Look around. God is moving among every people group in the world. His heart for the nations is evident in events occurring on every continent. God has chosen to involve His people, Christians, to do His work. He gives us the resources needed to fulfill the task. He empowers us to go to our community, state, nation, and world to be living examples of Jesus Christ, spreading the good news of salvation. He opens us to His leading in giving so others can go. He burdens us to pray for those who have gone. He calls us to be on mission with Him.

The Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association (HOKSBA) will be holding an On Mission Celebration October 1 – 3, 2016 here in Wichita.  The events of this weekend will provide multiple opportunities for individual interaction with IMB, NAMB, and KNCSB missionaries, with the goal of helping the participants to personalize their commitment to missions and to increase the churches’ efforts in support of missions.

“But you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8, ESV

HOW YOUR CHURCH CAN BECOME INVOLVED

In order to provide enough missionaries to speak in multiple
churches, it is necessary to begin now to get commitments from the churches of the Association who would like to participate in the On Mission Celebration.

This On Missions Celebration was recommended by the Associational Missions Development Council in 2014 and was placed in the budget.  The Association has $10,000 set aside for this event.  These funds will be used to cover the bulk of these expenses.  Each church will be asked to assist by taking a love offering to be given to the association and then shared equally among the missions speakers at the conclusion of the OMC.  Churches will also be invited to host the missions speakers in
various ways if they would like.

A representative of the On Missions Celebration Team will contact each church.  Responses from each church should be given to your OMC Team Member or the HOKSBA Office by March 15 concerning your decision.

Christmas reminds us that God values relationships.

• We have life because God desires a relationship with His people.  God so loved the world that He gave His Son to be our Savior.

• We enjoy life as we live in this relationship, so we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Joy only comes with Jesus.

• We share life as we live in relationship with one another.  The Lord intends that we live in relationship with Him, and in relationship with one another.

Once a year HOKSBA hosts the pastors, staff and spouses of churches from across our association for the Christmas Banquet at Metropolitan Baptist Church.  It is a night of fun and fellowship where these who serve and give themselves away throughout the year are honored and served.

Once again this year, my heart was full as I watched God’s chosen servants enjoy relationships with one another.

As we near the end of the year, it is a good time to evaluate tasks accomplished and goals achieved. But most important by Jesus standard is loving God and loving others.

In the business of the season, don’t miss what matters most.

Highlights of the Pastor’s Christmas Banquet this year:

• Abraham’s apology for no Christmas Greeting on our red cups.
• Beautiful singing & carols led by Keith Kelley & the Kelley Family Singers.
• Cedar Pointe walking away with most of the door prizes… again.
• The reminder that (Immanuel) God is with us, even in hard times.
• And good food shared with good friends.

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

We have all been shocked by the horrible news of the recent Paris terrorist attacks.  There is political debate regarding how our nation should respond to the resettlement of refugees.

But what is happening in the church?  And what is happening among the churches of HOKSBA?

Earlier this month, I gathered with a group of African refugees who met to worship for the first time.  John Ronel is an African man who now lives in Wichita and is working to establish a ministry among these people.  As I listened in on the service, there were multiple language groups including French, Swahili, and English.  There were people from many different African nations gathered to worship the Lord of all the earth.

Sharon Baptist Church, and Pastor Steve Tims have been gracious to open their building for this group to meet weekly.  Other churches within HOKSBA have given to support this work.  And we as an association of churches have been involved in supporting as well.

When I think of these “strangers” among us, I wonder how we will respond to them.  We must remember that the gospel is not just for people who are like us, but for all people.  For the Jews in Paul’s day, the mystery was that the gospel was for the Gentiles as well as the Jews.

• Is God bringing these refugees to us so we can show them the love of Christ and share with the hope of Christ?  YES!
• Is God bringing these “strangers” among us to allow us opportunities to welcome them as if they were Jesus?   YES!

Jesus said that when He comes in His glory He will gather all the nations before Him.  As with a shepherd there will be the separation of the sheep from the goats.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

                   And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

                   And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

There are hundreds of refugees being relocated to Wichita every year.

Midway Baptist Church has found and ministered to some of them through their ministry at Falcon Pointe Apartments. When they arrive in Wichita, they have very little to begin their new lives.

The trauma of their past experiences is difficult to process. Every family at the service on the Sunday I was there had lost loved ones in war or persecution. Many of the families are women with children and no husband because the husband was killed before they escaped their country of origin.

They may have spent months or years in refugee camps before coming to the US.  Now that they are here, understanding and adjusting to the new culture is challenging.

Finding jobs is very difficult. Most people find jobs because of people they know. But when you move to a city and a country where you know no one, the challenge is even greater. And job skills from your life in Africa may not transfer easily.

May the Lord give us His heart for these people He is bringing among us.