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The Word from Pastors
and Wives Retreat - Life-changing
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 Comfortable? Not really. Tension free?
Hardly. Uninteresting and irrelevant? You've got to be kidding. Life-changing seems to be the most used word in describing
this year's Pastors and Wives Retreat. Dr. Bruce Wilkinson took our retreat goers on four
trips into deeply personal aspects of their lives and ministries, sometimes
raising a fair amount of tension in the process. He led powerful
excursions into the areas of productiveness, effectiveness, focus and faith
with profound results for many. One pastoral couple wrote to say they
had found answers to issues they had been wrestling unsuccessfully with for
years. Another's email indicated he had found "affirmation and
peace in the midst of a storm of uncertainty."
In the midst of the teaching intensity, there was plenty of laughter and
good conversation as well. A U-tube video entitled "Mommas,
don't let your babies grow up to be pastors" launched the laughter our
first evening together. Throughout the remainder of the retreat, the
teaching was punctuated with engaging worship, light-hearted videos, some
special though silly awards and just enough reports to keep all
informed. Our worship leaders included Chris Berg (Mountain View,
Flagstaff), Justin Unger (The Heights, Prescott) and Bob and Melba Deal
(Palmcroft, Phoenix). Bob and Melba were specially recognized and
celebrated for their years of faithful and effective ministry through many
pastors and wives retreats.
With nearly 150 in attendance, this year's retreat was the largest anyone
could remember. Next year's retreat is tentatively scheduled for
October 18 - 20. Walt and Patty Wiley of Winning With Encouragement
are the 2010 retreat speakers. Check them out at www.wweministries.org.
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Water Pressure Tank Adventure at Prescott Pines
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 About
once a month something happens at camp that causes the staff to say,
"Oh Lord, what are we going to do now?"
That
was exactly my response when in the middle of the Pastor and Wives Retreat,
one of our maintenance men gave me the news that our water system pressure
tank was leaking! The tank holds about 3,500 gallons of water that is
placed under pressure to push the water from our reservoir to all parts of
camp. It reminded me of a leak I once had in my car's radiator...only
bigger! You could see the water squirting out of a small hole in the tank,
and our big fear was that the hole would get worse.
A quick look at our staffs' faces reminded me that once
again we were faced with a situation where none of us had any experience. I
mean, how often does a camp have to replace a water pressure tank? After a
time of prayer around the tank, we set up a plan to find and install a
replacement. Proverbs reminds us that "In a multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom". Once again, we were able to find wisdom through our
network of friends of the camp.
I want to thank you for all of your prayers, encouragement
and gifts to our camp this past week. The water pressure tank has been
replaced, but not without some challenges!
We were able to find and purchase a used tank two days later. We had
it delivered for free the following afternoon. We found out that we had to
special order a part from Illinois, so we prayed and hosted three guest
groups while keeping an eye on the leak. Yes, the leak did get bigger, but
it didn't affect our guests experience at camp.
Last week, our staff filled up their bathtubs and we turned
off the water for 26 hours to change over to the new tank. After the tank
was replaced, we were still pressurizing the system when our next guest group
arrived. They had low water pressure for about two hours, but they did not
allow that to change the focus of their retreat.
We have seen God working in this crisis.
- It happened during our Pastors and
Wives Retreat. They were able to pray with us and several
churches and a few individuals made contributions to help cover the
estimated $15,000 cost of the repair.
- It was a small leak and not a
catastrophic failure of the tank.
- Our Wastewater Treatment advisor is
a dear brother in Christ who was able to find a used tank for us
because of his network of friends and his commitment to us.
- A local contractor who is also a
great friend of the camp offered to pick up the tank for free with his
semi truck and trailer with only 8 hours notice.
- An unexpected volunteer and his wife
came to work at our camp for the month. He is experienced in
setting up PVC pipe water systems and was able to assist our staff in
building the new water pressure system.
I shared with some friends
afterwards that they didn't teach this kind of thing in Seminary, but...
maybe they did. God using his children to help in a time of crisis!
Prescott
Pines Camp
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Book Review: "A Gospel Primer for Christians"
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 There's a growing acknowledgement among leaders and churches
in America that perhaps we've truncated the Gospel over the past several
decades.
The result? People feel confident of their eternal prospects, but
often wonder if there really shouldn't be more with respect to the Gospel,
especially in this life. In fact, many voices in the evangelical
arena blame our presentation of an anemic Gospel for the reason so many
Christians seem to be ineffective in living out their faith.
In the midst of the negative, author Milton Vincent brings a needed dose of
the positive in his book "A Gospel Primer for Christians."
Subtitled "Learning to See the Glories of God's Love," the book
unpacks many major though often overlooked characteristics of the
Gospel. Vincent's point is that Christians ought to hear the Gospel
as much as non-Christians do. He uses multiple New Testament
references to support this view.
His goal is that we (believers) would embrace the full scope of the
Gospel. He describes that scope as so foolish, so scandalous and so
incredible that it is a daily battle to believe it. Part I of the
book in which the author isolates 30 different characteristics of the
Gospel that ought to impact our lives is worth the price of
admission. The book is published by Focus Publishing and can be
ordered at www.focuspublishing.com.
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"To God Be the Glory" - 100 Years of Ministry
in Yuma
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 Grace Bible Fellowship (formerly FBC Yuma)
will commemorate 100 years of ministry with a celebration weekend
November 13-15, 2009.
"To God be the Glory" will be the theme as GBF will
celebrate the past with pictures, video, old friends and food; the present
with a community outreach block party / carnival; and the future with a
special two hour Sunday service with dinner to follow.
The Sunday service will look at "The Promises of our Faithful
God". With many guests expected, including city and community
leaders, this should be an exciting time of worship and
praise. Congratulations GBF on this milestone. To God be the
glory!
Grace
Bible Fellowship Website
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Elfrida Baptist Calls James Corley
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 James Corley, veteran pastor and missionary, was called to
serve as the pastor of Elfrida Baptist Church on October 25, 2009. Pastor Corley will
officially begin on January 2, 2010. His broad experience as both a
pastor and a missionary will prove a great asset as the ministry of EBC
continues its forward momentum. Corley will continue his mission
endeavors while serving EBC, planning at this point to be in Elfrida about
20 days per month and involved in various other mission/personal ministries
for the remainder.
Pastor Corley has committed to serve EBC throughout 2010, and to use that
time to help prepare the church for a pastor to follow him. In his
words, "I'm 65 and it is my perception that they need a guy more like
45." Throughout that year of service, James will also help the
church sharpen its ministries for a season of growth and impact both he and
the church view as very much in their future.
In addition to his ministries as pastor and missionary, Corley is a
prolific writer and speaker. He is a graduate of Simpson College and
George Fox Evangelical Seminary; he resides currently in Queen Creek,
Arizona.
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Superior Live ! Community Revival
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 First Baptist Church, Superior will be joining with
"God Ordained Ministries" for Superior Live! A
Community Revival. This will be a two day event, November 13th and
14th, 2009. The event will include concerts, motivational speakers, a
golf tournament, women's conference, children's festival and much
more. Please keep Pastor Joe Palmer and FBC in prayer as they minister
at this event. Community revival . . . let's pray for it in Superior
and in our communites as well.
God Ordained Ministries' mission is to "introduce
communities to the Savior." They work with local churches
and communities to organize revival events.
More About God Ordained
Ministries
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A Week of Food. A World of Savings
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 One of the great benefits of association relationships is
that those relationships are often the source of great ideas and helpful
information.
The Treasure Box, first introduced to us by Rev. Steve Engram of Desert
Springs Community Church, qualifies as both.
TTB is an economical meal program which provides store-quality, nutritious
food for everyone trying to stretch their food dollar. The Treasure
Box is a pre-assembled box containing $75 - 100 of high quality frozen food
offered to individuals and families for just $30 per week. Designed
to feed a family of four lunch and dinner for about a week, or an
individual for almost a month, the Treasure Box is available to
everyone.
To receive a Treasure Box, you must pre-order a box or boxes and pick up
the order from the location nearest you on the pick up day. Orders
for the Treasure Box are taken online and at local Host Sites. Host
Sites are organizations who have partnered with the Treasure Box to be the
pick up location for their community.
This is well worth checking out. Go to www.thetreasurebox.org for full
participation information including how your church or organization can
become a host site. First Baptist Church of Tempe, Palm Valley
Community Church of Goodyear and Desert Springs Community Church of
Goodyear are SWCBA affiliates listed among the host sites in the valley.
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Prayer Summit for Pastors and Church Leaders
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 One of last year's Summit-goers wrote of his experience, "Because of the Prayer Summit I was reminded that I
really don't pray enough - and it shows. 'Hello, my name is
Martha. I have very important things to do for God.' I need to
change that - at least I need a new middle name . . . maybe Mary?"
Too busy to pray. Sounds all too familiar. Well, the Pastors
and Leaders Prayer Summit is a place of reconnection . . . of getting back
in touch with the Source of our life and ministry . . . of pausing quietly
enough and long enough to hear a voice that perhaps our busyness as drowned
out.
The 2010 Summit is scheduled for January 11 - 12 starting at 10 a.m. on the
11th and ending with lunch on the 13th. The location is Prescott
Pines Camp and Conference Center in Prescott, Arizona. Total cost for
the Summit including lodging, food and program is $100 per person.
Download a registration form at the SWCBA website (www.southwestcba.com) and return the form with your check or call in your
registration to Barbara Eymann at SWCBA, 602-788-8090. Rev. Dennis
Fuqua will facilitate the summit again this year; Dennis is the director of
the International Renewal Ministries, the folks who launched the prayer
summit movement many years ago.
Of last year's Summit, another pastor wrote, "I attended the 2009
Summit with our entire pastoral staff. On the week before I arrived,
I told my wife that if she could see through my eyes and see my heart and
soul, she would see an exhausted heart and soul. Through the Summit, my heart was thoroughly refreshed and I
regained my hunger and thirst for the Lord." If you attend the 2010
Summit perhaps you'll find that refreshment . . . that renewed hunger and
thirst for God. At the very least, maybe you'll gain a new middle
name!
Download
a Registration Form
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Annual Celebration Attached to Vision of Growth
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 On any given Sunday, 20 - 25 thousand people attend a
SWCBA-affiliated church in the region. What if we could multiply
ourselves to have greater impact in the region? What if we could
help our people reach people with the Gospel in such a way that our
churches could grow by at least 10% per year? And what if we could
continue that growth, year after year for as far as we dare dream?
And what if that dream took shape not only in current churches growing, but
in the strategic growing of new churches as well?
Those are the questions and the vision forming the foundation of this
year's Annual Celebration. Scheduled for March 13 at First Baptist
Church of Tempe, the 2010 AC will feature Pastor Tom Mercer as the keynote
speaker. A man with deep roots and connections in the CB movement,
Tom has been used by the Lord to multiply ministry, not just at the High
Desert Church in Victorville, CA, but in groups in national and
international settings as well.
His approach is based on a simple, biblical practice that when understood
and used brings remarkable results in reaching households for Christ.
And it brings remarkable fulfillment to the ministry life of individuals
and churches. He calls it "OIKOS," the Greek word for
extended household. He believes that household is the most natural
and common environment for evangelism to occur; it is the place where you
and I are uniquely wired by God to reach. It is the group for whom we
are the ideal instrument of His grace.
Of course, the day will be filled with other great seminars, powerful
worship, excellent food and fellowship . . . connections that will
encourage you throughout the coming year. Pastors, leadership teams,
teachers and congregants . . . there's value here for everyone. After
January 1 watch your mail and/or email, or check our website for
registration information. In the meantime, get this on your and your
team's calendars. About that dream . . . 10% a year for the next 7
years and we're then 40 - 50 K on a Sunday . . . a force to be reckoned
with, don't you think? OIKOS - check it out . . . www.highdesertchurch.com.
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Regions Helping Regions
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 With the resignation of its executive director Stephen
LeBar, CBAmerica initiated a renewal of its structure and more importantly
of the relationships within the structure. Focusing on the eight
current CB regions, the regional directors along with the national staff
began to reshape the national expression of CBA around the connections of
the regions themselves. CBAmerica will, in effect, become an
association of regions even as the regions are associations of
churches. In this model, one or more regional directors will serve as
the catalyst for the national expression of the regional associations,
replacing the need for a national executive director.
One of the key elements of the new structure involves regions helping
regions as we all strive to grow in effectiveness. Earlier in the
fall Dr. Downs joined personnel from another region and a national staff
member in assessing the Next Gen Churches (Northern California
region). Later in November, he will travel to Southern California to
help their regional director in a ministry mapping process. At the
SWCBA fall board meeting Northwest director Mark Hoeffner joined our Board
via video conferencing to help bring insight to our renewal process.
While change is always a challenge, the potential for the regions and their
churches grows exponentially as they share gifts, talents, experiences and
resources to help make each region increasingly strong.
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Pastoral Search
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ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. . .
God knows our needs.
Le'ts continue to hold these churches up in prayer as they
seek God's will for their next
pastor.
- Desert Sun Baptist Church, Glendale
- Faith Community Church,
Chandler
- First Baptist Church, Arivaca
- First Baptist Church, Cave Creek
- First Baptist Church of
Mammoth
- First Baptist Church, Page
- First Baptist Church, Tuba City
- Grace Community Church,
Salome
- Maranatha Baptist Church, Globe
- Mesa Baptist Church, Mesa
- Native Harvest Inc. Flagstaff
- Parkside Community Church, Camp
Verde
Praise the Lord for
answered prayer! We welcome . . .
- Pastor Jim Corley to Elfrida
Baptist Church
- Interim Pastor John Vawter to Faith
Community Church, Chandler
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