The Challenger August 2013

From the BBA Prayer Ministry Team Leader I recall reading in Greg Frizzell’s book, How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life he mentions that our relationship with the Lord is directly proportional to our prayer life. He says, “A powerful prayer life is not just a discipline or ritual, it is a commitment to a personal relationship with God.” He mentions that we must make an absolute commitment to consistently spend significant time alone with God in uninterrupted prayer. If all this is true and I personally believe it is, then prayerlessness is a serious problem in a Christian’s life. I would say that prayer is a relationship personally established on God’s part with us, and when we refuse to enter into this relationship we manifest a serious spirit of rebellion.

Do you recall God speaking to Jeremiah and telling him in Jeremiah 33:2-3 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. If Jeremiah had refused God’s command it would have been a sin against God’s purposes for the future of His people. Isaiah mentions in Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: This was a plain command through the prophet to the people to get themselves in touch with the Lord through prayer in order that the Lord might change their thoughts, pardon their sins, and make them fruitful in His kingdom. (That is sure needed in America today.) Again, failure to pray would have been plain disobedience and sin.

To refuse to hear the words of the Lord is to rebel against Him. God’s injunctions concerning prayer are plain. Prayerlessness is a sin against God and it is sin that can find no excuse. May Bryan Baptist Association not be found wanting when it comes to prayer warriors. Let me encourage each person reading this article to make it a priority to meet with our Lord daily in uninterrupted Prayer and Bible Study. We have so many needs in our Association and our Nation. Let us not rebel against God by not praying.

Pray and be blessed my friends. In His Grip, Bro. Anthony

Our grandchildren live a ways from us. One granddaughter is in Noble, up near Norman. The other two, a grandson and another granddaughter, live north of Kansas City in Platte City, MO. Needless to say, we don't see any of them as often as we would like. That's why the week of June 30 through July 6 was so special to us. We actually got to see and spend time with all three of the little cuties within the space of those seven days! I remembered again why God primarily gives little children to young adults! Man, they wore me out. But I was also reminded that it is sweet to watch children grow and blossom. Our grand-children are learning to talk more and more. They are giving greater display to their individual personalities. Meantime, our children are becoming great parents, aunts, and uncles. It is such a blessing. God is so good! I can't help but think about how it pleases our Heavenly Father to watch us grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). He loves us so much, it cannot be put into human terms. Such love moves Him to seek to constantly walk with us in a living and ever expanding personal relationship. May the knowledge of His pleasure and pursuit engage and encourage us to passionately pursue Him in all we are and do as well. I love you all, Tim

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Birthdays

8-1 Dewel Arp

8/3 - Ashley Harper

8/5 - Vickie Jordan

8/6 - James Robinson

8/7 - Nikki Wallace

8/7 - Andy Hanson

8/9 - Kathy Holmes

8/10 - JoAn Toler

8/11 - Dennis Pena

8/13 - Alex Benito

8/15 - Daniel Wesley

8/16 - Royce Couch

8/16 - Paul May

8/19 - Bethany Dunegan

8/20 - Karen Horn

8/21 - Joey Gosnell

8/23 - Sonya Pass

8/25 - Robert Boehme

8/29 - Donna Boehme

8/29 - Diane Toma

8/31 - Jan Suggs

8/31 - Cynthia Brewer

Wedding Anniversaries

8/3/57 - Norman & Peggy

Ford

8/3/96 - Ashley & Quentin

McLarry

8/13 - Bruce & Reba

McLaughlin

8/15/80 - Karen & Bill

Horn

8/18/61 - Norma & Robert

Fullen

8/24/91 - Darren & Nikki

Wallace

8/24/63 - Beverly & James

Serner

8/25/79 - Robert & Donna

Boehme

Ministry Anniversaries

8/1/91 - Brenda Rowland

Emmanuel

8/1/11 - Daniel Wesley

Grace

8/7/77 - Ruth Marlin

Calvary

8/21/01 - Anthony Williams

Grace

Happy Birthday & Happy Anniversary

What’s Going on in Our Churches

Caddo First Baptist Church is prayerfully

seeking a full-time Pastor. Parsonage

available. Send resume to: Pastor Search

Committee: P.O. Box 94 Caddo, OK 74729

Operation Christmas Child

It doesn't seem possible, but Back-to-School sales are in progress now. Now is the perfect time to buy supplies for OCC shoeboxes.

I read about a child who didn't have school supplies. His shoebox furnished many of the items he needed. God knows how to get the right boxes in the hands of the right kids.

Most all kids need crayons, pencils, pens, and note-books.

Have you set a goal for the number of shoeboxes you will pack?

Find help and healing for the hurt of separation and divorce

DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. DivorceCare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable DivorceCare resources to help you deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life. There are thousands of DivorceCare divorce recovery support groups meeting throughout the US. There’s one near you!

First Baptist Church of Durant will be starting the fall DivorceCare series on August 14, 2013. Room 210 from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. on Wed. nights. For more info contact Katherine Brown at 580-924-1472 or kmbrown740@simplynet.net.

The BBA Ladies Bible Study will start a new

study on Tuesday, August 6th at 12:00 noon at the

BBA office. We will be studying the Charles Stanley

book Pursuing a Deeper Faith - Develop a Closer

Relationship with God under the leadership of

Dolores White-Kiser. The book is $8.25 and you

can get one now at the BBA office. Please consider

joining us for this good time of study and fellowship.

Upcoming Senior Events

Trips: (Please call the BBA office to reserve your place on the bus. Leave your name and phone number.)

August 16th - Fish Fry at the Baptist Home for Girls in Madill on August 16th. Leaving Fairview parking lot at 5:00. Bus fee us $3.

Luncheons:

August 14th - Yuba

September 11th - Bushnell

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Please pray for our pastorless churches

Albany BC, Blue River Fellowship, Brown BC, Caddo FBC, Western Meadows, Yuba BC

LAKE TEXOMA BAPTIST RESORT MINISTRY

2034 Max Road, Mead Ok 73449

580 924 7919 cell 580 220 7530

bjdecker@hughes.net

It’s been a real blessing having Ken and Jan Hudson with us. Ken is keeping the grounds looking neat and tidy. I am so excited about having them here.

We are having good attendance at our day camps. The churches and youth that are doing our day camps are a blessing to be around. They not only do days camps, they also volunteer at the Baptist Retirement Village and they help with work on the grounds.

Please pray that we have a full summer and no children at the Lake leave without having heard about our Lord and Savior.

May God Bless Each of You,

Barbara

We are so grateful for BBA Churches and individuals who have partnered with college students to reach the nations for Christ. We have large crews of students from Southeastern all over the

globe right now. They stay all summer so PLEASE continue to pray for them! Here are a few stories to update you: E. Asia team baptized a new Asian brother this last Sunday and have formed a small Bible study on a college campus. The team has some serious health problems that need prayer. The S. Asia team has seen people respond the Gospel and have a Bible study started as well. They were also able to disciple and mobilize a small congregation to reach 150 people which is exciting. The girls on this team are really having a tough time and need particular encouragement through prayer. Our S. America team had their apartment broken into and some of their stuff stolen ear-ly on. They have overcome a lot of adversity, but are faithfully reaching people with the Gospel and discipling many students and leaders. They are a part of helping establish a college ministry on a major campus in S. America. They are attempting to equip students to plant small groups and churches all over. Please pray for their safety and perseverance. We have a couple other guys working with Buddhist and Muslims in other parts of Asia and Africa that could also use your prayer support. African Muslims have already opened up about Christ even during Ramadan. We also have many many students working with Churches and youth groups here in the states, Falls Creek, and even at SE with students who stuck around for the summer. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Pray on!

Colby

580-564-7082 or Colby.corsaut@yahoo.com

Non-Profit Organization

US Postage Paid

Durant, OK 74701

Permit No. 132

We love to have your church’s events in the

Challenger. If you or your church have any

announcements or news you would like to be

included in next month’s Challenger, please

contact the BBA office before August 16th.

Phone: 580-924-2351

Emails: Tim@bbaok.com

DeeDee@bbaok.com

Website: bbaok.com

BBA Ladies Bible Study

12:00

Director of Missions---------Tim Bowen

Administrative Assistant --DeeDee Pena

Moderator-----------------------Philip Stephens

Vice-Moderator---------------Jacob Toews

Clerk-----------------------------John Heath

Treasurer---------------------- Haley Stringfellow

Office Hours - Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 - 4:30

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Senior Adult

Luncheon @

Yuba

BBA Ladies Bible Study

12:00

BBA Ladies Bible Study

12:00

BBA Ladies Bible

Study 12:00

Youth

Evangelism

Conference

Proclaim Worship & Music Conf. @ Quail Springs, OKC

DOM Retreat

Roadrunners’ Trip

Fish Fry,

Children’s Home

August 2013

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