February ushers in thoughts of love, Valentines, and WMU! It is a great month to emphasize “True Love

Waits” with programs and challenges for the teens in your church. February is the historic time for “Focus on WMU” and I encourage you to talk with your pastor about shining a spotlight on the ministries your group has sponsored over the last year and the missions lined up for the coming year! Promote!!! I hope your kids are signed up for the state “Children’s Ministry Day” in Reidsville. They can do hands on missions with others. Info below. VBS teams will have a chance to view and get great ideas to rock the community this summer at the March VBC clinics. The nearest being at FBC Lyons, notice they are 2 day events for maximum impact!

Missionary’s Musings by Bobby Braswell, Jr.

Pastor Peer Learning a/ k/ a Servant Leader Path February 20th, Wednesday,

10am at Mission Center Vaters book continues...

Roughly 18 years passed between my first and

second trips to a particular country. The first time I

went, I had never been anywhere in the world,

other than a trip to see my wife's family in Toronto,

and admittedly that was kind of another world.

In 2000, it was my first time flying and a very long

flight. I learned several things on that first trip:

I had a very provincial view of the world. It was

very healthy for my understanding to go to another

country and be a minority, even for two weeks.

Everyone should experience the Third world.

We joke about "first world problems" but that's

real. Going to a developing country sheds some

perspective on how much we take for granted about

our way of life.

Compared to the vast majority of people we are

extremely wealthy. Many people are eeking out an

existence on a pittance compared to the average

American.

The latest trip was very different than the first one.

I found that visiting a country a second time made

it feel less surreal. We take our liberty lightly. Many

people are subject to threats and persecution for

being faithful. They are not immune from suffering.

They do not look at comfort as a priority or a value

in the same way we do in the US.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to

share more with your congregation about this.

Please call us and calendar a time. Several

churches have done this already.

Bobby Braswell, Jr.

Guido Bible College, Metter, GA Associate & Bachelor Degrees

(Now Accredited!!!) Call (912)685-2222

Online: www.guidobibleinstitute.org

Food Pantry Needs :

1-2lb grits, potato flakes, spaghetti sauce &

noodles, powdered milk, jelly...

Check out our updated

Resource Center:

www.middlebaptistassociation.org

Like us on Facebook:

Middle Baptist Association

Middle Baptist Association Ministry Foundation

Funding for projects outside budget of MBA

(Brochures available at Mission Center (912)564-2884)

Pastor Leader Training

with Al Wright February 25th—12 noon

Please RSVP by Thursday (912-564-2884)

Free Training offered by the MBA ►NAMB’s 3 Point Discipleship ►The Calling and Preparation of Deacons ►On Mission Demographics: Knowing the Community and Knowing What to Do About It. ►Pastor Search Committee Training ►Peer Learning for Pastors

Call (912)564-2884 and set up a date!

February 16, 10-3:30, Reidsville $15

Vacation Bible School Clinic

FBC Lyons—March 8-9, 2019

Two day events across GA

Great training for teams!

gabaptist.org/vbsclinics

SUPPORT MISSIONS WITH EMPTY INKJET CARTRIDGES. THERE’S A COLLECTION BOX & POSTPAID

MAILERS AT MISSION CTR. PROCEEDS SUPPORT MISSIONS.

RECYCLE!

Happy Birthday to:

Terry B. Joyner- 2 - retired (Rev)

Tracy Curry-2-Green Fork

Perry Hearn-14-Scarboro

Russell Lyle-18-Middle Ground

Charlie Cooper –21- Sylvania

Debra Hicks-28-Bay Branch

Happy Pastor Anniversary to:

Adam Anderson-13-Middle Ground

Rev. Blake Hicks-14-Bay Branch

Russell Lyle-17-Middle Ground

• Selah: Training Retreat for Georgia Baptist Women’s Ministry Leaders, Camp Pinnacle, 2/28-3/2

• Georgia Baptist Women’s Spring Gathering, April 27, 2019, Turning Point at Mabel White Baptist Church, Macon, GA,

Pastor’s Day at the Capitol in Atlanta….February 26th from 10am-2pm

Guest Speaker: Robert Jeffress—Info and registration @ gabaptist.org

The Lighthouse February 2019

Newsletter

1471 Frontage Road—P.O. Box 160 Sylvania, Georgia 30467

Email: middleba@windstream.net Web: www.middlebaptistassociation.org

FB: Middle Baptist Association

Bobby Braswell, Jr. Associational Missionary

Email: middlebadom@windstream.net

Cell: (912)657-5889 Office: (912)564-2884

We still recycle Sunday School literature to foreign countries. We do not want Mission Mosaics, Home Lifes, Modern Maturity, Guideposts, RA/GA magazines etc…

Coming in March...Annie Armstrong, VBS clinics, Daylight Savings and more!

Event Trailer request form is on our website for our member churches. First

come, first serve basis. (912)564-2884 for calendar check!

Church News and More…

Memorial Baptist Church will have a Valentine’s Banquet on February 9th at 6pm and the Men of Praise will provide the music for the celebration. Enjoy the fun! The Green Fork Baptist Youth will have a fundraiser on February 16th (a Valentine's Banquet). We will be serving grilled chicken breasts, salad, baked potato, dessert and tea/water. The cost will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. There will be games and child care will be provided. Please come and support our youth. Brother Bobby Braswell will share a presentation of his trip to India during the morning worship service on February 24th. Goloid Baptist Church will be having a Soup and Sandwich Meal after the Morning Worship Service on: February 10, 2019. Bay Branch Baptist Church will have a free movie night February 14th at 7pm. A night out for adults to see “Ben-Hur”, the 2016 action-packed remake of the classic. Finger food, popcorn, and more for a fun night out! Come enjoy!!! Oak Hill Baptist church invites all to their Valentine’s Banquet featuring a meal and performing artist, Darrell & Dawn Ritchie on February 13th at 6:15pm. Cash donation only and best to RSVP (478)982-1616. Come and enjoy! They will have an UPWARD Celebration on February 26th at 7pm featuring “Remix”, an acrobatic team with a Gospel message at 7pm. You can check out the UPWARD basketball and cheerleading program each Saturday in February from 9am-1:30pm Brewton Parker College invites pastors to come to chapel and hear Dr. Fred Luter, Jr., former SBC president and Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist, New Orleans, on February 5th at 2pm. A reception will follow. They will also have a “Defend the Faith” conference ($10) with Dr. Richard G. Howe as plenary speaker with various breakout sessions on February 9th beginning at 8:30am.

For Basic help with a website…call the Mission Center!

(912)564-2884

Men of Praise

Looking to plug into Ministry in 2019?

► Children’s Camp: July 17-20, Coastal

Empire Christian Camp….Need campers

(Finished 1st grade-Finished 6th grade) and

need WORKERS!

► Mission Trip 2019: June 23-29, Cleveland, TN, We will do

construction, Back Yard Bible Clubs, and a Block Party. If your

church is interested in participating in a life-changing week, contact

us at (912) 564-2884.

February 7-8 @ Jekyll Island Club—$50—gabaptist.org/event/kids-ministry-summit/

February 23rd—Screven Co. Agricultural Center

Begins at 4pm Supper at 6pm

Interdenominational event

Grand National Turkey Calling Champion, Kerry Terrell will

give a demonstration

Testimony by Jason Beard

Funtastic Archery Ministry for Kids

Volunteers Needed: Cooks, Helpers, Parking, etc… Call/ text Shawn Marsh for info (912)425-2361

Eastern Heights—Statesboro—February 19th—6-8pm—Call :800-746-4422