Newsjournal Of Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists

www.baptistdigest.com
July-August 2014 Vol. 58 No. 7-8
Baptist
igest
Hispanic Super Summer
Equips Youth to Serve
Morning workshops at KNCSB Hispanic Super Summer 2014 helped
campers learn how to lead worship in their churches. Here Benjamin
Arevalo from Wichita, Kan., teaches a session on how to play a bass
guitar.
KNCSB Hispanic Super Summer 2014 helped equip campers to use
Cardboard Testimonies to illustrate their lives before and after they
accepted Christ. Here Nayeli Centano from Emporia, Kan., displays one
of the signs that illustrated a campers life before accepting Christ.
Watch the YouTube video on Cardboard Testimonies at http://youtu.
be/RvDDc5RB6FQ (at left) Morning workshops at KNCSB Hispanic Su-
per Summer 2014 helped equip campers to go home and serve in their
churches. A puppetry workshop helped campers learn the fne points of
using puppets to share the gospel. (Photos by Eva Wilson)
KNCSB Vision and Values
see story on page 4
WWW.KNCSB.ORG
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
INFORM -- Regularly share information about ongoing
training, curriculum, events, support and personnel.
RESOURCE -- Serve as a resource pool for practical
ideas about what is working in KS-NE congregations
and how it relates to all sizes of churches.
GENERATIONAL -- Cast the widest net, providing sto-
ries and information that will appeal to all generations
of Southern Baptists in NE-KS.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY -- Be family-friendly with stories,
regular columns and helps for families and leaders who
work with families.
AGE DIVERSE -- Publish stories that address the
diversity of age, ethnicity, and geographical regions of
KS-NE.
MISSION-ORIENTED -- Publish stories about people
and congregations involved in missions and regularly
publicize ministry opportunities.
PART OF WIDER MISSION - Help congregations
discover that they are part of the larger work of the
Kingdom of God through their ministries.
To give local news:
Local church and associational news may be submit-
ted by mail, phone, fax or e-mail.
Advertising:
Advertising policy and rates are available upon
request Call 800-984-9092 or e-mail:
tboyd@kncsb.org
STAFF
Editor: Tim Boyd, PhD.
Associate Editor: Eva Wilson
Printing Coordinator: Derek Taylor
Robert T. Mills, D. Min.
KNCSB Executive Director
AFFILIATIONS
Association of State Baptist Papers
Baptist Communicators Association
The Baptist Digest
(USPS 018-942)
Vol. 58 No. 6-7
Leadership Newsjournal for Kansas-
Nebraska Southern Baptists is published
monthly 10 times a year
excluding January and July.
5410 SW 7th Street
Topeka, KS 66606-2398
Phone: (785) 228-6800
Toll Free: 800-984-9092
Fax: (785) 273-4992
E-mail: tboyd@kncsb.org
Web site: baptistdigest.com
POSTMASTER:
Periodical postage paid at Topeka, KS 66606 and
additional entries. Send address changes to: The
Baptist Digest, 5410 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS
66606-2398.
By Georges Boujakly
KNCSB State Director of Missions
E-mail: gboujakly@kncsb.org
Failure and Success
How do you describe failure in ministry? How do
you describe success? What does God think about this
topic of failure and success when we serve him and
others?
J. R. Briggs claims that there are four basic areas that
could be labeled as failure for church leaders.
The frst failure is when
pastors fall into moral or
sexual sin. This failure is
all too common among us
evangelicals. It is hurtful to
all. It brings shame on devo-
tion to our cause as repre-
sentatives of Jesus. Leaders
must resist temptation, as
all people must do. Indeed
as Jesus did. But resistance
is not enough. Without a
strong intent and plan to
live holy lives, mortify-
ing our sinful nature, and
becoming godly servants,
temptation will easily have
the upper hand (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
Roger Olson, a connoisseur of evangelicals, says,
Evangelical Christianity in America used to fo-
cus much more attention on separating from the
world. (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereol-
son/2014/06/how-american-evangelical-christianity-
has-changed/). It is time to return to the purity of
Christ whom we are to imitate in all ways.
My heart always skips a beat and a pain shoots
through my heart when a pastor fails sexually. The pas-
tor who does not live intentionally with a Christ-driven
sexual purity is doomed to repeat the mistakes of many
who fall into sexual sins. Intentional detachment from
the world as Psalm 1 teaches is a key to success in this
area of our lives.
2. Another type of fall is what Briggs call the tragic
fall. By that he means the failure that is at times present
due to a major illness, a shocking termination, or a be-
trayal by people who are inside our circle of confdence.
Perhaps the pastor has dared to do what I was told in
seminary: You cant make friends with church mem-
bers and especially not to confde in them unless you
expect things to backfre.
Walking With the Master
The Thought Occurred to Me
By Bob Mills
KNCSB Executive Director
E-mail: bmills@kncsb.org
This article is a continuation of my article from last
time on church health. Remember, I am using a great
little book by Dr. Thom Rainer, entitled, Autopsy of a
Deceased Church. Last time we looked at symptoms
of a sick and dying church. In this writing, I want to
highlight what our responses might be when we find
ourselves in a church in need of revitalization.
A simple fix, an uncomplicated ministry action pre-
scription, or a supernatural spiritual pill is not possible
when talking about church health. Revitalizing a sick
and dying church is hard work and is not for the faint-
hearted. If your church is beginning to show signs of
poor health you might want to consider the following.
1. As a church, how desperate are you to see your
church become a healthy vibrant body of believers? I
have seen some churches that recognize the need for
change but are not willing to take the steps necessary
to move in that direction. Just how important is health
church to your congregation? This might be considered
a heart check.
2. Begin by offering continuous intentional concerts
of PRAYER. The work of church health is a move-
ment of God in the life of the congregation. The church
needs to repent and confess its disobedience to the
Great Commission. The church needs to admit before
God that it has a need for renewal. Just how desperate-
for change and renewal are we?
3. Conduct a ministry audit for your church.
Evaluate all of the ministries of your church in light of
the expected outcomes. Too many churches are doing
ministries without periodically checking to see if each
ministry is accomplishing what is intended. Also, per-
form a ministry audit of your members time to find
out where folks are spending their time.
4. How outwardly focused are we in relationship
to serving the community? What are you doing as a
church to add value to the community? What are we
doing to make the community a better place to live?
Theres better advice. Those who lead must neither
lead with fear nor let the tragedy of this kind of failure
dampen their resolve to live open lives and receive
the blessings of such openness. Sure we all have to be
choosy of the people we trust and be willing to pay the
cost. But the cost of isolation pastors experience is much
higher than the risk involved in open book living. Ap-
parently, as a group, pastors are the loneliest of people.
No man is an island. Pastors included. Success is fnd-
ing people with whom you can be yourself without any
pretense.
3. Some leaders will fall due to a failure that is gener-
ated by a slow leak in the soul. Slow leaks are danger-
ous. They can erode the fber of the soul; imperceptibly
at frst. They weaken our spiritual constitution. Output
without input leads to empty vessels. We give spiritual,
emotional, and intellectual support constantly without
replenishing those precious reserves. Humans have
leaky souls that must be plugged by worship, commu-
nity, and serving others in healthy ways.
Plug the whole; stop the leak. Seek support. Ask
other pastors or leaders or people who have traveled
the same path to walk alongside of you. This is what
success looks like here: One beggar telling another
where to fnd bread.
An individual or community of peers that under-
stands the value of and are skilled in listening, guiding,
and encouragement is an absolute necessity in minis-
try. This individual or group listens and helps discern
where the slow leakages are and suggest preventive
measure before the leak turns into failure. But pity
anyone who falls and has no one to help them up
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, The Message).
4. One last failure: Burning out because ministry
has become something like going from one crisis to
another. Overheating occurs and on its heels comes
burn out.
All kinds of forces drive these potential failures. One
pastor says I grew the church from 125 to 24 over 10
years. Whats wrong with me? Another says, Our
budget cannot handle the demands and needs of minis-
try. Another might say, I cant seem to make my staf
do their work without catching some fack for it. And
yet another says, How can I ever fnish this dreaded
degree or project when I barely have time each week to
put a sermon together?
Dear Leaders: No one wants to see pastors or leaders
fail. There is nothing God honoring in failure.
What does success look like biblically?
In one word: Faithfulness and running the race
together. We are called and gifted to be faithful. We are
called to serve with others. Well done good and faithful
servant is our goal in the end.
What comes from failure is shame, loneliness,
wounds, and leaving the ministry. Let us embrace
failure and return to God as wilderness people who are
bent on recovery and constant commitment to belong
in the kingdom of his light. Let us accept who we are
and are not without pretense is a good place to start in
facing the potential dangers of failure.
The church that is inwardly
focused on its members
only is on its way to poor
health
5. Teach the congrega-
tion to be a witness for
Christ in the marketplaces
of our lives and in the com-
munity. Building relation-
ships with non-Christians
and investing time in their
lives is crucial. Helping
others find Jesus through
developing meaningful relationships is at the heart of
the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
Are we sometimes too busy maintaining relationships
with other Christians and not enough time connecting
with potential believers?
This is not an exhaustive list of responses, but it is
a place to begin our ecclesiological musing. Just a
thought.
Georges Boujakly
Bob Mills
Sharing & Strengthening
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Presidents Perspective
By Jon Sapp
KNCSB Director of Evangelism
E-mail: jsapp@kncsb.org
I value training guides. I have encountered several
excellent guides that have made my life experiences
richer. For example, back in Africa a good game
guide could transform a game park drive into a mem-
orable event. A good guide can make or break your
time in the game park. In our personal lives, guides
contribute to our life experiences. Parents, mentors,
role models have the potential to be training guides for
our lives.
Evangelism, or sharing the good news of a meaning-
ful relationship with God, is a great place for training
guides. Often many see
this role of sharing more
as a salesman as opposed
to the role of a guide. A
salesman has a product,
knows the product and
does all he can to make
the sale. Yes, the salesman
wants the consumer to use
and appreciate the product.
That may work well in the
business world; but may not
be as effective as one shares
their faith pointing others
to Jesus. So, I believe the
Gods Plan For Sharing
New Testament model better fits the trained guide
model. Yes, the guide knows what he is looking for.
He has seen and experienced showing others what he,
as a guide, knows is out there just like the guide in the
game park. He helps people see for themselves the
beauty and wonder of what the guide knows and has
experienced.
In addition, the guide listens to what the other per-
son wants to see. I have watched game guides provide
an excellent experience of watching tropical birds and
nocturnal animals, as well as, finding lions, giraffe,
cape buffalo and rhinos in the park. Good guides lis-
ten and help others to see what is already there. They
point out the life that is right there and often missed
by those that do not know the park or the ways of the
animals.
Yes, I value training guides. In evangelism an initial
area for training could be in equipping prayer guides.
I trust all of us are growing in our awareness of the
power of prayer. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for
laborers to join in the harvest. In Matthew 9:37, Jesus
tells us, The harvest is plentiful. These days it seems
many feel the harvest is not there. Jesus said it was
then and I believe it is still there. The problem is not
the harvest, it is laborers. Laborers are few. There are
not enough of us in the field. Lets start here. Join me
in praying for laborers. Many are using Luke 10:2 as
a motivation to set their phone alarm to 10:02. That
gives us the opportunity to pray twice a day at 10:02
for laborers to join in the harvest.
Another area of guide training is to keep learning to
listen to those around us. Guides listen. Be alert to
those God has placed around your life. Listen to them;
try to enter their experience with understanding and
empathy. They have a life story and we can join in
their world simply by listening to them. In their story,
we have the opportunity to pray for them, share with
them what we may have seen in similar life experiences
or to point them to another that could be of help.
A good guide is aware of what God has done in
the past in the scriptures and their own experience in
Gods faithfulness in their lives. Growing as a guide
builds on our own growing confidence in the activity
of God in our day to day life experience. Guides walk
along with others and at appropriate times help folks
to see what has happened before in this experience or
the promises we have from God in His word that gives
us hope for what we face.
Yes, I value training guides. Would you join me in
being one of those spiritual guides in walking life in
relationship with the Lord and sharing your life with
others? Growing a community of guides excites me
and I believe as we live this out we are joining in on
Gods Plan for Sharing.
Stewardship Quotes
If a person gets his attitude to-
ward money straight, it will help
straighten out almost every other
area in his life. -Billy Graham
Remember thisyou cant serve
God and Money, but you can serve
God with money. -Selwyn Hughes
I have held many things in my
hand, and have lost them all; but
whatever I have placed in Gods
hands that I still possess. -Mar-
tin Luther
William Carey, the consecrated
cobbler-turned-missionary, gave
$499,000 to missions during his
years as a servant of the Lord in
India. How did he do it? Carey
went to the mission feld with a
salary of $250 a year. While in In-
dia he was hired by the govern-
ment to teach in a University at
$7,500 a year. Carey continued to
live on $250, giving the rest to the
work of the Lord.
A religion that gives nothing,
costs nothing, and suffers noth-
ing, is worth nothing. -Martin
Luther
Jon Sapp
By Andy Addis
KNCSB Convention President
E-mail: andy@crosspointnow.net
As I write this article sitting on my
front porch, my two sons are a state
away serving on a student ministry
mission trip. Im proud of them for giv-
ing up part of their summer to work
hard, sleep in tents, and serve Jesus for
a few days.
I know exactly what theyre feeling.
There is an amazing rush knowing
that the entire reason you are in a cer-
tain place, and the ultimate purpose for
doing what youre doing, is to be a mis-
sionary in every moment of every
day that you are there.
Ive experienced that feeling in the
Caribbean, in Europe and in Asia.
I wonder, why dont I feel that way
right here in North America?
I believe the answer lies in the simple
word: intentionality.
When you go on a mission trip you
are extremely intentional with every
moment of your day. Every conversation
you have, every dollar you spend and
every task you complete is for the pur-
pose of being on mission for Jesus Christ.
As you are on that mission trip,
everything you do is so intentional!
We need more than a simple catch-
phrase. We need something beyond a
clever sign over the doorway leaving
church. We need more push than a ban-
ner on the road out of the campground.
We actually need to live out a reality:
we are on a mission field, right now!
Can you imagine what would hap-
pen if each one of us got up every day,
in our own home, heading to our own
places of work, with the same mindset
we do when we are on a mission trip?
What if in every conversation we had
today we looked for that open door to
share Jesus?
What if every dollar we spent was
prayed over for effective use in the
Kingdom?
What if every thing we put on our
calendar we considered an opportunity
to be the church?
Personally, I think it would make a
world of difference.
That intentionality in personal lives
should be kick started by intentionality
in our churches. As summer draws to a
close and department stores are putting
their back to school items out, are you
ready for the fall? The season of great
growth and opportunity for the church.
How are you going to reach families
as they settle into the patterns of the
next school year? How many youth
baptisms do you want to see before
2015? Whats your plan to get your
congregation reading the Bible? How
many times will you share your faith
personally in the next month? What is
the call to prayer for your faith com-
munity that will drive it to its knees?
Where is the deepest point of need in
your community? What do you need
to do that could never happen if God
didnt show up? What is God already
doing in your neighborhood, and how
can you join Him? Where do you need
to plant a church, start a Bible study,
begin after an school program, for-
malize a food pantry, start a support
group? Into what place of darkness
should you boldly run towards to shine
the light of Jesus?
The truth is these questions will
never get answered by your church if
the questions never get asked
Now is
the time; be
intentional!
Call your
church to
prayer to
make sure
that the year
ahead is the
most incred-
ible journey
youve ever
had. Get
your leaders
to calendar
a retreat for
thinking,
planning, dreaming and praying! Set
goals so big only God could reach them
and then work like it depends on you.
Begin asking questions youve
never asked, and listen for God to give
answers you never imagined.
The future for your church is not
intended to be one in which you sur-
vive its intended to be one in which
you should thrive.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says, Now to him
who is able to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think, according
to the power at work within us, to him
be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations, for-
ever and ever. Amen.
Lets allow Gods word to manifest
itself in truth in our city, in our church,
in our homes, and in our lives.
Pray and dream big. Plan and think
Andy Addis
intentionally. Remember you are a mis-
sionary in a land that desperately needs
Jesus.
Lets just see what God will do!
KNCSB ON MISSION
4
By Alma Soto
Hispanic Super Summer
Equips Youth to Serve
Noel Marquez from Garden Grove, Calif., was one of the
featured speakers for KNCSB Hispanic Super Summer 2014.
He is known as El Ilustrador (The Illustrator) and uses
creative methods to share the gospel. (Photo by Alma Soto)
Hispanic Super Summer kicked off the 2014 KNCSB youth
camps as it has for several years. The camp was held June
16-20 at Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kan. Recre-
ation at KNCSB youth camps has the underlying purpose of
teaching teamwork and unity. (Below) Carlos Bluvan from
Garden City, Kan., leads a large-group recreation session
during KNCSB Hispanic Super Summer 2014. The camp be-
gan in 2004. Now campers from the early days are return-
ing to serve as sponsors. (Photos by Alma Soto)
KNCSB Hispanic Su-
per Summer began
in 2004. Now camp-
ers from the early
days are returning to
serve as sponsors.
(Editors note: KNCSB His-
panic Super Summer marked its
11th year during the camp held
June 16-20 at Webster Conference
Center, Salina, Kan. Here Alma
Soto from Primera Iglesia Bautista,
South Sioux City, Neb., describes
her experiences at this years camp.
She frst came to Hispanic Super
Summer as a camper in 2007 and
was back as a sponsor this year.)
Im unable to move as I look
up at the climbing wall, helmet
on and strapped in thinking, I
cant back out now. I slowly
make my way up the ladder,
clinging to the metal bars, at-
tempting to make it took efort-
less. The cheering is encourag-
ing, but the higher I go, the
quieter it seems.
Now the climbing tower at
Webster Conference Center is
not the tallest structure to climb,
but to someone like me who
is scared of heights its plenty
tall. But even so I keep making
my way up the ladder, fnally
reaching the top.
Clumsily stepping onto the
platform I instantly make the
mistake of looking down. OK,
now Im a litle sweaty, but Im
trying to remain composed.
Afer all I am a sponsor at this
camp. I cant chicken out.
The guy at the top that is
there making sure things are
safe looks at me. As if he knows
what is going through my head,
he says, Believe me, going
down the zip line is the easy
way down. I feel like I can
do this! I can do this! I can do
THIS!!
He directs me to where Im
supposed to jump from. Then
he grabs my hand and helps me
to take the two dreadful steps.
Now dont get me wrong, I
want to go down this zip line.
The frst time I came to camp
in 2007 as a camper I couldnt
do it. I want to show the kids
that even the scary things are
doable. I sit down and the guy
counts One, two, and of I go,
with a loud shriek, eyes closed
and fear at an all-time high.
I open my eyes and see the
people down there looking at
me, cheering and smiling. The
kids in my church group are
looking up at me in encourage-
ment. My pastor is encouraging
me and my friends are encour-
aging me.
At that moment I truly
understood. It was like time
slowed down through the fear
I felt. Through the motivation I
received I understood how God
is at work through Hispanic
Super Summer to encourage
us. Even the things that seem to
be just for fun end up being a
lesson.
Throughout the week I can
see a noticeable change in my
churchs youth group. Year afer
year this experience helps us
grow together. But most of all
we develop a deeper relation-
ship with God.
Much like the zip line I see
youth take that leap of faith. I
see them struggle geting there
just like I struggled they fear
and they doubt. But I see how
the camp pastors impact their
lives. Tears run down faces,
hands are lifed in the air, and
the Lords message reaches their
hearts and minds. I cant help
but thank the Lord for each kid
and adult that is there.
I am reminded of the frst
time I went to camp reluctantly.
I went and I listened. I did not
accept Christ as my Savior
there. But as the scripture states
in Isaiah 55:10-11, As the rain
and the snow come down from
heaven, and do not return to it
without watering the earth and
making it bud and fourish, so
that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater, so is
my word that goes out from
my mouth: It will not return to
me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire and achieve the
purpose for which I sent it.
And indeed the Word did
not return empty. It reached
my life through this experience,
through my pastor and through
my family. I know Hispanic
Super Summer will continue to
reach more hearts and minds
through the years. The fact that
the camp is bilingual helps to
reach even more people to share
our culture and passion for
Christ.
Now our fght through our
personal struggles as adults,
being tired, sleepy and every
other hardship is meaningless
as youth began kneeling at the
altar professing their faith. I
could see it was all worthwhile,
and I praise God Almighty for
each and every second of it.
Stay informed about how God is working at Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kan.
Sign up for the WCC E-Newsletter at http://webstercc.org/wcc/e_newsletter/
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kncsb on mission
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KNCSB Annual Meeting Set for Oct. 13-14
CrossPoint Church, Hutchinson, Kan., will play host to the 2014 KNCSB annual meeting
Oct. 13-14. The church moved into its new building at 1410 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, in
early June. (Below left) Plans are now being made for Crossover, the evangelistic out-
reach that precedes each KNCSB annual meeting. Activities will begin on Saturday, Oct.
11, and end on Monday morning, Oct. 13. Among the Crossover activities will be prayer
walking in such places as Hutchinson Community College. Information on the KNCSB an-
nual meeting and related meetings, such as Crossover, is being posted on the KNCSB Web
site as it becomes available. Find more information at http://www.kncsb.org/ministry/
annual_meeting
The 69th KNCSB annual
meeting will be held Oct. 13-14
at CrossPoint Church, Hutchin-
son, Kan.
The meeting will be held in
CrossPoints new building at
1410 E. 30th Ave. in Hutchin-
son. The building was complet-
ed in early summer. Visit the
church Web site at htp://www.
crosspointnow.net/
Messenger pre-registration
It is important that your
church begin now to consider
electing your messengers and
alternates. Pre-registration is
now requested. Friday, Sept.
5, is the deadline for submit-
ting the pre-registration form.
KNCSB mailed this form to
your church in late May.
Download the messenger
pre-registration form [PDF] at
htp://bit.ly/1zXrWXi
When the elected messen-
gers turn in their cards at the
registration desk, they will re-
ceive their Convention packets.
The packets will include ballots,
programs and other related
business items.
For more information about
messenger pre-registration, con-
tact Peg Davis at KNCSB, (800)
984-9092 ext. 806, or pdavis@
kncsb.org.
KNCSB mailed another
information packet in late July.
It included:
n Messenger cards which
you are to fll out and give to
your elected messengers to
bring with them to the Conven-
tion
n Tentative annual meeting
program
n Pastors Conference infor-
mation
n Map with church location
marked
n Motel information
n Information on the WMU
Missions Celebration
n Information on the
KNCSB Ministry Wives event
Convention hotel
We will not have a designed
Convention hotel this year.
Visit the Greater Hutchinson
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Web site at htp://visithutch.
com/
Crossover Hutchinson
Crossover is the evangelistic
outreach that precedes each
KNCSB annual meeting. Details
are now being fnalized for
Crossover Hutchinson.
Activities will begin on
Saturday, Oct. 11. Some of
the events tentatively being
planned are: prayer walking;
survey work; distributing chil-
drens clothing; free oil changes;
and a health clinic.
On Sunday afernoon, Oct.
12, a large block party and
worship celebration are being
planned.
Crossover Hutchinson will
conclude Monday morning,
Oct. 13, with prayer walking
and survey work.
Information twill be posted
on the KNCSB Web site when it
becomes available or at htp://
www.crosspointnow.net/cross-
overhutchinson
Crossover Hutchinson
is a mission partnership of
CrossPoint Church, First South-
ern Baptist Church, Hutchinson,
Central Baptist Association and
KNCSB.
Ministers Wives Fellowship
Monday, Oct. 13, 1-3 p.m.
The group will meet in the
lobby of CrossPoint Church
and then caravan to downtown
Hutchinson for shopping and
fellowship.
Please R.S.V.P. to Pati Bo-
swell, KNCSB ministry wives
consultant, at granaboz@mac.
com
KNCSB Pastors Conference
Monday, Oct. 13, from 1-4 p.m.
CrossPoint Church, Hutchin-
son, Kan.
Toward Church Revitaliza-
tion is the theme for the 2014
KNCSB Pastors Conference.
Terry Rials will be the
featured speaker. He is senior
pastor of Crestview Baptist
Church, Oklahoma City, Okla.,
where he has served for more
than 22 years.
Rials is team leader for
church revitalization in Okla-
homas Capital Baptist Associa-
tion.
KNCSB Missions Celebration
Surrender/Sacrifce/Serve
is the theme of the annual
KNCSB Missions Celebration.
It will be held from 4:15 to
6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at
First Southern Baptist Church,
1201 E. 23rd Ave., Hutchinson.
The cost is $5 per person and
includes dinner. Pre-registration
is required by Oct. 1.
For more information, con-
tact Heidi Nelson at KNCSB,
(800) 984-9092 ext. 828 or
knwomen@kncsb.org
Kansas-Nebraska Womans
Missionary Union will hold a
short business session during
this meeting.
Retirement celebration
A reception will be held
immediately following the
opening session of the KNCSB
annual meeting on Monday
night, Oct. 13. It will honor
three KNCSB employees for
their retirements.
Marie Clark will be retiring
as team leader for Bible Teach-
ing and Training afer serving
18 years. Charles and Janie
Wood will be retiring afer serv-
ing 23 years as estate-planning
consultants.
KNCSB annual meeting
CrossPoint Church, Hutchin-
son, Kan.
The keynote speaker will
be Eric Geiger. He is a vice
president at LifeWay Christian
Resources, leading the Church
Resources Division.
KNCSB annual meeting
Session 1 Monday, Oct. 13,
from 6:30-8:40 p.m.
This session will include
the presidents message by
Andy Addis, the 2015 KNCSB
budget presentation along with
worship and praise led by the
Kansas-Nebraska Singing Men.
Session 2 Tuesday morning,
Oct. 14, from 9 to 11:35
This session will include
election of ofcers and the an-
nual sermon by Mat Maestas,
church planter in northeast
Kansas.
Session 3 Tuesday afernoon,
Oct. 14, from 1:30 to 5.
This session will include
Bible studies, reports from
various KNCSB and national
SBC entities and introductions
of new pastors and church staf
members in churches.
Session 4 Tuesday evening,
Oct. 14, from 7 to 8:45.
This session will include the
keynote address by Eric Geiger.
KNCSB ON MISSION
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The Lord Claims 2 with KNCSB Ties
Leon Parker (second from left) and his wife, Beverly, (at right) were on hand when Lee
and Ellen Martin retired from full-time ministry in late May. The Martins ended their full-
time ministry after seven years at Family Dispatch Church in Topeka, Kan. They earlier
served as police chaplains in Topeka, and Leon Parker served with them. Leon Parker died
on Thursday, July 10. He and his wife had a long, fruitful ministry career. After serving
two small Kansas churches, they had a long career serving in the inner city of Topeka. Af-
ter a frst retirement, they served at First Baptist Church, Lyndon, Kan. Following a second
retirement, Leon kept busy doing pulpit supply work.
Two people with KNCSB
ties recently went to be with
the Lord.
Lucy Mae Adams, pastors
wife at First Southern Baptist
Church of Blair, Kan., died
Saturday, May 24, at her home
in St. Joseph, Mo.
Leon Parker, a long-time
pastor in Topeka and Lyndon,
Kan., died Thursday, July 10.
Mrs. Adams was a babysit-
ter for more than 23 years in
Wathena, Kan., raised foster
children in Colorado and was
very active with youth groups.
She married Jerry Lee
Adams Sr. on Dec. 26, 1959,
in St. Joseph. He survives of
the home. Lucy was preceded
in death by her parents, eight
brothers and two sisters.
Additional survivors in-
clude; two sons, Jerry Lee (Co-
lete) Adams Jr. of Kansas and
Mark Steven (Tammy) Adams
of Topeka, Kan.; a daughter,
Nancy Elizabeth Bohot of St.
Joseph, Mo.; numerous grand-
children, great-grandchildren,
great-great grandchildren and
other relatives.
The funeral was held Thurs-
day morning, May 29, at First
Southern Baptist Church, Blair,
Kan. Burial was in Memorial
Park Cemetery, St. Joseph, Mo.
Memorials may be sent to
First Southern Baptist Church
of Blair in care of Harman
Rohde Funeral Home, P.O. Box
426, Wathena, KS 66090.
At frst Leon Parker was
very reluctant to serve in inner-
city Topeka.
We never really intended
to start a work in this neigh-
borhood, he said.
Parker went to be with the
Lord on Thursday, July 10.
Despite their reluctance to
serve in inner-city Topeka, God
had other plans for Parker and
his wife, Beverly.
New Hope Baptist Church
(now New Hope Food Pantry)
held its frst meeting in the
Parkers living room on the
frst Sunday of February 1981.
Twelve people were present
who intended to join the church.
We had one man who came
in of the street very poorly
dressed and barefoot in the
snow and drunk, Parker
recalled.
The Parkers had a long, fruit-
ful career serving in inner-city
Topeka. Leon also served as a
chaplain with the Topeka Police
Department for 17 years.
The Parkers retired from
New Hope Baptist Church
on Dec. 31, 2000. The church
eventually closed its doors but
evolved into New Hope Food
Pantry.
But God was not through
with the Parkers next they
served at First Baptist Church,
Lyndon, Kan. Afer a second
retirement, Leon kept active
doing pulpit supply. They were
members of Covenant Baptist
Church in Topeka.
The people in Parkers vast
circle of infuence are mourning
his loss. Yet they are celebrating
the life of the good-natured man
who served Jesus passionately
until his last breath.
Parkers frst pastorate was at
Faith Baptist Church, Lawrence,
Kan. Faith Baptist later merged
with East Heights Baptist
Church to become Cornerstone
Baptist Church.
He then served as bivoca-
tional pastor of Mill Creek Bap-
tist Church, McFarland, Kan.
When the Parkers responded to
Gods call to serve in inner-city
Thank you for supporting the Cooperative Program.
Topeka, Mill Creek Baptist gave
them a gracious send-of. It pro-
vided hymnals, literature and
chairs for the new mission.
The celebration of life for
Parker was held Tuesday, July
15, at Topeka Bible Church.
Burial was in Penwell-Gabel
Cemetery, Topeka, with military
honors.
Ofciating at the service
were: John Thacker, pastor of
Berryton Baptist Church, Ber-
ryton, Kan.; Fred Holloman, re-
tired Topeka pastor and retired
chaplain of the Kansas Senate;
Lee Martin, retired Topeka pas-
tor and retired Topeka police
chaplain; and Casey Ingold,
pastor of Covenant Baptist
Church, Topeka.
Thacker told how of his call
to preach and how Parker men-
tored him.
I challenge you to fnd
someone to mentor in your
life, Thacker urged the crowd.
Leon always found time to
mentor.
Ingold, who was Parkers
pastor, told how Parker con-
stantly encouraged him.
Leon loved and respected
the ofce of pastor as few
people Ive ever met.
Leon and Beverly Parker
led a small group at Covenant
Baptist Church. The night
before he died, Parker played
miniature golf with his small
group during the churchs Fam-
ily Night. The Parkers also went
on Covenants mission trips to
Arkansas.
He fnished his life well,
Ingold said of Parker.
Among the survivors are his
wife, Beverly, of the home; three
children; 10 grandchildren; and
18 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to
New Hope Food Pantry, PMB
112, 2828 SW Arrowhead, To-
peka, KS 66614-2447.
Send North America Event Set for August 2015
The North American Mission
Board is developing plans for
its third Send North America
Conference Aug. 3-4, 2015, at
Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The conference encour-
ages, equips and mobilizes lay
leaders in local congregations
to penetrate lostness in North
America.
The Send North America
Experience Tour will lead up
to the Send North America
Conference.
The tour is traveling to
multiple cities in 2014 and 2015,
all leading to the Send North
America Conference in Nash-
ville.
Among the Send North
America Experience Tour stops
will be:
n Oct. 7, 2014 Midwestern
Seminary, Kansas City, Mo. This
event will be held from 7-9 p.m.
Find more information at htp://
snaexp.sendconference.com/
events/kansas-city/register
n Feb. 3, 2015 Kansas
State University, Manhatan,
Kan. This event will include
workshops for college students.
More information will be posted
soon at htp://snaexp.sendcon-
ference.com/events/kansas-
state-university/register
www.knwomen.com
7
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Many of you have experienced moun-
taintop highs this Summer. Those who
went on missions trips, Super Summer
students, life changing messages through
your Sunday worship teachings, small
groups, VBS, and more. You have seen
God work in huge and signifcant ways.
Youve heard His voice clearly give direc-
tion. Youve been encouraged through
difcult circumstances. And some took
the frst steps in beginning their life as a
follower of Jesus Christ.
We tend to think that only Mountaintop experiences
leave spiritual markers that solidify our faith.
One of my favorite get-a-ways is our cabin in Colora-
do. It sits in a valley with the Rio Grande river winding
through and is completely surrounded by mountains.
As I sat on the porch of that cabin last week, the Spirit
opened my eyes to the good in the valley. Gods moun-
tain fortress surrounded me with a sense of security,
safety, protection, peace, and fortitude. A spiritual
marker was made.
You see, I love to go jeeping over mountain passes-
the higher and rockier the beter! The view from on top
always amazes me with the bigness of God! On one of
those rides last week we stopped at the top of a moun-
tain range, above the tree line, and it reminded me of a
scene from The Sound of Music. So, of course, I had to
break out in song-the hills are alive with the sound of
music!
The trail up was rough, but so was the trail down. The
trail didnt turn in to a smooth road until we hit the val-
ley. And, bam, thats when the Spirit saidits the same
God! Whether you have a mountaintop high or a valley
low, God is God and both are transforming experiences.
The God of the mountains is the same God of the val-
leys. (1 Kings 20:28)
Dont fear the valleys! Dont live only for the mountaintops!
Shiggaion
Mari
Its the Same God
by Pam McDonald
BNF President
Several years ago there was a Bible study that profoundly impacted me. It was a study on King Josiah in 2
Kings and the importance of beginning AND ending well. Having a sanguine personality, I understand how
hard this is beter than most. After all, I didnt earn the title of Queen of the Unfnished Project for nothing!
Although the Bible study was about our spiritual journey, it got me to thinking about all of our other journeys.
As a Baby Boomer, Ive come to realize that our generation has avoided thinking about one journey with a
vengeance, and that is the End of our Life journey.
Many of you have already put together a bucket list. This is a fun thing to do, but what about an Advance
Directive, Living Will, or just your thoughts on your End of Life care? Not as much fun is it. You didnt have a
say in your birth and how you were raised, but you can have all the say in how you live out the rest of your life
and your death. Lets look at some thought-provoking topics for your consideration.
First of all, schedule time to be alone, and seriously think through all the scenarios of growing old. Remember to take into ac-
count your fnancial and relational situations. Be realistic. Do you want to live with a family member or friend that is willing to
take care of you if you cant care for yourself? Do you want to live in an assisted living facility or your home, as long as you can
take care of yourself? At what point would you consider living in a nursing home. What kind and location?
This is the hardest part for me. Think through what you want others to do for you if cannot do them for yourself. What brings
you comfort now? Do you want others to read the Bible or books out loud to you? Do you want to have music or the TV playing
most of the time? Do you want your hand held? Have your nails or hair done on a regular basis? Have a massage? What do you
want in your room to make it comfortable? Have your favorite quilt, family pictures, plants or your collectables? Keep in mind
that your loved ones cant read your mind now and wont miraculously have the ability to do so in the future.
At the end of your life, do you want everything possible done to save you for as long as possible? Under what circumstances
would you want life sustaining measures to be withdrawn? Who will you designate to make sure your wishes are followed?
Finally, what do you want concerning your funeral? Do you want to be buried or cremated? Where do you want to be buried?
What do you want done with your ashes? What kind of service do you want? If you want to be buried, what kind of casket do
you want and what do you want to wear? The more specifc you are the easier this will be for those making the arrangements
when the time comes.
Now, write all of this down! Give copies of it to the family and friends that will be involved in your End of Life journey. Then
enjoy life and work on that Bucket List!
The Art of Finishing Well
Beverly Hilton
KNCSB WMU President
Can you believe Fall is coming?
The Fall is packed with opportuni-
ties like WWW and Shine. And for
you WMU participants, October is the
KNCSB Convention/WMU meeting
in Hutchinson. The WMU meeting is
at my home church, First Southern
Baptist, Hutchinson. Come, let us
serve you.
I am really excited about a new opportunity for
young women. Its not an organization but a re-
source. Since I frst fell in love with Southern Baptist
missions as a young woman, I have a heart for young
women and their missions connection. myMISSION
is designed to help collegiate and young women
MORE
By Calah Titus
KNCSB Women 4 Him Team
Ladies, its time! Are you ready? Do you need to be
encouraged, refreshed, uplifted, comforted, convicted,
inspired, or just have some fun? These are all words
that women, just like you, used to describe their experi-
ence at WWW and we dont want you to miss out!
The deadline is fast approaching so email, Facebook,
call, and talk to every woman you know. Encourage
each to join you this September 12 & 13 at Webster
Conference Center in Salina, Kansas.
Author and speaker Angie Smith will be sharing from
Scripture what God has laid on her heart and Camala
Nuters beautiful voice will be leading us in worship
through music. As always, our breakout sessions will
be led by ladies within KNCSB an well be blessed to
hear from one of our very own missionaries.
Conference information, publicity materials, and
registration forms may be downloaded now at www.
knwomen.com.
Our focus this year is on Ephesians 3:20-21 ...
MORE. Join us expecting to see what MORE God
has in store!
Next 5 Months Happenings
Quinn Jacobs
KN Womens Leadership Teen Girls Consultant
I am so excited to begin helping plan
and lead Shine 2014 and into the future
with my team. For a quick introduction,
my name is Quinn Jacobs. My husband
and I live in Ogden, KS serving and
working with the teenagers throughout
the community. We love hosting youth
game nights, playing Lego Batman for
date nights, and hanging out with our
son, Thomas, who was born in April 2014. But most of
all, we love our Lord Jesus Christ, and we strive to do as
He calls us. Which leads us back to Shine!
What does it look like to Shine Bright for God? In
Daniel 12:3 it says Those who are wise will shine as
bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righ-
teousness will shine like the stars forever. This year at
fulfll their mission as a follower of Christ. It is online,
so its designed to ft anyones schedule. The web-
site myMISSIONfulflled.com will explore the lives
of people who are experiencing missional living.
Monthly updates will include: Bible studies, prayer
resources, mission stories, social justice articles and
more.
The new national WMU social justice issue is Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder which is becoming an in-
creasing challenge in our society. Its not just return-
ing military who sufer from PTSD. This year we are
challenged to Surrender. Sacrifce. Serve. Sometimes
I say I want to serve, but am I ready to surrender my
will and sacrifce my time to do it? Too often I and
my get in the way. It will be a learning year.
Bring on the Fall!
Shine, 6th-12th grade girls will fnd out how to Shine
Bright for God exactly where they are. Things will look
a litle diferent this year at Shine, including the mis-
sions project. This years mission project will be based
on taking it home to your local community and living
out what the girls will be learning. Sponsors and lead-
ers: be thinking about a location in your community
that could use some extra love, such as a nursing home,
community center, shut-ins, a school, etc. The teen girls
will be learning about missional living in their commu-
nities while Shining Bright and sharing Gods love with
our broken world.
I am super stoked to announce that One Girl Na-
tion will be joining us this year as both the musician
and speaker (www.1girlnation.com). Be watching for
registration packets to arrive at your church in the com-
ing weeks, and plan on joining us November 7 & 8 at
Webster Conference Center for a fun-flled weekend of
loving Jesus and learning to love others through mis-
sional living.
Time to Shine Bright
www.KNCSB.org
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WCC
Update
n WCC applied to the Mabee Foundation in Tulsa for an $180,000 grant
for the Dining Hall expansion project. In their July Foundation Meeting,
WCC was awarded a grant for $100,000 contingent upon the churches and
individuals in KNCSB will match the balance of the funds needed to com-
plete the Dining Hall expansion in the next year. Watch for upcoming details
of the exact amount of money which KNCSB will need to be raised by July of
2015.
n User Days and revenues are ahead of the 2013 pace for the frst fve
months of 2014. 2014 stats were 4,908 May User Days*, up by 290. Rev-
enues for May were $103,266.40*, up $3,306.97. Year to date totals for
2014 are also upan increase of 3,034 User Days and $5,852.17 in rev-
enues over the 2013 year-to-date totals. *June and July stats were not
available at press time due to T.Mac being out of the offce to conduct Super
Summer 14.)
n Please pray for all the children, youth and sponsors who have attended
camps at WCC this summer. The Childrens Camps have been completed,
and Super Summer ends on August 1st. Pray for the attendees as they go
home to live out what God has directed them to do while at camp.
n The 2014 Matching Challenge Grant for the Dining Hall expansion proj-
ect to increase seating to 500 is gaining momentum. As of mid-July
$24,996.67 has been received. (Approximately $25,000 is still needed to
reach this challenge grant.)
n The Matching Challenge Grant for moving the Picnic Pavilion to a new
location and upgrading this facility is doing well also. As of mid-July
$3,490.00 has been received. (Approximately $6,500 is still needed to reach
this challenge grant.)
n Send Matching Challenge Grant contributions to Webster Conference
Center, 5410 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS 66606-2398 and indicate which
grant to which your gift should be applied.
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
Thank you for your continued support of this mission facility as we
continue to reach people for Christ and train believers for the work of
the ministry! The WCC Staff
Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists are in
partnership with all Southern Baptists through the
Cooperative Program.
Church Seeks Pastor
Star Hope Baptist Church ( Elsberry, MO ), an affliated SBC congrega-
tion, is looking for a pastor who (a) supports the Cooperative Program and
(b) embraces the tenets of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Some
seminary training desired. Interested applicants should send their resum
to shbc@starhope.org.
Church Seeks Worship Leader
Minister of Music and Worship at First Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas.
For more details visit www.fbca.org/apmw<http://www.fbca.org/apmw>or
email erica.taylor@fbca.org.
Fi r st Day. Moms Pr ay.
Begin a new frst-day-of-school tradi-
tion at your church! Plan a community-
wide cofee for moms after they drop
kids of at school. It begins right after
the school bell; so if your districts
elementary, middle and high schools
start at diferent times, plan three cofees.
Theres no formal programsimply fel-
lowship and a sincere, encouraging time
of prayer for the children.
Advertise with an exterior sign, and
create Facebook and email invitations
for members to forward to friends. State
a half-hour schedule, such as 8:00-8:30
a.m., so working moms may be enticed
to come, too.
Your planning teama mom from
each grade level, a ministers or deacons
wife, and a senior adult womanplans
advertising and schedule, and they
delegate responsibilities for the details.
Since moms will be wildly busy getting
kids ready for the frst day of school, a
senior adult ladies class could prepare
and serve drinks and light snacks.
Create a celebrative mood as guests
arrive, and use the frst ffteen minutes
for snacks, informal conversation and
friend-making. Ensure a welcoming
atmosphere by assigning friendly moms
to intentionally meet and include new-
comers and members. Invite the pastors
wife, if shes available.
Divide moms by grade levels or
schools for prayer groups. The pre-
selected leader invites ladies to introduce
themselves and tell their childs name
and grade level. She leads a time of
prayer, assuring that each mother and
child is mentioned by name, and praying
for their teachers, friends and school
leaders. Play Christian background mu-
sic during prayer, then raise the volume
to signal closing time.
Conclude by inviting those who dont
have a church to worship with you on
Sunday, and give printed invitations to
upcoming events and Bible classes for
parents and school age kids. Then serve
more cofee for those whod like to fel-
lowship longer.
One more idea: Ofer a similar event
for schoolteachers and administrators.
They stop by the church right after
school for a pray for your new stu-
dents cookie fellowship.
As this new school year begins, make
the most of every opportunity! (Colos-
sians 4:5 NLT)
Diana Davis is an author and
columnist based in Pensacola FL. Her
husband, Steve, is vice president of SBCs
North American Mission Board, South
Region. www.dianadavis.org
F eatur ed Vi deos
Available to churches cooperating with KNCSB by contacting library@kncsb.
org or calling either 785/228-6800 or 800/984-9092. Ask for Barbara Spicer
Unseen, But Certain
By Daniel Akin
Includes six 30-minute video lessons, leader guide & workbook.
This DVD series presents what the Bible authoritatively teaches about
some of lifes most complex issues and commonly asked questions.
The Spiritual Reality of Angels
The Spiritual Reality of Satan
The Spiritual Reality of Demons
The Spiritual Reality of Hell
The Spiritual Reality of Heaven-Part 1
The Spiritual Reality of Heaven-Part 2
Resilient Faith
By Mary Jo Sharp
Includes one group member book and one DVD.
This six-session study based on 1 Peter will show your group what resilient
faith looks like and help them fnd a faith that endures. Faith may come
easy to you or you may be like so many who struggle with trust. Our faith is
tested when diffculties knock on our door. And for some of us, our faith can
be shaken.
Focused Faith
Active Faith
Enduring Faith
Ready Faith
Joyful Faith
Victorious Faith
Mark Elliott, Director of Missions in Eastern Nebraska,
has written a good thought piece entitled, Critical Design
Components of Effective Disciple Making Churches.
If you would like to read a copy you can get it at
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9833525/Critical%20
Design%20Components%20for%20Disciple%20Making.pdf