Praise & Prayer - Entries from May 2012

Brother Miller asked me to share with you that he is recovering well from pneumonia.  Thank you for praying.  Pastor Miller has ministered as the camp director, a pastor, a church-planter, and a church builder.  You may contact him at 712-655-3456 or

Pastor Louis Miller
Manning Plaza
410 Main
Manning, IA  51455

Please help Brother Scott Onofrio as he prepares for his part in our 2013 IARBC Annual Conference which will focus on disciplemaking and small groups.

Small Group Discipleship in the IARBC

By Scott Onofrio, Associate Pastor of Outreach & Discipleship, Faith Baptist Church, Mason City

Joe Hayes had asked me to speak next year at the 2013 Annual IARBC Conference regarding “small group outreach and discipleship Bible studies”. In agreeing and preparing to do so, I would like to bring more visibility to best practices right here in our state fellowship of churches to build involvement. With your permission and your participation, I would like to hear from you what your best practices have been and periodically publish them in the IARBC Update newsletter. As you participate, you will help our state fellowship sharpen our small group discipleship endeavors.

Please send me a:

1) testimonial of “small group outreach and discipleship bible studies” in your ministry;

2) a timeless truth or truths from the Word that fuel your ministry; and

3) share any tips that you find helpful to you in this ministry.

As the outreach and discipleship pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Mason City, I am interested in collaborating with pastors in our state fellowship that are actively involved or interested in starting or strengthening small group outreach and discipleship Bible studies. To get the ball rolling, I will share some of what God is doing in our church.

Since the 2011 IARBC Annual Conference, our church has been involved in running several Lamplighters International Bible studies in the community. At present, we have five of them, four for men, and one for women. Two men’s studies meet on Monday night, one at the Mason City Public Library, and one at Hardees Restaurant. Then on Thursday night, we have another Lamplighter study running at Hardees. On Friday morning at 6:30 am, we have a study at Cabin Coffee. These four men’s studies have now completed the books of 2 Timothy, and Nehemiah. Both have been very soul-building. Through these studies, I have personally grown in my understanding of the Word and have seen other men grow in their love for God and His Word. There were several times when visitors came to one of these small groups through either a personal invite or by physically seeing us studying together out in public. We just started an Esther study with a few women. The heart of our senior pastor, Miles Grismore, and  the following timeless truth of 2 Timothy 2:1-2 are behind these ministries.  That's where Paul said “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Helping disciplemakers take their next step of faith is very fulfilling. 

We have some in our church family who are effectively using the “Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” in an apartment complex in town. We have some visitors coming to our church as a result of these studies. One lady got saved, and has come forward for baptism as a result of this ministry. She is now attending our services and has joined a pilot Lamplighters Bible Study for women.

Would you please send me your stories that would encourage and provide support to our efforts here in the state. As you do, let’s praise the Lord for His Work as He builds His church for His glory.

Pastor Scott Onofrio, 641-530-0201

Hannah’s surgery on Tuesday, May 8th went well. She had her first follow-up appointment on Monday, May 14th.  The 6.5 inch incision is healing nicely.  Next week they plan to remove some of the stitches and by the end of the month put her in a cast.  She cannot bear any weight on the leg for at least eight weeks.  In approximately six weeks she will have another surgery to remove the temporary band holding the ankle bones in place.  Thank you all for your prayers. God has been our strength and help! 

Because of Christ,
Greg & Beth Baum
Church Revitalization Ministry - Serving in Britt, Iowa

On Sunday evening, April 29th, Hannah broke a bone in her ankle and in her lower leg.  She was returning to her dorm room at FBBC when she slipped off a step.  On Monday, May 7, the doctor determined that the swelling had gone down enough to perform surgery on the broken bones on Tuesday, May 8.

The surgery was done and was successful.  Hannah may be able to go home on Wednesday.  She will not be able to be on the foot for 2 months.  Please pray for Hannah for the healing of her leg and ankle and as she faces many weeks of therapy.

Thank You for Your Prayers

As you probably know our IARBC State Representative, Joe Hayes, has been having some complications during his hip replacement surgery recovery.   Last week it was discovered that his fatigue issues are being caused by a very low iron level in his blood.  The doctor started treatment for that and said that he should be back to full strength in a number of weeks.  Please continue in prayer for his complete recovery.

Rev. Elmer Ubbink, 93, of Creston went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, April 7, 2012. 

On December 23, 1941 he married Mary Jane Wanner.  They celebrated 57 ½ years together.  He was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel on September 25, 1950.  Elmer often talked about how he accepted Christ’s substitutionary death, trusted in His shed blood for the forgiveness of his sins, and received God’s free gift of salvation; therefore we know Elmer is with his Lord.  He was a member of First Baptist Church, Creston, Iowa, and Baptist Mid-Missions, Cleveland, Ohio.  Elmer and his wife, Mary Jane, served the Lord together as pastor and wife for 20 years in three churches in lower Michigan (Pentwater, Lyons, and Bay City) and spent 33 years in Jewish ministry in the Los Angeles area.  He was involved in the publishing of “The Shofar Magazine” for 31 years, using his God-given art talent.  Please be in prayer for his daughter Mary Ellen Wires of Creston and her family along with many other family members and friends.