EXECUTIVE

BOARD

The next

regular

meeting will be

February 9,

2015

Associational Office Closed December 22-

January 1 The office will

reopen January 5

State Evangelism Conference

January 26-27

First Southern Del City

Speakers Include: Franklin Graham,

Jim Cymbala and many others.

For more information visit: www.bgco.org

December, 2014

“...encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

Pottawatomie-Lincoln Baptist Association, Shawnee, OK ~ Dr. Russell R. Cook, Director of Missions Vol. 18, No. 12

May your Christmas be blessed with peace

and joy.

Merry Christmas From your PLBA Staff

Association Christmas Banquet Thursday, December 4, 6:30 p.m.

Immanuel Baptist Church, Shawnee

Dinner Catered by Kathy Bowlan Entrees: Brisket, Chicken Breast, & Loaded

Mashed Potatoes

Featuring: Link Union (A phenomenal folk, gospel,

blue grass family band)

$10 per person Retired Pastors & Widows are free of charge

Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 25

Call 405-273-4558

Association

Website

www.plba.org

“God With Us...How Could That Be?”

In Scripture we see (1) God BEFORE man (i.e. God the Father in Creation, Genesis 1:1), (2) God WITH man (i.e. God the Son in the Incarnation, John 1:1-14), (3) God IN man (i.e. God the Spirit in the Regeneration, I Corinthians 6:19). Consider further this second dimension, God WITH us. Matthew 1:21 says, “She (Mary) will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Verse 23 quotes Isaiah 9:6, “...they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us.” These verses suggest at least three aspects of the coming of Jesus. I. The MEANS by which He was CONCEIVED (v.21a “...she will bear a son…”) Virgin birth, “Jesus was miraculously begotten by God and born of Mary, who was a virgin. A. Jesus was CONCEIVED by the Holy Spirit (vv. 18, 20) B. Jesus was CARRIED by a human mother (v. 21a) C. Jesus was COMPLETELY God and COMPLETELY man (the “God-man”) (cf. Colossians 2:9) II. The NAME by which He was CALLED (v. 21b “...you shall call His name Jesus.”) His name carries theological meaning. A. “Jesus”-Jehovah is salvation. (used 975 times in N.T.) B. “Immanuel”-God with us. (used 3 times in the Bible) (c.f. Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; Mt. 1:23) C. Other names, “Christ” (anointed Messiah), “Lord” (powerful, authoritative master) III. The PURPOSE for which He was CRUCIFIED (v. 21c “...for it is He who

will save His people from their sins.”)-points to three perspectives to God’s salvation:

A. The ONE BY WHOM salvation has come (“it is He”) (cf. I Timothy 1:15; Acts 4:12) B. The ONES FOR WHOM salvation has come (“His People”) (c.f. Luke 1:68; Hebrew 7:25; Romans 1:16) C. The ONE MAIN REASON salvation is needed (“from their sins”) (c.f. Luke 1:77; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 3:18) God has, indeed, come to us through the incarnation, and when we repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Him in faith, He comes to dwell in us (with us) through regeneration. He is not just “around” us to “watch over” us, He is genuinely WITHIN us.

-rrc

EMMANUEL, MCLOUD is seeking a godly and committed bi-vocational Youth Minister. Please send resumes to Emmanuel Baptist Church, Search Com-mittee, PO Box 1119, McLoud, OK 74851.

FIRST, MAUD is seeking a part-time Music Minister. If you are interested call Bobby Shatto at 405-630-8348 or email at shattobg@oge.com. (Bobby Shatto, Pastor)

FIRST, TRYON is seeking a bi-vocational Music Minister. If you are interested call

Bob Fowler at 405-606-5603 or 405-606-5621. (Bob Fowler, Pastor) PLEASANT HOME is seeking a Music Minister for their Sunday morning and

evening services. If interested, please contact Nathan Howard at 580-313-0743 or email at nhow10@hotmail.com. (Nathan Howard, Pastor)

The holiday season brings with it many memories as well as a few expectations and hopes. For many, these days will bring memories of dear loved ones who have gone to heaven this year. Thanksgiving and Christmas will not be the same without them. Nevertheless, we can still give thanks for the years-or moments-God gave us with them. We can remind ourselves of the impact Christmas has on every believer and thank God for His salvation. For some, these days will bring memories of un-usual blessing, health, renewed vitality and financial prosperity. These are also rea-sons to practice “thanksgiving living.” The Bible says, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). As for the expectations and hopes we have in this season, they will vary from per-son to person and family to family. You will probably ask yourself more than once, “What do you give as a Christmas gift to someone who has everything?” Somehow, I don’t think it should be this hard. But when your expectations are low and you want only to be with family and friends, gifts become more difficult. The intangible gifts of time and love and positive encouragement and influence can mean as much or more than a material gift. Our hopes are in the Lord. We trust Him to meet our needs and use us for His glory. We know in whom we have believed and are convinced that He is able to guard what we have entrusted to Him until that day (cf. II Tim. 1:12). May God grant each of us-and all of us-His immeasurable grace this Christmas season.

Encouragingly Your, Russell Cook

It Might Preach!

Staff Needed

Incorrect information... please call the Association

office, 405.273.4558.

Church News

Please let us know of any upcoming events or news

from your church!

DISCIPLE’S WAY, STROUD (formally Sac & Fox) has called Ben Little as their pastor. Congratulations and may God bless your ministry.

(Ben Little, Pastor)

FOREST will be hosting their 4th Annual Christmas Dinner, December 13, 4:00-6:00 p.m. This event is FREE to the public. Join them and bring a friend. (Jeff Bruton, Pastor)

HAZEL DELL, MCLOUD drama team is interested in reaching out to other churches and sharing their ministry. If interested please call Bethany Wilson at 405-370-8445 (Lee Witt, Pastor)

PLEASANT HOME had their first service in their new building on Novem-ber16th, with two baptisms. (Nathan Howard, Pastor)

TRINITY, MAUD has called Rio Taylor as their youth minister. Congratula-tions and may God bless your ministry. (Butch Bradley, Pastor)

The Center for Christian Counseling and Care

In August of 2013, Larry Roberts, Heather Annis, and Bret Ellard or-ganized and founded The Center for Christian Counseling and Care. This counseling center has as its mission helping individuals, couples, and families deal with challenging situations and events which often prove to be overwhelming and, at times, devastating to them. Each counselor is dedicated to providing assistance and support to hurting individuals of all ages based upon a biblical world view. Located at 1 West 10th Street in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the center has recently ex-panded its office space and, with the expansion, has added two addi-tional licensed professional counselors, LeAnna Davenport and Mina

Jones, to the staff.

To schedule an appointment with The Center for Christian Counseling and Care, or to simply inquire further regarding services offered, call (405) 275-2222. Cheryl Meshew, the office manager, will be more than happy to assist you. Most insurances are accepted along with Sooner Care for individuals under the age of 20. You can also gain valuable information regarding this counseling center by exploring the

website shawneecounseling.com.

JANUARY BIBLE STUDY “DEUTERONOMY”

Order now at - www.lifeway.com

A Nugget From My Spiritual Journey

Association Website — www.plba.org

Budget Receipts PLBA WOMEN

And, so, we come to the year’s end…a year during which I committed to writ-ing the entire year about some aspect of LOVE each month in this column. I admit that some months I had to really think a bit about how to best share what God was teaching me that month about LOVE. Walking into December, how-ever, is a great time for me to think about LOVE. Yes, it is the month of our wedding anniversary, and this month we will cele-brate our 43rd year of marriage. Our LOVE is much deeper than it was when we stood there as a bride and groom, just about 3 months after we first met! We were IN LOVE but had no idea, really, how TRUE LOVE plays out over the years of a committed marriage. With 43 years of retrospect now, I think Russell would agree with me that learning to LOVE selflessly goes beyond the romance por-trayed in movies and books and poems. Learning to LOVE selflessly requires commitment, work, determination, patience, forgiveness, and, well…selflessness. How do you do that??? By always, always depending upon and referencing the example set before us in the greatest LOVE gift of all…Who arrived as a tiny baby in a manger long ago, on a night we now call Christmas! Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords selflessly left Heaven to come and live among us, exchanging the glo-ries of Heaven for a smelly, cold stable. He left the presence of the praising angelic hosts, exchanging their adoration for growing up as a boy in a town surely full of gossipy neighbors—enduring their finger-pointing and stares and whispers as He went with His mother to the well and the marketplace. He, Who had the riches of the universe at His fingertips, cared for the needs of His wid-owed mother and earthly siblings and later traveled as an itinerant preacher/teacher, with no place to lay His head. He, who had created the trees, the thorn trees, the iron ore, and the soldiers themselves, hung nailed to a cross, blood streaming from the crown of thorns and iron spikes hammered into His hands by the very men into whom He had breathed life. He died for them, just as He died for you and me. For all who would believe in the greatest LOVE gift of all. That, my friends, is LOVE at its finest. Selflessness at its best. Submission to the nth degree. May we all LOVE as He first LOVED us! May we each experience a very BLESSED CHRISTMAS, as we learn more than ever to let Him LOVE like that through us every day of the years to come.

P.S. Russell, I LOVE you! Truly…I DO! Marsha Cook, Director

“Seasons of Leader’s Life”

This special retreat is planned for the women’s ministry leader or WMU leader of your church. In the past, we have limited it to one person from each church, but with the expanded

space offered at Tulakogee, we are pleased to open the registration to two people per church. Only 75 spots are available!

January 9-10, 2015 Tulakogee Conference Center,

Wagoner, Oklahoma www.bgco.org

Don’t wait to sign up, deadline to register is December 17th at midnight! Due to the holidays we MUST have everyone registered by midnight on De-cember 17th. NO registrations after this deadline will be accepted for any reason.

Cost includes lodging, meals and programming. The conference is valued at more than $70 per person. 4 to a room – $30 per person. 2 to a room – $60 per person.

SEC Women’s Session 2015 Short and equipping messages of God’s faithfulness. Practical ways to en-gage with those who need salvation. Inspiring messages filled with hope. Discover all this when you attend the 2015 State Evangelism Conference session designed just for women.

January 26, 2015~First Southern Baptist Church, Del City

Churches listed in red are Pastorless

PASTORS CHURCH Oct. ‘14 YTD Roger Shaw Agra, FBC 782.49 4,364.33 Mat Riddle Asher, FBC 157.91 1,917.40 Larry Sparks Blackburn Chapel 265.48 2,418.74 Albert May, Int. Carney FBC 347.89 2,344.55 Rick Blackwell Chandler, FBC 816.00 9,104.73 Keith Henley Chandler Southern 239.09 2,410.35 Doug Parker Dale 66.93 364.28 Mike Mitchell Davenport, FBC 424.72 4,752.50 Mike Haines Deer Creek 191.78 2,271.99 Mark Streetman Earlsboro, FBC 300.00 600.00 ______________ Earlsboro Indian Mission .00 408.91 Wayne Knight Fairview 229.05 1,451.87 Dan Campbell Faith 312.99 3,095.40 Jeff Bruton Forest 100.00 100.00 Lee Witt Hazel Dell 502.68 5,189.39 Tuney Ropp Hillside 2,081.90 11,719.34 Gary Nickerson Hilltop 848.62 5,456.83 Bryan Cook Hopewell .00 197.61 Billy Benson Macomb .00 1,586.51 Mike Hazelwood Mammoth 308.00 3,054.00 Bobby Shatto Maud, FBC .00 87.19 Butch Bradley Maud, Trinity 217.48 2,269.20 ______________ McLoud, Emmanuel 1,012.36 6,124.43 Jerry Gray McLoud, Emmaus 101.36 933.16 Matt Halsted McLoud, FBC 399.49 4,579.78 ______________ McLoud, Son Rise .00 .00 Joe Jones Meeker, FBC 225.09 2,641.15 Jerry Jackson Morning Star .00 50.00 R.J. Stokes Mt. Pleasant .00 371.44 Jimmy Reed, Int. Newalla, New Life 635.22 7,620.24 Ed Moore Newalla, Pecan Valley 282.94 1,033.07 Mike Collyer Pink 539.99 3,187.00 Jim Morningstar Pioneer .00 342.09 Nathan Howard Pleasant Home 143.70 1,467.58 Tim Emmons Prague, FBC 889.96 4,985.62 Richard Zimmer Rock Creek 1,164.83 8,915.15 Gaspar Reyes Rock Creek Spanish 24.54 161.63 Tony Black Romulus 187.34 2,219.52 Monte Dean Sh-Aydelotte 254.17 3,602.60 David Henry Sh-Calvary .00 185.00 Ray Miller Sh-First 346.31 3,280.55 Spencer Davis, Int. Sh-First Indian 519.25 519.25 Anthony Rhone Sh-Galilee 50.00 500.00 Bob Dawson Sh-Good Shepherd Chapel 38.23 608.73 Jay Sampson Sh-Heritage 655.32 3,715.70 Todd Fisher Sh-Immanuel 1,968.34 20,260.11 Rendon Falls Sh-Karis .00 .00 Tom Hall Sh-New Life 25.00 250.00 John York Sh-Oakland Chapel 9.97 98.87 _______________ Sh-Sallateeska 361.00 869.00 Mike Craig Sh-Temple 424.51 10,891.86 Larry Norris Sh-Trinity 342.10 2,068.06 Steve Dominy Sh-University 317.80 4,000.42 Kent Wooster Sh-Wallace Ave. 222.84 1,690.18 Perry Tripp Sparks, FBC 150.61 918.83 Glenn Peck St. Louis, FBC 372.52 3,729.34 Ben Little Stroud, Disciple’s Way 6.07 142.07 James Bond Stroud, FBC 430.08 5,493.62 Tony Peak Tecumseh, FBC 895.22 9,393.66 Will Wilson Tecumseh, New Hope 50.00 500.00 Clint Dawkins Tecumseh, Sharon 715.02 7,964.84 Bob Fowler Tryon, FBC 284.97 2,043.17 Britt Lesley Wanette, FBC .00 1,903.01 Bill Howse Wanette, Victory Pointe .00 .00 Russ Houser Wellston, Cornerstone .00 320.00 Darrell Sullivan Wellston, FBC 1,188.46 4,536.60 Lane Buckley Wellston, Trinity .00 880.00 TOTAL $23,427.62 $200,162.45

TOTAL CHECKING AND SAVINGS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR Beginning Bal. Income Expenses Ending Bal. 10-1-14 10-31-14 Budget 50,052.33 23,427.62 22,852.91 50,627.04 Designated 192,866.07 189,432.69 Total Monies $242,918.40 $240,059.73

Birthdays

3 Rev. Bill Mitchell 20622 Hwy 102 Tecumseh, OK 74873 Retired Pastor

3 Mrs. Barbara (Paul) Calmes 2000 N Broadway Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor’s Wife

4 Rev. Bill Howse, III 38714 Okay Rd. Wanette, OK 74878 Pastor, Victory Pointe

7 Rev. Lane Buckley PO Box 122 Wellston, OK 74881 Pastor, Trinity, Wellston

9 Mrs. Janice Maynard 1934 N. Broadway Shawnee, OK 74804 PLBA Office Manager

13 Rev. Monte Dean 106800 S. 3450 Rd. Meeker, OK 74855 Pastor, Aydelotte

14 Mrs. Marsha (Russell) Cook 1313 Castle Creek Street Shawnee, OK 74804 Director of Mission’s Wife, PLBA

15 Mrs. Connie (Glenn) Peck 18 Comanche Circle Shawnee, OK 74801 Pastor’s Wife, First, St. Louis

16 Mrs. Elsie (Ben) Little 128 North High Street Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor’s Wife, Disciple’s Way

17 Mrs. Tina (Gary) Nickerson 36720 Moccasin Trail Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor’s Wife, Hilltop

18 Mrs. Sally Stock 3901 N. Leo Shawnee, OK 74804 Former Pastor’s Wife

24 Mrs. Mae (Bill) Mitchell 20622 Hwy 102 Tecumseh, OK 74873 Retired Pastor’s Wife

29 Rev. Lee Witt 39208 Moccasin Trail Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Hazel Dell

Anniversaries

3 Rev. & Mrs. Tuney Ropp 33892 E. 1040 Rd. McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor, Hillside

16 Rev. & Mrs. Monte Dean 106800 S. 3450 Rd. Meeker, OK 74855 Pastor, Aydelotte

18 Rev. & Mrs. Mike Mitchell PO Box 376 Davenport, OK 74026 Pastor, First, Davenport

19 Dr. & Mrs. Russell Cook 1313 Castle Creek Street Shawnee, OK 74804 Director of Missions, PLBA

19 Rev. & Mrs. Mark Streetman 830 Denison Drive Norman, OK 73069 Pastor, First, Earlsboro

23 Rev. & Mrs. Jerry Gray 17770 Cedar Brake Choctaw, OK 73020 Pastor, Emmaus

29 Rev. & Mrs. Nathan Howard 130 E. 45th St. Apt. 15E Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Pleasant Home

29 Rev. & Mrs. Billy Benson 828 N. Broadway Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Macomb

December

30-Dec 7 Lottie Moon IMB Week of Prayer

3 OBU Christmas Chapel ~ 10:00 a.m.

4 PLBA Christmas Banquet-Immanuel~ 6:30p.m.

5 Church Planter’s Christmas Banquet

6 OBU Hanging of the Green~ 7:30 p.m.

12 OBU Winter Commencement~ 2:00 p.m.

22-Jan. 1 PLBA Office CLOSED

Jan. 5 PLBA Office reopens

December 2014

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering State Goal $6 Million

What will you give to help spread the gospel?