Better Than One

Super Saturday 2010 is a one day training event for all leaders in any church.  The theme this year is:  “Evaluating Ministry Health”.  How is our church and ministries doing?  Do we have enough leaders and workers?  Are they trained and ready to go?  Do the workers or leaders understand their vision and purpose for their ministry?  All other occupations or jobs require people to stay current and up-to-date.  How about our church leaders?  When is the last time they have been challenged to “raise the bar” in their assigned ministry?

There are 6 sites for Super Saturday: 

8-21  Lexington / 8-28  Louisville               

9-11  Williamsburg & Paducah             

9-18  Russell & Bowling Green

It is exciting to be in a state that provides such strong and encouraging training for churches and leaders.  Super Saturday leaders come from all over the state, other states, and LifeWay.  Dr. Chuck Lawless from Southern Seminary will be the large group speaker at Lexington and Louisville. 

It is a great opportunity for churches to travel together and discuss what they expect coming to the event.  When they go home,  they get to review the day, what they have learned, and what next steps they are ready to take.   If you are coming,  Thanks and God bless.  If you are still considering Super Saturday,  go to our website and sign up.  If you cannot come on that day,  who can?  One person can make the difference in your church or ministry.

Hispanic Ministry Track is at FBC, Danville on August 7th and at Cooper BC in Louisville on August 21st.

For More Information:

Registration:  $35 per person

www.kybaptist.org/supersaturday                502-489-3572 or 866-489-3572 (toll free)   supersaturday@kybaptist.org

No Childcare Provided

“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”      (Phil. 1:6)

We ofter talk about where is God in our churches.  What evidence do we see that God is working?  Are we connected to the One who is Able?  In my discussion with two difference churches, they answered my question.

One pastor told me about his involvement in a mission trip to Honduras.  It was mainly a medical-dental trip to a mountain village that FBC, Laurel, Miss. has supported several years.  Seventy-four professionals, pastors, lay persons gave a week to give people an opportunity to have a new life and body.  Last year this pastor went and 75 people found Christ.  This year 378 people came to Jesus.  Everyday people came from everywhere to see a doctor or dentist.  Many times during the day, the children were separated from the adults.  The adults had a worship time where they were invited to know my Jesus.  The invitation was very definite and the question about following Jesus was given several ways so everyone would know what they were doing.  They even gave information for a card so an elementary teacher who is a Christian could try to follow-up with them.  There is no formal church on this mountain top.  Is God at work?

Several weeks ago, I was preaching at a rural church that averages nearly 200.  Before leaving, I asked someone how was their VBS that happened several weeks ago?  She said it was great and with the pool party, they had 28 children and adults accept Christ.  “Wow!  That was great!”, I said.  I not sure of all the details.  I think the pool party followed VBS and others followed Jesus at that event.  God was working!

God is moving.  He had no watch or calendar and he does not take vacations.  God is a stream or river and not a stagnant pond. Our church needs not to be an organization but an organic church that is alive, reaching, caring and loving.  Neil Cole in his book, “Organic Church” gives a great picture of going to where the people are and making a difference.  God is at work and invites us to join him.  Evidence is everywhere!

“Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

John Ryder is the new DOM at Boones Creek Baptist  Association .  Boones Creek Assoc. owns a camp that connects to youth, children, and churches.  John recently asked the questions, ”Why do we have a camp every year?  Why do we go though the work and worry?”  So he started to check records.  He found the following:

“Summer 1954 Boones Creek opened for the first time.  In the 56 years since then, there are records for the number of campers for 42 of the 56 years in the association minutes.  The other 14 years they had camp but didn’t recored the numbers.  There were 350 – 600 campers each summer.

Salvation Decisions:  1,951, an average of 46 per year for the 42 years.  Re-dedications were almost the same numbers.

Each camp session offers a week of intense Bible study, fun and games.  There are a total of 4 weeks of association camps divided by age groups.  A different Boone’s Creek Baptist Associaion pastor serves as camp pastor each week.  They preach a sermon to the campers each night.  They were and are the pastors fortunate enough to have lead the 1,951 young people to Christ.

Young people have accepted the call to youth ministry while working as staff at the camp.  Young people have accepted the call to preach while at the camp.  The staff undergoes an intense interview process and background check before they can work with the children.  They are also trained on the Child Protectiopn Plan and the Emergency Plan.  The staff for the most part were campers at one time.”

When I was in my first church, my pastor thought every child needed to have a camping experience.  So we offered a children’s camp at Montgomery Bell State Park in TN.  It is so important to strengthen families, help children become independent, learn to get along with other children, obey leaders, and listen to God.

I’ve heard Ed Young, Jr. talk about how his mom and dad encouraged him to attend camp.  He said it had such an impact on his life and future.

Kentucky Baptist Convention sponsors two state camps.  Cedarmore Camp is at Bagdad and Jonathan Creek Camp is at Hardin   Both have conference centers.  You can find information on the KBC website.

Camp or No Camp?  And the answer is CAMP!

When VBS time rolls around, it will either be one of the most exciting weeks of the year or one of the most dreaded.   Having been a pastor, I think I have experienced both extremes.  Could it be in our planning, we have overlooked the potential of VBS?  Do we not understand that many of our people who come to faith in Christ at a younger age do so during or as the result of VBS? 

But what about the results of VBS in our own lives as adults?  Much of what I know about the Bible, I would not know today if it were not for the diligent and faithful teaching during VBS.  Where else would I have learned the books of the Bible?  Where else would I have learned the value of memorizing scripture?  Where else would I have had the plan of salvation presented so simply that even a child could understand?  All of this is precisely what VBS is all about.

Of course, pastors, staff and teachers will be required to be patient, kind and undertanding to kids that have never been taught how to behave in church.  Yes, you will be responsible for safe transportation and insuring everybody gets to church and back home in a reasonable time frame.   Be absolutely sure no children  are left on buses or vans.   Have enough workers to ride each vehicle to insure safety and order.   Yes,  pastors and VBS Directors will at times need to be the referee for some of the workers that simply “can’t take anymore.” 

But, with all the challenges, what would life be without Vacation Bible School?  In fact, you might think about having multiple VBS’s in your church this summer.  Perhaps an off-site school would be blessed of God.  Determine up front that your VBS will be one of the highlights of your church year and do everything possible to make it so.  Where our boys and girls spend eternity may very well depend on it! 

As I was driving one day, I saw a large sign in the church yard that said, “We Love Children.”  It grabbed my attention, and I thought if I lived nearby, I would like to check out this church because of the sign.  If you put a sign like this in your church yard, be sure to back it up with actions that say, “We Love Children.”  People should be warm and friendly to children as they come into the building.  Be ready for guests – clean, equipped, and staffed. Involve older adults to be “grandparents” to younger adults and children.  Be intentional in inviting young families to come to church.

 In addition to Sunday School, RA’s, GA’s, TeamKid, Bible Drill,  Awana,  and music programs, good children’s ministries often include other uniquely designed  programs.  Sherman Baptist Church with David Tucker as pastor brings in nearly 80 children on vans from area schools for an after school program on Tuesdays.  The children do their homework and participate in Bible Drill.  As parents pick up the children, church workers  meet them and establish relationships with the family.  The church family prays individually for each child and family.  Monthly on Fridays, Sherman BC has successfully offered LEGO Night with 35 or more children and families coming.  This is a fun and effective way to reach into the community. Summertime continues to offer opportunities to connect with children through Vacation Bible School and camps.

Do We Love Children?  “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)