Wednesday, June 15, 2005
News for June 05
Stewardship E-Newsletter, June 2005
Bob Tallent, rgtallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117www.bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
Whoa! It’s June already. Summer is the “opportunity season” for church growth! Vacation Bible Schools, Back Yard Bible Clubs, block parties, concerts, mission trips, church barbecues, outdoor puppet shows, choir tours and whatever else you can think of to expose your community to the Gospel will keep you busy. But believe it or not while you are busy with all of this, now is the time to begin planning for the fall and next year’s ministry. And an essential component of that planning should be a Stewardship Emphasis! We have many resources at the State Office Baptist Resource Network to help you. Contact us and ask for materials on doing an Annual Stewardship Campaign (1-800-451-6599). Remember, while all ministries need resources, the ultimate reason for teaching stewardship in not to raise money but to develop Christians!
An essential part of every church’s stewardship ministry is good, transparent honest accounting. In today’s world this means a good, easy-to-use computer software program. We have recently reviewed the “Servant Keeper” church management software and found it to be quite serviceable. It is a membership and group management tool as well as church finances. We found it easy-to-use, highly flexible and adaptable to different types and sizes of churches and expandable. And it is relatively inexpensive. Of course, this is just one of many on the market. (www.servantpc.com)
Pennsylvania and South Jersey Baptists have been invited to participate in Maryland Baptist’s “Skycroft Horizon” church strengthening conference July 29 and 30. Conferences include Sunday school , Bible teaching, Woman’s Ministry, Senior Adults, Parenting, WMU, Pastors, Disciple Making, Deacon Ministry, Family Ministry, and Student Ministry. To register, phone 1-800-466-5290 ext 218,or e-mail gnoda@bcmd.org. For more information see www.yourbcmd.org/horizons
A Suggestion for July 3: This year why not celebrate Freedom to Worship. It seems to me that this is something all American Christians can do regardless of their political inclinations! You can find worship materials at www.firstfreedoms.com and a recording by Ken Medema.
Barna is at it again. At www.Barna.org you can find a Survey [that] Reveals The Books and Authors That Have Most Influenced Pastors. Not surprisingly, Rick Warren with The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, tops the list. But not far behind are What’s So Amazing About Grace? Phillip Yancey; Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala; Wild At Heart by John Eldredge; Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels; Spiritual Leadership by Henry Blackaby; Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley; and the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell.
Plan now to bring a delegation to the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey 35th Anniversary Celebration, November 3-4, 2005, West Shore Evangelical Free Church,1345 Williams Grove Rd. Mechanicsburg, PA. We are looking for five times our usual attendance with a number of prominent speakers and many special events. There will be mass choirs. If you have a music group, contact the state office. We also plan a mass joint baptismal service. If you have a baptism coming up, why not share in this service. Or if you have photos or videos of baptisms within the last two years, please get them to us.
# # #
Cure for stress: “Remember that all three positions of the Trinity are filled—no need to apply for the job!” [Dr. Charles Kemp]
# # #
Bob Tallent, rgtallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117www.bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
Whoa! It’s June already. Summer is the “opportunity season” for church growth! Vacation Bible Schools, Back Yard Bible Clubs, block parties, concerts, mission trips, church barbecues, outdoor puppet shows, choir tours and whatever else you can think of to expose your community to the Gospel will keep you busy. But believe it or not while you are busy with all of this, now is the time to begin planning for the fall and next year’s ministry. And an essential component of that planning should be a Stewardship Emphasis! We have many resources at the State Office Baptist Resource Network to help you. Contact us and ask for materials on doing an Annual Stewardship Campaign (1-800-451-6599). Remember, while all ministries need resources, the ultimate reason for teaching stewardship in not to raise money but to develop Christians!
An essential part of every church’s stewardship ministry is good, transparent honest accounting. In today’s world this means a good, easy-to-use computer software program. We have recently reviewed the “Servant Keeper” church management software and found it to be quite serviceable. It is a membership and group management tool as well as church finances. We found it easy-to-use, highly flexible and adaptable to different types and sizes of churches and expandable. And it is relatively inexpensive. Of course, this is just one of many on the market. (www.servantpc.com)
Pennsylvania and South Jersey Baptists have been invited to participate in Maryland Baptist’s “Skycroft Horizon” church strengthening conference July 29 and 30. Conferences include Sunday school , Bible teaching, Woman’s Ministry, Senior Adults, Parenting, WMU, Pastors, Disciple Making, Deacon Ministry, Family Ministry, and Student Ministry. To register, phone 1-800-466-5290 ext 218,or e-mail gnoda@bcmd.org. For more information see www.yourbcmd.org/horizons
A Suggestion for July 3: This year why not celebrate Freedom to Worship. It seems to me that this is something all American Christians can do regardless of their political inclinations! You can find worship materials at www.firstfreedoms.com and a recording by Ken Medema.
Barna is at it again. At www.Barna.org you can find a Survey [that] Reveals The Books and Authors That Have Most Influenced Pastors. Not surprisingly, Rick Warren with The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, tops the list. But not far behind are What’s So Amazing About Grace? Phillip Yancey; Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala; Wild At Heart by John Eldredge; Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels; Spiritual Leadership by Henry Blackaby; Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley; and the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell.
Plan now to bring a delegation to the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey 35th Anniversary Celebration, November 3-4, 2005, West Shore Evangelical Free Church,1345 Williams Grove Rd. Mechanicsburg, PA. We are looking for five times our usual attendance with a number of prominent speakers and many special events. There will be mass choirs. If you have a music group, contact the state office. We also plan a mass joint baptismal service. If you have a baptism coming up, why not share in this service. Or if you have photos or videos of baptisms within the last two years, please get them to us.
# # #
Cure for stress: “Remember that all three positions of the Trinity are filled—no need to apply for the job!” [Dr. Charles Kemp]
# # #
