Baptist

Vol. 56 No.1
By Zoe Allen
International Mission Board writer

www.baptistdigest.com

Cooperative Program Gives Vital Support

Sema Leatherworks is a business in Nairobi, Kenya, that provides jobs for pastors manufacturing leather products four days a week and requires three days focused on ministry in low-income areas. Eight Kenyan pastors have been working this way for three years now, learning gradually to make different kinds of leather goods and planting churches in the poorest parts of Nairobi. To date there have been seven churches planted by Sema Leatherworks. Sema Leatherworks was started by Nairobi Business as Mission, an organization designed as a solution to a common problem for churches in Nairobi. Many congregations are too poor to support their pastors. So the attention of Kenyan ministers often shifts from reaching the lost to meeting the basic needs of their families. Nairobi Business as Mission was formed by International Mission Board missionaries Ron and Nancy Copeland to address this issue. The Copelands are from McPherson, Kan. The Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions provide vital support for the Copelands as they serve in Kenya. This support gives them the freedom to serve the pastors who work at Sema Leatherworks. Those pastors then serve in some of the most difficult areas of Nairobi with the freedom of knowing they are providing for their families. What does sema mean? Sema is the Swahili word for to speak or to say. Crafting and selling leather merchandise has given these pastors the freedom to speak the Gospel and also meet their familys daily needs. How did Sema Leatherworks start? The Copelands sought advice from respected church leaders in Nairobi, asking for recommendations of Christian men who had a passion for evangelism. In May 2009 a trial group of 15 Kenyan men were chosen and put through a two-week boot Southern Baptist missionary Ron Copeland (left), from McPherson, Kan., works with Sema Leatherworks in Nairobi, Kenya. It provides an income to several local pastors so they can minister in some of the most difficult areas of Nairobi. (Photo by Nicole Clark) camp, where they received training in an oral method of presenting the gospel called storying. Initially each pastor prayed and sought a target area where he would focus his efforts. They began telling Bible stories door to door, in schools and wherever else they could. After three years there have been seven churches started from Bible groups the pastors developed. All Sema leather crafts are manufactured in Kenya by Kenyans. Each pastor has developed skills and a role in the leather-crafting process. Products include key rings, Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, belts, table mats, menu covers, bracelets, passport holders, drink coasters, Kindle and tablet PC covers, notebooks, folders and luggage tags. How can I support Sema Leatherworks?
n Buy: Purchasing leather products allows these men to continue in their ministries without fear that their family might not be provided for. Visit http:// semaleatherworks.com/ to see products currently available for purchase. n Pray: Nairobi Business as Mission welcomes your prayer support. Each week one of the Sema pastors is featured in the Facebook group Pray for Nairobi.

igest

Newsjournal Of Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists

January 2013

Ron and Nancy Copeland, pictured with their daughter, Erin, are Southern Baptist international missionaries in Kenya. They are from McPherson, Kan., and work with the Nairobi Business as Mission Team. One of the teams ministries is Sema Leatherworks, which provides an income for several local pastors so they can minister in some of the most difficult areas of Nairobi. (Submitted photo)

The Thought Occurred to Me

By Bob Mills
KNCSB Executive Director E-mail: bmills@kncsb.org

KNCSB Life

I continue to marvel at the rate of change in our culture. Change is not just relegated to the political, social and economic arenas. Change is at work in the denominational realm as well. On a side note, I wish that change of a spiritual nature would over take our country and our denomination. Our land stands in need of spiritual awakening, renewal, and revival. Lest I digress, let me return to my earlier thought. Change in our denomination seems to be moving to a mind set that says the national SBC entities are better prepared to drive missional strategies than our local associations. It appears to me that some view the association as ineffective and out of touch with cultural realities. In my estimation, that could not be further from the truthespecially in KNCSB. The primary value of the association is that it is the entity closest to the local church. It is the place where

By Georges Boujakly

Walking With the Master

Many of the disciplines that shaped his life as a Jew and a human being would be the means of grace we need in order to grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man. The first Adam failed for lack of a will to obey. The second Adam succeeded because the humility of obedience governed all he did. Jesus did not grasp onto his rightful divine status. He preferred to pay for humanitys disobedience against God with love. He surrendered his will to the Fathers will for our sake. He didnt avail himself of the divine power for self-preservation when it was needed. He didnt revile when reviled. By these means he grew in wisdom and in favor with God and man. A life totally surrendered. Not a haphazard spirituality. But an intentional one that is razor focused on growth. A life lived with an intentional rhythm of prayer and work in the kingdom of God is what we need in order to grow as Jesus did. Lets commit to it. Goal 2: To live a sacrificial life. It was evident that Jesus came to serve at the expense of everything else. As he was sent he sends us and sends his church. He shunned the luxury of the palace (but also cared for the rich (the Centurion, Zacchaeus). He kept the company of all people (mostly the sick, the sinners, the broken) in order to show that Gods kingdom is available to all. But for himself, he had no place to lay his head. He advocated giving up self-rights, suffering at the hands of others for the sake of the kingdom. The life of self-denial is the full and abundant life. Its resurrection life on earth that will be rewarded in resurrection life in the world to come on earth as in heaven. Where self comes first sacrifice diminishes. Where others are considered better than
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local mission strategies are best developed and implemented. For example, the local association knows where new churches are needed. They also can find the most appropriate church planters for those locations. They can best answer key questions about new plants: How will we handle the necessary resources for this new start? n Where is the lostness in our area? n What people groups are being overlooked? n What are the needs within our association in relationship to the poor and needy? n How can we develop and implement evangelism strategies that truly care for the souls of men and women? The association is concerned with helping partnering churches get outside the walls of the church to be a transforming agent in the world. Some may view the association as antiquated or out of touch in relationship to what churches are doing

Bob Mills

and need. I am sure in some places that might be true. However, I think the Baptist Association that is strategically missional will always have a place at the denominational table of relevance. I am thankful for the associations in our state convention. Have a Blessed New Year!

KNCSB State Director of Missions E-mail: gboujakly@kncsb.org

On this journey of life with God, Christ looms larger and larger before me. Life with him is new every morning, a foretaste of glory divine. Eugene Peterson describes this life as practicing resurrection, in a book by the same title. We can do infinitely worse than centering our lives in Christ and on his life in us. We can do no better than to learn to live the way our Master, Savior, and King would live our life if he were us. Long ago it became clear to me that Jesus is the primary teacher of Christian living or practicing resurrection. At times Ive seen how slow I and others have been to learn from him. On occasions Ive observed that the rate of learning accelerated with the intensity of the lessons that need to be learned and relearned. All of this points in the Georges Boujakly direction that the Holy Spirit intends to complete the work of making us like Christ in the way we live. So, with Paul, let us dedicate our lives this year to know him more fully, practice the power of his resurrection, and willingly enter into the fellowship of his suffering. Let us also expect the joy, peace, hope, and goodness that will follow us all the days of our lives. The invitation is open to you to join me on this journey in 2013. The following are my personal goals in my journey with Christ. Yours may be different. Goal 1: To grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man. From early in life Jesus determined that he would grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man. Im not sure what all this growth entailed for Jesus but Im sure it was intentional. Jesus did not do his life with God haphazardly. Rather, step by step, as he faced lifes challenges and temptations, he determined to face them in surrender and obedience. He lived in such a way as to always be in tune with God. He spent considerable time alone. He learned the contents of Scripture in order to obey the will of God. He fasted on occasions in order to enter prayerfully into the sorrow of humanitys brokenness. His seasons of prayer were constant.

we are self-denial is normative. It takes much care and evaluation to know what willing self-sacrifice and denial are needed on an ongoing basis. But the point is that from Jesus we learn to do life in a sacrificial manner and not just occasionally sacrifice a luxury we are used to. n What will I do without this year so others can have? n What right will I forfeit so someone else may profit? n Who are the people in my life that I must put above myself? Goal 3. Living the compassionate life. Jesus had this pattern of doing life: he saw people in need, he felt compassion for them, and he acted on their behalf to alleviate their suffering and meet their needs. No less than 40 times in the Gospels the pattern of seeing, feeling, and acting compassionately is said of Jesus. Seeing, feeling, and acting the way Jesus did is a cultivated art. It does not come automatically to any of us. We must work at it. We must humble ourselves to be able to see the plight of others. We must be alone often enough to pay attention to the dire straits of others lives. We must be wise in how to act on behalf of others to maintain their dignity. This way of living from a posture of compassion will go a long way to lead us to a Christcentered life. The church that learns to see the community where they are located with Jesus eyes, feel the pain and hurt of their neighbors as Christ did, and bring tangible solutions is the bride of Christ who is practicing resurrection. This will change our worlds. These three goals are before me. I pray that by years end I would have made progress in achieving them for the sake of Christ and others.
Local church and associational news may be submitted by mail, phone, fax or e-mail. Advertising policy and rates are available upon request Call 800-984-9092 or e-mail: tboyd@kncsb.org

The Baptist Digest

POSTMASTER:

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 stories 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.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

To give local news:

Advertising:

JANUARY 2013

Editor: Tim Boyd, PhD. Associate Editor: Eva Wilson Printing Coordinator: Derek Taylor KNCSB Executive Director
AFFILIATIONS Association of State Baptist Papers Baptist Communicators Association

STAFF

Robert T. Mills, D. Min.

Gods Plan for Sharing

By Jon Sapp
KNCSB State Director of Evangelism E-mail: jsapp@kncsb.org

Sharing & Strengthening

stories about rural and small town churches that embraced working with their town council and local schools to serve their neighbors. Across our two states we find many small towns with real needs. I hear again and again of how our churches are finding ways to reach out and make a difference locally. Here are several important elements of a successful outreach event: First is discovering the champion or leader for this event. Crocker challenged us to find a local leader in the church and not the pastor. The project leader can motivate others and call for involvement in a way the pastor cannot. This leader will work with the pastor and staff to develop the vision and call the church to join together to touch the community. In addition to local lay leaders, look for other congregations and volunteers to join in this effort. Ideas such as the local or nearby elementary school, the town council, or police and fire departments were given as places to start when looking for projects that will serve your community. Selecting leadership, enlisting both your church and others will get you started in identifying your project, setting the date, scheduling training for project completion, and follow up. Gods Plan for Sharing has been helpful in training prayer walkers, community outreach with events that attract others such as a block party. With our Day of Service or Season of Service we will utilize the lessons we learned from our earlier projects. The 2014-15 serving projects will energize your church and open doors to touch others we have not touched. In doing so, we will live out our obedience to Gods Plan for Sharing.

Cooperative Program: The SBC Way

NASHVILLE (BP) --The Southern Baptist Convention was created to elicit, combine and direct the energies of Baptists for the propagation of the Gospel, as noted in the SBCs 1845 charter. The conventions formal purpose, meanwhile, is the promotion of Christian missions at home and abroad, according to its constitution. And the convention has embraced a missional vision to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations, stemming from messengers approval of the final report Great Commission Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2010. To help accomplish these goals, the convention adopted a program of cooperative giving we today call the Cooperative Program. A COMPREHENSIVE VISION The Cooperative Program is the means by which Southern Baptists work together to provide financial support for the missions and ministries in their respective states, across the nation and around the world. For 87 years, the Cooperative Program has provided Southern Baptists a cooperative means to fulfill a missional vision of building what Frank Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, calls A Strong Home Base with an Aggressive Global Vision! In cooperation with CP-funded state convention ministries and the SBC ministries of the North American Mission Board, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the six SBC seminaries, local churches seek to establish a strong home base. In partnership with the CP-funded SBC International Mission Board and state convention overseas partnerships, local churches champion an aggressive global vision. A LOOK TO THE PAST State conventions, many of which existed prior to the founding of the SBC, already were engaged in vibrant ministries such as colleges, hospitals, orphanages and a host of missions societies. Formation of the SBC provided new opportunities to engage in an aggressive vision of missions and evangelism. It also created new challenges. These new SBC ministries drew their support from the same churches that provided funds for state ministries. Soon, representatives from all of these ministries flooded the churches with financial appeals. The outcome of this direct-appeal approach was less than ideal. Support for all ministries was unpredictable from one year to the next. As the number of ministries increased, available resources to support them was diluted. In some instances, the cost of rais-

What a difference a weekend filled with ministry can make. Recently, I met with the other state Directors of Evangelism. Our focus for those days was preparing for the 2014-15 Gods Plan for Sharing. The objective for the next national emphasis will be for our churches to reach out and serve the communities in their location. We have the hope that Christ provides each of us in our relationship with Him, where many in our local communities do not have that hope. David Crocker, founder and director of Operation Inasmuch, shared how just one weekend can open a door in building a bridge of compassion and action into our local communities. I expected Davids examples to center in urban settings and inner city ministry. But no, he brought

Jon Sapp

ing funds reached as high as 50 percent of the amount raised. Church and ministry leaders were frustrated with the time, effort and money it took to generate a never-sufficient financial base. The convention needed to elicit, combine, and direct its financial resources fairly and dependably. A BIBLICAL MODEL In 1923, the convention commissioned the Committee on Future Program to come up with a solution. The committee wanted a plan that was biblical -- one that would incorporate both storehouse tithing and special offerings; rational -- one that would address all essentials of ministry in proper proportion; and dependable -- one that would provide consistent, equitable support for the ministries Baptists deemed essential in their respective states and in the Southern Baptist Convention. The committee sought to develop an overarching strategy that would produce consistent, long-lasting results. It wanted a program of giving that encouraged regular contributions by churches. It aimed for convention-wide coordination and proportionate distribution. Two years later, when Southern Baptists gathered in Memphis, Tenn., for their annual meeting, the committee introduced a plan they believed would be coordinated and fruitful. Their proposal utilized the biblical ideals of obedient giving, on a regular basis, in proportion to ones blessing from God (1 Corinthians 16:2). They called it the Co-Operative Program of Southern Baptists. A SIMPLE PLAN The design of the Cooperative Program is remarkably simple: -- Churches pray over and approve their annual budgets based on anticipated tithes and offerings from their members. -- Cooperating churches prayerfully commit to give a percentage of their undesignated receipts through the CP. -- That percentage is sent to the state convention on a monthly basis and becomes the basis of the state conventions ministry budget. -- Each cooperating state convention prayerfully commits to send a portion of its CP contributions to the SBC for distribution to the conventions missions and ministries. -- The SBC determines an appropriate allocation for each of its approved ministries, following a model of prayerful reflection and messenger approval. Adapted from an article by Roger S. Oldham SBC LIFE

Reserve Date for 2013 VBS Jumpstart

Its January time to start preparation for Vacation Bible School! Reserve the date, March 9, 2013, for Colossal Coaster World: Facing Fear, Trusting God will be the focus of Kansas-Nebraskas annual VBS Jumpstart. Core conferences for leaders of preschool and childrens rotations, plus pastors/VBS directors will be offered in the morning. Afternoon electives will include VBS rotations, enrichment conferences, an overview of Club VBS: Jungle Jaunt and more. The $15 per person registration fee provides conference materials and lunch. Find more information in the registration brochure posted at http://www. kncsb.org/ministry/bible_study/. Or contact Barbara Spicer at bspicer@kncsb.org, 1-800-984-9092. Editors Note: For the past year we have been uploading the Digest to an online reading and download site. We have tested this enough now to begin offering our readers an option. If you would like to receive an email notification of the Digest upload to the web either instead of the print copy, or in addition to it, please send your email address to tboyd@ kncsb.org. Please note whether you would like to eliminate your print copy. It may take us several months to eliminate your print copy if that is what you choose to do. We want to make sure that the email notification is working.

JANUARY 2013

Associational & State Missions Offering Healing Hearts Cowboy Church: Reaching a Different Culture
by Beverly Jackson regional staff writer bevjackson20@gmail.com

Scott Stinemetz has a double faceted ministry. He is the pastor of Healing Hearts Ranch Cowboy Church (HHRCBC) in Ellinwood and founding president of Healing Hearts Ranch, 13 miles east of Great Bend, KS. HHR Cowboy Church grew out of the ministry Scott was using with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) at the ranch. Pastor Scott became aware of the interest in the western culture and knew a church could reach out to those individuals using many of the talents he had learned through using horses in ministry. He also knew that Equine Assisted Psychotherapy was a non-threatening object lesson to use to demonstrate spiritual principles. The church meets 7:00 PM Wednesdays at the Calvary Baptist Church building. They currently have 15-30+ attending.

Scott Stinemetz pastors a cowboy church near Great Bend, KS. He also runs a ranch that uses horses to treat those dealing with life issues using a unique type of therapy.

Pastor Scott is a bi-vocational pastor. He trains horses, operates HHR, and pastors his flock. Short-term goals for HHRCBC include establishing a congregation committed to reach the lost and unchurched at the place in life they are. HHRCBC welcomes anyone even if you have just left work in the fields or barn. They do not want others to feel out of place at their church. They want to, and have been, reaching those previously churched and not attending. He wants HHRCBC to be known as a church that welcomes all individuals. A need they have is a portable for the outdoor gatherings. Long-term goals include an arena where they can be in all weather. Pastor Scott wants to build solid disciples who will share the gospel and be able to be examples to those. Healing Hearts Ranch grew from Scot Steinmetz work in social work. From his experience with horses he saw similarities in understanding human reaction to life and the behavior of horses in situations. He sought his peer and professionals opinions about combining the two in order to help individuals with life issues. Soon Scott became aware of EGALA and became a certified equine specialist. Through this, the HHR was launched in 2003. By 2008 he was full time in the ministry there. HHR is a biblical 501(c)3 that is funded solely through counseling paid for and donations. It is not government funded. They believe We Serve, We Love, He Heals. Scott has needs at the ranch both monetarily and in supplies for keeping the stock. HHR has been highly successful with youth, adults and families. Scotts desire is to have more land in the Great Bend area that he could develop cabins for housing during therapy or a needed respite. References can come from anywhere. EAP Certification: http://www.eagala.org. Healing Hearts Ranch: http://www. healingheartsranch.com. Pastor Scott may be reached at 620-617-8184 (c) or at Stinemetz03@yahoo.com

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy utilizes a number of principles including: Build Relationship, Establish a Safe Place, Establish Boundaries, Apply Appropriate Discipline, Have Respect and Build Trust. Being a certified equine specialist, at Healing Hearts Ranch, Pastor Scott works with a certified counselor as he works with the horse and the client at the ranch. Both professionals develop a therapy plan suited for the needs of the client. All of the steps Scott uses in his therapy are interwoven with biblical principles both at the ranch and at the cowboy church. What makes HHRCBC unique is that Pastor Scott brings the equine techniques directly to the congregation and applies biblical principles using EAP. In good outdoor weather they go live with a horse in an arena. During indoor weather times Scott uses video clips of the same to demonstrate what he is talking about. Central Baptist Association partners with HHRCBC with funding and helping in other ways. When the group was meeting in regular bible study two years ago, Director of Missions, Keith Bryant, encouraged Pastor Scott to establish a church and enlarge the circle of influence. Keith helped them establish themselves as a church and Central Baptist began helping with financial support. The church had met at the barn at the Healing Hearts Ranch south of Great Bend, KS. As fall approached, HHRCBC began to look for indoor facilities. Calvary Baptist in Ellinwood offered to share their facility and the grounds the church owns in reaching others for Christ. Now HHRCBC is blessed to meet Wednesday evenings at the church. In good weather they meet outside and conduct events with the 40 X 40 canopy donated to them by Calvary.

Healing Hearts Ranch Cowboy Church gathers for worship led by their pastor, Scott Stinemetz.

Pray for:
PRAY for Healing Hearts Ranch Cowboy Church that they would see God continue to put people in their path so that they can share the message of the gospel. PRAY Scott Stinemetz would get adequate funding for his continued work at both the ranch and the church. PRAY for Healing Hearts Ranch Cowboy Church to have facilities in which to meet and grow. Pray for them to acquire a portable arena for their ministry. And then I heard the voice of the Master: Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? I spoke up. Isaiah 6:8

JANUARY 2013

4 http://www.kncsb.org/ministry/article/viola_webb_promotional_material_downloads/

Copies of this page are available for download in a letter size page at

Dont Wait! Plan Your Estate!

The dawning of a new year is an ideal time to get your affairs in order. Why not gain peace of mind by making a Christian estate plan? Planned-giving consultants with the KansasNebraska Southern Baptist Foundation are ready to assist you.

KNCSB ON MISSION

Plan Now to Leave a Christian Legacy

The Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist Foundation provides free Christian estate-planning consultation to members of churches affiliated with the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists who are willing to leave a charitable interest in mission causes supported by KNCSB. These estate-planning services include free confidential consultations and free preparation by an attorney of all necessary estate-planning documents. Clients are requested to designate a minimum of 10 percent of their residual estate after both spouses are deceased, all debts are paid and all children are grown and educated through college. For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact Rev. Bob Clark at (800) 984-9154 or send email to bclark@kncsb.org. If you are in the Wichita area or wish to update an estate plan that was originally set up by Dr. Charles Wood, you may contact Dr. Wood at (316) 788-6935 or (316) 655-2003 or send e-mail to clwood1@cox.net.

Make Plans for an Estate Seminar in Your Church

The Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist Foundation offers free estate-planning seminars to KNCSB churches. An hour-long Christian Estate Stewardship Seminar is available. These seminars can be scheduled at any time. Those attending the seminar who would like the assistance of the Baptist Foundation in preparing a Christian estate plan may make an appointment for a confidential interview with a Foundation employee to develop their estate plans. For more information on holding an estate-planning seminar in your church, call Bob Clark at (800) 984-9154 or send e-mail to bclark@kncsb.org.

JANUARY 2013

KNCSB on mission

Campers Celebrate 2012 Projects

By Eva Wilson
Baptist Digest associate editor

Kansas-Nebraska Campers on Mission celebrated a productive year of serving God during their Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 1. After 2012 work projects in various places, the group returned to Weir Baptist Camp, Weir, Kan., for the fall rally and a two-week work project. Maxine Thorne gave a missions presentation after the Friday night banquet at the fall rally. She and her husband, Shorty, recently moved to Georgia to live near their family. Thorne has been involved with a medical mission team that serves in Africa. She shared about her most recent mission trip. It made COM members aware of the need for the gospel to be shared all over the world. The COM women made boxes from greeting cards which were filled with bracelets and necklaces made from church bulletins. These items were given to Maxine to distribute. COM members held work projects at Weir Baptist Camp

before and after the fall rally. Projects included working on Bethel Cabin, the new cabin now under construction at the camp. Work on the cabin included installing knotty-pine paneling and ceramic floor tile and texturing the ceiling and walls.

Hurricane Sandy Relief Update

Three KNCSB teams worked in disaster-relief feeding after Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in late October. KNCSB worked with the main Arkansas Baptist disasterrelief feeding unit at Deer Park, N.Y., on Long Island. A KNCSB student team was scheduled to work the week before Christmas doing mud-out in New York City. The team planned to work on Staten Island with a clean-up effort sponsored by the North American Mission Board. The first KNCSB disasterrelief feeding team of 18 people arrived on Long Island on Monday afternoon, Nov. 5. Caleb Yarbrough, media specialist for the Arkansas Baptist News, worked in midNovember with the ArkansasKNCSB team on Long Island. He blogged his experiences. The volunteers stayed at a former Hispanic church on Long Island. Yarbrough described his experience upon reaching Long Island, where the Kansas-Nebraska group greeted the Arkansas volunteers: On arrival we were met by a Kansas-Nebraska Disaster Relief group that will be working alongside us this week. David Butler, a volunteer from Arkansas, said he first met the folks from Kansas-Nebraska when he was a Blue Cap (team leader) on a disaster relief trip to North Dakota. He said that the two groups got along great the first day they met and started working together. The comradery between the two groups was obvious in their fellowship as they shared laughs and set up their cots and air mattresses together in the large wide-open room that appears to be the former sanctuary of the church. The coming together of our group and the one from KansasNebraska was a wonderful picture of the love that is had between brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God. KNCSBs third and final Hurricane Sandy feeding team consisted of six people from Nebraska. They arrived on Long Island on Friday, Nov. 16, and came home during Thanksgiv-

Part of the group worked on remodeling an older cabin to be used by camp pastors and cooks. The Campers on Mission ladies painted playground equipment, building trim and the sign at the camp entrance. Bill Streeter, assisted by Tom Staggs and Don Smith, con-

structed cabinets to be installed in the Bethel Cabin. We had the pleasure of working our first week at Weir with Volunteer Christian Builders from Texas, said Gary Shaw, outgoing COM president. This group erected Bethel Cabin and had returned to install insulation and sheetrock. They also installed some of the metal siding for tht cabin. New COM officers also were elected during the fall rally: n President: Larry Smith, Winfield, Kan. n Vice-president: Don Smith, Hutchinson, Kan. n Secretary: Coetta Brown, Mulvane, Kan. n Treasurer: Barbara Usher, Salina, Kan. n Project coordinator: Norm Marcum, Topeka, Kan. Upcoming dates include: n Kansas-Nebraska COM spring rally, May 3-5, 2013, at Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kan. n Campers on Mission National Rally, June 19-21, 2013, at Mineola Civic Center, Mineola, Texas. Find more information at http://campers.comoftexas.com/

Weir Baptist Camp, 12 miles southwest of Pittsburg, Kan., is on the regular rotation of Kansas-Nebraska Campers on Mission work projects. In fall 2012, the group held its fall rally and a two-week work project at the camp. Here, some of the COM men work on laying floor tile in Bethel Cabin, the new cabin now under construction at the camp. (Photo by Sue Marcum)

ing weekend. The Nebraska team spent their first night on the road at South Side Baptist Church in South Bend, Ind. Doug Lee, director of missions in Oregon Trail Baptist Association, shared this report on Facebook: When our disaster-relief team arrived at the church in South Bend, Ind., this church was so excited to be able to help that they not only provided a place for our volunteers to sleep and shower, they had snacks waiting for our volunteers. The church prepared breakfast for the team the next morning. Will you thank God for our sister church in South Bend in how they opened their doors and welcomed our volunteers. This is New Testament Christianity in action! Gifts to KNCSB disaster relief are needed and appreciated. Please make your check out to KNCSB, designate it for Disaster Relief and mail it to KNCSB, 5410 SW 7th St., Topeka, KS 66606-2398.

Karrington Spann, who grew up as a missionary kid (MK) in Madagascar, was one of the featured speakers for Shine 2012, KNCSBs retreat for teen girls. She is a student at Oklahoma Baptist University, where she is studying elementary education. Christian musician JJ Heller of Phoenix was the featured musician. (Below) Shine always includes hands-on mission activities such as raking leaves at Webster Conference Center. Girls and their sponsors also collected toiletry items for the Baptist Friendship Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

JANUARY 2013

www.knwomen.com
What Do You Want Me To Do For You?
By Patti Boswell Jesus asked this question in Mark 10 of a blind man. Yes, Jesus already knew the man was blind, but still He asked the question. I want to see! The man was quick to ask Jesus for his greatest desire! This was his chance, and he wasted no time in asking! As ministers wives, and just women in general, we are do-ers, fixers, problem-solvers for our husbands, our children, and for many others in our circle of influence. We have prayer lists so long wed trip over them if we had to jump up quickly and answer the phone! We are continually breathing the names of loved ones and situations into the ear of our Lord. But what do we ask for ourselves? Or do we? Recently, I took a survey of some ministers wives in our state convention. I asked them to place themselves in the place of the blind man, seeing Jesus standing before them asking, What do you want me to do for you? The answers were not surprising to me, but they may be to you, and I thought we could all benefit from these results. For ministers wivesthe chance to do a little soul searching, and maybe verbalize a need that was buried underneath all the demands of life. For others- as maybe a friend to one of these ladies, a chance to know how to pray specifically for them. For our Lordthe chance to hear from some of his daughters, and hear the cry of their hearts. The women wrote about concerns of health, time constraints, Gods provision for their churches, the need for wisdom, sensitivity to His voice, parenting our children in a Godly manner, and living a balanced and surrendered life. There were requests for contentment with Gods plan, replacing our desires with His, needs for more compassion, boldness to share Christ, and remembering to take everything to the Lord in prayer. Others mentioned having a servants heart, desires for more love and respect from their congregations, and protection for our families. How blessed we are that our Father responds to us as we spend time in prayer with Him. He listens to us, and asks us, What do you want me to do for you? He shows us that He desires us to be honest with Him, and tell Him of our needs. Yes. Thats Him. The One who is busy orchestrating the whole universe. He wants to hear from you! And He wants to know what is on your heart! What an amazing God! May He bless you in this New Year, as you stay faithful to your calling. May He give you the desires of your heart For His glory, and your joy!
KNCSB Ministry Wives Consultant

Marca Deimund
KNCSB WMU President

Focus on WMU 2013

Focus on WMU is February 11-17th, 2013. Whether you have all age groups in your Mission Organization, a single group or use our materials to add a Missions Emphasis to your Sunday School Classes or Bible Study Groups, www. wmu.com has resources that you can order online to use for this emphasis and all year long. The Story Lives On is the emphasis for the year. WMU has a story, you have a story and the body of believers you worship with has a story, but they dont exist apart from The Word of God. The story began at creation and God is still writing His story in the lives of believers all over the world. Stories are written,

verbal and or visual and we need to tell our story anyway and anywhere we are given an opportunity. Being Gods missionary is a profession, for those called and appointed, and also the responsibility of every believer. Share with your church the Age Level Missions Organizations, WMUs Ministries and our Critical Issue Project Help: Human Exploitation. 2013 will launch WMUs 125th Anniversary, an anniversary of supporting missionaries, praying for, giving, going and living a missions lifestyle! Tell the stories to those whove never heard them, tell them to other believers to encourage and build up each others faith! Tell the stories of Jesus! But dont wait until February 11th 17th, 2013!

By Sarah Schmidt
KNCSB Womens Leadership Childrens Resource Team Leader

Matthew 25:40 NLT says, And the King will say, I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! That is the verse for this years Childrens Ministry Day. The theme for this year is Helping Hands, and will be focusing on helping the homeless or those in poverty. On February 16th, join the thousands of children grades 1st-6th all over the nation in helping those in need. Make hygiene packs for ministry centers; serve a meal at a homeless shelter, or sort clothes at a clothes closet are just a few ideas of what you can do. Kids need to be actively involved in helping others so plan an activity for your family, or the kids in your church. For more ideas or information, you can visit www.wmu.com/cmd

My friends have often heard me joke that someday I am going to write a book titled, My Spouse is Not My Enemy! I dont know how it happened or why it happens, but at some point during our marriage the honeymoon stage ended and the reality of life revealed that I married an imperfect man and worse yet, he married an imperfect woman. This led to my other book title, I Married a Weed Eater! It seems the more I dived into the whole marriage relationship the more I realized how much I really needed to be made holy. Nothing like putting two people together on a daily basis to reveal what is really inside. Once our marriage survived this phase, the LORD allowed me to take a position on church staff. Again, I found myself in a position of viewing the very one

I committed to love, honor and obey as my enemy, except this time it was the church. I somehow thought that the church was filled with perfect people and of course, they would draw out of me the perfection I so longed to know inside me. But, alas, what I discovered was that I needed to be made holy. It seems that the process of holiness was not complete in me yet. So, two new titles came to me, My Church is Not My Enemy and My Church Staff is a Weed Eater! Seriously, is it me? Or is this just the reality of relating in deep relationship? We both know it is what happens in relationship, but honestly, I dont like it. I want everyone to be nice, kind and happy all the time. But, the reality is that we are all human... imperfect humans. We are in the process of becoming like Jesus and only HE is perfect! I love how Dr. Gary Thomas asks in Sacred Marriage, What if God intends to make us holy and not happy? What if in my relationship with Greg and with those I serve in my church I ask myself, How can God make me holy in this situation?, rather than demanding that Greg or those I serve make me happy.

Not My Enemy!

What might happen? One thing for certain, a lot of weeds will be cut out of me and I will no longer view them as my enemy, but as the instrument that God is using to bring about His holy perfection. Father, You are holy. I am not, but I submit to You making me holy even through my spouse and my church. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Simply, Tara
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 (Feel free to contact me at tararye@tararye.com.)

January 2013

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WCC Update
The WCC Staff hopes that everyone in Kansas and Nebraska had a great Christmas season. We look forward to serving you in this new year of 2013. Our prayer is that 2013 will be the greatest year yet in the ministry of Webster Conference Center. Thank you for your continued support of this mission facility as we continue to reach people for Christ and train believers for the work of the ministry! The WCC Staff

Coming April 19-20, 2013, a conference for our Normative (under 150 in attendance) Churches. Place: Webster Conference Center Keynote: Terry Dorsett, author (Developing Leadership Teams in the Bivocational Church) and normative church leader. Who: Pastors, key leaders, and spouses The conference will begin Friday evening (19th) and conclude mid to late afternoon on Saturday (20th). In addition to Dorsett, there will be breakout session dealing with issues facing the normative churches of KNCSB.

The cost for the conference will be $40 per person and $60 per couple. This includes one nights lodging at WCC and 2 meals plus a gift book. To make a reservation, contact Jana Gifford (jgifford@kncsb. org or call 800-984-9092).

Affordable. Relevant. Convenient.

JANUARY 2013

revit alize your church ministries doctor of ministry in Church revitalization

M IDWESTERN
BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY