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BMAA Missions Debuts New Broadcast

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by Holly Meriweather

Yalanda Merrell

World Missions Day 2020 (Feb. 23) at 8 a.m., a new BMA Missions broadcast was introduced. Hosted by Yalanda Merrell, the monthly show is called mission:world.tv and will feature BMA missionaries and what they are doing around the world. An extension of mission:world magazine, it can be viewed on BMA Missions’ Facebook page and will be downloadable to share updates with your church.

The four-minute-long episodes will highlight a missionary and country each month, giving viewers an inside look at BMA Missions. Sign up to receive the videos by email (and become a mission:world magazine subscriber if you’re not already) by going to missionworld.tv.
Yalanda Merrell

Although she had walked the aisle at the age of seven, she wasn’t saved until her freshman year of college. But another eight years passed until she fully surrendered her life to Jesus, then three more until she began intentional discipleship. It’s a familiar story for many, and one that Yalanda Merrell doesn’t mind telling, especially if it will point someone to Jesus.
Telling stories is what Yalanda is all about, and she has done that professionally – first as a reporter and anchor for KAIT in Jonesboro. Then after eight years, she left the world of broadcasting and television, to work as a recruiter for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
Yalanda came to the attention of the LifeWord team in 2018 after Director of Operations Luis Ortega and Executive Director Donny Parrish visited the church that she and her husband, Shawn attend in Northeast Arkansas – Herman Baptist Church in Bono.

It Turns out that Yalanda is not only a talented broadcast journalist but a writer as well.

The Lifeword Cloud had just been implemented and print content was needed, so Yalanda was asked to join a team of writers. Her daily devotionals and blogs have been published on lifeword.org ever since. After enthusiastically offering to do more, anything that was needed, BMA Missions took her up on the offer, and the new broadcast is a result!

DiscipleGuide Changes Explained

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by Paul White, Chairman
BMA of America Coordinating Council

I am sharing the following information to try and explain what will be proposed for consideration at this year’s national meeting concerning the breakup of the various DiscipleGuide ministries. Although several recommendations will be presented this year, we have been blessed to experience exceptional cooperation from everyone who is involved.
While change is often difficult to understand, it is sometimes necessary for the good of the whole. One of our greatest challenges is to keep you, the people, informed about what is actually taking place.

At the national meeting in April, we will be voting on recommendations concerning five areas of ministry. The areas that we will deal with are Publications, Daniel Springs Camp, Conferences, News Services and the BMA Service Team. Please keep in mind that this explanation is a synopsis, and is by no means exhaustive or an exact wording of the actual recommendations.

Publications & Daniel Springs

When we, as an association, step out on a new and untried venture, it is normal to have reservations in doing so; but what will be recommended concerning Publications and Daniel Springs Camp is something we lived with for many years before the formation of DiscipleGuide. In fact, if you go back to the 2004-2005 Statement of Principles of Cooperation, you will find that this year’s recommendations concerning our Statement of Principles of Cooperation for Baptist Publishing House and Daniel Springs Camp are nearly the same as they were back then. If the recommendations presented concerning the first two are adopted by the body, it will not be something new. It will be going back to a tried and proven way that will serve us well into the future. These were stand-alone departments then, and certainly can be again. For these departments to stand on their own will not weaken nor diminish their ministries’ structures, nor change their core values.

Conferences & News Services

Last year, the association voted to move the responsibilities of these two entities to the BMA Service Team (formerly referred to as the LLC) for one year. After visiting with the department leaders involved, their overwhelming conclusions were that the BMA Service Team was the perfect location for these two important ministries. Therefore, there will be a recommendation for these two ministries to be placed under the BMA Service Team.

BMA Service Team

Neither the BMA Service Team nor LLC is directly tied to DiscipleGuide. Sometime back, the association voted to create what was then known only as the LLC (Limited Liability Cooperation) to assist in streamlining operations in the Conway office through sharing employees and assets, thereby minimizing costs and maximizing return on investment for support services and functions.

While the term LLC tells of a way of organizing your business, it woefully fails to reveal what it does. So we will be voting on making the BMA of America Service Team, its purpose, governance and special duties part of our Statement of Principles of Cooperation to help inform our people of what it is and what it does. You will be hearing the title BMA Service Team a lot in the future if this proposal passes.

The position of BMA Service Team director is a hired position in cooperation of those executive directors who work out of the Global Ministry Headquarters in Conway. These departments share the cost of the BMA Services Team, and the directors have hired John Meriweather to serve as director of the BMA Service Team and be the go-to man concerning these responsibilities.

How Shoe Boxes Help Our Pastors

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By Angela Rice

Do you ever wonder what happens when our missionaries receive Everlasting Smiles Shoeboxes? Let me share this exciting news with you:
The first shipment of shoeboxes arrived in El Salvador to Pastor Rigoberto Cruz on December 18. The very next day, Pastor Rigoberto and his team began loading trucks and distributing boxes to the different mission churches in their areas of ministry.

Then the churches hold special children’s events for the community where they give them out. Although the shoeboxes bring people to the programs, the pastors focus on the plan of salvation for the children families that come.

December 22, Pastor Rigoberto gathered together his own community of Montelimar for a children’s event to give out shoeboxes. With over 1,200 people in attendance, there was standing room only. The event included clowns, fun games, music, and a drama portraying the life and death of Jesus. The finale was a message of the good news of Christ, and several people accepted Jesus. A fireworks display ended the evening.

While I was celebrating Christmas with family and traditions, Pastor Rigoberto and his team were out in the community each day of the holiday season spreading the love of Christ with the shoeboxes you sent.
Police and delivery truck drivers were given gifts for their children. Gifts were given to children on the streets and to more than 300 children who spent Christmas in the children’s hospital. Nurses and doctors there received gifts for their children and the team spent time in prayer with families of the patients. Gifts were given in mission churches and areas where churches are in the process of being planted.

Every day I received a report of how the ministry was going and how God was blessing the people of El Salvador through your generosity.
5“We are reaching places where the children have never been blessed in such a great way as today” is how Christmas Day was described. “The smiles of the children are priceless.” Our pastors and leadership team in El Salvador spent time in a small village that most would consider poor. They walked from house to house to deliver gifts to the children and to spend time getting to know families in the community better.

Pastor Rigoberto said, “We do not have a church in this area, but we have had professions of faith because we have been visiting for a few months. We want to use the toy boxes and the medical brigade (BMMI) to establish the mission.”

So what happens for our missionaries as a result of giving out boxes? On the Sunday following shoebox distribution, Pastor Rigoberto’s church in Montelimar was packed with people sitting in chairs outside the church. Many new relationships were made, and with each box containing the plan of salvation, people were pointed to Christ and to our churches.

Whether from our friends who packed them in the States or the ministry team that delivered them in El Salvador, each shoebox was given with love and showed the love of Christ to others. Please pray for the pastors in El Salvador as they continue to serve the people in their communities and follow up with those who have begun attending their churches.

Drink The Melted Ice Cream…

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I’d like to tell you our story from the first week of February.
Friday, 7th, Deekota didn’t have a good ob-gyn visit.
Saturday, 8th, After leaving the Trail Life derby races the church van was rear ended while sitting at a stop sign. While at the hospital, Caleb developed complications. A tic that affected his speech.
By Sunday, 9th, Caleb’s condition worsens to the point his “tic” is non stop. So we spend all night in Cape ER.
We get home 5 a.m., Monday 10th, to find the refrigerator had quit and everything was melted. We had planned to go with Kota to her return ob-gyn visit but Children’s hospital called and scheduled Caleb at the same time as her appointment.
Tuesday, 11th, Caleb’s condition worsens because the meds make him so dizzy he can’t stand up. Through the whole process Caleb is not as worried about his condition as he is of going to the Dr. and hospitals.
Wednesday, 12th, Caleb’s Dr. at Children’s hospital says he will improve but it will take a while. A long while, 3 months would be an optimistic recovery time.
While we were in St. Louis receiving fairly good news with Caleb, Kota in Conway was not. Sadly she lost the baby.
At this point we recognize, OK this is a rough week. But, God is in control. We know this. We never wavered in this. There is much comfort knowing that in all this madness God is in control.
Early in the week there were some posts on Facebook that made it sound like we were struggling. The posts were intended to help and had our best interest at heart, the wording just made it sound like we were loosing it. But we really hadn’t. Oh we’ve cried. We hugged. But we also talked with each other more than we have in a long time.
The week before this all started we had a study on prayer. We certainly prayed that week. We prayed over Caleb like never before. And still my prayer life needs improvement. But our faith has never wavered.
When we got home at 5 a.m. and found water everywhere from the refrigerator, we got a couple hours sleep. Then, when we got up we drank the melted Ice cream for lunch. That night Laura made meatloaf, Caleb’s favorite, with the thawed meat for supper. Looking into the refrigerators problem we unplugged it and plugged it back in and it’s been working ever since. Thank you Lord!
Caleb and I have played video games together. I’ve missed so many opportunities to spend time with him over the years, But, Not that week. He’s not out of the woods and I’m not done spending time with him.
When these things happen in life we can shake our fist at God, or we can look for what God is doing. We don’t always get answers, but, it’s not enough to simply say, sometimes the answer is no. Because, God is always in control whatever is going on is a plan, It’s God’s plan. Not mine, not yours, HIS.
History, In world events and in the events of your life, is HIS story.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Camp Garwood Activities in 2020:
Pastors & Leaders Retreat • March 27th-28th
Paintball • April 17th-18th
DEWr Retreat • June 19-20
State Camp • July 27-31 – History is HIStory; Cor 1:16

Chris Polk, Camp Director • PO Box 271 • Matthews MO 63867
Phone: (573)380-1975 • e-mail: campgarwood@gmail.com

From God’s Word & My Heart

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by Pastor Ben Kingston • Bethel Baptist Church • Lonedell, MO

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4

If you’re reading along on these articles, hopefully you dealt with “bitterness” in January and achieved an attitude of “forgiveness” in February.

Now, I’d like to add some practical advice in life and church life in particular. I hope you will allow me some latitude here, and know that there is no better, nor more dedicated cheerleader of Brad Banderman than myself.

With that said, I have publicly stated many times that 20 years ago when Brad started out, his personality and antics, shall we say, rubbed a few people the wrong way – in particular a few of my pastoral friends. More than once they would say to me “Boy, I am glad you have him.” They would chuckle, of course, and I knew they were not complimenting me or Brad.
But here was the truth: as “obnoxious” as Brad could be, he was an amazing Youth Director. So, after a few years of listening to that and the annoying chuckle that followed, I chose to respond to one of them and I said “I am glad also, because if you had him you would have ruined Him.” Needless to say, that ended the conversation. To that gentleman’s credit, after working closely with Brad a few years later in an associational ministry, he told me, “Ben, I was wrong about Brad; that guy is something and the Lord has blessed you with a real treasure.”

In speaking with my former Pastor, John Smith, he revealed that he had been told the same thing about me years ago. I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree!

Now, what is the point of all this? Look at the verse again: No ox = clean crib; ox = no clean crib. But, did you catch it? There is much strength by the ox…… wait for it….. To get the strength of the ox you must put up with, and yes, shovel some manure.

There it is! One of the most amazing spiritual truths I have ever realized and put to work in the ministry!

It doesn’t matter who they are, if they are a human (ox) they are a sinner and have nuances and hang ups and quirks that will drive you batty on occasion. They also have a spiritual gift: the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, a God-given personality, and a God-given burden for their church and ministry. If we will disciple them, lead them, guide them, and get out of their way, they will grow a great work for and through God.

So, the next time you think, “I am going to ring that monkey’s neck,” remember the verse. Gotta shovel some poop to get the hard work that only the ox can do. May your fields be fruitful and your cribs…well, you get the idea.

BMAA Meeting/Ballot Information

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Baptist Missionary Association of America

The BMA of America national meeting has been canceled. However, we need our churches to vote even though we are not meeting as usual. You can find the ballot and more information at bmaamerica.org/2020ballot.

Trust in the Salvation of the Lord

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Psalm 13:1-16 – by Dennis Barker

This psalm was probably written by David during the difficult years of exile from King Saul. During his exile David confessed that, “there is a step between me and death” (I Samuel 20:3). By God’s grace, David turned his suffering into songs that help to encourage the believer in times of trials. The Lord allowed David to pour out his anxiety before him. But by the end of the psalm, David’s prayer ends with God giving him a correct perspective of the situation. In this brief psalm, David deals with his feelings, his enemies and his faith.

In verses 1-2, David pours out his heart concerning his inward struggles and feelings. God had promised David the throne of Israel, yet he saw King Saul doing evil things and it seemed like God was not judging him. Yet David was doing good things and he felt like God had abandoned him. The phrase “How long, O Lord” indicates that David was disturbed by what the enemy was doing, but he was more concerned about what the Lord was not doing. When we are in trouble and pray for help, but none comes, we tend to feel deserted. David felt like God was ignoring him and that God’s alienation was final. He also, felt that God was hiding His face from him instead of smiling upon him.

Feeling like he was abandoned by God, David tried to devise ways to overcome the enemy, but nothing seemed to help. Faith is living without scheming; not leaning on our own experiences and skills and trying to plot our own way. We must not deny our feelings and pretend that everything is going well. It is not sin to ask, “How long?” But, we must realize how deceptive our feelings are, and that God is greater than our hearts and can lift us above the emotional storms of life.

David learned to replace the question “How long, O Lord?” with “My times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:14-15. This is a lesson that we must all learn.
Verses 3-4 speaks of David’s outward struggles with his enemies. When the mind and body are weary, it is easy to be discouraged. David requested that the Lord “Consider and hear me.” David felt that God had hidden His face from him, and he wanted God to turn His face toward him again. A second request, “hear Me,” was that the Lord would answer him and send some kind of encouragement. David felt he had been deserted and that his prayers were accomplishing nothing. A third request, “enlighten my eyes” involved spiritual explanation and physical and emotional vitality and strength.

David was concerned about his own needs, but he was more concerned with the glory of God. God had chosen David and had commanded Samuel to anoint him King. If David failed, God’s name would be ridiculed. “Don’t allow the enemy to gloat over me.” The word “moved” in verse 4 means “to waver, to be troubled. If David began to waver, the faithful people of the land would think that God was unable to fulfil His own promises.
Verses 5-6 declares David’s Faith. The word “but” indicates a transition from fear and questioning God’s promises to faith. David’s feelings had been on a roller coaster, but God was still on the throne, and His character had not changed. God’s mercy (steadfast love) was all David needed, for it would never fail. God’s people don’t live on explanations; they live on promises, and those promises are as unchanging as the character of God.
Relying on the Lord leads to rejoicing in the Lord and His salvation. The word “bountiful” focuses on the goodness of God and His generosity in dealing with His people in grace.

March 2020 – Mission Director’s Report

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Missions:

It was a joy to be invited to be with the First Baptist Church of Matthews on World Missions Sunday and to also be able to join them for the Camp Garwood Breakfast Fundraiser that Saturday. It was a blessing to see several from other churches, even as far away as St. Charles, attend the breakfast which raised $1,704 for camp.

My wife and I enjoyed the fellowship and hospitality of the folks at Matthews and were impressed with their generous support of Missions as they gave their entire offering that day to BMA of America Missions.
I also had the privilege of attending the meeting of the Meramec Association missions committee at Westview Baptist Church in Jefferson City February 29th. Host Pastor Mike Hearst and the entire committee made me feel welcome and asked me to give an update on BMAMO Missions and the Missouri Missionary Baptist paper.

One thing that has been very noticeable as I have visited these meetings and filled pulpits over the last few weeks is there seems to be an increased interest in reaching others with the Word everywhere I go. Especially is this evident in various meetings among our churches in Missouri.

It was encouraging to sit in an impromptu meeting following the Meramec Association meeting in Jefferson City, about the possibilities of Bro. Matt Barker being led of God to plant a new work within our state in the near future.

Perhaps this is the year we will see a vibrant new work in our state! Everyone seems ready to see this become a reality.

In view of this, I encourage Pastors and Staff Leaders to make plans to attend the Renewal Retreat at Camp Garwood March 27-28, and the Missions Symposium and Mid-year meeting of the BMA of MO at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan May 15-16.
Each of these meetings can and will be used of God to increase our interest and burden to do more for God!

These are challenging yet exciting times in which we live and we should cultivate an attitude of joyfully serving God and looking forward with excitement about what He is doing in and through His churches around the world. Please pray that we will experience a revival among our churches and departments that will have a God-honoring effect in our State and bring glory to God for years to come!

The Missouri Missionary Baptist Paper:

When invited to speak about the paper at the meeting in Jefferson City I shared that our finances continue to be a great concern, but 3 different experiences this past month have given some encouragement.

• A church that has been without a pastor for a couple years sent 2 checks: 1 to missions and 1 to the paper. Each check was marked “offerings for 2018-2019. They had been setting aside their offerings while having no pastor and since they now have one they sent the entire 2 years at once!
• Another experience was a couple that live in the northern part of our state for the last 17 years, where there are no BMA churches, noted that they had not renewed their subscription since 2003 and sent a check for $170 to cover the 17 years they were behind.
• The special offering of the Meramec Association, for which I am deeply grateful, was another encouragement.

When I told this story using the first two experiences at the meeting in Jefferson City I ended it by saying, “Go thou and do likewise!”
I appreciate all the support that keeps this ministry going Thanks for supporting with finances, prayers, and actions!

2020 Missions Symposium & Mid-Year BMA of MO Meeting

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New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan, MO has been blessed with the opportunity to host the 2020 BMA of Missouri Mission Symposium & Mid-year meeting on Friday & Saturday, May 15th &16th. We hope that you will make plans to join us!

The theme for our Mission Symposium will be “Helping Our Churches Excel.” This theme is based on I Corinthians 14:12b- “…seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”

Come hear how God is using the New Testament Baptist Church and Missionary, Stan Scroggins to plant the New Testament Tigbawan Baptist Church in Tigbawan, Southern Leyte, in the Philippines and be challenged as we seek to work together to see our current BMA churches in Missouri excel and see new churches planted in Missouri in the future for the glory of God.

The Missions Symposium will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 15th. There will be testimonies from Pastor Josh Wright, church member Mae Lahmann, missionary Stan Scroggins, and church planter JayR Suico. As well as congregational singing, special music and a challenge from Pastor Josh.
The Mid-Year Meeting will be Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. Missionary Stan Scroggins will be preaching and a meal will be provided following the meeting in the church fellowship hall.

Here are a few area motels that would be suitable for your stay during the meeting:
Comfort Inn • 736 S Service Rd. W, Sullivan, MO 63080 (573) 468-7800
Baymont by Wyndham • 275 N Service Rd. W, Sullivan, MO 63080 (573) 367-2211
Budget Lodging • 866 S Outer Rd., St. Clair, MO 63077 (636) 629-1000. Please make your reservations as soon as possible while there are plenty of rooms available.

We look forward to seeing and enjoying our fellowship with many pastors, deacons, and church members of our BMA of Missouri churches. Please feel free to contact New Testament Baptist Church with any questions you may have about these meetings: (573) 468-3334.

WORLD MISSIONS DAY February 23, 2020!

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by John David Smith

World Missions Day is a significant event for BMA Missions as churches around the association pray and give a special offering to support our partnership in global missions. Pastor, this year I am personally asking if you will lead your church to prayerfully support global missions on World Missions Day with a special offering. BMA Missions – Your PARTNER in global missions. In the New Testament we get a picture of the early church and a multiplication movement that was fueled by missionary endeavors supported through the partnership of local churches. Partnership is at the heart of our missions philosophy. Here’s how it works: Local Churches are both the source (sending) AND the goal (planting) of missions.

BMA Missions provides the assessment, training, and support missionaries need for effective global ministry. U.S. Missionaries spread the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches around the world. ChangeMaker Missionaries are the product of our missions partnership. They are local missionaries planting churches in their native countries. We want to be YOUR partner! Will you help us send more missionaries to develop more disciples and train more local ChangeMaker missionaries to plant more churches so more people will hear the gospel? Register your church for World Missions Day 2020 at https://bmamissions.org/ worldmissionsday/ and we will send your pastor a FREE rain jacket! (Read ChangeMakers story on Page 5.)

WORLD MISSIONS DAY 2020