Day 23 - Ministry Monday...

The final stretch of The First 25 Days of 2012...and I'm going to spotlight Cherith Bible Institute today on Ministry Monday.

I found this correspondence school online in 2008 or 2009, and started taking their classes to get some more in depth Bible knowledge in a structured coarse. I enjoy the workbook set-up for the classes...however, I'm contemplating going to online because it is taking me an extremely long time to complete one workbook. The online class would give more concrete deadlines...but I guess I'll decide on that later!

For now, I'd like to introduce you to Cherith Bible Institute...

Who We Are

Cherith Bible Institute is a correspondence Bible training program offered throughout the world through the internet and mail. The Program is Baptistic in nature and reflects the doctrine and distinctives of Independent Baptist beliefs.

The course of study is a thirty unit Diploma of Biblical Studies program designed to help local church pastors, workers, missionaries, church planters, and Bible teachers. The program advances from basic Bible survey courses to selected subjects concerning personal and local church development.

Cherith Home Bible Institute provides a wealth of both theological and practical information contributed by a group of sound Bible preachers, teachers, and writers.

[I also have a constant link on the left side bar if you need to use it in the future :)]

This is a great way to increase your study and knowledge of the Bible...and it's Free!
(Donations are always accepted and there is a nominal fee...I think it's $25...at the end for the diploma.)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

We can never study the Bible too much. Studying it helps us found our beliefs in the truth and keeps us from swaying when we may be tempted to drift.

Study more! [and as always, needing to take my own advice :)]

Amanda

Day 16 - Ministry Monday...

In the spotlight today for the Ministry Monday post of The First 25 Days of 2012 is Commonground Baptist Ministries...which is a ministry of Southeast Bible Baptist Church in Penfield, N.Y. [You can also check them out on Facebook.]

I'm mainly going to cover the Summer Junior and Teen Camps that our church kids excitedly look forward to every year. However, they do also have a Bible Institute that has an emphasizes in distance learning, as well as an online store.

But back to camp...Commonground Baptist Camp is a great camp! Here is an excerpt from their website on what the camp is all about...

What is Commonground Baptist Camp?

Commonground Baptist is a local church camp ministry under the direction of Southeast Bible Baptist Church, and it is designed to serve local churches of like faith and practice. The ministry started when it held its first ever Winter Retreat for teenagers in 1995. Winter camps have been held every year since and Genesee Valley expanded to include summer camp in 2000. God has abundantly blessed and I will gladly put you in touch with pastors who will testify of God working in their youth departments because of the ministry of Commonground.

  Camp Philosophy

Christ Honoring: Our goal is to honor Christ in all things. We are not  building a kingdom and we are not entertaining. This is a camp run by a youth pastor who sends his kids too!

Affordable: When registered early, a week of camp is only $88!

Modest Attire: Our camp strives for an atmosphere that does not hinder the working of the Holy Spirit.

Preaching Centered: Plenty of fun times, but there will be lots of Biblical, Balanced, and Boiling Hot Preaching!!!

  What makes it different?

Commonground is a distinctly Baptist camp that has attempted to lift up a standard in the midst of this Laodecian age. Christ honoring preaching is in the center of this ministry. The messages at camp often stress a total surrender to God in every area of your life. Love God supremely, forsake the sins of this world, and serve Him with all your might. A goal for every camp week is to have an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit has free reign to work. To that end we have a code of conduct for our camp that emphasizes modesty.
The spirit of the camp also sets it apart. As the teens respond to the preaching, the games, and the counselors, the camp has a spirit where the teens just don’t want to go home! Camp is a place where you can not only do business with God, but you can really enjoy being a Christian.

  Why is it a ministry?

I have seen camp have such an incredible impact on the lives of teens and adults that I do not want to see it denied to anybody. Many people over the years have argued to me that I should not be concerned about camp costs because teens can get money for the things that they really want. As a youth director, however, I know how the cost of camp can really have an impact on teens signing up for camp. Our enemy will use anything to hinder a teen from going to something that will bless them, including the cost! I want to keep camp affordable so that every teen can go and be blessed. Money that comes in for support goes for expenses and the expansion of the camp ministry. None of it goes to our local church.

  What is the vision?

From a small winter retreat, Commonground Baptist Camp has grown to include multiple teen summer weeks, multiple junior weeks, men’s retreats and sporting tournaments. For futher expansion, it is important for the camp to acquire it’s own property. Will you pray with us to that end?

Pastor Jim Krohn, Camp Director

and his family

I have gone the past three years, twice to teen camp and once to junior camp...they were all wonderful experiences in there different ways! Pastor Krohn has done a great job at making the camp fun, exciting, comfortable, affordable...and SPIRITUAL! Why go to a Christian camp and come away the same as when you went?

This camp is not like that! Pastor Krohn schedules great preachers that share their hearts and challenge the kids (as well as adults) to follow God with everything!!!

I can't wait for camp :)

Let no man despise thy youth;

but be thou an example of the believers,

in word, in conversation, in charity,

in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Amanda

Day 9 - Ministry Monday...

Last week I shared a little bit about my church...well, today on Ministry Monday of The First 25 Days of 2012 I'm going to spotlight a missionary ministry based from our church...

C.A.R.E. - Christ's Ambassador's Reaching the Elderly is the mission of Norman and Priscilla Aabye. (Pronounce like Abby.)

This is their prayer card with a brief description of what the mission is about. Then below is an overview of what they do from their blogspot...

C.A.R.E. Ministries

2 1/2 million elderly live in 25,000 nursing homes across the USA. 40% of these elderly are considered "castaways" or an "inconvenience" by their families. Some never receive a visitor. Most feel abandoned and suffer from some degree of depression. Others, having lost mobility, feel trapped with no hope.

 

In 2006, the Lord led us to establish C.A.R.E. (Christ's Ambassadors Reaching the Elderly) Ministries as an independent Baptist, local church based mission work dedicated to reaching what we believe are "America's fastest growing, yet most neglected people group: the elderly in nursing homes"!

 

Do you know someone in a nursing home? Probably. How important is it that this segment of society, that gave us so much, should have one more opportunity to hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We are doing just that 6 days a week, in 13 facilities throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio, seeing many come to faith in Christ as their Saviour. In addition, we are now recruiting couples who share our burden to reach the elderly, who will come and work with us, and be trained to begin similar ministries in key locations throughout America.

 

As you follow along on this blogspot, our prayer is that you will develop the same burden we have to reach these dear ones while there is still time.

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

 

Missionaries Norm and Priscilla are originally from Connecticut, where he started and pastored River Valley Baptist Church for 18 years. As stated above, they moved out here to begin their ministry...and to be near their only child, our Pastor, Jason Aabye, and his family.

 

We are so grateful they did, because not only are they doing a GREAT work as missionaries to the 13 nursing homes, they are also a major help to the church! Most days of the week you will find them at school (Open Door Baptist Academy) helping the kids with their school work. They are loved by the children and are affectionately referred to as Grandpa and Grandma Aabye {especially by me [even though they are only old enough to be my parents and not my grandparents ;) ] and my girls :)}

 

Why not check out this greatly needed ministry by clicking over to their blog, reading about what is happening, and find out what you can do to help this lost and neglected segment of society.

 

 

Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not;

until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation,

and thy power to every one that is to come.

Psalm 71:18

 

Amanda

 

{Another prescheduled post, done the night before...YEAH! This is so exciting :) }

However...if it wasn't for these being daily post that go with The First 25 Days of 2012,

I probably wouldn't even be preschelduing anyway!