Fox Valley Baptist Association

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Newsletter
March - April 2008

ACTS 1:8 Challenge Weekend
Disaster Relief Update
FVBA Evangelism Training
Multihousing Conference
Embrace Baltimore Partnership & Missions Trip
Children's Camp
On Missions Celebration
Handbell Ministry
NAIER Program
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

ACTS 1:8 CHALLENGE WEEKEND
On Saturday April 5, 2008, from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Nate Adams, IBSA Executive Director, will be leading an Acts 1:8 Challenge Weekend in our Association. Also, we will hear testimonies of the missions work in our region, our nation, and the world. On Sunday, April 6, the event will be concluded with our Semi-Annual Meeting. Cornerstone Community Baptist Church, 307 Banbury Rd., North Aurora, IL, will host both events. Be prepared to accept the Lord’s call to missions.

DISASTER RELIEF UPDATE
The floodings in the Midwest have reinforced the need for us to be ready for disasters. Southern Baptists are under Scriptural and moral obligation to all mankind to provide a positive witness of the love of Jesus Christ. Our Association is working to meet this goal. If you feel moved by our Lord to help please go to www.fvba.com or contact the FVBA office. Any funds received go directly to disaster relief efforts. Monetary or equipment donations could be sent to Fox Valley Baptist Association, 1590 Weatherstone Lane Suite 2, Elgin, IL 60123.

Please pray for the men and women that volunteer so that we can provide "A cup of cold water in Jesus’ name."

FVBA EVANGELISM TRAINING
FVBA & IBSA will sponsor an Evangelism training Saturday, April 12, 2008 at First Baptist Church, 509 N. Front St. McHenry, IL 60050. The event will begin at 9:00 A.M. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. Our guest speakers will be Randy Mullinax (IBSA Evangelism Director), Pat Pajak (IBSA Assoc. Executive Director), and Dale Davenport (IBSA Educational and Leadership Development Director).

Since lunch will be provided, we will appreciate you confirming us of your participation no later than Wednesday, April 9^th at the FVBA office. If you need further info, please contact Dr. Ruben Raquel, Pastor at 815-385-0083 (Church office), or 847-373-2517 (cell).

MULTIHOUSING CONFERENCE
Fox Valley Baptist Association cordially invites you to participate in a Multihousing conference Saturday, April 26, 2008. The event will be held at Sycamore Baptist Church, 302 Somonauk St., Sycamore, IL 60178. Mike Wright will be our guest speaker. The conference will start at 9:30 a.m. to conclude at 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

EMBRACE BALTIMORE PARTNESHIP & MISSIONS TRIP
Fox Valley Baptist Association will be a partner with Embrace Baltimore which is an effort of the North American Mission Board, the Baltimore Baptist Association, and the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware to work with Baltimore's churches to change the city's spiritual climate with Jesus’ love. We will intercede through prayer and involve people to serve in the Baltimore area by sending a missions team on June 23-27, 2008. Pastor Frank Russo who went on a Vision trip to this city will keep us updated about the missions trip. Please answer the call by making plans to participate!

CHILDREN’S CAMP
Our FVBA Children's camp is scheduled July 21-25, 2008 at Streator Baptist Camp, Streator, IL. Kids who have completed 3-6 grades are welcome to attend. This year’s theme is Stand Firm based on Ephesians 6:14-17. For further information, please contact our FVBA Camp Director Sonia Contreras at 630-551-3197, or contreras.sonia@sbcglobal.net.

ON MISSIONS CELEBRATION
On Missions Celebration is an associational mission education event that provides two levels of involvement: Associational-wide and local churches. Every FVBA church that participates in an OMC will hear and meet missionaries serving throughout the world through the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, and Baptist state conventions. Fox Valley Baptist Association On Missions Celebration is scheduled September 19-21, 2008. Further details will be shared soon.

HANDBELL MINISTRY
The FVBA Handbell choir would welcome an invitation to present a program at your church. Contact Wilma Booth at (847) 741-4218.

NAIER PROGRAM
Free new items are available to our SBC churches through a governmental program called NAIER which is supported by IBSA through the Cooperative Program. Products are donated by US businesses who receive a tax credit in exchange. If your church would like to take advantage of this opportunity, you may go to the Streator Baptist Camp and choose from items displayed, or request a catalog in the mail. In both cases, please contact Larry Walter, Streator Camp Director, at (815) 672-0084

ANNIE ARMSTRONG EASTER OFFERING
Each year, we honor the life and work of Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938) when we give to the annual offering for North American missions named after her. As a tireless servant of God and a contagious advocate and supporter of mission efforts throughout the world, Annie Armstrong led women to unite in mission endeavors that ultimately led to the formation of Woman's Missionary Union, for which she served as the first corresponding secretary.

Annie believed in Christ with all her heart, but it was her hands that expressed that belief in tangible ways. She spent a great amount of time typing and handwriting letters in support of missions. Annie was a woman of prayer, folding her hands in prayer to intercede for the missionaries and for those they were helping discover Christ. Because every dollar given to the Annie Amrstrong Easter Offering goes directly to support more than 5,000 missionaries and their ministries, Southern Baptists are confident offering gifts are an investment in eternity. This year’s goal is $61 million. This offering ensures missionaries and their ministries will continue to thrive as they are enabled and equipped to share Jesus Christ in our state and throughout North America.