0e2019335 central connection newsletter march 2012
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 138 PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
1104 Balboa Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 850-769-6000 www.centralbaptistpanamacity.org Dr. Bruce Barton, Senior Pastor Rev. Stephen Ashmore, Associate Pastor
Central
Connection Connecting the ministry of Central Baptist Church, Panama City, Florida with Pastors, Members and Friends
Volume 6, Issue 1 ~ March, 2012
Adult Bible Studies Join us as we are encouraged by the Word
Faces of Perseverance for Women Getting a Biblical Foundation to Trust in God in Times of Trouble May 11, July 13, September 14, November 9
A Man of His Word Breakfasts Calling Men to Integrity and Leadership April 14, June 16, August 18, October 27, December 15
What Happens in Revival?
Upcoming Events
When saints live in the reviving power of God’s presence, the world takes note that there is a God, that we have been with Him, and that His name is Jesus.
3.17
Soul-winning Saturday
3.24
All Church Workday
3.25
VBS Recruitment
4.1
21 Days of Fasting
4.14
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Revival is God’s self-disclosure. It speaks of a Savior who yearns to dwell in the midst of His people. It is the positive work of the Spirit that deals with the negative character traits of a sinful humanity. Revival is the sovereign activity of God. No one can force His hand to act, or else He would not be the Almighty. Yet the Lord has chosen to place responsibility for revival in the hands of men. This is the great mystery of revival; the Lord sovereignly moves and yet acts in accordance with the prayers of His people Revival is the revelation of God’s holiness. Revival is a person or community saturated with the presence of God. This awareness of God includes the revelation of His holiness. The beauty of His holiness will always illuminate our sinfulness, which subsequently produces tremendous conviction of sin. When we look at our sin through the presence of God, we begin to understand how hideous our transgressions actually are. Continued on page 2...
GLOBAL IMPACT What Happens in Revival? continued Revival produces deep, heartfelt repentance. When the Holy Spirit descends, He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8) Heartfelt repentance produces a change in character, and a change in character produces a change in lifestyle. History demonstrates that according to the depth of conviction will be the depth of repentance, and according to the depth of repentance will be the depth of revival. Revival is always a move of the Spirit that produces repentance and personal holiness. It cannot be otherwise. Revival is new life. Heartfelt repentance and a passion for holiness impart new life to the saved and the unsaved. The river of living water that pours from the throne of God gives life to where it flows. When that river flows through the church, there will be power and desire to reach the unsaved. When it sweeps through the streets of our cities, radical conversions will abound. New life produces new priorities. The light of God’s brilliance illuminates the meaninglessness of worldly pursuits. Compromise falls off as love for the Savior replaces the depraved love of the world and the twisted love of self. Vibrant worship and prayer become the norm. New life in the soul means new life in relationships. When men and women abandon themselves to Jesus, the result will be transformed lives that affect every relationship they have. Marriages and families are restored as godly virtues replace wicked character traits. When rebellious teens are genuinely converted, their rebellion ceases. The power of God delivers the fornicator, adulterous spouse, or homosexual from their sexual additions to live in pure and holy freedom. Revival is literally new life for individuals, families, churches, and nations. Revival is spiritual revolution. This spiritual revolution is birthed through radicals and martyrs who reproduce after their own kind. They see the world through the eyes of Christ and are willing to lay down their lives for the One who laid down His life for them. This is the place of desperate love and surrender of Jesus, where sacrifice ceases to be a burden. An explosive missionary spirit is always a byproduct of revival. The Lord uses common saints who live in the light of eternity to turn the world upside down. They comprehend that people are eternal creatures who will live forever in heaven or hell. So they joyfully abandon themselves to the cause of Christ to rescue a selfdestructing world no matter the cost. The manifest glory of God is the greatest hope from the salvation of our loved ones, the most effective means of restraining the wickedness that is sweeping America, and the only power that can transform cities and nations. Rend the Heavens, © 2005 by Glenn Meldrum In His Presence Ministries
Our 2012 Global Impact Weekend brought messages by Dr. Bud Calvert, Founder of Fairfax Baptist Temple, Fairfax, VA. He challenged us to be passionate about the person of Christ and the plan of church planting. Dr. Wes Smith, has moved from Christian Education in the states to founding a new Bible College in the Dominican Republic. He was used to allow our members to see that God calls and equips one for the ministry and places that He has chosen for them, and that it may come well after we thought it was too late. Missionary Josh Campbell, a pastor’s son from Buford, GA plans to migrate north to Quebec, Canada and plant a New Testament Baptist Church. This family’s youth and zeal brought a challenge to many of our younger adults to give their life to God’s plan. The meeting concluded with our membership committing $61,200.00 to foreign missions for the upcoming year.
ABOVE MEASURE The vision for Central Baptist Church is simple: Carry out the Great Commission and handle all of the problems that were created because we carried out the great commission. Our purpose statement: “GodCentered; Truth-Driven; People Focused” remains the same. Our intensity needs to be more aggressive. We are seeking to have programs in our ministry that produce the desired results and works within our purpose statements. We cannot do everything that we need to do, so we must plan and choose what we can do in 2012 and do it. Not just attempt to do it...do it! As we claim Ephesians 3:20-21, our six Above Measure Goals are: RUN FOUR BUS ROUTES. We need route workers for Lynn Haven and Callaway; we need to split route 2. REORGANZIE SUNDAY SCHOOL. A greater emphasis on small groups, Bible teaching and social activities REINFORCE MISSIONARIES. We want to increase the support of all of our missionaries by 10%. REDUCE DEBT. We want to become debt-free this year. REMODEL FACILITIES. Our Master Plan includes new exterior elevations, re-pavement of the East parking lot, and new parking lights. New paint in the auditorium, and new restrooms will complete our five year plan. RAISE MEMBERSHIP. We want to see six new families join the church that are assimilated and working in the church. (Five already to date.)
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
1104 Balboa Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 850-769-6000 www.centralbaptistpanamacity.org Dr. Bruce Barton, Senior Pastor Rev. Stephen Ashmore, Associate Pastor
Central
Connection Connecting the ministry of Central Baptist Church, Panama City, Florida with Pastors, Members and Friends
Volume 6, Issue 1 ~ March, 2012
Adult Bible Studies Join us as we are encouraged by the Word
Faces of Perseverance for Women Getting a Biblical Foundation to Trust in God in Times of Trouble May 11, July 13, September 14, November 9
A Man of His Word Breakfasts Calling Men to Integrity and Leadership April 14, June 16, August 18, October 27, December 15
What Happens in Revival?
Upcoming Events
When saints live in the reviving power of God’s presence, the world takes note that there is a God, that we have been with Him, and that His name is Jesus.
3.17
Soul-winning Saturday
3.24
All Church Workday
3.25
VBS Recruitment
4.1
21 Days of Fasting
4.14
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Revival is God’s self-disclosure. It speaks of a Savior who yearns to dwell in the midst of His people. It is the positive work of the Spirit that deals with the negative character traits of a sinful humanity. Revival is the sovereign activity of God. No one can force His hand to act, or else He would not be the Almighty. Yet the Lord has chosen to place responsibility for revival in the hands of men. This is the great mystery of revival; the Lord sovereignly moves and yet acts in accordance with the prayers of His people Revival is the revelation of God’s holiness. Revival is a person or community saturated with the presence of God. This awareness of God includes the revelation of His holiness. The beauty of His holiness will always illuminate our sinfulness, which subsequently produces tremendous conviction of sin. When we look at our sin through the presence of God, we begin to understand how hideous our transgressions actually are. Continued on page 2...
GLOBAL IMPACT What Happens in Revival? continued Revival produces deep, heartfelt repentance. When the Holy Spirit descends, He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8) Heartfelt repentance produces a change in character, and a change in character produces a change in lifestyle. History demonstrates that according to the depth of conviction will be the depth of repentance, and according to the depth of repentance will be the depth of revival. Revival is always a move of the Spirit that produces repentance and personal holiness. It cannot be otherwise. Revival is new life. Heartfelt repentance and a passion for holiness impart new life to the saved and the unsaved. The river of living water that pours from the throne of God gives life to where it flows. When that river flows through the church, there will be power and desire to reach the unsaved. When it sweeps through the streets of our cities, radical conversions will abound. New life produces new priorities. The light of God’s brilliance illuminates the meaninglessness of worldly pursuits. Compromise falls off as love for the Savior replaces the depraved love of the world and the twisted love of self. Vibrant worship and prayer become the norm. New life in the soul means new life in relationships. When men and women abandon themselves to Jesus, the result will be transformed lives that affect every relationship they have. Marriages and families are restored as godly virtues replace wicked character traits. When rebellious teens are genuinely converted, their rebellion ceases. The power of God delivers the fornicator, adulterous spouse, or homosexual from their sexual additions to live in pure and holy freedom. Revival is literally new life for individuals, families, churches, and nations. Revival is spiritual revolution. This spiritual revolution is birthed through radicals and martyrs who reproduce after their own kind. They see the world through the eyes of Christ and are willing to lay down their lives for the One who laid down His life for them. This is the place of desperate love and surrender of Jesus, where sacrifice ceases to be a burden. An explosive missionary spirit is always a byproduct of revival. The Lord uses common saints who live in the light of eternity to turn the world upside down. They comprehend that people are eternal creatures who will live forever in heaven or hell. So they joyfully abandon themselves to the cause of Christ to rescue a selfdestructing world no matter the cost. The manifest glory of God is the greatest hope from the salvation of our loved ones, the most effective means of restraining the wickedness that is sweeping America, and the only power that can transform cities and nations. Rend the Heavens, © 2005 by Glenn Meldrum In His Presence Ministries
Our 2012 Global Impact Weekend brought messages by Dr. Bud Calvert, Founder of Fairfax Baptist Temple, Fairfax, VA. He challenged us to be passionate about the person of Christ and the plan of church planting. Dr. Wes Smith, has moved from Christian Education in the states to founding a new Bible College in the Dominican Republic. He was used to allow our members to see that God calls and equips one for the ministry and places that He has chosen for them, and that it may come well after we thought it was too late. Missionary Josh Campbell, a pastor’s son from Buford, GA plans to migrate north to Quebec, Canada and plant a New Testament Baptist Church. This family’s youth and zeal brought a challenge to many of our younger adults to give their life to God’s plan. The meeting concluded with our membership committing $61,200.00 to foreign missions for the upcoming year.
ABOVE MEASURE The vision for Central Baptist Church is simple: Carry out the Great Commission and handle all of the problems that were created because we carried out the great commission. Our purpose statement: “GodCentered; Truth-Driven; People Focused” remains the same. Our intensity needs to be more aggressive. We are seeking to have programs in our ministry that produce the desired results and works within our purpose statements. We cannot do everything that we need to do, so we must plan and choose what we can do in 2012 and do it. Not just attempt to do it...do it! As we claim Ephesians 3:20-21, our six Above Measure Goals are: RUN FOUR BUS ROUTES. We need route workers for Lynn Haven and Callaway; we need to split route 2. REORGANZIE SUNDAY SCHOOL. A greater emphasis on small groups, Bible teaching and social activities REINFORCE MISSIONARIES. We want to increase the support of all of our missionaries by 10%. REDUCE DEBT. We want to become debt-free this year. REMODEL FACILITIES. Our Master Plan includes new exterior elevations, re-pavement of the East parking lot, and new parking lights. New paint in the auditorium, and new restrooms will complete our five year plan. RAISE MEMBERSHIP. We want to see six new families join the church that are assimilated and working in the church. (Five already to date.)
