National Laymen News Vol. 12 Issue 8

February 7, 2013  Vol. 12 Issue 8     In This Issue Kansas Takes 1st Place in Special Projects Effort Grant Lewis Added to National Team Ken Harris Leads Men's Conference National Video Library Missouri State Junior Laymen Department Men of Salem of Omaha to Lead 40 Days of Prayer President Simmons Announces Recommendations February Calendar of Events Laymen Going Cruising...7th Annual Fellowship Cruise   Website Information www.nationalbaptist.com   www.nationalbaptistlaymen.com         Emails   Harold Simmons hsimmons@nationalbaptist.com hsimmons@swbell.net   Thad Jones tjones@nationalbaptist.com tskm@swbell.net   OFFICERS   Senior Laymen Officers   Harold Simmons President   Willie Burke V.P.-at-Large   Richard Showers, Sr. Vice President Southwest Region   Antonio Christian Vice President Far West Region   Eddie Taylor, Sr. Vice President West Region   James Deen Vice President Southeast Region   Michael Washington Vice President Midwest Region   Jerry Williams Treasurer   Thad Jones General Secretary   Willie Luvert Recording Secretary   Junior Laymen Officers   Julius Cherry President   D'Andre Richardson V.P.-at-Large   Markus Snead 1st Vice President   Bryson E. Collier 2nd Vice President           Calendar of Events   April  19 - 21, 2013 Walter Cade, Jr. Farwest Workshop Oakland, CA April 26 - 28, 2013 Walter Cade, Jr. Western-Midwest Workshop Albuquerque, NM June 17 - 21, 2013 National Congress of Christian Education St. Louis, MO     Tommy Taylor, Georgia 2012 - 2013 National King   Bennie Surratt, Oklahoma 2012 Layman of the Year     Markus Snead, Missouri 2012 National Bible Bowl Champion                  Clifford Jones              Kansas                Winner      2013 Special Projects Kansas Takes 1st Place in Special Projects Effort for Laymen Ministries       Nashville, TN-- The laymen wrapped up the 2013 Mid-Winter Board meeting on a high note with the Thursday morning service featuring the Special Projects fundraising effort where state laymen conventions seek to see who can donate the most for National Laymen ministries.   This year the top three finishers were: 1st - Kansas 2nd - Alabama 3rd - Mississippi General   Clifford Jones (r) is the Kansas State laymen president receiving the first place plaque from president Harold Simmons.   Jones is in his second year of serving as state laymen president. Harold Simmons is a former Kansas State laymen president.   Also there were many highlights for the week of January 21 - 24th at the Millennium Maxwell Hotel where the laymen sessions were being held.   For a summary and the report to the parent-body, click on the link below. Laymen Mid-Winter Board Report       Grant Lewis Added to National Team for His Work With Progressive Junior Laymen    Kansas City, MO -- During the Mid-Winter Board meeting held this past January in Nashville, TN, President Harold Simmons appointed Minister Grant Lewis to the National Junior Counselor's team. Lewis (center at the end of the table) has done a great job as serving as the junior laymen counselor at his home church Progressive Baptist where the Rev. William Snorgrass is the pastor. Lewis is also the New Era District Senior Laymen's junior laymen director and serves in the district's Parent-Body youth program. The Laymen News has featured Lewis and the work he has done with the district junior laymen under the banner of Transformers. At Progressive, Lewis has the boys serving during the worship service each fourth Sunday. They usher, give five minute talks, assist in the devotion and serve where needed. The Progressive junior laymen are involved and participates on all levels of the work, district, state, regional and nationally.      Ken Harris Leads Men's Conference Arkadelphia, Arkansas Arkadelphia, AR -- National Laymen musician Dr. Ken Harris served as General Chairman for a recently held men's conference at his home church Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, AR.     The conference was held on Saturday, January 26, 2013. The theme for the conference was, "The Black Family in Crisis Not a Soap Opera: Real Men Needed."   The laymen president at Greater Pleasant Hill is Herman Thomas who serves as the Walter Cade, Jr. Southwest Workshop male chorus director.   There were more than one laymen and junior laymen in attendance. In the top photo, Herman Thomas (standing) and Ken Harris are working on the plans and details of the conference.       National Video Library   Annual Session - Atlanta, Georgia Mid-Winter Board Sessions - Nashville, TN Video Library     Missouri State Junior Laymen Department to Sponsor Black History Program Columbia, MO -- This coming Saturday, February 9, 2013 the Missouri State Laymen Junior Laymen Department will sponsor their second annual Black History program. Minister Anthony Woods serves as the state junior laymen director. The program will be held in Columbia, MO at the Friendship Baptist Church. Long time financial secretary for the state laymen Dan Griffin will serve as the presenter and state convention Executive Secretary Dr. Linden Bowie will be the guest preacher. The theme for the program is, "A Historical Now". At the program, one of the features is an essay contest. The topic that the junior laymen must write on is "The Impact of My President (Barack Obama) Being a Black Man". There will be rewards for the top three of the contest. 1st - $100.00 2nd - $ 60.00 3rd - $ 40.00       Rodney Nichols and the Men of Salem of Omaha to Lead 40 Days of Prayer for the Second Year Rodney Nichols Omaha, NE -- The men of Salem Baptist Church of Omaha, Nebraska is sponsoring 40 Days of Prayer and Bible Study for the second consecutive year.   The praying of men for 40 days will begin on February 20, 2013 and end on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. Prayer will start at 5:00 a.m. cst.   At this time, all 40 days have not been committed.   Rodney Nichols who is coordinating the effort is asking laymen from across the country to call him and sign up to participate in this effort. He can be reached at 402-214-8814 or 402-453-4602 or see the link below.   Nichols and the Salem men are asking for men to come together in a conference call setting and praying for:   1. Spiritual revival in our communities and country. 2. The addition of souls to the Kingdom of God. 3. Our pastors and church families. 4. A Year of Expectations   To sign up and choose the date and get more details, please click on the link below to the Salem 40 Days of Prayer letter. 40 Days of Prayer Letter      President Simmons' 2013 Recommendations   Atlanta, GA - During the President's Hour prior the President Harold Simmons' annual address, General Secretary Thad Jones read the president's recommendations for the upcoming 2012 - 2013 year. The recommendations are: Ministries 1. Congress Class Instructor's syllabus in one booklet 2. Increase Red Cross Certifications by Laymen 3. Increase Discipleships (Reclaim Non-renewals)  4. National Laymen Personal Profile Sheet of Members 5. Theme Development Ministry for Laymen/Mens Days 6. Develop Young Adult Ministry - 18 - 35 Age Group 7. Care & Communication Ministry (Senior Aged Men) 8. Evangelism Ministry Class in the Community 9. Fellowship Cruise Reporters (A.J. Byrd and Katie Patterson) 10. Appoint a Foreign Mission Chairman 11. Working Manual Update 12. Develop and Create Laymen At-A-Glance (Laymen Programs) 13. Laymen Wives & Women Supporters Ministry Involved in all      laymen ministries. 14. Recruit laymen to volunteer to usher during laymen sessions.     February Calendar of Events          February 9 - Cleveland Avenue Baptist Church, KCMO, Black                   History Program - Thad Jones, Keynote                     Missouri State Junior Laymen Black History                   Program - Columbia, MO                     Chatham County (GA) Laymen Breakfast Meeting                   Savannah, GA                     Northeast Mississippi State Laymen Quarterly                   Meeting - James Girley, President   February 10 - Second Baptist Church, Winfield, KS                       Men's Day - Harold Simmons, Keynote Speaker     February 13 - 15 - National Congress Marriage Ministry Conference                            Memphis, TN - Harold & Doris Simmons, Presenters   February 17 - Griggs Chapel Baptist Church, Dallas, TX                     Men's Day - Harold Simmons, Keynote   February 16 - Texas Educational State Convention Workshop and                     Breakfast - Bill Campbell, Presenter   February 20 - Salem Baptist Church Men's Ministry, Omaha, NE                           National 40 Days of Prayer & Bible Study Call Ministry                     Rodney Nichols, Director  February 22 - New Hope Baptist Church, Memphis, TN - Men's Day                         Weekend - Harold Simmons, Presenter & Keynote   February 23 - Zion Hill Baptist Church, Chicago, IL - Dr. George                     Waddles, Pastor - Men's Day Weekend                     Thad Jones, Presenter   February 24 - Greater Solid Rock Baptist Church, KCMO - Black                     History Program, Thad Jones, Keynote                      Northeast Mississippi Laymen Annual Program                      James Girley, President   February 25 - Michael Washington, Vice President - Birthday       - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -        New Junior Laymen Officers   The Junior Laymen Department has named new Junior Laymen Officers for the 2012 - 2013 year. They are: President -                      Julius Cherry, GA Vice President At-Large - D'Andre Richardson, KS 1st VicePresident -          Markus Snead, MO 2nd Vice President -        Bryson E Collier, IL   Laymen Going Cruising 7th Annual Fellowship Cruise August 2013   Caribbean Cruise   August 10 - 17, 2013        Goals & Mission                      To enlist and coordinate the man power of the local congregation for an effective performance of essential Christian activities. To cultivate the Christian life of laymen through study, worship, fellowship and service. To enlist unchurched men for fellowship in and service through the church and to bring unsaved men into vital relations with God in Christ through personal commitment to Him. To inspire men to support the total program of the Church in the local congregation, the community, the denomination and the world. To Cooperate with the pastor, officers, and other organizations in developing and stimulating the work of the Church in the local congregation. To Promote boys' work in the local congregation.       The National Baptist Laymen News is published by Thad Jones. It is designed to provide the members, friends and supporters of the National Baptist Laymen with news breaking information, current developments, initiatives and feature stories.