July, 2014

“...encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

Pottawatomie-Lincoln Baptist Association, Shawnee, OK ~ Dr. Russell R. Cook, Director of Missions Vol. 18, No. 7

Association

Website

www.plba.org

PLBA Office

CLOSED Thursday July 3 for

Independence Day 2014 OBU Pastors School

July 14-16, 2014 ~ OBU Campus

“Sent: Preach the Gospel of Good News” Romans 10:14-15

Morning devotions will be presented by Dr. Anthony Jordan, Executive Director/Treasurer, BGCO

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Tom Elliff, President, IMB & Dr. Jim Shaddix, Pastor, The Church at Brookhills

Cost is $99.00 (includes housing and meals)

Go to www.okbu.edu/campuslife/ministry/pastors_school to register

A.C.P. Training

For new SBC Workspace

Coming in July

Date-TBA

EXECUTIVE

BOARD Next Meeting

August 11 10:30 a.m.

Testimonies from the Summer

Support Team Meeting ~ 9:00 a.m.

Mission Partnership Meeting ~ 1:00 p.m.

Association Office

Lunch provided Please RSVP

Southern Baptist Convention Wrap-up From the Baptist Press

The Southern Baptist Convention was held June 10 & 11 in Baltimore, MA. Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention elected Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd as president and heard repeated calls for prayer and revival. “I want to see revival come to the church of Jesus Christ,” Floyd said at a news conference following his election, “so that America would be awakened with a powerful God consciousness where great numbers come to faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.” ERLC awards The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission presented awards to the Green family which owns Hobby Lobby, and Saeed Abedini, an American pastor who is imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith. The Greens re-

ceived the John Leland Religious Liberty Award for their refusal to abide by the federal government’s abortion/contraception mandate, which requires employers to provide abortion causing drugs to their workers. The U.S. Su-preme Court is expected to rule on the Green’s case later this month. Abedini received the Richard Land Award for Distinguished service for “faithfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ...despite the risk involved.” Abedini converted to Christianity from Islam and led house churches in his native Iran before moving to the U.S. in 2005. During a trip to Iran in 2012, he was arrested and sent to prison, subject to beating and solitary confinement. Abedini’s wife Naghmeh accepted the award on her husband’s behalf to a standing ovation.

In other matters: Messengers elected Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., as first vice presi-

dent and Hance Dilbeck, pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City as second vice president. The convention re-elected John Yeats as recording secretary and Jim Wells as registration secretary.

The Crossover evangelistic push in Baltimore preceding the annual meeting yielded 214 salvation decisions. More than 2,300 volunteers participated in Crossover in partnership with 32 local churches.

The CP exhibit featured a series of panel discussions on such topics as Southern Baptist cooperation, interna-tional missions, church planting, theological education, ethnic diversity, social justice and sexuality.

The International Mission Board presentation focused on God’s work in Cuba and featured testimonies from Cuban believers. IMB President Tom Elliff reported that more than 6,000 churches were planted overseas last year in conjunction with national partners.

The North American Mission Board presentation highlighted a Baltimore church revitalization effort and a church plant in Montreal that grew to 700 worshipers in its first year.

AN INFANT FUNERAL II Samuel 12:15-24

These words and this story from Scripture gives us some very important truths to remember, especially on a day of grief for a precious child: I. It is always right to PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN. (v. 22a “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept…”)

v. 16 “David therefore inquired of God for the child…” I Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing”

II. It is always right to HOPE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. (v. 23b “Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.”)

Colossians 1:27 “God willed to make known what is the riches of (His) glory...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

III. It is always right to ACCEPT GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR CHILDREN. (v. 23a “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?”)

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

IV. It is always right to BELIEVE YOUR INFANT CHILD IS WITH THE LORD. (v.23b “I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”)

David would surely go to heaven! (No Bible scholar dis-putes that.)

Thus the infant child had gone to heaven! (a logical & biblical assumption)

V. It is always right to TRUST GOD FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR FAMILY.

(v. 24 “Then David comforted his wife, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon”)-Solomon became King!

Psalm (of David) 127:3-4 “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”

Consider these encouraging words from Helen Steiner Rice and King David:

With the Lord as your Shepherd you have all that you need, For, if you follow in His footsteps wherever He may lead, He will guard and guide and keep you in His loving, watchful care And, when traveling in dark valleys, your Shepherd will be there. His goodness knows no end, for the Lord is a Good Shepherd... On whom you can depend. So, when your heart is troubled, you’ll find quiet peace and calm If you open up your Bible and just read this treasured Psalm.

(Read Psalm 23) — rrc

EARLSBORO INDIAN MISSION is searching for a bi-vocational pas-

tor. Send resumes to Pulpit Committee, PO Box 239, Earlsboro, OK

74840.

EMMANUEL, MCLOUD is seeking a godly and committed Bi-

vocational Youth Minister. Please send resumes to Emmanuel Bap-

tist Church, Search Committee, PO Box 1119, McLoud, OK 74851. (James Bond, Pastor)

FIRST, MCLOUD is seeking a part-time Choir Director. Send re-

sumes to the church, PO Box 180, McLoud, 74851. Applications

can be picked up at the church or call 964-3344. (Matt Halsted, Pastor)

FIRST, MAUD is seeking a part-time Music Minister. If you are inter-

ested call Bobby Shatto at 405-630-8348 or email at

shattobg@oge.com. (Bobby Shatto, Pastor)

FIRST, STROUD is receiving resumes for a full-time pastor. Send

resumes: Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 600, Stroud, OK

74079. (Russell Cook, Transitional Pastor)

GALILEE is looking for a Media Assistant for their church. This per-

son would be needed for Sunday and Wednesday services and

would help with some presentations. Call 405-273-7890 if inter-

ested. (Anthony Rhone, Pastor)

PLEASANT HOME is seeking a part-time pianist to lead music on

Sunday mornings and evenings for their traditional services. If any-

one is interested please contact Nathan Howard at 580-313-

0743 or email at nhow10@hotmail.com. (Nathan Howard, Pastor)

We are right in the middle of a very busy summer with the Conven-tion, camps, Vacation Bible School, mission trips, vacations(?), plus the week-in, week-out needs of the church. Seems with every year the time goes by faster, the schedules get fuller and the nation drifts farther away from God. What do you suppose we are doing wrong-or not do-ing right-or not doing well-or not doing at all? We all have our own as-sessment, I’m sure. But I’d like to offer mine-my assessment as to why the church is so busy yet the nation is still drifting into spiritual dark-ness. The church may be busy at the wrong-or secondary-things. When Jesus first commissioned the early church (Mt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) He fully expected His followers (disciples) to take it seriously. In Acts par-ticularly, He preserved for us the experiences of the early church. There we see how seriously those first missionaries, pastors and church members took the Great Commission. Literally, thousands upon thousands of unbelievers repented of their sins and surrendered their lives to Christ. So powerful and broad was the witness to the gospel that no one in the population could escape it. Today, in most of our communities (cities, towns and rural areas) it is way too easy to live without anyone intercepting the drift away. We desperately need more pastors and church leaders to stand up, stand firm and stand out in every sinful shadow of every community and let “the light of the glori-ous gospel of Christ,” shine unto them. (II Cor. 4:4). No longer will me-diocrity or status-quo or passive indifference fill the bill. Our mandate from Jesus has never changed and our responsibility and accountability has not changed. We must re-engage, re-enlist and re-commit to the GREAT COMMISSION. You may be the key person to show your church what this devotion looks like. So pray...today...start today...surrender all, again, today! A very dark na-tion (and world) awaits us.

Encouragingly Yours, Russell R. Cook

It Might Preach! Staff Needed

Incorrect information... please call the Association

office, 405.273.4558.

A Word Of Encouragement

The Exchange will give

you the opportunity to

gain valuable information

for leading women in your

church. You will be able

to interact with leaders

just like you by exchanging ideas and talking about what’s

working in your local church and community. Any woman who

is interested in making a difference in her church, her commu-

nity and her world is encouraged to attend!

September 9

First Southern, Del City

6400 S Sooner Rd, Oklahoma City, OK

Go to ~ www.bgcowomen.org/the-exchange

To register and to get other dates and locations

A Nugget From My Spiritual Journey

4 Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; 5 does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; 6 finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 HCSB)

Yes, God is still working on me on this one. It seems like God wants to really help ME personally to get this! Does He ever do that to you…with you…in you…for you? Do you ever find Him pounding things into your head and your heart to make sure you get it? If it weren’t enough for God to assign me to write on this for a whole year, He gave me a Sunday School lesson to teach recently on His AGAPE’ (love that says, “I love you in spite of you”). Yes…a whole lesson, where I couldn’t avoid it. I was excited to learn more, but alarmed that I might see some hypocrite in myself. Teach it, Marsha. Teach about AGAPE’ love for a whole hour. Oh…and by the way…I’m going to give you plenty of time to try it out yourself. We will work on it together, Marsha. You know—that ‘hypocrite’ part. Really, God? Really? No, couples “in the ministry” and individuals who teach the Bible have not yet all reached perfection. We have to let God work in our lives, just like anyone else. Our lives are not perfect, our marriages are not perfect, even if they were “made in heaven” like ours! Yes, God most definitely orchestrated our marriage 42+ years ago, but that does not mean that we live in perfect harmony 24/7. So, God decided to help us out a bit more lately. Nothing big. Nothing earth-shattering. Just maintenance work on a faithfully committed marriage. Marriage requires that, you know. There are no deep, dark secrets to reveal here. Just the fact that sometimes our marriages become the prime proving ground for learning how to truly love. When those moments come seemingly out of nowhere, how do we [AGAPE’] love our mates? What do we do when we share a less-than-perfect day? How do we treat each other with the tru-est of true loves? Out of that long list of seemingly impossible character and behavior traits in 1 Corinthians 13, we cannot pick and choose. They are unmistakably intertwined, with just no room for self-centeredness. Period. Record keeping turns behavior into mutual score keeping. Marriage is not 50/50. It is 100/100. If we are each giving 100%, then we are also each receiving 100%, which makes for a sure win/win. It is virtually impossible to be patient without being kind or to act improperly and yet rejoice in the truth. Every single char-acteristic in those verses is dependent upon ALL of the others! We cannot be selective. To have it all, we must each “be” it all, which is only possible through the AGAPE’ Presence of Christ in us!

Marsha Cook, Director

Association Website — www.plba.org

Budget Receipts

TOTAL CHECKING AND SAVINGS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR Beginning Bal. Income Expense Ending Bal. 5-1-14 5-31-14 Budget $52,231.16 17,471.07 18,820.98 $50,881.25 Designated $188,069.59 $187,046.70 Total Monies $240,300.75 $237,927.95

Formerly Sweet Saturday

PLBA WOMEN PASTORS CHURCH May ‘14 YTD Roger Shaw Agra FBC 421.73 2,180.97 Mat Riddle Asher FBC 184.84 1,214.76 Larry Sparks Blackburn Chapel 210.49 1,112.75 Mark Davis Carney FBC 200.95 1,506.12 Rick Blackwell Chandler, FBC 685.23 4,744.10 Keith Henley Chandler Southern 258.62 1,104.25 Doug Parker Dale 32.41 144.82 Mike Mitchell Davenport FBC 461.61 2,463.50 Mike Haines Deer Creek 415.38 1,369.78 Mark Streetman Earlsboro FBC .00 300.00 ______________ Earlsboro Indian Mission 42.19 262.79 Wayne Knight Fairview 124.73 692.31 Dan Campbell Faith 240.02 1,645.88 Jeff Bruton Forest .00 .00 Lee Witt Hazel Dell 571.24 2,545.31 Tuney Ropp Hillside 929.71 6,203.16 Gary Nickerson Hilltop 508.40 2,403.94 Bryan Cook Hopewell .00 197.61 Billy Benson Macomb 196.26 780.36 Mike Hazelwood Mammoth 293.00 1,424.00 Bobby Shatto Maud FBC .00 87.19 Butch Bradley Maud Trinity 165.39 1,131.48 James Bond McLoud Emmanuel 519.80 2,968.31 Jerry Gray McLoud Emmaus 96.41 456.77 Matt Halsted McLoud FBC 429.45 2,372.35 Ron Cherry McLoud Son Rises .00 .00 Joe Jones Meeker FBC 256.95 1,364.15 Jerry Jackson Morning Star .00 .00 R.J. Stokes Mt. Pleasant 25.39 261.96 Mark Patterson Newalla New Life 719.25 4,889.49 Ed Moore Newalla Pecan Valley 170.24 584.65 Mike Collyer Pink 179.03 1,500.34 Jim Morningstar Pioneer .00 113.58 Nathan Howard Pleasant Home 156.49 790.52 Tim Emmons Prague FBC 353.92 2,562.84 Richard Zimmer Rock Creek 902.73 4,245.42 Gaspar Reyes Rock Creek Spanish 14.18 98.38 Tony Black Romulus 171.91 1,023.76 Monte Dean Sh-Aydelotte 355.06 2,216.42 David Henry Sh-Calvary 62.50 122.50 Ray Miller Sh-First 321.75 1,911.65 Spencer Davis, Int. Sh-First Indian .00 .00 Anthony Rhone Sh-Galilee 50.00 250.00 Bob Dawson Sh-Good Shepherd Chapel 136.66 406.87 Jay Sampson Sh-Heritage .00 1,653.34 Todd Fisher Sh-Immanuel 1,556.27 10,308.68 Rendon Falls Sh-Karis .00 .00 Tom Hall Sh-New Life .00 100.00 John York Sh-Oakland Chapel .00 34.70 _______________ Sh-Sallateeska .00 215.00 Mike Craig Sh-Temple 844.43 6,209.03 Larry Norris Sh-Trinity 177.78 942.30 Steve Dominy Sh-University 346.16 2,046.31 Kent Wooster Sh-Wallace Ave. 324.72 866.29 Perry Tripp Sparks FBC 56.52 410.07 Glenn Peck St. Louis FBC 331.24 1,861.72 Russell Cook, Int. Stroud FBC 439.39 2,566.98 Don Tiger Stroud Sac & Fox 14.82 68.23 Tony Peak Tecumseh FBC 816.37 4,606.72 Will Wilson Tecumseh New Hope 50.00 250.00 Clint Dawkins Tecumseh Sharon 1,495.43 4,703.00 Bob Fowler Tryon FBC 154.02 899.86 Britt Lesley Wanette FBC .00 1,221.93 Bill Howse Wanette, Victory Pointe .00 .00 Russ Houser Wellston Cornerstone .00 .00 Darrell Sullivan Wellston FBC .00 1,880.61 Lane Buckley Wellston Trinity .00 440.00 TOTAL $17,471.07 $102,939.81

Church News Please let us know of any upcoming events or news

from your church!

BLACKBURN CHAPEL has called Larry Sparks as their pastor. We

would like to welcome Larry, and his wife Vickie, to our association. (Larry Sparks, Pastor)

FIRST, SPARKS has called Perry Tripp as their pastor. We would like

to welcome Perry and his wife Tiffany to our association. (Perry Tripp, Pastor)

MT. PLEASANT will be having Evangelist YoYo Collins on Sunday July

13, at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. (R.J. Stokes, Pastor)

PLEASANT HOME has 13, 6’ pews to give to a church who needs

them. Please call Nathan Howard at 580-313-0743. (Nathan Howard, Pastor)

ROMULUS had a ground breaking for a new kitchen and fellowship

area, June 8, 2014. Pastor Tony preached from Nehemiah 6:1-10 in

the morning service. Following lunch DOM, Russell Cook preached

the afternoon service. Members brought shovels and read from I

Chronicles 17:12-13 at shovel time. (Tony Black, Pastor)

SON RISE SOUTHERN is opening their clothes closet the first Saturday

of every month from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. (Ron Cherry, Pastor)

UNIVERSITY has several rectangle tables and padded chairs to give to

a church who needs them. Please call Royce Thompson at 405-691-

9339. (Steve Dominy, Pastor)

WALLACE AVE. has called Kent Wooster as their pastor. We would like

to welcome Kent, and his wife Tracey, to our association. (Kent Wooster, Pastor)

30-3 Cross Timbers Session 6 30-4 Falls Creek Week 5 3-4 Independence Day, PLBA Office Closed

7-10 Cross Timbers Session 7

7-11 Falls Creek Week 6

11-14 Cross Timbers Session 8

12 Hispanic Women’s Conference-OKC

14-18 Falls Creek Week 7

14-15 OBU Pastor’s School

16-19 Cross Timbers Session 9

21-25 Falls Creek Week 8

27-31 Indian Falls Creek

July

Birthdays

1 Rev. Steve Dominy 4515 Gracelann Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, University

3 Rev. Jim Morningstar 609 S Dewey Ave. Chandler, OK 74834 Pastor, Pioneer, Chandler

4 Rev. Kent Kellogg 2524 Sutton Court Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor & DOM

4 Mrs. Ann (Dale) Rogers 920068 S. 3450 Road Chandler, OK 74834 Retired DOM’s Wife

6 Mrs. Jamie (Ron) Cherry 107 Shadow Ridge Dr. McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor’s Wife, Son Rise

9 Rev. Butch Bradley PO Box 816 Maud, OK 74854 Pastor, Trinity, Maud

10 Rev. Bobby Shatto PO Box 867 Maud, OK 74854 Pastor, First, Maud

26 Mrs. Jean Huskey 910492 S. 3380 Rd Chandler, OK 74834 Former Pastor’s Wife

29 Mrs. Jo Ann (Bobby) Burnett 2612 Ella Drive Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor’s Wife

29 Rev. Mike Craig 662 S. Range Rd. McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor, Temple

July

Anniversaries

7 Rev. & Mrs. Gary Nickerson 36720 Moccasin Trail Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Hilltop

14 Rev. & Mrs. Tim Emmons 1616 Blue Bell Rd. Prague, OK 74864 Pastor, First, Prague

17 Rev. & Mrs. Don Ramsey 105 Hardesty Dr Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor

17 Rev. & Mrs. Perry Tripp 626 W. Ford Shawnee, OK 74801 Pastor, First, Sparks

18 Dr. & Mrs. Bill Mitchell 20622 Hwy 102 Tecumseh, OK 74873 Retired Pastor

25 Rev. & Mrs. Clint Dawkins 2326 Faith Blvd. Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Sharon

30 Dr. & Mrs. Bryan Cook 1006 W. Federal Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Hopewell

30 Dr. & Mrs. Todd Fisher 1403 Manchester Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Immanuel

July 2014

Flame of Fire Ministry A burning desire to share the Gospel and see people saved by Jesus Christ

Presents a One Day Soul-Winning Workshop

Hosted by

Mammoth Baptist Church

August 23, 2014 10 AM—2:15 PM

Welcoming Internationals Ministry Opportunity

Each year, International and MK students arrive on Bison Hill to study and begin a new season of life in the United States. This new beginning is exciting but also difficult. Many are only able to bring what they can fit into two suitcases. This space does not allow them to bring the daily necessities that help to make a comfortable place to live. To fill this immediate need of these students, and as a show of both greeting and care, Welcome Baskets are presented to the students as gifts from OBU and its supporting community. If your ministry group or church would like to support this on-going ministry, donations for the baskets are currently being accepted. Items are needed for distribution no later than August 8th. If you do plan to donate, please make contact by July 11th. This opportunity will allow you to minister to these stu-dents as well as make your presence in Shawnee known to them. Please contact Jennifer Barnett, at 405-585-4190. You can find a list of items needed at PLBA.org.