E-Challenge March 2016


Last month I wrote about a special event on a Coronado Island beach, the full details of which I could not explain at the time. Now I can.

As most of you know, our son is in the United States Marines. He has been awaiting details regarding his next three-year assignment. Circumstances appeared to have him coming home to Texas, possibly even to the Metroplex. Then on his birthday, Friday, January 29, he received the news he was waiting on. However, it was not the news he was expecting or that we had hoped. He will move to extreme northeast Texas, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

This created a whole chain of interesting complications. His original report date was March 1. Their wedding date has been scheduled for March 19 for months. The venue is booked and paid in full. Guests are planning to travel to Southern California. Now what?

It's time to pause and remember what God has done in impossible situations before: "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. . . . The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still,'" (Exod. 14:13, 14).

Before they can move to the Far Country, Erica needs to enter the bureaucracy with a new last name. Her employer has offices in Texas, but not in Harrisburg. Obstacles quickly mounted. 

Let me expedite the story by saying that within twenty-four hours, we had a new wedding plan. I was going to San Diego the following week for the Associations in Megacities conference. We booked a ticket for Katie to join me. One week to the day later, Jonathan and Erica, Erica's mother Traci, and Katie and I stood in the sands of Coronado Island and celebrated the first of two weddings. 

Our son and daughter-in-law are officially married. She is in the system. They placed a deposit on a great place to live and their report date has been pushed back to early May. We will enjoy a wonderful party wedding in a little over a week. I can't wait! The only hardship is coming up with a second wedding sermon. (I'm thinking about Gen. 24:58. It seems appropriate considering his career path. It's also too late for her to say no at this point.)

Oh yes, Erica's employer holds her in such high regard that they are sending her to their management training academy so that she can open an office in Harrisburg. That will include a nice raise. 

A California girl and a Texas boy are moving to a place where it snows frequently and measurably. That should be fun. However, with everything God has done for them to this point, surely He can prepare them for long underwear and snow tires. 

Join me in praying for gracious endings, traveling mercies, and glad beginnings. Ask God to provide them with a new church home, new friends, and a great time of marital bonding far away from the distractions of each other's previous surroundings. Seek God's best for their special future. Thank you for doing so. 

With gratitude,
David
In This Issue
Pastors' Conference and Executive Board
Dying to Self - Do we really do it?
Upcoming Training and Retreats
Communication Clarity for Teams
Church Consultant Training
Help for Missionary Families
Vancouver Vision Tour
Follow Us on Instagram
Audio Book Review
Book Review
Podcast Highlight
Coaching, coaching, coaching!
What's Behind the Giving?
Pastor Needed in Vancouver
Pray for WestCoast Baptist Association
Discipleship Journey for Pastors and Staff
Associational Bible Drill
21st Century Wilberforce Initiative
TRANSFORM
TBMA Conference
Multi-Ethnic Church Conference
Upcoming Senior Adult Retreat
Parenting Seminar
BGCT Upcoming Events
SBTC Upcoming Events
38th Annual Minister/Layman Golf Tournament
Asian American Conference
Volunteer Chaplain Needed
News from the Churches
Pastor's Conference and Executive Board Meetings
Pastors' 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:
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Cost:
$7.00 for lunch

March 14 - NO Pastor's Conference (Spring Break)
March 21 - Executive Board
March 28 - NO Pastor's Conference (day after Easter)
April 4 -  Pastor's Conference
Becoming Overwhelmed By the Lord
Becoming Overwhelmed by the Lord
By Becky Biser

Last month, I told you about my lessons learned in dying to self. I still have problems dying to self in other areas. This usually happens in the areas I think I can handle myself. You see, I don't invite God into my thoughts. For instance one morning, following my quiet time with the Lord, I was driving to the office. As I saw children walking to school, I would pray a blessing over them. This was something I do on a regular basis. As I stopped at a red light, I was praying for cars passing by. I found myself getting upset because they were driving too fast, and I couldn't bless them. Then bam! The Lord reminded me of how often He tried to bless me, and I was moving too fast. I would miss Him and the life He wanted for me. I was so totally overwhelmed with the Lord. In those few moments I went from conviction, to shame, to being loved, to awe of my Lord. I drove on to the office blinded by tears and a powerful love of my Savior.

How about you? What have you learned?

Responses welcomed at becky@tarrantbaptist.org.
Upcoming Training and Retreats offered by TBA
  Upcoming Training and Retreats



 
March 28-April 1 - Professional Coach Training
9:00am to 5:00pm, Daily

April 3 - Bible Drill and Speakers' Tournament
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Tate Springs Baptist Church
Sign up by emailing Daniel Engstrom
 
April 23 - Association VBS Conference
9:00 to 12:30 (Free Event)
Wedgwood Baptist Church
5522 Whitman Avenue

May 1-3 - re:FOCUS Retreat
6:00pm Sunday - 12:00pm Tuesday

May 19-20 - Hearing God Retreat
1:00pm Thursday - 12:00pm Friday

May 24-26 - Society for Church Consulting Training
24th & 25th: 9:00am-5:00pm
26th: 9:00am-12:00pm
Catalyst Room - TBA Office
Looking to Invest in Your Staff Team?

Looking to invest in your staff team?

We know that your staff is very important to you! You care about what they bring to the team as unique individuals and how well they connect with one another. After all, these special people are the backbone of your ministry.

Consider scheduling Communication Clarity for Teams (CC4T) training with the TBA staff.
 
We provide each of your team members with the DiSC Assessment, StrengthsFinder Assessment, a Spiritual Gifts Inventory, Thinking Wavelength Assessment, as well as a Personal Mission Development profile. 

Your team members will walk away with a better understanding of their teammates and a comprehensive understanding of themselves and how God has made them unique for a purpose. Each team member will also take away their own personal mission statement and tools for how to implement God's design for their lives.

The cost is $30 per team member and includes the assessments, lunch, snacks, and training. The training schedule is normally 9:00am to 4:00pm. If interested, contact Becky Biser at becky@tarrantbaptist.org.
Society for Church Consulting Training
 
May 24 - 26, 2016
9-5 Tuesday & Wednesday, 9-Noon Thursday
Catalyst Room - TBA Office

Instructor: David Bowman
Generalist Track - Levels 1-4

Cost: $500
(discounted rate of $325 for students)

We Need Help for Missionary Families
Help A Missionary Family

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.

Vancouver Vision Tour
2016 Vancouver Vision Tour

April 4-7, 2016  ~  September 12-15, 2016

If your church is affiliated with the BGCT, or even dually aligned,arrangements will be made to pay your 
hotel and local travel expenses.  All you need to pay is the cost of travel and a few meals. 

If you or any of your leadership team are interested, please contact David Bowman.
Social Media Update
 
Tarrant Baptist Association now has an Instagram account!
Please follow us on Instagram to stay connected -- @tarrantbaptist
Audio Book Review 
48 Days to the Work You Love 

The LifePlan process frequently leads a person to rethink his or her career path. This usually does not lead away from ministry, but instead it leads to rethinking and refining that calling. Dan Miller's book 48 Days to the Work You Love is full of good tools to help a person with the process of rethinking and refining.

This is a book you may want to listen to rather than read the first time through. I purchased it on Amazon for my Kindle app. I chose to pay a little extra and add the Audible.com audio version that utilizes Amazon's Whispersync service. This makes it possible to listen to the book in the car, at the gym, or when going for a walk, and then pick up reading the Kindle version at the precise place the audio stopped. How cool is that?

Dan Has a podcast and blog also under the 48 Days name. I enjoy listening to the podcast frequently. Dan is a strong believer who loves investing his life in others. The tools he provides in the book and on his website are excellent. They will help individuals in the rethinking and refining process as well as those of us who coach others along that path.
Book Review
A little over a year ago, I was given Leading the Life You Want by Stewart Friedman to review for my Church Central blog. I still haven't posted that review. The core content of the book is good. It fits well with the LifePlan process Becky and I facilitate. However, a large chunk of the book is made up of somewhat fawning chapters built around how one celebrity, politician, or hip and cool business leader utilizes the author's personal planning process.

Another chunk of the book is an advertisement for the author's other books and services. I have no real problem with this. That is good marketing. His other book that introduces his life planning process is Total Leadership. I will add that to my Amazon Wish List and get to it sometime. 
More recently, I was selected to join the launch team for Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. This is a much more satisfying and enjoyable book to read. It doesn't require politically correct thinking or culture worship. It does not push spiritual matters to the periphery with the option to eliminate them altogether. It is written simply and elegantly. It goes directly to the point and delivers a simple process complete with multiple examples and online tools. 
This book teaches you how to put together a Life Plan in a day of personal reflection and writing. This is a tool you will use again and again. You will learn how and how often to review your Life Plan. It instructs you how to revise your Life Plan at least annually. It delivers opportunities for you to share the Life Plan process with loved ones and coworkers. 
Among the online tools, there is a template to assist you in filling out your Life Plan. There is an Ideal Week tool to teach you how to schedule your week in a manner that is manageable and productive. There is a tool to help you schedule major life events several years into the future so that you don't carelessly fill up your life with items of lesser importance. 
Living Forward is a tool you will love and love to share. You will be enriched and you will enrich others.
Podcast Highlight 
The iPhone's native podcast app is good, not great. Its updates are seldom significant. While it is a good app and serves well for most things a person wants from such an app, it does not include a few of the bells and whistles others do.

I read reviews for alternatives for about 15 minutes recently. Almost every review pointed toward Overcast as the top dog. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I completely agree with the reviewers. This app is superior in almost every way.

Don't know which podcasts to add to your lineup? Connect your Twitter profile to see recommendations from people you follow. These recommendations are grouped in categories like Technology, News and Politics, Society and Culture, and Religion and Spirituality.

Want to get on with it? You can speed up the playback to over double normal speed. (I choose 1.5x normal speed.) Since you can think faster than people can talk, you can listen to more podcasts. You can use Smart Speed to shorten silent pauses. You can also enhance voice quality with Voice Boost. This is especially helpful to those of us who have people in our lives telling us that we are getting hard of hearing.

Give Overcast a spin and see how it enhances your experience.
Coaching, coaching, coaching!



March 28-April 1, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Tarrant Baptist Association Office
Register Here!

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 through 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 or click here to register!
What's Behind the Giving?
                                                           What's Behind the Giving?

From a functional standpoint, churches survive or thrive based on the donations they receive. Primarily these come from members but also from others who find reason to contribute to the ministry.  As church leaders we are grateful for those who faithfully participate in giving.
 
Have you ever wondered what is really behind the giving that comes into the coffers of the church?  Indeed, it is a biblical mandate. Faithful stewardship requires it.  But what about the deeper motivations that drive people to give to the ministry of the church?
 
Let me propose what may be a new or even radical thought as it relates to donors.  What would it look like if select members of your church leadership scheduled "interviews" with those who consistently commit to giving to your church?  It would be a way to say thank you in a very tangible way, but also allow the donor and the church leadership to identify the motivations behind the action.

I would like to suggest a few direct and thought-provoking questions that could be used in such a setting.  
 
●          What has brought you the most joy from giving to God's work?
 
●          What is the single most motivating factor that drives you to give generously?
 
●          How does giving contribute to the quality of your life?

The answers to these questions may absolutely amaze you, and they are certain to bless all
parties in the conversation.  An unintended but possible result is that the donor may
re-discover or re-connect with their own sentiments regarding giving in such a way that their giving is enhanced even more.  I would suggest that the limited amount of time required to conduct these interviews may be one of the most novel and beneficial steps you can take in promoting generosity giving in your church.

Gary L. Crowell, CPA, CCA
CFO, Tarrant Baptist Association
Pastor Needed in Vancouver

Ekklesia Community Church is a new church start that is three years old.  It meets in North Saanich Middle School of Sidney, British Columbia on Vancouver Island (suburb of Victoria).  In an average worship service there would be 25 adults and 18 children in attendance, representing eight different religious backgrounds and five different ethnic groups. 

The church starter is Matthew Bond from Athens, Tennessee, via Southwestern Baptist Seminary.  He and his wife Heather have two sons Ethan (17) and Joseph (15).  They have recently started an Awana program with 35 kids involved in the club, and a third of those kids come from unchurched families.  

The greatest need of the church at this time is a Children's and Family Pastor.  Special prayer requests are for God's continued financial provision for the ministry, protection from the enemy, steadfastness of faith and work, and encouragement.
Pray for WestCoast Baptist Association


 

  • 2016 Baptist General Convention of Texas Sponsored Partnership Vision Tours: April 4-7, May 2-5, and Sept. 12-15.
  • Pray for Brad Forlow, Church Planter at River Community Church in Steveston Village.  He is in need of financial partners to replace partners who have fulfilled their commitment.
  • Pray for Suzanne Perry, Southern Baptist Chaplain and International Student Minister, University of British Columbia.  After ten years in Vancouver without a vehicle, she is in need of a vehicle.
  • Pray for Conrad Au, Church Planter at The Common Place in Coquitlam, as he tries to balance job and church responsibilities.
  • Pray for Ekklesia Church on Vancouver Island.  They need a small mission team for Good Friday/Easter weekend.
  • Pray for Craig O'Brien, Church Planter of Origin Church at the University of British Columbia.  He needs a mission team of young adults during the first week of the fall semester in September.
  • Pray for The Point Church in their upcoming Vancouver Project in March.
  • With the value of the Canadian dollar, this is a great time to make a financial investment in the new church starts and other ministries in Vancouver. Pray for financial partnerships.
  • For updated prayer requests, go to http://westcoastbaptist.ca/category/prayvancouver/

re:FOCUS Journey for Pastors and Staff



re:FOCUS 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:                                                                       MAY 1 - MAY 3                                   
Sunday at 6:00pm thru Tuesday at Noon             
Cost is $125                                      
  • 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. The cost is $125. 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!

Associational Bible Drill
2016 Associational Bible Drill
 
Tate Springs
Sunday, April 3rd
1:30pm-4:30pm
 
Children, Youth, and High School
Bible Drills & Speakers Tournament
 
For more information and to register,
email Daniel Engstrom at danieljengstrom@yahoo.com.
21st Century Wilberforce Initiative - Speak Freedom
 
 

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 
to join the church alliance, visit www.21wilberforce.org.
 
TRANSFORM... Teaching That Changes Lives

March 19th --  Allen, TX

8:00am - 2:30pm

LifeWay is thrilled to be partnering with the Baptist General Convention of Texas to offer 
TRANSFORM...Teaching That Changes Lives.  

TRANSFORM is an all day Saturday training event focused completely on teaching, especially teaching 
that leads to life change. The goal of TRANSFORM is to equip every teacher with practical skills 
they can put to use immediately that will enable them to teach God's Word in a way that 
see's people's lives transformed. Click here for more information and to register!
 
TBMA Conference
Calling All... Texas Baptist Ministry Assistants!

April 7-9, 2016
Menger Hotel ~ San Antonio, TX

The conference will be offering 37 different sessions to meet the needs of your position at your office, whether it be church, association, hospital, state convention, state newspaper, school, children's home, retirement home or any other ministry position.  Also your position can be full-time, part-time, volunteer, or retired.

Deadline to register is March 16! Click Here to Receive More Info and Get Registered!
Multi-Ethnic Church Conference


You can register here to let us know your coming: 
Senior Adult Retreat - Riverbend 

Parenting Seminar
                          PARENTING SEMINAR!
                       HOW TO MOTIVATE YOUR CHILD!

                                          8:45 am - 12:00 pm CST 
                                                   April 16, 2016
                                        Wedgwood  Baptist Church
                        5522 Whitman Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76133

Are you a parent? Grandparent? A person currently investing your life in the life of a child? Join us as Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN , BSN from the National Center for Biblical Parenting share invaluable insight on motivating the heart of your child and provide encouragement for parents striving to raise Godly children in today's challenging culture.
Saturday April 16, 2016 from 8:45-12:00 -Cost: $5 per person or $10 per couple! Registration begins March 6th. Click here to register!
BGCT Upcoming Events
Bounce - Registration has begun for 2016 Spring Break & Summer Missions. For more information visit: http://texasbaptists.org/ministries/missions/disaster-recovery/bounce

Registration is now open for Make Your Groups Matter, Texas Baptist Educators Retreat

Micah 6:8 Conference is now open for registration - http://texasbaptists.org/events/clc-micah-68-conference 

Instrumental Convergence - March 19, 2016 - For more information, click here.

Texas Baptist Educators Retreat Update: visit: http://texasbaptists.org/events/texas-baptist-educators-retreat  
SBTC Upcoming Events

Safeguarding Church Ministry Conference (Sexual Abuse Awareness + Prevention) - March 31: North Richland Hills BC

 

Heart of the Child Conference - April 22-23, 2016 : Broken Arrow, OK

38th Annual Minister/Layman Golf Tournament

Monday, May 2, 2016

Brookhaven Country Club
3333 Golfing Green Drive
Dallas, Texas 75234

Check-in begins at 7:30 AM
Tournament begins at 8:30 AM

For any questions, email Don Dendy at dondendy@aol.com
Asian American Conference
1st Annual National A2CP2 Leadership Network Conference
Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016
Time: 9 am -4 pm
Location: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX
Facilitator: Dr. Paul Kim, Asian American Relations Consultant, Executive Committee, SBC
For conference details or to register, click here.

Volunteer Chaplain Needed
Legacy Senior Residences of Fort Worth, off of Sycamore School Road, is in need of a volunteer chaplain. They have worship services on Sunday mornings at 11am, and they already have a worship leader and pianist in place. The current chaplain, Lloyd Pearce, is preparing to transition into a new job elsewhere, but he can be reached with any questions pertaining to this volunteer role. If interested, call Lloyd at 817.370.2063.
 News from the Churches
First Baptist Smithfield will be holding an 'Easter in the Park' service at Dick Faram at 10am on Easter Sunday, March 27th. They invite any and all in the community to attend! 

Flower Mound First Baptist has a dozen cribs to give away to a church in need. They are standard compliant and in excellent condition, holding up to 350 lbs. They have hardly been used. If interested, please contact the church office at 972-539-0641.
 See photo to the right.