Happenings

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Mt 5:16
Shining the light of the gospel into Southeastern Wisconsin, Northeastern Illinois, and around the world.

This page was updated on 07/25/2010 04:15:14 PM
Happenings
This page is designed to keep both members and visitors, whether regular or brand new, aware of the
goings-on at Southport Baptist Church. Whenever possible, we will have photos.

Sunday, July 25 - The Calland Family, missionaries to the Uzbeks of Ukraine
were with us in the morning. Tony, who speaks very little English, preached in the morning worship service
and presented their work to the entire Sunday School through an interpreter, his son, Daniel. The Calland
daughters, Hannah and Katherine, sang a duet before the morning message. Joseph is seen below showing
some of the items on their display to the pastor's youngest son, Aaron.

The LORD was good to us, providing almost perfect weather for our picnic. After Sunday School,
we had our usual supply of great food. Meat was provided and our ladies brought salads and deserts.
After dinner, favorite yard games were played. Volleyball was the main attraction, but there was something
going on for all ages.

Thursday, July 15 - Moving-in day for the Jones family!
Several people from the church arrived this evening to help unload furniture, appliances, a piano, and
other miscellaneous stuff at 10600 61st. Street. As at most Baptist gatherings, there was plenty of food.
This included pizza, brownies, watermelon, sodas, and ice cream. Here are some photos of some of the action:

Sunday, June 27 - 10th Anniversary Celebration!

We enjoyed the company of many; family, friends, and folk from sister churches as we celebrated our tenth
anniversary. The day consisted of a regular morning worship service at 9:00am. We were blessed with
special music by Wayne and Carole Vawter and later by Katie & Ann Schmoeckel.

The worship service was followed by a fellowship time with coffee and other drinks.

Our Sunday School went on as scheduled with one
exception: Dr. Wayne Vawter, the Missions Director for the Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches
challenged the adult class from Acts 20 regarding the past, present, and future.

Following the Sunday School hour, a dinner was enjoyed. We had enough food for everyone but
we ran short of seating.

Shortly after 1:00pm we had a special Anniversary Celebration service. During this Service, Dr. Vawter
brought greetings from the WFBC. Then, changing hats and as a board of the New Testament Association of
Independent Baptist Churches, who recently received Southport into their fellowship, Dr Vawter presented
Pastor Jones and the church with a certificate of this fellowship.

Later, the Founding Pastor, Jonathan Jameson gave an encouraging historical testimony of the early years.
He was able to relate several instances of God's miraculous provision for Southport Baptist. Special
music was provided by Nathan Nesci accompanied by Emily Bruchman.

Pastor Jones concluded the service with a challenge from I Thess. 5:23 regarding the Spirit, soul, and body of the church.

Following the service, we celebrated by cutting not one, but two annuversary cakes. They were served with ice cream.

Summer Quarter, 2010 Pre-teen Sunday School
The Mercers and Schmoeckels have created a tremendous atmosphere for their ministry entitled "SeaQuest."

Miss Marshall's desire is to serve with a missionary family already in Cartago, Costa Rica. They
are looking forward to her help in evangelism, mentoring young women, children's ministries, and
with starting a music ministry in their church. She is with Worldwide New Testament Baptist Missions.
She has been commissioned and sent by Calvary Baptist Church of Jefferson, Wisconsin.

In the evening service, she shared her personal testimony and a DVD explaining her burden for Costa Rica.

Miss Marshall provided the special music for our worship service. She sang "Jesus Paid it All."

Monday, May 24, 8:30pm
The Southport Baptist Softball team played the 8:30 game at Bristol field against Community Baptist Church of Silver Lake.
If you don't recognize some of the team, you should know that softball is being used as an outreach tool.

The whole team gathers for ground rules. Pastor Jones leads in prayer before play begins.

Tim Reeves is in position to field his own pitch. Our first batter leads of with a double.

Friday, May 14, 6:00pm - Mother-Daughter Dinner
Around forty ladies attended this evening's festivities. These festivities included a build-your-own
Mexican dinner, along with desert, games and a challenge from Judy Schmoeckel. She described
Jesus with the letters of the theme: ROUND.
He is Relational, Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent, Understanding, Nourishing, and He Delivers.
(Photos compliments of Emily Bruchman)

Sunday, May 9 - Dr. Gene Green, Executive Director for Baptists for Life of Wisconsin
Dr. Green and his wife Arline brought their ministry display to Southport Baptist this morning.
Gene brought the morning message for Mothers Day reminding us of five godly mothers from God's Word.
He spoke again in the Adult Bible Study Time, presenting a PowerPoint that described all of the aspects of
Baptists for Life of Wisconsin. He also challenged us from God's Word to realize why life is worth living.

The PowerPoint for BFLW was quite challenging regarding
sharing Christ with pregnant mothers.

Friday April 30, Saturday, May 1 - Springfest (Teens) at Northland
(Awaiting report)

Sunday, April 18, 5:30pm - Group from Union Grove Christian School
A group of Junior High students from UGCS performed in two different formats and the school's
Principal, Mr. Lee Morey challenged us with the biblical basis for Christian education from Proverbs 22:6.

Robin Jones led the chime choir while Pastor Jones filled in for
a missing student. Incidentally, both are graduates of UGCS.

Saturday, April 17, 5:30pm - Home Bible Study's Closing Cookout
As a final farewell to this season's Home Bible Study, several of those who attended throughout
the year brought food to Warren and Ruth Beth's home. Warren and Ruth provided barbecued
ribs and chops along with Ruth's special baked bean recipe. Some who had moved away during
the season traveled back to be with us. Pastor Jones brought flowers for the two ladies who
hosted most of the studies. Many are already looking forward to the next series.

Saturday, April 10, 5:30 - 7:30pm - Roller-skating at Skatetown in Racine.
(Report pending)

Saturday, April 3, 10:00am to Noon - Easter Extravaganza
Twenty of our kids and their friends enjoyed games (including an egg hunt), crafts,
and cup-cake decorating. The most important activity, however, was a lesson about
the resurrection. Katie Schmoeckel opened Easter eggs which contained the wonderful
message of Christ's resurrection. We are grateful for the Mercers who had a vision for
this outreach activity, did a lot of the work, and organized several of our church-folks
to help them carry it out. Below are some photos:

Sunday, March 28 - Palm Sunday - Missionaries to Peru, Caleb Stein and family

Caleb Stein, along with his wife, Ecko, sons, Joseph & Jack, and daughter, Isabel, shared their burden
for the field of Peru with the members and friends of Southport Baptist. Caleb feels called to equip
native Peruvians to minister to their own people by training them at the Baptist Seminary of Peru.
They are going out under the auspices of Baptist Mid-Missions.

Brother Stein shows his display to Pastor and Robin.

Brother Stein preached a message from Jonah in the morning service.
He challenged us as to whether we have God's heart or Jonah's
heart for reaching the lost.

During the S.S. hour, brother Stein challenged the teens and adults,
from Exodus 3, to realize that God is sovereign and that HE always
enables those whom HE calls.

In the evening service, the Steins showed an excellent presentation of their ministry call,
including their testimonies of salvation. Afterward, brother Stein challenged us to invest
ourselves before our possessions from II Corinthians 8.

Tuesday, March 16, 6:30pm - Ladies Night, "Testimony Tuesday"
(Reported by Judi Jones)
Thirteen ladies met at the church. Refreshments of Ice Cream and cookies were enjoyed. June Salb and
Judi Schmoeckel gave their testimonies. We discussed several coming events. Another meeting was scheduled
for March 28, to plan the Mother Daughter Banquet.

Saturday, March 13, 8:00am - Men's Prayer Breakfast at the church.
Pastor Jones met with eight of the men in the Southport family for breakfast, Bible study, and prayer.
One came all the way from Illinois. There was a variety of meat/egg casseroles, pastries, and even
a humongous breakfast sub. After the meal, Pastor Jones challenged the men to take greater advantage
of the potential available to each of us from Ephesians 5:11-17. Following the Bible study, we shared prayer
requests and praises after which each of the men took advantage of his personal access to the Fathers Throne.
If you weren't there, you missed a tremendous time of spiritual challenge, and fellowship!

Saturday, March 6, 2:00pm - Church Basketball at East Delavan
(Reported by Gary Bruchman)

Southport Baptist (114) vs. East Delavan Baptist(64)
Southport had Tim Reeves and Gary Bruchman. Pastor Jones was out of town so they borrowed some players from Northport- Ron, Kevin, and Josh. They also had Steve Miller (friend). These players meshed well on the court and kept the game fast paced. East Delavan played man to man defense in the first half which kept some of the shooters from Southport frustrated, but after falling to a 16 point halftime deficit, they thought to switch to a zone. From the final score, that was the wrong choice. That left Southport’s three-point shooting threats wide open. They didn’t miss much in the second half.

These two teams have been playing each other for five plus years. Friendships have been made and the fellowship this time was great. After the game was over most of the guys stayed and were divided up into different teams to play some pick-up games.

Sunday, February 28, 6:00pm Singspiration at our church with Union Grove Baptist.
People came by bus, van, and car all the way from Racine County to join the Southport family in praising our Savior in song.
Our Music Director, Gary Bruchman led the congregation in seven different hymns focused on heaven. His wife,
Emily, accompanied all the congregational singing and most of the special numbers of which there were eleven.
Among the eleven special numbers there were solos, duets, a quartet, and some choruses.
Pastor George Schlagel, from Union Grove Baptist, brought a short but thought-provoking challenge
regarding heaven from Revelation 21. If you missed this, all I can say is you should have been there!

Saturday, February 27, 7:30pm Admirals Hockey Game.
Nineteen of our folk traveled to Milwaukee and witnessed a thriller of a hockey game.
The Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Chicago Wolves 7 - 6 in overtime. (Photos pending)

Saturday, February 27, Basketball playing Northport Community Baptist.
Four men and one lady were defeated by a strong team from Northport Community Baptist 58 - 39.

Tuesday, February 16, 6:30pm - Ladies Meeting, "Love Your Sister"
Sixteen of Southport Baptist's women gathered for what was essentially an organizational meeting.
Refreshments were enjoyed. For their devotional time, Wendy Mercer gave a very encouraging testimony of the
Lord's leading throughout her life. They closed the evening with a random gift exchange. Each gift included a
note of spiritual encouragement. No one knew whose gift they were getting.

Saturday, February 13, 6:00pm - Winter Dinner-Out at the Chancery
Twenty three members of Southport met for the first annual Winter Dinner-Out. The Restaurant where we met
is in the same hotel where the church met early in its ministry. The food was great. The fellowship was even
greater. Everyone filled out a questionnaire, the answers to which became a guessing game for all. Gary Bruchman
guessed the most right answers. Pastor Jones read an application for dating his daughter. Believe me when I
say that no one will ever qualify. He closed the great time by reading a love story from the Bible. In fact, he
read the entire book of Ruth.

Saturday, February 6
Eight of our most hearty athletes (seven men and one woman) traveled to Delavan for a game
of basketball against a team from First Baptist of Delavan. There were no serious injuries
and we came away with a 70 -65 victory.

Saturday, January 16, 8:00am - Men's Prayer Breakfast
It was cold and windy outside but the fellowship was warm and friendly inside. Ten regulars and
one visitor gathered around three tables pulled together. The menu included homemade rolls, streusel,
egg casserole, donuts, sausages, coffee and orange juice.

Pastor Jones led us to consider running the Christian race with our eyes on Jesus, the Author
and Finisher of our faith from Hebrews 12:1-4. Following the study we shared prayer requests
and several of the men prayed.

Sunday, January 10
Because of some missed communication, the missionary we were expecting couldn't be with us. However,
God had other plans long before we needed them. Some friends of the pastor from a church he pastored
many years ago in Phillips, WI came to visit them. They just "happen" to be starting their pre-field ministry
with Continental Baptist Missions as appointees in the Missionary Builders program. In fact we were their
very first presentation. Both Bill and Kathy Goehring had written God a blank check for their lives and God
filled in the details of missionary building. Below are some pictures of their visit. You can visit their
website by clicking Bill & Kathy Goehring.

Saturday, January 9
Approximately 40 ladies gathered for their Winter Tea Party. Several ladies decorated the tables. They were
all very attractive. Mrs. Layna Steuerwald brought a thought-provoking challenge from God's Word, including a
clear presentation of the plan of salvation.