The Kentucky Baptist Convention is taking the lead in addressing the issue of church sexual abuse. The KBC has partnered with an organization called MinistrySafe to provide training sessions we are calling “Church Prepared: Sexual Abuse Prevention, Response, and Care.” This an important service that we are offering to Kentucky Baptists, but we need your help to get the word out!

The KBC will hold a series of training sessions for churches and church leaders at four locations across the state beginning October 3. The schedule is as follows:

October 3 – Lone Oak Baptist Church, Paducah

October 4 – Living Hope BC, Bowling Green

October 5 – Buck Run BC, Frankfort

October 6 – Fairview BC, Ashland

Registration Links
Here is the link to the registration page: https://www.kybaptist.org/churchprepared/. Please share the link widely with those in your network and encourage them to register and share with others.

Social Media/Text Resources
Also, on SEPTEMBER 18 we want to do a social media blitz. You can help by:

Changing your social media profile picture for 24 hours to the PROFILE image below
Making a post with one of the other attached graphics below

Additionally, you can re-share or re-tweet Church Prepared promotional posts on the KBC Facebook and Twitter accounts when they go live on the following dates: 9/15, 9/17, 9/20, 9/23, 9/26, 9/30, 10/2 and 10/4.

If you also want to create your own social media posts, texts, or emails, here is some suggested wording (please use the hashtag #churchprepared on social media so we can track and contribute to trending posts):

Is your church prepared to handle accusations of sexual abuse? The Kentucky Baptist Convention is holding training events across the state in October to help you make sure. Register today at kybaptist.org/churchprepared. #churchprepared

We must act to protect our children from the devastating consequences of sexual abuse. The Kentucky Baptist Convention is holding this important training event in four locations across the state in October. Learn more at kybaptist.org/churchprepared. #churchprepared

Churches across Kentucky need to know how to address accusations of sexual abuse. Are you prepared to respond? Receive crucial training for you and your team at Church Prepared. Register today at kybaptist.org/churchprepared. #churchprepared

Did you know that a criminal background check alone is NOT an effective safety system? Learn how your church can protect itself against sexual abusers by attending one of the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s training sessions in October. Visit kybaptist.org/churchprepared. #churchprepared

Sexual abusers will seek access to children where protective barriers are low – and often that is in our churches. Learn how to raise the barriers in your church by attending one of the Kentucky Baptist Convention training sessions in October. Register at kybaptist.org/churchprepared. #churchprepared

This training will be a model for the rest of the SBC and with your help, it can be a tremendous service to Kentucky Baptists. Thanks for your assistance in getting the word out and don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions!

There will be several things that need to be voted upon at this year’s Annual Meeting (2023 budget, recommendations to fill positions on the Administrative Team, proposed changes to the NBA Constitution, etc.).  Please note that only messengers from the churches will be allowed to vote.  While we encourage everyone to attend, only those elected by their church to represent them as messengers will have their votes counted.  All other votes will be dismissed.  The voting will take place during the 6:30 p.m. Worship/Business Session.  We encourage our churches to let us know how many messengers their church will be sending by filling out this form.

Messengers are also allowed to make motions, nominations, and amendments from the floor. Voting will take place by raised ballot (Green ballots). If a two-thirds majority is unable to be discerned from the platform then a ballot will be taken up and counted (White ballots).

We have a breakout session specifically designed for the youth of your church.  Holding the Line lead by Blake Herron, Youth and Worship minister at FBC Shepherdsville – When we live our faith, we enter daily into hostile territory. There are some steps we can take to be prepared when attacks arise. Come prepared with the tough questions you’ve had used against your faith, and we can look at how to be prepared when the insults come.

We encourage you to invite the youth of your church to attend this breakout which was prepared to help them live out their faith.  This breakout session will be hosted at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 11th with all the other breakout sessions.  Sign your youth up at this link.

The Annual Meeting of the Nelson Baptist Association is less than two weeks away.  We will begin with breakout sessions at 3:30 p.m. but during the 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. dinner session we have a few options for you to partake in.  First of all, dinner will be provided in the means of a box lunch from Penn Station.  It is vital that you tell us how many people will be attending this session so we can make sure that we provide enough box lunches.  Tell us how many from your church will be attending at this link.

We will also have ministry exhibits set up for you to explore.  We would encourage everyone to engage with these exhibitors and discover what the Lord is doing through their ministry.  Then at 6:00 p.m. we will have a panel discussion in the sanctuary:

Equipping the Church to Defend the Faith – The topics in the area of Apologetics can greatly vary.  It covers areas such as responding to people of different religions, answering questions regarding the existence of God and the reliability of the Scriptures, and engaging philosophical and cultural issues of the day.  These areas cannot go unanswered by the church, therefore, during this panel discussion, we will sit down with several of our association pastors to see how they are practically equipping their churches to engage in these areas and defend the faith.

From food to fellowship, ministry booths to a discussion on apologetics, not to mention free goodies, you’re not going to want to miss of 5:00 p.m. dinner session!

We are pleased to be able to offer numerous free books to those in attendance at this year’s Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 11th!  Just to name a few:

1) Pastoral Friendship: The Forgotten Piece in a Persevering Ministry – Co-authored by one of our association pastors James B. Carroll (Parkway Baptist), Michael A. G. Haykin, and Brian Croft

2) Seven Thoughts Every Christian Ought to Think Every Day: Laying a Foundation for a Life of Prayer – Authored by an association pastor Jim Orrick (Bullitt Lick)

3) Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers – Written by Dane Ortlund

4) Praying the Bible – Written by Donald S. Whitney (SBTS professor)

5) Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God’s People – Written by Matt Merker

6) Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential – Written by Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman

7) The Saints of Zion: An Introduction to Mormon Theology – Written by our main speaker at this year’s Annual Meeting, Travis Kerns

Along with these we have several other free books that we will be handing out.  We have limited quantities of each so it will be first come, first served.  They will be made available during the Dinner/Ministry Exhibit Session from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.  We are also catering boxed lunches from Penn Station, so it’s extremely important to let us know how many people from your church will be attending.  You can let us know by filling out this form: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScb-xzdp-bJUvNgg09QntlnWdxhGk7JgXS7tTJIgwECVs8pRw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Free books, free food, fellowship, worship, training sessions, ministry exhibits, and more! Why wouldn’t you want to attend this year’s Annual Meeting of the Nelson Baptist Association? 

Theme: Prepared to Defend the Faith (1 Peter 3:15)

Main Speaker: Dr. Travis Kerns, Associational Mission Strategist at Three Rivers Baptist Association and Former Salt Lake Send City Missionary for the North American Mission Board

Location: First Baptist Church Mt. Washington (320 N Bardstown Rd, Mt Washington, KY 40047)

Schedule:

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Childcare Will Be Available During This Time – Please Preregister Below)

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Dinner/Ministry Booths (There Will Be A Panel Discussion In The Sanctuary at 6:00 p.m. – Childcare Not Available During This Time – Please Pick Up Your Children)

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Worship/Business (Childcare Will Be Available During This Time – Please Preregister Below)