2012 Mission Conference (by Jonita Barram)

The 2012 Missions Conference began Friday night. Chaplain John Murdoch opened the conference by preaching from Exodus 3 and 4. He pointed out how the shepherd’s rod Moses had in his hand (4:2) became “the rod of God” (4:20). He challenged everyone to use for God whatever He has placed in their hands. Read more about the Murdochs.

Saturday
The next day we ate breakfast with the missionaries. The delicious meal was prepared and served by men of the church and Beth Brown. Following the meal, Pastor Brock divided us into three groups, who rotated between the auditorium, the chapel, and the fellowship hall to meet with our missionaries.

Jim Blizzard and our own Jim Phillips and Sean Fielder talked about the partnership between Child Evangelism Fellowship and Faith’s FX program. All the local elementary schools that Jim Blizzard contacted about having after-school Good News Clubs turned him down. So FX busses kids from Westwood Middle School to the church as part of its ministry. Read more about Jim Blizzard.

Sunday
During the Sunday School hour, Chris and Diane Marine reported on the transition from their previous mission to Faith Baptist Mission. Read more about this transition. They also reported on their current ministry. Listen to their report.

(Chris & Diane Marine)

Sunday morning, Dr. Jim Jeffery, president of Baptist Bible College and Seminary, preached “Training Up Timothys.” He defined missions as “the extension of Christ’s redemptive mandate in this world.” He said,

“The work of the church today is to extend that message to the entire world ... If you call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ and you are not in some way involved in fulfilling that mandate [Acts 1:8], then you’re totally missing what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.” Listen to “Training Up Timothys.”

(Dr. Jim Jeffery)

Sunday evening, Pastor Brock questioned the missionaries. We learned what Scripture verse or passage has most impacted each missionary’s life (the book of Romans won), what each one enjoys most about ministry (people), and the biggest discouragement faced daily in ministry (various answers). Curt Jones and John Murdoch told how God led them from the pastorate into their current ministries, and several shared stories of how they personally have seen the gospel change a life. Listen to the Q&A time.

The Kids Conference
Lisa Brock, Kelly Hill, Jennifer Taylor, Jim Taylor, Buzz Rutenbar, and Helen VanHorn led the kids conference. Kids had to follow clues that uncovered passages of Scripture and application. Buzz appeared as Detective Herlock Sholmes, and Jim as Tick Dracy. Buzz says,

“The message was that, little as the kids are, God has put something in their hands. As they grow, they should look for what that is.”

(Buzz Rutenbar aka 'Herlock Sholmes')

 Helen taught an object lesson Friday night, using 25 different styles of gloves as the objects. She pointed out that a glove has no value until someone puts it on. She encouraged the children to put themselves into the things that interest them, and use them for God.

The next day the kids enjoyed singing and skits put on by young adults, as well as their own round robin. Three classrooms were spectacularly decorated to match the missionaries’ countries. Lisa Brock taught the children about Chaplain Murdoch’s ministry, Kelly Hill talked about CEF, and Jennifer Taylor taught about China.

Pastor Brock, says the conference reached the goal of encouraging people—even kids—to use their gifts to minister the gospel in local areas and around the world.

Other Posts from the 2012 Mission Conference:

• 2012 Mission Conference Recap & Reflections (by Stephen Simpson)
• 2012 Mission Conference Report (by Jonita Barram)
• 2012 Mission Conference - Chaplain John Murdoch
• 2012 Mission Conference - Jim Blizzard & CEF

2012 Mission Conference - Jim Blizzard and CEF (by Jonita Barram)

(Jim Blizzard)

A native Floridian, Jim Blizzard is a husband and the father of two sons and a baby daughter. He grew up in a family with many generations of vocational Christian workers. He shared his session with Jim Phillips and Sean Fielder.

Jim Phillips is chairman of the local CEF committee and serves as treasurer. He told how he often cannot pay the local CEF staff on time. In spite of that, Jim Blizzard enthusiastically pursues sharing the gospel with the 167,000 children of Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties.

Sean Fielder told about the partnership between CEF and FX. Since CEF cannot hold clubs in local schools, Faith Baptist’s FX and CEF have worked with Westwood Middle School to pick up children after school and bus them to the church for a club time.

Jim Blizzard told us a little about CEF in general—how its purpose is to evangelize, disciple, and establish children. Through CEF’s various clubs and outreaches, 11 million children a year hear the gospel of Christ. Schools in the Winter Haven area have declined Jim’s requests to hold Good News Clubs in their facilities, but a public school in nearby Alturas has requested a Good News Club. Jim challenged Faith members to prayerfully consider accepting this opportunity for outreach.

Jim’s heart for children and dedication to his mission are obvious. In the Q&A Sunday night, he told about leading his two young sons to salvation in Jesus Christ. They had heard the gospel repeatedly through Jim’s use of the Wordless Book. This is a tool that anyone can have “in [their] hands” and use for God’s glory—here in Polk County or around the world.

Other Posts from the 2012 Mission Conference:

• 2012 Mission Conference Recap & Reflections (by Stephen Simpson)
• 2012 Mission Conference Report (by Jonita Barram)
• 2012 Mission Conference - Chaplain John Murdoch
• 2012 Mission Conference - Jim Blizzard & CEF

2012 Mission Conference - Chaplain John Murdoch (by Jonita Barram)

(Chaplain John Murdoch)

The 2012 Annual Missions Conference began Friday night, Feb. 24, with Chaplain John Murdoch speaking. He also presented his ministry at the Saturday-morning round robin and took part in the Sunday-night question-and-answer time. So, over three days, we learned that he was a youth pastor when he joined the Civil Air Patrol (the volunteer U.S. Air Force Auxiliary). Over the years, he earned the rank of full colonel in the CAP. That’s why he is called “Col. Murdoch” and wears a colonel’s uniform.

But his ministry today goes beyond being a CAP chaplain. He is the director of the Regular Baptist Chaplaincy, a ministry of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. In his role as director, he

“ministers to the needs of Regular Baptist chaplaincy families and communicates to churches the challenges of outreach through military, institutional, and community service chaplaincy.”

Chaplain Murdoch’s sense of humor and stories make him easy to listen to. On Friday night he shared a three-point outline from Exodus 4, the text for the conference theme, “What Is That in Your Hand?” He talked about (God’s) Plan, (Moses’) Problems, and the Proclaimer. He showed us how God used what Moses had in his hand—his shepherd’s rod (vv. 2–16)—and how it became “the rod of God” to accomplish God’s plan. Chaplain Murdoch reminded us that God can use whatever we have in our hands, even something as humble as a shepherd’s rod.

During the round robin, Chaplain Murdoch explained how in the U.S. military, he is a civilian representative of a faith group (the GARBC) and is endowed by the Department of Defense with the authority of a general. But because he is really a civilian, the responsibility for his finances lies with his faith group, not with the U.S. military or government. Part of his job is to help chaplains “minister cooperatively without compromise.” In a sense, he is their pastor. His role with churches is liaison between them and the chaplains on behalf of soldiers. But John’s ministry is not limited to the military chaplaincy. He also oversees and ministers to institutional and community-service chaplains.

In addition to sharing God’s Word and his ministry, Col. Murdoch brought his wife, Hope, and he sang for us. Sunday night he sang the much-requested “God Bless the USA.” Chaplain Murdoch has a website, where you can read about his ministry.

Other Posts from the 2012 Mission Conference:

• 2012 Mission Conference Recap & Reflections (by Stephen Simpson)
• 2012 Mission Conference Report (by Jonita Barram)
• 2012 Mission Conference - Chaplain John Murdoch
• 2012 Mission Conference - Jim Blizzard & CEF

2012 Mission Conference Recap & Reflections (by Stephen Simpson)

(Diane & Chris Marine)

We recently concluded our annual Mission Conference.   Here are some quotes and highlights from the weekend.

• Chaplain John Murdoch, GARBC Chaplaincy Ministries
• "If God calls your kids to serve him, don't get in the way!"
• "When Satan brings up your past - bring up his future." - Chaplain John Murdoch
• "God hasn't asked us to be successful.  He has asked us to be faithful."
     
• Jim Blizzard, Local Director, Child Evangelism Fellowship
• There are 144,000 children under the age of 18 in Polk County.
• 81% of these children have no church affiliation
• The crime rate in Winter Haven is WAY above both the national and state averages
• 85% of those who come to Christ do so between ages 4-14. 
• "A child of 5 if properly instructed, can as readily believe and be regenerated as anyone." - Charles Spurgeon
     
• Conference Audio
• "Training Up Timothys" - by Dr. Jim Jeffery, President, Baptist Bible College & Seminary
• Missionary Report - by Chris Marine, West Africa Field Administer for FBM
• Missionary Q & A - Here are some of the questions our missionaries answered during the Q & A session.
• What Scripture has most impacted your life?
• What do you enjoy most about your ministry?
• What is the biggest discouragement that you face daily in the ministry?
• How did God move you from pastoring a church to your current ministries?
• Share a brief story where you have seen the Gospel change a life.

Other Posts from the 2012 Mission Conference:

• 2012 Mission Conference Recap & Reflections (by Stephen Simpson)
• 2012 Mission Conference Report (by Jonita Barram)
• 2012 Mission Conference - Chaplain John Murdoch
• 2012 Mission Conference - Jim Blizzard & CEF