Associational Missionary: Don Patterson Mission Strategist: Greg Benfield Ministry Assistant: Sarah Rozier

ADVISOR

in this ISSUE:

POBA Mission Statement: ThePiedmont-OkefenokeeBaptistAssociationexiststoequip,enable,serve,andencourageacooperatingpartnershipofSouthernBaptistChurchestoeffectivelybuildthekingdomofGodthroughevangelism,missions,discipleship,ministryandprayer.

a s s o c i a t i o n a l

2104 Alice Street, Waycross 31501 phone (912) 285-8161 www.mypoba.com

January 2020

Pastor/Staff Prayer Tuesday, January 28

11:00 a.m. POBA Office

Missions Equipping January 14 See page 4

Points From The Missionary’s Pen, Pastor/Deacon 2

News, Churches w/o Pastors, Prayer 3

Avoid Pitfalls, Annual Meeting, Mission Equipping, RA 4

What We Believe, Prayer Disciples 5

YTD Giving 6

Who’s Your One 7

Calendar 8

Pastor/Deacon Training Saturday, January 4

Mershon Bap st Church See page 2

New Year’s Day January 1

POBA office closed

POBA Annual Mee ng Thursday, January 23

Pleasant Valley Bap st 7:00 pm

POBA RA Racer Derby Saturday, January 25

See page 4

WMU Annual Inspira on Mee ng Monday, February 24

FBC Blackshear 7:00 pm

Who is the person for whom you are praying and with whom you are seeking to share the gospel?

POINTS FROM THE MISS IONARY’ S PEN…

Page 2 The Associational Advisor

Rev. Don Patterson, cell (912) 288-7594

I am looking forward to the new year and the work of the associa on in being able to provide the resources and prac cal tools to help the churches of the associa on meet the vast needs that so surround us in the geographical area of POBA. I am es-pecially praying for our bivoca onal pastors and for the small churches they serve from week-to-week and year-to-year. We must always keep in mind that rural and small church ministries are so much more intense and complicated than pastoring a larger church. Why would I say such a thing? Because in a large church when several folks are away on a giv-en Sunday the gap of their absence is not missed as greatly as it is in a small church. When a family is out for a Sunday in a small church the intensity of the absence of that family is seen and felt in all of the workings of the church. When a cri cal issue springs up with one or two people in a small church the impact of that issue being solved wisely and with great pa ence and wisdom can mean the difference of losing several key leaders and serv-ants in the fellowship as well as the financial resources to do minis-try. Please note that compromising

the spirit of unity by catering to one or two folks who persist in having their way contrary to the Word of God is a death note to a small church and even to a larger fellowship, but the sensi vity and impact of solving problems in a small church must nev-er be feared by the pastor in his lead-ership posi on before the Lord. He must exercise a genuine commitment to God's will according to His Word regardless of the cost.

I pray daily for the pastors of all our churches but especially do I pray for our small church pastors. I pray for them to have the awesome love of Jesus in through their lives and the knowledge to face the perplexing issues of a small church with courage and determina on to follow Gods call to be the pastor of a small church.

Please remember Pastor/Deacon Training coming up on January 4 at Mershon Bap st. You have received a card and le er related to this me of learning together. These are the cri cal issues being addressed:

Tim Hall will share with us on Essen-als of a Small Church Ministry.

Marty Youngblood will share with us on Moral Purity.

Mike Everson will listen to our shar-ing with him the needs we see of bivoca onal pastors and small churches.

Marty will close our sessions with the importance of prayer.

Lynn Gardner will be working with the Pastor/Deacon wives for the first two sessions of our mee ng and then join the pastors and deacons for the last session with Bro. Marty.

Schedule:

8:30 Light breakfast & registra on

9:00 Session one

10:00 – 10:10 Brief break

10:10 -11:10 Session two

11:10 -11:30 Needs of a bivoca onal and small church pastors/deacons

11:30 ll lunch vital importance of prayer.

Please let us know you will be coming by December 30 so necessary provi-sions for food can be made. You can register at mypoba.com, by scanning the QR code below, or by calling the POBA office at (912) 285-8161.

January 2020 Page 3

NEWS AND INFORMAT ION: • January 23-25: Conclave, Cha anooga Conven on

Center. Visit ymconclave.org for more info.

• February 6-7: GBMB Kids Ministry Summit, Jekyll Is-land Club Hotel, $50, gabap st.org/kids

• February 15: Children’s Mission Day

• February 27-29: Selah Women’s Ministry Training Re-treat, Pinnacle Retreat Cdenter. Visit georgiabap st-women.org/selah.

• March 6-7: VBS Equip Event, FBC Pelham, $15. Visit gabap st.org/kids or call 770-936-5370.

• March 27-28: VBS Equip Event, FBC Springfield, $15. Visit gabap st.org/kids or call 770-936-5370.

• Millwood is accep ng resumes for a bivoca onal pas-tor. Send resume to: Millwood Bap st Church, A n: Deacons, 8008 Albany Highway, Millwood, GA 31552.

• Waycross Community is looking for a youth pastor. Contact Jerry Weathersby (282-1083).

• Oak Hill is looking for a bivoca onal worship leader. Contact Johnny Wildes at (912) 550-3409.

• Offerman Bap st is accep ng resumes for a bivoca-onal Youth/Children’s Pastor. Contact James Lightsey

(550-6516) for more informa on.

• Bristol is accep ng resumes for a bivoca onal Student Minister & a bivoca onal Music Director. Send re-sumes to Bristol Bap st Church, PO Box 506, Bristol GA 31518 or email bahowell68@gmail.com.

• Hacklebarney is looking for a youth minister. Contact Glynn Chancey at (912) 614-7912.

Remember these churches in prayer as they seek pastors:

CHURCHES SEEKING PASTORS

Astoria FBC Blackshear Hephzibah

Jamestown Millwood

Spring Hill Sweat Memorial

JANUARY PRAYER FOCUS This month, please remember these pastors and their families in prayer.

Rehobeth: Phil Jordan (Elaine) Riverside Chapel: Randy Wainright Sand Hill: Trent Long (Jimmy Nell) Sa lla: Terry Jackson (Karen) Second: Derwin Griffin (Debbie) Set Free: Mark Yeatman (Lori) Shady Grove: Edmund Thri (Robin) South Gate: Edward Colley (Carol) Sweat Memorial: Bill Young SweetWater: Tim Corey (Raquel)

WHO’S YOUR ONE?

Imagine if every believe could answer that ques on with the name of a person who is far from God—a person for whom they’re praying and with whom seeking

to share the gospel. That’s the inten on behind Who’s Your One. We believe God’s people don’t merely need another method for evangelism—what they need is a white-hot passion to see people who are far from God experience the new life He offers through Jesus Christ.

To learn more about the North American Mission Board’s Who’s Your One emphasis, visit: whosy-ourone.com.

PRAY: MISSIONARIES OUT OF POBA Aaron & Rebekah Harris (Laura Chapel Bap st Church) Bible Transla on Fulani of West Africa www.pioneerbible.org/aaronandrebekahharris

Jes & Cindy Smith are home in Statesboro for a season of me. Recently they have been located in Taiwan.

Page 4 The Associational Advisor

The RA Racer Derby will be Saturday, January 25. Registra on will begin at 8:00 am. Races will begin at 9:00 am. Loca on is TBD.

AVOIDING PITFALLS IN THE MINISTRY

POBA RA RACER DERBY

POBA ANNUAL MEETING

Please join us for the 51st Annual Mee ng of the Piedmont-Okefenokee Bap st Associa on on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Pleas-ant Valley Bap st Church at 7:00 pm.

A meal will be served beginning at 5:45 pm. Please RSVP by January 16 for the meal at my-poba.com or by calling the POBA Office at (912) 285-8161.

January 30, 2020 9:00 am—12:00 pm Gray Gables Bap st Church 54031 Church Road Callahan, FL 32011 The Northeast Florida Bap st Associa on has the great oppor-tunity to have Dr. Jim Henry at Gray Gables Bap st Church, 54031 Church Road, Calla-han, Fl 32011 (corner of Church and US 1) on Thursday, January 30, 2020 from 9-Noon. Dr. Henry will be shar-ing about "Avoiding Pi alls in the Ministry". Refresh-ments and lunch will be provided. In case you’re not familiar with Dr. Henry you can copy this link (h p://jimhenry.today/about/) and paste it in your browser to read about him.

Please RSVP by January 23 to ne a@bellsouth.net or call 904-225-5941.

Are you interested in missions? Are you preparing for a mission trip? Do you lead mission trips with your church? Are you responsible for training mission groups from your church? The POBA is offering Missions Equipping to address missions concepts and best prac ces. Join us at your POBA office located at 2104 Alice St., Waycross, GA at 6:00 pm. Session 6 - January 14, 2020: Channels of Service / Spiritual Warfare Resource: FOUNDATIONS - IMB v.2 2018 FOUNDATIONS The Interna onal Mission Board has published a book called FOUNDATIONS. This book has core missiologi-cal concepts, key mission terms, and components of the missionary task. Your POBA has a digital copy for anyone that would like a copy. We also have one hard copy available for each church in the associa on.

MISSIONS EQUIPPING OPPORTUNITY

Breakfast Cereals Grits Oatmeal Rice Canned Fruits & Vegetables Macaroni & Cheese Ramen Noodles Spaghe Noodles & Sauce Other Non-Perishables

January 2020 Page 5

PRIMARY MARKS OF A DISCIPLE: 6

Primary marks of a disciple of Jesus "Disciples are followers of Jesus. They have turned from their sin and trusted in Jesus as their Savior. They have died to themselves and surrendered their lives to Him as Lord. Christ now lives in them, transforming everything about them from the inside out. There are several marks of this transforma on. The first, a trans-formed heart, occurs when a disciple places ini al faith in Jesus. The rest are found in increasing measure as a disciple grows through faith in Jesus as a member of his body, the church. (Ma hew 28:16–20, Mark 1:17, Luke 6:40, Romans 8:29). There are six primary marks of a disciple of Jesus: VI. Transformed Purpose / Disciples are missionally engaged; they make disciples who make disciples of all na ons. Compelled by God’s grace, disciples are cap -vated by the Great Commission. Jesus has not only transformed their way of life; He has revolu onized their reason for living. Disciples live—and die—to share the gospel of Christ, to reproduce the life of Christ, to teach the Word of Christ, and to serve the world for Christ by praying for, giving to, and going to people around them and peoples around the world for the sake of God’s fame. (Ma hew 28:16–20, Luke 24:44–49, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Romans 15:18–24) Bo om line / Disciples of Jesus share the gospel, disci-ple other believers, and engage in the global spread of the gospel to all peoples. Source: IMB Founda ons v.2 2018 (page 56) We will publish the remaining marks of a disciple in upcoming newsle ers.

Each month we focus on a different topic in the Bap st Faith and Message (BFM). You may obtain a copy of the BFM (in print or by email) by contac ng our office.

VI. The Church A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congrega on of bap zed believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gi s, rights, and privileges in-vested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congrega on oper-ates under the Lordship of Christ through democra c processes. In such a congrega on each member is re-sponsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gi ed for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and na on. Ma hew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephe-sians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; He-brews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revela on 2-3; 21:2-3.

WHAT WE BEL IEVE AS SOUTHERN BAPT ISTS

365+ PRAYER PROJECT Rise up; this ma er is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do

it. -Ezra 10:4

+ Each church enlist a minimum of ONE person on ONE day but for EVERY day for ONE year un l November 2, 2020 to pray & fast for the 2020 elec on and elected

officials locally, statewide, and na onally.

Details here: prayer365plus.org

365+ PRAYER PROJECT

Page 6 The Associational Advisor

The table below reflects giving January—December 2019, as of 12/17/2019. It does not include designated gi s:

Church: Amount: Astoria 1,300.00 Beulah 1,700.00 Blackshear First 28,875.00 Bridge Community 8,000.00 Bristol 1,500.00 Browntown Calvary 5,442.00 Camp Pinckney 4,879.95 Central 9,000.00 Crosspoint Community 800.00 Crawford Street 1,054.02 Deenwood 2,119.11 Emmanuel 42,916.72 Emerson Park Folkston First 4,200.00 Grace Chapel 1,717.00 Hacklebarney 1,474.54 Haywood 6,491.38 Hebardville 571.50 Hephzibah Hickox 10,594.53 Hoboken 2,374.98 Jamestown 21,667.96 King Memorial 2,500.00 Laura Chapel 1,000.00 Lees Chapel 5,186.00 Liberty 1,000.00 Lulaton 3,373.00 Manor Community Mershon 1,500.00 Millwood 1,200.00 Mt Calvary 4,818.61 Nahunta First 533.00 Newbern 3,086.48 New Union 631.00 Oak Hill 8,775.93 Offerman 3,543.44 Pa erson 11,782.00

Church: Amount: Pine Grove 1,059.71 Pineview 800.00 Pleasant Hill 5,000.00 Pleasant Valley 11,401.17 Rehobeth 3,000.00 Riverside Chapel 1,200.00 Sand Hill 5,835.49 Sa lla 2,866.00 Set Free 2,766.26 Shady Grove 6,000.00 South Gate 800.00 Spring Hill 180.00 St George First 1,000.00 Sweat Memorial 2,664.00 SweetWater 843.00 Ten Mile 2,333.03 Twin Rivers 4,191.00 Walkerville 1,200.00 Ware Terrace 362.34 Waycross First 4,800.00 Waycross Community 2,400.00 Waycross Second 4,118.67 Waynesville 6,814.56 West Carswell 1,095.72 Williams Chapel 2,905.48 Winokur 2,818.31 Whosoever 300.00 Youmans Chapel 997.06 Total Unrestricted Giving 285,359.95

YEAR-TO-DATE GIVING

January 2020 Page 7

Anniversaries Randy & Tammy Carson—2 RC & Myra James—7 Barry & Sarah Rozier—19

P i e d m o n t O k e f e n ok e e B a p t i s t A s s o c i a t i o n

CALENDAR January 1 New Year’s Day, office closed 4 Pastor/Deacon Training 14 Missions Equipping 16 Meal RSVP Deadline—Annual Mee ng 21 Administra ve Team Mee ng 23 POBA Annual Mee ng 25 POBA RA Racer Derby 28 Pastor/Staff Prayer February 6-7 GBMB Kid’s Ministry Summit 15 Children’s Mission Day 18 Administra ve Team Mee ng 24 WMU Annual Inspira on Mee ng 25 Pastor/Staff Prayer March 6-7 POBA RA Camporee 17 Administra ve Team Mee ng 31 Pastor/Staff Prayer

Celebrating in January

Birthdays Melodie Boatwright—5 Mark Williams—6 Janice Bryant—9 Bonnie Williams—9 James Lightsey—11 Edie Gunter—12 Mitch Hall—12 Loren Bryant—13 Ray McMillan—15 Charlie Dunn—18 Laura Finley—18 Andrea Stone—19 Buddy Griner—29 Melanie Beal—29 Anne Cardwell—29

2104 Alice Street , Waycross, GA 31501 Phone (912) 285-8161, Web: mypoba.com

...CONNECT WITH Download The Associa onal Advisor at mypoba.com Missionary: don.poba@gmail.com Mission Strategist: greg.poba@gmail.com Ministry Assistant: sarah.poba@gmail.com

Activepastors/staff&theirspousescelebratingthismonth