A Word From The Word ...
This year our association
is focusing on two areas
to assist our churches in
fulfilling the Great Com-
mission. One is Kingdom
Ministry and the other is
Compassionate Ministry.
Kingdom Ministry is
about discovering God’s
vision of Kingdom Minis-
try for your church. As
such it is not about main-
taining the church prop-
erty or grounds. It’s
about allowing the Lord
to guide your church in
doing what He wants you
to do to share the Gospel
with others so they may
become part of His king-
dom family. Compassion-
ate Ministry is about
showing the love of God
to and sharing the Gos-
pel with others in the hope
that they may come to faith
in Christ. As you can see
both emphases can work
together to help us fulfill the
Great Commission.
One aspect of our Compas-
sionate Ministry focus in-
volves us in taking associa-
tional mission trips outside
of our area. This year there
will be three associational
mission trips. One will be to
Israel this October led by
Dave Parker, Missions Pas-
tor at FBC Statesboro. An-
other will be somewhere in
the Southeastern United
States led by Tom Osborne,
Pastor of FBC Metter. I will
be leading two or three day
trips to Savannah where we
will be ministering to the
homeless at the Savannah
Baptist Center. I hope you
will come to an informational
meeting about these trips
which will be held on Sun-
day, March 1 at 2:30PM in
the Heritage A room at FBC
Statesboro.
In the next few months I will
work to let you know more
details about our focus on
both Kingdom and Compas-
sionate Ministry. In the
mean time, if you have any
questions about these please
call me at: 912-515-5591.
Serving alongside you,
Greg Abercrombie
Romans 13:8 & 10: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another
has fulfilled the law.… Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the
law.”
God’s definition of love—“love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not
parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked,
thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).
Greetings From Our Missionary
ORBA Churches & Missions:
Agape
Bethel
Blitchton FBC
Brooklet FBC
Cedar Street
Christ
Clito
Eastern Heights
Eldora
Elmer
Emit Grove
Excelsior
Fletcher Memorial
Friendship
Harville
Iglesia Cristiana Hispana
Lawrence
Leefield
Macedonia
Merrywood
Metter FBC
New Life
Oak Grove
Old Fellowship
Olive Branch
Pembroke FBC
Pine Grove
Portal FBC
Pulaski
Register
Salem
Southbridge Community
Statesboro FBC
Statesboro Hispanic Mission
Statesboro Korean Mission
Temple Hill
Trinity
Union
February 2020
Ogeechee River Baptist Association A Family of Churches Making Christ Known
OGEECHEE MISSIONS VISIONARY
“Ye Shall Be Witnesses Unto Me”
Acts 1:8
Page 2
Mission Statement of the Ogeechee River Baptist Association: We exist to help our churches in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Even though this is our “slack season,” we have had several groups utilize the Mann Center during the winter months
to bring in some much needed income.
We, Duane and I, have been busy doing our regular yearly off-season maintenance in the buildings. It is still terribly
wet down here, so we have concentrated on inside maintenance and are leaving the outside until the grounds dry out
enough to get our equipment on the grounds.
Duane’s son, Todd, is a recent Summa Cum Laude graduate in Justice Studies of Georgia Southern University and has
recently been accepted in the next academy for the Georgia State Patrol in Forsyth, Georgia. We are all very proud of
Todd!!
Please continue to keep us in your prayers and remember us in the coming year as we still need ALL of our churches to
support us financially here at the Mann Center.
GOD bless you all.
Mike Sparks
Jeremiah 32:17
BETHEL–Sun., 2/16; 11AM:
The Nelons Gospel Group will
be joining us for worship. Love
offering will be taken up. Eve-
ryone is invited!
BROOKLET—EVENTS: 2nd
& 4th Mondays; 6:30PM:
Titus 2 Ladies’ Bible Study.
Supper & child care provided.
Study this quarter-“When God
Doesn’t Fix It!” Visitors wel-
come! NEWS: (1)Evangelism
training, food, fun & fellowship
was held in member’s home. A
big success! Another class
scheduled for Feb. (2)New
church year ministry kick-off
meetings affirm this will be a
busy year for the Lord at BFBC.
ELDORA—Sun., Mar.15th:
“Picnic in the Park”; 2-5PM—
community outreach event at
Stilson Park. This event is open
to everyone, and any churches
that wish to assist, please con-
tact Patrick Robertson @912-
682-6770 a.s.a.p.
FRIENDSHIP—(1)Sat., 2/1:
YOU’RE INVITED… Join us
as we host the Butler Brothers in
Concert; 7PM—Everyone Wel-
come! (2)Sun., 2/9: Valentine’s
Banquet; 7PM—tickets are $8
each & can be purchased in the
church office.
LEEFIELD—We are so glad to
WELCOME our Interim Pastor
Ken Worthington and his wife,
Deborah, to our congregation!
MERRYWOOD–Sun., 3/1;
6:30PM: Traveling Pilgrims
Gospel country-style music. No
cost, but love offering will be
collected. Finger foods likely.
Everyone welcome!
NEW LIFE—(1)Sun., 2/2;
11AM: Baby Dedication. (2)Sat.,
2/8; 6PM: Adult Valentine’s
Banquet. (3)Sun., 2/16; 11AM:
Gideon Speaker. (4)Sun., 2/16;
6PM: Operation Christmas
Child Report & Vision. (5)Sat.,
2/29; 5-7PM: EPIC Youth of
New Life Baptist presents Youth
Nite—hot dog supper, Bonfire &
Concert (Eternal Vision), guest
speaker (Shannon Shelby).
PEMBROKE—(1)Sun., 2/2:
BAPTIST MEN’S DAY. We’ll
enjoy the men’s choir during
worship. (2)Sat., 2/29; 5-8PM:
Christian Learning Centers fund-
raiser—Pancake Supper in our
Social Hall. Everyone is invited!
News From The W.W. Mann Center
Mission Trip “Info Meeting”
Date & Time:
Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.
Location:
Statesboro FBC, in the Heritage A room
To be discussed:
International trip to Nazareth, Israel
(led by Dave Parker)
National trip to site in S.E./USA outside of GA
(led by Tom Osborne)
State trip to work with homeless in Savannah
(led by Greg Abercrombie)
Page 3
The BCM wants to thank all of the churches who generously provided lunch for our students during
the fall semester. Through our fundraising from Wednesday luncheons, selling parking permits, and
other campus activities, we raised over $10,000 for summer missions. This money will enable college
students across Georgia to participate in Send Me Now, with trips around the country and across the
world. We still have a few spots left for Spring Semester Luncheons if anyone would like to partici-
pate. Contact us at (912) 681-2241 or email Katelyn at [email protected]
Special thanks to:
Bethel Eastern Heights Friendship FBC Pembroke
Clito Macedonia Olive Branch FBC Statesboro
Trinity West Millen FBC Metter Southbridge Community
Theme: It's All About the Gospel
Suggested Dates: March 1-8, 2019
National Offering Goal: $70 Million
Arkansas Goal: $2.1 Million
Home Missions
“It’s all about the Gospel” is the theme for this year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Mis-
sions. The Annie Armstrong Missions Offering emphasis is not just an opportunity to give our money, but an
even greater opportunity to impact our neighborhoods and communities with the wonderful news of God’s in-
volvement in our lives. All of us are painfully aware of the lost condition of people with whom we bump shoulders
every day. These lost people are our neighbors - people right down the street from our houses. They need to know
of the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
Working together we can be difference-makers in sharing the Gospel across our land. The suggested dates for
this emphasis are March 1-8, 2020. During this Week of Prayer for North American Missions, consider how you
can make a Kingdom impact by praying fervently, giving sacrificially, and going intentionally to work alongside
our Southern Baptist missionaries to do our part in sharing God’s powerful message of hope and forgiveness.
Your church will be receiving materials by the end of January to use in observing the Week of Prayer for North
American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. We base the quantities you receive on your
church’s reported worship attendance. If you need more envelopes, prayer guides, or posters, contact the
Missions Team at 800-838-2272, ext. 5137. Also included with your materials is a planning guide for Pastors
and Mission Leaders. The DVD and promotional information will be helpful in leading your church to promote
this emphasis and to encourage your congregation to be missions-minded year-round. Other helpful resources are
available online at anniearmstrong.com.
“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...” 1 Corinthians
15:3-4, CSB
May God bless your missions efforts!
Annie Armstrong
2020
FEBRUARY (True Love Waits Emphasis) 9 Racial Reconciliation Sunday 10-16 Focus On WMU Week 11 Camp “I AM” Planning Meeting, ORBA Office, 7:00 p.m. 14 Valentine’s Day 15 Children’s Ministry Day, TBA 17 President’s Day 25 On Mission Celebration Meeting/Banquet, Statesboro FBC, 7:00 p.m. 27-29 SELAH, Pinnacle Retreat Center, Clayton MARCH 1-7 Youth Week 1-8 Week of Prayer & Missions Study for North American Missionaries/ Annie Armstrong Offering 2 Pre-registration for Camp “I AM” Begins [Call ORBA Office(912-764-3620) for Forms] 8 Daylight Saving Time Begins 10 Camp “I AM” Planning Meeting, ORBA Office, 7:00 p.m. 15 Church Planting Emphasis Sunday 26 Associational Executive Council, ORBA Office, 9:00 a.m. 29 Substance Abuse Prevention Sunday
Calendar 2020
BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES
4 Michael Sparks
6 John Long
6 Marcia Twigg
7 Bill Perry
13 Terri Forrester
15 Christopher Fowler
15 Stewart Moody
18 Peggy Harbuck
19 Edward Rich
17 North College Street
Statesboro, GA 30458
Phone: 912-764-3620
Fax: 912-489-4566
Email: [email protected]
Associational Missionary: Greg Abercrombie
Moderator: Edward Rich
Administrative Assistant: Debbie Marotte
Website: http://www.orbalife.org/
W.W. MANN CENTER
2171 Prather Road
Statesboro, GA 30461
Phone: 912-842-2460
Fax: 912-842-2464
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wwmanncenter.webs.com
Director: Michael Sparks
26 Ben & Deborah Gay
If you are a minister and have not sent your birthday or anniversary date to the ORBA office we encourage you to do so. Please include same info for your spouse and children living at home. Call 912-764-3620 or email [email protected]
Camp “I AM”
It’s back to “business” again. We
began our planning meetings on
January 14th at the ORBA office at
7:00 p.m. We’ll continue with meet-
ings every second Tuesday of each
month. We’d love to have you come
and find out what volunteering at
Camp “I AM” is all about. The
more we put into it, the more they
get out of it.
Our dates for the camps have been
set—Camp Junior (grades 1-3) will
be July 6-10, and Camp Senior
(grades 4-6) will be July 13-17.
Call ORBA office (912-764-3620) for
more info.
Pastor Prayer Meetings
Pastors are meeting for prayer at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays. The meeting place
for each Monday in February is Nona Picci’s Restaurant (807 S. Main St. in
Statesboro). We hope more of our ministers will take advantage of these
times of prayer and fellowship. *Call Greg at 912-515-5591 for more info.
A Family of Churches Making Christ Known
OGEECHEE RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
Christian Social Ministries (CSM)
Director: John Long (912-512-0107)
Assistance/Food Pantry:
31 N. Zetterower Ave., Statesboro
Thrift Stores:
122 E. Parrish St., Statesboro
&
College Plaza Shopping Center, Statesboro
Christian Social Ministries (CSM)
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2416
Statesboro, GA 30459