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June is Association Month!

The importance of having a cooperative spirit was etched into my heart from my beginning as a new believer at 21 years of age.  My pastor spoke often and fervently about the significance of churches working together in ministry.  He promoted the work of Southern Baptists as a denomination and as individual churches.  He was a strong proponent of churches cooperating in ministry and he modeled this by leading our church to work with other churches in our association.  And one passage he used over and over again was Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 always emphasizing verse 12, "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." 

Over the years I have associated this verse with the best of what Southern Baptists have had to offer in Kingdom work.  One of our greatest distinctions as a denomination has been the way we have done missions.  The Cooperative Program itself has epitomized this idea that we can do more if we will work together.  It is my earnest desire to see this principle renewed and strengthened within our association.

One way in which we can work together in our association is to lock arms in our church planting efforts.  The key to our success in developing a strong and reproducible church planting strategy is for existing church pastors to walk alongside church planters and pour into their lives. Please let me explain what I mean.

Often pastors will discount the idea of church planting by reasoning, "We need to focus on what we are doing here first."  Sometimes it is the perception that church planting costs too much money and the church cannot afford the expense.  But I want to plant another idea which I believe will help you reconsider your involvement and will benefit your own congregation and the Kingdom.

Our association's strategy for church planting depends on pastors walking alongside church planters as mentors and peers.  Our strategy is to partner 3 OCSBA pastors with every church planter.  This costs you nothing financially to participate.  But it offers an encouragement to the planter who now has a group of men who are praying for him, counseling him, strengthening him, allowing him to share his successes and struggles, and simply loving him and his family.

But, here is the benefit to you and your congregation, this partnership gives your church access to an ongoing ministry project where your people can be actively involved rather than just hearing about what others are doing.  One of the common denominators among growing congregations is providing members a chance to get their hands dirty by doing ministry outside the walls of the church.  And nothing excites people for ministry like actually doing ministry!

Pastors, I pray you will consider being involved in walking alongside a church planter.  It will strengthen the life of the planter and his family as well as stimulating your own congregation for Kingdom work.  This is a win-win for everyone!  Email or call me and we can talk more.

God's Blessings,

Mike    

Congratulations Crossroad Church!

SAVE THE DATE! Easter Sunrise Service at Knott's Berry Farm!

EBPT - A Great Resource For Outreach!

Below are available mission opportunities for individuals, small groups and churches. Please call the OCSBA office for additional details. If your church would like to include other mission opportunities, please call the OCSBA office.

Fullerton Railroad Tracks Feeding Ministry 

Feeding the homeless and food compromised. Leading worship and presenting a daily devotion for the guests. 

Every Tuesday, 7-9 pm

Chris Loewen (972-974-1168); David Lyons (626-257-8607)

Voice of the Refugees
Ministering to refugees arriving primarily from Muslim countries. Providing English language training as well as other settlement assistance. 

Joe Hall - (714-235-7887)
www.jvor.org

Mexico 

Ministry & Outreach.

OCRM - (714-247-4300)
www.rescuemission.org 

Russia

Provide support for local congregations as they reach the city. Activities will include prayer walking, ministering in drug rehabs and homeless shelters. 

Sally Hinzie - SallyHinzie@ubahouston.org; (713-503-9472)

Central California Spring 2014 Medical/Dental Mission 

Ministering to migrant farmers. 

Libby Burgtorf - (909-595-0811 x 2); libbyfbcwv@yahoo.com 

Ogden, Utah 

Helping an SBC church plant get off the ground called Redemption church (www.redemptionutah.org) plus reaching out to the Mormons by inviting them to meals at our ministry house and interacting with Mormons at Temple Square with a prayerful, loving approach.
Russ East - Director Utah Partnerships for Christ; (801-645-7433); russ@upfc.org

Beaufort West, South Africa

Women's leadership training. 

Libby Burgtorf - (909-595-0811 x 2); libbyfbcwv@yahoo.com 

Vicente Guerro, Morelia, Oaxaca 

For those who are interested in the work that is done by His Ministry, by those who feel a special call to the mission field but have only a limited amount of time to give, and by those who are brand new to the missionary experience. 

Ellis Pitman - ECPitman@gmail.com

Cambodia 

John Ry - ndhien@gmail.com; 714-964-8529

Vietnam

John Ryn - ndhien@gmail.com; 714-964-8529

Mexicali

Leonard Jansen - (619-990-1584)

Alaska 

In conjunction with the Alaska Baptist Convention  

Mike Proctor - mike@alaskabaptistconvention.com

Orange Co. and CA Baptist Disaster Relief 

Disaster Relief 

Chuck Erikson - 714-636-9425; chuckmjo@sbcglobal.net 

India 

Teaching/Encouragement 

Dr. Michael Proud - (714-547-5409)  

Upcoming Events

MARCH

March 2-9

Week of Prayer and Mission Study: Annie Armstrong

March 6

Stewardship Financial Webinar

10am & 7pm

Host: Rod Wiltrout 

March 16

Bible Drills - Church Qualifications

March 17 - 19

Pastor's Retreat

Tahquitz Pines, Idyllwild 

March 27-29

Disaster Relief Training

Saddleback Church

March 29

On Target: Smaller Membership & Rural Church Conference

California Baptist University. 8:00am

Association Bible Drill Competition 

Chinese Baptist Church of Central Orange County. 9:00am

APRIL

April 2-4
Catalyst West Coast 

April 4

Stewardship Financial Webinar

10am & 7pm

Host: Rod Wiltrout 

April 4-5

Tapestry: California Women's Ministries & Missions Celebration

Pismo Beach 

OCSBA Community Updates & Prayer Requests 

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