We heartily invite you to join us for the
2012 BFM SPRING MISSIONS CONFERENCE
April 2, 3, 4
Hosted by Thompson Road Baptist Church, Lexington KY
Dave Parks, Pastor  |  daveparks@insightbb.com  |  859.223.8374
THEME:  “THE FUTURE AND  HOPE OF BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS”
Jeremiah 29.11 / Luke 12.32

Monday Evening, April 2
5:00    Supper
7:00    Praise
7:20    Randy Jones – Multimedia Message: “The Future and Hope of Baptist Faith Missions: ‘What hath God wrought!’ [Numbers 23:23] through the missionaries supported through BFM”
8:00    Praise
8:20    Pastor Joe Collins, Faith Baptist Church, Versailles KY

Tuesday Morning, April 3
9:30    Praise
9:45    Louie Carver, Simpsonville SC (Former pastor and missionary supported through BFM) “What the Lord has done in South Korea and The Philippines through the ministries of BFM”
10:25  Break
10:30  Seminar / Workshop: “Calling on God for His purposes, plans, and prospects for the increased outreach of Baptist Faith Missions into the nations of the world” (Matthew 22:14- And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.)
12:00              Lunch
1:30                OPEN FORUM FOR Q & A / SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE
5:00 – 6:00     Supper

Tuesday Evening, April 3
7:00    Praise
7:20    Randy Jones – Multimedia Message: “The Future and Hope of Baptist Faith Missions: ‘The future and hope we believe the Lord is giving BFM – and the steps we are taking to follow Him’ (Luke 12:32- Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.)
8:00    Praise
8:20    Missionary-Pastor Paul Hatcher, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Manaus BRASIL

Wednesday Morning, April 4
9:30    Praise
9:40    Pastor Bryan Baggett, Bible Baptist Church, Clarksville TN
10:20  Praise
10:30  Donovan Stewart, Associate Pastor, Baptist Church at Andover / Lexington Police Chaplain
11:10  Break
11:20  Pastor Ben Glover, Park Ridge Baptist Church, Gotha FL
12:00              Lunch
5:00-6:00       Supper

Wednesday Evening, April 4
7:00    Praise
7:30    Anthony Vance, Associate Pastor, New Life Baptist Church, Lexington KY

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Other important conference-related posts:
Accommodations & Travel Information | Explanation of the Conference Theme
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Some conference documents (PDF-format) you may want to download:
Spring Conference Promo | Spring Conference Program
Spring Conference Invitation | Spring Conference Announcement

CONFERENCE THEME:
“THE FUTURE AND HOPE OF BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS”

Jeremiah 29.11:  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Luke 12.32:  “Fear not, little flock;  for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

WHAT IS ‘FUTURE AND HOPE’?
God gave this promise to Israel to assure them that He was not done with them, and that His kingdom purposes and plans were still very much on task, on target, and on time – and that, in truth, greater service and effectiveness was yet in store for them in their future.  The struggles they were going through at that time were driving them to depend more on God, call more on God, and look more to God.  They must just follow God into the future He was giving them – and hope only in Him.

God’s ‘thoughts’ that He thinks toward us are His purposes and plans.  God doesn’t think fleeting, passing thoughts.  His thoughts are His plans, the eternal counsels of His own will [as in Ephesians 1.1-14].  And, whatever God thinks, purposes, and plans – that He will do [Isaiah 46.9-11].

So, when God assures them [and us] that His plans are to give them [and us] ‘an expected end’, He is promising them a FUTURE and a HOPE – and He will make it happen.  Our King James translators have given us an alternate reading on ‘an expected end’.  It is ‘Heb. end and expectation’.

• ‘End’ is ‘FUTURE’ where God is taking us, what God is going to give us, what God is going to do with us.

• ‘Expectation’ is ‘HOPE’.  Hope is not mere wishful thinking.  Hope is a certain assurance and confident expectation that God will do what He has promised to do and give us what He has promised to give us.

WHAT IS OUR FUTURE AND HOPE?
Jesus Christ has promised to give His kingdom to us, His churches.  When He established His church, He gave us ‘the keys of the kingdom of heaven’ [Matthew 16.18-19].  He commissioned and sent us into every nation of the world to preach and proclaim ‘the gospel of the kingdom’ [Mark 1.14 & Matthew 24.14].  When unbelievers receive the Gospel and God saves them by the Cross of Christ, the Holy Spirit calls them and births them into God’s kingdom [John 3.1-8].  Then, Jesus Christ sets them in His churches as it pleases Him.

This is how the kingdom of God grows and increases in the world.  This is how the will of God is done on earth as it is in Heaven [Matthew 6.9-13].  And, this is the FUTURE AND HOPE Jesus promises us when He says, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Jesus promises this FUTURE AND HOPE to His churches – and Baptist Faith Missions is a voluntary fellowship of such churches who are partnering together to preach His Gospel of the Kingdom in all the world as a witness to all the nations [Matthew 24.14].  We have been mutually committed to this purpose for the past 70 years – and we are committed to continuing His mission until He returns.

70 YEARS OF CHURCH-PLANTING AND KINGDOM-BUILDING
The missionaries who have served in many of the nations of the world through the support given by the churches in fellowship with Baptist Faith Missions have faithfully and fruitfully led thousands to faith in Jesus Christ, planted hundreds of churches, and increased the kingdom of God.  Many of these churches have, in turn, become multiplying churches themselves – and the mission outreach of Baptist Faith Missions continues to network to more and more countries, disciple more and more believers, and establish more and more churches.

You will not find another group of God-called and church-sent Baptist missionaries and supporting churches who have served Jesus Christ more faithfully and effectively than those in fellowship with Baptist Faith Missions.  One of the purposes of this Conference is to tell you at least a small part of their stories.

“…FELLOW WORKERS UNTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD…” Colossians 4.11
But, we also recognize that there is so much more that we need to do.  And, WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN US TO DO THROUGH THE MISSIONARIES WHO SERVE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS IS WORTH DOING.  We are committing ourselves to CALLING ON JESUS CHRIST, GOING AND PRAYING TO HIM [Jeremiah 29.12-13] for HIS FUTURE AND HOPE that He wants us to pursue and receive from Him.

We continue to struggle more and more just to maintain the essential commitments we have made to our missionaries to meet their basic needs for daily life and ministry.  We want to do so much better, but it will require a concerted, increased participation from each one of us – and all of us together.

So, we will also be presenting during our Conference services several challenges we face along with some initiatives and measures we believe the Lord is giving us to implement together – all with the FUTURE AND HOPE in view that we can increase our outreach, increase God’s Kingdom in the nations of the world, and above all, INCREASE GOD’S GLORY THROUGH THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL OF HIS GRACE.

We need and want your fellowship and help.  We encourage you to plan to attend with us, pray with us, worship with us, participate with us, and labor with us as we SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I WILL DO IT!”  [John 14.12-14]

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CHILDREN’S MISSIONS CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Every year we conduct sessions for the children [age 4 through grade 5] who attend our Conference services.  My wife, Debbie, conducts these learning and activity sessions.  Each year, we focus on a particular nation of the world, highlighting its culture and customs along with their need for the Gospel and opportunities to take the Gospel to those peoples.  This year’s theme nation is INDIA. Our Children’s Center is always set up with crafts and activities which engage the children’s attention and interests in the missions lessons.

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CONFERENCE OFFERING:
MISSIONARIES’ TRAVEL EXPENSES ‘TO THE REGIONS BEYOND’ YOU 

We want to designate our Conference offering this year to MISSIONARIES’ TRAVEL EXPENSES.  These expenses are disbursed from our GENERAL FUND and are always one of the largest line items in our annual GENERAL FUND budget.  For example, in 2010, we disbursed $16,000.00 just for our missionaries’ furlough transportation expenses.  Last year, 2011, we disbursed another $17,000.00.  We don’t anticipate that our 2012 outlay will equal those of the past two years [$5,000.00 so far this year], but we still need to try to make up as much of these General Fund expenditures as we can from additional offerings.  So, our Conference offerings will go toward providing these disbursements from our GENERAL FUND.

These funds are supplied from our Thanksgiving Offerings.  2010’s Thanksgiving Offering was $63,700.00. This year’s current Thanksgiving Offering is $56,000.00.  So you can see how quickly these expenses can deplete those funds.

Paul made two appeals to the churches to HELP HIM WITH HIS TRAVEL EXPENSES TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.  Read Romans 15.22-24 and 2 Corinthians 10.13-17 and either bring with you or send as generous an offering as you can to MISSIONARIES’ TRAVEL EXPENSES.

By the way, Paul was appealing for this help so he could continue to take the Gospel ‘TO THE REGIONS BEYOND’ you ‘FOR THE GLORY OF GOD’!  Thank you for helping us advance the Gospel in this way.

If you cannot attend the Conference, but still want to give a gift, send it to our Treasurer: Pastor George Sledd  |  PO Box 471280  |  Lake Monroe FL 32747-1280
Or, you can contribute online either by check/debit or by credit card on our Donate/Support page. Enter your designation for “SPRING CONFERENCE OFFERING.”

 MOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION

We are still recommending the Quality Inn Northwest / 750 NEWTOWN COURT / LEXINGTON  KY 40511 / 859.233.0561  Ask the desk attendant for Thompson Road Baptist Church event rates.  Mike Clark said that if there is any question about these arrangements, ask for him personally.

ONE QUEEN BED room is $49.95.  TWO DOUBLE BEDS room is $59.95.  They also offer continental breakfast on the premises, in-room coffeemaker, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and high-speed internet access.

We encourage churches to pay your Pastor’s (and his wife’s) travel expenses to attend this conference. It will give them the opportunity to enjoy what is always a much-needed physical and spiritual re-charging for your church’s ministry.  We use these Conference occasions to highlight and update our missions partners concerning our missionaries’ ministries and also stir up all of us to greater interest, investment, and involvement in our mutual missions endeavors.  He will come back to you with a greater burden, zeal, and enthusiasm for missions. Will you take the lead to ask your church to do this for your pastor, our missionaries, and your church? 

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 TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
to 320 THOMPSON ROAD, LEXINGTON KY 40508

FROM SOUTH ON I-75: Get off at Exit 104 (Athens-Boonesborough). Turn west toward town. You will be on Athens-Boonesborough Road / Richmond Road Extension. As you approach Lexington, the road will become Richmond Road around Jacobson Park. Continue straight into Lexington. Richmond Road will become Main Street. You will pass the Rupp Arena / Lexington Convention Center on your left. Turn left at the next traffic light. This is Jefferson Street. Turn right in the middle of the overpass bridge onto Manchester. About one mile down Manchester, turn right on Thompson Road and come to the top of the hill.

FROM NORTH ON I-75 OR EAST / WEST ON I-64: I-75 and I-64 merge for a few miles on the north/northeast side of Lexington. Come to Exit 115 on 64/75. This is Newtown Pike (State Route 922). Turn south toward Lexington. Follow Newtown Pike until you come to Main Street. Go straight across Main Street onto Oliver Lewis Way.  Turn right at the next traffic light onto Manchester / Old Frankfort Pike. Follow Manchester about one mile. Turn right on Thompson Road and come to the top of the hill.

If you choose to stay at Quality Inn, then follow the second set of directions above and Quality Inn will be on your left behind the Shell station just before you get to the New Circle Road interchange [1 mile from 64/75].