| a ministry of southwest cba |
January 2012 |
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CONNECTION Links
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Pastoral Search
Remember to keep our churches that are searching for new pastors in your prayers. Click on a link below to see their website or to get an email for more information.
Calvary Baptist, Tempe
FBC Arivaca
FBC Benson, Youth Associate
FBC Mammoth
Summit Ridge Church
p/t worship pastor
Trinity Baptist, Mesa
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Dr. Bert Downs
Regional Director |
Happy New Year! One of the happiest parts of starting a new year? We're just a month from the annual celebration, now called the Annual Growth Conference. It's on February 4 to be exact.
This year the conference is all about us investing in us - the Jesus community - for the sake of our collectively reaching our mission fields with real Gospel purpose. From the keynote from Palm Valley Church's Greg Rohlinger to seminars, worship, ministry representatives and displays to even the decorations and great fellowship, it will all be about our getting ready for one of our best church ministry years ever. You won't want to miss this conference, and you'll get the best return on investment if you bring a group. That's right . . . bring a group . . . from your church . . . grow together. Leaders and churches who gained the most from prior conferences will affirm . . . it was because they came, learned, discussed and applied what they learned as a group.
 You've guessed it by now. This edition is all about the Annual Growth Conference. In it you're going to find news on all 12 of our seminars and their facilitators. There's a great video invitation from our keynote speaker. There's all the "how to" information to register, get the most out of the day, line up child care, plan for the seminars to attend, how to get to the location and even how prior conferences have made a difference in many congregations.
But it won't all be AGC. This week in The Spotlight, you'll find a wonderful heritage article and video. Want to know what an interim pastor's experience may be like? Larry Smith will share his "two week" experience. And you'll want to click on the Prescott Pines link to get a look at their brand new look. So enjoy . . . and we'll see you at the AGC!
Bert |
| Palm Valley Pastor Keynotes Conference
"A prophet is not without honor except . . . ." You can finish it. Right? We've often said about our keynote speaker for this year's AGC that had he been in another state and not in the immediate "family," we'd have had him at the conference a long time ago. No one better anywhere to direct our attention to the Jesus Community and its power.
Greg Rohlinger, the lead pastor at Palm Valley Church, is that guy . . . the church planter who has stayed and seen God use him, his team and the vision He has given them to grow a congregation through layer upon growth layer. In process, the Palm Valley experience has included growing through many challenges on the way to high impact: facilities challenges, resistance to change, leadership growth, finances, team issues, risk, discipline and sin issues.
They've seen it all. They've worked through it all. And they will continue to work through it all because the opportunities and challenges never cease. It's that journey that makes what Greg has to say to us as a community of congregations so significant . . . real . . . helpful . . . life-changing. Yes, it's time we didn't let him go to other states to be the "expert." It's time we had him share his journey and its implications for us . . . his family. And it's time the family began to honor its "prophets."
 | | Greg Rohlinger CBA |
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 Workshops Explore Key Dimensions of Jesus Community
What church doesn't need to know how to respond to our growing multi-ethnicity? To more effectively develop new leaders? To fulfill the mandate to make disciples? Or to figure out the mysteries of social media and how to use it for ministry? Here are four AGC workshops that will take you all those places. We told you this was going to be good!
Multi-Ethnic Jesus Communities. Ed Clavell, Pilgrimage Consulting - facilitator
Census Bureau released its new statistics on the nation's children and school enrollment, from the 2010 census, and it showed something momentous. For the first time since this annual data series has been released, fewer than half of all the children (49.9 percent) in the youngest age group shown, three-year-olds, were white. These statistics finally confirm the beginning of an oft-predicted trend-a truly multiethnic minority school age population that will continue to pour into our grade schools, high schools, and Churches in the coming decade. In his seminar Ed will give us an overview of the changing demographics of the United States. He will help us think through how the church can embrace the change into Multi-Ethnic Jesus communities. What it means to the way we conduct Worship services, develop leadership, do evangelism, address social issues and more.
PLUS 30 Discover Rookie Leaders While Expanding Community. Roger Ball, FBC-Tempe - facilitator
PLUS 30 works unless you are lazy. You must do the grunt work ... constantly. You can find and grow lots of volunteer "caring" LEADERS who can expand COMMUNITY if you will repeatedly embrace the Plus 30 wisdom. PLUS 30 are practical, relevant and creative building principles which work in small, medium and large churches. From this seminar you will gain a host of proven ideas on where to look and how to launch new leaders who have a heart for "outsiders" and "insiders". PLUS 30 offers over 30 ways to recruit and develop rookies leader who can implement over 30 "creative" outreach and in-reach ministries to create a deep and wide community of compassionate servant leaders.
The Discipleship Community. Mark Olmos, Palm Valley - facilitator
 The discipleship workshop will focus on how to think biblically and practically when developing a discipleship program in your church. The problems with most programs are that they focus too much on the method (multiplying small groups or mentoring), have a vague end goal in mind (what really, is a disciple?), and don't root themselves solidly in scripture (going with the trends). Learn how to lay the foundations for a biblically founded, church-wide, reproducible discipleship process.
Using Technology to Build Community. Ryan Nunez, Palm Valley - facilitator
How can I get information to my congregation quickly and efficiently? How can I foster interaction within our community outside our church meeting times? What is the deal with facebook and twitter? Technology and social media are tools that can be leveraged to make great advances in your church. During this seminar you will learn how these tools are being used with great success in churches around the country. One of the keys to turning it all into something that will build community, versus making more noise in an already noisy world, is strategy. We will be discussing websites, email, blogs, facebook, twitter and church management software. As these tools have spread into the homes of the vast majority of our population we can either ignore them, or capture their use for the kingdom.
Download our AGC brochure for reviews of all 12 seminar offerings. You'll want to take them all!
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Eight Relevant Offerings Complete Seminar Schedule
The Jesus community comes in all sizes and flavors, works in incredibly diverse ways and uses tools that sometimes surprise us. All those surprises await you in eight additional seminars that will challenge your ability to choose and surely add to your ministry motivation an d skill. They include:
- Building Community through Mission. Mark Grochocki, P
 alm Valley - facilitator - The Turnaround Community. Dan Eymann, North Mountain Church - facilitator
- Keeping Your Community Legal. Scott Carpenter, Carpenter/Hazelwood - facilitator
- The Website as Community Connector. Ken Elmer, the Brickhouse Project - facilitator
- The Inside-Out Community. Steve Doerksen, Mt. Vista Community Church - facilitator
- Facilities and Community. Tim DeRosso, Trinity Baptist of Mesa - facilitator
- The Worshipping Community. Chris Berg, Mt. View Baptist of Flagstaff - facilitator
- Community of Networking Congregations. Steve Engram of Desert Springs Community, Wayne Ballard of Grace Baptist, Chino Valley and Joe Palmer of Fellowship Baptist, Kearny - facilitators
Remember, you can find complete descriptions of all seminars at
our website. Start making your "must attend" list today. |
The Business of Vision 
Though often lost in the energy and impact of the Annual Growth Conference, each year the annual business meeting fills an important segment of the day. And while it's called the "Annual Business Meeting," it's way more about vision than business. Over recent years, the vision meeting has seen refinements in vision, in values sta tements, in ways of carrying out the business of ministry, in relationship building among congregations and in a spirit of partnership, grace and cooperation that has encompassed regional "business." This year will continue those trends as we look into the future where refinements in operations, development of Connection Groups and Connection Coaches, dispersion of key ministries to the grassroots of the region, the strategic use of communication tools to raise our collective level of impact and the identity of the church ministry of SWCBA as the Southwest Church Connection will fill our "visioneering" time together. |
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Past "Celebrations" Still Influencing Future
  One annual event can't be that significant, can it? Well, if it's the annual celebration, now known as the Annual Growth Conference, the answer seems to be "yes." First, there are the many "business" decisions flowing from our Annual Vision Meeting that are helping link, revitalize and give future definition and energy to both the regional ministry and many congregations within it. Even more powerfully, a quick scan of websites and church communications reveals the lasting impact for the "growth" aspect of our annual conference.
The communication input and encouragement from Dr. Art Azurdia from 2007 continues to resonate around the region. The spiritual growth lessons from Gary Thomas are still being taught throughout our partner churches; his books on spiritual growth, family and marriage are still guiding discipleship classes in many settings. Dr. Max Anders from the 2009 meetings infected several of our congregations through his commitment and approach to discipleship, helping us all renew our commitment to Christ's discipleship mandate. And who can miss the impact of Tom Mercer and the High Desert Church team as they called us to reach our respective OIKOS. Many of our websites are filled with OIKOS ministry and many of our churches are reaping the benefits of OIKOS impact. And at the 2011 conference, the True-faced team set the grace tone that's the glue for our effective partnering together to reach the region with the Good News only found in Jesus and the life He offers.
As one pastor wrote after the 2011 conference, "Thanks for showing us what we should look like as objects of His grace. I pray our church can aspire to and grow into that image." Can one event have a big impact? Make a difference for you and your congregation? Answer: yes. Come this year with that expectation. You won't be disappointed. |
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 Three Ways to Register
- online at our website
- by phone at 602-788-8090 or
- by mail - click here to download the AGC brochure
Saturday, Feb 4, 2012
Trinity Baptist Church 2130 E. University Drive Mesa, AZ 85213
Cost: $30.00 per person. After Jan. 23rd - $40.00 per person
Child care will be provided for children 0-10 yrs old @ $10.00 per child. See brochure for full details. No child care registrations will be taken at the door. Click here to download the brochure.
Schedule for the Day
9:00 am.............................................................................................Registration and Exhibits
9:30 am..................................................................General Session with Pastor Greg Rohlinger
11:00 am.......................................................................................................................Break
11:20 am..................................................................................................Breakout Session #1
12:15 pm.......................................................................................................................Lunch
1:20 pm....................................................................................................Breakout Session #2
2:15 pm.........................................................................................................................Break
2:30 pm........................................................................................119th Annual Vision Meeting
3:45 pm......................................................................................................................Dismiss
Register Now |
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A regular feature of Connection Magazine. To put the spotlight on your church, just email us at
with your news.
Heritage Series: Arlen Larson
"God, family, ministry, work." A look at the life of Arlen Larson readily reveals those priorities and in that order. The life of a man who once aspired to being a pastor demonstrates that you don't need the position to have pastoral impact. He and his wife Loretta have been doing pastoral things nearly all their life together. With a little time away for college, they have been participants at Palmcroft Baptist Church since 1955. In that time the list of ways they've served fills a page or two. Arlen's list includes Sunday school teacher, myriad committees and long service on the deacon board. During his time he has helped move the church, build the church and has both participated in and overseen many changes along the way.
In addition to his faithful and energetic service at Palmcroft, he has managed to work in tours of duty on the Southwest CBA Board, the Board of Trustees at Arizona Christian University (Southwestern College) and on various national boards for CBAmerica. When asked about the most satisfying aspects of his varied ministries, he says without hesitation, "Serving people . . . making people first." And when reflecting on one of his favorite ministry experiences, teaching Palmcroft's Discovery Class, he identifies "life change" as the most satisfying aspect. Reflecting over a life of embracing the priorities that launched this article, he summed it up this way, "I found goals for which I was willing to exchange a piece of my life." Watch the accompanying video . . . those goals and that exchange will definitely touch your life.
 | | Arlen Larson SWCC Heritage Series |
Two Weeks in Page, Arizona
Larry Smith, author; Larry and Johnette Smith served FBC-Page faithfully and sacrificially for two years as "interim servants."
That is what it was to be - just a two week speaking engagement at First Baptist Church in Page, AZ. But what started out as two weeks God turned into two years. On December 18, we concluded our two years at the church. It was a wonderful experience for my wife and me.
First Baptist Church of Page is made up of wonderful people who love the Lord and their community. Although Page is very isolated at the northern Arizona/Utah border these wonderful people don't see Page that way. They see Page as a community where God has placed them for ministry and they love it! Each year Page welcomes over two million visitors to its doors. It was not uncommon to have people from South Korea, England, Germany and Switzerland visit us on any given Sunday in the summer.
Page is also a diverse community with 49% of the town made up of Native Americans. They are very friendly people with a rich heritage in the area. There are several Bible believing Native American churches in the area which First Baptist supports and fellowships with at various times of the year. On Labor Day, the churches gather together for a camping trip near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
In the two years that we have been traveling to Page, we have seen the church grow from 60 on our first Sunday to over 100 people on a regular basis. They have over 50 children that come to AWANA on Tuesday evenings. They even have an hour prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings where sometimes as many as 20 people come just to pray for their church and community. Most of the growth has come as a result of studying and applying the OIKOS Ministry principles. There were a good number of baptisms over the two years as well.
So after two years, almost 50,000 miles traveled, and a round trip of 8 hours from our home and back each week, we say goodbye to these wonderful Christian people. We know the Lord has someone extra special coming to be their Pastor. And who knows, we may be two of the two million to visit this scenic area in Arizona next year. I'm sure we will!
Prescott Pines Unveils New Website
Check out the new website. It's hot! After months of strategic, careful and sometimes tedious development, Prescott Pines website reflects the best in site development. . . it's dynamic, easy to use, eye-catching, customer focused, informative and current. We think you're going to love the way this site represents your camp. Congratulations PP team on a job well done! Check it out at www.prescottpines.org.
As always, we want to put your church's special ministries and events in the Spotlight. Our growing readership wants to know about you. Send us info on your upcoming events and other general news by the 25th of the preceding month. Thanks. We'll see you in the Spotlight!
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