“Neighbors”

During our semi-annual meeting the other night, the general theme for the meeting was “Neighbor Reach.” The term neighbor typically conjures up ideas of people who live in immediate proximity to us. We probably all have interesting stories about some next door neighbors that may have made life a little, shall we say, “interesting.” Truth is, we could probably talk to some of our former neighbors and they may have stories about living next to us as well. The dynamics of living in close proximity to neighbors can often yield, we’ll stick with, “interesting” dynamics. I recall a time growing up where a golf ball went through the window of one of the houses in our neighborhood. Probably not the best example though because it was my neighbor’s window and my golf ball….

The Bible uses the term neighbor in a much broader sense than just geographic proximity. In fact, Jesus talked about being a neighbor in the story of the “Good Samaritan” by saying that when we meet a need for someone, we are being a neigh-bor to them (Luke 10:36-37). Sometimes being close to people, whether in proximity or relationally, we can get so used to being near them that we don’t take the time to talk to them about the things that matter most -- spiritual things. The opposite can often be true as well, if people are far away from us, it is easy for us not to even think of being a neighbor to them. Being a neighbor is far more about learning to put others needs above our own, and being willing to love them with the love of Christ and to share with them about how He can change their life.

Back in February, you allowed me to accompany Kenny Moore from Davidson Street Baptist to explore the possibility of reaching out to our “neighbors” in Burkina Faso, Africa. (I don’t usually put together the words neighbor and Africa, but I believe Jesus would). During that trip, we had the privilege to visit and explore a couple of areas in a village where the “Karaboro” people live. We visited with Anthony, a lay minister and school teacher, and also Abdul, a former Muslim who was his first convert to Christianity. Anthony was saved from a Catholic background and God used dreams to initiate his seeking the truth of the gospel. Abdul has been largely shunned by his Muslim family because of his conversion but rejoiced over what Jesus has done for him. They told us that they believed that the people know that Christianity is true, but are often unwilling to follow Christ because of cultural pressures.

The journey to our “Karaboro” neighbors was a long one. A flight over to Africa, a 6 hour bus ride to a neighboring city, and a four hour truck ride into the bush of Africa. These obstacles caused us to begin thinking that maybe we should consider going elsewhere. But we quickly realized that these obstacles were the very reason why the Karaboro people have remained largely unreached, and why it made perfect sense as to why we should be the ones to go to them. (In a village of about 1,000, only 10 are involved with the local gathering of believers as the church.) So, much like when President Kennedy challenged America in going to the moon “not because it was easy, but because it was hard,” we too are asking our churches of the Laurens Baptist Association to reach our neighbors in Burkina Faso. Not because they are close to us, easily accessible to us, or culturally like us, but because they are none of those things.

Our hopes are to send small teams of 2-3 who will go to advance a gospel witness to the Karaboro people in the years ahead. Will you prayerfully consider “adopting” these neighbors so that they too can have the opportunity to come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord? I would ask you to consider going if you are able, but more importantly, I would ask all of you to pray that the “Lord of the harvest would send laborers into the Karaboro field” (See Luke 10:2). King Jesus has called us to go locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally and make disciples. He has called us to go not only where it is easy, but where it is hard. He has called us to go to people much like us, and those who are very different from us. He has called us to go to those who are easily accessible and to those who are not. He has called us to go, because his heart is not only for where we are in Laurens County, but for the world. Will you be a neighbor to the Karaboro people by praying and by going?

Reiny

General Church Contributions:

*LBA Sanctioned Church Start **LBA Credentialing Process

***Other Church Starts ***********************************

Thank you for supporting Associational Missions by

giving at least 3% of your undesignated offerings.

***Bar None Cowboy Beaverdam

Bellview Bethabara

Bethel Beulah Calvary

Cedarwood Chestnut Ridge

Clinton First Community

Cornerstone Cross Hill First

Davidson Street Durbin Creek

Eastside Family Of God

Friendship Gateway

**Grace Church Gray Court First

Harmony Henderson

***Heritage Fellowship Highland Home

Hillcrest Holly Grove

Hurricane Joanna First

Lanford Langston

Laurens First Laurens Second

Lucas Avenue Lydia

Mountville Mount Gallagher

Mount Olive Mount Pleasant New Beginning New Prospect

Northside Pine Grove

Pleasant Grove Poplar Springs

Princeton Rabun Creek

Rosemont The Spring

Union Warrior Creek

Waterloo Wayside

Welcome

TOTAL

FEB/MAR 2018 86.21

375.00 2,822.60

100.00 250.00

1,743.09 249.72 969.54

3,443.29 1,016.66

200.00 100.00 520.00

1,065.21 0.00

500.00 456.60

1,114.21 0.00 0.00 0.00

105.45 402.29 216.77

0.00 753.16 736.00 323.87 400.00 250.00

0.00 3,166.35

0.00 808.09

0.00 518.80 600.00 200.00

0.00 51.00

698.00 0.00

352.64 764.64 166.66 226.07

0.00 797.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

87.96 379.00

$27,015.88

2018 YTD 127.04 375.00

4,528.89 150.00 375.00

3,152.09 399.75

1,571.48 3,443.29 1,524.99

400.00 150.00

1,120.00 1,567.36

254.75 750.00 756.25

1,114.21 0.00 0.00 0.00

211.56 786.45 424.57

0.00 1,047.16

984.00 323.87 600.00 375.00

0.00 6,091.70

268.45 1,423.77

0.00 1,002.30

900.00 300.00

0.00 96.00

1,047.00 0.00

482.06 1,256.91

249.99 425.12

0.00 1,352.00

0.00 159.56 944.33

0.00 149.57 536.00

$43,197.47

2017 YTD 78.02

375.00 3,409.92

150.00 375.00

1,990.60 633.08

1,344.86 4,211.00 1,525.02

600.00 150.00 870.00

1,583.52 332.85 750.00 474.70

1,140.82 0.00 0.00 0.00

339.30 739.53 374.83

0.00 657.55 312.24 438.58 600.00 375.00

0.00 6,178.23

882.46 855.24

0.00 1,281.87

900.00 200.00 107.00 160.00

1,047.00 0.00

355.78 1,113.52

600.00 465.07 615.12

1,821.00 0.00

468.36 911.43 25.00

162.39 419.00

$42,399.89

CRISIS CENTER May Schedule

Tuesday, May 01 - Friendship

Thursday, May 03 - Cross Hill 1st

Tuesday, May 08 - Bethel

Thursday, May 10 - Poplar Springs

Tuesday, May 15 - Bellview

Thursday, May 17 - Hurricane

Tuesday, May 22 - Mountville

Thursday, May 24 - New Beginning

Tuesday, May 29 - Rabun Creek

Thursday, May 31 - Welcome

*************************** June Schedule

Tuesday, June 05 - Princeton

Thursday, June 07 - Hillcrest

Tuesday, June 12 - Laurens 2nd

Thursday, June 14 - Laurens 1st

Tuesday, June 19 - Clinton 1st

Thursday, June 21 - Rosemont

Tuesday, June 26 - Warrior Creek

Thursday, June 28 - Chestnut Ridge

If your church cannot provide at least 3 volunteers, call Kay at 984-0123.

***************************** May Crisis Center Needs

Sugar, Tea, Kool-Aid

June Crisis Center Needs Ramen Noodles, Spaghettios,

Boxed Dinners

************************************** HomeLife, Mature Living, and

Devotional Magazines are always needed.

***************************** HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday & Thursday

9:00 AM - 12:00 NOON

*****************************

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

POST OFFICE FOOD DRIVE WORKDAY

MAY 14, 2018

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Lunch For Volunteers

****************************

TRUCKS & DRIVERS NEEDED!!!

***************************

PLEASE CONTACT KAY

@ 984-0123

“JOY BAG” MISSION TRIP

WHERE:

Guatemala

WHEN:

December 3-10, 2018

PURPOSE:

Distribute JOY Bags Build Houses

Share The Love Of Christ

COST: $1,375 per person, plus some meals

For more information, contact Kay @ 984-0123.

*Kay is also available to share about the 2017 Joy Bag trip.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT There will be no

Minister’s Conferences for the months of June & July.

We will resume meeting in August.

Thank You

I want to say a special thank you for the generous gift and special

recognition that our churches gave to me in recognition of my 10th

anniversary as your Associational Missionary. I was extremely

humbled by the kindness that was expressed to Aurelia and me. It

has been my privilege to serve alongside of the churches of the

Laurens Baptist Association and I pray that God will be glorified

as we continue serving Him together.

Reiny

Trustee’s Meeting Thursday, May 17 @ 5:30 PM

LBA Mission Center

Memorial Day Monday, May 28

(LBA Office Closed)

Cedarwood is seeking a part-time Worship Leader. Candidate must have experience in leading & participating in a praise band as well as conduct-

ing choral music. Send resumes to: Cedarwood Community Church, Attn: Alan C. Raines, 17194 Highway 72, Waterloo, SC 29684

or Cedarwoodcommunitychurch.com

Clinton First would like to extend an invitation to a Healing Service on May 3, 2018, 7 PM in the church sanctuary. The Healing Service is sponsored

by the Congregational Health Ministry in obedience to James 5: 13-16. Visitors are welcome. A nursery will be provided.

For additional information call: 833-2578.

New Prospect is seeking a person to work with our children and youth for the summer and beyond. Send resumes to: New Prospect Baptist Church,

4996 Highway 221 South, Laurens, SC 29360 or vmsearch@npbcfamily.org

THERE WILL BE NO LBA DAY CAMP THIS YEAR

ABC’s For Becoming A

Christian

A – Admit

to God you are a sinner. Repent and turn away from your sin. (Romans 3:23 &

6:23, I John 1:9; Acts 3:19)

B – Believe

that Jesus is God’s Son and that God sent Jesus to save

people from their sin. (Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; Acts

16:31; John 3:16;

I Peter 3:18; John 14:16)

C – Commit

your life to Jesus. Trust Him to be your Savior and Lord.

(Romans 10:13; Matthew 16:24;

Luke 9:23)

Associational Staff

Associational Missionary

Reiny Koschel

Missions Mobilization Director

Kay W. Leagans

Ministry Assistant/Office Manager

Deborah W. Adams

********************************

MISSION CENTER HOURS

Monday-Thursday...8:30 AM-4:30 PM Lunch Hour...12:30 PM-1:30 PM

www.laurensisland.org www.laurensbaptistassoc.org

WELCOME NEW PASTOR: Joanna First: Rev. Tim Stephens

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Equipping Churches To Reach

“LAURENS ISLAND” Laurens Baptist Association

Churches Working Together For HIS Kingdom, By HIS Power, For HIS Glory

LBA NEWS

www.laurensbaptistassoc.org

www.laurensisland.org

ISSUE 3

MAY & JUNE 2018

VOLUME 49

CHURCH

NEWS...

National Day Of Prayer Thursday, May 3, 2018 @ 12 Noon

Locations:

Steps Of The Old Laurens County Courthouse &

The Lawn Between The City Of Clinton Public Safety Office & The Clinton Museum

Come and join fellow believers in praying for Laurens County, our state and our nation.

www.nationaldayofprayer.org/prayforamerica

MAY 2, 2018 PASTOR’S BREAKFAST W/

CONGRESSMAN JEFF DUNCAN 8:00 AM

LBA MISSION CENTER

MAY 8, 2018 COMBINED PASTOR’S CONFERENCE

W/ LAKELANDS ASSOCIATION 11:30 AM

DISCIPLE’S TRAIL RETREAT CENTER

RSVP For Lunch By Calling Reiny @ 984-0123 or 378-1666

JUNE 5, 2018 PASTOR’S LUNCHEON W/

2018 LBA CRUSADE SPEAKER DR. RALPH CARTER

10:30 AM LBA MISSION CENTER

2018 Summer Mission Trip Appalachian Ministry Center

Winfield, Tennessee July 29 - August 4, 2018

Backyard Bible Club, Home Repairs & Other Ministry Opportunities

Cost is $125 per adult (12 & up) & $75 for children (6-11) which includes

food, lodging, and T-shirt.

You are responsible for transportation to and from Tennessee,

plus meals in route.

REQUIRED MEETING WILL BE MAY 22nd @ 6:30 PM

LBA MISSION CENTER

ALL MONEY IS DUE BY: JULY 19, 2018

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE: Laurens Baptist Association

Memo Line: 2018 Summer Mission Trip

Mail To: Laurens Baptist Association, PO Box 745, Laurens, SC 29360

Questions? Call Kay Leagans @ 984-0123

2018 Summer Mission Trip Appalachian Ministry Center

Winfield, Tennessee July 29 - August 4, 2018

*See Back Page For More Information

Summer Mission Trip Meeting Tuesday, May 22nd @ 6:30 PM

Mission Center Conference Room