Spotlight On
Missions
Send offerings to BMA Missions
P.O. Box 878 • Conway, AR 72033-0878
501.455.4977 • www.bmamissions.org
Stan & Donna Scroggins • Philippines
While things seem to be opening up in the Philippines, we are still not able to return. We are praying our type of visa will be next on the list that is allowed to return to the country.
We received word from the Bible College of the need to help with providing food for students during the weekends. Due to the lock-down, students are not able to go to their respective weekend work locations and are quarantined on the campus. Thanks to Northview Baptist Church in North Little Rock and Pastor Mike Cantrell for helping us with funds to purchase food to feed our students over the weekends.
Who Are the Ati People? The Ati people are an indigenous group of tribal people living in the mountains of our island, Negros Occidental. There are groups of indigenous tribes isolated in the mountains and islands throughout the country. These people predate modern “Polynesian” Filipinos and are genetically related to Australian Aborigines. The Philippine government protects the culture of these tribal people by restricting outside contact with them. Access is by invitation only.
About two years ago Donna was invited to do ministry with the tribe and we began a work with them. The BMA of America Missions department supports a Filipino missionary who works directly with the tribe. We now have a church in their village and our first Ati student, Roter Enario, is attending the Bible College. During the lock-down, and because of their extreme isolation, word was sent out of starvation and famine conditions in the tribe affecting some 40 families. Thank you to Pastor Eric Goble and Brister Baptist Church, Pastor Randy Murphy and First Baptist Church and Pastor Dan Wisely and Kewanee Baptist Church who have helped us with funds so we could get food to the tribe.
Let me introduce to you our newest hero. Pastor John Rey Vallejera (Pastor JoJo) is a graduate of our Bible College. He is also our BMAA Filipino missionary serving as a church planter in Hong Kong. Due to recent unrest in Hong Kong, he and his family were forced to return to the Philippines and because of the lock-down in the Philippines they have not been able to return to Hong Kong. With that being said, his delay has allowed him to serve as a conduit to distribute food to the Bible College students and to the Ati Tribe in the mountains of the Philippines. Pastor JoJo has also been able to get a travel pass, which allows him to freely travel across quarantine lines. Thank you, Pastor JoJo, for your love of your people and for working to help us get food to them.
BMA of Arkansas State Missions
Missionaries
Michael Hight, Hispanic Coordinator, ; (501) 326-0198
Ruben Isturiz, Misión Ebenezer, West Little Rock: (501) 707-5388
Carter Pearce, Grace, Green Forest; (870) 688-7412
Juan Carlos Posadas, Misión Creciendo en Cristo, NLR; (501) 712-8752
Jim Tollison, Mustard Seed, Cain; (870) 370-3938
Chad White, Connection Point, Brookland; (870) 243-4683
Darrin Smith, Life Journey, Fort Smith; (479)-763-8909
Johnny Shew, Faith Chapel, Flippin; (870) 421-1984
Office Location: 10712 Interstate 30 • Little Rock, AR 72209
(501) 565-4601 • E-Mail: bmaofarkfrontdesk@gmail.com
Mailing Address: PO Box 195514, Little Rock, AR 72219
Director’s Email: arstamis@comcast.net
www.bmaofarkansas.com
Facebook.com/ArkansasMissions
Paul White
Executive Director
Part 1: Prayer
What we have here in Luke 11:1-4, is the Model prayer. Many times it is referred to as the Lord’s prayer, but when Jesus was in the garden praying to God for this cup to be removed, that was actually the Lord’s prayer.
The model prayer can be found in the gospel of Luke. “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” And he said unto them, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:1-4).
The problem of prayer is that for many, it is a very misunderstand and misused part of their Christian life. No greater asset do we have than the privilege of prayer. Without a doubt, prayer is the most powerful and yet the most unused of all our Christian privileges.
Then what is prayer? Prayer is us communicating with God just as the Bible is God communicating with us. If fellowship is to exist, then the lines of communication must always be open. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and Jesus gave us the example in the model prayer. We would be wise to follow its example.
• We need to open with praise. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Hallow means to make or regard as holy. “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Psa. 150:6). Why? “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding” (Psa. 47:7). He alone is worthy to be praised, “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (Psa. 30:4).
• We need to continue with a prayer for repentance. Forgive us our sins. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa. 66:18). God will not bless or use a dirty vessel, for its not how fancy, but how clean the vessel is. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psa. 51:10). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). We should pray, “Lord, do whatever you need to do to make me a vessel in your service.” Only after we have confessed our sin are we able to approach His throne with boldness.
• We need to make our petitions known unto him. “Give us day by day our daily bread.” Now we come to the asking part of prayer. Some feel it is wrong to be asking God for what we need, but instead the reality is that we often have not, for we ask not. Are you guilty of only asking for the things you want or the things you need?
Do you pray and ask for a better understanding of His Word? Or a closer walk with Him, souls to be saved and lives to be touched? Sadly, many are guilty of praying just for physical and consumable things they want. Matthew tells us, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). It is the spiritual that enables us to overcome life’s difficulties. An example of this is when Paul and Silas were singing at midnight while in prison. (to be continued)
From Our Missionaries
Connection Point, Brookland: Chad White writes, “We had a great week at Connection Point. This past Saturday, we held a COVID-19 safe community outreach. We set up an outdoor Trail of Treats with dozens of candy stops. We had some inflatables, some vehicles and lots of decorated tables. We had over 400 kids come through, plus all of the adults. It was by far our biggest turnout ever. We met hundreds of families who have never attended church at Connection Point. Each kid left with a bag full of candy and a gospel presentation. Join us in praying that God will continue to work in the lives of these families.
“Sunday was a solid day. We had a fairly typical attendance and offering and enjoyed a great time of worship. We ask that you continue to pray that God will keep our people healthy and safe and allow us to grow, even during this unusual time.”
The Mustard Seed, Cain: Jim Tollison writes, “We had another enjoyable day of worship and praise on Sunday. I enjoy every minute I get to spend with our folks. They are growing in their devotion to the Lord’s work.
“We are excited about getting our covered walkway built. I hope we can start this week. Pray with us that dry weather will prevail.
“Becky and some of our ladies are going to start practice for a youth Christmas program Wednesday night. Kenneth Colvert will be teaching a class for the adults during the play practice.
“Becky and I are so excited to be grandparents again. Our son, Taylor and his wife, Beth Anne had another son last week. Becky and I traveled to Memphis to help with Taylor’s other two children. We enjoyed getting to spoil them some more.
As I held that little bundle of joy, I thought, how could anyone ever even consider abortion?
“God bless the BMA of Arkansas. We hope to see you at the state meeting. By the way, I have pictures of that new grandson!”
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “In addition to our normal discipleship and Bible study meetings, we celebrated Reformation Day on Oct. 31. We watched a documentary and studied the biblical basis of the five solas. We concluded the meeting by drinking champurrado — a hot drink typical of Guatemala — which we served with sweet bread.
“On Sunday, Rusty & Susan Womble visited with us, and Bro. Womble preached on the rapture and the need to receive Christ. We thank God for the lives of the Wombles. They have been a blessing to this work.
“We greatly appreciate your prayers, the Hispanic work in North Little Rock needs them. May God bless you.”
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “2020 has been an unusual year. Planting a church in the midst of COVID-19 has been challenging — closing the church for a season and online transmission of our services — but in the midst of this pandemic, the Lord has taught us to work in different ways. I thank God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in each of our congregations as we seek the wisdom to minister at this time. I love when I read in the Bible “but growth has been given by God” (I Cor. 3:6). This verse reminds me of my role — working in the Lord’s vineyard, preaching His Word, making disciples, feeding the flock — but the growth is only given by God.
“Let me tell you about Zolimar Rojas. She came to our congregation through José Ponce and, at first, she did not want to know much about Ebenezer. She is from a Catholic background. After almost a year in the Berean Group (cell) of Chenal, she made her decision for Christ and she will be baptized by May of next year. This past Sunday she brought a friend for the first time to visit Ebenezer. Zolimar was a primary school teacher in Venezuela and now she has made a commitment to teach her Guatemalan friend, Yoseline, how to read and write. Only God can make these changes. Pray for Zolimar and her friend that she will come to know Christ and that soon she will be able to read the Bible. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great time of worship at Faith Chapel. Once again, all of our members were present and we had four return visitors from our mother church, The Bridge at Mountain Home, who also joined us as well. It truly is wonderful when you have visitors that you already love like family.
“We had a surprise blessing this week when Jerry Clements of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Annieville called and pledged their financial support and prayers. We are truly humbled and grateful for this gesture of love and unity with our mission and we are excited to use this gift toward God’s purposes in Flippin.
“We are so grateful for all of the support and prayers we have received from so many in the BMA since we started in March, and we pledge that we will continue to be faithful to our calling.”