News from Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association

 

Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association News and Notes February 26, 2007 Prayer Requests   Please be in prayer for: Pastor David Mortiz of Valley Springs Church Fresno as he recovers from recent illness.  He is feeling better and regaining his strentgh.   Alan McWhorter, son of Monty and Bev McWhorter.  Alan's health is failing due to cancer.   Alan Greaves, son of Richard and Helen Greaves.  Alan has Lou Gehrig's disease.   Your prayers are greatly appreciated. MV Executive Board Meeting   The Mid-Valley Executive Board will meet on Thursday, March 8, 7:00 pm at Copper Springs Church, 1363 Fifth Street, Clovis.  The Executive Board consists of all MV pastors, committee leaders, associations leaders and two designated members from each MV church. 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 forumf or 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 - Noon Christian Women's Job Corps Mentor Training       Mid-Valley Christian Women's Job Corps will be hosting a Mentor Training on Sunday, March 4th and 18th from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm (dinner will be provided) at Hope Luthern Church at Fresno/Barstow.  The training will give an overview of CWJC, poverty, confidentiality, the mentoring relationship and boundaries.  The purpose is to equip and prepare Christian women to mentor women who are enrolled in the CEJC program.  For more information please call Donna Cooper at 287-8763 or email midvalleycwjc@hotmail.com. 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. March 8: Focused Leadership - My Best Leadership Decision, by Andy Stanley March 22: Tribal Warfare, by Peg Neuhauser April 12: When Business Thinking Fails the Church, by Jim Collins Developing a Christian Citizenship Ministry in Your Church This event is sponsored by the California Family Council.  It is designed to help church leaders build "Salt & Light" groups within their churches.  Wednedsay, March 14, 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Peoples Church.  Go here for details and RSVP informaiton.   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.  Led by Pastor Jeb Bonine March 27-May 22, 2007 Cost $105 Register with Ritaat the Mid-Valley Association office by email mvsba@yahoo.com or phone 297-5550. 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 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. Susan Jones, International Student English Partners Ministry of Woodward Park Baptist, will be the speaker on February 27th.     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   Skate Church Skate Church located at Baptist Temple will host a Skate Competition Sunday, March 4, 5:00 pm.  Contact Bill Tucker for more information at 213-6079.   Iglesia Bautista Del Valle - is moving to a new location in March.  They are in need of approximately 25-40 chairs, a file cabinet, small desk, and a bookcase.  If you have any of thee items that you would be willing to donate please call Rita at the Mid-Valley office 297-5550. 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.   Marketing Specialist  Jenness Park Christian Camp, CSBC camp, is seeking a spiritually mature individual with a servan't heart for a full-time marketing position.  Responsibilities include filling open calendar dates, in-person meetings to generate new bookings, preparation and design of marketing materials, attendance of relevant trades hows, and development of new marketing strategies.  Please contact Rod Goodmon, Camp Director at (800) 258-7554 ext. 110 or rod@jennesspark.com.

Forward email This email was sent to johnstonerich@yahoo.com, by mvsba@yahoo.com Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Powered by Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association | 1363 Fifth Street | Clovis | CA | 93612

News from Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association

Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association News and Notes February 15, 2007 Leadership Events    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. February 22: Dead Leader Running, by Wayne Cordiero March 8: Focused Leadership - My Best Leadership Decision, by Andy Stanley March 22: Tribal Warfare, by Peg Neuhauser April 12: When Business Thinking Fails the Church, by Jim Collins VBS Workship Organizational Meeting Theme: "Gameday Central: Where Heroes are Made" Who: Church VBS leaders What: VBS leaders who attend this meeting will design and organize the 2007 Association VBS workshop When: Saturday, February 17, 9:00 am Where: MV Association office, 1363 Fifth St., Clovis Contact Rita West by Thursday, Feb 15 to register. 297-5550 or mvsba@yahoo.com Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) A training series if being held that is designed to provide basic emergency response skills, particularly those that would be essential in the initial hours after a major disaster. Some MV churches may be interested in using this training to be ready to minister in a local emergency. Go here for more info. On Target Evangelism Conference, Feb.26-27, Riverside CA. Ken Blanchard, Author of One Minute Manager, will speak.  For more information go to www.ontargetevangelism.com or email evangelism@csbc.com or phone 229-9533 ext. 245   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.   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. Mission Mobilization   Annie Armstrong Easter Offering - How many missionaryies this this offering support? More than 5,300. Generally, a third of the number represents career missionaries, a third are short-term funded missionaries, and a third are Mission Service Corps missionaries.  Find five one-minute mission videos 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.   Your Heart For Africa  -  Janine Maxwell will be sharing from her book It's Not Okay With Me and giving everyone a glimpse into the Heart for Africa 2007 plans.  Northwest Church, 5415 N. West Avenue, Fresno, Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 7:00 pm.    Pastor Randy Brannon of Grace Community Church, Madera had opportunity to travel to India earlier this month to teach at a pastors conference.  Fellowship/Networks   Minister's Breakfast Next Week.... Each Tuesday morning at Country Waffle, Blackstone & Dakota, 8:00 - 9:30 am. February 20th will be a time of prayer led by Pastor Tom Sims.   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. Baptist Family Day coming Saturday, February 17 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. For information call 229-9533 ext. 243 or go here. Mid-Valley Children's Camps 2007 Grade 6-8 June 17-20. Cost $135. OurSpace.com -- God's Network. Children June 20-23. Cost $100. Bible Bee -- The Challenge. For students who have completed 3rd-5th grades. At camp in 2007 Larry Bubb, House Band, volleyball and basketball 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 Church News   Iglesia Bautista Del Valle - is moving to a new location in March.  They are in need of approximately 25-40 chairs, a file cabinet, small desk, and a bookcase.  If you have any of thee items that you would be willing to donate please call Rita at the Mid-Valley office 297-5550.   Copper Springs Church Clovis is growing with 13 new people joining in January and 2 baptisms.  If you are in the area stop by to see the newly painted buildings!   Axis Community Church Fresno - This coming Sunday, Feb. 18 will be a big day for Axis....they mailed out 10,000 postcards to the community, and hung 1,000 of the same postcards on doorknobs.   First Baptist Church Firebaugh send an update about ministries in Firebaugh.  Find it here.   Set Free Ministries Fresno House of John accomplishments in 2006: - 34 program graduates - 11 average monthly house population - 12,045 meals served in the house - 126 food boxes distributed       CSBC Events Relief Funds have been issued to 11 California Southern Baptists Congregations in the Central Valley to reach out to jobless farm laborers hardest hit by the recent crop freeze.  CSBC along with NAMB  has provided $20,000 to help with food, clothes, rent and utility bills.    RefresHer Weekend - April 20-21.  Look here for more information.    HeartCall, Women's Evangelism Information Luncheon - at the On Target Evangelism Conference, Tuesday, Fe. 27.  For more information look here.   PK Retreat - March 30-April 1, 2007 in Santa Barbara, CA.  For more information call 256-0843 or email Daryl Watts at dwatts@csbc.com. Prayer Requests  Please be in prayer for Pastor David Mortiz of Valley Springs Church.  David was in the hospital for several days with severe abdominal pain  He is now home recovering.  The doctors are not sure what is causing the pain but have given David antibiotics.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated.   Thank you so much for your prayers for my Mother.  She is progressing well with her physical therapy following hip surgery -- Rita.

Forward email This email was sent to midvalleypastors.316mv@blogger.com, by mvsba@yahoo.com Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Powered by Mid-Valley Southern Baptist Association | 1363 Fifth Street | Clovis | CA | 93612

Eagle's Nest - News from Firebaugh

This report comes from Mike Duke, Pastor of Firebaugh FBC:

We started what we call "Eagle's Nest." The mascot for Firebaugh high school is the eagle, thus Eagle's Nest. We were initially looking to reach the football team. We planned to have food, football, and a 1/2 time presentation. We began this on Monday, Sept. 11, 2006. We did no printed publicity or public announcements, other than our church. We thought we might get 15 maybe 20 football players to come and we just passed the word by word of mouth. On Sept. 11, 2006 we had 60 high school kids show up.

We have Eagle's Nest every Monday night except Christmas and New Years. The lowest night we have had is about 45-50. The highest has been 90+. Last Dec. we had an impromptu testimony given and we had an altar call. 50 people made decisions for Christ. Due to our inexperience, lack of planning, and excitement we failed to document what kinds of decisions were made!

However, our adult staff knows all of these kids and on a subsequent Monday we walked through the plan of salvation with the kids and we did get response cards from them. Our best guess is that at least 35 people accepted Christ on the impromptu Monday and we know that 3 more accepted Christ in the second session.

The high school wrestling coach, who is the FCA leader on campus, has said that the Eagle's Nest has a significant impact on the High School campus this year.

At Christmas we had a float in the Christmas parade and got a 1st place trophy.

On March 3rd we are showing "Facing the Giants" and will follow this with 8 weeks of Bible study designed around the movie. This will be the 1st publicized event we have done.

Eagle's Nest has come form the movement of the Holy Spirit. Neither I nor the adult staff can claim any credit for anything. We ain's doin' nothin'!

Michael L. Duke

CSBC News Flash - Citrus Freeze Relief

Hunger and disaster relief funds aid farm laborers

World hunger and disaster relief funds have been issued to 11 California Southern Baptist congregations in the Central Valley to reach out to jobless farm laborers hardest hit by the recent crop freeze.

California Southern Baptist Convention in partnership with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has provided $20,000 to help farm labor families with food, clothes, rent, utility bills and more.

Charles McClung, CSBC ministry evangelism specialists, said the funds will help "more than 900 families in Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties." He said the funds were distributed to churches in Arvin, Farmersville, Fresno, Ivanhoe, Lamont, Orange Cove, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, Tulare and Visalia.

As much as three-quarters of the state’s citrus crop withered in the field during the four-day cold snap in January that caused about $1 billion in damage. It was the worst freeze in almost a decade in the Golden State which is the nation’s No. 1 producer of fresh citrus, growing about 86 percent of lemons and 21 percent of oranges sold in the U.S., according to the California Farm Bureau. Florida produces more citrus overall, mostly for use in orange juice, according to the USDA.

McClung said one of the groups hit hardest by the freeze is farm laborers who pick or pack the citrus and now find themselves "without jobs to provide basic needs for their families. Our prayer is that the Lord will guide the efforts of the churches as they show the love of Christ in practical ways."

He also thanked Southern Baptists for their gifts to world hunger and disaster relief "which make the response to this tremendous need possible."

NOTE: Three Mid-Valley churches requested and received funds to minister to families in need due to the freeze; Annadale Baptist Church, Cruising for Jesus, and FSBC Selma.

MV Church Leaders at Lunchtime Leadership Series

Mid-Valley Church leaders at the Lunchtime Leadership Series at Crosspoint Church on 2/8/07.