Daniell Baptist Association

We are excited to announce that this year’s DBA Baptist Women’s Inspirational Mission Celebration will be on February 11 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Mt. Vernon. Our speaker for the evening will be Rev. Philip Edge who has served as a Missionary in Russia. We will also hear from Sue Page (our District Representative for WMU) who will be sharing with us “what’s new in WMU for 2010”. This is going to be a wonderful time of prayer, singing, inspiration, motivation, and fellowship but we need your help. We are asking each represented church to bring their favorite casserole and then following the meal our three “mystery” judges will give out prizes for first and second place. This is going to be a lot of fun (as well as taste good) so please do all you can to join us that evening.

Our Associational D-Now Weekend for students is fast approaching and we hope your church is planning to participate February 19-21. The cost is $35 per student which includes lodging, food, t-shirt, bible study materials and “SNOW”. Yes, I said snow. For more information please contact our Youth Ministry Team Leader (George Holcomb) at ghfbclyons@bellsouth.net or (912) 526-8136.

Our Associational Student Speakers Tournament is February 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Ailey Baptist Church. If you have plans to participate you must register by call our office (583-2713) by Thursday, February 11.

Our DBA Bible Institute will begin March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at our DBA office in Ailey. Our first course will be A Survey (Introduction) of the New Testament which will be taught by Dr. Jerry Ray from Brewton Parker. The course is $45 (textbook is extra) and will last 12 weeks. This course is designed to help both clergy and non-clergy have a better understanding of the New Testament and how to apply it to one’s life. The textbook will be Encountering the New Testament (2nd Edition) by Elwell & Yarbrough and published by Baker Academic which can be purchased at the Brewton-Parker Bookstore or online at  www.amazon.com. For registration please give us a call at 583-2713.

Congratulations to Nita Thigpen who has served as our DBA Secretary for the past twelve years.

Also, congratulations to Glenn Russell on celebrating 20 years as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church.

Congratulations to Kevin Hammons (pastor of First Glenwood) and his wife Debbie on the birth of their son Ezra Louie Hammons who was born December 24, 2009 weighing 8lbs/10ounces.

Quote of the Month:
God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of His name among the nations. Therefore, let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose. –John Piper

Excited in Jesus,
Robby Smith

Dear Friends of DBA,

1. Thank you DBA for loving the Lord and His children. On December 3^rd we collected 280 cakes plus gift cards from 28 churches for the Baxley Children’s Home. Thank you again for ministering to the children.
2. Our Mercy Clinic has need for a canister vacuum cleaner to vacuum vinyl floors. If you can help with this need please give me a call.
3. Our DBA Super Evangelism Seminar this year will be held at First Baptist Vidalia on January 21^st at 7 p.m. Topics include the following:

Evangelism through Sunday School equips Sunday School leaders and members to reach people through their Sunday School ministry. We will also discuss Hot Topic Points like being guest friendly, enrollment process, etc.

The WANT TO Behind the HOW TO is personal evangelism training that explains why most church members don’t share their faith. It will provide a simple evangelism tool using one verse of scripture which encourages and removes fear by building the motivation to share based on spiritual foundations.

Standing In the Gap will give scriptural principles as well as a step by step guide for praying for individuals by name. A brief prayerwalking training will also be implemented into this study.

Child Evangelism……More than the ABC’s will equip Sunday School leaders, VBS leaders, and all other children’s leaders/workers in the how to’s relating to leading children to a relationship with Jesus.

Pastors/Ministers Track:
Revival/Revival Prep offers help to pastors in planning for a revival in order to make it a great opportunity for people to come to Christ and join the church.

Top Ten Hits and the Churches That Sing Them will inform pastors/ministers of ten things that every church can do to make their church focus (strategies and ministries) more intentionally evangelistic.

This is going to be an awesome time of training and fellowship and I hope each of you will make plans to participate and as we partner together to reach our communities for Christ.

Quote of the Month:
The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. –Mike Stachura

Blessings and Happy New Year upon each of you as you reach your community for Christ.

Excited in Jesus,
Robby

Dear Pastors/Church Leaders,

Just a note to remind you of the two Church Finance Seminars we will be offering at our DBA office in Ailey tomorrow, October 22.

Workshop One from 10:30-Noon: How to Keep your Church out of Court

This session will address the growing crisis of churches being sued by individuals. Not only will practical steps be sugge3sted to limit the church’s liability, but also preventive tools will be offered. Topics of discussion will include church insurance, church incorporation, child abuse prevention, and screening volunteers and employees.

Workshop Two from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Federal and State Payroll Reporting Requirements for Churches

This session will focus on the requirements for complying with federal and state pay reporting requirements. Topics include: W-2s, Form 1099-MISC, I-9s, Proof of Racial Nondiscrimination, 941s, and so forth. Questions will also include: Who is an employee? Does our pastor receive a W-2? Who is responsible for mistakes made on federal and state returns?

Each of these workshops will be led by Dr. Keith Hamilton, CFP. Dr. Hamilton works for our Georgia Baptist Convention and is an expert in the area of church and clergy finances.

Please encourage your staff and financial leaders to attend these workshops that are offered free of charge due to DBA’s partnership with the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Excited in Jesus,

Robby

Dear Pastors/Church Leaders,

1. Please be in prayer for Pastor Chester Proctor (Alston Baptist) who is having severe back issues.
2. Continue to pray for Pastor Larry Hightower as he recovers from a motorcycle accident and surgery. He will be preaching this Sunday and appreciates your prayers for strength.
3. Please pray for our Annual worship celebration (this Sunday, October 18 at First Vidalia) and our Annual Meeting (Monday at Rocky Creek Baptist). We plan to have a great time bragging on Jesus.
4. If you have not signed up to participate in Operation Balm (Hospital Chaplaincy training for clergy and non-clergy) October 27, please consider doing so today. Please call us at 912-583-2713 for more information.
5. Our DBA Church Leadership Institute is awesome and we would love for you to take part. The next course being offered will be on October 20 and 27 from 6-9 p.m. and is called Worship: Theology and Practice. It is designed to help us understand the theology (and practice) of worship. Topics of discussion will include: Personal Definition of Worship, Understanding Trends and Dealing with Change, Practical ideas in Implementing Worship, Biblical Values in Worship, Barriers in Worship, Creative Ideas for Worship-Involving People, and Steps in Building an Effective Worship Service. Our instructor will be Dr. Jon Duncan with the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Quote of the Day:

 The wrong question is whether your church is “traditional” or “contemporary” and which is better. The real issue is whether your church is biblically faithful, acting as the presence of Christ in the community at large, able to relate Christ to people in culture, and is on mission. In short, is your church “missional”?

Have an awesome weekend and I hope to see you Sunday evening (at 6 p.m.) for our DBA Worship Celebration. Remember, we will also have something special for children (in Kids Bay) and an awesome experience for youth in the Historic Sanctuary. The rest of us will be meeting in the Worship Center with our DBA Choir and special guest speaker Dr. Larry Wynn.

Blessings!

Robby

Click the link below to view the July 2009 Edition of The Light.

July 2009 – The Light (Right-Click to download)

The Light is the Daniell Baptist Association monthly newsletter.

The above file is a PDF file.

If you do not already have it, you may need the free Adobe PDF viewer to view the file.

• Wow, what a great time we had at Kidz Blast (Springin’ into Summer) for children and their families last month. The children had a wonderful time playing, singing, and hearing God’s Word. We had several prospects which will be followed up by our local churches. Thank you to all of our volunteers and to First Baptist Vidalia and Tracy Todd for hosting the event. To God Be the Glory!
• Our mission trip to Ducktown, Tennessee was a wonderful blessing this year. We took 20 servants from 6 of our DBA churches (Fairview, First Mt. Vernon, First Vidalia, Higgston, United Baptist Fellowship, and Vidalia Baptist Temple) and God did a wonderful work. The hungry were fed, those needing clothes were clothed, buildings (and people) were painted, children were taught the Bible through VBS, lawns were mowed, houses cleaned, plumbing was done, and folks received Christ. To God be the Glory!
• Our DBA Church Leadership Institute will begin its next study on Tuesday, July 14 at 7 p.m. This course (Pastoral Ministry Basics) will cover the basics of being a pastor, including tips for ministry, outreach, evangelism, and how to develop a personal schedule for dealing with the needs of a church. The instructors will be Benny Pate and Jay Vineyard. Please call our DBA office or David Barrett (Institute Director 912-537-7343) for reservations, information, and brochures.
• Please remember to pray for our two camps as they are quickly approaching. Both camps will be great again this year and for our Youth Camp we will be doing some mission projects such as painting houses for those in need. If you have not signed up for camp please do so today.
• Please remember our Executive Committee Meeting is set for July 20 at 5:15.
• I am so excited about our upcoming DBA Sunday School (Bible Study) training set for August 27 at 6:30 p.m. Areas of training will include Adults, Children, General Leaders, Outreach, Preschool, and Youth. Please do all you can to bring your Sunday School Leadership to this exciting training.

May God bless each of you as you faithfully serve Him.

Excited in Jesus,

Robby Smith

On Thursday, April 23, First Baptist Church of Soperton will host a live broadcast of Dave Ramsey’s Town Hall For Hope.

During these difficult economic times, nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey has a message for the families of America – a message of hope!

For more information, click on the banner below, and make plans to attend – April 23 – 8:00 PM – First Baptist Church Soperton.

Rachel’s House Pregnancy Resource Clinic News
Baby Bottle Boomerang (Benefit for Rachel’s House Pregnancy Resource Clinic)

Participating churches will distribute baby bottles on Mother’s Day. Families or individuals may take them home, fill them with cash, checks, and change, and “boomerang” them back to the church. All proceeds will benefit Rachel’s House Pregnancy Resource Clinic.
The cost for the bottles will be $244.00 per box of 200 bottles plus a shipping and handling fee of 24.90, and tax of $21.45 which brings the total to $290.35.
Fill a bottle…save a life!

Rachel’s House PRC is our DBA crisis pregnancy clinic
that will be opening in 2010.
For information please contact our office (912) 583-2713.

Leading a Southern Baptist Church will dive into what it means to be a pastor in a Southern Baptist church. It includes an orientation to GBC ministries as well as specific focus on Cooperative Program, the local association, missions and missionary endeavors, and other critical basics related to Southern Baptist and Georgia Baptist life. This will also include an introduction into the church polity process and how a pastor functions in leading a Southern Baptist church. Class will  begin Tuesday, February 17th. This course will last 5 weeks will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. at our DBA office in Ailey. This course will cost $20 which includes all materials.
Instructors: Ted Kandler and Richard Dodge

 The purpose of this school is to train and encourage folks in the service of Jesus Christ.
It is designed to be beneficial to Pastors, Staff, Sunday School Leaders and Church Leaders in general.
All courses will be practical and will involve learners in guided practice in each topic of study. Instructors (for 2009) will be Georgia Baptist Convention staff members who are highly qualified in that identified area of study. The cost of the training will be $20 per person, per course which also includes all study materials. Each course will last 5 weeks and will be held on Tuesday nights. Each session will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Who Should Attend?
Deacons
Sunday School Teachers and Directors
Pastors/Ministers who have a hunger to learn
Church Leaders
Men being called into the Pastoral Ministry
People who have a passion for Christ and want to learn more about him and his work

Key Characteristics of All Courses
Focused on leadership development
Anchored in “how-to” ideas
Taught by practitioners
Located close to your church
Directed by local leaders
Coordinated with the GBC Continuing Education Ministries
Contributes to developing a Lifelong
learning philosophy
Geared to the needs of the participants
Open to anyone regardless of educational background

Do you have to be a Baptist to attend? No

For more information please call 912-583-2713