THE SICKMEYERS BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTERS TO WORTHINGTON MINNESOTA SENDING CHURCH: EMPIRE BAPTIST TEMPLE Ron Tottingham, PhD, Pastor - OUR FAMILY -    Jim Sickmeyer was born June 22, 1964 in Red Bud, Illinois.   He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1982 and served ten years, including duty in the Persian Gulf War.    During his military service he met his wife, Genie, who is from the country of Malaysia.   They were married in May of 1985 and have two boys; Joshua (13) and Jonathan (9).    Pastor Sickmeyer was born-again in September of 1985 after being witnessed to concerning the truth of the Gospel and his spiritual lost condition.   Under tremendous conviction of his sin, he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour.    Pastor Sickmeyer surrendered to the call to preach in September of 1987.   He was ordained in 1996 and in 1998, sur- rendered to go to Worthington, MN to plant a local Baptist Church.   Up until leaving for deputation, he served as assistant pastor at Empire Baptist Temple in Sioux Falls, SD.   His ministry included the following: Director of County Jail Services, State and Federal Penitentiary Chaplain, USAF-CAP Chaplain, and Disabled American Veterans Chaplain.    He currently holds a Master of Divinity degree from Great Plains Baptist Divinity School and is presently complet- ing the Doctorate of Ministry degree. Mrs. Sickmeyer (Genie) was born on 24 September, 1964 in Penang, Malaysia.   She was raised Roman Catholic and went to school in a Catholic School.   When her husband, Jim, got saved she made a profession in Christ but without repentance.   In 1993, she was genuinely born-again.    She currently holds a Bachelor's degree and has served her church as a home-care provider, bookstore manager, Sunday school teacher, and activity coor- dinator. - OUR FAITH -    We are Baptists, not by denomina- tional name tag, but in doctrine and practice.    Our authority and sending church is Empire Baptist Temple, Sioux Falls, SD.    We believe that we are subject to the authority of Empire Baptist Temple and our Pastor until such time as the work in which the Lord has allowed us to start organizes and becomes an indigenous church. A Synopsis of what we believe: We believe that the Bible (KJV 1769) is the infallible, verbal plenary inspired Word of God and that it is per- fect in every detail to the jot and tittle (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21).   Furthermore, we believe that the Bible has been preserved for us in the King James Version 1769. We believe that salvation is of the Lord, that it is wholly of grace (Eph. 2:8,9), that it is received through repen- tance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).   We believe that repentance precedes faith in salvation and that this repentance is a 100% change of mind and heart which results in a change of action (Mk. 1:15).   We believe that the believer is eternally secure in this salva- tion, as it is permanent and cannot be lost or undone once obtained (I Jn. 5:13; 10:28). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, is eternal as the Father and the Holy Ghost never having a beginning nor an ending (Rev. 1:8).   We believe that Christ came into this world being born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14).   The vir- gin, Mary, was a sinner and had absolutely no redeeming power.   She was but the vessel that God used to bring Christ into this world.   Christ Jesus is the sole redeemer (I Tim. 2:5,6). We believe in the literal bodily crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrec- tion of Christ (I Cor. 15:3,4).   We believe in the literal bodily ascension of Christ as well as His physical return to rapture the saved and His Bride which is the local New Testament Baptist Church (I Thes. 4:15-18).   We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saints (Rev. 20:5,6). We believe in the literal everlast- ing conscious blessedness of the saved (Heaven) and the everlasting fiery pun- ishment of the lost (Lake of Fire) (Rev. 20:15). We believe that the church is a local called-out particular assembly of scripturally baptized believers united together by covenant before God with a divine mission to propagate the Gospel to all the world. We believe that Christ started His church during His earthly ministry from the prepared believers under John the Baptist's ministry (Lk. 1:17).   We believe we can trace the linage of the true local Baptist churches, not by secular record but by doctrinal practice. We believe that true Baptists hold that the Great Commission was given to the local church only and not para- church organizations.   (Mt. 28:19,20) We believe that there are two ordinances of the local church; Baptism by immersion under proper authority and the Lord's Supper (Mt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 11:23-30). - OUR FIELD -    Worthington, Minnesota is located approximately 57 miles East of Sioux Falls, SD off of Highway I-90.   Its popula- tion is about 15,000.   There are 21 churches there, of 21 different faiths. There are no solid independent works there, however.    Worthington was incorporated March 8th, 1873.   Its major industry in those days was ice harvesting from Okebena Lake.    The Evangelist, Billy Sunday, used to preach revival meetings at Chataqua Park in Worthington until 1931; in fact he was the last major speaker to hold an event at the park.    Worthington today is multi-cultural, as many immigrants from various coun- tries have immigrated to Worthington. Of course, along with the many different foreign nationals that have moved in, they've brought their various religious beliefs as well. Our Goal:    With God's help we are going to bring Life to a community that is starving for Truth.   We will, by God's grace, plant a real Independent New Testament Baptist Church, a pillar and ground of the Truth to provide the people of Worthington a spiritual oasis in the dry and thirsty land in which they live. Our Plan:    We're going to infiltrate the communi- ty with door to door visitation, tracts, fly- ers, and advertising, as well as joining veterans service organizations and com- munity organizations.   We want to gain as much exposure and access to the peo- ple as God will allow.   In summary, we're going to Infiltrate, Communicate, Orchestrate, and finally, Congregate a people for the Lord. Our Verse:    "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."   Psalm 66:16 SENDING CHURCH: EMPIRE BAPTIST TEMPLE 412 SOUTH HAWTHORNE AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57104 PH. 605-339-2038 · wbt4God@frontiernet.net Ron Tottingham, PhD, Pastor

In The Fields: 1020 Clary St. / Worthington, MN 56187