Mid-Valley Updates: News from Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association

Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association

News and Notes

March 15, 2007

Prayer Requests

Please be in prayer for:

Alan Greaves, son of Richard and Helen Greaves. Alan has ALS.

My Mom as she recovers from second hip surgery and other health issues. Rita

Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Leadership Development

Association VBS Workshop

This event will provide VBS workers a winning game plan afor Mid-Valley Churches in reaching children and families for Jesus Christ through VBS. This workshop is a forum for VBS workers to learn effective strategies, resources, share ideas, and build momentum toward an effective VBS.

Workshop Coordinator: Susie Mendez
Location: Crosspoint Church, 2518 N. Cedar Avenue (on Cedar, south of Shields)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 28, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: $5/person (includes continental breakfast and lunch)

Lunchtime Leadership
Series - Pastors and ministerial staff meet at Cross Point Church from 11:30AM to 1:15PM. Bring a lunch. Willow Creek Summit DVD and discussion.

Thursday, March 22, 11:30-1:15 pm "Tribal Warfare" by Peg Neuhauser
Thursday, April 12, 11:30-1:15 pm " When Business Thinking Fails the Church" by Jim Collins

Seminary Extension Class - 4th Quarter The Book of Acts -- a study of the book of Acts, Luke's account of how Christianity overcame various obstacles to spread throughout the Roman world during the first Christian century. Call Rita at the Association office 297-5550 to register. Class begins Tuesday, March 20.

Men's Fraternity Workshop - This event is for men's leaders and pastors who are looking for an excellent option to spiritually challenge men through a weekly men's gathering. Men's Fraternity is a proven men's resource that helps churches begin or revitalize their men's ministry. March 24, 2007 from 9:00AM to Noon at the Ministry Resoure Center, 678 E Shaw in Fresno. Register Here.

Ministers' Leadership Cruise

April 23-27. Inspiration, education, restoration and recreation on this 4-day Carnival Cruise for ministers, spouses and their families. Click here for detailed information and registration.

Mission Mobilization

ESL as a Second Language -- Learn to teach English as a Second Language as a Mission Outreach. This workshop is to help train and equip believers to share the love of Christ with people in our communities whose first language is not English. Share in the joy of teaching and showing Christs's love with international students, migrant workers or visiting family members.

Location: Copper Springs Church, 1365 Fifth St, Clovis
Dates/Times: Thursday May 3, 5:30 pm-9:30 pm; Friday May 4 5:50 pm - 9:30 pm; Saturday May 5, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Trainer: Monta Jo Erikson, CA SB Literacy Missions Coordinator
Cost: $35/person or $45/couple (includes manual, continental breakfast, and lunch on Saturday)

Registration will be accepted until April 3 at the Mid-Valley Association office via email at mvsba@yahoo.com or phone at 297-5550.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions

In 2005, Mid-Valley churches gave $38,000 to support North American mission efforts. Gregg Farah, church planting missionary in New York City, speaks of the impact of this offering, "I know of at least 21.5 million reasons to give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions! That's the number of people we are praying will find a church home in our community. Without funding through the Annie Armstrong offering, we would never have started a church in the heart of New York City!" Find resources to promote the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering here.

Church Mission Leaders - Next meeting will be Thursday April 12, 2007 6:00PM - 8:00PM at the Mid-Valley office. This Missions Priority Action Team is open to all who share a passion for Great Commision action through local churches.

Fellowship/Networks

Minister's Breakfast Next Week....
Each Tuesday morning at Country Waffle, Blackstone & Dakota, 8:00 - 9:30 am. Speaker for Tuesday March 20th TBA.

Pastors Prayer Cluster
Mid-Valley pastors meet every Thursday at 10:00 am, Crosspoint Church. Join us as we pray for our churches and community. For further information, please contact Pastor Johnny Mendez at 227-5366 or 824-4821.

Mid-Valley Children's Camps 2007:

Teen Camp, Our Space.Com -- God's Network, June 17-20, for students who have completed grades 6th-8th. Cost $135.

Children's Camp, Bible Bee -- The Challenge, June 20-23, for students who have completed grades 3rd-5th. Cost $100.

At camp in 2007 Larry Bubb, House Band, volleyball and soccer clinics, polar bear swimming challenge, mission projects, bible study, building networks of friends, great food, experiencing God in Creation, meeting Jesus face to face. For more information contact MV office at 297-5550 or Pastor Lee Yarbrough, Camp Director at 584-7255 or check out www.campideas.blogspot.com. Camp registration forms, medical forms and counselor forms will be mailed to churches this week and available on our web site next week.

Church News

Lifeway Baptist Church Fresno has 175 Easter bulletins (with tear off response card) to give away. Contact Life BC at 228-1614 if your church can use these bulletins.

Trinity Southern Baptist Church Fresno is presenting "The Living Lord's Supper" Easter Musical/Drama on Friday, March 30 at 7pm; Saturday, March 31 at 6pm; Sunday, April 1 at 6pm.

Office furniture available -- FREE! Pastor Keith French, Stoney Creek Baptist Church Coarsegold, has 4 office desks, 8 file cabinets and other office supplies available to give to churches or ministries. If interested contact Keith at 658-8411.

Church Resource

New Internet-based worshop helps churches stay compliant: The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new Internet-based version of its popular Exempt Organizations Workshop covering tax compliance issues confronted by small and mid-sized tax exempt organizations, including charities and churches. The target audience for the free online workshop, Stay Exempt -- Tax Basics for 501(c)(3)'s, is organizations that have no tax experts on staff or have no or limited contact with outside advisors on tax compliance issues. The training program can be accessed at www.stayexempt.org or from a link on the IRS website at www.irs.gov/eo.

The source of this information came from an article by Caroline Burks, GuideStone Financial Resources, SBC.

CSBC Events

RefresHer Weekend - April 20-21. Look here for more information.

PK (Preacher's Kid) Retreat - March 30-April 1, 2007 in Santa Barbara, CA. Thestatewide network of PK's are invited to San Marcos Christian Camp in Santa Barbara to worship, fellowship, and learn with each other. All leaders are PK's. For details for here. Call the Association office at 297-5550 if you want to carpool.