North Grand River Baptist Association

The Encourager 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Volume 40, Number 3

March, 2016

“Churches working together to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.”“Churches working together to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.”“Churches working together to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.”“Churches working together to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission.” Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18----20202020

North Grand River Baptist Association 1108 N Main Director of Missions

Trenton, MO 64683 Rev. E.J. Barnes

Fax: 660.359.0200 Ministry Assistant

E-Mail: ngrmission@sbcglobal.net Debbie Dickinson

BSU Telephone– 660.654.0785 BSU Director

DOM’s Office– 660.359.3365 Telephone – 660.359.3897 Diann Barnes

Web Page– northgrandriverbaptist.com BSU Assistant

Christina Boatright

North Grand River Baptist Association’s Purpose- “To mutually and prayerfully support, encourage and challenge one another as churches to exalt Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to edify and equip His disciples to serve him and one another, and to evangelize those who have yet to come to know Him personally.” Matthew 28:19-20

Alpha

Edinburg

Gallatin

Galt

Jameson

Jamesport

Laredo

Lineville

Medicine Valley

Mercer

Modena

Princeton*

Ravanna

Rural Dale*

Salem

Shelburne

Spickard

Tenth Street

Trenton First

Union

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March Bookstore Sales While Supplies Last

$5.00

“The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel

“You’ll Get Through This” by Max Lucado

$4.00 “Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart”

This book tells how to know for sure you are saved. Many Christians struggle to find

assurance of their salvation.

$7.00 “What Wondrous Love is This”

This deluxe book includes a CD of 12 of the great hymns of our faith. The book and the CD are a

source of hopeful reflection on the glorious mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Illustrated Bible Dictionary– Stephen Miller

Boxed Easter CardsBoxed Easter CardsBoxed Easter CardsBoxed Easter Cards

Children’s Easter BooksChildren’s Easter BooksChildren’s Easter BooksChildren’s Easter Books

MarchMarchMarchMarch

12 Josh Gottman 14 Charlie & Lou Bullman 20 Diann Barnes 25 Deryl & Linda Niffen 28 Cyndy Munday 29 Ron Ratliff

First Baptist Church of Beth-any will be offering Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief Training April 22-23. Regis-tration fee for the first time volunteers is currently $40.

If you are retraining and do not need T shirts or other clothing items the fee is $20. To be certified as a Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteer you must be at least 18 years of age and a member of a Missouri Baptist Church. All trainees must submit a background check request and attend intro-duction to Disaster Relief.

MISSOURI

Coon Creek Baptist

Saturday, 8:00 am

March 19, 2016

All Men Invited!

RA CONGRESS 2016

April 15-16, 2016 Missouri State Fairgrounds

Sedalia, MO

All 1st-6th grade boys are invited to attend. You do not have to be an RA! Meet a

missionary and take part in traditional RA events and activities!

mobaptist.org/racongress

EasterEasterEasterEaster

When Jesus showed his great love for us.

He is Alive!

For this we Celebrate!

He is not here, for He is Risen! Matthew 28:6

Church Giving Church Service Times January 2016

Reports Monthly

Inc. BSU Inc. SS AM PM Weds.

Alpha $ 178.47 $ 25.00 9:30 10:30 6:30 7:00

Edinburg $ 531.60 $ 59.07 10:00 11:00 6:00 7:00

Gallatin $ 901.42 $ 50.00 9:30 10:40 6:00 7:00

Galt 10:00 11:00 6:00 7:00

Jameson 9:30 10:30

Jamesport $ 25.00 $ 25.00 9:45 10:45 7:00 6:30

Laredo $ 220.45 9:30 10:30 6:30 6:00

Lineville $ 169.03 $ 56.34 9:45 10:45 6:00 6:00

M. Valley $ 83.05 $ 75.00 9:30 10:30 6:00

Mercer $ 227.10 $ 25.00 9:30 10:30 6:30 6:30

Modena $ 143.78 $ 150.00 10:15 9:00 6:00 6:00

Princeton $ 354.88 $ 50.00 9:40 10:40 7:00 6:00

Ravanna $ 136.36 $ 58.44 9:30 10:45

Rural Dale $ 582.84 $ 75.00 9:45 10:35 7:00 7:00

Salem $ 119.57 $ 25.00 10:00 11:00 6:00

Shelburne $ 538.28 $ 75.00 10:00 10:55 6:00 6:30

Spickard $ 70.00 9:30 10:30

Tenth St. $ 900.51 $ 150.08 9:30 10:30 6:00 7:00

Trenton FB $1,272.75 $ 127.27 9:30 10:40 6:00 6:00

Union $ 169.94 $ 100.00 10:00 11:00 6:00 6:00

Total $6,625.03 $1,126.20 Join any of these churches in worship

Chilli, FBC $ 45.00

MBC $ 460.00

Gilman BC $ 200.00

Zion BC $ 50.00

Milan BC $ 76.92

January 2016 NGR Account Beginning Balance $19,396.90 Income $10,146.52 Total $29,543.42 Expenses $8,282.75 Ending Balance $21,260.67

Line Items in General Checking Designated Funds $9,663.84 General Fund $11,596.83 Checking Balance Total $21,260.67

NGR October 2015—January 2016 (Does not include designated funds)

Income $45,109.94 Expenses $35,869.51 Difference $9,240.43

Seminary Checking $189.21 Seminary Savings $2,297.01

Benevolent Savings $781.77

NGR Savings $461.95

BSU– January– Income to Expense Beginning Balance $5,669.72 Income $2,413.12 Total $8,082.84 Expenses $1,458.67 Ending Balance $6,624.17 General BSU Fund $6,124.17 Designated BSU Fund $500.00

MB125 is an opportunity for senior pastors of church that have 125 or less in Sun-day Morning worship attendance. This is a unique opportunity for you and your immediate family members living in your home. Morning will include a worship time, general session and breakout sessions for pastors and wives, while their minor children will be involved in learning activities of their own.

• All conference and breakout sessions will be relevant to the smaller church.

• Childcare for infants to preschoolers, and activities for school-age children and youth will be pro-vided each morning.

• Plenty of time provided for individual family fun in the afternoons and evenings.

• Our goal is to empower, encourage, and equip you in ministering to your family and congregation. Dates: June 22-25, 2016 Location: Skyline Baptist Church, Branson, MO

From My Heart to YoursFrom My Heart to YoursFrom My Heart to YoursFrom My Heart to Yours Let’s remember to give generously to the North American Mission Board Annie Arm-strong Easter Offering through our local churches this month!

Let’s remember to go to the Area Wide Good Friday Service (March 25, 7:00 pm) at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton sponsored by the Trenton Area Ministerial Alli-ance!

It’ that time again when we, as Christians, celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on a special day, in special ways. What a glorious time! It is Easter time. A time

to celebrate Life– the Life of One Who gives Life…

E ternal Life John 10:28

A bundant Life John 10:10

S pirit-Empowered Life Hebrews 9:14

T riumphant Life 2 Corinthians 2:14

E difying Life 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

R essurrection Life John 11:25-26

Let’s Remember to take advantage of this Easter time and invite people to our services and share the life we have in Christ!

For His Glory

E.J. Barnes

P.S. Remember the team on mission to Mexico Beach, Florida. We covet your prayers (March 11-19).

Edinburg- This month we have had some special events that have been a blessing and added to our church. We had a singing group from the Brookfield area, they provided beautiful music and a evening of fel-lowship and worship. We

also had a kick off to encourage growth in our youth Sunday School called Fun in the Son. The kids played games, ate dinner, and had some lessons in spiritual growth and behavior. We hope that it will encourage our youth to continue coming even when it is harder to attend as a youth based on so many activities and peer pres-sure to do other things.

The WOM is working on several projects right now including starting their quilt for the charity auction.

The Lord is showing some growth in our congre-gation and blessing us with our new pastor and wife.

Gallatin FBC- Ladies Gallatin First Baptist Church will be hosting a ladies event on Satur-day, March 5 at 5:30 pm, entitled “ A Woman of Inner Beauty”. Our guest speaker will be Donna Haffecke, and Hannah Haffecke will be leading praise and worship. Tickets are $10.00, which includes catered meal, conference and child care. Reservation must be in by Sunday, Febru-ary 28.

Keenagers monthly meeting will be on Thursday, March 3 at noon.

The Celebration Choir will be presenting their Easter Cantata entitled “Victorious” under the di-rection of Linda Arnold on Sunday morning, March 20 during the morning worship ser-vice. Everyone is invited to attend.

Trenton FBC– March is going to be a busy month at First Baptist. Our Week of Prayer for North American Missions begins February 28-March 6th. We will have a missions emphasis each week. Members are encouraged to do-nate their $1 bills that have the letter “J” on the serial number. The J will stand for Jesus. March 6th will be an appreciation meal hosted by the Friends of the Spirit Sunday School class followed by a “Not so Newlywed” game. Friday March 11th at 6:30 pm we will be show-ing a family movie, “Woodlawn”. There is no charge and all are invited to attend. The Keenagers had a very well attended Valen-tine party on February 19th. We will be hosting the community Pre-Easter breakfast on March 16th. This is sponsored by TAMA.

Trenton First Baptist Church Saturday, April 23: 6:30 pm

IMB Missionaries, Kevin and Mandy Moots will be sharing about the mission work they do in the Middle East.

Kevin and Mandy Moots have two Children: Eliana (age 7), Karis (age 4).

They are from Lebanon, Missouri and currently on furlough. They will be returning to their mis-sion field in the Middle East.

There will be a finger food/dessert reception following

If you have any questions contact Trenton, FBC at 660-359-3898 and ask for Pastor Josh Gott-man

Please come and join us. Bring a van load from your church to hear of the mission work going on in the Middle East.

Coon Creek Union Baptist- So excited we had another Baptism and had 3 more come and soon will be baptized. We held a Singspiration and was very uplifiting and a Spiritual blessing. Thanks again to Bran-don Spencer, Sonya Tabbert, Anita Ewing, Mark Overton, Matt Souther’s and Melissa King. We held Sunnyview services and had a great service! We held Eastview services and had a good ser-vice. Wednesday nights we have kids, youth and adult Bible Study. Having many decisions made. Many seeking. Learning how to use the Bible and how to study the Bible and how the Bible tells us all we need. We have a Wild Game Supper coming up on March 5th at 6:00 pm. All are welcome. Jesus sees, Jesus knows and Jesus saves. Please be praying for VBS. We’ve already been to training and excited “Submerged in the Word of God”! Psalm 139:23-24

Volunteers Needed!

Medicine Valley Community Ministry needs vol-unteers to help with the preparation and distribu-tion of the Food Pantry Ministry

March dates to help with food

distribution at Medicine Valley Community

Ministry March 15th– Prepare Boxes at

Newtown Baptist Chapel– 9 am to noon

March 17th– Food Distribution

YOUTH STATE BIBLE DRILLS April 9th at Tenth Street Baptist Church

Your Help is needed-

Coon Creek Baptist Church will be overseeing the noon meal for the Youth Bible Drills. They will be serving Walking Tacos. The hamburger has been donated. Tenth Street will be providing the drinks, brownies and cookies. They need gallons of cheese sauce (not the spicy), shredded cheese, the small bags of nacho flavored chips and tomatoes. If you can help con-tact the office at 660-359-3897. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

The Mission Center will be closed on Good Friday– March 25th

WOODLAWN

Trenton First Baptist 2421 Oklahoma Ave

Friday, March 11th

6:30 pm

No Charge

This movie is a true story. In 1973, a spiritual awakening captured the heart of nearly every player on the Woodlawn High School football team. This story will touch the lives of all ages. Please come and bring a guest.

GETTING OLDER A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office. “Is it true,” she asked, “that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?” “Yes, I’m afraid so,” the doctor said. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady said, “I’m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked “NO REFILLS.”

If we will ask Jesus to make us alert, He will give us “God Wink” Moments in a way to bring Him Honor. I began to experience these moments, when God made me realize that EVERY single person He allows to cross my path are intentional moments given by Him, expecting me to be obedient to His command “Make Disciples!”. Tonight

was such an experience. Allow me to explain. This morning after church, our church family member, Tim, came to EJ and me, asking if he could pray for our trip we would be taking this evening. He said that God had told him to pray for us. We agreed, and Tim prayed, asking God to cover our trip with His presence, guard us from the evil one and provide mo-ments we could Honor Him, our Savior. At the time, I inwardly thought, “that’s sweet, now we will have a safe journey.” (never in my wildest dreams considering God had one of His “Wink” moments in store for us. As we traveled to Bartlesville, I maximized the time by catching up on my Bible reading while EJ listened to gospel music. At 9pm we stopped at Walmart in Independence, KS, never dreaming what God was about to do. I took some items to the Customer Service desk to return, and found I was first in line. I thought, “Wow this is going to be quick.” HA!. I gave the service lady the merchandise, leaving EJ to com-plete the transaction while I looked for replacements. When I returned 5 minutes later, EJ was still involved with the Walmart employee. (Here’s where God began doing His thing.) I turned around and noticed a single very exhausted young woman waiting directly behind. I commented, “You must have had a very long day.” She said she had been up since 4am. I discovered she is a single Mom of 2, who did labs today for her nursing degree. I told her that when my children were 4 yrs, 9 months, and new born baby-exactly 9 months younger, God gave me a verse that literally helped me put one foot in front of another. I shared with her Ro-mans 8:11. She was so excited that she wrote it on the paper she held. As we talked, I noticed alcohol on her breath, but ignoring that, I asked her if she had ever seen the video “Life in 6 Words” by Propaganda. She said no. I pulled the 4 minute video up on my phone, and she watched it to the end. I asked if I could send it to her by FaceBook message. She agreed, and I proceeded to send it plus 6 more 2-minute videos by Francis Chan, LarCrea, Brian Welch of Korn, and other Jesus Warriors. She promised to watch them and allowed me to pray for her before she left. I thought, “well God, your stalling tactics with EJ has worked. You let me share Jesus with Niesha, now we can go. I thought God would let things get completed and we could continue the trip. Not So. The manager and assistant manager still couldn’t correct our problem. So I moved to a bench closer to the exit and sat down to wait. Immediately I saw across the isle to young men, 22 yrs, playing and watching videos on their phones. God said, “Go over and ask them if they have ever seen the video Propaganda.” Getting up, with fear and trembling, I made the 10 steps it took to approach them. The one watching a video looked up, and I said, “I see your watching a video. Have you ever seen the video by Propaganda?” He said, “No.” I asked, “Would you allow me to show it to you?”, and He responded, “Well we are on curfew and have to get back.” I said, “It’s only 4 minutes, do you mind?” He agreed, and began watching it, with his friend standing close enough that he also watched. 2 other young men walked up, and asked what they were watching. The 1st one said it was about God. (Long story shortened). At end Kal-El allowed me to share link of video on FaceBook messenger, and he willingly typed in his own Facebook ad-dress and sent video to himself so he could re-watch later. He also allowed me to send him, 6 more 2-minute videos about Jesus. As he stood up to leave, he shook my hand and his friend as well, saying thank you for sharing with him. At the very moment they turned and walked away, EJ says from behind me, “Finally, we got it fixed.” I smiled and said, “Just the right time.” And EJ said, “It looks like it. Were you shar-ing with those young men?” TWO Whole Hours in Walmart just to establish a personal credit card, which was delayed because EJ’s driver’s license number had 1 too many zeros in it. Was it an accident? I don’t think so. When your listening for God to speak, He gives you all kinds of “God Wink” moments in the most bizarre ways. Listen for HIM to speak, and He will give you “God Wink” moments that will allow you to be obedi-ent to His command, “GO, Make Disciples!” Matthew 28:19-20. He is Worthy to Receive the Rewards of His Sacrifice—Souls… Shalom—Diann

The Associational WMU Meeting met on February 9th with 9 mission minded women from several area churches. The meeting was opened with prayer requests. We met on the second Tuesday to celebrate WMU Focus week.

The group decided to make 3 baskets for the silent auction at the annual WMU Mission Celebration in Kansas City. The meeting is to be held April 8-9 at the Midwestern Bap-tist Seminary in Kansas City. The proceeds from this will go to help support the Alberta Gilpen fund that helps retired missionaries in Missouri. The three baskets will be a sew-ing basket, a reading basket, and a doll basket. We will need to collect newer Christian

books, fabric, trim, ribbon, other sewing needs and anything else that could be used to improve the baskets.

Plans were made to attend the annual WMU Mission Celebration. Shelly will procure a room to share. Final plans will be made at the next meeting. Several are planning to attend from the area.

Virginia Crumpacker reported on her mission trip to Haiti. She and her husband went with the Global Compassion Group out of Saint Louis. It was mainly a building and service group. They did many activities in multiple rural villages.

We read the devotion from the Mosaic and closed our meeting with prayer for the missionaries' birthdays on that day. Then a delicious lunch was enjoyed by all.

Next meeting—Tuesday, March 22, 10:30 am. The meeting was changed from the 3rd Tuesday to the Fourth Tuesday due to Shelly going on the BSU spring mission trip.

Verse for the month—Psalms 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”.

Shelly Sims

VBS 2016

Submerged in the Word of God

(Under the Sea)

Psalm 139:23-24

VBS Leader’s Training April 4, 2016– 6:30 pm

Tenth Street Baptist