2012 May.pdf - International Baptist Convention

Diane Smith to Help IBC Churcheswith Children’s Ministry• The IBC is thrilled to introduce DianeSmith to you. Smith has served inthe area of children’s ministry on the localchurch level and as children’s strategiston the convention level. In December2011, she retired after serving 28 yearswith the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.She is a sought-after conference leader.Through children’s conferences here inEurope, Smith has developed relationshipswith some of the IBC churches as shehas given leadership in Bremen, Cologne,and Ramstein, Germany; and Copenhagen,Denmark.This fall, Smith will be available to theIBC churches as she will be based outof Frankfurt, Germany, for three months,September – November. If you would likefor Smith to lead a conference for yourpreschool and/or children workers or forparents, please contact Lorraine Stringerin the IBC office. We are requestingchurches to cover her travel expenses to/from Frankfurt and to take care of herhousing and meals while she is with yourchurch. Conference possibilities include:• Learning that Sticks• Brain Research and Implications for BibleTeaching• Choosing Bible Learning Activities thatChallenge Children• Using Drama as Bible Teaching• Bible Games to Develop Children’s BibleSkills and Knowledge• Teaching to Children’s Learning Styles• Parents as Faith Shapers• Helping Children Grow Spiritually• Guiding Children to Become like Jesus• Teacher/Leader Growing as a Christ-followerWe hope that many of our churches willrequest Smith to spend time with theirpreschool and children’s workers. It willprovide an opportunity of equipping, encouraging,and enriching your workers.•Pamela CulbertsonDiane SmithLarry Jones, former IBC Pastor,Retires in Texas, USA• The International Baptist Conventionexpresses congratulations, heartfeltthanks, and continued prayers for Larryand Linda Jones – long-time pastor,church planter, and a founding memberof the International Baptist Church Ministries(IBCM) organization. Jones will be retiring15 July. He is currently serving as theDirector of Missions of the Lubbock BaptistAssociation in Texas (USA).The Jones were called to IBC Stuttgart(then named the Neckar Valley BaptistChurch, Stuttgart) in November 1979.They served the church until June 1993.While in Stuttgart, the church transitionedfrom ministering almost exclusively to U.S.military members and their families tofocusing on English-language ministriesto reach internationals from around theworld. In 1984, the paradigm shift was reflectedin its name change to InternationalBaptist Church Stuttgart. During thistime the church grew in many ways andeventually bought land and built facilitiesthat included space for worship, SundaySchool, administrative offices, bookstore,and apartments for staff.While in the IBC the Jones served asconvention leaders. Larry served as chairmanof numerous ministry teams – Interlaken,Church Support, Finance – and asPresident of the IBC (then called the EBC).Leaving in 1993 to serve a church inTexas, Larry continued to work with theIBC. In 1997 he helped to start the IBCM,an organization that assists the IBC andits churches by allowing tax-deductiblecredit for Americans living abroad. Larrycurrently serves on the board of directorsof the IBCM and has served twice aspresident.Larry has served for 12 years as the Directorof Missions for the Lubbock BaptistAssociation, a ministry to churches inand near Lubbock, Texas. A retirementreception will be held in Lubbock on 17June. While serving as DOM, Larry wasthe founding pastor of International ChristianFellowship in Lubbock. ICF joined theIBC in 2010.A friend of mine, David Glenn, definesretirement as “Putting on new treads fornew journeys of ministry with Him.” Larry,we know that God has special plans foryou and Linda as you continue to followHim. Who knows? Perhaps we will see youin an IBC church serving as an interim pastor.I have personally been blessed to servealongside Larry and Linda, seeing them asgodly examples of what it means to serveChrist with joy and faithfulness. •Larry and Linda JonesJimmy Martin7 | Highlights 05/2012