Of course, you leaders must plan ahead, so allow me to share an idea for a Christmas project next month.

This is one of the Christmas ideas in my book, Fresh Ideas–1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving & Energetic Church:

A Nativity-a-Day

“For a ministry project, purchase a twelve-piece nativity scene and do this version of the Twelve Days of Christmas for a homebound member or person who will be alone for the first time this Christmas.  Deliver one piece of the nativity scene daily for twelve days, ending with the baby Jesus on Christmas day.  If this is a church or class project, a different member could deliver each day.  A friend of mine did this with “secret” deliveries, leaving daily notes and gift-wrapped nativity pieces on the front porch, by mail or other delivery methods.  At a scheduled time, she and her family delivered the baby on Christmas day.”

I received a note today from a lady who read the book, saying that she was purchasing a nativity scene and planning to do this with an elderly neighbor this Christmas.  Her husband’s Bible class was doing this as a mission project, with a different class member making a delivery each day. (I’m not sure if it’s a person in a nursing home, someone with an extended sickness, or a homebound member.) Each gentleman in the class is assigned a specific day, and makes a visit to deliver one nativity scene piece.  You don’t actually have to do exactly twelve–it could be more or less.  The gift is your reflection of God’s love as you show his care to one who needs it this season. 

My friend who did this with her young children made it an annual tradition. Each year, they would ask the pastor for an idea of a person who needed Christian encouragement, and they carefully made their plan. Each day was an adventure for the children as they planned how to deliver their surprise. As Christmas neared, they sent word through their pastor or a common friend to specify a time on Christmas Day they would like to stop by for the last delivery.  The recipient each year became a dear Christian friend of that family, and they began planning for next year’s Nativity-A-Day. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are such a wonderful time to shine for Jesus…

Keep on shining!

Celebration Time:

(Pardon me for this personal post. But you’re going to love the book recommendations!)

I’m celebrating the completion of two more seminary classes -  

(1) Systematic Theology 11 - I’m really celebrating this one. I’m afraid I’m way over my intellectual capabilities, but still enjoyed the class. I probably spent eight hours trying to understand Jonathon Edwards “In Freedom of the Will.”  My term paper was about God’s immediate forgiveness and it engulfed weeks of my life. I just turned it in today and feel like I accomplished a thesis!  Praising God it’s all turned in.

(2) Personal Evangelism 565 - one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. Dr. David Wheeler is excellent. The assignments were multitudinous, but well worth the effort. 

Here are some really great books from the class that I highly recommend: 

          Family to Family (Pipes) - If you have kids, you’ve got to read this book. It’s a great idea book and instruction book for creating a family mission statement so your family will intentionally honor God. Read it!  

The Unexpected Journey(Rainer) - I don’t know how I missed this Rainer book, but it is un-put-downable.  Each chapter holds a captivating interview with a Christian who was saved from a different faith view — everything from mormonism to satanism to buddhism. Each explains how they found the one true God, and gives tips for Christians about how to share Christ with them.

 Share Jesus Without Fear (Fay) - I’d read this previously, but if you’ve missed it, it’s a must-read-twice book.  Quite inspiring and practical.

Radically Unchurched (Reid) - This book will knock your socks off. It is a factual, in-your-face revelation of reasons our churches are unable to reach the majority of our nation’s younger adults and youth.  Well worth reading.

The Art of Personal Evangelism(McRaney) - Perhaps the best book on personal evangelism I’ve read.  Very practical, usable, inspirational. Read it.

Oh, there were lots of other books in this class, but these are some I thought you’d love.

  Just three more seminary classes to go now…

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One more article published this week:

Let’s Worship Magazine Fall ‘08 - (Missions celebration idea)

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Book Signing: One more note–I get to do a book signing during the state convention on Friday evening at 5:30. (for convention details, see www.scbi.org).

If you’ve never had the privilege of spending a couple of days at one of our six Southern Baptist Seminaries, you’ve missed a blessing!  God is working in a miraculous way in the lives of young men and women who are preparing for ministry at those campuses. 

Last year, my husband, Steve, spoke in chapel at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth; his alma mater), at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest NC). As we traveled to each of them, I marvelled at the uniqueness of each one, and the quality and commitment of their faculty and students. 

We’ve also had the privilege of visiting at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (New Orleans) and Golden Gate Theological Seminary (San Francisco) in the past.

The only SBC seminary we’d never seen–until last week–was Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City MO.  The MBTS campus is beautifully situated on a hill overlooking Kansas City, and the students and faculty on that campus are amazing. It is obvious that God is at work there, and the atmosphere is charged with an enthusiasm about sharing Jesus. The school had invited several state executive directors for informational meetings about the school, and Steve was invited to share a word about Indiana Baptists during their chapel service. President Dr. Philip Roberts and his wife, Anya, were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed hearing their heart for preparing future Christian leaders.

If you’ve been following the path of Hurricane Gustav, you may know that New Orleans seminary was evacuated. Their preparation for such an event is extraordinary, however, and seminary classes continue via Internet until students return later this week.  God’s work must go on!  An email from Dr. Rhonda Kelley, President’s wife, says “Thank you very much for your prayers. We feel them. God has been faithful to protect us.” Check their website for updates, and keep on praying for NOBTS.

Our Cooperative Program dollars are well-invested in these six academic training institutions dedicated to teaching future ministers.

I also had the privilege of visiting the campus of the Cuba Baptist Seminary in Cuba this spring, where training has exploded off the campus. We heard personal testimonies of men who spent many years of their lives in prison because they were seminary students. I was on Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary’s campus last month to take a graduate class, and observed a beautiful campus with an enormous commitment to God. Steve and I were at Kiev Theological Seminary last year and were enthralled with our IMB missionaries teaching church planting to Ukrainian pastors. God is raising up many committed young people to vocational Christian ministry across our globe, and He is using seminaries across our world to train and inspire them for service to God.

Pray for our seminary leaders and students! Encourage them. I’ve pasted a chapter of ways to encourage seminarians from my book, Fresh Ideas-1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church. (pasted below)

RECENT PUBLISHED ARTICLES:

“Fresh Ideas” articles were published this week in the Illinois Baptist and The Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Witness.

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SEMINARY STUDENTS

“I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

God’s called them. We’ll encourage them. Need fresh ideas to lift up seminary students from your church?

Recognize Them

Encourage the church to faithfully pray for church members who are called to fulltime ministry by occasionally printing a list of seminary (more…)

It was a highlight of the year!  We attended the Commissioning Service for International Mission Board missionaries on Friday. The ceremony was held in Oklahoma City at Southern Hills Baptist Church.  As each person shared his or her journey and preparation and calling to missions across the world, there was a true sense of awe.  God truly calls out his best to serve Him!

Two of the missionaries being commissioned were Joel and Mary Ellen Ragains from Graceland Baptist Church in New Albany Indiana. They serve at the Kiev Theological Seminary in Ukraine, preparing Ukrainian church planters to share Christ with their country.  Their work as ISC (shorter-term) missionaries has been exemplary. They just graduated their first seminary class of young men who went through the entire church planting degree and graduated. Each has begun at least one church in the Kiev vicinity.

Steve and I have been to Kiev to assist them on a couple of trips, and I’ve got to say these are some of the best missionaries alive!  Please check out their website and pray for Joel and Mary Ellen as they commit to vocational missions and continue the work that God has started through them in Kiev. 

And, as God tends to orchestrate, there was another bonus! When my husband, Steve, was pastor of First Baptist Church of Humble (1988-ish?), we loved serving there with Randy and Susan Lind. Randy was the minister of music there, and–you guessed it!–he’s recently been called from Humble to Southern Hills Baptist in OKC.  We loved seeing our dear friends, and hearing their choir and orchestra, and visiting in their home.  Double blessing!

It was a wet Saturday in Indiana last week! After many months of planning, many of the CrossOver Evangelistic events planned in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention were either post-poned, drenched, or relocated inside.  As much of our state was enduring horrific flooding, God continued to work through the efforts of hundreds of Christians from across the country who came to help with Crossover.

Here’s one idea that I loved:

Hull’s Grove Baptist Church in Vale, N.C. brought anvils and hammers and horseshoes all the way to Indy.  Wearing ten-gallon cowboy hats, their crew hammered out personalized horseshoes for hundreds of children at Hope Community Church and Eastside Community Church’s block parties.

The horseshoes had “John 3:16″ printed on them, and each child’s name was chiseled across the top.  As the cowboys chatted with kids and parents, they shared about God’s love and plan of salvation. 

Here’s what I really like about their gift:

- it’s personal

- kids will never throw it away

- it opens a door for talking personally about God

How unique! 

I’m jumping up and down! (Can’t you just picture that?)

Really — I’m celebrating big-time…..Just finished and submitted the final manuscript for my next book!  It doesn’t have an official name, but it’s a book for deacon wives.

It will likely have a release date by B&H next spring. Pray for wisdom for editors and publication staff as they take it from here. 

Steve and I will get to lead the conferences for deacons and deacon wives in Ridgcrest Baptist Conference Center in N.C. this July, and we’ve enjoyed training deacons in many settings these past years.  We know from experience what a great difference deacons and their wives can make in a church’s growth, fellowship and ministry. 

Why the dog photo?  We passed this dog on the road in downtown.  Only in Indy!

The photo does have a purpose.  Did it make you smile?

It worked.

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Don’t forget to stop by the book signings at the Indy Convention Center/Southern Baptist Convention next week.  LifeWay Book store at 5pm Monday and New Hope WMU at 4 Sunday. 

I hear that book signings can be lonely, so if you’re at the Southern Baptist Convention, won’t you stop by one of these and visit with me?

Scheduled books signings for Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry: 

June 8, 4pm-5pm - New Hope Christian Store - (inside Indianapolis Convention Center near the WMU Missions Celebration)

June 10th, 5pm-6pm - LifeWay Christian Book Store/inside Indianapolis Convention Center during Southern Baptist Convention 

Hope to see you there!

At Indiana’s East Central Association women’s retreat this weekend, I get to lead a breakout session about “How to Plan a Mission Trip.”  I love giving fun little tips, and I’m looking forward to the class.

However, for basic planning, there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel! I found these fabulous instruction guides, already prepared and ready for you to go. There is even a downloadable book about planning a mission trip. 

You’re going to love these: (more…)

Take a look at these articles in the Texas Baptist Crossroads Magazine and in the Florida Baptist Witness this week:

The Florida article is about the Sonshine Conference where I helped last week, complete with a photo of my new book!

Texas article is Mother’s Day and Father’s Day ideas from the Fresh Ideas book (pages 14-15)

There’s a photo in the Florida article of a fabulous illustration drama about the lostness of our world. One grain of rice represented two hundred lost people. An enormous floor mat had continents outlined, and to illustrate the number of lost people in several small countries, heaps of rice grains were poured there. Then, as music played, huge tubs of rice were brought out and spread it around the entire world–every continent–showing the enormous, overwhelming number of lost souls across our globe.

The harvest is plentiful.

 Photo from Indydt.org

I hope you’re planning to come to Indianapolis June 8-11 for the Southern Baptist Convention!

I’ve gathered a few links to help you enjoy your stay:

Why come to Indy? Diana’s Fresh Ideas article lists reasons

Downtown Indianapolis 

About Indy—videos and travel tips

 Crossover Indiana  - Arrive early and help with evangelistic events to plant 8 new Indy churches!

Youth Children Preschool Childcare

Convention Schedule 

 Ministers Wives Luncheon    come! 

Pastors Conference

 WMU Celebration (They’re having a booksigning for my new book at 4pm on June 8 + I get to lead a breakout class)

Find a Church for Sunday worship: Indiana Baptist Website

Guidestone Wellness Walk on the Canal Walk - gorgeous site! 

TIPS:

And here are a few more convention-going tips I sent in a letter to Indiana pastor wives:

• Register. When you register, say hello to our volunteers there. You’ll receive a  name tag, voting ballots and book of reports.
• Daily Schedule. Pick up the daily schedule as you enter.  It’s full of important announcements.
• Ministers Wives luncheon– Don’t miss this great event. Purchase tickets ahead at olivebaptist.org. It’s in the Sagamore ballroom in the convention center near the mall. You’ll be blessed. 
• Enjoy the whole convention.  You’ll enjoy all the program elements. I love the missions report for IMB because they always have a spectacular program. The reports from NAMB, LifeWay, seminaries, etc. are really eye-opening and inspiring. You’ll be proud to be a Southern Baptist!  It’s really amazing what we accomplish together. Even the business segments are interesting.  Music is fabulous. You’ll hear inspiring preaching. And you’ll still find time to loiter in the hallways and visit with new and old friends. 
• Pastor’s Conference June 8-9 – Usually has great conferences for women, too. Worth a trip.
• WMU Convention June 8-9 www.wmu.com(Hoosiers Traci Newland, Sharon Beck, Sharon Barrett and Diana Davis will be on program)
• Indiana Baptist Boothin main hallway. Look for it and say “Hi” to whoever’s volunteering there.-  Picketers. Don’t be alarmed when you see a few paid picketers outside. Be nice to them. -  As you walk around, say hello to Indiana volunteers at welcome center, childcare, youth area.
• Restaurants. Need help? Check ahead on indydt.org for a restaurant map. 200 are downtown! It might be wise to call ahead for reservations.
•  Crossover Events – Great evangelistic events all around the Indy area on the weekend before SBC. You are needed! These will help strengthen our churches and help plan eight new churches around Indy! Register ASAP at www.scbi.org 
•  To register for childcare or youth or children’s events  – www.sbcannualmeeting.com 
• Parking - http://www.indydt.com/dtmap.html  Click on map to see prices (i.e. White River State park garage, 650 W. Washington, says $10 per day.) Meters are free weekends and after 6pm.
• Represent your church!  Plan ahead so your church clerk can pre-register your church messengers online at www.sbc.net.

DON’T MISS THE EXHIBIT AREA! Some tips:

•  First, find the booth where they provide a bag. You’re going to have lots of stuff to carry.
•  Go by booths early to pick up lots of freebies. Your kids will love these.
•  Pick up information from every booth, and you’ll have wonderful reading for months. 
• Whatever ministry you enjoy at your church, you’ll find lots of helpful info here.
• Ask questions at all booths that interest you. The true experts are there and they’re anxious to chat.
• Take a free photo at the Olan Mills Booth.  They’ll mail it to you. 
• Be sure to do free medical testing at the Guidestone booth. It’s really free.
• If your teen will go to college or seminary soon, this is the time to visit booths and ask questions.
• Take your children by the IMB and NAMB booth to talk to real missionaries. 
• Bookstore – LifeWay has a mega-store here. I believe they’re planning a book-signing time for my new book, too! And before you leave Wednesday, check sales.