Ed Stevens Day

In October 1946, Ed Stevens, a General Baptist foreign missionary, arrived in Guam to share the gospel with the people who called it home.  Ed and his wife would go on to serve on Saipan and Chi Chi Jima also, until Ed died on a ship en route to Guam for medical treatment on September 20, 1952.  We have set aside the third Sunday of September every year to remember his example of faith and missionary commitment with an annual offering for international mission work.  This year, Ed Stevens Sunday is September 21.

Ed was born in Boonville, Indiana on January 23, 1917.  He accepted a call to ministry and was ordained by United Association Presbytery in September 1945, and appointed by the Foreign Mission Board to serve on Guam in July 1946.  Ed arrived via steamship October 6, 1946, and led the first service on Saipan on April 4, 1948.  Ed Stevens was the first General Baptist missionary to die while serving on the mission field.  We remember the sacrifices Ed and Gertie Stevens made to serve as pioneering missionaries for the General Baptist movement.

ClothingDistribution_SlumAreasThis year, the Ed Stevens mission project is dedicated to the General Baptist work in India.

India has a population of 1.252 billion people, and only 2.3 percent claim Christianity as their faith.  Most Indians have never had an opportunity to hear the good news of the gospel.  Pray for our missionaries and national workers as they minister in a hostile Hindu environment.  Pray that Indian Christians may demonstrate true spirituality and life transformation to their culture.

General Baptist outreach is targeted in two areas of South India:

Kakinada/Pithapuram in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which has a population of 84 million.  FoodMinistryOnly 1.51% are Christian, and General Baptists have been working to spread the gospel to those in this area since 1982.  Ministry in this area is under the direction of Dr. Prakash and his wife, Jemima.  Their work in Andhra Pradesh includes operating 10-15 Dorcas Sewing Centers, Grace Home for widows, holding pastor’s retreats to provide proper training to those leading churches, a witnessing group called Bible Women, and a bedding and clothing ministry for those who cannot afford their own.

Siddipet in the state of Telangana boasts a population of 35 million.  The General Baptist work here is headed by Jessey Vemula and his wife, Brittany who work to raise the 1.2% Christianity rate.  The work begun by the Vemula family now includes the Good Shepherd’s Children’s Home, Lydia Sewing Center, audio Bibles for illiterates, a Jesus Film ministry, digging water wells, and the Timothy Initiative that trains pastors and church planters to do effective ministry.

The offering goal this year is $50,000, to help fund the purchase of a badly needed mission vehicle for use in each of the India mission areas to help transport equipment for ministry RiverBaptismand food and clothing for distribution in the slums and remote areas.  These funds will also be distributed to the child care ministry, sewing centers, and poor widow ministry.  To be a part of the 2014 Ed Stevens Day, mail your contributions to International Missions, 100 Stinson Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.  You can also use our online form to give.

Be a part of spreading the gospel in India.  Help the 2014 Ed Stevens Day Campaign reach it’s goal of $50,000 to help support the work that God is doing in such a hostile environment. 

5 Reasons You Should Attend Leverage 2014

By Tyler Feller

For only the second time, young leaders from across different platforms and regions of our country will convene together in Evansville, Indiana to talk about Jesus, life, and ministry at the 2014 Leverage Conference.

leverageLast year, I was able to bring several young adults from our church who serve in high capacity areas as volunteers.  We left with a greater sense of purpose and passion for the work God has called us to do.  The relationships we built with other General Baptist leaders from across the nation were invaluable, and we even met with many of them again throughout the year.

As a young person, it is easy to feel like you are one of very few kingdom builders.  I personally felt deeply inspired and encouraged last year by meeting other young people living for Jesus just like me.

It’s simple. . . attending Leverage 2014 will not leave you disappointed!

Here are 5 Reasons to Attend Leverage 2014 

1.  Develop a  network you can grow with and rely on

Thinking about a problem by ourselves just brings us back to what we already know.  None of us can observe our self in action.  We need outside advice to stimulate thinking.  Having a group of people that are going through some of the same challenges you are can be invaluable.  My most valued leadership moves always come after seeking counsel from trusted friends.  The Leverage Conference connects some of the brightest young leaders from across the nation to enhance a network of support.  Attending this conference will help you get connected with other young Christians experiencing success in the same areas you are, whether it is in ministry, the public school system, or business.

2.  Inspiration

The speakers and breakout leaders lined up for Leverage 2014 have been through the fire and will leave you feeling more passionate about using your influence to impact those around you.  After hearing from and meeting with people living out a Christ honoring life, you will feel inspired in a new way to carry out your mission even stronger than before.

3.  Increased leadership skills

By choosing to attend Leverage 2014, you will sharpen your skills and gain new ones.  You will hear thoughts and ideas from leading experts in leadership and from you specific industry (ministry, public schools, business, etc).  You will gain relevant and practical advice you can implement into your own leadership approach.  The result is that you will become a better person and a better leader.

4. Future employment opportunities

You may or may not be looking for a new job at the moment, but you never know when you or someone you know might be.  The more connections we have, the better positioned we are to make a move when God leads us that way.  I’m not looking for a job myself, as I am happily employed, but I did meet Pastor Dustin Thompson at a GB conference a few years ago, which led to my current employment.  You never know who you might meet, or who they might know, who is looking for just your skill set.

5. Go to the next level

Leverage 2014 is designed with the end in mind: stronger leaders mean stronger churches.  The heart of this conference is to equip young people to reach their God-given potential.  The general sessions, breakouts, and networking time is all designed with intentionality, to increase the capacity of the attendees.

This investment will be well worth your money and time, and will use very little of either! Be sure to come say ‘hey!’ when you see me at Leverage 2014. . .

Tyler Feller is currently serving as the Student Pastor at Genesis Church in West Plains, Missouri, and is very active in the General Baptist movement. 

Turnaround Denominations

By Clint Cook

In his 2010 book entitled Breakout Churches, Thom Rainer studied churches that had gone from declining attendance to unprecedented growth.  What Thom and his research team discovered was a statistical approach to identifying key patterns and characteristics common in churches that experience turnarounds.  I certainly enjoyed reading this insightful book.

Reflecting upon this issue, I started looking at our General Baptist network of churches.  When looking closely at our denomination, one would discover that even though we are making great strides in church planting and international missions, we still find ourselves facing areas of decline.  This is a very disheartening observation, but as Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, recommends, we church leaders must confront brutal facts so that we can push forward to advance the Great Commission.

So what would it take to turn around an entire denomination?  How can we realize unprecedented growth, resulting in more and more people hearing the message of Christ?

First, I believe it requires very focused prayer. Summit Clint Prayer If there is one thing we can discover from the Bible it is that God chose to work only as God’s people prayed.  Today, He has chosen to limit his work until pastors, church leaders, and church members pray.  Many verses come to mind to support this, but perhaps it is said best in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Second, I believe it would require church leaders to have a “holy discontent”, a dissatisfaction with the status quo in their church.  As Rainer writes, “It is a sin to be good if God calls you to be great!”  This is especially true living in a world with so many who need to hear the Gospel!  As a pastor, I understand and believe in the need to provide care for church members; but as Jesus reminds us, we must also be passionate about reaching those who do not yet believe the gospel.  This requires church leaders who will exhibit bold faith and a willingness to take risks.  I know there is criticism with this idea, and that we must not be “numbers-driven,” but we cannot forget that behind every number is a soul, and every person won to Christ is therefore a number in God’s Kingdom.  Jim Garlow, pastor and speaker, has said that in any organization someone needs to stay focused on the numbers.

Third, I believe it would require pastors and church leaders to humble themselves and be willing to be trained and coached.  Church work in the 21st century has to be approached differently and in a more strategic and efficient manner.  This is more true today than perhaps at any other time in the history of the church.  I can personally testify to the benefits of receiving coaching and the impact it has had on the church I have pastored for 29 years.  I have also been privileged to coach more than 100 p 18-19 workshopchurches over the past five years and am amazed to hear their inspiring stories.  Many of these churches were plateaued or declining, but are now experiencing growth with conversions and baptisms.  Their ability to embrace and implement new concepts with a renewed passion to reach their communities has caused me to have hope for more and more General Baptist churches to have similar results.  This is also the reasoning behind the decision to change our national meeting from the G.A. (three-day business session) to the Summit, which is a training environment where we receive encouragement through worship as well as training and resources that can automatically be implemented into our churches.

General Baptists are at a critical crossroads.  We must do something now to turnaround our denomination.  Pastors and church leaders, it is of great importance that you take the time to pray diligently and resolve to be trained and coached so you may fully attain God’s purpose for your church.  Church member, it is essential that you pray and support your church leadership and present a strong, united front to Satan.

Over the next few weeks I will break down the changes, vision, and determination essential to becoming a turnaround denomination.  Read part 2 of what it takes to turn around an entire denomination here.