BaptistThe Mid-South

January 2017Vol. 12, Issue 1

A Word from the Executive Director of Missions

Dr. Mitch MartinExecutive Director of Missions

Scripture poses the question, “Where have you come from and where are you going?” Now is a good time for us as Mid-South Baptists to consider this matter. Looking backwards, in 2016, the Mid-South Baptist Association began two new ministries. Mission 901, led by Darla Richardson, hosted several visiting mission teams. We hope for another strong year of missional engagement. If you know of a mission group looking for a place to serve, direct them to Darla. Memphis is a missionary paradise with countless service opportunities with poverty, people groups, and of course our twin priorities of church starting and church strengthening. And if you’d like to help house, feed or use visiting mission teams, please contact Darla. Also in 2016, we launched our first-annual Jack May Offering. To date, we have received about $15,000. With this money, we are employing Great Commission Multipliers led by Dr. Stan Wafler. This is a free service to all Mid-South Baptist churches. Does your church need a “jump start?” Stan and the Great Commission Multipliers can help your church with discipleship, missions or prayer. Also, if your church has not yet contributed to the Jack May Offering, it is not too late to do so. Looking ahead to 2017, there are several significant initiatives to be announced in the days to come. You will be excited when the details become available. We are not resting on last year’s successes. We are pushing forward under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I invite you and your congregation to get involved. Partnering with local Baptist churches for city-wide missions is fun and fulfilling. By God’s grace, it’s going to be another great year!

Located on the Shelby County Campus of the Tenneessee Baptist Children’s Home.

Important Dates for January

12 MSB Foundation Meeting – 9:00 a.m. MSBA Office 12 Personnel and Finance Team Meeting 1:00 p.m. – MSBA Office 13-14 Security Conference Bellevue Baptist Church 16 MSBA Office Closed – MLK Holiday 16 No Ministers’ Conference MLK Holiday 17 MSBA Staff Meeting – 9:30 a.m. MSBA Office 19 Focus Church Meeting – 10:00 a.m. Faith Baptist Church 19 Annual Celebration Planning Team Mtg. 1:00 p.m. – MSBA Office 21 Pastor/Deacon Conference Faith Baptist Church 23 Ministers’ Conference – 11:30 a.m. Bellevue Baptist Church Reginald Taylor, speaker 24 MSBA Staff Meeting – 9:30 a.m. MSBA Office 27-28 Man UP Conference – Fayette Baptist 28 WMU Leadership Team Meeting 9:00 a.m. – MSBA Office 30 Ministers’ Conference – 11:30 a.m. Bellevue Baptist Church Tim Jackson, speaker 31 MSBA Staff Meeting – 9:30 a.m. MSBA Office

If your church is planning a mission empasis week, the staff of the Mid-South Baptist Association is happy to help you and even share ways the association can be a resource for your church. For more information, contact Ashley at 901-373-6161 or ashley@midsouthbaptist.com.

Focus on Church Starting

Art GroomesChurch Starting

Opportunities Within Our Churches

If you have filled a position, please contact the Association office at 901-373-6161 to

have the ad removed from the list.

PastorUnion Avenue Baptist Church Send resume to Pastor Church Committee, Union Ave. Baptist Church, 2181 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104 or e-mail: hicks@unionavenue.org.

Minister of Music/Worship/Praise LeaderLakeland First Baptist Church (P/T) Send resume to Pastor Chris Hodges at chodges@lakelandfbc.org.

Still Waters Baptist Church (P/T) Contact Pastor Don Amburn at 901-488-5016.

Temple Baptist Church Olive Branch (P/T) Contact Pastor Sam Stallings at 901-522-2694 or rsamuels53@gmail.com.

Children’s Minister/DirectorLakeland First Baptist Church (P/T) Send resume to Pastor Chris Hodges at chodges@lakelandfbc.org.

Daycare DirectorTrafalgar Village Baptist Church Send resume to Search Committee, Trafalgar Village Baptist Church, 6161 Summer Ave., Memphis, TN 38134

Nursery Worker/Childcare/PreschoolBalmoral Baptist Church (M-F: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.) Contact Connie at 901-754-2302.

First Baptist Church, Collierville (Wed. 6-8 p.m.) Contact Kristy at 901-853-2668.

First Baptist Church, Collierville (P/T sub preschool - Tu/Th - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) Contact Kristy at 901-853-2668.

Leawood Baptist Church (P/T) Contact the church office at 901-324-7169 to schedule an interview.

Organist (Sunday mornings only)Bartlett Hills Baptist Church Contact church office at 901-386-9763 for more information.

There have been a number of days when the campus around the associational office was covered with Canadian geese. Some of the things I’ve learned about our flying feathered friends can encourage us in the area of church starting. Canadian geese are known for their seasonal migrations and can travel more than 621 miles in a day while migrating. Maybe you have seen geese in a V-shaped formation when flying. Scientists and researchers studying the V formation explain that the formation allows each trailing bird to receive lift from the wingtip vortex of the bird in front of it. This saves energy and greatly extends the range of a flock of birds over that of a bird flyinng alone. Scientists have suggested that flying in a V formation may also be a way of maintaining visual contact and avoiding collisions. The front position is rotated since flying in front consumes the most energy. The reality is that these geese fly farther and better together than they ever could alone. Someone has said it this way: “each of us need all of us and all of us need each of us.” In Ephesians 4:1-6, each member of the Body of Christ is exhorted to serve in gentle, loving humility, while seeking peace and unity with all the other members. In a unified effort, we can help others take steps toward spiritual maturity and mobilize followers of Christ to share the gospel of Christ and start churches everywhere. Like Canadian geese, we can go a lot farther together. We will need to start thousands of churches every year just to reach the increasing population in our region. May all that we do be saturated with the Oneness stated in Ephesians 4:1-6. Contact the association for other ways to engage in church starting.

By God’s grace and for God’s glo-ry, we pray Memphis will become America’s revival

distribution center.

Focus on Church Strengthening

Ron RoyChurch Strengthening

Church Strengthening Requires Spiritual Resources

It is no secret that church strengthening depends upon our spiritual resources. God’s wisdom is one of those vital resources shown through Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17:

I pray that the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the wisdom of His Spirit. Then you will be able to understand the secrets about Him as you know Him better. (NIV)

Paul knew that growth individually or corporately depended on the wisdom of the His Spirit that allows understanding and knowing Him better. Our main source of wisdom is connected with God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Spirit. Christ is the head of the church; He gave His life for the church and calls the church His Bride. Naturally, He wants His church to be strengthened as we follow His wisdom and understanding through the church starting and church strengthening process. Paul also prays in the next verse:

I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him. (NLV)

With these verses, it is evident that another spiritual resource in church strengthening is prayer that understands and comprehends God’s will and lives out that calling with hope. Promise-based prayer not only enlightens our outlook but instills our praying with the faith necessary or church strengthening.

HAPPENINGS

Daddy/Daughter BanquetSaturday, February 18, 2017 • 6:00 p.m.

The Grove at Red Oak Lake

849 Rocky Point Rd. • Cordova, TN

For Girls in grades 1-6

Cost: $15 per person(Price includes dinner, picture and fun.)

Mission Project: Woman’s Abuse ShelterBring donations of hygiene kits

(travel-size shampoo, soap, lotion, toothpaste and toothbrush in a clear Ziploc bag.)

Register online at midsouthbaptist.com/get involved/wmu

Sisters Who Care Annual EventSaturday, February 25, 2017

9:00-11:00 a.m.Kingdom Center Ministries

2210 Charjean Rd. • Memphis

Fellowship with mission-minded ladies from diverse backgrounds. All ladies are invited.Questions? Contace Julia @ 901-373-6161.

Adventures In Missions

Girls Camp 2017

July 6-9, 2017The Grove at Red Oak Lake

Overnight (grades 1-2) Cost: : $80Weeklong (grades 3-6) Cost: $190

$15 discount if registered by 3/15/17Registration form online at:midsouthbaptist.com/wmu

For more information or questions, please contact Julia Binford at 901-373-6161 or

julie@midsouthbaptist.com.

www.midsouthbaptist.com/wmu

Ministry NeedSTREETS Ministries serves 170 students from five different schools daily at our downtown location. They are currently utilizing two vans and two staff to accomodate the need. They are asking individuals/churches to prayerfully consider supporting their transportation needs by:

• helping to pay for transportation: 14-passenger van – $37.00 x 4 hours = $148.00/day 25-passenger bus – $57.00 x 4 hours = $228.00/day

• donating a van/mini bus for use by STREETS Ministry

Visit www.streetsministries.org for more information.

June 12-16, 2017 • The Grove at Red Oak LakeCost: $220 per personContact Jon Gambrell at info@cityservecamp.com or 901-331-7584 for more information.www.facebook.com/cityservecamp

For 6-12 Grade Students

menofmemphis.org

FEBRUARY 3 & 4

rick burgess james merritt steve gaineshugh freeze

Bellevue Baptist Church I 2000 Appling Road, Cordova, Tennessee(901) 347-2000 I $25 per person

Don’t miss Hugh Freeze, Head Football Coach at the University of Mississippi; Rick Burgess of the nationally syndicated “Rick and Bubba” radio show; Dr. James Merritt of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia; and Bellevue’s Pastor, Steve Gaines.

Friday, February 37:00–9:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 4Breakfast I 7:00–8:30 a.m.Conference I 8:30 a.m.–noon

GD3219_17_MM_MenMemphisConf_600x300_ad.indd 1 1/9/17 12:12 PM

Welcome New PastorRosemark Baptist Church has called Dr. Billy Skinner as its new pastor. Dr. Skinner was born in Henning, TN, and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX in 1979. After receiving his doctorate at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, Dr. Skinner went on to pastor churches across Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. He has over 30 years experience in ministry, including nine years as a church strategist for the Mid-South Baptist Association, which is comprised of 175 churches. Dr. Skinner is a resident of Munford TN, a neighboring town of Rosemark, and is married with two children.

UPCOMING EVENTS2017 Church Security ConferenceFriday and Saturday, January 13-14, 2017

Bellevue Baptist ChurchCost - $75 if pre-registered, or

Day of training - $125Register online at

https://bellevue.bvcms.com/Onli-neReg/90420

or at the Bellevue Information Desk.Trainers:

Brian Krompasick (Pentagon Force Protection Agency)

Christopher Zisi (FBI Academy -Retired)

Pastor and Deacon ConferenceSaturday, January 21, 2017

8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett

Special Guest Speaker – Dr. Jim Henry

Mid-South MAN UP ConferenceFriday, January 27 – 6:00-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 28 – 8:00-11:15 a.m.Fayette Baptist Church

12465 Hwy. 64 • Somerville, TN

Cost: $20 (includes All-You-Can-Eat Leon-ard’s BBQ Dinner)

Register online at fayettebaptist.com,

Received to Date: $15,214

SAVE THE DATEMonday, April 24, 2017Bellevue Baptist Church

Church Administration ConferenceApril 17-18, 2017

Victory Baptist Church • Mt. Juliet, TN

Featured speakers:Dr. Randy Davis • Richard Hammar

Donna Lively

Cost:Early Bird Registration: $99/person by 4/1/17

$125/person after 4/1/17

Island Community Church GLOBAL MISSIONS WEEK

Sunday, January 22 • 10amTHE MISSIONAL CALL Preaching / Worship / Prayer

Monday, January 23 • 6pmTHE NATIONS NEXT DOORRefugees / Internationals / Engagement

Tuesday, January 24 • 7amWOMEN’S PRAYER BREAKFASTFellowship / Missions Q&A

Tuesday, January 24 • 6pmFAMILIES ON MISSIONFamily Trips / Leading My Kids / Family Life

Wednesday, January 25 • 6pmMEDICINE & MISSIONSHolistic Care / Day in The Life / Opportunities

Thursday, January 26 • 7amMEN’S MISSIONS BREAKFASTFellowship / Missions Q&A

Thursday, January 26 • 6pmWHAT’S THE NEXT STEPGlobal Lifestyle / Opportunities to Go /Life on the Field

Friday, January 27 • 6pmNIGHT FOR THE NATIONSPrayer and Worship / International Food /Missions Expo

Saturday, January 28 • 9amBIBLICAL FOUNDATIONSGod’s Glory / Man’s Role / Kingdom of God

Sunday, January 29 • 10amMISSIONS CHALLENGEPreaching / Worship / Prayer

We will be hosting a variety of missional leaders and partners from around

our city and the globe.

International Mission Board (IMB) / TEAM /World Relief / & Many More

721 N. Parkway • Memphis, TN 38105