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Saturday, October 26, 2013, forty-five messengers representing eighteen churches along with several visitors gathered in the facilities of Bethany Baptist Church in St. Louis for the 86th Annual Meeting of the Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri. Another thirty-eight churches represented by letter only.

Moderator Claude Evans asked Bro. Harrison Soldona from Lindsay Lane Baptist Church in Florissant to lead the opening song. He was accompanied by Sis. Ladonna Baker at the piano.
Bro. James Hoffmann extended a warm welcome to everyone present before he introduced the new pastor of Lindsay Lane, Bro. Drew Sawyer, who brought a challenging devotional about letting our Light Shine as Jesus instructed us in Matthew 5.
Two petitionary letters were read.

The West Doniphan Baptist Church, Doniphan, MO, and the Abundant Life in Christ Church in Charleston, MO petitioned for membership in the BMA of MO. A motion and second passed to accept these churches into the Association. Bro. James Hoffmann welcomed those present from Abundant Life in Christ into our association. No one was present from West Doniphan.

Bro. Evans pointed out that there needs to be some clarification regarding two statements in our By-Laws which cause some confusion. These statements are found on pages 10 and 11 of the 2012 Minutes.

Under Article IV – Meetings, Section 1, part A, it says “The host pastor shall be in charge of planning the worship service” for the Annual Meeting.

Article VI – Officers, Section 5 it says “The messengers shall, in annual session, elect a speaker and alternate to bring the annual message the following year.”

A motion and second passed to remove Section 5 from Article VI which gives the responsibility of selecting a speaker for the worship service in the annual meeting to the host pastor.
The following reports were given at various times during the meeting:

The ALIVE report by Brad Banderman; Brotherhood report by Dennis Baker; WMA Report by Terri Adams; Missouri Missionary Baptist Loan Association Report by Dennis Baker, Ted Hurley and David Griggs; the Kenneth E. Gibson Seminary Student Grant Fund Report by James Hoffmann; the Publications Committee Report by James Hoffmann and Jim Ford; The Encampment Committee Report by Chris Polk; the Clerk’s Report was read by Assistant Clerk, Dale Fish; the Missionary Committee Report by Wayne Gibson, Brian Meade, Danny Kirk, and Jamie Jones; and the Resolutions Committee Report by Tom McCanless.

The following were elected to serve in their respective positions with their term ending in ( ): Chris Dicus – ALIVE Committee (2017); Loan Association Officers – all six re-elected (2018); Jim Ford – Publications Committee (2016); and Dan Wisely – Encampment Committee (2018).

Wayne Gibson was re-elected as Chairman of the Missionary Committee along with Dennis Baker as Assistant Chairman and Jerry Adams as Clerk. Ray Thurman was elected and Assistant Clerk.

Claude Evans was re-elected as President of the BMA of MO and Ray Thurman was re-elected as Vice President.

James Hoffmann was elected as Editor of the Missouri Missionary Baptist paper and Don Burke was re-elected as Assistant Editor. It was noted that the paper is in need of special offerings or increased monthly support as adequate funds are not coming in each month. A motion and second passed to give $800 from our Mission Treasury to the paper in order to pay the editor the Christmas bonus we voted to give him last year. Expenses for the last two years have been about $300 a month more than income and our balance in getting very low.

Chris Polk was re-elected as Camp Superintendent and Treasure with Jerry Adams re-elected as Assistant in both positions.

Danny Kirk was re-elected as Missions Director with James Hoffmann as Assistant Director.

Tom McCanless, Rodney Dunlap and Wayne Gibson were appointed as the 2014 Resolutions Committee and Russell Chitwood, Denver Page and Matt Bolen were appointed as the 2014 Enrollment Committee.

A total of $2,250 was received for Minute Fund and Clerk Hire. The Clerk’s salary was set at $1,125 for this year.

The 2014 Annual Meeting will be at Landmark Baptist church in DeSoto, MO and the 2014 Mission Symposium and Semi-annual Meeting will be at Faith Baptist Church in St. Charles, MO.

We were honored to have the following representative of our National Association departments present to give reports of their various areas of labor: DiscipleGuide – Mike Jenkins; BMAA Missions – David Norvell; BMA Seminary – Van Widger; and National WMA – Janet Widger.

Bro. Russell Chitwood brought an inspirational message using Matthew 28:18-20 in which he emphasized that our Master, Mission, Message and Method never changes as we carry God’s Word to the World.

A rising vote of appreciation was given to the host church for their hospitality and the closing prayer was offered as all preachers present formed a circle and held hands in the altar.

By Veteran Middle East Missionary (via Baptist Trumpet)
Tell me, what would you do if 675 refugee families crashed the door of your church because they
were needy and hungry? I agree, it is a good problem, but it is a problem, none-the-less.

These families came from areas where you and I could never go. Then God, in His time and through sad circumstances, brings them to us. Can we sit idly by and not help them? This is not an easy question to answer when you do not have a continuous flow of support to help these families. And even if we did, is it our goal only to feed them?
I have always been a fan of the sovereignty of God. I like to be responsive to His moves, especially when they relate to the affairs of nations and men. I like to see every event as a platform for sharing the gospel. I like to be used of God to snatch people from the fire.

This pretty much tells you where we stand in relationship to the Syrian problem we are facing. Though I despise war, I can always see God’s hand as it allows me to share the gospel so that refugees who have seemingly lost everything can be saved for eternity.

This week, we made the decision to stop registering more families on the relief lists because we are running out of funds, space and personnel. Our team is visiting every family to map their needs and then decide what type of assistance would be best. The visit is always an opportunity to share Christ.
In the last week, we have had revival meetings at our refugee center east of Beirut and hundreds attended. Many stayed afterward to pray and seek the Lord.

Those of you who follow my Facebook page are staying up-to-date on what’s going on here. We have given out 250 blankets, and mattresses are on order. We have set aside $14,000 for mattresses and clothes.
When you look at the faces of these dear people and see the broken pride and the tears of loss and bewilderment, you wonder what tomorrow will hold for them. I saw one Muslim lady in one of the services who dealt with that question by singing, from the bottom of her heart, “I know who holds tomorrow.”

Another gentleman came to me, weeping, after hearing the message. “They killed my brother before my eyes,” he said. “Can I take revenge?” Then he broke down because he knew he had to wait on the Lord, forgive and be a peacemaker. He also realized that this can only happen if his own sins are forgiven and Christ is the Lord of his life. With tears streaming down my face, I laid my hand on him and led him in prayer.

These stories are only a sampling of what we encounter every day here.

In America, we are so far removed from the sights and sounds of war. But here we see families that are torn apart, children are killed and mothers raped. And, in many cases, it falls on the shoulders of missionaries on the field to care for them, pray with them and for them and show them the way to Jesus.

“Joujou,” who is in her thirties, is the leader in one of our Bible study groups. She has always been wheelchair bound and had been limited in what she could do here. But she loves the Lord and His Word, and now, for the first time in her life, she is able to share her faith with others and help them study the Word.

We are up to three Bible study groups, with an average attendance of 15 in each one. With the way things are going, next time you read an update there will be more.

Our refugees are learning English, and we are up to two classes. Would you like to teach? Would you like to share the gospel in English, then give them homework to memorize John 3:16 in English and explain it? Doors are open, would you join our team?

I am ecstatic that churches of the BMAA have taken interest in what is going on here. Now is the time to show the love of Christ in action. Not only do we need funds, we need people who are willing to serve among the refugees and share Christ with them.

Let me close with two urgent needs.
Prayer — There is resistance and opposition that we cannot talk about openly in this context. Prayer can break down the barriers.
Funds — We need plenty! In the past, our churches have responded with generosity, and I am grateful. Would you do that this time also? I would like to raise $100,000 for this project. I know we can do it. If 100 people or churches each gave a $1,000, we could raise that amount in one day. I believe God and I have confidence in His people.

Thank you for trusting me to be your missionary in this part of the world. It is probably the toughest, and most dangerous, field on our missionary map. Your ongoing prayers and continued support have produced fruit for eternity. Please help me continue the work.
Please send all gifts clearly designated for Syrian Refugee project to:
BMAA Missions Department
P.O. Box 30910
Little Rock, AR 72260.

Bro. Jones requested we print the following report from his Associate Church Planter as a report this month.
My name is Jared Kathcart, and for the last year I have had the great opportunity of serving the community of Smithville, MO at North Lake Church. As Associate Church Planter, God has put many great opportunities in my path, and I am humbled by His willingness to use me. Ever since my high school years in the tiny Ozark town of Richland, MO, I have had a heart for student ministries. Camp, mission trips, weekly Bible study, lock-ins, and much more had such impact on my life, and I didn’t want the fun to end. When I felt God calling me to ministry, it only seemed right to pursue the call in the form of student ministries.

This decision lead me to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, where I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies with a minor in Youth Ministry. After graduating in 2009, I wanted to continue my education in a Seminary setting, so I enrolled at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Kansas City. After four more years, and a May graduation, I can confidently say that I think I am done with college. It was finally time to put all this passion, education, and experience to work.

After joining North Lake Church in the summer of 2012, their emphasis on Authenticity in Christ became very evident. Jamie Jones, the Head Pastor and Church Planter, has embodied this concept consistently, and has been a great example for me and his flock. When coming on board as the associate pastor and planter, Jamie asked me to develop and lead the student ministries of North Lake. This last year has been challenging and rewarding. Our 12 months have included a retreat, lock-ins, camp, community service, a new weekly discipleship for 3rd-5th graders, Backyard Bible Clubs, and the miracle of three salvations. Disciples are being formed at North Lake Church, and I am excited to be used by God.

During my time in college and graduate school, I met, dated, and married the love of my life. Nikki Mereghetti (now Kathcart, thanks to the wonderful vows of marriage) and I met at Youth Front Camps in the summer of 2008. This last May, we welcomed Andie Grace to our family. I know I’m biased, but God has blessed me with what I believe to be the two most wonderful girls a man could ask for.

by Bro. Jamie Jones

by Daniel Wisely, Pastor of Kewanee Missionary Baptist Church

I would like to share a little about my E.I.M (Evangelistic International Ministries) trip with Mike Goodwin and Danny Bullock to Ghana Africa.

We flew out of Shreveport LA. August 13th with the destination of Accra in Ghana Africa. This in it self is a great miracle of God due to the fact that I DO NOT fly. So, placing all my faith in God, after 15 1/2 hours in flight we landed safely in Accra. For lack of time to build an alter and offer a sacrifice of praise for landing safely we hurried to meet Bro. Moses Adjekwei (Pastor of Mission Temple Baptist Church in Accra).
Mission Temple was our host church. Our goal for the next 6 days was teaching Pastors and church leaders Discipleship. Bro. Mike centered his teachings on Church Leadership and Bro. Danny tackled Bible Study. These 2 men and their topics laid the foundation for true Biblical discipleship. My topics centered around our Discipleway curriculum, Prayer – Worship – Giving – Serving and witnessing.

The Pastors and church leaders of the BMA of Africa around Accra supported this conference very well by presenting an average attendance of 40 each day. They couldn’t seem to get enough of God’s Word, they truly and continuously desired more. What a blessing to experience this type of passion!

Sunday Morning Bro. Moses allowed me to preach with the help of an interpreter and 1 soul was saved and there were 2 re-dedications. Bro. Mike preached at another one of our churches that same morning. We give God the glory!
The most exciting portion of the trip, for me anyway, came Tuesday night, August 20th, Bro. Moses set up a large movie screen, run by a generator that night just outside the heart of Accra, (the only true light we had other than a few pen lights), he showed a clip of the movie, (The Passion of the Christ), where Jesus was beaten and crucified on the cross of Calvary. Bro. Moses froze the screen behind me of the picture of Christ hanging on the cross. I was then allowed to preach (as I pointed to Jesus) John 3:16 came alive. “This is truly how much Jesus loves us.” Even though we were outside in a public place you could have heard a pin drop. From there I simply presented the “Romans Road” using my pen light to see the scriptures and an interpreter for the 3 different dialects needed. At the conclusion we had an invitation and 65 souls were added unto the Kingdom. To say that I got excited would be an understatement. Trust me it gets even better, as I watched soul after soul come to Jesus I saw many church members from Mission Temple flock to take individuals aside having a hearts desire and conviction to lead the people to Christ.

Now who is the teacher? My heart was so touched, never before have I seen people so passionate about leading people to Christ. Oh how I wish we (God’s people), (Churches) could be as passionate about His commission. Wow, what we could do for the glory of God!!!

When I got back into the truck that night to go back to the hotel Bro. Mike looked at me with a big- ole- smile on his face and said “you’ve just been bit”, all I could say was “YES, I have!”

Thank you Lord for this moment, place, and time I will never forget and hope to one day experience it again. I would like to thank Kewanee Missionary Baptist Church for supporting me on this trip to Accra. Without their love, prayers, and financial support I could not have gone. I wish everyone could go and experience what I have but be careful…you might get bit!

Note: The next Barnabus Touch trip is Sept. 3-11 to Kathmandu, Nepal. Mike Goodwin, Danny Bullock Mitch Dulaney and Rocky Goodwin will teach an Old Testament Survey course to about 10 pastors.

When the 2014 trips are scheduled, they will be announced so any who would like to go can begin to make preparation. For more information, contact Danny Bullock at (870) 904-5032 or danbull0550@gmail.com.