Church of St. Francis for doing a

great job in hosting the meetings

and each one who participated

for taking time out of their busy

summer schedules to be an en-

couragement to other believers.

May God continue to chal-

lenge us together as brothers and

sisters in Christ to be faithful

until our Savior returns or until

He calls us Home.

I invite you to begin plan-

ning now to attend next years’

annual meeting which will be

held at Community Baptist

Church in New Prague, Minne-

sota.

As another busy summer

quickly comes to a close I am

reminded of the words of our

Savior in John 4:35 – “Say not

ye, There are yet four months,

and them cometh harvest? Be-

hold, I say unto you, lift up your

eyes, and look on the fields; for

they are white already to har-

vest.”

As I reflect back on our

Minnesota Baptist Association

annual meeting which was held

in June, I am thankful that God

provides times of fellowship,

instruction, and encouragement

to help us remain focused on

serving Him.

As we were challenged

with the theme of “Maintaining

Our Vision” we were reminded

that the purpose of the Minne-

sota Baptist Association is to

maintain a foundation that con-

sists of a solid Biblical educa-

tion in the lives of those God

calls into His service, an excit-

ing church planting ministry

within our state, and continual

scriptural fellowship amongst

God’s people through local

churches working together for

the Glory of God.

I want to thank First Baptist

A Note from the MBA President By: Rev. Gerald Stephens, Community Baptist, New Prague

Report from MBA Annual Meeting Business Session

The messengers of the

churches of the Minnesota Bap-

tist Association met June 24-25

for the Association’s annual

meeting at First Baptist Church

of St. Francis. On Saturday, the

25th, the fifty-four messengers

from twenty-two churches met

to conduct the necessary busi-

ness of the Association.

The messengers adopted

three amendments to the MBA

By-laws at this year’s Annual

Meeting: (1) an amendment to

allow virtual meetings and vot-

ing in the board of trustees, (2)

an amendment changing the

number of PBBC Board mem-

bers elected each year to four

(4), and (3) an amendment es-

tablishing a process by which

churches may associate with the

MBA.

The messengers also

adopted a reworded Purpose

Statement for the MBA as found

in its Articles of Incorporation.

The Board of Trustees of the

MBA presented this change at

last year's meeting, and the mes-

sengers adopted it this year.

The messengers also ap-

proved a change in the Baptist

Builders Network stipulating

that requests by churches for

needful projects will be made

through the North Star Update.

Elected this year:

MBA Secretary: Pastor David

Rogers

MBA Trustee Class of 2014

Pastor Todd Williamson

Dr. Lee Ormiston

Pastor Dwight DePenning

Pastor Jeremy Stephens

Pastor Ron Groschel

Pastor Greg Linscott

Pastor Ted Clarke

PBBC Trustee Class of 2014

Dr. Robert Fuller, Jr

Pastor Leonard Huebscher

Pastor Todd Williamson

Pastor Bart Goetz

President Gerald Stephens

announced that the 2012 annual

meeting will be held at Commu-

nity Baptist Church in New

Prague, on June 22-23, 2012.

Rev. Stephens is the pastor in

New Prague.

A PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

August 10, 2011 Volume V, Issue 4

North Star Update

Calendar

September 16-17: State

Men’s Fellowship

NOTE: Check out the

MBA Planting & Wa-

tering Website.

mbaoc.net/churchplanting/

Inside This Issue:

Fellowship Foundations 2

MBA First Person,

Olmstead

2

MBA Olmstead, Snow 2

State Men’s Fellowship 3

FLASH Notes 3

Please pray for the sale

of the Owatonna campus.

As I have started my 5th

year as Interim State Mission-

ary, Interim in this instance

meaning temporary and part-

time, I want to congratulate the

others who do the bulk of the

work previously done by past

Executive Secretaries of the

MBA. Just to hit the high spots

– records keeping and preserva-

tion, agendas for business ses-

sions, concern for church plant-

ing, and publications of needed

information including finances

and the abbreviated North Star

Baptist, the North Star Update.

My portion, and in my

estimation the most enjoyable,

is to visit churches by invitation

of pastors or pulpit committees

for pulpit supply, to teach and

preach, give advice and coun-

sel, and to give current updates

on MBA happenings and direc-

tion.

Since my last Fellowship

Foundations report in the North

Star Update:

June 5 – We visited Be-

rean Baptist Church, Brooklyn

Park, Pastor Cary Flinck

(Nancy). I was given time to

report on MBA happenings and

Pillsbury campus sale progress.

Our friends at Berean are al-

ways friendly and interested.

June 12 – I was asked by

the deacons at Coon Rapids

Baptist to preach the evening

service, and report briefly on

the MBA and Pillsbury. Pray

with that church about their

search for a pastor.

June 19 – I was invited to

fill the pulpit at First Baptist,

Preston, for all services and to

share lunch with the church.

The church is without a pastor,

showered upon us.

We had a wonderful time

of fellowship with long time

friends from our sister churches

and also meeting new friends

who have recently joined our

fellowship. The challenges

from God's Word from Dr. Roy

Beacham, Pastor Doug Roman

and Pastor Lee Ormiston were

highlights of the time we spent

together.

The Annual Meeting of the

MBA reminds me of the verse

in I John 1:3, "That which we

have seen and hear declare we

unto you, that ye also may have

fellowship with us: and truly

our fellowship is with the Fa-

ther, and with his Son Jesus." It

is always so great to get to-

gether with fellow believers in

our sister churches and rehearse

the blessings the Lord has

As a member of the host

church, we worked hard to

provide great food and fellow-

ship times, a nursery for those

who need that, and activities for

the children. We wanted to

encourage all families to par-

ticipate in this time of fellow-

ship with other believers. It is

well worth the time and effort it

takes to be a part of a fellow-

ship with other believers.

Fellowship Foundations By: Rev. Robert Fuller, Sr., Interim State Missionary

MBA Annual Meeting, First Person By: Beverly Snow, First Baptist, St. Francis

MBA Annual Meeting, First Person By: Rhoda Jane Olmstead, First Baptist, New Ulm

I was thankful for the way

the church took care of us.

There was plenty of fellowship,

complete with an ice cream

social on Friday night and many

goodies on Saturday. There was

also a well-staffed nursery for

my three small children.

While there was some

business to discuss, most of the

time was spent being encour-

aged with messages from the

Word of God. I was especially

blessed with Pastor Doug Ro-

man's message and vision on

the association's Planting and

Watering program. We were

encouraged to make that an

even more important part of our

larger mission for the state of

Minnesota.

If the Lord keeps my fam-

ily in Minnesota, I look forward

to attending next years' meet-

ing, and perhaps meeting the

new faces in the association that

I have heard about but who

were unable to attend this years'

meeting.

Having recently moved

back to the state, I was excited

that my husband and I were

able to be messengers from our

church in New Ulm to the

MBA Annual Meeting in St.

Francis. I was so happy to again

see some people whom I had

known for years. I was excited

to introduce them to my three

children and catch up on what

was happening in their lives and

ministries. I had hoped to see

more people of my generation

attending both days, but there

were few who did.

Page 2 North Star Update

Continued on page 4

be $75 ($15 due with registra-

tion + $60 fee due the day of

the event). This will cover ac-

commodations and three meals

(Friday dinner, Saturday break-

fast and lunch). Spaces are

limited, so please register early!

The registration deadline is

Monday, September 5. Forms

received after the deadline will

be charged an additional $5 late

fee. Registration forms are in-

tended to be completed one per

congregation. Registration fees

of $15/person should be sent to:

MBA Men’s Fellowship

c/o First Baptist Church

PO Box 148

Marshall, MN 56258

Registration is now open

for the 2011 Minnesota Baptist

Association Men's Fellowship.

This year’s theme is “Our

Shield and Defender - Confi-

dence in Christ Through Life’s

Daily Challenges.”

Our speaker is Mr. Chuck

Hervas, a Christian attorney

who has been an occasional

student at Central Seminary and

is a member of Bethel Baptist

Church in Schaumburg, IL.

Chuck also serves as a member

of the board of Bob Jones Uni-

versity.

Workshop sessions with a

variety of speakers and options

are also planned during the

Saturday program.

The cost of the event will

Operation Sword and Shield took Inver Grove Heights by

storm this past month. During Vacation Bible School, the chil-

dren learned much about trusting the Lord with their life

(salvation) as well as through their life (sanctification). We

praise the Lord for the 50-plus kids who heard the gospel and

enjoyed a week of excitement, learning, and friendship during

this ministry. The week ended with a program and picnic

which included the parents of all of the children who attended.

***********************

Evangelist Norman Stevens will preach September 18-23

Sunday through Friday at Rockford Baptist Church 8800 Elm

Street Rockford, MN 55373 763-477-5120. The meetings will

be at 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

***********************

From the TC Ladies Meeting: Nancy Flinck brought a

good devotion challenge on Mothering and the Christian Home

at our Twin Cities' Ladies' meeting in March at Lighthouse

Baptist Church. It was a blessing and inspiration to all. Be sure

to join each March at our annual Twin Cities' Baptist Associa-

tion meeting.

***********************

Grace Baptist, Virginia: We are looking for someone

experienced in house painting. Our parsonage is in serious

need of paint. Can you or do you know of someone who would

be willing to help our congregation with this need. A word of

caution though, two sides of the parsonage are 32 ft. high. You

can contact the church at 218-749-1426 or email me at twil-

lie10@juno.com for more information.

***********************

The SWA Ladies Meeting will be held Saturday, October

1, 2011.

2011 MBA Men’s Fellowship

Page 3 Volume V, Issue 4

FLASH Notes

Northern Ladies Fall Retreat: October 7-8, 2011.

Theme: Godly Heritage: Country Church and Home

Place: First Baptist Church, Baxter

Special messages, workshops, music, crafts, food, books,

fellowship, fun, prizes

Make plans to attend. More information to follow.

Questions? Call Lorri Millan at 218-839-0469.

at Camp CoBeAc in Michigan,

and pastor and wife were

needed there to assist her home.

We enjoy our many friends at

Spring Valley.

July 3 – I was privileged to

preach the morning service at

Jordan, Sand Creek Baptist,

Pastor Dan Lowe (Deborah).

Pastor Lowe was on vacation

from that vibrant new church.

The congregation is energetic

and forward looking.

July 9 – I attended a Pills-

bury Board meeting held in the

fire station in Owatonna. An

update was given by the board

Chairman and others regarding

progress for the sale of the cam-

pus.

July 20 – I conducted a

memorial service at the senior

housing apartment building in

Coon Rapids where I regularly

hold a weekly Bible study with

several residents.

and the pulpit committee there

will appreciate your prayers

about that need. Preston is a

beautiful town, and I remarked

that if I was 40 years younger,

they would get my resume.

There are great people in that

church.

June 25 – We attended the

MBA Annual Meeting hosted

by First Baptist Church, St.

Francis, Pastor Steve Brower

(Heather). All business, includ-

ing an update on Planting and

Watering New Church plans,

were conducted for the benefit

of the messengers from the

churches.

June 26 – I was asked, on

an emergency basis, to teach

Sunday school and preach the

morning service at First Baptist

Church, Spring Valley, Pastor

Joe Haynes (Cathy). Their

daughter, Megan suffered a

badly broken leg while working

July 24 – We visited the

Sunday school and morning

service at Oakdale First Baptist,

Pastor Richard Jensen (Loretta).

The adult class conducted by

Kyle Jensen, and the morning

service preached by pastor were

very biblical and strengthening

to the hearers. Pastor Jensen

allowed me time to report on

the MBA and the Pillsbury

campus sale. We appreciate the

steadfastness of the Jensens and

the congregation. We enjoyed

our luncheon fellowship with

the Jensens. Continue to pray

for Loretta.

July 25 – Aug. 2. We en-

joyed a vacation to Indiana to

visit my brother and his wife,

Dr. Bill Fuller, and Louella.

If I can be of service or

help to you or your church,

please contact me, (763) 568-

4078.

Fellowship Foundations, from page 2

A PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

PO Box 527 Willmar, MN 56201-0527

We’re on the web! http:www.mbaoc.org

MBA Contacts

Minnesota Baptist Association

Rev. Gerald Stephens, President

Community Baptist Church

PO Box 212

New Prague, MN 56071

(952) 758-3287

pastor@npcbc.org

Interim State Missionary

Rev. Robert Fuller, Sr.

1549 118th Lane NW

Coon Rapids, MN 55448

(763) 568-4078

rjfsr4@juno.com

MBA Office

contact@mbaoc.org

Minnesota Baptist Association

PO Box 527

Willmar, MN 56201-0527

Send Contributions to:

Mr. Brian Veth, MBA Treasurer

c/o Coon Rapids Baptist Church

11164 Hanson Blvd.

Coon Rapids, MN 55433

Send Update Articles and Pictures to:

drjfjr@comcast.net

North Star Update Editor

315 S. Payne St.

New Ulm, MN 56073

(507) 354-3323