Jesus Christ at Summer Camp

Children's Camp is one of the best things we do as the Western Baptist Association each year. Dr. Paul Dennis (pastor at Royal BC) did another great job leading the camp, which ministered to 100 children age 9-12. Some of the campers invited Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives as Savior and Lord! Amen! Becoming and growing as Christians is what the time is all about.

There were a great bunch of folks helping as counselors and workers this year from several different churches. It was hard to believe, but Brother Jimmy Evans (pastor of Bethlehem BC) braved the entire time in the boys dorm and Ann Slaton (children ministries at Unity BC) survived staying with the girls. There were approx. 25 counselors in all...and all are very much appreciated.

Campers came from the following churches: Royal, Bethlehem, Unity, Luthersville, FBC Moreland, East Newnan, Macedonia, Northside, Pleasant Hill (Coweta), Rehoboth, Providence, Grantville FBC, Oak Lawn, New Lebanon, Fellowship, Franklin FBC, Sharpsburg, Centralhatchee, Dykes Creek, Crossroads and First United Methodist,

Our camp Rockridge (west of Franklin, Ga. on Hwy 100) is getting better and better. Director David Jackson has worked very hard to make everything enjoyable. And the food was awesome.
Also those, who helped serve as camp staff were always smiling and happy...and that after 10 weeks of summer camp...

only Jesus Christ can make someone stay happy after 10 weeks of camp!

My special thanks goes to Mrs. Bobbie Dye, who helped out the whole time as a missions volunteer helper. She helped set up, clean up and straighten up each day from dawn to night.

If you have not been out to Rockridge lately, you need to go...

Growing together for His glory!
Bro. Wayne

www.wbachurches.org

Jesus Christ loves children - young and old!

Our Lord said, "Let the little children come unto me!" (Matthew 19:14).

I'm sure that Jesus loves Vacation Bible School, because so many children, each year, hear and learn about the love of God and eternal salvation through Him.

It will be interesting in heaven to find out just how many people have been engaged with the Gospel through Vacation Bible School. Many parents will come to hear about Jesus again, because their child attended a VBS. That is why we stand 100% behind VBS in the Western Baptist Association.

Like the song says: "Yes! Yes! Yes to VBS!"

I hope and pray you have a wonderful VBS this year!

Growing together for His glory!
Bro. Wayne

Jesus Christ likes it, when we work together

Association:

Working together with like-minded, like-called, like-believing, like-confessing, like-desiring Southern Baptist churches...

...for the glory of Jesus Christ!

Not too long ago, someone asked me what my "vision" was for the Western Baptist Association. I answered: "I hope the day comes, when each church of our association is just as excited to hear that someone came to faith in Christ and was baptized in another church of our association, as they are about it happening in their own church."

In order for this to happen, we must develop a "Kingdom of Jesus Christ" mindset. In reality, there is only one Body of Christ...there is only ONE church. In heaven, we will all be together...the true church of Jesus Christ.

That is what the Association is supposed to mirror here on earth: local, unified - but still independent - bodies of believers, working together, helping each other, praying for each other, lifting each other up, rejoicing with each other.

We pray in the Lord's Prayer "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He meant for them to pray that it happens "right now!" Our Lord's prayer is a "right now" prayer. It is not a prayer for "someday in the sweet by and by". Our Lord's prayer and vision must become our prayer and vision.

Do you think it makes Jesus happy to see His churches working together?

That's almost a dumb question, huh?

I hope to see you all at the Annual Spring meeting of the WBA, next Tuesday night at Living Proof Southern Baptist Church. Don't forget the items for the Childrens' Home.

Growing together for His glory!
Bro. Wayne




upcoming dates in the WBA...

• April 15 (this coming Thursday night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 (next Tuesday night!) Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM).
  

• April 23 (Friday night) WBAssociational VBS Clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm Lots of door prizes (Saddle Ridge Ranch). Rhonda Andrews will be cooking hot dogs for those who will call the WBA office to let us know how many you are bringing! 6:00 PM.

Jesus Christ wants His church to grow!

At our recent Super Evangelism conferences, Mark Merritt (GBC) did a presentation on how to make our churches more "visitor friendly". I appropriated (he said it was okay!) some of his material, and created a "Greeter Training" presentation. I have been privileged to offer this training in a couple of our churches and received a positive reception each time.

So I had the idea to present a shortened version of the Greeter Training at our Monday ministers meeting this coming Monday. Why? Two reasons. 1) I want you all to be aware of this training. 2) I need your feedback. I hope you can make the meeting.

If you would like for me to come present this training in your church, just give me a call. 770-253-2118.

ALSO, I want to ask you to try and get your folks (messengers & members) to attend the Annual Spring Meeting of the WBA, this year at Living Proof Baptist Church in Tyrone, on Tuesday, April 20. Joe Payton will be leading the music. Jeff Chandler (Pastor of SouthCrest) and Phil Pilgrim (famous GBC personality) will be our speakers. Come on time, so that you can stand up for the "Roll Call" of the churches. Amen!

Growing together for His glory!
Bro. Wayne

upcoming dates in the WBA...

• April 11 - 10:00 AM WBA Admin. Committee meets at WBA.
  
• April 11 - 11:00 AM - Monday Morning Ministers' Meeting. "How to make His church more visitor friendly" (Greeter Training) by Bro.Wayne.

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM).
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS Clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm Lots of door prizes (Saddle Ridge Ranch). Rhonda Andrews will be cooking hot dogs for those who will call the WBA office to let us know how many you are bringing! 6:00 PM.

Jesus Christ is HERE!

Jesus Christ is right here!

Our apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian believers (Phil. 3:10):

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship

of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.."

The power of Christ's resurrection is that He, Himself - Jesus Christ is actually with us! Let's call it by a modern term...how about "REALITY FAITH". The presence of Christ Himself, because He is really here with us, is the power of His resurrection. If we know that Christ is actually with us, then we will talk with (prayer), walk with (follow) and obey Him (do what He wants us to do, or not do what He wants us to avoid, flee or stop!).

This Sunday we will gather to celebrate THAT historical, factual day that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, rose from the dead. HE alone conquered death. HE alone has life, power, light, love, hope. HE alone. CHRIST alone!

I love celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Why don't you STOP what you are doing right now, and just tell your Lord Jesus Christ: "I love you!"

Growing Together for His Glory!
Bro. Wayne

P.S. Happy Resurrection Day!

upcoming dates in the WBA...

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm

Jesus Christ loves me, inspite of me

The bradford pear trees are going...
right now, and only right now the trees are gorgeous! They look like they are covered in white snow balls, because they are in bloom. But soon, the blooms will fall off, covering the ground with light brown, decaying, gooey, dead blossoms. What a mess it was last year. Ever since I released the company doing yard work at the WBA building, I have taken over the task of trying to keep the parking lot clean, etc. The bradford trees were the enemy.

We did not plant the trees, we inherited them. Now they are going to be cut down and the wood will be used in the Lord's work. Amen.

I love seeing stuff like this happen. It's like cleaning out your garage, attic or basement from years of unwanted junk. Or taking a huge load of trash and boxes, etc. to the dump. It feels great driving away from the dump.

It will be a wonderful, clean, new experience to see the WBA building with the trouble-making bradford pear trees gone!

Amen. Thank you, Jesus!!

Growing Together for His Glory!
Bro. Wayne

upcoming dates in the WBA...

• Tomorrow! Saturday, March 28, beginning at 8:00 AM, a team of chainsaw enthusiasts from Royal BC, will be cutting down the three bradford pear trees in front of the WBA building and doing general clean-up around the building!
  
  
• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm

Jesus just might change your plans

Buckets of Hope. I've learned a lot...

My original plan was to receive and stack the filled, sealed, 30 lb. buckets in the building in organized rows of 36 each...the number of buckets on each pallet. This way I could know how many pallets of buckets we had. By Saturday, March 6, we had about 200 buckets in the building.

To get ready for the coming onslaught of buckets on Monday, March 8 (deadline day) we had cleared out all the rooms, so that buckets could be neatly stacked. I knew how and where the buckets needed to go.

I had even started taking pictures of the growing rows of buckets, so that I could visually show others how the rows and number of buckets had grown...

But God changed my plans! Praise the Lord, He changed the plan!

Monday, March 8, 9:00 AM. The transport truck from Stan Thomas' company arrived at the WBA right on time. It was a gorgeous day!

Brian Carroll with a team of members and Northside BC's 102 filled buckets on a trailer were waiting to unload.

"Hey! Let's don't take the buckets into the building...let's go ahead and put them on the pallet in the truck and start loading the truck NOW!"
Everyone agreed.

Buckets were loaded, stacked, wrapped and moved. (Sounds like hash browns at Waffle House, huh?) More pastors and members from WBA churches showed up with buckets...a steady stream.

Everyone got excited about what was happening! After a while someone looked at me and said, "Why don't we get the 200 buckets out of the building and put them in the truck, too, and finish the job?!"

Soon a row of Baptists with Buckets of Hope flowed in and out of the building. My vision of growing rows and rows of neatly stacked, white, shining buckets of hope lined up in the rooms died right there in the parking lot. Amen.

What did I learn?

• Keep the main goal in mind. (Taking pictures of neatly stacked buckets in a building was not the goal...Getting the buckets onto the truck, getting them to Macon and then on to Haiti to feed starving, lost people is the goal!!)
• Be willing to change quickly, when God speaks through others, who have the same main goal in mind. Boy, can we get side-tracked with meaningless plans and tasks!!
  
• We have a wonderful group of dedicated followers of Jesus Christ, who desire to serve Him and bring glory to His name.

Jesus Christ is HERE! Right here with us! Amen.

Growing together for His glory!
Bro. Wayne

upcoming dates in the WBA...

• March 15, 10:00 AM Nominating Committee meets. WBA building. March 15, 11:00 Ministers Meeting.
  

• March 20 WBA - VBS Team attends VBS Regional training clinic at FBC Cartersville, Ga.
  

• March 22 Doug Couch (GBC Specialist for Youth Evangelism) speaks about "Merge" at our Monday Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm

Jesus Christ will be glorified through our efforts!

See you Tuesday, March 9 at the WBA building
as we LOAD THE TRUCK with over 700
Buckets of Hope for Haiti.

Please come when you can, but we want to start at 9:00 AM!

Growing Together for His glory!
Bro. Wayne

Jesus Christ is happy!

I am convinced that our Lord Jesus Christ is happy that we are giving, buying, filling, collecting, organizing, and shipping 100s of buckets of food - Buckets of Hope - to the hurting people of Haiti.

I am so proud of the churches of the WBA!

Growing Together for His Glory!
Bro. Wayne

upcoming in the WBA...

• Feb. 26 VBS “Early bird” Directors meeting. 7:00 pm Unity Baptist Church

• March 2 WMU Spring Inspiration. 6:30 pm First Baptist Church, Newnan
  

• March 8 Bill Grissett (BCM Campus Minister at U.West Ga.) speaks at our Monday Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building

• March 8 Deadline for FILLED Buckets of Hope for Haiti to WBA building.

• Tuesday, March 9, 9:00 AM! Please come to the WBA building and help load the Buckets of Hope to be shipped to Macon to central collection point.

• March 20 WBA - VBS Team attends VBS Regional training clinic at FBC Cartersville, Ga.

• March 22 Doug Couch (GBC Specialist for Youth Evangelism) speaks about "Merge" at our Monday Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm

Jesus Christ is our hope!

Find it here...

Hope. Purpose. Peace. Life. Recent studies have shown that those words are the most important words - or concepts - for people in the United States.

We know that ONLY Jesus can really deliver on those words, so that they don't just remain words, but become actual reality in a person's life.

That is why it is critical, that we do everything we can to get the ONLY true message of Good News in Jesus Christ to every man, woman and child in Coweta, Meriwether, Heard, Troup, Fulton and Fayette county...at least those portions of those counties where the churches of the WBA are located.

It is the will of God. It is why Jesus died on the cross. It is why Jesus rose from the dead.

Our 2010 WBA "FinditHere.com" area-wide evangelism campaign is just one chapter in this life-changing undertaking. Imagine what God will be able to do through His Holy Spirit, if we are faithful to go, invite and try our best to "gather them into His Kingdom."

The tracts and the door hanger bags are at the WBA building. Many churches have already picked up what they feel they can accomplish.

It is an exciting time to be alive.

Growing Together for His Glory!
Bro. Wayne

upcoming in the WBA...

• Feb. 15 Presidents Day: No Ministers Meeting

• Feb. 16 Pick up Buckets of Hope for Haiti from WBA building (afternoon)

• Feb. 20 Saturday. Posey Cemetary Clean Up Day. Begin 10:00 AM (by good weather only!)

• Feb. 22 Monday Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building

• Feb. 26 VBS “Early bird” Directors meeting. 7:00 pm Unity Baptist Church

• March 2 WMU Spring Inspiration. 6:30 pm First Baptist Church, Newnan
  

• March 8 Bill Grissett (BCM Campus Minister at U.West Ga.) speaks at our Monday Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building

• March 8 Deadline for FILLED Buckets of Hope for Haiti to WBA building.

• March 20 WBA - VBS Team attends VBS Regional training clinic at FBC Cartersville, Ga.

• March 22 Doug Couch (GBC Specialist for Youth Evangelism) speaks about "Merge" at our Monday Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm

Jesus Christ knows all about it

Haiti...
the pictures of human suffering are overwhelming. Thousands of disaster relief workers from around the world (along with over 12,000 US troops) are doing their very best to rescue those still buried, and offer assistance to those who survived. Everyone involved needs our prayers and financial support.

Southern Baptists' Disaster Relief forces are in the middle of the effort. While we don't grab the quick headlines, Southern Baptists are helping in ways that will make a long-term difference. The people of Haiti desperately need to experience the love and presence of Jesus Christ. Southern Baptists Disaster Relief volunteers want to comfort and assist with the basic necessities of life AND share Jesus with those involved. The need for Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the greatest need!

We have many Christian brothers and sisters in Haiti. Pray for them as they minister to those around them. Pray for daily strength and hope.

Southern Baptists have been on the fore-front of Disaster Relief efforts for some time. SBC Disaster Relief teams are organized, professional and work closely with national organizations. We train volunteers to help!

Just this past weekend, five teams from our Western Baptist Association churches and other GBC churches from across the state trained to become "chainsaw" certified Disaster Relief volunteers. Dressed in hard hats and protective clothing the teams learned how to use a chainsaw safely, correctly and effectively. The "Chainsaw School" was at our Rockridge Baptist Assembly in Franklin, Ga.

They may be needed to go to Haiti in the months to come.

Southern Baptists offer immediate and long-term assistance after a disaster. A high official with the Red Cross once told me, "We (Red Cross) could not do what we do, without the amazing help of Southern Baptists! You come in, set up where we need you most, work from start to finish, never gripe and do it all without almost no recognition. I hope you tell other Southern Baptists how grateful we are."

I am thankful that God saved me through faith in Jesus and allowed me to be a Southern Baptist.

Growing Together for His Glory!
Bro. Wayne

To check on the latest news concerning SBC/GBC relief efforts in Haiti, go to:
www.gbcdisasterrelief.org.

UPCOMING in the WBA...

• Jan. 25 Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building. Vicki Hale (Coweta County Pregnancy Services) will present program.
  

• Jan. 26 “How to have a winning Sunday School” area-wide conference at Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm.
  

• Feb. 8 Super Evangelism Conference at Northside BC. 7:00-8:30 pm (Same conference at each location)

• Feb. 9 Super Evangelism Conference at FBC Moreland 7:00-8:30 pm(Same conference at each location)
  

• Feb. 26 VBS “Early bird” Directors meeting. 7:00 pm TBA

• March 2 WMU Spring Inspiration. 6:30 pm First Baptist Church, Newnan
  

• March 20 WBA - VBS Team attends VBS Regional training clinic at FBC Cartersville, Ga.

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm

Jesus Christ & His Kingdom will never end!

I am so excited about 2010 and how God is going to use us to increase the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Everyone, who does not know Jesus Christ, is scared to death. Their thoughts are constantly filled with economic despair, terrorist threats, changes to health care and a growing sense of futility. People, who do not know Jesus, lead meaningless lives. They are scared to death and looking for answers.

Our Lord Jesus Christ knows exactly what is going on and why it is going on. He wants us to use the present troubled waters to show His presence, His power and His provision. He wants us to meet people at their point of need with His personal answer for them:

- believe in Jesus once and for all eternity!
- trust in Jesus every day!
- walk with Jesus constantly - you are never alone !
- live for Jesus - He deserves the best!

God wants us to advance THE KINGDOM now! What an exciting time to be alive.

Growing Together for His Glory!
Bro. Wayne

UPCOMING in the WBA in 2010...

• Jan. 4 Ministers' Meeting at 11:00 AM WBA building. Rhodes Skinner's first meeting as our the new president of our ministers meeting.
  

• Jan. 8-9 Disaster Relief Phase I Training. Royal BC. This is an official state-wide GBC training event. Register Online (Deadline was Jan. 1 !) at: www.gbcdisasterrelief.org
  

• Jan. 11 Ministers' Meeting at 11:00 AM WBA building.

• Jan. 12 (Tuesday) Western Baptist Bible Institute classes begin. Dr. Paul Dennis, professor. Rev. Ken Norton, dean. Course: Formation of Ministry. Cost: $190 (includes books).

• Jan. 18 Ministers' Meeting at 11:00 AM WBA building.
  

• Jan. 22-23 “Chainsaw School” Disaster Relief Training at Rockridge Baptist Assembly, Franklin, Ga. (Phase I Training required!). Register Online (Deadline is Jan. 15 !) at: www.gbcdisasterrelief.org
  

• Jan. 25 Ministers Meeting. 11:00 AM WBA building. Vicki Hale (Coweta County Pregnancy Services) will present program.
  

• Jan. 26 “How to have a winning Sunday School” area-wide conference at Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm.
  

• Feb. 8 Super Evangelism Conference at Northside BC. 7:00-8:30 pm (Same conference at each location)

• Feb. 9 Super Evangelism Conference at FBC Moreland 7:00-8:30 pm(Same conference at each location)
  

• Feb. 26 VBS “Early bird” Directors meeting. 7:00 pm TBA

• March 2 WMU Spring Inspiration. 6:30 pm First Baptist Church, Newnan
  

• March 20 WBA - VBS Team attends VBS Regional training clinic at FBC Cartersville, Ga.

• April 15 (Thursday Night!) Executive Committee meeting. WBA building. 7:00 pm

• April 20 Annual Spring Meeting. Living Proof Baptist Church (Collection of items for Children's Home begins at 6:00 pm; meeting begins at 7:00 PM)
  

• April 23 WBAssociational VBS clinic. Royal BC. 6:30-8:30 pm