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E-Challenge December 2015
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| Greetings! |
Our kids are weird. They almost always slept later than we did on Christmas morning. They would have been kicked out of the Kids Klub if that had become public knowledge.
On one uncharacteristically cold Christmas morning in Baytown, my Bride and I built a fire in the fireplace, prepared coffee and pumpkin bread, and enjoyed a quiet hour before either child stirred. That is one of my favorite Christmas memories.
Many of our Christmases were spent alone. Christmas Eve services and hours of driving often separated us from our loved ones. You're in ministry. You know how that story goes.
On Christmas Day in 1995, we looked for something to do as a family. We discovered that the movie theater at the mall in Clear Lake was open. They were showing Toy Story. We drove abandoned roads to an empty mall. We finally found the one door that opened into the mall and purchased popcorn, candy, and soft drinks.
The movie was amazing, and we established a tradition of going to the movie on Christmas Day. There were only a handful of people in that big room with us then. Now the theaters are packed out on Christmas. That's when the best family-friendly movies of the year are out.
The next year at Christmas, one of our church's single dads and his daughter joined us at the movies and for dinner afterward. That little girl is all grown up now. She is a school teacher who loves traveling the world with friends who bonded through tragedy. Her husband died last year in a military training exercise. Their husbands likewise lost their lives in service to America.
One Christmas morning we were eating breakfast after all of the gifts were opened. As we sat down at the table, we noticed a woman creeping around our backyard and toward the door next to where we were sitting. One of our church members knew about our movie habit and brought us a gift to pay for the tickets.
I haven't picked out the movie yet, but we will gather together in a theater with others who long for community and a pleasant time with family and friends. We will laugh and cry and make memories. I hope it's cold. I want our grandson to have a red nose and ears. I want our Baby Girl to wear her best casual outfit. I want big coats and warm gloves. I want the excitement of anticipation.
I want the soothing delight of rich hot chocolate. I want a house full of family and a deeply meaningful FaceTime chat with our son and future daughter-in-law. I want memories. I want meaning.
In a season filled with electioneering rhetoric where candidates pretend to be ordinary guys who think and act just like us so that they can exert the ultimate in human power, and in a season filled with the uneasiness of terrorism that creeps far too close to home, we need the Light of the World to illumine us. We need the Prince of Peace to settle among us. We need the King of Kings to rule over us. We need the fullness of all that a baby in a manger represents. We need God with us.
We need the joy of Mary. We need the obedience of Joseph. We need the excitement of the shepherds. We need the songs of the angels. We need the seeking hearts of the Magi. We need Jesus.
May your Christmas be filled with holy moments, David
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The TBA office will be closed for Christmas break from December 23rd through the first of the year. We will open again on January 4th. We wish you and your family a safe and very Merry Christmas!
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Upcoming Pastor's Conference and Executive Board Meetings for 2016
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Pastor's Conference and Executive Board Schedule
Pastors, retired pastors, staff members and lay leaders are invited to participate.
We hope to see you there!
Location:
Cornerstone Assistance Network
3500 Noble Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Time:
Cost:
$7.00 for lunch
January 4 - Pastor's Conference
January 11 - Pastor's Conference
January 18 - NO PC (Martin Luther King Day)
January 25 - Executive Board
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Upcoming Training and Retreats offered by TBA
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January 19, 2016 - Day of Clarity
February 2, 2016 - Church Unique co::Lab
February 22-23, 2016 - Hearing God Retreat
March 28 - April 1, 2016 - Coach Training
May 1-3, 2016 - re:FOCUS Retreat
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We Need Help for Missionary Families
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Hundreds of IMB missionaries and their families are coming home from the mission field before they were prepared to do so. These missionaries are looking for jobs, housing, and cars.
Some of the missionaries we know are coming to the Metroplex include those who have been serving in India, Brunei, Mexico, Malawi, South Africa, South Asia, and South America.
Please contact us with any good, solid leads regarding jobs, housing, and cars. Let's make their unexpected homecoming a good experience.
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End of Year Reflections on Money
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As we draw near to the end of another year, it is worthwhile to stop, take a breath and reflect on 10 sound principles that can enrich our lives when it comes to managing the financial resources that God allows to pass through our hands. Here they are:
- Live with your eyes fixed on others. Adding value to the life of others is a true measure of being wealthy in the real sense of the word.
- Acknowledge that we need to keep our possessions in an open hand and not a closed hand.
- Remember that you are leaving a legacy for future generations with decisions made today.
- Examine your internal design (way of thinking and acting). Your financial design consists mainly of the "programming" you received in the past, particularly as a child. The lack of money is never the problem. The lack of money is simply a symptom of what is happening inside you.
- If the motivation for acquiring money or success has its roots in fear, anger, or the need to prove personal value, money can never be a source of happiness in life.
- Principle of wealth: Money only makes you more of what you already are.
- Live below the possibilities of your financial resources in order to prosper in the long run.
- Understand the fact that many people who appear to have a high level lifestyle don't have a lot in the bank but, rather, owe a lot to the bank. Be who you are without trying to measure up to the perceived standard of others.
- Teach your children the principles for earning, saving, investing and giving. It will give them a head start in many areas of their life.
- Everybody makes poor financial decisions at some point. Learn from your mistakes and be wiser next time.
Jesus spoke amply about possessions. This should drive all of us to make a concerted effort to be the best we can be in this area of managing the money and other resources He entrusts to us. God will be pleased and His Kingdom will benefit as we are found faithful.
Gary L. Crowell, CPA, CCA
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How Well Do You Know Your Ministry Area?
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 OK, you know the people who live in the area where you minister, right? What is the fastest growing age group? What ethic groups are emerging? What are the educational and income levels? Are people renting or buying homes? What are the trends you need to be aware of as you work to meet the needs of your neighborhoods? With the new year soon upon us, the time is right to commit to become more of a student of your ministry area. Discover who is there, what are their needs and what ways to consider in addressing the needs. The Ministry Area Profile is a 32-page custom demographic/psychographic report available to you as one of the many Tarrant Baptist Association resources provided to our churches. The study details have just been updated to the 2016 edition so even if you have recently requested a Ministry Area Profile, you may want to update your demographic information.
To receive your MAP request it on the TarrantBaptist.org website, contact Jay Harris at 817.927.1911 ext 215 or Jay@TarrantBaptist.org.
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Prayer in 2016 - Jay Harris
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I n our day, with the communication tools we posses, we have the amazing ability to connect with people instantly. These communiqués can be anything from silly Facebook updates 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 who 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. You might text, e-mail, call or use the old method of mailing a note to them. Even better, give them a call and pray with 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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Church Unique co::Lab - Open for Enrollment
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The next Church Unique co::Lab is
open for enrollment!
A co::Lab experience equips a pastor and up to three leaders from his church to
lead the Church Unique process in the church they serve.
Our Church Unique Certified staff will train you and your leaders to facilitate the Vision Pathway. Your church will discover and capitalize on its uniqueness to fulfill God's mission and vision for you in this place at this time.
The co::Lab meets monthly on the first Tuesday of each month for seven months beginning February 2, 2016.
Up to 10 different congregations will participate in this process. You will have the opportunity to learn together as a team and from the other churches participating in the co::Lab.
This could be the best leadership development process you provide for your church in 2016.
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Vancouver Vision Tour
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Upcoming Dates for 2016 Vancouver Vision Tour
February 22-25, 2016
April 4-7, 2016
September 12-15, 2016
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Social Media Update
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Tarrant Baptist Association now has an Instagram account!
Please follow us on Instagram to stay connected -- @tarrantbaptist
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Book Review - Top 5 of 2015
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Top 5 Books of 2015
I read a lot. Even so, I never seem to have time to read everything I want to read.
Here are my top five favorites from this year.
1. To Transform a City by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams
2. Essentialism by Greg McKeown
3. The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg
4. Fearless by Max Lucado
5. Accidental Pharisees by Larry Osborne
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App of the Month - Top 10 of 2015
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Top 10 Apps of 2015
It is impossible to limit myself to my top five apps. Ten still feels limiting. These are tools that manage my workflow.
- YouVersion Bible
- Google Calendar
- Asana
- Evernote
- OneNote
- Kindle
- Pocket
- Feedly
- Blinkist
- Slack
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Podcast Highlight - Top 5 of 2015
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Top 5 Podcasts of 2015
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This Is Your Life by Michael Hyatt
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Your Church Matters by Dr. Gerry Lewis
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Rainer on Leadership by Thom Rainer
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5 Leadership Questions
- Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
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Life Change Journey for Pastors and Staff
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Life Change Journey for
Pastors and Staff
Want to experience a life change journey designed just for pastors, staff and leaders? This is not like any other discipleship conference you have experienced. This is a time you can refresh yourself in a hands-on experiential-type of journey. Here are some of the things you will experience:
- A safe environment
- Time for reflection
- Time to spend reading the Bible and reflecting on your relationship with Christ
- Authentic facilitators who let you discover your own way
- Prayers offered over you
- Laughter and fun
- A few stretching and challenging activities
- Time to hear God speaking just to you
- A renewed excitement and expectation about what God is doing in your life
The next re:FOCUS journey will start Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. on May 1st and end at noon on Tuesday, May 3rd at the Riverbend Retreat Center. Each retreat time is unique and will focus on different aspects to help empower leaders.
Retreat #1
- Leaders will spend time re:Connecting with God and with peers in an experiential learning environment. This time will include alone time with God enhancing their dependence on the Father and time to make friends with peers that are both authentic and safe.
Retreat # 2
- Six months later leaders will come back together to re:Discover who God has made them to be. They will spend time exploring things about themselves and formulating their own personal mission statements.
Retreat #3
- In another six months leaders will re:Think what it means to be a disciple. They will explore passages of scripture and write their own definition of a disciple. They will gain a clear picture of what this disciple looks like and how they personally will help others grow to be a fully devoted follower of Christ.
Retreat #4
- The final retreat six months later will focus on re:Engaging with God in His Kingdom. How has God created me to be most effective personally on engaging others? What is He nudging me to do? How do I most effectively lead myself and others?
Between these retreat weeks leaders will meet together monthly to encourage and pray for each other.
Interested? If so, contact Becky Biser at becky@tarrantbaptist.org.
Sign up today!
Date: May 1-3, 2016 (Begin Sunday evening at 6:00 and ending at Tuesday at noon)
Cost: $125 each retreat (includes lodging, meals, snacks, books and other materials)
Duration: 4 retreats over 2 years
Register Here!
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Coaching, coaching, coaching!
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Coaching is an amazing tool! It has impacted all of your TBA staff. David, Becky, Gary and Jay are all certified coaches with the International Coach Federation and are faculty with Coaching4Clergy. Coach training is available March 28 thru April 1 of 2016 and then again later next fall, August 8-12.
Another special offering in the coaching experience is the ability for you as part of the Tarrant Association to avail yourself to being coached. You can receive a Laser Coaching session (a 20-minute session) once a month at no cost. Simply call TBA and reserve a time and coach. Laser Coaching will help you manage time, focus, prioritize, brainstorm possibilities, get unstuck and much more. Check it out! Give it a try! Call today---817.927.1911.
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Training Opportunity for WMU Groups
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WMU Training Opportunity
Tarrant Baptist Association Woman's Missionary Union recommends a brand-new website developed by national WMU for leadership training. Currently available online training is for leading WMU Churchwide, Women on Mission, Acteens, Girls in Action, Mission Friends, and getting to know Christian Women's/Men's Job Corps, as well as a Leadership Certificate Program and Leadership Enrichment course. Cost is $20 each. Go to www.ChristianLeaderLearning.com for more information and to get started.
Additional courses will be offered in 2016. Also, training will be available at the annual meeting in April 2016. Information will be released later.
We regret that the statewide trainings last month were cancelled due to low registrations. But, this is a great time to respond to this new training availability online. Please help us get the word out!
Thank you very much.
Inez Stephens, Director
Tarrant Association WMU
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BGCT Upcoming Events
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SBTC Upcoming Events
|  Heart of the Child Conference - April 22-23, 2016 : Broken Arrow, OK |
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Bedford TEX Training
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Greetings!
A TEX Basic training is scheduled for
Bedford, TX in January.
Friday, January 22, 2016, 6:30 p.m-9:30 p.m.
AND
Saturday, January 23, 2016, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Training is sequential so please plan to attend both sessions.
The Mission
3224 Cheek Sparger
Bedford, TX 76021
You can also click on this link, Literacy Connexus Events, to read the information about this event and others on the Literacy Connexus website. Scroll down to see our lineup of scheduled trainings.
The number of participants is restricted, so encourage your new/prospective teachers to make their reservations ASAP.
Please contact us at info@literacyconnexus.org or 817-696-9898 if you are not able to access the linked information or if you have any questions.
Lester Meriwether, Executive Director
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21st Century Wilberforce Initiative - Speak Freedom
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Invest in Religious Freedom
Take Action
The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative advocates for religious freedom as a universal right. Over five billion people, 77% of the world's population, live in a context characterized by religious persecution, discrimination, or restrictions. Twenty Christians are killed because of their faith every day. Genocide is occurring against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative is creating an alliance of churches that will make religious freedom a priority. Wilberforce provides current, reliable information and training for these churches and suggests practical ways they can mobilize as advocates for defenseless people.
I have worked with Dr. Randel Everett on religious freedom issues over the last couple of years. This is a consuming passion for him and his team. I strongly encourage you to lend your voice and church support to this ministry.
With gratitude, David Bowman
For more information about the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative and
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American Interim Pastor Ministry (AIPM)
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American Interim Pastors Ministries, Inc.
Are you interested in serving as an interim pastor for six months in a British Baptist or Evangelical Free Church? Assignments are normally 6 months. American pastors receive no salary. The church provides a furnished house with bills paid and a car with expenses paid. Reimbursement is also provided for airline tickets and visa application fees.
Contact Chuck McComb for more information.
Chuck McComb
412 Carriage Creek Lane
Friendswood, TX 77546
281.799.1869
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Prisoners' Families in Your Community
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FACT:
2.7 million children have a parent in prison.
Prisoners' children live in shadows, shamed and disadvantaged by their parent's crimes. With help from Prison Fellowship, you can deliver Christmas gifts and the Gospel to prisoners' children.
Churches, Bible Study groups, Sunday School classes, and families are invited to help a child in your community this Christmas. Sign up here
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News from the Churches
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Lake Arlington Baptist Church's Lionheart Children's Academy has a preschool play cycle set (pictured to the right) available for any church that needs it. If you are interested, contact Karin Laymance at  karinlaymance@lionheartkid.org or call 817-451-4110.
Southcliff Baptist Church has DVD copies of Bill Hybel's "Just Walk Across the Room" series. If any church would like to have them please contact Rhonda Jackson at 817-924-2241 or Rhonda@southcliff.com.
You are invited to join with churches in Nepal to be a part of what God is doing in bringing spiritual healing to this hurting country. Join with other Baptist from TBA and International Commission (IC) on a short term evangelistic mission trip February 10-21, 2016. If interested, call Gary Godkin, 817-845-0440 or email him
Gary.Godkin@IC-World.org for more information on this trip!
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