LoveLoud 2013The Annual Missions Emphasis of the Liberty Association of Baptists, a week of prayer and corresponding offering for local missions held in May of each year, was directed this year to a missions camp for middle/high school students from among our Liberty churches as well as lay leaders and pastors who would lead them in projects of evangelism & service throughout our tri-county area. Each day culminated in sharing a meal & a time of corporate worship. Allen Poynter, a member of Rowletts Baptist Church, served as one of those lay team leaders. Read his report below of how God used the week to not only allow him to serve during those days, but to challenge him to remain on mission with Christ right here in our “Jerusalem”.

LOVELOUD REPORT FROM TEAM LEADER ALLEN POYNTERI was asked to be a team leader for a group of youth doing a back-yard Bible Club in the housing authority of Horse Cave during LoveLoud.  I’ve always thought that missions were something done in other countries or somewhere far from home.  I also thought that mission work was where   

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"Thank you to everyone who gave time and/or resources to make LoveLoud possible!  We completed 10 service projects (2 - Metcalfe; 3 - Hart; 5 - Barren) with the help of 10 teams which included over 100 LAB volunteers!  Even though we

didn't reach our Associational Missions Offering Goal of $15,000, we took in just over $12,000 which ended up covering the actual expenses for LoveLoud.  I am thankful for God's provision!"

~ DOM Jordan Woodie

LAB Annual Missions Emphasis

LOVELOUD EVANGELISM PROJECTS Allowed for ministry to dozens of children at two housing complexes and a local church, touching all 3 LAB counties

LOVELOUD SERVICE PROJECTS Gave LAB students a chance to give back to their communities and LAB-supported ministries through much needed practical demonstrations of Christ’s love

LOVELOUD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS meant some hard work which yielded big results at GCA & the Bunche Center, and a transformed mobile home for a disabled woman and her mother in Hart County

LIBERTY LIGHTSJUNE-JULY 2013 ISSUE NO. 20

LIBERTY ASSOCIATION OF BAPTISTS

UPCOMING

LoveLoud: Reaching our Jerusalem

Camp Joy: Check out all of Camp

Joy’s summer activities @ http://www.campjoybaptist.com/

Cedar Cliff Revival: July 14th, Sun 11 am, nightly 6:30 pm through Friday

Pleasant Valley Revival: July 24-28, 6:30pm, Evangelist will be Mt. Tabor’s pastor Todd Stephens

Pastors Visioning Night: *Pastors, please mark your calendars for our 4th Pastors Visioning Night on Tuesday evening, Aug 20th (6:30 - 8:00) at the Glasgow Baptist Ministry Center (old public library)

LOVELOUD continued...you reach out to those in need but I quickly realized that I was the one being helped the most. LoveLoud’s verse for the week was Matthew 9:36-- When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  That verse in itself should be enough to spur Christians on to service but when you go on and read the next two verses—that’s where the rubber meets the road!  37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Talk about a call to serve!   The easy part is going to church every week and talking about reaching the lost.  The hard part is leaving our own comfort zone and taking the Gospel to those in need.  Whether we are two miles or two thousand miles from home, our hearts should always be on how we can reach out to others and share the love of Christ with them. ~Allen Poynter

A WORD OF THANKS FROM OUR DOM

Executive BdExBd Meeting

Tuesday, July 16th,

Browder’s Chapel

Refreshments 6:30pm

Meeting 7:00pm

*An open forum concerning the use of the funds from the sale of the Associational parsonage will also be held

Browder’s Chapel 3524 New Bowling Green Rd

Glasgow, KY 42141

The Association exists in large part to allow churches to realize their potential to join God in His work locally and around the world as they join together to accomplish more than they could by themselves. LoveLoud was an exact picture of that kind of cooperation, and even more exciting--it was among a new generation who will ensure the health and cooperation of our churches in the years to come! LAB simply cannot say thank you enough to those who answered God’s call and gave their time, money, prayers & efforts to make it possible. John & Melanie Austin originally had the vision to see LoveLoud become a reality right here & worked tirelessly to see it through. Calvary Baptist hosted our evening worship times while groups from Siloam, Coral Hill, & Calvary provided our evening suppers. Mikayla Blevins provided invaluable administrative help. Also, a big thank you to churches who allowed the use of their vans to get teams to their work-sites, as well as all of you who prayed and personally gave to this year’s Annual Missions Offering. We could not have done it without you! Lastly, those adults, many of whom took off work or gave up vacation days, who answered God’s call to serve and therefore provided the leadership needed so that dozens of others could experience reaching their Jerusalem---thank you!Let’s continue in prayer, giving, & going right here at home and around the world!

VIEW & DOWNLOAD ALL 3 DAYS’ VIDEOS ATHTTP://LIBERTYASSOCIATION.WORDPRESS.COM/LOVELOUD/

LAB students and lay leaders brought the Gospel to dozens of kids through this year’s LoveLoud... Pictured here is a Rec Time activity during a BackYardBibleClub at Horse Cave Housing Authority

• • •

Our DOM had the privilege in June to visit the Estes family who are from Liberty Association (Immanuel Baptist) and serving in Reynosa, Mexico.  They have lived near the border for about six years and continue investing in three primary ministry partnerships.  They work with an orphanage, a kids’ cancer center, and also have a robust partnership with the Disciples of

Christ Baptist Church which is part of the local Baptist Association in their region of Mexico.  Currently, two young ladies from Liberty Association are serving with the Esteses as summer interns with Project Fortify (the organization led by Shawn and Carla).  The Estes Family is one of four families from our Association that live and work in an international setting.  They are not supported by the International Mission Board so our opportunity to come alongside them is unique.  For more information on how you or your church can partner with the Estes’ and Project Fortify either contact Immanuel Baptist Church (270-678-7729) or visit http://projectfortify.org/how-to-help/six-ways-to-help/

Connecting with the Estes Family in Mexico

Financial ReportBalance 5/1 $99,904.91

Receipts Churches $3214.37 Gerald Fund 190.77 Bank Error 30.00 Total Receipts $3406.14

Total Available $103,311.05

Expenses DOM Compensation $4351.66 Copier Expenses 257.62 Office rent & utilities 579.23 Ministries 650.00 Total Expenses $5838.51

Balance $97,472.54

"During our 3 night VBS we averaged 35 kids from preschool to youth and 65 people total.  The amazing thing...nine were saved and one joined the church.  These were pre-teen to teenagers.  We are absolutely excited!  Todd will baptize all 9 on July 7 in Beaver Creek!" - Lori Stephens (Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, Barren County)

"Horse Cave held VBS Sunday June 2-6.  We had 150 children total with a daily average of 114, plus 55 workers daily! Several children expressed interest in accepting Christ which we are doing follow-up. For us VBS is over. For these children, VBS is just beginning!" - Kevin Denton (Pastor, Horse Cave Baptist Church)

A LOVELOUD - VBS CONNECTION"I just couldn't wait to share some of the amazing fruits of the Love Loud labors this week. After the back yard bible club at Tree Top Apartments I invited all of the kids to our VBS at Antioch and a total of 6 ended up coming one or more nights the rest of the week. We even had several members of our Love Loud team join us on the last night! But the great news that I really wanted to share was that one of the young girls named Ana accepted Christ at our  VBS  commencement. She had been at our bible club all three days and was only there visiting family because she lives in Radcliff. But it just goes to show God's timing is perfect! I feel so blessed to have been a part of it all and I couldn't wait to share the news! We had 6 total on the last night to confess that they had accepted Christ! I can't even describe the joy that I have felt over all the great things God is doing and how he has been moving in our own back doors!" - Tara Thompson (Antioch Baptist Church, Metcalfe County)

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to represent our Association at the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions in Houston.  You may be encouraged to know that the Liberty Association is in many ways ‘out front’ in terms of the future of Baptist Associations.  I personally attribute much of this to the great work of the Task Force appointed by Liberty Association who worked hard for two years before I ever came, laying the groundwork for a paradigm shift in the life of our

Association.  For more information regarding the future of Southern Baptist Associations, I would encourage you to explore http://repavingtheroad.org/.  This conference preceded the Southern Baptist Convention in Houston which I attended as well.  For any information related to this year’s convention, including video of the Pastors’ Conference, visit http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net

Liberty at the SBC ~DOM Jordan Woodie

VBS Highlights

If you have any VBS stories that you would like for us to include in next month's Liberty Lights,please email them to dom.liberty@gmail.com.

LIBERTY LIGHTSLiberty Association of Baptists

PO Box 1881Glasgow, KY 42141

132B S. Public Square

• • •

REQUEST FOR 2013-2014 NOMINATIONS

If you have any nominations for any of the following positions please

forward them to Bro. Randy Scott (Chair, Nominating Committee) -

gdscott@scrtc.com or 270-528-7655

• Officers (Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Parliamentarian)

• Trustees

• Standing Committee Team Members (Personnel, Budget, Program, Time/Place/Preacher, Credentials, Resolutions)

• Camp Joy Representatives

• Missions/Evangelism Team Members

• Church Strengthening Team Members

• Leadership Development Team Members

• • •

BOOK OF REPORTS All reports & contributions to this year’s Annual Meeting Book of Reports must be received by Wednesday, August 14th. They may be dropped off to the office, mailed to PO Box 1881, Glasgow, KY or emailed to women.libertybaptists@gmail.com. The Woodie’s expected addition to their family in late August will require them to have the books ready by then, and therefore, will not allow for late contributions. Thank you!

2013 LAB Annual Meeting

How You Can Pray

For the efforts from LoveLoud to have Kingdom

impact for a long time to come

For our missionaries: The Esteses, The Davises, The Pages, Jimmy Shaw

For our LAB churches VBS’s and those who come

to faith through them

For our LAB churches seeking pastors:

Zion, Canmer, Siloam, South Fork, Cave City, Hardyville,

El Faro

Join our DOM in praying for God to let us see 300

baptisms this year

Leadership/Development - Pastor Robby WardWe had a great study of the Book of Acts with 15 students enrolled. We studied each Thursday for 13 weeks. Already, we have put to good use what we studied with this year’s VBS by Lifeway which teaches five lessons from the Book of Acts. We would love to offer a fall class of seminary extension if we can get the needed number of students. If you would be interested in a fall class please call Bro. Robby Ward at 786-1475.  We also want  to keep our bi-vocational pastors lifted in prayer. We would love to start a bi-vocational pastors fellowship to provide support, help, encouragement, and resources. We appreciate our bi- vocational pastors and the excellent work they do. Thirdly, let us pray for the multiple Hispanic ministries in our region. One thing that we are looking into which will meet a need is to offer Seminary Extension classes.in Spanish. The Leadership/Development Team desires to assist our churches as we fulfill the Acts 1:8 mandate by providing relevant trainings and beneficial support.

LAB Team Updates Admin Team-Pastor Brandon Porter

The Administrative Team is grateful for God's faithful provision to the Association and to each of the local churches that comprise it.  May we be faithful stewards of the resources God has given us. As we move through 2013 we are working toward assisting the appointed task force in bringing a recommendation to the Association for the money received through the sale of the Association's residence in 2012.  The task force has met and will continue to meet through the summer.  They will be seeking your input as well as we approach the annual meeting in September.  Don't miss the opportunity to hear how God is leading them and share insight as we try to discern God's direction for these resources. The Admin Team is also prayerfully considering how we can address the likely shortfall of income as compared to our 2012-13 Association Budget.  Please pray that God would give us wisdom as a team, generosity as churches and discernment as an Association.  Let us be generous as we worship our great God who is actively working in the Liberty Association and beyond for His glory.

CHURCH STRENGTHENING TEAM

- TODD STEENBERGENThe Church Strengthening Team is focused on supporting church leadership and strengthening the churches of Liberty Association. From the book of Acts, we see a picture of how the New Testament church looked in its infancy, and how we can use that picture to enhance what the

church is doing today in the 21st century. Our prayer is for your church to be a healthy, growing, and maturing church. If there is any church that has a specific need, please contact the Associational Office or any member of the team so that we may come alongside in both prayer and to offer practical suggestions on providing any help needed in your church’s congregational health.

Right now, summer is upon us, and we are praying for those churches that have Vacation Bible School on your calendars. Please pray for our VBS efforts that boys and girls will respond to the message of the Gospel. Pray for the countless number of volunteers to have renewed energy as they work to present the message about Christ exciting and clear!

MISSIONS/EVANGELISM TEAM - PASTOR RAY WOODIETwo are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor...A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Eccl 4:9-12 (NIV)            The writer of Ecclesiastes understood the value of partnership.  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he reaffirmed the truth that we can do more together than we could ever do separately.  This is especially true when it comes to missions and evangelism.  It is perhaps this tangible expression of the gospel that provides the cement that unites the churches of the Liberty Baptist Association.  We are indeed partners together with God in the ministry of reconciliation.             Over the past few months the Missions/Evangelism Team has sought to develop and implement a continuing strategy that addresses needs among our churches enabling us to fulfill the Great Commission.  Here are a few key areas of consideration where our partnerships prove to be invaluable:

• Combining financial resources to fund the Associational Missions Emphasis of the LoveLoud project.

• Several Liberty churches are working together to strengthen the work of Community for Christ through transportation, tutoring, Sunday School materials, and providing meals for students.

• Continued evangelistic training and deployment of workers with the laundry unit in both disaster relief and mission opportunities. 

• Organizing a time of encouragement where our churches gather to celebrate what the Lord is doing in us and through us to His glory.  Church planting strategist Aaron Harvie, who is with NAMB and the KBC, has been invited to bring a biblical challenge to our next Associational worship night in January 2014. 

 May God grant Liberty Baptists the wisdom to see the opportunities that surround us and the bold faith to act upon those opportunities before the night comes when no man can work.