Go & Make Issue #25 (Nov. 2015)

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IN THIS ISSUE

18 COVER STORY: ADOPTING TYLER Barry and Jen Willhite and their four children share the story of their adopted son, Tyler, illustrating that obedience to God’s calling no matter the cost results in His supernatural blessing and provision.

14 GIFTS FOR CHILDREN Each year, the Bay Area family has a unique opportunity to bless families in need through providing Christmas presents through Gifts for Children.

26 THE UNLIKELY MISSIONARY Jerry Shirlen dispels the Christian’s tendency to believe they’ve failed at evangelism when the people they share Jesus with don’t make a decision to follow Him right then and there.

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11 EDITORIAL: A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE Worship Leader Micah Pringle examines our culture’s chronic tardiness - whether fashionably late or running behind - and highlights what we miss out on when we’re late for church.

22 FROM HERE TO THE NATIONS: POLAND While co-leading a Bay Area mission trip in Cieszyn, Poland, Mary Kaye St. Cyr shares a personal account of our church’s longstanding relationship with missionaries Tomek and Damaris Otremba.

We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.

Gathering Times: 8am 9:30am 11:15am

MAGAZINE CREDITS EDITOR IN CHIEF Josh Shirlen MANAGING EDITOR Meredith Thompson ART Arianne Teeple Jake Williams Josh Burgin Josh Shirlen Meredith Thompson Victoria Selman CONTRIBUTORS Mary Kaye St. Cyr Rachel Perry Steve Onken Trevin Hoekzema

On the cover: Jen and Barry Willhite Photo by Josh Shirlen

ELDERS Brian Mallare David McPeak Don Wiley Greg St. Cyr J Upton John Battan John Taylor Keith Riniker Peter Godfrey Rich Heath Roger Ishii Tim Dotson Tim Grossman Tom Dalpini Tom Hogan Warwick Fairfax

884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401

410.544.2222

BAY AREA LEADERSHIP Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – brent.squires@bayareacc.org Brian Hopper, Missional Community Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.org Casely Essamuah, Global Missions Pastor – casely.essamuah@bayareacc.org Ed Kelley, Executive Pastor – ed.kelley@bayareacc.org Gail Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – gail.wiles@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Janet Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – janet.graves@bayareacc.org Jerry Shirlen, Financial Administrator – jerry.shirlen@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Rimbey Sacks, Connecting Director – jocelyn.rimbey@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, Gathering Team Leader – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Lynn Dutton, H.R. Administrator – lynn.dutton@bayareacc.org Micah Pringle, Worship Leader – micah.pringle@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.org Ron Dutton, Operations Director – ron.dutton@bayareacc.org Tres Cozad, Technical Director – tres.cozad@bayareacc.org

For a comprehensive list of all BACC staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership N OV E M B E R GO&MAKE 3

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LETTER FROM THE LEAD

Dear Bay Area family, We’ve got a good problem. It’s actually a problem I’m happy to have. Nonetheless, it is a problem: We are quickly running out of space at 884 Chesterfield Road.

So where do we go from here? That’s the question over which we are diligently seeking the mind of Jesus. Over the summer, the elders assigned a task force the responsibility of looking at various building expansion options. Other possibilities God continues to bring more people to be part of our missionary continue to emerge. Lord willing, in early 2016, we’ll be able family. With almost 500 children being discipled on Sunday to share with you what we believe the Lord’s direction is for mornings, we are in need of more space. Our student ministry us in dealing with the above tensions. pastor, Brent Squires, shared that on a Sunday in early October there were 120 middle-schoolers jammed into the warehouse In the meantime, here are some things you can do to help: with our 30 adult volunteers. That same Sunday, I saw two families leaving the 9:30 a.m. gathering because they couldn’t • The 9:30 a.m. gathering is the most crowded. Consider find a seat in the auditorium. I reminded them of the chapel. making room for others by (1) worshiping in the chapel One family left; the other went into the chapel. or attending the 8 a.m. or 11:15 a.m., and (2) helping disciple our younger generations by serving in our The good news is that we couldn’t be more excited about Children’s or Student ministries during one of the having these kinds of “problems.” God is bringing more people gatherings. to Himself, changing lives, and expanding His kingdom.

• If you haven’t finished your Beyond884 pledge, please Currently, your elders are praying about and studying various make every effort to do so by the end of the year. options to address this need. But there are several tensions we are feeling, and I want to share them with you.

• Celebrate what God is doing through His people at 884 and be patient, knowing we are diligently pursuing His Tension #1: We don’t want anyone to be turned away. path forward.

Whether it is children, students or adults, our heart is to minister to everyone God is bringing to our church family.

• Pray for God’s mind regarding how He would have us proceed in meeting the growth challenges.

Tension #2: We are wrapping up Beyond884 and still have a ways to go. Over $4.87 million has been committed, and Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your to date $3.78 million has been received. A gracious family own understanding. donated a property valued at $500,000 that we haven’t yet sold (please pray it would sell). Falling short of our fundraising In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your goal means incurring additional debt. paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Tension #3: We are a church that is seeking to be debt-free. From here to the nations, Currently, our building mortgage sits at 6 percent of our total operating budget. By church standards, this is fantastic. Yet, it’s our desire to continue to work toward the goal of freeing up more and more resources by being debt-free.

Tension #4: The ever-increasing cost of construction.

Construction costs continue to escalate. The current cost of building the third floor of the children’s wing is now well over twice what it was quoted as in 2013. The longer we wait to build, the more things cost.

Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor

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D

o you know what the most valuable commodity on earth is? Gold? Maybe. Plutonium? Iran thinks so. Truth? That’s a good option, though most of the media seems to ignore it. No, the most valuable commodity we all have is time.

No two seconds are the same. There is no guarantee of the next moment. Great memories were made in the past (sometimes hard to find, but normally everyone has some).

Time. It marches on. It can be wasted. It can be maximized.

It’s relentless. It has no end (assuming you define time as “space between two events”).

Time lies behind…

MID-LIFE CRISES. People realize they don’t have much left so they do unpredictable things.

BUCKET LISTS. If there wasn’t a shortage of time, bucket lists wouldn’t exist.

PLASTIC SURGERY. Time creates wrinkles and weighs on the face and waistline.

STRESS. A shortage of time can make our blood pressure go nuts.

Ephesians 5:16 says to “redeem the time.” One wonders what that means? It seems to me that it must mean to make the most of the time we’re given, and that time by itself has no value, but once it’s redeemed, value is added.

One’s worldview affects how one sees time. My worldview centers around Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and then…” I have an urgency to be the best I can be, to affect the most I can, and to engage as many people as possible to make them think through issues, values and their life – all for the sake of the Kingdom.

Therefore, time is special. You know what often defeats time? Guilt. Let me cut to the chase: If you’re rightfully (or wrongfully) guilty about something in your past or present, hear me: Stop it. To redeem the time, your conscience must be clear; in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul explains that he is not judged by man or himself, but by God alone. If you are into something you shouldn’t be, turn away. If you need to ask the Lord for forgiveness, do it now. But for cryin’ out loud, when you accept the Lord’s forgiveness, recognize that sin is no longer in His memory; He has thrown it as far as the east is from the west. Get up, go and sin no more.

To rid yourself of guilt, forgiveness – which follows repentance – is needed. Repentance is part sorrow for offending the Lord in sin and part determination to go a different path – a godly path.

With guilt out of the way, you can redeem the time by devoting yourself to growing in your walk with Jesus through prayer and studying the Word, and to making disciples through sharing the Gospel and being the hands and feet of Jesus to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

So, bottom line: If you’re caught in sin, go to the Lord and confess, repent and find forgiveness. Stop living in guilt. If you need help, call me. Why you may ask? Because time may be running out, and time waits for no person.

Urgently, Ed Kelley Executive Pastor

Ed Kelley is the executive pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.

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LIKE

By Pat Linnell

In 1979 a rock/pop song took over

the radio waves by the band “Cheap Trick.” The band still plays this popular song among others today, despite the test of time and difficulty of aging.

This danceable song has endured four decades of an ever-changing musical landscape – I believe because of its simple and relatable message. The name of the song and the message of the song are one in the same: “I want you to want me.”

Because of our hyper-sexualized culture, I often thought of this song in those terms. But while investigating the origin of the song, I found songwriter Rick Nielson was occupying a different mental frame back in the ‘70s when he wrote it. Much of the motivation for the song traced back to people in his life he wished had been present for him, like his father – this song was born out of a pain to be loved. The chorus simply says, “I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I’d love you to love me.

I’m begging you to beg me. I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I’d love you to love me.”

This is a cry at the heart of every person. If you don’t think so, just turn your eyes to one of the most common ways people interrelate to one another today through social media: the “like.” This little word has taken on a mountain of meaning for many people who are increasingly validated, built up, and esteemed by the number of “likes” their updated status, picture, comment or post receives in a given period of time. We might not be posting “I want you to want me,” but

many of us are posting because we “want you to like me.”

This may be you if your emotions ebb and flow based on the amount of friends, shares or likes you have received lately. If your social network affirms you, you feel great; if your “friends” are silent, you are deflated.

Perhaps you are not on social media, but the validation you seek in others is still there: Does my boss recognize my value? Do my kids appreciate my worth? Do my co-workers respect me?

Am I praised?

The problem with living in a culture whose desire is to be liked by a jury of our peers is that we also naturally, but perhaps subtly, derive an identity from what others think about us.

We often seek to build an identity upon those things that bring us the most recognition, praise, personal happiness, comfort or likes. Jesus has much to say about this, as when this happens we are finding our identity in the wrong places, which often leads to wrong decisions and wrong worship.

Paul’s short letter to the church in Ephesus in no uncertain terms explains that the true, most basic, and most healthy identity should be constructed around two words: IN CHRIST. Our value comes first by understanding that we are creatures formed in the image of God, with built-in dignity and worth. All humans possess this from birth. All humans also possess a sin nature and are in desperate need of redemption from birth. As we trust in Jesus, we are adopted into the family

of God, sons and daughters of the King, given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. And as we walk with Him daily, we realize the true longings of our heart for connection and companionship are consistently and surprisingly met.

Many of us are in the complicated process of constructing an identity.

For some, our identity is in our work, for others our comedy, for others our sexuality, for others our musical ability, for others how well-behaved our kids are. We might be able to identify our identity idol by asking what we want people to “like” us for.

But by the grace of God we all have the ability to build our foundation on the rock of being “IN CHRIST,” where what is most important is that we live for what He likes, and want what He wants. Your faith identity is the springboard to freedom and the source of what our culture is seeking.

Pat Linnell is the teaching pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE. N OV E M B E R GO&MAKE 9

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By Micah Pringle

W e’ve

all been there: Whether it be on a first date, meeting friends for dinner, or just a casual cup of coffee, we go through the effort to get ready, hustle to the agreed-upon destination on time, find a table, and then we wait. And we wait. And we wait for the other parties to arrive quite tardy. And this waiting game is actually culturally permissible. Why? Because of a thing called “fashionably late.” Urban Dictionary describes fashionably late as arriving anywhere between 5-60 minutes late for an engagement, and the acceptable time period of tardiness varies based on the type of event.

Then there’s also the common language of “running late.” Where fashionably late implies complete intentionality behind the tardiness, running late implies it’s completely accidental. A recent blog article made rounds through social media titled, “No, you are not ‘running late,’ you are rude and selfish.” It understandably ruffled a few feathers!

Whether we’re intentional or accidental in our rampant tardiness, it’s safe to say that we all – myself included – fall prey to the mindset that it is acceptable to be late for our engagements. But what’s so interesting to me is that this paradigm only holds true in certain environments.

Example: who shows up to the theater 15 minutes into the start of a movie?

Almost no one! Why? Because you’ll

miss out on important information that sets you up for really understanding the next hour and a half of the movie and enjoying it to its fullest potential, and because arriving late means you’ll be a distraction for those around you as you find your seat and settle in.

much we miss out on when we show up late. Dinner dates don’t really get started and the vibes can’t flow until the designated parties arrive – and what we have an opportunity to share each weekend is far better than any normal dinner date.

You can probably guess how I’m about to spin this thing, right? Church. Church services. Yep. Each week we gather together to experience community and collectively worship Jesus. A massive amount of work goes into creating moments for our church family to worship together. Ideas are shared, plans are made, and then the weekend hits and we all arrive to the “restaurant” (read that as: arrive to church) to share a meal together (read that as: partake in God filling us as we worship). Or back to the theater metaphor – the popcorn has been popped, the previews have already rolled, lights are down, and the movie has begun, but we’re still climbing over people awkwardly whispering, “excuse me… sorry… excuse me…” as we try to find a seat to partake in the experience without spilling anyone’s popcorn (read as: Bay Café coffee).

If we’re not there, we miss out on the richness and power experienced when we’re united as one body. We miss out on moments of rest in worship. We miss out on so many moments! And one of the keys to sharing in these moments together is simply being THERE. I’m notorious for arriving late for various engagements. It’s something with which I struggle, and am actively working to correct. The times I get it right almost always prove to be worth the extra effort, and my prayer is that we as a church family will invest that effort together, and, in so doing, share in some incredible experiences.

We all have things come up: Alarms fail to go off and leave us scrambling to get out the door on time. Kids wake up and decide they don’t want to cooperate in getting ready and into the car. And while those things are sometimes unavoidable, the reason for pointing out the uncomfortable reality that we struggle with tardiness is this: there’s so

Micah Pringle is the worship leader at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.

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NOVEMBER BOOK: The Noticer AUTHOR: Andy Andrews

Annapolis. I will miss his wisdom. Fred was a Noticer! He saw under the surface.

Normally I like to review books that have theological significance or scratch the surface of a topic in which I’m deeply interested (like U.S. history, political figures, etc.). This time, I’m reviewing a totally secular book that caused me to think. Let me tell you a bit of a story before we get into the book.

Life is really too short. My longtime Bridge partner from Seattle, Fred Hanna, died in October. I can’t tell you how painful it is for me to move forward without his friendship.

Gentle, smart and extremely friendly are words I would use to describe Fred. He was a GREAT Bridge partner and we played together for at least a dozen years. The funny thing was that we were total opposites: He, a left-of-center democrat and a liberal in theology; I, a die-hard conservative in both politics and theology. We had great friendly debates every week we played. No subject was off limits.

Another great thing about Fred was that he “noticed” people. He had a gift for reading people and remembering salient facts about them and their lives, and if they were in need, he’d try his best to do something about that need. Fred was a great sounding board for my life decisions, and he was instrumental in understanding the procon list of either going to Hong Kong or

Well, this month’s book is called “The Noticer.” Its subtitle: “Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.”

Author Andy Andrews is a NY Times reporter and “quickly becoming one of the most influential people in America.”

Now folks, I am no fan of the mainstream news media; however, I have really enjoyed books from certain reporters including “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom and “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, neither of which could I put down.

“Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.”

“The Noticer” is a fable. It’s about hope.

It offers that there are no dead ends in life, just adjustments in perspective. It’s about seeing miracles in the midst of struggles. Now this is not a new concept; in fact, the great theologian George Strait wrote about this in his song “I Saw God Today,” along with Martina McBride’s “Concrete Angel,” which depicts hope in a world not on earth. (Certain country music songs have more theology in them than some contemporary Christian music – but that’s another discussion.)

The great thing about this book is that it’s in short-story form. Plus, the topic line is powerful.

Hope is a powerful emotion. Without it, who can stand against the pressures of this world? Being a Christian gives one hope: hope of an afterlife, hope of a personal one-on-one meeting with the Creator of the world, hope for people like Fred – who I hope I’ll see again in Heaven

someday. Even hope that tomorrow will bring new opportunities, assuming we adjust our perspectives.

Now, disclaimer: “The Noticer” isn’t a Christian book. Its worldview is off in places. However, assuming one knows the Bible even a little, one can navigate this inspiring little story, placing it in a Biblical worldview. It’s an easy read; you’ll breeze through its 156 pages in two to three hours and it’ll probably drive you to the Bible to see what real hope looks like. (I suggest you use a concordance and check out the word “hope” and see how that contrasts what you read in the book.)

One application for me in the book is it reminds me to look below the surface when I engage people. Over the last couple years, I’ve been working with some law enforcement folks on a project about having a cup of coffee and listening to agents/LE personnel share their burdens. It’s not counseling and it’s not evangelism; it’s noticing what is at the top of their mind and taking the time to be available to sit and chat.

Well, it went so well that in October the FBI invited me to do the same thing in New Orleans, and I listened to agent after agent tell me what they’re facing.

While they were speaking, I tried to “notice” what they were really saying, and I gave them back principles I’ve learned over the years in dealing with a wide variety of problems in people’s lives. The book inspired me to “notice” what people were really saying and focus on them intently. If reading this does this for you, perhaps it’s worth your investment of two to three hours.

Enjoy.

Ed Kelley Executive Pastor

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Outstretched Hands: a story about giving gifts by trevin hoekzema ary pulled into the church parking lot and shuffled her son and daughter out into the crisp, cold, West Virginian mountain air. Her husband, Jeff, was working late again that night, so he couldn’t go with her. The three of them were met with warm smiles as they approached the church doors. Mary returned the smile but remained timid, somewhat guarded.

She reluctantly took the box from outstretched hands. As the image of an empty Christmas tree faded, warmth began to penetrate. The past several years had been hard. Gifts under the Christmas tree had almost disappeared completely those last years. But as she turned with the heavy box in her hands, her kids holding tight to her jacket corners, she knew this Christmas would be different. She knew the box was filled with gifts for her children. Christmas morning would be full of smiles and joy instead of the now familiar unmet dreams.

The night before Christmas, Jeff and Mary were able to fill the bottom of the Christmas tree with gifts for the first time in years. Christmas morning, as Jeff watched his children open the gifts that others had provided, he was filled with immense appreciation. How could someone love his kids this much without even knowing them?

The question chewed at him, so Jeff went to that church to inquire. A year later, as a truck and trailer pulled up to the church building, Jeff was standing there waiting.

He had taken off work that day. The side of the trailer depicted warm, smiling faces and read “Walk the Walk.” The back of the trailer dropped. As Jeff walked toward the boxes with outstretched hands, he realized this time was different. He and Mary weren’t there to take a box home with them. They were there to hand them out.

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The previous Christmas had impacted Jeff and Mary in a huge way. They had become regular attenders of the church, found Jesus there, and gave what they could to serve the church: their time.

Jeff showed up early every Sunday to set up chairs, direct traffic, and hand out bulletins. During his days off, he joined pastors and deacons on hospital visits to share the love of Jesus to the hurting and broken. The peace and joy he and his family received from calling Jesus Lord, serving at church, and serving others was almost overwhelming at times. Their lives have never been the same.

The best part about Jeff and Mary’s story is that it’s not the only one like it, and you don’t have to travel to the mountains of West Virginia to see something like that happen. Right here in Annapolis, at Christmastime every year, parents like Jeff and Mary walk through the crisp, cold night air, and through the open doors of Bay Area. They receive a box filled with gifts for their children.

The gifts are provided by people like you and me. It’s an opportunity to take the blessings that God has poured out

on us to bless others. We call this initiative Gifts for Children, because, as the name implies, every year we commit to giving gifts to children. Last Christmas, 311 Bay Area households provided gifts for over 450 children in need. This year, as a church, we are committing to sponsor 500 children.

That’s 500 boys and girls who wouldn’t otherwise open gifts on Christmas morning.

So how will we go about blessing these children this Christmas? Bay Area partners with the Walk the Walk Foundation, which oversees the behind-the-scenes administration of it all. We receive names of children who are in need from the Department of Social Services, our partner in downtown Annapolis, We Care & Friends, and from our own deacons who are in tune with the needs of our church family. From those three pots, we will collect at least 500 children’s names. Walk the Walk then calls all of the families, finds out what the children want for Christmas, and prints each child’s wish list on convenient cards.

Then, on the Sundays listed below, we will connect people with a child to sponsor, providing them with that child’s card.

November 15: Gifts for Children begins handing out names on Sunday mornings.

November 22 through December 6: names are handed out and gifts are collected.

Christmas “ morning, as Jeff

watched his children open the gifts that others had provided, he was filled with immense appreciation. How could someone love his kids this much without even knowing them?

”

December 13: the last Sunday for gifts to be turned in.

In addition to providing gifts for a child, there are other ways to bless families in need through this program: If you are interested in helping organize gifts at the warehouse or handing out names on a Sunday morning, email giftsforchildren@bayareacc.org. For more information about Gifts for Children, go to bayareacc.org/giftsforchildren.

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LEADERSHIP PROFILE

Rich Raley

BY STEVE ONKEN

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My first impressions of Rich Raley stemmed from our collaboration on the deacon board together. His temperament and the manner in which he conducted himself reminded me of James 3:17: “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” I have witnessed Rich embody all of these qualities as he serves as a deacon.

R

God’s leading,” Rich said humbly, explaining his decision to join the deacon board.

Two years later he began dating Gina Petro, who shared her faith with him regularly. Eight years later, she would become his wife. Before that, however, at the age of 18, with a recognized void in his life that he could not fill, he walked forward during a church altar call and gave his life to Christ.

Today Rich lives with Hebrews 12:1,2 guiding his steps – wanting always to “run with perseverance the race that is set before him, looking to Jesus.”

Rich has served as a deacon for three years now. He noted he is always blessed to see how God sovereignly orchestrates which deacons are paired to meet with and minister to specific individuals. He shared how it never fails that the exact complement of spiritual gifts needed for a particular individual are always provided in the two deacons who come alongside that person. A favorite verse of Rich’s that he sees as fundamental in the deacon ministry, and one he shares with those who seek out the deacons for assistance, is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12: “To aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” Ultimately, the deacons aspire to first help individuals spiritually. Then, the deacons seek to compassionately support those in need with benevolence, desiring that those individuals would be able to re-establish their own financial stability within a short period of time.

ich’s walk with the Lord traces back to the age of 14.

While participating in a basketball camp, he heard Hawkeye Whitney, an NC State basketball team standout and 1980 first-round NBA draft pick, giving credit for his success to both relentless practice and a relationship with God. Rich had no idea what it meant to have a relationship with God, but he knew it was something he wanted.

Rich attended college at the University of Maryland, where he earned his degree in horticulture. He got his first job with a design/build landscaping company, where he applied his skills to his trade. By 1983, Rich had narrowed the focus of his vocation to being a certified arborist and started his own business: Ultimate Tree and Landscaping. He has overseen Rich and Gina Raley have two daughters: 24-year-old Hannah is a nurse, and Madeline, 22, is a recent University the firm ever since. of Maryland graduate in political science. They reside in Serving has come naturally for Rich his entire life. He grew Gambrills, just behind the Crofton Middle School facility off up in a family that served – his dad was a Prince George’s of Davidsonville Road. In Rich’s free time, he enjoys hiking County police officer and his mom helped women in the and motorcycles. However, he is quick to add a caveat to community. Before coming to Bay Area Community Church both: He is a “destination” hiker and a “destination” biker, seven years ago, Rich taught Sunday School for 15 years. He meaning, for those who are not familiar, that he doesn’t hike and his family were drawn to Bay Area primarily due to the or bike “just to do it.” Rather, there has to be a destination Student Ministry. After making the move, Rich wasted no in mind – hiking and biking with purpose – like when Rich time looking for opportunities to serve. He participated in rode through Death Valley from Las Vegas to Los Angeles for the Sunday morning chair ministry for a number of years a cancer charity. Even in biking, Rich’s motivation is serving. before accepting the nomination as a deacon. “If I was nominated, I took that as being from God, so I just followed

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arry and Jen Willhite have always had a heart for adoption.

Barry’s uncle is adopted; Jen has two grandparents, a niece and two cousins who are adopted. With four kids of their own close in age – Lydia, Kathryn, Andrew and Melanie – they began with fostering, caring for 10 babies over three years through Bethany Christian Services (BCS). The whole family found it increasingly hard to part with each child; the kids would ask, “Can’t we adopt? Can’t we keep one?”

“Dear Jesus, please let them stay with us,” they would pray before saying goodbye.

In February of 2014, the Willhite family began to feel strongly that they should adopt.

On July 26, 2014, Barry and Jen’s fifth child, Tyler Avram Willhite, was born.

They first learned about him two months later, in September 2014, through an email sent by BCS to families waiting to adopt. He has respiratory issues, feeding issues, and most likely, skeletal

for the baby and his adoptive family, not realizing until another email came in October – “We’re still looking for a family” – that God was calling them to be that loving home. At that point, Jen knew. The kids knew. But Barry, admittedly, was scared. Early one Saturday morning, God woke him up and told him to go off and pray.

The kids walked away from that conversation picking baby names; Mom and Dad simply felt called to obey. There were periods of doubt throughout the process, Jen noted, but every time God affirmed this was what they were supposed to do – even through people sending checks and cards of encouragement at just the right times.

“He really impressed on my heart His heart for adoption, and how he takes very imperfect people like me and welcomes me into His family and adopts me despite all my imperfections,” Barry shared. “And He wants me to do the same for this child, who the world looks at and says is very imperfect.”

The Willhites called BCS, and met 3-month-old Tyler in the hospital in early November 2014.

“We could have easily said, ‘We’ll pray for this kid but this isn’t the right one.’ Man, we would have missed out on the blessing!” Barry reflected. “I am so glad that I didn’t go with my initial reaction, because my initial reaction was, ‘This is a job for someone else.’”

Six-year-old Melanie highlighted with a smile, “But we put our trust in God and we didn’t miss out, because we love God and we listened to Him!” Two weeks after they met Tyler, they learned his full diagnosis: He had Stuve-Wiedemann Syndrome.

Most babies die by the age of one or two of respiratory failure or high fever.

“It was really neat to see God prepare and equip us for what He called us to do,” Jen stressed. “He didn’t just say, ‘Adopt this kid,’ and leave us to do it.”

Instead, the Lord prepared the Willhites through fostering. Caring for and saying goodbye to 10 babies enabled the Willhite children to see past the tubes hanging off of Tyler. While adults were timidly cautious around him, Lydia, Kathryn, Andrew and Melanie would pick Tyler up and throw him in the air like a perfectly healthy baby.

“We decided we needed some counsel – to decide to adopt Tyler meant … we were deciding that the kids were going to lose a brother,” Barry said.

dysplasia – pray about it, the email explained. Jen’s attention wasn’t drawn to the challenges his adoptive parents might face, however; her heart caught on the fact that he was full Romanian.

Over a decade earlier, in college, Jen had gone on a mission trip to Romania, and had wanted to adopt a Romanian boy ever since. The only obstacle? It’s impossible: Since 2004, Romania has banned international adoptions.

She, Barry and the kids began praying

Jen added, “When we found out his diagnosis, Greg and Mary Kaye [St. Cyr] came over, and they helped us see that just because his diagnosis changed didn’t change our calling to adopt him.”

“We took it to the kids, and they were quicker,” Barry continued. “We said to them, ‘We just found out that this baby is most likely medically not Tyler spent the first five months of his life in the hospital, where he went into going to live very long.’” respiratory failure twice. Once he was home Their son Andrew, who was 7 at with the Willhites, he was hospitalized the time, said, “Well dad, none of us three times in four months; a simple cold knows how long we’re going to live; landed him in the pediatric intensive care it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t adopt unit for a week. He required 24/7 care and him.” the support of in-home nurses. He had N OV E M B E R GO&MAKE 19

constant appointments with a dozen specialists. But every time he got knocked down, Jen emphasized, God picked him back up again.

Despite tremendous health complications, he was characterized by joy, smiles and laughs. Except when his physical therapist visited – Tyler greeted her with a glare that cracked his brother and sisters up.

He was a determined little guy. Tyler would crawl as far as his oxygen tube would let him, then yank the thing out and keep on crawling. He loved to play peekaboo. The highlight of his day was Dad’s arrival home from work.

Ten-year-old Kathryn enjoyed watching him try new foods; she gave him a slice of cucumber one day – one of her personal favorites – and he smiled at her with half of the green disc protruding from his infant mouth.

In a lot of ways, Barry and Jen said, Tyler was very much a normal baby throughout his 14 months on earth.

The night before her little brother passed away, 12-yearold Lydia’s homework assignments included creating a newsletter; part of it was to be about her hero. “My hero is my baby brother Tyler,” she wrote. “This is because he has a lot of problems and challenges in life and is such a little overcomer. He has a trach, a feeding tube and many other challenges. He is 1 year old and already crawling, even though he spent his first five months of life in the hospital. He is my hero.”

Tyler was freed from the illness that consumed his earthly body on September 9, 2015. During his memorial service the following week, Greg St. Cyr reminded the hundreds who had gathered to celebrate Tyler’s life with his family, “God has such a grand redemptive plan for all those who love Him that one day Jesus is going to return and re-create the heavens and the earth, and give us a brand new body. I can’t wait to see what Tyler is going to look like.”

Throughout their time with Tyler, God did a million things at once, Barry explained, and it blew him and his family away to see how He cares for them and provides for them when they step out in faith. The kids have learned

Tyler Avram Willhite

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to love others just as they are – to “never judge a book by its cover,” Lydia illustrated.

“I’m so glad we adopted him” were the first words out of Kathryn’s mouth the day Tyler passed away. Though the kids’ hearts were broken over the loss of their baby brother, they were full of love for God’s children. While still at the hospital that day, Andrew said, “Can we start fostering or adopt again?”

Throughout Tyler’s life and, in particular, during the weeks following his passing, there’s one thing the Willhites have heard too often: “It’s amazing what you did, but I could never do it.” You are absolutely wrong, Barry will tell folks who are quick to praise his family while negating their own abilities. You could do it – you just have to be available. If you’re a willing vessel, God will fill you with love so you can pour it out to someone else.

“Yeah, life changed. I’m not saying it was easy,” Barry said.

“But the strength, love, joy and grace for every day – God supplied. He just needed us to be available. God’s not going to call you to something you can’t do.”

It was more than a simple act of obedience: It was obedience to God’s calling no matter the cost. And, like the feeding of the 5,000 with the two fish and five loaves, God took the Willhites’ little bit of obedience and turned it into more than they could ever imagine. He continues to use Tyler’s life to impact the hearts and lives of the Willhites’ family and friends today.

“Even though it’s been really hard – the grief has been crazy hard for all of us – I wouldn’t trade a minute of anything we’ve gone through this whole year, because countless people have been touched,” Barry said. “Despite all the work that Tyler was, the last six months our home was filled with laughs and smiles and joy, and Tyler was surrounded by joy and love for his whole short life.”

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W

hen our team members Deb and Stephanie finished sharing their faith stories with 20 Polish women, it was clear that many were deeply moved.

Invited by Damaris Otremba to take part in a craft workshop and to hear from her American guests, these friends to whom she had been reaching out were learning more about the power of the Gospel.

Shortly thereafter, the guys met in the cellar of a 400-year-old pub to talk about how to cope with the pressures men face.

Tomek Otremba introduced the men on our team, then Dan shared how faith in Jesus had completely changed how he was living his life.

As I write, we are three days into our short term mission trip to Cieszyn, Poland, to serve with Tomek and Damaris, two of BACC’s global church planters. They are unique in that both of them were born in Poland as “PKs” (preachers’ kids). They knew one another growing up through various Christian camps, but it wasn’t until college that they began to fall in love.

Our story with Damaris predates their love story. When Greg and I lived in Poland, we were very close to Damaris’ parents. While in Gdansk, we invited her father, Moner, to be our first retreat speaker. When Moner came, he brought not only his wife but also Damaris.

When we moved to Warsaw, Damaris was our children’s favorite babysitter.

It wasn’t until we returned to Poland in 1999 that we finally had the opportunity to meet this young man, Tomek, who had just married our precious Damaris.

Fortunately, he got two thumbs up from me and Greg!

In 2001, Tomek and Damaris felt the call of God to plant churches in Poland. They traveled to Annapolis to spend time with us, and it was then that the leadership of BACC felt that God was leading us to partner with them. In 2002, Tomek and Damaris planted Genesis Church in Poznan. Our involvement took a giant step in 2005 when Brian Hopper and Bill Smith led a large team to Poznan to help the Otrembas with this young church plant.

Soon thereafter, Bill and Diane Smith began leading an annual mission trip to Poland, which brought great encouragement and training for Genesis Church.

Then in 2011, Tomek and Damaris began to sense God stirring them to plant another church. With Genesis under strong leadership, the Otrembas stepped out in faith again, moving to Cieszyn.

Cieszyn borders the Czech Republic.

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POLA

AND

by Mary Kaye St. Cyr

During Communist days in Poland, Greg and I would regularly pass through Cieszyn on our way to Vienna. We never could have imagined that one day God would have us lock arms with a church plant in this city. For the last four years, the Otrembas have been sharing the Gospel, making disciples, and gathering people into Missional Communities. God has provided a core of mature, committed leaders, and the church is starting to grow.

the Otrembas

important is that we pray for and encourage them, send short term trips, and provide mentoring. Every mission trip has a huge impact.

For example, our time here consists of prayer-walking the city, serving the community, putting on social events to share testimonies and the Gospel with people the church is reaching out to, and encouraging the Otrembas and church leaders. Sometimes it is easy to overlook Greg noted that the way God led our the ministry of “presence.” The presence church to Poland is not unlike how He has of our team is a great encouragement to led BACC to other countries: As a church, Tomek, Damaris and their leadership team. we get involved through relational open doors. It’s natural for us to serve in Poland Damaris remarked they wish they didn’t because of the relationships he and I have to give us back to BACC after our have in Poland. He illustrated the same trip, expressing her gratitude for our holds true for many of our other global church family back home. “We are so missions partners: Bay Area has a heart proud of Bay Area and the quality people for Ghana because Global Missions Pastor that they are sending to us on mission Casely Essamuah is Ghanaian, and for trips,” she shared with me, adding, “Your Uganda because his wife, Angela, is from church has a great part in our ministry Uganda. We became involved in India here to the Polish people.” because of the longstanding relationship BACC member Barry Spofford had with As both the women and the men wrapped Pastor Samuel Devraj. The list, which up their evenings early in our trip, we includes our partners in South Sudan and were surprised that the hour approached Brazil as well, goes on. midnight and no one was interested in leaving. I was equally surprised that the Simply put, Greg explained, we seek to Lord brought back my Polish language prayerfully discern where God is opening and I was able to share and tell funny relational doors, and then step boldly stories from our years living Poland. through them for the sake of the nations. But even more rewarding is knowing that God is at work through Tomek and Throughout the Otrembas’ journey on Damaris and this young church plant. I’m mission in Poland, Bay Area has been grateful to be part of a church that loves a huge help. Financially, we stand global missions, especially Poland! with Tomek and Damaris. But equally N OV E M B E R GO&MAKE 23

MISSIONAL COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: KYLE & JENN

By Rachel Perry

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hree years ago, with a 2-yearold and a very pregnant wife, Kyle Sponaugle left the comfort of his established Missional Community to start one with his wife, Jenn. All Missional Communities go through times of growth, transition and the thing we all try to avoid: change.

Multiplications of these communities is a natural part of their cycle, with new groups birthing out of existing groups in order to reach more people in the church and community. This necessary birth out of their former group came at a time when Kyle and Jenn were living in downtown Annapolis to be close to their work: leading the ministry of Cru on the Naval Academy Yard, a role in which they’ve served for eight years.

“We used to be a young married Missional Community; now it’s become a young families group,” Kyle remarked about how much their group has already changed in three years.

Jenn added, “We’ve kind of grown up together as families.” For whatever

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reason, their Monday night family has consisted of numerous transitional folks who have come and gone for a year or two at a time. Changing so often can be difficult, but the purpose of the group remains the same: to love each other, love their neighbors, and love God back in the context of fellowship and community.

Loving their neighbors wasn’t something that Kyle and Jenn had to work hard at; it happened organically.

“People have literally knocked on our door and asked about joining our group,” Jenn explained. This has happened at least three times, neighbors asking about either church or their Missional Community, likely as a result of noticing something different about how the Sponaugles live their lives.

Kyle met a couple that lives down the street at their neighborhood playground. The husband, Cornell, is Russian, and his wife Desi is Bulgarian;

Photo by Victoria Selman

N SPONAUGLE they’ve only been in the U.S. for 10 years. Not only is the Christian life somewhat of a mystery to them, but American culture still is as well. About a year ago, the Sponaugles ran into Cornell at the mall, and he shared with them that his wife had just given birth to their second child and was still in the hospital. Jenn reached out to Desi and asked if they could bring a meal, to which she replied, “That would be great!”

This simple gesture went a long way.

When Jenn brought over the meal, she was able to talk and connect with Desi and mentioned that other friends from her church would also love to bring meals. Soon the whole Missional Community became involved in this family’s life. After a few months of inviting the couple to join them on Monday nights, and a couple social gatherings later, Desi said to Jenn, “Maybe we could come to your Bible study and you could teach us something.”

“She actually asked to come… that does not happen,” said Jenn. Only a couple weeks later, Desi and Cornell showed up on a Monday night, and have been coming faithfully every week since.

Growing up with hardly any church background or spiritual influence, they are now hungry to learn about scripture and what it means to live it out in their home, jobs, and throughout their lives.

In September, Desi and Cornell invited the whole Missional Community over to their house for a barbecue. They also invited one of their friends, Ana, who shared with Jenn that she was really nervous about an upcoming interview. Jenn offered to pray for Ana as she was leaving the party, who quickly responded, “Yes please! But I don’t know what to do.” Explaining that Ana just needed to stand there, Jenn included the whole group to pray with them as well. A similar occurrence happened the following week, when Desi exclaimed, “Jenn, the

craziest thing happened this morning at breakfast. Andrea [their 3-year-old daughter] asked us to pray for her food!”

The story of Kyle and Jenn Sponaugle’s Missional Community is over a year in the making, and far from being over. Kyle explained he doesn’t feel like he and Jenn acted quickly enough or were as efficient and faithful as he would’ve wanted. But that provides a clear testimony not to the efforts of men but to the work of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives, operating in His perfect timing and never according to our schedules or plans.

Outreach looks different for different people – but the purpose is always the same: to share the love of Jesus with those around us. In Kyle and Jenn’s case, loving their neighbors has been simple, creating an avenue and a model for the rest of their Missional Community to come alongside and welcome this couple and others as a part of their spiritual family.

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“Then Jesus said to his followers, ‘Don’t you understand this story? The farmer is like a person who plants God’s message in people. Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it.’” - Mark 4:13-14, 20

A

s a Christian, I believed until recently that I had failed in some way if I shared God’s love with someone and they didn’t make a decision to follow Christ right then and there. One of the great lessons I learned during my mission trip to El Salvador in 2014 is that God gives us many opportunities to simply plant seeds of faith in people’s lives, and that is often tremendously important to a lost soul’s journey to salvation.

Two others from our mission team and I were led by the Holy Spirit to visit Luis, a 23-year-old man living in the village of El Guayabo. After we shared our personal testimonies, Luis 26 GO&MAKE N OV EM B ER

accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Before we left, Luis mentioned that his earthly father was a devout Christian and that he and other missionaries had spent time speaking to him about Christ before the day we met him. We realized we were blessed to be a part of bringing in the spiritual harvest of the seeds that others before us had planted.

Even before leaving El Salvador, God led me into several situations where I was determined to plant some seeds of faith. Our team made a quick stop for supplies at a local dollar store and I had an opportunity to speak to a security guard whose real name was Julius Caesar. Julius asked me why we were in, as he called it, “the world’s most dangerous country.” With this Spirit-led opening, I told him about our mission trip and asked him if he knew Jesus as his personal savior, and I proceeded to talk to him about a personal relationship with Christ.

When the team had the opportunity to visit a local artisan market, I decided to purchase a machete and have my name engraved on it. (Don’t laugh, a lot of folks do it.) There, I felt led to share my faith in Christ to the couple that was managing the little shop. When I was finished speaking, I led them in a prayer of repentance and acceptance of Jesus as their Savior.

Invigorated by these and other experiences in El Salvador, I decided then that when I returned home, I would respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit, no matter the time or place, and speak about God. Below are just a few of the opportunities I have had to plant seeds of faith since then.

It’s my hope that they will serve as an encouragement for people to step out in faith as the Holy Spirit leads to plant Gospel seeds in the hearts of those around them.

Pulled pork smothered in “Smokey Mountain” sauce with a side of mac-ncheese was waiting for me. The word was out about the new restaurant in town, and, as is usually the case, it seemed everyone else in the greater Annapolis area wanted to sample the offerings at the new dining venue. After waiting in the long line and making our dinner selections, we spotted the invaluable commodity of the evening – a table. We stealthily moved through the crowd and somehow managed to claim to it. A short time later, I headed to the self-serve soda fountain for refills and I saw a young couple desperately looking for an open table. At an earlier time in my life, I would never have done this, but on this night, I asked them if they wanted to join us at our table. I was surprised and a little apprehensive, but also pleased, when they accepted.

Perhaps they thought that they would be able to quietly eat at our table for four, but I immediately engaged them in conversation. I asked them some questions about themselves and the conversation began to get lively. Getting more comfortable, waiting for the moment when it felt right, I directed the conversation toward God. They shared their beliefs and their expectations about an afterlife. While the wife expressed a desire to be closer to God, the husband said he didn’t know what to believe.

Before the end of the meal, we urged them to attend church somewhere, and invited them to Bay Area.

It was Memorial Day weekend and starting my weed-whacker had become less of a chore and more of a battle.

After taking it apart and putting it back together, I determined to give the starter rope a yank that would make Schwarzenegger proud. With that, the machine once again failed to start and my shoulder made a strange and painful popping sound. Soon, I was headed to see Dr. Ty House, an exceptional orthopedic surgeon.

Dr. House sent me to get an MRI and it was at the radiology office that I sat near a man who looked as if he had just gone 12 rounds with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. But his bandages, slings and braces weren’t the focus of my attention.

Rather, I was surprised that he was seemingly ignoring the very visible sign that read, “Please Turn Off Cell Phones!”

The man was quite unpleasant to the individual on the other end of the call, making me uncomfortable.

Eventually, he finished his call while I was at the front desk. As I turned toward him, I was suddenly overcome by the sadness that was etched across his face and then the Holy Spirit spoke to me.

I approached the man and teasingly inquired, “How does the other guy look?”

He explained that he had been hit by a pickup truck! His voice was in direct contrast from the one I heard speaking on the phone and I began to feel empathy for him.

Surprising myself, I placed my hand on his shoulder and said, “I want you to know that I am a Christian. I believe in God and Jesus, and I want you to know I am going to be praying for you to get better very soon.”

He responded with a mumbled, “Thank you.” With that, I departed.

I dropped my car at a local dealership and a very pleasant service department representative checked me in. After we took care of the business at hand, I began to pepper the Middle Eastern gentleman with questions about his professional background and his personal life.

Eventually, I felt the time was right for me to ask him if he believed in God. His response surprised me as he expounded on pantheistic beliefs.

Frankly, I didn’t have a good response ready, but pulling my thoughts together, I asked him if I could share my beliefs with him and he agreed. I told him how at an early age I gave my heart and life to who I believed is the one true God and

accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I then told him about faith and salvation by grace. I ended with explaining how my life was radically changed recently and how the Holy Spirit dwells in me and directs my life.

The gentleman didn’t argue any points with me, and in fact, said he appreciated me sharing my story with him. I told him I wanted to speak more with him about Jesus when I came back to pick up my car. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to spend more time with him, but I believe that seeds were planted.

The first thing that struck me about the therapy assistant was the jewelry in her nose. Over a number of visits to get my surgically repaired shoulder back in working order, I gradually learned more about her. She was a loving daughter, had a boyfriend who ran a beer stand at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and she was going to college for a still undecided major.

One day she said she was taking her mother skydiving for her birthday. They would both ride tandem with a trained diver. Informing her I am terribly afraid of heights, I figured this was a nice way to transition to a conversation about God. “Aren’t you afraid something might happen and you will fall to your death?”

I asked. Not appreciating the question, she responded she never considered the possibility.

I pressed forward, “Don’t you ever think about what will happen to you when you die? I mean, do you believe in Heaven?

How about God? Jesus is cool, don’t you agree?”

The best she could respond was a feeble, “I guess.”

So, I asked her if I could tell her what I believe. She listened intently to my story, but made no comment and asked no questions. I asked her to keep in mind what I had told her.

A few years ago, Jerry Shirlen said he would never go on a mission trip. It was unlikely he would ever see himself as a “missionary.” But in 2014, Jerry felt the call of the Holy Spirit to participate in a short term mission trip to El Salvador. Since then, Jerry’s faith has been radically transformed.

He and his wife, Janice, have started a Missional Community; he returned to El Salvador a second time; and he now embraces his identity as a missionary. Relating to Jerry’s experience, people often share with him their stories of faith. We’ve invited him to share those accounts in Go&Make through an ongoing series of articles titled “The Unlikely Missionary.”

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lectrical and plumbing are finished. The studs are in place and the sheetrock is hung. Sans finishing touches, Downtown Hope’s new gathering space at 255 West Street is just about complete.

Tucked between the Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency and an Indian restaurant, across from Miss Shirley’s Café, the unassuming space would be easy to miss driving through Annapolis’ Arts District along the upper West Street corridor.

But soon, when its doors are open – hopefully before Christmas – 255 West will become familiar to many as a place of hope for the city.

“The vision is that it would be an estuary, a space of mission where people who are believers and people who are not yet believers can share a space, and for those who aren’t yet believers to hear, see and experience the Gospel in an environment that doesn’t necessarily feel or look like a church,” explained DH Pastor Joey Tomassoni.

He added, “The [Sunday] gathering is one hour out of 168 hours a week, so our hope is that the space would be used by the city … on more than just Sunday morning.”

During the other 167 hours a week, the space will serve as an art gallery and music venue where local artists can display and perform their latest work, as well as a gathering space for community organizations. Additionally, it will serve as a training center in which the DH team can continue to train and equip believers to care for the poor and make disciples.

Drywall now defines the distinct spaces that together compose the church: Adjacent to the front doors, a movable wall will display art for the enjoyment of passersby on west Street and serve as a backdrop for the worship team inside. The front half of the space will house a sanctuary with seating for roughly 150. The back half comprises classrooms, an office, restrooms and a nursery.

Joey noted that, along every step of the way – from finances to volunteers, even protection – God’s provision has been incredible. Onsite coordinator John Simms, a retired contractor, volunteers his time at the site nearly full-time and was hard at work one day when a man entered the space, hit him on the shoulder with a shovel, and tried to mug him. If he had been hit in the head, Joey said, he could very well have been killed.

One of the greatest displays of God’s provision has been in the volunteers he has brought from across the greater Annapolis region to help with the build. Joey noted he stopped in one morning to help out, and found people from Bay Area, Downtown Hope, Chesapeake Christian Fellowship, Annapolis Evangelical Presbyterian Church and others all working together. Many churches in the area have supported the project not only through providing able bodies, but also through committing to give sacrificially alongside the people of DH to finance the space.

It’s been a blessing to see the body of Christ rise up to help, Joey said, explaining that the theme of DH’s building campaign – RISE UP + BUILD – comes from Nehemiah.

Volunteer Coordinator Tom Ferrara added, “It’s really cool to see a lot of the churches in the area, especially the older ones with large congregations, coming to support Downtown Hope, which is relatively new and small.”

For Tom, recruiting help has also provided opportunities to be missional. Tom oversees Downtown Hope’s outreach in Annapolis’ public housing communities.

During the build, he learned that one of his friends from Woodside Gardens, Deonte, is an electrician, and was able to connect him with the contractor at 255 to do electrical work – providing further opportunities for relationship building.

Much of the work at 255 West is complete, but opportunities to serve – including painting, installing trim and assembling furniture – remain for those interested in volunteering. To learn more about opportunities to serve or to follow the build’s progress, go to www.downtownhope.org/255west.

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CARE NETWORK

HAPPENINGS

BAPTISM Wo u l d y o u l i ke t o b e b a p t i z e d ?

For more information...

• K-5th: contact gail.wiles@bayareacc.org

Are you in the midst of any of these struggles or challenges: the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce, job loss, addiction, discouragement, spiritual crisis, loneliness, parenting difficulties or any other challenge? These types of experiences can happen at any time in our spiritual journey.

Perhaps you even know of someone who is struggling and could use some help right now. God’s intention is that we engage with others and not walk alone through these circumstances.

Jesus wants to see us through challenges instead of avoiding or going around them. God is in the business of of restoring and renewing all things and we believe no person is beyond His redemption and grace. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Christ-centered ministry that assists those seeking help by serving as a bridge to hope and healing through a variety of resources. After an assessment, we offer appropriate referrals within BACC and other outside resources such as Care Coaches, Missional Communities, financial assistance, Celebrate Recovery, Christian counselors, or an appropriate agency or program in the community. If you need help or have questions, email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org.

• 6-12th: contact brent.squires@bayareacc.org • Adults: contact arianne.teeple@bayareacc.org

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits and hangups keep you isolated. Let Celebrate Recovery be a place of healing, hope and community for you. We meet every Monday night, even on holidays, at 7 p.m. for worship, a lesson/testimony, open share groups and fellowship. We share a meal together every first and third Monday of the month from 6-7 p.m. Third Mondays are potluck dinners. Stop by our kiosk in the lobby every first Sunday of the month to talk with Celebrate Recovery representatives and learn more. Contact Tom at tmuth57@gmail.com or leanne. lane@bayareacc.org for more information.

CONNECT WITH BAY AREA If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a grey shirt in the lobby after each Sunday gathering or visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/new.

CELEBRATION PLACE Celebration Place, the program for children at Celebrate Recovery, is on a hiatus until further notice. The need for this children’s program has declined in the last few months as fewer and fewer children have come with their parents to CR. N OV E M B E R GO&MAKE 31

Until the need arises in the future there will be no Celebration November 29, and focus on the Lord’s Prayer. This is an Place for children. activity designed to begin faith conversations in the comfort of your home. We encourage you to share your experience on HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION our Kids at Bay Area Facebook page.

If you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound we would love to serve you. Contact us so that we can learn more WAVE RIDERS about how to be of assistance. Contact Leanne at leanne.lane@ Wave Riders is a community of bayareacc.org or call 443-837-3718. parents and kids ages 5 and under MARRIAGE MINISTRY TEAM Do you as a couple have a deep desire to see couples start and stay strong in their marriages? Have you been married 10+ years? Come join our growing Marriage Ministry team. This team seeks to encourage existing marriages through the development and scheduling of enrichment/ educational opportunities throughout the year. Some of these opportunities are Learning Communities, Marriage workshops, special events and small group Bible studies.

To learn more about the Marriage Ministry at BACC go to bayareacc.org/marriageministry or contact Leanne at leanne. lane@bayareacc.org.

PREMARITAL MENTORING Are you newly engaged? Or are you thinking about getting engaged? Premarital Mentoring is just what you need! Strong marriages are the cornerstone of a healthy, Jesus-centered family. BACC’s Premarital Ministry equips future and existing marriages with the tools they need to make it in marriage.

The premarital mentor program pairs couples with marriage mentors, couples who have been married for 10+ years, to help prepare them for marriage. It doesn’t matter whether a Bay Area pastor is officiating your wedding, being prepared is the key! This is the best gift you can give each other as you start your life together as man and wife. Email premarital. ministry@bayareacc.org for more information.

TEMPORARY HOUSING Occasionally couples come to the Premarital Ministry who are living together. We believe strongly in the Marriage Ministry that the best way to honor God is to remain pure and physically separated until marriage. Do you have space in your home that could be used by either a man or a woman on a temporary basis in order to fulfill this desire? To learn more contact Leanne Lane at leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or call 443-837-3718.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIVE 45 Mark your calendars for our upcoming Dive 45 “Movie Night” for fourth- and fifth-graders on Friday, November 20, from 7-9 p.m. at BACC. Bring a sleeping bag, a few bucks, and invite a friend. Movies, games, and concession snacks will be there. RSVP is required at bayareacc.org/dive45.

TAKE IT HOME SUNDAY Don’t forget to pick up the Take It Home activity we’ve prepared for your family. They will be in each of your children’s areas Sunday, 32 GO&MAKE N OV E M B E R

that gather together for playdates and to connect and build relationships.

If you’re a parent of a preschooler or a parent-to-be, please join us. We’re passionate about parents and kids, and especially about sharing experiences and encouraging one another. Join us at our upcoming two gatherings on November 12 & 30. For more details visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/waveriderplaygroup or contact Stacey Burkhardt at stacey.burkhardt@bayareacc.org.

CONNECTING MINISTRY

DISCOVER BAY AREA New to Bay Area? We’re glad you are here! You may have some questions about who we are or what we believe so join us on November 1 at 12:45 p.m. in the Bay Cafe for Discover Bay Area.

Get a free lunch and hear from a few of our pastors and staff about our mission, values, and how you can get plugged in. No RSVP necessary, kids are welcome. Hope to see you there!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERS Our team consists of individuals who have a heart for kids. Our workers are paid and we are consistently looking to add to our team. We provide KidCare to all ministries of Bay Area including The Well, Missional Communities, and various events throughout the year. If you or someone you know are interested in joining, contact Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org or visit the Children’s Welcome on Sundays for more info.

MEN’S BIBLE STUDIES MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays from 6-7:30 a.m. in room 236 at BACC. Contact Dennis at dbradylaw@aol.com for more information.

GLOBAL MISSIONS 2015 SHORT TERM MISSIONS New trips are in the process of being planned, so continue to look for updates. Contact Global Missions Pastor Casely Essamuah at casely.essamuah@bayareacc.org for more information.

EL SALVADOR November 7-15

FINANCIALS

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

Operating Budget Financial Update As of October 11, 2015

AMBASSADOR TEAM: Love being at Bay Area? We need you! Share your love with newcomers and help them feel connected in our church family. Contact: jocelyn.rimbey@ bayareacc.org

New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2015 Fiscal Year Giving Goal

$4,116,000

YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal (10.1% Ahead) OCTOBER To Date Received OCTOBER To Date Giving Goal

$495,825 $450,538 $45,287 $183,321 $153,504

For weekly financial updates, please visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/financials.

Please be sure to designate all Building Fund donations on the memo line of your check: “One & Only Life” for original building debt or “Beyond884” for the new building expansion. Please note all undesignated checks will go toward the general operating fund.

How Do I Support The Cause of Beyond884: Room For People?

Preferred Methods eCheck: Go to www.bayareacc.org/give to give online through your checking account through a one-time or recurring donation on My Bay Area.

Direct Debit: Go to www.bayareacc.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to the BACC Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month.

Personal Check: Write “Beyond884” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to BACC (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401).

Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to BACC. Be sure to note “Beyond884” on the memo line.

AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Contact: tres.cozad@bayareacc.org BAY CAFÉ & ESPRESSO BAR: Do you love coffee and lattés? Enjoy hospitality? Join our team in the Bay Cafe and/ or espresso bar. Contact: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Contact: chairs@bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Do you have a heart to serve families with special-needs children? Want more info on how you can serve in this unique way?

Contact: chyloe.cheetham@bayareacc.org ELEMENTARY CASTING CALL: Do you have creative drama experience, enjoy worship or appreciate creative environments? We are currently recruiting for our large group drama and worship team and building an elementary creative team to assist with theming our spaces. Contact: aimee.coyle@bayareacc.org COMMUNION TEAM: Contact: arianne.teeple@bayareacc.org PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting those arriving at church. Contact Steve: parking@ bayareacc.org SAFETY TEAM: If you are passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS, or First Responders and want to serve in this area contact Ed at safety@bayareacc.org.

HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION: Interested in being part of a team to reach out to those hospitalized or homebound?

Contact: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org

MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER September and early October was a time of focus on Missional Communities at Bay Area. About 150 people joined us for what we call MC Tasters: a time to learn about what MCs are. Currently those 150 are getting plugged into our 40 MCs. Now, we are in a time of flux as new leaders are trained up and the MCs flex to receive the new members. We are looking at a start time of January 2016 for the new Missional Communities.

If you’re interested in getting plugged into community at Bay Area, consider joining us for our next MC Taster on January 10 in the Warehouse at 12:45 p.m. RSVP online at bayareacc.org/ mctasterrsvp or email us at mc@bayareacc.org for more info.

ISRAEL TRIP Have you ever been interested in taking a Biblical tour of the Holy Land? In March 2016, Pastor Ed Kelley will lead an 11day trip to Israel that will trace the footsteps of Jesus. To learn more or sign up, email Ed at ed.kelley@bayareacc.org.

PRAYER MINISTRY Did you know BACC has an entire ministry devoted to prayer?

The BACC Prayer Ministry is made up of teams of individuals devoted to gathering in prayer for our worship gatherings, the pastors, our missional efforts and missionaries, the ministries of the church, those who are sick or saddened by grief, and those who are wrestling with life’s struggles. The Prayer Ministry provides an opportunity for us to gather together and share our hearts with our Father who loves us. Let’s pray together.

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The prayer room is located on the second floor of BACC. Also, every Sunday immediately following the gatherings, members of our prayer team are up front and to the right of the stage if you would like someone to pray with. For more information about prayer or the teams, go to bayareacc.org/prayer or contact Pat at pat.linnell@bayareacc.org.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES Learning Communities are intended to strengthen your biblical knowledge, character and/or practical ministry skills.

They are also an opportunity to get to know others at BACC on Sunday mornings while in an environment of learning and interaction. For more information about learning communities go to bayareacc.org/learningcommunities.

LOCAL OUTREACH LOCAL OUTREACH SERVING OPPORTUNITIES Missional Communities often don’t know how to get involved with serving locally. We’re here to help. There are many organizations in the Annapolis area that will be blessed by your involvement; we’d love to connect you with them. Go to bayareacc.org/localoutreach and fill out the short involvement form there.

SERVING MISSIONARIES Are you administratively gifted? Do you want to see missionaries be successful? Email us at outreach@bayareacc. org to start the conversation. We have local missionaries that would be blessed by your gift.

SHARE YOUR BLOOD The AAMC Blood Bus will be in the church parking lot from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 15. Save a life (or three) by donating your blood that morning.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY THE WELL At Bay Area, we invite women to join us on a spiritual journey in community with others.

Like the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus meets us where we are and leads us to the next step. The Well at Bay Area is a place where women can come for spiritual growth. It doesn’t matter if you are new to faith or a longtime follower of Jesus, The Well can provide an opportunity for you to grow. Registration for the next semester of studies will begin in December.

GIFTS FOR CHILDREN Each Christmas season, Bay Area rallies together to bless children in Anne Arundel County through buying Christmas gifts for them. If you are interested in helping out, email WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+) Trevin at giftsforchildren@bayareacc.org. See the article on Join us as we encourage one another in Christ and share about ways to practically care for others. On November 9, we will page 14 for dates and more information. meet to discuss “Remembering Your Story” and bring one written story of our own life to share with the group. We will A NIGHT FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS The Pregnancy Clinic is hosting a presentation of “Knowing meet for lunch together afterwards from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Your Body” at Bay Area on Saturday, November 14, from 6:30-9 The Warehouse. On November 23 Chris Prado will share her p.m. The event is specifically for female students (ages 6th- personal experience from her mission trip to Southeast Asia 12th grade) and their female guardians. The presentation is a this past summer with BACC. For more information, contact three-part DVD series called Focus on Fertility from Heartbeat Cedulie Sanchez at luisandcedulie@gmail.com.

International. The series teaches women the truth of how their bodies work and how to protect this God-given gift of fertility QUILTS FOR KIDS and sexuality so that they are empowered to reverence and On Saturday, November 21, we will meet to sew quilts for kids respect their bodies through abstinence. Each DVD part is from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at BACC in room 235. Bring your followed by small group breakout sessions for smaller guided lunch, a sewing machine, sewing supplies, and we will give you Q and A discussions. For more information or to register, go a quilting kit to sew. Contact Janet Hogan at annapolisQFK@ quiltsforkids.org. to http://bitly.com/KnowYourBody.

BAYAREACC.ORG/CARENETWORK

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YOU CAN BUY A WATERFRONT HOME AND SUPPORT BEYOND884 AT THE SAME TIME!

6 BEDROOMS, 2.5 BATHS 1510 CROCHERON RD, TODDVILLE, MD 21672 $575,000

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT DAN STAEVEN - 410.531.1700

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