BaptistThe Mid-South

June 2016Vol. 11, Issue 7

A Word from the Executive Director of Missions

Dr. Mitch MartinExecutive Director of Missions

“Toxic religion,” I grimace at the sound of it. And yet I understand because there are some hazard aspects of our work. For this reason, we always need to stay focused on Jesus Christ. He never fails nor disappoints. He is life-giving and “In His presence is fullness of joy.” Here are two encouragements:

1. Stay close to Jesus. He alone will satisfy. Are you walking intimately with the Lord? If not, retreat with Jesus and rekindle that passion.

2. Value life transformation through Jesus Christ by attending this year’s Annual Celebration as we hear testimonies and showcase trophies of God’s grace. Go to www.msbacelebration.com where you can see a video, register and submit a story of a life changed through Jesus Christ. Making disciples through the power of the gospel is never boring.

Important Dates for June

2 In Connect Training – 6:00 p.m. Brookside Baptist Church 6 Ministers’ Conference – 11:30 a.m. Penal Farm 7 MSBA Staff Meeting – 9:00 a.m. MSBA Office 8 New Pastor Orientation Lunch 11:30 a.m. – MSBA Office 13 Ministers’ Conference – 11:30 a.m. Bellevue Baptist Church Don Marston, speaker 14-15 Southern Baptist Convention St. Louis, MO 20 Ministers’ Conference – 11:30 a.m. Bellevue Baptist Church Darryl Roberts, speaker 27 Ministers’ Conference – 11:30 a.m. Bellevue Baptist Church John Bomar, speaker

CorrectionIn the May edition of The Mid-South Baptist, Lucy Baptist Church was featured as one of the association’s focus churches. The article mistakenly stated that the neighborhood around Lucy has become primarily Hispanic. While the Lucy community is not primarily Hispanic, the neighboring community, Pleasant Ridge Mobile Home Park is largely Hispanic. This is the area where the church is praying for an open door to plant a church. Lucy has conducted children’s neighborhood Bible clubs, sports camps, family movie nights, ESL classes, evangelistic Bible studies and other ministries, in an effort to share the gospel. Please continue to pray for Pastor David Lawrence and Lucy Baptist Church as they reach out to those in the areas around them.

Bus to Transport Messengers to St. Louis

A bus will leave Bellevue on Tuesday, June 14, at 6:00 a.m. and return that night at 11:30 p.m. There is no cost to ride, but lunch and dinner are on your own. Call the association office at 901-373-6161 to reserve your spot.

PastorRosemark Baptist Church Send resume to T.G. Campbell, 8899 Brunswick Rd., Millington, TN 38053 or call 901-829-3396.

Campus Pastor (Bi-vocational)Associate PastorGateway Baptist Church Send inquiries and/or resumes to steve@gbcatoka.org.

Minister of Music/Worship/Praise LeaderGeorgian Hills Baptist Church (P/T) Call Pastor Tim Vassar at 901-357-5333.

Minister of Music/Youth Oakland Baptist Church (F/T) Send resume to Jason Evans at evans55029@bellsouth.net.

Minister of YouthTrafalgar Village Baptist Church (P/T) Send resume to Pastor Rick Panis at pastorrick@trafalgarvillage.org.

Children’s MinisterTrafalgar Village Baptist Church (Bi-vocational) Send resume to Pastor Rick Panis at pastorrick@trafalgarvillage.org.

Nursery DirectorRange Hills Baptist Church Call Betsy at 901-357-5560.

Nursery Worker/Childcare/PreschoolBalmoral Baptist Church (M-F: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.) Contact Connie at 901-754-2302.

First Baptist Church, Collierville (Wed. 6-8 p.m.) Contact Kristy at 901-853-2668.

First Baptist Church, Collierville (P/T sub preschool - Tu/Th - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) Contact Kristy at 901-853-2668.

Leawood Baptist Church (P/T) Contact the church office at 901-324-7169 to schedule an interview.

Organist (Sunday mornings only)Bartlett Hills Baptist Church Contact Stephen St. Clair at 901-386-9763 for more information.

PianistTemple Baptist Church, Olive Branch Call Calvin Green at 901-569-3926 or send resume to Temple Baptist Church, 8432 Germantown Rd., Olive Branch, MS 38654 or e-mail templebaptistob.comcastbiz.net.

If you have filled a position, please contact the Association office at 901-373-6161 to have the

ad removed from the list.

Opportunities Within Our Churches

Upcoming VBS DatesJune 6-10BartlettBellevueEllendaleFayetteFBC Hickory WitheUnion Ave.

June 13-17Bartlett HillsCherokeeColonialFBC FishervilleHope

June 20-24GemantownLucyTrafalgar Village

July 18-22FaithLeawood

If your church is planning to offer VBS this summer, call the association office at 901-373-6161 to give us the dates so it can be advertised.

Pastors and Wives FellowshipOur first Pastors and Wives Fellowship was held Thursday night, May 5, at Kingdom Center Ministries. A wonderful meal, worship, fellowship and a prayer time were all part of the evening.

Ministry NeedsMid-America Baptist Theological Seminary is seeking Adjunct In-structors with Master or Doctoral degrees in the following areas: •English •Biology •Mathematics •ComputerScience

Instructors are needed who are willing to teach on-campus courses for approximately three hours of class time per week (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday or Monday evenings). Online assignments are possible, where needed. Qualified individuals will be Christian and in agreement with Mid-America statement of beliefs. Send e-mail with resume to gnorville@mabts.edu.

A church is needed to host the English as a Second Language (ESL) Workshop on August 12-13. Friday night would be from 5:00-9:00 p.m., and Saturday would be from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Contact Minne Garrett at 901-283-6609 or minne@dsg.us if your church would be available.

The Wheatland Center is seeking resident managers. They need a self-supported couple who can do maintenance and oversight of the lodging aspect and enlisting temporary, paid persons (room cleaning and laundry) and manage program and engage in evange-listic conversation with guests and groups. Wheatland can provide a furnished apartment, utilities and a monthly stipend. They will also assist in acquiring appropriate part-time work. Check out the Wheatland Center at www.wheatlandcenter.com and on Facebook at Wheatland Conference Center/Prairie Trails Lodge. Send inquiries to George Garner at george@georgegarner.com.

HAPPENINGS

Adventures In Missions Girls Camp

2016

July 5-9, 2016The Grove at Red Oak Lake

Overnight Cost: (July 5-6): $80Weeklong Cost: $240

midsouthbaptist.com/wmu

Volunteers Needed to Provide Lunches for Mission Teams

Every year, mission teams come to Memphis to work at Brinkley Heights Ministries through their Street Reach program. These teams do Backyard Bible Clubs at 8-12 sites in the Jackson/Macon area of the inner city in the mornings and then participate in other mission work in the afternoons such as cutting yards, sports clinics and visiting nursing homes. The mission teams are making a tremendous difference in the lives of inner-city children by showing the love of Jesus! For many years, area churches have provided lunch for these mission teams. A simple sandwich, chips, fruit, dessert, drink and paper products are needed.

The dates and team sizes are : June 6-10 (169) June 13-17 (133) June 20-24 (182) July 4-8 (120) July 11-15 (180) July 18-22 (184) July 25-29 (150) August 1-5 (45)

Contact Jamae Zarshenas at 901-372-9020 (h) or 901-831-3158 (c) or jzarshenas@aol.com if your group can help.

Church Missions Leader TrainingSaturday, August 27, 2016

8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Ellendale Baptist Church

3861BroadwayRd.•Bartlett

Connect>1 Overview

The Connect>1 Evangelism Campaign seeks to engage individuals in evangelism by empowering the church’s existing small group organization. During the month of September, six Bible studies focused on the gospel are available to equip members in the basic tenets of the faith. During the month of October, every group member is challendged and encouraged to do the following activities: •Prayevangelisticallyforthreelostpeople •LearnoneGospelpresentation •Invitefivepeopletoyourgroup •SharetheGospelatleastonetimeThe campaign will end on November 6 with a day of celebrating what God has done.

There will be an overiew of the campaign Thursday evening, June 2, at 6:30 p.m., at Brookside Baptist Church, in Olive Branch, MS. For more information or to register, visit www.tnbaptist.org/connect1.

Local Missionaries Available to ChurchesBelow is a list of IMB missionaries who have recently returned to the Memphis area from serving and are available to speak to your group. You can contact them at the e-mail address given.

Terry and Michelle Buford tmbuford@yahoo.comWesley and Jera Bullis jeramarie@gmail.comChip and Vesta Clary dcclary@iname.comStan and Pam Wafler stan.wafler@gmail.comJim and Lori Spikes spikesfamily@gmail.comMark and Cindy Morris markmorris1@mac.comPaul and Dao Vo daovo2012@gmail.comMarc and Christy Tingley mat725520@isleconx.comRon and Carla Roy ronroy74@gmail.comJohn and Heidi Plumley jcp615113@eastofdateline.comSteve and Ruth Robertson ekuse@yahoo.comSam and Connie Stallings cjs41973@gmail.comBruce and Beverly Gerling nacl@pobox.com

Jesus Wept InternationalJesus Wept International is working with over 300 pastors from Uganda, Kenya, North Sudan, South Sudan and Congo. Based in Uganda, the ministry has recently begun clearing land to 1.) make a place for pastors to rest and pray while they are traveling 2.) Headquarters for Jesus Wept International 3.) a prayer garden for all people to come together and pray for the world and 4.) a place for pastors/other groups to gather together for training, fellowship and to lift up the name of Jesus. They are collecting Bibles to put in the hands of people who have never had a Bible before. You can contact Robert Ries at 901-508-2000 or by e-mail at RRies@msn.com. Below are some pictures of the ministry currently and their trips to Africa.

RO@RReach Out at Reelfoot

Lake County, TN is the most poverty-stricken county in the state of Tennessee. It is the location of the famous Reelfoot Lake, which is known for its formation during the great earthquake of 1812. However, this tourist attraction overshadows the fact that there are people nearby who need the kind of love that only Jesus offers. RO@R is a six-day mission trip that takes place Monday, July 11-Saturday, July 16, 2016. The cost per person is $150. This includes accommodations in air-conditioned cabins, cottages or rooms. Everyone is welcome to arrive Sunday evening, July 10, for early registration with no additional charge. Three meals are provided Monday-Friday by area churches. Wednesday, July 13 has been set aside for your exploration and enjoyment of Reelfoot Lake. A pontoon tour of the lake is also included at no additional cost. Additional information about RO@R is available online at www.roareelfoot.org. Space is limited, so contact us at your earliest convenience to reserve your group’s spots. Call Judy at 731-253-6523 for payment, reservations, and accommodations information.

Senior Adult Rally Planning TeamIf you’d like to nominate someone to serve on our Senior Adult Rally planning team, please contact Ashley in the association office at 901-373-6161 or ashley@midsouthbaptist.com to submit their name(s). Thank you.