Author: cbba

The Link

Carroll-Benton Baptist Association

Jimmy A. Furr
Director of Missions
jafurr@cbba1.org

Just a thought….

Suzanne Cunningham
Ministry Assistant
carroll-benton@cbba1.org

Jan/Feb
2015

Inside this issue:

Great / Commission / Rally	2
Pastoral / Ministry for the / Next Generation	2
Direct / Missions	3
Mission / Opportunity	3
CBBA / Mission / Trip	3
New / Ministry / Assistant	4
Calendar of Events	4

Fifteen years ago everyone was worried about what was going to happen when we entered the year 2000. Computer programs were written to help prepare for what might be a tragic collapse. Sermons were preached concerning the end of times. People were preparing for some cataclysmic event. At that time, I was serving as interim pastor of Whitsitt Chapel in the Hermitage, Tennessee area. I began working on a sermon that I titled, “God is Still in Charge”. What was planned to be one sermon turned into a series of four sermons. I began by encouraging the people to realize that God was in charge and there were still some things that needed to be done. I spoke of God being in charge of nature, of coming events and of our salvation. He is also aware of what is taking place as 2000 approached. Fear gripped the hearts of many at this time concerning all the things that “might” happen in 2000. Here we are fourteen years later and the world has continued. I cannot say that it has continued as it was because a lot has changed in the last fifteen years—and not all for the good.
Consider these changes: Homosexuality and Homosexual marriage are promoted from the president to many pulpits. Who would have thought that this would have happened as we approached 2000? Although abortions are down, many children are murdered before having the opportunity to live. Our country was attacked from outside and led to the death of nearly 3000 persons in New York. Consider the affect this had on many people then and the years that have ensued. We once again found ourselves in war with thousands of young men and women losing their limbs as well as lives. Families were once again in turmoil. Gas prices skyrocketed to the level we never thought imaginable. Weddings, funerals, family get gatherings, and a host of other events have taken place in the past fourteen or so years.
Why do I bring this up at this time? I am reminded that the scripture says 26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 people went on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:26-27 (HCSB) Life goes on today just as it did in the day of Noah, just as it did in 1999. Let us not forget that Jesus will be returning in a time when we are not expecting it but things will be going on as usual. In other words, God is still in control and He is watching things as he did in the days of Noah, Lot and a host of other situations. He sat quietly watching and then one day suddenly He responded.
He is not ignoring what is going on in our world today. He knows what is taking place. He is aware of the church and its becoming more like the world than like Him. Could He be preparing for His return? The world is getting gradually worse as Bibles are rejected, Jesus is outlawed, and all other kinds of things are getting more reprobate than ever before or so we think.
Look at what Paul said in 2 Timothy. 1 But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of religion but denying its power. Avoid these people! 2 Tim 3:1-5 (HCSB)
With all that is happening, I am still confident that I serve a sovereign God who is still in control. Now the question is, “How much will you allow Him to control your life in 2015?” I believe we have as much of Jesus as we want. It is not HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A CHRISTIAN AND BE SAFE, BUT DOES MY LIFE SHOW MY LOVE THROUGH OBEDIENCE”?
Doing Together What We Cannot Do Alone

Page #

Great Commission Rally
Our first ever associational Great Commission Rally is scheduled for Sunday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. at First Baptist in Bruceton. The speaker will be Dr. Danny Sinquefield, pastor of Faith Baptist in Bartlett. I recently read the following quote and it spoke deeply to my heart: “Ultimately each church will be evaluated by only one thing. Its disciples. Your church is only as good as its disciples. It does not matter how good your praise, preaching, programs or property are: if your disciples are passive, needy, consumerist, and not moving in the direction of radical obedience, your church is not good.” All of the words of Christ are important, but His last words, before His ascension, carry even more weight. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Followers of Christ are called to be Great Commission Christians. On Sunday night, March 8, we will worship together and be challenged to be deeply devoted disciples and disciple makers of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dennis Trull,
Associational Evangelism Director

Younger pastors are looking for practical help in the language of their
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Page #

CBBA Mission Trip
July 5-11
The CBBA Mission Trip to Belleville, Illinois will be
on July 5-11 this summer. Begin making plans to join the team to help in Backyard VBS and if some can help, light
construction work. Lots of opportunities for anyone wishing to participate. More information will follow. If interested, contact the Mission Center or Bro. Shawn Allred
at First Bruceton.

Mission
Opportunity
Ladies,
We are collecting
clean, gently used women’s clothing for the Women’s Shelter in Millington, TN.
Please bring in bags
to the Mission
Center by Jan. 28.

DIRECT MISSIONS
It is that time once again for the gift of $10 to the
Direct Missions Fund. Please consider giving to this worthy endeavor. A total of $5700 was given to help groups and individuals go on a mission trip this past year. We want to make it possible that everyone who plans a mission trip receives some type of help with their financial needs in this next year. Thank you for your contribution to this worthy cause.

Jan/Feb
2015

Feb 5 Pastors & Wives
Valentine’s Banquet
Union University
Feb 9-15 WMU Focus Week
Feb 23 Regional VBS Clinic
Calvary Baptist Church
Jackson, TN
Supper begins at 5:30 pm

Approaching Dates and
Events of Interest

Jan 26, CBBA Pastors Conference,
10:30 am, CBBA Office
Feb 9, CBBA Pastors Conference,
10:30 am CBBA Office
Feb 23, CBBA Pastors Conference,
10:30 am CBBA Office
March 23, CBBA VBS Training
FBC Bruceton
6:00 pm meal
and training to follow.

2015 West TN
Pastors Conference
Union University
Help for the Ministry
March 3-Evangelism
& Missions
April 7-Union University
Update
May 5-Managing Your
Time and Dealing
With Conflict

Carroll-Benton Baptist Association

565 High Street
Huntingdon, TN 38344

Phone and fax:
731.986.8818 and 1.866.546.4581 carroll-benton@cbba1.org
www.cbba1.com

The mission of the Carroll-Benton Baptist Association is to encourage fellowship & equip churches to carry out the Great Commission

Hello! My name is Suzanne Cunningham and I am the new ministry assistant for the Carroll Benton Baptist
Association. I look forward to serving at the CBBA. It is my prayer to be able to assist in the work of the
churches, to the best of my abilities, and give God all the glory. I would appreciate it if you have any church news for the newsletter to let me know. Please feel free to
contact me at the office or email me anytime.

Carroll-Benton Baptist Association Permit No. 49
565 High Street Non Profit Org
Huntingdon, TN 38344 U.S. Postage Paid
Return Service Requested Huntingdon, TN 38344

Carroll-Benton Baptist Association
has a new
WEBSITE
www.cbba1.com
It is still a work in progress, so please be patient with us.

Atwood FBC $ 1337.88
Bethel $ 1373.65
Bruceton FBC $ 535.75
Camden FBC $ 4579.79
Chalk Level $ 1030.85
Concord $ 80.00
Coopers Chapel $ 0
Eagle Creek $ 300.00
East Side $ 408.00
Eastview $ 487.94
Eastwood $ 0
Enon $ 240.00
Eva $ 1251.60
Fairview $ 60.00
Faith $ 168.79
Grace $ 300.00
Holladay $ 450.00
Hopewell $ 299.32
Howse $ 719.73
Huntingdon FBC $ 5998.38
Liberty Hill $ 36.86
McKenzie FBC $ 6208.20
McLemoresville $ 687.92
Missionary Grove $ 1063.50
Mt. Nebo $ 906.03
Natchez Trace $ 481.66
Prospect $ 75.00
Republican Grove $ 150.00
Sugar Tree $ 369.65
Tennessee River $ 102.00
Trezevant FBC $1127.75
Union Academy $ 346.00
$31176.25
For the 2nd Quarter 2009

This reflects the receipts
That were received by
June 30, 2009