Category Archives: bible study

This Week’s Intercessory Prayer Requests (26. April 2021)

Church = Pray for divinely-inspired nominations of new church leaders and deacons, pray for a fellowship of Christians ready to give their active support to our resident church planters (Lian & Elli) and IBCB’s new Daughter Church planters, Taylor and Lydia.

Pastor = We thank God for Pastor Scott. We ask that he be blessed with patience toward himself and others, to treat everyone with love and respect, and to interact positively with difficult people. 

Leaders & Deacons = Pray for Samuel & Priscillia (we praise them for their good leadership), bless them with wisdom, grace, spiritual fortitude, and many faithful co-workers in ministry.

Ministry Team = Pray for our IBCB Video Team. We’re thankful for the leadership of Earl and Amos. Bless them with positive new ideas and skills in managing advanced media technology for God’s glory.

Small Group = Pray for our Friday night couples groups meeting with Davis and with Mufid. May each group and member discover by Your divine grace the keys to intimate Christian partnership. 

Missions = Pray for John Matar – our church planting partner in Palestine – as he ministers in the difficult and challenging circumstances of life in the West Bank during a time of unrest.

World = Pray for India, suddenly hard hit by the covid pandemic and plagued by shortages of medicine, hospital beds, and oxygen. Relieve the worry of each waiting patient, of each family struck by infection. We join with the entire world of Baptist churches and others who devote their time, their hearts, and prayer to the suffering people of Myanmar this weekend of May 1.

Appointing Leaders and Deacons

NOTE: Read the information below and nominate those you would like for us to consider as leaders or deacons in IBCB. Send your nominations to leaders(AT)ibcberlin(dot)org or deacons(AT)ibcberlin(dot)org.

The Bible speaks of two types of biblical officers that are to serve the church: leaders (pastors/elders/overseers) and deacons. The role of the leaders is to provide spiritual oversight and strategic initiative. The role of the deacons is to provide pastoral care and practical ministry.

At IBCB, we appoint leaders to serve on our Leaders Council and deacons to serve on our Deacon Council to help direct and manage our life and ministry as a church. The process begins with your nominations, so, prayerfully review the procedure, eligibility, and responsibilities below and make your nominations. Our procedure for doing so is as follows:

  • The pastor initiates the process by opening nominations for leaders and deacons
  • The church nominates potential candidates for leaders and deacons
  • Those nominated are interviewed by the leaders and deacons to determine availability and eligibility (see below)
  • The leaders and deacons will identify potential candidates from those nominated and recommend them to the Ministry Council
  • The Ministry Council will consider the potential candidates and identify those to be recommended to the church as leaders and deacons
  • The Church (members) will consider the recommendations and vote (75%) on those who will serve as leaders and deacons

Leaders

Currently, our Leaders Council consists of Scott Corwin, Samuel Kaninda, and Jeff Magiera (inactive). We will review our current leaders’ ministry and recommend leaders to the church. 

Eligibility – According to our by-laws “the candidate must exhibit Christian character, have demonstrated faithful and active ministry as a deacon*, and meet the following scriptural qualifications of an overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7)” 

*Names of current deacons and former deacons who are eligible for consideration – men and women:  Kenneth Aliyu, Lucas Ebert, Stefie Ebert, David Look, Assoum Balbasse, Priscillia Kaninda, Karen Kirner, Ronan Moris, Kasub Wibawa

Responsibilities – The Leaders Council of the church is responsible for the spiritual oversight and strategic initiative of the church.  The Leaders Council works under the direction of and in harmony with the Pastor who guides and assists the Leaders Council in their shared responsibility of the pastoral leadership of the church with a special focus on ministries of guiding, teaching, and protecting the church.

The Leaders Council shall meet at least monthly to pray about and plan for the overall supervision, teaching, protection, management, and care of people within the congregation.  The Leaders Council is made up of the Lead Pastor, Pastoral Staff, and any additional members as selected by the church to maintain a minimum of three members.  Should the number of members fall below the minimum of three, the remaining members of the Leaders Council shall consult with the Deacons Council in the accomplishment of its responsibility until the church selects qualified members to fill out the Leadership Council.

Deacons – We will review our current deacons’ ministry and recommend deacons to the church.

Eligibility – According to our bylaws “the candidate must exhibit Christian character, demonstrate faithful and active ministry in the church, and meet the following scriptural qualifications of deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13)”

Responsibilities — The Deacons Council of the church is responsible for the pastoral care and practical needs of the church.  The Deacons Council works under the direction of and in harmony with the Pastor who guides and assists them in fulfilling their shared responsibility of the pastoral ministry of the church with a special focus on ministries of care, benevolence, and support.

The Deacons Council shall meet at least monthly to pray about and plan for the people-serving and people-caring ministries of the church.  The Deacons Council is made up of church-selected deacons and should maintain a number of qualified members sufficient to accomplish the ministry entrusted to them by the church.

Church Planting in Berlin w/ the Whitleys

The Whitleys’ Vision for Church Planting

IBCB‘s missions vision includes a commitment to church planting — globally and locally. In keeping with this vision, IBCB is considering a church planting partnership with Taylor and Lydia Whitley who will be moving to Berlin later this year.

No strangers to the IBC — they served on staff at IBC Stuttgart, visited us here in Berlin, and preached (online) in a recent sermon series — the Whitleys are completing their church planting residency in Bremen and as a result of their vision trip sensed God’s voice calling them to Berlin. One key factor in their decision was the opportunity to partner with IBCB!

They dream of planting a church that “invites people of all nations to walk with Jesus” starting with those who are far from God. Highly missional and decidedly relational, they want to share life with the not-yet Christians and invite them to step into a relationship with Jesus. As they gather new disciples into groups new church(es) will be planted.

On 26. April at our Church Family Meeting (20:30 h on ZOOM – Register HERE), we will hear from the Whitleys and we will discern God’s voice in the matter of our partnership. We will then vote on the proposed Church Planting Agreement (Click on download to see the agreement).

Please, plan on joining us for our upcoming meeting. If you have any questions or suggestions, please, contact any of our leaders or deacons who help you.

What’s Your Story?

Think about it: how often did Jesus use stories when preaching, teaching, and responding? Very often! Why? Well…

Telling stories is one of the most powerful means to influence, teach, and inspire. Telling our stories – as individuals and as a community — forges connections among people, and between people and ideas. Stories convey our values, shape our culture, and unite us.

That’s why @ IBCB we’re asking: “What’s your story?” We want to hear your story of how God is at work in and through your life, your relationships, your family, your small group, your ministry, and your mission. Your story will help us celebrate what God is doing and encourage the rest of us on our shared journey of following Jesus in our community of faith.

Here’s what it should look like:

  1. Record A 2-3 minute video story of how God is working to make you more like Jesus in your personal life, relationships/family, small group, work, worship, etc.
  2. Record yourself on your phone (hold it horizontally, please) and tell your story.  Keep it simple and focus on what God is doing to change you.
  3. Send the video to us @ibcberlin.org and we’ll edit it to share in worship or get your permission to share it on social media.

Got a different story? Share it with us? Got questions?  Let us know.