Meeting Highlights ...

• Devotional from Pastor Jason Meyer
• Membership Report
• Vote to Call Pastor for Care & Counseling, North, and Deacon, North
• Treasurer’s Report
• “Fill These Cities: 25 x ’25” Updates
• Presentation of Constitutional Amendment to Correct Bethlehem’s Legal Name

Devotional

Pastor Jason Meyer gave a devotional dedicated to reminding the members of why we are here.

1. We are here for Jesus. We want his will to be done. See Colossians 1:15–16.
2. When two or three are gathered, the Holy Spirit is here because Jesus is here. When we gather in his name for his glory, he promises to lead us. See Matthew 18:15–20.

Membership Report

At the end of the meeting, Bethlehem membership stood at 2,688.

Vote to Call Leaders

• The members called Brian Liechty as Pastor for Care & Counseling, North Campus
• The members called Lisa Paschen as a Deacon, North Campus

Treasurer’s Report

Adam Sexton delivered the Treasurer’s Report to the assembly.

One Fund giving was $2.20M

• Down $0.35M when compared to Q1 2017 giving
• $0.2M below Q1 2018 budgeted giving

Designated South Campus gifts were an additional $0.90M

• Gifts were in response to Pastor Chuck's January QSM update which will allow us to complete the gym and kitchen as part of phase 1 building construction.

Spending was $2.24M

• Up $0.04M when compared to Q1 2017 spending
• $0.31M below Q1 2018 budgeted expenses

Spending exceeded One Fund giving by $0.04M

Prayers

• Thankfulness for the generosity we have seen in giving over the past 16 months of “Fill These Cities: 25 x ’25”
• Pray that we would be a congregation of cheerful givers and that God would use our gifts to accomplish his purposes.

‘Fill These Cities: 25 x ’25’ Update 

Strengthening the Core 

• Pastor Jason Meyer updated the church on Strengthening the Core. In light of the various developments in the church (ethnic harmony, spiritual gifts, etc.), he encouraged the members to remember to enjoy the presence of God in the process of his working in us and to trust him and his timing in these areas of growth.

South Campus Building

• Elder Jon Hendricks gave an update (with photos) on the developments of the South Campus building construction. 

Church Planting 

• April 3–4: MKL50, Memphis, Tennessee—Several of our Bethlehem church planters and members of the TCTNetwork participated. One result was a revived sense of urgency to seek authentic ethnic harmony in all our churches and in our TCTNetwork.
• April 5–6: TCTNetwork Church Planter Assessment, Memphis—The TCTNetwork assessment team (including Kathy Stokes) gathered to assess three churches seeking TCTNetwork membership; among those were 2015 Bethlehem Seminary graduate Joel Aubrey and his wife, Holly.
• April 8, 2018: Northfield Community Church, Northfield, Minnesota (with Pastor Jonathon Woodyard), 1st Anniversary—Pastor Jason Meyer preached at the one-year anniversary of Northfield’s public launch.
• April 12–13: North American Mission Board Assessment Retreat, Miami—Michel Galeano and his wife, Gaby, were assessed for their fitness for church planting and were highly endorsed. Kenny Stokes participated as a representative of Bethlehem.  
• April 21–22: Table Rock, Boise: Soft Launch—Pastor Kenny & Kathy Stokes were present among 140 others for a covenant affirmation of 26 founding members. Ryan Eagy and Luke Miller were affirmed as founding elders.​
• April 28–29: Grace Upon Grace Core Group, Weston, FL—Cleon Engel, Coordinator for Church Planting, spent the weekend with Michel Galeano and his wife, Gaby. Cleon will be advising Michel and meeting with his core group for encouragement.
• Pray for Tyler Mykkanen, slated to begin the church planting residency on the South Campus on June 1, after graduating from Bethlehem Seminary.

Unreached & Unengaged People Groups

• Pastor David Livingston presented the names of four unengaged people groups that are located near potential locations of two global partner units. He invited our prayers for these teams and the people groups in need of a gospel witness.

Presentation of Constitutional Amendment to Correct Bethlehem’s Legal Name

Jon Grano presented the motion to correct Bethlehem’s legal name as it is listed in the constitution. The vote on this amendment will take place at the Annual Meeting.

Motion: To recommend to the congregation that Bethlehem Baptist Church corrects its legal name as listed in its constitution from “Bethlehem Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Inc” to “Bethlehem Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota.”

 

Thanks to Church Clerks Jacob Smith and Ben Holvey for their assistance in preparing this update.