Clarion April 2010

April 2010

The Clarion The Clarion Volume 43 Issue 4

Inland Empire Baptist Association

Multi-Ethnic Consultant Claudio Medina

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Martin Leach Church Growth Consultant

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

The book, The Peace Maker, by Ken Sande, gives us a practical approach to utilizing God’s word in our daily lives to resolve conflicts. He summarizes the four basic principles, which he refers to as the “Four G’s.”

Glorify God: (1Cor. 10:31) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Biblical peacemaking is motivated and guided by a deep desire to bring honor to God by revealing the reconciling love and power of Jesus Christ.

Get the log out of your eye: (Matt. 7:5) “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Attacking others only invites counterattacks. This is why Jesus teaches us to face up to our

own contributions to a conflict before we focus on what others have done.

Gently restore: (Gal. 6:1) “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Remembering God’s mercy and grace toward us, we can approach others in a spirit of love

rather than condemnation.

Go and be reconciled: (Matt. 5:24) “Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” When we forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us and seek solutions that satisfy others’ interests as well as our own, the debris of conflict is cleared away and the door is opened for genuine peace.

EQUIPPED FOR EXCELLENCE Saturday, April 17th is the big day this year. I hope you are signed up for one of the 40 classes being of-

fered at this year’s event. This is our 20th annual training conference and I believe it will be a great day of

information, inspiration and connecting with others in ministry. Check out the list of conferences being

offered and I’m sure you will find several that you would be interested in. If you need another publicity

packet, just give us a call, or if you prefer, check out our web site for a complete listing and course de-

scriptions. If your registration is post-marked by Monday, April 5th you will receive a $5.00 discount.

Remember, you can register on line at equippedforexcellence.org.

SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR’S MEETING The last meeting was great fun and no one wanted to stop discussing our topic. Mike Kell did a suburb job talking about

how to reach youth. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 4th here at the office. We will meet from 7:00 p.m. until

9:00 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Our topics will be the Role of the Sunday School Leadership Team and How to

Encourage Your Workers.

PASTORS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR’S PLANNING WORKSHOP

This year we will meet on Saturday, July 10, 2010. We will meet in the Staples Room on the campus of California Baptist

University. There will be a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the session will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Jason Barker,

Minister of Education at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, will be the speaker. This will be a great time to begin mak-

ing some plans for the fall growth emphasis.

TRANSFORMED CONFERENCE with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. It will be held at Immanuel Baptist

Church, Highland. Saturday, November 13, 2010. More details later.

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Bruce Hitchcock Church Growth Strategist

Save the Date!

Visit our website at www.iesba.org to download the information and

registration form!

IESBA’s First Annual Golf Tournament

May 1 8 , 2 0 1 0

Save the Date!

The Church is God’s preordained structure, chosen to spread His Word in the world. He loves His church. Ephesians 5:25 “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” (NKJV) If God has called us to change the world, doesn’t the world need changing? God chose the church to evangelize and disciple all people groups. John 15:16 emphasizes this point when it says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” (NIV) Healthy churches fulfill the will of God. The words healthy and stagnant are antonyms. To be stagnant is to stand still, while to be healthy is to be moving. However, to be moving is not enough; to be healthy the church must be moving in a positive direction. To move in a positive

direction the people must be ready and open to moving into a right relationship with God. A healthy church is a congregation of healthy people. The definition can include a list of “essentials” for the healthy church, or identify the “characteristics” of healthy churches, or delineate the “habits” of highly successful churches; however none of these descriptions have any meaning outside of individual spirituality. Individual spirituality is identified by three biblically based characteristics. These traits are first, a moment to moment walk with God (1John 1:7-9), secondly, a life that focuses on an abiding hope (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 146:5; Romans 5:4), and finally an ongoing display of love in all things and toward all things (Matthew 22:39). Being healthy then is the outward manifestation of God’s inward work through the presence of His Spirit. Faith establishes our relationship with God. Hope continues our relationship with God. Love perfects our relationship with God. All three elements of the “Spirit filled” church emanate from these three characteristics. A healthy congregation is one that is learning and practicing walking in faith by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, learning to love God, themselves, and others, and learning to hope in all life’s occurrences by trusting in the purpose of God’s Spirit. That’s healthy. A congregation of these believers led by a shepherd called of God is a healthy church.

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The San Bernardino Pregnancy Resource Center has offered the community an abortion recovery Bible study since August 2005. Their Vision is to start many more SaveOne Bible Studies that will result in hope and healing to thousands more in the community who suffer in silence after having an abortion. The SBPRC will host a SaveOne (www.saveone.org) abortion recovery-training seminar on Saturday May 15, 2010. This is available for men and women who are involved in regular church fellowship, and who have a mature, consistent walk with Jesus Christ, and the ability to “Correctly and accurately handle the Word of Truth. This program will address questions such as: What is abortion recovery? Who needs abortion recovery? Where and when should we offer abortion recovery? How do I complete this monumental task? and more. Please give a thought and prayer to which men and women in your church or ministry will be good candidates to attend this valuable and informative training.

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This month the need is:

DIAPERS

BABY WIPES

Pregnancy Resource Center: 114 E. Airport Drive, Ste. 104, San

Bernardino, CA 92408

Donations! for the San Bernardino Pregnancy

Resource Center!!

Help Needed!!

The Truck Stop Ministry in East

Ontario is in need of Chaplains

and Assistants!

The chapel is located off of

Milliken Avenue and the 10

freeway, on the East side.

If you can offer your time please contact:

Chaplain Richard Giles

541.941.5026

Or

Larry Marshall

909.997.1091

Bilingual Praise Team Needed for

Youth Camp July 23-25, 2010

to lead our worship services in

songs and praise.

Due to a small budget you would

need to

pay for your own way which is

$115 per person.

This includes meals, fellowship

with other young people and

lots of fun and games.

If interested please contact Hna.

Linda Arias

(909)428-7321. Thank you.

Don’t forget about our Evangelism Trailer. It was utilized by three

churches this last month and several people came to know Christ as

their Savior. The trailer contains many items needed for outreach,

including a stage, generator, popcorn, snowcone, and cotton candy

machine, and more. If you want to use the trailer for an outreach,

you can contact Claudio at the Association office.

Do you have any old chairs sitting

around your church? It doesn't

matter their condition, a new

church start would be very happy

to get them. If you have any you

would be willing to give, please

contact the association and we

will make arrangements to pick

them up. 951-784-2655

Visit our website @ www.iesba.org

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

FOR THESE DATES!!

Clarion (UPS 044-370) Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association of

California

6857 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

Telephone: (951) 784-2655

Periodicals Paid at Riverside, California

Published Monthly

POSTMASTER; Send address changes to:

Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association of Califor-

nia

6857 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

RETURN SERVICE

REQUESTED

Periodicals Postage

Paid

April 5 Equipped for Excellence Registration Deadline

April 17 Equipped for Excellence

May 2 Desert Area Bible Study Workshop

May 4 S.S. Director’s Meeting

May 15 Vacation Bible School Clinic at MABC

May 18 IESBA’s 1st Annual Golf Tournament

*THE IESBA OFFICE IS CLOSED FRIDAYS *

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Inland Empire Association Staff

Deryl Lackey Director of Missions

[email protected]

Claudio Medina Multi-Ethnic Consultant

[email protected]

Bruce Hitchcock Church Growth Strategist

[email protected]

Martin Leach Church Growth Consultant

[email protected]

Bobbie Brooks Office Manager

[email protected]

Brenda Lackey Bookkeeper

[email protected]

Angela Mantzey Graphics Specialist

[email protected]

(951) 784-2655 • Fax (951) 784-2656

Clarion April 2010

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