The Michigan Free Will Baptist

Menorah January The Monthly Publication of the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists 2016

Friendship Free Will Baptist Church Calls PastorIt was announced in the December Menorah that the Friendship Church had called Rev. Greg Tucker to be their pastor. Greg Tucker 36 years of age, born August 7, 1979, and grew up in Huntsville AL. He received his Bachelors in Theology from Welch College. His wife, Stephanie Tucker, 31, May 9, 1984, grew up in Waldorf, MD. She is pursuing a General Christian Ministries degree through Welch online, but has taken a break to have the time needed to help the family through this upcoming transition. Their son Caden is 9, about to be 10, January 11, 2006. Levi is 3 about to be 4, December 20, 2011. And Skyla Joy is 2, August 11, 2013. They are all humbled and excited to have been given this opportunity to serve God and look forward to see what He has in store in Davison, MI. Pastor Greg will officially assume pastoral duties January 3,

2016.

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2016 MEN’S RETREATYouth Haven Ranch

3796 Perrine Road, Rives Junction, Michigan 49277

January 24 – 26, 2016Cost: $100.00

North American Ministries Presents Church Growth & Leadership Seminars

Monday, January 25, 20168:00 a.m. – Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. = Examining the Body, Part 1 by Rev. Jim McComasA comprehensive spiritual check-up for the local church. This seminar takes the

patient to the doctor for a complete physical.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. = Examining the Body, Part 2 by Rev. Jim McComas

12 Noon = Lunch

1:00 p.m. = General Board Meeting of the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists

Free Time

5:00 p.m. = Dinner

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. = Men’s Ministry by Rev. Ken Akers (Helping Men become what they should be)Page 2

7:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. = Keynote Message by Dr. David Crowe

Tuesday, January 26, 20168:00 a.m. = Breakfast

9:00 a.m. = Creating a WOW Factor For Your Church by Dr. Brad RansomWhen visitors come to your church for the first time do they feel welcome? Do they feel valued? Do they know where to go and what to do? This seminar teaches leaders how to create a great “first impression experience.”

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. = Systems Thinking by Dr. Brad RansomSystems are the essential organizational parts that make up every church. Just as the human body has systems (circulatory, muscular, neurological, skeletal, etc.) the church has essential systems that must be in place in order for the church to be healthy and grow.

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. = Presentation by Youth Haven Ranch

12:20 p.m. = Lunch and Benediction

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Good News from Spain¡Hola!Tonight we are writing our update with tired bodies and VERY happy hearts.  The Alpedrete Church presented our musical “Christmas is JESUS” in the nearby town of Collado Mediano this evening.  We weren’t able to get an exact count, but we probably had over 200 people there.  (All of the seats were filled, with people standing along the walls in the back.)  They heard the Gospel story as they watched scenes from Jesus’ birth all the way to His resurrection.  Each family left with a homemade Christmas ornament and a copy of the Gospel of John.  Pray with us that the words they heard will speak to hearts in the coming days as they reflect on what they saw tonight.  THANKS for being a part of the Alpedrete Church program tonight with your prayers and support!¡Muchas gracias!Tim, Kristi, Alejandro, and Ana

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Greetings from the RiggsDear Michigan Churches and Friends,

At the beginning of this New Year, Becky and I want to say thank you for all you have done for us and for all of our Michigan missionaries.  There is just no way we could ever say thank you enough.  The Lord willing, we hope to head back to France towards the end of January.  The past months that we have spent travelling and visiting with many of you have been a real blessing to us.  We hope in some way we may have also been an encouragement to you.  Thank you so much for welcoming us in your churches and for every act of kindness shown to us.  We will never forget it.  

As we head back to the work in France, we do so knowing that so many of you are standing with us in your prayers and sacrificial giving.  Thank you on behalf of our FWB churches in France, and on behalf of the many you will one day meet in heaven because of your prayers and giving.  Wouldn't it be great if the Lord would return in 2016!  But until He comes, may He renew each of us with grace and hope to continue His work to advance His Kingdom.  We love you and are so grateful for you.

Steve & Becky RiggsChâteaubriant, France

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Cell Version: Rejoice GreatlyWhen was the last time you spent two consecutive hours listening to the Scriptures sung to you? This weekend Debbie delighted in an early Christmas gift. Cara took her to the Nashville symphony’s performance of Handel’s Messiah. You could hear a pin drop as saints and sinners were musically walked through the prophecies, birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Debbie has listened to recordings of Messiah during the Christmas season for over 30 years. To hear it performed live with Cara was moving.

At the same time, we are thinking of our African brothers and sisters. They celebrate Christmas together (sometimes all night) with enthusiastic singing, drama, and preaching. At times they show evangelistic films, and usually there is a potluck meal together. We love the African dishes they bring, and they look forward to our big pot of spaghetti and sauce.

Although classical music (or foutou and peanut butter sauce) may not be your experience this year, we hope that you carve out time to ponder the gospel accounts and sing the old carols. It will revive your soul, and we can testify first-hand that the truth of Christ does “speak peace unto the heathen” (including us!) as the air "Rejoice Greatly" (click words for link to music) from Messiah reminds us.

Our children, granddaughter, and Debbie’s parents will join us in Cookeville on Friday. When we return to Cote d’Ivoire, we will not see them during the holidays, so this is a treasured time. Next weekend we will not send an update, since our trip on Saturday to see family and ministry partners in Michigan will take all day.

Merry Christmas, dear friends!Verlin and Debbie

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Breaking News from Welch College on Accreditation for M.A. in Theology and Ministry

The following information was posted by our accrediting association on their websitesacscoc.org

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Accreditation 

Actions taken by the SACSCOC Board of TrusteesDecember 6, 2015

At its meeting on December 6, 2015, the SACSCOC Board of Trustees took the following actions regarding the accreditation status of institutions.

The Board accredited the following member institutions at a new or a more advanced degree level: 

Welch College, Nashville, Tennessee

Moved from Level II to Level III offering the Master of Arts in Theology Ministry (Effective: February, 2016)

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Formal notification of accreditation of the new graduate program by our other accrediting association, the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), was received in November. More details about the Welch Master of Arts degree in Theology and Ministry will be forthcoming in a subsequent release following formal notification from SACSCOC.

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Preachers Available for Pulpit SupplyRev. Don Viers – 734 476 3357 - donviers@gmail.com

Rev. Mike Bader - 734-934 3597    mbader79@yahoo.comand 

Rev. Louis Tolbert - 734-461-6435 or 734-845-7843 

Rev. Gary Ward - 734-217-6030 or 734-331-2491

Rev. Gene Norris – 586-994-8442; gnorris4166@gmail.com

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SNOWBLAST 2016 – January 15 – 16

For registration forms and more information, please contact Clayton Kerr at clayton@kirbychurch.com.

Answer to December trivia question: Isaiah [Isaiah 20:3]

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What’s Happening at Rouge Free Will Baptist Church?This church under the leadership of Pastor Danny Slater remains quite active. The first Master's Men Meeting of 2016 will be Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 at the Ponderosa Steakhouse. Doors open at 6:00 PM for Supper then the meeting begins sometime after 6:30 PM. Bro. Charlie Baughman will bring the devotion for the evening and they will have our "Hot Topic" discussion as time allows. One change coming in 2016 during their meetings will be a shift from Devotions to Bible Studies utilizing the Hot Topic subjects. They are not doing away with devotions, but opening up the floor for good Bible discussion among the men about current events and how they affect our men in their everyday lives.

Everyone enjoyed the 2015 Christmas Play "The Fence". They are so grateful to Sis. Rhonda Baughman who wrote and directed the play and for the awesome cast and crew who performed it so well. And to the people who worked so hard behind the scenes to make it all happen, Ben Miller, Tom Elliott, Ed Hall, Tom Stoots and Dan Baker! But, above all they are "Praising God" who blessed us with several precious souls who gave their heart and life to Jesus. That was worth everything!

Reprinted from the Master’s Men Newsletter

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Report from the Free Will Baptist Board of International MissionsThe Board met December 9-10, 2015 in Antioch, Tennessee. The following motion was made: “for FWBIM to adopt a designated-giving funding system with individual accounts. All account balances remain as designated.”

This bold statement reflects the Board’s desire to maximize the gospel witness through our missionaries’ sacrificial efforts in the context of Free Will Baptist churches, pastors, and supporters. Our heart’s desire is to see God’s Kingfom grow because of Free Will Baptist’s unwavering commitment to the Great Commission.

The Board endorsed goals proposed by the International Leadership Team. The team proposed: 1) increasing the financial reserves to 20% of the operational budget; 2) increasing the number of international churches by 20%; 3) increase the number of believers internationally by 20%; 4) increase the number of monthly donors by 20%; and 5) increase the number of cross-cultural missionaries by 20%. The goals reflect the team’s commitment to the IM Mission Statement.

The IMLT plan to achieve these goals within a five-year period or by December 2020. More information concerning these goals will be released in the near future.

The Board also voted to honor the request of Mirial Gainer, career missionary to Japan, to retire effective June 1, 2016. “Mirial’s love for people has manifested itself in her persistent, constant witness to many lost people in Japan. Her missionary colleagues speak frequently of her ability to meet people and the ease with which she shares her faith,” observed General Director Clint Morgan. “Her retirement will create a great void in the Free Will Baptist team in Japan.”After serving two decades as an associate missionary, Mirial was appointed to career status in April 1997. She continued to serve in a supporting ministry in the Abashiri and Bihoro churches. Her responsibilities included teaching English as an evangelistic outreach, evangelism, Bible teaching, helping with English as an evangelistic outreach, evangelism, Bible teaching, helping with English worship services, working in the Sunday school, and other outreach ministries until she moved to the Tokyo area in 2001.

On December 9, 2015, the Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions appointed Doug and Miriam Bishop as career missionaries to Japan.

“We look forward with great anticipation to what God will do through this wonderful young couple,” remarked General Director Clint Morgan. “Their two-year internship sharpened their resolve to reach the Japanese people with the Good News. The challenges are daunting, but their commitment is evident.”

Doug and Miriam completed a two-year internship in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan, in November 2015. They returned to the States on November 19.

The board received a report of the highlights of the couple’s ministry in Japan. The Bishops arrived in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, in December 2013. After several weeks of orientation and completing government requirements, they moved

The Michigan Free Will Baptist MENORAH4166 Maplewood Meadows AvenueGrand Blanc, Michigan 48439

across the island to Abashiri where their ministry was based for the rest of the internship. Doug and Miriam partnered with Pastor Ishii of the Bihoro Church as well as working with missionaries Nathan and Linda Snow and Rusty and Brenda Carney.

During their time in Abashiri, Doug preached at the Bihoro and Abashiri churches each month. Doug and Rusty Carney began an adult English class with only two men that has grown substantially. Miriam started English classes for preschoolers on Thursdays. The class grew so large it became two classes, one on Thursday and one on Friday. A significant portion of each English class is a Bible study time.

“We believe the Lord has called us to this ministry,” affirm Doug and Miriam. “We are confident He will provide all we need in His time.” Anyone interested in hearing Doug and/or Miriam share their burden for Japan may email them (dougbishop@fwbgo.com) or call the IM office toll-free (1-877-767-7736).

Doug and Miriam have three children: Oliver, Scarlet, and Hazel. Hazel was born in Japan.

The Board also approved a two-year extension of Joel and Lydie Teague’s internship on December 9, 2015. This will allow them to meet the educational requirements for career service.

The Teagues hit the ground running when they arrived in Nantes, France, in September 2013. The annual  JCrois (I believe it) event was held just a month later.

Throughout the next two years they planned bimonthly JPense (I think about it) events to attract and encourage French young adults to give serious thought to the claims of Christ. These events—featuring music, a video testimony, and a message that addressed real-world questions about God and Christianity—provided a first contact with hundreds of people. Dozens of adults joined discussion groups that worked through tough questions and led to the salvation of at least six young adults.

“Our hearts filled with praise to God as we listened to Joel and Lydie tell of French young people coming to know Christ,” stated General Director Clint Morgan. “As their mentor, I have observed their ministry closely and one word comes to mind—obedience.”

Joel and Lydie desire to serve as career missionaries to France. Joel has a Master’s degree in computer programming and Lydie has a Master’s in law. However, career missionaries must have 30 hours of Bible courses and a variety of missions-related courses. Some of these requirements were completed to qualify for their first internship. The couple will seek to satisfy the balance of the courses during the next two years. Their extension includes both stateside assignment and service in France.

The couple completed their initial two-year internship in France and returned to the States November 27. Joel and Lydie have two daughters: Eva and Alyssia. Initially, the family will live in Oklahoma.

Anyone interested in having Joel and Lydie for a service or other event may contact them directly (jteague@fwbgo.com; 1-615-450-8095) or call the IM office toll-free (1-877-767-7736).