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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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MISSIONARY MOMENTS
December 4-11, 2011
Serving in sunny south Florida, North American missionaries DANIEL and KARINA EGIPCIACO are seeking to reach an estimated population of 10 million people with the Gospel of Christ. Daniel serves in the Urban Impact Center focusing on evangelism and church planting efforts. South Florida is a paradise for tourists, but a spiritually dark place for the millions without Christ. The Egipciacos know they are engaged in spiritual warfare for the souls of those who seemingly do not have a care in the world. Your prayers and your partnership through the Cooperative Program are key to transforming this area with the Good News of God's love. Pray for the Egipciacos this week as they seek to overcome the language and cultural challenges in this diverse culture.
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GREGG FORT is the only church planter missionary in Zimbabwe. One of the areas he and his wife, DONNA, have been working for several years is about an hour's drive west of the city of Gweru, among the Ndebele people. For years there were only two churches, and they weren't growing spiritually. But with prayer and the power of the Spirit, one of those churches is maturing. Three more churches have started, and the new Christians are growing. The churches recently held a combined service, and 99 new Christians were baptized; thrity new believers await baptism! Twice a month, leaders and new believers from all five churches gather as Gregg and Pastor Ncube from Gweru do leadership training for the church leaders while Donna leads the new believer's class. God is blessing your support of missions through CP. Pray for these new churches and believers. |
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SAFETY CHECK
More and more churches are using background check software to screen potential volunteers. The number of organizations using background checks has risen 27% in the last year with close to 1,700 churches or reilgious organizations checking on more than 25,000 volunteers. Though the process can be tedious, these churches are looking to protect the safety of your kids and families.
Source:
Baptist Press, September 12, 2011 |
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THE ADVENT
The word "advent" means "coming." But the season is not merely a time to be marked off our calendars amid all our other holiday events. It is to focus on the ways that Christ comes into our lives, beginning with His emergence into the world He created with a Word, as a helpless infant. May we watch and wait, and welcome Him with joy, allowing His presence to transform us.
For 400 years, Israel had waited and hoped for the promised Messiah. The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in that a virgin would bear a son and His name would be called, Emmanuel, "God with us." Are you aware of the journey of Mary took discover her role in humanity, with the miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. For with the birth of Christ came hope!
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14, NKJV.
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Though the town of Bethlehem was small in size, out of it would come the Ruler who would reign as King of Kings and redeem us from our sin. What a miracle the virgin birth was that gave us the Messiah Jesus. Let us not forget though His death on the cross has brought peace and reconciliation to mankind.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be the Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." Micah 5:2 NKJV
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Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some video illustrations and thoughts on the Advent! Let us stay focused on what matters most!
God Bless Brent |
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"Churches Coming Together To Help One Another!" |
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The month of January 2012 has been designated as a time for Southern Baptist to seek the face of God through prayer. The North American Mission Board is asking each of us to answer the call by praying for spiritual awakening for your family and friends, your church, your nation and your world.
Below, you will find a very important letter from Dr. Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board. Please read the letter and share the content with your pastors, churches, and their respective members.
Dear Partners in Christ,
As we enter into a season of celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord, I am often reminded that we live in a world full of people who haven't yet experienced the peace that comes from having a relationship with the Prince of Peace. Southern Baptists recognize the need to see a spiritual transformation take place in our communities, nation and world, and they have responded by issuing a convention wide call to prayer. The SBC Call to Prayer is an intentional focus on praying for spiritual awakening in January 2012.
As we anticipate the new year, we are encouraging SBC pastors to choose a Sunday in January to lead their church through this special time of prayer. The North American Mission Board has prepared free resources for churches to use during this emphasis including the enclosed prayer cards. We have suggested five areas of prayer for Southern Baptists. These are located on the back of the card. Our hope is that the pastor will give a card to each member of their congregation to help guide them in focused prayer. Each church and association can order as many as you need by visiting...
www.namb.net/sbccalltoprayer or call 1-866-407-6262. You'll also find a downloadable video and presentation slide to use in your worship service. We also want to encourage you, your churches, and their respective members to use the SBC Call to Prayer page on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/sbccalltoprayer) to share who you are committing to pray for during January as well as prayer ideas and strategies.
I hope you will lead your associational churches to join with thousands of others across the Southern Baptist Convention in praying for a movement of the gospel that will impact the entire world.
For more information on the SBC Call to Prayer visit www.namb.net/sbccalltoprayer.
Serving Together,
Kevin Ezell
2012 Associational Missions Emphasis (AME) Materials
"IGNITING PASSION"
The materials for the 2012 Associational Missions Emphasis are now available! The North American Mission Board and the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions (SBCADOM) entered into a significant partnership to produce this year's materials. I very grateful to SBCADOM President Johnny Rumbough, his officers, and writers for an excellent job.
The materials are completely downloadable. Below you will find a link that will take you to the download page. You will find two options for download. One is for the "generic" version and the other is for those of you who wish to "customize" your materials.
Again, I want to give my warmest "Thank You" to the SBCADOM for their hard work and valuable partnership.
Link to materials: www.sbcadom-onlinestore.org
Blessings,
Stan Albright
National Director for Associations, NAMB
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"Churches Coming Together To Help One Another!" |
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SWBTS CATALYST FOR REVIVAL
Dear Church Leader:
As a church who has offered leadership positions to Southwestern students before through our résumé service, I would like to invite you to partner with us in another capacity. The Revive This Nation Program (RTN) at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is an historic program aimed at serving Southern Baptists as a catalyst for revival. Since 1959, more than 5,500 students and faculty have spent a week during their spring semester preaching revivals and ministering in more than 4,850 churches. Revival preachers from Southwestern Seminary are eager to go, but we need partner churches to provide opportunities for our students.
What are some of the key features to this program?
Southwestern Seminary recruits churches to hold revival meetings in the spring and pays for the roundtrip transportation of students to these churches.
- The host church provides meals, lodging and local transportation for the preacher while they are on the field.
- Revival meetings generally begin on Sunday morning and end on Wednesday evening, March 11-14, 2012, providing students with five preaching opportunities. Alternative formats for the revival meeting are available if there are circumstances which prevent this schedule.
- The preacher partners with the pastor to engage lost people from the host community in evangelism during the day.
I would like to invite your church to participate in Revive this Nation. You may find more information and complete an application at www.swbts.edu/rtn
If you, or someone you wish to refer to us, need any further information or require any assistance, please contact the Office of Student Services at Southwestern at 817-923-1921, ext. 7300, or by e-mail at rtn@swbts.edu.
Thomas White
Vice President for Student Services and Communications
Associate Professor of Theology | School of Theology
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
2001 West Seminary Drive | Fort Worth, TX 76115
Post Office Box 22250 | Fort Worth, TX 76122
office 817.923.1921 x7370 | fax 817.921.8867
twhite@swbts.edu www.swbts.edu |
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"Churches Coming Together To Help One Another!" |
Attached please find a Health Care Credit brochure explaining a possible insurance rebate for many qualifying churches. For a copy of the brouchure, click here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Foundation.
Blessings on your ministry.
Karla Inman
Administrative Assistant
Northwest Baptist Foundation
(360) 882-2250 |
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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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