A Verdade Brazil Mission Team - What is 'A Verdade'? (by Jonita Barram)

Faith Baptist is praying for and helping the A Verdade Missions Team go to Brazil July 15–23. But where did that name, 'A Verdade,' come from?

Angel Long explains:

Hannah thought of naming the mission trip this based out of John 8:31 and 32. “A Verdade” is “The Truth” in Portuguese. The prayer is that we would hold to Jesus’ teaching, be His disciples, and all know “The Truth.”

The team will wear shirts that say “A Verdade Brazil Missions,” which should get attention and generate inquiries and conversations. Angel says that is what happened at Chick-Fil-A when our church turned out to support the team.

Lots of people that don’t attend our church asked about what we were doing. So, many spiritual seeds of encouragement were planted too! Praise God. The church showing up in support for the mission was a real encouragement to the owner and managers too—with them even asking for us to please come back.

The missions group has been preparing in other ways as well, spending 10 weeks working through Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. Angel says:

It was a real eye opener to our spiritual life and how we are using our God-given time and talents.

Angel hopes people will pray the following for the team:

Prayers would be that we would be used of God on His trip—from our preparing here to our future, even in our flight. May He totally use us for His glory, work in us for His kingdom, and work upon our hearts for deeper roots of fellowship with Him. Pray for all to know His love, grace, and mercy.

Related Posts:

• A Verdade Brazil Mission Team - Overview
• A Verdade Missions Trip - 14 Prayer Requests

A Verdade Missions Trip - 14 Prayer Requests

As our A Verdade Brazil Mission Team prepares for its July trip, we have 14 specific prayer requests to share with you.  

1. That God will keep them, their money, and their belongings safe
2. That God will protect their health
3. That they would get through Customs without problems or payment
4. That God would open to them “a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ”
5. That they “may open [their mouths] boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel”
6. That they would enjoy unity
7. That the Lord would minimize language barriers
8. That God would fill them “with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”
9. That they “may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”
10. That God would strengthen each one “with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (And my experience is that being overseas automatically calls for patience and longsuffering!)
11. That they would redeem the time in witnessing, working, and fellowshipping
12. That they would witness, work, and fellowship empowered by the Holy Spirit, not in their own strength
13. That each one will be open to what God wants to teach him or her during this experience
14. That God would use this trip to burden their hearts for the work of missions—whether they become missionaries or they support missionaries through prayer and finances

Will you pray for them?

Related Posts:

• A Verdade Brazil Mission Team - Overview
• A Verdade Brazil Mission Team - What is 'A Verdade?'

A Verdade Brazil Missions Trip - Overview

As Copa Airline’s flight 435 touches down in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, on July 15, it will carry nine youth and six adults from our church. Joao Pessoa will be their first destination on a missions trip that will end at Paraiba Baptist Camp, the relocated Baptist Mid-Missions camp where our Faith’s 100 missionary Jared Malcolm is working.

Those of us who are not going can still participate by providing funds for the trip and praying for the team.

Funds for the Trip

Getting to Brazil will be no easy feat for the teens. Typically a missions team will ask their church, friends, and family for donations to raise the needed support. But our team isn’t asking for free money—although all free money is welcome! Instead, team members are working toward the $1,980 each needs for the trip. And they’ve invited the entire church body to participate in three ways.

Work

In March, people were invited to sign up to have one or more youth provide a service. Instead of paying the teens, the adults write a check to the church, indicating which team member’s account should get the money.

This is a great way for our church family not only to meet our own needs but also to get to know teens better while we help them get to Brazil. Jonita Barram, for example, enjoyed having Caleb Haynes and Levi Dekker do manual labor for her. In particular, they moved furniture. She says:

I was really impressed with their willingness to work, even beyond what I was asking them to do. I already knew them by name and face. I appreciated getting to know a little more about them during the time they worked with me.

Spirit Night

On May 2, hundreds of the Faith family gathered at the Winter Haven Chick-Fil-A, enjoying food and fellowship and helping raise money for the team. From 5 to 8 p.m., couples, families, and individuals placed orders, turning in their flyers to ensure a portion of their dinner price went to the team. The evening garnered about $500 as of this writing.

(members of the Brazil Mission Team during Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A)

Marianna Hradec—who recently went forward in church, expressing her willingness to become a missionary—can’t go on this summer’s trip, but she was at Chick-Fil-A, having fun supporting her fellow youth.

Among those at Chick-Fil-A that night were Bob and Laura Lusk, part of the older generation who has been giving, “hiring,” showing up, supporting, and praying for the missions team.

Prayer for the Team

James Berry*, Jamie Berry, Katie Deines, Jessica Dekker, Levi Dekker, J. R. Foster*, Caleb Haynes, Jana Hopkins, Rebekah Leonard*, Angel Long*, Hannah Long, Dot Malcolm*, Julie Shierling, Bill Vegter*, and Jacob Vegter need our prayers! (* Adults.)

According to Jon Reiner, the team will do general maintenance, such as painting, trimming trees and brush, and doing minor construction. He says not to worry—there’s “plenty to do!” Hannah Long says she is looking forward to meeting and fellowshipping with new people and to sharing the gospel. Levi Dekker, who has been to Brazil before, says: “It’s just great meeting all the people. We get to go to the church services, and it’s a great experience.” When asked what he expects to do, he says, “I just do whatever they need me to.”

Rebekah Leonard says: 

“We are so excited to be going, and it’s great that the word is getting out so that we will have many direct prayers behind us as we head to Brazil.” 

The Lord has something special to teach each team member. This could be a life-changing experience. For example, Cynthia Deines tells how a missions trip taken by her husband and daughter had a lasting impact on Lauren:

Lauren and Troy went to Nicaragua on a missions trip, and that just confirmed with Lauren that she wanted to go into nursing. Lauren just got her four-year degree in nursing this month. And she’s so excited about it. She and her husband are thinking that they might want to go Ecuador for a few years and do mission work down there with her nursing degree.

Only time will demonstrate to us the way this trip will change the lives of Angel, Bill, Caleb, Dot, Hannah, Jacob, James, Jamie, Jana, Jessica, J. R., Julie, Katie, Levi, and Rebekah.

Thank You

Pastor Dave says:

The church has really jumped in and helped so much. They are helping through providing work opportunities, by praying, and donating resources to help with fundraisers. The adult leaders have also put in many hours to help the team.

Related Posts:

• A Verdade Brazil Mission Team - What is 'A Verdade?'
• A Verdade Missions Trip - 14 Prayer Requests

Mission Conference Recap & Highlights (by Stephen Simpson)

Some highlights from David Totman's Messages:

• Friday Night "Pursuing God"
• "The righteous pursue a relationship with God and enjoy its results." 
• "Can I describe my relationship with God as a 'pursuit?'"
• "The wise person chooses to 'plant' themselves near God.  The foolish person chooses the wisdom of the world and distances themselves far from God."
• The tree in Psalm 1 was planted 'intentionally' by the streams of water.  It was no accident.  
• "Being blessed is a result of choosing the right path.  There is a blessing that comes from choosing to place ourselves right next to God." 
• Sunday morning "The Power of Influence"
• "There is a lot of grey in our society today." 
• What are the major influences in my life?  We must be discerning about our sources of influence.
• The righteous person avoids sinful influences.
• The righteous person desires God's influence.
• "Is what is coming through your phone influencing you in a positive way?" 

Jeff & Becky Raymond

Jeff & Becky Raymond, Visual Communications Missionaries with ABWE

• The Raymonds help other missionaries communicate clearly and effectively with their supporters.  
• "Whatever God is asking you to do, He will give you everything you need to do it."  Becky Raymond (from the Sunday night Q & A)
• The Raymonds facilitate short-term mission assignments for professional photographers/videographers.  They will send them out to the field to help document a particular missionary or ministry. 
• Prayer Requests:
• Unsaved neighbors
• Strength to face spiritual battles
• visit their website - http://www.raymond.abwe.org/

Dan & Marsha Haynes

Dan & Marsha Haynes, Mali, FBM

• "Serving the Lord as a long-term career missionary is not a sacrifice.  It is an honor and a privilege."  Dan Haynes (from Sunday night Q & A)
• The Haynes have had a long and fruitful ministry in Mali.  
• Prayer Requests:
• With the unrest and unstable situation in Mali, the Haynes request prayer for clear direction for their future. 
• Malian Christians - That God would strengthen them during these difficult times. 

Dan & Sherri Lethers

Dan & Sherri Lethers, pre-field ministry, headed to Togo, ABWE

• Both Dan & Sherri worked at Word of Life.  It reminded me of the importance and value of summer camp.  Many individuals and saved and called into ministry at summer camp.
• Prayer Requests:
• The people of Togo
• That God would provide the resources to build the radio station in Togo
• That their family would thrive in Togo
• visit their website:  http://hoperadio.abwe.org/lethers-family

Other Highlights:

• Meeting Pastor Nouh, a persecuted Pastor from Mali - He spoke with so much passion and energy.



Pastor & Mrs. Nouh Yattara

• Spending time with Colin & Teena Ovenell, (www.beninbound.org) FBM Missionaries from Benin.  They were passing through Winter Haven on their way to their home in Washington state.  It was good to spend some face-to-face time with them and to hear about their ministry.

Colin & Teena Ovenell

11 Months in West Africa (by Leandra Shangraw)

Leandra Shangraw is one of the missionaries who recently joined with Faith Baptist Mission.  Last September, when the transition occurred, Leandra was just beginning an 11 month mission trip to Niger.  Her trip has now come to a close.  Read below as she shares about her experience. 

My name is Leandra Shangraw, and I just returned from spending 11 months living in West Africa in the country of Niger. Africa has always intrigued me. Maybe my fascination started when my aunt and uncle, Tim and Richelle Wright, decided to become missionaries in Niger. Maybe it started in third grade when my class read a book about David Livingstone and his exploration of the Dark Continent. Maybe it started when my parents explained to me why we had a picture of a little African boy who we were supporting on our refrigerator. I guess the timing of when I became fascinated with Africa does not matter all that much… All I know is that it has been my dream for just about as long as I can remember to go there. So when the opportunity presented itself for me to spend a year in Africa straight out of high school, I grabbed a hold of it with both hands and refused to let go.

One of my main goals in going to Africa was to learn as much about missions as I could. Someday I wish to return to the field long-term. But I wanted to see the mission field first hand – see which skill I would need to learn – before I pursued any higher education that would bring me closer to my dream of becoming a missionary. I truly feel that I gained so much from this experience! Being able to watch missionaries day in and day out, trusting God and following His will for their lives, was so rewarding.

My time in Africa will forever have an enormous impact on my life and the decisions I make. I would encourage as many as I could to do something similar. Take a year off and see what the Lord can teach you when you are not in the classroom! It is such a gratifying experience.

The main ministry with which I was involved in Africa was working in an international Christian school called Sahel Academy. It was originally started for missionary kids whose parents were not working somewhere where they could receive decent education. Since then, it has been opened up to students whose parents work with the different embassies in the capitol city and also regular African students who simply want English education. It was a great time for me to grow in maturity, and see how the Lord could use me. I was privileged to lead a 7th/8th grade girls’ Bible study, which was so fulfilling! Those girls in the study affected my life in such huge ways. I pray that the Lord used me to affect them positively in some way.

Another way that I was privileged to serve was going to an orphanage weekly and just spending time with the children there. They were so ready to receive love! The friendships that I made there were so wonderful, and I will forever cherish the time that I was able to spend with them.

I would like to thank Faith Baptist and Faith’s 100 for their help and support when I needed it most. I cannot begin to imagine what this past year would have been like if they had not been so willing to give their assistance. I will forever be grateful for everything you all have done for me. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share. God bless!

Meet some of our other FBM Missionaries:

• Kathy Miller
• Tim & Janice Phillips (part 1)
• Tim & Janice Phillips (part 2)
• Ken & Sarah Beckley
• Cindy Faile

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SLMF Meeting: My Personal Opinion (by Jonita Barram)

I like to smile at strangers in stores. I’ve gotten some interesting responses. Sometimes I get a friendly smile back. Sometimes I get a “Wow! I can’t believe somebody smiled at me” smile. But most of the time, I get no smiles.

I went to a store after the Sunshine Ladies Missionary Fellowship (SLMF) met at our church on Mar. 13. I noticed a contrast. All day I had been smiling at strangers, but all day I’d gotten smiles in return—friendly, “Hi, sister. Isn’t God good?” smiles. I felt so refreshed from the fellowship and challenged by the messages, both spoken and sung. I’m glad my boss let me attend as a reporter. (Read my official report at www.BaptistBulletin.org.) I’m also grateful for Lee Dusing, who took photos all morning and then lent me her camera to use after she had to leave.

Ruth Rhoden and Lorraine Hooser greet ladies and help them sign in.

The morning began with a continental breakfast provided by the church. I didn’t see Beth Brown, but I know she worked behind the scenes to organize everything. Then Evelyn Dinsmore, Dorothy Albritton, Dot Malcolm, and Mary Pence served and cleaned up both breakfast and lunch. The breakfast was a great time for reconnecting with ladies from other churches and meeting ones I didn’t already know.

Evelyn Dinsmore, Dorothy Albritton, Dot Malcolm, and Mary Pence serve and clean up so others can enjoy a great meeting.

From there we went into the chapel, where the SLMF president, Maribeth Smith, welcomed everyone. Then Bea Ide spoke on behalf of the Faith ladies. “We love you all, and we’re glad you’re here,” she said.

Bea Ide, liaison between the SLMF and Faith, welcomes the ladies.

I won’t give a detailed account of the day, but I would like to touch on some highlights and our ladies’ involvement.

Sheila Vegter, accompanied by Rebecca Tarquino, sang “I’m Surrounded by His Love” during the morning session and “Don’t Quit” during the afternoon session. Both songs were written by Doug and Donna Lowry. When Sheila introduced the first song, she mentioned that she is related by marriage to Doug Lowery: he is the brother of Jerry Vegter’s wife Diane. (Jerry is Bill’s brother, Vi’s son, and so forth and so on.) Doug is an evangelist; he and Donna travel the country as a ministry team.

Sheila Vegter sings "I'm Surrounded by His Love

Rebecca Tarquino accompanies Sheila

I noticed several of “our ladies” looking over the book table, brought by Connie Overholt from Heritage Baptist Church. Maribeth thanked Connie and the others from Heritage for bringing the books. Then she plugged her brother Larry’s book, Elephant Trunk Steaks and Other Adventure Stories about growing up as MKs in Africa.

Carla Gaswint and Ellen Balsley visit the book table, managed by Connie Overholt (Heritage Baptist, Lakeland, far right)

Margaret Tolosa, the SLMF secretary/treasurer, told us about this year’s project. EBI (Editorial Bautista Independiente) has put together a 26-book library for pastors in Spanish-speaking countries outside the U.S. A pastor can pay $20 for his library, but it cost $150 more to publish the books. So EBI is asking for others to donate the funds. (EBI covers the postage.) Ladies groups in the various churches have been saving money since the October 2011 meeting. When the offering was collected on the 13th, the project money amounted to over $730! That’s almost half of the SLMF’s goal to raise $1,500 to purchase 10 libraries.

Margaret Tolosa introduces the 2012 missions project:  purchasing 26-book libraries for 10 pastors in Spanish-speaking countries outside the U.S.

When we ladies divided into pairs or threes to pray, I had the privilege of praying with Margaret and with our missionary speaker for the day, Nancy Ball. Nancy was a missionary in Ghana for 45 years. She gave her testimony in the morning and showed slides in the afternoon. She was part of a literacy work, teaching nationals to read. (For more details, see my report at www.BaptistBulletin.org.)

Nancy Ball points to a stack of Bibles: two New Testaments and one complete Bible in the Waalii language of Ghana.

Stephen Simpson ran the sound so we could hear Nancy speak, Sheila sing, Maribeth lead the music, others make announcements, and Maribeth and her cohorts put on two hilarious skits about translating for American speakers. (For more details on the skits, see my report at www.BaptistBulletin.org.) It was good to laugh so much!

Stephen waits for the afternoon session to begin so he can run the sound system.

Maribeth Smith and Dessie Johnson demonstrate the language barrier when Americans use figures of speech and interpreters translate literally.

People who enjoy an event always tell those who weren’t there, “You missed a great time.” But really, ladies, if you weren’t there, you missed a great time. Think about attending the next meeting, October 9, at Bethany Baptist Church, Avon Park.

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

"What Is That In Your Hand?" (by Stephen Simpson)

Each year, FBC holds a Mission Conference. Our Mission Committee works hard to plan and organize this conference. One of their tasks is to choose a theme for the conference. This year's theme is "What is that in Your Hand?" It is taken from Exodus 4:2.

The Lord said to him (Moses), "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." (ESV)

On the surface, this theme may appear unclear. I must admit that when I first heard the conference theme, I was confused. In the weeks since then, I have been thinking often of that simple question, "What is that in your hand?"

Hopefully, you are familiar with this passage in Exodus. In chapter 3, God speaks to Moses through the burning bush. God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

"Come, I will send you to Pharoah that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." (Ex. 3:10)

After this, Moses showers God with pessimism. Chapter 4 opens with one of these pessimistic statements,

"They (the Israelites) will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'the Lord did not appear to you.'"

At this point, God asks a simple question, "What is that in your hand?" It was a simple question with a simple answer. Moses replied, "a staff." This staff was an ordinary object. It was no golden scepter from Egypt. It was not the staff of Abraham or Isaac. It was the simple staff of a simple shepherd. It was what Moses had and so it was what God used.

Think about this. Moses carried his staff with him all the time. Most likely, you would have never seen Moses without his staff. Could it be that you and I also have a 'staff' that we carry with us wherever we go? Could it be that God wants to use the 'staff' in your hand just like He used the staff that was in Moses' hand?

Now, few of us are shepherds. I do not know anybody who carries a literal wooden staff. But, I think we need to expand our thinking and consider the other things that we do carry around with us that might be considered a 'staff.' Consider the following:

• Money - Many walk around with gobs of money in their bank account. Could it be that money is the 'staff' that God wants you to use? God told Moses to throw his staff on the ground. How might God want you to 'throw your money on the ground?' Perhaps your Money is "what is in your hand."
     
• Time - Do you have extra time in your schedule? How can you spend that extra time? Could you volunteer at the local pregnancy center? Maybe you could help cook meals for the FX kids. Perhaps you can provide transportation to others or simply go spend time visiting with a shut-in. Perhaps your Time is "what is in your hand."
      
• Knowledge - Are you an expert at anything? Do you have special skills that for you are very ordinary but for others might be very extraordinary? Maybe you are a doctor or an accountant. Maybe you are a lawyer or a chef. How can God use this specialized knowledge that you possess? Perhaps this Knowledge is "what is in your hand."
      
• Attitude - A positive attitude is rare and precious treasure. Do you have a positive attitude? Do you ooze optimism? Is your 'glass' always half full? Consider the ways you can share this attitude. Optimism is contagious. Spread it around. Perhaps your attitude is "what is in your hand."
      
  
• Words - Words are powerful. Are you talented with words? Words can be used in cards, phone calls, visits, emails, and more. Words can do so many wonderful things. Not everyone can use words effectively. But, maybe you can. Perhaps your words are "what is in your hand."
     

So, what is that in your hand? Find out. There is something there. Your hands are not empty. Use whatever 'staff' is in your hand to display the power and glory of God to the world.

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• Declare His Glory Among the Nations - 2011 Mission Conference (by Matthew DelValle)
• 2010 Mission Conference Recap - Chris Hindal
• 2010 Mission Conference Recap - Leon Fisher
• 2010 Mission Conference Recap - Gil & Denise Thomas
• Are You an Over-Spending Under-Sacrificing Christian? (by Jon Reiner)

30 Hours on the Amazon River (by Peter Brock)

The Lord recently blessed me with the opportunity to travel to Santiago, Chile and Pevas, Peru.  As with any missions trip, it is almost impossible to adequately communicate the sights, smells, foods, people and lessons learned. So here, in no particular order, are just a few of the many lessons I was able to learn with some random impressions mixed in.

• Downtown Santiago, Chile reminds me of European cities.
• We have much to learn from believers in other countries.
• Missionaries from the US are still vitally needed in some countries.
• Missionaries from the US may need to consider taking a back seat to the national leadership in some countries.
• The believers in the Santiago prison challenged my life like nothing else on the trip.  
• The boat rides on the Amazon river, totaling over 30 hours, were unlike anything I have ever experienced and will ever experience again.

  

• The gospel of Jesus Christ is alive and well in the jungles of Peru.

    

Peter and his 'translator'

• Fish

  

• I am privileged to call many Chilean and Peruvian believers my friends.

• Participating in the baptism of 6 new believers in the river was a thrill and a privilege.

 

   

• Iquitos, Peru, our staging point for our boat rides to Pevas, is the largest city in the world that you can't drive to.

• I love to hear believers in other countries sing.

• The American church has so many resources that it's almost embarrassing.

• The missionaries who served on the Amazon River in years past laid a great foundation.

 

  

• The pastors that ministered in the Amazon region of Peru humbled me.

• Adelphos is doing a great job around the world.

  

• Preaching on Friday afternoon in Pevas was easily the hottest environment I have ever preached in. Just about killed my translator.

• I thank God for again humbling me as I was able to see Him at work in this world.

Birds in Chile and Peru

Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) by J Fenton

Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. (Psalms 104:12 ESV)

Pastor Pete and Jim Philips have gone on a two week trip to assist and train preachers down there. So, here is a survey of some of the birds in those countries that they might encounter. Just the trip on the Amazon should give them some interesting views of our feathered friends. Let's see what we can discover:

Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) by Ian's Birdway

Since there are so many to consider, see the numbers below, I have picked out some of the most interesting (at least to me) that you might enjoy seeing God's Designing Hand at work. To start off, there is the Potoo - Nyctibiidae Family, which is related to nightjars and frogmouths (Whip-poor-will or Chuck-will's-widow). They are nocturnal and hunt insects, but lack the bristles around the mouth. What is so neat about these is how they appear in the daytime. They sit on branches and look like the bark or a stump. Peru has the Great, Long-tailed, Common, Andean, White-winged and Rufous Potoo. See an article about them and their Family page.

Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) by Ian

Another interesting set of birds they could encounter would be ones from the Sulidae Family which Peru has; the Blue-footed, Peruvian, Masked, Nazca, Red-footed and Brown Booby. Chile has those minus the Red-footed Booby. The family also include the Cape Gannet found in Peru. We did an article about the Blue-footed Booby.

Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) by Dan at LP Zoo

Pastor Pete and Jim may also get a chance to spot the beautiful Sunbittern while in Peru. See Birds of the Bible - Sunbittern. They could also see the "The Stinker" or Hoatzin and the Oilbird also in Peru.

Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) ©WikiC

Of the 14 Motmots in the Momotidae Family, 5 of them can be found in Peru, but none in Chile. The Whooping, Amazonian, Andean, Rufous and the Broad-billed Motmots live in Peru.

Screaming Piha (Lipaugus vociferans) ©AGrosset

Screaming Phia - Sound from xeno-canto.org

The Cotingas - Cotingidae Family has 30 species in Peru and 1 in Chile. Some articles about them are:
The Pompadour Cotinga – Concealed incubators…
Andean Cock-of-the-rock – The Changer… Both by a j mithra

The Cotingas in Peru are the Red-crested, Chestnut-crested, White-cheeked, Bay-vented, Black-necked Red, Plum-throated, Purple-breasted, Spangled, Black-faced, Purple-throated, Pompadour. Chile only has the Rufous-tailed Plantcutter and Peru has the Peruvian Plantcutter. Peru also has 8 Fruiteaters, 2 Fruitcrows, 4 Pihas and the Andean Cock-of-the-rock.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) Reinier Munguia

The another large family is the Psittacidae Family which has the Parrots, Macaws, Parakeets, Parrotlets and the Amazons. There are 53 species in Peru and 5 in Chile.

Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)©WikiC

Do your remember the article about the Sword-billed Hummingbird? Just maybe, they will get a chance to see one of them.

The last is the Trochillidae Family which has the Hummingbirds, Sicklebills, Hermits, Lancebills, Sabrewings, Jacobin, Violetears, Mangos, Topaz, Coquettes, Thorntails, Sapphires, Woodnymphs, Goldenthroat, Emerald, Plumeleteer, Piedtails, Brilliants, Coronet, Sunbeams, Velvetbreast, Inca, Starfrontlets, Sapphirewing, Sunangel, Pufflegs, Whitetip, Racket-tail, Comets, Mountaineer, Metaltail, Thornbills, Avocetbill, Fairy, Spatuletail, Sheartail and Woodstar. All of these are in the Hummingbird family. There are 123 species in Peru and 9 in Chile.

These two countries abound in the Creative Hand of the Lord, especially when the birds of the air are considered.

They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands. (Isaiah 5:12 ESV)
that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41:20 ESV)

Peru has 1782 species, with 110 only found in that area, 89 species are globally threatened. Peru List of Birds
Chile has 485 species, with 14 only found in that area, 35 species are globally threatened. Chile List of Birds

Related Posts:

• Birds of the Bible - Paraiba, Brazil
• Birds of the Bible - Johannesburg, South Africa
• Birds of the Bible - Niamey, Niger, West Africa