First Baptist Church of Lowell

MISSIONAL THOUGHTS...

Our Missional Call: OUTREACH!

We believe that followers of Jesus Christ are called to actively engage the lives of lost people to show the love of Christ and to share the message of salvation. It is our goal to lead people to Christ as Savior, and to help them grow in their relationship with Him so they, too, may come to Celebrate in Intimacy with God, Connect in the Body by Interaction with God's People, and Communicate Truth to Impact God's World.►

Our Missionaries: City View/Helberts ♦ Dannenbergs ♦ Jean Fote ♦ Grotendieks ♦ Hiles ♦ Hossacks ♦ Mayos ♦ McIntires ♦ Mikelsons ♦ Pasquales ♦ Postemas ♦ Pycrafts ♦ Dorothy Ritchie ♦ Schwarcz ♦ Selfs ♦ Thompsons ♦ VandenAkkers ♦ Vissers

Adopt-A-Missionary - Class and ABF List Here

"How To Pray for Our Missionaries"

"13 Ways to Bless Our Missionaries without the use of Postage!" (from desiring god blog)

HAITI EARTHQUAKE DISASTER...

Local Relief Agency Efforts (gr press)

Other Relief Ministries (desiring god blog)

Haiti Trip Report from Dr. Bernard (GR Press Article 2 /13/2010

Haiti Update - bibles international

Haiti Disaster and Opportunity - bibles international

Haitian Disaster (bibles international)

Thursday Noon update, 21 January,

In a call with Bob Thompson of Bibles Int'l, he reported that Dr. Hantz Bernard had safely arrived in Haiti at 4:00 pm Wednesday via Missionary Flights International. He is staying in the yard of Pastor Maxime Pierre-Pierre there along with help from his home church. The situation is dire and cataclysmic.

People are afraid to be inside any buildings left standing due to many aftershocks. No shelter exists for most people as they live out in the open. With the last big aftershock, another 1/2 million were left homeless. Bringing infrastructure back is not in view...just basic survival day to day. Shelter and water are of utmost need. Fuel, if can be found, is $100/gallon. No banking or commercial business is available.

Medical clinics are non-stop and exhausted. Dr. Bill TenHaaf is down there...and reports a continuous series of amputations, as infection/gangrene of crushed & broken bodies is threatening death in countless numbers. A tragic example of the devastation: the chief medical school there collapsed killing ALL the medical students. Plus, many of the judges and political/civil leaders were killed as the capital buildings and courts collapsed. The intelligensia of the country has been drastically reduced.

Of greatest need NOW is tents for basic shelter from the rains. Support dollars will help to access them, though adequate delivery of them (and any supplies) is very tenuous. BI has arranged for the printing of 100,000 copies of "Comfort and Hope" to be distributed in lots as they are able to be carried in.

Hantz will stay a week...and return with some reality-based insight and direction. Monies from the aid funds are being carefully escorted and strategically administered. Continue to pray much for this long-long-term crisis.

CLICK HERE for report/pictures from Samaritan's Purse and their Relief Efforts

We Need Help - web link video - pics and song by Chris Tomlin

ABWE's Efforts in this catastrophe

ABFs

BIBLE STUDIES

CHILDREN

YOUTH

PRIME TIME

ANGEL FOOD

RIDERS REDEEMED

WORSHIP - CELEBRATION
(INTIMACY WITH GOD)

COMMUNITY - CONNECTION
(INTERACTING WITH GOD'S PEOPLE)

►
MISSIONS - COMMUNICATION (IMPACTING GOD'S WORLD)

►LOCAL MISSIONS

- M.O.R.E. Team

- English as Second Language

- Operation Christmas Child

OUR MISSIONARIES
GLOBAL MISSIONS
WEST MICHIGAN MISSIONS CONSORTIUM
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS
CAREER MISSIONS
GIFT CARDS
MISSION TRIP REPORTS & PRESENTATIONS

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS

Local Missions:

M.O.R.E. Team - Purpose of Ministry, Outreach & Evangelism
The MORE Team is responsible for focusing the body on building and strengthening the local mission of First Baptist Church through prayer, visitation and outreach. This Team’s key functions include the follow-up of guests, community interaction and visibility, and the planning and administration of church outreach opportunities and events to the Lowell community and surrounding area. EKG³ is an effort to connect with all new move-ins in the area with a Welcome Packet of Chamber of Commerce, Community and FBC information. Neighbor-to-Neighbor connect packs are also available. It will also lead evangelism efforts with training tools and materials, and encourage discipleship growth through materials or classes specifically designed for new believers in Christ.

Responsibilities: Guest follow-up, Support groups, Bus Ministry, Community Expo, Discipleship training/mentoring, New Move-In Connect, Outreach events (ie. Trunk-N-Treat, Fair, etc.) Parades, Outreach visitation, EKG Canvassing, Alternative service (ie. Saturday PM), Riders Redeemed, Angel Food (w/Mercy Team)

ESL - English as a Second Language:

FBC is church "home" to ESL missionaries, Michael and Monica Pasquale, who help develop ESL/TESOL globally in the cause of the Great Commission. They have helped launch and develop an ESL class for anyone in the community interested in learning conversational English. The class is held in the Fellowship (Alpha) House just east of the church facilities on Wednesday evenings 6:30PM - 8:00PM. CLICK HERE for a look at Pasquales ESL Ministry video.

OCC - Operation Christmas Child:
FBC is "home" to regional coordinators, Doug and Judy Folsom, who facilitate a growing area involvement in Christmas box-gifts of toys, supplies and the gospel to children across the world through Samaritan's Purse. Each month we highlight some item to be collecting for a flurry of packing in September to get boxes to the transfer site and on to global shipment. FBC is the area drop-site for boxes prepared by people and churches in our vicinity.

ABFs

BIBLE STUDIES

CHILDREN

Y OUTH

PRIME TIME

ANGEL FOOD

RIDERS REDEEMED

WORSHIP - CELEBRATION
(INTIMACY WITH GOD)

COMMUNITY - CONNECTION
(INTERACTING WITH GOD'S PEOPLE)

►MISSIONS - COMMUNICATION
(IMPACTING GOD'S WORLD)

LOCAL MISSIONS
OUR MISSIONARIES
►GLOBAL MISSIONS

- Consortium Missionaries

- Global Missions/Missionaries

- Other Missions/Agencies

WEST MICHIGAN MISSIONS CONSORTIUM
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS
CAREER MISSIONS
GIFT CARDS
MISSION TRIP REPORTS & PRESENTATIONS

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS

Global Missions:

Our missions strategy is founded on scriptural paradigm that God directs the local church to be the primary sending agent to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all peoples in all nations in all the world. The Missions Team will be responsible to maintain regular communications with and prayer for the missionaries supported by our church, report progress or concerns, work with pastoral staff in making arrangements for missionary visits, coordinate any missions emphasis, and advise deacons of any recommendation for financial assistance to our missionaries. This Team will promote and encourage the global mission priority at First Baptist Church.

Responsibilities: Missionary communication and prayer, Fellowship
House apartment use, Missionary Christmas collection, Missionary Gifts, Missions tracking and updates, Missionary Conference, events or emphases, Mission forums, trips and training, encouragement of Cultural Intelligence

Consortium Missionaries
Michael and Monica Pasquale	ESL / TESOL USA and the world	ABWE / Cornerstone University www.pasquale.abwe.org MPasquale@abwe.cc
Andrew and Leah Postema	Camp Ministry Romania team	ABWE www.postemafamily.com APostema@abwe.cc

GLOBAL MISSIONS and MISSIONARIES
City View Church Pastor Jeff Helbert	Church Planting (inner city) Grand Rapids, MI	Independent CityViewBaptist@sbcglobal.net
ABWE - ASSOCIATION of BAPTISTS FOR WORLD EVANGELISM	ABWE is an independent mission agency that exists to serve local churches in the task of sending missionaries around the world. ABWE currently services over 5,000 churches in 70 countries and 1,250 missionaries. For more information about ABWE, please visit their website at http://www.abwe.org/ or click on their logo at the top of the page.
Jean Fote	Medical clinic, church support Gambia, Africa	ABWE jfote@qanet.gm
Bobby and Sara Hile	Church planting Durban, South Africa	ABWE www.hilefamily.com www.communityconnection.co.za bobbyhile@abwe.cc
Steve and Sue Mayo	Church planting, Theological training Sydney, Australia	ABWE http://ssmayo.info/ ssmayo@gmail.com http://www.afbc.net.au/
Asia Baptist Theological Seminary	Theological training of national pastors and leadership in Asia and the Pacific Rim	http://abts.cornerstone.edu/
Awana	Children and Youth Ministries, Evangelism, Discipleship
Bob and Bette Pycraft	Children and Youth Ministries, Evangelism, Discipleship S.W. Michigan	Awana www.swmiawanaclubs.org bobp@awana.org
BCP - BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTERS
Dorothy Ritchie	Retired, USA Church support	BCP
BMM - BAPTIST MID-MISSIONS	Baptist Mid-Missions seeks to creatively and strategically advance the cause of Christ to the world, inspire and mobilize local churches to participate in mission opportunities, effectively communicate the scope and quality of its own worldwide ministry. Please visit their website at http://www.bmm.org or click on their logo at the top of the page.
John and Paula Dannenberg	Biblical/Theological Training, Church planting Central Africa Repubic	BMM dannenberg2@att.net
Eric and Shirley Hossack	semi-retired, church support France	BMM, semi-retired hossackpere@orange.fr
Bob and Deb Thompson	Bible Translation project oversight Grand Rapids, MI	BMM - Bibles International www.biblesint.org bthompsons@biblesint.org
John and Marilyn VandenAkker	Rogma Bible training semi-retired, Rogma Dir. South Carolina	BMM, retired http://www.rogma.org/
Rich and Karyn & Ben Visser	Bible/Theological Training, Church support France	BMM www.ibpb.org rkb3visser@free.fr
CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES	Jewish evangelism, church planting
Roy and JoAnne Schwarcz, IL	Church planting, marketplace and jewish evangelism, Chicago, IL	Chosen People Ministries messianic7@aol.com
EBM - Evangelical Baptist Missions	EBM was founded in 1928 and now calls Indianapolis home base. EBM serves independent Baptist churches in helping send missionaries around the world to preach the Gospel. EBM currently serves in 19 countries. For more information about EBM, please visit their website at http:/ebm.org or click on their logo at the top of the page.
Ron and Chris Self	Church Planting, Bible institute training Buenos Aires, Argentina	EBM rself@arnet.com.ar http://www.selfsinargentina.com/
NTM - New Tribes Ministries	NTM is an independent mission agency that exists to serve local churches in the task of sending missionaries around the world. New Tribes Mission helps local churches train, coordinate and send missionaries to the 2,500 unreached tribes in the world. Please visit their website at http://ntm.org/ or click on their logo at the top of the page.
Dan and Kathi McIntire	flight ministries, church planting support Papua New Guinea	NTM dan_mcintire@ntm.org
UNITED INDIAN MISSION
Wolfgang and Kelly Grotendiek	Flight ministry, missionary support Mexico	UIM wgrotendiek@uim.org http://www.missionary-airplanes.com/
YOUTH for CHRIST	Youth/student evangelism and discipleship
Todd and Heather Mikelson	Youth/student evangelism and discipleship Iroquois Valley IVYFC, IL	IVYFC toddm@ivyfc.org

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OTHER MISSION AGENCIES and ENDEAVORS
Alpha Women's Center	Pregnancy and crisis care Family and counseling ministry Deb Karasewicz, Director Lowell, MI	alphawclowell@yahoo.com, djkaras@aol.com
Baptists for Life	Life Issues resourcing, training, support Tom Lothamer, Director Grand Rapids, MI	www.bfl.org
New Creation Ministries	Ministry to Inmates in area Prison Systems, Joe Gerkin	http://newcreationsmin.net
Bibles International	Bible Translation world-wide Hantz Bernard, Director Grand Rapids, MI	www.biblesint.org
Cornerstone University Grand Rapids Theological Seminary	Christian Liberal Arts and Religious College Education and Theological Seminary Grand Rapids, MI	www.cornerstone.edu
Rural Bible Mission	Childrens' ministries and Public School Release Time Debbie Price S. Central Michigan
Children's Bible Hour	Children and Youth radio and media ministries and production Terre Ritchie, Director	www.cbhministries.org
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches	National Church Association administration, resourcing, printing, publishing, education, synergy John Greening, Nat'l Rep. Schaumburg, IL	GARBC www.garbc.org
Lake Ann Camp	Youth Ministries, Discipleship, Retreat ministries, Conferences Lake Ann, MI	www.lakeanncamp.com
Lincoln Lake Baptist Youth Camp	Youth Ministries, Discipleship, Retreat ministries, Conferences Gowen, MI	www.lincolnlake.com office@lincolnlake.com
Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches	State Association of Churches, support ministries, counsel, networking, seminars and conferences Ken Floyd, State Rep.	MARBC www.marbc.net Marbcken@aol.com
S.M.A.T. School of Missionary Aviation Technology	help and encouragement for SMAT - local mission-oriented flight/mechanic school in Ionia, MI, with internships also at Lowell Airport	www.smat-aviation.org
Andy and Kathleen Girwarnauth, Partners in Evangelism	informal support through gifts and work teams to the independent Bible church-planting movement along the eastern coast of Guyana	PIE www.finalrevelation.tv andy.girwarnauth@gmail.com andy@finalrevelation.tv
Mel Trotter Ministries	Compassion - shelter, food, lodging ministries to indigent, homeless, single mothers/children in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan	www.meltrotter.org
Mission Network News	Radio, audio journal of Missions globally, current events and endeavors	http://www.mnnonline.org/
Global Impact Services	Mission issues, program assessment, resources with Mark Sigmon, Director, Jenison, MI	http://www.globalimpactservices.org/
Closed Door Ministries	Mission concerns in global regions closed to outside mission work, Dr. Phil McDonald, Director	http://www.closeddoorministries.org/
Women at Risk International	rescue ministry of women/girls caught in human trafficking, Becky McDonald, Director	http://www.warinternational.org/

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West Michigan Missions Consortium (WMMC):

A cooperative missions effort supported by West Michigan Baptist Churches

The call has gone forth, and people are responding! But how do churches then respond to these individuals who have surrendered their lives for missions service? How can churches help them get to the field in the most efficient way possible?

After applying to a mission board and being appointed, the average missionary spends 24 months or more traveling from church to church raising support. By the time they depart for the field, missionaries average at least 15 supporting churches and 22 individual supporters. Because of these factors, many missionaries are discouraged from career service because of the daunting task of "deputation / pre-field ministry." At the same time, much ripe fruit goes unharvested as others spend months and even years raising financial support necessary before they can leave for the field.

A group of local churches has joined together to form the West Michigan Missions Consortium (WMMC) in order to address these challenges. The WMMC shares together in the prayer and financial support goals of missionaries being sent out by member churches. This results in greater commitment and accountability between the missionaries and their supporting churches. Additionally, there is greater cooperation between the consortium churches. The result is an effective, efficient, and energized missions effort.

Purpose

The West Michigan Missions Consortium is a cooperative effort for churches of like faith and missions vision. This effort enables member churches to cooperate in getting missionaries to their chosen field more effectively, efficiently, and with greater energy for ministry.

World Evangelism . . . Effective / Efficient / Energized

Consortium churches share the vision of quickly raising prayer and full financial support for member church missionaries, enabling them to reach the field as soon as possible. Combining their shared efforts with the assistance of mission agencies, consortium churches are able to greatly enhance their worldwide missions outreach.

Effective -missions opportunities are realized at a faster rate than traditional missions deputation, on average, 12-16 months.
Efficient -pre-field and furlough burnout is avoided because fewer churches are involved.
Energized -greater involvement by churches in missions projects, and by missionaries in their supporting churches while on furlough. Cooperative conferences and projects by consortium churches cast the vision that every believer is to be an active participant in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Benefits of a Missions Consortium

Missionary support is raised more quickly.
Significantly cuts the expenses of extended deputation and furlough travels.
Familiarity with missionaries results in greater prayer and financial support.
Pre-field ministry is more productive since it is directed toward training and spiritual growth rather than fund-raising.
Eliminates the frustrations that arise from the current "rat race" known as deputation.
Encourages the implementation of a regional strategy for the missionary's support base.
Consortium missionaries may be involved in meaningful ministries for longer periods of time in each of the consortium churches.
Missionary children have a stable environment for schooling and establishing friendships.
Missionary support services such as housing, automobiles, etc., can be used more efficiently when staying in the same region for the duration of the furlough.

A concept with Biblical roots and contemporary relevance

The consortium is a cooperative effort for churches of like faith and missionary vision. These churches share the vision of quickly and efficiently raising prayer and full financial support for member church missionaries.

Combining their cooperative effort with the assistance of mission agencies, consortium churches are able to greatly enhance their worldwide mission outreach.

Each member church selects two representatives - one pastoral staff member and one lay person. Each member church maintains its own missions program in addition to consortium involvement.

Learn more about the West Michigan Missions Consortium on the web - (Web Site with Powerpoint presentation)

Click Here for a "West Michigan Missions Consortium" Brochure

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Short-Term Missions:

While our funding for missions is primarily for global vocational service and impact, we recognize the great value of meeting specific needs that missionaries and mission fields periodically encounter. In addition, in our desire to impact our own people with missional and cross-cultural experiences, we annually seek to invest support, prayer, encouragement and funds in limited, non-career, short-term mission opportunities. Short-term interaction has shown itself to be a primary means of infusing a mission-passion into individuals and of enhancing missional energy, excitement and perspective into a church body.

Click Here for Short-Term Application

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Career Missions:

From the prophetic call of OT messengers to the missionary call of the NT church, from reluctant Jonah to passionate Peter, Silas and Paul, God has always used people that he set apart to carry His truth and Good News to other peoples, languages and nations. As Ephesians 4 says, "He gave some to be apostles, some to be pastors-teachers, some to be evangelists" to the church for the purpose of pursuing, doing and accomplishing the full breadth, scope and extent of the Great Commission (Matthew 28 18-20). We set aside 15% of our budget for this Kingdom privilege in addition to sharing many special gifts to missional needs and causes throughout the year.

Click Here to Go Back to our Career Missionary Line-up

Click Here for Career Missions Application

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GIFT CARDS