Iowa Baptist Conference
eNewsletter |
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Dear Friends,
This eNewsletter comes to you from the
district office of the Iowa Baptist
Conference... keeping pastors and
leaders informed of activities across
the state... and opportunities and
resources available through the IBC &
Converge Worldwide (BGC).
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MERGER PROPOSAL UPDATE
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What's Next in the Proposed MN/IA
Merger?
 The
next step in the process is for the
Board of Stewards in MN, and the
Board of Overseers in IA, to vote on
the proposed Plan of Merger and the
Amended Articles of Incorporation
and By Laws.
The MBC Board met June 7th and voted
unanimously to recommend the
proposed merger... and to present
the Plan of Merger to the MN
churches for vote by their delegates
at their November 6th Annual
Meeting.
The IBC Board will vote on the
merger at their July 21st meeting.
If the vote is affirmative, the Plan
of Merger will then be sent to the
IBC churches... for the delegates to
vote on at the IBC Annual Meeting on
November 6th at Pine Lake. (This
meeting was continued from the May
2nd meeting.)
The Transition Team continues to
work on administrative details of a
transition... addressing issues of
providing services to Iowa pastors
and established churches, planting
new churches, and maintaining the
camping ministry at Pine Lake.
In the meantime... it's ministry &
business as usual for IBC & PLCC!
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BRIEF SNAPSHOT OF PLCC SUMMER CAMP MINISTRY |
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...by Roger Sutton,
Director of Pine Lake Christian Camp
A camper comes to camp declaring self an
atheist. "I don't believe in God." Left camp not
wanting to put the Bible down... couldn't get
enough.
Campers not wanting to go home... wanting
more of same thing.
Campers asking the tough questions...
getting answers and finding a new
relationship with Jesus Christ. 
Campers going home changed... restoring
broken relationships with the help of
parents.
Counselors challenged in own relationship
with Christ.
Counselors asking for prayer as Spiritual
Warfare is intense.
Parents seeing campers loved on.
Parents reporting dramatic changes in
campers.
Volunteers being challenged to reach out to
those around them.
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The following articles provide "snapshots"
of just a few of the ministries
taking place in our IBC churches.
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FLOWERS IN A CUP |
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A
Story from Genesis Church & the Big White House
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Pastor Dave Conrads,
Genesis Church, North Liberty
(reprinted with permission)
 In
the middle of our first church picnic at the
"Big White House" a week ago, an elderly
woman came walking into the yard from the
sidewalk along 12th Ave. She was carrying
these flowers (and grasses and pine branch,
etc.) that she apparently picked along the
way. Most of us were sitting under the trees
on chairs and blankets. And here she came,
as if she belonged to the group. But none
of us knew her. Some of us wondered if she
was homeless.
We welcomed her and invited her to join
us...to eat and drink with us. And she
did. And she was welcomed. And she said
so.
In appreciation, she took a plastic cup and
gave us her flowers and arrangement. I
looked at it and thought....this is what
we've been dreaming about. A stranger
joining our fellowship, being treated like a
friend, being blessed, and then being a
blessing in return!
It was evident to me that our people
accepted her and demonstrated love to
her...they exhibited the "heart" of the
gifts of the Holy Spirit (love) and I
believe it bore fruit in front of our very
eyes that day.
THAT is what it's about! The church
representing our Lord Jesus Christ in such a
way that even a stranger is drawn in by it's
love. And that is very exciting.
Who knows, we may see her again. May the
love we exhibited to her draw her nearer to
our triune God. And may the love we show
one another do the same.
Thank you for being a part of helping us
find a "home", not only for our congregation
but also for the people in our community,
like this woman who came off the
street...and joined the party!
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REACHING WOMEN FOR CHRIST!
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Taken From the June Edition
of the "The Beacon"... First Baptist, New
Hampton
One of our very own
IBCers, Twila Belk,
(Christian retreat speaker, author, member
of Pleasant View
Baptist, and IBC Board of Overseer... the
"Gotta Tell Somebody Gal!"),
recently spoke at a "Ladies' Tea" at First
Baptist, New Hampton. Following is a
snapshot of that event:
The Women's Tea outreach event, featuring
guest speaker, Twila Belk, let women and
girls experience tea, delicious dainties and
lots of laughs, as Twila's presentation,
"Laughing Your Socks Off", lived up to its
name.
But as those present were given the
opportunity to make a spiritual response,
five women indicated a first-time commitment
to Jesus Christ. These individuals were
sent a follow-up letter telling them how
they could grow spiritually, along with a
New Believer's New Testament. Please pray
for these five women that they would become
involved in a local church and further their
relationship with Christ.
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HOME CHURCH FOR OVER 100 IMMIGRANTS! |
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Taken from the June Edition
of the "The Oasis"... Olivet
Baptist, Urbandale
Olivet Baptist in Urbandale (a church of around
200) didn't set out to minister to immigrants...
but... God brought immigrants to
them! Following is a snapshot of that ministry:
 Olivet
is "the home church" for over 100 recent
immigrants. Some have been in Iowa almost
eighteen months, while others just arrived
in February and March. We see some Karen
people here every Sunday, even more for
larger events, and most of them for weddings
and funerals.
In one ninety day
period, Pastor Steve officiated four
weddings and a funeral: Ian & Lulu Loo
organize numerous classes and translate at
many events and at hospitals; Vicky
Clinkscales teaches a kids Sunday School
class with ten to twelve kids each
week--another five go to KidsQuest; and Nan
Hahn has three teenage Burmese girls in her
Student Ministry small group.
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PROVIDING A MEETING PLACE... & MORE! |
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Taken from the July 12th
"e-current"... The River Community, Iowa City
The River Community has
long offered their facility to chemical
dependency groups to use for their meetings.
Pastor Gail Mitchell relayed the following
snapshot from a recent event:
I spoke with one
of the people from Mecca, (Mid Eastern
Council on Chemical Abuse inpatient
treatment facility in Iowa City), last
Sunday. They are very pleased with the warm
welcome that they have received here. (We
don't see the results, so we don't realize
what an important ministry we have.) I
said, "These last several weeks at Mecca
must have been very important in changing
your life." Her response, "Not as much
as this church has." Again, pray
consistently for our guests from Mecca, and
for those who have graduated and return to
Des Moines, or Dubuque, or some small town
between.
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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS |
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Two Upcoming Anniversary Celebrations: 
Community Fellowship, Blue Grass - 25th
Anniversary
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Saturday, July
18, 3:00 pm - at 701 S Oak Lane,
Blue Grass
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Music by the Franz
Family - Food will be served!
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Any questions, call 563-381-2281
The River Community, Iowa City - 60th
Anniversary
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Saturday, August 29, 6:00 pm
- Banquet of Memories
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Sunday, August 30, 10:00 - Special Service
with FREE Barbecue afterwards
- For more details and to register, click
here
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IBC WOMEN'S FALL RETREAT |
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Summer is Half Over... which means... Fall is
Just Around the Corner!
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WHAT: 2009 Women's Fall Retreat
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WHEN: September 25-27 at Pine
Lake
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HOST: The Ladies from New
Covenant Church, Knoxville
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THEME: "Go Light Your World" -
"Let your light so shine before men..."
Matt. 5:16a (KJV)
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SPEAKER: Susan Lawrence,
Christian speaker, author, storyteller, and
IBCer! After a 33 year career as a teacher of
special needs children, Susan hung up her
chalkboard to pursue writing and speaking full
time.... Storytelling and drama are intermingled
with teaching, in presenting Biblical principles
to her audience. Susan is the author of two
published devotionals: "A Family Garden of
Christian Virtues" and "A Young Child's Garden
of Christian Virtues", plus articles for
numerous Christian publications.
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REGISTRATION:
PDF file
//
On-Line Registration
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
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 Looking
Ahead...
2009
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July 12-17 - Sr High Camp
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July 21 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Conference
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August 4 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Conference
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August 7-9 - PLCC Homecoming Weekend
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September 1 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Conference
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September 18-20 - IBC Men's Retreat
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September 18-20 - MBC Women's
Retreat
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September 25-27 - IBC Women's
Retreat
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September 25-27 - MBC Men's Retreat
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October 6 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Converence
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October 9-11 - IBC Scrapbooking
Weekend - PLCC
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October 17 - IBC Prayer Summit
- PLCC
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November 3 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Converence
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November 7 - IBC 2009 Annual Meeting,
Resumed - Pine Lake (10:00 am)
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December 1 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Converence
2010
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January 5 - IBC Board of Overseers
Phone Converence
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January 15-17 - Sr High Winter
Retreat (9th-12th)
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January 22-24 - Juniors Winter
Retreat (2nd-5th)
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February 6 - IBC 2009 Annual Meeting,
Resumed
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February 19-21 - Jr High Winter
Retreat (6th-8th)
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MINISTRY
RESOURCES |
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Following are brief summaries of
some GREAT ministry tools.
You can check out additional
resources at the IBC website in
regard to:
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RETOOL KIT
is a BGC resource
designed to help churches become
all that God wants for them. It
is not a program... it is a
pathway... guided by a trained
Mobilization Coach who helps the
church discover and develop
healthy leaders, a biblical
community, and a clear vision
for the future.
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of the the end results is a
clearer vision for ministry,
along with a three year future
plan. Additional outcomes are
the changing of the church's
DNA, spiritual growth, (both
personally and corporately),
stronger community, and more
effective Kingdom impact.
For more information, contact
Pastor Jeff Scherer,
IBC Director of Mobilization
at: 319-290-6874 or
jeffscherer6@msn.com
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SHALOM HOUSE is
a pastoral retreat center in New
London, WI
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facilitated by Pinnacle
Ministries and providing a
comfortable, safe place for rest,
refreshment and renewal for those in
ministry - based on the philosophy
that the health of our
churches, and ultimately our
communities, rests in the strength
and refreshment of our pastors.
Pinnacle Ministries
offers three levels of services...
from just "hanging out" to
professional counseling services.
Shalom House can
also be utilized for church
board and leadership retreats,
church staff training, missionaries
and their families, and pastoral
sabbaticals.
If your pastor doesn't know about
Shalom, please tell him or her about
it - better yet, send them
for a refreshing, relaxing break to
recharge their batteries for future
ministry!
For more information, go to:
www.theshalomhouse.org
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QUIET WATERS MINISTRIES -
offers a FREE,
24 hour a day, 7 days a week,
confidential phone consulting
resource for BGC pastors and home
assignment missionaries called
CARELINE -
funded jointly by IBC & BGC
 Call
866.526.2222 to be
put in touch with a licensed doctor
or master's level counselor from
Quiet Waters Ministries
to talk about EITHER
personal OR congregational
matters.
Services are available for up to 3 hrs
of assessment and consultation via
telephone per isolated incident per
year.
All communication with the
denomination, regarding these
services is consistent with
confidentiality laws and
requirements, and with BGC's
policies and guidelines.
For more information about
Quiet Waters, go to:
www.qwaters.org
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BGC CORNERSTONE FUND
is a ministry
of the Baptist General Conference
with a mission
 to
extend BGC ministries - by providing
loans for building/remodeling
projects within our conference
churches and ministry centers.
Our ministry is possible because of
the support of our investors, who
receive competitive rates compared
to like term investments and have
the satisfaction of knowing that
their investment is being used to
help expand ministries of the BGC.
For more information, go to:
www.bgccornerstonefund.org
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CHRISTIAN LIBRARY
INTERNATIONAL
is a Raleigh, NC, based ministry
that distributes
 used
Christian books (fiction and
non-fiction), Christian music tapes,
Sermon tapes, CDs, DVDs, video
tapes, bible study materials, and
tracts to prisons, shelters and
international missions free of
charge.
What a
great way to "recycle" those dust
collecting books! For more
information, to to:
www.cli-nc.org
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CHERISH CENTER
is a ministry of Shepherd's
Fold - providing housing,
counseling, nurturing, training, and
spiritual guidance to young ladies
experiencing the crisis of an
unplanned pregnancy. They have the
capacity to care for six girls at a
time for a period of 3-6 months.
And because they are supported by
individuals and churches, they have
the freedom to make Christ central
in the home and in the training.
The Executive Director, Jan
Turner, is a member of the
Milford Baptist Church
and is also their worship
director. She has seen this project
through the from the very beginnings
- property purchase, building
construction and equipping, and
staffing. In their first year of
operation they served eight girls.
Shepherd's Fold
Ministries, Inc., is a
local, interdenominational,
non-profit corporation working
to provide a home and a
hope for young mothers in
need, located in northwest
Iowa.
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 IOWA
BAPTIST CONFERENCE
Magnifying God by Mobilizing &
Multiplying a Growing Family of Healthy Churches! |
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