Podcast: Acts 1:8 Excitement!

Check out the latest Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast featuring Dr. Jim Mersereau, pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Crossville, Tenn. Bro. Jim shares about the church's journey through the Acts 1:8 Challenge and how God is blessing members through increased missional activity.

Access the Podcast through our feed: http://www.actsone8.com/podcastfeed or on iTunes by searching for Acts 1:8 Challenge.

Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcasts are also located here.

Interviews with New NAMB President Kevin Ezell

Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., since 1996, has been elected president of the North American Mission Board. NAMB’s board of trustees approved the nomination in a special called meeting which took place Sept. 14 at an Atlanta-area hotel.

Below are links to a couple of recent interviews with Ezell:

Ezell interview from Baptist Press: Ezell Elected NAMB President

Ezell interview with Ed Stetzer of Lifeway: Interview with Kevin Ezell

Alabama Acts 1:8 Connections Events Set

Acts 1:8 Connections is an opportunity to learn how your church can develop a mission strategy and to hear about opportunities for missions service. These conferences will be held in 4 different locations across the state on Sept. 7 and 9. The Office of Global Missions, NAMB and missions volunteers will be sharing about future missions connecting points.

Join us Sept. 7-9 for an Acts 1:8 Connections event near you:

SEPT. 7, 2010

Morning Session The Morning Session will begin at 9 AM and end at noon with lunch provided by the Global Missions Office. Millbrook Baptist Church 3431 Browns Rd Millbrook, AL 36054-2417 (334) 285-4731 millbrookbaptist.org

Evening Session The Evening Session will begin at 5:30 PM and end at 8:30 PM, with a box supper provided by the Global Missions Office. Canaan Baptist Church 2543 Morgan Rd Bessemer, AL 35022-5036 (205) 425-4381 www.canaanbaptist.net

SEPT 9, 2010

Morning Session The Morning Session will begin at 9 AM and end at noon with lunch provided by the Global Missions Office. East Gadsden Baptist Church 211 North 6th Street Gadsden, AL (256) 543-7300 www.egbaptist.org

Evening Session The Evening Session will begin at 5:30 PM and end at 8:30 PM, with a box supper provided by the Global Missions Office. Lindsay Lane Baptist Church 1300 Lindsay Lane South Athens, AL (256) 232-0020 www.lindsaylane.org

Pre-registration is required.

To register or for more information, call 1-800-264-1225, ext. 298 or emailspoole@alsbom.org.

$5 Registration Fee per person can be mailed to:

Global Missions Office

Acts 1:8 Connections

P.O. Box 11870

Montgomery, AL 36111

For more information visit The Acts 1:8 Connections website.

Look for Acts 1:8 at SBC, Orlando!

For the fifth consecutive year, the Acts 1:8 Challenge will have a booth in the exhibit hall at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. The meeting is being held in Orlando, Fla., June 14-16.

If you are a pastor, missions leader or church member attending the annual meeting, we would love to meet you and give a special gift from the Acts 1:8 Challenge team.

Just stop by our booth during regular exhibit times and tell us you read about the Acts 1:8 Challenge in the Samaria Update to receive your gift! It's that simple!

See you in Orlando!

A18C Podcast 66: The Association of the 21st Century

In this month's Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast, associational missionaries Duane Kuykendall and Bobby Gilstrap discuss the association's role in assisting the local church fulfill the Great Commission.

Download the Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast today at www.ActsOne8.com/podcastfeed or search for the Acts 1:8 Challenge on iTunes. Direct link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/acts-1-8-challenge-podcast/id262574135 or visit the Acts 1:8 Challenge website here.

Volunteer Missions: An Example of Cooperation

Here's a great article from the Georgia Baptist Christian Index by editor Gerald Harris about building partnerships through missions trip experiences. Harris interviews Mike Gravette, our Acts 1:8 Challenge coordinator in Georgia. An excerpt:

"According to Gravette the mission partnership concept allows the GBC to get the big picture from the various mission fields and put all the detailed pieces together like a beautiful mosaic of ministry so that the “house” (endeavor) is healthy, complete, and lacking nothing.

"Gravette’s description of partnership missions is similar to the intended design of the jigsaw puzzle. In a jigsaw puzzle each piece usually has a small part of the picture on it; when complete, all the pieces produce a complete picture.

"The combined instruments that comprise an orchestra present the same concept. Who would want to hear a cymbals solo or even a tuba solo? Yet, when all the instruments are combined together into one symphonic masterpiece the sound is incredible.

That is exactly why cooperation is important. We can do far more together than we can alone."

Read the entire article here.

A18C Podcast 64: Anticipating Crossover

In this month's Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast, Victor Benavides, coordinator for metropolitan missions at the North American Mission Board, discusses opportunities to share Christ during Crossover in Orlando prior to the Southern Baptist Convention.

A18C Podcast 64 - "Anticipating Crossover," includes a host of information for getting involved in Crossover while in Orlando. The website for Crossover is: http://crossoverorlando.com

Download the Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast today at www.ActsOne8.com/podcastfeed or search for the Acts 1:8 Challenge on iTunes. Direct link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/acts-1-8-challenge-podcast/id262574135

Guest Blog: Guilty of Distorting Acts 1:8

From the blog, Rankin Connecting by Jerry Rankin

I have been a part of crafting the Acts 1:8 challenge for the SBC. This grew out of some initial

efforts of the IMB to mobilize churches for personalized involvement in international missions. An SBC task force sought to strengthen the cooperation between various denominational entities and came up with the concept of Empowering Kingdom Growth.

Kingdom Growth is not just the reign of Christ in our lives, our churches, our communities and our nation; kingdom growth is also the geographic expansion of God’s kingdom through our mission efforts. The concept of the Acts 1:8 challenge was based on the fact every denominational entity exists not for its own program and purpose, but to empower churches through serving, enabling and facilitating them to fulfill the Great Commission.

Read more here.

Needs Assessment Underway in Chile

By IMB Staff
Southern Baptists are moving quickly to assess relief needs in the aftermath of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile at 3:34 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, killing at least 82 people, collapsing buildings and setting off a tsunami. 



Disaster relief specialists from South Carolina and California are on standby to respond, said Jim Brown, director of the U.S. office for the International Mission Board’s primary partner in disaster relief, Baptist Global Response. A decision about what initial response is needed will be made within the next 12 hours.



The epicenter was located just 70 miles from Concepcion, a city of more than 200,000 people, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. A tsunami wave struck the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 410 miles off the Chilean coast and tsunami warnings have been issued for Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Chile’s president, Michele Bachelet, declared a "state of catastrophe" in three central regions of the country. Several hospitals were evacuated and communications with Concepcion were knocked out.



In the capital city of Santiago, which is about 200 miles from the earthquake, IMB field personnel reported in a 5 a.m. e-mail that they had experienced "very scary shaking" and that electrical, telephone and water services were cut off. 



IMB and BGR leadership began consulting immediately during the early morning hours after the earthquake, said Scott Holste, associate vice president for the IMB’s Office of Global Strategy.



"We are evaluating damage reports as they come in and preparing initial response plans, if it is determined that a significant response is needed," Holste said. "Southern Baptists have ministry partners in Chile who will be able to help respond immediately with basic necessities."



"We know that immediate needs usually include things like food, water, shelter and medical needs," Brown said. "We have emergency response funds available to help with the crisis response. Southern Baptists always respond quickly when a disaster like this strikes. They pray and give from the heart. We’re glad to know so many people who care are ready to spring into action to help people in need."



Word has been received from IMB leaders in Chile that all field personnel have been accounted for and are safe; information about the impact on the Chilean Baptist community is being sought. IMB will be monitoring developments and will issue further announcements about needs and response as more information becomes available.

How You Can Help

Pray - Prayer is urgently needed for thousands of people in Chile whose lives have been upturned by a massive earthquake that struck in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, says an International Mission Board strategist closely tied to the area. “We want to ask Christians everywhere to lift up people in need after this huge disaster,” said Terry Lassiter, strategist for the American Peoples affinity group. “We thank the Lord that all of our missionaries are well but there has been a very significant loss of life that is going to affect both our church community and the non-Christian community in Chile.” Read more. For future prayer requests, also visit CompassionNet.

Donate - Donations may be directed to the Disaster Response Fund at www.gobgr.org.

EKG-Acts 1:8 Focus Makes BIG Impact

By Tim Yarbrough
The numbers are in and it's no surprise they indicate a church's focus on Kingdom growth and Acts 1:8 missions makes a significant impact on baptisms, mission participants and giving.

An informal survey of churches committing to the Acts 1:8 Challenge, versus all Southern Baptist churches, shows a church's focus on its role in carrying out "the mission of God" makes a huge difference in Great Commission impact. More than 3,800 SBC churches have signed up to be a part of the Acts 1:8 Challenge initiative since its launch in May 2004. The survey was done by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) research team.

Per capita, the number of baptisms by churches embracing the Acts 1:8 Challenge are double the number baptized in all SBC churches. The survey showed that mission participants averaged 28 per capita in Acts 1:8-focused churches, as compared to four per capita in non-Acts 1:8 Challenge churches.

Additionally, giving to the Cooperative Program, Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon were markedly higher. Below is a summary of the survey:

Gains Seen Around EKG Emphasis in Louisiana


Recently, an article published in Baptist Press pointed to similar gains in Louisiana churches as a result of the Louisiana Baptist Convention's focus on Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG). The Acts 1:8 Challenge has been the missional component of EKG since 2004.

The Baptist Press article, "Making an Effective Difference for the Kingdom," with details from the Louisiana survey, is available here.

Below, John Yeats, director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, discusses results of the Louisiana EKG survey with Scott Pittman of Kentucky, center, and Duane Kuykendall of North Carolina, left, at the Acts 1:8 Challenge Advisory Team meeting Feb. 23 in Nashville.

Acts 1:8 Materials and Displays Available

The Acts 1:8 Challenge offers free to churches, associations and state conventions a host of printed materials, which are featured for order on here.

You may not know that Acts 1:8 displays are available for loan as well for your upcoming mission event. Additionally, you may order your own customized Acts 1:8 Challenge display from our convenient Fed-Ex Kinkos store.

At right is an example of what's available in a pull-up style.

For more information about materials or displays contact the Acts 1:8 Challenge team.

Associational Acts 1:8 Challenge Training

Peer-led training around the Associational Acts 1:8 Strategy has been posted on the Network of Baptist Associations (NOBA) eQuip training portal.

Training sessions are for s director of missions interested in leading churches to fully embrace and develop an Acts 1:8 paradigm of ministry.

The presentations are from the Network of Baptist Association Summit 2010 held January 11, 2010, at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where a number of directors of missions presented a process for implementing the Acts 1:8 Challenge in associations. Click on session link to view.

Acts 1:8 Challenge Training NOBA eQuip course link

Individual training session links:

Session 1 - Acts 1:8 Challenge Strategy (Part 1) Led by Jeff Thompson, DOM, Concord Baptist Association, Fort Smith, Ark.

Session 2 - Acts 1:8 Challenge Strategy (Part 2) Led by Jeff Thompson, DOM, Concord Baptist Association, Fort Smith, Ark.

Session 3 - Acts 1:8 Challenge Association Implementation Led by Sid Hopkins, DOM, Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association, Lawrenceville, Ga.

Session 4 - Acts 1:8 Challenge Tools for Associations Led by Duane Kuykendall, DOM, Catawba Valley Baptist Association, Hickory, N.C.

FAQ: Haiti and IMB

Do we have personnel in Haiti and are they safe?

IMB does not currently have personnel living in Haiti. IMB is continuing to work with Baptist partners who have direct ministries there.

What is being done to help after the earthquake?

IMB’s human needs partner, Baptist Global Response, is coordinating relief efforts with other Baptist partners. The Florida Baptist Convention has many ongoing ministries with Haiti and will be the primary coordinator of the Southern Baptist response there.

I want to be involved. How can I go? Give? Pray?

Assessments have begun and there will be more specific information forthcoming.

Meanwhile, you can pray for those who have lost loved ones in this disaster. Pray that as relief is provided for physical needs, opportunities will also arise for meeting spiritual needs.

Give?

Relief efforts are going to be costly. If you want to give online, please go to imb.org, click on giving, and click on human needs. 100% of your donation will be used in to provide relief; no funds will be used for administration or promotion.

Go?

Assessments have begun and we will have more information in the next several hours. As you may have heard on news reports, there is a need to make sure aid from all sources is coordinated so that all individuals will receive the help they need.

Information will be posted on imb.org later today and in following days about any specific needs.

A18C Association Training at NOBA

The Acts 1:8 Challenge is conducting a special training event for associational directors of missions all day Monday, Jan. 11, prior to the start of the Network of Baptist Associations (NOBA) Associational Summit 2010.

The event is being held to train directors of missions and Acts 1:8 Challenge state coordinators around the new Acts 1:8 Challenge Association Process.

Included in the training will be an overview of the Acts 1:8 association process, best practices of directors of missions who have implemented Acts 1:8 in their associations, and an overview of Acts 1:8 tools that are available.

Trainers include Jeff Thompson, director of missions of Concord Baptist Association, Fort Smith, Ark.; Sid Hopkins, director of missions of Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association, Lawrenceville, Ga.; and Duane Kuykendall, director of missions of the Catawba Valley Baptist Association, Hickory, N.C.

Training will be videotaped and made available via NOBA's eQuip training portal.

More information is available by email at actsone8challenge@gmail.com.