STATE MISSIONS REPORT FOR AUGUST 2003
General Fund Beginning Balance $50,753.93
General Fund Offerings $19,840.17
Missionaries’ Salaries and Insurance $14,694.05
Administrative Salaries and Expense $1,948.85
General Fund Closing Balance $53,951.20
I thank God for a good year in our state mission work. Of course, it is all new to Nancy and me. We have enjoyed the work this year. It has been a real learning experience. We appreciate the good reception we have had as we visited around the state with our churches and missionaries. The churches have done a wonderful job of providing the needed funds. We have received general fund offerings from 234 churches, 6 local associations rallies, 5 youth rallies, 7 ladies auxiliaries, and 10 individuals. Offerings received by the office of the Secretary-Treasurer were $280,370.23 for the general fund, $12,372.50 for the minute fund, and $1,838.79 in designated funds. Total received was $294,581.52. We closed the fiscal year on August 31st with $53,951.20 in the general fund and $7,000 in the minute fund. A heartfelt thank you goes to each church and individual who provided these funds for mission work.
We began the year with five full salaried missionaries, three half salaried missionaries and one fourth salary missionary. At the end of January, one of the missionaries was in a situation where
he felt it better to give up the salary. This left a total of eight missionaries this year. The reports from the missionaries show that seventy-six (76) souls have been saved.
We have heard from several who are requesting salary next year. Bro. Roy Fikac from Faith MBC in Round Rock is requesting half salary. Bro. Larry Frye, North Lake in Denton, is requesting full salary. Bro. Dennis Pace, Pilot Point MBC in Pilot Point is requesting full salary.
Bro. W.S. Taylor, Crossroads MBC in Fort Worth is requesting full salary. Bro. David Humber, Texas Avenue MBC in Abilene is requesting one-fourth salary. First MBC in Duncanville is requesting designated funds for Bro. Brian Etheridge. Bro. Etheridge will be the pastor of Meadowbrook MBC near Wills Point. I have been told that another is coming for designated funds but have had no request for funds. I also expect to hear from another missionary right away. We really need to pray that more men will answer God’s call to the mission field. .
All of the bookkeeping is now done on the computer. We mailed the first group of receipt
letters the first week of September that was the result of the computer program now being used. It is our hope that this will make the work quicker and more accurate. We appreciate the help given to us by Bro. Ricky Knight, pastor of Colonial MBC in Grand Prairie in getting this all in order.
A number of questions have been asked concerning insurance for the missionaries. I asked the missionaries about this and found that not all of them have health insurance. I think we would
do well to drop the insurance designation and simply add the amount to their salary. Then we could encourage their sponsoring church to make sure their missionary does have some kind of health insurance.
I have been concerned for some time that we should to something to boost interest in our state mission work and provide our missionaries, as well as other prospective missionaries and sponsoring churches, with help and encouragement. It would also be good to offer this help and encouragement to all of our supporting churches. I have discussed this with quite a few of our pastors. Several have commented that the sponsoring churches and the missionaries should try
to comply with the Mission Policy as stated in the year book. I also believe that it would be
profitable to have a State Missions Conference, using some men who have been successful in leading a sponsoring church and men who have succeeded in putting together a mission plan and planted a church or churches. There are others who could give helpful information and encouragement for successful mission work.
We have many metro areas in our state where we could be reaching souls for Christ and we have no work at all. I have discussed these things with Bro. David Smith. We are working toward putting together plans for a conference, or seminar, in April 2004. There would be expense in such a project and we will need sponsoring churches to help with this. Let me know if you are interested in helping finance such a meeting.
There are seventeen local association meetings and obviously Nancy and I cannot attend all of them because there are some that fall on the same day in different parts of the state. We plan to attend each one we can. Bro. Rusty Denny has graciously volunteered to assist us and we are grateful to him. He will attend the meetings that we cannot. Both of us will be attending some of the association meetings.
Thank you so much for your support of state missions, both with your prayers and finances. Please pray for me as I try to fill this office to the best of my ability.
Marion Reed
David Humber
Abilene
Baptism!
During August we had the privilege of baptizing Krystal Cocke. Krystal is the young lady I told you about being saved at camp in July. Please pray for Krystal as she grows in her relationship with God.
Visiting Missionary!
We were thankful to have Missionary Tim Sims, his wife Jahnet and their daughter Hannah with us in August. The Sims family is on deputation raising support as they prepare to move to Thailand. We appreciate them being with us to share their burden for the people of Thailand and giving us the opportunity to share in that work. Please join us in praying for the Sims family.
Thanks!
Thanks to each church and individual who supports the work of Texas Avenue Baptist with your prayers and financial support. We appreciate the opportunity to serve on this field. Of course, we would like to see more solid progress in the work here, but we are looking forward to the many wonderful things God has in store for us in the future. You who support us directly and through the office of Secretary-Treasurer of Missions of the M.B.A. of Texas have a great part in the progress the Lord has brought to this field of labor. Lives have been and are being changed. Growth is occurring in the lives of the Texas Avenue Baptist family. Thank you for allowing God to touch our lives through your generosity.
Average Attendance: Sunday School: 30 Morning Worship: 32
Evening Worship: 24 Mid-week Bible Study: 22
Additions: Baptized _1
Total church offerings: $3,865.79 Gave to missions: $428.30
Paid on property: $888.00 Salary received from project: $960.00
Salary from others: $200.00 (+ half salary from M.B.A. of Texas)
Larry Frye
Denton
Saved Saved Saved!
There has been 17 professions of faith this month, six English speakers and eleven Hispanics, while door knocking!
Water Line
The water line is moving forward but we will have to pay for about 80% of the cost up front. The city will require the builders around us to repay us as they hook up to the line. We could sure use some help on this.
Building Plans
Our plat is still in the process of being approved by the city. We had to make some changes. I hope to have it approved this month.
Attendance
We had an average this month of 34 in SS and 34 in Worship Service with 24 visitors for the month.
Help
We sure need some more help on this Mission. We need to come up with a lot of money. The water line its self will be over $100,000.00 for our part. I know that the Lord is able to supply it for us I just hope that you will let Him use you to do this. I know that The Lord wants us to build a Church here because of the many souls that we are seeing saved. I am asking you all to please help us to finish what we have started.
Special Thanks To Our Supporters
It blesses my heart to know how much you have done for us. Thank you so very much for all that you do. The Lord only knows how special you are to us.
W .S. Taylor
Fort Worth
We
’re glad summer is almost over and vacations and trips will be back to more normal so attendance can be back to "more normal". We averaged 23 in SS, 33 in Worship.Exciting things are happening at Crossroads. God added Vickie and Bobby Landers to our fellowship this month. They just moved into the area from Grand Prairie where they were members of Marshall Drive MBC. They’ve already contributed a lot to our services and fellowship.
Our Square Foot Campaign is underway and we are having fun with it and being blessed by it. We wanted to have our brochures printed, but found the cost prohibitive. God provided free printing of 2500 through the company where one of our members works! They should be ready for mailing in another week or two. Your church will be receiving one and we would appreciate your prayerful consideration of it.
We sold our first sq. feet at a drama presentation by our youth which was very well attended. Several visitors that evening bought sq. feet. In three weeks, we’ve sold about 30 square feet! We have a "square foot bank" for people to drop their change in each week which will be emptied at the end of each month and square feet purchased with the contents. We just emptied our first one which was only used two weeks, and we were able to purchase 2 square feet. This gives the kids a chance to participate with us.
Bro. Marion Reed came this month and surveyed our property. He is getting it ready for platting. We’ve made a couple of changes to our building plan and it should soon be ready to present to Texas Mission Builders as our final plan for their consideration.
Bro. Larry Huffman is starting a "Discipleship" class on Sunday evenings. These classes will be for encouragement and growth of our members, much needed information for new converts and members and development of our teaching ministry.
We received a total of $1390 from other churches. Thanks to you who support us faithfully.
Dennis Pace
Pilot Point
Blessed brothers and sisters in Christ - I want to thank each of you for all of your prayers for our mission here in Pilot Point, TX. We cherish each and every gift and offering to help us in our endeavors to build a facility. It’s slow going, but I must remind myself that I’m working on God’s time schedule, not mine. We must also remind ourselves that it is God who gives the increase, not us. We must do our part and plant the seed and He will do His part.
It’s an awesome, and wonderful time when DISCOVERY begins again. It’s said that it’s easier to lead a child to Christ than an adult, and I believe it’s true. Therefore, our focus goes back to our kids and their spiritual well being. Many are coming from Catholic and Pentecostal backgrounds, but through our DISCOVERY program we can show them the Way the Truth and the Life and boy is it exciting.
After a long wait and fighting with the Pottsboro City Hall only to be denied access to the city sewage system, we have our new aerobic system installed and working. In my last report I said it could cost up to $10,000.00 to have this system installed. Well the Lord was with us and it
only cost us $9,100.00. We borrowed the money from a creditor and we are praying that when we sell the house we can recoup the cost and pay off the debt. Pray for us if you would that the Lord would send us a buyer soon so that we can finally get moved on station in Pilot Point.
Offerings Received Shiloh Missionary Baptists Mission Post Falls, Idaho $122.51
Clement Street Missionary Baptist Church Gainesville, Texas $107.43
Cedar Creek Missionary Baptist Church Palestine, Texas $500.00
Total Church Offering $1178.69 Total Given to Missions $158.90
Total Paid on Property N/A Rent $550.00 Total Received from Project $325.00
Total Received from others for Salary $500.00 Average Attendance Sunday School 8 Morning Worship 8 Sunday Evening 9 Wednesday Evening 11 We made 62 Contacts this month.
RODDY RODGERS
FLORESVILLE
Sickness, a holiday, vacations, etc., lowered our attendance this month. We should be back up after school starts.
I enjoyed and had the privilege of helping Zion Hill MBC of Henderson in a revival the week of August 4th-8th. Good attendance and a spirit of revival seemed to prevail. Two precious souls were saved. Bro. Kyle Ross is doing a good work there. I am sure they could use your prayers.
Averages for August were Sunday School 14, Morning Worship 19, Evening Worship 16, Mid-
week 12. Total church offering $2,379.19, Given to Missions $362.50, Received from project
for salary $1,250.00, Received from others for housing allowance, etc. $100.00.
GORDON RILEY
WILLS POINT
The Lord has been so good to us at Meadowbrook. The eight years I have been here (six years on MBA salary), the Lord has given us 61 professions of faith and baptism. Several were saved but unable to be baptized due to parent’s objections and other reasons. Some have reached adult- hood and gone on with their lives in other areas. We have three in the military. Several have grown spiritually and are serving the Lord. Brian Etheridge has come back to Meadowbrook to work and will be the pastor of Meadowbrook upon my retirement from pastoring. Rickey Payne is pastor at Eastfield MBC in Mesquite. Robert Pettigrew and his wife were both saved here at Meadowbrook and they are helping Bro. James Tallant at Meadowlark MBM in Quinlan. James Moss drowned at the age of 16, but he had surrendered to preach and had intentions of going to TBI when he graduated from high school. I feel that I lost a right arm when we lost James. I will not be asking for salary this year when the MBA meets. I have been on half salary. Meadowbrook still needs help due to the fact that our youth can give themselves but have little money. We have a few adults that tithe, plus other gifts of love. The First Missionary Baptist Church in Duncanville has endorsed Brian Etheridge as Missionary Pastor and are requesting designated funds to help with his support. Please pray for him and assist him as much as possible.
Averages for August were Sunday School 20, Morning Worship 31, Evening Worship 23, Mid-week 22, Teen night 17. Members of Meadowbrook made 137 personal contacts. There were
three (3) souls saved and two (2) were baptized. Total church offering $1,421.00, Given to Missions $100.00, Paid on Property $600.00, Received from project for salary $200.00, Received from others for salary $300.00.
ROY FIKAC
ROUND ROCK
Greetings Brethren,
Spent most of the month of August either in a doctor’s office or a hospital room. After a couple of kidney stones and some other surprises I am glad to report that I am doing fine. Appreciate your prayers.
ATTENDANCE AVERAGES: Sunday School 46; Sunday Morning Worship 77; Sunday Evening Worship 35; and Wednesday Night Worship 31.
ADDITIONS: Received l on promise of letter. Tanya Lankford
MISSIONS: Mongolian missionary helpers, Hal and Jennifer Johnson, visited with us.
RELOCATED: Have moved within two miles of the mission. Our new address is:
1704 Creek Bend Circle, Round Rock, Texas 78681
Our new phone number is (512) 248-8693.
FUTURE PLANS
1. ENDORSEMENT - We will come endorsed for half salary, minus the insurance this year. We celebrated our 9th anniversary as a mission here in Round Rock on August 3rd. 7 of those 9 years have been on state salary. The last 2 have been on half salary with insurance. It is our intent to go to 1/4 salary next year and then to organize within the following year. Pray for us.
2. REVIVAL - Will take part in revival services for Wyndrock MBC in Abilene - Sept. 8th - 13th
3. REVIVAL - Will be in revival here at Faith October 13th - 17th. Bro. Lamar Denby will be the evangelist.
THE BRETHREN OF FAITH SALUTE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
SPONSORED BY MODOC MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF ATHENS