Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists — May 1, 2024 | |
Celebrating a Lifetime of Ministry | |
Executive Director David Johnson talks with Byron Banta, who served as a pastor, church planter, interim executive director and interim associational director of missions during his years in Arizona. Before he moves to Texas to be closer to his children, come give your greetings and express your gratitude for his service at a reception at Citypoint Church in Tempe on May 19, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. | |
Propel trains student leaders, missionaries, church volunteers | |
Taking a student from lost, unaware of their need for the gospel to a laborer who desires to serve Christ’s church is a transformational vision students take away from their time as a leader of Christian Challenge.
Propel, Christian Challenge’s annual leadership retreat, equips both student leaders and missionaries of college campuses across the state. Propel endeavors to accomplish this goal of mobilizing leaders by giving them the tools to serve and love their local church. This year 79 students from 16 college campuses across the state gathered at Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Casa Grande April 16-18 for Propel.
“Propel is designed to help missionaries enlist, equip and empower student leaders to do the work of ministry on the campus. We want to help chapters fulfill the mission God has given us to mobilize servant leaders,” said Marc Hill, Christian Challenge state director.
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2024 Zona Men’s Retreat: The King’s Men | |
This year’s Zona Men’s Retreat was not only spiritually renewing, it was unique, as attendees arrived at Lost Canyon in Williams April 26 in the middle of a hailstorm that quickly turned into a bona fide snowstorm. By the time it was over, the slow-moving front dropped half a foot of snow. Yet, while the temperature was freezing outside, the men of God were on fire for Jesus inside.
The retreat featured incredible snow-blanketed scenery at one of the most beautiful retreat centers in the Arizona mountains, great food, inspiring worship music, and deep conversations during “cabin time” that flowed out of the insightful messages from Chad Garrison, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lake Havasu City.
There is something inspiring that stirs the heart when 500 men gather together to worship God and to hear the Word of God from a man of God. For everyone who has heard Garrison speak, we knew that it was going to be direct, spiritual and timely. His words of wisdom hit at the heart of what it means to be one of the King’s men in today’s spiritual battles.
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Senior adult church ministers to all ages, gives 15% to CP | |
Green Valley Baptist Church is “a family that enjoys doing things together,” says John Guillott, pastor since 2011. The senior adult church invests in its community’s children, youth, “things that come our way,” each other, and Southern Baptist mission causes.
Among its many ministries, Green Valley Baptist Church – assisted each June by mission teams – conducts a VBS that attracts about 160 area youngsters. Also for children, Shepherd’s Fold Preschool and Daycare, which the church started in early 2000, has about 70 children enrolled.
Green Valley Baptist Church members are as generous with their finances as they are with the hands and arms they use to extend God’s love to those around them. Fifteen percent of members’ offerings is allocated for missions through the Cooperative Program, the way Southern Baptists work together to spread the gospel worldwide.
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God’s Grace and the First International Drive Thru Prayer Conference | |
Trinity Southern Baptist Church partnered with the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists to host the First International Drive Thru Prayer Conference in Casa Grande March 25-27. With more than 160 registrants representing 15 churches, five states, 26 cities and two countries, the first-ever Drive Thru Prayer conference was packed with amazing speakers and talented worship leaders as they shared with attendees this ministry that has a global vision to expand to all 24 time zones around the world.
David Johnson, Mike Blackaby and Rick Fisher (co-author with Richard Blackaby of Developing a Powerful Praying Church) were the featured speakers. The three-day event kicked off with an impassioned welcome to Casa Grande by City Councilman and retired Arizona Cardinals professional football player Anthony Edwards. Meals were prepared by the dedicated team of volunteers from Arizona Disaster Relief.
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Arizona Disaster Relief leaders receive training | |
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Twenty-five Arizona Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers attended training at the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists' office Saturday, April 6. The "blue hat" training was for those who will lead Disaster Relief teams during callouts. In the field, the team leaders are signified by the blue hats they wear.
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Let's meet in Indy!
Arizona Dessert Fellowship, June 10
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Let's connect during the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. Join us for an Arizona Mission Network Dessert Fellowship on Monday evening, June 10, 7:30-9 p.m. CDT, in the Utah Meeting Room at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
Register Now
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Pastors & Wives Retreat
July 11-13, The Wigwam Resort
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Connect with God.
Connect with each other.
Connect with other ministry couples.
Register now for this fun weekend full of relaxation and encouragement with speakers Ben and Lynley Mandrell from Lifeway. Cost: $245. Scholarships are available.
Register Here
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Arise AZ Conference
Sept. 20-21, Sedona
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Invite women from your church to recharge, reconnect and grow in their relationship with Jesus at Arise AZ in Sedona Sept. 20-21. The conference will feature a weekend full of worship, teaching of biblical truth through main sessions and breakout sessions meant for practical and biblical growth.
Get Tickets
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Pete & Susan Strupp
April 28-May 4
Pete and Susan partner with a local believer in a very unchurched/unreached area in southern Taiwan. They share the gospel via kids camps in the summer and winter, and throughout the year they help elementary and junior high students with their English. Their other main activity is gospel sharing and disciple making through inductive/participative Bible studies with university students and adults. Pete and Susan live in Kaohsiung and have been with IMB since 1999. They have been married 31 years and have two married daughters. Their home church is North Phoenix Baptist Church (nphx church), Phoenix.
How to Pray:
- There is a shortage of next generation leaders in the church and many pastors are of retirement age. Pray for faithful, committed people to be willing to serve.
- 95% or more of Taiwan’s 23 million people follow other gods. Pray for Christians to worship Christ as the only God of their life and to always be ready to explain the hope they have as a believer.
- For ongoing peace in the Taiwan Strait.
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John & Wanne Dina
May 5-11
John and Wanne have been serving for over 30 years with the IMB, the previous 29 years in Mozambique. They began a new assignment in late 2023 as leaders for the Training Team for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and are now stationed in Nairobi, Kenya. The Training Team exists to serve, support and lead Sub-Saharan Africa Teams to engage in the Missionary Task and serve alongside African churches as they make disciples of all nations for God’s glory. In addition, they connect volunteers, students and mid-term and career missionaries to teams across SSA. The Training Team equips and trains IMB personnel (new and old) for greater kingdom impact. John and Wanne have 3 children (one serving with the IMB in Southeast Asia) and 7 grandchildren. Their home church is Royal Palms Baptist Church, Phoenix.
How to Pray:
- For John and Wanne as they work on trainings for Sub-Saharan Africa missionaries.
- For their team to be united in Christ and to abide daily with the Father as they share the gospel and serve the people they work with.
- For good health and protection as they and the team travel around Africa.
Learn More and Share
These prayer profiles are excerpted from the 2024 Missions Prayer Guide, which features Arizonans whose ministries in our state and overseas are supported by your church's gifts through the Cooperative Program. Read more about the individuals and share with your church by downloading bulletin inserts and presentation slides here.
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Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists | azmn.org | | | | |
