Together with God We Can!
In I Corinthians 3:9, Paul told the believers at Corinth that together they were God's co-laborers. That is, together with God they can accomplish what he leads them to do! Over these last several weeks, I have shared through my weekly videos where I see us going in the Dakotas these next 2-4 years. I first shared this in September at the Baptist Gathering and then through videos over the last few weeks I have shared them in more detail.

In the next 2-4 years, we will be focusing on five things that I believe will help our churches, pastors and leaders. Here they are:

  1. We want to encourage pastors, leaders and their families as they minister in their churches. We plan to do this through coaching, peer groups, building community, offering counseling when needs arise assisting churches in giving their pastors sabbaticals and offering training and equipping. We desire that those who come to serve in the Dakotas will find family, nurture, enrichment and encouragement as they serve.
  2. We want to strengthen churches through offering a process to church revitalization. We are looking for churches who would be willing to allow us to come alongside them and lead them in a process of revitalization that would follow a 5-step process - Prayer, Assessment, Customization, Implementation, Celebration
  3. We want to offer churches help as they walk through periods of leadership transition. We will offer assistance in finding transitional pastors who can help churches during those times when they are pastorless. We will be looking for opportunities to train pastors and lay people in the area of transitional pastoring. We will offer church training in how to search for a pastor.
  4. We will continue to help churches plant churches as we partner with the North American Mission Board and the staff we share with them.
  5. And last, we will move toward utilizing contract and volunteer workers to help us in our work across the two states. We will be looking for pastors and leaders who can assist churches in becoming stronger and more effective in the area of small groups, evangelism, discipleship, worship and age group ministries. This will be a way for us to shrink our geography and create more touches with our churches.

Our desire is to help our churches accomplish their mission and strategy. Our aim is not to say we can do it, you can help; but to say to each of our churches, you can reach your community, you can make a difference and we, the DBC, can help.

Let us help you!

-Garvon Golden, Executive Director/Treasurer
We have had two very strong months of Cooperative Program giving in the Dakota Baptist Convention. Note the February report and check your church's recorded gifts. If you have a question about it, please feel free to reply and contact me.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." – Philippians 2:3-4

We were made to serve. At youth camp this year we will be searching out what it means to live selfless not worthless.

For your youth:

You are everywhere. Seriously, have you ever thought about that? Maybe you just snapped a great selfie and sent it to your buddy on snap chat, or heard someone talking about you down the hall at school. Or your boss is upset…again, and of course it’s your fault. You’re all over, everywhere. You cannot escape yourself. But you can worship yourself. The more you focus on you, (what you want, what you like, who you are and what you do) the less you feel, the less you see. Overflowing with “me, I, selfie, selfish”, there is no room left for others. We become worthless to serve.

But God made us to serve him, to love him, to give ourselves to his work. He made us to live a life serving others continuously. He made us to live selfless.

Join other pastors and leaders for the Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop April 11-13, 2018 at LifeChurch in Fargo (21 18th St S). Full-ride scholarships are available to all active DBC churches - including hotel and food! Please hurry, as the date is quickly approaching. You can learn more about this exciting opportunity by clicking on the "Register Now" button below.
Small Groups Training
May 4-5
Rapid City (exact location TBD)

About the speaker: Jim May has been leading small group trainings for many years and in many different cultural contexts. He also has vast experience as a church staff member leading Sunday school and small groups, which lends credibility to planters, local pastors, and leaders. Jim is very relatable and able to connect with people from all different walks of life and locations.

What to Expect:

  • Small Groups - Experiencing Community
  • What Is a Small Group?
  • Communal Living through Small Groups
  • Evolution of Small Groups in America
  • Small Group Principles
  • Why Would You Consider Small Groups for Your Church?
  • Effectiveness of Small Groups
COME AND SERVE IN THE DAKOTAS THIS SUMMER
If you feel called to serve the Lord in ministry, this is the perfect opportunity to begin to explore that calling in your life. We are looking for students to come and serve in either local churches or on a ministry team during the summer in the Dakota Baptist Convention. Interns will be paid $200 per week. Ministry opportunities will be determined by the needs we receive from our churches and may include: VBS, Backyard Bible Club, block parties, camps and other summer ministry. If you are between the ages of 16-21 and want to serve in ministry this summer, please check out our guidelines and fill out an application .
Executive Board Decisions

The Executive Board approved the use of Strategic Impact Funds in December 2017. Below are the funds that were created. To read a description of each fund and how to request them, go to http://www.dakotabaptist.com/funding-request-form/ . We have two funds that were already available:

  • Continuing Education Fund
  • Capital Improvement Fund

The new funds that are available:

  • Counseling Support Fund
  • Sabbatical Grant Fund
  • Coaching and Peer Group Development Fund
  • Church Transitional Leadership & Support Fund

These funds are to help existing churches, pastors and families across the Dakotas. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email the office.

Summary of Executive Board Meeting, March 9 & 10, 2018, Bismarck:

  1. Elected Dude Garrett as Vice-Chairman of the Board. He is Pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Fargo.
  2. Heard reports from our state staff.
  3. Looked at the financial report for 2017 and January 2018.
  4. Celebrated two strong months (January & February) in Cooperative Program giving by our churches.
  5. Put together the 2019 budget worksheet.
  6. Heard a report from the President of our Convention, Steve Ford - Pastor at Grace Baptist in Vermillion.
  7. Approved the following proposals:
  • To move money in unrestricted fund balances to the following Board Restricted Funds:
- $20,000 to the Vehicle Replacement Fund
- $10,000 to the Continuing Education Fund
- $10,000 to Property Funds.
  • To give an additional $25,000 to the national Cooperative Program from unrestricted fund balances left from 2017. This is money given above our anticipated Cooperative Program income for 2017.
  • Approved the theme and offering goal as well as allocations for Baker Missions Week 2018:
Theme: "Together with God we Can" - I Corinthians 3:5-9
Goal: $30,000
Allocations:
  • Pastor & Church Emergencies - $9,000
  • College Ministry - $6,000
  • Summer Interns - $9,000
  • Camps, Retreats & Events - $6,000.
  • Voted to refer our next Baker Missions Week planning to a task force made up of Executive Board Members for 2019.
  • Voted to take operational control of the Dakota Baptist Foundation.
  • Approved contract role descriptions for the DBC.
Cornerstone FBC, in Williston, ND, is hiring an Associate Pastor of Family Ministries. It is a full-time position and the applicants need to send their resume and references to  dcousin@cornerstonefbc.us . 

Click here to see a full description and requirements for the position. If you have any questions, please call Cornerstone FBC at 701-572-2724.
North Hill Baptist Church

Please join North Hill Baptist in Minot, ND, on Thursday evening   March 22nd at 6pm  as it hosts Chosen People Ministries.

Eugene (Evgeni) Ivanov will be conducting the Seder meal... a traditional Passover meal. He will explain Jesus in the Passover. Great learning experience for those who have never taken part or have seen a demonstration of the basic Passover meal.

This is a free will offering event.
DAKOTA BAPTIST CONVENTION | 605.716.0130