Articles

Thankful!

We are so blessed to share our deepest gratitude for each one of the following that has happened here at “Belen” Hispanic Ministry Outreach:

Prayer Network:

40 days of prayer and evangelism now have been completed!!! We have been blessed by each of you who prays for us. We now have a specific person or family that pray for us each day of the week. If you would like to pray for us on a specific day please let us know!

Outreach:

Our Church Bethany members and Bro. and Sis. Hoffmann have spent a good amount of efforts and time to prepare the space for our coming Education Outreach, organizing the space, cleaning tables and chairs, installing a WIFI extender and more. We are so excited to be planning this outreach to our Hispanic friends in the area. My wife Hannah is coordinating this outreach, feel free to reach out to her If you’d like to participate once or twice a week with tutoring students, sharing your testimony, bring some snacks, etc.. You can reach her at (402) 969 0119. This outreach provides many opportunities to connect and meet more people in the area. A huge potential to develop a children’s ministry. This outreach will start on 3/15 Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Visit New Testament Church in Sullivan Mo.

We really enjoyed our visit with Brother Wright and his family an all of the amazing, loving, caring New Testament Baptist in Sullivan! We were Blessed to meet each one of them and enjoyed learning how God is moving and using the leadership in this church for carrying out the great commission and how they are praying for us and our ministry. Bro. Josh and his family made sure we were taken care of with presents for the girls a delicious dinner, wonderful fellowship, and prayer. We were blessed and are planning to visit any church that would like to meet us and hear ministry updates on how the Lord is leading this ministry.Feel free to contact me to schedule us. We have an open agenda starting this coming month of April. Thank you, Bro. Josh Wright and your lovely family, and congregation for such lovely ways to show Jesus to us.

From our family:

By God’s grace we Celebrated our 7th Wedding anniversary, we enjoyed reading so many Facebook posts helping us make that date more and more important. We are praying that the Lord uses our wedding testimony to reach out the younger generation for discipleship and growth in the grace of the Lord Jesus for church. The church must grow, we are expecting our third baby in October of this year. Help us pray for my wife’s health and a healthy baby, Yay!! Thank you, Jesus.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2.

Bro. Juan Fernandez & Family

Following are a series of announcements made in the Camp Garwood Facebook group last week. After our trip to camp in the snow I had promised the group some big announcements in the following week. My family and I headed to camp for the big snow storm and had a great time. Playing in the snow beats working in it any day. You can see pictures from that trip on the Facebook page if you are interested. Now that winter is officially over we turn our thoughts to Spring. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at camp. As always we ask that you be praying for us, and all the folks that will be working to make camp possible this year.

Big Announcement #1

Camp has purchased this tractor! We have needed to make this upgrade for awhile. We were not really looking at this time but this opportunity came up and the committee and myself thought it was time. However, Now that we have it, we need to pay for it. We have the funds in the account but rather than wiping out the account we borrowed the money from the loan fund. We will get the old tractor ready to sell along with the implements that we don’t need. We will designate all DEWr funds toward the tractor purchase this year. So with that being said, are you a DEWr? A DEWr is anyone who gives $ 75 annually to camp. That’s roughly .20 a day or $1.50 a week. Will you be a Camp Garwood DEWr?

Camp week in years past cost around $8000.00 we don’t know yet what our food costs will be this year so we are planning for a $10,000.00 week. And we know there will be some extra repair/replace costs to get camp ready. (Freezer, Slide, Archery, etc.)

The tractor loan is $17,500.00. This may be too much info. I could simply say, HEY we need money! But I’d rather lay everything out for you.

Big Announcement #2

Not as “BIG” and NOT requesting money. But still huge in importance. As Spring quickly approaches we are asking groups to adopt a dorm. This will involve a good cleaning, wiping down each bunk and making minor repairs as necessity and ability allows. (Lighting, Toilets, leaking sinks, gutters, painting, cleaning up leaves, etc).

Dorms 1-9, upper shower house, lower shower house, Dining Hall, Kitchen, Canteen and the Tabernacle are all currently available. There are other projects available if your group is larger and more energetic. Things like cleaning and treating woodwork, cleaning off the golf course, setting out tables and trash cans to name a few. There are also more involved projects, if interested just ask.

It’s been awhile. I know everyone is excited to get back to camp. This is your opportunity to get some camp time and help us get ready.

This is getting long, but there’s another reason we are asking groups to adopt a dorm. In the past someone would send a message. Hey, we cleaned this building. Then a couple weeks later someone else would say, We cleaned this building. One year the same building was “cleaned“ three different times by three different people. Hopefully this way we get more accomplished with the same effort.

You can begin after Easter. That’s when the water will be back on. Talk to your groups and let me know where you can help!

Big Announcement #3

Today’s announcement is just a reminder that we have entered a new year. Everyone 18 and older will need to complete an adult screening form. The form can be found at bmamissouri.org

While ON THE WEB SITE out the camp rules and Child Protection policy. Make sure to get all this completed before coming to any overnight activities!

Big Announcement #4

Finally the fun announcements!! This years DEWr retreat is scheduled for August 13-14. This retreat is a fun weekend planned specially for our Camp Garwood DEWrs. A DEWr is anyone who gives $75 annually to Camp Garwood. In the past we have ordered special T-shirts for DEWrs. We will not be doing that this year. While we don’t have all the details worked out. We can promise a great weekend of Fun and Fellowship in one of the most peaceful valleys in the world.

We have moved this retreat to after camp. I hope this works out for everyone. We couldn’t get an earlier date to work out.
Be a DEWr, Come to the retreat!

Big Announcement #5

The final and Biggest Big Announcement of all! I’ve been waiting all week to make this one! Tonight’s announcement is about The Spring Retreat! April 9-10. You’re ready to get back to camp, well mark your calendar. You guys do not want to miss this retreat! We will have great food, some exciting activities, and best of all Bro. Doug Mickan will be coming with his pals to lead our worship services and teach us about Jesus. It’s been a while since Doug has been to camp. I’m super excited and truly hope you are too. We are planning a service on Friday night and a service on Saturday morning.
This year registration for camp will be done online only. We want to test the system with this retreat. Each CHURCH planning to attend the retreat should register by March 29th. The retreat registration form can be found on the bmamissouri website. The form can be found under the Camp Garwood tab as Camp Garwood Retreat. Click the Online Registration link.
We will have a donation jar set up in the dining hall. Any help in off setting the retreat costs will be greatly appreciated.

As you can see from the pictures and words of this article we are: Getting Ready • Getting Set • and Inviting YOU to join us working and enjoying Camp Garwood this year!

Are you getting anxious about going to Camp Garwood again? Are you wondering when and what will be happening there this year? Do you want to know if you can do anything to help at Camp Garwood?

Then check out this article and read the 5 BIG Announcements Bro. Chris has made that will interest you!

Dear churches of Missouri:
As you know we have a missions symposium in May each year coupled with the Mid-year Association meeting on the following day. May 14th and 15th will be this year’s dates for the missions symposium on Friday and the Association meeting on Saturday. The meetings will take place at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan. Bro. Josh Wright is the pastor and he has made some hotel recommendations that will be included in this article.

We are begging, yes, I said begging all our pastors and pastors wives and their respective church members to come. We are in unprecedented times and many of our churches and church staffs are struggling and need encouragement and the Friday service has been prepared to meet this need
The first hour will be an overview of the missions efforts of the Missouri churches in the Philippines and in St. Louis with Bro. Juan giving a report. We will take a break with some refreshments and then Bro Josh. Wright will share a special message of encouragement for our churches and pastors and their families.

This message will be born out of a heartfelt concern for where our churches and staffs are as a result of the pandemic and the daily struggles of life and ministry.

Pastor, please ask your people to prayerfully consider attending and churches, please ask your pastor to go with you. Bro. Josh and I feel strongly that the need for encouragement is association wide.

Friday Missions Symposium:
6:00-6:40 pm 1st Session
6:40-7:00 pm Break
7:00-8:00 pm 2nd Session

Saturday we will have our Mid-year State Association meeting at New Testament at 9:00 a.m. The schedule for this business meeting and time of fellowship is under the direction of Moderator Jerry Adams.

Each church of the BMA of Missouri is allowed 3 messengers to represent them at this meeting and everyone is welcome to attend as our guests. Meal provided after the meeting.

The hotels we would recommend and their addresses are:

Budget Lodging
866 S. Outer Rd.
St Clair, MO 63077
(636) 629-1000
-and-
Comfort Inn
736 S. Service Rd.
Sullivan, MO 63080
(573) 468-7800

Jason Alexander, owner of the Budget Lodging said he would do this for our group: “reserve at budgetlodging.com and the hotel will donate 15% of your stay to the BMA missions fund. You “must” include “BMA” on your reservation. We are very grateful for this kind gesture from Bro. Jason.

We look forward to seeing you on May 14th and 15th at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan, Missouri.

by Ben Kingston, Missions Director, BMA of Missouri

Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, DeSoto
March 6, 2021 • 10:00 a.m.
Come Meet our New Missouri Missionaries
(Juan & Hannah Hernandez)
Morning Message • Bro. James Hoffmann
Alternate • Bro. Benjamin Kingston
Lunch will not be served by the church.

Jeff Swart, BMAA President
Happy New Year!

On the last evening of each year, a celebration is held throughout our land. This celebration climaxes at the stroke of midnight at Times Square in New York City when multitudes of people cheer and shout “Happy New Year!” They blow toy horns and other noisemakers, laugh and embrace and kiss someone. This spectacle is repeated in succession in the various time zones from the Atlantic Seaboard to the far away islands of Hawaii.

For Americans, the new year symbolizes new opportunities, new hopes and new dreams; yet the stroke of the midnight hour simply marks the dawning of another day. Whether the year really will be “new” lies within each person. If, when the celebrating is over, we fall back into the same old life — then nothing has really changed except the date on the calendar. New Year’s only becomes “new” if we make it so.

As you face the new year, I want you to understand that God is far more interested in your future than He is in your past. Some folks think God is fixated on their past, reminding them of the things they’ve done wrong. The simple truth is that God isn’t interested in your past —He is interested in your future. God reminds us that we are to “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul made a similar statement: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Phil. 3:13).

Regardless of the failures you’ve had in your life this year; financial, moral, relational, marriage, etc. God is offering you a new beginning. You are not a failure because you fail, you are only a failure if you quit. You matter to Jesus Christ, and He can make the rest of your life turn out in a whole different way if you give Him the pieces. He wants to exchange His peace for your pieces.

God specializes in new beginnings because He possesses the power to change lives. God doesn’t want you to turn over a new leaf – He wants to give you a whole new life if you will let Him. Give this new year to God and you will be amazed at what He can do with it. Remember, it is never too late to start anew.

by Dr. John M. Adams • Executive Director, Moral Action

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” It seems today that the wicked are ruling. So many true Christian believers are disillusioned. So many watch as the streets are filled with violence and corruption. Anarchy is defined as “a state of disorder due to the absence or non-recognition of authority. Synonymous words are revolution, disorder, chaos, mayhem and mobocracy. There seems to be a lack of punishment and a lack of obedience to the laws of the land.

Punishment for wrongdoing is operative in this world although man has not faced his responsibility in performing it. Paul the Apostle has summed up the principle in the words of Galatians 6:7; “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This axiom of truth is far-reaching, invading all of creation.

• The Basis for Punishment

Historically the basis for punishment in our society has been man’s belief in God – the God Who is Sovereign over the universe, the God Who has revealed Himself as moral, having a standard of right and wrong with punishment for the wrongdoer. This punishment is not based particularly on its being a deterrent to wrongdoing, but rather as the wage for wrongdoing. Romans 6:23 bears witness in these words, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Today the philosophy of unbelief with its rejection of the living and moral God and the exaltation of man to a supremacy that is subject to no higher power than himself is demanding a hearing in our land. Such a belief is not new, having always been present; but our intellectual climate and our growing freedom of expression have provided man with liberty to accept or reject the declarations of Scripture.

Our concept of right and wrong and the punishment of wrongdoers will be determined on the basis of our belief or unbelief in the living God. Humanism does not believe in God.

Believing that God is and that He alone is the Director of this universe, we must submit to His dictates; and in the realm of punishment we must obey His commands. God rules according to His standard of right and wrong. This includes punishment for wrongdoers!

• Manifestations of Punishment

It is Observed in Creation

Punishment is seen in the operation of natural law. Violation of these laws have their results. To jump off a cliff, expecting a reversal of the law of gravity, in no way stays off a broken body. Punishment is also manifest when one tampers with the animal kingdom. To antagonize the “king of the jungle” would be to receive a recompense of reward.

It is Observed in the Societies of the World

As societies develop, they include regulations and punishments. Even those which fall under the caption of being freedom fighters, a term which implies deep concern for the common man, have punishment – severe punishment – for all who do not conform to the rules. It is difficult to conceive of a society continuing which does not incorporate into its life a system of punishment for offenders.

It is interesting to note that before the Pilgrims landed on the shores of the new world, they covenanted to be ruled by a document which would control each member of the company.

It is Observed in the Scriptures

Believing that God has spoken and that the Bible is that message, we shouldn’t be surprised to find many passages dealing with the subject of punishment.

Punishment Inflicted Directly by God.

Consider the following examples: Cain: (Genesis 4:11-16). When God made His pronouncement, Cain responded, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”

The Flood: (Genesis 6:1-8:22). Rejection of God’s warning resulted in the removal of that society. When the door of the ark was shut, there was no change in the announced punishment.

Sarai: (Genesis 12:17). In protecting His “chosen,” God inflicted punishment on Pharaoh’s house although his offense was in ignorance!
Ananias and Sapphira: (Acts 5:1-11). As a definite and shocking example of God’s righteous indignation toward lying – and that to God – these two met immediate physical death.

Punishment Administered by Man.

(Genesis 9:1-7) Disrespect and destruction of human life were the first offenses to be placed under man’s jurisdiction. Capital punishment was to be the consequence of murder. This principle continues throughout Scripture, being affirmed in the New Testament by Christ and the Apostle Paul (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-14).

Exodus-Deuteronomy, “If we knew, we would do,” sums up Israel’s appeal to Moses (Deuteronomy 5:27). This prompted God to give the Law, coupled with specific punishments for those who failed to comply. A careful analysis of Scripture will reveal the severity of punishment accompanying the Law.

• Responsibility in Punishment

Man’s responsibility in punishment is divided between the family, the church and the state. When each is diligent in the task, the entire society functions with a measure of peace and prosperity.

The Family

Being ordained of God, the family stands as a very important part of God’s plan for mankind. Although some sociologists don’t accept the family as an absolute, God does. He calls for a man to leave his parents, cleave to his wife and, living together, rear their children according to God’s rules (Genesis:24; Matthew 19:6)

Children Need To Be Trained.

No child comes into this world programmed to do that which is right (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23). Right actions are the result of right training, beginning the first day and including God’s plan of salvation.

Life must be directed if it is to develop the kind of character acceptable to God and one that will function in society. In order to accomplish this task there must be a penalty for disobedience (Proverbs 22:15; Ephesians 6:1-4).

Children Need to Understand Punishment.

Abraham must have been an example of this kind of parent (Genesis 18:19). Having made clear to the child the difference between right and wrong, the rewards and penalties must also be clearly presented (Proverbs 22:6).

Parents Must Carry Through in Punishment.

Consider Proverbs 13:24 and 23:13, 14. When rules are established and broken, it is the parents’ responsibility to administer the punishment. If children don’t learn this lesson at home, will they learn it in society? If we neglect our responsibility as parents, can we rightfully criticize state officials who have become soft in administering punishment?

• The Church

It is an established principle in Scripture that all who are born-again believers are to be identified with a local church. In this communion there are certain rules laid down by God, including the discipline of the offenders.

The Guiding Principle (Matthew 18:15-17; I Timothy 3:1-16). A church congregation is responsible to maintain a good testimony in the community. This is possible only when each individual member keeps the rules. If sin is allowed to reign and situations are overlooked which scream for correction, the church is failing in its responsibility.

• The State

The state with its rule is ordained of God. It has been authorized to administer punishment on wrongdoers to protect society (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-14). This is a basic principle in the structure of our government.

According to Scripture, governmental officers are just as responsible to God as are gospel ministers. They are commissioned by God to “carry the sword.” They are guardians of human life and are to use all means available to maintain decency and order including capital punishment of those committing deliberately planned murder.

Growing Softness in Punishment

Today’s softness in punishment reigns from the home to the church to the state. It appears that all too frequently the offender received greater protection than does the offended! The older generation, observing the moral breakdown, blames the younger generation; and the younger generation, beholding the hypocrisy of the day, blames the older generation. Yet all the while there is a philosophy which is sapping the very heart of our great nation.

Why Such Softness Against Crime

God and His Word are excluded. Once God’s Word controlled the decisions of our government and our courts. Punishment was meted out as the just penalty for crimes committed.

Walter Lippmann saw this change coming in his day. In his book, The Preface to Morals (1929), he showed that a switch from the living and true God to the created god of the liberal mind would change the moral standards and stamina of America. His conclusion is apparent today!
To teach that man is the product of evolution without responsibility to the supreme God and that there is no destiny beyond the few days of this life which is destined to annihilation, is to foster an attitude of “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

Once again to the Scriptures, we find that when “the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). The designation “wicked” in this text is used in the Old Testament of those who walk apart from God’s Word and His authority! Without question the answer to our plight in regard to honest punishment for crimes committed will be realized only through a spiritual revival which enthrones God and His moral standard of right and wrong!