clarion april 2010
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April 2010
The Clarion The Clarion Volume 43 Issue 4
Inland Empire Baptist Association
Multi-Ethnic Consultant Claudio Medina
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Martin Leach Church Growth Consultant
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
The book, The Peace Maker, by Ken Sande, gives us a practical approach to utilizing God’s word in our daily lives to resolve conflicts. He summarizes the four basic principles, which he refers to as the “Four G’s.”
Glorify God: (1Cor. 10:31) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Biblical peacemaking is motivated and guided by a deep desire to bring honor to God by revealing the reconciling love and power of Jesus Christ.
Get the log out of your eye: (Matt. 7:5) “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Attacking others only invites counterattacks. This is why Jesus teaches us to face up to our
own contributions to a conflict before we focus on what others have done.
Gently restore: (Gal. 6:1) “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Remembering God’s mercy and grace toward us, we can approach others in a spirit of love
rather than condemnation.
Go and be reconciled: (Matt. 5:24) “Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” When we forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us and seek solutions that satisfy others’ interests as well as our own, the debris of conflict is cleared away and the door is opened for genuine peace.
EQUIPPED FOR EXCELLENCE Saturday, April 17th is the big day this year. I hope you are signed up for one of the 40 classes being of-
fered at this year’s event. This is our 20th annual training conference and I believe it will be a great day of
information, inspiration and connecting with others in ministry. Check out the list of conferences being
offered and I’m sure you will find several that you would be interested in. If you need another publicity
packet, just give us a call, or if you prefer, check out our web site for a complete listing and course de-
scriptions. If your registration is post-marked by Monday, April 5th you will receive a $5.00 discount.
Remember, you can register on line at equippedforexcellence.org.
SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR’S MEETING The last meeting was great fun and no one wanted to stop discussing our topic. Mike Kell did a suburb job talking about
how to reach youth. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 4th here at the office. We will meet from 7:00 p.m. until
9:00 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Our topics will be the Role of the Sunday School Leadership Team and How to
Encourage Your Workers.
PASTORS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR’S PLANNING WORKSHOP
This year we will meet on Saturday, July 10, 2010. We will meet in the Staples Room on the campus of California Baptist
University. There will be a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the session will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Jason Barker,
Minister of Education at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, will be the speaker. This will be a great time to begin mak-
ing some plans for the fall growth emphasis.
TRANSFORMED CONFERENCE with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. It will be held at Immanuel Baptist
Church, Highland. Saturday, November 13, 2010. More details later.
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Bruce Hitchcock Church Growth Strategist
Save the Date!
Visit our website at www.iesba.org to download the information and
registration form!
IESBA’s First Annual Golf Tournament
May 1 8 , 2 0 1 0
Save the Date!
The Church is God’s preordained structure, chosen to spread His Word in the world. He loves His church. Ephesians 5:25 “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” (NKJV) If God has called us to change the world, doesn’t the world need changing? God chose the church to evangelize and disciple all people groups. John 15:16 emphasizes this point when it says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” (NIV) Healthy churches fulfill the will of God. The words healthy and stagnant are antonyms. To be stagnant is to stand still, while to be healthy is to be moving. However, to be moving is not enough; to be healthy the church must be moving in a positive direction. To move in a positive
direction the people must be ready and open to moving into a right relationship with God. A healthy church is a congregation of healthy people. The definition can include a list of “essentials” for the healthy church, or identify the “characteristics” of healthy churches, or delineate the “habits” of highly successful churches; however none of these descriptions have any meaning outside of individual spirituality. Individual spirituality is identified by three biblically based characteristics. These traits are first, a moment to moment walk with God (1John 1:7-9), secondly, a life that focuses on an abiding hope (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 146:5; Romans 5:4), and finally an ongoing display of love in all things and toward all things (Matthew 22:39). Being healthy then is the outward manifestation of God’s inward work through the presence of His Spirit. Faith establishes our relationship with God. Hope continues our relationship with God. Love perfects our relationship with God. All three elements of the “Spirit filled” church emanate from these three characteristics. A healthy congregation is one that is learning and practicing walking in faith by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, learning to love God, themselves, and others, and learning to hope in all life’s occurrences by trusting in the purpose of God’s Spirit. That’s healthy. A congregation of these believers led by a shepherd called of God is a healthy church.
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The San Bernardino Pregnancy Resource Center has offered the community an abortion recovery Bible study since August 2005. Their Vision is to start many more SaveOne Bible Studies that will result in hope and healing to thousands more in the community who suffer in silence after having an abortion. The SBPRC will host a SaveOne (www.saveone.org) abortion recovery-training seminar on Saturday May 15, 2010. This is available for men and women who are involved in regular church fellowship, and who have a mature, consistent walk with Jesus Christ, and the ability to “Correctly and accurately handle the Word of Truth. This program will address questions such as: What is abortion recovery? Who needs abortion recovery? Where and when should we offer abortion recovery? How do I complete this monumental task? and more. Please give a thought and prayer to which men and women in your church or ministry will be good candidates to attend this valuable and informative training.
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This month the need is:
DIAPERS
BABY WIPES
Pregnancy Resource Center: 114 E. Airport Drive, Ste. 104, San
Bernardino, CA 92408
Donations! for the San Bernardino Pregnancy
Resource Center!!
Help Needed!!
The Truck Stop Ministry in East
Ontario is in need of Chaplains
and Assistants!
The chapel is located off of
Milliken Avenue and the 10
freeway, on the East side.
If you can offer your time please contact:
Chaplain Richard Giles
541.941.5026
Or
Larry Marshall
909.997.1091
Bilingual Praise Team Needed for
Youth Camp July 23-25, 2010
to lead our worship services in
songs and praise.
Due to a small budget you would
need to
pay for your own way which is
$115 per person.
This includes meals, fellowship
with other young people and
lots of fun and games.
If interested please contact Hna.
Linda Arias
(909)428-7321. Thank you.
Don’t forget about our Evangelism Trailer. It was utilized by three
churches this last month and several people came to know Christ as
their Savior. The trailer contains many items needed for outreach,
including a stage, generator, popcorn, snowcone, and cotton candy
machine, and more. If you want to use the trailer for an outreach,
you can contact Claudio at the Association office.
Do you have any old chairs sitting
around your church? It doesn't
matter their condition, a new
church start would be very happy
to get them. If you have any you
would be willing to give, please
contact the association and we
will make arrangements to pick
them up. 951-784-2655
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Visit our website @ www.iesba.org
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
FOR THESE DATES!!
Clarion (UPS 044-370) Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association of
California
6857 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506
Telephone: (951) 784-2655
Periodicals Paid at Riverside, California
Published Monthly
POSTMASTER; Send address changes to:
Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association of Califor-
nia
6857 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506
RETURN SERVICE
REQUESTED
Periodicals Postage
Paid
April 5 Equipped for Excellence Registration Deadline
April 17 Equipped for Excellence
May 2 Desert Area Bible Study Workshop
May 4 S.S. Director’s Meeting
May 15 Vacation Bible School Clinic at MABC
May 18 IESBA’s 1st Annual Golf Tournament
*THE IESBA OFFICE IS CLOSED FRIDAYS *
Clarion
Inland Empire Association Staff
Deryl Lackey Director of Missions
deryl@iesba.org
Claudio Medina Multi-Ethnic Consultant
claudio@iesba.org
Bruce Hitchcock Church Growth Strategist
bruce@iesba.org
Martin Leach Church Growth Consultant
marty@iesba.org
Bobbie Brooks Office Manager
bobbie@iesba.org
Brenda Lackey Bookkeeper
brenda@iesba.org
Angela Mantzey Graphics Specialist
angie@iesba.org
(951) 784-2655 • Fax (951) 784-2656
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