Executive Director's Corner
"By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 HCSB) Jesus demonstrated for us what love is all about. It is imperative that we show that same kind of love.
February is known as the month of love with Valentines' Day right in the middle of it.
One way to show our love is to be supportive of our youth in the various Disciple Now activities in our churches in the next few weeks.
Also, we can reach out to the unchurched persons in our Associational area and invite them to church. If they find new life in Christ because of that, they will remember you for the rest of their lives.
In Christ, Allen Stephens
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Flowood Baptist addition
Flowood Baptist Church will be adding over 19,000 square feet to their present location. They had a special ground breaking on January 24th. The new sanctuary is going to be beautiful....can't wait to see the finished product and how God will use this to expand HIS kingdom in that neighborhood area.
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Bible Drill Practice
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Hickory Ridge gets their kids ready for Bible Drill competition....
April 7th, Brandon Baptist at 6:30 p.m.
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RCBA welcomes
Jan Guyse as Ministry Assistant
We are excited about Jan joining our team. She was the former FBLA/PBL Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Education. She is an active member of Crossgates Baptist Church and is married to Clyde Guyse.
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Big Ole Honking Garage Sale for Missions
FBC Brandon
February 12 -13
Preview Sale for $5 is Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. with free admission starting at 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday will be open from 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Church can be fun.....
 
Kids from Pelahatchie Baptist play a fun game of ring toss before Bible study
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The Heart of a Pastor
I am so overwhelmed by God that I just had to vent for a sec! Each week we are seeing people set free from drug addictions, relationships healed, broken marriages restored, illnesses cured, grace granted, burdens lifted, men and women being saved, half-hearted Christians selling out to follow Christ with their whole hearts! I just have no words! This week with my own eyes I witnessed Americans standing in line at 11am worship time outside in the cold. They were smiling and laughing. There were men and women, boys and girls, most in blue jeans and carrying their Bibles. No one was judging, half were meeting for the first time and came expecting to worship and for God to speak into their lives. No one playing church, checking off their duty for the week or claiming seats! I paused before heading back to the pulpit to preach for the third time His word, with His anointing, to His bride (the church) and looked up towards the heavens and smiled at my Daddy who loves us so and whose power is unparalleled! Upon gathering for the fourth and final time Sunday night, every seat was filled and people were still rushing in the doors. In an instant His people (30 of them) rushed to sit in the choir loft to free up seats for others! So many volunteers! Some serve 3 worship times in a row with smiles and excitement serving our King excellently! A media livestream ministry that our homebound, vacationing, or sometimes hospitalized in the ICU can join when they can not gather in person. On Monday nights women gather to study deeper the word from Sunday. On Tuesday mornings we are seeing the group of men swell each week to near 40 @6am for prayer and the word of God. Tomorrow will be our largest gathering to date! I do not know what to say or do; dance, run, shout, pray, or praise.Ii am in awe of Him. What God is doing can not be explained! Join in? Men's gathering 6am @1124 Mullican Rd, Florence, MS. Membership is not a requirement.
All to JESUS!
Brother Terry Fant
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Pastor Installation
Brother Allen was a guest speaker at the Pastor Installation for Dr. Elbert W. Craig, at St. Paul M. B. Church. The theme was "God's Chosen Servant".
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Christmas Party at the Learning Center
Thank you to all the many volunteers from Meadow Grove that fulfill the needs at the Learning Center.
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Crossroads Remodeling Project
The Laurel office is undergoing some rennovation - seen in this picture is Donna Conerly, Crossroads Accountant, helping with this endeavor....Servant's Heart!!  |
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Nursing Home Ministry Annual Golf Tourney
Date: April 28th - Patrick Farms
Time: 12:30 Lunch - Shotgun Start at 1:00
SAVE THE DATE
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2 & 3 year olds enjoying Sunday School - Hickory Ridge
 Cuteness....
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Ladies Retreat
The FBC Richland Women's Ministry hosted the Hands UP Outreach, CWJC participants and volunteers to a Ladies Retreat called "When Winter Comes" with speaker Cyndi Grace on January 22. Around 100 women attended the event and were spiritually uplifted to make it through another cold dark winter.
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Seminary Classes
Life Christian Seminary
6:30 PM RCBA building
February 9th and 16th - Life and Teachings of Jesus - Dr. Sam Hughes
March 15th and 22nd - Developing a Christian World View - Dr. Rick Henson
April 5th and 12th - Amos and Hosea - Dr. Ralph Henson
May 10th and 17th - Life and Letters of Paul - Dr. Wayne Van Horn
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Information for Newsletter:
If your church has an event or has had a special event you would like to share in The Catalyst, please email to dthompson@rankinbaptists.org. One or two pictures only in jpg format can be accepted.
Also, if you like our newsletter and know someone that would also enjoy the information, at the end of the newsletter is a link you can use to forward to a friend. Please share our GOOD NEWS!
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Upcoming Events:
February 8th - Ministers Conference - 10:30 a.m. at FBC Richland; guest speaker will be Chris McNairy;
Executive Committee meeting to following lunch hour; please RSVP with Diane
February 9th - Conference at Broadmoor - Stewardship of Influence
February 12th and 13th - Garage Sale at FBC Brandon for Missions
February 27th - WMU Knights and Squires event at Meadow Grove; this will be a tournament and fest for men and boys - call Barbara Sanchez for details - 601-201-5889
February 27th - VBS Kickoff - 9:00 a.m. - noon at Richland Community Center
March 7th - Ministers' Conference at Flowood Baptist - guest speaker is Rick Blythe
March 20th - Speakers Tournament at Brandon Baptist - 2:30 p.m.; call Judy Hicks at Brandon Baptist for further information
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Crossroads Counseling Center 2015 report
Dear Crossroads Family,
I'm excited to report to you that last year a total of 6,206 sessions were conducted at all Crossroads offices. This far exceeds the 5,131 sessions conducted the previous year. I know that numbers are not everything, but since I've experienced your compassionate heart for those who come to Crossroads for help, I can confidently say they are getting the very best godly counsel available.
Also, many, many thanks to you the great administrative support staff who not only day-by-day grind out the thousands and thousands of detail accounting, billing, filing, (I can't even start to list them all), you do it with a wonderful spirit of joy and service. Thank you for fulfilling a vital role that frees counselors to fulfill theirs. We could attempt to do it without you...and some do......but it is really ugly! :-))).
Thank you for a wonderful year in 2015.....and I'm excited about the new one that is already underway.
The Crossroads Family is truly a God creation.....praise be to His Holy Name.
Perry
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Hassel Johns' retirement
21 years of Faithful Service
  Pastors that stopped by to wish Hassel well...
Served together for 21 years at RCBA
 Hassel with daughter Cheryl Lee
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Encouragement Bags
Eric Williamson, Children's Minister from Meadow Grove delivers the 300 bags that the children at Meadow Grove decorated.
Unloading 300 Encouargement Bags is a project in itself. On this particular day, the gentleman with the box on his shoulder was leaving Baptist because his wife's treatment had been cancelled. He asked if he could help us with the project. Blessings!!
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McLaurin Heights welcomes new Pastor and his wife
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Rev. Connor Alford and his wife, Erin. Rev. Alford is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Bachelor's in Business Administration from MSU in 2013. Upon completion of his Master's degree, he plans to pursue his PhD. He and his wife Erin, were married on November 7, 2015 and currently reside in Ridgeland. Rev. Connor enjoys spending time with family, reading, spending time on the family farm, golfing and making a great cup of coffee. Pray for our new pastor as he seeks Christ's vision for the church and the work of the ministry at MHBC.
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Park Place hosts Ministers' Conference
Michael Lee, Allen Stephens, Floyd Steverson
Thank you to Michael Lee, MBCB, for being our guest speaker. Special thanks to Park Place for the wonderful room to meet in and the fabulous lunch prepared for our group.
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Holly Springs Relief Effort
Members of Pelahatchie Baptist Church sent items to help in the tornado ridden area of Holly Springs. The gentleman in the black jacket lost his home.
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CPC adding an office in Fondren - near Planned Parenthood location
New Website Now LIVE for the Fondren Initiative!
Please help us share the news about our beautiful new website for the Fondren Initiative! You can now go to www.cpcfondren.com to check out the progress on our new clinic, watch and share inspirational videos, and participate in fundraising.
As of today, we have already raised $77,000 in one-time gifts toward The Fondren Initiative, but our focus now is on sustaining gifts to cover the monthly operating expenses. Our goal is to receive $10,000 in regular monthly donations. We have reached $450 in monthly donations!These expenses will include a full time Nurse Manager and a full time Receptionist, Rent, Utilities, Marketing/Advertising, etc. With your help, we can start empowering the choice for life in the Fondren community! Follow along as we will continue to update our progress through our CPC lady on the left.
Please continue to pray for power as we protect the unborn to the glory of God, for success in streamlining our support services to women and families, for expansion of a committed weekly volunteer team, and for godly guidance and health for all of our patients.
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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
COLLIDE WEEKEND
 Last year over 1500 students gathered together for a weekend of Evangelism, intentional discipleship, community outreach and projects and to build unity among our local churches.
Thank you, Rankin Baptists, for your faithfulness in giving so that we could assist with financial funding for the weekend. Also, thank you to David Michel, MBCB, for assisting with financial resources.
Those churches involved are FBC Brandon, Brandon Baptist, Brandon First United Methodist, Crossgates, Meadow Grove, FBC Fannin, FBC Florence, Oakdale, The Exchange, Metro Grace, Park Place, Briar Hill, Grace - Brandon, Star and FBC Richland. WOW!!
Please pray for this weekend that many students will commit to a personal relationship with Jesus.
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Metro Grace Baptisms
On Sunday, January 10th Metro Grace Community Church baptized 8 new believers (5 adults, 2 youth, 1 child) in the indoor pool at the Holiday Inn Trustmark Park! There were 129 people in attendance for this service! God continues to bless this new church that was planted in Pearl during 2015. In less than a year, over 20 new believers have been baptized and the church family has grown from an initial core group of less than 30 to over 100 people! Almost all of our new members coming into Metro Grace were previously unchurched. Because of our continued growth, we will soon be relocating into a larger facility. On Sunday, February 7th at 10:00 AM we will begin hosting our Sunday Worship Gathering at the Cinemark Tinseltown Theater in Pearl.
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Blended Families Group
SMART STEP-FAMILIES
Join our eight week Support Group designed to help you understand how to navigate the dynamics and challenges of blended families-with God's help! Led by Paul and Martie Bird, Married and Blending a family of three daughters for 13 years.
Class meets on Wednesday January 20th at 6:00 pm in room 14, Banquet Hall
First Baptist Church, Brandon East Campus,
309 South College, Brandon
Child care is available for babies through 5th grade. And
activities for 6th grades up will be available at our West Campus,
175 Boyce Thompson Drive
Optional Book and two workbooks for the class: $25.00 (Scholarships are available)
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Metro Grace Community Church
(www.facebook.com/metrogracems) Check us out.
Meet with us on Sundays at 10:30 at the Holiday Inn, Trustmark Park....all are welcome!!
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Pastor Floyd Steverson
Metro Grace Community Church
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
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