MassBaptistNews

SONshine Thots from a Ray - February 2012

2012-01-30T11:45:00.001-05:00

As we enter this “Snowy Month” we are often reminded of the power of the Savior’s blood to “wash us white as snow” because of His love toward us. It is also the month we think of our most precious love, our Valentines – I know she gets a lot of credit but you could give her a little cash as well! Do you remember when you first “fell in love?” Your prayer life was purposeful!

I would like to challenge us – all MBA pastors – to join in 5 weekly Prayer Meetings to be led by Randy Sprinkle. We’ll meet on 5 Monday mornings at 10am in the Seminary classroom at the BCNE beginning February 27^th and going through March 26^th. I know many of you spend time with your Valentine on Monday’s so bring her with you.

We have ordered 100 copies of Seek God for the City 2012. Randy introduced us to this book at our last Fellowship meeting. It is a 40 day guide leading up to Easter. Three churches have already requested copies for their congregation but we can order more if you would like to use them. The cost of 100 books or more is $2.00/per book.

James 4:2 reminds us the “we have not, because we ask not…” We need to be prayers and lead our congregations in corporate prayer. If II Chronicles 7:14 is true, and it is, we need to apply its admonition and claim its promise from God. Let’s make prayer our priority this year.

Calendar events.

MBA North Pastors’ Fellowship – 2/8 – 10am at Panera Bread in the Leominster Mall.

MBA Central Pastors’ Fellowship – 2/14 – 9am at Denny’s Restaurant in Worcester.

MBA West Pastors’ Fellowship – 2/22 – Noon at Century Buffet in W. Springfield.

Prayer Walk Practicum – 2/25 – 9am-1pm at Pleasant Street BC. $5 registration.

1^st of 5 weekly prayer meetings – 2/27 – 10am in the Seminary classroom at BCNE.

SONshine Thots from a Ray - January 2012

2012-01-13T18:33:00.003-05:00

Here we are at the end of 2011 and standing on the threshold of 2012. A new year, a new beginning, with renewed hopes and dreams, and for some new resolutions that somehow we can change and be better than we were last year. We all want to be better Disciples for Christ, better husbands or wives, better parents, better – you fill in the blanks. But remember that the flesh is weak and “without Christ, we can do nothing.”

Many of you have heard me tell that I pray for “wooden,k” “W.U.D.&K.”for each of you. These initials come from Proverbs 2: 1-11 and verses 10&11 sum it up. “When Wisdom enters your heart, and Knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you….” And this leads naturally to Proverbs 3:5-10 and the blessings our God desires to give us.

2012 has another new beginning – the new Church Planting Catalyst position. As a part-timer I will be both DOM and CPC. The directed goal from NAMB is that we in MBA start 2 new congregations this year. If you have been thinking about starting a mission church or would like to be on a team of pastors and leaders to start a mission church please let me know as I hope to develop several church planting teams in MBA.

Please know of my prayers for you, your family and your ministry. I covet your prayers for me as I seek to serve you and your church. Let us see what God has in store for us and how He can use us to grow Christ’s Kingdom here in Massachusetts.

Keep looking up – Jesus is coming soon!

January Dates: 5^th – 10AM - MBA Administrative Meeting at the MBA office.

10^th – 9AM, MBA Central pastors’ fellowship at Denny’s, Lincoln Square in Worcester.

17^th – 7PM, MBA Quarterly Business Meeting at the BCNE Conference Room.

21^st – 10AM, MBA East pastors’ fellowship – place to be announced.

27-29 – BCNE Youth Encountering Christ Conference in Sturbridge, MA.

SONshine Thots from a Ray - December

2011-12-01T12:31:00.002-05:00

On November 27^th we began the Advent Season. Preparing to celebrate Christmas gives us one of the best opportunities to tell people without a relationship to the Lord why Jesus had to come and what He offers them. As we enter this season let us remember…

Jesus came to save us from an eternity of separation from God. One of our favorite examples is Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus. We know that he was a despised tax collector – a traitor to Israel. When Jesus was going through town Zacchaeus had a deep desire to see Him. Jesus turned this desire into an encounter when He call him by name and invited Himself to eat with him. This was a transforming event! And this is why Christ came to earth – through us He invites the lost to accept His invitation.

May God help us be ready to share the real meaning of Christmas as we enter this season of celebration, tradition, and reflection. I would like to thank each one of you and your congregation for your support this past year. May God bless you this Christmas with a renewed sense of wonder and appreciation for the gift of His Son.

SONshine Thots from a Ray

2011-10-21T17:09:00.000-04:00

The MBA Annual Meeting has come and gone. The folks at Apple Valley Baptist Church prepared a wonderful supper for us. We had guests from Project Launch 13 and Northeastern Baptist College in Bennington, VT, from the Luther Rice Homesite in Northborough, MA and announcements from International Missions, and YEC 2012.

We learned about the change in the DOM/CPC role as we ramp up to start at least 2 churches each year beginning in 2012. We have a new church planter, Tom Cabral, in Fall River who hopes to launch next fall and there are several other potential church starts in Worcester County. Half of my time will be helping plant churches and the other half will be serving as your DOM. We elected new officers and met new ministers.

I want to thank the churches that continue to support the association and for those who are planning to contribute or increase their gifts next year. And while we are on the subject of thanks let’s remember to ~ Give Thanks ~ to God for His provisions and grace extended to us through Jesus Christ, His Son.

The Scriptures tell us to be thankful and why. Look at Psalm 31:19; 69:30; 95:1-6; 100:4 or 106:1-2; or how about Colossians 2:6-7 and I Thessalonians 5:16-18. Even in times of economic struggle and the seemingly growing hopelessness in our culture, we still have much for which to be thankful. May we always reflect on and be thankful for the good and the eternal, and let those thoughts drive our actions every day.

SONshine Thots from a Ray

2011-10-21T17:04:00.000-04:00

Change is all around us. Fall is here and we have moved into the last quarter of 2011. This is also the first addition of our new E-Messenger that will help us know what is going on in the association with special events and information from the churches.

We pray that God will bless your ministries as we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. These are great opportunities to lift up Jesus Christ in your area.

Will you please plan to attend or have a representative from your church attend our MBA Annual Meeting on October 14^th at Apple Valley Baptist Church, 12 Columbia Street, Ayer, MA 01432? We will be sharing dinner with the homeless folk of the area at 6PM and the meeting will begin at 7PM. MBA provides the dinner through your gifts and the members of Apple Valley will prepare it for us. During the meeting we will be sharing the changes to the DOM role as we dovetail with NAMB's Church Planting Catalyst responsibilities. There are a number of new pastors, church planters, and collegiate ministers who have come to serve with us in reaching MBA for Christ that you will want to meet. Please put this date on your calendar. I will look forward to seeing you there.