Hello Everyone!!!

Where did January go?? The month of January went by in a hurry. During the month of January, my first 100 days came to pass. I have enjoyed getting to meet most of the pastors. I have a few pastors left that I will be seeing very soon. Meeting the pastors is very important. From my own pastoral experience, I know about the struggles, and the stress in ministry. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to be a pastor as well as church staff.  These first hundred days has been a new and great experience. In January, we had 2 Pastors’ fellowship meeting. It was a great time of fellowship and much needed even for myself. It was wonderful to be together. As you know, we were taught to isolate in Covid. Needless to say, isolation has hurt and hindered some of the ministry of the church. Coming out of the isolation is key for the days ahead. 

I have started to get out in the community as well. I had a meeting with New Hope Pregnancy Center. I appreciate Stuart and Jami Chowning introducing me to this much needed ministry in our area.  Information will be coming soon on how we can help. Filling a baby bottle with coins is just the beginning. There are many ways we can help. From being a mentor to helping with basic infant needs for these families. Also, Bill Clark introduced me to Nate Sallee with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCA. Nate and his wife Katelyn serve the Northern Kentucky Area in our schools.  Nate said, “Our family’s mission is to minister to coaches and athletes right here in NKY. God has uniquely gifted us and worked in our lives in such a way that has prepared us for this...that’s also why he gets all the credit for any win we experience! We will be sharing as on how we can cooperate together in this missionary endeavor. 

Also, in January, we had a Ready Church meeting. This was sponsored by KBC Disaster Relief. I appreciate Ron Crow sharing with us on how churches can prepare for disaster by developing a strategy to ministry to their community during a crisis. I have seen this first on December 10, 2021, when the tornado came through West Kentucky. I am thankful for all that attended, we had several churches represented. NKBA has a Disaster Relief Coordinator, Greg Hoskins from Burlington has agreed to be our DR Coordinator. We are excited about Greg leading us in Disaster Relief. (See DR message below from Greg.)

On February 24-25, we are having a DNow weekend at Burlington Baptist Church. This is a great opportunity for students to be with other students of other churches in our association. It is a powerful time of discipleship for our students.  I think at this point we have 10 churches participating. The DNow event It has large group sessions and small group sessions. Registration will begin at 5:30 pm with dinner. DNow will conclude on Saturday afternoon. If you need more information contact Josh Skipper, KBC Regional Campus Minister, 859-512-1428.

On February 28 we will have two Worship & Music Roundtables & Shop Talks. These events are discussion-based networking and training events. They are intended for full-time worship leaders, part-time worship leaders, bivocational worship leaders, volunteer worship leaders, spouses or other church members interested in knowing more about leading worship. Jason “Bubba” Stewart will be leading the event. This Worship Roundtable is at 9:30 AM (EST) @ Erlanger Baptist Church. This Worship Shop Talk is at 6:00 PM (EST) @ Northern KY Baptist Association. You can register for these events on the kybaptist.org website. If you need additional help, call the NKBA office. 

On a personal note, I appreciate who prayed for me during a recent test. The test results came back good, and I will follow-up in a year. Also, I will be sending out a letter about my family in Poland. Travis and Victoria Ammon serve as missionaries in Gdansk, Poland. Travis and the pastor are looking at coming to Northern KY in March for a few days. They are seeking support for the new church they are building. If a church, mission committee or pastor would like to schedule an appointment let me know. Some look for new mission projects each year and I can provide that information for you. 

Praying for you,

Bro. Charles W. Frazier 

Happy New Year Everyone, 2023 is here and we will see what will happen. I remember when 2020 came, I preached this sermon series on Perfect Vision 20/20. I was so excited about this series and prayed for things to happen. Well, I finished the series and a few weeks later things happened, we closed indoor services for 9 weeks. So much for what I thought that the perfect vision would be, we were taught many lessons in 2020. Needless to say, Covid 19 really hurt our ministry efforts.  It has been one of the most difficult times that I have seen in the ministry of the church. Churches, Pastors, and staff have had to deal with a lot of different things. 

As we begin this New Year one of the Bibles verse that comes to mind is Matthew 6:33 (NKJV). “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When I read this scripture, I see the importance of putting God first in my life. 2023 is a gift from the Lord. How are we going to use that gift? Believe this, you will use this gift one way or another. We can be wise, or we can be immature.  One of my life sayings, “You are young only once, but you can immature all your life.”  Let us think about how we can use these next 12 months wisely. I am reminded of Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” May God’s Word speak to us.

 I always find the New Year exciting.  It is a year of opportunity, a year of setting goals and achieving goals. When I think about the New Year, I think about the previous year. What did I learn these last 12 months that will provide wisdom for decision making in the next 12 months? Putting God first is essential for 2023. During 2020, we learned about the meaning of the word essential. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we must continually remind ourselves of what is essential in doing God’s will in our lives.  Let us set spiritual goals for Christ. This week, I was thinking about gospel conversations for 2023. Increasing gospel conversations would be a great goal for 2023.   Maybe we are to look over our spiritual gifts and see those that need to be exercised. Usually, one of the top resolutions of the New Year is exercise. Let us exercise all our Spiritual Gifts.  We are to review our Spiritual Disciplines for the coming year to see on what we need to focus. As I stated earlier it is a great opportunity to grow spiritually.

A couple of things coming up in January. On Tuesday, January 10th at 10am, we will have a pastors’ fellowship here at the NKBA office. It will be a time of fellowship and prayer. There will be a meal provided. We should finish around noon. Tuesday, January 10th at 6pm, we will have a Bi-vocational pastors' fellowship. We will eat at 6 and enjoy a time of fellowship and prayer.

On Thursday January 19^th, we will have Ready Church event at Burlington Baptist Church at 6:30-8:30 pm. Ron Crow, KBC Disaster Relief Director, will be leading the event. It is event for all members of our churches, and it informs us on things each church can do during a disaster. During Christmas, I was concerned that with the frigid temperatures we could have had a disaster.

Happy New Year,

Bro. Charles 

With great sadness I have offered my resignation and am announcing my retirement from the Northern KY Baptist Association as Executive Director Of Ministry. It has been my greatest joy to serve NKY, our churches and pastors. I will remain to help in this interim period so there is a seamless transition to my successor.

This past year and beyond, I have struggled on many fronts, with my mental health, physical health, and in my spirit. I need to refocus life in this season and seek to regain health in every aspect of life. This is my 45th year of serving in formal ministry. While I will always be a follower of Jesus, I will now step back from formal ministry to pursue other interests and seek to find some balance in my life.

I want to thank every leader I have worked with and hope that I have been helpful to pastors and churches as they pursue their mission of following Christ and making disciples in our Jerusalem, Northern KY.

The greatest days are ahead for the NKBA! Again, thank you all for the opportunity to serve alongside you.

Sincerely,

Jim Woolums

In keeping with our Policies and Procedures, the Nominating Committee has met and has put together a search team for your next DOM. Please pray for these folks!

Adam Crews

Stuart Chowning

Harold Pike

Karin Edgington

Bill Clark

Amy Wilhellmus

David Wiggins

Mark Webb

This post is taken from Carey Nieuwhof with my editorial comments. I simply couldn’t say it any better than he has written this.

As we begin the summer of 2021 and we get closer to a post-COVID season, how is your church positioned for reaching new people in the years ahead?

Over 5000 church leaders recently completed the Church Outreach Assessment, and the data is in. The results were a little surprising, with some signs of hope as well as some significant areas for growth.

The good news is that churches are making some strides toward reaching more people with the hope of the Gospel.

The tougher news is that there are also some challenges ahead.

Here’s the tension: most church leaders want to see their church reach more people. Yet the data shows that many leaders find themselves leading a church that’s not positioned to do so.

Here is the finding I want to focus on:

Showing Little Commitment To Evangelism And Discipleship

Of all the findings in the Church Outreach Assessment, this was the most shocking to me. 22% of pastors disagree with the statement that evangelism is highly important to their church. And 16% of church leaders disagree with the statement that discipleship is highly important to their church.

I think most of us would have imagined that almost all church leaders would agree that evangelism and discipleship are both highly important.

But one in five church leaders say evangelism doesn’t matter, and one in six say discipleship isn’t highly important.

If you’re not committed to evangelism or discipleship, what exactly are you committed to as a church?

Without a deep commitment to evangelism and discipleship, any church will be off-mission. PERIOD. Growing churches will be passionate about both, and seek to do both well. I pray that our NKBA pastors, staff, and churches will renew themselves to a renewed commitment to evangelism and discipleship…anything else is simply missing the mark on accomplishing the mission of Christ.

One way you can begin…the Gospel to Every Home. Many of our churches have already committed to praying over their communities and intentionally reaching out to them. There is no better time than this summer! It’s not too late, simply contact me and I will help you get started! We have data of your community, maps, and resources to get your church involved!

I hope that all our churches rally around this effort…and again, making EVANGELISM and DISCIPLESHIP (which are interwoven) our CLEAR PRIORITY.

It is a joy to serve in such a great season!

Your Lead Follower,

Jim

This post is taken from Carey Nieuwhof with my editorial comments. I simply couldn’t say it any better than he has written this.

As we begin the summer of 2021 and we get closer to a post-COVID season, how is your church positioned for reaching new people in the years ahead?

Over 5000 church leaders recently completed the Church Outreach Assessment, and the data is in. The results were a little surprising, with some signs of hope as well as some significant areas for growth.

The good news is that churches are making some strides toward reaching more people with the hope of the Gospel.

The tougher news is that there are also some challenges ahead.

Here’s the tension: most church leaders want to see their church reach more people. Yet the data shows that many leaders find themselves leading a church that’s not positioned to do so.

Here is the finding I want to focus on:

Showing Little Commitment To Evangelism And Discipleship

Of all the findings in the Church Outreach Assessment, this was the most shocking to me. 22% of pastors disagree with the statement that evangelism is highly important to their church. And 16% of church leaders disagree with the statement that discipleship is highly important to their church.

I think most of us would have imagined that almost all church leaders would agree that evangelism and discipleship are both highly important.

But one in five church leaders say evangelism doesn’t matter, and one in six say discipleship isn’t highly important.

If you’re not committed to evangelism or discipleship, what exactly are you committed to as a church?

Without a deep commitment to evangelism and discipleship, any church will be off-mission. PERIOD. Growing churches will be passionate about both, and seek to do both well. I pray that our NKBA pastors, staff, and churches will renew themselves to a renewed commitment to evangelism and discipleship…anything else is simply missing the mark on accomplishing the mission of Christ.

One way you can begin…the Gospel to Every Home. Many of our churches have already committed to praying over their communities and intentionally reaching out to them. There is no better time than this summer! It’s not too late, simply contact me and I will help you get started! We have data of your community, maps, and resources to get your church involved!

I hope that all our churches rally around this effort…and again, making EVANGELISM and DISCIPLESHIP (which are interwoven) our CLEAR PRIORITY.

It is a joy to serve in such a great season!

Your Lead Follower,

JIM

Today...I want to begin a major recruiting effort in our area. To follow and embody the everyday ways to love your neighbor and change the world in the BLESS strategy, I am asking you to join me in the #UNITE714NKY campaign. The campaign is designed to recruit at least 1,000 people to commit to praying every day at 714 AM/PM (twice a day). That prayer is to be focused on: 1) PERSONAL AWAKENING (Praying: “Awaken in me the ability to see where YOU are missing from my life.”) 2) FOR LOST LOVED ONES/FRIENDS by NAME 3) REVIVAL in our Community/Nation.

This campaign is built around II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and restore (Heal) their land.”

The NKBA hosts a website: www.prayNKY.com You will go there and complete your basic information on a Google form to become a part of the team. That will include you in weekly prayer requests that will be sent out (for you to for you to submit) as well as scriptures and prayers to guide you. Those updates will occur every Wednesday. You will be able to receive these requests in the manner you choose (email, messaging, etc...). There is NO END here...it is simply the FIRST STEP in an overall strategy to BLESS NKY! To do that we BEGIN IN PRAYER (B.L.E.S.S.). WE NEED PRAYER WARRIORS who are committed to PRAYING DAILY over these needs. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. It can be just a moment...or longer...that is up to you.

We have a Facebook page: PRAYING FOR NKY. GO and LIKE that page if you have not. That will be another place that we will disseminate information, etc...We will hold weekly virtual ZOOM Prayer Meetings on Thursday nights. Everyone who signs up will receive a weekly invite to the ZOOM Prayer Meeting and we will attempt to broadcast that LIVE on our Facebook wall. Once a month we will plan to have a MONTHLY meeting that will be LIVE and in person for those who feel safe to do so (taking all precautions) and we will broadcast it LIVE on Facebook. The first of these will be held in March. But our first prayer meeting will begin February 11 at 7:00 PM EST.

What can you do? 1) Go and SIGN UP! 2) Invite others to join 3) Set your alarm on your smart device for 7:14 AM/PM each day. If you need some help toward that, ask someone. But WE ALL NEED A REMINDER!

When you are ready to expand this, you are encouraged to go to: www.pray4everyhome.org This is a website that the NKBA uses and joins with other believers around the world to pray for our neighbors. When you sign up, again, basic information, NO financial info, you can get a prayer list sent to you each day with five neighbors who live near you to pray for. You can expand that to as many as you want, but begin in your JERUSALEM, where you live! You can sign up under the NKBA and it will enable us to know that you are engaged and it will track all our partners and prayers across the region.

Why am I doing this? Because our communities are in desperate need of REVIVAL...of SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. We need a REPENTANCE that addresses the issues that plague us from abortion to racism. Healing ONLY COMES FROM GENUINE REPENTANCE. And the ONLY WAY THIS HAPPENS is when the PEOPLE OF GOD HUMBLE THEMSELVES and PRAY...BEGIN IN PRAYER...the first step of the BLESS strategy.

You are encouraged to purchase a copy of B.L.E.S.S 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World. The authors are friends of mine, Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson (Brothers) who founded Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL. (Chicagoland). You can get it at amazon.com or christianbook.com (paperback or Kindle). I am delivering copies to pastors all around the NKBA. I am posting about it on Facebook and other social media platforms.

This is a plan that is DESIGNED TO FAIL unless the people of God rally together toward this end. SO, I prayerfully leave it in your hands and ask for your help! We are #BETTERTOGETHER

It is my great honor to serve Christ and our churches.

Your Lead Follower,

Jim Woolums

Leading a church is more confusing, frustrating, and complex than ever. I believe the local church needs to DOUBLE DOWN TO FOCUS ON OUR specific JESUS MISSION of each local church in the Jerusalem where God has placed you. Our clear and stated MISSION must be identified (in a short clear statement and the NKBA has tools to help your church do that). That MISSION needs to align with a CLEAR VISION and SPECIFIC STEPS for each congregation and church member.

My calling is to support and help our churches be the BEST they can be at making disciples (who make disciples to the 3-4-5th generations) and BLESSing our communities (BEGIN in PRAYER, LISTEN, ENGAGE, SERVE, SHARE our STORY). So, here are my challenges to every NKBA church and church member along with a starting list of things I believe you can expect in 2021.

I will be doing a Pastors Town Hall (on Zoom and later in person) the first Tuesday of each month at 8AM and 8PM (first one on January 5) so as to give every pastor an opportunity to schedule and engage with other pastors in our region/state.

I will be providing a monthly VIDEO UPDATE which will be provided to each church/pastor and will be shown on all our social media platforms (NKBA Facebook wall, Praying for NKY Facebook wall, NKBA You Tube Channel, Instagram (10K4NKBA) and our website (www.nkbaptist.org). This will include a story of MISSION to share with your church on social media or in one of your services. It will also include a short teaching on some NEXT STEP opportunities/resources provided by your NKBA to assist your churches.

I am looking to recruit 1,000 PRAYER WARRIORS to join in #UNITE714NKY. This is an individual commitment to set your smart devices at 714AM and PM each day to pray by name for people who are lost and far from God. You can sign up at: www.prayforNKY.com or on our Praying for NKY Facebook wall. When you do, you will receive regular updates via text or email (your choice). Our focus in the NKBA each day will be the promise of II Chronicles 7:14, “IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND HEAL THEIR LAND.” SO...I NEED YOUR HELP! THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN WITH YOUR HELP!

I want to challenge EVERY NKBA church to be involved in an intentional effort to PRAY FOR EVERY HOME in our region and to TAKE THE GOSPEL TO EVERY HOME in 2021. We will join with other Kentucky Baptists in this effort with TONS of FREE RESOURCES for every church. Each church can call secure a kit/access to all resources. We are using PRAY AND GO developed by Dr. Thom Rainer and Church Answers, which is a step by step plan to PRAYER WALK (or DRIVE) and leave a door hanger (initially) with your church information and a contact number for people to call and share prayer requests and personal needs..

NOW...here is what I think you can expect in 2021....

UNCERTAINTY...duh....Even with the vaccine, there are many questions and hesitance related to the virus. This will continue to extend to impact every area of our lives for a season. Normal is being redefined as we speak.

INSTABILITY...We will continue to make changes...PIVOT (which we have a great free 30 day resource for churches to develop a plan....30 days at a time) and recognize this season will continue to be challenging for churches and pastors. WE MUST REMAIN WITH OUR FOCUS ON OUR MISSION and NOT be distracted by other things.

OPPORTUNITY-This is why I have made the above challenges with #UNITE714NKY, PRAY AND GO, and THE GOSPEL TO EVERY HOME in 2021. We have a once and a lifetime opportunity for a once in a generation spiritual awakening to see more people follow Jesus than in recent memory. I am praying for 10,000 NEW BELIEVERS over the next ten years (#10K4NKBA). I will be re-issuing a church challenge for each church toward this end!

Conversion growth (new disciples) will IMPROVE in 2021.

Average church attendance and giving will decline 20-30% from pre-pandemic levels. This will not happen to everyone and if your church is the exception....be glad.

MODEL REBOOT...this is something I will talk about more next month.

Churches that focus on ENGAGEMENT not ATTENDANCE will THRIVE!

Massive growth of Dual ministry/Bi-vocational/Co-vocational ministry. Less churches will be able to afford a full-time pastor/staff.

NINE of TEN churches in North America will self-identify as being IN NEED OF REVITALIZATION.

Main line denominations will see their greatest decline in 2021...a continuation of the past decade. People will leave dead churches in search of LIFE! Places where JESUS is worshipped, HIS MISSION is central, and the BIBLE is preached in all it’s authority.

I look forward to the days ahead. I believe our most challenging as well as our GREATEST DAYS are ahead!

It is my great honor to serve alongside you in partnership in the GOSPEL.

Your Lead Follower,

JIM

I don’t know if you have heard or not, but there is a lot going on these days....

*Global Pandemic

*Schools going back to in-person classes

*Churches expanding their in-person offerings

*The Economy is struggling, Unemployment is still high, Suicides are rising, Family abuse cases are rising in homes, Addiction numbers rising...AND it’s an election year and our nation is extremely divided. There are a lot of things to distract us and occupy our thoughts, prayers, and attention.

To bring it down to the local level, the NKBA is providing resources to your church and inviting you to join churches across the Northern Kentucky region to “PRAY AND GO.” This is a simple commitment by your church to prayer walk around your community, leave a door hanger to let people know their family/home were prayed for specifically and leave contact information as you ask if they have any prayer requests or needs that the church could assist them with. Right now about 15 churches have committed. Will your church? We hope this will be a step toward looking ahead at 2021 as we join with other Kentucky Baptists to take the GOSPEL TO EVERY HOME. (More information on that to come).

October is also a month devoted to recognition of Association Missions. We have a weekly prayer list that is printed in this newsletter and will be posted daily on our Social Media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). We want to highlight and give thanks for the great work our ministry partners are accomplishing across the NKBA. Please use this prayer list and the WEEK OF PRAYER FOR ASSOCIATION MISSIONS IS 18-25. We are asking for your church to take a special offering to help our inner city mission partners: The Moore Activity Center, The Cornerstone Fellowship (feeding breakfast 5 days per week, dinner three days per week), the HOPE Feeding Ministry (at FBC Covington, 9th Street doing numerous lunch meals), and The Lighthouse (at Oak Ridge). Our goal is $20,000 to evenly divide among these four.

Our Association theme for October and for our November 2nd annual meeting is FOCUS: MAKING OUR MISSION MATTER! What are our next steps to engage our lost communities with the Gospel of Jesus? All of the information for the Fall Meeting is listed in this newsletter. Your prayers are appreciated as are your continued giving to the NKBA.

Despite the pandemic, this has been a great ministry year for the NKBA. Listed below are a few of the things that YOU have made possible by your giving! Help us finish this year strong!

NKBA 2020

1) Through Disaster Relief helped FIVE families begin to rebuild in the aftermath of the flood in Nashville, through our partner on the ground, 3:18 Fellowship, under (former Erlanger Baptist) Pastor Dwight Moody ($5,000).

2) Supported NEW CHURCH PLANTS: Good Shepherd (Korean/Asian), Emmanuel Chapel (African Immigrant), Mercy Ridge (Dry Ridge), New Reality/Life Recovery Center (Addiction), Living Church (Network of House Churches), Cincinnati Chinese Church (NKY Bible Study), Iglesia Cristo La Luz Del Mundo (Covington), Erlanger Hispanic, and Zion Chin.

3) Carried out an association wide 40 Days of Prayer leading up to virtual Easter services.

4) Helped 13 churches apply and secure over $400,000 in PPP (forgiveable) loans to assist payment of staff during Covid-19.

5) Assisted multiple churches in establishing online giving portals through a partnership with InJoy (John Maxwell’s old company).

6) Provided step by step guidance to Pastors for options to many churches to begin online/streaming of services and encouraging pastors to use social media to expand their reach for the Gospel.

7) Helped source equipment for parking lot services. (FM/AM transmitters)

8) Helped churches without social media presence to establish Facebook and new Websites during Covid-19 as well as help churches set up ZOOM accounts.

9) Held weekly Pastor Town Hall meetings (via Zoom) to provide guidance and interpretation for application of CDC guidelines and re-launching of services during pandemic as well as providing encouragement for Pastors.

10) Developed a comprehensive resource page (www.nkbaptist.org) for all things related to Covid-19.

11) Provided resources for Pastors, Staff and family to receive counseling services.

12) Helped provide 20 families with generators and other supplies in LA after Hurricane Laura (Lake Charles, LA). (Estimated $16,000 in goods) Delivered through our partner Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, LA. (Video up on Facebook)

13) Provided training to pastors/churches move to a 90-day strategic schedule for moving churches forward in the pandemic into 2021 (through AUXANO).

14) Helped eight churches complete church revitalization and revisioning plans through CHURCH UNIQUE and GOD DREAMS (from AUXANO/LifeWay).

15) Developed a Covid-19 social media strategy with resources for churches to use to encourage prayer and community during the pandemic.

16) Helped coordinate the distribution of 16,000+ (and counting) meals to the Homeless and disadvantaged in Covington through The Cornerstone Fellowship and First Baptist Church 9th Street Covington (HOPE Ministry). 5+ first time decisions and baptisms to date. Investment of $6K to date.

17) Helped coordinate and raise funds for feeding International Students (and providing gift cards totaling $3K, which led to multiple Gospel conversations and new Bible Study groups among Internationals) at NKU during the summer with WMU and Josh Skipper.

18) Launching a “Pray and Go” strategy to equip and prepare churches toward prayer walking all over Northern KY in preparation for taking the Gospel to Every Home in 2021

(in conjunction with the Kentucky Baptist Convention).

19) Coordinating Christmas Backpack giveaway through local partners and churches. Our goal is 1500 backpacks that will be delivered directly to those in need in our region (Cincinnati/NKY) along with a personal Gospel presentation. (Collection the week of October 26, distribution before Christmas).

It is a great joy to serve as your Lead Associational Missions Strategist. I look forward to seeing many of you face to face on November 2 at Fort Mitchell!

Following Him,

JIM

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to shake and shape the world, so much sickness, death and economic destruction. Our first concern should be the hurting, but often our thoughts turn more inward. I am concerned about life after the pandemic, but maybe not in the way you may think.

As your Associational missionary, I am first deeply committed to following Christ and join Him in accomplishing His clearly stated mission. I wrote in last month’s journal that “If our agenda is anything other than glorifying Christ by fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment we will get derailed into matters that divide us rather than unite us. Those commands bring us together.” It is to that end that I will always seek to serve.

While many say that “things will never be the same” I am less concerned that the church will forever changed by this pandemic but rather am more concerned that we will snap right back into our old ways. In my lifetime as a student of history and trends, the best predictor of future behavior is the immediate past. Ed Stetzer writes, “While history doesn’t always repeat itself, it does tend to rhyme.”

WE MUST NOT GO BACK TO NORMAL. Instead, we must learn and take the BEST of what we are seeing now and continue those things (like live streaming our services) focusing on small group discipling, reaching people street by street in our neighborhoods, and using other online technologies to accomplish some meetings and allow people to be at home instead of away from home.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO DEPLOY THE CHURCH. Small Group/Sunday School leaders/Deacons are functioning like servant leaders/lay pastors to engage and care for the flock. I have seen people caring for one another more. I think God could be using this time to raise up NEW LEADERS (I Timothy 3) for a NEW NORMAL. I don’t want to go back to our consumer driven church that exists on the preferences of members like a country club.

WE MUST APPRECIATE GATHERED WORSHIP BUT NOT MAKE IT AN IDOL. Gathered worship IS one of the marks of a biblical church. When it was taken from us, it was hard. But look at how people have DEPLOYED in serving! WE

DON’T WANT TO LOSE THE SCATTERED CHURCH AS WE RETURN TO THE GATHERED CHURCH!

We have been given a chance in a fresh, new way to JOIN JESUS IN HIS MISSION! It’s a chance to be better and do better. Let’s not miss this...the eternity of countless souls are at stake.

I love serving alongside you.

Following Him,

JIM

I know nearly everyone is struggling mightily with the quarantines and social distancing caused by COVID-19. Nerves are growing short. Tempers are beginning to flare. Nationwide, the most increased occurrence in crime over the last month has been a spike in domestic violence. Suicides are on a steep rise. Drug and Alcohol abuse is even MORE rampant.

This is unsustainable. We need a new perspective. We need an attitude of praise.

I have enjoyed partaking of MANY services while at home and I am extraordinarily impressed with how our Pastors have adjusted to a new season on ministry using social media. One of the Pastors I love to hear is the incomparable senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA, Dr. Crawford Loritts. He spoke on the power of praise in the midst of COVID-19. His focal passage was God’s deliverance of Judah from 2 Chronicles 20.

The following are 7 Benefits Of Praise During The Coronavirus COVID-19 as provided by Dr. Crawford Loritts:

1. Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God.

2. Praise brings us to a place of humility.

3. Praise makes the enemy run.

4. Praise leaves no room for complaining.

5. Praise makes room for God’s blessing.

6. Praise invites God’s presence.

7. Praise also paves the way for God’s power and brings refreshment to our hearts and minds.

This is the mindset we must take as we continue toward re-entry in our churches. Much planning is taking place to help every church prepare so that we can have a safe place for people to gather in the coming days/weeks. Each church will make making decisions about meeting and addressing the guidelines from the CDC and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

It’s too easy to lean into being critical, calling into question the motives of others and feed into the hate and negativity that already exists on all types of media. WE HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT! WE HAVE TO BE BETTER! THIS IS THE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO STAND OUT with a VOICE OF PRAISE....HITTING OUR KNEES IN PRAYER...AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTS OF THE GOSPEL THAT POINT PEOPLE TOWARD JESUS! So many wonderful stories are being told through our churches and the great sacrifices that are taking place to help our vulnerable population! Watch our Facebook wall for story after story on this!

In the meantime...let’s adopt an attitude of PRAISE as we re-enter our buildings and take that spirit of PRAISE back into our communities! THAT may be the greatest result of COVID-19 to the local church...WE EMBRACE THAT THE CHURCH IS AT IT’S BEST WHEN WE ARE SCATTERED! It has made us appreciate the opportunity to GATHER.

I hope you are following the 40 Days of Prayer many of our churches have been involved with during this time as we pray for a cure, for those who are hurting, for those who are lost and far from God, and for God to REVIVE HIS CHURCH! As I write this today we are 20 days in...I am looking forward to what is next and I commit to following Christ each step of the way with the spirit of PRAISE for all that he has done...all that He is doing...and all that He WILL DO IN US...THROUGH US...and DESPITE US!

I love this song by Hezekiah Walker: “EVERY PRAISE IS TO OUR GOD, EVERY WORD OF WORSHIP IN ONE ACCORD...EVERY PRAISE...EVERY PRAISE IS TO OUR GOD! SING HALLELUAH TO OUR GOD! GLORY HALLELUHAH TO OUR GOD! EVERY PRAISE, EVERY PRAISE IS TO OUR GOD! GOD MY SAVIOR! GOD MY HEALER! GOD MY DELIVERER! YES HE IS YES HE IS!

I can’t wait to hear the voices of praise as we GATHER and as we SCATTER!

Following Him,

JIM