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Ben Brags: On the Savior

Holston Baptist Association, 207 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604 www.holstonbaptists.org

"Facts and Trends" recently cited studies that found "35.8 million adults and children are living in modern slavery worldwide." In poverty-stricken areas, rampant unemployment makes people vulnerable to human trafficking, prostitution, and evil predators. Business as Mission (BAM) may sound like a new idea, but it is actually a very old, very biblical concept. Every person on the planet relates somehow to business, so we must ask, "How do business and missions overlap?" Churches operate within a "non-profit paradigm" which collects money here and gives away services and products there. Businesses operate within a "for-profit paradigm," which creates products and services and involves indigenous people groups in the value-added processes. The contrast reflects the longstanding "Aid vs. Trade" debate. After 50 years and $1 trillion in aid, the lives of Africans is not just worse, they are much worse than before the aid started. Aid tends to undermine the integrity and dignity of the people, foster dependence, fuel corruption, undermine democracy, and stifle development and innovation. We can never have long-term, sustainable and relevant solutions unless we also help address economic issues and business development. Continued on page 4

WHY HAVE VBS?

25% of Baptisms reported by SBC come from VBS.

Every 1 person trained in VBS results in 1.1 salvation decisions.

10% of people enrolled in VBS are unchurched

R! U! READY? TO JOURNEY OFF THE MAP??!!! It’s Time!! Our VBS Clinic has finally arrived!! The team and I are so excited to see all your smiling faces. We hope you have decided to come and join us for a night of fun, fellowship and information. When and what is happening you ask?

Where: First Baptist Church of Blountville When: Thursday April 9

Time: Open House begins at 5:39 with the Opening Rally starting at 6:oo

From there you will go to your conference and we will dismiss at 8:30. Classes offered: Babies—Pre K, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade, 3rd and 4th Grade, XBX Youth, Adults, Directors, Missions, Crafts, Music and Snacks. So come go on the ‘Journey” with us. You will begin your day in the Overlook Worship Rally and then “travel” to your conference at Tangled Tree House. In your class, you will “hike” to Music at Rushing Waters, learn about Recreation at Rapelling Ravine, Snacks at Survival Springs, Crafts at Shady Grove and Missions at Boulder Bridge. Got questions? Give me a shout or you can call the HBA Office at 929-1196! See you there!!

Tammy Hammitt Associational VBS Director

677-8503

Christian Business Leaders and Missionary Hearts, stay tuned and listen for an upcoming Training and Planning event intended to engage us in Business as Mission enterprise(s). But if God is already stirring your heart, go ahead and call now!!!

Holston Baptist Association, 207 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604 www.holstonbaptists.org

Welcome!!

Congratulations!!! . . . to Jordan and Holly

Pate, Youth Minister at FBC Fall Branch! God

blessed them with sweet baby Ryder James

on February 14. Big brother is Silas and

Grandparents are Rev. Steve and Traci Pate,

Harmony. Great–Grandparents are Rev. Bud

and Helen Pate, retired HBA pastor.

Rev. Luka Temaj,

(l) shown here

with his wife and

daughter, has

been called to

Faith Fellowship

as Assistant

Pastor to Rev. Tim

Jackson.

Janet Chaney is the first

missionary commissioned

by Liberty BC. Pastor

Stand Anderson gave the

Charge. Janet will be

serving as C.a.t.a.l.y.s.t. in

Thailand.

Mountain View Baptist Church is now accepting resumes for a bi-vocational Associate Pastor. Please submit resumes to: Associate Pastor Search Committee , PO Box 348, Johnson City, TN 37602 or email resume to mvbpasor@mtnviewbaptist.com Rev. Rich Murray is pastor.

Rev. Charlie Scalf is the new Worship Minister at Heritage.

Pastor is Dr. Reggie Weems.

Rev. Rob Moor, Pastor of Ninth

Street has been called to serve as

Director of Missions to Lebanon

Association in Virginia. The

church honored he and his wife

Lisa with a Farewell Dinner on

March 29. He will be missed!

Congratulations!

Holston Baptist Association, 207 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604 www.holstonbaptists.org

Appalachian Trail Ministry The “through hikers” on the AT have started and they are nearing our area. In an effort to reach out to them, we are planning a cookout for them on:

Saturday, April 25 at Chestoa in Erwin We will also meet them in Hot Springs, NC on Saturday, April 18 at Trail Fest to promote the cookout. Trail Angel Ministries—a treat for thru hikers. If you want to volunteer with any of these ministries, please call 929-1196 or Sam at– 543-8398. Sam Dalton AT Coordinator

TO YOUR HEALTH Dr. Greg Burton Pastor of Colonial Heights We hear about the importance of exercise all

the time. Unless you have built the practice of

exercise into your regular routine, this is often a difficult

regimen to adopt. When you study the physical nature of life in

the Bible you find that humanity was made to work. Physical

work. Walking great distances and working with ones hands

were a party of daily life in the Scriptures. Our lifestyles have

changed drastically. Many work at a desk and spend way too

much time on electronic devises. How can we create healthier

practices?

Walking is one of the best practices we can adopt. Walking one

mile burns roughly 100 calories. You burn about the same by

running a mile. The key factor here is the time of exercise.

Physiologists tell us we should do at least 30 minutes of some

exercise each day that increases our cardio output. It is so

healthy to challenge our hearts. Walking, bicycling (real or

stationary), swimming, hiking, etc. are all wonderful ways to

stay healthy. Doing it with a partner often makes it easier and

adds accountability. I prefer exercising with my iPod so I can

listen to music or podcasts (you might actually start to preach

better!). One thing is certain: if you seriously want to exercise

for better health you will intentionally schedule time during the

day. If you do not write it down and protect that slot, it will fade

away like a novice hiker on a steep hill. Let’s get busy!

Montana Mission Trip

Planning Meeting

Tuesday April 7th, 6:30 –7:30

HBA lower level

Ministry Location:

Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

Dates:

July 25th-Aug 2nd

Ministries:

Children’s ministries in Hayes and Lodge Pole

Construction of a Clothing Ministry

Storage Building at the Camp

Contact Person: Dennis Shumate 423-823 0722

Associational Bible Drill— Tuesday, April 14, 2015 6:00

at Trinity, Headtown Road in Jonesborough

Regional Drill—Saturday, April 25 at Colonial Heights BC 239-5123

Everett and Joyce Willis will take the Shower Trailer to Trail Days in Damascus VA May 15-16. If you are able to help, please call 929-1196

Disaster Relief has been super busy this season. They were called out to Middle Tennessee after the snow and ice storm.

Disaster Relief Training

http://www.tnbaptist.org/page.asp?cat=miss&subcat=relief

Business as Missions Dennis Shumate

Several years ago one of our partners working in Indonesia

mentioned that an Indonesian Christian couple was interested in opening up a coffee shop business where people could both come

for coffee and learn more about Christianity in a neutral/safe place. Towering Oaks provided $500 to start the business.

Also, in my research regarding water filtration systems or

developing countries, I remember that a Christian NGO provided the startup money to purchase molds and other equipment for a point source water filtration business. Their two fold goal was to

meet a practical need and to share Christ in the process. They plan was to work with Christian business men who would also hire

Christians to build the distribution/evangelism/discipleship network.

Both of these concepts provide practical ways to use business as a platform for fulfilling our Great Commission Mandate. When the Lord said to go into all the world He didn't provide an exception

clause excluding the business world. Christians may work in a variety of businesses, but we are all working for the same

"boss". He said go and make disciples.

We welcome Charlotte Murphy to the HBA staff! Charlotte is a student at ETSU studying graphic design. She will be working on our website and helping us overall with

Ben Brags on the Savior Continued from first page...

In places where poverty and unemployment abound,

young people come to the marketplace looking for

jobs, and for many, the name of Jesus has been rarely

heard. Christian business leaders can create jobs that

develop value-added processes and produce tangible

products and services, and simultaneously mentor and

shape indigenous business leaders -- for Christ, and

help transform whole people groups, cities and nations

-- for Christ. By tangibly adding value to lives, even anti

-Christian people groups may gladly welcome and

befriend us -- and prayerfully, then see Christ through

us.

Business as Mission is about "real, viable, sustainable,

and profitable businesses; with a Kingdom-of-God

purpose, perspective, and impact; leading to

transformation of people and societies -- spiritually,

Holston Baptist Association, 207 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604 www.holstonbaptists.org

Holston Baptist Association, 207 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604 www.holstonbaptists.org

April 3 Good Friday, office closed 5 EASTER 6 Minister’s Fellowship 10:00 7 Montana Planning Meeting 6:30 9 VBS Clinic, 5:30 14 INSPIRE 10:00 Bible Drill 6:00 16-19 Raceway Ministries 21 Team Meeting 9:00 Prison Ministry 7:00 PM 25 AT cookout at Chestoa May 4 Minister’s Fellowship 10:00 12 EXECUTIVE BOARD, 10:00 15-16 Regional Disaster Relief Training at Lenior City 19 Prison Ministry, 7:00 pm 25 Memorial Day Observed

I have an old Baptist hymnal, published in 1956. Remember that year?

How this hymnal became mine is a mystery, but the songs within are the ones that I most remember singing as a young person. My memories take me back to worship services, especially on Sunday night when the singing was exuberant, harmonious and heavenly. At least it was for me.

After visiting recently with a dear friend who is a pastor's wife, and reflecting and praying on our conversation while driving home, into my mind popped this old hymn.

"While passing thro' this world of sin, And others your life shall view, Be clean and pure without, within, Let others see Jesus in you.

(Refrain) Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you;

Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you.

Your life's a book before their eyes, They're reading it thro' and thro'; Say, does it point them to the skies, Do others see Jesus in you?"

There are so many disappointments and distractions in this world. Sometimes those disappointments threaten to dismantle everything worked for, everything dreamed of, everything hoped for. Being human means we are often irritable, critical, judgmental, know-it-all and, well, just plain ole' nosey. At any given time we may hear a brother or sister in Christ say, "Why do I care? Why do I keep on? There's nothing about being a Christian that's easy and I'm tired."

How then can we speak to that? Are there words to say that make a difference? Is there something to be said or done that might help? Looking at Jesus' life gives us clues.

He had a group of men around him and they didn't really understand him. They didn't get him. He was an enigma; going off alone to pray, talking about mysterious and unknown spiritual things that they found confusing and frankly, contrary to what they had always been taught. He taught the "kingdom of God at hand" (Matt. 4:17) and preached the gospel of repentance and that God is with us. He preached to large crowds, many who were experts at telling others what to do. They missed the point completely. Jesus told them that they needed a kind of righteousness that was new and fresh and arose out of love for God. It would not mimic the Pharisees' legal compliance but instead would be "God-centered" and reverent.

I did a word search recently on "purity" and found an explanation that read, "God-centered; God-focused." Immediately, I prayed, "Oh, my Lord, how to be truly God-focused?" I found in Matthew 5:20 these words, "But I warn you-unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

That led me to a heart search, praying, "God, do I serve to be seen by others? What truly motivates my work? Is it the hunt for prestige and fame? Could my real motivation be self-centered? "

Our righteousness must arise from what God is doing in us and not on what we can produce ourselves. It must be based on reverence for God and not approval from people. We all should be just as concerned about our attitudes that people don't see as about our actions that are seen by all. (Study notes, Life Application Bible, Matthew 5)

"Then live for Christ both day and night, Be faithful, be brave, and true. And lead the lost to life and light, Let others see Jesus in you."

Old Fashioned Purity

Allison Turner, M.S.

The theme for Children’s Camp

this year is

BASIC TRAINING—

Belief and Service in Christ

Carson Springs Conference Center

July21– 24

Thank you to Mountain View Baptist for

the March birthday party!

Holston Baptist Association, 207 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604

If your mission group would like to minister at the

JC Baptist Center this summer--below are the dates

that are open. Backyard Bible clubs, maintenance,

etc.

We Need Volunteers for the

Hospital Ministry!

If you can answer telephones . . .

make a cup of coffee

and . . .

listen to family

members who are

hurting,

then come join us in this ministry in the

Johnson City Medical Center

ICU waiting room!

Date Church

June 7 (Sat.) Southside Bapt. Johnson City

June 8-12

June 15-19

June 22-26 Union Grove Bapt Niota, Tn

June 27(Sat) Southside Bapt. Johnson City

June 29-July 3 Calvary Baptist Oak Ridge

July 6-10 Shandon Baptist Columbia, SC

July 13-17

July 20-24 Fla. Mission group

July 27-31

Listening

For more information call the HBA office at

423-929-1196

Fair ministry in August

The Carnival Worker’s Ministry at

the Appalachian Fair needs a

camper for a couple of volunteers to stay in during

the 2 weeks (August 8-22) when they minister daily

to the carnival workers there. If anyone has a camper

they would loan to this ministry for the 2 weeks

please call the HBA office at 929-1196 and let us

know. Thank you!