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The Master’s Builders Work in Arkansas

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The Master’s Builders Work in Arkansas
New Liberty Baptist in Emmet, Arkansas

September 14th, the Master’s Builders began work at New Liberty Baptist in Emmet, Arkansas. This job was originally scheduled for May, but because of Covid 19, it was postponed. New Liberty had torn down their old building, which housed their sanctuary, and had poured a slab for the new 86 X 44 /3,800 square foot building. They were really needing our help. There were 12 Master’s Builders from 5 states ready to start the build. Each morning we started the day with a devotional and prayer.

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Recommendations 93rd Annual Meeting of BMA of Missouri

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Recommendations of the Special Missions Committee
The Special Missions Committee of the BMA of Missouri met September 9, 2020 at Perryville, MO. The following recommendations were approved to submit to the Missionary Committee of the BMA of MO for consideration at the annual meeting October 10, 2020 at Zion Baptist Church in St. Louis.

  1. We recommend Bro. Ben Kingston serve as the Missions Director at a salary of $650 a month with $200 of that designated for clerical help.
  2. We recommend Bro. Don Burke serve as Assistant Director of Missions.
  3. We recommend that outgoing Director, Bro. James Hoffmann, be paid $600 a month to assist (train) Bro. Kingston for a three-month transition period starting in October 2020.

Recommendations of the Loan Association Committee
The Loan Association Committee met at the Grecian Steak Hose in Sikeston September 5, 2020 and offers the following recommendations for your consideration at our annual meeting October 10:2020.

  1. We recommend that the BMA of Missouri show our appreciation to Bro. David Griggs by giving him a $1000 love offering and a Certificate of Appreciation for his faithful service as Treasurer and that we continue to pray for his health and well being.
  2. We recommend that this body give a standing vote of appreciation to Bro. Dennis Baker for his outstanding service especially during this past year.
  3. We recommend that the By-laws of the Loan committee under section I – Purpose Item 2 be changed to “Loans to established Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri churches for maintenance, remodeling, repairs, and new construction of buildings used for worship and education. Loans are subject to a negotiated interest rate with a loan limitation of $50,000 and payment terms no greater than ten (10) years. Loans must be secured with a Quick-Claim Deed of Trust that states, “If the church defaults on the loan, the church ceases to exist, or the church ceases to be a member in good standing with the Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri or its successors, the ownership of the property and buildings described on the Deed of Trust will be transferred to the ownership of the Baptist Missionary of Association of Missouri. It shall be the responsibility of the borrower to maintain the property and buildings and to provide liability and property Insurance that includes the Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri as lender.”

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.”