NOTE FROM DR. T.

 

A MESSAGE FROM DR. T.:

Our Associational Annual meeting on October 17th was the best meeting that we had since I began serving with you. We had over 60 people representing more than 25 congregations. The pastors and lay leaders that I talked with enjoyed the new format that we tried out.  Most of them found the two panel discussions very relevant and helpful. The panel members took the opportunity to share the challenges and solutions their congregations face in the areas of church health and visitors’ follow-up strategies.

 The meeting was really a great start in revitalizing our churches and pastors.  It was also a good indicator that more and more churches are becoming interested in the work that is being done in our mission field. 

At the meeting, we showed a “trailer” of a 5-minute production that is currently being produced.  It is our hope that through this video, we will raise an awareness of the need for effective networking among our churches so that we can labor together for the expansion of God’s Kingdom. After the meeting, two pastors informed me that they plan to show the video to their congregations soon. We are pushing the producer to have the finished product in a few weeks so that we can distribute it to all of our churches.

 As we look to this new fiscal year, we see that an emphasis on prayer and church planting is taking center stage with our pastors and associational leaders.  I believe that God starts showing His actions when we commit to pray together and make ourselves available for His work.

 Let me remind you that at the Semi-Annual meeting last April, we challenged our churches and pastors to pray for the 10 church planters in our Association and to pray to the Lord of the harvest to bring more harvesters. God has heard and answered our prayers.  Recently, we have seen a church start in Chatsworth (one focus community) and a Bible study in Santa Clarita.  Also, we have been in communication with two potential church planters who are praying about coming to the San Fernando Valley.

In the months and years ahead, we will be busy with plenty of Kingdom work. One of our projects is the GPS Campaign which was initiated and promoted by North American Mission Board. GPS stands for “God’s Plan for Sharing.”  After being tested as a pilot project at a number of associations across the country, this project has proven to be an effective, doable evangelistic tool. I know at least five pastors who are interested in implementing this program. My staff and I are going to contact with churches who would like to employ the GPS Project. For more information about GPS, please visit the following web pages:   www.gps2020.net and www.findItHere.com

I will be out of the office in November for a 3-week mission trip to Vietnam. My wife and I will travel there to visit churches, participate in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Baptists coming to Vietnam, and to teach a short-term course in marriage enrichment to the pastors and their spouses. Please keep us in your prayers for our safety and as we minister to our own Vietnamese people. We hope to have many moving stories to tell you when we get back.

Please mark your calendars and make plans to attend our Pastor & Wife Annual Christmas Party.  It will be held at Faith Celebration Church on Friday, December 4th from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.  We are planning a very fun evening.  Come and celebrate Christ’s birthday and enjoy fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

 See you soon,

Your Missionaries T.A. and Thao

 



SFVSBA NEWS AND NEEDS

 NEWS

Many have said that our Annual Meeting on October 17th was one of the best we have had in years.  That would not have been possible without the hard work of many involved.  The Association would like to thank the following:

 ? Pastor Eugene Curry and the members of First Baptist Church of Granada Hills for hosting our 57th Annual Meeting.  All present felt warmly welcomed and appreciated the goodies you provided during the break. 

? Pastor Jon Karn and the Light on the Corner Worship Team who graciously used the talents that God gave them to lead us in Praise & Worship.

? The Vital Signs of a Healthy Church Panel Members  -- Jim Ryan, Jon Karn and Saul Ayala.  Special thank you to our translator -- Richard Cano.

? Visitors’ Follow-up Strategies Panel Members  -- Jim Jackson, John Powell, Mike Cobb and Imer Serrano.

? Bruce Hitchcock and Tom Belew for the greetings they brought from the CSBC and StrongTower Financial.

? Gary Grigoryan for creating our Annual Meeting Promotional Flyer.

? The Association Leadership Team -- Robert Cooper, Jack Rager, Robby Bolden, Richard Cano and Robby Pitt for their time and effort in putting together the Annual Meeting Program.

Congratulations to the newly elected officers of the San Fernando Valley Southern Baptist Association:

 MODERATOR -- ROBERT COOPER, Pastor, Berean Baptist Family Fellowship

VICE MODERATOR -- DAVID TURNER, Pastor, Mountain View Baptist Church

CLERK -- JACK RAGER, Pastor, The Way Fellowship

TREASURER -- RUBEN KING, Member FSB Sylmar

 First Baptist Church of Newhall has (re)called Bill Leathem as their senior pastor.  Bill and his wife Carole are happy to be back at FBC Newhall where they pastored over 8 years ago.  Please pray for the Lord to give them His wisdom and direction in shepherding FBC Newhall and pray for every aspect of their move from Clovis to the Santa Clarita Valley to go smoothly.   

We are grateful to Pastor Daniel Hsu and Mandarin Baptist Church of Northridge for opening their doors to a new church plant.  Iglesia Bautista Fe y Esperanza, which is pastored by Rev. Alfredo Alfonso, recently began meeting at MBC in Northridge.  They currently have 22 members.  We welcome Pastor Alfredo and his congregation into the San Fernando Valley Southern Baptist Association.  Please pray for them as they work to reach the lost in their mission field. 

 George Nelson, the pastor of The Vision Plus Church 2, a new church plant in Chatsworth, would like to call on the churches in our Association to assist him in reaching the people in Chatsworth during the Christmas season.  If your church is preparing to perform a musical Christmas program, please pray about also performing the Program in Chatsworth Park sometime in December.  If you would like to be a part of an exciting opportunity to reach the people in Chatsworth, please contact George Nelson by phone at (818)436-0707 or by e-mail at pastorgnelson@aol.com. For more information on The Vision Plus Church 2, please see the back cover of this Newsletter.

Congratulations to Patrick Taylor who was ordained to minister the Gospel in a special service at Mountain View Baptist Church on Sunday, November 1st.

Jack Rager, our Church Planting Strategist, has just learned that a team of about 50 students from the Baptist Collegian Ministry at Arkansas State University will be in Los Angeles for Spring Break (March 20-27, 2010).  For the most part, these students will be staying at the Rescue Mission in Skid Row and they will be deployed to different assignments in Los Angeles.   

If you are interested in taking advantage of this valuable resource and housing some of these students and/or utilizing them in the ministry of your church, please contact Jack Rager at 818-385-5527 or along.the.way@att.net.

IMPORTANT CORRECTION

We would like to bring to your attention a typographical error that was made on Page 53 of the Annual Book of Reports.  The total amount received from churches for the fiscal year was correct, however, IB Hispana Del Valle’s information was accidentally omitted.  IB Hispana Del Valle contributed $1,200 to the Association between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009 and contributed $1,200 to the Association between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008.  We apologize for this omission and would like to thank IB Hispana Del Valle and all the churches who have contributed to the work of the San Fernando Valley Southern Baptist Association. 

 PRAYER REQUESTS

T.A. & Thao Nguyen - Are currently on a 3-week mission trip in Vietnam.  Please pray for their safety and protection and pray that they will be able a light for Christ to every person they encounter in their mission field in Vietnam. 

 Jane Morris - Please continue to pray for Jane (and her husband Bill) as she continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

 Jeffrey Joseph - Requests prayer for his wife Addie who suffers with dementia.  Pray for God to give Pastor Joseph the wisdom and strength he needs to care for his wife and minister to his congregation. 

 PULPIT SUPPLY

The following ministers are available for pulpit supply:

Jeff Steele - 661-26-8474 or 661-313-4655

Robby Bolden - 818-979-3367

Jack Rager - 818-907-9722 or 818-385-5527

Steve Swartz - 661-298-2408

Ernest Jenkins - 310-413-7630

Verne Campbell - 818-362-0295 or 818-364-3080

Richard Cano - 818-635-3927

T.A. Nguyen - 818-730-3510