Estate Planning with Rick Wheeler

Florida Baptist Financial Services welcomed Rick Wheeler as the new president and chief executive officer January 2020. Since 1947, Florida Baptist Financial Services has been committed to helping Florida Baptist churches and individuals be good stewards of all God has entrusted to them while also generating revenue to support the advancement of the Gospel in the Sunshine State – “God’s people using God’s resources to do God’s business.”

The Great Exchange: Trading Busyness for Fruitful Productivity

Here is the video replay of our July 2022 Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center. Don Meadows presented: "The Great Exchange: Trading Busyness for Fruitful Productivity. Based on the book, At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof.

Out of all we do, priorities matter the most. This is what makes them priorities.  But too often, we get distracted throughout the day by the lesser things and find ourselves carrying over the most important tasks to the next day and the next...

"The Great Exchange: Trading Busyness for Fruitful Productivity.” Is designed to help you realize your priorities, focus your time, and leverage your energy to bear greater fruit in your work and ministry. 

Don Meadows is the Lead Pastor of Morriston Baptist Church in Levy County, FL. Pastor Don has been married to his wife, Tammy, for nearly 30 years. They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Don has served churches in Florida and Louisiana and is a recent New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduate with nearly 20 years of ministry experience. Preaching, evangelism, and discipleship are some of his greatest passions. Click here for Pastor Don’s blog.

Rebecca Santos: Ministry Protection for Children and Youth

Here is the video replay of our July 2023 Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center. Rebecca is Communications Director at the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP). 

"Child abuse. It’s the unspeakable done to the most vulnerable in our society. As Ministry Leaders, how do we prevent abuse? How do we spot it when it’s happening? What are our responsibilities when we suspect it? What precautions can I put up within my ministry to prevent predators from perpetrating? How do I identify grooming behaviors? We discuss this difficult topic and the resources available through ECAP to prevent child abuse in the Christian ministry context."

Rebecca Santos joined ECAP at the beginning of 2023 as their Communications Director after serving in Corporate America for 18 years in a variety of management, business consulting, and event planning assignments. She has served for over five years at her local church in both Nursery Coordinator and VBS Director capacities. Her role within ECAP is to create awareness by educating the Evangelical community on how to create an ironclad child protection program for their ministries. She has presented to hundreds of ministry leaders to bring awareness and educate them on the atrocities of child abuse. She presently resides in Jacksonville, FL where she enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband, children, and pets.

The AI Challenge: A Biblical Response

Updated 5/11/23

Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, known as "the Godfather of AI," quit his job at Google so that he could openly criticize the technology that he helped to create.  According to an article in the New York Times:

His immediate concern is that the internet will be flooded with false photos, videos and text, and the average person will “not be able to know what is true anymore.”

Dr. Hinton's long-term concern is that AI poses an existential risk to humanity. I believe that this is a subject serious enough for our immediate attention. I am inviting you to join me in a round table discussion concerning a Biblical Response to AI at our next Lunch and Learn gathering on Thursday, May 11th in Ocala. Please click the blue button below to get more information and to register for this event. or go directly to www.lunch.mba. Please also share this link with anyone who may be interested in this subject. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

(I Peter 5:6-10)

The AI challenge is something that every person and every church will have to deal with in the not-so-distant future. Artificial Intelligence is already here and is advancing at an incredibly fast pace. Computers are now creating a variety of content from text to poetry, images, video and art at a rate faster than humans can produce it. AI content is difficult to detect. Therefore, we now find ourselves in a time when we have to be even more critical of everything that we read, see and hear. AI generated contact has already been shown to exhibit bias for and against certain political candidates and issues. 

While AI can be used for good, the potential for abuse and its negative impact can be astounding. In the hands of terrorists, foreign advisories, criminals and political activists, AI can do great harm. Perhaps the greatest damage can be done to the human psyche when people have to train their minds to be hyper critical of everything.  Imagine the potential for increased anxiety, paranoia, and moral uncertainty that can come with the acceptance of AI in our society.  

Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)

The Christian response to the AI Challenge is to stand firm on the Word of God and to offer hope to people who are swimming around in a deep dark sea of uncertainty. We need to make sure that we are standing on the firm foundation of Jesus and to point the way to salvation through him. As the psalmist said, "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." (Psalm 40:2)

State of Theology Survey Review and Implications

Every two years Life Way Research and Ligonier Ministries partner together to take the theological pulse of Americans. The latest findings have been published at thestateoftheology.com. On December 1, 2022 Pastor Eric Gervais of First Baptist Church of Salt Springs led our discussion of the survey results and their implications for pastors and churches. 

Some topics covered include:

• Does God Change?

• Are We Born Innocent?

• Does Church Membership Matter?

• Is the Bible Divinely Authored by God?

• What Is God's Will For Human Identity and Sexual Ethics?

Navigating the Digital Mission Field with Asher Segelken

Asher Segelken is the founder of Good Grain Creative, a digital communications agency for churches based in Nashville Tennessee. Asher is a storyteller at heart, passionate about meeting and working alongside people and sharing God's love with them. When he’s not working, he enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, hanging out in coffee shops, and watching movies. Asher graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship from Belmont University and uses his degree to explore and create more accessible and reliable solutions for ministries to implement.

Where New Churches are Needed

As the population of the Ocala / Marion metro area continues to grow, MBA Churches are addressing the need to plant more churches to keep up with population growth. So, where will these new churches need to be located?

According to the Ocala Metro CEP, Approximately 2/3 or Marion County is set aside for preservation. New development is limited to the Urban Growth Boundary, which represents about 12% of Marion County's total land area.  According to the Marion County Growth Services Director:

Marion County’s existing UGB includes almost 200 square miles and nearly 125,000 acres of land. More than 55,000 acres of that land is undeveloped and has a development potential of 151,357 dwelling or housing units.

This map shows the Urban Growth Barrier within Marion County. It makes sense that MBA churches will want to concentrate their church planting efforts in the areas of the greatest population growth. Therefore, the focus of our efforts should be in this geographic region. If you would like to know more about church planting in Marion Baptist Association, feel free to get in touch at office@churches.mba or 352-622-6245.

Google Ad Grants for Churches

Here is the video replay from our June 2022 Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center in Ocala.  We discussed how churches could apply for Google Nonprofit resources such as the Google Ads Grant. Churches and other 501c3 organizations can receive up to $10,000 per month in advertising credits on Google's Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). For more information, visit google.com/brants.

Shedding Light in Our Communities

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5: 14-16

 One of the best kept secrets in North Central Florida is the good work that is being done by churches that are a part of Marion Baptist Association.  Perhaps out of humility, we have chosen not to make a big deal about how our churches are loving and serving our communities. However, we may be doing a disservice to the people of our region by not letting them know about services and resources available to them. We can encourage others by doing a better job of sharing good news with our friends and neighbors.  To that end, we want to encourage our member churches to let us help them to tell their community impact stories. Give us a heads up about what is going on in your church so that we can share it with others. Please visit https://www.reach.mba/community to submit your stories. 

When Leaders Fail

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

While running a race, it is best to focus on the finish line than the runners that are in front of you.  If you stare at the back of the guy ahead of you, and he stumbles, you are probably going down as well. However, if you focus on your goal - crossing the finish line, you'll do much better.  Look to the One who has run a perfect race and is already  there waiting for you, smiling at you and ready to congratulate you on a race well run. If you want be inspired by someone, why not choose the only perfect One. Jesus is your only perfect role model. He will never stumble and He will never trip you up. 

Being the Church in the Digital Age

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited digital transitions around the world by about 10 years.  Churches and organizations of all sizes have learned new ways to connect and communicate with people remotely. At our April, 2022 lunch and learn, we discussed best practices for churches for growing disciples of Jesus in this new digital environment.

Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center is an opportunity for pastors and church leaders to enjoy some food and fellowship while learning about resources available to assist local churches. 

New Hampshire Church to Church Partnerships

On March 7th, Rich Clegg, New Hampshire Regional Coordinator for the Baptist Convention of New England met with some of our MBA pastors to talk about potential church to church partnerships with the BCNE. Watch this short video to find out more about Rich's ministry and to learn about potential partnership opportunities.  We will officially vote on the partnership at our March 17th Executive Committee meeting. 

Click here to download the partnership proposal 

Why Church Multiplication is Important

What would your church look like if every follower of Jesus was involved in making disciples who made disciples? Can you imagine a day when all of the leaders in your church actively enlisted and developed new leaders? What if your church had so many leaders that you had to send some of them out to revitalize and plant other churches in order for them to continue developing spiritually? Can you imagine the impact on global evangelism and missions if every church was sending people to the mission field? This isn't a dream, it is a Biblical expectation. Church multiplication is both prescriptive and descriptive in the Acts of the Apostles and early churches in the New Testament.  

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” - Mark 4:20 ESV

When we look at churches in the New Testament, we see that they made disciples who made disciples, developed leaders who developed leaders, and planted churches who planted churches. 

But the word of God increased and multiplied. - Acts 12:24 ESV

In the Great Commission passage of Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus instructed his disciples to make more disciples. In Acts 13, the church in Antioch sent out leaders to spread the Gospel further and to start more churches. In Ephesians 4:12, Paul instructed the church in Ephesus to build up the body of Christ by preparing the people for the work of the ministry. 

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. - II Timothy 2:2

In the letter to the Colossians, Paul is writing to people that he did not know in a church that he did not start. We understand from the context in chapters 1 and 4 that Paul heard about this church from a disciple named Epaphras.  Evidently the church in Ephesus sent Epaphras to Colossae to preach the Gospel and start a church there. Then, the Colossian church started churches in Hierapolis and Laodicea.

This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:10 ESV

It is clear that the New Testament pattern is for church leaders to train new disciples of Jesus to obey His command to take the Gospel to all people groups everywhere. Church leaders also developed more leaders who served in the local churches and were also sent to spread the Gospel and plant churches in other places.  The church in Ephesus was so effective in following the instructions of Paul that they were able to reach everyone in their entire region with the Gospel as reported in Acts 19:10.

According to a study conducted by LifeWay Research, only 7% of the churches in America are practicing Biblical multiplication (You can download the report by clicking here). 

Bless Every Home with Chris Cooper

We had such a great time fellowshipping with each other and learning together at our November, 2021 Lunch and Learn at the MBA Missionary Resource Center. We've had several requests for the video of Chris Cooper's, (founder of BlessEveryHome.com) training that we are sharing it here. If you would like to sign up your church to be a Bless Partner, you can do that through the MBA portal at www.bless.mba. 

Free Online Theological Education for MBA Pastors and Church Members

Some of our MBA pastors have requested access to high quality Theological Education. I've inquired with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary regarding their certificate program, and they've informed me that they are not yet ready to start offering this again in person.

I want to let you know about another option that is available to MBA churches. We are partnering with Thirdmill Institute for theological training. Some of our SBC seminaries use Thirdmill's curriculum in their undergraduate classes.  We offer this to you at no cost with the following disclaimer: MBA has not reviewed nor can endorse all of the content produced by Thirdmill.  Therefore, as with any educational content, anyone enrolling in this program must test everything with scripture and use Godly wisdom and discernment to determine for themselves the value of any and all material presented. 

With that being said, I think that you will be pleased with the quality of the offerings. To access Thirdmill Institute, go to thirdmillinstitute.org.