July, 2018

“...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. 22, No. 7

Office

CLOSED Wednesday

July 4 For

Independence

Day!

EXECUTIVE

BOARD

Next Meeting

August 13

10:30 a.m.

Support Team

9:00 a.m.

Pastor’s

Conference

10:00 a.m.

Mission

Partnership

1:00 p.m.

Association

Office

No meetings in

June or July

Association

Website

www.plba.org

PLBA’s

> >

“Meaningful Church Membership” I Corinthians 12:12-27

In the New Testament the “members” of the “body” of Christ are de-scribed in a symbolic way as the individual Christians who together compose the church (cf. Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:25). Unfortunately, in re-cent decades, registered membership in the church has been de-emphasized. It was very important in the first century church. Consider the following over-view of Meaningful Church Membership:

I. The INSTITUTION of which we are members (i.e. “the church”). A. Definition (Holman Bible Dictionary) “A group of persons

professing personal trust in Jesus Christ, meeting together to worship Him and disciple one another, and seeking to proclaim the gospel of Christ to others.”

B. CHURCH, (EKKLESIA) “the called out ones” An assembly of called out followers of Christ. It is identified as the “Universal” church (all believers for all time everywhere) and the “Local” church (specific believers in a specific group who meet in a specific community).

II. The QUALIFICATIONS for church membership. A. The PRE-REQUISITES for local church membership

(at least two). 1. Members must be BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS IN

JESUS CHRIST (cf. Acts 2:41b). 2. Members must be BAPTIZED AS BELIEVERS AND

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST (cf. Acts 2:41a). B. The PERSISTENCE for local church membership

(again two). 1. Members must be DEEPLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS

OF CHRIST (cf. Acts 2:42). 2. Members must be GENUINELY FAITHFUL WITNESS-

ES FOR CHRIST (cf. Acts 4:20; 5:42).

III. The RESPONSIBILITIES of church membership (four primary) (specific, practical, duties of a faithful church member)

A. PRAYER-Faithfully and regularly pray 1. ...for yourself (Phil. 3:10) 2. ...for your leaders (Heb. 13:7) 3. ...for laborers (volunteers) (II Thes. 3:1; Mt. 9:8) B. ATTENDANCE-Faithfully and regularly attend services 1. Hebrews 10:24-25 2. Acts 20:7 3. Revelation 1:10 C. GIVING-Faithfully and regularly tithe and give 1. Malachi 3:10 2. Luke 6:38 D. SERVICE-Faithfully discover, develop and use your gifts 1. Serve with your TIME (Eph. 5:16) 2. Serve with your TALENTS/GIFTS (Rom. 12:6) 3. Serve with your TREASURE (I Cor. 4:2)

Meaningful church membership carries certain QUALIFICATIONS which include rebirth, baptism, devotion and faithfulness. Every church member also has a DUTY to pray, attend, give and serve. How do you measure up? Meaningful church membership is RESPONSIBLE church membership.

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It Might Preach! Word of Encouragement “A Church With A Purpose!”

For the last several weeks (actually since March 25) I have been serving as Interim Pastor of Macomb Baptist Church in our association. We have spent all of April and most of May going through The Purpose Driven Life (i.e. Forty Days of Purpose) by Pastor Rick Warren. He has added two more days (now 42) to the study, making it a full 6-week process and re-titled the book “What On Earth Am I Here For?” We handed out 20 books and had about 15 complete the journey. For those who completed the forty days, it was a big boost to their spiritual growth. Dur-ing those days we baptized three new converts and re-ceived two others for church membership from other Bap-tist Churches. Since completing the Purpose Driven Life Study we have begun a second journey through Dr. Thom Rainer’s book “I Am A Church Member.” We have about 20 people who began that study in June. We have confined our book studies to Sunday and Wednesday night services with Sunday Mornings focused on “The Great Commandment and the Great Commission.” On June 10, we baptized three more new believers and have seen several un-churched families attend the morning services. On June 17, the church called a new Pastor who will as-sume his role in August. We are praying with them for God’s perfect will to unfold and for the gospel to continue to impact the community of Macomb and South Pottawato-mie County. Your prayers are deeply appreciated!

Encouragingly yours, Russell Cook

2-6 Falls Creek Week 5

4 Independence Day ~ PLBA Office Closed

4-7 Cross Timbers Session 6

9-12 Cross Timbers Session 7

9-13 Falls Creek Week 6

13-16 Cross Timbers Session 8

16-20 Falls Creek Week 7

18-21 Cross Timbers Session 9

23-27 Falls Creek Week 8

24-27 Cross Timbers Session 10

29-Aug 2 Indian Falls Creek

30-Aug 3 Cross Timbers Preteen Week

PLBA WOMEN

A NUGGET FROM MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY... Have you ever thought, “I have just come off a mountaintop experi-ence and feel like I hit the valley sooner than I expected?” Sure! We have all been there, done that, said that! Last week we were at Associational Children's Camp at Falls Creek for two camps in one week, with around 7,000 young children. The multiple challenges in helping to run a small city of small children which totally repopulates itself mid-week are real! However, it is al-ways a highlight of my summers, even though it can sometimes be hard on one's body. This was literally an Arbuckle mountaintop expe-rience, including seeing 525 children experience salvation in Christ. Soon after returning home, however, I hit a valley of sorts. I discov-ered an unknown social media hacker had decided to impersonate me, causing several days of domino effects on my entire computer system. There is no telling how it has affected my for-real, innocently involved friends. Even this article is being typed on a borrowed com-puter. Yes, the hacker has been stopped. Yes, solutions to computer issues are being accomplished. But, this has given me much food for thought. I have had a choice...to bemoan or rant and rave over the quick alti-tude drop in circumstances OR to look for God's lessons in it all. Even though I have expressed some human frustration over this circum-stance, I have really tried to exercise patience, perseverance, and looking for the joy and the lessons in it all. My biggest take-away so far is that if we cannot approach basically everyday-ish, somewhat mundane valley challenges with maturity, then how can we ever hope to have victory in the really BIG ones??? The excruciatingly painful ones? The tragic ones? We must see these “smaller” times as build-ing-block times. If we literally blast through and past them, we will not be prepared for the “biggies.”

Association Website www.plba.org

Budget Receipts

TOTAL CHECKING AND SAVINGS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR Beginning Bal. Income Expenses Ending Bal. 5-1-18 5-31-18 Budget 2,103.83 21,584.06 20,177.46 3,510.43 Designated 200,565.88 201,981.79 Total Monies $202,669.71 $205,492.22

BGCO Women's Events Women's Leadership Forum

September 8 ~ Time and place TBD!

Ministry Wives Weekend September 28-29 ~ OKC Metro

Edna McMillan State Missions Offering Week of Prayer ~ September 2-8

Churches listed in red are Pastorless PASTORS CHURCH May ‘18 YTD _______________ Agra, FBC 291.48 1,870.79 Randy Dirrim Asher, FBC 191.39 927.02 Larry Sparks Blackburn Chapel 485.76 2,295.21 Lonnie Lee, Int. Carney, FBC 88.98 292.82 Rick Blackwell Chandler, FBC 1,167.39 5,510.71 Keith Henley Chandler Southern 269.10 1,216.71 Doug Parker Dale 51.76 271.54 Mike Mitchell Davenport, FBC 626.89 3,453.96 Mike Haines Deer Creek 238.89 1,119.57 Mark Streetman Earlsboro, FBC .00 67.56 Galen Greenwalt Earlsboro Indian 154.10 415.04 Ernest Cowden Fairview 146.42 1,104.12 Dan Campbell Faith 410.79 1,738.32 Jeff Bruton Forest 93.75 93.75 Lee Witt Hazel Dell 263.23 1,619.90 Wes Bates Hillside 1,137.10 4,432.85 Gary Nickerson Hilltop 644.26 3,176.30 Kent Wooster Hopewell 156.47 679.08 Jim Benshoof Macomb .00 333.00 Mike Hazelwood Mammoth 409.00 2,094.00 Bobby Shatto Maud, FBC .00 .00 Butch Bradley Maud, Trinity 92.17 449.67 Shawn Crawley McLoud, Covenant Hope .00 278.84 Mike Taylor McLoud, Emmanuel 473.61 1,761.19 Jerry Gray McLoud, Emmaus 324.60 1,059.45 Matt Halsted McLoud, FBC 81.86 248.31 Joe Jones Meeker, FBC 242.53 1,508.14 Jerry Jackson Morning Star .00 .00 _______________ Mt. Pleasant .00 80.40 Rick Ham Newalla, New Life 535.32 1,830.54 Ed Moore Newalla, Pecan Valley 70.46 315.71 Mike Collyer Pink 265.73 1,483.10 Jim Morningstar Pioneer 150.00 324.06 Nathan Howard Pleasant Home 336.99 1,410.88 Tim Emmons Prague, FBC 503.86 2,421.94 Danny Napier Rock Creek 625.69 4,032.40 Gaspar Reyes Rock Creek Hispanic 25.79 104.80 Tony Black Romulus 201.11 904.69 Monte Dean Sh-Aydelotte 628.60 2,764.63 David Henry Sh-Calvary 50.00 50.00 Charles Kimball Sh-First 244.18 1,784.93 Spencer Davis Sh-First Indian 294.35 863.35 Anthony Rhone Sh-Galilee .00 .00 Bob Dawson Sh-Good Shepherd Chapel 50.06 311.66 Paul Roberts Sh-Heritage 2,920.77 2,920.77 Todd Fisher Sh-Immanuel 2,173.26 12,156.07 John York Sh-Oakland Chapel .00 86.48 Don Acker Sh-Sallateeska .00 462.00 Mike Craig Sh-Temple 1,546.28 6,502.92 ________________ Sh-Trinity 188.03 857.35 Darryl Fields Sh-Union Missionary 25.00 50.00 Justin Dunn Sh-University 345.14 1,518.57 Blake Martin Sh-Wallace Ave. 104.00 460.00 Perry Tripp Sparks, FBC 61.55 176.55 Brandon Leslie St. Louis, FBC .00 1,086.15 James Bond Stroud, FBC 607.70 3,295.29 Tony Peak Tecumseh, FBC 946.23 4,078.40 Kevin Fox Tecumseh, Karis .00 .00 Will Wilson Tecumseh, New Hope 25.00 125.00 Clint Dawkins Tecumseh, Sharon 50.00 250.00 Bob Fowler Tryon, FBC 149.36 810.65 Britt Lesley Wanette, FBC 118.07 432.18 Bill Howse Wanette, Victory Pointe .00 .00 Russ Houser Wellston, Cornerstone 300.00 350.00 Darrell Sullivan Wellston, FBC .00 .00 Lane Buckley Wellston, Trinity .00 440.00 TOTAL $21,584.06 $92,759.32

Staff Needed Incorrect information...

please call the Association office, 405.273.4558.

FIRST, AGRA is prayerfully seeking a BI/VO pastor. Parsonage available. Please send resumes to Search Committee, First Baptist Church, 780342 S. 3460 Road, Agra, OK 74824 or email selcer@cotc.net.

FIRST, SHAWNEE, is looking for two loving and reliable people to care for their Birth to 3rd grade children Sunday mornings from 9:15 am to noon. Reimbursement is $7.88 per hour. Please contact the FBC Shawnee Minister to Children, Elaine Hawkins at 405-613-1937 or email elainemarie72@gmail.com to apply. (Charles Kimball, Pas-tor)

FIRST, ST. LOUIS is prayerfully searching for a bi-vocational music minister. If interested please send re-sume to the personnel committee at P.O. Box 147, St. Louis OK 74866 or email mocabee1340@hotmail.com. (Brandon Leslie, Pastor)

MT. PLEASANT is prayerfully seeking traditional BI/VO pastor to shepherd our church and the community. Parsonage available. Please send resumes to Mt. Pleas-ant Baptist Church, 7101 Kings Road, Shawnee, OK 74804

NEW LIFE, NEWALLA is prayerfully searching for a part-time music minister. Please contact Pastor Rick Ham at pastorham221@yahoo.com or call 405-830-5216 if interested. (Rick Ham, Pastor)

TRINITY, MAUD is prayerfully searching for a bi-vocational youth minister. Resumes can be emailed to goinyardinc@aol.com or mailed to TBC, PO Box 177, Maud, OK 74854. (Butch Bradley, Pastor)

Director of Missions ...................................... Dr. Russell Cook, 405.273.4558 Moderator ............................................................... Joe Jones, 405.517.3640 Vice Moderator .............................................................................................. Treasurer ...................................................... Mike Hazelwood, 405.279.2451 Clerk & Office Manager ................................. Janice Maynard, 405.273.4558 Media Manager ................................................. Tanya Bruton, 405.273.4558 Discipleship Director ....................................... Nathan Howard, 405.432.9228 Family Director ............................................... Shawn Crawley, 405.229.5813 Worship Director .............................................. Jason Henson, 405.273.2105 Missions Director ............................................... Kirk Holloway, 405.258.0175 Support Director .......................................... Dr. Russell Cook, 405.273.4558 Youth Minister .............................................. Duncan Blackwell 405.273.5509 Licensed Counselor ............................................... Brett Ellard, 405.275.2222 Licensed Counselor ........................................... Larry Roberts, 405.275.2222

3 Rev. Jim Morningstar 609 S Dewey Ave. Chandler, OK 74834 Pastor, Pioneer, Chandler

4 Rev. Kent Kellogg 2524 Sutton Court Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor & DOM

4 Mrs. Ann (Dale) Rogers 920068 S. 3450 Road Chandler, OK 74834 Retired DOM’s Wife

9 Rev. Butch Bradley PO Box 816 Maud, OK 74854 Pastor, Trinity, Maud

10 Rev. Bobby Shatto PO Box 867 Maud, OK 74854 Pastor, First, Maud

26 Mrs. Jean Huskey 910492 S. 3380 Rd Chandler, OK 74834

Former Pastor’s Wife

29 Mrs. Jo Ann (Bobby) Burnett 1500 Mesa Verde Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor’s Wife

29 Rev. Mike Craig 21454 Drummond Road Tecumseh, OK 74873 Pastor, Temple

7 Rev. & Mrs. Gary Nickerson 36720 Moccasin Trail Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Hilltop

14 Rev. & Mrs. Tim Emmons 102420 S. Hwy. 99 Prague, OK 74864 Pastor, First, Prague

17 Rev. & Mrs. Don Ramsey 105 Hardesty Dr Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor

17 Rev. & Mrs. Perry Tripp PO Box 113 Sparks, OK 74869 Pastor, First, Sparks

18 Dr. & Mrs. Bill Mitchell 1905 N Bryan Primrose Apt 231 Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor

25 Rev. & Mrs. Clint Dawkins 2326 Faith Blvd.

Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Sharon

30 Dr. & Mrs. Todd Fisher 1403 Manchester Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Immanuel

Thank you to all the ladies who came

to the ACP training on June 19.

ACP’s are due September 17, 2018!