The Associational Advisor

   POBA will hold an Evangelism Roundtable on November 2, 2023. The Evangelism Round Table will have two  duplicate  meeting options.  There will be a 10:30 AM session at Deenwood Baptist Church in Waycross and a 6:30 PM session at Sand Hill Baptist Church in Folkston. A meal will be provided at both sessions.  Please call the POBA Office at (912) 285-8161 or register online at: https://bit.ly/POBAevanRT2023

  What a joy for Pleasant Valley Baptist (Waycross, GA) to honor Sam Stack, their Associate Pastor/Minister of Music and Education with a surprise reception on Sunday, July 30, in recognition of his 20 years of service at Pleasant Valley. “Brother” Sam, as he is affectionately called, began his music ministry at the church in July 2003. Along with his ministry at Pleasant Valley, Brother Sam has also served as Associational Music Director of the Piedmont-Okefenokee Association for the past 18 years. In addition, he has been an active member of the Sons of Jubal for the past 16 years. During the reception, members were given an opportunity to express their appreciation to Brother Sam and his wife, Sue, through cards of appreciation along with a time of public expressions of thanks to them for their ministry at the church. Brother Sam and Sue have two children, Steven Stack and Rebecca (Jason) Shieh, along with grandsons Kai and Kenji Shieh and the reception was made even more specia

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. While encouragement, appreciation, and prayer support is appropriate throughout the year, we encourage churches to show appreciation for their pastor this month.  Focus on the Family’s guide to Pastor Appreciation Month is available at:  https://bit.ly/FOTFPastorAppMonth .  As you pray and write notes of encouragement, consider using these scriptures and others: Numbers 6:24-26 1 Chronicles 16:11 Joshua 1:9 John 13:34-35 Galatians 6:9 Isaiah 40:31 Proverbs 3:5-6 Isaiah 52:7 Matthew 6:33 Romans 15:13 James 1:5-6 Ephesians 2:10  

  October 22-29 is the Week of Prayer for Associational Missions. Will you pray for the Associational Leaders and Pastors of the Piedmont Okefenokee Baptist Association? Prayer Guide:  https://bit.ly/2023AMEPrayerGuide

  Calvary Covers It All One of the songs I remember hearing from my youth is the old hymn “Calvary Covers It All.”  Previously it has not been in a Baptist Hymnal.  It has finally made its way into the latest Baptist Hymnal published in 2008.  There is very little published information about this hymn or its author and composer Ethel Taylor. According to the blog – barryshymns.blogspot.com, Ethel Taylor and her husband Walter, ran the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago in the early 1930’s.   The story of the writing of this hymn is found in Al Smith’s Hymn Histories. The song was inspired by the salvation story of a dancer named Walter “Happy Mac” MacDonald.   Happy Mac, while a very talented dancer was an alcoholic.   One night, he stumbled into a meeting at the mission.   When an invitation was given that night, he did not respond.   He did return night after night.   Mission workers got to know him as he continued to attend.   Ethel began to pray for his salvation.   Finally, h