Go & Make Issue #27 (Jan. 2016)

BAY AREA INTRODUCES

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IN THIS ISSUE

18 COVER STORY: NARRATIVE TEACHING Missional Communities Pastor Brian Hopper explains the new style of learning Bay Area will introduce on Sunday mornings and in MCs.

5 THE BIG VANILLA Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr offers a sweet perspective on the greatest spiritual discipline that followers of Jesus can practice.

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24 FROM HERE TO THE NATIONS: GHANA Nicole Morabito shares her story of trusting God through uncertainty about her preparedness to go on a mission trip.

14 BACC EASTON

16 LEADERSHIP PROFILE: CRAIG FADEL

As Bay Area Easton’s spring opening approaches, the faith journey behind launching a satellite campus is illuminated.

BACC Easton Campus Pastor Craig Fadel shares his heart for reaching people on the Eastern Shore.

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

884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401

410.544.2222

MAGAZINE CREDITS EDITOR IN CHIEF Josh Shirlen MANAGING EDITOR Meredith Thompson ART Arianne Teeple Jake Williams Josh Burgin Josh Shirlen Meredith Thompson CONTRIBUTORS Brian Hopper Lydia MacBride

On the cover: Bay Area pastors Pat Linnell and Brian Hopper as Biblical characters 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

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 JA NUA RY GO&MAKE 3

Christian education gives the framework for total truth, rooted in the Creator’s existence and in the Bible’s teaching, so that in each step of the formal learning process the student will understand what is true and what is false and why it is true or false.

- Francis Schaeffer

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LETTER FROM THE LEAD Happy New Year! As we enter 2016, my mind is on The Big Vanilla.

Ice cream. Who doesn’t love it? I do. My favorite is Rocky Road. How about you?

Question: Which flavor is most popular?

According to the International Ice Cream Association, Rocky Road comes in at only 1.5 percent of the 1.6 billion gallons we consume annually. Vanilla fudge ripple enters at 2.6 percent. Chocolate chip weighs in at 3.9 percent. For those who can’t make up their mind, there is Neapolitan at 4.2 percent.

Strawberry and butter pecan tie at 5.3 percent. In second place is my second favorite, chocolate, at 8.9 percent. But there is one flavor that blows away the competition. Dominating all flavors for the gold medal is vanilla at 29 percent. Simply put: Vanilla crushes the competition.

A number of years ago a survey known as “Reveal” was conducted in 500 churches with over 80,000 people to identify the most significant catalysts for spiritual growth.

What they found was one particular spiritual discipline crushed the other competitors. Like vanilla ice cream, it was in a league of its own and thus became known as The Big Vanilla.

The Big Vanilla of our spiritual life is DAILY BIBLE REFLECTION. The study concludes, “Everywhere we turned the data revealed the same truth: spending time in the Bible is handsdown the highest-impact personal spiritual practice. More specifically, ‘I reflect on the meaning of Scripture in my life’ is the spiritual practice that is most predictive of growth …

Therefore, getting people to invest their own time studying and reflecting on Scripture is the best strategy of all for spiritual growth.”

So as we enter 2016, it’s time for a revival of daily Bible reflection. We need to be like Mary in Luke 10:38-42. Martha, like us, was preoccupied with all the external pressures and challenges of life. In the midst of her (our) busyness, Jesus has something to say:

part” that Mary has chosen? It is found in verse 39: “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.”

The one thing that Jesus says is necessary is the priority Mary places on spending time with Jesus, listening to His word.

We all have seemingly endless responsibilities in life. And yet we all have an equal amount of time in a day to make choices that reflect our priorities. Jesus is pointing to the issue of priorities. He’s not saying that food should not be prepared or that we don’t have to go to work or should not take our children to their sporting events. But, the one thing that Jesus says is of highest priority is that we pursue our relationship with Him by listening to His Word.

Here’s a challenge for 2016. It’s a life axiom I’d like you to commit to this year: “A chapter a day for the rest of your life!”

Reflecting on one chapter a day, every day, will transform your life over time.

It takes the average reader only 3 minutes and 45 seconds to read the average chapter in the Bible. That’s it. 3:45. You can always spend more time reflecting more deeply or reading more than one chapter. But here’s the challenge: A chapter a day for the rest of your life!

Think you can find that kind of time in your busy day?

Will you prioritize the “one thing” that Jesus says is most important?

Not sure where to begin? Go to www.project345.com, which will provide you with a chapter a day that helps you read through the New Testament in a year. It also provides an Old Testament passage and chapter of Psalms/Proverbs for those who want more. Imagine how changed your life would be if this time next year you follow through on a chapter a day, every day, in 2016.

The Big Vanilla – daily Bible reflection – may it become your most popular flavor this year!

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 What is the “one thing” that is necessary? What is the “good

Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor JA NUA RY GO&MAKE 5

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By Ed Kelley I write this, I am sitting on an airplane returning to Baltimore after spending some quality time with Greg St. Cyr in his hometown, at his alma mater, and with his extended family.

From there, we met some of our staff for the national Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) conference in Atlanta. The ETS is a society of professors, scholars and academics who meet every year to exchange ideas and papers on a wide variety of topics. It’s a large “Inklings” meeting (C.S. Lewis’ group of friends who met every week to exchange and critique each other’s writings) for academics. I introduced ETS to our staff to broaden our academic capacity as we continually face more and more complex issues in the Church.

AS

Since this is an editorial and only reflects my own personal thinking, let me wax on a bit as to what I heard and what scholars are saying around the country, some of which I agree with.

1. Theological Liberalism has shifted the Church into an anti-intellectual position.

J. G. Machen, who wrote almost 100 years ago, declared that the world’s move toward “feeling and sentimentality” would infect how we read and interpret scripture, ultimately leading the people of the world into bad thinking, bad theology, bad government and bad behavior. It was a clarion wakeup call to the educational world that this trumping of truth by unrestricted empathy and unbridled compassion would lead to a tossing away of morals and directives that are imperative for Western Civilization to continue.

2. The worldview of the secular West is changing at an unprecedented clip.

Whereas the Church used to be the purveyor of moral absolutism and holder of the high ground in society (society looked to the church for interpretation/ application of moral precepts), it is now considered on the underside of society’s morals and against a strong humanistic wind that is blowing through the West.

3. There is a false logic being employed in all areas of life surrounding the concept of “dignity.” Legal, pragmatic, political

and other disciplines have made “dignity” the highest form of morality (hence the concept, i.e., “death with dignity”) in all areas. The homosexual agenda, the women’s rights agenda, the healthcare debate, etc., etc.

In the politically correct world in which we live, words are co-opted so that intelligent, honest discussion is limited and labels are applied to anyone who may question the status quo. This shakes out on both sides of almost any major debate, but scholars from around the world are saying this is getting worse at an unbelievable speed. Subjectivism and emotion are replacing logic and objectivism at a blinding rate.

4. A commitment not to compromise timehonored mores in application of God’s word.

5. A commitment to reach out to people who will become more and more confused as humanism continues its march into anarchy. We know that humanistic philosophy does not work sociologically speaking, and the Church needs to be ready to shepherd the flock God sends our way.

ETS helps me stay sharp. It challenges me beyond my own abilities and helps me contemplate the deeper, more complex world in which we find ourselves. I am extremely thankful that Greg and I share a passion for theology and ecclesiology So the question is: What does this mean that ETS helps us develop. To be honest, for us as Evangelical Christians? there is just something terrific about meeting/talking to/observing people 1. A commitment to solid scholarship of whom you admire as well. Dr. Wayne Scripture.

Grudem (Grudem’s “Systematic Theology” is a must-have in your Christian library), 2. A commitment to non-defensive Dr. Albert Mohler (one of, if not the dialogue on issues. smartest and most articulate leader of the Christian faith living today) and Dr. Jerry 3. A commitment to widen our Root (C.S. Lewis expert from Wheaton) understanding of the issues. are just joyous to listen to and interact with. I was blessed while in Atlanta!

Ed Kelley is the executive pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE. JA NUA RY GO&MAKE 7

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

I f you’re on Facebook for any length

of time, you’re bound to run across a top five or top ten list of everything from cutest puppies of all time to what’s wrong with America these days. So to keep up with the times, here’s a little list of five things that can prevent our Sunday morning worship experiences from being all that they could be!

1. WE HAVEN’T BEEN WORSHIPPING DURING THE WEEK. Worshipping on a Sunday morning involves interacting in real and honest ways with the people around you. It means hearing truth from God’s word.

It means singing to bring God glory and encourage those around you. But if we arrive on Sunday without having done these things during the week, we’ll have a much harder time doing them effectively at church because it’s not something that is naturally part of how we tick. It then becomes something forced or contrived. Want Sunday worship to feel natural and “real”? Try doing it all week long!

2. WE SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. There are a million different little details that can get in the way of us

remembering why we gather together on a Sunday – anything from traffic in the parking lot to someone else beating us to our favorite seat. Then there are interpersonal issues, like the argument we had with our significant other on the way to church or seeing that person across the room who never texted back. The best thing we can do is let all these roll off our backs and release them to Jesus. When we allow ourselves to be at peace, there are fewer obstacles preventing us from having an incredible experience together each weekend worshipping Jesus.

in the way of the freedom we should experience when we’re together. Take a deep breath, and push past that little voice that’s holding you back. It’s worth it!

5. WE AREN’T ALL-IN.

4. WE’RE TOO INSECURE

When a sports team has fans who are “all in,” there’s an energy and an electricity that fills the stadium on game day. Even if the team doesn’t perform well, the fans still love them. When we gather each Sunday, the level of “all-in-ness” can make all the difference. Example: “I really don’t know if what they just said during the message resonates with me, but I’m all in… so I’m going to stick it out and listen with an open heart and mind.” We should be all-in for Jesus, and allow Him and the Holy Spirit to bind us in such a way that the energy is palpable when we’re together, and there’s a peace that unites us despite any differences.

Sometimes we’ve had a really bad week, but we don’t want to let others around us know! Or we really want to sing out loud, but are afraid someone around us might hear how bad we think our voice is. Regardless of what the thing might be, let’s not allow a fear or insecurity to get

This list is far from exhaustive. It’s not even the tip of the iceberg! But it’s five things that I find I have personally allowed to get in the way of my Sunday morning worship at one time or another, and I would wager perhaps at least one of the five hits home for you too. Let’s see things next-level’ed together, friends!

3. WE RUN LATE. If we simply aren’t physically HERE, it’s impossible to enjoy one another’s company as we worship! For more on this, check out the November 2015 article on tardiness.

TO JUST BE REAL.

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Stick Your Neck Out THere Join A Missional Community www.bayareacc.org/missionalcommunities

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By Pat Linnell

I never

planned on getting into vocational ministry. In fact, in college I figured I would get a degree that would allow me to buy a bunch of cool stuff. My life’s plan: buy a bunch of cool stuff. When I heard that there was a married guy with kids who left his corporate job to raise support and become a pastoral intern, I felt sorry for him – not knowing that a few short years later I would end up doing the same thing. You could say that I Mr. Magoo’ed my way into becoming a pastor who teaches the Bible.

The cartoon character Mr. Magoo suffered from extreme nearsightedness. He could only see what was in front of his face, and that led him into perilous situations.

But in the end, as if something else was guiding his path, he ended up all right or even better off than he had been before. There is a blessing to nearsightedness and I am beginning to wonder if more of us need to live a little more like Mr. Magoo.

Most of us are trying to figure out our long-term future, and I’m not saying that having goals is bad or unnecessary, but I wonder if we are short-circuiting present-day faith when we strive so hard to arrive where we think we should be. How am

I going to find that special someone?

How will I be able to move up the ladder at work? How can I secure the life I think I want? Will I have enough?

Will I accomplish enough for Jesus?

Over these questions and others like them about our future we stress out, struggle and strain. If we are living to secure our future, then we may be trusting in the wrong person to secure our future.

It seems reasonable to think that we can entrust our future to the God who is already there. When I listen to Jesus, it seems that He is saying the same thing. In Matthew’s gospel we hear Jesus speaking to people stressed out about the future: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Basically, Jesus uses this summative statement to say, “Just live by faith today and leave the outcomes of tomorrow to God.” How do we live by faith today? He tells us two verses earlier: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Jesus tells us that worrying about our life in the days ahead is a fruitless exercise; instead, take each challenge, relationship or

opportunity that you have and rock it out for Jesus. Take a posture that says, “I’m not sure where this is headed, but I am sure that God wants me here today.” This is a life of nearsightedness for Jesus – being full of faith today.

This kind of life expects the God who is sovereign over the future of His kids to open and close doors. This kind of life can lead to unexpected adventures. This kind of life is often surprising, refreshing and at times more challenging than you’d like. This kind of life may leave you feeling like Mr. Magoo – but in his case he always ended up where he needed to be.

Pat Linnell is the teaching pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.

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JANUARY

BOOK: Christianity & Liberalism AUTHOR: J. Gresham Machen

the obvious need for man to have a savior.

(According to many of them, Jesus was a good teacher who never called anyone to repentance, but rather provided divine principles to live by… very similar to Confucius.)

Since I attended the national Evangelical Theological Society’s academic conference a few weeks ago, I thought I’d review a great classic book that actually had an entire session dedicated to it. If you read through this book (and remember, it’s in a 19th-century style of conversation) you’ll be amazed at how uncanny the author is, how predictive he was for the 2015 cultural milieu in which we find ourselves, and how challenging he is to our everyday thinking in theology. It’ll rock your world. The book is by the founder and esteemed professor of Westminster Theological Seminary, Dr. J. Gresham Machen.

The title of the book is telling as to its intent: “Christianity and Liberalism.”

Dr. Machen believed that theological liberalism (don’t get this confused with political liberalism, though there is some crossover thinking in both) is a completely different religion, and as such is the greatest threat/enemy to the Christian faith. What is liberalism according to this book? According to professor Machen, the following is true of liberalism: Liberalism is an attempt to deconstruct Jesus and the relationship God has with man. Liberal academics insist that we disregard the sinfulness of man, reduce the teaching regarding the personal nature of a relationship with Jesus as a panacea, and question 12 GO&MAKE JA N UA RY

Liberalism believes that the Bible is a guidebook for life, not the very essence of God’s revelation to man. This is called a “low” view of Scripture. Scripture then can be “deconstructed” so that its

supplanting it with doing “good” things, helping society be “better” and generally being “a nice person.” This is what is known as the social gospel.

Dr. Machen is predictive. He sees what’s coming and stated what the end result would be. He specifically said that if liberalism isn’t challenged and checked, then an entire generation would reject absolute truth and become relativistic in its thinking. Once that

“The book is scholarly in tone yet is quite biting with wit.” meaning can have hundreds of different thoughts rather than one. It means that man can disregard its prescriptive statements and commands and rather engage it (the Bible) philosophically and use its guiding “principles.”

Liberalism is full of feeling rather than logic. All is application, not meaning and truth. Therefore, liberal readings of the Scripture rarely focus on the meaning of the author (authorial will) but what it means to the reader. If that makes the reader uncomfortable or anxious then another possible (even if convoluted) reading is used so as not to create angst to the readers of the scripture.

All is guideline (either-or). Very little is absolute (directive or commanded).

Liberalism teaches a reduced importance of doctrine (this, in effect, is the trumping of “feeling” over right and wrong along with absolute truth),

happens, the society would reject all institutions of truth and solidity, in the end not really believing in anything (nihilism, fatalism, humanism… all strong worldviews we live in today), which ultimately would lead to anarchy (no law).

Dr. Machen wrote in the early 1900s, grew up in the late 1880s and was a professor at Princeton for 20 years before he founded Westminster Seminary AND the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). He led a conservative revolt inside the PCUSA when they decided in the 1920s to reform Princeton into a liberal school. Since the PCUSA rejected his arguments, which urged Princeton to solidly hold to the Westminster Confession (you can Google that), he had no choice but to leave and begin WS and PCA. Dr. Machen is considered to be the last of

the great Princeton Theologians (which include famous names such as Charles Hodge and B.B. Warfield), and predicts in this book that if liberalism is not checked we’ll have an entire generation of people who will not be able to comprehend “absolute truth” or discern what is right and wrong due to their mind numbing and brainwashing by the education system in both public and private spheres. This is very similar to C.S. Lewis’ same prediction about the education system when he said the British public schools were creating “men without chests.”

The book is scholarly in tone yet is quite biting with wit. If you’ve ever been around scholarly debate, you know that it can get quite heated and at the same time technical. This book stays away from the heat (which makes so many uncomfortable) for the most part, but delivers a strong case that liberalism is doomed and if taken to its logical conclusions will end up destroying the very thing it says it supports: Christianity. Machen argues that liberalism leads inexorably to a sentimentalized religion that has nothing to do with the God of the Bible or with real life itself.

At any rate, “Christianity and Liberalism” is available for a mere pittance through Kindle ($4) and in paperback for $10. It was voted by “World Magazine” as one of the top 100 books of the millennium, and “Christianity Today” named it as one of the top 100 books of the 20th century. The book is witty and a strong defense of orthodox Protestantism; if you like a bit of challenge in your reading, you may find this a moving read.

Broaden your tastes and take a look – I think you’ll find it fascinating.

Enjoy.

Ed Kelley Executive Pastor

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Bay Area community church

EASTON

By Greg St. Cyr hile over 2,000 people gathered at 884 to celebrate the second Sunday of Advent on December 6, Mary Kaye and I squeezed into a home on the Eastern Shore with 14 people (and almost as many children) who have a vision for reaching Easton and beyond for Christ. Gathered around a large farm table was the core team God has raised up to start Bay Area Easton, a satellite campus of Bay Area Community Church.

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In the last several years many growing churches have become multisite churches, launching what are known as satellite campuses.

A multisite church is one church meeting in multiple locations.

That can mean meeting in different spaces on the same campus, or different locations in the same region, or gathering together in different states or even nations. A multisite church shares a common vision, leadership, budget and ministry approach, but gathers in multiple locations.

Last March, with the opening of our new chapel, we technically became a multisite church because of the new

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Unbeknownst to Craig, God was moving in the lives of Chad and Stephanie Nagel, who were living in Easton.

Unable to find a church to which they felt comfortable inviting their friends, they started making the 50-minute drive to Bay Area. God birthed a dream in them of helping start a church like BACC in Easton. Through interaction with Missional Community Pastor Brian Hopper, they decided to be trained and start a Missional Community that would eventually lead to a church plant on the Eastern Shore.

Their MC grew rapidly as people connected in community to love God, each other and their neighbors. Before long, we were working with the SENT Network (with Craig’s help) to search for a lead planter to launch the church. After several months of searching, Craig felt led to move from Silver Spring to Easton in order to help provide leadership while the search continued. As more months and prayer went by without a lead planter, we began to wonder if God was leading us to launch an expression of Bay Area Community Church in Easton. After much prayer, in October the elders felt God’s confirmation.

venue for worship the chapel provides at 884 (one church meeting in two locations – the auditorium and chapel).

This fall, the elders made the decision to officially launch a satellite campus in Easton.

How did Bay Area Easton come about?

It’s a faith decision birthed out of a vision to help reach and disciple people on the Eastern Shore.

Over four years ago God birthed a gripping vision within a man named Craig Fadel – a vision to see churches planted across the Eastern Shore. As Craig prayed, he felt led to designate on a map with the symbol of a Christmas tree all the places surrounding Easton where God would start Gospel-centered churches. Later, Craig would join our SENT Network and move with his wife, Mary, and their young family to Silver Spring to help launch The Well, one of our church plants.

Craig now serves as our Bay Area Easton campus pastor, and gives part of his time to the operational needs of SENT Network. Working closely with our executive pastor, Ed Kelley, and all our staff ministry leaders, Craig and the core team look forward to a soft launch on February 7, followed by an official launch on Easter. God has raised up one of our beloved worship leaders, Rachel Pletts, to be the campus worship leader.

The same Sunday message that you hear by me or Pat will be video-fed to Bay Area Easton. The children’s and student ministries will be equally fantastic as we bring our resources to help.

As we gathered around the farm table a few weeks ago, three words kept playing in my head: vision, burden, faith. Those who compose the core team have a vision to see God do great things. They have a big God in whom nothing is impossible – a God who can do exceedingly, abundantly more than they can ask or think. And they have a huge burden. Story after story was told of a longing for a community that would reach out to the lost and be a place for them to bring their friends who need Jesus. Each person was consumed with a burden for those far from Christ. And

finally, faith. The core team is all in, radically willing to take bold steps of faith to see God’s vision become a reality.

The Spirit of God continues to pour out His grace on Bay Area. We didn'’t set out to launch a satellite church in Easton. God did.

And we, His people, are simply trying to faithfully ride the wave of His grace!

There are many opportunities for those of us living on the west side of the bay bridge to serve Bay Area Easton; presently, we’re looking for 50 volunteers who can help get it off to a great start. Whether you’re able to serve for one month or six, opportunities will include Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, tech and worship, connecting, help with setup and teardown and others. On the Sundays you’re not serving, we’d also invite you to simply attend BACC Easton to help cultivate a warm, friendly environment during our gatherings.

More information about serving opportunities will be available in the days ahead. In the meantime, let’s lock arms in prayer for what God is doing on the Eastern Shore. If you have further questions, please contact Craig at craig. fadel@bayareacc.org.

The Spirit of God continues to pour out His grace on Bay Area. We didn’t set out to launch a satellite church in Easton. God did. And we, His people, are simply trying to faithfully ride the wave of His grace!

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L E A D E R S H I P

P R O F I L E

CRAIG FADEL

By Meredith Thompson

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“Does God care that we ended up on the Eastern Shore? Yeah, because He cares about those people. But ultimately, He doesn’t need us; He wants us.”

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ay Area Easton Campus Pastor Craig Fadel has always lived in light of Matthew 6:33, and recently, God has assured him that if he is seeking first God’s Kingdom, everything will work out.

“God has often in His grace given us super clear direction – ‘This is what you’re supposed to do’ – but moving to Easton was the least clear we’ve ever [been in] making such a huge decision,” Craig said.

“In retrospect, it makes total sense, but God has been stretching us into, ‘If you’re seeking first My Kingdom, there are options in what you can do.’

“I would prefer Him to just tell me what to do … [But] it’s a lot less about what we do and way more about who we are, and that means who we are in Christ – our relationship to our Father – we’re His children.”

As a child, Craig grew up in a mature Christian home, the son of a pastor. He trusted Jesus at a young age, praying to receive Christ in a bathtub when he was 5 years old. “I got really clean that night,” he jokes. At the age of 12, he was baptized, and by 16, he began to feel a tug toward vocational ministry.

Fresh out of high school, he spent three years in full-time ministry travelling the country doing concerts in churches and assemblies at elementary schools.

Serving in a leadership role, Craig frequently found himself on the receiving end of theological questions, and soon realized he needed more education and training. He pursued a degree at Moody Bible Institute, where he married his wife, Mary, and later attended Capital Seminary and Graduate School (then called Lancaster Bible College). While at Moody, the Fadels prayed that they could live close to one of their families, and God opened a door eight years ago for them to move to Annapolis where Craig would serve on staff at Mariner’s Church.

Craig reached a pivotal point while at Mariner’s after reading Tim Keller’s article “Why Plant Churches?” which, he summarized, states that the most effective way to reach people with the

gospel is through planting churches.

“I wasn’t sure I believed it, so I thought, ‘A. I need to find out if this is true, and B. if it is true, I need to do something about it,’” Craig said, explaining that he studied church planting on his own, reading books and picking the brains of anyone who would talk about it.

“After two years, I felt like, ‘If I don’t do anything about this, I actually will be disobedient to what God is calling me to do,’ so I started actively looking for a way to get involved in church planting.”

plant, God opened the door for Craig to go on mission to the Eastern Shore.

As the leadership at Bay Area sought the Lord about expanding the church’s ministry to the Eastern Shore, Craig talked with Mark and Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr about launching a BACC satellite campus. In fall 2015, Bay Area’s elders felt God confirm the call to launch an Easton campus of Bay Area, and Craig was named campus pastor. Today, the Easton leadership team is looking forward to a soft launch February 6 and an official opening on Easter Sunday.

Craig and Mary, whom he met while doing ministry after high school, love living on their two-acre plot of land in the small town of Cordova, just outside of Easton. They’ve come to know many of their neighbors well since moving across the bay about a year ago, and look forward to planting berries in the spring.

During his pursuits, Craig met SENT Network Director Mark McGeever and voiced his desire to help churches get started, admitting he didn’t feel called to plant one himself. As he studied church planting and prayed, God planted a region on his heart. It would have seemed more likely that God would have put China or Africa on his heart, Craig noted, but the Lord birthed in him a desire to reach people just across the Chesapeake Bay.

“Funny story – the night I met Mary, we were doing a concert, and she was in the audience – my leader’s sister brought her,” Craig recalled of the evening he met his bride-to-be. “My leader came up to me afterwards and said, ‘Hey, did you meet Mary?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He was like, ‘You know what?

I bet she’s going to end up joining this ministry … I bet she ends up making it, and you guys end up getting together and getting married.’”

Designated with small Christmas trees, Craig marked up a map of the Eastern Shore with what it would look like to plant a “whole bunch of churches,” and as he went along, he realized the exercise might be less daydream and more vision from God than he initially realized. His burden for the people on the other side of the Bay Bridge grew.

The 32-year-old husband and father of two girls – with a third child on the way! – is an avid bookworm and sports enthusiast. Craig enjoys watching football and basketball – just about any sport, really, except for golf and baseball – and loves playing soccer. He served as assistant coach for Chesapeake Community College’s soccer team, and plays with the guys in the offseason. “That’s a cool thing God’s done – to allow something I really enjoy to be a way to reach and connect with people in the community,” Craig noted.

“We did what any good Christian would do – we were feeling called in one direction, and we went the exact opposite direction,” Craig confessed, explaining the Fadels felt called to the Eastern Shore but went where doors were open, to Silver Spring. In the back of his mind, he thought, “But if God opens a door for the Eastern Shore, we’ll take it.”

Just inside the top of the D.C. beltway, Craig spent two years serving as a pastor at The Well Community Church, a SENT Network church plant, while managing operations for SENT. At the end of two years of gaining valuable experience serving at a young church

As volunteer teams are formed and the opening of Bay Area Easton approaches, the Fadels are looking forward to what God will do in the hearts of people on the Eastern Shore. “To me, it’s such a testimony to God’s sovereignty and ability to orchestrate things in that we moved over here thinking something totally different, and now it’s become this, and I’m more excited about this!”

Craig summed, giving glory to God.

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BAY AREA INTRODUCES

TEACHING As our group met to talk through the Scriptures, I wondered how they would respond to this new approach of learning.

We had a fairly spiritually mature group of people who, for years, had participated in and led Bible studies. This was not their first rodeo. So I wondered if this would have meaning or even impact in their lives personally or spiritually.

The passage we chose for the night was the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10. Even with a “no prep” rule 18 GO&MAKE JA N UA RY

By Brian Hopper

(meaning only a few of us reviewed the passage before we examined it together), I knew this group would be familiar with the story. Candidly, some of them could probably teach it better than I could. Despite my uncertainty, we pressed forward and began.

I prayed and reminded everyone what our group’s purpose was and why we were meeting. Then I asked one person who had previously read the passage to tell the story from

memory. It was interesting watching the group listen intently and follow along. Nods demonstrated they not only knew the story, but also agreed with how it was being told.

Afterward, I invited additional input from the group, asking, “Now, having heard the story, was there anything inadvertently left out or added?” and “What do you know or what have you heard about the passage that would help us better understand it?” Almost every person had something to share, add or illuminate for us. We talked about everything from the oil and wine the Samaritan used for the man’s wounds to the racial and social issues in Jesus’ day. It was great. But it wasn’t until we opened our Bibles and all read the story together that I began to see things truly come alive. I had selected a question that I wanted each person to answer that night, and after hearing the story, retelling it and reading it, we were ready.

“Which person do you relate to most in the story and why?” was my question, and as soon as I stated it, I could see people were thinking. At first, a person to my left said they related to the religious men who crossed over to the other side, because like them, when faced with a homeless person or someone in need, they often are unable (or sometimes unwilling) to help because they don’t have the time or margin to spare. Several in the group nodded in agreement.

A woman across from me said she also related to the religious men but for a different reason. She said the Samaritan showed compassion on the beaten man that the other men didn’t show. She identified with them because she doesn’t know how to best help those in need. And worse, she said, she doesn’t have a heart for the needy.

WOW. I couldn’t believe the level of transparency our group reached so quickly. As each person answered the question, the whole group began to sense the need to think and act on this differently. It seems like that was what Jesus intended when He told the story as well.

What I found interesting was that no one in the group related to the man, robbed, beaten and left for dead. I wondered out loud, “If we were from Sudan, or Syria, would we find ourselves relating to him?” I posed how, perhaps, this speaks to our own self-sufficiency and unwillingness to let others know when we are in need.

By the time we all shared, we not only learned and talked about all aspects of the passage, but also sensed from the Lord that we needed to change in this area. Some offered practical steps they were going to take, while others said they wanted to pray more about what to do.

In the end, I was completely blown away. I asked the group if they felt this was helpful or meaningful, and to a person, they all said yes. I asked if they felt like they learned the passage and again, a resounding yes. I was both relieved and excited. We finished our time together with prayer, asking the Lord to help us make room for those in need and to change our hearts to have compassion.

This approach to learning the scriptures is something new that we will be utilizing in our Missional Communities at Bay Area. The narrative style of learning has been used for decades in churches both here in the U.S. and around the world. It was originally developed as a way to bring gospel truth and Biblical story to tribal communities around the world. Because of the power of story, it easily translates and transforms into a wide variety of cultures, people groups and maturity levels – everyone grows. This is why the

leadership at Bay Area felt led to consider using this in our Missional Communities to help our church family continue to grow spiritually.

So, starting this month, all of our Missional Communities will be aligned together and will examine a narrative passage of scripture (i.e., Daniel and the lion’s Den, Joshua at Jerico, Moses leads the Israelites, etc.) prior to Greg or Pat preaching it on Sunday. We believe this will help us individually and corporately grow in both our knowledge and application of the Word. Rather than discuss what has already been talked about, everyone in an MC will spend time in the Word prior to the preaching. This will further illuminate truth and help with applying it.

A disciple is defined as one who follows Jesus, is changed

by Him, and is on mission with Him. So as we learn and apply the Word, we want to be changed by it. This narrative approach helps us accomplish this goal.

A few of our Missional Communities already have adopted this narrative style of learning, and here is what we have learned so far:

this approach enables our leaders to focus more on the people instead of the preparation.

Discipleship is the goal for everyone in an MC. By reducing the amount of Bible study prep time for our (already) busy leaders, they have more capacity to lead, disciple and shepherd the folks in their MC.

there is no pressure to be a biblical expert.

Regardless of where they were is spiritually, everyone said they learned and grew in their knowledge and application of the Word. It levels the playing field so every stage of spiritual maturity can benefit.

folks find it easy to relate the stories to their own lives.

This is exactly what we were hoping would happen. Because our Missional Communities have a strong OUTward focus, personally relating to the Biblical narratives is important.

Additionally, helping people know and share the stories has helped folks talk about Jesus in the workplace, at home and with their people of peace.

the format allows for great group discussion and vulnerability.

Everyone gets to a participate and share, which builds stronger relationships and community.

If you would like to join the more than 700 people who will be examining passages of Scripture prior to the Sunday morning teaching over the coming months, we’d encourage you to join a Missional Community. For more information, go to www.bayareacc.org/missionalcommunities.

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Greg St. Cyr as The Archangel Gabriel

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Brian Hopper as Moses

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Ed Kelley as Pontius Pilate

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Pat Linnell as Pharoah

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FROM HERE TO THE NATONS:

GHANA

nicole morabito SHARES HER JOURNEY OF FAITH

B

When and why did you decide to go on a STMT to Ghana in 2015? Had you been on a mission trip before?

eing a Christian can be very comfortable until you understand that God owns it all – that you are a steward of the resources you have, and that God invites you on a mission to tell of His love, which may involve crossing the street or the ocean. Some of us approach shortterm missions with fear because they take us outside our comfort zone. Language, culture, weather, safety and the possibility of looking awkward all seem insurmountable problems when considering missions for the first time.

Whatever the fear, I have seen multiple people step out in faith and be so used by God – way beyond their imagination – that these fears paled in significance compared to the joy of service and the personal transformation that took place within them.

Nicole Morabito applied to go to Ghana with the short-term team I led in July 2015 – a mission with Scripture Union to reach youth and students with the gospel. As we prepared to leave, Nicole felt that she would be inadequate in knowing the Bible and sharing her faith.

Nicole was vulnerable with us at the last minute and ready to pull out.

She apologized if that would be an inconvenience for the team. When we heard her reasons, we all rallied to encourage her. We asked her to finish reading the assigned Bible passages and fervently pray about the next step. We freed her from any obligation to come along.

What follows in her own words is the story of God’s work in Nicole’s life, even before she left for the trip, and how that affected her effectiveness and peace while in Ghana.

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– Osofo Casely Essamuah

I had been wanting to go overseas for a while, but I didn't know what I was going to do. Bay Area started talking about missions trips, and I knew that was going to be my calling that year. After much praying, I finally signed up.

I went on a missions trip a few years earlier, but it was through my dad's dental office to El Salvador. I had never been on a church missions trip.

What fear or anxiety did you experience prior to your trip, and what do you believe caused it?

I had so much anxiety about going on the trip, I almost backed out the week prior to leaving. I was nervous throughout all of our team meetings, but not so bad that I felt I needed to drop out, until our last meeting.

One week before leaving for Ghana I almost resigned from the trip. Osofo (Ghanaian for “pastor”) Casely told our team that we would be speaking to hundreds of students at a time.

This really freaked me out. I got so worked up during the meeting that I started crying.

I believe this anxiety and fear were caused by two things. One, I was not comfortable in speaking publicly, and to hundreds of students! Two, I didn't feel like I knew enough in order to go and help disciple all of these children in Ghana. I felt very insecure, and unworthy to be spreading the Good News.

How did God provide for your concerns once you were there?

Right before I walked up to the podium at each school, my heart would start racing.

The first time I spoke, I was afraid I was going to pass out, but suddenly I was at peace. I realized that whatever I was going to say was what God wanted me to say, and there wasn't any way I could mess up His words. I began speaking and left my notes behind. I started getting into my message, and let God take me where He wanted me to go. When I was done, I couldn't believe that I was so calm and clear when I spoke.

There was one school where I spoke to 1,600 students, but I was able to remain calm and let His work be done.

In what ways did God use you in Ghana?

Why did you decide to press on and go on the trip despite your hesitation?

I decided to press on because of my wonderful teammates and Osofo!

They all helped me calm down, as well as tell me why I was wrong, and why I was perfect to go. They lifted me up and encouraged me.

My team all prayed for me as well.

I walked out of the meeting ready to go, still a little nervous, but I was going to go!

The ways He used me the most were talking to and working with kids in the schools. I was able to share my testimony and a gospel message at least once a day.

At each of the schools, I was given a small group of students to lead in a closer group.

I truly believe that the work my team did in Ghana helped hundreds of students learn how to get closer to God.

How did dependence on the Holy Spirit enable you to be used by God on your trip?

There was no way I could get through my speeches without the Holy Spirit with me through the whole thing. I needed God's words to help me reach the students who were sitting in front of me. His Spirit traveled with me day and night and kept me strong. There were a few times that my team and I were so tired from all of the excitement that they only thing we could rely on was God, because even our bodies

and minds were giving up on us. God truly carried us through the whole trip.

What did God teach you through this experience? What did you learn about His character and your relationship with Him? God taught me that it isn't all what you know, but what you have to offer. I went on this trip not knowing Bible verses. I learned that I needed to just trust in what He wanted to do. There was one school where He gave me two students to work with. When I left these two students, I was in tears. My team saw how upset I was and they knew I needed to process what I had just heard. Once I calmed down, my roommate Rachel told me that God had broken my heart. This was hard to hear. Why would God break my heart?

She helped me realize that this was a good thing. He showed me that the things we hear on the news are not fake; they really do happen. These two students also taught me that I couldn't possibly complain about anything because nothing I was going through was close to what they were experiencing. Through breaking my heart, He taught me that I needed to be praying more for these concerns as well as taking these stories home and sharing them. I definitely got much closer to God on this trip. I learned different ways to pray, worship and study the Bible.

How would you encourage someone who believes they are called to go on a STMT but are scared to take that step of faith?

I wish that everyone would go on a STMT. These trips are not only for the people we are going to help, but also for ourselves. I believe I got more out of going to Ghana and the work I did there than the students with whom I worked. I learned so much about Ghana, their people, culture, God and myself. These are also great trips for getting closer to people from church. Our team turned into a little family. Everyone had something to offer, and everyone needed something from someone there.

Also, I would tell them that God is going to be with them every step of the way. It was hard to believe, until it happened.

God never left us alone. He encouraged us, lifted us up when we needed Him to, and kept us going all the way to the end.

The biggest thing I struggled with was believing that I was not good enough to go.

I talked negatively about myself, because I didn't think I knew enough to teach the Good News. Boy was I wrong! God uses what we already have in order to help others. I didn't need to have the whole Bible memorized, or even a few verses.

He used what I knew in order to speak to thousands of children in Ghana.

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The Unlikely Missionary encountering jesus in the republic of the savior

By Jerry Shirlen

most ways, growing up in Rye, New York, was a very normal existence for Glenn Drake. His father was Episcopal and his mother was Catholic, which meant Glenn spent his time at church with only one parent. So, he went with his mom and found himself singing in the Catholic church’s choir. During this time in his life he began to develop a belief in God.

In

His adult life had a few twists and turns, but still, Glenn considers it to be a fairly typical American story. Some 24 years ago, he and his wife Denise were married and their lives have thrived ever since. They have two sons, Tyler and Mitchell, and live in a beautiful home overlooking the Severn River.

Although he had accepted God in a mindful way, Glenn was increasingly less interested in church. Admittedly, he became so bored with it that he noted the homilies sounded more and more like Charlie Brown’s teacher to him… whaa, whaa, whaa. Eventually, they stopped attending church.

About two years ago, Denise providentially met Cathy Logan, a member of the Bay Area Community Church family, and at Cathy’s invitation, she accompanied her to a BACC gathering. Denise enjoyed the service and began to attend regularly with Cathy.

Ultimately, Cathy introduced Denise to Mary Kaye St. Cyr, and the three of them started a meaningful friendship.

Denise encouraged Glenn to give BACC a try, but he simply was no longer interested in church. But, one Sunday when Cathy was unable to attend, he agreed to accompany Denise to a gathering. Perhaps somewhat surprised, Glenn was touched by God during the gathering. He felt there was something different at BACC, and he recognized it as God’s Holy Spirit. Glenn decided to attend on a regular basis.

Attending church on Sundays was all Glenn 26 GO&MAKE JA N UA RY

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 EXPEREINCE, PEOPLE OFTEN SHARE WITH HIM THEIR STORIES OF FAITH. WE’VE INVITIED HIM TO SHARE THOSE ACCOUNTS IN GO&MAKE THROUGH A SERIES OF ARTICLES TITLED “THE UNLIKELY MISSIONARY.”

was willing to do at the time. But, along with others, Greg St. Cyr had begun to encourage him to get his spiritual life on the fast track. When Greg told him he needed to read the Bible, Glenn, recalling his days in other churches, responded, “We don’t read the Bible, we read the bulletin.”

In early 2015, BACC launched its “Make the Trade” campaign. Glenn was aware of BACC’s dedication to the Great Commission, but he knew he wasn’t ready for a commitment of that magnitude. He just wasn’t prepared, and the reasons why he couldn’t consider a short-term mission trip rolled out of his thoughts as easily as waves moving onto the shore. He suggested that Denise and Cathy go on a trip without him.

At the first Make the Trade gathering, I was asked to tell my story about my mission trip to El Salvador in 2014. I shared how I never thought I would be a missionary, that I wasn’t prepared to go, and I could not imagine what purpose I would serve on such a trip. But, I also spoke about how I helped a young man come to Christ and how my responding to God’s call to go had changed my life in an amazing, positive way.

Glenn was at church that day and as he listened to my story, he felt as if I was speaking directly to him, thinking, “That’s me!” With every comment I made, God was dispelling each doubt that Glenn had about serving. At the urging of the Holy Spirit, Glenn told Denise that he wanted to be a member of a team.

And so, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, Glenn, Denise and Cathy left for El Salvador (which means the “Republic of the Savior”) as part of BACC’s sixth team to visit the country that year. On Monday, as the team headed for the Children’s Development Center in Soyapango, Cathy and Sarah Meehan, Bay Area’s global partner in El Salvador, sat together and chatted in the shuttle van. It was during this conversation that Sarah shared her personal testimony of accepting Jesus as her Savior. As she did, Glenn listened intently in the rear seat. It was then that Glenn began to realize that while he came to know God in his mind, he had never truly given his heart to God. Before leaving the van, Glenn asked Sarah what the sinner’s prayer was that she had mentioned, and she quoted Romans 10:9-10 to him.

Two days later, Glenn relayed to Sarah the good news she wanted to hear.

During the night, he had knelt before God, and obeyed the scripture, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Glenn had asked Christ into his heart for the first time. With Sarah’s encouragement during a team break for coffee, the normally reserved Glenn told his story to the entire team. And then, on the last day of the mission trip, he related the week’s events with all the people at the center. His life was merging onto the fast track.

On the final day being with the children, Glenn participated in an enactment of a Bible story. He was pleased to play the role of Noah, and he knew he had also, in reality, finally “found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

Pastor Ed Kelley has spoken about the “wake” we leave behind as we move through life. Just like the wake a boat leaves in the water, our actions (good or bad) will touch many lives, who will in turn touch many more. I feel blessed that God used my story to reach Glenn, and I know Glenn’s story will be meaningful to others who consider the opportunity to go on a mission trip.

And so, “our” wake will just continue to grow. Is the wake behind you one that lifts up the name of Jesus so that others can find him?

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“T

he journey as a parent of a special needs child can sometimes be a lonely one. At times there is uncertainty and even fear. Will my child fit in? Will he be accepted for who he is?” Jennifer Gilbert, whose son Brandon participates in the middle school ministry at Bay Area Community Church, shared concerns common among parents of children who have special needs.

Brandon has ASD, autism spectrum disorder, a developmental disorder that affects how he thinks, learns, communicates and behaves. Jennifer shared the familiar quote, “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” explaining that autism is unique to each individual.

Some people have autism that is mild, such as Brandon; others, more severe.

Bay Area’s Student Ministry (BASM) has been a place where Brandon has thrived, growing more comfortable each year trying new experiences.

When he started seventh grade this year, he asked if he could join the Light Team, the middle school student leadership team that serves at the Fusion gatherings. Brandon wanted to serve, in his words, “by helping collect the money and giving highfives.” Brandon also attended the Alive conference in November 2015, a three-day weekend event in Ocean City.

As parents, Jennifer shared they were uncertain at first, but Brandon assured them he was “feeling brave.”

After talking with the student ministry team, which included BASM staff and Brandon’s volunteer community group leader, a plan to support Brandon that weekend was created with which everyone felt comfortable. “They were willing to work with us and invest the time and energy into considering his needs so that he was able to try this big, new experience,” said Jennifer, “and it was a success.”

“To know there are people who want to come alongside our family and our son to share the journey with us means so much,” she added. “God is loving and supporting us through them.”

In February of 2015, Student Ministry Pastor Brent Squires’ older brother, who had grown up with special needs, passed away. “This solidified to me the need for providing a ministry for all students,” he said. He could not ignore the students in the ministry with disabilities and special needs.

Something needed to be done for them.

specific needs will be met. Students and parents will connect with an adult Buddy, who will be the student’s point person throughout a Sunday morning gathering, allowing the parents to attend the main gathering.

“I had a burden on my heart for students I would see come to our gatherings once and never come back because there was no support system to meet their needs,” Brent highlighted.

It was something the student ministry team was aware of, but unsure at first how to address, so they began praying for the right leadership. That is when Hannah Loureiro stepped onto the scene. Hannah is a special needs teacher inspired by Jesus’ earthly life of serving others.

The objective is to provide a Buddy for each student who has special needs.

In doing so, special attention can be given to help the student connect with other students, participate in activities, understand the teaching, be discipled, and more.

“He spent much of His time caring for people with disabilities,” said Hannah. “In our culture, individuals with disabilities are often ignored and, unfortunately, this has carried over into the Church.”

Today, BASM is excited to announce the launch of BASM Buddies, a special needs ministry birthed out of the desire for all students to have a place where they can belong and know the love of Jesus, just like Brandon.

The purpose of BASM Buddies is to come alongside families, assuring them that their student will not be lost in the mix on a Sunday morning, and that their

With Hannah’s experience, she contributes the knowledge and ability needed to get BASM Buddies up and running. She will equip volunteers through training and encouragement as they step into the role of a Buddy.

“Jesus’ message of hope and grace is for all people, regardless of status, race, or even disability,” said Hannah. “Jesus teaches, ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40).”

Volunteering as a BASM Buddy does not require previous special needs work or experience, as training will be provided.

If you are interested in getting involved as a Buddy, or if you have a student with special needs who might benefit from the program, contact Student Ministry Program Coordinator Lauren Gibeault at lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org.

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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 intent 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 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. The need for Celebration Place, the program for children at CR, has declined; until the need arises again, there will be no Celebration Place for children. 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.

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HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION 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 about how to be of assistance. Contact Leanne at leanne.lane@ bayareacc.org or call 443-837-3718.

VOCATION ASSISTANCE If you or someone you know is currently unemployed, on the early stages of determining their career path, or wanting to gain a better understanding of how God has wired them for a career,

perhaps you would benefit from meeting with a trained career coach. Jacques Fox is equipped and called to help people better identify their vocational paths using a variety of tools and approaches (SIMA, DOMA and others). Fore more information, contact Jacques Fox at jh.fox@verizon.net.

LAY COUNSELOR INSTITUTE The Lay Counselor Institute (LCI) and Bay Area Community Church invite you to join us for The Glorious Mess, a daylong seminar designed to explore the nature of being human, the mess we often find ourselves in and the way our glory and brokenness manifest themselves in relationships. Dr. Bill Clark, a local Christian psychologist and director of LCI, joins others to present this provocative content. While this seminar serves as the first level of training for anyone interested in being a lay counselor, it is applicable to anyone who wrestles with God and cares about relationships. It is particularly helpful to those in relational roles (marriage, parenting, mentoring, ministry) where life seems particularly challenging. The event will take place on Saturday, January 16, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the Docks at BACC. Cost: $95. You may also want to consider the second part of this material, which is a five-week small group experience designed to flesh this material out in the context of others. For more information or to register for the seminar, go to www.lciministry.org.

THE GREAT DATE NIGHT The Great Date Night is getting closer! Back by popular demand, the event will take place on Saturday, February 13 from 7-9:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at BACC. Cost: $40 per couple. There will be FREE KidCare (ages 1 - 10) but you must register ahead of the event. Sign-ups will begin online and in the lobby on Sunday, January 17, 24, 31 and February 7. Steve Geyer, a seasoned Christian comedian, will provide entertainment this year.

Steve learned to do comedy as a way to cope with the trials of an abusive home and painful childhood. He has traveled for 20 years performing stand-up comedy. Check Steve out: thegrablegroup.com/speaker/steve-geyer/.

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, including 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 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 email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or call 443-837-3718.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

CHILDREN & STUDENT BAPTISM CELEBRATION If you have a child or student who wants to be baptized, we would love to celebrate this milestone with your family at our next baptism event happening Saturday, February 6 at 6 p.m.

Visit the children’s or student resource webpage to read more on how your family can be part of this event.

WAVE RIDERS Our Wave Riders Play Dates this month will be held on January 11 and 28. For more details, check out “Wave Rider Play Group” on Facebook or contact Stacey Burkhardt at stacey.burkhardt@bayareacc.org.

DIVE 45 All fourth- and fifth-grade students are invited to join us for a night of fun playing indoor laser tag throughout the entire BACC building. Cost is $5 per child and space is limited to 100 kids so register your child(ren) today at bayareaac.org/dive45.

TAKE IT HOME These activities were created for families to begin faith conversations in the comfort of your home. They’re simple, fun and designed to be a tool for parents to engage topics that children may be asking about.

This month’s Take It Home will focus on communion, and will be available for pickup the last Sunday of January. We’d love to hear how your family utilizes the Take It Homes; please feel free to share on our Kids at Bay Area Facebook page.

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 KidCare Coordinator Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org or visit the Children’s Welcome on Sundays for more info.

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FINANCIALS Operating Budget Financial Update As of December 6, 2015 New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2015 Fiscal Year Giving Goal

$4,116,000

YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal (3.6% ahead) DECEMBER To Date Received DECEMBER To Date Giving Goal

$1,124,707 $1,085,948 $38,759 $107,318 $126,567

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.

GLOBAL MISSIONS MAKE THE TRADE LUNCHEONS Join us for lunch after the third gathering on February 7, 14 and 21 to discuss short term mission trip options in detail and meet a few of our global partners. Please RSVP by the previous Sunday in the lobby or by going to bit.ly/globalluncheon.

February 7: Lunch with our partners from El Salvador, Sarah and Jorge Solorzano. Learn more about the El Salvador, India and Malaysia trips (in the Warehouse).

February 14: Lunch with our partners from Poland, Robert and Ella Boryczka. Learn more about Uganda and Poland trips (in the Bay Cafe).

February 21: Lunch with our partner from Ghana, Kwame Adu, and our partners from Brazil, Mickey and Cherie Counter.

Learn more about the Ghana and Brazil trips (in the Bay Cafe).

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2016 SHORT TERM MISSION TRIPS The 2016 STM trips are here! We encourage you to pray to see if the Lord is leading you to serve on an STM in 2016. For more information, go to www.bayareacc.org/stm or email ashleigh. bicevskis@bayareacc.org.

EL SALVADOR • CHILDREN’S MINISTRY & HOME VISITS • March 12-20 | open to Midshipmen only • May 21-29 • June 11-19 | high school ministry, children’s ministry & home visits • July 9-17 • July 23-31 | college & children’s ministry • November 12-20 GHANA • HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY • June 2-12 • June 30 – July 10 • July 14-24 • August 4-14 | leadership camp ministry MALAYSIA • ENGLISH TEACHING & RELATIONSHIP BUILDING • May 16-28 • June 18-30 BRAZIL • MINISTRY TO CHURCH LEADERSHIP • July 15-25 POLAND • TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE • July 20 – August 1 INDIA • January 27 – February 5 | pastors’ conference | FULL • May 27 – June 4 | sports camp UGANDA • COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT • July 13-23 • July 27 – August 6

PRAYER MINISTRY Did you know BACC has a ministry devoted to prayer? The Prayer Ministry comprises teams of individuals devoted to gathering in prayer for our worship gatherings, pastors, missional efforts and missionaries, the ministries of the church, those who are sick or saddened, 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. 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.

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.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES

CONNECTING MINISTRY

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.

Three new courses starting in January!

THE CASE FOR FAITH Join us for eight weeks to dig into the reasonable answers to the toughest objections to Christianity. Here are a few of the topics we will cover: Since evil and suffering exist, a loving God cannot; since miracles contradict science, they cannot be true; evolution explains life, so God isn’t needed; a loving God would never torture people in hell; it’s offensive to claim that Jesus is the only way to God; and more. We will meet during the 9:30 a.m. gathering in Dock A beginning January 10.

MAN UP This is a seven-week LC designed to connect the men of BACC while grappling with the everyday challenges of following Jesus in 2016. We will dig into the Word, and let the Word dig into us as we grow together. We will meet during the 9:30 a.m. gathering in Dock B beginning January 10.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY This month during the gatherings we are preaching on some epic stories from the Old Testament, which makes now a great time to put together the puzzle and really understand the times, people and big story of these Scriptures. In eight weeks you’ll be able to tell the whole story of the Old Testament. We will meet during the 11:15 a.m. gathering in Dock A beginning January 17.

Sign up for these LCs at www.bayareacc.org/ learningcommunities.

MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES

MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER Are you new to Bay Area and/or looking to get connected in community? If so, consider joining us for our next MC Taster on January 10 in the Warehouse at 12:45 p.m. Here we will introduce you to our version of mid-sized groups that will help you continually grow spiritually, relationally and missionally.

RSVP online at bayareacc.org/mctasterrsvp or email us at mc@ bayareacc.org for more info. Lunch and KidCare are provided.

DISCOVER BAY AREA NEWCOMER LUNCH 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 January 3 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! The next Discover Bay Area will be February 7.

STUDENT MINISTRY LEADERS OF THE MONTH MAEVE MORRISSEY It seemed only natural that Maeve Morrissey would join our talented group of community group leaders after interning with BASM this past summer and fall. We were happy she decided to stick around! She is passionate about loving on the ninthgrade girls at Bay Area and going with them on frequent coffee dates.

When she is not serving with BASM she enjoys all activities that have to do with water, including swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding.

We wish her well as she begins attending University of Maryland School of Nursing at Baltimore this spring!

RACHEL SOLSMAN Rachel Solsman serves faithfully each Sunday with our sixth-grade girls community group. As a high school student herself, she is also actively involved in our Fuel gathering and participates on our SALT Team.

She is currently a sophomore at Annapolis Area Christian School and dominates on the lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams.

When she is not at school, she can be found playing with her golden retriever Samson and hanging out with her wonderful family.

CHILDREN & STUDENT BAPTISM CELEBRATION If you have a child or student who wants to be baptized, we would love to celebrate this milestone with your family at our next baptism event happening Saturday, February 6 at 6 p.m.

Visit the children’s or student resource webpage to read more on how your family can be part of this event.

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WINTER MELTDOWN If you are a high school student make sure you register for our Winter Meltdown trip to River Valley Ranch, January 29-31.

The weekend will include horseback riding, paintball, zip lining and so much more!

You do not want to miss this. Registration is now open. Head to the Student Ministry kiosk or our website to sign up today.

The cost is $140 and spots will fill up quickly. Email Brent Squires at brent.squires@bayareacc.org if you have any further questions.

CLUB678 Club678 is a monthly hangout for middle school students. Our next Club678 will be Friday, Jan. 8, from 7-9 p.m. January’s theme will be Snowed In. Games will included an indoor “snowball” fight, ski races, “snowman” building and more! Students are encouraged to invite friends and bring money for snacks. This month’s snacks include snow cones. For more info, contact lydia.macbride@bayareacc.org.

SENIOR ONLY TUBING TRIP BASM invites all seniors in high school to join us for a day of tubing at Roundtop Mountain Resort. We will meet at the church at 8 a.m. and return at 8 p.m. The cost of the trip is $45, and students will need to bring money for lunch and dinner. Registration is open now and is set to close on January 10. Email Lauren Gibeault at lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org for more information.

VERTICAL WEEKEND Save the date for Vertical Weekend, February 26-28, BASM’s annual in-town retreat for middle school students.

Vertical Weekend’s focus is to point students upward to God, who desires to be in a relationship with them.

Students will gather at BACC for four sessions Friday night through Sunday morning. Each session will feature worship and relevant teaching. After Friday night’s session, students will depart in their gender/grade-specific groups to their host home for discipleship and discussion. Throughout the weekend, students will enjoy games, snacks and other activities. Students will be picked up Saturday to go home and return Sunday to Fusion for the final session. Sign up will begin January 24 and end February 7. Cost: $50. If you have any questions, contact lydia.macbride@bayareacc.org.

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.

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OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AMBASSADOR TEAM: Do you love Jesus? Do you love Bay Area? We need you to help serve our visitors and regular attenders. Contact: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org 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 Café and/ or espresso bar. Contact: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair setup/tear-down team. Contact: chairs@bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S MINISTRY WELCOME TEAM: Our Children’s Ministry is rapidly growing and we are seeing an increase in many new families every Sunday. Our greeters welcome and assist families with everything from the electronic check-in system to escorting families to their child’s individual environment. Contact: chyloe.cheetham@ bayareacc.org EASTON CAMPUS: There are many opportunities to serve Bay Area Easton; presently, we’re looking for 50 volunteers. Whether you’re able to serve for one month or six, opportunities will include Children’s and Student Ministry, tech and worship, connecting, help with setup and teardown and others. We’d also invite you to simply attend BACC Easton to help cultivate a warm, friendly environment during our gatherings. Contact: craig.fadel@ 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 ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS: The Submarine Canyon is looking for committed high school and adult volunteers to lead small groups of children during the 11:15 a.m. gathering. Contact: tammy.taschenberger@ 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: safety@bayareacc.org.

USHERS: The ushers team has opportunities to serve during Sunday morning gatherings. If you would like to be part of creating a welcoming environment, contact Michael Abramo: mtabramo1@comcast.net.

HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION: Interested in being part of a team that reaches out to those hospitalized or homebound? Contact: leanne.lane@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 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. Register for our upcoming studies at the Women’s Ministry kiosk in the lobby or online at bayareacc.org/women/spiritualgrowth.

THE WELL MORNING STUDY We have invited Marilyn Anderes back to teach her new “I AM” study. The essence of the “I AM’s” in John’s Gospel is the clear proclamation that Jesus is enough for us. Join us in discovering this personal, powerful and life-transforming truth as we meet to look at Jesus as enough provision, enough guidance, enough power, and so much more. As Marilyn often says, “Our lives either declare or deny that Jesus is enough for us.” Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m., January 13 - April 13. Cost: $15. Contact Laurie Gregory at thewell@bayareacc.org.

KIDCARE Available during Wednesday morning studies only. Cost: $55/1 child, $75/2+ children for the study starting January 13.

Contact Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org.

THE WELL EVENING STUDY “He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear from God” Come learn from Priscilla Shirer to see how God spoke to a young boy, Samuel, how he learned to respond to God, and the ways God speaks to believers today. This seven-week Bible study will take us close to the heart of God and teach us to recognize His voice. We will also have guest speakers to help us learn practical disciplines for spending time alone with God. Join us Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., January 12 - March 8.

Cost: $15. Contact Darby Cate at darby@dougcate.com.

UPCOMING WOMEN’S MINISTRY EVENTS QUIET RETREAT: “Live the WithGod Life” Join us on Saturday, January 16, from 8 a.m. - noon for this special morning that will feature teaching by Betsy McPeak on practical spiritual disciplines followed by time alone to spend with God. There will also be a room set aside for those who want to take the full morning for quiet reflection. Cost: $15, includes a take-home resource and light snacks. Register with Jocelyn at jocelyn_mathews@yahoo.com.

WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+) Is it time for a spiritual check up? On Monday, January 11, we will look into one written by the C.S. Lewis Institute as we enter into the New Year and ask God how we continue to grow on our journey together. On Monday, January 25, Missional Communities Pastor Brian Hopper will visit and share more about every one being a missionary in this season of our lives. For more information, contact Cedulie Sanchez at luisandcedulie@gmail.com.

As a church, we blessed over 550 children with gifts this Christmas season.

Great job, Bay Area! Thank you to all who provided gifts and helped distribute them.

Tune in next year as we continue to bless local children in need.

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