Falls Baptist Church of Menomonee Falls is holding its annual missions conference this second week of November. Wayne Van Gelderen is the pastor of this dynamic church ministry which includes a Christian day school and the Baptist College of Ministry.

Though my Sunday schedule was full, I was able to participate in the conference on both Monday and Tuesday evenings. I was able to be a part of the Missionary Christmas dinner as well as presenting our ministry in a pre-service session before Tuesday evening service. In the evening service I shared a brief report of the ongoing ministry of the WFBC.

On Sunday evening November 15th I was at Faith Baptist Church in Oconomowoc. Jim Stevens is the pastor of this local church. As a part of their Missions Emphasis Month I presented our power point presentation and preached for the evening service.

It is a blessing to see the promotion of missionary outreach in the churches of Wisconsin. In keeping with the challenge of Acts 1:8, God has given us the commission of preaching the gospel to the whole world. Even the smallest church can have some aspect of missionary efforts both here and abroad.

Sunday November 15th I was at Tomah Baptist Church for their morning service. Ron Tobin is the pastor of Tomah Baptist. The Lord had kept my morning schedule open so that I could preach for the morning service

On the preceding Thursday the Tobin's son, Jaeson had been killed in a car crash in the city of Tomah. Jaeson had just this fall been taken on fulltime as youth pastor and school principal of Tomah Baptist Academy.

A memorial service will be held for Pastor Jaeson Tobin on Wednesday November 18th at the church at 10:30 AM. Visitation will be Tuesday 4-8 PM and preceding the service on Wednesday. Jaeson leaves behind a wife, Juli and three children.

Be in prayer for the memorial service and for Juli and their children as they adjust to life without their father and husband. We encourage our churches to take an opportunity to minister to this family as they deal with this tragic loss.

Sunday afternoon November 8th Victory Baptist Church installed their new pastor, Brett Shafer. Brett and Katie have served in an assistant position in a number of WFBC churches including Faith Baptist Church in Oconomowoc and Calvary Baptist Church in Kaukauna.

The installation service began at 3:00 PM and included several hymns, scripture reading and concluded with an installation charge to the new pastor. During the service former pastor Paul Stephens provided a message as charge to the church and Pastor Jim Stevens from Faith Baptist in Oconomowoc gave a charge to the new pastor. The service was followed by a dessert fellowship in the fellowship hall.

Pastor Paul Stephens has faithfully served the church as pastor until health issues caused his early retirement this year. He has suffered an extended period of health challenges over the past 2-3 years. At this time Paul and Ruth will be staying at Victory to continue to assist in the ministry there.

On Sunday November 8th we were able to minister at Faith Baptist Church in Beloit. Faith Baptist is led by Pastor Dan Stertz, and the Stertz's were visiting family out east. Carole played the piano and provided special music for the service. I presented our ministry in Sunday as well as teaching a Bible lesson. Also I preached for the Morning Service.

We thank the Lord for our faithful pastors who carry on the ministry in their churches. However it is also important that a pastor can get away from the work to a time of rest and relaxation.

On Sunday November 1st we were ministering at Lone Rock Baptist Church. Ray Anderson is the pastor of this local church and he and Mary were vacationing out east. Carole ministered on the keyboard and we also provided special music. I presented our ministry via power point in Sunday School and taught a Bible lesson. Also I preaching for the morning service. Following that we had a delicious carry-in dinner at the church with an afternoon service at 1 pm.

Lone Rock Baptist Church though addressed in New Lisbon is a rural ministry several miles out of New Lisbon. We thank God for faithful pastors who serve in largely rural ministries across our state.