Moore, Okla. update from CBF Oklahoma coordinator

Below is an update on the situation in Moore, Oklahoma from Steve Graham, coordinator for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma.

As everyone knows, Moore, Oklahoma, has been devastated by yesterday’s massive tornado. This morning the area is being soaked by rain and buffeted by blowing winds – pray for the rescue workers who are at work in these conditions.

It is heartening to know that Christ’s care is in motion through the preparations that are activated by CBF’s disaster relief response through the efforts of Tommy Deal and Charles Ray and the neighboring state organizations who have generously offered tangible forms of help.

CBF Oklahoma is activating our own resources through the nearby churches of First Baptist Church Norman, First Baptist Church Oklahoma City and North Haven Baptist Church.

CBF Communications will continue to update this blog with additional information as soon as we receive it. Please see the previous update from Tommy Deal, CBF disaster response coordinator.

You may give online here. Please designate your gift to “Disaster Response Ministries.”

CBF Disaster Response Update on Moore, Okla.

The following is a situation report from Tommy Deal, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship disaster response coordinator, concerning the tornados that struck Granbury, Texas on Wednesday, May 15 and Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20.

Granbury, Texas

I have spoken several times with Rick McClatchey, CBF Texas field coordinator. Rick has determined that Mission Granbury has been empowered to help residents attempt to recovery. Many were not insured. CBF has sent $2,500 of disaster response funds to CBF Texas to assist this effort.

Moore, Oklahoma

I have spoken with CBF Oklahoma coordinator Steve Graham and associate coordinator Stacy Pyle. Both have received word from each CBF church/pastor in the area that only a few church members experienced minor damage. Their church facilities are fine too.

Their next step will be to work with local churches to determine how they will minister as a result of this crisis. I have assured Steve and Stacy that the entire CBF family is standing by as they direct.

If needed and requested, several may be asked to go help in this early assessment stage. Then, and only then, will the call go out for donations of items or volunteers.

Please warn all not to self-deploy. CBF Disaster Response Ministries does not have “first-responders.” Anyone attempting to help who is not trained and affilaited with a credible organization will not be welcome. Remember also that unwanted and unrequested volunteers put an unnecessary strain on already taxed local resources.

Employee supervision and baseball

The following post comes from Allison Tennyson, CBF’s director of human resources. Feel free to contact Allison if your church has questions about human resources items.

Baseball.  It’s America’s favorite pastime.  And, it’s exciting, isn’t it?  Watching the duel that develops between the batter and the pitcher.  The pitcher, fixing his hat, stepping on and off the mound, blowing on the ball.  The batter, checking and rechecking the batting gloves, in and out of the batter’s box, adjusting his stance.

A 300 batting average is considered good, excellent even.  It’s good if you win the duel with the pitcher three times for every ten times you make the attempt.  But what if your coach notices something when you’re batting and asks you to make a small change to your stance when you are in the batter’s box?  It’s a small adjustment, and it can be hard to break patterns and habits.  Do you scoff and stubbornly refuse to change something so small when you’re a great batter anyway or do you work to make the adjustment?  What if that small tweak changes your batting average to 350?  Who wins then?  The obvious answer is everyone: the team, the coach, the fans and you.       

A pertinent conversation!

The following post is from my pastor friend, Mike Smith, from Central Baptist, Fountain City, TN. His thoughts always challenge me. His latest book, “Mount and Mountain, vol 2″ is available from Smyth and Helwys Publishing, http://www.helwys.com.

Promptings

If someone asks you to tell them about your faith in Christ, what do you say? Note the way I phrased the question. The hypothetical person is not asking you how to become a Christian but instead about your own faith in Christ. I find that’s where most people start these days. They are not yet ready to become a Christian, but they often are curious to hear the stories of those who are Christ followers.

Fifteen churches, six states later: What does it mean to be a Fellowship?

The following is Suzii Paynter’s monthly column, Words from the Executive Coordinator. You can subscribe to receive this column in your e-mail at http://thefellowship.info/subscribe.

In case you ever doubted that we are a living network, being a Fellowship is not an abstract concept or a thin framework of fragile connections. We are a real, breathing, living community of brothers and sisters in Christ forming our lives through common love and faith. We have been building congregations and families of care for more than 20 years.

In the past month, it has been an inspiring experience of blessing to be in 15 Fellowship churches in 6 states. Each is so beautifully unique, yet we sing a clarion song of strong, common presence. Here’s a snapshot of the vitality that is energizing me.

N.C. leaders share thoughts on how CBF can express boldness as a movement

Larry Hovis is the executive coordinator and Linda Jones is missions coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC). Both of these CBFNC leaders are members of the General Assembly Steering Committee.

I recently asked Larry and Linda to share their thoughts on how CBF can express boldness as a movement. The theme of the upcoming CBF General Assembly is “With Great Boldness,” following 2 Corinthians 3:12 which states: “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”

Below are their responses:

Sharing Christ’s hope and love with refugee women and girls in Uganda

The following post is from Missy Ward, one of CBF’s field personnel serving in Uganda. Missy arrived in Uganda in March, and this is an update on the great work she is doing with refugee women and girls. Visit her blog for regular ministry updates. Click here to view a highlight video from the International Women’s Day 2013 celebration. Your financial support helps to make this ministry possible! Please click here to make an online donation.

Greetings from Kampala, Uganda!! I hope and pray that you all are doing well! It has been a wonderful and very busy month in Uganda and I have now begun settling into life in Uganda. I have seen many prayers answered. I found and moved into a house. After four months of living out of suitcases, it is SO wonderful to finally unpack and begin settling into my life and work in Uganda. I have begun setting up the foundations of the program, learning Luganda ( the local language spoken in Central Uganda) and meeting with female members of our community.