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MISSION EXPRESS
Making old things new - we are headed in a new direction!
The Nelle Johnson Offering was established to provide funds to enhance our serving and giving locally and to the world as an Association.
This year's offering will be used as follows:
Leadership Development -
Healthy, growing pastors are essential for developing healthy, growing churches. We would like to develop SALT (Strengthen Associational Leadership Team) to support and resource our pastors.
This team focuses on supporting pastors with practical needs during hard times as well as creating opportunities for training, mentoring, coaching, partner-ships, assessments, consulta-tions, and whatever other means we can access to resource these men of God so they can continue to grow in their ability to lead, equip, preach, and impact their community for God; keeping in mind every pastorate is unique.
IBA Continuing Education Fund - Provides scholarship funds that benefit Northwest Pastors, Pastor's Family and Ministry Leaders to attend seminary, complete under-graduate studies, and etc.
Brochures will be available for distribution to the churches in March.
Offering Goal for 2011:
$7,000.00
This offering can be collected and turned in year round. We will also have the Associational Week with Nelle Johnson Offering as the emphasis is:
May 15-22, 2011
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Missionary Moments:
North American missionary TOM POLAK serves as director of Metro Baptist Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Through his ministry there, he shares the love of Jesus Christ through meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of hundreds of homeless individuals each month. Thanks to our sacrificial gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Cooperative Program, the love of Jesus is being shared with "the least of these" living in and around the major American city. Tom and his wife, MARLA, are using these avenues of service to lead people to accept Christ as Savior and become actively involved in a Bible-believing church. They would greatly appreciate your prayers this week.
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Along with their team members, MIKE and SUE MONROE are producing a training manual and an online video in Costa Rica. These will be used by national churches and U.S. churches as a teaching tool where the International Mission Board (IMB) has little or no presence. For the next three years, the missionaries will serve and advise national churches, thanks in part to your commitment to reaching people through the Cooperative Progam. As you spend time with the Lord this week, lift up the Monroes and the other missionaries as they work alongside national pastors and chruches to expand God's Kingdom. Great things are happening in Costa Rica thanks to your prayers and your faithfulness! |
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OUTLOOK
 Baptist Global Response Update: Toyko Disaster
As of March 13th, 2011
TOKYO -- A two-member disaster relief assessment team is on the ground in Japan and a second team will follow in a week, Baptist Global Response's executive director, Jeff Palmer, has announced.
The first team arrived as the estimated death toll from the March 11 earthquake soared past 10,000, and nuclear plant operators worked frantically to keep prevent meltdowns in several reactors crippled by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, according to news reports.
Thousands of survivors are coping with near-freezing temperatures for hundreds of miles along Japan's northeastern coast, which was wrecked by the one-two punch of earthquake and tsunami.
The first assessment team arrived in Tokyo on March 12 and made contact with a representative of Tokyo Baptist Church, Palmer said.
"Tokyo Baptist Church will provide our first point of contact and partnership for our initial assessment," Palmer said. "The assessment team will explore links with Japanese Baptists, the Japanese government, and the NGO community. Once the initial assessment is done, we will create a blueprint to guide our relief efforts."
Once the assessment and blueprint have been completed, BGR expects to move into a broad relief initiative in partnership with churches of the Japan Baptist Convention, Palmer said.
The Japanese government has requested international assistance for the large-scale relief effort, and two U.S. aircraft carrier groups are off Japan's coast, beginning to help deliver food and water, according to new reports. Two U.S. search and rescue teams arrived March 13.
The government, however, has said it does not intend to request large numbers of international volunteers, so the BGR strategy will be designed around partnership initiatives with Japan Baptist churches, Palmer said. Working through those congregations, who have deep ties in their local communities, will ensure the effectiveness of BGR relief efforts. It also guarantees donations will be used efficiently, since a portion of gifts will not have to be diverted to cover overhead expenses.
Search and rescue teams have been buoyed by moments of good news -- like the 60-year-old man whose house was swept out to sea but he clung to the roof for two days until a military vessel spotted him about 10 miles offshore, the Associated Press news service reported. More than 1,400 people are confirmed dead, but a police chief in hard-hit Myagi state said he believes more than 10,000 people were killed there.
Japanese Christians gathered in churches and Bible studies Sunday to pray for those still missing, the Baptist Press news service reported. Teresa Seelen, a Southern Baptist missionary serving in Japan, worshiped with believers who spent the entire service praying for friends and family by name, as well as collecting a love offering for disaster relief.
"Through tears, they called out names and lifted them to God," Seleen told Baptist Press. "We prayed for courage for the believers to reach out with the Gospel. ... It was precious to see the generosity of this small group of believers."
Another Southern Baptist in Japan, Carlton Walker, quoted a colleague's sharing her emotions about the tragedy in Japan: "My heart is racing with emotions and thoughts that come. I want to fly to the hard hit areas and minister. I just want to be their hands and feet for whatever they need right now. ... What do you do in times like these but pray and ask for [God's] guidance?"
Walker added: "All of us around the world can be there in prayer! Although it doesn't make sense in human terms, perhaps the way that most of us can make the most significant contribution for the time being is to pray because the lives of others both physically and spiritually depend on that."
Walker suggested friends can pray:
- For survivors, for opportunities to minister, and for God to use the disaster to help people understand his great love for them.;
- That Christians will know how best to serve the Japanese during this time of crisis, that relief efforts will touch the hearts of people in need;
- That those who hurt will receive aid and comfort, that all will recognize there is only one Rock who will never be shaken.
Updates on Baptist Global Response relief efforts can be monitored on Twitter (www.twitter.com/gobgr), Facebook (http://on.fb.me/hKaE6J), and www.gobgr.org. Donations to help with the disaster response can be made here.
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"Churches Coming Together To Help One Another!" |
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EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS
You read that correctly, meetings! However, don't worry we know everyone cannot attend every meeting, and we don't expect you to. What we would like to do is provide a viable solution to make it a little easier for you to attend if possible.
We are going to have four executive board meetings, one in each zone area. The times and dates are staggered to give everyone an opportunity to attend. If you cannot attend the meeting in your zone but would like to participate in the meetings, you are more than welcome to attend one of the other zone meetings.The following dates and times of the Executive Board meeting near you are as follows:
Please notice the date change for the Gorge Zone
East Zone:
Tuesday Apirl 26th, 2011
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Holgate Baptist Church
11242 SE Holgate Blvd
Portland, OR 97266
Vancouver Zone:
Wednesday April 27th, 2011
11:30am - 1:00pm
Spaghetti Factory
730 SE 160th Ave
Vancouver WA 98684
West Zone:
Thursday April 28th, 2011
10:30am - 12:00pm
First Baptist Beaverton
5755 SW Erickson AVE
Beaverton, OR 97005
Gorge Zone: Friday May 6th, 2011 9:00am - 10:30am Charburger, Hood River, OR Should something need a vote or tally for a decision, a vote will be taken at each meeting, all will be tallied after the last meeting and results sent out via The Encourager. |
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MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
El Buen Pastor
2 - Professions of faith
2 - Bibles distributed
Average attendance has been 150. They have begun the process and planning of stating a new church in Vancouver, WA. Pastor Ruben asks for prayer for time to do the planning and researching for the new church plant and that God will be the focus. He has also begun looking for part-time work that will not interfere with the ministry.
Trinity
1 - New Ministry Started
2 - Bibles Distributed
Started a new kids ministry team, and they have had a new average attendance this month of 80. Pastor Clay requested prayer for his wife's job and the spiritual growth of his children.
Esperanza
4 - Professions of faith
1 - new Bible study
12 - Bibles distributed
They celebrated the day of "LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP" (Dia del amor y la amistad) in this celebration we had a special guest and we invited people from the apartment complex around the church area. We had 4 whole families and 3 singles that came. It was a great encouragement.
The Crossing
5 - Professions of faith
1- New Bible study started
Average attendance was 76 |
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DISASTER RELIEF
2011 ROUND TABLE
APRIL 1-2, 2011
The 2011 DR Round Table will be held at the NW Baptist Building Friday and Saturday, April 1-2. Registration begins at 12 noon on Friday. A downloadable copy of the preregistration form is available. Registration needs to be submitted by Friday, March 4. The Cost is
$20.00.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:
- INVOLVING SOUTHERN BAPTISTS IN DISASTER RELIEF (ISBDR) - Required basic training for all volunteers. Will give attendees an understanding of how Southern Baptist Disaster Relief works.
- PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO) - As a member of the Incident Command Team, Blue Cap or reporting to your church, this class will help you gain insights on how to tell the story.
- FEEDING 1 (Classroom) - First class in the 'feeding skill set'. It will provide an overview of the whole feeding operation. It will focus on the safe food handling process adopted by the NWDR.
- FEEDING 2 (Outside/Hands-On) - This is the second class in the 'feeding skill set'. This will be the practical application of the classroom instruction. You will learn how to use, clean and care for the equipment in the feeding unit.
- LEAD COOK - This class is available to those volunteers trained and experienced in feeding and with approval of the State Director or Regional Coordinator. They will learn the responsibilities of the lead cook, and menu planning within the constraints of inventory, time and available volunteers.
- BLUE CAP - This class is available to those volunteers trained and experienced in a specific Disaster Relief ministry and only with the approval of State Director or Regional Coordinator. Learn the responsibilities of leadership and the effective management of our Disaster Relief Ministries.
- DAMAGE ASSESSMENT - This class will explain the organization, deployment, work and ministry of the Damage Assessment Team. The class prepares you to look and assess damage, fill out the proper forms, and to see and understand the spiritual needs of the victim. Based on this team's assessments then other DR teams may be deployed.
- SHOWER TRAILER - This class will have a two-fold purpose. The first will be to show the volunteer how to properly maintain the shower unit when it is being used. The second part will be to give basic instruction to those who are interested in making a shower unit for their region.
- WATER PURIFICATION - This class covers the equipment and its maintenance to provide clean water necessary for our kitchens, shower-units and other ministries when other sources are not available or the source available is not completely reliable.
- EVANGELISM - This class is for every DR volunteer. You will learn three components to help you comfortably and confidently share your faith. You need to know what to share. You need to understand why you share. And lastly the class will give you the tools to share.
- MAINTENANCE - The classroom part of this will give you a basic understanding of what type of maintenance is needed in connection with a feeding unit. You will also be shown what tools you should take with you so that you can repair/maintain the feeding unit. The outside will be hands on walk through of the set-up and safety checks necessary to insure the feeding unit is operating properly.
- WAREHOUSE/INVENTORY CONTROL - This class will give the tools to set up and operate a site of any size. It will teach you how to have control of your entire product and how to function in a safe manner.
- DEBRIS REMOVAL& CLEANUP FOR WILD-FIRES AND EARTHQUAKES - Discover ministry through the safe and effective clean up of destroyed hopes, lives and property. Learn; first, the precautions necessary for the safety of the volunteer and second, the tools and methods for efficient clean-up.
- BLUE SHEETING - Learn how to safely provide temporary protection for damaged homes by covering and securing blue sheeting over areas where continued exposure to the elements will further damage the property.
- MUD-OUT - Flooding often leaves water and mud throughout the home destroying floors, walls and contents. Learn a safe and effective way of removing the damaged effects and preparing structure for renovation.
- FORKLIFT - This class will be in two parts. The first part will be in the classroom with a study booklet. The second part will be outside doing a practical exercise with the forklift.
Event Info
April 1-2, 2011
Registration begins 12:00pm - Friday
click here for a registration form
NWBC
3200 NE 109th AVE
Vancouver, WA 98682
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INTERSTATE DISASTER RELIEF WISH LIST 2011
- Pneumatic Can Opener
- Air Compressor
- Generator 6KW Minimum
- Hose Holder
- Large Drawer Tool Chest
- Commercial Coffee Maker
- Tent (Large enough for tables and chairs as Break Area)
- Tall Patio Heaters (5)
- High Pressure Hose Nozzles
- Easels (for white boards) w/tray
- Motion Sensor or foot controlled hand wash sink
- Milk Crates
- Shower Trailer
- A CO-OP Building to store trailers. We have land at a church but need money to build.
- New tires for kitchen trailer
- New brakes for kitchen trailer
Thank you for your support of the Disaster Relief Ministry of IBA,
Dave Hillison
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NWBC WOMEN'S SUMMIT
 Keynote Speaker: Leigh Ann Wade, North Addision Baptist Church, Spokane Wa.
Breakout/Training conferences: (includes but not limited to)
- Blended to Perfection: Our home is often our biggest financial asset...and a great place of opportunity for our ministry. Practical and fun ideas in hospitality...Lu Walker, Nancy Hall, and Patti Garrido.
- Fill Your Cup: We often have holes in the bottoms of our spiritual cups that need to be replenished from the Lord. Then we continue giving away and living out what He puts in. Where do I start? How do I begin? I don't understand what I'm reading! Come learn the basics of personal Bible study...Karla Inman.
- Grounded in Missions: Ministry through age graded mission groups - that is where hearts are opened, needs are met, lives are changed. Join us for these interactive leadership workshops as we explore mission education...Diana Lerma, Gwen Moor, and Pat Tiller.
- A Latte Fun: Practical application to sharing your story through creative stamping...Amy Bradley.
- The Best Part of Waking' Up: IPod, MP3, Facebook, blogging...what does it all mean and how can I minister through it? Learn how to live out your faith onlline...Star McMillan.
Event Info
April 8-9, 2011
6:30 p.m. Friday - 3:30 p.m Saturday
Cost: $20 by March 31st; $25 at the door (includes desserts, lunch on-site, specialized breakouts and worship sessions.) Northwest Baptist Center
3200 NE 109th Ave
Vancouver WA 98682 |
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CHURCH MINISTRY REVIEW
Training Opportunity...
Because Good Leaders and Teachers are always learning
VBS Training
For all church Leaders, Teachers, and Helpers
April 16, 2011
9:30 - 12:30
NW Baptist Building
3200 NE 109th
Vancouver, WA 98682
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Kits for Kids Project
This summer Lifeway Christian Stores will partner with Baptist Global Response to feature the missions' project in their Vacation Bible School materials. The project is called "Kits for Kids" and will involve U.S. churches and VBS groups in collecting/packing basic school supplies in 2.5 gallon re-sealable bags. These educational kits will be mailed by churches to a warehouse in Virginia, and from there shipped out to various parts of the world for distribution to kids in need of these basic school items.
There are millions of children around the world who are unable to attend school because their families cannot afford the basic supplies required. Others live in areas recently struck by disasters which render the supplies unavailable. Providing these simple school items will not only meet the physical needs required for education, but will also give missionaries and national partners an opportunity to share the love of Christ with these children and their families as the supplies are distributed.
Your Baptist Association can be a part of this exciting project! We need your help in promoting this opportunity with your churches. For more information visit the website www.vbskitsforkids.com or contact Baptist Global Response at this address:
Baptist Global Response
402 BNA Drive, Suite 411
Nashville, TN 37217
Phone: 1 -866-974-5623 (Toll Free)
Please consider this opportunity to be the connection between Kids Who Care and Kids in Need!
Thank you,
Lori Funderburk and Regina Palmer
Kits for Kids Project Directors
kitsforkidsinfo@gobgr.org
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CHURCH RESOURCE REVIEW
Web Design
Does your churches website need to be freshened up, or does your church need a web presence? Please fill out the questionnaire and submit it to iba@interstatebaptist.org and let us help you find the best solution and pricing.
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2011 TAX RESOURCE
Mike Malody pastors Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pasco, WA. He is a former IRS employee (last couple years as an auditor) as well as having owned a tax preparation business. He is offering his services to assist clergy and religious workers in their tax preparations. (For more information, click here).
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"Churches Coming Together To Help One Another!" |
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION NEWS
LifeWay Christian Resources and the National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries (NASBS) are hosting the 2011 National Meeting for Ministry Assistants, April 27-29, 2011, at First Baptist Church, Sevierville, Tennessee. This event only happens every other year; so pastors and ministerial staff, make your plans now for your ministry assistants attend this year. The theme for the event is "What Is Your JOY?" This event offers office professional training, worship, inspiration, personal renewal, and fellowship with ministry assistants from across the United States. A separate track will also be offered for Professional Course Certification for Ministry Assistants. This is a great way for your church or association to recognize your ministry assistants(s) during Office Professionals week. For more information, go to www.lifeway.com/event/132/ or www.nasbs.net.
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What Church Management Software does your church use? Some of our ministry assistants would like to have a support group with sister churches who are using the same software. Please take a moment to contact the IBA office and let us know what program your church uses (i.e. ACS, Power Church Plus, Servant Keeper, etc). E-mail lila@interstatebaptist.org or call 503-452-2930, ext. 100.
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"Pressing Toward The Mark..." Philippians 3:12-14 |
Thank you for reading. If there is something you would like to see and/or would like to add to the IBA Encourager Newsletter please send it to iba@interstatebaptist.org attention IBA Encourager. We would love to hear and share how God is working in your churches and communities. 
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