More in: From the D.O.M.

All articles in: From the D.O.M.

From the D.O.M.

From the D.O.M.: Pat Bullock
Sunday, July 1, 2007

It has been a good ten years for me as the Director of Missions for the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association. I have learned a lot and met many wonderful people.

The one thing I am most grateful for is the guidance God gave me to recognize who He wanted on the staff of the association. God has brought quality men and women and they have been what have made the association as effective as it has been. Danny Dirks, Larry Thomas, Gerald & Mrs. Klingsick, Glenn & Joanne House, Gail Phippen, Vicki Timmons, Brad Brisco, Mark Jackson, Theresa Hobson, Brad Simmons, Loren Phippen, Noel and Gail Willis, Georges Boujakly, Jean Edwards, Perry and Betty Wamego and last but not least, the staff present when I arrived, Denise Schafer and Dona Brown. Denise and Dona were invaluable in helping me get established. Jim Fuller was another staff member that made life interesting and effective. Jim Presnell, Bruce Robertson and Brad Simmons worked diligently to reach university students. All the volunteers have been a joy to provide resources for.

There were several commitments I came with when accepting this responsibility. My main goal and drive was to support and uphold the pastor who holds what I consider to be a sacred office. It was my goal to remind churches that God's man is vital to God's plan to build His kingdom.

I also came here believing that church planting is vital to the life of any great work of God.

Next, that evangelism is the very heart of a church's soul and life. Without it a church will languor and eventually die.

I believe that church health is the key to seeing evangelism and growth take place.

I have always felt that churches plant churches and healthy church plants will be the life-blood of a healthy church.

After finishing reading the biography of Charles Hadden Spurgeon recently, I am more convinced than ever that church planting and evangelism are the results of the power of "God released in a healthy church. Spurgeon had a burning zeal for souls and planted churches like Johnny Appleseed did trees.

Quoting from Arnold Dallimore's book, Spurgeon, "...he (Spurgeon) declared 'Salvation is of the Lord!'" Spurgeon also preached, "Whoever will, may come." Dallimore continues, "No matter what text he chose, eh always declared the great fundamental principles of the faith. With a burning heart he pleaded with men and women to be reconciled to God."

Spurgeon emphasized evangelism and church planting. He stated he was thrilled when a soldier left the main army to begin a new campaign. He sent out at least 600 men to preach and pastor from his church and college and in 12 years 39,000 baptisms were recorded from their efforts.

Why do I bring up Spurgeon? We hear a lot about his preaching but his church planting and evangelism was the very heart and soul of his ministry. I AM NO SPURGEON but my emphasis has been to help create an atmosphere where those two ministries were in the forefront of all that has been done.

The have over 4000 people hear the gospel when Capt. Jeff Strueker spoke and that many or more when the International Mission Board was here to plead with those called to be missionaries to surrender to God's will has been very satisfying to me.

It's with an enormous amount of gratitude to the members of the association fro allowing me to walk along side of you and attempt to support you that I say thank you. Thank you for continuing to meet my financial needs as I step aside.

I want to leave you with the words of a song that is the theme of my heart.

Should I at the gates of Heaven appear To answer the challenge 'What claim hast thou here?' 'What hast thou to offer, yea what is thy plea?' With blessed assurance my answer would be

All that I have is Jesus - All that I claim is Jesus All that I want, all that I need All that I plead is Jesus!

My sins they are many, my virtues are few The blood of my Savior will carry me through. When Christ in my place died on Calvary's tree Hallelujah, that opened God's heaven to me.

All that I have is Jesus - All that I claim is Jesus All that I want, all that I need All that I plead is Jesus!

This song, "My Plea", expresses my heart and my desire to serve Him and the churches of HOKSBA.

May God's richest blessings be poured out on this association, city and nation.

Sincerely, Pat Bullock