WMU NEWS
Transition time! Our assignment of assessing spiritual needs in over 200 communities in Ontario has been completed, we are back on US soil, and now the next phase of our assignment is to start.
Missouri and Canadian National Baptists have signed an agreement to have a partnership for the five years from 2010-2015 to help start 50 new churches in Ontario in the five year period. The plan is to have five "platform" churches in larger cities--Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, and Timmins--and that those churches would plant 45 "home churches" in the surrounding communities. Are we up to the task? Only if God is guiding through the whole process.
An immediate need for prayer is for seminars to be held in six cities across Northern Ontario called Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) which is to help train those interested in church planting, in how to do it. This seminar is to be held September 20-25. Prayer is needed that the people God wants serving in this way will take the training.
Prayer is needed for the Canadian leaders--Gary Smith and Pat and Nadine Armstrong, as well as for the MO leader--Rick Hedger, as they pray for opportunities and ways to engage the people of Ontario.
Our role for the next few months will be to speak in as many different churches and associations as possible in order to inform, and get people involved in whatever way God is leading them. You may reach us at 417-276-1329 (cell), 417-276-4739 (after we reactivate it!), or debarker@peoplepc.com for e-mails. At the present time we are home in Stockton.
For those who have been praying for my sister: she is back in the hospital after a seizure probably from a serious infection that developed during the almost three months in the hospital. Please keep praying for her.
In His service,
Evelyn Barker, Associational WMU Director
GLORIETA IN THE OZARKS 2010
Leadership Development Conference
September 10th
Ridgecrest Baptist Church
Springfield, MO
Before August 25th- $10.00 after 25th $15.00
417-326-4667
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
&
Mid-Lakes Baptist Association
CO-SPONSORS
Ministerial Education Day
October 24, 2010
For the Fall Semester start making plans now to participate. ME Day provides the opportunity for ministerial students to preach in that greatest of all learning laboratories, the local churches.
DIRECTOR’S NEWS
Where did the summer go? I am looking forward to the cooler weather! The old saying the older you get the faster it goes must be true.
We have a DR Mud-Out Team (Dale Cox, Billy Lower, Bob Garner and John Carter) working in Des Moines, IA this week. I talked to them today (9-1-10) at noon and they said they had cleaned out 2 flooded basements. They sound very good and pleased to be helping the folks in Iowa. They plan to travel home this Sat. (9-4-10). Please be praying for them and their safety while away.
The Annual Meeting is here and it is shaping up to be a grand time together. The speakers, music, and reports are all looking good. This annual meeting will go down in history books as a special time as we receive 3 new churches into our association. The Personnel Committee met with all three churches and the leadership. This was a very positive time together and Chairman Bill Rose will be presenting the results on Monday night. David and Evelyn are back home and we will be hearing from them and their time in Canada.
As we approach the fall let me remind you that I have developed a power point presentation of the work of Mid-Lakes and our ministries. I would love to schedule a Sunday evening or Wednesday time to come and share what is going on in the association. I recently talked with a young couple who knew nothing about the work and ministry of MLBA. Somehow we have got to teach this younger generation that working together, as sister churches is so important to building the Kingdom of God. The MLBA roots go back to 1866 when the churches got together and developed a plan to work together to reach the lost people of this area.
I had the wonderful privilege of helping Brighton Baptist Church celebrate 125 years of existence in the Brighton area. It was a great to see and hear former pastors, history committee report, Testimony and Rodney Reeves challenging the church to keep up the good work. Pastor George Baptized I believe 7 during the meeting and he was smiling from ear to ear. Brighton Baptist Church is growing and there is a sweet spirit in the church.
Stop by and see me if you are in town and we will have a visit. I hope to visit your church real soon and who knows you might even be eating!
