Volume 61 OCTOBER 2016 No. 10

West Metro Baptist Association
www.westmetrobaptist.com 770.941.9818
serves as a catalyst for connecting and resourcing churches
to impact the West Metro area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Steve Foster
Transitional Associational Missionary
am@westmetrobaptist.com

Cathy Whitten
Financial Secretary
cw@westmetrobaptist.com

140th WMBA Annual Celebration

Guest Preacher Speaker--Mike Stone

Thursday, October 13, 2016
Ephesus Baptist Church--8445 Ephesus Church Rd., Villa Rica

5:45 pm Dinner--RSVP by October 6, 2016 to
cw@westmetrobaptist.com
7:00 pm Celebration

October is Pastor/Minister Appreciation Month, join us in celebrating the leaders that God has given us!

Transitional AM

One of the constant themes of my ministry has been a burden for prayer and spiritual awakening to touch my tribe known as Southern Baptist. The work of God can only be carried on by the power of God. Jim Cymbala, Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, says that no matter the society or culture, the city or town, God has never lacked the power to work through available people to glorify His name. I encourage you to be a people of prayer and cry out to God to revive us as His people as we minister in a changing culture.
Our Annual Meeting is October 13 at Ephesus Baptist Church. Pastor Mike Stone will be preaching for us during our worship and he is a tremendous communicator. I know our music will be uplifting and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate together as His people.
Please continue to pray for our Association Strategist Search Team. They are working hard to bring God’s man here to lead the missional effort of WMBA.

Blessings,
Steve

Georgia Baptist Children's Home Truck Loading

Thank you to all who helped make the truck loading such a success!

The Georgia Baptist Children's Home provided an enclosed trailer that was filled with all of the items that you contributed along with $1,250 in checks and gift cards. Thank you so much and Praise the LORD!

Another big THANKS to Lynn & Guy Monroe who coordinator this event each year.

The WMBA Backpacks for Appalachia collection site will be at Union Grove Baptist Church again this year, on Monday, November 7-- 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Union Grove is located at 6517 Union Grove Road, Lithia Springs. The WMBA goal is to collect 200 backpacks.

WMBA churches do not need to register on the GBMB website. If your church plans to participate in this mission opportunity let the WMBA know. The WMBA Mission Center has all of the printed materials that are needed for you to include in your backpacks. Please contact Cathy Whitten at cw@westmetrobaptist.com to request your materials.

HOW TO PACK A BACKPACK

Start with a NEW, zippered backpack
Choose gender and age on provided tag
Fill with NEW gifts (at least one item from each gift idea below)
Also include inside each backpack--The Christmas Story--A.R.M. Mailbox Club postcard
Securely fasten tag to outside of the backpack using string
Pack the backpacks in a medium size (18x18x16) shipping box, 4 backpacks per box
Pray specifically for the receiving child
Take your backpack to Union Grove BC collection site

PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE
Items that can be easily crushed or
broken, perishable food, or knives.

GIFT SUGGESTIONS

TOYS: Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, small music instruments, yo-yos, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, toys that light up or make noise (include extra batteries), Slinky, Frisbee, card games such as Old Maid, Go Fish, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pens, pencils (with sharpener), crayons, markers, stamps and ink pads, writing pads, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (boxed and in a plastic bag), hairbrush, comb, washcloth, ponytail holders, hair clips, etc.

OTHER: Children's Bible or Teen Bible, hard candy, (no chocolate), lollipops (double bag all candy), mints, gum, socks, t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), age-appropriate Christian books, pop-top cans of food, etc.

IDEAS FOR OLDER KIDS (10-14 YEARS): Girls: Lip gloss, costume jewelry, fashion scarves, friendship bracelets, craft kits, journals, fun socks and slippers, doodle books, etc.
Boys: Legos, card games, hand-held electronic games, basketball, soccer ball, Nerf football

Printables and lists available at MissionGeorgia.org and at the WMBA Mission Center

Throughout our nation's history, churches have been recognized as the moral leaders of our society, and Christians have been free to express their religious beliefs. Now, this is challenged. Pastors are censored, and churches are threatened with punishment for sharing and living out their faith.

A free society demands that churches be allowed to share and live out their faith without fear of discrimination or legal challenges from the government or anti-religious organizations. This is where Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) comes in. ADF is a ministry that provides legal help to churches in need - free of charge. Their trained team of constitutional attorneys is well-versed in religious liberty issues impacting the church. They also understand the best defense is a good offense.

I am pleased that the Georgia Baptist Mission Board is partnering with Alliance Defending Freedom to bring you a seminar called “Protecting Your Church.” During this event, we'll provide you with resources to put your church on solid legal ground and answer any questions you might have.

Attorney Matt Sharp will share with us how we can protect our ministry in a hostile culture. He will cover the following topics:

Understanding the Impact of the Obergefell Decision
Current and Coming Legal Battles for Ministries
Steps Every Church Should Take to Protect Their Ministry
Responding to the Transgender Movement.

This seminar will be offered on Tuesday, November 1 at the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center in Duluth. We will begin at 10:30 and conclude by 2:00 with lunch provided.

To register, please use this link, https://www.sbcworkspace.com/Pub/Event/Register/55226829. The deadline to register is October 16.

Mark your calendars for the GBC Annual Meeting--November 14-15, 2016--Savannah, Georgia. For more information click here.

October Calendar

9
Pastor/Minister Appreciation Day

9
World Hunger Emphasis Sunday

13
WMBA Annual Celebration @ 7:00pm--Dinner @ 5:45pm RSVP--cw@westmetrobaptist.com
Ephesus Baptist Church
*WMBA Missions Center Closes @ 11:30am

17
Boss's Day

November Calendar

6
Daylight Savings Time Ends
7
Backpacks for Appalachia--Union Grove BC, Lithia Springs--9:00 am-5:00 pm

7
WMBA--WMU Baptist Women's Day of Prayer @ 7:00 pm--sunset Hill BC

8 Election Day

11
Veteran's Day

14-15
Georgia Baptist Convention annual Meeting--Savannah

21-25
Thanksgiving Holiday--WMBA Missions Center Closed

Pastor Birthdays
WMBA Senior Pastors October Birthdays

3
Dennis Cooke--New Harvest

6
Kenneth Hennesy--Union Grove

19
Michael Crawford--Mt. Pisgah

23
Mike Woods--FBC Powder Springs

Pastor Anniversaries
WMBA Senior Pastors October Anniversaries

8 years James Cook--Victory
17 years Bill Shattles--Friendship
17 years Durwood Perry--New Hope FBC
35 years Mike Woods--FBC Powder Springs

Churches without Pastors

Clarkdale FBC, Clarkdale
Dorsett Shoals, Douglasville
Pickett's Mill, Dallas
Sweetwater, Douglasville

WMBA Church News

Cheatham Hill, 1811 W Sandtown Rd., Marietta, has Revival Meetings scheduled for October 10-12 @ 7:00 pm. Guest Preacher, Marty Few and special music by The Whisnants. Lamar Rackley, Pastor

Tabernacle, in Hiram is looking for a Family/Youth Pastor for part-time or full-time. Please contact Pastor Derek: derekberry@tabernaclebchiram.org . Derek Berry, Pastor

South Cobb, in Austell, has Revival Meetings scheduled for October 3 & 4 @ 7:30 pm. with guest preacher Bro. Josh Smith. Danny Cordell, Pastor

Westview, is seeking a part-time Music Minister/Director and a Pianist. Contact Robin Bell at westviewbaptist@att.net for more details. Grant Purdy, Pastor