Annual Church Letter Form

Are You Thinking Like a Missionary?

Did you hear about the missionary who was sent to plant a new church in a foreign country? His thought was to build an American church in this completely non-American setting. Everything he did would look just like his church back home. He would teach and preach the same way. He would build his Bible study classes the same way. He would use the same music to worship with. In fact, he decided that instead of learning the culture and language of this new land, they would all learn to adapt to his culture and his language! This would make things much easier for the missionary. He had a great plan!

The problem is, it just didn’t work.

Isn’t that a preposterous scenario? We would be outraged if one of our missionaries took that approach to ministry and church planting. I’m grateful that BMAA Missionaries don’t think that way. Our Missionaries spend time understanding the field they are entering. They learn to “speak the language” of the people they are attempting to reach for Christ. Missionaries call it “contextualizing the Gospel.”

IIsn’t it time for us to begin to think like missionaries? I’m convinced that we must begin to ask ourselves the hard questions! Here are a few I would like to propose:

We know that we are preaching the truth, but are they hearing us?

If, in fact, the world isn’t hearing us, what can we do to speak more clearly?

Are we even speaking a language that a lost world understands?

Are we willing to think differently about ministry if it means we will be more effective?

Does any of this sound interesting to you as a leader?

Would you like your people inspired to think God's way about ministry?

Aren’t you tired of “ministry gimmicks”?

Would you like to develop a missionary strategy where your church moves into the culture where you minister?

I invite you to bring your church to a one-day workshop designed to help us all think like missionaries! Equip! A Church of Missionaries, is a day of discovery and honest assessment at our attempts to be Life-Saving Stations in our corner of the world. Great speakers with real-world ministry experience will spark your ministry teams into thinking differently about areas of ministry. From Sunday School teachers to sound system technicians, from Student Leaders to the person who manages your church website, imaginations and zeal for reaching the lost will be stirred. Pastors, this is an opportunity for you and your team to get first-class training at very little cost.



*** CANCELLED - March 13, 2010 @ First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Texas



For more info call DiscipleGuide Conference Ministries at 501.513.3726.


CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
9:00-9:20 am - Praise and Worship
9:20-9:30 - Introductions:  Donny Parrish
9:30-10:00 - Dr. John David Smith:  “Are You Thinking Like A Missionary?”
10:00-10:15 - Donny Parrish:  So, How’s That Working for You?
10:15-10:30 - Break
10:30-11:30 - Breakout Sessions
11:30-1:00 pm - Lunch
1:00-1:30 - Scott Attebery (AR & MS):  "Missionary Jesus"
                  Jason Aultman (OK & TX):  "Missionary Jesus"
1:30-1:45 - Break
1:45-2:45 - Breakout Sessions
2:45-3:15 - Donny Parrish:  So, How’s That Working for You Part II?


Breakout Sessions

Kirk Shelton: - The Strategy of Becoming a Missional Church
Stan Scroggins: (AR & OK) - Sunday School and Small Group Missionaries
Terry Kimbrow: (MS & TX) - Sunday School and Small Group Missionaries
Steven Carroll: - Becoming a Missionary to Students
Phillip Rice: - Technology and Print that Really Communicate
Larry Barker: (OK, MS & TX) - Is Your Church Ready for the Next Step
Donny Parrish: - Be a Worship Missionary

Dr. John David Smith
Professior of Missions
Central Baptist College, Conway, Arkansas
Assistant to Execuitve Director - BMAA Dept. of Missions
















Jason Aultman
Senior Pastor - Antioch, Conway, Arkansas















Scott Attebery
Senior Pastor - Wyatt, El Dorado, Arkansas














Kirk Shelton
Executive Pastor of Discipleship - Fellowship, Forney, Texas
Pastoral & Church Growth Consultant - DiscipleGuide














Terry Kimbrow
President - Central Baptist College, Conway, Arkansas
Education and Small Group Ministry Consultant - DiscipleGuide
















Stan Scroggins
Music Minister - First, Magnolia, Arkansas















Steven Carroll
Community Life Pastor - Fellowship, Forney, Texas
Student Ministry Consultant - DiscipleGuide















Phillip Rice
Media Minister - Fellowship, Forney, Texas
Webservant - DiscipleGuide














Donny Parrish
Executive Pastor of Worship - Fellowship, Forney, Texas
Conference Ministry Director - DiscipleGuide
Director of Student Ministries - BMAA Department of Missions















Larry Barker
Director of Operations-North America
BMAA Department of Missions

Are you thinking like a missionary?