It is "Revival Time" in our churches! We hope you will attend as many of these meetings as your schedule will allow. We have been praying for revival in CBA; and here are some opportunities for you and your family to experience it:
April 23 to 25 @ Argenta! IBSA Evangelism Director Tim Sadler will be the guest speaker. Friday and Saturday will be at 7pm; Sunday will be at 6pm.
April 25-28 @ FBC Atwood! Bobby Boyles is the Guest Speaker.
Sunday is at 6pm; Monday to Wednesday is at 7pm.
May 2-5 @ Galilee Baptist Church! Lonnie Short is the Guest Speaker.
May 16-19 @ Forsyth Baptist Church! Don Whitt is the Guest Speaker.
Sunday is at 6pm; Monday to Wednesday is at 7pm.
If your church is having revival, please let me know and I will add your meetings to this list. God bless you and may the Lord bless CBA with sweeping revival this year!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Acts 1:8 Challenged?
I have a new shirt! It is a beautiful tan color with a terrific logo on the front that says, ACTS 1:8 CHALLENGE - ILLINOIS
It was given to me on Tuesday at the DOM Retreat by the New Work Team at IBSA. Thanks guys!
I wore it this morning when I spoke to the IBSA Staff at Chapel service. Cool.
The more I thought about it today, the more I began to think that if they had added one more letter on the end of the first line it might be more appropriate. It would read, "ACTS 1:8 CHALLENGED"
We often see and hear this word, "challenged" used as a kind way to say that a person is handicapped in some specific way. You know, bald people are "follicly challenged"; short people are "vertically challenged"; old people are "chronologically challenged" etc!
I am afraid that the truth is that many of us - including me - are "Acts 1:8 Challenged!" What I mean by that, of course, is that we do not seem to be capable of fulfilling the Great Commission as given in Acts 1:8. It seems that the majority of Southern Baptists have an insurmountable handicap that keeps us from obeying the clearest purpose of the Church. We do have such a handicap. It is fear-driven disobedience!
Many of us are afraid of what someone will say to us, or that they will ask us a question we cannot answer, or that we will make a mistake that will make things worse.
The unsaved are going to hell; how could we make that worse? The simple truth is that we need to accept the "Acts 1:8 Challenge"! We need to be trained and get busy obeying this command and commission from Jesus Christ.
We know what to do... it is time we do what we know!
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8 (ESV)
It was given to me on Tuesday at the DOM Retreat by the New Work Team at IBSA. Thanks guys!
I wore it this morning when I spoke to the IBSA Staff at Chapel service. Cool.
The more I thought about it today, the more I began to think that if they had added one more letter on the end of the first line it might be more appropriate. It would read, "ACTS 1:8 CHALLENGED"
We often see and hear this word, "challenged" used as a kind way to say that a person is handicapped in some specific way. You know, bald people are "follicly challenged"; short people are "vertically challenged"; old people are "chronologically challenged" etc!
I am afraid that the truth is that many of us - including me - are "Acts 1:8 Challenged!" What I mean by that, of course, is that we do not seem to be capable of fulfilling the Great Commission as given in Acts 1:8. It seems that the majority of Southern Baptists have an insurmountable handicap that keeps us from obeying the clearest purpose of the Church. We do have such a handicap. It is fear-driven disobedience!
Many of us are afraid of what someone will say to us, or that they will ask us a question we cannot answer, or that we will make a mistake that will make things worse.
The unsaved are going to hell; how could we make that worse? The simple truth is that we need to accept the "Acts 1:8 Challenge"! We need to be trained and get busy obeying this command and commission from Jesus Christ.
We know what to do... it is time we do what we know!
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8 (ESV)
Monday, January 18, 2010
Church of the Week!
Each week, we will feature one of our churches on the masthead of our website at www.cbadecatur.com As you see these churches highlighted for a week, I hope that you will take time to pray for the Pastor and his family and for the members of the church.
All of our churches deserve "special" attention, and I hope this small effort will help you remember to pray specifically for our churches!
All of our churches deserve "special" attention, and I hope this small effort will help you remember to pray specifically for our churches!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Southern Illinois Bible and Evangelism Conference
The Annual SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BIBLE AND EVANGELISM CONFERENCE will be held at FBC, West Frankfort, IL on Sunday evening, 1/17 to Monday evening 1/18.
Sunday evening's session begins at 6pm and the speaker is Dr. Robert Smith from Birmingham, AL.
Monday morning's session begins at 9:30am and the speakers are Dr JD Payne and Dr Robert Smith.
Monday afternoon's session begins at 1pm and the speakers are Dr Thom Rainer and Dr Robert Smith.
Monday evening's session begins at 7pm and the speaker is Dr JD Payne.
This is always a great conference; I hope you will be able to attend!
Sunday evening's session begins at 6pm and the speaker is Dr. Robert Smith from Birmingham, AL.
Monday morning's session begins at 9:30am and the speakers are Dr JD Payne and Dr Robert Smith.
Monday afternoon's session begins at 1pm and the speakers are Dr Thom Rainer and Dr Robert Smith.
Monday evening's session begins at 7pm and the speaker is Dr JD Payne.
This is always a great conference; I hope you will be able to attend!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (ESV)
“Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day." (“O God Our Help in Ages Past”) Isaac Watts’ Meditation on Psalm 90
2009, like an ever-rolling stream, will soon have gone away! 2010, the first year of the second decade of the 21st Century, will arrive to great fanfare as a clean slate of high hopes and heart-felt dreams. Through 2009, we lost much and gained much. Hopefully, we learned much and achieved much. Change has been constant; the old has passed away and behold, new things have come.
Our beloved Nation has been financially, morally, and spiritually damaged to a degree unprecedented in our lifetime. Shall we see revival? Or, shall we go the way of all Nations that forget God? God knows. Even if God is not willing to save America, (and I pray that He is) He is willing to save Americans! May He graciously use us to bring many sons and daughters into His Kingdom.
If the Lord tarries His coming, in August of this New Year we will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Central Baptist Association. Please join me in praying that 2010 will be the most fruitful and productive year in our history! God bless you, our Churches, and Central Baptist Association!
“Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day." (“O God Our Help in Ages Past”) Isaac Watts’ Meditation on Psalm 90
2009, like an ever-rolling stream, will soon have gone away! 2010, the first year of the second decade of the 21st Century, will arrive to great fanfare as a clean slate of high hopes and heart-felt dreams. Through 2009, we lost much and gained much. Hopefully, we learned much and achieved much. Change has been constant; the old has passed away and behold, new things have come.
Our beloved Nation has been financially, morally, and spiritually damaged to a degree unprecedented in our lifetime. Shall we see revival? Or, shall we go the way of all Nations that forget God? God knows. Even if God is not willing to save America, (and I pray that He is) He is willing to save Americans! May He graciously use us to bring many sons and daughters into His Kingdom.
If the Lord tarries His coming, in August of this New Year we will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Central Baptist Association. Please join me in praying that 2010 will be the most fruitful and productive year in our history! God bless you, our Churches, and Central Baptist Association!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Happy "Thanksgiving" ?
I seem to have my holidays mixed up! Last Friday was Christmas, next Friday is New Year’s Day; but, I am sitting here engaged in Thanksgiving!
I have been feeling overwhelmingly thankful that the Lord is bringing Tom and Pauline Miller and Don and Ruth Ann Lusk back to serve CBA Churches. I am happy for the Churches, our Association, and for me!
I must admit that I am feeling a bit guilty about being so happy because this means that two other IBSA Churches: Youngblood Baptist and First Baptist Ashmore (respectively) have had to say goodbye to these dear friends.
2009 has been a wonderful year in many ways, and it is great to see it capped off by the return of these two godly families! May God bless the Youngblood and Ashmore Churches; may God bless Trinity and SBC Sullivan; and, may God continue to richly bless all of us throughout all the years ahead.
I have been feeling overwhelmingly thankful that the Lord is bringing Tom and Pauline Miller and Don and Ruth Ann Lusk back to serve CBA Churches. I am happy for the Churches, our Association, and for me!
I must admit that I am feeling a bit guilty about being so happy because this means that two other IBSA Churches: Youngblood Baptist and First Baptist Ashmore (respectively) have had to say goodbye to these dear friends.
2009 has been a wonderful year in many ways, and it is great to see it capped off by the return of these two godly families! May God bless the Youngblood and Ashmore Churches; may God bless Trinity and SBC Sullivan; and, may God continue to richly bless all of us throughout all the years ahead.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
IBSA Annual Meeting
Well, the 103rd Annual Meeting of Illinois Baptists is history! All-in-all, it was a pretty routine meeting, and as Baptist business meetings go - that is a good thing.
I missed the first night of the Pastor's Conference due to an Elder's meeting at Atwood, but on Wednesday morning I was able to hear a great message by John Franklin about Elijah on Mt Carmel, and I was privileged to nominate our own Adam Cruse to serve as the Treasurer for the Pastor's Conference. He was unanimously elected!
The annual meeting itself was a refreshing time of reunion, worship, inspiration, and a sense of unity that results from the respect and confidence Illinois Baptists have in our Staff and Officers. Several CBA friends were elected or re-elected to serve in leadership positions in IBSA:
Tom Miller (OK, he is a former CBA'er) to serve on the Nominating Committee
Seth Ventress (another former CBA'er and the brand-new Pastor at Taylorville Southern) on the Committee on Order of Business
Randy Moon (Tabernacle) on the Constitution Committee
Adam Cruse (Mt Zion) Board of Directors Strategy Planning Committee
Charles Bayless (Tabernacle) Baptist Foundation Trustee
A Cooperative Program goal of $6,850,000.00 was set and a budget totaling $9,060,400.00 was adopted!
IBSA President, Dr. Kevin Kerr, did his usual great job of leading us and his President's Message was a blessing!
Dr. Doug Munton, who spent several of his childhood and youth years at Macon where his father was Pastor of FBC, was elected as our new President!
New Work was highlighted on Wednesday evening with several of our Church Planters giving brief presentations of their work.
I got to visit briefly with some famous folk including Tom Miller, Don and Sharon Evans, Ed Hollis, Mitch and Linda Flesch, Adam Powers, Adam Cruse, Don and Ruth Ann Lusk, and some other friends from all around the State including Bob Carter, my former DOM!
A tribute to Dr. Earnest Moseley, Kay Shipley, and Dr. Fred Winters was a special blessing to everyone there.
The annual sermon by Pastor Michael Allen of Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago was excellent!
Finally, Tabernacle Baptist Church was chosen as the site for the 2012 Annual Meeting! I am already looking forward to it!
I missed the first night of the Pastor's Conference due to an Elder's meeting at Atwood, but on Wednesday morning I was able to hear a great message by John Franklin about Elijah on Mt Carmel, and I was privileged to nominate our own Adam Cruse to serve as the Treasurer for the Pastor's Conference. He was unanimously elected!
The annual meeting itself was a refreshing time of reunion, worship, inspiration, and a sense of unity that results from the respect and confidence Illinois Baptists have in our Staff and Officers. Several CBA friends were elected or re-elected to serve in leadership positions in IBSA:
Tom Miller (OK, he is a former CBA'er) to serve on the Nominating Committee
Seth Ventress (another former CBA'er and the brand-new Pastor at Taylorville Southern) on the Committee on Order of Business
Randy Moon (Tabernacle) on the Constitution Committee
Adam Cruse (Mt Zion) Board of Directors Strategy Planning Committee
Charles Bayless (Tabernacle) Baptist Foundation Trustee
A Cooperative Program goal of $6,850,000.00 was set and a budget totaling $9,060,400.00 was adopted!
IBSA President, Dr. Kevin Kerr, did his usual great job of leading us and his President's Message was a blessing!
Dr. Doug Munton, who spent several of his childhood and youth years at Macon where his father was Pastor of FBC, was elected as our new President!
New Work was highlighted on Wednesday evening with several of our Church Planters giving brief presentations of their work.
I got to visit briefly with some famous folk including Tom Miller, Don and Sharon Evans, Ed Hollis, Mitch and Linda Flesch, Adam Powers, Adam Cruse, Don and Ruth Ann Lusk, and some other friends from all around the State including Bob Carter, my former DOM!
A tribute to Dr. Earnest Moseley, Kay Shipley, and Dr. Fred Winters was a special blessing to everyone there.
The annual sermon by Pastor Michael Allen of Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago was excellent!
Finally, Tabernacle Baptist Church was chosen as the site for the 2012 Annual Meeting! I am already looking forward to it!
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