Berea Baptist Church Update

The church continues to move forward in health and growth. Their highest attendance for the regular Sunday Morning worship service occurred last Sunday with 65 in attendance. There were several visitors this past Sunday. Some of them come just by driving by and seeing the church and sign. The pastor and revitalization leadership team requested that I make a presentation to the congregation Wednesday evening, August 19, 2009 related to the promotion name that they have added to Berea Baptist. It is not a name change of the organization but the name they are adopting for the purpose of affirming the new day and the future. The plan includes changing the sign in front using this new sign and image. The bank account and all legal documents will include both Berea Baptist Church and the added name. This strategy was approved by the congregation last year but put on hold until the new transition with the new pastor had happened. The church will have an opportunity to affirm this action in a special business meeting, Wednesday Evening, August 26, 2009. The added name being presented is “Parkway Baptist Church”.

They look forward to printing promotional materials, letter head, business cards, stationary, and visitation brochures with the new name following the August 26, 2009 affirmation by the congregation.

Their finances are doing good. They do need approximately $5,000 to replace an A/C unit and they will also need an additional $1,500 to replace the letters on their church sign.

Update on Berea Baptist Church

Berea Baptist Church Leadership and Revitalization team met Wednesday Evening, July 26.

The pastor, Hal Sexton, reported that he had been there three months. The team indicated a very good evaluation of his leadership. The church has grown with twenty-one new members during that time. They had the highest Sunday Morning attendance that they have had during the eighteen months of revitalization. They have been able to pay the pastors’ salary, all their bills, and mission support and have a small amount of money in the bank. They report a great response in attendance and contribution of support for the recent Exchange Life Conference. The discipleship ministry touched those within the membership and ministers and laity from outside the church. They have a praise of God’s blessing.

The group recognized that they need to come up with support to purchase a new AC/Heating unit for their fellowship hall. Currently, they have air conditioning, however, as winter arrives they will not have heat. The church needs help from friends of Berea and assistance from anyone who can replace the unit during the next three months.

A discussion was made about completing the adoption of a new promotion name to add to the official Berea Baptist Church name. The revitalization and leadership team continues to affirm since it is some a new day and that people need to look ahead to the future that new name would be very good for the community to see. The church has gone through a positive transition and has a new pastor and new leaders. They affirm their Berea history and the Southern Baptist affiliation as they seek a new name. They have discussed three names: The Church On the Parkway, Parkway Baptist Church, and Parkway Worship Center. They have set Wednesday, August 5, to come back together and recommend a name for the congregation to affirm. The congregation voted and approved to adopt a new name in the fall of 2008. However, they waited to have a the new pastor to help guide the process.

Westside Baptist Church

Bro. Jimmy Jones resigned from Westside Baptist Church. He is seeking a job and God’s next calling related to ministry. We want to pray for him. He and is wife and to sons are visiting Countryside Baptist Church. Let us keep him in our prayer as they go through this time of transition.

Westside Baptist Church is without a pastor. Bro Cliff Halford (813-754-4959) is the only deacon they have at this time. There may be another one coming back and possibly one in training. Financially, the church is very limited and does not know how much they can pay a pastor. They owe some back taxes and have a June income $3,515.06 deficient of their monthly expenses. July will probably not be as good. The attendance is down to 15 to 30 in Sunday Morning Worship. There are two or three men who have expressed a call into the ministry. They are serving in the church. Their influence seems to be significant on the small congregation.
Sunday Evening, August 2, one of these young men, Mike Fredette (813-755-5534) was elected as the associate pastor. Their reason was that they needed someone available who is in charge to sign legal document or represent the church in any matter. Mike has a computer business and is an investor and has rental property. His wife is a childrens teacher. His schedule is flexible. He and his wife took the children on a camping trip this week. Mike has negotiated with IRS to make monthly payments on approximately $16,000 back taxes owed. Michael makes the announcements and oversees the worship services. He and his wife do the children’s church. This past Sunday they had approximately 15 children in the services. Some of the children are picked up by the bus.
There is another young man, Bryan W. Mattair (813-754-4260) to preach both services next Sunday, August 9. Bryan is single and in search of a job. He is working with the children of the church and has an interest in preaching. The church secretary is Tracey Bailey. She does not have regular office hours. She works the day shift in the Emergency room of the South Florida Baptist Hospital.
John Campbell preached Sunday Evening, July 25. According to Bro Cliff Halford he brought a message very relevant to the needs of Westside. I preached this Sunday, August 2, the message focused on Matthew 7:24-28 related to being a foundation builder. Sunday Evening I brought a brief message on staying focused with the vision of Jesus, Phil. 3:12-14. I made presentation Sunday Evening on the services of the Association with the network of support from the Florida Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board to assist them during this time.
The plan would include them doing the following:
1. Delay their selecting of a pastor search committee until a time of foundation building with an intentional interim and a foundation building team helps build a stronger church and prepares the church for calling of the pastor.
2. This program would be implemented over the months of August – October. Then evaluate to see where the church is related to their needs for additional development. The team evaluation would determine if the church is ready to select a pastor search committee. Then the team would work with the committee to coach in the pastor search and in a church and pastoral covenant as the pastor is called to the church.
3. One of the considerations would be the possibility of inviting the HopeWeaver congregation to join the Westside congregation and the two church leaderships develop a united philosophy of ministry.
4. The Foundation Builders team would have three representations from the Westside Baptist Church and three represented from the Foundation Ministry Team especially selected to meet the needs of the church. Danny L. Morris would serve as chairman and director of the Foundation Builders Ministry. The team would make a recommendation at the end of the three months related to the next pastoral ministry. Various ministers may be used in the pulpit during this first three months period to assist Dr. Morris. These would be ones the congregation would like to hear and ones with special ministry to assist in the foundation building.
5. The job description of the intentional interim would be approvedl in a written covenant with the church and pastor candidate.

The church leadership (church council) will set a schedule to meet with Danny Morris related to the details and the presentation to the congregation for approval. Some of their leaders are away on vacation and children’s camp and will not be back until next week.