eNews_Dec2007

This news update 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.

If you are NOT viewing this in HTML format... you are missing a LOT!

5 LOVES + 2 FISH

An Update... from Skip Hansen, District Executive Minister

Skip Hansen I can hear an excited old-time radio announcer calling out in the distance, "The leaders are rounding the final turn! They're heading down the home stretch! it's the old man whose out in front... but it will be a photo finish all the way to the wire!"

For several weeks, I've been running hard from one church leadership group to the next... presenting the 24-minute Membership Matters video, "Five Loaves + Two Fish" (5+2). This video introduces an urgent discussion regarding the very nature of our partnership... and IBC's continued viability as an autonomous district. 5 plus 2

"5+2" emphasizes that IBC IS a partnership... in which every church's membership matters. As part of my preparation for leaving the IBC as early as this winter, or as late as next summer, I felt compelled to ask each church to prayerfully consider exactly what they felt God would have them "bring to the table" of this partnership... in light of our urgent needs in seven areas-financial support, pastoral participation, open relationships, positive promotion, annual delegates, TimeShare and Adopt-A-Cabin.

As I write this article, I'm headed down to the wire... with only a few church leaderhip groups left! Whew!

It has been a lot of fun and hard work... involving lots of late-night hours and deer-dodging miles! But I have to tell you, the effort has been worth it! 5+2 has catalyzed many very helpful questions and encouraging comments.

Overall, virtually every church leadership group has expressed some initial positive response to the need. I anticipate some churches will fully support everything. Some churches will partially support everything. And some churches will support various parts. But praise God, every partner church that participates will help shape the future of this partnership... and help determine our continued viability... or decline, or perhaps merger with another district.

We are headed into historic days together!

CAN WE STAND ALONE???

We are About to Find Out... by Skip Hansen

The IBC is one of the oldest autonomous districts in the Baptist General Conference. And yet after 125 years, we are not the largest district... not nearly the largest... not a middle-sized district... not nearly middle-sized... but at only forty churches after 125 years, we remain the smallest of 13 BGC districts which total 1200 churches.

Minnesota district started at about the same time as Iowa did, yet has 4.5 times as many churches today... with only 1.6 times the statewide population. IBC has grown by eight churches in the past seven years, a tremendous accomplishment for us. Yet newly formed districts have blossomed around the nation... starting from nothing and having dozens more churches today.

Something in Iowa has held us back.

It looks like a money issue. Certainly the natural flow of economics and inflation--increasing costs of "doing business"--has moved against us. Amounts that churches provided IBC ten years ago can't buy today what they bought then. Simple inflation requires increased salaries. Adding more churches, pastors and needs has moved against us. It simply costs more to service more churches... and requires more staff... which costs more money. And finally, planting more churches simply means more money is needed!!!

Although Church giving to IBC fluctuates from year to year... it has, nevertheless, remained at approximately the same level for well over the last decade! In other words, no wonder we cannot move forward... we've been moving backward financially for years! Who remembers $3K new cars and 32c a gallon gas?

HERE'S THE POINT: Continued autonomy simply requires more money. If we WANT to continue to stand alone as an autonomous district, I believe we need to be able to fully fund an $800K budget by 2010 (that's within the next seven to eight hundred days!)

If we cannot do so, then we must consider alternatives such eliminating services, cutting salaries, stopping church planting... dissolving the district... or merging with a neighboring district.

As I said... these are historic days.

IBC DISTRICT UPDATE

An Unprecedented Number of Empty Pulpits!

Did you know... we currently have 10 churches in the beginning... or middle stages... of searching for a senior pastor! (We potentially have another 4 churches that may soon engage the process.) Search Committees

Some of these churches have multiple staff to help them through the transition... and a couple have an interim pastor. Nevertheless... interim pastors, pulpit supply speakers, and search committee coaches are currently in high demand... and in short supply!

Because the need is greater than a single District Minister can meet... 14 IBC pastors have volunteered to be trained as Ministry Placement Network (MPN) Coaches... to assist local church search committees through their search process. (This is part of the "10%" of your pastor's job description we talked about in "5+2"!)

MPN is the pastoral placement process currently utilized by the BGC for matching pastors to churches. Over the past 7 years, 7 pastors have been called to IBC churches utilizing this resource. It is a highly intensive and highly structured process... assisting churches find the right man for the right church at the right time.

I recently had a pastor (who was placed through this process), tell me that his elders were SO impressed with the process that they would willingly VOLUNTEER their time to share their experience with other search committees!

That's good stuff!

YOUR STORIES

NEWS FROM HOPE EVANGELICAL

New Youth Pastor Arriving from Vietnam!

Pastor Andrew Le and the Quad City Vietnamese Task Force have been working to bring Pastor Dinh Pham from Vietnam to Davenport to serve with Andrew as Youth Pastor at Hope. The necessary paperwork and documents have now all been completed and Pastor Dinh and his family are on their way!

Andrew recently sent the following email update and request:

Please be advised that Pastor Dinh and his family have been approved for R1 visas! They've got the visas, and have set to fly to Moline on Dec 16... They will be here serving our church as our youth pastor.

We are so pleased to hear the good news, and are very grateful to the Lord for his goodness.

Pastor Dinh and his family will stay at our house, and for that purpose, we will need new (or used) 1 double and 2 twin mattresses and bed linens. They have intended to stay for around a year, before making any decision about buying their own house.

Pastor Dinh has over 10 years experience in Vietnam with youth and worship ministries... and will be coming to the states with his wife and two children.

Please call Andrew at 563.940.1855 if you can assist with the bedding needs.

STAND IN AWE

FIVE Years in Review... by Pastor Gary Clark (Olivet Baptist Church)

Over the past five years God has led us on an incredible journey, much of it outside our comfort zones. Recount it with me:

Build and move into a new church building
Double in size in the first two years
Search for and hire two new staff
Immigrant wave #1: Liberian refugees
Establishment of small group ministry
Vision Olivet ministry expansion drive
Initiation/expansion of short term missions: Haiti
Significant increase in budget needs
Immigrant wave #2: Burmese refugees

What we have experienced over these past several years is a double edged sword. It is both:

Exciting and overwhelming
Thrilling and draining
Stunning and confusing
Inspiring and messy

Where God has led us could cause grumbling, disunity, frustration... There could be times when we just long for the 'good old days' when being able to find a seat or parking place was easy; everyone spoke the same language; where we were small enough to know everyone by name; where budget concerns weren't as great and ministry needs weren't as pressing. But that hasn't been our response. Oh, we do get weary and overwhelmed and confused; but we don't resist God's plan and we don't reject His provision. In the midst of all the changes, God's sovereignty, grace and purpose remains central.

And so this is a tribute to this wonderful church family, of whom I am so very proud. But of even more significance, it is a tribute to our amazing God who satisfies our hearts in such a way that His purposes reign/rule over our comfort, fears, weariness, etc. Once again, God gets the glory and we get the benefit. What an astounding God we serve!

HARVEST FESTIVAL

ONE Year Anniversary & Celebration... by Pastor Todd Dahlgren (Jesup Bible Fellowship)

Last Sunday (Nov 11) was our "Harvest Festival" celebration. We've been in our new building for a year

and we wanted to celebrate what God has done in the lives of people. Words are inadequate to express what happened.

We had our second highest attendance which was 205. During the service we heard 17 adults and youth share their Faith Stories as to how they came to trust Jesus as their Savior. I had the privilege to baptize these 17 individuals! We welcomed 10 into membership.

After the service we had a dinner and collected our Harvest Festival offering which was designated towards the mortgage... for a total of $43,000... to help retire the first mortgage due August, 2008.

We Praise God and thank Him for His goodness!

FOLLOW-UP TO A BLOCK PARTY

Testimony from a Cornerstone Member (Eldridge)

When we first moved into our neighborhood, (5 1/2 years ago), we always heard about these block parties... but we never saw one take place. So when Cornerstone suggested that we do a block party, I thought this was a good opportunity to get it going once again.

For most of the week prior to the block party it was miserably hot and rainy.... I wasn't too worried until it got to Saturday and it was still raining. We decided that we would still have it, but open up some garages. I talked with a neighbor and she generously said she would open up her home to everyone. I felt she needed to know that we had invited not just our block... but had sent invitations to THREE blocks of homes! Our neighbor didn't mind at all!

God really wanted this event to take place. At about 1:00 pm the skies cleared and the temperatures dropped. It ended up being a perfect day. Including kids, we had about 55 people. It was great having the road blocked off, so the kids could play and ride their bikes in the street. We had volleyball and a water balloon toss.

Our block party was to end at 8:00 pm... but most stayed and didn't leave until after 11 pm! Because the temperatures had dropped, a couple of neighbors started bonfires so we could all stay out longer and visit. It was really neat to hear comments about wanting to do this again next year!

LIFE IMPACTING EVENTS

ROCK SOLID Youth Ministry... by Wendy Highsmith (Union Park Baptist, Des Moines - Oct, 2007)

The "Pizza Pig Out" was held Wednesday, Sept 19: 176 students consumed 90 pizza! The students enjoyed the inflatable bungee run and double shot basketball. Each person was challenged to value their time on their earth and to make their time count for God.

The winners for bringing the most visitors were: 1st place bringing 11 visitors; 2nd place bringing 8 visitors, and a 2-way tie for 3rd place bringing 4 visitors each. Not counting the "Pizza Pig Out", the students have brought 17 visitors since the "Back to School Bash"!

There have been 8 first-time decisions for Christ and 9 student baptisms in the past several weeks. Praise the Lord!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Looking Ahead

January 11-13 - Sr High Winter Retreat @ Pine Lake
Janury 18-20 - Jr High Winter Retreat @ Pine Lake
January 25-27 - Juniors Winter Retreat @ Pine Lake

On-line Registration availablefor Winter Retreats!

May 1-2 - IBC State-wide LEAD Team @ Cedar Rapids
May 2-3 - IBC Annual Meeting @ Cedar Rapids
May 23-26 - Memorial Day Family Retreat Weekend
June 15-29 - Juniors Camp
June 22-27 - Sixers Camp
June 29-July 2 - Base Camp
July 3-6 - Mid-Summer Family Retreat Weekend
July 6-10 - Jr High Camp
July 13-18 - Sr High Camp
August 1-3 - PLCC Homecoming Retreat Weekend

MINISTRY RESOURCES

Following are brief summaries of some GREAT ministry tools.

You can check out additional resources at the IBC website in regard to:

Pastor's Personal Care & Church Ministry Resources

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.
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: 563.332.5233 or jeffscherer6@msn.com

SHALOM HOUSE is a pastoral retreat center in New London, WI - 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

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

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

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

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.

For more information go to: www.cherishcenter.org

IOWA BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Magnifying God by Mobilizing & Multiplying a Growing Family of Healthy Churches!