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E-Challenge November 2014
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| Greetings! |
Faith Community Church is no more! Long live Faith Community Church!
If you missed the Tarrant Baptist Association Annual Meeting, you may wonder why the medieval salute to this particular church. Faith Community, under the leadership of Pastor Barry Peterman, recently closed its doors for good. Unlike the vast majority of the 4,000 churches that will join them on the memorial list this year, they created a legacy that will live well beyond the grave.
The church was offered $1.25 million for their property. This is the price they believed God was going to provide them. This is where the fun began.
The church decided to give away large sums of money to invest in ministry. They gave around $350,000 each to the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board. They gave $100,000 to Texas missions. They gave $80,000 to Tarrant Baptist Association for church starting. They gave to the Fort Worth Pregnancy Center. They gave to Union Gospel Mission. On and on they gave until they invested in eternity in a manner seldom seen.
What will be the legacy of this church? Only heaven knows and only eternity will tell.
How significant is that church in the eyes of heaven? How many men, women, boys and girls will one day walk on streets of gold because of those gifts?
Long live Faith Community Church!
There are other ways to leave a legacy. Pastor Brad Martin of Shady Oaks Baptist Church in Hurst asked a few months ago about starting a second congregation in their facilities. They have a large meeting space that is underutilized. The Hispanic population is rapidly increasing in the area. Now two congregations share the same facility and both are growing.
Southside City Church and Park Temple Baptist Church merged. They are now a multiethnic congregation of the joyfully redeemed. Meadowridge Community Baptist Church is mentoring seminary students to lead multiethnic and multicultural churches.
These are legacy churches. Not so the church that refused to welcome its new neighbors some years ago. Now that church is composed of a small group of people who huddle together on Sundays until the last one dies and someone turns out the lights and bolts the door. They refused to serve their neighborhood. Their run-down worship center and half-finished gymnasium bear testimony to wasted opportunities.
What legacy pathway is your church on today?
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Pastors' Conference and Executive Board
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Pastors' Conference and Executive Board Schedule
November 10 - No Pastors Conference - SBTC Annual Meeting, Fort Worth
November 17 - No Pastors Conference - BGCT Annual Meeting, Waco
November 24 - Dr. Bob Roberts, Pastor of Northwood Church
December 1 - Executive Board
December 8 - All Staff Christmas Luncheon at Travis Avenue Baptist Church
All Meetings, unless otherwise noted, will be held at Cornerstone Assistance Network in the Creation Cafe (3500 Noble Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76111). Lunch is $7.00 at the door.
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App of the Month - PrayerMate
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 As much as I love technology and time-saving apps, I am decidedly old school about some things, like my prayer list.
Scratch that. I actually have my prayer list in a DropBox folder that I can access from any computer, tablet, or smartphone anywhere at any time. Even so, I have so far avoided prayer apps. Then I came across PrayerMate.
Go to this website and watch the tutorial video. I think you will be impressed. You can add all of your regular prayer information, subscribe to all kinds of prayer lists, and, yes, you can backup everything to DropBox.
May this tool make us ever more faithful in prayer.
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Intercessory Prayer in 2014
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Intercessory Prayer in 2014
by Jay Harris
In our day, with the communication tools we posses, we have the ability to connect with people instantly. These communiqués can be anything from silly Facebook update that tells the world that you are having your third cup of coffee, to the sharing of a quick personal word of encouragement or prayer support.
One of the blessings of being a child of God is that each day we are spirit-guided to pray for people God has put in our lives. It may be from a written prayer list or simply a thought about someone that triggers a prayer for them.
Here is a suggestion that will bless you and those in your world. When you find yourself praying for that friend, family member, workmate or church member, find a way to communicate to them that you have prayed for them. Text, e-mail, call or use the old method of mailing a note to them. Just sharing that you are praying for someone will bless and encourage them. Give it a try.
More prayer ideas can be discovered at www.PrayerCalling.org.
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Hearing God Retreat
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Ever been on a retreat just focusing on God?
Think about how nice it would be to get away to relax, refresh, and renew your soul.
2015 Dates: January 23-24, April 23-24, May 14-15, August 31-Sept 1, November 5-6
Register Today!
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Generosity Lifestyle - Giving is Not What it Used to Be
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Giving is Not What it Used to Be
Today's church that is maximizing giving cannot be satisfied with the way that giving has always been done. There are a plethora of modern options that must be tapped if the available resources are to come into the coffers of the church budget.
Maximizing giving in the church setting in today's world requires a generational approach that provides alternatives for members to give in ways that fit their preferences. Long gone are the days that those who are going to give do so only with a bank check or in cash.
Click Here to Read the Full Article
Gary L. Crowell, CPA, CCA
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TBA Family Christmas
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Nan Dean, Travis Ave Jeff Burnett, FBC Hurst Judy Bridges, Mayfield Rd Jim McGinley, FBC Lakeside
Click Here to Register
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2014 Annual Church Profile
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Thank you to all the churches who have completed their ACPs. If you have not yet filled out your 2014 ACP, please do so by the end of November. Click one of the links below to get started!
- Southern Baptist Directory Services (SBDS):
 - http://sbds.lifeway.com (click the Enter ACP Data button)
- This site gives opportunity to input detailed information and is the same as the paper forms sent out in previous years.
- Please remember to click each of the top four buttons to check current information for accuracy and to update where necessary.
- Tarrant Baptist Association Simplified Form:
If you have any questions concerning how to log on to the SBDS site (user name, password, etc.) or need other assistance, please contact us at walter@tarrantbaptist.org. You may also call 817-927-1911.
Walter Krueger
Database Manager
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Bookmarks
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Re:Vision: The Key to Transforming Your Church is a book I have eagerly anticipated. The rewards of the finished product are more enjoyable than most of the gifts I have received on special occasions across the years.
This book could bear the alternate subtitle, A Turnaround Pastor's Life Development Plan. To the deliberate reader and practitioner, that is what it is. Authors Aubrey Malphurs and Gordon Penfold guide leaders through the process of understanding how God has wired them according to their temperaments. They also provide growth and development tools for pastors to create personal applications that will strengthen them in the areas most vital to leading healthy, growing churches.
Re:Vision is full of wisdom. Each chapter provides abundant research, clarifying illustration, and practical application. The questions at the conclusion of each chapter help anchor the most important discoveries.
This is a book pastors will return to again and again. Every pastor should read it and read it again when it is time to dream new dreams and lead toward the next season of ministry. This is a great book for a mentor and protege to enjoy together.
As with any of Dr. Malphurs' books, the Appendices are full of useful instruments. I always look forward to reading this section. Ever the professor (Dallas Theological Seminary), Dr. Malphurs leads us to continue learning with practical tools for the work of ministry.
Re:Vision unfolds in three parts. Part 1 is Preparation for Discovery. Chapter 1 details the state of pastoral leadership in America. The signs are not encouraging. America's churches are overwhelmingly on the wrong side of the growth curve. One of the major reasons for this is a lack of visionary leadership.
Chapter 2 begins the discussion of re-envisioning pastoral leadership. This leads to the biblical basis for re-envisioning ministry in chapter 3. Re-envisioning leaders in the Bible include Moses, Hezekiah, Josiah, Elijah, Nehemiah, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus
Chapter 4 discusses a pastor's divine design. A re-examination of what we mean we talk about a pastor's calling is included in this section. This is enlightening material that many may argue with, at least for a while. This chapter also addresses a pastor's divine direction and development. The life development plan guidelines presented here are worth the price of the book and more. The remainder of the book teaches how to craft this plan personally.
Chapter 5...Click Here to Read the Full Article
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Getting to Know Our New Neighbors (Part 2)
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Getting to Know Our New Neighbors (Part 2)
By Becky Biser
Just as Paul was aware of the culture around him when he went to Athens, we need to meet the culture around us also. Paul doesn't begin conversations just telling people about Jesus, but he communicates about what he sees and affirms they are very religious to have a statue to an "Unknown God."
Do you perceive the folks who live around you? Is the Spirit inside of you provoked to share Christ and make friends with those different from you.
Estimates show over 14,297 Muslims living in Tarrant County. This religious group is larger than 48 other religious groups in Tarrant County including, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Lutheran.
Many of these neighbors have never had anyone befriend them who knows Jesus and can help them meet Him. Pray and ask God to send you a Muslim friend. Invite them into your home. Get to know them and ask them about their beliefs. Listen to them. Try to understand them. Ask questions to dig down deep. Don't be threatened or try to push your beliefs on them. By you asking and truly listening, they will ask and want to know about you. You can share in a loving and real way with them. Ask them if they have had any interesting dreams lately. Many Muslims have had dreams or visions of Jesus.
Below you will see some of the Islamic Mosques in Tarrant County. Click Here to see a chart comparing Christianity and Islamic teaching. This is just an overview comparison to help you as you make new friends.
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Riverbend Upcoming Events
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Disaster Relief Opportunities
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BGCT Upcoming Events
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Coats for Kids & Blankets for Babes
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Gather Coats for Kids and Blankets for Babes to bless others this Christmas.
Bring what you gather to the 2014 BGCT Annual Meeting, November 16-18 at the Waco Convention Center.
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SBTC Upcoming Events
|  Bible Conference: November 9-10, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Annual Meeting: November 10-11, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Lottie Moon Offering Begins: November 30 Discipleship Webinar: December 4 Phase 1 Disaster Relief Training: January 10, 2015, Hooks, TX Student Evangelism Conference: January 16-17, Arlington, TX |
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Other Upcoming Opportunities/Events
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R3 Summit: (T raining English-Speaking Latino leaders to Start & Strengthen English Speaking Churches) Nov 14-15, San Antonio, TX.
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News from the Churches
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News from the Churches
Lake Arlington Baptist Church's Lionheart Children's Academy is hiring teachers for infants. They are looking for people who have a vibrant faith and a love for babies. If interested, email KarinLaymance@lionheartkid.org.
Gambrell Street Baptist Church will kick off its centennial year on November 16th, 2014. Dr. David Hardage, executive director of the BGCT, will be preaching in the morning service with a covered dish lunch to follow as Gambrell begins a yearlong celebration of the congregation's heritage, its present involvement in service to the community, and the potential for its future. Former Gambrellites are especially invited to attend the events held throughout the year.
First Baptist Benbrook celebrated their 60th Anniversary on Sunday October 12! They had a special day of worship with former pastor Ronnie Beams preaching and former music minister Randall Bradley leading worship.
 First Baptist Colleyville is selling pews that will seat around 950 people. They are in excellent shape and were purchased new in 1997. White colonial ends with a teal fabric on the pew. A church could purchase a lesser number as needed. The pews will be available for removal on or near Sunday, December 19. All interested parties could contact David Sylvester at 817.281.4158.
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Keep Shining!
Becky BiserTarrant Baptist Association
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