FBC, Winter Haven, FL

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New Testament Picture of Your Pastor

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The Partial Cure for Men's Lust

This video provide a genuine and kind-hearted message to women. As ministry leaders, how can we do a better job helping young ladies peruse godliness and modesty in a culture that puts tremendous pressure on them to conform. Guys, we even get a few tips on diverting our attention away from temptation in the video.

SEE YOU AT THE POLE: September 28, 2011

See You At The Pole is is September 28th!

The See You At The Pole site has all sorts of videos and resources to assist you with a SYATP strategy for your student ministry. Student pastors need to lead their students to develop a plan to mobilize believers on their school campus. Don't expect someone else to do it, as student pastors, we need to take the initiative in providing students with a game plan to pray for their friends and school campus. Check out all the great stuff at www.syatp.com

Praying for Our Schools—2011

Each year at this time Rick Shepherd, Director of the Prayer and Spiritual Awakening Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, prepares us to put prayer in motion by prayerwalking schools located near our churches. I encourage you to consider using this brief guide to mobilize students, parents and other believers to prayerwalk area campuses. As you get stories of God's activity please send them to jhessinger@flbaptist.org so they can be shared with others.

Dr. Shepherd states...Last Fall, we encouraged churches to pray for their local schools… to Prayer Walk each Elementary, Middle, and High School near the church property or the church meeting place. Out of that praying we have seen much fruit in many places. Many testimonies tell of open doors for ministry, partnerships to help children and families, schools experiencing greater peace, wisdom for the administrators and teachers… God has answered prayer in many ways.

I encourage you to consider Prayer Walking the schools in your area as the School Year Begins. Some will choose a Saturday coming up—perhaps August 20 or 27—as the Lord leads. If you have further questions, contact us (800-226-8584, ext 3098).

Add to that the student ministry of “See You at the Pole” coming September 28, 2011. The theme for 2011 is “Converge,” coming together in prayer… confident He is with us (Matthew 18:20). Students will pray at the flagpole that morning. Consider ways to pray during the week before—Prayer Walks, Prayer Partners with and in Children and Student ministries, etc. For more info go to www.syatp.org.

With this E-MEMO I am attaching “Guidelines on Praying for Our Schools,” a guideline adapted from Transform Northeast Florida (with their permission). It is focused on practical ways to pray for the needs of the schools in your area. In more and more places, we are seeing lives touched and more fruitful ministry arise out of this simple activity of Prayer Walking.

Here’s How—Every School Prayer—In preparing for the start-up of school and in preparing for ministries this Fall, consider ways to cover each school and the new school year in prayer.

1) Prayer Walk the schools near you—Elementary, Middle, High School, Community College, Vo-Tech School, University. For info on prayer walking go to www.flbaptist.org/Prayer/PrayerResources.aspx, then scroll down to and read or download Prayer in Motion. It gives the How-to’s of prayer walking.

2) Prayer Talk—Talk to the Father about the schools, the needs, and potential open doors to serve them. NOTE: This does not require special permission or a permit. It is simple. People walk around schools all the time for exercise. This is simply adding focused prayer.

As a help and to be more specific in prayer, Contact Administrators and Teachers of your local schools and ask—“We want to pray for your school. Are there specific needs for which we could pray?” Look for ways your church could help them. There may be an open door for some kind of partnership to help the school. Then, pray for those needs specifically and join God where He is working. Focus on the schools near your church and ask the Lord for ways to bless those teachers, students, and their families this year. Ask God to show you what HE wants you to do in ministry in your community.

3) Prayer Touch—In looking for ways to pray specifically, get the names of teachers and other personnel connected to your local congregation. Put Prayer Partners together to pray for a particular Class, a Team, etc. connected to the school. Look for ways to Touch those nearest you—ways to minister in the year ahead.

This Prayer Walk of the schools is also a great opportunity to get your Student Ministries and Children’s Ministries geared up for the start of the School Year and the start of some new ministry involvement.

One other thought—In Acts 17:23, Paul testified of “passing through” the streets of Athens. He discovered an old lifeless altar and built a bridge from what he discovered to Who they needed to know—the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:23-34). We can build bridges, too—from what we discover as we pray and interact to ministry in Jesus’ Name. Connecting people to the love of God and to a personal relationship to Jesus is what we are about. Prayer Walk. God may give you some new ideas for your church and area. See what God is up to. Join in prayer for the Harvest!

Super Summer Update: Thursday

We are having an amazing time at Super Summer. It's been "all hands on deck" as usual this week, for the leadership group as we sacrificially serve students. We have an amazing group of student pastors and ministry leaders leading the way as Team Leaders, Rec Staff, Worship Leadership, and much more. The adult volunteers who came with each church group have had a fantastic (not an over statement) attitude all week. Its amazing how adults enjoy very little sleep, working hard all day, being dirty and sweaty, and living 24/7 with students for the sake of the KING.

Last night during the invitation nearly 30 students and a few adults responded to God's call to vocational ministry. Young men and women surrendered their lives to the gospel ministry as pastors, missionaries, youth pastors, worship leaders, and more. Dave Edwards clearly communicated what God's call is, how to know you're called, what to do about the call, and the cost of the call. Many churches now have the most incredible privilege to guide young people in preparation to serve in His Kingdom. Oh I pray our churches will be good stewards of God's work in all this.

Your prayers a felt and being answered. Right now praying for us is the most loving and meaningful thing you can do. Take a moment and intercede for us.

Super Summer Update: Wednesday

I'm making a quick stop here in my room to provide an update on some of the good things occurring at Super Summer. I'm on my way to another delicious camp lunch....can't wait :)

We had an incredible night of worship last night. The students are very responsive to those leading us in worship. They seem to have a genuine appetite to hear God's Word. One of the Middle School students stopped Dave Edwards and told him he could hardly wait until the evening Celebration service to hear him preach!

During the invitation 67 students stood in response to receive Christ as Savior! 10 more students joined them when they stepped forward, 77 in all. Thanks for praying for all of us at Super Summer. We are sensing the outcome of your faithful intercession. Stay on your knees, there is much more to be done.

Super Summer Update

All the churches arrived safe and sound as expected. Yesterday we had an exciting Super Summer Kickoff led by the Hello August Band, made all the introductions, and gave everyone the lay of the land. The evening Celebration was much more than any of us expected. The Lord used the band and Dave Edwards in a powerful way. The entire room locked into Dave as God's presence was so evident to all. These young people seem so open and tender towards the things of God. Certainly a tribute to their church leaders.

In the past 30 minutes we've launched 4 ski boats for tubing, turned the first set of students loose on the paintball fiend, and have finalized our preparation for the high rope elements. Others are in Bible Study giving attention to what it means to live intentionally on mission. This is going to be great day in the Lord as we give him the details of our lives.