125th Lincoln Association of Baptist Annual Meeting
Magnolia Baptist Church
September 22, 2024
4:30-4:35: Welcome, Pastor Mark Tarrence, Magnolia Baptist
4:35-4:45: Congregational Singing, Dr. Tony Cunha, Dean, School of Music at Campbellsville
4:45-4:50: Scripture, Glenn Metcalf, New Horizon
4:50-4:55: Prayer, Honorable Tommy Turner, Magnolia Baptist
4:55-5:00: Call to Order, Seating of Messengers, Recognition of Guests, and Adoption of Program, Silas Session, Sr. Moderator, Interim Pastor, Truth Baptist
5:00-5:20: Recognition of New Church Staff, AMS Report, Shawn Edwards, AMS (Page 6)
5:20-5:30: Congregational Singing
5:30-5:40: Written Reports, Silas Session, Sr. Moderator (Pages 8-9)
5:40-6:00:
Proposed Budget, 2024-2025, Mrs. Tracie Oliver, Stewardship Team Chair, The Grove Baptist Church (page 12)
Nominating Team Recommendation, Paul LaRue, The Grove Baptist Church (Page 10)
Trustee Property Recommendation (Page 11)
6:00-6:15 ***Intermission to review booths***
6:15-6:30: Inspirational Music, Dr. Tony Cunha, Dean, School
of Music at Campbellsville
6:30-7:00: Message, Dr. Shane Garrison, Dean, Campbellsville University
7:05 Adjournment of Meeting, Faron Knopp, Vice-Moderator, Mill Creek
Closing Prayer, Faron Knopp, Vice-Moderator, Mill Creek
Lincoln Association of Baptists
Constitution
(Revised September 26, 2022)
The Association is a fellowship of New Testament Southern Baptist churches which voluntarily associate themselves with each other as one way to express their covenant relationship as the people of God, to advance the work of His kingdom under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
ARTICLE I – NAME
This body shall be known as the Lincoln Association of Baptists.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The membership of this Association shall be composed of messengers representing cooperating Baptist churches whose doctrinal beliefs and practices conform to the recent BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention. These churches’ pastors shall be Southern Baptist in theology and practice.
Section 2: A cooperating church shall continue to be defined as a church which is a bona fide (sincere) financial contributor to the work and ministry of the association. Additionally, a cooperating church will endeavor to complete and return the Annual Church Profile to the association. Any church that fails to fulfill these two defining characteristics for two consecutive years will be considered inactive. If an inactive church begins cooperating again within the third year (within the year of being considered inactive), that church will be considered active and cooperating. If, after being considered inactive for a year (a total of three years being uncooperative), there has been no cooperation, that church shall not be considered a part of the association any longer.
Section 3: Each church shall be entitled to send two messengers and one additional messenger for each fifty (50) members or major fraction thereof, and no church shall be entitled to more than fifteen (15) messengers.
Section 4: Any church desiring to unite with this body shall petition the Association for recognition and shall present the Annual Church Profile (ACP). The Missions Development Team shall investigate and make appropriate recommendation to the Association.
Section 5: This Association reserves the right to reject messengers from any church which shows itself to be unorthodox in faith or practice according to ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, or which willfully and persistently creates discord by refusing to comply with this Constitution.
ARTICLE III – OBJECTIVE
Section 1: The purpose of this Association shall be to assist the churches to implement the Great Commission by:
- Promoting inter-church fellowship.
- Strengthening our oneness in faith and practice.
- Disseminating information in an effort to inspire our churches regarding the work within the Association and within the whole denomination.
- Helping the churches do together those things which they cannot do effectively themselves.
Section 2: This body shall exercise no legislative or judicial authority over any church, nor shall it have ecclesiastical power over the internal affairs of any church.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of this Association shall be moderator, vice moderator, and clerk. These officers shall serve on the Executive Board in the same capacity. They shall be elected annually at the annual meeting and begin serving thereafter. The term of office for the moderator and vice-moderator is limited to two consecutive years, and a person shall not be eligible for re-election until at least one year has elapsed from the time a successor is named. The clerk shall serve until the clerk’s successor is duly installed.
Section 2: Their duties shall be such as are common to the same officers in similar organizations, and as defined by the Association.
ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE BOARD AND TEAMS
Section 1: There shall be an Executive Board of this Association which shall have charge of the work of the Association between annual sessions. This Board shall be composed of the pastor of each church, or pastor’s designee, and one lay member duly elected by each church, the pastor of any mission of a cooperating church, the associational officers listed in Section 1 of Article IV, the DOM, and the chief officer of each organization of the Association.
Section 2: The Association shall elect a three-member Board of Trustees, according to the Articles of Incorporation on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Section 3: The Association and the Executive Board shall have such regular and special teams as needed in executing their work.
Section 4: Team leaders shall have voting privilege at Executive Board Meetings. Team members are invited to attend as non-voting members.
ARTICLE VI – ANNUAL REPORTS
Section 1: The affiliated churches shall furnish annually to the Association the information requested by the Annual Church Profile (ACP.)
Section 2: The AMS and each team and organization of the Association shall submit an annual report.
ARTICLE VII – ANNUAL MEETING
Section 1: The Association shall meet annually at such place and time as selected by majority vote of the messengers.
Section 2: In case of an emergency requiring a special session, or a change of date or place of the annual meeting, the Executive Board may take such action.
ARTICLE VIII – ANNUAL MINUTES
The minutes of the annual meeting of this Association, together with such information as may be useful, shall be published and distributed annually among the churches of the Association.
ARTICLE IX – BY-LAWS AND JOB DESCRIPTION
This Constitution allows for By-Laws and Job Descriptions of all employees, officers, teams, and organizations.
ARTICLE X – CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of messengers present and voting at any regular annual meeting, provided that such proposed amendments have been submitted in writing at the preceding annual meeting.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
All meetings of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with the Bible and Robert’s Rules of order (latest edition). A simple majority of those voting in any regularly announced meeting shall be valid.
ARTICLE II
The Nominating team shall nominate to the Association or the Executive Board the members of existing teams and leaders. The Nominating Team shall be named by the Moderator.
ARTICLE III
Between annual sessions of the Association, vacancies in the office of moderator, vice-moderator, or paid full time personnel and ministerial staff shall be filled by the Executive Board. Part-time personnel may be filled by either the Association Mission Strategist, and/or the Personnel Team.
Election of officers shall be conducted during the annual session. The Nominating Team shall nominate other offices and team members. Upon a majority vote, they will take office following the annual meeting. If two or more candidates for any position are proposed, voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. Should there be more than two (2) candidates and none received a majority, there will be a run-off to determine the winner. The run-off would be between the two (2) candidates receiving the largest number of votes in the first ballot. Only the one(s) receiving the greatest number of votes will be announced (or run-off candidates) to the annual meeting. A team will be appointed for the purpose of counting and recording the votes. The persons receiving a majority of votes shall be declared elected.
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees are authorized to hold, purchase, and receive title to real estate and other property by devise, gift, grant or other conveyance, with power to mortgage and to borrow money, sell or convey the same or any part, parcel or portion thereof, when so directed by the Association, except in an emergency the Stewardship Team shall recommend to the Executive Board that trustees be authorized to borrow money to cover previously approved budget authorization.
ARTICLE V
The Association and Executive Board shall have regular and special teams as needed to execute their work.
ARTICLE VI – CHANGE OF BY-LAWS
These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board of the Association present and voting providing the membership of the Executive Board has been notified in writing of such suggested change thirty (30) days prior to the vote.
AMS Annual Report
I am humbled to serve as your Associational Mission Strategist. I appreciate your trust in me over the past seven years. I appreciate you and your ministries. I have enjoyed participating in your worship services, ministries, and fellowships in 2024. I hope churches grant pastors and staff time away (in addition to Vacation time), perhaps as a gift for Clergy Appreciation Month. Churches, remember to pray and encourage your pastor and staff.
It’s with great appreciation that I acknowledge Magnolia Baptist for hosting our annual meeting. Their contribution has been invaluable. Looking ahead, 12 Stones Baptist will host our 2025 annual meeting on September 29, 4:30-6:30, with Immanuel Baptist serving as an alternate. We are honored to have Dr. Mark Dance as our speaker for this significant event.
Salt Lake City, We took a team to meet with and encourage church planters last Nov 8-11. Consequently, we adopted a partnership with Salt Lake City Church Planters as well as New York City Planters:
Nathan Brock and Daniel Williams, Redemption Church Utah
*Michael Cooper, Pastor at ValleyLight Church
*Danny Torres, Swerve Church, Brooklyn, NY.
We believe entering these partnerships will allow you to equip, train, and develop missions and church planting with your churches. This avenue would enable your church to grow in this area of ministry. The team and I would assist your church in developing this partnership. The overview of the partnership is as follows:
- Long-term (3 to 5 years) involving prayer, encouragement, financial, and short-term mission teams.
- Multiple teams per year if needed and able.
Our approach to these partnerships is firmly rooted in the Gospel. We believe that a Gospel-centered strategy is the most effective way to spread the message of Christ. This is a value we hold dear and one that we are committed to upholding in all our endeavors.
- Let the church planter set and determine strategy and needs.
- Be a Servant.
Chile Partnership: I attended a KBC meeting last May to prayerfully consider a partnership with Chile. After much deliberation, we decided to participate in a trip from September 4 to 11, which was a significant step towards establishing a long-term partnership with Chile.
The LAB hosts a monthly Griefshare Ministry for widows. Contact the LAB office for the next 5:00 pm. Monthly meeting
During October, several of our LAB Churches will participate in simultaneous revival services. These participating churches will exchange pulpits on Sunday evenings for the first three Sunday nights. The final service will be at 12 Stones Baptist on October 27 at 6:00. We look forward to your participation and support!!
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, the messengers to the 125th session of the Lincoln Association of Baptist are enjoying a time of worship, encouragement, and fellowship in the Lord Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge God’s providence in all these blessings; and
WHEREAS, we also acknowledge the kind hospitality of the congregation of Magnolia Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, we further acknowledge our local sister church, her staff, and her volunteers who have worked so diligently to make our meeting a pleasant one;
RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Lincoln Association of Baptists meeting at Magnolia Baptist Church, Magnolia Kentucky, September 22, 2024, express our profound gratitude to the Lord and to all those through whom He is working to bring about an annual meeting characterized by prayer, grace, evangelism, worship, encouragement, unity, and purpose.
RESOLUTION OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & APPRECIATION TO OUR CO-DIRECTORS
WHEREAS, The messengers to the 125th session of the Lincoln Association of Baptist are celebrating another wonderful year of camp ministry at Camp Schafer; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge that God had done a mighty work through the efforts and planning of both youth and children’s camp; and
WHEREAS, we also acknowledge that planning and directing our associational camps requires a great deal of sacrifice and effort on the part of our directors, which is done on a volunteer basis; and
WHEREAS, we further acknowledge that Brooklynne Stillwell and Austin Stillwell fully and equally do the work of directing our children’s camp; and
WHEREAS, we further acknowledge that Christopher Mills and Joshua Looten fully and equally do the work of directing our youth camp;
RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Lincoln Association of Baptist meeting at Magnolia Baptist Church, Magnolia Kentucky, September 22, 2024 do fully recognize both Brooklynne Stillwell and Austin Stillwell as the CO-DIRECTORS of our associational children’s camp; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, we do also fully recognize both Christopher Mills and Joshua Looten as the CO-DIRECTORS of our associational youth camp, and
FUTHER RESOLVED, we thank all CO-DIRECTORS for their service and sacrifice throughout their many years of service.
Lincoln Association of Baptist Recovery Ministry Report
Our focus last year was to minister to 2 recovery houses and to send information via email and Facebook. We recently had individuals interested in the LAB recovery ministry. We hope to integrate them soon. We did not plan or execute our event.
Here is our current focus:
We will continue to share information via email and Facebook. We will continue to minister to recovery houses.
We plan to execute an informative event regarding mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention. An interest meeting will be Oct 21, 530pm at the association if available. Please bring your ideas: and invite individuals who would like to help or who specialize in these areas even if they cannot attend.
Here are ways you can assist:
Ensure I have your email and cell phone number no later than the end of this week. We will
start a new email and text distro. My contact information is below.
Give recommendations for our recovery/ mental health/suicide prevention emails, post, and, website.
Inform me of what your church is doing regarding recovery, mental health, and or suicide
prevention. I would like to attend to learn and share. I would love to add relevant things you are doing to what I send.
Blessings,
Rev Silas Session, D.Ed.Min
LAB Moderator/Recovery Ministry
sjsession@yahoo.com
2543192050
2024 Youth Camp Report
It was another great year at Camp Schafer!!! This year we had the opportunity to challenge our youth to get UNPLUGGED so that may hear the voice of God. Boy, did He not let us down!!! Through powerful worship, amazing sermons, and deep Bible discussions, God moved through these young people! We say several give their lives to Christ and a few more who surrendered to ministry.
In 2024, we have 84 campers and 19 counselors at youth camp. We are so thankful for our counselors and other volunteers that make this week possible. We are also thankful for all of our association churches and every church that allowed us to minister to their youth this week.
Plans are already underway for the 2025 camp season. We will be charting a course to find the UNREACHED wherever the Lord may take us!!!
Faithfully Submitted,
Chris Mills & Josh Looten, Youth Camp Co-Directors
2024 Kids Camp Report
When I reflect on Kids Camp this past Summer, one word comes to mind: amazed. I am amazed to see how God has blessed our kids camp year after year. I am amazed that we were able to have our largest year yet with 59 campers and 16 counselors! I am amazed that we were able to see 6 salvations and other decisions for Christ. It was so evident to see how God was at work through everything that was done during this week. From worship each night, Bible studies, recreation, water wars, counselor hunt, etc. God’s presence was in it all! Thank you to all of the churches who supported us. Whether it was by sending kids, counselors, money, or prayers, we are so thankful for you! We are so blessed to serve as your Kids Camp Directors. We pray that you would consider sending your kids to Camp Schafer this summer!
Austin & Brooklynne Stillwell
ECTC BCM Report
The VISION of BCM is to be a place of refuge and Biblical truth and fellowship for students at ECTC. We desire to be God’s hands and feet on campus and to extend the reach of our churches in the area onto campus and into the lives and homes of the students we encounter. Our MISSION is to enable the next generation of pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and church members to do Kingdom work here on Earth.
Nearly every semester we approach ECTC with the mindset of casting a “wide net” to reach across the numerous demographics represented at ECTC and reach as many students with the Gospel as possible. The “ebb and flow” of the campus changes every semester and early on in this semester and even last I noticed our culture begin to shift. I can confidently say that we are recognized across campus as a refuge for students to come and be heard and “loved on” in a spiritual way. The word “intentionality” immediately comes to mind looking at where we are currently. We have a core group pf students and faculty that we minister and pour into every week and that excites me because I understand that true discipleship doesn’t just happen by coincidence, and we want to be intentional at raising up the next generation of missionaries to the campus of ECTC from within!
LOOKING AT THIS SEMESTER The Fall 2024 sign ups filled up within 10 days of going live. We are SO thankful for the buy in amongst the churches within our association to do Kingdom work on the campus of ECTC. We can truly be the hands and feet of Christ on the campus of ECTC and watch as students lives are changed and they impact our community and beyond!
We are looking to not only get our students connected in churches in our community, but we are also hoping to get them serving within those churches and other para-church organizations. With that I mind if you have a young adult or college age ministry have the person in charge reach out to me so we can share info and I can get them connected!
We are currently looking for outreach opportunities to plug into throughout the semester!
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Tanner Royalty
270-735-7342 Tanner.NHCC@gmail.com
Nominating Team Recommendation, 2024-2025
Audit Team: Nominee (Cindy Gibson, Parkway Baptist)
Nominee (Scott Kisselbaugh, Northside)
Peggy LaRue, The Grove
Blake Williams, Valley Creek Baptist Church
Bible Drill Team: Ramona Jeffries, Gilead Baptist
Campus Ministries: Minister, Tanner Royalty, New Hope Community
Herb Williams, New Hope Community
Josh Looten, Tunnel Hill Baptist
Joe Galloway, Tunnel Hill Baptist
Clerk: Kayla Dailey, Youngers Creek Baptist
*Assistant Clerk: Brooklynne Stillwell, Cecilia Baptist
Recovery Ministry: Silas Session, Sr., The Journey Church
Moderator: Moderator: Faron Knopp, Mill Creek Baptist
(Nominee)Vice-Moderator: Chris Workman, Immanuel Baptist
Missions Development Team: Merrill Kurtz IV, Ovesen Heights
Randy Logsdon, Berean Baptist
(Nominee)Michelle Milford, Parkway Baptist
Nominating Team: (Appointed by the Moderator)
Donna Coffey, Buffalo Baptist
Paul LaRue, The Grove Baptist
Pastoral Ministries Team: Herb Williams, New Hope Community
Glenn Cornett, Blue Ball Baptist
Personnel Team: (Nominee)Kenny Horn, Severns Valley
Henry Ray, FBC Hodgeville
Scott Kerr, Valley Creek Baptist
Merrill Kurtz IV, Ovesen Heights
Cletus Coates, Berea Baptist
Resolution and Public Affairs Team:
(Nominee) Dr. Silas Session, Jr. The Journey
Josh Looten, Tunnel Hill Baptist
State Mission Board Representative:
Stewardship Team: E. G. Thompson, Immanuel Baptist
Anjanette Horn, Severns Valley Baptist
Mike Harris, Crossroads Baptist
(Nominee) Billy Caan, Mt. Zion Baptist
Tommy Turner, Magnolia Baptist
Lora Kurtz, Ovesen Heights Baptist
Tracie Oliver, The Grove
Trustees: Matt Hess, Severns Valley Baptist
Kelly Easton, Valley View Baptist
Elnoah Gragson, Unity Baptist
Camp Schafer: Josh Looten and Chris Mills, Tunnel Hill Baptist
Austin and Brooklynne Stilwell, Cecilia Baptist
Trustee Recommendation:
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees are authorized to hold, purchase, and receive title to real estate and other property by devise, gift, grant, or other conveyance, with power to mortgage and to borrow money, sell or convey the same or any part, parcel, or portion thereof when so directed by the Association, except in an emergency the Stewardship Team shall recommend to the Executive Board that trustees be authorized to borrow money to cover previously approved budget authorization.
“The Trustees have met. After much prayer for over a year, they sense God’s leading to sell the “entire” 9.4 acre LAB property, including the building. The Trustees have desired to be good stewards of God’s property and believe this is His direction. The Trustees will bring a Motion to the LAB September 22 Annual Meeting to authorize the Trustees to offer for sale at a competitive price to be determined by the Trustees and to convey and transfer the LAB property to a buyer at the price determined by the Trustees. The LAB office will relocate to an associational church where both will reach a covenant. The funds from the sale will be invested, and “the interest on the principal” will fund the LAB’s mission and pastoral care ministries.”
1). Should the LAB approve the motion, then the Trustees will be directed and authorized to act on the motion by: determining a competitive price, negotiating that price and conveying the property to a buyer.
2) . The LAB will enter a covenant with 12 Stones Baptist (formerly Elizabethtown Baptist) for facility usage and office space/storage.