A Time to Honor and Remember

THE

CENTRAL CONNECTION

May 2019

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to the mission of Christ to multiply disciple-making churches

through evangelism, leadership training, and connection with

other like-minded churches."

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

“A Time to Honor and Remember”

Memorial Day has morphed into the unofficial start to summer, but there are plenty of reasons to stop and remember the real purpose for the holiday. In fact, there are more than 2.9 million reasons. They are the Americans who have died while serving in the military since the start of our country. Memorial Day was esta blished by Congress in 1971 as an official federal holiday, originally called Decoration Day. The raising of the flag to the top of the pole and then lowering to half-staff is a symbol to honor those who gave their lives to protect and serve our country. It has been said that “their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.”

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Did you know there are over twenty-one million American veterans living today? I am proud to say that my dad was a decorated war veteran from W.W. II. He served as a paratrooper in the Special Forces of the 82 ^nd Airborne Division. For his tour of duty in Okinawa, he was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, the Bronze Medal and a number of others. Knowing my dad, it wasn’t about the medals. In fact, he never talked about them. It was about honor! Read More

Chuck Phinney, WWII Vet

Pat Phinney

CB North Central Regional Director

Our Update

Recently one of my grandkids was passed a dish of something delicious at the dinner table and the parent said, “Well, what do you say?” The response was quick, “Thank you!” I began to think about that obedient response for a moment. God passes a tasty dish or maybe even an unwanted circumstance to us at our meal time. How often do we say, “Thank you Father!”? Paul clearly lays out our table manners in Ephesians 5:20 when he said, “ Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our thankfulness should be a well-rounded, consistent response to whatever God allows to happen in our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This kind of thankfulness is IMPOSSIBLE in our own strength, but only through the indwelling Spirit can we say, “Thank you Father!” Read More

Pat and Karen Phinney

CLUSTER GROUP DIRECTOR

"The Rest of the Story"

Friday I took part in a memorial service for Dave Woodruff. Dave has only attended the church I pastored the last half dozen years. For quite a number of years he lived west of our town and attended other churches. However, our relationship goes back decades. Let me tell you his/our story.

As a young church planter in 1980, I took every opportunity I could to engage the community. One of those engagements was whenever the local funeral director needed a fill in preacher I jumped it. Read More

Pastor Eldon Carlson

CBNC Regional Cluster Group Director

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Behavioral warning signs of potentially violent individuals
ALICE principles to increase your chance of survival
Legal implications of having armed security

What: x Preparing for an Armed Intruder, continental breakfast and lunch included

When: x Thursday, May 23, 8:30am to 1:00pm

xxxxxxxx Doors open at 7:45am for registration

Where: x Berean Baptist Church

xxxxxxxx 309 County Rd 42 East

xxxxxxxx Burnsville, MN 55306

HOW TO REGISTER

Visit https://armedintruder09.eventbrite.com
Password is required! Use this code to access registration: CMIC

Learn more about events by Church Mutual here:

www.churchmutual.com/ArmedIntruderEvents2019

AROUND THE REGION

Church Planting in the Quad Cities

“A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia . . . “ Acts 16:9-10

The Lord has given a similar vision to Gerad Hall of East Moline, IL. He has a passionate heart to plant a church in the Quad Cities and CB North Central is choosing to partner with him in this endeavor. If you want to find out more of what God is doing here, click on the link. He would love to come to your church and share this vision to boldly proclaim the Gospel. To contact Gerad directly, please email him at Gerad.hall@gmail.com. Read More

ORDINATION

Pastor Seth Brickley of Eureka Baptist Church in St. Croix Falls, WI will go before an Ordination Council for examination on Saturday, June 1st. If you are a pastor and would like to participate in the Council you are most welcome. Call Eureka Baptist at 715-483-9464 if you are able to attend.

#GettingToKnowYou

T his month our focus is on Kenmare, North Dakota. We’d like you to get to know Faith Baptist’s new pastor, Josh Emmel and his family. Pastor Emmel’s ministry in Kenmare began just a few short months ago in early November, 2018. Read More

-an interview with Pastor Josh Emmel

Faith Baptist Church, Kenmare, ND

Please continue to remember our transitioning pastors, their families and their churches as you pray for the CB North Central Region. If you would like to contact a pastor you’ve seen highlighted in the newsletter contact the CBNC office or check the church listings on our website for a church phone number.

Who Has Made a Difference In Your Life?

Prayer is the life blood of a church. A church that does not pray will soon have it's fire for the Lord go out. Often, prayer is very lacking among men. This is sad because God has called men to be the spiritual leaders of a church (I Tim.2:1-6; 3:1-2).

I have been blessed that men from our church have been willing to meet together before the service to pray. There was one morning where everything seemed to be going wrong. My family and I had barely made it to church on time. I was so frustrated and hurting spiritually. Then when the time came for the men to pray, one of them prayed for me and my ministry. I was cut to the heart, and God used it to give me peace for the rest of the service.

Prayer is the life blood of a church, and it's a "secret weapon" for those in ministry (Ephesians 6:16-18).

CB North Central Pastor

COMPASSION FUND

Pastor, are you struggling financially? Do you have a situation that has left you wondering how you're going to make ends meet? CB North Central may be able to help you. The Compassion Fund is designated funds to help pastors in need. Please contact us directly if we can help you. 763-205-9330 or patp@cbnorthcentral.org.

-You Can Help

Has God placed it on your heart to help pastor's in a tough spot? If so, you can donate directly to the Compassion Fund thru CB North Central. Simply send a check marked 'Compassion Fund' to CB North Central, P.O. Box 490441, Blaine, MN 55449. Or if you prefer online giving, go to the homepage of our website and click on 'GIVE'. Be sure to designate your gift to the 'Compassion Fund'.

CBAmerica Chaplaincy

"Doing the Small Things: Extra Duty Touches Soldiers' Hearts"

"In PACOM (Pacific Command), U.S. Marines deploy to train. Marines stationed in the Pacific often deploy to different countries throughout Asia to get real-life experience and train in those actual areas through planned exercises.

One of the most well-known and established exercises is COBRA GOLD. COBRA GOLD is a multinational exercise that takes place throughout Thailand. During this exercise Marines hone their skills in different types of warfare simulations. Yet, one thing that is not as well-known during COBRA GOLD are the Community Relation Events that take place." Read More

– b y Chaplain Ted Shields, US Navy, Pacific

Rev. Andy Meverden

Director of Chaplaincy

CBAmerica.org

3686 Stagecoach Rd, Unit F

Longmont, CO 80504

ChapAndy@cbamerica.org

Preaching-4 Ways To Gain Attention And 3 Ways To Keep It!

"A man asked his friend, 'What color are your pastor’s eyes?' He answered, 'I don’t know. When he prays he closes his eyes and when he preaches I close mine.'”

Read More -by Dr. R. Larry Moyer, SermonCentral.com

A Letter to the Tired Children's Ministry Leader

"As Children’s Ministry leaders, we have all lived in seasons of hard ministry. We have faced the temptation to call it quits and move on. I’ve been in those seasons before, and this is my attempt to offer encouragement and words that you can come back to whenever needed."

-by Matt Morgan, ChurchLeaders.com

7 Reasons the Introvert in Your Small Group Isn't Talking

"Occasionally I will hear another leader complain about someone on their team who the leader feels doesn’t contribute as much as others. 'She’s too quiet.' 'I wish he would speak up more.' 'He doesn’t participate as much as some of the others.' And, sometimes I wonder if the team dynamics allow for them to be heard."

Read More -by Ron Edmondson, ChurchLeaders.com