The IARBC Family Praises and Prayers

Dr. Colin Smith - at Home with our Lord

2008-06-24T14:59:00.002-06:00

Dr. Colin Smith went home to be with our Lord this past Sunday, June 22, 2008. Our Lord's Church, Fundamental Baptists, our Regular Baptist movement and the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches has lost a choice servant and helper.

In honor of Dr. Smith, there will be a Family Visitation, Tuesday, June 24, 2008 from 4:00-5:30. The family will be gathered in the Lee Hall Lounge at Piedmont Baptist Bible College. You are invited to stop by and meet the children, share a memory of Colin, or just let them know you care.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 28 at the
Newton Recreation Center
1814 Newton Ransom Blvd.
Clarks Summit, PA
18411

Flowers may be sent to that address.

A Memorial Fund is being established in Dr. Smith's name to be used for Bible translations. More details will be available soon at Piedmont Baptist College's web site, www.pbc.edu.

Ruby Hol update

2008-06-24T14:57:00.000-06:00

"Ruby's 3rd chemotherapy treatment went very well. The weekend went fast and Ruby did not have any negative reactions to the treatments. We went in today for a counts check. Everything looked great!! Her white cells are boosted enough to stop the Neupogen shots until after her fourth treatment. Dr. Alzein was pleasantly surprised that Ruby looked so good and wasn't sick at all. He actually noted that people were praying for her and that must be what is helping!!! Praise the Lord!! He told us we didn't "really" need to come back until her next chemotherapy treatment, but he knows I like to feel "safe," so he said that we could come back in on Friday just to make sure everything was still looking good. Ruby's next chemotherapy was due on the Fourth of July, but Dr. Alzein told us that he wanted us to just come in on Monday the 7th for the treatment so we could enjoy the weekend. That is such a nice blessing!! He said that we actually are a bit ahead of schedule since Ruby has never had to have her treatments delayed because of low blood counts. Three weeks after her fourth treatment, Ruby's status will be evaluated. She will be getting a series of scans and tests to see how things look. She will most likely be getting surgery and either 1, 2, or 4 more cycles. Dr. Alzein is still very optimistic. When he felt her liver today, he said that it felt smaller. I was ecstatic to hear that!!! I had to contain my excitement until I got to the car so I didn't look like a freak mom. God is with us now and He has been with us every step of the way. We are blessed that things are going well. His strength is being made perfect in our weakness. We never dreamed our little Ruby would be such a testimony of God's goodness. The continued prayers and support are definitely still needed. We are so humbled by people's generosity and concern for Miss Ruby. We are so undeserving of God's goodness and yet He still pours it out on us daily. We hope everyone that is praying is able to be encouraged by God's goodness to our family and in their own lives."

Job 5:9

He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.

Children's Material Available

2008-06-24T14:56:00.002-06:00

Urbandale Baptist Church has "All Stars For Jesus" material available. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Dick Dayton at 515-276-0761 or e-mail to: URBANDALEBAPTISTCHURCH1@MSN.COM

Prayer Request for Pastor Paul Hutchins

2008-06-17T12:27:00.001-06:00

Pastor Hutchins pastored Calvary Baptist, Walnut, IA

After being diagnosed with cancer 3 months ago, my Dad, Richard E. Hutchins, went home to be with the Lord this morning at 5:55 EST. He would have been 91 next month. Please be in prayer for my Mother and other family members, some who do not know the Lord. I will be preaching the funeral on Friday, June 20th, at Nickerson Funeral Home, Sandwich, MA.
Pray for Teresa and I as we will be driving from Iowa to Massachusetts on Wednesday, then traveling back to Iowa on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Baptist Mid-Missions, North India Project, PO Box 308011, Cleveland, OH 44130-8011

Helping our Sister Churches

2008-06-17T12:26:00.002-06:00

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9,10)
We, as IARBC, have the opportunity to help our fellowship of churches that have special storm related needs. The chairmen from each of the area fellowships are putting together a list of those needs. Next week at our national meeting, they will be meeting with our IARBC leadership to see how we can best help with these needs.
We are planning to form teams out of our churches who are willing and able to help those who are suffering great hardships.
Our priorities are: Prayer support, Encouragement, Church buildings, Parsonages, and Church families' homes and business need (clean-up, repairs, painting, etc).
Please be in much prayer for all our communities, but especially for our IARBC Fellowship.

In His Goodness
Pastor Roger Crawford
Next Town Evangelism, Chairman

PS Any other churches that could use help with their church buildings, houses of your people or businesses of your people please let us know at our office. 515.964.2880 or admin@iarbc.com.

Financial Praises

2008-06-10T14:46:00.001-06:00

We recently shared how God is providing in special ways for the financial needs of our State Fellowship. Please rejoice with us in light of the fact that an individual recently sent a gift for $1000.00 for one of our ministries and another family let us know that they are including the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches, Talents For Christ and The Sportsmen’s Adventure in their will.

Fellowship Baptist Church

2008-06-10T14:43:00.001-06:00

Fellowship Baptist Church in Des Moines sits adjacent to one of the levees for the Des Moines River. The river is predicted to crest this week at a level that could swallow a portion of the church. Members are standing by ready to pack and move books, files and electronics. Sand bagging would be to no avail. Due to a ground water or waterworks related problem, a portion of the parking lot has already collapsed. A crew is currently working on that problem. If you would be available to help pack movable items, please contact 515-244-6767 and ask to be place on a call list. They will call you when needed.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

2008-06-10T14:42:00.000-06:00

Pastor Ben Epley, First Baptist Church, New Hartford, and Pastor Roger Crawford, our Council of 10 Next Towns Evangelism Chairman, thanks the 8 sister churches who came along side to help with the pick up from the tornado damage. The group of 20-25 volunteers was divided into 3 teams that assisted families in First Baptist Church in New Hartford who were affected and others who were in Parkersburg.

Please continue to pray for First Baptist Church as flood waters are now an issue. Pastor Epley and his family were evacuated from their home Monday, June 9, as were many others in New Hartford.

Pastor Tom Rosekopf's mother passed away

2008-06-07T18:56:00.001-06:00

Please be in prayer for Pastor Tom Rosekopf, of Burton Avenue Baptist Church in Waterloo, and his family. His mother, Ruth Ann Rosekopf went to be with the Lord. Visitation is Monday at 5:00 -7:00 PM and the funeral is Tuesday at 10:30 AM at the Lux Memorial Chapel - 1551 E. Grove Ave. - Rantoul, IL 61866.

Update for Pastor/Chaplain Mike Crawford

2008-06-05T12:45:00.002-06:00

Hello, Praying Friends,

Much of the lapsed time since I wrote last was spent at home with my family. I enjoyed the opportunity for R & R leave and spent ten delightful days at home. I can't honestly call them "relaxing" days, as we spent the time running from one place to another. When we weren't running, we were preparing for Emily's Graduation Open House. We spent our last day together celebrating this important milestone in our family's life. I am so thankful I was able to get the time off to be there for it. I had to watch almost everyone else go home and come back before I got to go, but it was truly well worth it…

Memorial Day gives us occasion to remember those who've died in the defense of the freedoms we all cherish. Witnessing Kosovo's majority population celebrate their Declaration of Independence has reminded us how dearly a nation prizes its freedom. May God keep our country great as we its citizens keep our lives good. We can do this by keeping our focus first and foremost on Him as "One nation under God".

Praying with you to that end,

Pastor/Chaplain Mike Crawford

Chaplain Mike Crawford

2007-08-08T16:02:00.000-06:00

Chaplain Mike Crawford's (Pastor of Faith Baptist, Fort Dodge) updates are available at: http://www.chaplaincrawford.com/