Mission Education at Work

Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hyrum, UT is a pretty young church, having only been in existence for 11 years. Last fall, we began Acteens as un upstart ministry for our new women's program. As the mom's began to come to meetings and help with fun events and snacks, they said, "Why can't we do this for our little girls?" And I said, "We can with willing workers!"
Thus we began GA's on February 3rd of this year. But we didn't just start GA's... we "KICKED OFF" GA'S! We planned something big to get the girls excited about the new opportunity! The Acteen students were in charge of the entire event. They worked closely with both the Acteen and GA leaders, and did everything from plan the menu and crafts, to lead the games and the Bible study. They worked in pairs, and focused in on teaching the young girls what missions really is! The theme verse was Acts 1:8, and the older girls taught the younger what this verse meant, how to use an Evangicube, and introduced them to a mission ary from Hawaii! Oh, did I forget to mention... It was a luau! They even learned a hula dance that was about fishing... you know, for men (and women)! There were 21prasent, and it has generated another great question... "Why can't we do this for adult women?" And of course I said... "We Can!"

Changing the world one ministry at a time!
Renee Parsons
AWMM Golden Spike

Link to Deseret News Story about Disaster Relief

Baptists put their faith to good works
Utah relief group cleans up after Midwest ice storm
By Carrie Moore, Deseret Morning News

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660192208,00.html

Utah-Idaho & Oklahoma Partnership at Work

The partnership between Utah-Idaho and Oklahoma Baptists began January 1. Oklahoma Baptist representatives were in Salt Lake City the week of January 22 meeting with the state staff to plan the partnership. Less than a week later, Salt Lake Baptist Association disaster relief team participants joined other Utah-Idaho disaster relief volunteers in Oklahoma to aid in the recovery from the ice storms. On January 27, 21 disaster relief team members met at the association office for a brief orientation and prayer before leaving for Oklahoma. The team took with them two skid steers, a bobcat tractor, the Salt Lake Baptist Association’s chainsaw unit and a bunch of eager people.
Most of us can’t even imagine what a real ice storm would be like much less the tremendous damage that they cause.

The ice storms in Oklahoma and Missouri left some 60 people dead. Downed trees fell on homes and cars and took out power lines that left people powerless for weeks. As of January 15, 300,000 homes were still without power.
The team will be helping people dig out by cutting trees and limbs and trying to help them get back to a normal life. They also have opportunities to share with those they help about the love of Christ who sent them to do the job.
Reports have been coming in about the hard work that the team is doing and the blessing it is to the team as well as to those they are helping. Tuesday night, January 30, a call came in from a very excited team. They had been working hard all day cleaning several jobs. Before they left one of the locations, they had prayer with the home owner. That person prayed to receive Christ.
Watch for more news as they return with picture and stories of their experiences.

Submitted by Dan Walker, DOM, Salt Lake Baptist Assoc.

Disaster Relief helps with Oklahoma Ice Strom Recovery

There is no defense against an ice storm. Just imagine your car, house, trees, everything covered in three inches of solid ice. It was nothing like I had ever seen before as I traveled from Tulsa OK to McAlester OK to work in the Disaster Relief Incident Command Center. I was there to help organize the feeding and chain saw teams as they responded to GODS call to help those in Oklahoma.

The call out was in partnership with the National SBC Disaster Relief and as of January 1 2007 Utah-Idaho and Oklahoma entered into a partnership, so not only did we get to work along side our SBC partners we were able to work with our Oklahoma partners. GOD put together a team of 21 from across our two state convention to minister to and serve those affected by the storm.







Please keep them in your prayers as they are traveling home Feb 1st and 2nd. I am sure they will have many wonderful stories to tell, so check back soon for the rest of the story.

For more information about Disaster Relief and how you can become involved please contact Wade Gayler at wgayler@uisbc.org or call (801) 964-2299.

Ski Chapel

We had our first ski chapel service at Snowbird Ski Resort yesterday. There were 13 people that gathered at the top of the Chickadee Lift for the service. We had great support from Holladay Baptist, but we also had other people stop by. The great thing about the location is that you can walk to it from the Cliff Lodge or from a nearby parking lot without having to buy a lift ticket.
The potential for meeting people, building relationships with employees and guests, and sharing the gospel is incredible!
Our next steps are to work on more publicity with the management, especially focusing on the need for an appropriate sign at the location.

Just wanted to give you a quick update!
Thanks for your continued prayers. Beth Ann

FBC of Vernal Mission Celebration

On December 10, FBC, Vernal, Utah used both Sunday services to promote the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and to "love on" several of God's choicest servants and their families. Pastor Bob Wells and his family was invited to spend the day with the people of the church. Wells and his family were asked to share their ministry at Living Waters Baptist Church, East Carbon, Utah with the Sunday school classes in a question and answer time. Wells also brought a message during the morning worship time. There were four baptisms that morning and both the Sunday School (90) and Worship service (131) were the highest the church has seen in a long time.

Beth Ann Williams and her family joined us for the evening sessions. The evening started off with a fellowship dinner featuring dishes from Mexico (to represent the new Spanish ministry), Taiwanese (representing a church member who will be working with IMB missionaries in Taiwan) and Middle Eastern dishes (for the three who may go overseas next year). Tables were set up around the gym displaying information and encouraging people to get involved in the Disaster Relief ministry and mission trips to World Changers, East Carbon, Mexico and Idaho.

Following the meal, a mission service was held. Both Pastor Wells and Women's ministry consultant Williams shared about their ministries. The church then shared a love gift and gift baskets with each of them. Pastor Randy Myers shared a message about God's heart for missions. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering was taken. After a time of sharing how the church is an Acts 1:8 church, the total for the LMCO offering was announced. The church had set a goal of $5500. The total of the offering and pledges was over $6100. After much praising the service was closed. What a marvelous day in the Lord!!

Story submitted by Pastor Randy Myers

Utah/Idaho Southern Baptists

Southern Baptists in Idaho and Utah are working together serving as Christ's redemptive body around the world. We worship Jesus Christ. With this common passion we work together to see Him lifted up in our own neighborhoods and around the world.

This blog will be an effort to share our stories about what God is doing through the people of the UISBC. Please return to see updates and learn how you can offer prayer, give support, and get involved.