You BELONG

THE

CENTRAL CONNECTION

February 2020

"We are an organization of churches that is committed

to the mission of Christ to multiply disciple-making churches

through evangelism, leadership training, and connection with

other like-minded churches."

Visit Our Website

FROM THE CBNC BOARD CHAIRMAN

“Do We Really Know How to Make Disciples?”

"Sometime ago, in one of my disciplemaking training events someone raised the question, “Do we really know what we are doing when it comes to disciplemaking?” No one thought that they had everything figured out, but even though everyone said they were doing their best, they all admitted there were big gaps in the way they were trying to do it.

One of the instructors illustrated the point this way . . . " Read More

Pastor Brad Little, CBNC Interim Regional Director

CLUSTER GROUP DIRECTOR

"But God"

" Most of us would say the best verse of the Bible is John 3:16, “For God so loved...” We would say that because it summarizes the story of God’s redemption. I would like to suggest to you the best 2 words in the Bible are not from that verse. The best two words of Scripture, from my point of view, are “ but God!” ." Read More

Pastor Eldon Carlson

CBNC Regional Cluster Group Director

HENRY C. SPICER SCHOLARSHIP

Do you know a high school senior graduating this spring?

The HENRY C. SPICER SCHOLARSHIP is awarded each year to high school seniors planning to attend college in the Fall. To qualify, an applicant must be a committed Christian and a regular attender of a CBNC affiliated church. Pass this information on to someone you know.

For more information and an application, visit our website.

More questions? Contact the CB North Central office by phone 763-205-9330

or email wendyj@cbnorthcentral.org.

Applications must be postmarked

ON or BEFORE April 1st.

AROUND THE REGION

CONDOLENCES

MICHAEL D. MEAD, Pastor of Noelridge Park Church in Cedar Rapids, IA passed away unexpectedly Monday, January 27. He was 59 years young. Our sympathy to Laurel Mead, their family and those who attend Noelridge Park Church. Please support them with your prayers. Mike's celebration of life service was held Saturday, February 1 with Pastor James Perry of Squaw Creek Baptist Church, Marion, IA officiating.

A GoFundMe account has been created to help cover funeral costs (transportation and burial) and medical expenses (deductibles) incurred as a result of Mikes's passing and anticipated as part of an ongoing treatment program for Laurel. If you would like to help click on the button below.

GoFundMe

Karen Phinney Update

My heart is filled with gratitude for each of you who has prayed for me since my cancer diagnosis on September 2, 2017. You have been so faithful. Thank you!

I have finished the first round of a new chemo treatment. The second round will begin on February 11. So far we really don't know if this is working.

As most of you are aware. . . Read More

Love,

Karen Phinney

Plaid Ponderings: A Dirty Church or a Clean Church? XXXXXXXXXXXXX No. 6

(Formerly Podunk Ponderings)

This year Faith Baptist Church of Kenmare celebrates its 50 ^th anniversary. As I write this, preparations are already being made to celebrate this joyous occasion of God’s faithfulness over the past 50 years. For 50 years, the gospel has been celebrated every Sunday morning, children have been raised up to know the Lord, and this body of believers has shared the Gospel with its community. Yet alongside these preparations to celebrate God’s faithfulness in this work, we have some looming expenses as our building is also celebrating 50 years of use! Read More

Sincerely,

A Plaid Pastor

-by Pastor Josh Emmel

Faith Baptist Church, Kenmare, ND

“ Where there are no oxen, the

manger is clean, but abundant crops

come by the strength of the ox.”

Proverbs 14:4 ESV

NEW CHURCH PLANT-

Gerad Hall is a pastor in the Quad Cities area (Iowa cities Davenport & Bettendorf; Illinois cities Rock Island, Moline & East Moline) who is planning a new church plant. For more information click here . If you would like to contact Pastor Hall you can email him at Gerad.hall@gmail.com .

As A Team xxxxxxxx No. 7

"In my first year of vocational ministry, I attended a ministry conference. At the end of the first session, a group of older leaders asked me if I had lunch plans. Since I was by myself, the only lunch plan I had was to eat. They insisted that I come along with them for lunch. I tried to politely decline preferring to have my introvert break, but to no avail. I had a wonderful lunch with a group of brothers and sisters in Christ and that experience was very life giving." Read More

Pastor Gerad Hall

Quad Cities

Sharing A Good Word

As the CBNC region has been in transition with our Regional Director recently, there have been challenges. I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your support, your prayers and your words of encouragement. I know that the emotions that surface during times such as this are not unique. Everyone has their own story and that story very well may include times of emotional struggle. Recently I received an email from one of our pastors ( Gerad Hall, Quad Cities Church Planter ) and he shared words that he heard from speaker Crawford Loritts . With Gerad's permission I'm sharing with you what he shared with me. Read More

Wendy Jonasen

CBNC Administrative Assistant

CBAmerica Chaplaincy

" Last Minute Goodbyes "

" This New Year’s Day I woke up early to take Misty to the train station in Klamath Falls Oregon. On Monday December 30, Misty was released from jail after serving 6 months. I began visiting Misty in jail three months prior.

. . . . I lured Misty away from her friends who were also leaving jail that morning." Read More

-by Jer ry Levizon

Chaplain to female inmates, Pacific Northwest

Rev. Andy Meverden

Director of Chaplaincy

CBAmerica.org

3686 Stagecoach Rd, Unit F

Longmont, CO 80504

ChapAndy@cbamerica.org

PLEASE PRAY for the Following Churches in Transition

First Baptist Church - Colfax, IA

First Baptist Church - Detroit Lakes, MN

Cavalier Baptist Church - Cavalier, ND

Faith Fellowship Church - Cincinnati, OH

First Baptist Church - Shelby, OH

Pastor With Active Tremors: I Was Unconscious of the Pain I Was Absorbing

"Church leaders need to be aware that even if they are intentionally pursuing rest, the challenges of ministry could still be taking a massive toll on their spiritual and physical health." Read More

-by Jessica Mouser, Churchleaders.com

Three Common Traits of Youth Who Don't Leave the Church

"The daunting statistics about churchgoing youth keep rolling in. Panic ensues. What are we doing wrong in our churches? In our youth ministries?" Read More

-by Jon Neilson, Churchleaders.com

How Churches Deal with the Challenge of Latecomers to Worship Services

"The attendance will really be low today. I looked around the worship center two minutes before the service was to begin. The number of people seemed to be about half of the usual attendance. Really strange, I thought. Then it happened."

-by Thom S Rainer, Thomrainer.com

Preaching Means You Are Fighting an Unseen Battle

Every time you step into the pulpit, you are in a battle. You have to understand that. You have an enemy who is as a “ roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” ( 1 Peter 5:8 ). Read More

-by Sherman Haywood Cox , SermonCentral.com