..........Spring 1997[American Baptist Churches - USA][ABC - Indiana]
Vol. 1, No 2....................Spring 1997
Southwest Area of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana
Many of the communities in the Southwest Area were affected by the flooding of the Ohio River this past spring. It is now old news, but you will remember that this year's flooding was the most severe in several years, only slightly below the flood of 1937. Literally hundreds of homes were flooded and thousands of persons displaced for an extended period of time. Thankfully, none of our churches were directly affected by the flooding, but many communities and church members were. Two of our churches were, and still are, involved in assisting with the aftermath of the disaster. First Baptist Church Chrisney served as an official Red Cross disaster center. Their fellowship hall was used extensively as a feeding place for homeless families and relief workers. For about two weeks, with the assistance of local businesses and local churches, about 300 persons were fed three meals a day. Many of those were volunteers who were helping to sand bag communities just to their south. The church was the "center" for various state and federal agencies and the place for families to pick up needed materials for their clean-up. The pastor is the Rev. Robert Duley.
Utica Baptist Church has established a building fund for families of that community. Over half of the town was destroyed by the flooding. Although the church was not directly affected, the roads to the church were under water and several services were canceled. The clean-up and rebuilding is still in process. The church is assisting families with materials to remodel and rebuild homes that were damaged or destroyed with funds from local agencies, church of former pastors, and One Great Hour of Sharing. The pastor is the Rev. Kenneth Martin.
Ministry Development and Life Planning Workshop
The Midwest Career Development Center has offered to come to Southwest Area and provide a two-day workshop for our clergy. The workshop is designed to give professional church leaders the opportunity to evaluate where they are in ministry and to plan for the future. If you would be interested in such a workshop, contact your Area Minister immediately. By coming to Southwest Area, this two-day workshop can be yours for a cost of only $95.00; scholarship assistance is available.
The workshop is about envisioning and taking responsibility for your future. It will strengthen your ability to be effective as a leader and assist you in determining your gifts and skills and putting them into action. These workshops are limited to 6 persons to allow for individualized attention along with interaction with others in ministry. Vocational, leadership, and personality instruments will be taken prior to the workshop to allow maximum time for personal exploration and reflection during the meeting time. time will be available to individually meet with a counselor in the evenings for those who desire. Continuing education units will be provided. The expected dates of this continuing education event will be in September or October of this year. If you would like more information, contact Charles Newman, (812) 883-4684. If you were to attend the center in Chicago, the cost would be over $300.00 plus travel, housing, and meals.
If you and/or your church has an e-mail address, would you send that information to your Area Minister? I will compile a directory and publish it in the next Southwest Area bulletin insert and here on the Southwest Area News Page. If your church has a web page on the Internet, send that information also.
SouthWest Area Church Home Pages
Home Pages of neighboring American Baptist Churches
Rev. Kenneth Martin, pastor of Utica Baptist Church, on graduating from Southern Baptist Seminary.
Rev. Ken and Deanna Jobst, pastor of First Baptist Church Scottsburg, on the birth of their daughter.
Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Louisville, on a capital gains program. The church has pledged almost $1.5 million for remodeling of their present structure. The pastor is the Rev. Ron Sisk.
This year's Southwest Area annual meeting was hosted by First Baptist Church Boonville. It was a wonderful experience! Dr. Will Miller brought a powerful challenge to those attending on Fulfilling the Work of Christ. He left no doubt in the minds and hearts of the delegates about the challenge that is before the church of Jesus Christ in today's world. The mission field "white unto harvest" begins at the door of each church. Our country is literally filled with those who do not know the saving grace of our Lord. Each of our churches is surrounded by those who do not have any kind of personal relationship with Christ. Using his own life journey, Dr. Miller illustrated how each one of us can be a missionary to those we encounter every day and fulfill the work that Christ left for the church. The praise worship team from First Baptist Church Vincennes stirred the gathering with inspirational music. Their obvious gifts and their commitment to their ministry set the tone for the meeting. Representatives from 38 of our churches participated in the worship and business sessions of the day.
Add these churches and their search committees to your prayer lists as they seek God's will in finding new leadership.
New Church Leadership to the Area
Southwest Area Program Council Officers
| July | 24 | Senior Adult Day | Hoosier Village, Zionsville |
| Aug | 9-15 | National Youth Gathering | Bloomington |
| Aug | 13 | Crawford County Association Annual Meeting | 10:00 a.m. EDT - Pleasant Ridge Baptist |
| Sep | 13 | National Missions Rally | Indianapolis - Through a satellite link-up all Regions in ABC/USA will celebrate our mission emphasis and result. |
| Sep | 18 | Retired Ministers' Reunion | Hoosier Village |
| Sep | 21 | Brownstown Association Annual Meeting | First Baptist Seymour |
| Sep | 21 | Union Association Annual Meeting | First Baptist Bicknell |
| Oct | 10-11-12 | ABC/IN Annual Meeting | Radisson Inn, Evansville Host church, First Baptist Evansville |
| Oct | 18 | Leadership Development Day | Woodville Baptist (Bedford and Orleans Associations) Contact Rev. Glenn Hamer for more information. |
NEW ADDRESS FOR YOUR AREA MINISTER
To all churches who are sending me a copy of your newsletter, or just need to send mail, Salem is now firmly in the 20th century. We have gone to a 911 emergency phone system and so all rural routes have been eliminated, and we have been given honest to goodness addresses. I am still living at the same place, but the correct address now is 3937 S. Eastern School Road, Salem, IN 47167. You can also send me fax messages at (812) 883-4684 or you can e-mail me at cnewman@blueriver.net.
| Southwest Area News is a quarterly newsletter devoted to the people and churches of the Southwest Area of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana. You are free to duplicate any and all parts of this newsletter for distribution to your membership. News stories may be sent to Rev. Charles Newman, 3937 S. Eastern Rd. Salem IN 47167. |
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