Looking to the Future

News: Mark Jackson
Thursday, November 1, 2007

I knew the year was wrapping up but I am somehow caught by surprise that 2008 and the annual meeting of the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association is once again upon us. This past year, while in some ways a challenge, has provided great blessings. At the annual meeting, in addition to the normal business, we will call attention to a few of these blessings, celebrate the strength of our ethnic works, and take a look to the future.

Some of the business that will affect us for years to come is proposed changes in personnel. Larry Thomas is moving to the state convention office in 2008. Larry has done a great job for us and we celebrate with him the new opportunities to which God is moving him. The Associational Missions Development Committee is recommending to you that Loren Phippen fill this position of Church and Community Leadership and Evangelism. I have known Loren and Gail for almost eight years and they are a great couple. Loren is also a passionate, effective trainer and soul winner. The successful work he is leading in the jail and juvenile detention facilities is a great example of this. Loren is also involved in getting the Set Free ministry, voted on at last year's annual meeting, up and running.

The second personnel change recommended by the Associational Missions Development Committee is a new position of Hispanic Church Planter Strategist filled by Abraham Arevalo, currently pastor of Nueva Vida. Abraham has been a successful pastor and church planter and has a strong relationship and reputation with our state staff. We presently have over 50,000 Hispanics in our associational area and only two churches involved in reaching them. This population is predicted to grow by another 10,000 in the next three years. The AMDC has shown great wisdom in recommending to you this change.

Many of our ethnic/language churches will be in attendance with a display of their church and culture (possibly with some of their favorite snacks to sample). Come up to thirty minutes early at 6 pm or stay after the meeting to visit and see their heart for reaching their people.

I look forward to being with you to celebrate the past year and addressing the challenge God has laid before us in the coming years.