles and interact on the site. facebook.dj/kbc“We want to encourage Kentucky Baptists to share with us about what God is doing in their ministries, and how we can help support them in that work,” said Smith. “It’s also a great way for them to connect with each other and the KBC at large.” A fan page works very similarly as a personal profile, said Smith. Facebook users can post messages on the KBC’s “wall” and identify other KBC fans. Messages and links are regularly posted to the fan page by the KBC and are simultaneously sent out to everyone who has joined the KBC page as fans. “Facebook helps us communicate with more people,” said Smith. “Facebook has rapidly crossed generational lines, but its core group is still those in the 18-35 range. Being able to connect with these younger leaders is very important to us.” Both Facebook and Twitter also provide the KBC with a way to “share resources and ideas we think are helpful to Kentucky Baptists,” said Smith. Messages posted by the KBC on these sites often include links to resources or articles that are of interest to followers. Twitter is described as a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected. Users are limited to 140 character updates, but those updates can include links to information, photos or videos. Twitter is also free and open to everyone, but unlike Facebook, an account is not required for access. Anyone can view comments posted by Twitter users. However, those who wish to participate and post their own updates must register with the site. Much like Facebook, the KBC’s goal with Twitter is “to participate in conversations with Kentucky Baptists and other leaders,” said Smith. “We want to hear what’s important to them.” twitter.com/kentuckybaptistIn addition to Facebook and Twitter, Kentucky Baptists can also connect and receive free resources online at any one of the KBC’s 13 blog resources and through Special Delivery, a weekly e-newsletter. Smith noted that a redesign of the KBC website is currently underway and will include live feeds pulled from all KBC blogs. To access KBC blogs, go to: www.kybaptist.org/blogsTo sign up for Special Delivery, go to: www.kybaptist.org/specialdeliveryThe 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 16, 2009 22:30:03 GMT -5
KBC Disaster Relief Active in Madison, Floyd and Pike CountiesRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsFour teams of Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are helping residents in Madison County recover from a tornado on May 8, and additional teams are aiding areas of Eastern Kentucky affected by last week’s floods. KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb said more than 15 volunteers from the Tates Creek Baptist Association are currently serving in Madison County after deploying on May 9 to clear debris and complete chainsaw jobs. Several chaplain volunteers are also serving, he said. The active volunteers are from Berea, Georgetown, Hodgenville, Kirksville, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Richmond, Somerset and Winchester. Twelve additional volunteers from Eubank Baptist Church are scheduled to arrive on site by Wednesday morning. The Madison County effort is anticipated to be complete by Friday, May 15, Webb said. The KBC is also organizing relief efforts for areas of Eastern Kentucky affected by recent flooding. Webb said the KBC is targeting its efforts in Floyd, Owsley and Pike counties, where volunteers are assisting with mud-out and feeding. In Pike County, volunteers from Greenville, Louisa, Utica and Williamstown are currently working on mud-out, and volunteers from Clinton, Henderson, Monticello and Pikeville are working with a feeding unit. Webb is expecting eight volunteers to be on site to help with the mud-out effort, in addition to the 11 volunteers already serving with the feeding unit. Mud-out efforts are also underway in Floyd County with volunteers from Ashland, Campbellsville, Campton and Prestonburg. Volunteers from Cadiz, Mount Washington, Paintsville and Shepherdsville are also serving Floyd County with a feeding unit. Webb said by May 15, nine volunteers will be assisting with mud-out. Seventeen volunteers are working with the feeding unit. Local volunteers are also currently working in Jackson. Volunteers serving in Madison County are stationed at First Baptist Church of Richmond. The Pike County team is based out of McVeigh Baptist Church in McVeigh, and Floyd County volunteers are stationed at Maytown Center in Langley. Volunteers are still needed for the work in Eastern Kentucky. Trained volunteers may contact the KBC Baptist Men on Mission office at 502-489-3527 or 866-489-3527 (toll free in Ky.). 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 May 17, 2009 20:40:18 GMT -5
Strong April CP Receipts Help Reduce DeficitRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsCooperative Program receipts received in April exceeded $2 million for the second time in the current fiscal year, and have narrowed the budget deficit to 3.26 percent. Kentucky Baptists gave $2,129,676 through CP in April, bringing the total dollars received to $15,478,385 eight months into the 2008-2009 fiscal year. That amount leaves the deficit $521,615 behind budget, or 3.26 percent. The CP budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is $24 million. According to KBC Business Services Team Leader Lowell Ashby, $16 million was needed through April to stay on budget. April receipts made for the second highest month in the current fiscal year, surpassed only by the $2,601,799 received in January. Despite strong receipts in April, CP giving remains behind last year’s pace by $422,817, or 2.7 percent. Kentucky Baptists gave $15,901,202 through CP over the same period in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. “Kentucky Baptists continue to give generously even in the midst of a very challenging year,” said Billy Compton, KBC executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources. “Their financial commitments are fueling front-line missions and ministries, and we continue to see the fruits of those labors across our state, nation and world.” The Cooperative Program is the plan Southern Baptists use to fund missions causes at the state, national and international levels. The program provides foundational support for international and North American missionaries; state convention mission work; training and other help for local churches; Baptist organizations; and more. The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, Ky. including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more information, visit: www.kybaptist.orgThe preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on May 26, 2009 17:03:23 GMT -5
'ONE Student Rally' to Precede SBC ConventionCompiled by Baptist Press staff writer Erin RoachThe ONE Student Rally, sponsored in part by the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists (COSBE), will serve as an outreach tool ahead of the SBC annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. Dean Forrest, the event's chief coordinator, told Baptist Press the rally is meant to attract local unchurched youth. "This is not just another event for local youth groups, but the goal is that the local youth pastors will bring their students and they'll encourage their students to bring their friends," Forrest, a COSBE member, said. The rally is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Rooms South C201-205. Admission is free. Dean and Gayna Forrest and their son Geoffrey will lead in praise and worship before evangelist Ken Freeman delivers a message to students. Freeman, a COSBE member from San Antonio, Texas, speaks at youth conferences and retreats. Following Freeman, students will be treated to a concert by Dove Award winners Building 429, a contemporary Christian group. In addition to COSBE, the rally is sponsored by the Long Run Baptist Association in Louisville, the Kentucky Baptist Convention and North American Mission Board. Joe Ball, a youth strategist with the KBC, said the state convention has helped promote the event by producing and sending flyers to local youth leaders. "I hope for a full house of lost students. Hopefully some churches will encourage their students to bring their lost friends," Ball told BP. "It's a wonderful opportunity to expose kids to a great speaker that's going to bring the truth of the Gospel in a way that's relevant to students." Forrest said the idea for the rally stemmed from a need he noticed when he served as COSBE's music director during the past few years. "Historically we've always worked with Crossover. There have been Crossover activities in the past that targeted students, but most of them targeted families," he said. "It's something that had been my idea as an outreach to students. Last year in Indianapolis was the first year for the rally," Forrest said. "The current officers of COSBE asked me to produce the program again this year. As an organization we realized we could use the rally to reach students instead of just going to the convention to fellowship." To encourage youth pastors to bring groups, the organizers are offering a drawing for a PlayStation 3 video game system. Also, students can invite their unchurched friends via a Facebook event page for the One Student Rally. For more information, visit: www.onestudentrally.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 Jun 21, 2009 6:39:22 GMT -5
Southern Baptists to Distribute Food to Families, Host 24 Block PartiesSouthern Baptists are preparing to feed 1,200 families, build a new learning center and host 24 block parties across Louisville this weekend as part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Crossover Louisville initiative. In a combined effort that will involve as many as 2,500 volunteers, Crossover activities will also include an international festival and Hispanic festival, compassion projects, evangelistic outreach, construction of a learning center and more. Crossover is a 21-year Southern Baptist tradition held in the host city just prior to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. This year’s meeting will be held June 23-24 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. “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. Food DistributionSouthern Baptist volunteers will be working in conjunction with Feed The Children to supply 1,200 pre-identified families with food and personal care items. The items will be delivered by trucks to three locations: Bethlehem Baptist Church at 5708 Preston Highway, Baptist Fellowship Center at 1351 Catalpa St., and Shively Baptist Church at 1599 Sadie Lane. The food distribution will begin at 10 a.m., following a 9:30 a.m. press conference at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Saturday. SBC President Johnny Hunt and KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey will be on hand to kick off the effort, said Barnes. Each family will receive a box of food and personal care items designed to help supplement a family for up to one week, he said. The effort is made possible by the North American Mission Board, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention and Long Run Baptist Association in conjunction with Crossover Louisville activities. Learning Center UnderwayA group of 35 Southern Baptist volunteers are currently constructing a learning center at the Jackson Woods Apartments on South Jackson St. in Louisville. The 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. The project is anticipated to be complete by this weekend. 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. Southern Baptists from across the nation work as volunteers and are responsible for the costs associated with their involvement. 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 by calling Long Run Baptist Association at 502-635-2601 or at: 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 Jun 28, 2009 7:16:28 GMT -5
KBC President Elected SBC First Vice PresidentJohnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the denomination's annual meeting June 23-24 in Louisville. John Mark Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, Ky., was elected first vice president and Stephen Rummage, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., was elected second vice president. The convention re-elected without opposition John Yeats as recording secretary and Jim Wells as registration secretary. Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., was elected to preach the 2010 convention sermon and Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., was elected as the alternate convention preacher. Messengers elected Scott White, senior minister of music and worship at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., as the convention music director. In nominating Hunt, Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Fla., said that as he listened to Hunt's Pastors' Conference sermon June 22 and presidential address June 23, it "became real obvious" to him that Hunt "is God's sovereign choice to lead Southern Baptists for such a time as this." "This past year, we have watched Dr. Hunt and we have seen a man with a mission on his mind and a burden on his heart," Whitten said. "He has been like Moses: he knows the ways of God. He has been like David: a man who has a heart for God. He has been like Daniel: with courage from God. He has crisscrossed our nation to meet with young pastors and future leaders." Whitten said Hunt is a great leader and builder and that his leadership will guide Southern Baptists to success. "My favorite thing about Johnny Hunt is simply this: like Barnabas ... Johnny Hunt is an encourager," Whitten said. "He has mentored pastors and for the past 23 years he has been the senior pastor of one of the greatest churches in America. "First Baptist Church of Woodstock has shared their pastor with us at their loss and our gain because they believe in his conviction, they believe in his passion, they believe in his vision and they believe that it really is possible to reach a lost world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ." In the first vice president election, Toby defeated Ken Render, pastor of Lakeside Community Church in St. Clair, Mich., by a vote of 1,039 (64.14 percent) to 567 (35 percent). Kevin Smith, assistant professor of church history at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor of Watson Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville, nominated Toby, citing his leadership in the Kentucky Baptist Convention as a hint of how he will lead the SBC. "Brother Toby has been a wonderful leader in our state," Smith said. "He is currently serving as the president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. And I want to nominate Brother Toby because he is a fine representative of a Kentucky Baptist and a Southern Baptist." Toby's service on mission trips and in the Kentucky National Guard demonstrates him to be a warrior for Christ, Smith said. "Not only would I stand with him on a battlefield, but I would stand with him on spiritual battlefields as we contend against kingdoms of darkness and those who would seek to upset the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ," Smith said. Rummage, the only candidate for second vice president, was nominated by Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Rummage's nine years of experience as a seminary professor -- one year at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and eight at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary -- and his service as a pastor in North Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana also mark him as a good candidate for denominational service, Harris said. But Harris cited a higher reason to elect Rummage. "As impressive as his education and experience is, the most impressive thing about Stephen Rummage would be his example," Harris said. "Dr. Rummage knows what it is to set his priorities: he is the provider and protector of his home. He has been married to his precious wife, Michele, for 18 years and he has been a dad to his precious son, Joshua, who is 11. His faith in Christ really does guide his life." Hershael York, a professor of preaching at Southern Seminary and pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, nominated Yeats, who is communications director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He said Yeats' experience as the recording secretary since 1997 combines with his education and intelligence to make him the most qualified man for the job. "No one else is as capable as he," York said. "John Yeats may be capable to serve in many capacities in our convention, but no one is as capable as he to fill this position." Wells, director of missions for the Tri County Baptist Association in Nixa, Mo., was nominated by Paul Purvis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Forsyth, Mo. Wells has served as registration secretary since 2002. Purvis said Wells is a faithful family man, having been married to his wife Judy for nearly 43 years. He said Wells also is faithful to his call, serving as pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., for 16 years before he began serving the Tri County Association nine years ago. "Jim is a friend of pastors," Purvis said. "He loves the local church pastor and he is a champion of the local church. He understands that it is the church, not the association, not the state convention, not even our national denomination that drives who we are as Southern Baptists. He is also a champion of the Great Commission." 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 Jul 1, 2009 10:29:47 GMT -5
Crossover Draws 3,000 Volunteers for 95 Projectsby: Mickey Noah, North American Mission BoardThe Good News raced across Louisville like a thoroughbred at Churchill Downs June 20 when 3,000 Southern Baptist volunteers braved 95-degree temperatures for Crossover '09, an evangelistic effort prior to each year's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Two festivals and 28 block parties topped a list of 95 events, including door-to-door community visits by 1,800 volunteers from 109 local SBC churches along with 1,200 volunteers from out of town. Charles Barnes, coordinator for Crossover Louisville, said more Louisville-area Baptists were involved in the effort than for any other event with the exception of a Billy Graham crusade eight years earlier. Crossover was jointly sponsored SBC's North American Mission Board, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Long Run Baptist Association, Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. "I think the people in the local association and the surrounding area have really been energized for the Lord and the work of the Kingdom," Barnes said. "Lostness is huge in Louisville," Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Bill Mackey said, noting that only about 8.5 percent of the population is churched on any Sunday. "We wanted to do our best to take advantage of Crossover and to make Louisville one of the most prayed-over cities in America." Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt and North American Mission Board President Geoff Hammond joined Feed The Children's president and founder, Larry Jones, to kick off the first of three "food drops" in the greater Louisville area. Cars lined up outside distribution sites at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Shively Baptist Church and the Baptist Fellowship Center where volunteers loaded food and personal items into vehicles for 1,200 pre-qualified needy families -- and shared the Gospel with those who wanted to hear. "Today, because of this food drop, people are going to come to Jesus -- people whose names we do not know," Hammond said. "On behalf of the North American Mission Board we are delighted to be in a partnership with Feed The Children, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Long Run Association and Bethlehem Baptist to meet these folks' human and spiritual needs." Hunt told the crowd: "We're never more like Jesus than when we're giving. The Bible says actions speak louder than words. It's time for people to see what Baptists are doing." Jones, from Feed the Children, reminded people there might be a Johnny Hunt or Billy Graham in one of the cars driving up. "Jesus said that 'when you do it unto the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me,'" Jones said. As the three food drops were getting under way, volunteers at 28 other Baptist churches throughout Louisville were preparing for block parties on their campuses or in nearby parks. Thousands of hamburgers and hotdogs were thrown on charcoal grills, inflatable bouncing attractions set up, snow cone and popcorn machines revved up and soft drinks and bottled water iced down. At a block party at Rock Lane Baptist Church, gospel bluegrass music, a ventriloquist, sloppy Joe sandwiches and cotton candy provided a backdrop for an outreach partnering with three other Baptist churches -- Lees Lane, Ormsby Heights and Parkwood -- in their shared neighborhood. Reflecting on the labor involved in planning the event, Lees Lane pastor Tom Claus said, "If we do all this and only bring one to Christ, it would all still be worth it." St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church near downtown Louisville drew a multicultural crowd of some 1,000 thanks to the presence of a City of Louisville fire truck, a helicopter simulator, clowns, face-painters, balloon artists, a clothes closet, puppet show -- and a tent full of barbecue, baked beans and potato salad. "This is nothing new for us," said Lincoln Bingham, pastor of St. Paul's, a predominantly African American congregation, for 18 years. "We do this every summer, even without Crossover. We want to be celebratory and make the statement about the abundant life -- all this in Louisville's highest crime area." At six-church event in Jeffersontown's Veteran's Park -- a largely middle-class suburb of 30,000 east of Louisville -- 150 volunteers got together after one of the pastors asked, "How big do we want to make this?" "We hoped 1,000 people would show up," said Don James, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, which joined with Poplar Level, Highland Park, Lakeside, Forest Park Community and Jeffersontown Baptist churches to offer children's games, three-on-three basketball and live music, including a Christian hip-hop artist. "This is a tough community to penetrate with the Gospel," said Jeff Pennington, Highland Park's pastor. "With a middle-class heavily Catholic, there are thousands of unchurched in Jeffersontown. It's hard to reach them. We hope we can break through with this event and start some relationships." To coincide with the block parties around Louisville, an international fair and a Hispanic festival took place in the Iroquois area of south Louisville. The international fair provided about 1,500 Koreans, Chinese, Burundi, Nigerians, Haitians, Somalis, Bosnians, Vietnamese and Ethiopians a diverse display of food, music and dance, a Chinese string chamber music group and a team of 20 taekwando experts. About 100 volunteers, led by Bill Mazey, set up in the parking lot of a local shopping center representing such sponsoring churches as Bethel Evangelical Church (Ethiopian); Bethel Baptist Church (Haitian); Haitian Tabernacle; Louisville Chinese Christian Church; True Light Korean Baptist Church; Sangmyoung Sam Korean Baptist Church; Kentucky Central Mission Baptist Church (Korean); Eglesia Bautista Senda de Luz (Hispanic); and ECWA (West African); and ECWA 2 (Burundi). Mazey, a recent seminary graduate and former pastor, offered a quick explanation why the volunteers work so hard to reach out in so many different ways -- and languages -- to reach this segment of Louisville's population. "Because people need Jesus," Mazey said, blinking back tears. "He didn't save us so we can be just healthy, wealthy and wise. He saved us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We as Christians get comfortable and forget we're here to reach people, whatever color, with the Gospel." A mile away, Hispanic pastor Yurian Cabrera directed Crossover's Hispanic festival at Iroquois Amphitheatre and Park, jointly sponsored by Iglesia Bautista Senda de Luz; Iglesia Bautista Victoria; Iglesia Bautista New Cut Road; Iglesia Bautista Cooper Chapel; Iglesia Bautista Getsemani; Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispanic Shelbyville; Iglesia Bautista Jefferstown; and Iglesia Bautista Fe y Esperanza. "We prepared for 1,000," said Cabrera, as the praise team from his church, Iglesia Bautista Senda de Luz, filled the amphitheatre with Christian music in Spanish and the audience clapped and sang along. "We will have to do this again. It's a great thing to do to bring people to Jesus, along with the food, the music and everything," Cabrera said. On Sunday, June 14, volunteers with the Intentional Community Evangelism -- ICE -- team gathered for a worship and prayer service at Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville. The group then hit Louisville streets beginning Monday morning, sharing Christ in parks, neighborhoods and throughout downtown streets. More than 100 volunteers participated in the effort, including 60 students from a local organization. Supporting ICE team efforts was a mission team of 150 members from Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. The group spent the week conducting Vacation Bible Schools, backyard Bible clubs and other outreach efforts. By Saturday morning, ICE team members already had seen more than 500 decisions for Christ stemming from their outreach. At Louisville's Jackson Woods Apartments, a naked concrete slab welcomed 42 volunteers with the Kentucky Builders on Monday, June 15. By Friday, team leader Sanford Hill and his team from Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and Florida had built the first phase of a learning center for school children who live at Jackson Woods. Constructed during a heat wave in Louisville that suddenly shot temperatures toward 100 degrees, the Kentucky Builders' initial, though unfinished, phase includes walls, the roof, wiring and plumbing. "A lot of these kids who live at Jackson Woods are latchkey kids," said Hill, also a pastor. "The average income at Jackson Woods is $5,000 a year. The center will have a paid adult supervisor and volunteers to help the kids with their homework. "We talk about the love of God, but it's one thing to talk about it and another thing to show it," Hill said. "We do this simply because we love the Lord." 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 Jul 3, 2009 7:59:40 GMT -5
KBC Launches Partnership Missions BlogRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsAnyone interested or involved in missions can benefit from the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s latest blog, “All the World.” The blog can be accessed at: www.go2alltheworld.comand is authored by Scott Pittman, KBC partnership missions director. Pittman said the blog is designed to boost awareness of “the need for all churches, no matter their size, to be directly involved in missions.” “All the World” provides pastors and missions leaders with access to information about volunteer missions, testimonies of those already involved, and an experienced look into every aspect of a mission project. “One reason more churches are not involved in international volunteer missions is because they are unaware of the opportunities available to them. Others may be aware, but question their church’s ability to take on such a commitment,” said Pittman. “Using the resources we offer, any church can increase its level of missions involvement and fulfill their commitments to the Great Commission.” In his role at the KBC, Pittman connects KBC churches with domestic and international Southern Baptist missionaries seeking help from volunteers. He also provides training and resources for churches preparing to lead overseas missions trips, assists pastors and leaders in developing missions strategies, and seeks to raise awareness of missions opportunities. “All the World” serves primarily as a resource for churches in Kentucky, but anyone with Internet access around the globe can benefit from the online journal. Readers can share their own insights and stories through the “comments” feature at the bottom of each post. According to Pittman, a variety of issues that affect volunteer missions are discussed on the blog, including team leader preparation, team orientation, International Mission Board strategy, finances, prayer, missions opportunities, relationships with missionaries, travel and security issues, witnessing in other cultures and other cross-cultural issues. “All the World” is one of 13 KBC blog resources available to Kentucky Baptists at: www.kybaptist.org/blogsReaders of all KBC blogs may elect to receive e-mail updates when a new post is added to any blog. This feature is available on the home page of all KBC blogs. 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 Jul 11, 2009 10:59:56 GMT -5
Record June Cooperative Program Receipts Help Shrink DeficitRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsKentucky Baptists gave $2,241,211 through the Cooperative Program in June, which helped narrow the fiscal year deficit to 3.05 percent, or $610,771. The $2,241,211 given through June also set a record for the highest amount given through CP in any June month, said KBC Business Services Team Leader Lowell Ashby. "Experiencing a record amount invested in Cooperative Program ministries in June is cause for celebration,” said Billy Compton, KBC executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources. “We are very grateful for Kentucky Baptists and their commitment to missions and ministries.” According to Ashby, Kentucky Baptists have given a total of $19,389,229 through CP during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. With two months left in the fiscal year, at least $4,610,771 is needed in order to meet the $24 million budget. CP giving remains behind last year’s pace by $133,848, or 0.7 percent. Kentucky Baptists gave $19,523,077 through CP over the same period in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. 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 Jul 14, 2009 10:16:28 GMT -5
Ethnic Ministry Growing Across KentuckyRelease prepared by David Winfrey, KBC CommunicationsCarlos De La Barra is something of a missions optometrist. Throughout Kentucky, he helps church leaders see ethnic groups in need of churches and ministries. “Most of the people cannot see other ethnic groups,” said De la Barra, a native of Chile. As the leader for new ethnic work for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, his job includes helping church leaders improve their vision for such ministries. “Every time I go to a place and ask the leaders to start … a Hispanic church, 95 percent of the time, the answer is, ‘We don’t have any Mexicans around here,’” he said. “My first work was to create awareness of the existence of these people,” he added. “When I take them to Wal-Mart on Saturday evening, they can see that these people are here.” Hispanics are not the only internationals who have come to the Bluegrass State. According to figures from the Kentucky Baptist Convention, there are at least 110 churches and ministries serving at least 15 different people groups. Other ethnic groups in the commonwealth include Korean, Chinese, Philippine, Laotian, Burundi and Haitian. Baptist ethnic work has grown dramatically since De la Barra came to Kentucky to attend seminary. Outreach to the growing ethnic populations in Louisville was a central part of the recent Crossover Louisville initiative, a series of evangelistic events held before the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting last month. “I can remember very clearly in 1992, when we arrived here, there was only one Hispanic (Baptist) church in Kentucky,” he said. Today, “we are having churches with people from Africa, with people from Asia, and with people from almost every country,” De la Barra said. “Most of the Americans have no idea that Kentucky is full of people from other nationalities. This is a strategic way we can fulfill the Great Commission right here in our state.” According to 2007 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau (the most recent available), 94,600 residents (or 2.2 percent) are Hispanic or Latino, and another 50,700 (1.2 percent) are Asian. De la Barra is eager to see the results from the 2010 census because he believes it will reveal an even greater presence of internationals in the commonwealth. Smaller groups of various ethnicities are locating in Kentucky thanks to the work of Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Since 1990, the agency has placed 4,000 refugees in Kentucky. These have come from 29 nationalities and ethnic groups. Outreach to Nepalese & IndiansOutreach to ethnic groups takes many forms. In Louisville, for example, Prasad Aghamkar is leading a Bible study for Nepalese refugees who have resettled in Kentucky for the past two years. “It is very encouraging, and God is really doing a marvelous job,” Aghamkar said, noting that 10-15 Nepalese attend. “They have a strong Hindu background, but—very surprising—they are very open for the gospel. I think because they were in refugee camps many years,” he said. “Now everything is new, so they want to hear, they want to test.” Aghamkar’s focus is reaching fellow natives from India. He came to America from India two years ago to study at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, but he has visited America for the past five years, performing concerts featuring traditional music from India. The concerts provided an opportunity for Aghamkar to share his Christian faith. He performed a similar concert in June at Hurstbourne Baptist Church for Crossover. Playing an harmonium, an instrument similar to an accordion and organ, the event attracted 150 Indians, he said. “When they are in other countries, they miss Indian music, Indian food, Indian fellowship,” Aghamkar said. “This is a good, humble but healthy beginning.” Aghamkar was recently ordained by Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville for church planting. Soon to be commissioned as an ethnic missionary for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, he is currently planting a church among the Nepalese and desires to start a new church for Indian people. Leadership Vacuum While ethnic work grows in Kentucky, a lack of trained leadership threatens to hinder new work, officials say. “We are short in pastors,” De la Barra said. “The people are here. The people are in distress. The people are learning a new life. The people are open to the gospel. The people are ready to receive the good news of salvation, and we don’t have the persons to do it.” To meet this growing need, leaders started the Hispanic Baptist Bible Institute in 2005. The three-year program is taught in Spanish by local Hispanic missionaries or IMB missionaries on furlough. “We have students and professors from over 14 countries,” said Director Twilla Hernandez. “We have approximately 85 students right now.” As the need has grown, sites have expanded beyond the commonwealth. Current teaching sites are in Louisville, Bowling Green, Mayfield, Cincinnati, Chicago and southern Illinois. Support comes from the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Illinois Baptist State Association and local associations and churches. Campbellsville University hosts the institute’s offices at its Louisville satellite location. Hernandez cited one recent success story: a graduate revived an Elizabethtown church that had dispersed when the previous missionary retired. “He regathered that group and has started growing the church. “This is the future of Hispanic ministry,” she said. “The Hispanic population is growing so quickly that we need more churches. But we can’t have more churches if we don’t have trained leaders.” 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 Jul 15, 2009 9:00:01 GMT -5
Churchill Downs chaplain sees faith blossomThe "Run for the Roses" is well-known at Churchill Downs, but for assistant chaplain Yurian Cabrera, the "roses" of the Kentucky Derby come second to seeing faith blossom at the famed racetrack's fruit of ministry. Cabrera, a 29-year-old native of Cuba, is a church planting missionary and part-time pastor of Iglesia Bautista Senda de Luz in Louisville. Serving as a chaplain at the racetrack is yet another of his passions. "I just love the smell, the track, the horses and, most of all, the people who work here," Cabrera smiled broadly, a dark goatee highlighting bright cheeks. Early in the mornings, he relays a "Minute with God" over Churchill Downs' PA system in both English and Spanish as a devotional for track workers. "It is a very brief reminder that God is real and that He cares about the workers here at the track," Cabrera said. More than 700 Hispanics, mostly from Mexico, Central America and Cuba, work in some capacity at the track. Many live within the stable area, or "backside" of the track, with others in nearby apartment buildings. A beautiful on-site "Christ Chapel" at Churchill Downs provides a place for Cabrera to hold services in Spanish on Monday evenings. Local churches and ministries provide supper, while worship and praise music is provided by local musicians and church groups. Kentucky Derby winner Pat Day supports the ministry and is a frequent guest speaker at Christ Chapel. He told Baptist Press he became a believer after experiencing the emptiness of worldly success and coming completely to Christ. "God changed the mirrors of my life into windows," Day said. "God is doing a wonderful work in this place." On Thursday nights at the chapel, Cabrera shares a practical Bible study followed by a family friendly movie in Spanish, with plenty of time also provided for fellowship and one-on-one ministry. The chaplaincy program provides for the workers' material needs through an on-site clothes closet ministry which also supplies basic care needs. Additionally, the outreach offers English classes; workshops on legal issues; counseling; and family and children's activities. Renier Rosales, 23, one of the workers who walks and trains horses at the track, recently left Cuba where his family remains. Rosales counts on Cabrera and the church family at Iglesia Bautista Senda de Luz to help fill the void. "I like the church meetings here since I can do my work and minister to my co-workers at the same time," Rosales said. "I thank God for Pastor Julian since he is always there to help me." But Cabrera's ministry is not tied to the walls of Christ Chapel. He visits the workers on a daily basis and knows them by name. He keeps up with the names of the horses they train and follows some of their records. "One of the men we shared Christ with used to be a big-time drug dealer and user in Guatemala who came here running from the law," Cabrera said. "Today that man is currently coming to all of our services and activities here at the track." On the weekends, workers are encouraged to worship at one of several local Hispanic Baptist churches. Since most of the workers do not drive, Cabrera led his church to start a new work across the street from one of the back entrances of Churchill Downs. Pastor Ernesto Font, one of the ministers at Iglesia Bautista Senda de Luz, started Iglesia Bautista Victoria last February with 15 people. As a result of June 15-20 Crossover evangelistic efforts prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Louisville, nine new converts have asked for baptism into this growing fellowship of believers. Font noted: "t is very easy for the workers at the track to cross the street and visit our church." Cabrera is optimistic about the future of the Good News in a place where the thoroughbreds run. "I want to continue what was started," Cabrera said. "Our church is fasting and praying for God to start a revival in our city." David Raul Lema Jr. is director of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Center for the Americas in Miami and a correspondent for Baptist Press.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 Jul 20, 2009 8:07:13 GMT -5
KBC Launches ‘Great Commission Kentucky’ BlogRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsThe Kentucky Baptist Convention has launched ‘Great Commission Kentucky,’ a blog about how Kentucky Baptists are involved in fulfilling the Great Commission locally, nationally and around the world. According to KBC Communications Director Robert Reeves, the blog was developed in connection with Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt’s call for a renewed focus on fulfilling the Great Commission during the June 23-24 SBC annual meeting in Louisville. The blog can be accessed at: www.greatcommissionkentucky.com“We wanted to create conversation space regarding the Great Commission Resurgence as it applies to Kentucky Baptist life,” said Reeves. “The purpose of the blog is to provide clear and accurate information that will help readers think through various issues.” Reeves will serve as the primary blogger, but ‘Great Commission Kentucky’ will also include guest posts from other Kentucky Baptists and Southern Baptists. ‘Great Commission Kentucky’ will examine “how Kentucky Baptists are currently working together to share the gospel, explore ways to do things better, and to see what the Lord might show us all as we focus on our mission,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for Kentucky Baptists and Southern Baptists to discuss the issues that have always been at the heart of our cooperation together,” said Reeves. “We believe this will be a very profitable discussion and invite everyone to join the dialogue.” Hunt’s call is referred to as the Great Commission Resurgence. The central ideas of GCR were outlined in a report he authored along with Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. The GCR document is available online at www.greatcommissionresurgence.comThe document and the ensuing discussion resulted in approval of a motion at the SBC meeting on June 23, calling for Hunt to appoint a task force to closely examine the work of all SBC entities to study how Southern Baptists can work “more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.” The motion called for the task force to study the issues and bring their report, along with any recommendations, to the 2010 SBC annual meeting, June 15-16 in Orlando, Fla. 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 Aug 4, 2009 20:13:05 GMT -5
Kentucky Baptists Collect 514 Relief Buckets for AfricansA total of 514 in-home care kits collected by Kentucky Baptists will be among the thousands of buckets delivered to Africa by Southern Baptists this fall. The In-Home Care Kits Project is designed to help provide relief to millions of Africans afflicted with the HIV virus and AIDS. Organized by Baptist Global Response (BGR), Southern Baptists’ humanitarian aid organization, the healthcare items will be given to caregivers and disease victims in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. “This project gives us opportunity to offer the love and life of Christ to those who have had their lives stolen by AIDS and other diseases,” said Coy Webb, KBC disaster relief associate. “As Christ’s followers, we are called to enter the brokenness of life and join him in rescuing and caring for the perishing. The buckets are a tool we can use to make a difference in Christ’s great rescue operation in our world.” BGR is hoping to collect 5,000 filled buckets from Southern Baptists across the nation by the end of August, said Dennis Eastridge, BGR’s project manager. 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. In Kentucky, the collection was coordinated again this year by the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Baptist Men on Mission Department and Kentucky’s Woman’s Missionary Union. “Kentucky Baptists always respond to opportunities to touch lives in tangible ways. Doing the shopping, packing the buckets, and praying over the supplies as they are ready to be sent is very meaningful,” said Joy Bolton, Kentucky WMU director. “We look forward to the report that Coy will bring after his trip to Africa in September when he will be able to observe the AIDS ministry and see how these buckets are making a difference.” To fill the buckets, individuals and churches in Kentucky purchased requested items and brought them to participating Kentucky Baptist churches. Items included household health products, including soaps, vitamins, healing ointments, bedding and more. Participating churches then packed the donated supplies in five-gallon buckets and transported them to 16 drop-off locations across the state during the week of July 20. All buckets from the participating states will be delivered to BGR’s offices in Richmond, Va., by Sept. 1, where they will be prepared for delivery to Africa sometime this fall, said Eastridge. 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 Aug 10, 2009 16:12:43 GMT -5
KBC Disaster Relief Active in LouisvilleRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsLocal Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are helping Louisville residents recover from severe flooding on Tuesday, August 4. KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb said the volunteers will be assisting the relief effort already underway by members of Foster Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville. The team is providing flood clean-up work free of charge to area residents. According to Webb, a team of 10 volunteers is currently serving, with more volunteers anticipated to join throughout the day. Volunteers are from Louisville, Mt. Washington, Shepherdsville and Simpsonville. The effort is anticipated to be complete by Thursday, Aug. 6, Webb said. 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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Post by Church News on Aug 18, 2009 17:40:51 GMT -5
KBC's Louisville Relief Effort Extended through August 29Release prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsThe Kentucky Baptist Convention is again extending its effort to help Louisville residents affected by severe flooding on Aug. 4, and has invited Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from across the nation to help serve. According to KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb, the effort was originally scheduled to finish by Aug. 6, but was extended at first until Aug. 15 in order to meet the needs of residents. Webb said requests for assistance continued to come in and the decision was made to extend the effort through Aug. 29. “We have invited other state disaster relief teams to join us in the effort as homes needing flood clean-up has swollen to almost 1,000 homes,” said Webb. “There are hundreds of potential mud-out jobs that still need to be completed.” The national call-out was made on Aug. 13, he said, and so far three states have responded and will be sending teams this week. Volunteers will be coming from Alabama, Missouri and Texas, said Webb. The teams will be housed and fed at St. Paul Missionary Church in Louisville. At least 70 volunteers from Kentucky have already been part of the effort, as well as a volunteer from Jeffersonville, Ind. Kentucky volunteers have come from Bardstown, Bowling Green, California, Greenup, Hartford, Kuttawa, Lebanon, Livermore, Louisville, Marion, Monticello, Mt. Washington, Owensboro, Richmond, Shelbyville, Shepherdsville, Simpsonville and Williamstown. The volunteers are now providing mud-out work free of charge to area residents whose homes sustained damage from the floods. To date, the volunteers have completed 53 mud-out jobs. Requests for assistance are being handled by Louisville’s Metro United Way. For more information, call 502-292-6115. 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. 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 Sept 6, 2009 7:19:58 GMT -5
KBC Disaster Relief Team Heads to South AfricaRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsA team of 12 Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will be traveling to Sweethingyers, South Africa, to work on a humanitarian project with an AIDS ministry center, Sept. 5-17. According to KBC Disaster Relief Associate Coy Webb, the team will be constructing a ministry center for children orphaned by AIDS. The effort is being coordinated through Tabitha Ministry Center, a Christian ministry with ties to the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board and Baptist Global Response (BGR) organizations. Volunteers are from Campbellsville, Catlettsburg, Frankfort, Henderson, Livermore, Monticello, Shelbyville and Taylorsville. “The idea of doing more humanitarian projects came after we took a team of disaster relief volunteers to rebuild homes in Nicaragua last year, in coordination with BGR,” said Webb, who is traveling with the team to South Africa. “BGR was awakened to the potential of using disaster relief workers in an expanded role to minister in the name of Christ.” In addition to the South African trip, Kentucky Baptists also worked through BGR earlier this summer to provide more than 500 care kits to Africans afflicted with the HIV virus and AIDS as part of the In-Home Care Kits Project. 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 Sept 9, 2009 21:22:57 GMT -5
Baptist men gear up for ‘Bigger Breakfast’ this OctoberMen’s ministry is tough work. Just ask Dennis Herrera. After three years of working with men as a lay leader at Woodlake Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, he acknowledges it’s often tough to get men together for anything—even for a good breakfast and prayer. But last Oct. 20, men showed up for a prayer breakfast at the small Southern Baptist church. It was one of the biggest breakfast turnouts of the year. Although Woodlake hosts a similar men’s prayer breakfast every month, last October’s was unique. Not only did was the meal modeled around a British breakfast—complete with British Bangers—but they joined more than 3,000 other Baptist men around the world to eat, pray, and worship together in first-time event called “The Bigger Breakfast.” The Baptist Men’s Movement in the U.K. sponsored the event. “I think the men seemed to be motivated to be a part of the event and add to the totals of the British men attending,” Herrera said. Although they fell short, the Baptist Men’s Movement had aimed to break the Guinness World Record for the largest breakfast, a record ironically held by a Texas group. This year the Brits will have more help. Southern Baptist men in the United States and Canada, along with Nigerian Baptist men, will be joining them on Oct. 10, 2009 for what could become the new world record. Kentucky Baptists are also joining in the effort. But Southern Baptists helping to organize the convention’s involvement have a bigger vision for the event’s outcome than simply breaking a record. “The sleeping giants in Southern Baptist churches are our laymen,” said Jim Burton, team leader for mission education at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga. “The Bigger Breakfast is Southern Baptists’ opportunity to gather our men and discover—or for many churches to rediscover--the synergy that can come from their focus on missions.” Burton says Southern Baptists will focus on mission action—both in their communities and beyond—during the breakfast. Held a day before the convention’s World Hunger Day, Southern Baptist men will highlight the World Hunger Fund at the event. They are also being encouraged to invite their non-Christian friends to the breakfast and present the Gospel to them. British Baptists started The Bigger Breakfast last year in an attempt to re-ignite spiritual passion among the country’s Baptist men. Phil Creighton, vice-president of the Baptist Men’s Movement in the U.K., pointed to statistics that came out a few years ago in the Tearfund report suggesting there would be virtually no men in U.K. churches in 2028. “That’s a scary prospect,” said Creighton, who first came up with The Bigger Breakfast idea last year. “Obviously, we need to do something about that. We need to show men that being a follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean you’re weak, but you can be an ordinary ‘bloke’ and still follow Christ.” Creighton had seen the value of men’s breakfasts in his own life. When he was a young Christian, those he met at men’s breakfasts in his church became key mentors for him. But in recent years, Creighton notes, the number of churches hosting men’s breakfasts has dropped considerably. With a year of experience in getting churches involved in The Bigger Breakfast around the U.K., Creighton has advice for churches as they try to reach non-Christians through the event. He encourages them to be creative when inviting non-Christians and to focus on “what you do well.” “Every church should focus on what their church does best,” Creighton said. “The key to getting non-Christians to an event like this is that they feel welcomed and wanted. If you’re trying to do something with fireworks or an American football tournament and you have mostly older men, it might not work so well. Whatever you do, do it well, do it for God and do it to the best of your abilities.” A handful of Southern Baptist churches participated in The Bigger Breakfast last year, but this is the first time there’s been a coordinated effort to involve Southern Baptists in the event on a large scale. Southern Baptists looking for help to plan the event can find meeting plans and a speaker outline online at: www.bmen.net/breakfastChurches are also encouraged to register on the Web site and report their highlights and attendance following The Bigger Breakfast. These totals will be added with the British and the Nigerian Baptists to determine if the existing world record has been surpassed. Burton hopes that Southern Baptist churches can use The Bigger Breakfast to ignite their men’s ministries. “We encourage churches not to treat The Bigger Breakfast as just an event,” Burton said. “For many churches, The Bigger Breakfast can launch significant men’s work in their church as men consider their role in missions. With the Baptist Men’s ‘40-day Prayer Plan for Spiritual Awakening’ we’re encouraging churches to use following the breakfast, our prayer is that churches will discern God’s heart on what He wants to do with men’s work in their church.” The 40-day Prayer Plan for Spiritual Awakening can be found at www.bmen.net/prayer. Burton notes that the churches who want to continue to meet regularly to mobilize their men on mission can use the weekly BMEN Online curriculum, launched in January of this year. “We’re convinced that this is a critical time to reconnect men to the mission of the church,” Burton said. The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Sept 11, 2009 5:06:45 GMT -5
Public Affairs Committee Urging Respect for Life in Health Care DebateRelease prepared by Robert Reeves, KBC CommunicationsEmphasizing that it is not taking a position on the issue of health care reform itself, the Kentucky Baptist Convention on Public Affairs is urging Kentucky’s Congressional delegation to respect the sanctity of life in any legislation that is approved. In its meeting Aug. 27, the committee voted unanimously to write all U.S. House and Senate members from Kentucky as well as the candidates in the race for U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning’s seat to encourage them to work to exclude any language that would allow abortion in a government-funded health care plan or that failed to support life in end-of-life decisions. Part of the national health care debate has centered on whether the plan being considered would provide abortion coverage. President Obama has said the plan does not change the federal government’s current prohibition on funding abortion but abortion-rights groups are disputing that. Likewise, the health care discussion has sparked fears among some that a national insurance program might not provide adequate coverage or discourage spending on elderly or terminally-ill patients. The president has called these claims unfounded “myths” that are being used to scare people. The committee also voted to ask KBC Mission Board staff to provide educational resources on the issue of gambling to churches in parts of the state facing special elections for House and Senate seats. Although expanded gambling was defeated once again in this summer’s special session, the potential for approval of a future gambling bill took one step closer on Aug. 25 when state Rep. Robin Webb, an expanded gambling supporter, narrowly won a vacant Senate District 18 seat previously held by an expanded gambling opponent. 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 Sept 30, 2009 20:05:03 GMT -5
Southern Baptists Alleviate Hunger, Share Christ through World Hunger FundRelease prepared by Garrett E. Wishall, KBC Communications As Southern Baptists gear up for World Hunger Fund Day on Oct. 11, the Kentucky Baptist Convention is challenging Kentucky Baptists to consider the importance of giving to alleviate world hunger and the impact it can have as a platform for sharing the Gospel. Eric Allen, director of KBC mission service and ministries, noted that each Southern Baptist ministry that is supported by World Hunger Fund dollars is asked to make evangelism a priority. “A number of people profess faith in Christ each year in Kentucky and nationally and internationally through the World Hunger Fund ministry,” Allen said. “The more people we can give food to, the more people we will see come to Christ as a result of those ministries.” Southern Baptists annually designate the second Sunday in October as World Hunger Fund Day. The World Hunger Fund, established in 1974, uses 100 percent of contributions to feed hungry people, according to the World Hunger Fund website. The Cooperative Program makes this possible by providing the administrative infrastructure to enable the funds to go directly toward hunger. A minimum of 80 percent of monies given to the World Hunger Fund go to International Mission Board hunger relief efforts, while the remaining 20 percent goes to hunger ministries of the North American Mission Board. Allen said in Kentucky 85 percent of funds go to IMB efforts, while NAMB receives 15 percent. Last year, Southern Baptists gave more than $6.1 million to the World Hunger Fund. Individuals can give to the World Hunger Fund through their local church -- by designating their gift to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund -- or Baptist state convention. In 2008, 225 people professed faith in Christ as a result of hunger ministries in the state of Kentucky, Allen said. The Elkhorn Baptist Association saw such fruit through its Monday evening hot meal ministry. “At this particular ministry, they ask each person that comes if there is anything they can pray about for them and then as they have opportunity they share the Gospel with them,” Allen said. “There was a woman who came weekly to the ministry who professed faith in Christ, was baptized and became a member of a local church.” Calvary Baptist Church in Central City provides food to an average of 300 families a month, Allen said, through the help of World Hunger Fund monies. “(Calvary pastor) Roger Skipworth said during three months last year they had four people accept Christ and one family joined their church (through the hunger ministry),” Allen said. One way Southern Baptists can give to the World Hunger Fund is through Bread Banks. Allen said the banks have taken the place of the rice bowls previously used to collect money for food distribution. Individuals, churches, schools or community groups can use the plastic banks, which look like a loaf of bread, to collect money to give to the World Hunger Fund. “We are encouraging pastors to have members take a bread bank home with them, put it on the counter and put change in it,” Allen said. “This is an opportunity for parents to teach their children about giving and supporting the poor.” Packs of 50 Bread Banks are available for $49.99 at www.wmustore.com under the “Promotional Materials” tab. Allen encourages pastors to use World Hunger Fund Day as a platform to exhort their congregations to give to alleviate world hunger on a more regular basis. In Kentucky, the Fast One to Feed One initiative is designed to encourage such regular giving, Allen said. “The initiative is to fast for a meal each month and put the money you saved by fasting toward supporting the World Hunger Fund,” he said. “If everybody gave the price of just one meal a year, much less the price of 12 meals over the course of year, we would make a lot of progress in giving toward world hunger.” Allen noted that last year the average Southern Baptist gave less than the cost of a soft drink toward world hunger initiatives. “My thinking is, if we could every year see the amount of money given by Kentucky Baptists to world hunger increase, it says that we are becoming more aware of the need and are willing to give more,” he said. For more information on the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund, visit www.worldhungerfund.com. For more information on the Fast One to Feed One initiative, visit www.kybaptist.org/hunger. 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 Oct 4, 2009 8:20:31 GMT -5
KBC Issues Flu Guidelines for ChurchesRelease prepared by Robert Reeves, KBC CommunicationsThe Kentucky Baptist Convention is encouraging its churches to take precautions during this flu season to help limit the spread of the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu viruses. The guidelines call for churches to take simple precautions immediately and to be prepared for greater precautions later if they become necessary. “I think everyone realizes that flu can be more easily spread when you are with groups of people so it’s important for our churches to be mindful of the basic precautions they can take to help protect their congregations,” said Coy Webb, the KBC’s Disaster Relief associate. Webb said that at a minimum churches should make sure that there are hand sanitizers, anti-bacterial soaps and disposable tissues located in strategic places throughout the church, including bathrooms, entry areas, nursery check-in stations, kitchens and offices. In some contexts, hand sanitizers could even be added to a pew rack. Additionally, the church should be thoroughly cleaned regularly, especially children’s areas where toys are shared. Churches may also want to consider encouraging other forms of greeting other than hugs and handshakes and make adjustments to formal greeting times during their services. “Adjusting the greeting time might be a tough one for many churches,” Webb said. “We enjoy and appreciate the physical contact but it might be best to forego some of that for just a little while.” Ushers and greeters should make frequent use of hand sanitizers and should wipe down door knobs and other surfaces that are frequently touched as people come to worship both before and after services. Webb said it’s also important to encourage congregation members to get flu vaccinations and to share with congregation members that it’s acceptable to stay home from church if they are sick. “I know we generally want to encourage people to be in church but it really is okay for people to miss a Sunday if they aren’t feeling well and they don’t need to feel guilty about doing so.” Standard reminders -- possibly through bulletin board messages, bulletins, newsletters and announcement screens – for people to cover their mouths and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and reminders to wash hands with soap and water can also help in preventing the spread of the flu. Children’s workers should be especially diligent in making sure children wash their hands often, Webb said. Beyond taking the minimal precautions, Webb said the KBC is recommending that churches put together flu preparedness teams to make advance plans for what the church might do if the flu becomes widespread. Include any medical or public safety professionals who may be church members on this team. He said the team will need to think about such things as what level of illness will trigger the cancellation of services and ways to minister to people who are in high risk groups who feel they must stay away from church for the duration of the flu season. The flu preparation team should also stay in touch with local health workers and agencies and follow public safety guidelines that may be instituted in specific areas. Flu preparation teams should also think about what ministry opportunities may arise as a result of the flu this year. For instance, some churches may be able to serve as distribution points for vaccinations. Others can use their Web sites or other communications tools to deliver public health messages that address people’s concerns and/or dispel rumors. They should also think about ways to provide emotional support and comfort to the community if the community becomes particularly hard hit. “I think the key words for now are ‘commonsense’ and ‘watchfulness,’” Web said. “Churches do not need to overreact but at the same time, they should take commonsense precautions and be watchful of what develops during the next few weeks and months.” A full list of the guidelines and links to more information about this flu season are available on the KBC’s Safe Church Initiative web page at www.kybaptist.org/safechurch. The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Oct 4, 2009 21:23:32 GMT -5
University of the Cumberlands Dedicates the Ward and Regina Correll Science ComplexRelease prepared by Robert Reeves, KBC CommunicationsUniversity of the Cumberlands, on September 21, dedicated its newest classroom building, the Ward and Regina Correll Science Complex, which is named for two generous benefactors who contributed much to help make the building possible. Named in memory of Regina Tartar Correll, who passed away on June 7, 2008, and in honor of Ward Correll, Somerset businessman and philanthropist, the new building was completed in December 2008 and opened its doors for classes at the beginning of the spring 2009 semester. An elegant replica of Jefferson’s masterpiece, Monticello, the Correll Science Complex is a perfect example of how Cumberlands reveres the past and honors the patriots who dreamed the dream of a United States of America, yet stands firmly facing forward into the 21st century. Inside, the feeling of walking into the 18th century continues, with marble floors leading forward, and graceful, twin staircases rising upward on either side of the domed entrance hall with its mural of constellations. Although period-inspired paint colors and woodwork features can be seen throughout the building, the corridors and staircases quickly leave the past behind. They lead forward and upward to 21st century classrooms, a 134-seat seminar room, laboratories, study rooms and a computer laboratory, all equipped with internet capabilities to provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for today’s math and science students. In addition, the previously existing science building has been updated and renovated to blend with the new architecture, and the two buildings are connected by corridors to complete the science complex, encompassing 78,000 square feet. “University of the Cumberlands can boast of a well-earned reputation in the sciences, and this marvelous new facility will allow the students and faculty members who work and learn here to strengthen that reputation as they establish careers and create an impact in the region and, ultimately, the world,” said Dr. Jim Taylor, president.” The dedication ceremony began as a joint convocation in the O. Wayne Rollins Center, which included all the student body, as well as faculty and staff members, Mr. Ward Correll and special guests, including Correll family members and friends. The program featured acknowledgments for Brian Early, principal architect, and David Jackson, contractor of the building, and for Wayne Taylor, class 1972, the artist who painted the mural in the dome, which is a replica of the constellation mural in New York City’s Grand Central Station. Taylor spoke of the six years since he and Correll had discussed the possibility of building the science complex. He told the audience, “Ward and Regina Correll hold a special place in our lives, hearts, thoughts and in the history of this institution.” Dr. French Harmon, pastor of Somerset First Baptist Church, where the Corrells have been dedicated, faithful members, delivered the convocation message. Harmon used three words to describe Mrs. Correll: commitment, character and class, and he spoke of Mr. Correll’s philosophy, “Attitude impacts altitude. If you think you can do it, you can.” He wanted the students to know something about these two individuals whose love of God and faith in Jesus Christ had led them to help make this marvelous facility available to current students and to generations of future students. Following the convocation, the special guests and a number of audience members walked across campus to the entrance hall of the Correll Science Complex for the remainder of the dedication service. There, Taylor spoke directly to Correll, saying, “No edifice ever rose to meet the sky until someone said it should, believed it could and willed it must, and Ward, you did just that.” Dr. Sarah Ash, assistant professor and chair of the biology department, expressed the gratitude of the faculty members. “Because of the benevolence of Mr. Ward Correll, we now have a facility that rivals any undergraduate science complex in the state .It has provided the possibility of strengthening an already strong program and producing successful graduates for many years to come,” she said. At most colleges, students pursuing majors in science, technology, pre-engineering or math (STEM) represent 5-7% of the student body, while STEM majors comprise 29% of Cumberlands’ enrolment. Two seniors, Chandra Thomas, of Lexington, and Marie Dennison, Salyersville, thanked Correll for the new facility on behalf of today’s students and the thousands who will follow them. “I know that, as a future physician, the care of my patients will be better, thanks to the learning opportunities you bestowed upon me in the Correll Science Complex,” said Dennison. The Chamber Choir, directed by Dr. Jeff Smoak provided a stirring rendition of “On Holy Ground.” Then the ceremony concluded as Dr. Larry Cockrum, academic dean, led the audience in a litany of dedication, to dedicate the Ward and Regina Correll Science Complex to “…the Glory of God and the pursuit of excellence in learning and service. The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Oct 5, 2009 17:45:32 GMT -5
‘Find it Here’ to Be Focus of KBC Annual MeetingRelease prepared by Robert Reeves, KBC Communications“Find it Here: Sharing Christ Across Kentucky” will be the theme of the 2009 Kentucky Baptist Convention annual meeting Nov. 10 as Baptists from across the commonwealth focus on preparation for a major evangelistic campaign planned for next spring. Messengers to the 172nd annual meeting at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown will see video reports, hear testimonies, and listen to inspirational messages in what could be considered a major convention-wide pep rally for the “Find it Here” initiative. “Find it Here” is a major evangelistic push aimed at helping Kentucky Baptists fulfill the Great Commission in the state by sharing the gospel with up to 1.5 million households. Some 50,000 volunteers from the more than 2,400 Kentucky Baptist churches will be delivering a bag with a gospel presentation and brochure from their church to the homes in their area. The door-to-door delivery is slated for March 6-21 and will be supported by a major media campaign on TV and radio. Many Kentucky churches have already been preparing for the “Find it Here” initiative by prayerwalking the areas where they will be delivering the gospel presentation, providing witness training to church members, and working to improve church facilities and programs in order to make the best first impression on guests who may be visiting as result of the effort. “In the history of the Kentucky Baptist Convention there has never been such an all encompassing evangelistic initiative,” KBC Evangelism Team Leader Ross Bauscher said in encouraging Baptists to both participate in the evangelistic campaign and to be a part of the annual meeting. More than 1,000 messengers and guests from churches across the state are expected to meet for convention business, fellowship and inspiration. Other business of the annual meeting will include setting a new budget goal for the Cooperative Program and electing convention officers. Depending on action taken by the Kentucky Baptist Mission Board in its meeting Nov. 9, messengers to the annual meeting may also be requested to ask that KBC President John Mark Toby appoint a Great Commission Task Force for Kentucky. The task force would be asked to study “how Kentucky Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.” It would bring its report and any recommendations it might have to messengers attending the 2010 annual meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington. The Mission Board’s administrative committee has asked the full board to consider recommending the formation of the special committee in response to action at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville in June. Messengers to that meeting asked SBC President Johnny Hunt to appoint a task force to examine how Southern Baptist national organizations are engaged in helping fulfill the Great Commission. That task force has already begun its work and will be reporting back to SBC messengers next June in Orlando. The KBC annual meeting will have three sessions – morning, afternoon and evening – with each anchored by a major address to messengers. KBC President John Mark Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church and current first vice president for the SBC, will deliver the annual president’s address during the morning session. Dr. Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and a member of the SBC’s Great Commission Task Force, will bring the annual convention sermon that afternoon. The Tuesday evening address will be presented by Dr. Jay Strack, the president and founder of Student Leadership University. Strack is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including: The Three Success Secrets of Shamgar and Good Kids Who Do Bad Things, and the editor of three study Bibles: The Transformer, True Love Waits, and IMPACT. He has been a highly sought after speaker for NBA and NFL training rooms, WalMart, NASA, Johnson & Johnson, Chick-fil-A, the Air Force Academy, NASA and many others. Convention messengers will also hear on Tuesday morning a report from KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey on the Kentucky Baptists Connect emphasis. This year marks the culmination of the original five-year run of this special initiative during which Kentucky Baptist have focused on renewing commitments to evangelism, missions, leadership training, church growth, networking, and relationships with Baptist agencies and institutions. Kentucky Baptists Connect has been extended for three more years in order to address goals that have not yet been reached and address additional opportunities. Mackey is expected to highlight Kentucky Baptists’ achievements through Kentucky Baptists Connect and encourage renewed passion for efforts to reach the lost in Kentucky. Convention officers will be elected on Tuesday afternoon. The only announced candidate for president thus far is Don Mathis, a vocational evangelist and staff member at Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green. Mathis, 67, who was KBC president in 1985-86, will be nominated by Darren Gaddis, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Corbin, who served as KBC president in 2006-07 and is chairman of the KBC Mission Board’s administrative committee. Adam Greenway, a professor and administrator at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will be nominated to serve as first vice president. Greenway, 31, is a member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Washington. He will be nominated by Dr. Bill Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington. No candidates have been nominated to date for the positions of second vice president, secretary or assistant secretary. The Kentucky Baptist Pastors’ Conference meeting will precede the annual meeting in the same location on Nov. 9. The Pastors’ Conference will feature two sessions on Monday afternoon and evening. The afternoon session from 2-4:45 p.m. will feature Roger Williams, pastor of Annville Baptist Church in Annville, Ky.; Jamie Ward, associate pastor of preaching and evangelism at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green; and Ken Weathersby, senior strategist in church planting for the North American Mission Board. The evening session from 6-9 p.m. will feature Mathis; Dr. Phil Hoskins, pastor of Higher Ground Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tenn.; and Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. To see the full KBC Annual Meeting and Pastors’ Conference schedule, visit www.kybaptist.org/annualmeeting. 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 Oct 19, 2009 3:57:24 GMT -5
Severns Valley Baptist Church to Host Pastors’ ConferenceRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsKentucky Baptist pastors have the opportunity to be challenged and encouraged at the Nov. 9 Pastor’s Conference, which will be held at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown. The conference will lead in to the annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, which will be held at the same location on November 10. Using the theme “It’s All About Him,” the event is designed “remind pastors why we do what we do, and who we do it for,” said Tom James, pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, and president of the 2009 KBC Pastors’ Conference. “It is my hope that those who come will be challenged to refocus on Christ,” James said. “Pastors often get sidetracked because we get busy about the business of church. We want to refocus on Jesus.” The theme is based on Galatians 2:20, which James said is his life verse. “It’s my conviction that everything we do is about the Lord. I’ve asked the guest speakers to just preach on Jesus,” said James. Speakers for the conference include Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va.; Phil Hoskins, pastor of Higher Ground Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tenn.; Don Mathis, staff evangelist, Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green; Jamie Ward, associate pastor of preaching and evangelism, Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green; Ken Weathersby, senior strategist in church planting for the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga.; and Roger Williams, pastor of Annville Baptist Church in Annville. The afternoon session of the conference will run from 2-4:45 p.m., followed by the evening session from 6-9 p.m. Special music will be provided by Dana Ellis, worship pastor for Eastwood Baptist Church, and will involve the church’s praise team, praise band, and praise choir. James is finishing a one-year term as president of the Pastor’s Conference. Kevin Smith, pastor of Watson Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville, is the president elect. Wesley Noss, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Versailles, is the secretary. No pre-registration is required for the Pastors’ Conference, and there is no cost to attend. For more information about the 172nd annual meeting of the KBC, go to www.kybaptist.org/annualmeeting. 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 Oct 20, 2009 15:40:20 GMT -5
It's Not Always Glamorous, But CP Sure Is VitalRobert Reeves, communications director Kentucky Baptist Convention Designated gifts are wonderful things. Just ask any pastor who has experienced the joy of having someone in his congregation share that they want to make a special donation to buy the new piano needed in the sanctuary, make the lead gift to get the church's capital campaign off the ground, or make up the difference between what the youth group raised and what they need for their upcoming summer missions trip. These important and valuable gifts are often answers to prayer with their givers inspired by the Lord to meet a very specific need. Giving a designated gift is fun as well. It's nice to know that when I give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, the World Hunger Fund or to any of the other excellent special offerings we have in Southern Baptist life that the money I give is going to a very specific cause and to nothing else. I get great joy from the thought that my gift is making it possible for someone I will probably never meet in person to receive a Bible, hear a Gospel message or eat a meal. Being able to picture these specific needs being met become a part of my worship and helps me to rejoice in the Lord and give Him the glory for what He is doing in the world. But while I am very grateful for these special offerings and rejoice with those who are blessed with the ability to make those big gifts, designated giving makes me even more thankful for the Cooperative Program in Southern Baptist life. I say this as someone who can trace my very salvation -- or at least the opportunity for it -- to both kinds of giving. My testimony is that I came to Christ as a child through the ministry of Southern Baptist missionary Alvin "Bud" Spencer at Koza Baptist Church on the island of Okinawa, Japan, back in 1967. Part of Spencer's ministry there was to American military personnel on the island and I have to wonder what my life would be like today if both the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering hadn't been around to make the big ex-Marine's ministry to my family while my father was stationed there possible. What is exciting about the Cooperative Program to me, though, is that it provides the foundational support for many, many ministries in Southern Baptist life. In a sense, it is the underpinning of the Cooperative Program that makes the impact of designated giving more powerful. Yes, I know the Cooperative Program is not seen as being too glamorous these days. To start with, the word "program" bugs some people and the name feels a little dated after nearly 85 years. There was even a movement to consider changing the name a few years ago although it didn't really go very far. "Cooperative Program" is so well known in Baptist life that leaders were concerned that changing the name risked confusing people. The Cooperative Program is also not glamorous because in its role as "foundational support," it does a lot of things that aren't nearly as interesting as those things that receive designated giving. For instance, it's the Cooperative Program that turns the lights on at the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, state conventions, the SBC Executive Committee offices, etc. At the Kentucky Baptist Convention, it buys the videotape that enables us to tell the story of a life that's been changed. It provides training to help Sunday School teachers be more effective in sharing the Gospel with their classes. It provides funds to help ministers who have lost their positions understand what happened and transition to new ministry opportunities. It helps repair the roof on a Baptist campus ministry center on a college campus. It pays the auditing firm that is used to make sure all gifts are accounted for and spent properly. All of the above and much, much more are important, even vital to the ongoing mission of fulfilling the Great Commission. They don't get talked about a lot because they don't make great inspirational stories but those things that really get our hearts pumping are made possible because the Cooperative Program is there. In fact, have you ever thought about why, when the World Hunger Fund is promoted, we are able to claim that "100 percent" of your gifts are used to meet hunger needs? Surely someone has to administer those funds. Surely someone has to handle food distribution. Surely there are some expenses to be paid that are outside the scope of the stated purpose of the offering. Of course there are. But the beauty of Southern Baptist giving through the Cooperative Program is that CP has already picked up the tab for all of these other expenses. Thus when you make a gift to the World Hunger Offering, the accounting is administered by state convention and denominational accounting departments and personnel are already in place to meet the hunger needs. That means that 100 percent of your gift really is able to go right where you designated it -- to feeding someone who is hungry. And this scenario is pretty much the same with whatever designated gift you make in Baptist life -- whether the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering or some other designation. Your designation becomes more powerful because the Cooperative Program was already there providing the base support for the ministry to which you are making a special gift. I began this post by talking about how pastors can identify with the joy of the designated gift. I'll end by saying that pastors also appreciate the beauty of the unified budget in their church and the fact that most church gifts are undesignated. Can you imagine what would happen in church life if all of the money that was given was tied up in some designation? You might have plenty of money for the next missions trip but no money available to pay the phone bill, cover the pastor's health insurance, repair the leaky toilet, buy paper for the copier or do any of the other thousand things that the regular church budget covers. Originally appeared as a post on Great Commission Kentucky.The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Oct 23, 2009 7:33:53 GMT -5
High Attendance Sunday School Day Slated for Next SpringRelease prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC CommunicationsIn an effort to encourage Kentucky Baptists to reach new people, the Kentucky Baptist Convention is organizing a High Attendance Sunday School event next spring. The event will also serve as a means of follow-up after the “Find it Here” door-to-door gospel distribution effort, scheduled to take place during the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday in 2010. “It is absolutely essential for us to follow up on decisions made and interest expressed during ‘Find it Here,’” said KBC Sunday School Department Director Darryl Wilson, who is working with associational directors of missions to coordinate the High Attendance initiative. “Sunday school classes are natural groups to care for and follow up with unconnected people, and high attendance days concentrate those efforts,” he said. According to Wilson, the High Attendance Sunday School initiative is designed to help Sunday school members make a concerted effort to invite people they know to Sunday school. Since everyone is inviting their contacts to attend on the same Sunday, the initiative should naturally produce a larger number of attendees, Wilson said. Wilson said churches interested in participating will want to plan for a four-week process, beginning with a launch date of March 28 and ending with the High Attendance Sunday School day on April 18, two weeks after Easter. Preparation leading up to the four-week process will also be an important component of the effort, he said. “In addition to strong pastoral leadership, a key part of preparing for High Attendance will be prayer. Prayer enables God-sized goals to be set, commitments to be made, invitations to be extended, and hearts prepared to care for new people,” said Wilson. Wilson recommends that participating churches organize the High Attendance Sunday School focus through their existing Sunday school classes. Teachers can lead their classes to understand the purpose, set a goal, and provide encouragement for class members to follow through on their commitments, he said. “The ultimate goal of the High Attendance effort is to extend God’s love through prayer, invitations, fellowship and class attendance,” said Wilson. “As a result, unconnected people begin connections with a class and church that lead them to the most important connection – one with Jesus Christ.” The KBC is providing a number of materials to support churches in their plans for a High Attendance Sunday School. A preparation guide and sample poster will be mailed to each church, and additional posters will be available as a free download or for purchase for a nominal charge. Commitment cards and reminder postcards will also be available for free download. Following the event, churches will have the opportunity to report their attendance totals through their associational office or through the KBC website: www.kybaptist.org/reachFor more information contact the KBC’s Sunday School Department at 502-489-3572 or 866-489-3572 (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 Oct 28, 2009 5:24:56 GMT -5
World Equestrian Games is Ministry Opportunity"Don't miss the biggest equestrian event in American history," the slogan on a World Equestrian Games brochure reads. More than 600,000 people from 100-plus countries are expected to arrive in Kentucky next year for the Sept. 25-Oct. 10 event. And believers in the state intend to be ready for the Olympics-like atmosphere. The Kentucky Horse Park, a 1,224-acre equestrian facility in Lexington operated by the state of Kentucky, will host the 16-day World Equestrian Games. During a Church and Community Day at the park, about 100 Christians gained a glimpse of the abundance of WEG-related volunteer outreach possibilities. Not only will Kentuckians represent the Bluegrass State at the WEG next year, but the entire United States, said Harvey Thomas, a British Baptist and public relations consultant working closely with the Church and Community Day sponsor Affiliated International Ministries. "Kentucky has the chance to change, improve or increase the image of the United States in 100 countries of the world," said Thomas, who previously served as press secretary for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. AIM is the organization that will coordinate Christian ministries during the World Equestrian Games. It was established by Kentucky Baptist Convention missions consultant Larry Martin. The group is seeking a large number of volunteers to serve at next year's games in a variety of ministries, both in and around the Kentucky Horse Park. During a panel discussion at the Church and Community Day Sept. 12, several AIM representatives talked about the volunteer opportunities that will be available for individuals, groups and churches. There are two ways to volunteer, AIM volunteer coordinator Jeff Rice said. One option is to sign up as an official WEG volunteer at the Kentucky Horse Park during the competitions. WEG volunteers are required to work six-hour shifts for a minimum of four of the event's 16 days and submit to a security check beforehand. Another option is to become an AIM volunteer. The AIM group will work at various venues in and around Lexington. AIM representative Ray Van Camp, director of church planting and development for Elkhorn Baptist Association, said AIM will have a presence at dozens of WEG-associated events, such as an International Equestrian Festival in downtown Lexington. The various outreach opportunities include staffing booths, participating in backyard Bible clubs at area hotels and campgrounds, storytelling and face-painting. There also is a need for families and churches to open their doors to give World Equestrian Games volunteers from other countries a place to stay, noted Ken McDaniel, AIM hospitality coordinator and associate minister at Hill-n-Dale Christian Church in Lexington. Much of the WEG outreach is being patterned after Christian outreach that takes place during the winter and summer Olympics every other year. LaRaine Rice, youth and college consultant with Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union, is coordinating Gospel presentation materials for AIM for the many opportunities provided at Olympics and WEG events. "When so many people from so many different cultures come together in a neutral sports setting, it just opens up conversations," Rice said. "People are more open to hearing other thoughts, other beliefs and just learning from one another." Part of the volunteer outreach will involve pin trading, a favorite pasttime of Olympics visitors. The "More Than Gold" pins, Rice said, help believers share the Gospel. With so many details still left to be finalized before next year's games, Cindy Rullman emphasized that prayer is the most important way volunteers can be involved right now. Because there may not be an opportunity for "overt evangelism" inside the park during the World Equestrian Games, Rullman, associate director of marketing for the Kentucky Horse Park, urged Christians to begin prayerwalking the park as much as possible. "Our prayer effort from now through the games could make this place like stepping into the Holy of Holies," Rullman said. "I absolutely believe that we could ... have God's presence here in such a powerful way that none of us would have to open our mouths." The World Equestrian Games, which features eight competition categories, is governed by the Federation Equestre International, which was founded in 1921 and now has 134 affiliated national federations globally. The official name of the games is Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Alltech, a lead corporate sponsor, is an animal health company. The Kentucky Horse Park, which opened in November 1978, includes a number of tourist attractions and horse barns, with some 50 different breeds during peak summer months; the International Museum of the Horse and American Saddlebred Museum; offices of more than 30 national and regional equine organizations; and a 260-site resort campground. The preceding article was from the Kentucky Baptist Convention which is affiliated with several Clay County churches who are members of the Booneville Baptist Association. Read the entire article at kybaptist.org.
Booneville Baptist Association consists of 25 churches in Clay and Owsley counties which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. For more news and information go to.....Booneville Baptist Association
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Post by Church News on Nov 25, 2010 9:53:02 GMT -5
Impacting Our World Theme for Mission Event
"Impacting Our World in Deed and Truth" is the theme of the Kentucky Baptist Men on Mission event, Celebrate the Mission, Jan. 14-15, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Hopkinsville. Participants can learn how to serve their communities in a variety of ways, including equipping a church facility to be a shelter during times of disaster, mentoring boys and adults, starting an outreach to newcomers to the United States, and many other ministries. Among the guest speakers is Fritz Wilson, disaster relief director for the Florida Baptist Convention, who has coordinated recovery efforts among Southern Baptists around the country seeking to help the people of Haiti following the Jan. 12 earthquake. Other speakers are former international missionary to the Republic of Georgia, Barry Corder, and Baptist Builder Calvin McFarland of Monticello who coordinated an ambitious, long-term project to improve "My Father's House," a Baptist ministry center in Eastern Kentucky. According to Coy Webb, missions associate, Kentucky Baptist Men on Mission selected 1 John 3:18 as the theme for this year's event “because we live in a world that does not want us to prove the Gospel as much as they want to know if we as believers can live out the Gospel.” The Scripture states: "Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth." “Our witness for Christ needs to be more than words; it should be demonstrated in a changed life,” Webb said. Celebrate the Mission is a time for Kentucky Baptists to “learn about Kingdom-building opportunities, be challenged to discover the calling God has for their lives, and get connected with Great Commission ministries,” he added. Celebrate the Mission begins with a worship service on 7 p.m., CST, Friday followed by a mini-concert from "His Praise" Quartet of Hopkinsville. A missions fair also will be held Friday night. Saturday's session starts at 8 a.m. with worship and is followed by three workshop sessions. Participants can choose from eight different ministry topics. First Baptist Church is located at 1400 S. Main St., Hopkinsville. The event is free and is made possible through gifts to the Cooperative Program. The Baptist Men on Mission Department asks participants to register online at www.kybaptist.org/celebrate. For additional information contact the BMEN department by e-mail at baptistmen@kybaptist.org or by phone at 489-3527 in the Louisville area and (866) 489-3527 (toll-free in Kentucky). The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. Release prepared by Dannah Prather, Marketing & Media Relations Associate www.kybaptist.org/kbc.nsf/pages/Celebrate+The+Mission+Hopkinsville+KY+1+14+2011.html
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Post by Church News on Apr 19, 2012 13:45:52 GMT -5
The Cooperative Program is Worth Celebrating! By Dr. Paul Chitwood
Is Cooperative Program Sunday, on April 22, worth celebrating? Because through the CP, Kentucky Baptists are helping make possible the work of nearly 5,000 International Mission Board missionaries sharing Christ with more than 900 people groups around the globe. Through the CP, we also support more than 5,000 North American Mission Board missionaries. When the churches I served as pastor forged partnerships in other parts of the state, nation, and world, we almost always found ourselves working alongside of and receiving guidance from missionaries who were supported by the CP. Without the CP, we could not have benefited from those partners. As much as I believe in “hands-on” missions in the local church, to walk away from CP missions and only support hands-on missions is akin to cutting the roots from the tree before you plant it. Kentucky Baptist Campus Ministries on more than 20 campuses across the Commonwealth are touching the lives of more than 20,000 students each year because of your CP support! Furthermore, Kentucky missions programs such as church planting, disaster relief, and Kentucky Changers are only possible because of the CP. Our Mission Board staff members minister to churches and their pastors and leaders through CP funded events like Shepherding the Shepherd, Super Saturday, and the Growing Ministries Tour. Other CP funded ministries include Campbellsville University, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Crossings Ministries, Kentucky Baptist Foundation, Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union, Oneida Baptist Institute, Sunrise Children’s Services, University of the Cumberlands, and the Western Recorder. Because of the CP, students in our Southern Baptist seminaries and colleges pay only a fraction of the actual cost of their degrees. As a recipient of three degrees from CP funded institutions, I was never willing to pastor a church that did not give a significant percentage of its undesignated receipts through the CP. When Michelle and I made the transition from pastoring to serving our state convention, we immediately began looking for a new church home for our family. Once again, we joyfully made the decision to join a church generously supporting the CP. I could not, with a clear conscience, benefit from those who had made sacrificial gifts through the CP and choose not to pass the same blessing along to others seeking to prepare for ministry. My life and ministry have been shaped by the CP. Before becoming your executive director, I served as state convention president, an IMB trustee, a trustee of the University of the Cumberlands, and earned paychecks from two of our CP funded colleges and one of our seminaries, all of which are CP ministries. I believe in the Kingdom value of the CP, vow my support, and challenge you to do the same. www.paulchitwood.com/2012/04/05/the-cooperative-program-is-worth-celebrating The 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 12, 2012 9:23:44 GMT -5
westernrecorder.org Kentucky Baptist Convention new staff structure may change OBI funding
The Kentucky Baptist Convention's Mission Board approved a plan May 8 to overhaul the structure of the convention and its staff. The proposal, presented by KBC Executive Director Paul Chitwood, passed with a strong majority vote of the board. Only five dissenting votes were cast. The convention's organizational structure now will consist of five ministry teams, consolidated from the previous six. With the exception of the executive office team and the business services team, all other teams will undergo name changes to better reflect their purposes, Chitwood noted. The ministry teams now will be known as the evangelism and church planting team; the church consulting and revitalization team; and the missions mobilization team. The new structure will allow the KBC to achieve its newly stated mission, Chitwood said, which is to operate as a convention "created by churches, for churches, to help churches reach Kentucky and the world for Christ." While not the first reorganization in KBC history, this one was necessitated by an overall drop in Cooperative Program gifts from Kentucky Baptists over the last decade, Chitwood explained. In March, all KBC employees were offered early retirement or voluntary resignation incentive packages. It was announced on Monday (May 7) that 23 full-time and four part-time employees accepted the offers and will depart June 30. Additionally, nine contracted employees will not have their work renewed as of Aug. 31. Chitwood indicated that enough employees accepted the incentive packages that further layoffs were not needed. The staff reduction "brings the organization in line with current Cooperative Program funding realities and the desire of Kentucky Baptists to get more resources to the worldwide mission field," Chitwood said. Kentucky Baptist messengers voted in 2010 to achieve an even split of CP funds to KBC and Southern Baptist Convention causes by 2020. As part of the reorganization plan, Chitwood also intends to form a study committee to evaluate the convention's "collegiate ministry strategy" and its relationship with its entities and institutions. "These two aspects of our work represent a huge investment of the CP funds coming from our churches," he said. Those entities and institutions include Campbellsville University, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Crossings Ministries, the Kentucky Baptist Foundation, Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union, Oneida Baptist Institute, Sunrise Children's Services, University of the Cumberlands and the Western Recorder.
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Post by Church News on Jun 20, 2012 8:31:31 GMT -5
USA TODAY Fred Luter elected Southern Baptists' first black president By Cathy Lynn Grossman
The Rev. Fred Luter of New Orleans was elected Tuesday as the first African-American president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The denomination, founded 167 years ago in a commitment to segregation, made it's most significant break with the past at its annual meeting now underway in New Orleans. In 1995, the SBC apologized for its history and pledged to bring more minorities into leadership in the nation's largest Protestant denomination. Past President Frank Page reiterated that pledge Tuesday before the election of Luter, who was unopposed. In a nominating speech, pastor David Crosby of First Baptist Church New Orleans, called Luter a "fire-breathing, miracle-working pastor" who would "be a saint if he were Catholic." Luter, he said, grew a 5,000-member megachurch -- twice -- after seeing it destroyed the first time by Hurricane Katrina. The election was accomplished with a whistling, cheering, standing ovation. Luter wiped tears from his eyes as he thanked God for this day. The SBC that Luter will lead is facing a critical challenge: Membership numbers have dropped for five consecutive years. And it wouldn't be an SBC gathering without dueling theological factions. One of the other hot items on the agenda was a power struggle over differing views on God's plan for salvation. Page raised cheers saying everyone needed to come together on missions and evangelism. content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2012/06/fred-luter-elected-southern-baptist-first-black-president/1#.T-HJR5HUJcY
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