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Change - it's one of those bitter/sweet experiences in our lives.
On a personal level we typically don't like it too much, but it is essential for our growth and development. If everything always remains the same in our personal lives, we often fail to improve and mature as a person. Yet as important as it is, change is often not without discomfort, pain and a little sadness for what can feel like loss. But through those uncomfortable times, God molds us and prepares us for the new things that He is going to do. The same is true of churches and organizations. As an association we are going through one of those times, but God is doing some incredible things as He is stretching us towards greater things in reaching the Southwest with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You are going to be encouraged as we put the spotlight on some of the new things our Lord is doing in and through our churches and their leaders. And as always, we would love to hear from you and put your church and its ministries in the Spotlight by sending us a feature article with pictures to Sandra,
smaki@swchurchconnection.org
Steve
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Get your motor running... or pedals turning!
Flagstaff Christian Fellowship Kids' Bike Rally
 What do you get when you combine two wheels and little but big, big hearts? On a sunny summer Saturday, the children of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship donned their helmets and their knee and elbow pads - it was time to ride! And ride they did, with purpose and a plan and great passion. Peter Young completed the track thirty-five times, that is 8 1/2 miles! Their goal? To raise money for missionaries who need bikes. All totaled up, the kids collected over three hundred dollars at the Bike Rally and by the summer's end, just about $1000 for bikes for native missionaries in Asia. Glory to God who can do big things through little hearts and wheels moving in motion for His name!
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Miracles provide the Means
"Money doesn't determine godly success. But when a body of believers come together and pray and rely on each other, God honors that and through it can do some miraculous things," testifies Pastor Mike Lingfelter of First Baptist Church in Douglas. Their church building was well over a hundred years old and in need of some repair. The roof was the first thing needing to be fixed since it liked to leak. Pastor Mike and the board decided to simply ask the congregation if they would be interested in giving with that hope that over a five year period they would have enough. The sum was indeed large; the shingles were asbestos which meant a Hazmat team was needed to take them off. In addition, the separate chapel needed a new roof.
Pastor Mike was overwhelmed by the generosity of the church body. He says, "We never did any bake sales, begging, or fund raising. We simply asked God's people if they would be willing to give, and they did." In about nine months the small congregation gave near $40,000. Immediately, they put on the new roof. They were also able to hire someone to fix the sanctuary - paint, patch cracks, and hang new speakers. But it didn't stop there! They also painted other areas of the church, bought a huge new water cooler,purchased a new table built for the entry foyer, fixed damaged ceilings, and had some money left over to (soon) put on a new roof at the parsonage.
All this done can now be sung about to the sound of beautiful praise music because the giving kept coming! The organ was on its last leg and the piano circa 1925 needed some real help. When this was gently brought before the congregation, the next thing the small church knew, they had $7,000 in a matter of weeks - enough to buy two brand new digital pianos. Time can do a number on the church and its buildings - leaky roofs and leaky hearts - but when something is broken God can do miracles to mend. Through His people He will provide the means and sometimes - most of the time - all we need to do is ask.
Douglas, Az
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Seven Places Ministries
 | | Seven Places Christ bled - Jon Courson |
From his head, from his back, his hands, his side, his feet...Jesus' bleed from seven places to atone for humanity's sin. Newly inducted associate pastor at Desert Sun in Glendale, Dustin Daniels, is the founder of the ministry which takes it's name from the places of Christ's perfect, complete atonement. The name was also influenced by the music group of the same title. On their 2003 album, "Lonely for the Last Time", they feature a short sermon from Pastor Jon Courson walking us through those seven places.
Seven Places is a non-denominational non-profit ministry that focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ regarding the specific issues of sexual sin, sexual addiction and sexual purity. Seven Places is a discipleship center that assists the Church in bridging the gap between pornography and the church pew by offering a safe and anonymous place (online & offline) to learn about or recover from the effects of sexual sin.
Beginning on Oct 21st on KPXQ 1360 am, Seven Places will have its own radio show. The conversation has begun. Please pray for this powerful ministry!
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Calvary Baptist Church of Wickenburg
50th Anniversary Jubilee
 Pastor Ken Demeter and the congregation are excited about giving glory to God for His blessing on this Wickenburg church which actually began on October 1, 1961. The first services were held in the American Legion Hall under the leadership of Rev. Bert Follmar.
In May of 1962 an organizational meeting brought about the name of Calvary Baptist Church and Pastor Follmar was asked to continue as Pastor. Application was made to affiliate with the Arizona Baptist Convention and the Conservative Baptists of America. Land was purchased in September, 1962. The church incorporated in October, 1962, and the original church construction was finished in 1965 (additions came later). The mortgage was burned in 1970. Dr. Follmar served for a total of 30 years at the church. Pastor Gary Golike was called to pastor the church in 1990 and served for 16 years.Calvary Baptist experienced growth again during the 1990's. Pastor Ken Demeter and family were called in January of 2006 and are still joyfully serving the Lord at the church.
Please come and join the celebration of this milestone. Dr. Bert Downs will be the main speaker, the Golikes and a host of former members are returning for the 9:00 a.m. service at Calvary Baptist Church. There will be a coffee fellowship at 10:45 a.m. with open house for visitors. A special meal is being served at Coffinger Park (Swilling & Tegner Streets) at noon. Reservations are necessary so please email churchsecretary@cbcwickenburg.org; details are also on Facebook: Calvary Baptist Church Wickenburg.
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Pastor in Training at Desert Sun
Pastor Dustin Daniels
"It really puts a focus on people - where it should be. It allows you to see firsthand how to love people the way Jesus loved us. People within our churches are hurting, scared, lonely....and are desperately crying out for help. They want the Truth, and it is an awesome opportunity to point them to Jesus, " Pastor Dustin Daniels of Desert Sun in Glendale speaks of his experience in the church's Pastor in Training Program. Taking seminary to the local level, Daniels was able to transfer credits from his accumulated hours at Phoenix Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary M.Div online program.
"Although I have been working with various men's ministries for the past five years, and with Seven Places for the past three...I felt Almighty God tugging on my heart to still get involved at the local church level, " Daniels describes what lead him to become involved. Under the leadership of Desert Sun's Pastor Pontus Karnsund, it seemed like a perfect fit to move forward in establishing the program together at the church.
"I enjoy the program so much that I'm trying to recruit other seminary students about getting involved within the PIT program at Desert Sun, " says Daniels, who was licensed in September as part of the program.
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Purple Tiaras and Dancing Queens
Women's Retreats' Highlights
One came from Montana. Another all the way from Maryland. A pastor's wife paid for one young woman to be here. The connections these women share are Christ centered. The women's retreats this past month - Daughters of the King - was full of life giving moments. Wendy Hagen, Charmaine Newton, and Anne Wiggins all shared from the heart straight to the heart. Wendy's four sessions - Hungry for God, Meditation and Solitude, Simplicity in Stuff, and Simplicity in Schedule - were filled with humor, energy and love for Jesus and sisters. Anne shares, "I was touched by the women- some of them "seniors"- who realized for the first time in their lives that the difficulties they'd been through were just part of the pruning process (John 15:1-4). Realizing that they weren't forgotten by God or being punished by Him was freeing for their hearts. How it amazed me to watch several ladies rededicate themselves to the Lord for HIS service after a period of spiritual dormancy for many years. Only God could do something like that!"
Purple was everywhere (even in unspoken places) and there were royal times of pure fun. Eighty-eight year-old dancing queen wouldn't sit down for a second when it came time to Kinect during free time. She even gave Wendy a little lesson in the evening sessions. And women, you were more than generous! The gift baskets were bountiful and you raised over $3,000 to send children in need to camp.
If you missed out on this time, make sure you mark it on your calendar for next year. There is nothing quite like a group of women coming together to worship and fellowship in God's name ... and in purple tiaras, true daughters of the King of Kings!Check out the pictures.
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Becoming Community
Jeff Bernal
Mission Park Baptist Tucson
Mission Park Baptist Church in Tucson is considering becoming Mission Park Community Church. Why? Well, in Jeff Bernal's three years as a pastor there he has seen much change. When he first arrived, Mission Park was simply twenty five older people, no kids, with no real future. Jeff arrived pretty much right out of seminary with only a brief associate role in Benson. But with his good training combined with his congenial temperament, he has helped turn the tide at this aging and somewhat cantankerous church. Regular attendance is now around 50 on Sundays. With 40+ adults, young couples, and families, there is now about 35 kids in their children's ministries. Vacation Bible School this summer had attendance each day at about 60. After fixing their baptismal - which hadn't worked in a long time- they had 11 baptisms last month. Pray that the church will continue to progress, that it will be able to support Jeff for fully (Jeff's wife currently works full time to keep them going) and that the Lord will bring them a guitarist/worship leader.
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Arizona Hills Community Church
New Student Ministries Pastor
After two years without a full time youth pastor, the leadership of Arizona Hills Community Church is happy to announce the addition of John Lunsford to the pastoral stafft. John, Christine and their family moved to Anthem in 2003 to begin ministry to the students of the Anthem community. In 2008 he began working with Young Life helping to reach students outside the church walls, while developing student leaders as well. He has a strong desire to reach those outside the body of Christ while developing those within. John has been in student ministry for all of his adult life. He considers himself a life-long learner and desires to build that into the students he works with.
John and Christine are an incredible team, both working with students and their families. Because they are long-term residents of Anthem, they have developed several significant relationships within the community that are beneficial to the ministry. John is the current Student Government Advisor for Boulder Creek High School as well as the media relations person for the baseball program and video production director for the football program. These positions have allowed him incredible access to the students that he is currently reaching.
Before coming on full-time, he was a volunteer for student ministry at Arizona Hills, and is already developing long-term goals for volunteers, internships, discipleship, and outreach programs. It's his heart and belief that the student ministry at Arizona Hills will grow into a very strong model of healthy ministry.
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To put the Spotlight on your ministry or event,
email us with your news.
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Southwest Church Connection is the church ministry of Southwest CBA
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