You can also download a PDF of The Baptist Testimony – Volume 59 Number 3 Third Quarter 2013 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 59 Number 3 Third Quarter 2013 — Also see: The Word Has It and Ken’s Road Report 

News & Notes

MARBC 7th ANNUAL DAY OF “ONE ACCORD” PRAYER
September 29, 2013

“They raised their voice to God in one accord” Acts 4:24

A day for MARBC churches to devote their attention to prayer for our churches, pastors, state fellowship, camps, ministries, missionaries, and special needs.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 59 Number 2 Second Quarter 2013 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 59 Number 2 Second Quarter 2013

WITH THE LORD

Meryl Welch.  Mrs. Meryl E. Welch, age 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. As a young teenage musician, Meryl served her Lord in playing for many youth rallies. She was a marimba musician and was invited to serve in many weekly revival meetings in cities and churches of West Michigan. In 1942 she married Wilbert Welch, pastor of the North Casnovia Baptist Church, Bailey, MI. Both sensed the need for additional education, enrolling at Bob Jones University in 1943. While attending the university, they were called to serve at Calvary Baptist Church of Rome, GA where not only her husband served as the pastor, but Meryl became very involved in daily radio music broadcast ministry for seven days a week. During these years, five children were added to the Welch family. Following a five-year ministry in Rome, GA, there were ten fruitful years at Calvary Baptist of Muskegon. In 1959 Wilbert accepted a call to be president of the Grand Rapids Bible Institute. Meryl became deeply involved in the growth of the Institute to the current Cornerstone University. In reviewing these years of ministry with her husband, Meryl often stated that they both praise the Lord for the fruitful years He so graciously granted them. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Dr. W. Wilbert Welch, Ph.D.; children, Robert A. and Nancy Kay Welch, W. Curtis and Sandra Welch, and Dale T. and Marcia Welch, and Arlene and Joel Betts; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Music Department at Cornerstone University, 1001 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 59 Number 1 January/February 2013 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 59 Number 1 First Quarter 2013

BATTLE CREEK, Calvary Baptist Church (Tom Townsend, Pastor) – Calvary Baptist Church welcomed John and Eunice Lippard to the church family in December as John assumed the role of Pastor of Family Ministries. John and Eunice have been married for seven years and have three daughters, Nora (5), and twins Natalie and Elise (3).

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 58 Number 6 November/December 2012 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 58 Number 6 November/December 2012

COMSTOCK PARK, Alpine Baptist Church (Doug Compton, Pastor) – On Sunday, October 21, 2012, Alpine Baptist Church in Comstock Park, Michigan, celebrated both Pastors’ Appreciation Day and the 20th Anniversary of Pastor Doug Compton’s ministry at Alpine. During the Morning Worship Service, various members of the congregation shared how important the ministry of Pastor and Sue was to their family in their special time of need. All of those present were blessed and challenged by each family as they recalled the impact of Pastor and Sue’s concern and ministry to their family. Pastor and Sue Compton received a gift from the congregation presented by Church Board Chairman, Glen Siegel. The service was followed by a time of fellowship for everyone in attendance.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 58 Number 5 September/October 2012 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 58 Number 5 September/October 2012

WITH THE LORD — Joyce Rohrer. Joyce (71), godly servant and faithful wife of long time MARBC Pastor Tom Rohrer, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday morning, August 23. A Service of Praise and Thanksgiving was held on August 28 at Northland Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, with Rev. Chris Weeks, Rev. Ken Floyd, and Rev. John Nixon officiating. Joyce faithfully served her Lord alongside her husband in ministry, for over twenty years at Northland Baptist Church in Grand Rapids and most recently for seventeen years at North Park Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. Her late father, Roy Botruff, served as an MARBC pastor and was influential in the development of Lincoln Lake Baptist Youth Camp. Joyce also worked as a L.P.N. in hospitals, physician’s offices, and a retirement home until Parkinson’s disease caused her to retire. Joyce is survived by her husband, Pastor Thomas Rohrer; children, Michelle and Chris Weeks of Kent City, and Sherilyn and Joel Shaffer of Grand Rapids; eight grandchildren; siblings, Mrs. Mary Lou Eldredge, Larry Botruff, and Dan and Lexi Botruff; and nieces and nephews. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider an inner city ministry led by her son-in-law and daughter: Urban Transformation Ministry, PO Box 2692, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 58 Number 4 July/August 2012 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 58 Number 4 July/August 2012

WITH THE LORD

DR. PAUL BEALS, age 88, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. A service of praise and thanksgiving was held on June 1 at Northland Baptist Church in Grand Rapids and was led by Rev. Maynard Belt. Dr. Beals and his wife Vivian met at Wheaton College where he graduated in 1945. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1948 and Dallas Theological Seminary with a ThM in 1952 and a ThD in 1964. Together they served as missionaries in Central African Republic with Baptist Mid-Missions (1952-1964). From 1964 to his retirement in 1997, Dr. Beals was Professor of Missiology and Intercultural Studies at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary of Cornerstone University. Meanwhile he served as Consultant with Baptist Mid-Missions. In addition to ministry in North America, he served in several other countries, including Australia, England, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Papau New Guinea, Philippines, Romania, and Thailand. Dr. Beals initiated the Continuing Education Program for missionaries at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. The Seminary’s Southeast Asia Extension Program grew out of this program. After his retirement, he became Professor Emeritus at the Seminary and Missionary Emeritus with Baptist Mid-Missions. He served as president of Evangelical Missiological Society and was the author of A People For His Name: A Church-Based Missions Strategy. He felt that his greatest achievement was multiplying his ministry by teaching African pastors and North American missionaries and pastors in training. He was gratified that some “receiving” countries in the beginning are now “sending” countries. He had chosen for his life verse, Proverbs 3:5-6.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 58 Number 3 May/June 2012 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 58 Number 3 May/June 2012

WITH THE LORD

PHYLLIS GOAD. Former MARBC pastor’s wife, Phyllis Goad (79), went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, April 19. Phyllis attended Moody Bible Institute where her husband, Pastor Ollie Goad graduated. Her spiritual gifts were music and working one on one with the teaching ministry. Phyllis was a humble and gracious lady who was a faithful wife and mother, and faithful to her God. Her ministry in the MARBC included serving alongside of Ollie as he served as the pastor of Wealthy Street Baptist Church for several years. Please be in prayer for Ollie, their four children, 8 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. A Service of Praise and Thanksgiving was held on Thursday, April 26, at West Cannon Baptist Church, with Pastor Mark Cizauskas and Pastor Maynard Belt officiating. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Moody Bible Institute, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 58 Number 2 March/April 2012 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 58 Number 2 March/April 2012

WITH THE LORD

Charles B. Hart.  Dr. Charles B. Hart, 96, was ushered into the presence of His Lord on Sunday morning January 15.  A memorial service was held at the First Baptist Church of Calumet with Doctor Les Ollila and Rev. Bruce Nolen officiating.  A graduate of Stanton High School, Charles moved to the Upper Peninsula’s Copper Country in 1937 to serve as a song leader at the GitcheGumee Bible Camp in Eagle River, MI. It was at this camp that he met his future wife, Joyce Rader, the daughter of the camp’s founder and director, Paul Rader. They were married on June 22, 1940 in Silvis, Illinois.  After pastoring downstate in the Stanton area, Charles accepted a call in 1949 to become the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Calumet, MI where he served as pastor until 1974. In addition to being pastor of First Baptist Church, Charles also served as the Director of GitcheGumee Bible Camp in 1957, succeeding his father-in-law, Rev. John Rader, who passed away that year. He served as president of that camp until 1981.  In 1999, Charles Hart’s extraordinary life was publicly recognized by his being given an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Northland Baptist College of Dunbar Wisconsin.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 58 Number 1 January/February 2012 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 58 Number 1 January/February 2012

2012 TALENTS FOR CHRIST: The 2012 MARBC Talents for Christ competition will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at South Baptist Church in Flint. Students may participate in either the Scholarship or Open Categories. Registration cost is $25 per individual category and $35 in the Open Categories.

You can also download a PDF of the Volume 57 Number 6 November/December 2011 (PC: Right click / MAC: Control click on the link and choose “Save As”)

​From The Baptist Testimony – Volume 57 Number 6 November/December 2011

69th MARBC ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The word “amazing” also appropriately expresses the response of those who recently attended the 69th Annual Conference of the MARBC held at Northeastern Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan on October 24-25. The theme of the conference was “Reflecting God’s Grace,” and the speakers who shared at the conference reminded those in attendance of the amazing nature of the grace of God. This grace enables the redeemed in Christ to overcome human barriers and prejudices and graciously extend themselves to every person regardless of background or ethnicity.