This video says it all! Click the link for more details!
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Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
LONGVIEW MISSION TEAM HEADS FOR RHODE ISLAND
Please pray for our Longview FBC team who'll be coming up in a few days (August 2-9) to assist with a Vacation Bible School and revival services at Chariho Baptist Church in Bradford, Rhode Island.
We're also planning to help a new church plant called The Bridge in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, by distributing information about the church, helping with a survey, and engaging local residents in conversation as the opportunities arise. We pray that we will take advantage of many opportunities to share Christ. Please pray for
safety
good health
stamina
patience
wisdom
and
boldness
as we share the love of Jesus with New Englanders!
Chariho Southern Baptist Church, Bradford, RI
The Chariho church is currently seeking a pastor, but is being shepherded by Dr. Rafael Hernandez, Director of Missions for the Southeastern New England Baptist Association.
Church Planter Cal Bankston, pictured here, pastors The Bridge in South Kingstown.
We depend on you to "cover" Southern Rhode Island with your prayers!
Thank you!
We're also planning to help a new church plant called The Bridge in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, by distributing information about the church, helping with a survey, and engaging local residents in conversation as the opportunities arise. We pray that we will take advantage of many opportunities to share Christ. Please pray for
safety
good health
stamina
patience
wisdom
and
boldness
as we share the love of Jesus with New Englanders!
The Chariho church is currently seeking a pastor, but is being shepherded by Dr. Rafael Hernandez, Director of Missions for the Southeastern New England Baptist Association.
Church Planter Cal Bankston, pictured here, pastors The Bridge in South Kingstown.
We depend on you to "cover" Southern Rhode Island with your prayers!
Thank you!
"TELL ME A BIBLE STORY!"
One of the most rewarding things we're involved in this year involves chronological Bible storying with an enthusiastic group of members of Chariho Baptist Church in Bradford, Rhode Island! On successive Wednesday evenings, we began in May with the creation story and will conclude this 36-week session in the book of Revelation . . .the essence of God's Redemption Story from the beginning to the end of the Bible!
It's such fun! Each week the leader quickly reviews the last week's story, then TELLS (not reads!) the story in his own words from the chosen passage for the week.
After the story is told each week in about 3-5 minutes, we reconstruct the facts of the story and then someone in the group retells it again. Afterwards the groups responds to such questions as "What did you learn about God from this story?" or "What did you learn about mankind in this story?" or perhaps "With which character in the story do you most nearly identify and why?" And then "What will I do differently as a result of having heard this story?" Questions are varied and may lead in many directions depending on the responses of the group. Most interesting!
Then we are challenged to retell the story each week to at least one person! In that way we actually get to share the "sword of the Spirit" with someone. Of course, we know that God's Word is "powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword"! Can you just visualize how many people can be touched with the Word if each group member retells the story to just one person each week???
In fact, Sherilyn used the story of Abraham and Isaac a few days ago to illustrate God's provision and faithfulness. . . Praise the Lord! The young man prayed to receive Christ shortly thereafter!
In the picture below, Ben is telling the story a couple of weeks ago. .Stay tuned for more about this later!
It's such fun! Each week the leader quickly reviews the last week's story, then TELLS (not reads!) the story in his own words from the chosen passage for the week.
After the story is told each week in about 3-5 minutes, we reconstruct the facts of the story and then someone in the group retells it again. Afterwards the groups responds to such questions as "What did you learn about God from this story?" or "What did you learn about mankind in this story?" or perhaps "With which character in the story do you most nearly identify and why?" And then "What will I do differently as a result of having heard this story?" Questions are varied and may lead in many directions depending on the responses of the group. Most interesting!
Then we are challenged to retell the story each week to at least one person! In that way we actually get to share the "sword of the Spirit" with someone. Of course, we know that God's Word is "powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword"! Can you just visualize how many people can be touched with the Word if each group member retells the story to just one person each week???
In fact, Sherilyn used the story of Abraham and Isaac a few days ago to illustrate God's provision and faithfulness. . . Praise the Lord! The young man prayed to receive Christ shortly thereafter!
In the picture below, Ben is telling the story a couple of weeks ago. .Stay tuned for more about this later!
Monday, July 4, 2011
NEW ENGLAND---CRADLE OF LIBERTY & BAPTISTS!
Since today is Independence Day in our beloved country, it just seemed that we couldn't overcome the urge to share with you, our family and friends, a bit about the history which surrounds us as we serve as missionaries here in New England! We hope you enjoy the narratives and pictures! But---we warn you---there could be more coming at a later date!!!
From our study of history, we remember that it was in New England that the protests against the tyranny of England came to a head, leading to the American Revolution and our country's freedom from England. Northborough, Massachusetts, where we are living this year, is only a few miles from Concord, Lexington, and Boston - and so was involved in revolutionary activities.
Look at that date!
More important for us, Northborough, MA is the location of the Baptist Convention of New England! The property includes the Convention headquarters building and the Luther Rice Homesite. Of course, the importance of Luther Rice to Baptists and Baptist involvement in missions is inestimable! Luther Rice was born on this homesite in 1783, the youngest boy among nine children. Many early notables passed through Northborough and by the Rice farm: Benjamin Franklin, John Quincy Adams, and John Hancock, among others. Particularly memorable for young Luther was the day in October, 1789, when President George Washington passed right by the farm, his coach being led by Luther's father!
Rice was responsible for the first national meeting (Philadelphia, 1814) of "The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination in United States of America, for Foreign Missions." Because of his tireless efforts on behalf of missions, Baptists today are heavily involved in mission efforts and mission organizations. As an outgrowth of his work with mission causes, Rice and the University Board of The General Missonary Convention founded Columbian College in Washington City (now Washington, D. C.), the first class of which convened in the fall of 1821. Later, because of dissention, unrest, and a stark depression, the college passed from Baptist hands and in 1901 became George Washington University. Also as a result of hearing Rice speak later, several men in Kentucky caught a vision and founded Georgetown University in Kentucky. Even today, the Rice legacy lives on in two institutions which bear his name: Luther Rice University and Luther Rice Seminary.
Luther Rice believed in missions,
cooperation between churches,
Christian education,
the authority of the Bible,
the power of the Holy Spirit, and
Bible preaching.
We are living upstairs in this house
We feel honored to be living in this house (c 1911) on the Rice homesite! The residence, which sits on a hill facing Lincoln Street in Northborough, bears the marker shown above. The Suite (1st floor) and the Apartment (2d floor) are made available for Southern Baptist missionaries who are temporarily staying in the area, pastors and others looking for permanent housing, or those serving in New England on short-term assignments. We live in the second floor apartment (which includes a loft) - compact, yet roomy. Come visit! We have a couple of extra beds in the loft!
The Rice Cottage
Also next door to us just a few feet away is the Rice Cottage which was the barn, probably originally used as storage for hay, equipment, etc. It has been thoroughly renovated and converted into housing for the caretakers of the property.
OOPS! I'm sorry, but somehow I hit the wrong button and displayed this fun photo of a member of our furry neighbor family seen just outside our dining room window! Just decided you'd like it, too!!!
Now, back to the Rice Story!!!
The Rice Lodge---home to lots of mission teams!
The third building on the property is the Rice Lodge. This building was once a blacksmith shop, built by later owners of the property. Inside are remnants of that occupation: the old forge and the large stock apparatus which was used to suspend horses and oxen that were difficult to shoe. The lodge building now includes a conference room, a comfortable sitting area, a full kitchen, and four dorm-style rooms. The Lodge can accommodate approximately twenty-five people and accommodates meetings, retreats, and lodging for seminary students, mission teams, and other guests. It's such fun to get to meet Baptists from all over the country who come to stay for a few days right across the parking lot! Perhaps you or someone from your church would like to join us some time soon to fulfill a mission need!!!
Below are pictured two fascinating parts of the blacksmith shop (now the lodge) which have been retained: the forge (left) and the stocks (bottom) where the sign on the wall reads: "Horses shod in this stock at your OWN RISK"!!!
As you can see, the historic Luther Rice Homestead and grounds are a beautiful area made possible by monies from the Southern Baptist Convention, North American Mission Board and donations from generous individuals. However, there are always maintenance needs - preservation, updating, remodeling, etc. In fact, right now we're looking for a team who would come up to powerwash, do small repairs, and paint the Lodge before Winter 2011 sets in! Please let us know if you'd like to help or know someone who might like to minister in this way. . .(508) 393-4133 or sherilynbj@gmail.com.
We are thrilled and humbled to be living on this historic Luther Rice homestead now owned by The Baptist Convention of New England and made available to so many from all over the country who come here to serve the Lord!
From our study of history, we remember that it was in New England that the protests against the tyranny of England came to a head, leading to the American Revolution and our country's freedom from England. Northborough, Massachusetts, where we are living this year, is only a few miles from Concord, Lexington, and Boston - and so was involved in revolutionary activities.
More important for us, Northborough, MA is the location of the Baptist Convention of New England! The property includes the Convention headquarters building and the Luther Rice Homesite. Of course, the importance of Luther Rice to Baptists and Baptist involvement in missions is inestimable! Luther Rice was born on this homesite in 1783, the youngest boy among nine children. Many early notables passed through Northborough and by the Rice farm: Benjamin Franklin, John Quincy Adams, and John Hancock, among others. Particularly memorable for young Luther was the day in October, 1789, when President George Washington passed right by the farm, his coach being led by Luther's father!
Rice was responsible for the first national meeting (Philadelphia, 1814) of "The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination in United States of America, for Foreign Missions." Because of his tireless efforts on behalf of missions, Baptists today are heavily involved in mission efforts and mission organizations. As an outgrowth of his work with mission causes, Rice and the University Board of The General Missonary Convention founded Columbian College in Washington City (now Washington, D. C.), the first class of which convened in the fall of 1821. Later, because of dissention, unrest, and a stark depression, the college passed from Baptist hands and in 1901 became George Washington University. Also as a result of hearing Rice speak later, several men in Kentucky caught a vision and founded Georgetown University in Kentucky. Even today, the Rice legacy lives on in two institutions which bear his name: Luther Rice University and Luther Rice Seminary.
Luther Rice believed in missions,
cooperation between churches,
Christian education,
the authority of the Bible,
the power of the Holy Spirit, and
Bible preaching.
Also next door to us just a few feet away is the Rice Cottage which was the barn, probably originally used as storage for hay, equipment, etc. It has been thoroughly renovated and converted into housing for the caretakers of the property.
OOPS! I'm sorry, but somehow I hit the wrong button and displayed this fun photo of a member of our furry neighbor family seen just outside our dining room window! Just decided you'd like it, too!!!
Now, back to the Rice Story!!!
The third building on the property is the Rice Lodge. This building was once a blacksmith shop, built by later owners of the property. Inside are remnants of that occupation: the old forge and the large stock apparatus which was used to suspend horses and oxen that were difficult to shoe. The lodge building now includes a conference room, a comfortable sitting area, a full kitchen, and four dorm-style rooms. The Lodge can accommodate approximately twenty-five people and accommodates meetings, retreats, and lodging for seminary students, mission teams, and other guests. It's such fun to get to meet Baptists from all over the country who come to stay for a few days right across the parking lot! Perhaps you or someone from your church would like to join us some time soon to fulfill a mission need!!!
Below are pictured two fascinating parts of the blacksmith shop (now the lodge) which have been retained: the forge (left) and the stocks (bottom) where the sign on the wall reads: "Horses shod in this stock at your OWN RISK"!!!
We are thrilled and humbled to be living on this historic Luther Rice homestead now owned by The Baptist Convention of New England and made available to so many from all over the country who come here to serve the Lord!
SBC DISASTER RELIEF AT WORK
As a follow-up to our stories about a month ago regarding the tornadoes in central Massachusetts, we just wanted to share a bit of insight on how valuable these Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are in ministering to urgent needs in emergencies.
The pictures included here were taken at Brimfield, Massachusetts, just about 35 miles west of Northborough where we are living this year. The beautiful old church building houses the Friendship Baptist Church which became the site of a disaster relief command center immediately following the outbreak of tornadoes on June 1st. The trailer pictured is from the New York Disaster Relief Team in partnership with Baptists in Georgia and Utah), one of many states who responded to the disasters with chain saw units, feeding units, chaplains, and other services. These folks are already well trained and committed to their tasks and serve all over the US when needed.
In addition to the Southern Baptist disaster relief teams serving in Massachusetts, currently we have
teams at another site in Vermont which for weeks has been responding to residents who have been affected by the flooding of Lake Champlain. Thousands of volunteer hours are expended in assisting during these disasters, and many of these volunteers have the opportunity to share the gospel message. Our teams find that often these disasters "get people's attention" like nothing else and tend to make hearts receptive to the gospel.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are highly respected by the other organizations who are involved worldwide in these efforts. In fact, we understand that Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
is the third largest provider of these services worldwide behind only the Red Cross and Salvation Army! What an opportunity for prayer, outreach, and service! Many thanks to dedicated these servants! Please add them to your prayer list as our men and women respond to disasters all over the world, including the recent tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, AL, and Joplin, MO.
The Friendship Baptist Church in Brimfield, MA, showing a disaster relief trailer. Before the storm the church was surrounded by tall trees---now snapped by the wind's fury as shown beside our parked car!
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams to the rescue! This trailer belongs to the New York team and became a beehive of activity inside as volunteers from all over came to field requests for assistance, dispatch assessors, and then send chain saw teams to begin the clean-up.
This banner on the road in front of Friendship Baptist Church alerted bewildered passersby of this vital ministry provided by Southern Baptists. The story of SBC Disaster Relief even made the front page in the Worcester paper! What an opportunity to share Christian witness in spiritually dark New England! John Scoggins, the Disaster Relief White Hat for all of New England (that means he's the final go-to in this area) declares that in ordinary situations, it takes about 23 "touches" for a person to be receptive to the gospel. In times of disaster, on the average, persons affected by the disaster become receptive after six only "touches!" WOW!!!
The pictures included here were taken at Brimfield, Massachusetts, just about 35 miles west of Northborough where we are living this year. The beautiful old church building houses the Friendship Baptist Church which became the site of a disaster relief command center immediately following the outbreak of tornadoes on June 1st. The trailer pictured is from the New York Disaster Relief Team in partnership with Baptists in Georgia and Utah), one of many states who responded to the disasters with chain saw units, feeding units, chaplains, and other services. These folks are already well trained and committed to their tasks and serve all over the US when needed.
In addition to the Southern Baptist disaster relief teams serving in Massachusetts, currently we have
teams at another site in Vermont which for weeks has been responding to residents who have been affected by the flooding of Lake Champlain. Thousands of volunteer hours are expended in assisting during these disasters, and many of these volunteers have the opportunity to share the gospel message. Our teams find that often these disasters "get people's attention" like nothing else and tend to make hearts receptive to the gospel.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are highly respected by the other organizations who are involved worldwide in these efforts. In fact, we understand that Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
is the third largest provider of these services worldwide behind only the Red Cross and Salvation Army! What an opportunity for prayer, outreach, and service! Many thanks to dedicated these servants! Please add them to your prayer list as our men and women respond to disasters all over the world, including the recent tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, AL, and Joplin, MO.
The Friendship Baptist Church in Brimfield, MA, showing a disaster relief trailer. Before the storm the church was surrounded by tall trees---now snapped by the wind's fury as shown beside our parked car!
Friday, June 3, 2011
New information on Mass. tornado damages
This morning's e-mail in-box included a message from Steve Nerger, who is BCNE State Director of Missions and is currently serving as Interim Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Brimfield, MA.
He shed some additional "light" on Wednesday's destruction in the Sturbridge/Brimfield area a few miles east of the West Springfield sites described in yesterday's blog posting.
Apparently there was considerable damage to the Friendship Church ---lots of trees down in the parking lot, damage to the "antique" building (which, by the way, has a wonderful church bell in the steeple that is rung by a long rope!), etc. In the immediate area there was one person who died in the storm, many mobile homes anihilated, roofs blown off, MUCH destruction. . . .A command center has been set up at the church for directing relief efforts in the area. Our trained SBC disaster relief people from New England and other areas are working to provide food and water for the victims as well as chain saw crews to begin the clean-up process. Bruce James, Evangelism Director for the Baptist Convention of New England, also heads up the Disaster Relief team for the convention.
Please continue to pray for the many families who are affected by this disaster. Pray for strength for the volunteer workers and wisdom to know how to direct the relief efforts most effectively. Also ask the Lord to provide many opportunities in the coming days for the gospel to be shared with and received by those involved.
If we get more significant data, we'll provide updates. In the meantime, we are so grateful to you for praying and to those who are onsite responding as needed.
He shed some additional "light" on Wednesday's destruction in the Sturbridge/Brimfield area a few miles east of the West Springfield sites described in yesterday's blog posting.
Apparently there was considerable damage to the Friendship Church ---lots of trees down in the parking lot, damage to the "antique" building (which, by the way, has a wonderful church bell in the steeple that is rung by a long rope!), etc. In the immediate area there was one person who died in the storm, many mobile homes anihilated, roofs blown off, MUCH destruction. . . .A command center has been set up at the church for directing relief efforts in the area. Our trained SBC disaster relief people from New England and other areas are working to provide food and water for the victims as well as chain saw crews to begin the clean-up process. Bruce James, Evangelism Director for the Baptist Convention of New England, also heads up the Disaster Relief team for the convention.
Please continue to pray for the many families who are affected by this disaster. Pray for strength for the volunteer workers and wisdom to know how to direct the relief efforts most effectively. Also ask the Lord to provide many opportunities in the coming days for the gospel to be shared with and received by those involved.
If we get more significant data, we'll provide updates. In the meantime, we are so grateful to you for praying and to those who are onsite responding as needed.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Massachusetts Tornadoes June 1st
Just a quick update since many of you have asked about our safety amidst the devastating tornadoes in western Massachusetts yesterday.
WE ARE FINE! Actually we were on our way to southern Rhode Island yesterday when the storms hit. We only got some wind and a bit of rain here. In fact, we didn't even know about the event until a friend from Texas called to check on us! We are living this year in Northborough, MA, about sixty miles east of Wednesday's devastation.
After hearing today from most of our Southern Baptist pastors in the area of West Springfield that was hit hardest, it appears that all of our churches except one escaped any real damage. So far as we know now, the only church structure sustaining any damage belongs to the Slavic Evangelical Church in West Springfield, MA. That congregation recently purchased a large Catholic church building and the adjoining rectory, and we understand that the rectory sustained some rather minor damage. One of our senior ladies' classes at First Baptist of Longview has for the last couple of years been connected as Prayer and Encouragement Partners with Pastor Fedor Songorov and his congregation! Thank you, dear ladies! Please continue to connect!
(As a "bonus note" here----If any of you dear readers of this blog (perhaps your family, your class, or your small group) would like to be connected for Prayer and Encouragement with a New England church, please let us know. We'd be simply delighted to help you do just that! I think you'll find that you would be richly blessed.)
Praise the Lord for his protection! Please join us in remembering in prayer the many people affected by these storms yesterday as well as those in recent weeks. Certainly the might and power of God in nature has been on display lately, would you agree?
We understand that our Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams from Connecticut are already working with the local officials in Massachusetts to assist with clean-up there. As we write this, we are also aware that other SBC disaster teams from New England are also working in northwestern Vermont where there has been extensive flooding from Lake Champlain. Despite all of the misery that results from natural disasters, they provide a unique opportunity for ministry and sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus. Our own dear friend and New England Mission Service Corps coordinator, John Scoggins, serves tirelessly as the "White Hat" for the entire New England Disaster Relief organization. Thank you, thank you to our many dedicated DR volunteers!
WE ARE FINE! Actually we were on our way to southern Rhode Island yesterday when the storms hit. We only got some wind and a bit of rain here. In fact, we didn't even know about the event until a friend from Texas called to check on us! We are living this year in Northborough, MA, about sixty miles east of Wednesday's devastation.
After hearing today from most of our Southern Baptist pastors in the area of West Springfield that was hit hardest, it appears that all of our churches except one escaped any real damage. So far as we know now, the only church structure sustaining any damage belongs to the Slavic Evangelical Church in West Springfield, MA. That congregation recently purchased a large Catholic church building and the adjoining rectory, and we understand that the rectory sustained some rather minor damage. One of our senior ladies' classes at First Baptist of Longview has for the last couple of years been connected as Prayer and Encouragement Partners with Pastor Fedor Songorov and his congregation! Thank you, dear ladies! Please continue to connect!
(As a "bonus note" here----If any of you dear readers of this blog (perhaps your family, your class, or your small group) would like to be connected for Prayer and Encouragement with a New England church, please let us know. We'd be simply delighted to help you do just that! I think you'll find that you would be richly blessed.)
Praise the Lord for his protection! Please join us in remembering in prayer the many people affected by these storms yesterday as well as those in recent weeks. Certainly the might and power of God in nature has been on display lately, would you agree?
We understand that our Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams from Connecticut are already working with the local officials in Massachusetts to assist with clean-up there. As we write this, we are also aware that other SBC disaster teams from New England are also working in northwestern Vermont where there has been extensive flooding from Lake Champlain. Despite all of the misery that results from natural disasters, they provide a unique opportunity for ministry and sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus. Our own dear friend and New England Mission Service Corps coordinator, John Scoggins, serves tirelessly as the "White Hat" for the entire New England Disaster Relief organization. Thank you, thank you to our many dedicated DR volunteers!
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