Baptist Missionary Association of Missouri
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psalm 95:2
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 per cent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my
position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress…It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitude is right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.
—Charles R Swindoll,
Strengthening Your Grip
(to be considered October 28, 2017)
by Dan Wisely, Clerk
This is a particularly busy time as some local associations have their annual meetings, and the annual State Association meets which involves the closing of financial and record books of all our departments. As we review the past year we are reminded of God’s blessings upon His work among our churches.
I was able to attend the annual meeting of the Meramec Landmark Baptist Association which met at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan September 22nd. It was a joy to be welcomed to this meeting and to be able to give a report on State Missions, the Missouri Missionary Baptist and the Kenneth Gibson Seminary Student Grant Fund. Thanks to Bro. Michael Hearts for sending the summary of this meeting that is located elsewhere on this page.
Appreciation is expressed to these churches for their cooperation in our state work during the year and the special offerings that were given at this meeting. Your support and encouragement is a blessing to the Lord’s work.
It was a joy to attend part of the Men’s Retreat at camp Garwood the last weekend of September. It is great to fellowship with the men and boys of our churches and to enjoy a time of relaxation and fellowship at camp.
Our BMA of MO Special Missions Committee met September 14th at the Ponderosa in Perryville. Those present were: Russell Chitwood, Ben Kingston, Don Burke, Dale Fish, Claude Evans, and Dan Wisely. I appreciate these men and their willingness to take time to meet and help plan the work we need to be doing.
Our clerk, Bro. Dan Wisely has taken the time to provide a copy of the recommendations that we plan to present to the Missionary Committee at our State Meeting October 28th at camp Garwood. Those recommendations follow this article.
Please prayerfully consider these recommendations and come to the meeting prepared to vote on them or present recommendations you have that will guide us as we do the work of missions If you have any questions about any of these recommendations please contact me or any of the committee members and we will be happy to try to answer your questions.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Lord and His churches in this capacity and please pray with me that we might use all the opportunities God gives us to reach others with the Gospel and strengthen His Churches.
submitted by Michael Hearst
The Meramec Landmark Baptist Association annual meeting was held Friday, September 22nd at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan, MO. The following are some of the highlights of this meeting:
• Bro Joe Ginter, Pastor-Charity, Columbia, MO preached the annual message.
• voted to send $5000 to the BMAA Disaster Relief Fund.
• voted to send $2000 to the BMAA Seminary Chapel Fund as a memorial to Bro. Jim R. Ford.
• voted to send $1,500 to the Kenneth Gibson Scholarship Fund.
• voted to send $1,000 to the Missouri Missionary Baptist paper.
• voted to begin church revitalization e?orts at Charity Baptist Church, Columbia, MO and at Berean Baptist Church, Festus, MO
• authorized Moderator, Bro Ben Kingston, to work with the State Association on a joint “Revitalization” meeting at the State Camp in Garwood, MO and to help with the cost of the meeting.
• standing vote of appreciation for the special offerings from the former Springdale Baptist Church in Fenton, MO.
• standing vote of appreciation to New Testament Baptist Church, Sullivan, MO and Pastor Charles Idleman for their hospitality in hosting this meeting.
•Pastors and wives fellowship to be held Fri, Oct 13 at Meramec Retreat Center
• 2018 Meramec Association’s Annual meeting to be held September 21st at White Oak Grove, Potosi, MO. Brian Kingston was elected to bring Introductory Sermon with Charles Idleman as alternate speaker.
We Need Your Help? Each year the Baptist Missionary Association sends a form to all BMA churches to collect the most up-to-date information. This helps us connect, build relationships, and provide accurate information of the impact BMA churches are
making through their local communities with the gospel.
What Can My Church Do?
1. Visit bmaamerica.org to update your church information at any time Once on the website, select the “BMA Churches” tab listed at the top, then click on “BMA Church Log In.” Only pastors, church sta? members or church members granted authority by their church may add or update their church information.
Or
2. Fill out the pre-populated form provided and mail to:
BMA America
PO Box 1188
Conway, AR 72033
What’s New?
Update your church information online at ANY TIME! Visit bmaamerica.org to view and edit your church information. Once on the website, select the “BMA Churches” tab listed at the top, then click on “BMA Church Log In.”
Only pastors, church staff members or church members granted authority by their church may add or update their church information.
On-line Feature
As an added value to each of our churches and associations, you will now be able to print and mail updated church information to your local and state associations by selecting “Print PDF” at the top right hand corner once you’re logged in.
Need Help?
Please contact Lauren Noland in the Information Services department at 501-358-4007 or lauren@bmaamerica.org
It is hard to believe we have entered the last month in our associational year that started last October. Your Special Missions Committee will meet September 14th to review our work this past year and to formulate plans for the year ahead. We
hope to have some recommendations to present to the Missionary Committee at the annual meeting at Camp Garwood in October.
My wife and I enjoyed attending the annual meeting of the BMA of Southwest Missouri in Springfeld last month. We appreciate the hospitality extended to us and the fellowship we enjoyed as we met in the newly redecorated facilities of Palmer Heights Missionary Baptist Church. It was a joy to present a report on BMA of MO Missions, The Missouri Missionary Baptist and The Kenneth Gibson Seminary Student Grant Fund.
These churches support state missions regularly and they also voted to give special o?erings to the Kenneth Gibson Seminary Student Grant Fund and the Missouri Missionary Baptist along with a love o?ering to my wife and I.
They elected the following ofces to lead them:
Bro. Larry Henbest • Moderator
Bro. Loma Burrell • Assistant Moderator
Bro. Marvin McMullin • Secretary-Treasurer
Sis. Dorsey Dalton • Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
Sis, Vicky Henbest • Historian
Sis. Linda Townzen • Assistant Historian
Bro. Loma Burrell brought the annual message using Ezekiel 22:1-4, 30-31 as his text He emphasized the need of praying for our leaders in these Last Days and then spoke on four kinds of men God calls into ministry:
I. Decision Makers,Joshua 24:14-15.
II. Those who Desire to Know God in a Special Way
III Those Who are Dedicated to Serve, II Timothy3:12.
IV. Those who have Determination
As I prepare this report and get the paper ready for the printer my heart is heavy with the news of the resignation of more pastors. Please pray for our churches who are seeking pastors and for our preachers as they seek God’s will in their lives
Let’s pray and work to make this coming year a better and more productive year for the Lord in the work of the BMA of Missouri.
by Chris Polk, Camp Superintendent
I missed the paper deadline last month. So let’s begin with our camp numbers. We had 357 campers total with over 50 visitors each day and over 90 visitors on Wednesday. If you missed camp you will want to know that the new dorm is completed and was used camp week. We are extremely thankful to everyone who helped with funds, construction and moving in. The best news of the week are the 11 professions of faith!
It sounds like it was a great week, I hate I had to miss it, but thankful I made it to every evening service. Bro. Shawn was
a great blessing it sounds like everyone enjoyed the messages and spending time with him through the week. It was also a blessing hearing Bro. Tom Foster preach the closing message on Thursday night.
By the time you read this the Paint ball retreat will be past. But the Men’s Archery retreat will only be a week or so away. Scheduled for September 29th-30th we hope you will plan to join us. These retreats are always a lot of fun. Whether
you shoot a bow or just come for the fellowship I promise you will enjoy the weekend.
The BMA of MO annual meeting will be hosted at Camp on Oct. 28th. Bro. Ben Kingston will bring the annual message. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and we will have lunch catered by the Rockin’ Mobile Cafe. Watch the camp Facebook page for more details. We
will have the dorms open and available for anyone wanting to come over on Friday night. There will also be coffee and donuts available on Saturday before the meeting. We hope you will come to the meeting and also come see your campgrounds at Garwood.
Our 2018 camp July 30th – August 3rd will be here before we know it. Bro. Michael Treat from Central Baptist Church in
Conway, AR will be our speaker. It isn’t too soon to begin praying for him and our camp week. We have several things planned
for 2018. Please be praying for myself and the committee as we begin working towards a great camp!
All churches of the BMA of Missouri are encouraged to send your messengers and any other member who would like to come to Camp Garwood for our annual meeting in October. What an opportunity to see how God has blessed our work and to hear the reports of how He is blessing our efforts in Missouri.
Thanks to Bro. Chris Polk and his “crew” for inviting this meeting and for making preparations to welcome all who come. You can read about what to expect in Bro. Polk’s article here. Let’s have a record crowd at this meeting!!
Please Note: Article III section 3 states: any church not identifying with this Association either by messenger or letter for three consecutive years shall be considered as having terminated her membership in this Association. Letter forms are in the center of the 2016 Minutes and can be obtained by contacting our clerk, Bro. Don Burke potosipastor@gmail.com