The annual meeting of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches will be hosted by First Baptist Church of West Bend on Sept. 21-22, 2009. First Baptist members have been enjoying a new building during this year, and are looking forward to providing a comfortable place for many to fellowship.

The main speaker for the meeting is Dr. Fred Moritz, Former Executive Director of Baptist World Mission. Dr. Moritz is also a new faculty member at Maranatha Baptist Seminary in Watertown. In addition to the usual business and preaching sessions, WFBC church members who attend the annual meeting may expect to benefit from workshops and fellowship with believers of like faith and practice all over Wisconsin. Details regarding motels, schedule, and registration fees will be sent out in future communications. Pastors and church families alike are encouraged to attend to be blessed and be a blessing!

 Women from all over Wisconsin traveled through excellent weather to Northland Camp and Conference Center for the annual ladies’ retreat. Following the theme, “My Heart in His Hands,” speaker Claudia Barba challenged ladies in their walk of faith. Ten workshops were offered two times each, giving ladies the option of attending four different sessions. WFBC mission pastors’ wives were honored as this year’s project. 

President's Message

As I think of the approaching summer months I want to challenge you to get some rest! The Bible tells us in Psalm 23, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He restoreth my soul.” No matter where we are in life, giving ourselves over to workaholic lifestyles or non-stop activities can be a great temptation. Overwork is celebrated by some and demanded by others, yet God has made a great investment in us.

Today we do not value rest, and not to be busy is considered dishonorable in our culture. For us, busyness is an evidence of competence, a sign of success. Thus, we live in a “tired generation.” While it is not demanded, rest must be a matter of prayerful and humble application. The Lord said in Mark 6:31, “Come ye ourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while, for there were many coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” Someone has once said, “The best insurance against car accidents is a Sunday afternoon nap.” I want to challenge us as pastors and members of WFBC churches to learn to relax and rest, spiritually, mentally and physically throughout the summer months. Burn-out is not a sign of success with God. Some simply need to learn to better maintain their bodies, or perhaps a break from the pressures of the week would come as we set aside some time to sit down, be quiet and reflect on God.

The psalmist said, “O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me, thou knowest my downsittings and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compasseth my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways.” Throughout these summer
months, take time to rest, meditating on your Creator, your Redeemer, your Lord and your Friend. The psalmist prayed, “Let the beauty of the Lord our God to be upon us...the work of our hands, establish thou it.” God wants all of us to have times of rest, refl ection and refreshment. Get away this summer and enjoy time with God.

-Dr. Robert Loggans

WFBC President