HARVEST 2012 churches will partner together in committing to the following:

• Set aside the first Thursday of every month in 2012 to fast and pray for the lost in our community.
• Host an outreach/harvest event (Revival or some other evangelistic event) in March or April of 2012.
• Plan at least 3 other outreach/evangelistic events in 2012 such as conducting Block Parties, Canvassing, Community Surveys, Harvest Weekends with an evangelist, Evangelistic Community Movie Night, Fall Festivals, etc.

Every church who agrees to be a HARVEST 2012 church will be offered assistance in the following ways:

• Evangelism Coaching free of charge on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of each month (January-April) at noon and/or 6:30 p.m. with Marcus Merritt from our Georgia Baptist Convention and Robby Smith.
• Weekly “Out of the Box” Evangelism Ideas delivered by email.
• List of Harvest Evangelists to help you choose the right Evangelist for your situation.
• Specialized training to help you reach your goals.
• Personal Evangelism Training for your congregation. (Upon Request)

We have over 41,000 people in our four counties (Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler) who do not attend church anywhere and God wants us to reach them. Please pray about being a HARVEST 2012 church and partner with us in reaching 41,000 people for Jesus.

To date, the following churches have made the commitment to be HARVEST Churches:

First Uvalda, First Mt. Vernon, First Soperton, First Vidalia, First Alamo, Boiling Springs, Cedar Crossing, South Thompson, Fairview, First Lyons, Vidalia Baptist Temple, Cornerstone, First Mt. Vernon, Tabernacle, New Corinth, Ohoopee, Trinity, Beulah, and Rocky Creek.

Pastors, if your church is willing to take this challenge (and make the commitment as stated above) please call our DBA office to let us know of your commitment.

Children’s Teachers & Leaders –David Joiner of Sherwood Baptist Church in

Albany, GA.
Making Children’s Sunday School Fun for All
EXCELerating Spiritual Growth in Children

Preschool Teachers & Leaders –Donna Harris of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, GA.
Planning for a Sunday in a Preschool Sunday School Class
EXCELerating Preschool Family Outreach

Pastors & Sunday School Directors –Kevin Kilgore of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, GA.
Lessons from Effective Sunday School Directors and Pastors
EXCELerating Your Sunday School –New Leaders and New Classes

General –Robby Smith of the Daniell Baptist Association in Ailey, GA.
Assimilation through the Sunday School (Repeat Sessions)

The training is $5 per person and you can register at the door.

 *Nursery provided for children 4 and under. Please call 912-583-2713 to reserve childcare

Second, there have been many changes with our Evangelism Trailer which will be discussed on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to Noon at our DBA office in Ailey. If your church plans to use the trailer in 2011 you must have someone from your church participate in this new training. The use of our new ministry van will also be discussed.

Third, our Evangelism Team will be hosting a Revival for Senior Adults (35% of that population do not know Christ) March 28-31 at FBC Mt. Vernon at 10 a.m. Evangelist Gene Williams will be preaching and Jeff Scoggins will be coordinating the music. Please do all you can to encourage your senior adults to attend and bring lost friends with them.

Fourth, we will be hosting the Double Your Sunday School in Two Years or Less conference with Josh Hunt on Monday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. at FBC Lyons. His wife Missy will also be present to teach KIDTEACH for all those who work with children. This is going to be one of the most exciting things we do this year and I hope you will challenge your staff, and Sunday School Leaders to be there.

Fifth, we are taking a Mission Trip to Puerto Morales, Mexico May 16-20 and we are in need of pastors and others to help us preach, prayerwalk, share testimonies and possibly do some painting. The cost is $1,000 (approx.) per person. For more information please give me a call.

Sixth, we are taking a Mission Trip to Connelly Springs, North Carolina June 18-24. We are looking for teenagers and adults to share testimonies, do Backyard Bible Clubs, do home repair, and help with Block Parties. For more information please attend the information meeting on Sunday, March 13 at 3 p.m. at our DBA office in Ailey.

Seventh, On Thursday, February 24^th we will be hosting a special meeting for all pastors and Sunday School Directors (or representative) at Captain’s Corner at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the opportunity of Sunday School Mentorship for each of our Churches in our Daniell Baptist Association. Following the meal (each person pays for their own meal) Keith Stewart of the Georgia Baptist Convention will share how each of our churches can be mentored in the area of Sunday School by an expert in the field of Sunday School growth. This is a wonderful opportunity and I hope every pastor and a representative from each church will be present to learn more. If you would like to attend please call our office at 912-583-2713 to make reservations.

Finally, please remember our Children’s Camp (Adrian) July 11-15 and our Youth SURGE Camp (Brewton-Parker) July 18-22.

Blessed in Jesus!

Robby Smith

Vacation Bible School 2011 preparation is in progress. Please plan now to attend the training for our area at Brunswick FBC on Saturday March 26, 2011. All areas of VBS will be covered so everyone who works in VBS should attend. The fee is $20.00 per person if registered by Feb. 18th. This includes a continental breakfast and lunch. The time is 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM. First Mt. Vernon will be taking a bus and will be happy for anyone to go with us.

Call or email me for a registration form.
My email is bettyjanefountain@windstream.net
My cell phone is 478-463-5230
My home phone is 912-583-2798

Our guest missionaries will be Larry and Diane Martin from Laurens Co. They have just spent 3 years in Moldova and will be sharing how God is working in that ministry.

Our other guest will be Judy Bland who is our Regional Director Women’s Missionary Union.

Please bring a salad and let’s fellowship together.

• The Ministers of our Association will want to remember to attend our upcoming Ministers Christmas Dinner to be held on Thursday, November 4 at First Baptist Mt. Vernon at 6 p.m. Please call our office by November 1 if you plan to attend. The will be a great time of fun, food, and fellowship.Blessed to Serve,
  Robby Smith

Opportunities to serve may consist of but not limited to:

• Making health care kits
• Registration
• Take Vital Signs
• Perform Dental Screenings
• Checkout Station
• Counseling
• Food & Refreshments
• Witnessing
• Childcare

Please begin to share with your friends, co-workers, church members and families about this great ministry opportunity we will have. Also, if you know of a family or individual that may benefit from this ministry, please give them the clinic phone number. They will be happy to make them an appointment.

Also, we need help collecting the following for Health Care Ministry Kits:

We are also collecting NKJV Economy Bibles which may be ordered from CBD for $1.99 (XU010868) each or by the case (20 Bibles) for 34.99 (XU010868CA).

All donations must be delivered to our DBA office or the Mercy Clinic by Thursday, April 1. To volunteer please call Jana Park at (912) 538-0523 or email her at janapark14@gmail.com

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

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

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