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Happy Father’s Day!

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Missions Symposium & Mid-Year Meeting of the BMA of Missouri

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May 19-20, 2017
Landmark Baptist Church
DeSoto, Missouri

May 19-20, 2017 the Churches of the Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri had the privilege to fellowship, study God’s
Word and make plans for doing the work of God as we enjoyed the hospitality of the gracious folks at Landmark Baptist Church in DeSoto. Once again our mission symposium started at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening and continued for three sessions. We enjoyed the teaching of Bro. Jeff Swart, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Galena, Kansas as he focused on Bible Prophecy and its application for us today.

In Session One Bro. Swart used I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and other passages as he spoke about “The Rapture of the Saints.”
Following a short break, Session Two was used to address “Commonly Asked Questions about the Rapture.” Using Scripture to answer the questions, Bro. Swart emphasized taking Scripture literally until the literal makes no sense.” Session Three was held Saturday morning and addressed the subject “Is the United States Mentioned in Prophecy?” All three sessions were very informative and inspirational.

We appreciate Bro. Swart and his wife being with us again this year and thank them for their dedication to the Lord and His Word. Following the Saturday morning Session of the Symposium the messengers of our churches were called to order by President Dale Fish to take care of business concerning the BMA of Missouri.

Due to the absence of our clerk and the fact that we failed to elect an assistant clerk at our annual meeting last October when the Assistant Clerk was elected as President, Bro. Jim Ainley filled this vacancy for this meeting. A petitionary letter was read from Fellowship Baptist Church of Potosi. This church was received and the hand of fellowship was extended to their Pastor Bro. Mike Jarvis on behalf of the Association by Bro. Wayne Gibson.

The following reports were given and approved: the Kenneth Gibson Seminary Student Grant Fund, the Missouri Missionary
Baptist Paper, Missouri Baptist Loan Association, and the ALIVE Report. Bro. Don Burke was elected as clerk and Bro. Brian Meade was elected as assistant clerk of the BMA of Missouri. The Missionary Committee was called to order and heard the report of Assistant Mission Director, James Hoffmann. The committee voted to recommend investing some of our funds in
the BMA of Mississippi Revolving Loan Fund where it can draw interest until such a time it is needed.

The President called the messengers back in session and they approved the Missionary Committee recommendations. The Camp Report was given by Bro. Dan Wisely in the absence of Camp Director Chris Polk. Bro. Dennis Baker gave the Brotherhood report. The messengers voted to keep the Symposium Offering (for Camp Garwood and The Loan Association Grant Fund) open through the end of July. $600 was given during the meeting and another $150 has come in since then. Bro. Ben Kingston expressed his appreciation for the good response to the Renewal Retreat and announced that there will be another Retreat
next year.

Appreciation was expressed to Landmark for their hospitality.

Our annual meeting will be October 28, 2017 at Camp Garwood.

June 2017 – Assistant Mission Director’s Report

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Thanks to the hospitality of Pastor Wayne and Sis. Ruth Gibson, the good folks of Landmark Baptist Church, Bro. Je? Swart,
our Associational Officers, and the cooperation of all who attended we had a great Missions Symposium and Mid-Year Meeting in DeSoto. Thanks to everyone who was involved!

My wife and I attended the National BMAA meeting in Texas but had to miss the last day due to coming home for the funeral of
Bro. Terry Manning, a member of Bethany. It was a good meeting and we were glad to be able to enjoy some of it. The article below is printed to introduce you to a Missouri family that is working in Colorado with the Navajo Indians under the sponsorship of their home church, First Baptist of Bourbon. This family has been selected as a project by our State WMA for the 2017-2018 year. Read about them, pray for them, and support them through our WMA this year.


James Hoffman

A Note From Our Camp Director

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In May, our funds were running very low. We asked for and received a $20,000 loan from the revolving loan fund to cover the remaining dorm expenses and operate until camp week. We have since received a couple special gifts. I especially want to
send a heart felt Thanks to the remaining members of Springdale who have graciously blessed camp with funds as a result of closing their doors. Your gift will enable us to give back the loan and complete the building debt free. We praise the Lord for that!

We have been busy at camp trying to get our hut ready. Joe has been busy trying to get the new dorm ready. And both are very
close to being finished. Folks have been asking, “What can we do?” At this point EVERYTHING! Because I have done very little normal camp stuff. If you are coming to help get ready for camp, let me know I’ll have plenty for you to do.

As camp is quickly approaching, all of the churches should have already received a packet. If you have not please give me a
call. The church registration date is June 19. Registering by this date insures your T-shirt order will be filled. It also gives your group a better chance of being placed in the dorm of your choice. The registration helps us prepare in many ways. Not only in dorm space but also camper sites, food ordering and a more accurate T-shirt order. Not to mention tracking the number of campers throughout the week.

Please be sure the adults in your group have completed the adult screening form and that all of your campers are familiar with the camp rules. Continue to pray for our speakers, worship leaders, teachers, sponsors, and most of all the lost who will be introduced to Jesus in the valley we call Garwood.


Chris Polk • P.O. Box 271 • Matthews MO 63867
Home 573-472-1038 • Cell 573-380-1975 •
campgarwood@gmail.com

North Lake In Transition

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North Lake Church, Smithville, is defnitely in transition. Not only are they in the process of finding and moving into a new home, they also have called Jared Kathcart (former Associate Pastor at North Lake) to be the pastor as they move forward. Jared and his wife Nikki have two daughters, Andie North Lake In Transition Grace and Rowen, and enjoy building into the lives of the families in Smithville. He has a particular heart for living out the Gospel of Christ, and sees ministry as a God-given opportunity to help individuals and communities grow in their identities in Christ, as well as their knowledge of His truth and love. Jared has over 11 years of experience in ministry, serving at First Baptist Church in Bolivar, MO, Wellborn Baptist Church in Kansas City, KS, and with North Lake since 2012. Jared has a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry from Southwest Baptist University, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also serves as an adjunct professor. Along with Christ, his family, and his ministry, Jared is a lover of a long list of many other things which includes “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the Dallas Cowboys, and camping. You can reach Jared anytime by emailing him at jkathcart@hotmail.com or by calling 816-447-6033. Please be in prayer for North Lake, and for the Kathcart family. You can follow the pastor’s blog at https:// jaredkathcart.wordpress.com

-copied The Baptist Herald

Camp Time is Approaching!

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July 31 – August 4, 2017
Church Registration Deadline is June 19th

Pray about what you can do to help get camp ready Contact Chris for more information and To volunteer to help make this the GREATEST Camp For the Glory of God!!

Register here!

A Result from The Renewal Retreats

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The Special Missions Committee met April 17th in preparation for the BMA of Missouri Mid-year Meeting. The agenda included a report and discussion about the Renewal Retreats, including the participants’ desire for unity between the State and Meramec Associations. Out of this discussion three from this committee – Pastors representing both Associations – volunteered to draft a “Statement of Unity” to encourage the continued efforts in this process, and specifically hoping that in our 2017 annual meetings all entities will consider making an official stand to put the past in the past and go forward in unity for the good of all the work in Missouri.

Statement of Unity

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

We the undersigned, as pastors in both the Meramec and State Associations, would like to voice our appreciation for the desire expressed in the recent Renewal retreats to reunite our two Associations.

    Specifically:

  • We are inspired by the unanimous desire to put all past differences aside and again embrace one another in unity;
  • We acknowledge that faults have been committed by both sides in the original disagreement and/or dealing with related issues since then;
  • We apologize for any faults or shortcomings on our own part, and extend forgiveness for any offense committed by others;
  • We encourage others to do the same;
  • We anticipate that time – hopefully in the immediate future – when all parties have forgiven and sought forgiveness, when we all reach out in love and acceptance to one another, when all is restored.

We would ask that each pastor, each church, and each Association similarly resolve to put this issue behind us, and be a part of this movement of blessed unity.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

– Bro. Ben Kingston, Bro. Brian Meade, Bro. Don Burke

May 2017 – Assistant Mission Director’s Report

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I hope many of our readers and church leaders are making plans to attend the BMA of MO Mission Symposium and Mid-Year Business meeting at Landmark Baptist Church in DeSoto, May 19-20, 2017. This is a great opportunity for us to fellowship, learn, and participate in the wonderful work of God and we should take
advantage of the opportunity to get to know one another better. Landmark is eagerly awaiting our meeting with them and are making preparations to welcome us for these two days of joy and worship.

Our Special Missions Committee met April 17th and had a harmonious and productive meeting. The following members were present: Chairman Ben Kingston, Clerk Dan Wisely, Russell Chitwood, Dale Fish, Don Burke, and Brian Meade, As a result of this meeting there is an article on page 7 of this issue that calls for unity and cooperation in our work in Missouri. It is time to put the past in the past and go forward for the glory of God.

Please prayerfully consider this idea and consider leading your local and state associations to adopt a “statement of unity” in your annual meetings this year. I look forward to our next Renewal Retreat with the church sta?s of all the state and local associations together to learn more about one another and bond together as we work for the Lord. Bro. Ben Kingston is working on setting a time and place for this meeting and it will be announced as soon as information is available. Please make plans to attend.

Please join me in prayer concerning the planting of churches in Missouri.


by James Hoffman

New Director of International Missions

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Bro. Eric Johnson, former missionary to Mexico, will replace Bro. Phil Knott as Director of International Missions, effective in May. Bro. Knott recently announced his retirement after four years in that position.

Johnson was born into a family of BMA missionaries, and he and his wife, Kelly, and three children, Audrey Lee, Matty Ann, and Abram Gaylan, began serving as church planters in Pachuca, Mexico, in 2008. In 2011 Kelly was diagnosed with an illness that, over time, God has used to lead them back to ministry in the United States. Since then Johnson has continued to serve in BMA Missions through church planter training in evangelism, discipleship, and Biblical studies. Knott will work with Johnson during the next year as Johnson transitions into his new role as International Missions Director.

“We give praise and glory to God, our Healer, for the work he has done during the difficult time of Kelly’s illness and diagnosis, and we are very grateful for his mercy in our lives. Because of the strict nature of her diet and her immune system we had to conclude that it was not God’s will for us to live in Mexico. This was not an easy decision, but an obvious one. Dr. John David Smith, Bro. Phil and BMA Missions staff were very helpful to us during this time. I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and our churches, and I believe that God has much more in store for our future.”

Two Great Meetings You Don’t Want To Miss!!

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Landmark Missionary Baptist Church
1215 Boyd St. • DeSoto, MO is excitedly preparing to host:

The 2017 BMA of MO Missions Symposium

starting at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 19th with another session starting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. May 20th featuring guest speaker: Jeff Stewart who will speaking on “The Rapture of the Saints” – answering your questions about the Rapture & “Is the United States Mentioned in Prophecy?” This will be followed by

The 2017 Mid-year Meeting of the BMA of MO

May 20th, starting at approximately 10:30 a.m. as we take care the business of our association ministries. Each church is encouraged to send three messengers to participate in this meeting, and others are invited to attend.

Lunch will be provided by the host church on Saturday