Great day to celebrate what the Lord is doing. We spent this past Monday and Tuesday in Atlanta GA at a Close Connections partnership meeting. These are some of the things we learned: During 2009 in Botswana ended with reaching 29 schools, 55,000 students and ended up with 10,121 pledges for abstinence and 4,821 commitments to Christ in Botswana through Face the Nation. University of Botswana experienced 32 pregnancies in 2008 dropped to 0 in 2009. Open Baptist Church the church we will be working under, had 300 commitments to do missions outside of Botswana. They had 200 commitments to support missionaries. That is 50% of their members committed to supporting missionaries. This is all from the supernatural power of God. Now the government is asking the Church to help them save their nation. They are realizing that condoms are not working in the fight against HIV-AIDS. Botswana has increased the average age of their people by providing free anti-virals but is failing them telling them condoms are effective. The HIV-AIDS incident went up in 2009 by 1.2%. The prevalence rate is over 25%.(Still number 2 in the world). They are beginning to realized the have a moral problem. There is a lack of honesty and integrity when it comes to sexuality which is killing their nation.
We do not loose hope. We believe we are standing on the brink of a tide - a time of turning to our LORD. It is an awesome time to work in a nation that is asking the Church and Jesus Christ to save it. For the first time they will be airing "Choose Christ" commercials to save a nation on their national TV stations.
Pray for Botswana and it's people. Pray for those that minister in Botswana as they partner together through Close Connections to reach the nation for Christ. Pray that God will continue to guide us as we are obedient to His call.
Scott & Tonya
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Moruti Shipes 2/14/10
Dumela, it has taken me several days since I was ordained on 2/14 to put some words down. Words do not come easy to describe how Tonya and feel right now. My journey which started at Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, SC was celebrated by having Pastors Clint Smith, Mike Chandler and Dr. Eddie Leopard speak kind words and encouraging prayers. We were reminded about the power of prayer and how a it began with a group of men huddled together on Sunday nights. Then God leading us to Sumter to add to our family. This addition educated us about HIV/AIDS and gift of adoption. I kept thinking about Eddie's quote of "Millbrook and beyond" in the early years and how "beyond "was taking shape in my life. The church is there to support and encourage the "go" part of Jesus' commission.
Our journey led us to Alice Drive Baptist Church which celebrated by having Pastor Clayton Smith and Dr. Clay Smith remind us all we have next steps to make in our journey and our obedience is always that first step. Reminded that blessings are about the way God sees them when we are praying for them and not our vision or intent of them. What an honor to have Pastor Norman Schaefer from Open Baptist Church, Gaborone, Botswana leading the charge to us all about what Botswana is about. I look so forward to serve under his umbrella in Botswana.
The laying of hands was a humble experience. The verses and kind words of encouragement from the ordained and the church are near to my heart. I will always hold dear the smile on Miss Hannah's face as she spoke to us. Laying hands on the first couple to come out of Alice Drive Baptist Church to go into the mission field after all the years she spent supporting missions at Alice Drive brought such joy to her spirit. Our immediate family coming to a better understanding of our call and support us with prayer and laying hands on us. Encourages us to how God used that moment to heal their hearts. My daughter Makenzie sang beautifully a song which was a healing step for the family as well.
To all who have been part of this journey thank you. My heart is full of emotion and love for all the folks who stood in line for so long to give us a prayer of support and encouragement. May God's Blessing be with all of you.
Scott & Tonya Shipes
Our journey led us to Alice Drive Baptist Church which celebrated by having Pastor Clayton Smith and Dr. Clay Smith remind us all we have next steps to make in our journey and our obedience is always that first step. Reminded that blessings are about the way God sees them when we are praying for them and not our vision or intent of them. What an honor to have Pastor Norman Schaefer from Open Baptist Church, Gaborone, Botswana leading the charge to us all about what Botswana is about. I look so forward to serve under his umbrella in Botswana.
The laying of hands was a humble experience. The verses and kind words of encouragement from the ordained and the church are near to my heart. I will always hold dear the smile on Miss Hannah's face as she spoke to us. Laying hands on the first couple to come out of Alice Drive Baptist Church to go into the mission field after all the years she spent supporting missions at Alice Drive brought such joy to her spirit. Our immediate family coming to a better understanding of our call and support us with prayer and laying hands on us. Encourages us to how God used that moment to heal their hearts. My daughter Makenzie sang beautifully a song which was a healing step for the family as well.
To all who have been part of this journey thank you. My heart is full of emotion and love for all the folks who stood in line for so long to give us a prayer of support and encouragement. May God's Blessing be with all of you.
Scott & Tonya Shipes
Friday, February 5, 2010
Praise God for Good News from Old Naledi Botswana
God be glorified. Moruti James reported in their worship service this Sunday morning the hall was filled to capacity. Children had to sit on the floors. One of thier visitors at the church was a ring leader of local gang. He gave his life to Lord Jesus. Praise God.Thanks be unto Him. Pray for Moruti James and his time with this gentleman.
They have already experienced 12 decisions and 10 baptisms this year so far. God is pouring out his blessings on this village. This is an amazing time to be part of God's work.
They have already experienced 12 decisions and 10 baptisms this year so far. God is pouring out his blessings on this village. This is an amazing time to be part of God's work.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
On A Mission from God (Taken from the Compass-Alice Drive Baptist Church)
There was a God-infused energy in the room November 1 as Scott and Tonya Shipes shared stories of their Christian faith, their journey as a couple, a family and as individuals that brought them to where they are now in their walk with Jesus. As they now begin preparing for an even more incredible journey later this year, they know that God has used their surroundings, experiences and desires to prepare them to serve in missions. Ephesians 4:10 says that, "we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He
prepared in advance for us to do."
The Shipes and five of their six children will head to Botswana for a three year commitment to missions late this summer. Scott will take a position ministering to children through the Botswana School Outreach program, now run by John Lawson. As Lawson prepares for his retirement, Scott prepares for his next steps as God has called on him to fulfill a calling of his own. For now, Scott will take on the full-time position as Interim Children’s Program Coordinator for ADBC under the direct supervision of Pastor Clay. With over 25 years of corporate leadership skills, Scott says “the goal is to take my corporate world experience and combine it with what I can learn from Clay’s leadership to form a shepherd’s heart that will enable me to
lead a flock.” By August of this year, Scott hopes that his family will be settled in their new surroundings as he begins the specific ministry assignment God has called him to. Scott and Tonya will also travel to remote villages of Botswana when school is out of session. Their goal is to bring ministry resources and training that can be used to reach the youth. ADBC will continue a long lasting relationship with their partner church in Old Naledi through short term missions and both Scott and Tonya will help coordinate with mission teams prior to their travel and help mobilize things on the ground.
In 1996 Scott attended a Promise Keepers conference. When the question was asked “Do you know you’re saved?” Scott was unsure and felt led to talk with a friend. From there he said, “I’m going to get it right this time.” It was then that Scott and Tonya started growing as a couple and started seeing the amazing benefits God had in store for them.
In 1997 Scott felt called to the ministry, but God wasn’t quite ready to be specific with him just yet. They moved their family to Sumter in 2004, joined ADBC, and a year later Scott became a Deacon. Through the years both he and Tonya have continued to volunteer and serve in many capacities in the church. They agreed “If God ever opens the door—we’d walk through it.” Those doors opened when ADBC started short term mission trips to South Africa and Botswana. Scott took his first trip to Old Naledi about a year ago to help build a building for our partner church. On another visit, he was accompanied by Pastor Clay. This time
they traveled to different places around the area, met more people, explored more areas of need. And then it hit him - “They need more than a building.” It was on that trip that God used dramatic experiences and the prompting of others to reveal His plans for Scott. In October 2009 Scott and Tonya both traveled to Botswana. It was clear that discernment was fulfilled. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in the way they talk. Their calling is an experience with God. That is God at work!
On February 14 at 6:00pm, Norman Schaffer, pastor of Open Baptist Church in Gaborone will be present to
ceremonially commission Scott into the mission field. During the service Scott will be ordained as a pastor. This will be a big night as speakers also include Clay Smith, Clayton Smith from Shandon Baptist in Columbia, Eddie Leopard from Millbrook Church in Aiken, Clint Smith of Town Creek Baptist Church and Mike Chandler of the Journey Church in Morganton, NC.
All are invited to come be a part of this special night.
prepared in advance for us to do."
The Shipes and five of their six children will head to Botswana for a three year commitment to missions late this summer. Scott will take a position ministering to children through the Botswana School Outreach program, now run by John Lawson. As Lawson prepares for his retirement, Scott prepares for his next steps as God has called on him to fulfill a calling of his own. For now, Scott will take on the full-time position as Interim Children’s Program Coordinator for ADBC under the direct supervision of Pastor Clay. With over 25 years of corporate leadership skills, Scott says “the goal is to take my corporate world experience and combine it with what I can learn from Clay’s leadership to form a shepherd’s heart that will enable me to
lead a flock.” By August of this year, Scott hopes that his family will be settled in their new surroundings as he begins the specific ministry assignment God has called him to. Scott and Tonya will also travel to remote villages of Botswana when school is out of session. Their goal is to bring ministry resources and training that can be used to reach the youth. ADBC will continue a long lasting relationship with their partner church in Old Naledi through short term missions and both Scott and Tonya will help coordinate with mission teams prior to their travel and help mobilize things on the ground.
In 1996 Scott attended a Promise Keepers conference. When the question was asked “Do you know you’re saved?” Scott was unsure and felt led to talk with a friend. From there he said, “I’m going to get it right this time.” It was then that Scott and Tonya started growing as a couple and started seeing the amazing benefits God had in store for them.
In 1997 Scott felt called to the ministry, but God wasn’t quite ready to be specific with him just yet. They moved their family to Sumter in 2004, joined ADBC, and a year later Scott became a Deacon. Through the years both he and Tonya have continued to volunteer and serve in many capacities in the church. They agreed “If God ever opens the door—we’d walk through it.” Those doors opened when ADBC started short term mission trips to South Africa and Botswana. Scott took his first trip to Old Naledi about a year ago to help build a building for our partner church. On another visit, he was accompanied by Pastor Clay. This time
they traveled to different places around the area, met more people, explored more areas of need. And then it hit him - “They need more than a building.” It was on that trip that God used dramatic experiences and the prompting of others to reveal His plans for Scott. In October 2009 Scott and Tonya both traveled to Botswana. It was clear that discernment was fulfilled. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in the way they talk. Their calling is an experience with God. That is God at work!
On February 14 at 6:00pm, Norman Schaffer, pastor of Open Baptist Church in Gaborone will be present to
ceremonially commission Scott into the mission field. During the service Scott will be ordained as a pastor. This will be a big night as speakers also include Clay Smith, Clayton Smith from Shandon Baptist in Columbia, Eddie Leopard from Millbrook Church in Aiken, Clint Smith of Town Creek Baptist Church and Mike Chandler of the Journey Church in Morganton, NC.
All are invited to come be a part of this special night.
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