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 &
the BGC.
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2009 IBC ANNUAL MEETINGS |
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"a
NEW thing?"
Registration & Schedule...
MEETING LOCATION:
Union Park Baptist Church
821 Arthur Ave, Des Moines
Ph: 515.265.5258
(Housing options
listed on brochure)
STATE-WIDE LEAD TEAM

Thursday, April 30
Supper - 5:30 pm
Encouraging - 7:00 pm
Friday, May 1
Learning, Achieving, &
Dreaming - 9:00 am
IBC
ANNUAL MEETING
Friday, May 1
Registration - 4:30
pm BANQUET - 5:30 pm
Program - 7:00 pm
Dessert - 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 2
Program - 9:00 am
Business - 10:30 am
Skip's Farewell - 11:30 am
Lunch - 12:00 pm
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MOVING
FORWARD... |
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The Flywheel is Spinning!
by Skip Hansen, IBC Director of
Transition
As
the flywheel turns... any one point becomes a moving
target! And the faster the flywheel turns, the
greater the movement of the target! In other
words... change is constant!
In our last newsletter, I communicated the plan
for our IBC delegates to vote whether or not we
intended to move forward with a Minnesota merger...
based on the information available by that time. We
called it a "fuzzy" picture.
But as the flywheel has spun-up, our target has
shifted. From an Iowa legal perspective, we cannot
vote our "legal" intention on May 1... without a
clearly completed "plan of merger." From a
Minnesota perspective, that official "plan of
merger" cannot be completed by May 1. Iowans may be
able to vote our hearts... but we will not be able
to create a legal merger action on that day.
Consequently, I've invited two men to speak to us at
our annual meeting. One will speak peace and joy to
our "hearts." The other will bring peace and
certainty to our "heads."
FRIDAY NIGHT... Minnesota Baptist
Conference District Executive Minister, Dan Carlson,
will speak to our hearts. He will share the spirit
of good will, as well as the widespread spiritual
synergy, existent among Minnesotans toward Iowans.
Dan is a warm-hearted leader who you will enjoy
hearing and getting to know!
SATURDAY MORNING... Paul Floyd, an
attorney who has assisted with previous BGC church
mergers will speak to our heads. He will explain
why we must hold the entire series of meetings
as outlined in my previous article. He will draw us
a clear picture of the various procedures and
remaining required steps. Paul is a great guy with
a keen mind for clarity! You will appreciate his
presentation... and be drawn to him as a person!
WE WILL CELEBRATE!
When you leave this annual meeting, you will have a
clear sense that we are not just spinning our wheels
in Iowa... but actually moving forward with good
progress and proper due diligence-as we move forward
toward aNEWthing!
PRAISE THE LORD! |
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DON'T FORGET... |
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IBC/MBC Town Hall Meetings...
by Dan Carlson, MBC District
Executive Minister
We would like to meet you!
To that end we are bringing 10 members of our
team to you and invite you to join us for an
evening of Introducing the
Minnesota Baptist Conference "Family
Gathering Style." We call it the
"Converge Café"! We
want to introduce you to the "Ministry
Menu" that defines us and that we could
share together.
These get acquainted events will take place on four
consecutive evenings in four different locations.
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Thursday, April 2, 7:00 pm - Grace
Baptist, Waterloo - 319-233-6196
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Friday, April 3, 7:00 pm - Grandview
Baptist, Davenport - 563-386-7576
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Saturday, April 4, 6:00 pm - Olivet
Baptist, Urbandale - 515-279-3919
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Sunday, April 5, 6:00 pm - Oak Hill Baptist,
Humboldt - 515-332-1058
We
promise to touch each of your senses! We invite you
to:
"Taste and see" that the Lord is
good," "Smell" the aroma of
Christ, as well as a good dessert, "Feel"
the love of Christ as expressed through his Word and
let your heart be "Touched" as we
look at the needs in our neighborhoods and around
the world, "Hear" of the good news
of our Savior,
We also invite you to: "Speak"
into our lives as we get to know and interact with
you, "Give" to the ministry of the
Iowa Baptist Conference.
We don't want you to miss out
on this first opportunity! Let me encourage you to
call the location you will attend and let them know
you are coming! I am looking forward to meeting you
and introducing you to our team!
Dan Carlson
Executive Minister
Minnesota Baptist Conference |
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WHY PARTICIPATE IN DENOMINATIONAL MEETINGS? |
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One Pastor's Answer...
by Pastor Carlton Anderson from The River's Edge
Church in Iowa Falls
Dear
River's Edge Members & Other 'Lovers of The Edge",
There are a couple denominational gatherings
occurring in the next 6 weeks that may be of
interest to you.
Since our first focus is getting people to
Jesus, we don't make a big deal out of
denominational structures and procedures and
advertise these things publicly. But at the same
time, much of our church's strength and wisdom is
found in these relationships with other sister
churches, our state leadership and national
resources. Our road to where we are today would've
been very different, and we would've made many more
mistakes if it wasn't for the church planting
resources that we've benefited from.
Also, at a time when most US denominations are
shrinking in size, our denomination, Converge
Worldwide (formerly known as the BGC, or Baptist
General Conference), is growing! Other churches are
seeing the things we are doing and desiring that
same revitalization in their churches and
congregations!
So exciting things are happening that it would
be good for more of our people to know about. I'd
love to have a small group of others coming to these
events along with me! |
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MOMENTUM... |
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Getting Ready...
by Camp
Director, Roger Sutton
Momentum. Momentum is what carries the rollercoaster
almost to the top of the next hump. Near the top, a
system of chains and motors grab the carts, take
them to the top and the cycle starts over.
Momentum is illustrated often here at Pine Lake
Christian Camps as we wind our way through the event
seasons, projects, even our finances. We have an
incredible year of ministry opportunity ahead of
us.
Jeremiah Zaldarriaga, our Summer Program Director is
working to hire the staff. Soon they will be engaged
in planning the focus for each day of camp. Speakers
are gathering their thoughts as we think about what
it means to have "steadfast hearts, look for the
light of a new day, celebrate and worship the joy
God wants for us and the hope that He offers."
There's much to do.
Summer is only one part of our ministry year. In
preparation for campers and many rental groups, the
facilities need our attention. Work crews are needed
to clean, insulate, drywall, paint, side, and the
list goes on.
Prayer warriors engaged in the battle on our half
need to be energized. The Enemy does not like what
we do. We need prayer protection today as we drive a
stake, find a foundation, celebrate the light of
day, worship, have fun..."Awaken the Dawn."
There is much to do and without you, we can do
little. Please join us in taking this ministry to
the top of the hill, so that we can see the dawn and
the blessings of all that God wants for us and those
we will serve this year. |
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CHURCH PLANTING MISSIONS CONFERENCE |
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Reaching Beyond Themselves...
Oak Hill Baptist Church in
Humboldt is focusing their entire
upcoming Mission's Conference solely on church
planting!
Saturday, March 28 - 9:30-1:30; Youth Event
at 6:30
Sunday, March 29 - 9:45-11:45
GUEST SPEAKERS include:
- Carlton Anderson - Our
own IBC Church Planting Director and Church
Planting Pastor from
The
River's Edge in Iowa Falls - speaking
Saturday morning
- Joe & Kerri Strode -
Iowa's next church planting couple,
currently working through the process with
the support and endorsement of the Northwest
LEAD team churches - speaking Saturday
after lunch and Sunday during the Sunday
School hour
- Joel Nelson - A former
Church Planter and the current Minnesota
Church Planting Director - speaking
during the Sunday morning worship hour
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WHEN IT TAKES MORE THAN A BAND AID... |
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DOES SOMEONE... Know What To
Do???
Sports Safety/Pro Rescuer Training Retreat
We
are offering a First Aid training retreat at
PLCC that will help individuals know how to deal
with the many kinds of accidents that can happen
around our church gatherings, events and
families.
Appropriate for youth pastors, leaders, ushers,
Sunday School teachers. We never know when and
accident might happen and trained responders can
save a life.
APRIL 3-4, 2009 AT PINE LAKE
This group will be
limited to thirty
participants, so please
encourage early registration.
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CHANGE YOUR LIFE |
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Women's
Spring Conference...
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WHEN: Saturday, April
4th
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7:30 am - Check-in with light
breakfast buffet
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8:30 - Conference begins
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11:30 am - Lunch
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1:30 pm - Conference concludes
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WHERE: Prairie Lakes
Church, Cedar Falls
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SPEAKER: Becky
Tirabassi (www.changeyourlifedaily.com)
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COST: $25 thru March
15; $30 after (both meals included)
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QUESTIONS/REGISTRATION:
319.266.2655 or
www.prairielakeschurch.org
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
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Looking
Ahead...
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March 27-28 - Quad-Cities Christians
Writers' Conference - Eldridge (Go
to www.qccwc.com
for details)
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March 27-29 - IBC Scrapbooking
Weekend - PLCC
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April 2 -
Family Gathering - Grace Baptist,
Waterloo, 7 pm
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April 3 -
Family Gathering - Grandview,
Davenport, 7 pm
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April 4 -
Family Gathering - Olivet,
Urbandale, 6 pm
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April 5 -
Family Gathering - Oak Hill,
Humboldt, 6 pm
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April 3-4 - First Aid Training
- PLCC
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April 7 - IBC Board of Overseers
- Ph Conf
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April 18 - IBC Prayer Summit
- PLCC
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April 31-May 1 - IBC State-wide LEAD
Team Meeting (Union Park, D.M.)
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May 1-2 - IBC Annual Meeting
(Union Park, D.M.)
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May 22-25 - Memorial Day Family
Retreat Weekend
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June 14-19 - Juniors Camp
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June 21-26 - Sixers Camp
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June 21-26 - Centershot Archery Camp
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June 28-July1 - Base Camp
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July 3-5 - 4th of July Family
Retreat Weekend
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July 5-10 - Jr High Camp
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July 12-17 - Sr High Camp
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August 7-9 - PLCC Homecoming Weekend
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September 18-20 - IBC Men's Retreat
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September 25-27 - IBC Women's
Retreat
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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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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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One
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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