Marshall Speaks at 2010 MLK Observance
		Dr. Molly Marshall, president, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, was keynote speaker at the annual community luncheon celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Jan. 12 in Kansas City, Mo. The theme of the celebration was Write the Vision, Make It Plain, Run With It. Drawn from the prophetic book of Habakkuk, the theme stressed the importance of capturing the lessons of the civil rights struggle and writing them down for the future.

Robert Cornuke, biblical investigator, international explorer and author www.baseinstitute.org, is coming to McPherson, Kan., on Feb. 13 to speak at Central Christian College's Greer Auditorium in the Westley Black Fine Arts Center. Sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and a Question & Answer period will follow at 6 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 14, First Baptist Church, McPherson, will hold a combined service at 11:00 a.m. with Cornuke as guest speaker. For more information, contact the church at 620/241-6400 or visit www.fbcmcpherson.com.
CENTRAL REGION LIFE:105 Years of Continuous Publication

Focus on Prayer
The Region’s Board of Directors highlights a prayer focus each month. During February, please pray for America For Christ. As our churches collect the annual AFC offering, pray that we all may have open hearts and minds, listening for God's "still small voice" to direct our lives and our giving. Matthew 28:16-20 — Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)

Bacone College Offers Scholarship Opportunity
Bacone College is offering a scholarship of up to 100% tuition to all ABC students in the Central Region who join one of the college's Christian Clubs (Praise Team, Gospel Choir, Worship Arts, Praise Band) or study in the Christian Ministry degree program. Details

Going Green Seminar
Young Adult American Baptist Women's Ministries is sponsoring a "Going Green" seminar, April 23-24, 2010, at First Baptist Church, Greensburg. The sessions will begin Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. and end Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Overnight accommodations will be reserved 30 minutes away in Pratt, and some church members are opening their homes to participants. The program and details are still being confirmed; however, it will be a program packed with information for both personal and congregational use. Watch for more information or visit with your local ABWM leader.

Health Care Reform
A statement titled, "American Baptists For Health Care Reform," was presented to and affirmed by the ABCUSA General Board at the Biennial in June, 2009. (www.nationalministries.org/justice_ministries/ogr/current-issues.cfm)
It urges action by organizations, churches and individuals noting that the current major commitment to health care reform expressed by both major political parties "...presents American Baptists an unprecedented - and probably one-time - opportunity to work effectively for the enactment of a public policy consistent with our longstanding biblical, theological, and ministerial mission and principles."

Board Minutes Posted on Region Website
At its May meeting, the Central Region Board of Directors voted to begin posting minutes of each board meeting on this website. Those minutes are attached.
Minutes — May, 2009
Minutes — September, 2009

Mystery Photo	ABC/CR — 150 Years
	Can you identify the people or the event shown in this photo? This is the fourth in a series of mystery photos which appeared in Central Region Life. To share information about the photo, contact the Region office at 5833 S.W. 29th St., Topeka, KS 66614. All photos will be displayed with captions at the 2010 Annual Gathering, Oct. 8-9, when we will celebrate our Region's 150th anniversary.

150 Years of Region History
As part of our Region's 150 year history celebration, we are looking for memorabilia to display at the 2010 Annual Gathering. If you have photos, stories or other souvenirs depicting a part of our Region's heritage, please send copies to The Editor, American Baptist Churches/Central Region, 5833 S.W. 29th St., Ste. A, Topeka, KS 66614-5505. Also, please help us identify the person in our Region who has been an American Baptist the longest so we can honor him or her during the celebration. Please send us names of those who might be that very special person.

Region Trivia:
April, 1894 — Congregants filled the hall at First Baptist Church, Pittsburg, and sat in almost breathless stillness as Edith Hill spoke of her call to ministry. The group then unanimously agreed to proceed with her ordination. "Hundreds of friends crowded around, happy in the consciousness of being in the order of the Lord." Twelve years earlier, Edith Hill had been baptized in which of the Central Region churches?

Central Region is sponsoring a trivia contest featuring our 150 year history. Send your Region Trivia responses to The Editor, 5833 S.W. 29th St., Ste. A, Topeka, KS 66614. Answer the most questions correctly and receive a prize at the 2010 Annual Gathering.

BRIGHT IDEAS — 2008-2009

These stories and many more are included in the recent issue of Central Region Life. Subscription rates for 12 issues are $9.99 per year for individuals and $4.99 per year for 100% churches. For more information or to subscribe, contact: , Central Region Life, 5833 S.W. 29th St., Ste. A., Topeka, KS 66614-5505, 785-272-7622.




Page last updated on 01/27/10