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Summer Jam 2016 415
kids came together to learn about Jesus and raised $6,110 for children in South Sudan.
Thank you to the over 200 volunteers who served our children this year!
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12 RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE
IN THIS ISSUE
In the midst of shootings and escalating tentions, Global Missions Pastor Casely Essamuah answers the question, “What is the Christian response to all the violence happening in America today?”
14 CELEBRATING RECOVERY IN COMMUNITY Tim Chamberlin shares his testimony of overcoming addiction through Celebrate Recovery with the help of newfound brothers in Christ.
22 Q&A: STMT LEADER JOHNITA DICKERSON Upon her return in July, we asked El Salvador Team 3 leader Johnita Dickerson a few questions about her experience as a first-time short term mission leader.
18 COVER STORY: HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE Longtime friends Heide and Tori discover the depth of God’s faithfulness and provision along their journey through cancer together.
We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
MAGAZINE CREDITS EDITOR Meredith Thompson ART DIRECTOR Josh Shirlen ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple ASSISTANT EDITOR Jocelyn Sacks LEAD DESIGNER Josh Burgin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jake Williams CONTRIBUTORS Alli Henderson Andy Smith Brian Hopper Casely Essamuah Rachel Kraft Sam Logan Steve Onken
On the cover: Heide & Tori Photo by Josh Shirlen
Gathering Times: 8, 9:15, 11:15am
ELDERS 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 Craig Fadel, Easton Campus Pastor – craig.fadel@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 Sacks, Missional Community Coordinator – jocelyn.sacks@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, arts – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Lynn Dutton, H.R. Administrator – lynn.dutton@bayareacc.org Meredith Thompson, Communications Director – meredith.thompson@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.org Rachel Perry, Connecting Director – rachel.perry@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
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In July, for the first time in my life, I went down with my motorcycle. If you are a rider, something inside you anticipates such a day. The short version of what happened is this: Returning from my Missional Community early on a Saturday evening in order to put the final touches on the following day’s sermon, I was clipped from behind, which sent me into a slide. The driver who hit me fled the scene. By God’s grace, I came away with only bumps and bruises.
As image bearers of God, we were made for adventure. When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them the mandate to subdue and have dominion over the earth. His plan involved the adventure of expanding the garden of Eden throughout the entire world. This mission flowed out of their personal, intimate relationship with Him. The entrance of sin separated humankind from this kind of relationship with God and distorted our understanding of the ultimate adventure.
For those opposed to me riding, you can blame Mike McGehee’s Honda 100 dirt bike. Mike and I spent hours in the eighth grade dirt-biking through the woods of Pearl River, Louisiana. I’ve been hooked ever since.
So, back to my BMW. Yes, it’s a freeing adventure. Yet ultimately it is a pointer to THE grand adventure, the only adventure that can truly satisfy the longings of my heart: the adventure of knowing Christ and being poured out in serving Him.
In light of the accident, many have lovingly encouraged me to surrender my beautiful 2007 BMW K1200 into the arms of another lover. I understand that. All of us need to be soberminded about the multiplicity of stewardships with which God has entrusted us. We need to prayerfully invite the Lord to guide us in all decisions, and certainly be cautious in matters of safety.
What adventure are you giving yourself to? Go ahead and enjoy the many adventures God’s goodness provides, but recognize that whatever that adventure might be, it is but a small picture of your yearning to be part of the greatest adventure of all time: Knowing and being used by God!
So what is it within me that still yearns to ride, even after the spill? It’s this: When I’m riding, something within my soul gets filled up. My spirit is lifted, burdens dissipate, and I become more unshackled from the concerns of this world. I actually feel close to God. In a sentence: I feel free! Certainly, true and lasting freedom comes by being filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, a sense of freedom and fulfillment come upon me when on my Beemer. Why is that? John Eldredge writes, “Adventure, with all its requisite danger and wildness, is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of man.” The thrills of exploring new places, playing sports, hiking unknown trails, going off to college and visiting other countries all point to a deeper spiritual longing: that of knowing Christ.
That’s the grandest adventure of all! That’s the true longing of our souls! That’s what we as a church are committed to. That’s the adventure against which all other adventures pale in comparison. Who knows, with such an all-consuming adventure, I might even sell the Beemer one day (but I’ll have to really pray about that one). May you boldly and wholeheartedly give yourself to His grand adventure! From here to the nations,
Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor
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COMING THIS FALL... LEARNING COMMUNITIES ANGELS, DEMONS & SATAN PRAYER WORKSHOP
8/14 - 9/4 8/28 - 9/25
OLD TESTAMENT PUZZLE
8/28 - 10/16
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY
8/28 - 10/16
MAN UP
9/11 - 10/30
BAYAREACC.ORG/LEARNINGCOMMUNITIES 6 GO&MAKE AUG UST
AUGUST
BOOK: The Gospel According To Jesus AUTHOR: John MacArthur
Hi! I’m not Ed, just so we’re all clear. Ed is on sabbatical and was nice enough to suggest I write a book review in his absence. I was excited at first, and after reading the book “The Gospel According to Jesus” by John MacArthur, I’m even more excited to recommend this book. I’ve been struggling with some doubt in my faith, especially when it comes to the Gospel message. I’ve grown up in the church, so I’ve heard the story of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins more times than I can count, but recently I have been less confident in it. This past spring semester at college, many of my friends who proclaim to be Christians and I had disagreements about fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith such as how salvation works, why Jesus had to die on the cross, and what becoming a follower of Christ really looks like. I became discouraged and confused that there was so much disunity with my friends who also believe in Christ when it came to the Gospel message, the thing that is supposed to unify the church. I told Ed about how frustrated I was and he recommended this book. I am so glad he did. In “The Gospel According to Jesus,” John
MacArthur’s main goal is to show that believing in Jesus and becoming His follower is not merely understanding the facts of His life and death and acknowledging them verbally; rather, it is a recognition of Jesus as Lord of one’s life, and requires a total submission of the life and will to Him. He does this by taking a systematic look at how Jesus preached the way to salvation during His ministry. How did He interact with people? To whom did He reveal His true nature? What did He say when people point-blank asked Him how to attain eternal life? MacArthur builds his argument logically and systematically, and is careful to acknowledge and refute all the counter-arguments, so if you love to analyze and critically look at Scripture, you’ll enjoy his approach. MacArthur spends a lot of time looking at specific interactions Jesus had with people, parables He taught, and sermons He gave so the bulk of the reading is in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, with supporting Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments. I would recommend reading the book with a Bible by your side; that’s how I approached it and I found it very helpful. The book was definitely a dense read, and worth it. MacArthur has a very logical flow so it’s not hard to follow, but in order to really dig into the material, I would recommend setting aside a good chunk of time to read it. MacArthur is blunt and unapologetic in the way he unveils the Gospel. He does not try to sugarcoat the commitment
that Jesus demands from our lives, or the seriousness of our sin, and there were times when I was caught off guard and challenged by what he said. However, it was rejuvenating for me to critically think and go back to the Bible and test what I was reading against it, and I found his points time and again to be Scripturally backed up. The best praise I can give for this book is that it changed the way I thought. It redirected me to Jesus’ life and how Jesus preached the Gospel of Himself, and encouraged me to base my viewpoint of salvation around what He said instead of what I perceive or what I’m told by those around me. If you’re feeling lost or confused about the Gospel as I was, if you want to learn more about the intricacies of the Gospel, or if there are teachings of Jesus that confuse you, I would highly recommend reading this book.
Rachel Kraft is serving this summer as an intern with Bay Area’s connecting and communications teams. A Severna Park native, she will enter her senior year at the University of Delaware this month to complete her degree in computer science. AUG UST GO&MAKE 7
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arly in July Kristen and I drove up to the Boston area for the first time together for my cousin’s wedding. We left super early to get a jump on the eight-hour drive. I like leaving when it still feels like you are asleep, because the first couple hours go by fast since you’re not really awake – although this might not make your passengers that comfortable. Driving at zero-dark-thirty to a new place also makes you completely dependent on Google maps, perhaps the greatest invention to come along since the indoor ice hockey rink. We would have ended up in Canada or stuck in New York traffic if it weren’t for this app. This was a completely app-dependent drive. App-dependency is growing in parallel with our technological advancements and the evergrowing cultural need for new content, new stories, new ideas and instant communication. Most of us don’t realize how much smart tech integrates into the regular life experience. The day I wrote this, for instance, was super weird leaving the house without the ability to call or text Kristen since her phone broke after a run-in with a washing machine. One day all cellphones will be waterproof and we’ll be able to wash them just like clothes. Apps can even be useful in discipleship for the follower of Jesus. Through the right app, you can read the Bible in many different versions or translations, start a reading plan, connect with other believers, watch sermons – even Bay Area Community Church has an app to do things like this. But while technology can be useful in discipleship, I am learning that we often need a good dose of old-school, technology-free time with Jesus. This is especially true for my kids. As a parent of four kids from 2.5 to 9 years old, I can tell you that the struggle to keep them from becoming app-dependent, or even app-
addicted is real. My children are growing up in a world where Wi-Fi is like oxygen. They can’t figure out why the internet is not there all the time. Parents enable this, so parents also need to enable their kids to learn, play, create and grow without technology. This is true in bringing the kids up to know Jesus. We should by all means leverage technology to our advantage, but not allow it to replace our time with our children learning and applying the Bible together. When school ended I took the three older kids to get some notebooks and pens. They each got to pick a notebook in the color or design they liked, and they all got to be in charge of their own felt-tip markers. This was the gear they would need for our “journal time.” About once a day while they are on summer break, we all walk out to a picnic table outside, away from electricity, and they listen to one short story in John’s gospel from my paper Bible, which I end up having to repeat about four times on average. Then they get to re-create the story by drawing a picture of something from the story and writing one sentence that describes it. My oldest has been adding a rhyme or poem that summarizes the story. Our goal is to cover all of the Gospel of John over the summer. This is one way that is currently working in our house in doing some intentional “tech-free” Jesus training. If you are a parent of young kids, please steal this idea, or others that work for your crew. Remember that you are called to train up your kids in the knowledge, love and grace of Jesus – helping them to have the ability to function unplugged. This will demand your time and attention. This important spiritual development is part of your vocation as a parent, and can happen without visiting the app store. Getting to Boston half asleep is a different story.
Pat Linnell is the teaching pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.
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That Last A Lifetime
As I have aged a bit, I’ve come to realize that there are very few things that stay with us for a lifetime.
(Hebrews 4:12) and is truth (John 17:17), it can not only last our lifetime, but also outlast it (as it has). This means it is worthy of holding onto for our entire life.
Every time my wife Suz and I have moved, we’ve purged, often discarding or releasing things that at one time had meaning or significance to us: childhood knickknacks, high school yearbooks, some of our kids’ creations, and of course old clothes (which ironically come back into style at some point). The meaningful things that we thought would stay with us almost never have. And it’s this reality that makes statements like “for a lifetime” hard to believe. “We’ll be best friends for a lifetime!” “This product will last a lifetime!”
This is the oldest known photo in my family. It dates back to 1856. He is my great, great grandfather (pictured) a man of faith who loved Jesus. There have been four generations of Hoppers since him. That was a long time ago. It occurred to me (and I know this sounds obvious) but the same verses that I read in the Scriptures today are also the same ones that he read in his lifetime. And its possible that my life verse could have been his life verse, which means that truth has spoken to both of us in separate generations. Only the word of God can do that. It’s that powerful and meaningful.
I’ll never forget as a teenager the first time I bought and installed my own brake pads. They had a lifetime guarantee, so I thought they would be the last pair of brake pads I would ever have to purchase. Well, 30,000 miles later I had to replace them, not knowing the guarantee was for the lifetime of the pads - not my lifetime. Some lifetime guarantee.
The point is - though having a life verse may seem farfetched, it is something that we all should have. Not because it can outlast a lifetime, but because it has the power to provide meaning, guidance and impact for a lifetime. Those words shape, comfort, teach, rebuke and train us for righteousness. This is why having a life verse is so important.
Things are so temporal now. From things like Snapchat (an app where you only get a glimpse of a picture before it disappears) to Tweets (have to say it all in 140 characters or less), almost everything is designed and built to only last a short time.
Our hope is that our new series about life verses offers you fresh insights about God’s word so that you would embrace the Scriptures in such a way that a verse or a passage (or a chapter or even a book) would so impact you, it would be one of the few things that you carry with you for a lifetime. What is your life verse?
So when we talk about having a life verse - a single sentence (or a passage) in Scripture that has meaning and impact over the course of our life - it seems, well, unimaginable. And if verses were simply just words on a page - ink and paper - it makes sense to discount the idea of a life verse. But since the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), which never returns void (Isaiah 55:11) because it is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword
Brian Hopper is the missional community pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributer to GO&MAKE.
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THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE by Casely Essamuah
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astor, what is the Christian response to all the violence in the streets of the USA?” That was the perceptive question posed to me by a young man from Toronto in July. That weekend, I was at a Ghanaian youth conference in Canada to deliver an opening address. That weekend, the airwaves were filled with the news of two black men who had been tragically and fatally shot by police officers in the U.S., followed by the grave news that five police officers had been killed in the course of their duties. I have since thought some more about my response to that young man’s question, and I would like to share it with my Bay Area family: Those of us who love Jesus and are blessed to live in North America at this time in history are specially privileged to live in Christianmajority countries with democratic systems of government. However, the early church, and frankly most of today’s most active Christians in other regions of the world, lack a numerical majority or democracy. How then shall we live?
What Does the Lord Require? “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with[a] thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 6
Definitely not by withdrawing from the world, especially its political public space. The times call for a public political engagement beyond abortion, family, drugs and marriage issues. The times call for a loud Christian response to the concern for the poor, the suffering, the oppressed, the abused, contemporary slavery and the environment. The prophet Micah, especially in Micah 6:4, helps me understand that our social holiness should always be predicated on the fact that we, too, were freed from slavery to sin. Following such a foundation, Micah 6:6-8 reads: This is an invitation to a socially responsible holiness – a lifestyle that prioritizes the alleviation of the suffering of the weaker members of society. God is not worshiped and obeyed apart from, but instead as part of one’s concern for one’s fellow human being. I wonder what issues God is calling us to champion? Is He looking for us to be a , a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or a Mother Teresa in our day? Let us not give in to the politics of despair, anger or defeatism, but instead be counted as those who stood up for those suffering. Our God is against all injustice and calls us to be his agents in alleviating this pain - not limited to, but including eternal suffering. I don’t know what tomorrow’s headline will be; but, I do know that what God requires of us trumps our greatest fears, and promises hope for those who choose to love as Christ so radically did.
Casely Essamuah is the Global Missions Pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributer to GO&MAKE.
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C E L E B R A T I N G R E C O V E R Y I N C O M M U N I T Y B Y
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S A M
L O G A N
ornography changed Tim Chamberlin’s life. It catalyzed the end of a 34-year marriage when his wife discovered it. Yet through a closer walk with the Lord and Celebrate Recovery, he now lives with a sense of self firmly rooted in Christ and a deeply seated passion to help others find a similar path. Sitting outside the Bay Cafe in mid-July, Tim explained that he came to faith in Jesus at 11. A year later, he met his wife in church. “We were always active in church, always did things together,” Tim said, sharing a stack of memories. As he grew older, married and had kids, Tim worked with the men’s ministry at their church. He hosted a men’s Bible study in his home. He was on the worship team. Yet since his late teens he had turned to pornography when he was frustrated or upset. A mask slowly formed because like many of us, he hid parts of himself. He wanted to be liked. “Sometimes I’d be up there singing and feel so hypocritical. When singing, I meant it. But I wasn’t living the way I wanted to be. I wasn’t pure. It tore me up that I couldn’t beat it on my own. I wanted to stop so badly. You’ve got to admit it. Share it. I was afraid to do that.” Tim transitioned his family to Bay Area in search of a ministry for his youngest son. It was tough to leave their old church. But in a moment in the parking lot before dropping off his boy for youth group, his son told him through tears that he didn’t want to go inside. Tim realized his family needed a change. “On the first night of youth ministry at Bay Area, it took us 20 minutes to get him out of the room. He loved it,” Tim said, smiling at the memory. Settling into his new church in September 2011, Tim chose to “sit back and enjoy it.”
Though he would go months or longer without pornography, he would return to it in the moments when life got hard. It was a sin that festered.
finally walking in. Recounting that first meeting, Tim needed a moment to hold back the emotion that surfaced with the memory.
“When [my wife] found out, I moved into a spare bedroom on the other side of the house,” Tim said, recalling the beginning of the end of his marriage. “I then did everything she asked me to do: counseling, joined Celebrate Recovery (CR), talked to my old pastor, and talked to Greg [St Cyr].”
“After worship and a message, we broke into groups of men and women. I joined the first timers’ group and began to feel comfortable. [The facilitator] asked me if I wanted to share my story. I did … knowing that I had found a safe place. I had a friend who knew the whole story. But I still felt dirty. When I shared it with this guy, [it was like] taking off a mask with a stranger, and being accepted for who I was.”
“ For me, this is real church. Holding each other accountable. [And] once you do defeat your demons, you give back.” Trying to save his marriage, he talked with Greg St. Cyr in the midst of his divorce. Tim remembered a piercing question. “He asked me ‘Are you loving her like Jesus?’ I said yes. He smiled and put his hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eye and asked again, ‘Are you loving her like Jesus?’ It rocked my world when he asked me that the second time. Because I wasn’t.” During those difficult months before his divorce, Tim found himself again in the parking lot - this time alone. He sat in the car wrestling with attending his first CR meeting. “These people have problems I don’t have,” he kept thinking before
“For me,” Tim said of his experience with CR, “this is real church. Holding each other accountable. [And] once you do defeat your demons, you give back.” Some time later, Tim and a few other men formed a group that met separately for accountability and support. He remembers meeting someone new there, who asked: “Will you tell me your story?” Tim did. Once he was finished, the man held up his hand, slightly separating his thumb from his fingers and said, “Before you told me your story, I loved you this much. Now, I love you this much,” he said, arms stretched wide. Though the divorce broke his heart, Tim found a group of brothers he could rely on for support, where he can be honest without judgment. “There’s no freedom like being totally honest,” he said, thinking about his passion for CR and giving back to that community. Today, when temptation hits, Tim finds solace in daily prayer and time in the Word, as well as a close-at-hand support network of guys who are just a phone call away. “Nobody walks alone,” he said.
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A
Life Verse is a verse in the Bible that you live by because it has had an especially significant guiding effect on your life. This month, as we dig deeper into Scripture through examining life verses on Sundays, the GO&MAKE team asked a few of our Bay Area staff members to share their life verses and how God has used them in their lives. Here’s what they had to say: 16 GO&MAKE AUGUST
Matthew 6:33
Ephesians 2:8-9
Colossians 1:17
I chose Matthew 6:33 as my life verse in high school when I was truly seeking after the Lord in a fresh and sincere way. I remember hearing it and thinking how much it made sense. It gave me direction without showing me the whole path. It gave me the first step, the first pursuit and then promised that everything else will simply work out. Now I use this verse to make decisions, to check my motives, and to live my life. If I am seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, everything else will always work out.
Understanding that salvation was a free gift, one which I could do nothing of myself to obtain, was powerful and emotionally liberating. Learning that Jesus had already paid the price for this, God’s gift, allowed me to truly comprehend the extent of His love for me. Hearing that even my greatest efforts toward achieving goodness, purity, forgiveness and independence from the yoke of a sinful life were not good enough was freeing to my spirit. The grace of God was granted to me just by exercising faith in Him.
Each time I face a challenge in my life, whether it be something that happens in ordinary, day-to-day living or something unexpected and life changing, I claim the promise from my Lord in Colossians 1:17. The promise in this Scripture gives my soul rest and peace knowing God is in control.
C R A I G FA D E L Easton Campus Pastor
JERRY SHIRLEN Financial Administrator
LAURIE GREGORY Office Coordinator
Psalm 1:1-3
Psalm 40:1-3
I came to faith in Jesus when I was 12 years old, but it was around 16 or 17 years old that Psalm 1:1-3 began to stick out to me. I would read this set of verses over and over again when I wanted to feel closer to God. I always loved the part about the tree being planted by a stream of water yielding fruit in its season. That actually is my favorite part! This verse has always been sort of an anchor in my life. Anytime I felt hopeless or my life seemed like it was just going in circles, I would go back to this verse and it would always (even today) give me hope. When I read this particular Scripture I feel hope for my future and understand that to bear fruit in season like a tree, I have to already be walking with God in His ways, so that when it’s time for fruit to come forth, it will.
I first came across Psalm 40:1-3 during a Bible study I joined right after college. At that time, I had not yet processed pain from my childhood and teen years. Knowing in advance that God heard my cries and promised to get me out of that pit gave me the hope and courage I needed then (and still need today). He gave me a new perspective on my past and how my story fits into His larger story so that others have been introduced to the God who loves them too. Now, every time I feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges, God reminds me that He is the firm rock upon which I stand that gives me needed stability. I can’t say that I always sing during hard times like the Psalmist, but our faithful God always brings me to a place of surrender so that I can trust Him no matter what the outcome of the circumstance.
DAX CLINKSCALE KidCare Coordinator
JANET GRAVES Women’s Ministry Director
James 1:2
Isaiah 40:31
In personal times of difficulty, it’s easy to shake our fists at the sky and beg, “Why God?” Believe me, I’ve done this. Yet in each of these seasons, God has drawn me into a more intimate relationship with him. Just this past year, I experienced physical issues that kept me in agonizing pain for months. Yet I cannot begin to describe the sweetness of my time with God. With each pang that made me physically weaker, He sustained me and strengthened me spiritually. While in the midst of one of the hardest seasons of my life, I experienced the most precious joy of knowing Him more. So while I’m not looking forward to whatever hardship may lie for me next, I know with full assurance that I have strength gained from my last trial that will bring me through, and that I can look forward to a sweet time with my Lord through it all. I’ll count that as joy.
As a little kid, my brothers and I would sit at the dining room table and listen to People You Should Know, a cassette set of famous American leaders. The story of Glenn Cunningham and the Scripture to which he clung has stayed me all these years. After being badly burned in a schoolhouse fire, doctors planned to amputate his legs, but he fought for his legs while clinging to Isaiah 40:31 and went on to represent the U.S. in two Olympic trials in the 1500. I’ve carried this Scripture in my heart ever since; while battling depression many times throughout my life, clobbered by loneliness for years on end, struggling with purpose, crying out for direction, wanting so desperately to live a vibrant and full life yet feeling crippled in my soul, I have time after time gone back to His promise.
J O C E LY N SACKS Missional Community Director
RACHEL PLETTS Easton Campus Worship Leader
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18 GO&MAKE AUGUST
A V ERY PR ESEN T H ELP
IF
you had talked to Tori in November 2014, she would never in a million years have thought her faith could be rocked. “It’s so strong,” she would have told you. “There’s no way.”
I N
But that was before she lost her job, before her best friend was diagnosed with cancer, before she was diagnosed with cancer. Though it was less than two years ago, it was before relentless interviews, before surgeries, hair loss and chemo, before God seemed to go silent as her faith was put to an unprecedented test.
TI M ES O F TR O U B LE By
Mer ed ith
T hom pson
December 31, 2014, was Tori’s last day on the job in the pharmaceutical sales industry. Her company downsized, and her sales division was eliminated. Earlier in the year, she’d been to her gynecologist to report some abnormalities. “You’re fine,” she was told. Her doctor hadn’t seen the letter in the back of her medical file that stated Tori had a 42 percent chance of developing endometrial cancer because of her familial history of colon cancer. The letter explained Tori needed to have a biopsy and an ultrasound annually beginning at the age of 30, but it was never seen, and the tests were never done. Nearly a year later, in February 2015, her health issues intensified. Again, she was assured she was probably fine. Preoccupied with her job search, Tori took her doctor’s advice to stop taking certain medications and begin taking a new one as she shifted her focus to her best friend’s health.
Tori and Heide met in the Bay Café at Bay Area Community Church nearly a dozen years ago. Close in age, both women were single, both loved the Lord, and both loved to have fun. They became fast friends. AUG UST GO&MAKE 19
Heide visited her doctor in early June 2015 when she began to have strange twitches in her abdomen. Her doctors found cysts, and on June 8 she had one of her ovaries removed. The thought that it could be cancer never crossed her mind, but nine days later her doctor broke the news that it was, in fact, a very aggressive form of ovarian cancer that needed to be dealt with immediately.
“As long as I’m here, whatever job or volunteer position I do, it isn’t about anything other than sharing God’s love with
Before the end of the month, Heide was in an operating room at Mercy Hospital, where she had a complete hysterectomy. The doctors removed her appendix and numerous lymph nodes as well.
others.” - Tori (pictured wrapped in blankets while
Between applying and interviewing for jobs, caring for Heide and taking her to appointments, Tori still didn’t have answers about what was going on in her own body. In July, a new gynecologist told her to get off the pill her previous doctor had prescribed, and to call if her problems persisted. Improvement evaded Tori, and she went for an ultrasound. Her phone rang the next day as she hurriedly packed for her cousin’s wedding in Tahoe before meeting Heide for her appointment with an oncologist. “It’s either polyps or you have uterine cancer,” the doctor told Tori. “As we were sitting there,” Heide recalled of her oncology appointment, “I just had a feeling Tori had cancer.” As she sat listening to what Heide would experience during chemotherapy treatments, Tori sensed she had cancer, too. Tori hopped on a plane, went to her cousin’s wedding, came home only to hop another flight to Chicago for an interview, then returned for a biopsy in late July. “You have endometrial cancer and you need to see an oncologist,” her doctor told her over the phone as she drove home from yet another interview on August 6. Following Heide’s lead, Tori went in for a complete hysterectomy on August 25.
“You wouldn’t wish cancer on your worst enemy, yet what a blessing it is to have one of your best friends walk through this with you,” Tori said in July 2016 as she and Heide reflected on their journey. Heide echoed, “It’s amazing that God allowed us to be so integrated in each others’ lives – with the diagnoses, fears, chemo, losing our hair, not having money.” As they underwent rounds of chemotherapy together, Heide and Tori still found ways to have fun. There was never a shortage of food and friends during what they deemed their “chemo parties,” when the staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center would set the two women up in their own little wing in anticipation of the heavy volume of visitors that would surround them during chemo treatments. Heide finished chemo around Thanksgiving 2015, with Tori wrapping up just behind her 20 GO&MAKE AUGUST
visiting Heide in a cold hospital room)
after Christmas. Their journey was marked by times of both laughter and fear, with unmistakable evidence of God’s faithfulness and care for them woven throughout.
Driving in the fast lane on the Washington, D.C., beltway en route to a doctor’s appointment in Northern Virginia, Heide was on the phone with a friend one day when severe pain seized her abdomen. “Pray me to my doctor’s!” she pleaded. Heide walked into her doctor’s office, collapsed, passed out and was taken to the emergency room. A bowel obstruction catalyzed an unexpected eight-day stay at Inova Fairfax Hospital. There, she was reminded that with God, nothing goes to waste. “That hospital stay was amazing because there were eight people who God put in my path to witness to and be there for,” Heide recalled, explaining she was able to pray for and share the gospel with various nursing staff. “I really feel like He had me there those eight days – I could not not talk about God!” But during her stay, Heide could not shake a sinking feeling. Literally. “Her hospital bed had a freaking hole in it!” Tori exclaimed, laughing with and chastising her friend for not speaking up sooner. “She’s sinking deeper and deeper, and she doesn’t say anything to me. On the third or fourth day, she finally says, ‘Um, Tori, I’m having a little trouble with my bed,’ and we realized there was a hole in it! I was like, ‘NURSE!’ and to Heide, ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ And she says, ‘Well, I didn’t want to bother anyone.’” “There were humorous parts [of our journey], and we could laugh,” Heide said. “Like our wigs!” Tori added. “Those were just another ordeal,” Heide agreed with a chuckle. The two picked out their wigs together. “I know it sounds trite, but losing my hair was probably the hardest thing to go through with cancer,” Tori admitted. “It hurts when the hair falls out.”
For Tori, cancer was a nuisance; it was the seemingly endless months of joblessness that proved to be the darkest, most trying season of her life. She recalled how she sometimes felt on Sunday mornings: “That song that
we sing in church – ‘Your Grace is Enough’ – I was like, ‘No, it’s really not. I need a job, I need my health, and my friend needs to get better. Your grace is not enough.’” The combination of being stripped of her health and income rocked her faith in a way that led Tori to start questioning everything. Had she believed wrong? How could this be? Normally, Tori explained, she clearly hears from God. But in her darkest hour, she sensed only silence. “It was sometimes hard to exist, and I couldn’t hear God very well – that’s what felt so lonely,” she recalled. “My faith was a blind faith, because I didn’t see what God was doing, I didn’t hear from Him, but I knew He was there and He heard me.” Reflecting on what she describes as the hardest 17 months of her life, Tori recognized God was leading her to a deeper understanding of two simple words: grace and mercy. “I thought I understood them, but the truth is I had to rip into those words to really understand,” she said.
While Tori confronted loneliness, Heide combatted waves of overwhelming fear. Again, knife-like pain penetrated her abdomen one day when she was home. She called her doctor, who instructed her to go to the emergency room if the pain got any worse. It subsided, only to return with a debilitating severity greater than before. Heide could not even walk, and her fear intensified with the pain as she discovered her cellphone wouldn’t work, her landline was inexplicably inoperable, and her computer was dead. As she contemplated crawling into the parking area where she lived to await a passerby, Heide called out, “Lord, send Tori!” Within five minutes, her friend was knocking at her door. When the hospital couldn’t get in touch with Heide, they called her emergency contact – Tori. Heide shared that throughout having cancer, the Lord revealed three major things to her: He would help her confront any fear she would ever have in the physical realm, He’s a very present help in times of trouble, and He has placed her in a loving family of believers. That third revelation proved true for both Tori and Heide time and time again. They were upheld by the tireless support of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Members of their Missional Community rose up as prayer warriors, Tori said, and were there for them constantly. Their church family supplied meals, visited them in the hospital, and even provided financial support – as
medical bills mounted, someone anonymously paid Heide’s mortgage for six months.
As she finished up 27 rounds of radiation in March 2016, Tori found herself reading Jeremiah 29, the passage that contains her life verse. This time, her attention was drawn to a part she had never really understood before, when in verse 14 God promises to bring the people of Israel back to the place from which He sent them into exile. “I thought that was just for the Jews,” Tori said. But suddenly, it was for her too. “I understood God was going to bring me back to the place from which people had exiled me – the pharmaceutical industry.” As spring 2016 rolled on and she continued to search for a job, Tori sensed from God, “You will have had nothing to do with the job that you get. You are not going to have worked for it. It’s coming from me, and you will see my fingerprints all over it.” Three weeks later, the job Tori holds today came out of the blue. Sixteen days after she first heard about it, her phone rang at noon. The job was hers; she would be returning to pharmaceutical sales. Three hours later, the phone rang again. “Your cancer is in remission,” her doctor told her. Tori threw a party with friends, thanking God for His faithfulness and provision.
Today, Heide still experiences bone pain and stiffness, but overall, she feels pretty good. She’s been able to make a full return to her work as a mental health therapist, now uniquely qualified to counsel clients affected by cancer. In early 2016, her doctors declared her cancerfree, and she’s believing that God has taken it for good. “Every prayer gets answered, over and over,” Heide attested. “The scar on my body is a reminder of what I’ve been through – like a ‘thank you!’ whenever I see it. I think of Jacob and his hip being displaced. God needed to get more of my attention, and now I’m all ears.”
“That hospital stay was amazing because there were eight people who God put in my path to witness to and be there for.” - Heide (pictured bundled in blankets in a cold hospital room as Tori visits her)
Tori asserted she was never afraid to die, mindful of Paul’s claim that to live is Christ and to die is gain, but she believes God has kept her here for a reason. “As long as I’m here, whatever job or volunteer position I do, it isn’t about anything other than sharing God’s love with others. … If I’m not doing that, then it’s time for me to go home. Then I’m done,” she said of her life’s mission. “I don’t know how long I’ve got – my cancer was Stage III; it’s in remission, but we all know what remission means – I’m not ignorant of that. But I choose to live believing it’s gone for now. So, for as long as I’ve got, I have to remember that the time I do have is not for me. It’s for Him.” AUG UST GO&MAKE 21
First-Time
John J
ohnita Dickerson, age 26, led a shortterm missions team to El Salvador this summer. Currently, she lives in Annapolis and teaches middle school Spanish in Prince George’s County. She has attended Bay Area for a year and a half. Upon her return from El Salvador in July, we asked her a few questions about her experience as a first-time short term mission team leader. Here’s what she had to say.
Tell us about your prior experience in global missions – where had you been? I like to consider my first study abroad experience (Ecuador 2010) as a missional experience because I felt like I was able to share the gospel and love on people. I had been to Ghana twice and I went to Brazil last year with Bay Area.
What prompted you this year to decide to lead a team rather than go as a team member? I was invited to a leaders’ dinner in December by Ashleigh Bicevskis, who had gone with me to Brazil last year. They were compiling a list of potential leaders for this year, and I got an email asking me. I wasn’t planning on being a leader; I was thinking maybe in 2017. But Casely approached me one Sunday and then Greg also approached me about leading a trip to El Salvador. I told 22 GO&MAKE AUGUST
e Short Term Mission Trip Leader
nita Dickerson them I’d pray about it, so once I prayed, I felt like the Lord confirmed that through Scripture.
What was your greatest anxiety about leading a trip and how did God meet that need? I remember telling my team that one of my biggest fears was that we were going to finish what we were doing with the kids at the child development centers early and just have this long awkward, “What are we doing now?” time. We did crafts at the child development centers and also worked with high school students while we were in El Salvador. It was funny, when we got to the high school we weren’t totally sure what we were doing. We had a very loose plan, and that’s just the nature of a missions trip. Even if you do make plans, they are very liable to change. But the missionary, Sarah Meehan de Solorzano, really helped solidify that plan and things really came together.
there. We had two extra meetings: The first was just a game night, and the second one I had questions prepared like “How do you feel about going on the trip?” and “What is your greatest fear about it?” and we were able to just talk.
In what ways did God provide for your team while you were there, whether physically, spiritually or relationally?
What component of your team preparation prior to the trip proved to be most beneficial while you were in El Salvador?
I feel like God really used Sarah to provide a plan and put everything together. Another cool thing was even in the moment I would get ideas like, “We should do a Q&A with the highschoolers.” On Thursday and Friday we were with a small group of high schoolers that lived near the church. We broke off into small groups and decided to do a Q&A, but they were kind of shy, so I thought, let me use these index cards for them to take and ask whatever they want without putting their name on it, and then we answered them. One that really touched my heart was this girl who asked “How can I return to my first love, the one who died for me?” It was cool to be able to answer that question because I feel like a lot of people might be in that place.
I feel like the most beneficial things were the additional meetings that we planned just to get to know each other as a team because that team element is so crucial in having a successful trip once you’re
Also, the people on my team who felt nervous were able to grow in feeling that God is going to provide. They learned we may not always know the plan, but God works out all the details.
What was the biggest highlight of your time in El Salvador? Honestly, Sarah, the missionary, had a big impact on me. Just seeing her work because I have a heart for missions, and seeing her passion. She has a definite gift for evangelism and really knows her Word. That encouraged me spiritually to really try to be more intentional about spending time in the Word and knowing Scripture. I feel like being around her sparked that desire in me again.
What encouragement would you give others who are considering leading a short term mission trip but are unsure if they’re ready to do it? The first thing I would say is just pray. God will reveal Himself through Scripture and in your time of prayer. I don’t think you’ll ever be fully ready. God is able to provide for you and His strength is made perfect in our weakness, so if you go in thinking “Oh, I can do this,” He’s going to humble you really quick. You’re going to realize, “I need Him to do this.”
Do you have any tips for other shortterm missions leaders? Definitely try to have a co-leader, and don’t be afraid to delegate tasks. If you feel like someone is good in an area, let them take control of that so you can focus on other things. AUG UST GO&MAKE 23
TOM
L E A D E R S H I P
P R O F I L E BY STEVE ONKEN
DALPINI “INVITE, FORGIVE, RESTORE, ENCOURAGE, REPEAT” - STRIVING TO LOVE LIKE JESUS LOVES. That sums up for Tom Dalpini what his ministry as an elder has taught him and challenged him to do, and the Lord is indeed making that a reality in his life. Tom’s unassuming exterior might, to some, conceal the analytical mind and tender heart within, but it doesn’t take but a short conversation to expose the authentic heart of this compassionate servant of Christ. Tom grew up in Tennessee (you might not be able to hear the accent, but he says he can “turn it on” at a moment’s notice), regularly attending church. Although this provided a head knowledge of Jesus, Sundays had no real impact on his spiritual life. Upon graduating from high school, he headed east to attend the Naval Academy, where tan upperclassman invited him to attend a Bible study, to which, for some reason, he said “yes.” They met regularly on Saturdays and introduced Tom to the idea that Jesus desired a personal relationship with him. This was a new concept to Tom, and he set out studying the Bible to prove them wrong. To that end, he read through the entire Bible in a year. His conclusion? They were right. Having seen that with his own eyes and mind, and felt 24 GO&MAKE AUG UST
it with his own heart, he prayed and gave his life to Christ, setting in motion that personal relationship he lacked up to that point. Tom eagerly soaked up opportunities for discipleship and fellowship through the ministry of the Navigators, and later the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Tom met his wife Tary during his time at the Academy, while Tary was attending University of Maryland, and though they participated in group social activities together, Tom considers his Academy graduation ball as their real first date. They continued a long-distance relationship while Tom served on active duty for two years before they got married. Captain Dalpini served five years active duty in the supply corps on destroyers and aircraft carriers and 22 years in the reserves. He also spent one year in Iraq in 2009. Tom and Tary first started attending Bay Area Community Church in 1989, following three separate recommendations from others to “check out Bay Area.” They sensed that as a prompting of the Holy Spirit, rather than mere suggestions, and have been very much involved at the church ever since. Tom credits Bay Area as the place where he truly learned to worship. Following the installment of Greg St. Cyr as senior pastor, Tom was invited to serve on a leadership team of 10 for one year, with Greg’s focus for that team being both church leadership and personal discipleship. After that year, Tom became a member of the elder team, where he served faithfully until 2003, at which point he stepped down for sabbatical. Though he was eligible to return after that year, Tom and Tary’s focus during the next eight years was
on family. Tom retired from the Navy in 2010, and in 2011 was nominated and reinstalled as an elder, for his second “tour of duty” as an elder. Tom’s gift of administration serves the church family through his participation in shaping the strategy of the church and in writing policy documents with clarity and concision. He has a passion for the truth, and seeing his church family understand it well, and not stray from it. Above all, what Tom enjoys most about being an elder is the camaraderie, the blessing and challenge of being a part of authentic “iron sharpening iron” through Life Groups within the elder team. He shares that he has grown tremendously in his knowledge and love for God through his time as an elder, watching godly men like Greg and others deal with adversity and challenges in a God-honoring manner. His experience has taught him how to love God better, following Jesus’ example of inviting people to repent, forgiving people unconditionally, relentlessly pursuing restoration in any instance of broken relationships, and encouraging authentic, selfless sacrifice - invite, forgive, restore, encourage, repeat. Beyond his service on the elder board, Tom also participates in a Missional Community, local outreach and missions. In 1999 his entire family went on a mission trip to Africa, and in 2011 Tom and his daughter went on an El Salvador mission trip. Tom and Tary have been married 31 years and have three grown children: Nathan, who is 27 and lives in Maine. He has a 6-year-old son from a previous marriage, and is getting married this month to a woman who loves the Lord and whom the Dalpinis love. Michael, 25, will begin his senior year at Columbia University this fall, completing his studies from London, England. Lia, 23, recently graduated from Flagler University and spent six months with YWAM ministries in Australia. Tom and Tary are enjoying having her home for the summer, but she plans to return to Australia in the fall for two additional years with YWAM in their discipleship ministry. Tom had difficulty listing any hobbies. His favorite sport to watch on TV is football, but he seldom watches. After further consideration, Tom decided that his favorite “hobby” was meeting with people. So if you haven’t met Tom yet, why don’t you introduce yourself - he would probably love to talk with you.
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son
nder e H i l l A y B
oing on a short term mission trip to El Salvador was probably one of the best things I have ever done. I decided to go because I have a huge heart for children, so this was the perfect place for me. When we got there, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I felt instantly at home. The first day we were there, we were welcomed by the church. It is amazing how even though El Salvador is so far away from the states, we were still able to worship with some of the same songs and promote the same messages. We are one united body of Christ even though we are spread out around the world: the love and the message are the same. 26 GO&MAKE AUG UST
We spent most of our days at the two c h i l d r e n ’s centers supported by the church. We went to the Soyapongo center on Monday. This center is located in one of the most dangerous part of El Salvador, where kids are in the most danger of being influenced by gangs. The hope for this center is to keep the kids out of gangs by providing a well-balanced meal and a place for them to go before and after school. Most importantly, they are taught about Jesus. Kids range in age from 4 to 18. We went to the second center, in El Guayabo, on Tuesday and Wednesday. This one was located on a volcano in one of the poorest parts of El Salvador. This center also teaches the children about the love of God while providing food, healthcare and tutoring. Each day our team taught the groups of children one of two lessons. One lesson
was called “Blooming in God’s Grace.” We taught the kids that grace is getting something you don’t deserve, and that even though we sin, God still loves us. We also made salvation bracelets. We gave the kids the string and six beads and explained that each color represented part of our salvation: sin, the blood of Jesus, baptism, forgiveness, growing in our faith and heaven. All of the children at both centers were so kind and so sweet. Even with so little they were some of the happiest kids I have ever met. On Wednesday morning my mom and I went on a house visit and talked to a man who was struggling. His oldest son recently had been murdered in gang violence; the factory where he worked had gone bankrupt, making it difficult to provide for his family; and his 17-year-old daughter had died two years earlier from a sudden illness. It was not uncommon for the family to have one meal of beans a day. He said that the children’s center in El Guayabo was a blessing to his family; when the kids didn’t want to eat beans, he could send them up to the center to get a wellbalanced meal. The man, Jose, talked
about how even though he is struggling, he keeps his family strong through prayer and he knows that God is the only thing that keeps them going. We prayed for his family and thanked them for sharing their time with us. It was amazing to see how even in such terrible circumstances they are able to stand strong in their faith and know that God is with them always. When we went back to the center for the afternoon classes I was able to meet Jose’s daughter, Maria. She was adorable and very affectionate. She kept hugging me and I was just so happy that I was able to love her, and show her God’s love even though her life is so hard. All of the kids enjoyed our attention, hugging us and playing with us. It was an awesome feeling to know that I could help make them happy in such small but real ways. On Thursday and Friday we went to a local high school, Ceren. The students we spoke to live in close proximity to the church; it is the hope of the church to start building relationships with these students and draw them into the church. We played a few icebreaker games and then got right into sharing the gospel.
We did a large group demonstration of the bridge illustration of the Gospel and explained how Jesus is the only way to have eternal life. Then we broke into smaller groups and shared our testimonies. The students responded well to this, asking lots of questions. We then asked if anyone had accepted Jesus into their hearts before, and one kid raised his hand. Then we asked if anyone would like to accept Jesus, and they all shook their heads no. This was disappointing but I can only hope that we planted seeds. There were two other small groups having similar discussions and in one of those groups two kids came to Christ! Our second day at Ceren we shared the Gospel through three different hands-on demonstrations. Again, there wasn’t a huge response, so I can only hope that we planted seeds and that in the future there will be decisions made for Christ.
Going to El Salvador opened my heart to so many things. I saw poverty in a way I never had seen it before, and I met kids who needed so much love. Back home, I now have such a greater appreciation for the things I have. I also feel comfortable sharing my faith with anyone. So now even though I am no longer in El Salvador, I can be a missionary in my own community.
Alli Henderson is a senior at Broadneck High School and an active participant in Bay Area’s high school ministry.
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COLLEGE COMMUNITY GROUP TUESDAY AUGUST 9 AND 23 7-9 PM
Stop by a connect kiosk for more information. Info: bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org AUG UST GO&MAKE 29
CARE NETWORK
HAPPENINGS
Sometimes life hands us struggles: loss of a loved one, serious illness, parenting difficulties, divorce, addiction and many other challenges. These struggles can feel isolating, yet God never intended that we walk through them alone. He is in the business of comforting, restoring and renewing all things for His glory. Your circumstances are not beyond that; He longs to reach you with His redemption and grace. We want to walk with you through this season of life. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Jesus-centered ministry that assists those seeking help. We provide hope and healing through a variety of resources both inside and outside the walls of Bay Area. Let’s partner through these struggles together. Email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org to get started.
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 • 6-12th: contact brent.squires@bayareacc.org • Adults: contact deb.shipley@bayareacc.org
CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery (CR) is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits or hangups keep you isolated! Join us on Monday nights at 7 p.m. for community, worship and teaching. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org CELEBRATE RECOVERY SEMINAR SEPTEMBER 24 Celebrate Recovery is a path for anyone seeking Jesus, healing and community. There will be a Celebrate Recovery Introductory Seminar on Saturday, September 24. Perhaps you’ve wanted to learn more about what this Jesus-focused ministry is all about. Please join us in The Warehouse from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to learn more. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND INVITATION 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 how to be of assistance. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or 443-837-3718
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 blue shirt in the lobby after each Sunday gathering or visit us online at bayareacc.org/new.
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MARRIAGE MINISTRY DATE NIGHT Want a date night out with your spouse? Save the date for Saturday, August 13. Join us in the Warehouse at 6:30 p.m. to hear about what’s new in the Marriage Ministry. Then you’ll be released to your date time with each other. KidCare is provided for kids ages 5-10 for $5/child. Register at bayareacc.org/datenight. CAREER ASSISTANCE Are you unemployed, just starting a career, or trying to discover what God has uniquely wired you for? Partner with expert Jacques Fox and identify a career path that’s right for you. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org.
MARRIAGE MINISTRY TEAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Our marriage ministry team seeks to encourage and equip couples to start and stay strong in their marriages. If you have a passion to help strengthen marriages and have been married for ten or more years, come be a part of this ministry. Read more at bayareacc.org/marriageministry or email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org to get involved. PREMARITAL MENTORING - NOW ACCEPTING PARTICIPANTS If you are newly engaged, there’s no better gift to give your future spouse than to participate together in Premarital Mentoring. We want to partner with you as you establish a strong, Jesuscentered life. You’ll be paired with marriage mentors (couples who have been married for ten or more years) who will equip you with tools and resources you’ll need to succeed in marriage. Info: premarital.ministry@bayareacc.org. TEMPORARY HOUSING NEEDED FOR PREMARITAL COUPLES Occasionally, couples who are living together enter our Premarital Ministry. We believe strongly that the best way to honor God before marriage is to remain pure and live separately. We’re looking for folks who have space in their homes that could be used on a temporary basis in order to fulfill this desire. Connect with us: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
CONNECTING MINISTRY
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERS Our team is currently accepting new applicants. Specifically, we are searching for 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 various events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining our team, contact KidCare Coordinator Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org or visit the Children’s Welcome on Sundays for more info.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY MOVE UP SUNDAY We know your children are excited to move up to the grades they will be going into this fall, and our leaders are excited to meet them. The official day to check your preschoolers into the kindergarten room and to check all other elementary-age children into their new grade is Sunday, August 14. DIVE 45 Our next Dive 45 will be on Friday, August 19 from 7-9 p.m. All rising fourth-graders are invited. Be prepared to be very wet... it is our Summer Splash theme. Let us know you’re coming at bayareacc.org/ dive45. TRUNK OR TREAT Save the date for this fall’s Trunk or Treat, coming up on Friday, October 28 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more information on this free community outreach event.
DISCOVER BAY AREA - NEWCOMER LUNCH New to Bay Area? We’re glad you’re here. You may have questions about who we are or what we believe so join us on August 7 at 12:45 p.m. in the Bay Cafe for Discover Bay Area. Enjoy 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, and kids are welcome. Hope to see you there. Our next date is September 4. Info: rachel.perry@ bayareacc.org
STUDENT TRAINING All students fifth grade and above serving in Children’s Ministry this ministry year are required to attend one training session. Join us in The Loft Sunday, August 21 at 10:45 a.m.. We will discuss the policies and procedures of serving in all of our Deep Blue environments.
MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES
MINISTRY PARTNERSHIP REGISTRATION OPEN If Bay Area is your church home, consider becoming a Ministry Partner. Lock arms with us as we partner to make passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. Start the process by joining us for our next Ministry Partnership Orientation on Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hear teaching from Greg St. Cyr and other leaders. KidCare and lunch are provided with advance registration. Learn more and register at bayareacc.org/ministrypartnership.
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER Are you new to Bay Area and/or looking to get connected SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS in community? Join us for our Missional Community Taster We’re excited to launch a residency program this fall to train on August 14 in The Warehouse at 12:45 p.m. Here we will and equip future church planters and missionaries. One of introduce you to our version of mid-sized groups that will help our participants, Joseph, is looking for a three-bedroom home you continually grow spiritually, relationally and missionally. to rent. If you or someone you know has a home to rent to Lunch and KidCare are provided. See you there! RSVP online at a missionary family, email casely.essamuah@bayareacc.org. bayareacc.org/mctasterrsvp. Info: mc@bayareacc.org AUG UST GO&MAKE 31
GLOBAL MISSIONS
FINANCIALS Annapolis Campus Operating Budget Financial Update As of July 21, 2016 New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2015
GLOBAL MISSIONS TASTER Join us for lunch on August 21 after the third gathering to hear testimonies from our spring Southeast Asia team and meet a member of Family H, our missionaries to Southeast Asia. This is a great opportunity to hear what God is doing around the world. Info: michele.rollins@bayareacc.org To support any of Bay Area’s short term global mission trips, go to bayareacc.org/stmgive.
EL SALVADOR • CHILDREN’S MINISTRY & HOME VISITS • November 12-20
GHANA • HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY • August 4-14
Fiscal Year Giving Goal
$ 4,417,654
YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal JULY To Date Received JULY To Date Giving Goal
$ 3,996,205 $ 3,945,484 50,721 1.3% Ahead $ $ 259,817 $ 210,319
For weekly financial updates, go to bayareacc.org/ financials.
Please indicate any designated gifts on the memo line of your check or use the drop-down box online to select your desired giving fund. Note: You will need to donate via check if the fund to which you wish to give is not listed online. All undesignated checks will go toward the general operating fund.
HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BAY AREA’S BUILDING FUNDS? Giving Methods eCheck: Go to bayareacc.org/give to give online through your checking account through a one-time or recurring donation on My Bay Area.
SOUTHEAST ASIA • ENGLISH TEACHING & RELATIONSHIP BUILDING • October 8-18
INDIA • August 10-20 | outreach to children and ministry to pastors and local believers
SOUTH SUDAN • MINISTRY TO CHILDREN AND CHURCH LEADERS • October 1-14
ISRAEL TRIP Walk in the footsteps of Jesus on an 11-day Biblical tour of the Holy Land, hosted by Executive Pastor Ed Kelley. The cost for the trip, which will take place April 24 through May 4, 2017, is $4,200. Info: ed.kelley@bayareacc.org 32 GO&MAKE AUGUST
Direct Debit: Go to bayareacc.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to the Bay Area Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month. Personal Check: Write “Building Fund” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to Bay Area (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 Bay Area. Be sure to note “Building Fund” on the memo line.
PRAYER MINISTRY Jesus lived a life of unceasing prayer that connected Him to the Father. We too long to be devoted to prayer. Our Prayer Ministry is comprised of individuals dedicated to gathering in prayer for all aspects of Bay Area life: our gatherings, communities, pastors, missions and so much more. Some of these individuals are also available to pray with you on Sunday mornings after each gathering (front and right of the auditorium stage). Read more at bayareacc.org/prayer. Info: pat.linnell@bayareacc.org
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
LOCAL OUTREACH
AMBASSADOR TEAM: Serve as an ambassador by helping newcomers get connected. If you have a passion for people and Jesus, and have been attending Bay Area for at least six months, the ambassador role is for you. Info: rachel. perry@bayareacc.org
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 to fill out an involvement form.
AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Info: tres.cozad@bayareacc.org CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Info: chairs@bayareacc.org BAY CAFÉ & ESPRESSO BAR: Do you love coffee? Enjoy hospitality? Join our team in the Bay Cafe and/or espresso bar. Info: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S MINISTRY WELCOME TEAM: Welcome new families on Sunday mornings, assist with checkin and escorte families to their children’s age-specific environments. Info: chyloe.cheetham@bayareacc.org COMMUNION TEAM: Opportunities to serve our church family include baking allergen- free communion bread once a month or assisting with preparation or cleanup during one of the three gatherings on communion Sunday. Info: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org GOLF CART DRIVERS: Looking for friendly folks to launch a new aspect of our visitor experience: Sunday morning golf cart drivers. You will pick people up in the back of the West parking lot before gatherings to ease their walk into the building. Those interested must be 21 or older and have a clean driving record. Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org
PREGNANCY CLINIC WALK/RUN The Annapolis Pregnancy Clinic empowers women to make the choice for life and provides essential counseling and care for pregnant women. On September 17, the clinic will have their annual Walk and Run for Life fundraiser. To learn more or register, go to walkandrun.org. When you register, make sure you select to join Bay Area’s team! For questions, email outreach@bayareacc.org. SERVE THOSE IN NEED WITH HOPE Hope For All is a local Bay Area partner whose mission is to provide basic human necessities (i.e. furniture, housewares, clothing, etc.) to families and individuals without sufficient economic resources. They have several ways to get involved: serve at their garage sale, donate furniture or offer your time to help engage new guests. Learn more online at hopeforall.us. Info: outreach@bayareacc.org
MEN’S BIBLE STUDIES MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays from 6-7:30 a.m. in room 236 at Bay Area. Info: Dennis at dbradylaw@aol.com MEN’S EVENING BIBLE STUDY Sundays from 6-7:30 p.m. in room 235 at Bay Area. This study is geared toward helping men draw closer to Jesus while discussing and discovering God’s answers for the challenges men face at home, work and in society. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org
HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION: Interested in being part of a team reaching those hospitalized or homebound? Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
GATHERINGS
PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting people as they arrive at church. Info: parking@ bayareacc.org
SATURDAY NIGHT SINGALONG Join us for a Saturday Night Singalong on Saturday, September 3 at 6 p.m. for a night to rest and reflect with your church family. You won’t want to miss this refreshing time of music, testimony, prayer and resting in worship. Info: brendan.macbride@bayareacc.org
SAFETY TEAM: Are you passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS or First Responders and want to serve in this area? Info: safety@ bayareacc.org USHERS: Be a part of creating a welcoming environment by serving during Sunday morning gatherings. Info: Michael at mtabramo1@comcast.net WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Serve on one of our event planning teams or in discipling other women. We would love to get to know you and see how your gifts can be used. Info: janet.graves@bayareacc.org
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 invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. Learn more at bayareacc.org/ womensministry. ARMOR OF GOD BY PRISCILLA SHIRER Wednesdays, September 7 - December 14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. All day, every day, an invisible war rages around you. A cunning, devilish enemy seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters to you - your emotions, your mind, your family, AUG UST GO&MAKE 33
your future. But when the enemy meets a woman dressed in engaging Bible study and discussion. Students are asked to bring God’s armor, he fails miserably. This Bible study will challenge their lunch. Some weeks students may be asked to bring money for you to suit up, stand firm and secure victory in your life. Cost: pizza. Dates: August 10 and 17. Info: lydia.macbride@bayareacc.org $15. Info: Laurie Gregory, thewell@bayareacc.org FALL RETREAT Save the Date for our Middle School Fall Retreat. We will be BRIDGES ON THE JOURNEY Recommended for women who are new to faith or beginners headed back to Camp Wabanna in Edgewater on Sept. 9-11. to Bible study. In this class, we will cover the gospel, the Bible, This beautiful, waterfront camp is located less than 30 minutes prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit and other essentials to get away from Bay Area. The retreat will include exciting games, you started in your growing relationship with Christ. Cost: campfire on Friday night, swimming in the river, a dodgeball $15. Wednesdays, Sept. 7 - Nov. 16 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Info: tournament, worship, Biblical teachings and discussions, and jodyyearwood@gmail.com) Tuesdays, Sept. 13 - Nov. 15 from much more! Info: lydia.macbride@bayareacc.org 7-9 p.m. (Info: janet.graves@bayareacc.org) COLLEGE COMMUNITY GROUP Our college-age community group meets Tuesdays, August WEDNESDAY MORNING KIDCARE KidCare available for ages birth - preschool with pre- 9 and 23 from 7-9 p.m. Come hang out with fellow college registration for The Well on Wednesday mornings only students before the fall semester begins. We will be finishing September 7 - December 14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Cost $60/one up our discussion on James as well as unveiling our Fall Kick-off child, $80 for 2+ children. Space is limited. Your registration for our College Ministry. Info: bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org is not final until enrollment is confirmed by Dax Clinkscale at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org. DANIEL BY BETH MOORE Study the ways Daniel dealt with pressure and temptation to apply to life today and the prophecies given to prepare us for the second coming of Christ in the future. This popular video series will keep us studying the Scriptures throughout the week so we can discuss what we’ve learned in our small groups. Tuesday nights from September 13 - December 6 from 7-9 p.m. Cost $20. Info: Darby Cate at darby@dougcate.com. QUILTS FOR KIDS Join us to make quilts using donated fabrics for kids in shelters and hospitals. We usually meet the third Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in room 235. Come and learn to sew or learn to sew a new pattern. Kits will be available. Please bring your sewing machine, sewing supplies and your lunch. We will meet on Saturday, August 20. If you would like a quilt kit, have a quilt that you would like to donate, or have questions, contact Janet at annapolisQFK@quiltsforkids.org.
STUDENT MINISTRY MOVE-UP SUNDAY We know your children are excited to move up to the grades they will enter this fall, and our leaders are excited to meet them. Move-up Sunday is August 14. Student Ministry looks forward to meeting all the rising sixth-graders in Fusion and welcoming the rising ninth-graders into Fuel. CLUB 678 Club 678 is a once-a-month hangout for middle schoolers. Middle school students are welcome to join us Friday, August 12 from 6-9 p.m. for a night of games, fun and more. Students are encouraged to invite their friends and can bring money for snacks. Info: lydia.macbride@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 Bay Area on Sunday mornings in an environment of learning and interaction. Sign up for the communities below at bayareacc. org/learningcommunities. ANGELS, DEMONS & SATAN AUG. 14 - SEPT. 4 AT 8 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM B This LC filled up quickly in June, and will be offered again by popular demand. Come hear Executive Pastor Ed Kelley teach about the spiritual realm of angels, demons and Satan. Join us at 8 a.m. in The Docks, room B. Middle and high school students are invited to participate alongside adults. PRAYER WORKSHOP AUG. 28 - SEPT. 25 AT 9:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM A Jumpstart your prayer life in this five-week Learning Community focused on the practice and power of prayer. Receive Biblicallybased teaching and practical steps for weaving prayer into your daily lives with Sam Logan and Barbara Carneiro. OLD TESTAMENT PUZZLE AUG. 28 - OCT. 16 AT 11:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM A If you feel intimidated, overwhelmed, totally confused, or just curious about the Old Testament, come hear an overview with Don Wiley as he puts the pieces together in a cohesive framework that makes sense.
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY BY DAVE RAMSEY AUG. 28 - OCT. 16 AT 11:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM B Whether you are single or married, this course teaches you to practically apply Biblical wisdom to your finances. Douglas Church will help lead you in learning how to dump debt, budget for the future, build wealth and give like never before! “The ELEVATE average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 within Elevate is a weekly summer the first 90 days.” hangout for middle school students on Wednesdays from MAN UP 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Colossians SEPT. 11 - OCT. 30 AT 9:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM B 3:2 tells us to set our minds on Connect with other men at Bay Area while grappling with the things above, and that’s exactly everyday challenges of following Jesus. Bob Gregory will teach what we want to encourage students to do during the summer as we dig into the Word and let the Word dig into us as we grow together. months. Elevate will combine fun games and activities with 34 GO&MAKE AUG UST
EASTON CAMPUS HAPPENINGS DISCOVER BAY AREA New to Bay Area Easton? We’re glad you’re here. You may have questions about who we are or what we believe so join us on September 11 following the 10 a.m gathering for Discover Bay Area. Hear Campus Pastor Craig Fadel share who we are as a church, our story, our vision for making disciples, and how you can get plugged in. No RSVP necessary, and kids are welcome. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER Get a taste of missional community through our MC Taster event. Join us on September 15, at 6:30 p.m. for information and a taste of community. Dessert and drinks will be served. KidCare is available in most cases upon request. Please RSVP to easton@bayareacc.org.
INTRODUCING A NEW WAY TO GIVE AT BAY AREA
TEXT TO GIVE We want to make it simple for people to develop the habit of financial giving, and now, you can use your phone to give simply by sending a text message! Text BACC + the monetary amount to 30131 to give to our General Offering fund. For example: Text “BACC 50” to give $50.
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