January 2008

Address Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Louisville, Kentucky Permit # 976

KENTUCKY BAPTIST

FELLOWSHIP Equipping & Empowering. Cultivating Partnerships. Engaging in Missions.

Kentucky Baptist Fellowship 225 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., Suite 205 Louisville KY 40222-4929 Phone: Fax: Office email: Website:

502-426-1931 502-426-1612 offi[email protected] www.kybf.org

January 30 - February 1 in Atlanta Exciting speakers with a message for Baptists!

Officers

Moderator: Moderator Elect: Secretary: Treasurer: Past Moderator:

Alice Mull Robert Davis Mary Runyon Susanne Jenkens Lynne Huff

Coordinating Council

Susan Allen, Kitty Baird, Margaret Barlow, Charlotte Benningfield, Jane Brake, James Browning, Linda Caldwell, Ottis Cave, Jeremy Colliver, Robert Coons, Stanley Crabb, Jica Crafton, Gwen Curry, Jim Dobbins, Nancy Fields, Larry Haltom, Patsey Jacobs, Mark Johnson, Don Mantooth, Bill McCann, Don McFadden, Kristen Terry Nethery, John Owen, Pat Ramey, Jay Robison, Don Rogers, Kimbrough Simmons, Naomi Walker, Howard Wilson, and Lisa Wood.

CBF Council Members

Bill Ellis, Robert Baker, Lynn Smith

Staff Coordinator: John Lepper [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Kathleen Cornetet offi[email protected]

Dr. Charles G. Adams, Dr. Tony Campolo, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Marian Wright Edleman, Al Gore, Dr. Joel Gregory, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Bill Moyers, Rev. Julie PenningtonRussell, and Dr. William J. Shaw.

Relevant themes for today’s world! Unity in . . . • • • • •

Bringing Good News to the Poor Respecting Diversity Seeking Peace with Justice Welcoming the Stranger Setting the Captive Free Tickets are available for luncheon event featuring Nobel Prize Winner Al Gore, Thursday, January 31, Noon to 2:00 pm For more info and to register: newbaptistcovenant.org phone: 678-547-6455.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters Training Workshop Buechel Park Baptist Church Sunday, February 24, 2008 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Annually, Bread for the World, a long time advocacy group, holds a training workshop in the Louisville area so individuals and churches can learn how to be an advocate for the hungry and the poor. This “Offering of Letters” workshop enables individual Christians—many who have never written members of Congress—to see their concerns translated into policies that help hungry and poor people improve their lives. For more information: www.bread.org Don Rogers (502) 452-9541

KBF News January 2008

KBF News is a newsletter of Kentucky Baptist Fellowship.

Shelby Dees Coordinates Mission Project Shelby Dees, an eighth grader at Eminence Middle School, completed a mission project in Owsley County this past month. Shelby’s school requires each eighth grader to develop and complete a service project during the school year. Shelby approached her pastor, Michael Duncan of Eminence Baptist Church, and told him she would like to do a mission project, not just a service project. Michael put her in contact with Paula Settle, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Affiliate missionary with Together for Hope in Eastern Kentucky. Shelby and Paula agreed that providing personal care items for teenage girls in Owsley County would be an appropriate outreach. Shelby with her showboxes and Pastor Michael Duncan. Shelby presented her plan to her church (Eminence Baptist) and asked for donations from the congregation. This project came in the middle of another countywide shoebox campaign. Over a one-month period, personal care items were brought to the church. Each week, Shelby picked up the items and took them home to sort. When the collection period was over, she and her parents secured plastic “shoeboxes” in which to place the items. Shelby sorted through her store of goods, making sure each box contained similar types of products. When she was finished she had forty-five shoeboxes for delivery. On November 19, Shelby, accompanied by her parents and her pastor, made the trip to the Owsley County School in Booneville, Kentucky. Paula Settle met Shelby at the school. Some of the shoeboxes were personally presented by Shelby to teenage girls who had been previously selected. The remaining shoeboxes were distributed before the holiday break. In her report to her church about the mission experience Shelby thanked the congregation for their participation in the project. “With all of your donations, we collected forty-five shoeboxes! I can’t believe it, I am so proud. I exceeded my goal of completing thirty shoeboxes. This project has opened my eyes to a new perspective. It just amazed me that the simple things we take for granted can put a smile on the faces of the girls I met.” Shelby concluded her remarks to her church by saying: “So in the end I really enjoyed the trip as well as doing the project, and once again I really do want to thank all of you for your tremendous support. I thought about church last week when we were passing the microphone around and saying what we were thankful for. I realized that each and every one of us should be very thankful because the things we all have been collecting for the shoeboxes and what we take for granted really meant a lot to the girls who received them.” Pastor Michael Duncan said of this project: “Shelby’s open heart and generous spirit opened the hearts of our congregation as they responded to her for assistance in gathering the needed products. Her mission-mindedness served to remind us all that being Christian is to be engaged in service to others.”

We are a fellowship of churches and individuals who share a commitment to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

Immanuel in Service with Tangier By Jane Brake, member, Immanuel Baptist Church, Frankfort Immanuel Baptist Church (Frankfort) is nearing the first year of partnership with our sister congregation in Tangier, Morocco. It has been a challenging and exciting year as we have sought to communicate and begin the journey of knowing one another. During this time, we have visited their church, formulated a plan for working together and been in regular communication. Immanuelites have reached out to communicate as pen pals with surprise at our ability to decipher some French!

Coming in 2008 January 25-26: KBF Coordinating Council, Highland Baptist Church, Louisville. January 29-30: Current Retreat, CBF’s Young Leaders Network, Atlanta, GA. thefellowship.info/current/retreat.icm January 30 to February 1: “Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant” Atlanta, GA. www.newbaptistcovenant.org February 7-8: Mynatt Minister and Spouse Retreat, Gatlinburg February 28-29: Mountain Hope Orientation, Nada Baptist Mission

The last two months of 2007 were particularly busy for the partnership. Immanuel was blessed with the opportunity to sponsor 12 students Immanuel Banner Team: (left to from Tangier to attend the annual right): front row: Marilyn Dooley, Festival of Lessons and Carols at Al Cheryl Dooley, and Naomi Walker. Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Mo2nd row: Karen Dungan and Betty Claycomb. 3rd row: Anna Mayne and rocco (where Karen Thomas Smith is the Ecumenical Christian ChapBecky Bishop. lain). This is the largest gathering of Christians at anytime in Morocco with choirs from all over the country coming to sing the carols. The students from Tangier have never been able to go because of the great expense ($50 each). To attend this event, they are eager to travel over seven hours by train, followed by taking a taxi up to the mountains, and finally arriving at the university where they were provided room and board by a Catholic church.

March 31-April 2: Georgetown Pastor’s Conference, Georgetown College

Again this Christmas season, Immanuel participated with Kentucky Baptist Fellowship in offering the Alternative Gift Cards, the proceeds of which are used for the Moroccan refugee ministry. The cards were made available at the annual church Thanksgiving breakfast and were quickly taken. A five-dollar card provided a blanket for a refugee while $10 provided a winter coat and $25 fed a family for a month. Immanuelites are grateful to Kentucky Baptist Fellowship for providing this opportunity to give a meaningful gift and be the face of Christ in Morocco to those who have so little.

August 15-16: KBF Coordinating Council, Kavanaugh Retreat Center, Crestwood

Finally, the Immanuel Banner Team completed a fabric wall hanging for the Tangier sanctuary that was shipped in time for the Advent season. The banner, in a rich royal blue that is a color of special meaning in Morocco, had the names of both churches in gold lettering with the earth prominently displayed in the center. The inscription at the bottom is written in French and means Partners in Christ. Above the earth a white dove carries a gold ribbon linking the cities of Frankfort and Tangier. This is symbolic of our connection as sister churches sharing a mutual love of Christ and desire to reflect his peace and love throughout the world.

April 25-26: KBF Spring Gathering, Highland Baptist Church, Louisville May 17: Baptist Seminary of Kentucky Graduation, Lexington, KY June 4-13: Morocco Partnership Trip June 18: CBF Missionary Appointment Service, Memphis June 19-20: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly, Memphis July 13-19: Extreme Build, McCreary County, KY

September 10-12: Together for Hope Partners Meeting, Winchester (national meeting) September 27: Children’s Mission Day, Faith Baptist Church, Georgetown October 16-17: Kentucky Council of Churches Annual Convocation, Frankfort October 25: Christian Education Workshop, Co-sponsored by Baptist Seminary of Kentucky and KBF BSK Campus, Lexington

Time Well Spent by Kimbrough Simmons, Pastor, Masonville Baptist Church The question by the Director of Boulware Mission caught me off guard—“What do you get from coming to Boulware Mission? My off the cuff answer was “I get an opportunity to be the presence of Jesus at the homeless shelter.” I continued to think about her question and want to share why I invest three to four hours a week at a homeless shelter. I have often heard people say, “I give to the homeless because I always get more than I give.” While the benefits of serving those in need are too numerous to count, that answer always comes across as an arrogant and selfish mindset. Let me respond from my heart. A few years ago our church adopted the tagline that we are a missional believing community. We are still figuring out exactly what that means in a suburban/rural context. But being missional means we exist for others and take seriously the context people find themselves in and allow the grace of God to become a reality. As I continue to explore the call to be missional, I am surprised at the many different opportunities Jesus brings into my life.

“They gave me the hand up I needed, in a safe environment, and this truly is the place for new beginnings.” Shaun, resident worker

As a disciple of Jesus, I am a servant. Servants serve. We are here to allow the presence of Jesus to transform our lives and the lives around us. I have found serving through Boulware is a powerful way for God to remind those struggling in life that they are not forgotten, but loved by God and God’s people. Masonville Baptist Church began relating to Boulware Mission in 2005 after one of its members began his employment there. Today our relationship includes: • • • • • •

This monastery will be able to increase beds from 38 to 128 once renovated.

Spirituality group for clients – what it means to follow Jesus Spirituality group for staff – prayer and contemplation time 10-15 clients worshipping on Wednesday and Sundays Led a memorial service for a client who died Financial and meal support Sunday School class helping staff another homeless shelter connected to Boulware Several former and present Boulware clients have found a home at Masonville Baptist Church and have become active in our church family. It is amazing to see God at work and a blessing to be used by God.

The Boulware Mission is in the midst of renovating the former Passionist Monastery in Owensboro to further its ministry. The monastery will be able to increase the beds from 38 to 128. Perhaps, during the summer of 2008, churches of the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship will be able to help the renovation through some mission trips. I thank God for the opportunity to serve alongside the Boulware Ministry. The Boulware Mission, Inc. is a community based, non- profit agency which has served the homeless and the poor of Owensboro, Kentucky and surrounding counties since 1921. The vision of Boulware Mission is to positively impact the health and the wellness of homeless individuals. Boulware serves an average of 320 individuals annually with its current capacity of 38 beds.