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September 2020 – Mission Director’s Report

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We are getting ready for our Annual State Association which meets at Zion Baptist Church in St. Louis October 10, 2020. Various committee are meeting and getting ready to give their annual reports and bring recommendations for the approval of the messengers of the church that make up our great Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri

Because our mid-year meeting was cancelled in May it seems like it has been a long time since we have meet as an association of churches. Please note the messages on the first page of this issue of the paper to see the changes our Moderator and Host Pastor are suggesting we follow at this meeting because of the pandemic we are experiencing this year.

We are praying that each church will send their three messengers and each committee member will be ready with progressive reports and recommendations to present for consideration. Please make sure your church is represented.

Your Missions Director and the Special Missions Committee will meet in a few days to get ready for the annual association. They will be presenting a nomination for Missions Director and offering some recommendations that we hope will increase our outreach across Missouri and surrounding states. Please pray for us as we seek God’s will in the work you have entrusted to us.

It is encouraging to hear reports of how people around the world are opening up to the Gospel during the troublesome times that everyone is experiencing. May we look for opportunities to minister to our friends, families, neighbors and others as many are seeking answers that can only be answered through God’s Word and God’s wisdom.

September is officially the last month I will be serving as Missions Director for the BMA of Missouri. Of course I will be assisting in the transition to a new director through the month of October and will give my annual report at the annual meeting.

It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve in this capacity since 2015. I am disappointed that we have not had more success in our State Mission work and that we have seen some churches close in these years instead of seeing new churches planted.

I have enjoyed getting to know more of our pastors and churches as I have had the privilege to visit association meetings and worship services all over our great state. It has been uplifting to see many pastors working faithfully in their fields and growing through experience as they serve the Lord.

Thank you for your support, patience, cooperation, and encouragement over these years. I especially appreciate the Special Missions Committee for their dedication and assistance as we have met, prayed, discussed, debated, planned, and worked together in this great work!

Let’s support our new director as we go forward!

By James Hoffman, Mission’s Director

Details about changes to 93rd Annual Session

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From Our Moderator…
Dear state churches:
As you all know, we are in a ever-changing climate. Our state meeting is not exempt from that! It is our every intention to still have the state meeting at Zion Church in the St. Louis region on October 10 starting at 9:00 a.m.
However, with the concern of possible exposure to our most vulnerable people, the church, and I, as your moderator, are requesting that church messengers only and associational officers only attend the meeting.
Subsequently There will not be a meal,
We will simply have the meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude the meeting when all business is completed. Please plan to pursue lunch on your own schedule and your own time.
I hope this inconvenience does not keep you from coming! I hope you understand the spirit behind why we are making these changes when, in this day and age everyone of us should be pretty used to change by now.
The business that we conduct is very important and we ask you to pray for God‘s direction and harmony as we seek to follow him as an association,
May the Lord richly bless you is my prayer.
Ben Kingston

From Our Clerk…
Please remember to send in or bring your church’s annual church letter this October. And please consider increasing your church’s donation to the Minute Fund. This past year expenses exceeded donations by more than $400. Another year like this and the fund will be nearly depleted. So please consider increasing your offering this year. If you need a copy of the letter it is on the BMA of Missouri Facebook page.
Don Burke

From Our Host Pastor…
Zion Baptist Church, 3485 Baumgartner Rd, St. Louis, MO 63129, looks forward to hosting the annual meeting on October 10, 2020 starting at 9:00 A.M.
Due to the covid-19 restrictions imposed by South County, we ask that those attending practice social distancing and voluntarily wear a mask. In order to practice 6 Foot social distancing, we need to limit attendance to messengers and officers. Zion will not be providing a noon meal.
If you need directions to the church, location of motels, or location of restaurants, please contact Pastor Dennis Baker.
Phone: 314-471-8665,
E-mail: bbsafety4332@gmail.com.
Please pray for the safety of those traveling and that the meeting will honor God.
Dennis Baker

93rd Annual Session of the Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri

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October 10, 2020 starting at 9:00 a.m.

Please read “From Our Moderator” • “From Our Host Pastor” • “From Our Clerk”!
There have been some changes made that need everyone’s attention.

August 2020 – Mission Director’s Report

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This week I have been contacted by representatives of two of our churches who wanted to get some advice or help in the dispersion of funds and/or items from their churches who have reached the point of closing their doors.

Needless to say, this is not the kind of news we want to hear, but it is becoming a reality too often. Neither of these decisions are the result of anything that has happened in the last few months of upheaval in our country, but are the result of separate circumstances in each church and have been made after much prayer and soul-searching.

I commend those in charge of both these churches for wanting to make sure their assets and property are used in a way to help other churches or various ministries of our associated work and that is why they have made contact for assistance or guidance in these matters.

In the last year I have had conversations with several local churches who are showing concern over decreasing attendance and lack of growth due to various reasons including, a lack of pastors who are available, decreasing funds coupled with increasing costs, decreased interest or enthusiasm in church growth, or just overall weariness in working as God leads.

I realize there are Biblical remedies for all of our problems and we should never want to give up doing what we can to keep our doors open.

But there are also times when God is no longer working through certain congregations and He is ready for those involved to seek His guidance and do whatever will help all involved. Sometimes we reach the point when we must move on and get refocused and refreshed spiritually, just like we need refreshed physically, morally, and intellectually.

When we see our fellow Christians making some decisions that we are not pleased with we need to be careful to not criticize them, but show love and give encouragement to them as they seek God’s will. Even if our friends in Christ are getting on the wrong track, we need to follow Paul’s advice to the Galatian Christians in Galatians 6:1. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Never condone any wrong but encourage what is right.

I’m not condemning those churches who feel they must close, but I am encouraging us to prayerfully help one another to do what God knows is best and to encourage those who have to make some very difficult decisions at various times in their ministry.

We know not what we might face in the days ahead, but we know God knows all things and He will guide us to do what is best as we seek His leadership.

Let’s pray for one another as we follow God!

by James Hoffman

Emmanuel Baptist Church in St. Louis

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Due to continuing health issues, Bro. David Griggs has informed the editor that, after 30+ years he is resigning as pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in St. Louis and the church has voted to disband. They are selling their property and have two offers at this time. They also have some song books, a good piano and an organ and other items that they would love to see used in other churches. If you are interested contact Bro. Griggs at 314-724-4204.

National Senior Adult Conference

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National Senior Conference Canceled

One Hundred Years from NOW!

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by Jeff Swart, BMAA President

Five thousand pastors were recently surveyed and asked, “What do you think is the greatest need in the church today?” Interestingly enough, 98% listed as their number one or number two response: “To get the laymen involved in doing the work of the ministry.” The results of this survey is certainly no surprise to pastors since most of them know that the Pareto Principle is true: 20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church.

It is amazing to me how busy people are today. Everyone is busy! From the family with children to the retired couple, everyone complains about being busy. I confess that I too am busy. Have you noticed that busy people are never too busy to stop and tell you how busy they are? In fact, I have done that very thing!

I am not alarmed at the fact that almost everyone is busy, but I am alarmed at what they are busy doing. Most believers are busy doing things that have nothing to do with the Lord’s work. Therefore, when they run out of time, guess who gets cut out of their busy schedule? That’s right — God.

When addressing the subject of priorities, Jesus shared this commandment with His disciples, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33 NIV). What “things” was Jesus referring to? He promised that, if we put Him first, He would provide the food, drink and clothing that we need. (Matt. 6:25-32) So the principle is simple — if you want to save some time in your busy schedule, put Jesus first in all things and then He will provide the essentials of life.

Someone once penned these thought provoking words: “One Hundred years from now, it won’t matter if you lived in a Fifth Avenue mansion or in an alley shack; whether you wore expensive suits or hand-me-downs; whether you were known among the world’s elite or to the vast army of nobodies…”

So the next time you are about to break under the load of a busy schedule, think about what will matter a hundred years from now. In reality, only what you have done for Christ will matter then! If that is all that will matter then, that is all that should matter now!

Can COVID-19 Stop Us?

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by: Jordan M. Tew, Assist. to the Director of Baptist Publishing House

Dear friends, I am concerned about the current state of our churches. Consider what has become “normal” for us: we are barely meeting for weekly worship, some congregations have eliminated singing praises to our Lord, most churches are not actively going out into their communities to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, and Sunday School classes are off the table in a growing number of churches. What in the world is going on?

Now before anyone takes offense at these words, let me assure you I understand there are churches and individuals who have decided to cancel various meetings and have made changes to better protect their health and safety. I applaud that and understand those decisions are difficult to make. There is a need to abide by the law of the land, if possible and if it does not go against the commands of the Bible.

However, an ongoing lack of corporate worship, evangelism, and Bible teaching can never become “the new normal.” God’s Word and His mandate to His churches have not changed. Are we being faithful during these days? Are we preaching the Gospel as we ought? Are we worshipping as the Bible instructs us? Are we baptizing and taking the Lord’s Supper? Are we neglecting anything God has commanded us?

I wonder if covid-19 is the biggest obstacle we will face in our lifetime? I would assume it is not. If this virus proves to be an ongoing setback for our churches, then how will we respond to the other trials Christ has promised we will face? How will we handle famine, nakedness, and sword or persecution, hatred, and false prophets (Romans 8, Matthew 24)? Will we stand on the promise that Hell itself will not prevail against us or will we merely limp along until Jesus returns?

The truth is, God’s people have always assembled and ministered despite trials. In the roughly 2,000 year span since Jesus walked on this earth, His churches have faced persecution, plague, war, starvation, terrorism, economic instability, and governmental opposition. How we handle our current situation will impact our children and our grandchildren directly.

God’s people are well-acquainted with suffering and difficult times. In fact, we have often thrived under harsh conditions and God has used times like our own to usher in great outpourings of salvation and revival. We have not been called to comfort or safety. We have been called to faithfulness. Will covid-19 stop us? Perhaps a better question is “Can covid-19 stop us?

Consider the words of our Savior and the Cornerstone of your church: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

July 2020 – Mission Director’s Report

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October 10, 2020, We hope to be able to have our Baptist, Missionary Association of Missouri annual business meeting at Zion Missionary Baptist Church which will start at 9:00 a.m. Until then we need to be praying that all our churches will make plans to have three messengers attend this meeting to help make plans for the work we need to do in 2020-2021.

We need this time of planning, worshipping and fellowship to draw us closer as we face the year ahead determined to do our best for the Lord.

Among the business that day will be hearing the reports of our various departments, electing officers and other committee members, electing a new Missions Director, enjoying special singing and a special time of worship, and enjoying the opportunity to get to know each other better.

As you can see in the financial report for the month of June (above) our financial picture is good and from what various pastors are saying we are anxiously waiting to find the man the Lord has for us to plant a new church in Missouri and the surrounding area! Let’s pray that we can announce plans to get started soon!

Please let nothing you can help interfere with your being present at this meeting. Zion Baptist Church is located at 3485 Baumgartner Rd, St. Louis, MO 63129.

From Our Editor…
As we have started the last quarter of this associational year, we are somewhat disappointed in that we do not have anyone to nominate as a new editor, as we had hoped earlier this year. I have told the Publications Committee that I am willing to continue as editor at least for another year since no one else has applied. Let’s pray that someone feels God leading them to this ministry during the next year!

I call your attention to the Third Quarter financial report of the Missouri Missionary Baptist at the end of this page. It reveals the fact that we will be out of funds before July is over unless we get some Special Gifts soon!

Please prayerfully consider giving a special offering to the MMB this month or lead your church to start supporting the paper on a regular basis.

I realize many of our churches are having financial problems at this time and some may not be able to give any extra. But I encourage those who can to help us out.

We have many church reporters who are faithful to send their news reports each month and other pastors and leaders who contribute material for publication monthly or from time to time during the year and I appreciate all these who help in this way.

But if we do not have an increase in income we will not be able to publish the MMB for an extend amount of time.

The monthly average to keep this ministry going is nearly $ 1,600 so you can see that we are needing help soon.

Thank you who are supporting this ministry with your finances, prayers, encouragement, comments and suggestions. I am truly grateful for each of you.

If you have any ideas that can help improve this ministry please let me know and let’s work together to make it a project that will bring glory to God and strength and encouragement to each other.

May God bless each of our churches in the BMA of MO!!

Help Needed to Provide Everlasting Smiles

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Friends, we need your help! Your church is invited to partner with us to provide Everlasting Smile Christmas Shoeboxes to missionaries in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, and Nicaragua.

These shoeboxes are a great tool to help our missionaries meet and build relationships with people. Many people will come to a service that is providing a “gift from the States” that would otherwise not come to service.

This year, more than ever, we are excited to send the boxes. This will provide a great opportunity for our missionaries to connect and reconnect after a long time of quarantine. Many people in these countries have lost jobs, money is tight, and that means they don’t have much food. The boxes will bring much joy to parents and children.

Packing a shoebox is a great way to help open doors to spread the gospel to people who may otherwise never attend a service. It seems like a simple thing for us, but to our missionaries, it is a vital tool for ministry.

The smile that a child finds when opening a shoebox is often for a moment, but the love of Jesus that they find through this ministry is the Everlasting Smile.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or go to bmamissions.org/christmas-shoeboxes for more information. We look forward to working with you to provide Everlasting Smiles.

*PLEASE NOTE: We will not mail a packet to each church this year. Please forward this email to the person responsible for the Christmas Shoebox campaign in your church!

Thank you,
Dr. Ralph Izard & Angela Rice
angela@bmamissions.org

501-455-4977