Baptist

igest

Vol. 60 No. 5

Newsjournal Of Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists

www.baptistdigest.com

May 2016

Glow, retreat for girls and their mothers held April 8-9 at Webster Conference Center

Participants in Glow learned how to be the hands

and feet of Jesus in times of need. Glow is the
KNCSB retreat for girls and their mothers or other
women in their lives. It was held April 8-9 at
Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kan. Disaster
Relief: Love in Action was the retreat theme.

A Cooperative Program for

Today and for the Future.
Read more on page 3
VBS Clinic Trains Workers
to Reach Children. Turn
to page 6
Fostering: An Earthly
Picture of the Gospel.
See page 7

Cecil Dale told participants in the KNCSB Glow retreat how Southern Baptist Disaster Relief serves
people in times of great need. He is director of missions for Central Baptist Association and KNCSB interim director of disaster relief. Retreat participants had the opportunity to tour Central Associations
new disaster-relief shower/laundry unit. Smoky Hill Baptist Associations disaster-relief chainsaw unit
also was on display.

SBC Annual Meeting

June 14-15
Americas Center
St. Louis, Missouri
Find complete information on the SBC annual meeting
website at http://sbcannualmeeting.org/sbc16/default.asp

WWW.KNCSB.ORG

The Thought Occurred to Me

By Bob Mills

KNCSB Executive Director

bmills@kncsb.org

It seems as if in Southern Baptist life these days there

is much talk about streamlining, reducing and changing how we do missions on the international, national,
state and associational levels. Everyone has their opinion, and most see it from a limited perspective.
Simply put, what allowed for our growth in the past
was our dependence on God. I am not saying we currently are not dependent on God. What I am saying is
we are certainly not as dependent on God as we once
were. Something happens when an entity becomes
successful and grows to become something big. The
leaders can begin to think that the success they have
enjoyed is all about them. Friends, it is actually all
about God. Have we as a denomination fallen into the
trap of believing our own press?
What must we retain moving into the future as a
denomination? What are those things we must hold
dear moving forward?
1. Based on my comment above, we need to keep

these things:
n An absolute dependence on God
n A theology of faith
that says our God is the one
true God and there are no
other gods before him
n A faith that believes
Now to Him who is able
to do above and beyond all
that we ask or think according to the power that works
in usto Him be glory in
the church and in Jesus
Bob Mills
Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3: 20-21
2. A theology of cooperation has been at the core
of our being as a denomination. As Southern Baptists
we have chosen to work together to accomplish Godbreathed tasks that are so much bigger than any one
church could accomplish. This theology has allowed

for churches of all sizes to participate in a cooperative

mission effort. We believed we were better together in
accomplishing the Great Commissions task of making
disciples in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of
the earth. Cooperatively pooling our people and financial resources has always been our strength and must
remain so in the future.
3. A theology of Evangelism, Discipleship and
Missions has been at the heart of who we are as
Southern Baptists. We believed that everyone needs
to hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ. We
believed that everyone needs to have a community
of believers (church) in which to grow and mature
as a Christ follower. A church shows the love of
Christ to their community through acts of ministry.
Evangelism, Discipleship and Missions have led us
to introduce people to Christ, grow believers in the
faith, and then send them into the culture to be salt
and light.
If we retain these emphases mentioned above, the
best days of Southern Baptist life can be ahead of us.

(can you even imagine the language on that boat)

wakes Jonah up in the middle of a life-ending tempest
and screams, Arise, call out to your god!
This was no three-hour tour where the weather
started getting rough, and
a tiny ship was tossed
this storm was Gods
wrath in undeniable technicolor.
Well, we know what
happens. Jonah becomes
fish bait (or for you
wealthy folks, sushi),
suddenly has a change
of heart from the belly of
the beast and agrees to
deliver Gods message.
Dont give him too
much credit. Most of us
would agree to do about
Andy Addis
anything from the belly of
a whale.
And after the most disgusting disembarkation in
history, we see a rerun: the same word (arise or rose) is

used three more times.

Arise, go to Nineveh, said the Lord. His message
had not changed.
Jonahs response was slightly different this time: So
Jonah arose and went.
This time, the third use of rise concerned the King
of Nineveh, And he arose from his throne.
There is a huge difference in a But Jonah rose and
So Jonah arose. The first brought a killer storm into
his life, and the latter moved a king off his throne.
One risked the lives of sailors, and the other saved a
nation.
One was the result of disobedience and the other the
natural outcome of obeying the Lord.
Thanks be to God His word is clear. No guessing,
figuring out or trying to understand.
God has given us promises, commands, rules, laws,
guidance, and direction. The only thing that remains is
our response.
Will we obey?
Youre probably thinking about something very specific. Something you know God has communicated,
without a doubt.
Thats a word from the Lord my friend its time
for you to rise up.

The Cross Eyed Life

By Andy Addis

Senior Pastor, CrossPoint, Hutchinson, KS

E-mail: andy@crosspointnow.net

MAY 2016

My wife and I both have college degrees in communication. They usually dont help.
Kathy is emotional and intuitive, feelings-based
with high levels of relational energy invested in every
conversation. Im trapped in a perpetual viewing of
Dragnet I just want the facts, maam.
This has lead to more than one episode of, hmmm,
how shall we put it marital imperfection?
And, its too bad, because when we fight we usually
have no reason to be even upset. The problem is that
we just dont communicate as clearly as we should.
When my wife wants something, I wish shed just
ask. But, instead, she wants me just to get it, figure it
out, or perceive it because that would mean so much
to her.
Honestly, Im just not that smart.
So, in this playful bantering of communication mishaps, Kathy has tried to train me by asking leading
questions to see if I can figure out what I should apparently understand:
Kathy: What do you want to eat tonight? Me: I
dont care. Problem: the answer was right, but I didnt
understand the question. She wasnt looking for information; she was looking for me to help strike one.
Kathy: Can you believe she said that to me? Me:
Yeah, it makes sense. Problem: Whoa, danger zone.
She didnt want an answer; she wanted support. Not
bright there big guy strike two.
Kathy: Are these your underwear in the middle
of the floor? Me: Well, they better be. Problem: It
may have been funny, but well if I have to explain
this one to you, you are not trainable. Strike three.
The prophet Jonah did not have this problem. When
he heard from the Lord, it was clear, distinct and undeniable.
Arise, go to Nineveh, said the Lord.
Jonahs response was also clear, distinct and undeniable: But Jonah rose to flee.
The next time we see the word arise or rose is when
everything has gone critical, and even a pagan sailor

The Baptist Digest

(USPS 018-942)
Vol. 60 No. 5
Leadership Newsjournal for KansasNebraska Southern Baptists is published
monthly (except for January and July)
10 times a year.
5410 SW 7th Street
Topeka, KS 66606-2398
Phone: (785) 228-6800
Toll Free: 800-984-9092
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Web site: baptistdigest.com
POSTMASTER:

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additional entries. Send address changes to: The
Baptist Digest, 5410 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS
66606-2398.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
INFORM -- Regularly share information about ongoing
training, curriculum, events, support and personnel.
RESOURCE -- Serve as a resource pool for practical
ideas about what is working in KS-NE congregations
and how it relates to all sizes of churches.
GENERATIONAL -- Cast .the widest net, providing stories and information that will appeal to all generations
of Southern Baptists in NE-KS.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY -- Be family-friendly with stories,
regular columns and helps for families and leaders who
work with families.
AGE DIVERSE -- Publish s. tories that address the
diversity of age, ethnicity, and geographical regions of
KS-NE.
MISSION-ORIENTED -- Publish stories about people
and congregations involved in missions and regularly
publicize ministry opportunities.
PART OF WIDER MISSION - Help congregations
discover that they are part of the larger work of the
Kingdom of God through their ministries.

To give local news:

Local church and associational news may be submitted by mail, phone, fax or e-mail.

Advertising:

Advertising policy and rates are available upon

request Call 800-984-9092 or e-mail:
tboyd@kncsb.org

STAFF

Editor: Tim Boyd, PhD.

Associate Editor: Eva Wilson
Printing Coordinator: Derek Taylor
Robert T. Mills, D. Min.

KNCSB Executive Director

AFFILIATIONS
Association of State Baptist Papers
Baptist Communicators Association

Sharing & Strengthening

A Cooperative Program for Today & the Future
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- Last fall before speaking
at one of our state conventions, I had the privilege
to meet a man employed by another major denomination. As we were talking, I asked what he felt
was one of the biggest challenges in their denomination.
He said their biggest problem is their churches
not funding missionaries like they used to. He
stated they are searching for a new way to get this
done because when the missionaries come to their
churches to raise their individual financial support,
the churches are doing so much themselves, they no
longer feel they need the missionaries. Additionally,
due to the changing nature of church life and the
economy, churches are struggling to support missionaries individually and consistently.
Then he stated, You guys seem to do that so
well. I told him about the Cooperative Program and
the way it functions. I explained it is not just the way
we fund our international missionaries, but also our
ministries and mission work statewide and nationally. He was amazed and very complimentary.
I believe a Cooperative Program for today and a
Cooperative Program for the future has to be built
upon five major convictions.
Conviction #1: Mission, not money
The driving engine of the Cooperative Program
is not money, but the mission of God to redeem the
world from sin. The final orders of Jesus before He
ascended to heaven were the words given to us in
Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.
His final words were not, Give money to the
Cooperative Program. The compelling mission of
Jesus Christ to be His witnesses regionally, statewide, nationally and internationally is what the
Cooperative Program has been built upon, is built
upon, and must be built upon in the future.
This is why churches give through the Cooperative
Program, not to the Cooperative Program. We give
through the Cooperative Program in order to fund
our work together with one compelling cause: presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in

the world and

to make disciples of all the
nations.
I am convinced the
more we talk
about what
we are doing
to accomplish
this mission,
the more dollars will flow
through the
Cooperative
Program.
Conviction
#2: Unity, not
unbelief
Ronnie Floyd, SBC President
The Cooperative
Program is our unified plan of giving. It places us
shoulder-to-shoulder in our work together, regardless
of the size of our church, the color of our skin, or our
location in America.
When we continually question this plan, we represent uncertainty to generations of Baptists. Clashing
opinions lead to an unseemliness that affects our mission effectiveness.
Entertaining societal methodology jeopardizes our
unified plan of giving. Just as it would damage a
churchs fellowship and mission, it would even more
so in our convention. We need to continue believing
in the value of our unified plan of giving.
Conviction #3: Cooperation, not competition
The spirit of cooperation is so important in funding our work together. A societal method of financial
support would fuel competition between our state,
national and international work. The Cooperative
Program eliminates competition between our entities
as it provides a balanced approach for support.
Each state convention has the privilege to annually
evaluate the percentage of monies utilized for their
statewide ministries versus what is forwarded on to
our national and international work. This is why each
church needs to have representation in their state

The Kansas-Nebraska Convention of

Southern Baptists is Committed to the

The Best Method Ever

Devised to Fund the

Great Commission.

MAY 2016

Cooperative Program-

convention. As this is evaluated annually, the desires

of the churches are fulfilled. The financial formula for
the allocation of monies received nationally from the
churches through their state conventions is regularly
reviewed by our Executive Committee. I have stated
this for one purpose: to let each of you know change
is possible and does occur. We are working together
toward a common goal.
The Cooperative Program exists to serve the
churches in helping them accomplish their God-given
responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission; it does
not exist for the churches to serve it.
Conviction #4: Partnership, not personalities
Partnership is the key to the Cooperative
Program. Churches partner with other churches
through their state conventions and our national
Southern Baptist Convention. Each state convention
partners with other state conventions in funding the
work of the Southern Baptist Convention. And our
national entities partner with each other and state
conventions to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
every person in the world and make disciples of all
the nations.
Partnership, not personality, drives our mission. If
we keep our eyes on personalities and things occur
that cause tension, we may be tempted to consider
our financial support as optional. This is not the
wisest approach nor best for our work together.
Refuse to let personalities determine your support. If concerns exist, each state convention has an
executive board and each national entity has a board
of trustees. In other words, a process is in place to
deal with a personality that may concern you. Baptist
work is built upon our partnership together for the
Gospel, not on human personalities.
Conviction #5: History, not just the here and now
While the relevance of the here and now is important, we must never disregard the lessons from history. Southern Baptists do not need to make the same
mistake our nation is making today.
Just think how many times we hear in our society
that things have changed and we need to adjust our
moral beliefs because of it. In other words, what is
valued as truth in the here and now is more important than our own history as a nation.
I believe the Southern Baptist Convention must
be relevant today. In regards to funding our work
together, we do not need to return to what we
walked away from 91 years ago, a societal method
of financial support. The Cooperative Program is
not perfect. But I believe this unified method of support that began in 1925 is still relevant today, and
have seen others marvel at how we are able to work
together to accomplish our mission.
Therefore, Southern Baptists, lets continue forward in our work cooperating for the cause of
Christ. Built upon these five convictions, we will
have a Cooperative Program not just for today, but a
Cooperative Program for the future.
Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist
Convention.

KNCSB ON MISSION

VBS Clinic Trains Workers to Reach Children

Hispanic Southern Baptist churches in southwest
Kansas saw God move in a mighty way during Vacation Bible School 2015.
Members of these churches turned out in force
for the 2016 KNCSB Vacation Bible School Jumpstart
Clinic held Saturday, April 2, at Webster Conference
Center, Salina, Kan.
Training was held in both English and Spanish.
Gabi Urea led the Spanish preschool training. She is a
member of Tabernaculo Bautista in Garden City, Kan.
Deyna Bluvan led the Spanish childrens training.
She is part of Ministerio Hispano at First Southern
Baptist Church, Garden City.
Submerged: Finding the Truth below the Surface
is the 2016 Vacation Bible School theme from LifeWay
Christian Resources.
It will take children on an adventure deep within
the mysterious sea. They will learn how Jesus looked
deep inside people.
The VBS theme verse is Search me, God, and know
my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there
is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting
way. (Psalm 139:23-24) (Holman Christian Standard
Bible)
Jesus sees. Jesus knows. Jesus saves is the motto.
The daily content for Submerged is:
Day 1
Jesus Saw Zacchaeus
Luke 19:1-10
Todays Point: Jesus knows who I really am.
Bonus Verse: For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

MAY 2016

Day 2
Jesus Saw the Woman at the Well
John 4:142
Todays Point: Jesus knows my worth.
Bonus Verse: I will praise You because I have been
remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are
wonderful, and I know this very well. (Psalm 139:14)

Hispanic Southern Baptist churches are seeing great success with Vacation Bible School (called
Escuela Biblica de Vacaciones in Spanish). The KNCSB Vacation Bible School Jumpstart Clinic offered
training in both English and Spanish. It was held Saturday, April 2, at Webster Conference Center,
Salina, Kan.
Day 3
Jesus Saw Nicodemus
John 3:121; 19:3842
Todays Point: Jesus knows I need a Savior.
Bonus Verse: For God loved the world in this way:
He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who
believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Backyard Kids Club
LifeWay Christian Resources is also offering Backyard Kids Club. This adapts Submerged to a format
that can be used in missions settings.
Read more at https://vbs.lifeway.com/backyardkids-club/

Day 4

Jesus Saw a Blind Man
John 9
Todays Point: Jesus
knows my purpose.
Bonus Verse: For it is
God who is working in
you, enabling you both
to desire and to work
out His good purpose.
(Philippians 2:13)

Zip for Kids

LifeWay also offers Zip for Kids which helps
churches created customized events to reach children.
It can be used in a variety of settings.
Read FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) at http://
bit.ly/1TlxrsX

Day 5
Jesus Saw the Children
Mark 10:1316
Todays Point: Jesus loves
and accepts me.
Bonus Verse: We love

E-Anytime Anywhere
E-Anytime Anywhere consists of individual lessons
that may be downloaded for a fee. It can be adapted to
use in many different settings. Lessons are available for
children and preschoolers. Read more at http://lfwy.
co/1Dhz98a
2017 VBS Clinic
Participants in the VBS Jumpstart Clinic were urged
to put the 2017 event on their calendars. It will be held
Saturday, April 1, at Webster Conference Center.

Thank You for Supporting the Cooperative Program

Find resources to promote the Cooperative Program at http://www.sbc.net/cp/default.asp

Growth
Continues at
Weir Camp

(This article includes information from the Southeast

Kansas Baptist Association newsletter.)
As Weir Baptist Camp marks 54 years of ministry,
plans are in place to reach even more people for Christ
and disciple them.
The camp has seen significant improvements in the
past year.
Volunteer Christian Builders, based in Texas, came
for a two-week work project in April 2015. Their major
task was constructing shade pavilions at the fishing
lake and the boating lake.
VCB did the major construction on Bethel Cabin,
the second new cabin at the camp, and the dining-hall
addition.
Some of the Volunteer Christian Builders couples
also serve during summer camps.
Kansas-Nebraska Campers on Mission and local
volunteers also play important roles at the camp.
The Campers on Mission spent two weeks working
at the camp in 2015. The group came in late May and
early October in connection with the COM fall rally.
Among their projects were building picnic tables and
renovating the kitchen island.
Many other improvements took place at Weir Bap-

KNCSB ON MISSION

Many improvements have taken place in the past year at Weir Baptist Camp, 12 miles southwest of
Pittsburg, Kan. The dock was completed at the fishing lake on the southwest corner of the property.
The Kansas-Nebraska Campers on Mission women painted the dock during the fall 2015 COM rally at
the camp.
tist Camp in the past year including:
n Upgraded water slide
n Newly carpeted platforms on the miniature golf
course
n A paddleboat and new kayaks were purchased
n New gravel was hauled in for the roads
n New sewer laterals were laid from the Dining Hall
n 40 new
mattresses were
purchased for
the cabins,
thanks to several
people who gave
money
nNew recreation equipment
The security
system was completed and will

help notify of severe weather and hazardous events to

help keep campers and staff safe.
Paul Duncan, pastor of First Baptist Church, Crestline, made signs for several of the cabins and outbuildings.
This years summer camp dates are:
n June 6-10 Senior High Camp
n June 13-17 Junior High Camp (grades 6-8)
n June 20-24 Childrens Camp (grades 3-5)
n June 27-28 Kingdom Kids Camp (grades 1-2)
n June 29 Day Camp (ages 4-5 or have completed kindergarten)
Thank you for praying for and supporting Weir
Baptist Camp. Together we are reaching young people
for Christ and building foundations for them to have a
strong relationship with Jesus.
Thanks for serving with us for 54 years at Weir
Baptist Camp!

Current Needs at Weir Baptist Camp:

$6,000 Dining Hall electrical updates
$2,000 Fill dirt work
$1,000 Metal roof on North Pavilion
$500 One new paddle boat
$200 Two soccer goals

Please send contributions to Baptist Area Office, P.O. Box 604,

Altamont, KS 67330. Make a note in the memo line about the
project you want to support.
(This information came from the Southeast Kansas Baptist Association newsletter.)

MAY 2016

n
n
n
n
n

KNCSB ON MISSION

Past KNCSB President Gordan Dorian Dies at 93

MAY 2016

Gordon Dorian, pastor emeritus of Olivet Baptist

Church, Wichita, Kan., died in his sleep on Good Friday (March 25) 2016. He was 93.
Dorian served as Olivets pastor for 35 years. He
also was a leader in both KNCSB and the Southern
Baptist Convention.
His ministry career had a humble beginning, Dorian
recalled during his retirement celebration at Olivet on
May 7, 1989.
Dorian took his first step toward a career in ministry
when he accepted Christ at age 13 in the heart of the
Depression. He and his family had lost their home and
were living in a hotel room.
My mother sold her refrigerator to send me to
camp, he recalled.
After serving in the Navy in World War II, Dorian
studied at Carson-Newman College, Jefferson, Tenn.
There he met his future wife, Doris Overbey, and they
were married in August 1948.
Dorian pastored Altamere Baptist Church in Fort
Worth, Texas, for four-and-a-half years while studying
at Southwestern Seminary.
While in Fort Worth, Dorian heard about Olivet
from Tommy Adkerson, who was serving as the sole
member of the churchs pastor-search committee.
During Dorians 35 years at Olivet, the church recorded 2,144 baptisms and 2,867 other additions. Total
receipts were $9,233,922.
Dorian also was extensively involved in all aspects
of Southern Baptist life. He was elected moderator of
Sedgwick Baptist Association (now Heart of Kansas
Association) five months after arriving in Wichita in
1954.
He served as KNCSB president, on the Southwestern Seminary board of trustees and on the Southern
Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
But Dorians first priority was always leading
people to Christ.
During the 1989 retirement celebration, Paul Davis
called Dorian one of the greatest one-on-one soulwinners Ive ever known. Davis was retired director of
missions for Sedgwick Association.
Harold Conley, KNCSBs long-time business administrator, was one of the many people Dorian led to
Christ.
During Conleys funeral in May 2005 Dorian recalled his efforts to share Christ with him. The Conley

family lived in Wichita in the

early 1960s.
I kept visiting him in their
home, Dorian recalled. He
sure wanted to give me a hard
time.
Finally Dorian challenged
Conley, You need to give
your life to Jesus Christ.
Conley gave his characteristic wide grin and said, Yes,
I do.
After he was saved, he
took over our bus ministry [at
Olivet] and did a great job,
Dorian recalled.
After retiring from Olivet,
Dorian continued to be active
in ministry. He joined Immanuel Baptist Church, Wichita,
and taught a Sunday School
class there. He also served as
a chaplain at Mel Hambleton
Ford and ministered in many
other ways.
Survivors include his wife
of 68 years, Doris; a son, Mark;
two daughters, Deborah (Pete)
Ochs and Diana (Jeff) Brown;
one niece; five grandchildren;
and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral was held
Friday, April 1, at Central
Community Church, Wichita.
Burial was in Kensington Gardens, Wichita.
Many tributes to Dorian
have been posted online at
http://bit.ly/1RW85Sc
Memorials may be sent to:
n Trinity Academy, 12345
E. 21st St. N, Wichita, KS
67206
n Dorian Ministries for
Missions in care of Olivet
Baptist Church, 3440 W. 13th
St. N., Wichita, KS 67203

Gordon Dorian was one of the participants in the July 2007 dedication
service for a temporary meeting site for First Baptist Church, Greensburg, Kan. The EF5 tornado that hit Greensburg on May 4, 2007,
destroyed the churchs building. KNCSB provided a modular building
for the church to meet in until its new building was finished. Dorian, a
past KNCSB president, died on Good Friday (March 25) at age 93.

Save the Date

The 2016 KNCSB annual meeting will be held Monday
night, Oct. 10, and Tuesday, Oct. 11, at LifeSpring Church,
Bellevue, Neb. Information will be posted this summer at
http://www.kncsb.org/ministry/annual_meeting

www.knwomen.com
Fostering: An Earthly Picture of the Gospel
My husband and I had always said we were interested in
adoption. We talked about it even before we were married. I
think it was our back up plan, if we
couldnt have kids of our own. It
somehow made me feel good about
myself for even being willing.
Six years later we were happily married with two children and another on
the way. We hadnt really had time to
even think about adoption much less
a new idea of fostering. There had
been a few people in our church that
had foster kids and my husband and
I talked about how hard that must be, but how great those
families were for doing it. It seemed like those people were
some kind of super Christian, over and above the typical
Jesus follower for sure.
During our ultrasound to find out if baby number three
was a boy or girl, we found out that our son had died. We
were devastated. During the next few years we worked
through our grief and decided to try for another baby. We
never had any trouble before so we assumed it would happen
right away. God, in His wisdom, had other plans.
God placed a friend in my life who was fostering. Again I
thought how awesome that was but that it was for sure something I could never do. It would be too hard, I would get too
attached, I loved kids too much to give them back. The more

Im a mess. But Im a beautiful

mess. And Im His masterpiece
and thats enough.

HCSB) Sarah Alexander

Ministering to Women in
Crisis
Crisis: Bad hair day? Got up on the wrong side of the
bed? Thrown under the bus by a loved one? Didnt get
your way? We all have bad days, weeks, and sometimes
years, but is it a crisis?
A crisis is when an event, situation, or relationship
becomes more painful or challenging than a person can
handle. The problem overwhelms a persons resources
and requires action. How do you minister to women who
have become paralyzed with the inability to do daily
tasks, make practical decisions, or care for themselves?
Women will often seek out a leader to share their crisis
with, but usually there are physical signs that she is under
heavy stress before that. Be sensitive to physical changes,
ask careful questions, then listen, pray, love, accept,
walk with, provide as you can, and refer her to agencies,
services, or your pastor when you realize what shes suffering with is bigger than your abilities.
Respond to physical or emotional needs first, then
move to spiritual. Refrain from judging, declaring her sin,
calling her out, demeaning her pain, or injecting humor.
Love one another. Just as I have loved you (John
13:34). Love her as she is and where she is until shes
where God wants her to be.
Shiggaion!
Mari

Music On, World Off.

I saw this quote recently and it took me back to a memory that I hope to never forget! My
grandfather was battling Alzheimers
Disease, and he was at a point where
he didnt recognize any of us including my dad, his son, who would
occasionally pick him up and bring
him to our Sunday evening service.
One particular night I watched the
two of them as they sat together. My
grandfather was, in that moment, not
the man that I would remember. I
would choose to remember the loving, energy-filled, outgoing, friendly, and godly deacon who served and loved the
church in a tangible way.
As I sat watching the two of them from behind, Ill admit
I wasnt listening to what was happening in the service. We
were asked to stand and sing, and as he stood I continued
to watch and listen. He rose and sang those favorite old
hymns with the same bold recognizable tone and sang them
word-for-word perfect! It brought tears to my eyes then just
as it does now. This horrible disease may have stolen the
memories of his family BUT he never forgot his Savior!
The theology, doctrine, and promises of heaven were still
vivid in his mind and brought to life in those songs.
Most of his world, the world as he knew it, had been
turned off by Alzheimers but there was comfort in the music. We all have days that we only wish we could turn the
world off and shut out the hurt, disappointments, and fears.
It was what God used in that moment to speak to me and a
peace for my grandfather of the familiarity and security of
his relationship with his Heavenly Father. God speaks to
me through the music of my day at my desk, in my kitchen,
or in the car. The struggle is this: Am I really listening?.

~ Calah

April 2016

This quote from Moms Night Out has been an

inspiration as we have planned, prepared, and prayed
for WWW 2016. As Peter reminds us, we should not
be surprised when life turns messy! Often, we find
ourselves in the midst of a messand we cant see the
beautiful inside the mess. This year, we are excited to
hear from Janelle Irwin, a young woman who allowed
God to use her messy life and transform it into something beautiful. His masterpiece.
In 2013, Janelles world turned upside down as her
1 year old son was diagnosed with Infant T-Cell Leukemia. With treatment now complete, Janelle has used
her experience to help found the Hang Tough Foundation, which helps families that are on a similar path
through childhood illness. Join us September 16-17
in Salina as we embrace Peters words: Dear friends,
dont be surprised when the fiery
ordeal comes among you to test
you as if something unusual were
happening to you. Instead, rejoice
as you share in the sufferings of
the Messiah, so that you may also
rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. (1Peter 4:12-13

time I spent with my friend the more I was drawn to fostering. It was such an earthly picture of the Gospel. I brought it
up to my husband who also was very interested and ready to
take the next step.
My friend directed us to a recruiter for a private
fostering agency. The first step was to take an 8-week class.
During the class I realized that foster parents are just normal
people, and foster kids are just kids who need love. After
the class there was tons of paperwork. Nothing hard to
complete, just time consuming. The final step was a home
study. After scrubbing my home clean, I anxiously awaited
the arrival of the government-licensing agency. They were
in and out of my house in less than 5 minutes and we had our
license! Now we waited for the call to go pick up a child.
It came September 18 and resulted in an 18 month old baby
girl and a 2 month old baby boy coming to our house. When
we accepted their placement we were told it would be long
term, but a mere 10 days later they were reunited with their
grandparents who loved them very much. The call we received on November 2 brought us a 13-month-old baby girl.
I love our foster baby girl very much. I would love to keep
her forever, but I would also love for her mother to be able
to get her back. There is such a strange
mingling of the two emotions and knowing that either way
there will be extreme sadness, but also
unimaginable joy. Being a foster mom has opened my eyes
to needs and people in my town that I never knew aboutpeople that God loves and sent His Son to die for, people
who need to see His love. As a foster mom I love our baby
girl even with no guarantee that I will have her forever.
What I have come to realize is that I am not guaranteed any
time with my biological children either. God could take
either one of them any day, so I love all my babies today and
know that God holds tomorrow.
Before we started fostering I had concerns about how my
children would react to loving and losing children. When we
sent our first two children back to their
grandparents our son especially was very upset. We held
him and cried with him and pointed Him to Christ. We told
him that God loves him and the foster babies and will comfort them both. Fostering has been so good for my children.
It has taught them to love without
motive, and has been an up-close and tangible example of
loving the least of these.
Fostering isnt for everyone, but I believe it is for more
people than are currently involved. Its for messed up people
saved by grace who are learning to lean on God every day.
Dont let fear stop you. If God has laid fostering on your
heart, I would love to talk to you about it and see how He is
leading you to become a part of His story. My phone number
is 239-851-6569 and my email is Sarahbeth72081@aol.com.
God Bless You!
Sarah Feather, Covenant Baptist Church, Topeka KS

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FT Worship Pastor sought to lead blended worship in conservative, reformed

SBC in Bartlesville, OK (www.highlandparkbaptist.net) Choir conducting, media skills preferred. Send resume to office@highlandparkbaptist.net.
Is God calling you to rural Missouri? Gainsville First Baptist Church is seeking a fulltime pastor. Please send resume with internet link/cd/dvd to Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 627, Gainsville, MO 65655 or e-mail fbcgainsville@centurylink.net

Prayer Session for 2016 SBC Annual Meeting

MAY 2016

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- On June 14, the entire Tuesday evening session of the
2016 Southern Baptist Conventions annual meeting will be committed to praying for
spiritual leaders, our churches, nation and world. There, perhaps, has never been a
time in our generation when we have needed to pray more than now.
Testimonies poured in from across the nation after last years national call to
prayer, where 7,000 Baptists cried out to the Lord together. A common testimony
was, This was the greatest moment I have ever experienced in a Southern Baptist
Convention. God was with us powerfully and everyone present knew He was!
Last year was the first session, perhaps in our modern history, where an entire session of the Southern Baptist Convention was given to prayer.
Due to the work of God among us last year, His present work today, the critical
need of the hour in America, the state of our churches, the needs of our pastors, the
status of our evangelism or lack of it, and the exponential lostness of the world while
we are bringing home hundreds of our missionaries, it is time to pray.
Baptists need to pour into St. Louis by the thousands for this historic night of prayer.
Those who can only attend this one night, please come. For the members of the 300
churches in the metro region of St. Louis, please come for this significant night.
Southern Baptists who are not able to come to St. Louis may join us as it is
streamed live on the web at www.sbc.net.
3 components of this national prayer gathering
1. Spiritual leadership: We will pray for pastors and spiritual leaders in America -- their
lives, leadership, families and ministries.
2. Revived churches: We will pray for our churches in America -- for racial unity in our
churches and nation, and for the dry bones of spiritual life in our churches to come alive. Our
God can turn any church around!
3. Nationwide & global awakening: We will pray for America and for where we are in our
nation spiritually, morally and politically. We will pray for the next great spiritual awakening in America as well as an explosion of the Gospel to bring about global awakening.
At the present time, the persons who will help me lead this gathering are listed at
www.ronniefloyd.com/blog/. Others may join us in leading as well. Pray for these
persons by name, gather the people, and lets come to St. Louis expecting God to
move in our hearts so dynamically, people will say as they did in Acts 17:6, These
men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com),
news service of the Southern Baptist Convention

Webster
Update

DINING HALL NEARING COMPLETION: The insulation is currently being installed and the dry wall contractors should be on site any day to install and finish
the sheet rock. Volunteers are needed to install concrete board on the exterior of
the building. Please call Bill Cooke toll free at 1-877-WCC-RESV if you have a few
volunteers who could help.
WCC SUNDAY was Sunday, April 10th. Several churches showed the video with
positive results. It is not too late. You can still show the video at any time. The
video and handout materials are available on the WCC website (www.webstercc.
org) which can be down loaded. Call Terry McIlvain if you have questions.
(1-785-228-6824)
MATCHING CHALLENGE GRANT: A dollar for dollar matching grant has been
given to WCC for $75,000 to repave the entry road from just inside the front gate to
the Dining Hall. To date, $44,045.78 has been given.
ROAD PROJECT ON HOLD AWAITING FUNDING: The bid has been selected
to repave the entire entry road at WCC and the dorm parking lot. However, until
the Matching Challenge Grant and other funding has been received to pay for this
project, everything is on hold. If you or your church would like help, send your
tax exempt gifts payable to Webster Conference Center and mail them to: WCC,
5410 S.W. 7th Street in Topeka, KS 66606-2398.
Sign up for the free monthly WCC E-Newsletters by going to http://www.webstercc.org/wcc/e_newsletter/.

Thank you for your continued support of WCC!

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