As 2010 begins to unfold before us, there will be many new things that will affect our lives. Health care reform will affect each of us in some way. Some will be happy, others will be sad, and some will be mad. There will be changes in our health. Some will lose weight (hopefully me) and have better health and some will experience health concerns.
Our churches will face new and different experiences. Some of the leadership will change due to health, death, and retirement. Pastors and staff will move to other places of service and new pastors and staff will come and lead us. Their ways will be different from the ones who left.
Life is ever-changing. Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Ministerial Services, along with the Church Ministries Team, will host an event that is targeted for the pastor and his family who work with churches that have 125 or less in attendance on Sunday morning. In Missouri Baptist life we have about 1,300 churches that fall into this category.
So, as a way to say thank you for your work, we are introducing a new, special event in 2010 planned specifically for these pastors and their families. The event is titled mb125 and will be June 21-23 in Branson. Those who are investing time with our pastors and families will be Bobby Welch, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla., and author of the FAITH evangelism strategy, and Claude King, author of several books dealing with revival and renewal. Our goal for this event is to encourage, equip, and empower the pastors of the mb125 churches.
There will be time scheduled for worship and preaching as well as breakout workshops like Church Promotion, Evangelism, and Outreach for bi-vocational churches. Other sessions will help pastors sharpen their ministry skills. Workshops will be facilitated by keynote speakers and MBC specialists. Ladies-only activities will be available. Childcare for infants through high-school aged children will be provided. Several fun opportunities are being planned for all age groups. Probably the most important ingredient of this entire event is to provide free time for pastors and their families to be together and create some lifelong memories.
Tuesday evening is a time of celebration of our mb125 churches; there will be a special dinner and program that will feature Hosea Bilyeu, pastor, Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Springfield, and his musical family.
One may be thinking … this is really good, but what is the cost? It comes to $199 and includes two-three nights lodging, four meals, and all training materials. Registration is limited to the first 50 families, so go to the web link www.mobaptist.org/ministerialservices and register with your $49 non-refundable deposit by Feb. 28. Any registrations that are made online or postmarked March 1 and later will be $249. There are payment options available that will be shared after the initial registration is confirmed.
I am looking forward to seeing you in Branson on June 21-23 for mb125. (George Roach is ministerial services specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention.)