1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

A
p u b l I C AT I O n
o f
A r i z o n a
S o u t h e r n
January-February 2015
Vol. 19 No. 1
Working
Together
Ba p tists
David Johnson
Executive Director Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
Connecting Point ...
We have a dream
W
hy do we work together? Why do we
have the Centennial Vision? Why strive
for 1,000 churches by 2028? Why give
to the Cooperative Program? Here is an excerpt
from my report to the convention at the annual
meeting last November to answer that question ...
Like Martin Luther King Jr. over 50 years ago,
we have a dream!
We have a dream that our children and
grandchildren will live in a place where there is
a Bible-believing, gospel-preaching church to
reach every people group, age group and language
group in Arizona.
We have a dream
that the winds of
revival will sweep
over Arizona
Southern Baptists
like never before.
We have a dream that every college student,
every Native American, every immigrant
from every country, every cowboy, every
biker, every prisoner, every teenager,
every child, every mom and dad,
every senior adult, every drug
addict and alcoholic, every person
from every lifestyle will have a
chance to hear the good news of
Jesus Christ!
We have a dream that children
and families in Arizona will be
cared for and shown the love of
Christ through Arizona Baptist
Children’s Services.
We have a dream that those
Read the ASBC blog,
“Fuel,” at
www.azsbc.org
Like Arizona Southern
Baptists on Facebook
Follow AZBaptists
on Twitter
who surrender to missions and ministry in
Arizona can be trained through Golden Gate
Seminary in Arizona, no matter where they live
and no matter what God has called them to do.
We have a dream of a world where there are
no more unreached people groups because we
have been able to send out more missionaries
than ever before to reach them!
We have a dream of churches that are
vibrant, healthy and actively reaching people
for Christ and making disciples.
And we have a dream that the winds of
revival will sweep over Arizona Southern
Baptists like never before.
That is what the Centennial Vision is all
about. That is why we have the Cooperative
Program. Let’s work together to make the
dream a reality!
The purpose of Portraits is to support
the mission of Arizona Southern
Baptists: Working together to make
disciples of all peoples in Arizona and
around the world.
Published bimonthly by the
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention,
2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100,
Scottsdale, AZ 85257.
Internet: www.azsbc.org.
For information, call (480) 945-0880
or (800) 687-2431.
Portraits is supported by Arizona
Southern Baptist churches through
their Cooperative Program giving.
Additional funding comes from
advertising and subscriptions.
Editor
Elizabeth Young
Portraits Team
Dallas Bivins
Golden Gate Baptist
Theological Seminary
Rik Danielsen
Yavapai Association
Gail Hallman
Baptist Senior Life Ministries
Lainee Pegelow
Christian Challenge, Flagstaff
Kathi Orr
Arizona Baptist Children’s Services
David Johnson
Fernando Amaro
Ken Belflower
Josue Castro
Keith Henry
Mitch McDonald
Eddy Pearson
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
Design
Whiten Design
Subscriptions: Portraits is sent at no
charge to the homes of Arizona
Southern Baptists and to all Arizona
Southern Baptist churches. Additional
copies are available on a subscription
basis for $7.00 per year.
Subscriptions for those living out of
state are $10.00 per year. To subscribe,
call (480) 945-0880 or (800) 687-2431.
Change of address: Please respond in
writing by sending the mailing label
from this issue and the new address
to Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road,
Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
or email the old and new addresses
to Portraits@azsbc.org.
Advertising: For display advertising
rates or to place a classified ad, email
advertising@azsbc.org or call
602-942-8069. Email written classified
ads to advertising@azsbc.org or
mail to Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road,
Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.
Presence of advertising in this
publication does not necessarily
represent endorsement by the Arizona
Southern Baptist Convention.
On the cover:
Teens and young adults from three Southern
Baptist churches in Yuma comprise a
praise band that plays at youth gatherings
organized by church leaders. Clockwise
from far left are Humberto Montero, Centro
Familiar Cristiano, Tacna; Irene Quintero,
Iglesia Oasis, Yuma; Jesus Quintero,
Iglesia Oasis; Joseluis Tellez, Tierra Fertil,
Yuma; Lucero Quiroga, Tierra Fertil; Daniel
Montero, youth pastor at Tierra Fertil; and
Jesus Cerda, Tierra Fertil.
Photo by Jean Bihn
church planter and his team set
up for worship in a local school.
A young woman goes in for a
pregnancy test at a New Life
Pregnancy Center. A missionary
shares a story from the Bible in a
remote African village. A seminary
student works on a theology paper in Scottsdale.
What do all of these scenarios have in common?
They are all made possible by the Cooperative Program
— the missions expression of Southern Baptists. In other
words, when you give to your church and your church gives
through the Cooperative Program, you are a part of all
these things and more!
I had lunch one day with the chairman of the finance
team of a church. The church was experiencing some
financial difficulties and was trying to find ways to reduce
spending.
When the subject of the Cooperative Program came up,
I explained to him that through this one funding method
his church supported thousands of missionaries overseas,
church planting across North America, seminary training
for ministers and missionaries, and ministries like Arizona
Baptist Children’s Services. All with one check!
By Da v i d J o h n s o n
Southern
Baptists
working together
When 46,000 Southern Baptist
churches work together by giving
through the Cooperative Program,
the results are impressive.
According to Southern Baptist
Convention President Ronnie Floyd,
here is what happens:
• Mobilizing 4,810 missionaries
internationally that are fully supported
by these churches financially; in
fact, through the ministries of these
missionaries in 2013, thousands of
churches were planted, 114,471 new
believers in Christ were baptized,
and we are continuing with the
strong commitment to finish the task
of engaging the final 3,052 people
groups who are both unengaged and
unreached.
• Planting gospel churches in 32 of
the major cities in North America as
well as in many underserved regions
of North America; in fact, our churches
together are committed to plant an
average of 1,500 churches annually,
believing God that over the next 10
years we will see 15,000 new gospel
churches planted in North America.
• Mobilizing thousands of
volunteers to minister when national
disasters come in America; in
fact, we comprise the 3rd largest
national disaster relief organization
in the United States. Additionally,
we respond around the world when
various crises and disasters occur.
• Equipping 16,000 seminary
students through our six seminaries
who will serve as local church pastors
and staff members, missionaries
around the world, and leaders in
some realm of Christianity.
• Engaging the culture with the
gospel of Jesus Christ and speaking
to issues in the public square for
the protection of religious liberty
and human flourishing; in fact, we
even have qualified leadership in
Washington D.C. speaking for our
churches about these issues.
4 P ortraits
“That’s amazing!” he said. “It would
be impossible for one church to
administer all of that.”
That is the genius of the Cooperative
Program.
Prior to 1925, missions giving in
Southern Baptist life was a hodgepodge
of special offerings, independent
fundraising and unhealthy competition
for access to local church funds.
Churches tired of constant appeals,
and more money generally went to
those with the most compelling voices.
Mission boards and seminaries had no
real basis for their budgets and were in
financial disarray.
The convention undertook a national
effort called the 75 Million Campaign to
solve the problem. While falling short of
its goal, this exercise showed the power
of pooling our resources for a common
purpose and the Cooperative Program
was born!
A church planter and his
team set up for worship
in a local school. A young
woman goes in for a
pregnancy test at a New
Life Pregnancy Center.
A missionary shares a
story from the Bible in a
remote African village. A
seminary student works
on a theology paper in
Scottsdale.
What do all of these
scenarios have in
common?
They are all made
possible by the
Cooperative Program.
Here’s how it works.
Each congregation determines what they want to give to
missions through the Cooperative Program, whether that is a
percentage of their budget or a set amount. Those funds are sent
to the state convention to support missions and ministries in the
Get I NVOLVED
• Visit http://iamcp.azsbc.org to check out the impact of the Cooperative Program and to order bulletin inserts to share
with your church.
• Read some of the stories on the Fuel blog (www.azsbc.org/
blog/) to hear about how God is using the Cooperative Program
in Arizona and beyond.
• Go visit one of Arizona Baptist Children’s Services New Life
Pregnancy Centers or the ABCS resource center in Tucson. You
can find out more about the locations at www.abcs.org.
• Come see the Arizona Campus of Golden Gate Seminary at
2240 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale and learn how ministers and
missionaries are being trained.
• Find a new church plant that is being supported by the
Cooperative Program and go see what they are doing.
• Pray for our missionaries around the world by using the Prayer
Calendar at www.wmu.com (click on “students” and then
“resources”).
Partners
state according to what that state convention decides. Then the rest
is sent to the SBC Executive Committee to fund missions in North
America and around the world, not to mention six seminaries and
the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Other denominational groups wonder how Southern Baptists
get the churches to participate. No bills are ever sent. No pressure
is exerted. It is completely voluntary. The answer is simply that
Southern Baptists have a missions heart and a desire to work
together.
In Arizona, we are working together to
... plant churches
... provide seminary training through the Arizona Campus of
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
... minister to children, families, and senior adults through
Arizona Baptist Children’s Services
... reach college students through Christian Challenge
... share the gospel with young people with efforts like
WinterFresh and Zona Camp
... revitalize churches
... strengthen leaders
... and help churches share the gospel and make disciples
all through the Cooperative Program!
That is what it looks like to work together!
David Johnson is executive director of the Arizona Southern Baptist
Convention.
on the Journey
Working together:
Golden Gate supports leaders
Recently, one of our West Valley pastors
was struggling with a staffing issue. He
needed prayer, encouragement and the
advice of other leaders.
He found all three at Golden Gate
Seminary’s West Valley Leadership
Roundtable! Drawing on the advice he
received at that meeting, he was able to
resolve the problem and restore growth in
his church.
Our North Valley Roundtable helped
another pastor build a team environment
to create a new vision in his church. Over
the course of the last few months, this
pastor has built new relationships with
other leaders, resulting in a strong network
of support and encouragement.
These are just two examples of how
Golden Gate Leadership Roundtables are
helping Arizona churches and their leaders.
Golden Gate Leadership Roundtables
are open to anyone who wants to learn
leadership skills and experience personal
growth. They are dynamic dialogues
propelled by the current issues of the day.
Participants bring ministry concerns
and challenges to the table, which then
become the day’s topics for discussion.
Topics are always fresh, and the insights
provided through the discussion give a
new perspective to apply to the ministry
situation. In addition, connections are
made and relationships developed with
other leaders who can become lifelong
friends, mentors and co-laborers.
Golden Gate is currently offering
monthly Leadership Roundtables in
five locations across our state. Starting
in January, we are adding two new
Roundtables: one for children’s ministry
and one for small-groups ministry. These
Roundtables will offer an invaluable
By Dallas Bivins
Director, Arizona Campus of
Golden Gate Baptist
Theological Seminary
resource for strengthening these ministries
in your church and helping them grow.
Golden Gate Leadership Roundtables are
a great example of Arizonans working
together!
As your church has given through the
Cooperative Program, you have helped
support these Golden Gate Leadership
Roundtables that are having an impact in
our state. Thank you for your giving!
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Working together
to plant
churches
Mission teams from Parkwood Batpist Church in Gastonia, N.C., have helped several new
churches in Arizona in multiple ways, including helping with roof repairs and VBS at The
Way Fellowship Church in Peoria, above, and helping Pinnacle Church in Scottsdale with
VBS, opposite page.
By Irene A. Harkleroad
6 P ortraits
I
n July, 88 people from Parkwood Baptist Church in
Gastonia, N.C., descended on Phoenix, swept over the
Valley of the Sun and impacted the lives of hundreds.
During the “Plant Phoenix” effort, relationships were
forged. People who had been praying for each other became
faces, then friends.
Led by Parkwood Missions Pastor Kem Lindsay,
members come three times a year to serve however needed
by their four partner churches. VBS, Bible clubs, kids and
sports camps, construction and evangelism are all on the
table.
“Several years ago, I met Dennis Conner (then pastor of
CrossPointe Church, Buckeye) at our mission conference,”
says Lindsay. “We were looking for pastors new to planting and
churches we would match up well with.”
In 2007, Lindsay spent a week with Conner in Arizona,
learned about the community and met Arizona Southern Baptist
Convention staff members.
“CrossPointe became our first partner in Arizona,” Lindsay says.
“We have added three more, and two of those have sponsored new
churches.”
Mike Bailey is now pastor of CrossPointe Church.
“Parkwood brings our families to Gastonia for their biannual
Mission Impact Celebration to share what God is doing through
their support and to build us up,” Bailey says. “They continually
pray for us and keep reinforcing that what we do matters. This is so
encouraging to our church and specifically to my family and me.”
CrossPointe members have planted a church in Birmingham,
Ala.
“Even though in many ways we are still a mission and can’t
underwrite a church plant, we can partner with others to help,”
Bailey says. “We try to create a culture — we need to be about
planting — to be in the habit. Our goal is to be givers — not just
recipients.”
Parkwood is also working together with The Way Fellowship
Church in Peoria.
“Parkwood came on board with us in year three,” says Scott
Gourley, pastor of The Way. “Although we were supported by
other Arizona churches, Parkwood gave us boots on the ground.
Together, we prayerwalked, passed out fliers and held two massive
block parties. This past summer, one of the teams rebuilt our
bathrooms, painted the exterior of our building and completed
roof repairs. They’ve helped us do things we couldn’t have done
ourselves.”
The Way Fellowship now sponsors ClaireVista Church in Peoria.
“Most of our support in the early years came from First Baptist
of Weddington, N.C., where I pastored for eight-and-a-half years,”
says Joel Collette, pastor of ClaireVista. “But Parkwood sent a
team to us the first month we were here. Now their teams come at
least twice a year and do whatever is needed. Our congregation is
amazed. They don’t personally know the people back home, but
they do know they are part of a family. It builds their faith and
leads them forward.”
For Collette, partners both far and near have been crucial.
“If it weren’t for the support of North Carolina Baptists, we
wouldn’t be here,” he says. “But I probably wouldn’t have stayed if
it weren’t for the Arizona Baptists. The types of support we receive
from partner churches make the difference.”
Keeping missionary families connected to their sponsors is a big
deal.
“We bring six church planters and their families from Phoenix
to North Carolina for our Mission Impact Celebration,” Lindsay
says. Planters stay in the homes of Parkwood members — sharing
meals, fellowship and stories of God’s faithfulness.
GracePointe, Goodyear, is the fourth partner, known as an
enfolding, authentic sanctuary to those 55 and older. “We help
[Pastor] Tom Holland financially, as well as with some necessary
equipment and projects,” Lindsay says.
“Parkwood is invested in our churches,” says Gourley. “Money
is fine (and necessary) — but it means so much more to know that
we have people praying for us and we have actual people who come
out and work with us.”
Irene A. Harkleroad, a freelance writer living in Carefree, is a member of
Black Mountain Baptist Church, Cave Creek.
Get I NVOLVED
• Arizona Southern Baptists’ Centennial Vision calls for
having 1,000 churches — more than double the present
number — by 2028. It will require all of us working together to
accomplish this. Pray about how your church can be a part of
starting new churches.
• Pray for new churches recently started that they will become
well-established and plant more new churches. Pray for the
partners needed to come alongside these young churches.
• Pray for God to call out church planters to start churches in
locations that have already been identified.
• Currently, 45 new church starts are receiving financial
assistance through the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention and
North American Mission Board. Could your church increase its
Cooperative Program giving and giving to the Arizona Mission
Offering so that more churches could be started?
• Go to www.azchurchplanting.org to find out about new Arizona
Southern Baptist churches that need sponsors or additional
financial support or that have ministry opportunities. How
could your church come alongside one of these new churches?
For more information, contact your association’s director of
evangelism/missions or ASBC Church Planting Facilitator
Ken Belflower, kbelflower@azsbc.org, or Hispanic Ministries
Facilitator Fernando Amaro, fernando@azsbc.org.
P ortraits 7
Above, young women pray during a worship
service at Tierra Fertil in Yuma. Photo by Jean
Bihn. Opposite page, youth take part in “Unity,”
an event drawing from four Hispanic Southern
Baptist churches in Yuma. Submitted photo.
8 P ortraits
Working together
to reach youth in Yuma
L
Story and photos by Jean Bihn
eaders from four Hispanic
Southern Baptist churches in
the Yuma area have set out to
impart the love of Jesus Christ
to Hispanic and Anglo, or
English-speaking, youth in their
community. Assisted by Yuma
Association Director of Evangelism/Missions
Don Vickers, and Josue Castro, associate
Hispanic ministries facilitator with the
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, the
small group hopes to touch the lives of young
people in Yuma and the surrounding area.
The four churches represent three
communities: Centro Familiar Cristiano in
Tacna, Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in San
Luis, and Tierra Fertil and Iglesia Oasis in
Yuma.
“[The idea] was born in a conversation
with the pastor of Iglesia Oasis, Manuel
Rubio, and his wife,” Castro recalls. “They
talked about the need for events for youth in
our city. Every church had events for their
youth, but nothing where we could bring
everyone together. Of course, the pastors
came in with full support, because they felt
the same need.”
Organizational meetings include pastors,
youth pastors, Vickers and Castro, who says
his presence tells the Hispanic pastors, “The
convention has their back.”
“Beyond Social Media,” which drew 128
young people, took place in May of last
year, just three months after the pivotal
meeting between the Rubios and Castro. The
purpose of the event, in addition to sharing
the gospel, was to strengthen adolescents’
relationships with one another.
“They’ll text or talk on social media all day,
but talk very little in person,” says Daniel
Montero, youth pastor at Tierra Fertil.
A second meeting, called “Unity,” was
attended by 115 youth in September. A third event was scheduled for December,
P ortraits 9
and plans for 2015 are in place.
“Our dream is to involve all the
Hispanic and Anglo churches,”
Castro says. “We hope to host a youth
event for all the churches at the Civic
Center.”
Vickers shares the dream.
“My hope is that we’ll see more and
more Anglo and Hispanic churches
working together,” he says. “One of
the realities here is that youth need a Sarai Garcia
place where they don’t have to worry
about language or background. We want to open that door.”
High school freshman Sarai Garcia, 15, attended the Unity
event.
“[Unity] opened my eyes to see that
we need to be better Christians and let go
of our daily distractions,” she says. “We
need to dedicate our lives and focus only
on God.”
Carlos Santos, a 21-year-old corporal
in the Marine Corps, also attended the
Unity gathering, which was a far cry
from his experiences as a Marine.
“The working environment is really
harsh,” Carlos says of the military.
“There are really bad influences — you Carlos Santos
10 P ortraits
can’t get away from them. You live with them.”
At Unity, Santos says he “met people who think in a positive
way. It’s amazing to see different youth from the Yuma area go to
one place and belong there and easily praise God.”
The Unity event also motivated him to get involved. He has
offered to help in upcoming events.
Jean Bihn, a freelance writer and photographer, is a member of
Mountain Ridge Baptist Church, Glendale.
Get I NVOLVED
• In Yuma, a small group of pastors were inspired by a need. Pray that God would open your eyes to the needs in your
community.
• While Arizona is home to a few mega-churches, churches
with lower attendance numbers are really the norm. Your
small church may be the perfect size to partner with other
congregations! Ask God to inspire your creativity and pray that
He would open the hearts of leaders in your church and nearby
churches to ways you can work together.
• Consider how youth in your church could be a positive influence
upon youth in other nearby churches, and how your youth
could be blessed by youth from those same churches. Talk with
your youth minister or pastor and your association’s director of
evangelism/missions about the possibilities.
Join us as we gather together to pray for our communities
What is The Rooftop?
The Rooftop is an opportunity for Christians to gather on rooftops that overlook their local
communities and seek a fresh vision of God’s heart for people who are lost.
Dennis Pethers, author of More to Life, has a passion to see a
movement of Christians across the world who will be released to share their faith.
Roof Top Prayer Times
Feb. 23, 10 a.m., “A” Mountain, Tucson
For questions, contact Vance Wood, vwwood@gmail.com
March 1, 4 p.m., Downtown Phoenix Church,
208 W. Portland St., Phoenix
Feb. 27, 10 a.m., hosted by College Park Baptist Church,
Kingman
For questions, contact Josh Seibert,
thykingdomcome1979@gmail.com
Please let Jim Helman, jhelman@gmail.com,
know you’re planning to attend
A C o o p e r at i v e P r o g r a m m i n i s t ry o f A r i z o na S o u t h e r n B a p t i s t s
Prepare to take your kids to uncharted
territory where they will begin to
understand that obedience to God
can lead them beyond the expected.
Journey to a
State VBS Clinic!
March 14, Mountain View, Tucson
(register by March 9)
ALL IN
March 21, College View, Mesa
(register by March 16)
March 28, Hillside, Phoenix
(register by March 23)
April 11, First Baptist, Show Low
(register by April 6)
April 18, Morningside, Yuma
(register by April 13)
Free
Registration
required
All locations: 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Register at www.azsbc.org/vbs2015.shtml
Questions? Contact Cheri Dempsay, cheri@fsbcg.org
A Cooperative Program ministry of Arizona Southern Baptists
February 13-15, 2015
Camp Pinerock
Prescott, Arizona
99
$
Registration
and deposit of
$40 due by Friday,
January 16, 2015
FEATURED SPEAKER:
DAVID
TORNA
MUSIC BY THE BENJAMIN HUNTER BAND
Register online at
www.azsbc.org/winterfresh.shtml
Questions? Contact Corrin:
corrin@azsbc.org
480-945-0880
800-687-2431
A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM MINISTRY OF THE ARIZONA SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
P ortraits 11
Working together
to care for pastors
By C h r i s C h a n a n d Roger Daniels | Photos by Daniel Yu
12 P ortraits
T
he pastor is admonished to care
for his flock, but who cares for
the pastor?
The latest research indicates
1,500 pastors leave the ministry
each month. Half of their
marriages end in divorce. Seventy
percent report feeling grossly underpaid,
with nearly 90 percent saying ministry
is “completely different” from what they
expected.
In addition, eight out of 10 ministry
wives report feeling pressured to do things
in the church for which they are not
gifted, wish their husbands would choose
another line of work, and admit to seeking
Top of page, the expanded Leader Care ministry includes six bivocational facilitators (from left):
Jim Martin, Rik Danielsen (beginning July 2015), Roger Daniels, Byron Reiner, Matt Gaston
and Don Vickers. Below, Roger Daniels, New Life Counseling statewide director, explains the
Leader Care ministry. Opposite page, Byron Reiner (left) talks with Rik Danielsen.
professional help for clinical depression.
In response to this growing concern,
New Life Counseling, a ministry of Arizona
Baptist Children’s Services, is expanding
its Leader Care ministry in January 2015
with six new bivocational Leader Care
facilitators serving pastors and church staff
in different regions across Arizona. Each
facilitator has many years of local church
ministry experience and understands the
pressures that face a pastor and his family,
says Roger Daniels, statewide director of
New Life Counseling.
The regions and facilitators are Southern
Region, Roger Daniels; Northwest
Region, Byron Reiner, ABCS program
administrator for Northern/Northwest
Region; Eastern Region, Matt Gaston,
pastor of Burton Baptist Church, Burton;
Southwest Region, Don Vickers, Yuma
Association director of evangelism/
missions; Central Region, Jim Martin,
P ortraits 13
Working
Together
ABCS and Arizona
Southern Baptists
Although Leader Care may be a relatively
new program for Arizona Baptist Children’s
Services, ABCS has been working together
with Arizona Southern Baptist churches for
many years.
“We are grateful for Arizona Southern
Baptists who helped start ABCS over 50
years ago,” says Chris Chan, ABCS assistant
executive director. “Today, we have a vision
to be a partner with churches. It is a model
that God has planted in Steve Hanna’s [ABCS
executive director] heart and it’s reflected in
how we approach ministry.”
That is clearly demonstrated by ABCS
ministries being located on church campuses
throughout Arizona. Emmanuel Baptist
Church houses the ABCS statewide office
and Tucson-based ministries. Twelve other
Southern Baptist churches host a majority
of ABCS’ pregnancy centers and counseling
offices. The ABCS resource center is
located at Tucson Chinese Baptist Church.
Additionally, ABCS is moving its Phoenix
office to Mission Drive Baptist Church at the
end of 2015.
The partnership between ABCS and
churches enables both sides to support each
other in ministry. ABCS staff members have
participated in church evangelistic events,
such as block parties and video showings of
My Hope with Billy Graham, and have visited
churches to speak on topics like marriage or
abstinence. ABCS also allows its employees
to take time off to serve their churches
on mission trips or at church camps and
Vacation Bible School without having to use
vacation time.
Meanwhile, individuals and church groups
volunteer at ABCS through ongoing projects,
such as sorting diapers in a pregnancy
center, or projects utilizing the unique
characteristics of the volunteers.
“We like to think out of the box when
working with churches,” Chan says.
“Churches and individuals are a vital part
of this ministry. We could not do this work
without them.”
14 P ortraits
Tammy Brewer, a counselor with New Life Counseling in Tucson, says she’s seen
ministry families experience relief when they find a safe place for help.
Valley Rim Association director of
evangelism/missions; and Northern
Region (July 2015), Rik Danielsen,
Yavapai Association director of
evangelism/missions.
For the facilitators, ministering
to a pastor can be as simple as
meeting over coffee to listen
to his concerns and provide
encouragement. Other times, it
may involve arranging weekend
respite or crisis counseling with
a New Life counselor. The key is
being a confidential resource that
pastors can trust.
“I’ve seen an almost instant relief
on the part of ministry families
when they find with us a safe,
confidential and professional place
to go,” says Tammy Brewer, New
Life counselor in Tucson.
Another key is having the
facilitators in each region as an
intentional and relational approach
to meeting pastors where they are.
“We will follow the model of
Jesus’ ministry,” Daniels says. “Jesus
went into the towns and villages,
healing the sick and preaching
good news. The people saw the
compassion in His eyes and they
trusted him.”
The work of the facilitators
extends the reach of services that
Leader Care has been providing
to hurting ministry families since
2013. In the first 10 months of
2014, Leader Care provided 134
counseling sessions at a greatly
reduced rate, often working with
local churches or associations to
cover counseling fees. Additionally,
98 individuals attended openinvitation events such as half-day
workshops and luncheons or teas
for ministry spouses.
Daniels is grateful for the
support of Arizona Southern
Baptists, whose churches’
Cooperative Program gifts help
ABCS financially.
“Pastors can feel isolated in
ministry,” he says. “Together, we
are here to remind them that
they are not alone. We are here to
walk alongside them through the
challenges.”
Chris Chan is Arizona Baptist Children’s
Services assistant executive director,
and Roger Daniels is ABCS statewide
director of New Life Counseling.
Daniel Yu, a member of Tucson
Chinese Baptist Church, is owner of
Daniel Yu Imaging and ABCS director of
IT.
Get I NVOLVED
• Commit to pray for your church staff and their families, and for the Leader Care facilitators who are ministering across the state.
• Attend or host a Leader Care workshop in your area. Call New Life
Counseling at 800-678-0648 for more information.
• Encourage your church staff to attend the statewide Pastors & Wives
Retreat in July 2015. Learn more at http://azsbc.org/retreat.shtml.
• Support Leader Care through Cooperative Program giving in your church.
P ortraits 15
Working together
to reach and disciple
college students
By L o r i P r u i t | P h o t os by N. John Keller
16 P ortraits
F
rom the first moment you arrive at First Southern
Baptist Church, Phoenix, for the Sunday night Christian
Challenge collegiate service, you are drawn into an
exciting scene. Relaxed conversations occur over dinner
outside while the band warms up inside.
Soon, inside the worship center, the band kicks off
their first number while 50 or more Grand Canyon University
students raise their hands and let the music lead them in worship.
When the Scripture is read and proclaimed, it is clear that
Central Valley Christian Challenge’s Sunday night worship
service at First Southern Baptist Church, Phoenix, demonstrates
the partnership between the church and Christian Challenge.
prayerful preparation has led to this ministry partnership.
Last August, Steve Hayes, pastor of First Southern, Phoenix,
and Bryan Powers, regional director for Central Valley Christian
Challenge, set to work on the partnership.
The goal was simple: minister to and disciple GCU students.
“It is a partnership where I said to my church, ‘OK, on our own,
we cannot do what [Christian Challenge] can do. We can do more
together,’” recalls Hayes.
The proximity of the church to GCU, coupled with Christian
P ortraits 17
‘‘
I don’t want us to be a silent
partner, but I also want Christian
Challenge to have freedom to do
what they need to do to reach college students for Christ. We
are a team.” — Steve Hayes
Challenge’s desire to be close to student activity on campus was a
perfect fit.
First Southern, located right next door to GCU, offered
facilities, much prayer and some other support to Powers and his
team. Meanwhile, Christian Challenge set to work on a Sunday
night worship experience comprised of contemporary music and a
relaxed approach to Bible study.
Powers’ team knows well the importance of the relationship
with First Southern. Campus restrictions would not allow an
want Christian Challenge to have freedom to do what they need to
do to reach college students for Christ. We are a team.”
Brad Schneeflock, Christian Challenge’s metro collegiate
evangelism strategist agrees.
“I am definitely excited about the strong partnership that
has emerged between Christian Challenge and First Southern,
Phoenix, and would love to see this level of partnership become a
model for the rest of our [Christian Challenge] ministries in the
Valley,” he says.
When asked about their individual goals for this thriving
partnership, Powers’ hope is to continue discipling students and
helping them understand the importance and responsibility of
belonging to a church body.
And Pastor Hayes?
He sums up what all Southern Baptists should have on their
hearts: “We just want to reach students and all peoples for Christ.”
Lori Pruit, a freelance writer living in Casa Grande, is a member of Pinal
County Cowboy Church, Casa Grande.
N. John Keller, a freelance photographer living in Phoenix, is a
member of First Southern Baptist Church, Phoenix.
Bryan Powers speaks to students during the Christian Challenge
worship service at First Southern, Phoenix.
organization such as Christian Challenge to gain access to campus
and student gatherings without going through a local church.
“Because of our partnership with First Southern, I am allowed
to be on campus for ‘one-on-one’ discipleship. I am able to be
much more creative with a worship-driven service, which is a big
draw to college students,” Powers explains.
The partnership has been equally beneficial, and Hayes believes
his church has expanded its understanding of both “church” and
“community.”
“It has been an educational experience for us,” he says.
“Although Bryan is able to point students toward a local church,
often they are not interested in membership. Rather, they are
looking for ‘community’ ... a family community that Christian
Challenge can offer them.”
Some churches might feel as if they were not a part of the overall
movement of these students. However, First Southern is using the
wisdom of freedom.
“I don’t want us to be a silent partner,” Hayes says, “but I also
18 P ortraits
Get I NVOLVED
•Pray for the Christian Challenge ministries in Arizona as they seek to reach students and make disciples. Brad
Schneeflock says prayer is the greatest need.
•Except for the three Christian Challenge directors at the
University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and
in Metro Phoenix, all of the campus missionaries and
interns raise their own support. Find out more about these
workers by connecting with one of the Christian Challenge
ministries here: http://azsbc.org/collegiate.shtml
•Arizona Southern Baptist churches assist Christian
Challenge in a number of ways, including offering use
of facilities, providing food for lunchtime gatherings and
providing giveaway items for outreach events. Ask what
your church can do to help.
•Volunteer your skills or resources. Offer to cook food for
a retreat, print high quality materials at no cost, provide
music, lead a Bible study or contribute your abilities or
resources in another way.
Feb. 27-28
College View
Baptist Church
1810 S. Longmore
Mesa
Banquet Friday
evening, 6 p.m.
Classes all day
Saturday
“This might be the most enjoyable and informative Disaster
Relief Training ever in the state of Arizona.” Mitch McDonald
For more information, call 480-945-0880 or
800-687-2431 or go to ArizonaDisasterRelief.org
19
P ortraits
This Ministry is Made Possible through the Arizona Mission
Offering
OUR PURPOSE
IS TO HELP
YOU LIVE YOURS.
Scan the QR code or visit calbaptist.edu/tv to watch the video.
ASBC meeting theme: ‘Life on Mission’
By Elizabeth Young
rizona Southern Baptists took
a step toward fulfilling their
Centennial Vision by increasing
the Cooperative Program percentage to
Southern Baptist Convention causes by
1.45 percentage points at their annual
meeting Nov. 14 at First Southern Baptist
Church at Sahuaro Ranch, Glendale.
The Centennial Vision, adopted at
last year’s annual meeting, calls for the
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
to give 50 percent of its Cooperative
Program receipts to missions outside
Arizona through the SBC by 2028.
The vision paints a picture of Arizona
Southern Baptists in 2028, when the
convention will celebrate its 100th
anniversary. It sets goals more than
doubling the number of churches, and
increasing average Bible study participation, baptisms, missions involvement
and Cooperative Program giving by the
churches.
A total of 298 messengers and 60
guests representing the convention’s 456
churches attended the annual meeting,
which had the theme “Life on Mission.”
During the single afternoon session,
messengers elected three officers by
acclamation and adopted a revised
constitution. Prior to the worship and
business session, Arizona Southern
Baptists participated in a mission fair
and heard from Dustin Willis, co-author
of Life on Mission: Joining the Everyday
Mission of God, at the annual Leadership
Conference.
Holding a bow
from Mozambique,
David Johnson
explains that 10
Makonde warriors
working together
can take down
an elephant with
similar bows,
“and 456 Arizona
Southern Baptist
churches working
together can take
down this elephant
of lostness in our
state.”
A
Bret Burnett
(center) was elected
president at the
ASBC annual
meeting. Joshua
Thompkins was
elected first vice
president, and
Debra Wolfrey was
re-elected as second
vice president.
In his Centennial Vision report, ASBC
Executive Director David Johnson said
although final numbers are not in, trends
are being seen for increases in baptisms,
Cooperative Program giving by churches
and missions participation. In addition,
he said, “I see churches working and
talking together about revitalization
across our state ... and I see churches
coming together to pray for revival and
spiritual awakening.”
Recalling the “I have a Dream” speech
by Martin Luther King Jr. more than 50
years ago, Johnson described Arizona
Southern Baptists’ dream. (For more, see
page 2.)
“That is why we have a Centennial
Vision. That’s what the Cooperative
Program is all about. That’s why we
must risk it all. Are you with me Arizona
Southern Baptists?” he concluded to a
standing ovation.
In the closing message, Kevin Ezell,
North American Mission Board president,
urged pastors not to be discouraged or
distracted and to pray for open doors of
opportunity to share the gospel.
“I’m just not convinced that we’re
to the point where we have a sense of
desperation about sharing our faith,” he
said. “I truly believe that people are more
open to hearing the gospel than we are
open to share it.”
Ezell introduced the 3 Circles: Life
Conversation Guide and demonstrated
the use of the evangelism tool by telling
of a witnessing experience he had on a
plane on the way to Arizona. More than 1
million copies of the conversation guide
have been distributed, and the Apple and
Android apps have been downloaded
almost 25,000 times in the last three
months, he said.
“We’ve had thousands of people come
to know Christ by using three circles and
three arrows,” Ezell said.
Messengers adopted a $3,180,000
Cooperative Program budget and a
$4,723,951 state convention operating
budget for 2015. The Cooperative
Program budget total remains unchanged
since 2011.
The budget increases the percentage of
Cooperative Program receipts designated
See Business on page 22
P ortraits 21
Arizonan to take gospel to Central Asia
By Irene A. Harkleroad
A
t the tender age of eight, with head
and heart filled with biographies
of missionaries around the world,
Molly Petry* felt the tug of the Holy Spirit
drawing her toward foreign fields. That
call never faded, and in December 2014,
Petry was appointed by the International
Mission Board (IMB) to serve a three-year
term in Central Asia.
For years, God has been preparing
her for the journey. She grew up in an
atmosphere of missions. Her grandparents served as cross-cultural missionaries in the States, and her parents were
immersed in mission work through their
Arizona church.
“I began to learn and grow in God’s
will for the nations during short-term
international mission projects during
college,” she said. “My eyes were opened
to human needs — hunger and poverty
— and how God could heal physically and
spiritually.”
Petry spent two years in the IMB
Journeyman program assigned to South
Asia.
“We helped with community redevel-
Molly Petry shares the message of hope
in South Asia, where she served in the
IMB Journeyman program.
opment by providing and teaching water
purification, income generating projects,
and helping to meet basic needs,” Petry
said.
She also used the cultural practice of
henna tattoos to story the message of
hope. Women then physically bore the
stories from Scripture for others to see.
“There were some hard times in South
Asia,” she said, “but God was faithful. One
thing I learned is that I can’t do it in my
own power. It’s God’s power.”
She is reassured, though, knowing her
church will be with her on the field.
“God is using the local church to
encourage me with support, finances
and prayer,” Petry said. “I am excited
about how He is using them to reach the
nations.”
In March, Petry heads to an agricultural
area where some of her team’s responsibilities will include water purification and
helping with livestock.
She already has a relatable strategy:
“There will definitely be lots of stories
about the Good Shepherd.”
*Name changed
Business from page 21 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------for SBC missions and ministries to 27.5
percent, up from 26.05 percent in 2014.
This is the first increase since 2009.
The ASBC’s portion of Cooperative
Program receipts is $1,892,100, or 59.5
percent of receipts. That is a .6859
percentage point decrease from the 2014
percentage.
Officers elected for 2014-15, all elected
by acclamation, are president, Bret
Burnett, pastor of Mountain View Baptist
Church, Tucson; first vice president,
Joshua Tompkins, youth pastor at Laveen
Baptist Church, Laveen; and second
vice president for a second term, Debra
Wolfrey, education director for Valley
Rim Southern Baptist Association and a
member of Pinnacle Church, Scottsdale.
Messengers adopted a revised constitution that redefines qualifications for
membership in the convention, eliminates the Committee on Committees
and changes the size, composition and
organization of the Convention Council.
22 P ortraits
While opportunity was provided during
the business session for discussion, no
questions were raised, and the revised
constitution was adopted almost unanimously on a vote by raised hands.
The revised constitution adds the
phrase “supporting the Cooperative
Program” to the description of the
“messengers/members from Southern
Baptist churches” who are members of
the ASBC. In a Q & A provided earlier
to churches, David Johnson explained
that the requirement “relates specifically
to sending messengers to the annual
meeting” and not to whether a church
would still be a part of the convention
based on their giving.
“We believe that, in order to participate
in the decision-making process, churches
should support what we are doing
together as Arizona Southern Baptists,”
Johnson wrote.
The revised constitution reduces the
size of the Convention Council, which
conducts convention business between
annual sessions, from 35 to 25, plus the
convention officers. Instead of two people
serving from each “associational area,”
plus an additional person for each 7,000
church members above the first 7,000,
each of the 13 associational areas will now
have one council member, and the rest
will be at-large members.
The smaller size, which will be accomplished through attrition, will be more
efficient and effective as council teams
“work together toward the Centennial
Vision goals,” Johnson wrote.
With the elimination of the Committee
on Committees, the president will now
appoint new members for all standing
committees, including the nominating
committee and a new convention business
committee that combines the roles of
the committee on order of business and
credentials committee. The change was
made to streamline processes, Johnson
wrote.
God prepares Tubac couple for service
By Irene A. Harkleroad
ife is changing drastically for Carson
and Noelle West*. After years of
seemingly random experiences
leading to this moment, the couple has
been appointed by the International
Mission Board (IMB) and assigned to
serve in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Some say we are crazy to do this,”
said Noelle. “We have three kids. We
could stay in Arizona with a secure job
and close friends, but we would rather
be where God wants us and live in
obedience.”
The family will spend the next year
in training. By 2016, they will be in a
large gateway city in Europe, primarily
serving people who have relocated from
Sub-Saharan Africa.
“It’s going to be an adventure,” said
Noelle. “We will be surrounded by
unreached people groups. There are
so many there who don’t even know
Jesus exists. Through church planting,
evangelism and discipleship we will share
the gospel and train people to take the
message back to their countries.”
As for the random experiences:
Noelle grew up as a missionary kid in
Sub-Saharan Africa. She lived among
and knows the language of the particular
people they will serve.
She also has a degree in French. “I was
already comfortable with a French-based
L
language,” she said. “It seemed like the
natural thing to do.”
Carson was a professional athlete who
competed in France, where he learned the
language.
While Noelle was raised in a Christian
home, Carson’s family knew about God
but never talked about Jesus. He trusted
Christ one night after having fearful
thoughts about where he was going to
end up. He had no discipleship, but God
worked in his heart.
“Our growth took root when we moved
to Arizona in 2006,” said Noelle. “When
we arrived, we opened the phone book to
look for a Bible-based, Christ-centered
church. We chose the closest one — the
Church at Tubac. Now they are sending us
to the nations.”
Through the Church at Tubac, they
grew as believers.
“Carson developed a great desire to dig
deeper into God’s Word,” Noelle said. “He
would see someone excited about God
and say, ‘That’s what I want!’”
Then, there was also “a tension in
Carson’s heart that he couldn’t ignore,”
she said.
Two years ago, out of curiosity, Carson
called IMB. And the process began.
“We decided we were going to walk
through this door until God closed it,”
Noelle said. “He never did!”
What does this mean to Carson?
“It’s so rich that it’s hard to narrow it
down,” he said. “Everything in my own
life I did to build my kingdom. Little
did I know that God was using all my
experiences, everything, to help build His
kingdom.”
Now all the pieces fit together.
“It is such a joy to know my place in
God’s story,” Carson said. “To know that
God would use someone like me to share
His message seems surreal. Recognizing
God’s sovereignty and leaning into
that is so comforting. It has eliminated
expectations and anxieties we might have
had. We know He keeps his promises.”
This is also a special time for The
Church at Tubac.
“We are so excited about not just
sending them but being partners with
them, supporting, praying and staying
in touch,” said Pastor Jeremy Hatfield,
“We see ourselves, in some ways, as on
the mission field with them. Because they
are still part of us, the Church at Tubac is
going to the nations.”
So why leave a perfectly good job with a
pension?
“Here, the nature of my job is to save
people’s physical lives,” Carson said,
“There, I will be helping to save souls.”
You can contact Carson and Noelle at
urbandesert5@hotmail.com. They will be
happy to keep you informed of updates
and prayer requests. Please let them know
you are praying for them.
* Names changed
‘Revitalize’ to aid declining churches
By Lori Pruit
D
id you know that a church is
considered in decline if it has lost
10 percent or more in average
Sunday School attendance within the last
five years?
Did know there is hope and help
because God is in the restoration
business?
Did you know there is an Arizona
Southern Baptist team standing by, ready
to make revitalization a reality for your
church?
“Revitalize,” an event scheduled for Feb.
7 at Light in the Desert Baptist Church,
Mesa, “is intended to help existing
churches and existing pastors gain tools
to help in the process of seeking God’s
renewal and revitalization for their
churches,” said Keith Durham, pastor of
First Baptist Church, Arizona. Durham
leads the Arizona Southern Baptist
Convention’s church revitalization
team.
“The Arizona church revitalization
team desires to see God bring renewal and
restoration to all plateaued and declining
churches,” he said.
Revitalize will help pastors and key
leaders gain new vitality. Pastors have
been asked to bring one or two key
church leaders with them to the event
for the purpose of building a church
revitalization team.
Keynote speaker will be Terry Rials,
pastor and church revitaliztion team
leader for the Capital Association in
Oklahoma City, Okla. Rials led church
revitalization dialogues in Arizona last
fall.
The main sessions and breakouts at
Revitalize will be 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Check
in will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The cost is $40.00 per church or
$25.00 per person. Register at azsbc.org/
revitalization.shtml. The registration
deadline is Jan. 30.
P ortraits 23
Arizona Volunteer Missions launches
By Irene A. Harkleroad
A
new Arizona missions organization is making it faster and
easier for short-term volunteer
missionaries to find places of service in
the state and get plugged in.
“Arizona Volunteer Missions (AVM)
matches those who want to help with
those in the field who need help,” said
Mitch McDonald, Arizona Southern
Baptist Convention missions facilitator. “I
like the fact that we are doing this in state.
It has streamlined a lot of paperwork and
our coordinators live in Tucson, keeping
them close to the work.”
Until recently, all domestic volunteer
missionaries fell under the administration of Mission Service Corps, a ministry
of the North American Mission Board.
The focus of Mission Service Corps has
been restructured to include volunteers
involved in church planting, collegiate
ministries, and those volunteering for
two years and more.
As Arizona Volunteer Missions
coordinators, Clint and Carol Smith act
as a clearing house for those self-funded
missionaries who wish to serve in Arizona.
The program allows these workers who
have committed to be recog-nized as
Southern Baptist missionaries.
Since the change, eight new volunteers
have committed to serving a minimum
of 20 hours per week for three months to
two years.
“We never cease to be amazed how God
sends us people for a particular need,
sometimes before we know that we need
them,” said Carol.
The Smiths serve as missionaries to
seasonal visitors in RV resorts. They
also function as a clearing house and
networking coordinators, processing
applications, performing background
checks and introducing prospective
missionaries to church or association
representatives who have expressed a
need.
“AVM is an important part of our
mission,” said David Johnson, ASBC
executive director. ”Reaching out to
people who come to Arizona will help us
to realize our commitment to spread the
gospel to Arizona and out to the world.”
To find out more about Arizona
Volunteer Missions or to apply, go to
www.azsbc.org/volunteers/.
More news online
Read these stories at www.azsbc.org:
• Arizona IMB trustee Cindy Snead
travels to Africa
• Dustin Willis speaks at Leadership
Conference
• The Arizona Church Project helps
churches protect themselves legally
• Nine couples attend Finish Well
Bootcamp
• Colorado couple’s volunteer work
assists Arizona church
• Baptist Senior Life Ministries
changes name
Seekin g G o d t o g e t h e r f o r r e v i ta l i z at ion
February 7, 2015 » Light in the Desert Baptist Church, Mesa
Registration: 8:30 a.m.
Main Session and Breakouts: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
SPEAKER
»
Dr. Terry Rials, Pastor & Church
Revitalization Team Leader for the
Capital Association, Oklahoma City, OK
25 per person
40 per church
$
$
»
Register by Jan. 30, 2015, at
azsbc.org/revitalization.shtml
The Church Revitalization Team of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
“Working together to make disciples of all peoples in Arizona and around the world.”
A C O O P E R AT I V E P R O G R A M M I N I S T R Y O F T H E A R I Z O N A S O U T H E R N B A P T I S T C O N V E N T I O N
24 P ortraits
HOW DO YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH
A SKEPTICAL POST-CHRISTIAN WORLD?
n Learn a new model of witnessing that is
effective in today’s culture
FAITH CONVERSATIONS
Four Types of Conversations we want to have
ILLUMINATE
n Learn how evangelism can start with
relational pre-evangelism
n Learn how to ask questions, listen
attentively, and understand what
someone believes
n Learn ways to identify the real barriers to
belief in order to build a bridge to truth
HEAR
UNCOVER
BUILD
Join David Geisler
January 24, 2015
8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
A. E. England Auditorium
424 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix
Parking: Nearby meters and
parking parages. Fees will vary.
No cost, but registration requested by January 16.
Go
to register.
25toPazsbc.org/geisler.shtml
ortraits
A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM MINISTRY OF ARIZONA SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
P ortraits 25
Networking, Equipping, and Training
for All Church Ministry Leaders
February 21, 2015
CrossPoinTempe Church
1001 E. Southern Ave.
Tempe, AZ
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
A.M. Tracks:
25
$
conference fee
Six 30-minute conferences in a track area of your choice.
Preschool, Children, Youth, Young Adult,
Median Adult, Sr. Adult, Deacons, Worship,
Women, Pastors, Disciples’ Track,
Prayer, Evangelism
P.M. Tracks:
Four 30-minute conferences in a track area of your choice.
Growing Personally, Growing Your Witness,
Growing Your Small Group, Growing Your Church,
Growing and Revitalizing a Church,
Growing in Understanding and Talking to Other Faiths,
Growing in Knowing and Talking to the Never-Churched,
Growing in God’s Kingdom Work
Register at
www.valleyrimsba.org/net-21-conference
26 P ortraits
Faith in Action
F
our men from First Indian Baptist
Church, Phoenix, traveled to
the Middle East recently to explore
opportunities for their church to be
involved in sharing the gospel. This
was the first international trip for First
Indian. Workers in the Middle East have
been praying for a Native American
congregation to come and meet with
Bedouins since many similarities exist in
tribal culture and issues between their
peoples.
Workers in the region helped the team
spend two days in “the wilderness.” A
Bedouin family welcomed the team into
their tent, where they shared for hours.
While language was a barrier, Tohono
O’odham, Korean, American, Bedouin,
Navajo, Seneca all sat in the streets one
evening drinking tea and communicating
as friends.
“English is highly valued and is a way
to meet people to help them learn the
language formally and informally,” said
Shaun Whitey, pastor of First Indian. “The
team is considering how to go through
this doorway.”
The team returned with an appreciation
for the challenges workers in the Middle
East must contend with. It is illegal to
convert a Muslim to Christianity in most
Arabic states.
E
ight members of Burton Baptist
Church, Show Low, including an
8-year-old, ministered in Taiwan in late
October.
This was Pastor Matt Gaston’s 14th
mission trip to Taiwan. It was the church’s
second trip.
The team did street evangelism and
visited schools, where they interacted with
students and shared their testimonies.
Two team members speak Mandarin
and served as translators. The team also
interacted with IMB missionaries and
prayed over a church. Team member
James Chang preached in a worship
service.
L
ike a number of Arizona Southern
Baptist churches, Black Mountain
Baptist Church, Cave Creek,
participated in Operation Christmas
Child this year. Church members packed
2,595 shoe boxes, and including boxes
dropped off by area churches, the church
transported 4,988 boxes to the collection
center. Operation Christmas Child is the
passion of Black Mountain member Mary
Jane Spear, who leads the effort and
keeps volunteers collecting and crafting
year round.
For this issue, Portraits is including the
text portion of a sampling of posts on the
“Arizona Southern Baptists” Facebook
page. If you’re on Facebook and haven’t
“liked” this page, you’re missing a way to
keep up with the Arizona Southern Baptist
family!
Arizona Southern Baptists
December 5
Rio Vista Center - Phoenix is sharing the
results of Turkey Day 2014 and thanking
all those who had a part by collecting
food, turkeys, serving, and sharing the
love of Christ. This includes a number of
Arizona Southern Baptist churches. Here
was the impact:
over 2,000 Thanksgiving plates
1,034 Turkeys & food bags
240+ volunteers representing
20+ churches and organizations
Praise the LORD!
Arizona Southern Baptists
November 13
Exciting news from Calvary Baptist Church,
Lake Havasu City! Almost 500 people
attended a groundbreaking ceremony
yesterday at the church’s new site!
Arizona Southern Baptists
October 28
On Saturday, at least two Arizona
Southern Baptist churches participated
in the City of Mesa “Make A Difference”
Day. Silent Hope Church conducted two
projects, doing yard work and mailbox set
up. Volunteers from Light in the Desert
Church and Mesa Rotary Club West
partnered together to paint the home of an
elderly man in the community.
New pastors
Francis Tugirimana, Solution Church, Phoenix
Charles Hartman, Islands Community, Tempe
Andre N. Miller Sr., New Beginnings, Mesa
Hyunill Park, Good Shepherd, Scottsdale
Ottley Holmes, Crystal Fountain,
Peoria
Dave Barber, Rim Country, Star Valley
Dan Fosnight, Emmanuel, Sun City
Enrique Borja, Iglesia Bautista Westridge, Phoenix
New Churches
Solution Church International, Phoenix
Islands Community Fellowship, Tempe
New Beginnings Christian Church, Mesa
Good Shepherd, Scottsdale
Crystal Fountain Missionary Baptist
Church, Peoria
Classified advertising
Full time Senior Pastor for Sun City First Baptist Church, Sun
City, Arizona. A total Senior Adult Ministry in an age-restricted
Community 55-plus. Must relate well to Seniors and have
a heart for Missions, Visitation and Outreach. Interested
persons request a copy of our Biographical Profile Form.
Email harl1@cox.net for the form. Deadline for returning the
Biographical Profiles is February 15, 2015.
Classified ads are $25 each for up to 30 words and $1.00 for each
additional word, with a minimum charge of $25. Next available issue:
March-April 2015. Advertising deadline is January 6. Send written ads
to Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 or
email advertising@azsbc.org. For further assistance, call 480-945-0880
or 800-687-2431.
Arizona Southern Baptists
October 18
Arizona Southern Baptists are having a
busy day. Besides the VBS JumpStart this
morning, members of Heart Cry Church
met to pray over their land, asking God
to use them beyond what they can think
or imagine, and Cochise Association
held their annual meeting. Also today,
the Arizona Woman’s Missionary
Union Executive Board is meeting.
This afternoon Aletheia Church, a new
church start in Sedona, is having a block
party, with assistance from members of
First Baptist Church Fort Mojave. And
this weekend, Central Valley Christian
Challenge is having a fall retreat at
Christian Challenge at NAU.
P ortraits 27
A
p u b l icatio n
of
Arizona
Southern
Ba p tists
Non—Profit Org
U.S. Postage
P AID
Images of faith in action
Phoenix, AZ
Permit No. 437
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Change Service Requested
Elizabeth Young Editor, Portraits magazine, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
FinishingTouches
Are you in the game?
I
may be about to make half the
state angry, but I hope you’ll stick
with me as I make my point.
While it’s probably January when
you’re reading this, it’s December
when I’m writing it. I received an
invitation today to go to the Fiesta
Bowl with a friend who holds
multiple degrees from the University
of Arizona.
Now, since I hold a master’s degree
from Arizona State University and
I’ve lived in the Valley of the Sun for
34 years, the Arizona Wildcats are
not my team. Ordinarily, if I were to
cheer for an Arizona college team,
they would be wearing maroon and
gold, not navy blue and cardinal red.
However, my Wildcat friend
attended last year’s Fiesta Bowl game
with me, when my other college
team, the Baylor Bears, played (sort
of). So, now I’ll return the favor and
pay big bucks to sit high up in the
stadium and cheer on the team from
Arizona.
For one night, I’ll be part of the U
of A family, and then, come fall, I’ll
again be cheering on and following
ASU and Baylor in the football polls.
The precision teamwork and
player partnership so evident in
winning football teams isn’t lost on
me.
This makes me think about
working together as Arizona
Southern Baptists. Over a year ago,
Arizona Southern Baptists adopted
this mission statement: Working
together to make disciples of all
peoples in Arizona and around the
world.
When it comes to the mission
statement, are you a fair-weather fan
or are you in the game? Are you and
your church in it for the long haul
as we seek to fulfill the Centennial
Vision by 2028?
This issue of Portraits has given
several examples of how Arizona
Southern Baptists, and even outside
partners, are working together to
reach our state for Christ. I hope
you’ve been inspired and challenged
to get involved, get in the game and
work together with the Arizona
Southern Baptist family.
We have God-sized goals, and it
will take God working through all of
us to win this one.