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First Baptist Church in Monroe is excited about our new “GenNext” pastor. Having left his job in Des Moines, Jason Burns began his full time position with the church January 1. Jason’s main duties will be working with the youth and young adults. Jason has felt God’s call on his life for some time and he is happy to be in full time ministry and a part of the work at First Baptist. He is continuing his Biblical studies while serving the church. Pastor Jack McCullough, who has been at First Baptist since July 2003, is looking forward to working with Jason, and seeing God’s continuing blessings at First Baptist.

Jason grew up in Prairie City and graduated from PCM. In 1997 he and Jenny Andrew (of Monroe) were married. They have 3 children: Sydney in third grade, Sage in kindergarten, and Shay is 20 months.

Sunday, February 1, was a special “commissioning” day for Jason. We invited all of Jason’s friends and family, as well as the community of Monroe to this special day.

“God is GREAT and God is GOOD.” These facts are what the family at Burton Avenue Baptist Church in Waterloo, Iowa is experiencing today as they start a new chapter in their walk with the Lord.

At 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 8th, Deacon Steve Damge was thrilled to welcome a crowd of over 150 people to the installation service of their new pastor, Garry D. Moore.

The service began with a special recognition of Calvary Baptist Church, Pastor Garry Moore’s former church located in Dysart, Iowa. Many members from that church were in attendance. Mr. Damge expressed to them deep appreciation for their many prayers and sacrifices they had made throughout the entire process. Their selflessness offers new hope to a struggling sister church.

Pastor Moore’s children and grandchildren provided special music including a delightful solo performed by his daughter-in-law, Ellen Moore. Pastor Lyonel Watkins, interim pastor at Dysart, shared some humor, encouraged those in attendance by reading Jeremiah 29:11-13, and led the service with word of prayer.

A very special blessing was bestowed upon the congregation as Pastor Stephen Moore (Horton Baptist Church – Horton, IA), Pastor Garry Moore’s son, challenged both his father and the church family with the realities and responsibilities of ministry.

Several local pastors were in attendance and, in closing, a special offering was received from them. They blessed all who were in attendance by singing, “The Longer I Serve Him”. Pastor David Moore (Walnut Ridge Baptist Church – Waterloo, IA) closed the service with a special prayer of blessing and encouragement, asking God to oversee, guide, and direct in the ministries of Burton Avenue Baptist Church as well as in the lives of its members. Afterward, each pastor was met and encouraged by one of the men of Burton and they spent a special time in prayer together with them.

Pastor Garry Moore and his new church family covet your prayers for them as they begin their ministry and walk together with the Lord.

We hope that you will join us as Dr. Renald Showers and Dr. David Little will lead us into a profitable study and application of much of what the Bible has to say about “The Church Prophetically and Practically” at our 73rd Annual IARBC Conference April 20-22 at Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Waterloo.

Dr. Showers’ primary focus will be on “The Church Prophetically” and Dr. Little’s will be on “The Church Practically”. His Practical focus will touch on Church Planting but will be mainly centered on Church Growth and Revitalization.

Dr. Showers is probably best known for his Bible Conference and written ministries. His publications include Liberty and Love in Life with Christ, What on Earth is God Doing?, Behold the Bridegroom Comes!, Lawfully Wedded, The Most High God, The New Nature, There Really Is a Difference, Maranatha: Our Lord Come, Those Invisible Spirits Called Angels, The Pre-Wrath Rapture View--An Examination And Critique, The Foundations Of Faith, and numerous magazine articles. You can get more details about his books by emailing him at rshowers@foi.org. including a one line descriptive summary of each.

Dr. Little is best known for his over 35 years of church planting, pastoring and Presidency of Baptist Church Planters. He is also well known for his dynamic preaching style and passion for serving our Lord and His church.

Besides hearing these men in their pulpit ministries, you will also have an hour long Question and Answer time with them Tuesday afternoon.
Besides hearing these men in their pulpit ministries, you will also have an hour long Question and Answer time with them Tuesday afternoon.

The New Pastors and Wives Dinner - will be provided for our new pastors and wives who have become a part of our State Fellowship and for those who were already in our Fellowship but have moved to a new ministry or location since our last annual meeting in April of 2007.

The Ladies Luncheon - will be Tuesday hosted by Walnut Ridge Baptist Church. The theme is “He Is My Song” from Psalm 118:14.

Fellowship Baptist Church in Des Moines called for an examination council on Saturday, November 22 to advise them whether or not to ordain Mark Boyd to the Gospel ministry. They recommended unanimously that the church proceed with ordination. On Sunday, November 23, Mark was ordained and he and his wife, Leslie were commissioned by the church as missionaries to Germany with the help of Baptist Mid Missions. Mike Bush gave a testimony about Mark and Leslie’s commitment to the Lord, representing the church and Mark’s grandfather, retired missionary to France, Russell Young, gave a testimony, representing the family. Baptist Mid Missions representative, Vern Rosenau, gave a challenge to the church and Pastor David Moore from Waterloo gave a challenge to the candidates. The dedication prayer was given by Dr. Manfred Kober with Mark’s parents, David and Chrissy Boyd, missionaries in the Netherlands, listening by phone from Holland. This is a very exciting time in the life of the church. We would recommend the Boyd’s to you for deputation meetings so that they might gain prayer and financial support.

Strategic Plan Adopted by
Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches!

Special thanks to our Lord; the Council of 10; Phil Fogle, our facilitator; Pastor Rich VanHeukelum, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Team; each of the other members of the Strategic Planning Team; and all of the messengers from our churches who met at Ankeny Baptist Church on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, and adopted the Proposed Strategic Plan. The messengers also passed a motion to commend our State Representative, the Strategic Planning Team, the Council of 10 and Phil Fogle for their vision, work and love for our Lord and the IARBC as demonstrated in this Strategic Plan.

Please be much in prayer for the Council of 10 and many, many others who will be involved in implementing these important Goals to help us live out our new Mission Statement, which is, “The Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches works together to carry out the Great Commission and to stimulate Biblically effective ministries.” In light of Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision (revelation) the people perish (cast off restraint and fail to fulfill their God-given purposes) but happy is he who keeps the law”, we are very grateful that we have a written revelation from God. His Word teaches us that our primary way to please Him in this Church Age is to seek to fulfill the Great Commission rather than live an unrestrained life. We are to demonstrate that our primary focus is on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission by “Growing More and Healthier Christians and Churches.” May our Fellowship enjoy the happinesses (blessings) that come to those that continually seek to keep His law (commandments), more faithfully and effectively each day.