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Dear subscriber,

A Word From Our National Coordinator

I am excited about finding a partner in Pastor StudyResources.com who will be producing our Enewsletter for us in the coming months. In addition to the news regarding the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network (our former name was Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association), Pastor Study Resources will included helpful material for busy pastors and a preview of the latest study materials available.

I want to encourage you to go to our website: bivosmallchurch.net and learn more about our network. Our goal is to provide encouragement, support, opportunities for fellowship and resources for leaders of bivocational and small membership churches in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the family of God around the world.

Hopefully, this new means of communication will help folks know more about us and what is available through the network. Our Regional Resource Centers for Bivocational Ministry provide some unique educational opportunities. Fellowship and training can be found in upcoming regional Celebrations and the National Meeting to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico during April 15-17, 2010. Information for encouraging and supporting leaders of Bivocational and smaller membership churches is shared through our Resource Network of leaders from state conventions and SBC agencies who work with bivocational and smaller membership churches. PALS (Partners Assisting the Lord’s Servants) provides special encouragement to ministers’ wives.

I look forward to sharing with you on a regular basis.
Tell a friend to sign up to receive this newsletter.

Sincerely,
Ray Gilder

Why Do We Need a Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network?

It appears that most folks in the Southern Baptist Convention have no concept regarding the large number of bivocational and smaller membership churches in our convention. According to a statistical report provided by the LifeWay Research Department based on the average Sunday School attendance from the 2006 stats, twenty-five percent of all SBC churches run less than 25; fifty percent run less than 50 and seventy five percent run less than 100. Based on those numbers at least, three-fourths of all SBC churches are bivocational or smaller membership churches.

What agency of the SBC is providing specific attention, encouragement and resources for these churches? No one. For over 20 years, the Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association was a part of the Home Mission Board and later the North American Mission Board. Support included a national missionary, a quarterly newsletter and travel expenses for the missionary and several regional consultants. Now that support has been reduced to some assistance for bivocational new church starts.

We are providing information and an opportunity for interaction among those who serve State Convention in these areas. We are working with colleges and universities to provide a special training tract for bivocational pastors and their area and online.

Support for our network is limited to a modest yearly membership fee and the contributions of some individuals and churches. It is our goal to have a fully funded National Coordinator who will be able to give time and effort to strengthen the network so leaders of these churches across the SBC will know they have a friend and someone they can turn to for encouragement and help.

National Meeting—Mark the Date!

The Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network will hold its annual meeting for 2010 at the Del Norte Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico during April 15-17. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the New Mexico Bivo Pastors and Wives Retreat. This is a family event. Activities will be planned for all members of the family.

Detailed information will be posted on the website BIVOSMALLCHURCH.ORG in the near future. Why not plan to attend and make this part of your family vacation?

Sermon Illustration—Change.

Here is a story that reflects resistance to change can be fatal:

A man went to his primary care physician for his annual check-up. The doctor looked at him, and said, "Sir, you health is poor; you have to do something about it now! First, I want you to tell your wife to cook you only nutritious, healthy meals. Next, have her stop making you work like a dog. Have her keep the children under control so you can relax. Also, I highly recommend you spend more time on the golf course. Finally, communicate to her that you're going to make a realistic budget, and she must to stick to it.” Looking at him gravely, the doctor added, “Hear me straight; unless all of these changes are made immediately, you'll be dead in a month."

The man replied, "Doc, this is terrible! My wife would better understand the instructions coming directly from you. Would you please call my wife, and tell her yourself?"
The doctor did, as the man dressed and left to go home.

When he arrived at home, his wife met him at the door, and said, "Your doctor called today." She paused, and then said, "I’m so sorry to tell you this, but you've only got thirty days to live!"

The Real Financial Crisis Has Not Even Arrived The Worst Is Still On Its Way.

• Thousands of the churches will cease to function as and many have already failed.
• Tens of thousands will be forced to leave the ministry.
• Churches may never regain what they loose.
• Hundreds of thousands of people may leave the church and never return.
• The pastoral care needs within your church and community are about to skyrocket.

This Manual Describes How To:

1. Plan reductions in an intelligent manner so as to avoid multiple reductions.
2. Anticipate staff and congregational problems.
3. Help your people deal with fear and anxiety as they learn how God intends for them to control their thoughts and come into agreement with Him.
4. Meet the expanded needs for critical pastoral care.

Many will recall Dr. Robert McGee, author of The Search For Significance—this is the book that Billy Graham said, “Every Christian needs to read this book.” Robert also provided numberless resources for LifeWay.

A few Months ago, Jack Watts and Jim Smith teamed up with Robert to create his latest book, The Search For Solvency—Is Your Church Ready To Survive The Economic Storm? this resource is featured (with a $5.00 savings) at www.PastorStudyResources.com

On the site you can download the table of contents as well as the first section. Download Your free preview copy.

Some Thoughts on Anger, with June Hunt

What Is the Magnitude of Anger?
Anger, like heat, can be measured in varying degrees. It ranges from mild, controlled irritations to hot, uncontrolled explosions. In fact, anger is a wide umbrella word that covers many levels of the emotion. (Source: David R. Mace, Love & Anger in Marriage, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982), Pages 42-45

“Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.” (Genesis 49:5–7) NIV
• Indignation is simmering anger provoked by something appearing unjust or unworthy and often perceived as justified. Jesus became “indignant” when the disciples prevented parents from bringing their children to Jesus so that He might touch and bless them. “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” (Mark 10:14) NIV
• Wrath is burning anger accompanied by a desire to avenge. Wrath often moves from the emotion of anger to the outward expression of anger. In Romans 1:18, God expresses His wrath as divine judgment on those who commit willful sin. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” (Romans 1:18) NIV
• Fury is fiery anger so fierce that it destroys common sense. The word fury suggests a powerful force compelled to harm or destroy. Some members of the Sanhedrin were so angry with Peter and the other apostles for proclaiming that Jesus was God that “they were furious and wanted to put them to death” (Acts 5:33) NIV. That is why the Bible says, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming.” (Proverbs 27:4) NIV
• Rage is blazing anger resulting in loss of self-control, often to the extreme of violence and temporary insanity. After an outburst of rage, a cry of remorseful regret or disbelief is often expressed, “I can’t believe I did that!” Yet those who continue to vent their rage toward others, including toward God, find themselves defeated by their own destructive decisions and ruined relationships. “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD (Proverbs 19:3) NIV

Key Passage to Read and Reread
“‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. . . . Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:26–27, 29–32) NIV

GOD’S ANALYSIS OF ANGER
⎯ Anger is appropriate at certain times. v. 26
⎯ Anger must be resolved, or it becomes sinful. v. 26
⎯ Anger can be curtailed. v. 26
⎯ Anger, if not stopped, can be used by Satan. v. 27
⎯ Anger, if prolonged, gives ground to Satan. v. 27
⎯ Anger can lead to corrupt, unwholesome, degrading talk. v. 29
⎯ Anger can grieve the Holy Spirit. v. 30
⎯ Anger can be totally cancelled. v. 31
⎯ Anger becomes sin when it results in bitterness. v. 31
⎯ Anger must be eradicated before it turns into rage. v. 31
⎯ Anger must be forfeited before it leads to fighting. v. 31
⎯ Anger must be stopped before it becomes slander. v. 31
⎯ Anger must be mastered before it becomes malicious. v. 31
⎯ Anger can be conquered through compassion. v. 32
⎯ Anger can be defeated through forgiveness. v. 32

(Source: How to Handle our Emotions, June Hunt, Harvest House Publishers, 2008, pages 13-15 and 36)

Learn More about June Hunt go to www.HopeForTheHeart.org