It’s On My Heart . . .

A new year always brings a sense of new beginnings.  The unfinished and un-started projects of last year seem to take a better perspective as dates on the calendar move by.  Our world may affect our strategy and agenda to some degree, but I try to remember the words of G. Campbell Brown, who years ago said, “The church is not here to catch the spirit of the age, but to correct the spirit of the age.”

This year will bring the Southern Baptist Convention to Orlando. It has not been this close in ten years.  If you can go for a day, it would be worth it, to see our Convention at work.  The dates are June 14-16, 2010.  Go to sbc.net to get details on housing and location.

With that said, many groups will be coming to Florida and are looking to do summer mission projects. If you have something, let us know as well as our State Convention.  We would love to help others help you.  This could be VBS, Block Parties, Surveys, Camps, or Backyard Bible Schools.  This is a great opportunity to get people moving in your church to teach our world at our back door.

In our churches, Orange Avenue Baptist Church has called Billy Mills as Pastor on December 6.  Bill McLeod has retired or as he says he is re-treading from Long Branch Baptist Church. Ben Maldonanado is pastor of our newest church start, Iglesia Calvario, which meets at College Ave. and Jefferson Ave. Fleming Island is still in transition with Vernon Dillingham.  Pray for all these as well as churches needing part time youth leaders.

We’re back on the web and will try to keep it updated and fresh.  See us at
www. blackcreekbaptistassociation.net.  Our 2010 Planning calendar is at
2010 Calendar BCBA.  Let us know if we can be of any help to you.

Blessings,

Joe Butler

VBS NOTES

BCBA Associational VBS Clinic will be held
Saturday- April 24 from 9 a.m. until 12 Noon held at:

OakLeaf Baptist Church [MAP]
800 OakLeaf Plantation Parkway
Orange Park, FL 32065
Phone: 904.214.9066
Email: oakleafbaptist@bellsouth.net

For more information:
Contact Kim Watts at 904.403.3789  or
Email Kim at:  blackcreekvbs@bellsouth.net

Our theme: Saddle Ridge Ranch
“Roundin’ up questions…Driving home Answers”

Based on James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously
to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” [ESV]

Lifeway VBS Clipart

BCBA Kids Camp Info

Camp Director- Rhonda Carmichael
Email:  rkc828@gmail.com

Date: Monday –  Friday, July 19-23, 2010 at Lake Yale. 
Camp Cost -$175  
Deposit-$50 due on Wednesday,  May 12th.  
Balance-$125 due Monday, July  12th.

Haiti Disaster Relief Updates:

North American Mission Board Haiti Update [web]
Jacksonville Baptist Association Haiti Updates [web]
10 Ways to Pray for Haiti [pdf]

The BCBA will be a drop off location for the Buckets of Hope project. You can find out how to pack your bucket by clicking on flbaptist.org and watching the demonstration video. The cost of the bucket and food is approximately $30. An additional $10 donation is suggested to cover cost of shipping. Project deadline-March 15. Call 272-1707  for more info. 

Blackcreek Association is a drop off point for donations for Hatii.  We will take donations of  bottled water,  supplies, and clothing and bring them to one of the Mission Harvest America drop off locations.

Feb. 8 Nick Swarthout has returned from his trip to Haiti.  His trip was successful in helping many of the victims of the earthquake.  Nick’s ministry website is www.iamtruefriends.com For pictures of his trip visit the website www.shilohfamily.com

Jan 26: Pastor Renel Jean-Baptiste of Fleming Island Haitian Baptist Church, FL.  Phone: 904-316-0692. Email: sareptajrenel@yahoo.com.

We would like a group of volunteers to provide food, medical supplies, clothes, tents, etc. in the town of Gonaives, The city of Independence, about 146 Kilometers (91 Miles) North of Port-Au-Prince. Since hospital are full in Port-Au-Prince, many are migrating to Gonaives area. There are many injured, have loss their entire families, and have neither medical supplies nor doctors. There is a lack of  food and basic needs. This city was also affected by a hurricane last year as well as the present earthquake. Emergency intervention is necessary to save children and injured. For more information contact one of the following four local contacts in Haiti:

1. Nurse Marie Lourde DuFrene:  Phone: 011-509-3416-8079.
2. Pastor  Onnel Jean-Baptiste: District pastor for Baptist Conservatrice Church Phone: 011-509-3621-7409 or 011-509-3688-8016.
3. Pastor Roosvelt Augustin: Senior pastor for Betthanie Church of Decahos. Phone: 011-509-3639-4232 or 011-509-3548-7532.
4. Pastor Belfong Aristilde: Phone: 011-509- 3723-0124.

Pastor Amos Jean Baptiste (Cell Phone: 904-294-6584) from the Shekinah Fellowship church (ShekinahMinistries@yahoo.com) is planning a trip to Haiti and needs health care professionals.

Things you can do now:

1) Pray for the safety and care of the people of Haiti.

2) Give through us or directly to the Florida Baptist Convention. Mark checks with the notation “Haiti Disaster Relief.” Click  monetary donation to contribute online.

3) Go on a mission trip when it is appropriate. It may take some time, but once the “Search and Rescue” and ”Assessment” phases are complete, there will be a need for mission teams to do clearing of debris, feeding/sheltering and construction.  For more info on ministry opportunities click on flbaptist.org.

Blessings,

Joe Butler