June, 2014

“...encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

Pottawatomie-Lincoln Baptist Association, Shawnee, OK ~ Dr. Russell R. Cook, Director of Missions Vol. 18, No. 6

Association

Website

www.plba.org

PLBA Office CLOSED Thursday,

July 3 For

4th of July

SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS

AT FALLS CREEK

Week 5~June 30-July 4 Band-Cody Dunbar Speaker-Hance Dilbeck Week 6~July 7-11 Band-Matt Roberson Speaker-Ed Newton Week 7~July 14-18 Band-Denver & Ced Speaker-Afshin Ziafat Week 8~July 21-25 Band-Matt Roberson Speaker-Ed Newton

Week 1~June 2-6 Band-Nick Thurmond Speaker-Scott Watkins Week 2~June 9-13 Band-Jared Wood Speaker-Clayton King Week 3~June 16-20 Band-Logan Walter Speaker-Mike Keahbone Week 4~June 23-27 Band-Logan Walter Speaker-Stuart Henslee

$50 Gate Fee

For more information www.skopos.org

Indian Falls Creek ~ July 27-31 www.indianfallscreek

Re>Connect Regional Sunday School Seminar

Aug 16, 2014 ~ First Baptist Church Moore

Sunday School is the church’s primary strategy to con-nect people with Jesus, His Truth, His Community, and

His Mission.

PLBA Churches are encouraged to Register and Attend!

STAY

IN THE

SON

For more information go to

www.reconnectss.com

EXECUTIVE

BOARD

Next Meeting

August 11 10:30 a.m.

Support Team Meeting

9:00 a.m.

Mission Partnership

Meeting 1:00 p.m.

Association Office

“Stay On The Wall” Nehemiah 6:3

Nehemiah, the man, provides us with a tremendous example of spiritual sensi-tivity, compassionate and sacrificial ser-vice and extraordinary leadership. Nehe-miah, the book, gives us a picture of business negotiations, construction and reconstruction analysis, organization and administration, and values-driven objectives. One of the great lessons gleaned from Nehemiah is his determi-

nation and tenacity to stay on task and true to his calling. Nehemiah focused on the opportunity and rebuilt the wall around Jerusa-lem in 52 days (6:15). Two big questions surface from this text (6:3) and its’ context. One “WHAT COMPELS US TO LEAVE THE WALL?” and two, “WHY SHOULD WE STAY ON THE WALL?” I. WHAT COMPELS US TO LEAVE THE WALL? (i.e. leave the ministry) (Similar temptations faced by Jesus to forfeit His role. cf. Matthew 4) A. The INTRIGUE (scheme) OF THE WORLD can get us off the wall.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 1:11 “Now I was the cupbearer to the king” (Artaxerxes 1, King of Persia).

B. The ENTICEMENT (arouse hope or desire) OF THE FLESH can get us off the wall.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 2:19 “they mocked us and despised us” Nehemiah 5:14 “neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance.”

C. The INFLUENCE (power to sway) OF THE DEVIL, can get us off the wall.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 4:11 “Our enemies said...we will come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.”

II. WHY SHOULD WE STAY ON THE WALL? (stay in the ministry)

(Similar reasons why Jesus stayed on the cross.) A. We stay, because it is what God has CONVICTED US TO DO.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 1:4 “Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

B. We stay, because it is what God has COMMISSIONED US TO DO.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 2:18 “I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me...Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.”

C. We stay because it is what God has CLEARED THE WAY FOR US TO DO.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 5:16 “I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

D. We stay, because it is what God has CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD DO.

With Nehemiah, Nehemiah 6:15 “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elu (August-December)-actually September 21, 444 B.C.–in fifty-two days.

When we fully devote ourselves to God and His commission, we are “doing a great work.” Stay on the wall! For the sake of our Savior, His Church, our families, our nation, STAY ON THE WALL!

— rrc

BLACKBURN CHAPEL is seeking a full-time pastor. Send resumes to

Blackburn Chapel 36305 Lake Road, Shawnee, OK 74801 or email to

blackburnchapel@aol.com.

EARLSBORO INDIAN MISSION is searching for a bi-vocational pastor.

Send resumes to Pulpit Committee, PO Box 239, Earlsboro, OK 74840.

EMMANUEL, MCLOUD is seeking a godly and committed Bi-vocational

Youth Minister. Please send resumes to Emmanuel Baptist Church,

Search Committee, PO Box 1119, McLoud, OK 74851. (James Bond, Pastor)

FIRST, MCLOUD is seeking a part-time Choir Director. Send resumes to the

church, PO Box 180, McLoud, 74851. Applications can be picked up at

the church or call 964-3344. (Matt Halsted, Pastor)

FIRST, MAUD is seeking a part-time Music Minister. If you are interested

call Bobby Shatto at 405-630-8348 or email at shattobg@oge.com. (Bobby Shatto, Pastor)

FIRST, STROUD is receiving resumes for a full-time pastor. Send resumes:

Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 600, Stroud, OK 74079. (Russell Cook, Transitional Pastor)

GALILEE is looking for a Media Assistant for their church. This person

would be needed for Sunday and Wednesday services and would help

with some presentations. Call 405-273-7890 if interested. (Anthony Rhone, Pastor)

PLEASANT HOME is seeking a part-time pianist to lead music on Sunday

mornings and evenings for their traditional services. If anyone is inter-

ested please contact Nathan Howard at 580-313-0743 or email at

nhow10@hotmail.com. (Nathan Howard, Pastor)

WALLACE AVE. is seeking a full-time pastor. Send resumes: Pastor Search

Committee, 601 W. Wallace Ave., Shawnee, OK 74801.

Over my now 42+ years in ministry (25 as a Pastor and 17½ as a Director of Missions) I have made many observations of “the way we Baptists do church.” Most of what we do, still, is what we did 50 years ago although in very different ways. When I first began to attend church at a very small coun-try church I observed a very predictable order of service; exclusively hymns from the Broadman Hymnal (©1940) accompanied by an old upright piano (usually out of tune); responsive reading from the back of the “song book” (preacher read the light print, congregation reads the dark print); sing-ing of the “doxology” (Praise God from whom all blessings flow…) after the offering was taken up; preaching from the KJV with strong emphasis on be-ing saved and an invitation that included repeat stanzas of “Just As I Am” or “I Surrender All.” Today some of our churches have a worship service that includes all of the above mentioned ingredients. However, most have changed. We sing (maybe more contemporary songs or choruses); we don’t do responsive reading much; we have instrumental offertories with no particular thanks for the offering (at least following the offering); our Pastors preach from a variety of translations and even a few paraphrases; invitations may or may not be given (seldom ever with every sermon delivered) and we spend little time doing life together (outside the church buildings). These observations may not be perfectly accurate. However, the changes we’ve made in our worship is indicative of the way we’ve changed in our personal devotion. For example, how long has it been since your church has begun a morning service with “Holy, Holy, Holy” or Come Thou Almighty King.” In the past 20 years I have not heard “Bring Ye All The Tithes Into The Storehouse” or “Brethren, We Have Met To Worship” sung one time. I guess those hymns have been replaced but I’m not real sure with what. I’m not saying that what we do today is bad and back then was good. But I do believe the “way we do church” is directly related to the personal devotion we have to the Lord Jesus. And that should be upper most in what we do!

Encouragingly Yours, Russell R. Cook

It Might Preach!

Staff Needed

Incorrect information... please call the Association

office, 405.273.4558.

Churches listed in red are Pastorless PASTORS CHURCH April ‘14 YTD Roger Shaw Agra FBC 525.35 1,759.24 Mat Riddle Asher FBC 180.05 1,029.92 Larry Sparks, Int. Blackburn Chapel 264.01 902.26 Mark Davis Carney FBC 218.79 1,305.17 Rick Blackwell Chandler, FBC 1,074.83 4,058.87 Keith Henley Chandler Southern 253.85 845.63 Doug Parker Dale 32.93 112.41 Mike Mitchell Davenport FBC 504.45 2,001.89 Mike Haines Deer Creek 261.68 954.40 Mark Streetman Earlsboro FBC .00 300.00 ______________ Earlsboro Indian Mission 62.24 220.60 Wayne Knight Fairview 155.21 567.58 Dan Campbell Faith 344.57 1,405.86 Jeff Bruton Forest .00 .00 Lee Witt Hazel Dell 565.60 1,974.07 Tuney Ropp Hillside 1,231.06 5,273.45 Gary Nickerson Hilltop .00 1,895.54 Bryan Cook Hopewell .000 197.61 Billy Benson Macomb 141.40 584.10 Mike Hazelwood Mammoth 397.00 1,131.00 Bobby Shatto Maud FBC .00 87.19 Butch Bradley Maud Trinity 234.41 966.09 James Bond McLoud Emmanuel 579.19 2,448.51 Jerry Gray McLoud Emmaus 111.87 360.36 Matt Halsted McLoud FBC 488.08 1,942.90 Ron Cherry McLoud Son Rises .00 .00 Joe Jones Meeker FBC 214.15 1,107.20 Jerry Jackson Morning Star .00 .00 R.J. Stokes Mt. Pleasant 34.73 236.57 Mark Patterson Newalla New Life 1,175.07 4,170.24 Ed Moore Newalla Pecan Valley 97.25 414.41 Mike Collyer Pink 268.51 1,321.31 Jim Morningstar Pioneer 113.58 113.58 Nathan Howard Pleasant Home 133.44 634.03 Tim Emmons Prague FBC 507.14 2,208.92 Richard Zimmer Rock Creek 747.09 3,342.69 Gaspar Reyes Rock Creek Spanish 12.04 84.20 Tony Black Romulus 265.64 851.85 Monte Dean Sh-Aydelotte 353.10 1,861.36 David Henry Sh-Calvary .00 60.00 Ray Miller Sh-First 289.91 1,589.90 Spencer Davis, Int. Sh-First Indian .00 .00 Anthony Rhone Sh-Galilee 50.00 200.00 Bob Dawson Sh-Good Shepherd Chapel .00 270.21 Jay Sampson Sh-Heritage .00 1,653.34 Todd Fisher Sh-Immanuel 1,883.15 8,752.41 Rendon Falls Sh-Karis .00 .00 Tom Hall Sh-New Life 25.00 100.00 John York Sh-Oakland Chapel 10.70 34.70 _______________ Sh-Sallateeska 215.00 215.00 Mike Craig Sh-Temple 1,147.33 5,364.60 Larry Norris Sh-Trinity 225.16 764.52 Steve Dominy Sh-University 397.52 1,700.15 _______________ Sh-Wallace Ave. 190.39 541.57 _______________ Sparks FBC 122.22 353.55 Glenn Peck St. Louis FBC 359.66 1,530.48 Russell Cook, Int. Stroud FBC 348.18 2,127.59 Don Tiger Stroud Sac & Fox 10.52 53.41 Tony Peak Tecumseh FBC 1,024.70 3,790.35 Will Wilson Tecumseh New Hope 50.00 200.00 Clint Dawkins Tecumseh Sharon 928.83 3,207.57 Bob Fowler Tryon FBC 283.59 745.84 Britt Lesley Wanette FBC 464.85 1,221.93 Bill Howse Wanette, Victory Pointe .00 .00 Russ Houser Wellston Cornerstone .00 .00 Darrell Sullivan Wellston FBC 286.58 1,880.61 Lane Buckley Wellston Trinity 110.00 440.00 TOTAL $19,971.60 $85,468.74

PLBA WOMEN

A Nugget From My Spiritual Journey

It was a joy to read all of the tributes to wives, mothers and grandmothers on my go-to social media venue this year during the week of Mother’s Day celebrations. Most words of tribute from families and messages from preach-ers usually focus upon the qualities of mothers that bring smiles to our faces and warm feelings to our hearts. I read one social media post, though, which suddenly caused me to grin and chuckle. The beautiful tribute to the man’s mom ended with mentioning that she often sent him out to cut his own switch! For…well…you know! After I grinned, I found myself wondering if that practice (or any similar) is going by the wayside? Don’t get me wrong. I have no desire to encourage “abuse.” But…physical discipline when needed? Yes! Is that an unloving thing for a mom to do? Oddly, it may often be one of the greatest expres-sions of love because it shows that she cares enough that her child learns proper behavior or avoids dangerous habits to get his/her attention accord-ingly when words won’t do. I remember my own mother’s instrument of choice in dispensing extra discipline when I needed it beyond what words would “cure.” In my case, it was the dreaded flyswatter! My gentle, sweet, loving mother hated flies and the germs they carried. However, she seemed to forget about those germs being applied to my bare legs when I had crossed that line that mothers draw in the sand. Or, at least, they used to do that. Draw lines in the sand, that is. Sometimes I do wonder about that in today’s world as I observe chil-dren crossing apparently non-existent lines. But, I still cannot pick up a fly-swatter today without remembering how I knew I had crossed a clearly stated line from my loving, patient mother when she made the choice to use that instrument of choice to correct me. Funny. I never doubted Mother’s love for me during those spankings. Yes, that swatter stung my bare legs. Yes, it hurt. Yes, I cried. I often heard her say, “This hurts me more than it does you.” I never understood that until I became a parent. But what I did understand was that was her last resort and that I had truly disappointed my mother with my behavior. That hurt me, too, and I determined more each time to not only avoid the behavior but to avoid disappointing or hurting her! Years later, when I asked my sister, Gail, who is 3 ½ years younger than I, why she never got as many spankings as I did, she shrewdly replied, “I just watched what you got in trouble for and I didn’t do it!” There are advantages to being the youngest, I suppose!

God, when YOU discipline me…I suspect it hurts YOU more than it does me. Thank You for loving me with your AGAPE’ love, which means…”I love you in spite of you!”

Marsha Cook, Director

Association Website — www.plba.org

Budget Receipts

The Women’s Missions and Ministries Office of the

BGCO is calling on churches to participate in S.T.O.P. on Sunday June 22, 2014. We are asking churches

to educate their congregations on the dangers of human exploitation and trafficking and to STOP and pray during their morning service. Additional resources; printables, downloadable videos and more, can be found at this link:

http://www.bgco.org/ministries/women’s/trafficking

National Trafficking

Hotline 888-3737-888

TOTAL CHECKING AND SAVINGS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR Beginning Bal. Income Expense Ending Bal. 4-1-14 4-30-14 Budget $55,692.13 19,971.60 23,432.57 $52,231.16 Designated $187,447.53 $188,069.59 Total Monies $243,139.66 $240,300.75

Church News

Please let us know of any upcoming events or news

from your church!

FOREST hosted their second annual Health Fair on May 31. They provided

dental services, health checks and had a blood mobile. (Jeff Bruton, Pastor)

MT. PLEASANT will be having Evangelist YoYo Collins on Sunday July 13,

at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. (R.J. Stokes, Pastor)

NEW HOPE, TECUMSEH would like to give away 15, 15’ pews. They are

upholstered in burgundy fabric. Please call the church at 405-609-0458

and ask for Jeff Brock if you are interested. (Will Wilson, Pastor)

ROMULUS will have a groundbreaking service for their new Fellowship Hall

on Sunday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. (Tony Black, Pastor)

SON RISE has a large quantity of choir music and cantatas they would be

happy to give to a church. Please call the church at 405-964-5629 or

email them at sonrisebaptist@hotmail.com

June Birthdays

5 Mrs. Crissy (RJ) Stokes 10317 Carolyn Drive Newalla, OK 74857 Pastor’s Wife, Mt. Pleasant

5 Mrs. Alta (Don) Ramsey 105 Hardesty Dr Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor’s Wife

11 Rev. Jim Reynolds 2 Lancet Circle Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor

12 Rev. Clint Dawkins 2326 Faith Blvd. Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Sharon

13 Rev. Mark Davis PO Box 596 Carney, OK 74832 Pastor, First, Carney

23 Rev. Bob Spear 6 Northridge Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Missionary

26 Mrs. Barbra (Doug) Parker 37505 Old Hwy 270 Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor’s Wife, Dale

27 Rev. Jeff Bruton PO Box 831 Meeker, OK 74855 Pastor, Forest

29 Rev. James Bond 8425 Treeline Dr Choctaw, OK 73020 Pastor, Emmanuel

29 Rev. Ron Cherry 107 Shadow Ridge Dr McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor, Son Rise

Anniversaries

1 Rev. & Mrs. Matt Halsted 31820 Redskin Rd. McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor, First, McLoud

9 Rev. & Mrs. Ed Moore PO Box 270 Newalla, OK 74857 Pastor, Pecan Valley

11 Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Maynard 1934 N. Broadway Shawnee, OK 74804 Janice is PLBA’s Office Manager

14 Rev. & Mrs. Will Wilson 1930 River Birch Drive Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, New Hope

18 Rev. & Mrs. Keith Henley 136 Meadow Lane Chandler, OK 74834 Pastor, Chandler Southern

20 Rev. & Mrs. John York 311 Debbie Lane Tecumseh, OK 74873 Pastor, Oakland Chapel

22 Rev. & Mrs. Ron Cherry 107 Shadow Ridge Dr McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor, Son Rise

23 Rev. & Mrs. Butch Bradley PO Box 816 Maud, OK 74854 Pastor, Trinity, Maud

24 Rev. & Mrs. Bob Fowler PO Box 95 Tyron, OK 74875 Pastor, First, Tryon

25 Rev. & Mrs. Jay Sampson 6 Janeway Place Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor, Heritage

2-5 Cross Timbers Session 1 2-6 Falls Creek Week 1 6-9 Cross Timbers Session 2

8 Religious Liberty Sunday

9-13 Falls Creek Week 2

10-11 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting

-Baltimore

11-14 Cross Timbers Session 3 14 Flag Day

15 Father’s Day

16-20 Falls Creek Week 3

17-20 Cross Timbers Session 4

21 Robert Haskins School of Leadership

Graduation-OKC-10 a.m.-2 p.m.

22 STOP Sunday

23-26 Cross Timbers Session 5

23-27 Falls Creek Week 4

24-28 Resonate Worship Art Camp, OBU

30-3 Cross Timbers Session 6

30-4 Falls Creek Week 5

Check out our website PLBA.org To see more great photos of the Pastors and Wives Cook-

out and the

Secretary & Clerks Luncheon