A Word From The Word ...

This year our association

is focusing on two areas

to assist our churches in

fulfilling the Great Com-

mission. One is Kingdom

Ministry and the other is

Compassionate Ministry.

Kingdom Ministry is

about discovering God’s

vision of Kingdom Minis-

try for your church. As

such it is not about main-

taining the church prop-

erty or grounds. It’s

about allowing the Lord

to guide your church in

doing what He wants you

to do to share the Gospel

with others so they may

become part of His king-

dom family. Compassion-

ate Ministry is about

showing the love of God

to and sharing the Gos-

pel with others in the hope

that they may come to faith

in Christ. As you can see

both emphases can work

together to help us fulfill the

Great Commission.

One aspect of our Compas-

sionate Ministry focus in-

volves us in taking associa-

tional mission trips outside

of our area. This year there

will be three associational

mission trips. One will be to

Israel this October led by

Dave Parker, Missions Pas-

tor at FBC Statesboro. An-

other will be somewhere in

the Southeastern United

States led by Tom Osborne,

Pastor of FBC Metter. I will

be leading two or three day

trips to Savannah where we

will be ministering to the

homeless at the Savannah

Baptist Center. I hope you

will come to an informational

meeting about these trips

which will be held on Sun-

day, March 1 at 2:30PM in

the Heritage A room at FBC

Statesboro.

In the next few months I will

work to let you know more

details about our focus on

both Kingdom and Compas-

sionate Ministry. In the

mean time, if you have any

questions about these please

call me at: 912-515-5591.

Serving alongside you,

Greg Abercrombie

Romans 13:8 & 10: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another

has fulfilled the law.… Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the

law.”

God’s definition of love—“love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not

parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked,

thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes

all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

Greetings From Our Missionary

ORBA Churches & Missions:

Agape

Bethel

Blitchton FBC

Brooklet FBC

Cedar Street

Christ

Clito

Eastern Heights

Eldora

Elmer

Emit Grove

Excelsior

Fletcher Memorial

Friendship

Harville

Iglesia Cristiana Hispana

Lawrence

Leefield

Macedonia

Merrywood

Metter FBC

New Life

Oak Grove

Old Fellowship

Olive Branch

Pembroke FBC

Pine Grove

Portal FBC

Pulaski

Register

Salem

Southbridge Community

Statesboro FBC

Statesboro Hispanic Mission

Statesboro Korean Mission

Temple Hill

Trinity

Union

February 2020

Ogeechee River Baptist Association A Family of Churches Making Christ Known

OGEECHEE MISSIONS VISIONARY

“Ye Shall Be Witnesses Unto Me”

Acts 1:8

Page 2

Mission Statement of the Ogeechee River Baptist Association: We exist to help our churches in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Even though this is our “slack season,” we have had several groups utilize the Mann Center during the winter months

to bring in some much needed income.

We, Duane and I, have been busy doing our regular yearly off-season maintenance in the buildings. It is still terribly

wet down here, so we have concentrated on inside maintenance and are leaving the outside until the grounds dry out

enough to get our equipment on the grounds.

Duane’s son, Todd, is a recent Summa Cum Laude graduate in Justice Studies of Georgia Southern University and has

recently been accepted in the next academy for the Georgia State Patrol in Forsyth, Georgia. We are all very proud of

Todd!!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and remember us in the coming year as we still need ALL of our churches to

support us financially here at the Mann Center.

GOD bless you all.

Mike Sparks

Jeremiah 32:17

BETHEL–Sun., 2/16; 11AM:

The Nelons Gospel Group will

be joining us for worship. Love

offering will be taken up. Eve-

ryone is invited!

BROOKLET—EVENTS: 2nd

& 4th Mondays; 6:30PM:

Titus 2 Ladies’ Bible Study.

Supper & child care provided.

Study this quarter-“When God

Doesn’t Fix It!” Visitors wel-

come! NEWS: (1)Evangelism

training, food, fun & fellowship

was held in member’s home. A

big success! Another class

scheduled for Feb. (2)New

church year ministry kick-off

meetings affirm this will be a

busy year for the Lord at BFBC.

ELDORA—Sun., Mar.15th:

“Picnic in the Park”; 2-5PM—

community outreach event at

Stilson Park. This event is open

to everyone, and any churches

that wish to assist, please con-

tact Patrick Robertson @912-

682-6770 a.s.a.p.

FRIENDSHIP—(1)Sat., 2/1:

YOU’RE INVITED… Join us

as we host the Butler Brothers in

Concert; 7PM—Everyone Wel-

come! (2)Sun., 2/9: Valentine’s

Banquet; 7PM—tickets are $8

each & can be purchased in the

church office.

LEEFIELD—We are so glad to

WELCOME our Interim Pastor

Ken Worthington and his wife,

Deborah, to our congregation!

MERRYWOOD–Sun., 3/1;

6:30PM: Traveling Pilgrims

Gospel country-style music. No

cost, but love offering will be

collected. Finger foods likely.

Everyone welcome!

NEW LIFE—(1)Sun., 2/2;

11AM: Baby Dedication. (2)Sat.,

2/8; 6PM: Adult Valentine’s

Banquet. (3)Sun., 2/16; 11AM:

Gideon Speaker. (4)Sun., 2/16;

6PM: Operation Christmas

Child Report & Vision. (5)Sat.,

2/29; 5-7PM: EPIC Youth of

New Life Baptist presents Youth

Nite—hot dog supper, Bonfire &

Concert (Eternal Vision), guest

speaker (Shannon Shelby).

PEMBROKE—(1)Sun., 2/2:

BAPTIST MEN’S DAY. We’ll

enjoy the men’s choir during

worship. (2)Sat., 2/29; 5-8PM:

Christian Learning Centers fund-

raiser—Pancake Supper in our

Social Hall. Everyone is invited!

News From The W.W. Mann Center

Mission Trip “Info Meeting”

Date & Time:

Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.

Location:

Statesboro FBC, in the Heritage A room

To be discussed:

International trip to Nazareth, Israel

(led by Dave Parker)

National trip to site in S.E./USA outside of GA

(led by Tom Osborne)

State trip to work with homeless in Savannah

(led by Greg Abercrombie)

Page 3

The BCM wants to thank all of the churches who generously provided lunch for our students during

the fall semester. Through our fundraising from Wednesday luncheons, selling parking permits, and

other campus activities, we raised over $10,000 for summer missions. This money will enable college

students across Georgia to participate in Send Me Now, with trips around the country and across the

world. We still have a few spots left for Spring Semester Luncheons if anyone would like to partici-

pate. Contact us at (912) 681-2241 or email Katelyn at kstephens.bcm@gabaptist.org

Special thanks to:

Bethel Eastern Heights Friendship FBC Pembroke

Clito Macedonia Olive Branch FBC Statesboro

Trinity West Millen FBC Metter Southbridge Community

Theme: It's All About the Gospel

Suggested Dates: March 1-8, 2019

National Offering Goal: $70 Million

Arkansas Goal: $2.1 Million

Home Missions

“It’s all about the Gospel” is the theme for this year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Mis-

sions. The Annie Armstrong Missions Offering emphasis is not just an opportunity to give our money, but an

even greater opportunity to impact our neighborhoods and communities with the wonderful news of God’s in-

volvement in our lives. All of us are painfully aware of the lost condition of people with whom we bump shoulders

every day. These lost people are our neighbors - people right down the street from our houses. They need to know

of the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Working together we can be difference-makers in sharing the Gospel across our land. The suggested dates for

this emphasis are March 1-8, 2020. During this Week of Prayer for North American Missions, consider how you

can make a Kingdom impact by praying fervently, giving sacrificially, and going intentionally to work alongside

our Southern Baptist missionaries to do our part in sharing God’s powerful message of hope and forgiveness.

Your church will be receiving materials by the end of January to use in observing the Week of Prayer for North

American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. We base the quantities you receive on your

church’s reported worship attendance. If you need more envelopes, prayer guides, or posters, contact the

Missions Team at 800-838-2272, ext. 5137. Also included with your materials is a planning guide for Pastors

and Mission Leaders. The DVD and promotional information will be helpful in leading your church to promote

this emphasis and to encourage your congregation to be missions-minded year-round. Other helpful resources are

available online at anniearmstrong.com.

“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the

Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...” 1 Corinthians

15:3-4, CSB

May God bless your missions efforts!

Annie Armstrong

2020

FEBRUARY (True Love Waits Emphasis) 9 Racial Reconciliation Sunday 10-16 Focus On WMU Week 11 Camp “I AM” Planning Meeting, ORBA Office, 7:00 p.m. 14 Valentine’s Day 15 Children’s Ministry Day, TBA 17 President’s Day 25 On Mission Celebration Meeting/Banquet, Statesboro FBC, 7:00 p.m. 27-29 SELAH, Pinnacle Retreat Center, Clayton MARCH 1-7 Youth Week 1-8 Week of Prayer & Missions Study for North American Missionaries/ Annie Armstrong Offering 2 Pre-registration for Camp “I AM” Begins [Call ORBA Office(912-764-3620) for Forms] 8 Daylight Saving Time Begins 10 Camp “I AM” Planning Meeting, ORBA Office, 7:00 p.m. 15 Church Planting Emphasis Sunday 26 Associational Executive Council, ORBA Office, 9:00 a.m. 29 Substance Abuse Prevention Sunday

Calendar 2020

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES

4 Michael Sparks

6 John Long

6 Marcia Twigg

7 Bill Perry

13 Terri Forrester

15 Christopher Fowler

15 Stewart Moody

18 Peggy Harbuck

19 Edward Rich

17 North College Street

Statesboro, GA 30458

Phone: 912-764-3620

Fax: 912-489-4566

Email: orbaoffice@frontiernet.net

Associational Missionary: Greg Abercrombie

Moderator: Edward Rich

Administrative Assistant: Debbie Marotte

Website: http://www.orbalife.org/

W.W. MANN CENTER

2171 Prather Road

Statesboro, GA 30461

Phone: 912-842-2460

Fax: 912-842-2464

Email: bradwellalum69@yahoo.com

Website: www.wwmanncenter.webs.com

Director: Michael Sparks

26 Ben & Deborah Gay

If you are a minister and have not sent your birthday or anniversary date to the ORBA office we encourage you to do so. Please include same info for your spouse and children living at home. Call 912-764-3620 or email orbaoffice@frontiernet.net

Camp “I AM”

It’s back to “business” again. We

began our planning meetings on

January 14th at the ORBA office at

7:00 p.m. We’ll continue with meet-

ings every second Tuesday of each

month. We’d love to have you come

and find out what volunteering at

Camp “I AM” is all about. The

more we put into it, the more they

get out of it.

Our dates for the camps have been

set—Camp Junior (grades 1-3) will

be July 6-10, and Camp Senior

(grades 4-6) will be July 13-17.

Call ORBA office (912-764-3620) for

more info.

Pastor Prayer Meetings

Pastors are meeting for prayer at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays. The meeting place

for each Monday in February is Nona Picci’s Restaurant (807 S. Main St. in

Statesboro). We hope more of our ministers will take advantage of these

times of prayer and fellowship. *Call Greg at 912-515-5591 for more info.

A Family of Churches Making Christ Known

OGEECHEE RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Christian Social Ministries (CSM)

Director: John Long (912-512-0107)

Assistance/Food Pantry:

31 N. Zetterower Ave., Statesboro

Thrift Stores:

122 E. Parrish St., Statesboro

&

College Plaza Shopping Center, Statesboro

Christian Social Ministries (CSM)

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 2416

Statesboro, GA 30459