BaptistLIFE Fall 2020 by Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware

FALL 2020

UNITED IN

CHRIST

Newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware • baptistlifeonline.org

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Table of Contents

(ISSN 331-640) is published quarterly as a Cooperative Program ministry of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. BaptistLIFE 10255 Old Columbia Road Columbia, MD 21046-1716 (Phone) 800-466-5290, ext. 205 (Fax) 443-378-7474 Send address changes to: rchesley@bcmd.org BaptistLIFE Staff Reginald Davis, Creative Director Alex Bouffard, Communications Manager Rosalie Chesley, Managing Editor/Mailing Sharon Mager, BaptistLIFE Correspondent

A Tale of Two Churches

South Shore Baptist Church (SSBC) has a history, a heritage. Started by Eastport Baptist Church, it was founded in 1959.

Thinking Biblically During Election Season 26 Can Christians come to differing conclusions on politics? If so, how can we maintain unity despite disagreements?

Disaster Relief: A Long Look Back 34 DR volunteers continue to serve with humility and joy, confident in God’s promise.

BaptistLIFE Perspectives 4 President’s Letter 5 Church Life During COVID-19 6 God Builds the Storehouse 10 A Lament for Racial Injustice 18 Transitions and Recognitions 40

Address change: Send the new address with the old mailing label at least three weeks prior to move or send an email to rchesley@bcmd.org with your old and new information. Free Subscription by request Press Releases and Photos: We welcome letters from readers, press releases, and photos of topics of interest to Maryland/Delaware Baptists. We prefer digital photos sent electronically. If you send glossy prints, please include a SASE for return. Letters to the Editor (LTTE) do not reflect the views or opinions of BaptistLIFE. We prefer letters from Maryland and Delaware. Only letters marked clearly for publication as a LTTE and signed with addresses will be considered. Please include a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. Letters may not exceed 300 words. Letters attacking churches or individuals will not be published. Letters will be edited for clarity, BaptistLIFE style, and space considerations, but not for content. We regret that we cannot respond to all letters not accepted for publication. BaptistLIFE is a member of the Association of State Baptist Papers, Baptist Press News, and Evangelical Press Association and is printed by Delmarva Printing in Salisbury, Md.

God’s Glory is Our Strength

DR. KEVIN SMITH

Executive Director Baptist Convention of Maryland/ Delaware

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” (Proverbs 24:10 KJV)

t is a great day to be a Maryland/ Delaware Baptist! Did I just write that? Yes, I did. Don’t I know that we are in the middle of a global pandemic? Yes, I do. It is still a great day to be a Maryland/Delaware Baptist. God’s people have often recognized His glory in challenging times. The Church has been a witness to God’s glory in the midst of all types of circumstances in the broader societies in which she found herself — previous global pandemics and plagues, regional wars, world wars, natural disasters with earthquakes or hurricanes or tornadoes, the burning of church buildings after a lightning strike or vandalization. Whatever the challenge, God’s people have responded to unconventional circumstances in many ways that have brought glory to God.

Christians have responded to tragedies by sacrificially loving their neighbors while other citizens resorted to self-preserving, selfish modes of living. The grounding element for Jesus’ disciples is a desire to honor Him as we suffer and experience trials. My late pastor often cited Proverbs 24:10 as a means of encouraging the saints to be strong in the Lord during difficult times. In line with Psalm 27, the Lord truly is our strength in all types of situations. May that be the testimony of Maryland/Delaware Baptists. Grace to you,

Brother Kevin

God’s people have often recognized His glory in challenging times. The Church has been a witness to God’s glory in the midst of all types of circumstances in the broader societies in which she found herself.

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Jesus and Conflict

t would be nice to be able to ask Jesus how to handle the conflicts that face us in our world today. But, in a sense, He already has shown us. He has given us so many examples in the Gospels to inform our decisions. Mary bore Jesus in the midst of conflict and danger and He spent His whole time on earth enduring oppression and opposition. He had but a few years when there was not some kind of struggle around Him and even then, Roman oppression was overrunning His country. When we examine His life, we must understand that Jesus made it very clear that the greatest of all weapons to deal with conflict was and is truth. The battle between the truth and lies has always gone on day after day as long as sin has plagued this world. Jesus made it perfectly clear that truth produces freedom and life and lies produce darkness and death. In John 8, when faced with conflict in the streets, Jesus told the listeners that they could not hear Him because they were listening to their father, the Devil. The Devil is the father of lies. It is in the Devil’s DNA to murder and to lie. Jesus said that when the Devil is talking, he is lying. It is amazing, but it seems that all the problems that are in the world have their origins in the Devil’s lies. And so, this is true even today! Jesus said that the truth was the source of life and freedom and that the truth was founded in His Word. When Jesus addressed the struggles surrounding Him

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DR. HAROLD M. PHILLIPS

President Baptist Convention of Maryland/ Delaware

in the streets, He continued to declare truths from above to combat the lies from beneath. Even when those who were listening did not want to hear the truth, He would state the truth. The only thing that gives life and freedom is the truth. When we read about the many encounters that Jesus had, it is clear that He would not allow lies to carry the conversation. He always proclaimed the truths that produced life. In every encounter, He went back to the truth. Even while questioned by Pontius Pilate, Jesus said that one of the main reasons for His coming was to bear witness to the truth! In Luke 8, we see Jesus encounter a mob after He had forgiven the sins of the woman who washed His feet with oil. And after addressing them, we see that he went right back to the business of proclaiming the truths of the Kingdom. Luke 8:1 says, “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (KJV). May we, as His representatives, always be truth-tellers. It is always the answer to state the truth about what is going to impact eternity. Everything else will pass away but the Kingdom of God will be forever. We must not get caught up in this world’s weeds; we must be about Kingdom business. When we are about Kingdom business we are about eternal business. Lord Jesus, guide our attitudes and our actions as well as our words. May we speak the truth and plant seeds of freedom in every conflict, situation, and decision.

Jesus said that the truth was the source of life and freedom and that the truth was founded in His Word.

Church Life During COVID-19 by Sharon Mager

he global pandemic has transformed the way we live, work, and worship. We’ve “Zoomed,” “streamed,” and “pivoted” without leaving home. If we’re honest, most of us have lamented, complained, repented of lamenting and complaining, and then begun again. But in the midst of it all, God has been working and many have heard the “still small voice” through the anxiety, fear, grief, and social fragmentation. Maryland/Delaware churches quickly became adept at streaming and using meeting platforms such as Zoom. Many used the opportunity to safely minister to their neighbors through offering free food. As restrictions wore on, churches had no option but to postpone mission trips and either cancel, postpone, or move Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) to an online format. We’ve compiled just a sampling of the many ways that

congregations have been demonstrating that the church is the body of Christ that strives to love and serve for the glory of God.

VIRTUAL VBS First Baptist Church of Beltsville (FBCB), in Maryland, was one of several churches that hosted a virtual VBS from June 29 to July 3. Pastor Keith Holland was happy with the results. “It’s hard to know [exact] participation, but we’ve had an average viewership of 120. That includes YouTube and Facebook postings,” he said. The church used LifeWay’s “Concrete and Cranes” curriculum and recorded the different portions, including music with choreography, crafts, and recreation. “It had the same feel as the kids were used to,” Holland said. Though the official week of VBS has ended, the church hasn’t put a time limit on the videos, so people can still continue to watch. The church offered “porch packs” that included craft items,

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Bible study information, and snacks. Members delivered 20 porch packs to those who registered. Holland said the church considered the various options for VBS, but he emphasized to his leadership, “Cancelling VBS was not an option. God uses VBS to win a lot of kids to Christ.” Riva Trace Baptist Church (RTBC) in Davidsonville, Maryland, had outdoor VBS in the mornings and evenings on staggered days and opened it to families. They met on the church lawn for singing, Bible stories, games, and pre-packaged snacks. Families sat together and brought lawn chairs and blankets, while ensuring social distance.

MINISTERING TO FRONTLINE WORKERS John Willis, the pastor of Freedom Biker Church (FBC) in New Castle, Delaware, led a tribute ride for frontline workers at ChristianaCare Hospital on May 12. Willis, who had recently been a patient at the hospital, wanted the church to show their support to the hospital workers. He envisioned a little bike parade of about 20 to 40 participants. He shared the idea and others were immediately on board. “We thought it would be really cool. Maybe the guys would rev the engines and blow some horns,” he said. That number grew as bikers began to get excited about the idea. News spread through word-of-mouth. Willis and the church led over 200 bikers, with a police escort, around the hospital in a show of support. Some of the hospital workers lined the road and took photos and others looked out of windows and waved. London Village Baptist Chapel (LVBC) in Magnolia, Delaware, provided snack bags to the night shift at Bayhealth Hospital’s Kent Campus, in Dover, to show appreciation for the continued care which the medical workers have provided amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior Pastor David Moore said LVBC has two health care professionals in the congregation who have continued their nursing during this time. Moore’s daughter, Katye, a nurse at a the hospital, shared that the night shift staff occasionally feels a bit left out. The church responded with the bags of goodies for all of the night shift, including janitorial, clerical, and security workers, along with the medical teams. They made over 200 bags with bottled tea, bags of popcorn, cookies, crackers, candy, and gum. They also included thank you notes, and cards with the church’s contact information. Redeeming Grace Baptist Church (RGBC) in Lexington Park, Maryland, partnered with The Beanery, a local coffee shop, to give growlers of cold brew coffee to healthcare workers, teachers, retail workers, and others who are working hard in St. Mary’s County. “The church has connected with the local hospital, area medical care facilities, and networked with others in the community to provide this service and say thanks. Workers are able to request a growler via an online form and members of the church provide the delivery,” Senior Pastor Adam Polk FA L L 2 02 0

explained. Volunteers tagged each coffee or lemonade with a thank you card from the church and RGBC covered the costs of the coffee or lemonade. The church has blessed almost 100 people through the ministry. “People are very appreciative. It’s a neat way to say thank you to those on the front lines of this situation,” said Polk.

COPING WITH COMEDY, TRIVIA, AND “SUNDAY FUN NIGHTS” Bayside Baptist Church (BBC) in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, has been having “Sunday Fun Nights,” an ongoing outreach for the church family to come together, fellowship, and relax outside in a socially-distant environment. Gatherings have included a movie night with popcorn and other snacks, a barbecue dinner night, and a “We Sing for Ice Cream” evening, where the church served up sundaes and music on a hot summer evening. Administrative Assistant Kassandra Brown, a church member for over nine years, said 70-80 people have been attending. Interestingly, some of the folks who have been showing up for the “Fun Nights” are visitors who began watching the church’s services online during the time of COVID-19 meeting restrictions. “Once we went online, we began to reach people in the community and in other states and countries,” Brown said. She added that some people who moved to the area before or during COVID-19 were looking for a local church and found BBC online. Others lived in the area, didn’t realize the church was there, and began watching online. “Ever since we our doors, we’ve had a new visitor or new family each week and some are staying and participating,” she said. Clinton Baptist Church (CBC) in Maryland, wanted to give folks a chance to laugh a bit in the midst of the heaviness of the pandemic. In May, the church hosted a comedy night on Facebook Live and Instagram Live. They featured three Christian comedians: Sean Sarvis, Laughing Lenny, and Teezus. “During this time of the pandemic when people are afraid and there’s so much anxiety and fear, there’s a lack of laughter,” said CBC Senior Pastor Colin Pugh. “It’s important right now … to draw children and adults to come together and laugh and just have fun,” he added. Pugh said he’s “trying to think ‘out of the box. ’” CBC is growing at an amazing rate online. The church installed Pugh in September 2019 and the church, which had dwindled to under ten regular attendees, quickly rose to over 100 attendees and averaged just over 90 prior to COVID-19. Pugh was pleasantly surprised when the church had to begin using a variety of online platforms and discovered that they were reaching up to 700 viewers each week. Three people made confessions of faith through the online worship services and a woman joined the church. Pugh said he regularly gives an invitation and has a dedicated phone number so watchers can call for prayer and counsel. Throughout the pandemic, the church has been very active with groups for women, men, young adults, youth, and prayer meetings. They’ve also had special sessions about

PHOTOS 1. John Willis, the pastor of Freedom Biker Church in New Castle, Delaware, and his wife, Kathy, led a tribute ride to honor frontline workers of ChristianaCare Hospital on May 12. 2. Bayside Baptist Church Ministry/Event Coordinator Joy Gaither serves up ice cream with toppings during the church’s “Sunday Fun Nights.” 3. Pastor Nehemiah Cole, the pastor of Agape Praise Fellowship, and his wife, Rose, lead online worship. The Coles believe feel so strongly in the power of prayer that they had nightly prayer meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

homeschooling, dealing with student loan debt, and parenting. Additionally, the church has a food pantry and has been feeding over 60 families each week. Faith Baptist Church (FBC) in Glen Burnie, Maryland, had some fun with “Trivia Nights,” using Facebook Chat, YouTube, and Zoom. Lead Pastor Tim Byer and Worship/Missions Pastor Jeff Higgins hosted the shows with plenty of laughter, barbs, and fun. “Let’s bring in contestant number two, Freetown baby,” Byer said with a smile, introducing one couple. Participants shared answers on chat or by holding up whiteboards. Byer and Higgins asked questions about songs, sitcoms, news, and video games from the 80s, added some fun jingles, sang sitcom opening songs, and just had a blast. Bringing the show to an end, Byer encouraged attendees to tune in to church on Sunday morning. The church designed the event to encourage fellowship and to bring some light fun and laughter to folks during a difficult period.

DAILY PRAYER Agape Praise Fellowship (APF), a SEND Baltimore church plant which meets at Sandalwood Elementary School in Essex, Maryland, believes strongly in the power of prayer — so much so that they had had nightly prayer meetings during the pandemic. Ten to twelve people from at least three families have faithfully participated.

“Prayer went on through the week from Sunday to Sunday,” said Pastor Nehemiah Cole. “It’s amazing to see what God has done.” As restrictions have lessened, the nighttime prayer services are now Tuesday through Thursday. “We start at 9 p.m. with greetings and take a few minutes to have fun, maybe tell a joke or two, and then I lead worship for five to 10 minutes. Everyone has an opportunity to lead the prayer time, beginning with Scripture reading, then praying for himself or herself, the nation, and leaders. Following that ten-minute session, the participants share prayer requests, testimonies, and a word of encouragement. At the end, they give it back to me and I pray for all and we sing a song while the time is going off,” Cole explained. They use Zoom’s free 40-minute application and Cole likes that everyone is singing as the screen goes blank. The late-evening prayer meetings are like a bedtime prayer, Cole said. God is opening many doors through the pandemic and through prayer. As the church “gathers” on Sundays through Facebook, they are drawing sometimes as many as 1000 people from around the world, including Africa. “We really thank God for that,” Cole said. The church also has online Bible studies on Wednesdays. Cole also met with a young man in Washington D.C., recently and shared the Gospel with him. The young man accepted Jesus as his Savior. “To my surprise, he joined us during our prayer B a pt i st L IF E

time on Zoom. Now I am discipling him every day to make sure he’s connected. We are trying to do what we can do and God has been faithful providing our needs,” Cole rejoiced. “God is being faithful. He has never let us down. I give God all the praise.”

Members of Camino De Esperanza in Seaford, Delaware, have been providing food for local families in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Pastor Josean Nater said the church has used the opportunity to share the Gospel as the Holy Spirit leads. As a result, two people have made professions of faith. The pandemic is very difficult for the Hispanic community in Delaware, Nater said. Many people are supporting multiple family members, and some are sending money abroad. Required closures are especially challenging for Hispanic families. This is especially true for those who are undocumented and who may consequently be afraid to get tested. Some are reporting to work while infected with the virus. For others, working or not working is a matter of life and death.

“It was a huge blessing,” said PVBC Associate Pastor Andrew Goins. “They were so surprised.” Student Leader Robin King works at the center and made the appropriate arrangements. King and Jamie Mock, who also serves as a student leader and as the chairman of the deacons, helped prepare the food, ensuring that they had enough to serve both the day and the night shift. Goins said that often the night shift eats leftovers and so they were especially excited to get the meals. Goins said King is a great witness for Jesus and that the dinner gave her more of a platform to share the Gospel. King reported that there was a blessing said over the food on the company’s loudspeaker. King, Mock, and church member Robin England helped to sort the food and get it the center. A local newspaper published a story about the outreach, giving the church more exposure to the community. Goins said there are plans to continue to minister to the rehabilitation center as they are able.

YOUTH PREPARE FOOD FOR SENIORS

MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS

The youth ministry leadership at Pleasant View Baptist Church (PVBC) in Port Deposit, Maryland, prepared turkey and ham dinners with trimmings for seniors and staff at a local senior rehabilitation center on Easter Sunday.

Grace Baptist Church (GBC) in Cumberland, Maryland, has online worship services weekly, but when churches received permission to meet in person, the congregation staggered services, meeting every other week. Pastor Keith Aguila said that though they are taking precautions, the limited meetings add another layer of protection and allow time for the virus to die. Aguila discovered the online services were far-reaching. He was thrilled to discover that his son, Abraham, serving in the military in Japan, was watching the services. Others in the community have also let Aguila know they are watching. A post office worker who does not attend church asked about services. Aguila shared with her that they were airing online and she said she would watch. The personal touch — building relationships — helps draw people in, Aguila said. “They may not watch a well-known, popular preacher, but they may watch you, because they know you,” he added. Please note that COVID-19 restrictions vary from state to state and county to county, so some of the outreaches above have stopped or evolved, and others are still ongoing. This is just a small sample, adapted from BaptistLIFE’s online Roundup column, of some of the ways churches have responded to the pandemic.

TWO SAVED THROUGH FOOD MINISTRY

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God Builds the Storehouse By Daryl McCready

he whole world has turned upside down since January. We first heard from President Trump about the COVID-19 virus in a special news release. He had given an executive order to stop people from entering our country from certain other countries and made some other mandates. That was quickly followed by a special press release by the governor of Maryland who did what I have never seen in my lifetime — he placed a restriction on the size of gatherings, reducing them to less than 50, then to 10 within days, and a week or so later ordered a stay-at-home mandate. This lasted for weeks, resulting in our having to shut down live worship gatherings at Sonrise Church in Berlin, Maryland, from March 15 to May 31. Thankfully, we had been working towards and had actually just begun live streaming the week before all this hit. Talk about God’s divine timing. We quickly transitioned to live stream services. I preached for several months to an empty room with just a camera. For someone like me who loves to see the people I am preaching to, it was a rough season. The amazing thing is that we went from an average of about 570 in worship to 1,200 contacts. We continued like this until the stay-at-home order lifted in late May. We waited a couple of weeks and then began live services again the first week of June. They were very different than any church services we had ever had. Because we could only re-open at half-capacity, we removed half of our café-style tables. So, for the first time since I have been in ministry, I intentionally reduced our seating capacity. Once we had safely “socially distanced” the tables, we ended up with about 220 seats, however, this proved to be plenty. About 20 percent of our church family returned — many were still too concerned and afraid. To add to the challenge, we could offer no refreshments in our hospitality area, no children’s ministry, and everyone had to wear face masks while in the building. After about a month, we changed our face mask policy to that which restaurants were practicing — requiring people to wear masks when the masks when entering and moving about, but permitting removal once they were seated. We checked temperatures as our people arrived, confirming they were free from fever, before allowing them to enter.

Then, at the beginning of August, the governor issued another mandate that masks must be worn at all times in all public buildings and even in public outdoor spaces. This included places of worship. So again, we had to return to having everyone wear masks the entire time they were in the building. Up to this point, the band and platform speakers did not wear masks. On Sunday, August 2, as I was preparing for church, frustrated by all this COVID-19 mess, and was complaining to the Lord, I sensed Him saying to me, “I left heaven and came to earth for you, I came knowing what I was going to face. I was going to be beaten, then tortured and crucified for your sin. Are you complaining about wearing a mask? There are people all around this world who will travel for days in incredibly hot or cold conditions and in rain or snow. They will sit on concrete benches or crude wood benches, even in the face of threat and danger just to worship Me. I have given you a beautiful facility, air conditioning, comfortable chairs, and no threat of arrest or persecution and you are complaining about wearing a mask?” This convicted me and broke my heart. That morning, I confessed this to the church as I wore my face mask and I continued to wear it while I preached. I felt as though, one, my Lord is worthy, and, two, as a leader, I should not ask others to do anything I am unwilling to do myself. The sound was perfect and no one had any problem hearing me with my face mask on. I will continue to wear one as long as the mandate is in place.

THE STOREHOUSE MIRACLE During the last several months, God has also done some amazing things! Shortly after the shutdown, the Lord led me to Malachi 3:10 as I was spending my time in His Word. He spoke to me through this passage: “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’” (NLT). I have used this passage many times when speaking to the subject of tithing, but this time I did not feel in my spirit that this was the message God had for me. This time I felt God saying “ready My storehouse so that there may be food in My house to help those in need.”

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This time I felt God saying “ready My storehouse so that there may be food in My house to help those in need.

GOD BUILDS THE STOREHOUSE I shared this with the staff and then asked our finance leaders to comb through our finances and find some money to purchase food. They did as I asked and came back to me and said they found about $3,000 from our resources which we could justify redirecting to this cause, based on the original intent of the giving — things like missions giving, fruit trees, and shoes for Guatemala, and the like. I then contacted our food ministry leaders and instructed them to use that to get a food supply in the church. FA L L 2 02 0

After I issued a Facebook devotional challenge, sharing how God had challenged me to lead us to fill the storehouse so that there might be food in His house for those in need, God’s people began to quickly respond. The fund doubled. We replaced the seed money in the budget and continued purchasing food weekly. The fund continued to grow! Since we were not meeting at the time for public worship, we converted the sanctuary into a huge food pantry where we packed bags of food to give away every week. We set up food distributions from

Tuesdays through Saturdays for four hours each day. Then God began to fulfill His promise in Malachi.

CHICKENS AND MORE A week or so later, God opened a connection to me with the gentlemen who handles donations on behalf of Mountaire Farms Chicken Company. After just a brief conversation, Mountaire donated 5,000 pounds of free chicken. I borrowed four freezers from the local ice company and soon we had tons of meat. Mountaire

donated more later — altogether 10,000 pounds of free chicken. But God was not even close to being done! Our church is a member of the Maryland Food Bank and has been for many years, as food ministry has been a part of our ministry for over 12 years. We have received recognition several times as one of the largest free food distributors on the Eastern Shore. The food bank began to give us about $2,400 each month in grants, in addition to the free items they regularly made available each month. Then God began to send other companies to help. When the local casino had to close, they donated a large supply of eggs, milk, potatoes, onions, limes, lemons, oranges, and much more. Then the Dollar General followed suit. One day, while packing bags for the distributions, a young lady greeted me and said she and other business owners in the Fenwick area wanted to help. She

said, “Many businesses in our area donated items. We held an online auction fundraiser and wanted to give you this check for more than $7,000 to help with what you are doing!” I had never met her before and had no idea this was taking place.

THE BLESSING OF THE H AMS Several months before COVID-19 hit, one of our members had taken a position with Clemens Food Group, a major food corporation in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Near the end of May, he sent us an email explaining how the USDA had started a program in which large food producers would donate food to distribution centers to help with the food crisis many Americans were experiencing. He asked us if we would be able to handle a 30,000-pound donation of hams. At first, we thought it was a typo and that he must have meant 3,000 pounds, so I called him. “No, it is 30,000 pounds!” he said. “Can B a pt i st L IF E

God does not lie! He is faithful! He is in control! He is not afraid or caught unaware! He is the great I AM!

you handle giving that much away?” We do not have enough freezers for that much meat, so I began making calls to other pastors in our area and asked them if they could help to distribute some of the hams. They all said yes. In June, a large tractortrailer arrived and delivered 1,323 whole hams. We gave 800 to other churches and filled every freezer on our property with these enormous Hatfield Hams. In July, they delivered 19,000 lbs. of scrapple, sausages, hot dogs, and ham steaks. Again, we shared with our community by doing a drive-through food distribution and gave away almost 800 boxes of meat. To

help with storage, the church received a $15,000 grant for food and ministry needs. We were able to purchase two new upright commercial double-door freezers and refrigerators to help us better store even more resources in HIS Storehouse.

ABOVE AND BEYOND Our storehouse fund is now five times greater than when we began because God continues to provide such abundant resources and we haven’t even needed to tap into our own reserved funds. We continue to offer free food weekly and whenever anyone seeks us for help.

The storehouse continues to be full and even to overflowing! There is even more that God has done and is doing that I haven’t shared, but this is the bottom line: God does not lie! He is faithful! He is in control! He is not afraid or caught unaware! He is the great I AM! He has all the resources we will ever need to accomplish His purpose in this world. And those who trust in Him need not ever be afraid. Daryl McCready is the founder and senior pastor of Sonrise Church in Berlin, Maryland.

PHOTOS 1. Sonrise Church’s truck is used to transport large amounts of food throughout the community. 2. Members turned Sonrise Church’s meeting area into a food warehouse to serve the community. 3. After receiving a donation of 19,000 pounds of ham, Sonrise Church members Donna and Chuck Wheate help transport and load food into waiting cars. 4. Sonrise congregation in prayer.

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Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges at Skycroft By Emily Reedy

hese have been unusual days at Skycroft Conference Center. Summer days are usually filled with the sounds of the shouting and laughter of hundreds of active children and teens playing, worshipping, eating, and generally having a great time on our 40-acre main property. COVID-19 halted that activity. Hebrews Coffee Shop closed and the zipline and waterslide temporarily halted. We stopped scheduling part-time staff and our small full-time team has kept the facility operational, even wearing multiple hats to do some sprucing up and upgrading, such as painting, renovations, and groundskeeping. Some churches sent mission teams to help with needed repairs. As restrictions lessened, we partially opened for retreat groups of ten or less and had permission to host larger groups for outdoor activities and pool rentals. We also did some “heat and eat” takeout family meals to help with funding and stay connected to churches. Now, the camp is carefully taking steps forward as we are able to host retreat groups at 50 percent capacity in most spaces. In July and August, churches have gradually returned. The staff from Covenant Baptist Church in Shepherdstown, Pennsylvania, gathered for planning and teambuilding. TriCounty Baptist Church in Damascus, Maryland, visited for a church mission/fun day with several families, followed by a youth mission/fun day. North Glen Community Church in Glen Burnie visited with a dozen youth for an overnight trip with six guests to a lodge, which allowed plenty of room to distance. We also welcomed five larger non BCM/D groups over this time as well — one youth group had over 50 people. On August 19, teens from White Marsh Baptist Church, Hope Baptist Church in Laurel, Bethany Church in Ellicott

City, Trinity Baptist Church in Waldorf, First Baptist Church of Brunswick, and Elvaton Baptist Church in Millersville gathered for “Pursue,” a one-day camp designed to give youth groups a taste of the usual five-day overnight experience. Masked and socially distanced, the teens and leaders worshipped in the gym and went to group Bible studies, then tie-dyed shirts, had a scavenger hunt, played bazooka ball and life-sized Battleship, ate kid-favorite foods, and eventually enjoyed campfire time. It wasn’t your typical overnight camp experience, but it was exciting to have the youth here. Skycroft continues to be a valuable, beloved BCM/D resource, a place for people, young and old, to meet God on the mountain. Please keep us in prayer as we adapt to this ever-evolving pandemic situation and steward our resources to navigate this unique season in our ministry. Emily Reedy is the director of Skycroft Conference Center.

PHOTOS Top: In late August, Skycroft Conference Center hosted a oneday taste of summer mini-camp called “Pursue,” and welcomed six youth groups from Maryland churches. Bottom: Skycroft Guest Relations Manager Taylor Tuel delivers a “Heat and Eat” dinner.

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Skycroft continues to be a valuable, beloved BCM/D resource, a place for people, young and old, to meet God on the mountain.

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An African-American Mother’s Broken Heart By Melody T. Knox

was just beginning to adjust to sheltering in the house due to the COVID-19 virus. I guess I am learning to become content in accepting the situation I am in for now and to trust God for the many changes that are coming on the other side of this pandemic. However, the events over the summer involving AfricanAmericans and their deaths blindsided me. I have experienced anger that I am not used to. I do not usually have a problem with anger, but the unnecessary death of George Floyd took me to a place where I have never been. I spent the first two days angry — angry at the four policemen and all the people that stood by video recording what was occurring. How did this happen? Why didn’t one of the policemen say to his colleagues, “man, that’s enough.” Why didn’t one of the bystanders go and call for more backup from the police or someone who would be willing to intervene? Maybe it was fear that the situation would escalate. Well, it did escalate — a life was taken and our cities have been in upheaval ever since. By the third day, I was streaming church services online and my heart began to soften because of hearing God’s Word, of being reminded who I am in Christ first. By Monday, the tears came in buckets. I could not stop crying and asking the Lord to

help me forgive even as I have been forgiven. I was reminded that my identity is in Christ and I cannot let everything I have been seeing, reading, and hearing overrides that identity. All of the events that are still occurring have made me do some serious heart-searching. Would I have spoken up if I had been in the crowd? Why haven’t I been this heartbroken about all of the other incidents that have killed our African-American boys, young men, and men? My dad grew up in a town in the South, where African-Americans learned to stay in their place. He never wanted that for us, so in some ways, he shielded us from the pain of racism. I believe he took the pain for us so that we would not have to hurt as he did through being treated differently because of the color of his skin. We cannot continue to allow this to happen on our watch, especially the church of Jesus Christ. This cannot be a moment in time, but it must invoke a major movement. A much-needed heart change in the way we do life. I have an African-American son who is a Marine and two bi-racial grandsons who the world will always first see as African-American. I do not want to see Marines come up my walkway bearing tragic news because someone felt threatened by the color of my son’s skin color. So, where do we go from here? I am doing what I do best — B a pt i st L IF E

praying. I am asking the Lord to reveal to me what I am willing to die for, personally. Praying for the unrest to stop in our cities. Praying for God to forgive us and to intervene on our behalf for all the ethnic groups that continue to experience the pain of racism and persecution. To touch the hearts and minds of a nation, a world. Racism has always been a sin; we have just chosen to refer to it with softer definitions and to put our heads in the sand.

I am praying for my white Christian brothers and sisters whose eyes have been opened and who are now willing to listen and learn. Who have to understand a world that they have never lived in and to break some generational teachings and thoughts. To find comfort in knowing that they may not understand all the dynamics and pain African-Americans have suffered, but just to know that they care. To consider to be willing to add their voices

and actions to the movement because they are now more aware than ever, that racism has and always will break the heart of our heavenly Father. And to realize that this is not an African-American problem, it is a world problem. I am daily reminding myself that I am an African-American woman, daughter, sister, wife, mom, Mimi, but most of all, I belong to a God who sent heaven’s best to suffer and die for me. I must embrace that

The church of Jesus Christ has a goal. We have a kingdom goal. Racial reconciliation is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal of the church is to glorify God by reflecting the values of God among the people of God by letting the truth of God be the standard under which all things align. role far above any other role. I want others to see Christ in me and I cannot do that if I allow unforgiveness to abide in my heart and mind. In “Oneness Embraced,” Tony Evans says, “The church of Jesus Christ has a goal. We have a kingdom goal. Racial reconciliation is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal of the church is to glorify God by reflecting the values of God among the people of God by letting the truth of God be the standard under which all things align.” Melody Knox serves with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware as the church strengthening specialist for women.

PHOTO (From left to right): David, Melody, Justin, and Jenna Knox

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A Lament for Racial Injustice By Sharon Mager

“Be our refuge. Comfort and console us. Protect us from our forgetfulness when George Floyd’s name becomes a distant memory. Be living water for his family members. Cause them to worship you. O Lord, teach them to love you. Teach them to proclaim that the Lord does indeed preserve the faithful, but will abundantly repay the one who acts in pride. Strengthen them and us. Let our hearts take courage as we wait for you.” (A PORTION OF A LAMENT BY STEPHANIE GREER)

oel Kurz, the pastor of The Garden Church in Baltimore, knows the heartbeat of the city. After all, he and his wife Jess moved their family to West Baltimore in 2008 to start a church, knowing he had to be a part of the community and understanding that being a white man in the predominantly AfricanAmerican poverty-stricken areas of Upton, Madison Park, Druid Heights, and Marble Hill was not going to be an advantage. Kurz is entrenched, living life together with the community. He knows there has been no trust between police and citizens since he arrived. Police have stopped him and profiled him as a drug dealer (a white man driving through “that” part of town). When the Freddie Gray crisis hit in 2015, Kurz, along with other Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware pastors, and staff, hit the streets, checking on local business owners and families and handing out free cheesesteak subs. With George Floyd’s death, the response has been unfortunately curtailed. Even now, many pastors, including Baltimore pastors Tally Wilgis, who serves as the director of the Baltimore Baptist

Association and as the pastor of Captivate Church, Larry Lin, the associate pastor of Village Church, and Jeremy Dickson, the pastor of Freedom Church, have been on the streets showing love and encouragement to peaceful protesters. But hands-on ministry isn’t the same today as it was five years ago. “Part of the problem is the pandemic,” Kurz acknowledged. “In 2015, we were out there giving out food. There was a lot going on. Now there is not a lot of organizational work we can do which our city understands to be safe.” The Garden Church did a virtual lament service on May 31. Kurz asked members to share on the death of George Floyd and the history of racism and judicial disparities. “We let members express themselves,” he said. “The pieces they wrote were beautiful. We led the church through the laments, one after the other with a time of silence in between. It was a way to express our sorrow before God together, which is the purpose of lament. Laments have been our most fruitful moments together as a church right now.” “As we come out of this, I think maybe there are two things B a pt i st L IF E

“Hear our cry, O Lord! Attend unto our prayers. From the ends of the earth do we cry out to you. When our heart is overwhelmed, lead us to the rock that is higher than us. O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Be our strength today and forevermore. You are our peace. Remind us who you are, for where else can we go? Remind us of your goodness. Remind us of your mercy. You do good always.” (A PORTION OF A LAMENT BY JODY HAYGOOD)

“We lament the racism in America, which started long before the United States became a nation — racism, which was present when our country was founded and remains present today. Racism — an evil which denies, minimizes, and ignores the image of God in others for power and greed.” (A PORTION OF A LAMENT BY ANDREW SECRIST)

to consider, particularly for white pastors,” said Kurz. “Weep with those who weep and refrain from being quick to correct. It’s easy to say the death of George Floyd is tragic but looting is not the right answer. There might be truth in that but it’s not the proper response. We, as white folks, need to speak with other white folks, family members who might have blind spots, who might have seeds of racism in their hearts. That should be where we spend the bulk of our energy at this time. “Also coming out of this, as white folks, we should seek to educate ourselves continually. When things like this happen, everyone is speaking about racism, but then the media

goes on to the next story, and we forget George Floyd’s name.” So, the bigger question is, what do we do between situations, between the national crises? That should look like more intentional relationships with people of other ethnicities, learning black history from African-Americans, exploring the depths of racism, and what it is. “We need to prepare ourselves and our congregations so that we’re not just going along with the ebb and flow of the media, but going along with the Bible — people rooted in the Scripture who are anti-racist all the time, and not just now,” said Kurz. “Not just when there’s a national crisis.”

“As our hearts are burdened with the injustice we see in the world, may our hearts long for the day when you will come and set all things right. Jesus, we thank you for making a way for us to be in right standing before the Father. Lord, we long for the day that we will be in your presence. Lord, may we not lose sight of the hope we have in you. As we wait for your return, may we not miss opportunities to point family, friends, and neighbors to a hope that is found in no other name but yours, Jesus. Would you give us the boldness to advocate and speak out for justice on this side of eternity? Even so, come, Lord Jesus! All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.” (A PORTION OF A LAMENT BY ALTON HAYNES)

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A Tale of Two Churches By Justin Woods and Jamie Caldwell

outh Shore Baptist Church (SSBC) has a history, a heritage. Started by Eastport Baptist Church, it was founded in 1959. The congregation flourished during the heyday of American churches in the post-war ’60s and ’70s, with strong Sunday School, discipleship, and outreach programs. The church grew, built a building, and served the community faithfully. But around 2000, the church faced a difficult season, as many do. It rebounded for several years, but, in 2019, the congregation needed to make some decisions. When I began serving as the interim pastor in April 2018, the church wasn’t dead, but it was not healthy. The following Easter, we had 100 people gather, but average attendance had dwindled to 50 or 60 people and few were able to contribute much.

The remnant wanted the church to thrive once more, so we began to prayerfully consider our options. I also serve as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve. The decision on how to move forward became a high priority when I received orders to deploy in October. We had to find a permanent solution. We began having very frank conversations. The church could hire a chaplain, hire an outreach minister, or partner with another church to help fund a full-time pastor. We began looking for church partners who would perhaps send a team and a pastor. But God didn’t open any doors. God began putting Redemption Church on my heart. I had been an associate pastor of Redemption and was friends with Pastor Jamie Caldwell. Redemption was healthy and poised to grow. However, the church was meeting in a school. SSBC, on the B a pt i st L IF E

PHOTOS 1. Members of South Shore Church pray over a relocating family (pre-pandemic). 2. Dr. Jamie Caldwell (right) baptizes new church member Emily Cook (left) 3. Pastor Caldwell (bottom) baptizes a new church member (pre-pandemic) 2

We have been able to see God work in this unified body in a way that was not possible as two distinct congregations.

other hand, needed significant support but had property. Jamie and I spent time in prayer and discussion before we felt God’s leading to take steps forward. I talked to the SSBC leadership and Jamie discussed the decision with Redemption’s leadership. Both churches agreed to join together as one church. FA L L 2 02 0

I knew merging in this instance meant allowing Redemption to take the lead. That is not necessarily an easy decision for any church to make. But the SSBC congregation was humble enough to go down that road. Now, the church has been merged as South Shore Church for almost a year. We have been able to see God work

in this unified body in a way that was not possible as two distinct congregations. It has been awesome and inspiring to watch Christians do whatever it takes to be faithful in the Kingdom of God.

We planted Redemption Church (RC) in January 2013 with two other pastors, Justin Woods and Neal Phillips, along with our supportive wives and families. We also had a faithful and capable core of men and women including Diana, Craig, Toni, Keith, Buck, and so many more. It took us a few months to find our stride as a church, but eventually, we figured out who we were and who we wanted to be. We wanted to be a church committed to doing just five things. We would worship together, live in community, see and meet needs, develop and deploy leaders, and make disciples. God responded to this commitment and gave us some really great opportunities over the course of seven years. We were able to send Joey Nickerson and several other members to plant Citizens Church in Annapolis; we helped members become missionaries with the International Mission Board; we supported pastors doing theological training in Brazil, and we got involved with church planting in Iceland. Despite the fruitfulness of our early years as Redemption Church, our greatest opportunity was yet to come.

In 2019, God gave us our biggest opportunity to date. Justin called me in June of 2019 just to talk about life and ministry. He had been serving as the interim pastor at South Shore Baptist Church (SSBC) for a little more than a year at the time. He was currently trying to lead this church to revitalize by merging with another church — preferably a church that had a pastor, but not property. At first, I had no desire for Redemption to merge with SSBC. In fact, I had spent most of my recent conversations with Justin suggesting other churches and pastors that we thought might be equipped to walk through something so fraught and difficult. Thankfully, my wife, Abby, overheard the end of our conversation and challenged me to prayerfully consider whether or not this was an opportunity that we should pursue. Justin and I agreed to pray, and within days, we came to the conclusion that this was definitely a conversation that needed to continue with the leaders of both churches. In July, the leadership of SSBC formally began this conversation with the leaders of Redemption. By August, I was

…We were afraid of the unknown. But the unknown is exactly where God was calling us.

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the interim pastor of SSBC and the lead pastor of Redemption By September, we were worshipping together as one church in two services because of space constraints. Finally, on October 9, we voted to become one new church — South Shore Church. Redemption’s reaction to the merge was very similar to my own. Initially, we were anxious and afraid. We were afraid that our culture would get swallowed up by the other church; we were afraid that SSBC’s people would be unhappy and extinguish the joy that marked our gatherings; we were even afraid that if we moved to their building we would lose our unique identity as a gathering. In other words, we were afraid of the unknown. But the unknown is exactly where God was calling us. The elders of Redemption responded to our church’s fear with patience, wisdom, and encouragement. Soon, excitement replaced anxiety. The challenges that our church faces now are not all that different from the challenges that we faced before. We are still a church committed to doing five things, but now we are a church with more people and not quite enough space. We are still worshipping together, but for the

time being, we have to do it in light of COVID-19 restrictions. We’re still living in community, but now our reach is broader in opportunity and age range. We’re still seeing needs and meeting needs, but now we have space for a successful food pantry. We’re still developing and deploying leaders, but now the demographics of our

pastors, deacons, and residents range from men in their twenties to their sixties. We’re still making disciples, but now we’re doing it in more places with more people. And I’m thankful for that. Justin Woods is the director of Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

PHOTOS 1. Kennedi and Ava Phoebus serving the South Shore Church by cleaning and sanitizing children’s coloring books and pre-made communion packets. 2. Tanner Henderson baptizes new member Julian Slick 3. In order to safely comply with COVID-19 restrictions, South Shore Church installed a 5,000sqft ourdoor tent. FA L L 2 02 0

Blessing Kenya During the Pandemic By Kevin Smith

his has been an interesting season. The year began with great anticipation for our missions partnership with fellow Baptists in western Kenya. I was excited about Vacation Bible School, training pastors, training lay leaders, sharing the Gospel in schools, and assisting in the building of an orphanage. I was excited about the growing involvement of Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware congregations in our partnership. I was excited about attending the Baptist Convention of Kenya’s Annual Meeting in Mombasa. All that began to change in early March. Ever since I received the charge from our General Mission Board to establish an international partnership, I have enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm grow among Maryland/Delaware Baptists about working in Kenya. We already had a healthy number of registrations for our summer trip and great interest in our fall trip. Again, that began to change in early March. I was so off in my initial predictions. “Maybe this will spread from Wuhan and just affect China and parts of Asia.” OK, that was wrong. “Maybe this will spread from China and affect Europe and a few U.S. cities that have international airports.”

Wrong again. “OK, this virus is all over Asia, Europe, and North America. At least (in the early weeks) it is not really affecting the African continent.” Of course, I realized I was wrong again — we were in the midst of a global pandemic! I noticed the shift in communication with our liaison in Kenya: March 9: “When viruses are traveling around the world, that’s a good time to be out in the Nyanza and Western region of Kenya.” March 11: “I think we’re getting nice momentum among our people for our Kenya partnership. I would hate to have an interruption due to the coronavirus. I hope it will be contained in parts of Asia and Europe. Other than what’s already happened in Nigeria, I hope the African continent will be spared.” March 14: I read a Reuters’ headline which stated, “Coronavirus spreads to 18 African nations, including Kenya …” Even then, I tried to be optimistic and wrote, “I pray total cases are few. I also pray this will be in areas like Nairobi with hospitals; not rural areas.”

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The focus of the world has been to save the physical during this pandemic. The spiritual has been forgotten in the process.

March 25: “Sadly, my brother, based upon our IMB’s recommendation, we will not have a team this summer. However, please know that I will seek to have an energetic team this fall.”

In a letter to Dr. Smith, Charles Juma, the Kenyan liaison for BCM/D, responded to the assistance: “My Pastor,

So, then, my brain and my prayers began to split. First, how could we support pastors and congregations in Maryland/ Delaware as they were unable to meet for gathered worship because of shelter-in-place orders? Second, how could we encourage pastors and congregations in the three Baptist associations we serve in Kenya? A global pandemic, with severe economic consequences, is one thing in the United States, an economic superpower. However, it is a totally different matter in a developing country, especially for our missions partners, who are situated in rural areas with little industry. The difference can be summed up in a quote from an Indian doctor: “Social distancing is a privilege: it means you live in a house large enough to practice it. Handwashing is a privilege: it means you have running water. Hand sanitizer is a privilege: it means you have money to buy it. Lockdowns are a privilege: it means you can afford to be at home.” So, I began to look for God’s guidance in how we might still be a blessing to our partners. Since we had to cancel my April trip and our summer trip, there were some funds already in Kenya for logistics and planning of our missions. I thought those funds would just sit there until we were ready to resume our trips. Little did I know that they would become a lifeline and blessing for some fellow disciples of Jesus, with so many aspects of the Kenyan economy shut down and hunger and starvation a pressing issue, especially away from the largest cities. Because of the cooperative missions giving of Maryland/ Delaware Baptists, we’ve been able to support orphans and widows around the Kosele orphanage, support pastors and congregations in the mountains of the Gucha Central Baptist Association, others in the small city of the Homa Bay Baptist Association, and more in the mountain of the Mosocho Baptist Association. In the midst of COVID-19, please know that 50+ congregations in western Kenya earnestly thank the Lord for His mercy to them and answer to prayer through their partnership with the BCM/D.

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Today, I went to visit our partners and brothers of Gucha Central Baptist Association. I went there to bless these brothers with the July relief funds from you to enable them to buy food for their families and help their starving members as much as they can. I found out that most of these pastors were already facing serious economic difficulties. I took the time to encourage them with God’s Word and to pray with them. I also listened to them talk about their struggles during this pandemic. We cried together. We laughed together. We prayed together ... you cannot help but love these pastors. During our time together, I also encouraged these pastors to begin thinking of ways to empower parents in their churches to start being spiritually active in the lives of their children. Since church gatherings for children and teens are still banned, parents must now be very intentional in teaching and discipling their kids. Just between March and June 2020, over 300 teenage girls have become pregnant in Kenya alone. Kids are out of school and are getting into all kinds of trouble. Parents just do not know what to do with them. For many of these pregnant teens, their future and lives are forever ruined, if no meaningful intervention happens. Knowing this, some of these teens have resorted to committing suicide because of guilt and hopelessness. As one of my friends rightly put it, ‘The focus of the world has been to save the physical during this pandemic. The spiritual has been forgotten in the process.’ There is a need for our churches to step in and do something. The role these pastors play now is more critical than ever. On top of the relief funds I brought, I also gave them some soap, some Christian CDs, women’s clothes from the Maryland/Delaware teams, ... over-the-counter medications brought by the Maryland/Delaware teams, SD cards with Charles Stanley’s Life Principles, some Gospel tracts, and cards with memory verses. We had a good time. Once again, thank you so much for your financial support, which has made it possible for these pastors to remain alive so they can shepherd their people through this pandemic. I went to bless these men, but they blessed me even more.”

Thinking Biblically During Election Season By Dr. Kevin Smith

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nd Jesus answering said unto them, ‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at him.” (Mark 12:17 KJV) Since the early 1600s, few historians of Christianity on the North American continent would consider professing Christians to be good examples of obedience to Jesus’ above-listed command. That’s almost 400 years to evaluate this area of Christian ethical thinking and acting. Certainly, this is no simplistic or trifling matter - the Scripture says even Jesus’ hearers “marveled” at what he commanded. Whether one examines the Puritan Congregationalism of New England, the Anglicanism of the southern colonies, or the many movements that have arisen in the U.S., such as Baptists, Methodism, Pentecostalism, the historic Black Church, mainline denominations influenced by the social gospel, the Moral Majority, or 20th century seeker-sensitive mega-churches— this command has not been consistently obeyed (or even pursued) by those who

Our John 13:35 witness is too important to sacrifice for short-term political gains. express a commitment to the lordship of Christ in their lives. Sadly, there are too many examples of Christians (individually or organizationally) disobeying Jesus’ command by rationalizing political expediency, giving religious “cover” to sinful governmental policies, or cowering in the face of a politician, party, or policy. May Christ’s Spirit fill His people, in the U.S., to bear better fruit, for His glory! The following articles are a seed-ofencouragement for MD/DE Baptists to think biblically and act as those filled with Christ’s Spirit as we engage this election season in our country. Our John 13:35 witness is too important to sacrifice for short-term political gains. Whether

positioned as an Independent, Democrat, or Republican—may MD/DE Baptists find themselves manifesting the reality of a life that clearly declares to a watching community, city, and world—Jesus is Lord!

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Vote Like a Christian

n less than 100 days, we will be voting for the people who will lead our country. What is our responsibility as Christians in this process? How do we, as Christians, vote? Where do we go for help as we decide which candidate to support? Do we get involved? Do we watch different news channels on TV or peruse social media to get political updates? Do we read popular blogs to learn what the candidates want us to know? The question is: how do we know what is true? Our Founding Fathers wanted to create a nation like no other. They were educated men; they knew about the different methods of governing to date. Additionally, many of the Founding Fathers were men of God. They knew that if our nation was to grow and flourish, the people would need to depend on God. I truly believe they understood that God is sovereign over all (Daniel 2:21, 4:17). Returning to where we are today as Christian citizens of the United States. Should we vote? Absolutely! But how? Knowing and loving God should be our strength every day, and this relationship must be the foremost part of how and why Christians vote and who we choose. Our religious freedom is under attack and if we abstain from voting, which is a great privilege, we are essentially giving up our religious freedom. Christians are probably the largest voting block in our nation. What we do and how we vote this year is extremely significant. Please turn to the Bible, God’s Word, and seek God’s guidance as you vote. Have you ever considered riding up and down the highways and side roads and praying for the houses and the people in them as you pass them — praying that they will FA L L 2 02 0

come to know Jesus and ask for God’s guidance as they vote? Have you ever felt God was calling you to run for public office? We need Christian leaders. Let’s go back to some of those questions and the answers — God is the answer to all of them. We get the answer by being in God’s Word and a constant state of prayer for the answers we need. Here are some Scriptures to read: • Matthew 5:13 talks about being the

salt of the earth. • Exodus 18:21 tells us about

selecting capable leaders. • Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us to

pray about everything. • I Thessalonians 5:19 says to hold

onto what is good. Involvement in our culture means voting. It means getting involved in politics in a godly manner. It means getting involved with our schools. It means loving our neighbor. All Christians should be aware of what is happening locally and nationally within our culture. If politics is sick, then our culture is sick. We, as Christians, are responsible to be salt and light in our culture. If we change the culture, then we change politics. So, get engaged in the culture. Change public attitudes, and ultimately, we will change our communities, our states, and our nation. We can do this. Get out your Bibles. Get on your knees. Seek God’s wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5 ESV)

FAITH LOUDON

Republican Grassroots chairman for the Maryland Republican Party

Christians are probably the largest voting block in our nation. What we do and how we vote this year is extremely significant.

Faith Loudon, a member of Lake Shore Baptist Church in Pasadena, has been actively involved in politics since 1964. She was elected twice and currently serves on the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee and is the republican grassroots chairman for the Maryland Republican Party. She was also elected as a delegate for the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Exercising Your Right to Vote

hether we get our news online, in a newspaper, or by listening to the radio, we cannot help noticing that our nation is hurting:

• Spiritually • Physically • Morally • Economically • Through infection by the

COVID-19 pandemic and the deaths of too many people. Soon we will be preparing to vote in the presidential election on November 3 and it could be the most important election of our lives. If you are a Christ-follower, you cannot take this responsibility lightly. God is deeply involved in government, and so, as Christ-followers, we too should be involved. “God, Government and the Gospel,” David Platt’s 2020 Secret Church broadcast, told us that God calls leaders among His people to lead in ways that reflect His governance (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). Deuteronomy emphasizes that leaders: • Must hear and obey God’s word. • Must avoid greed. • Must avoid adultery. • Must avoid idolatry. • Must fear and submit

to God’s authority. • Must demonstrate humility

before God and those they lead. God establishes and controls earthly governments. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For

there is no authority except that which is from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1 ESV). Clearly, God is intimately involved in government. He established governments’ purposes, and He controls them under his sovereign rule (Proverbs 21:1, Daniel 2:21, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, John 19:11). As Christ-followers, we are subject to our government and bound to honor it, so we may live in peace, as stated in Romans 13 and 1 Timothy 2.

We cannot fall into Satan’s trap. Don’t let these be your words: • “My vote doesn’t count. It’s only

one vote.” • “Politics and politicians are all

corrupt, and as a Christian, I don’t want to be involved.” • “I’m disappointed by the entire

political process.” • “I’m too busy to take the time to be

informed, so I just don’t vote at all.” These are some of the excuses people use to justify not exercising their civic responsibility to vote. As a Christ-follower, you are obligated to vote, and as an American, it is your duty to vote.

MALCOLM L. FUNN

Democratic Representative for Maryland Board of Elections

WHO CAN VOTE? Any American citizen over the age of 18, who is registered to vote, can do so. If you are not registered to vote, please register. Instructions are available on the Maryland State Board of Elections website at elections.maryland.gov.

WHEN CAN I VOTE? You can either vote in person during early voting or on Election Day. Alternatively, you can vote by a mail-in ballot. Early voting will run from October 26 through November 2. Each early voting center will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Election Day, you can vote at your county’s voting center or at the early voting centers. If you do not know where your polling place is, please visit the Maryland State Board of Elections website elect. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be able to vote. You may also vote by mail-in ballot, which may be the preferred method because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maryland’s State Board of Elections website lists the instructions for this method. Exercise your civic right and Christian duty to vote. Be obedient to your calling as a Christ-follower. I had and presently have relatives who were not able to vote until the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Your right to vote is not only an obligation; it is your right as established by the U.S. Constitution. Thanks to the 15th and 19th Amendments, more of us have that right. Let’s exercise it and … VOTE! Malcolm L. Funn serves on the Maryland Board of Elections as a Democrat. He is a former deacon at Bayside Baptist Church. B a pt i st L IF E

Why We Vote

ften, as election season arrives, we ask ourselves, as Christians, what our roles and responsibilities are as it pertains to the political process. We are again closing in on November 3 and another opportunity to wield our authority, to love our neighbor, and to advance righteousness. I pray that this brief article will encourage you to vote, and when you vote, to vote your biblical values in this upcoming election. First, we have the blessing of living in the United States, where our founding is based on ultimate governmental power residing in the hands of the citizens. Our Constitution begins with “We the People.” God has ordained a unique system of governance whereby the government only has the authority given to it by those governed. While it is true that we are to yield to governmental authority so long as it is not in contrast to God’s commands, we are also to wield authority by voting and participating. It is then fitting that every Bible-believing Christian participate, at least by voting, in God’s ordained system, to instruct the government in uprightness. Secondly, voting is an opportunity to live out part of our responsibility in Matthew 22:39, where Jesus commands us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Voting our values tells our neighbors that we are committed to perpetuating the good life. “I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). While it is sure that the true goodness of the Lord is salvation, we must vote FA L L 2 02 0

WILLIAM VOELP

Republican Representative for Maryland Board of Elections

on the issues and for the candidates who live out Biblical principles in the community in which we live to promote the good life. By promoting the common good, we, as a peculiar people who live in righteousness, also witness to unbelievers. Finally, we have an obligation to advance righteousness. If we do not vote for righteousness, we are complicit with the unrighteousness that may come forth. “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2). If you follow the Carpenter and have the righteousness that is His, you must vote for the candidate who will most likely further righteousness for this country. In conclusion, our responsibility as a peculiar people is to wield the power bestowed upon us, to love our neighbors well, and to advance righteousness. This year, due to the complexities brought about by COVID-19, you will have multiple ways to vote. The best way to do so is to request a mail-in ballot and return that ballot in a timely way. In addition, there will be nine straight days of in-person voting, including eight days of early voting. In-person voting begins on October 26, with an increased number of vote centers on November 3. Registered voters may vote at any early voting center near their residence. On Election Day, they may vote at election day vote centers. For details, visit elections.maryland.gov. Bill Voelp represents the Republican Party on the Maryland Board of Elections, is the president of the Baptist Foundation, and is a deacon at Severna Park Baptist Church.

Our responsibility as a peculiar people is to wield the power bestowed upon us, to love our neighbors well, and to advance righteousness.

Autism Diagnosis and Greater Ministry Opportunities By Jim McCaffrey

n February 2017, my family and I began a new chapter in the long story that is my career. Until recently, my career path both in secular and ministry work never lasted more than two years at a place. It became the normal expectation that I would start a new job and that something would happen that would either require me to resign or my employer would fire me. I was really tired of packing up the house that we lived in for a short time, moving to a new place, storing the moving boxes and bubble wrap (after all, bubble wrap isn’t cheap), anticipating the next move. I did not want to uproot my family again, especially our five girls, and for them to have to make new friends and adjust to a new church and school. This had gotten old. Shortly before arriving at Gunpowder Baptist Church, I began to wonder what in the world was going on with me and all the failed jobs, churches, relationships, and social struggles that I was encountering. As I began to research the different symptoms and experiences that I have gone through in my life, it was the grace of God that lead my Google search to an article in Christianity Today. It was the personal story of Lamar Hardwick, a pastor in Georgia who discovered he was on the autism

spectrum at age 36. I must have read that article ten times, each time more intently. What Lamar wrote, to a large extent, could have been my story. This discovery opened up a whole new world to me. I didn’t really know what autism was, but everything in the article sounded so familiar to me. After doing some thorough research (often, those on the autism spectrum have interests that they will pour themselves into and that is exactly what I do), I shared with my wife that I thought I might be on the spectrum and that she needed to read this article. Well, it didn’t take very long (about the five minutes it took her to read the article) to realize that this was me! It all made sense to her. My very weird need to have all matching hangers in my closet as well as my clothes coordinated by color, then divided by the type of clothing. My very limited interests in certain things like reptiles and the history of drum companies, which I would research for hours on end, leading to very random pieces of information to share with others at odd times. And we cannot forget about my horrible inability to adapt to change, my daily routines which absolutely must take place, my very rigid and logical thinking, as well as a plethora of other strange behaviors. B a pt i st L IF E

In July 2017, I began a three-month process of testing to see if in fact I was on the spectrum. After days and hours of knowledge, personality, emotional, and executive functioning tests, the day came to find out the results and if my research and assumptions were indeed correct. On October 2, 2017, at 36 years of age, my psychologist confirmed my belief that I was on the spectrum. The search for a diagnosis helped my wife and I understand why I have struggled with keeping jobs and relationships throughout my life. In addition to the above, I struggle with social cues, impulse control, a lot of anxiety, sensory issues, and more. All of these things have contributed to a lot of misunderstandings and problems and ultimately to my job losses, hurt relationships, and other difficulties. Putting a name or diagnosis to my struggles has helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses and how to adjust and plan so that I won’t continue the cycle of lost jobs and hurt relationships. There are days that I feel that having autism is a blessing, but there are also days where it is difficult and I wish that I wasn’t on the spectrum. However, what I have come to recognize is that God can use an individual in awesome ways despite the struggles and difficulties that one experiences in this life. In John 9, Jesus encounters an individual who is born blind. Jesus ends up giving him sight, and much debate occurs on why the man was born blind. In verse 3, Jesus states, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (ESV). I have come to believe that God has allowed me to be on the spectrum to demonstrate to a watching world that God loves and uses all types of people, even those with disabilities, to show the power and glory of a great God. Through this diagnosis, God has provided many opportunities for me to speak on disability and the church. I serve on the board of The Banquet Network, which assists churches with beginning special needs ministries. I also work with Tom Stolle, Baptist Convention of FA L L 2 02 0

I have come to believe that God has allowed me to be on the spectrum to demonstrate to a watching world that God loves and uses all types of people, even those with disabilities, to show the power and glory of a great God.

PHOTOS 1. Tim and Zach, who both have Down Syndrome, enjoy participating in Gunpowder Baptist Church’s praise band. (Zach is shown singing) 2. Jim McCaffrey baptizes Tim, who has Down Syndrome.

Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) Associate Executive Director, to broaden BCM/D’s disability ministry emphasis. In February 2020, I went to Puerto Rico with a team from BCM/D churches to serve at One Church Comerio and help host the island’s first “Night To Shine” prom for people with special needs. My church has also begun to focus intently on reaching the disabled and special needs community. We even hosted the annual end-of-year party for the Baltimore County Special Olympics

team. Also, there has been an increase of individuals with different disabilities who have become integrated into our weekly youth night, and we seek to find ways to incorporate those with disabilities and special needs into the life of the church, finding opportunities to use their spiritual gifts to serve God and love the members. We are a small church with limited funds, but it really does not take much to reach out to a largely unreached group with the love of Jesus. I would encourage every church to find out how they can bless and be blessed by loving the ones that are so often marginalized by society. After all, Jesus calls us in Luke 14:21 to “Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.” After many years of struggling to find where I “fit in,” I believe that through my diagnosis and disability, God has shown me where it is that I can best serve Him. I believe that is through disability ministry.

Stay-at-home orders and Domestic Abuse By Eliza Huie

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ut of the abundance of caution” was the familiar phrase that preceded numerous statements of change enacted due to COVID-19. One after the other, the announcements rolled out. School closures, businesses required to shut their doors, and recreational activities halted. Then came the announcement of executive orders to stay at home. It is still hard to believe that the nation, and even the entire world, is shut in by a microscopic attacker. Many people have found the COVID-19 stay-at-home regulations to be challenging for various reasons. While it is necessary to remain at home in order to be healthy and safe, for others, staying home brings inescapable threats. Stay-at-home regulations, while helpful to prevent the spreading of the virus, can increase the emotional and physical danger for those living in abusive relationships. Areas such as China and France saw elevated incidents of domestic violence and abuse during the period stay-at-home regulations were in effect. We have good reason to be concerned that this is the reality in the United States as well. National and local domestic abuse hotlines can provide support and resources, but what can the church do?

HOW THE CHURCH CAN RECOGNIZE ABUSE Caring for those who are in abusive relationships is tricky enough; add in strict regulations on social engagement, and it gets even trickier. One of the best things the church can do is to become aware of signs of domestic abuse, and when we see it, to do something. Abuse can be hard to spot. Knowing what to look for is the first step in caring well for those who are facing danger at home while in isolation. The following signs are evidence of power and control in abusive relationships.

Seven signs of the abuser: 1. Isolates their partner from friends and family. During stay-at-home orders, this may be noticed via monitoring their spouse’s communication with family and friends. 2. Postures themselves to have power over their partner. Blocks or restrains them from leaving a room or a conversation. 3. Controls what their partner wears, what they eat, and how they spend money. 4. Humiliates or puts their partner down both privately and publicly. 5. Continually blames. 6. Threatens their partner or what their partner values (sentimental items, pets, children). 7. Yells at their partner. Throws or hits things in anger. Eight signs of the abused: 1. Exhibits low self-esteem. 2. Thinks they are the crazy one, feels they can’t do anything right, or believes this situation is their own fault (i.e., “I should be more careful. Why I am so stupid?”). 3. Frequently feels afraid of their partner. 4. Avoids things that may upset their partner, and manages their environment to keep their partner happy. 5. Engages in self-harm. 6. Has PTSD responses.2 7. Feels emotionally helpless or numb. 8. Speaks of forms of relational dishonor as “normal” or references them as though humorous or their fault (i.e., “you know how spouses can be”).

HOW THE CHURCH CAN HELP If you have seen these signs in someone’s relationship, what should you do? The following tips will help you as you seek to care for the person.

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Eight things you can do to help the abused: 1. Confirm they are not crazy. 2. Be supportive. Listen to them and let them make their own decisions. 3. Check in on them frequently. Be committed to being with them for the long haul. Be careful what you put in email or text-based messaging. The abuser may monitor these. On the phone, ask “yes” or “no” questions until you know your friend is safe to ensure that answering your questions does not put them at greater risk. 4. Empower them with a plan. Even a packed bag can give a sense of having options. However, this must be kept secret and safe. Making plans to leave often makes the abuser feel threatened and elevates potential threat. You can read more on forming a safety plan at bradhambrick.com/safetyplan/. 5. Help them focus on healthy behaviors and self-care. Even the smallest thing like taking a walk around the neighborhood provides a little reprieve. 6. Help them lean upon the Lord. Pray for them. Pray with them. Send them regular spiritual encouragements. Confirm to them that the Lord is for the oppressed, sees their plight, and is moved with compassion for them.

7. Affirm to them that wanting to get out of an abusive situation is appropriate and normal and the Lord agrees with their desire for relief. 8. D on’t overpromise, but give the help you can. Avoid rushing a victim if they don’t accept help right away as that can create a sense of guilt. If you are aware of a situation where stay-at-home measures may be putting someone at greater risk, stay connected to that person. Know the number to your local domestic violence hotline and share it with them.3 Prayerfully consider other ways you may be able to provide help. Having emergency housing options like a prepaid hotel room can be a way to provide safety and protection in cases where being at home is too dangerous. I have known churches to cover the cost of a hotel and provide emergency overnight bags for those who need to spend a few days away to ensure safety. Establishing code words or code messages that can be sent to alert caregivers that help is needed are valuable avenues of protection. Sometimes just knowing they have someone willing to help brings great encouragement to an otherwise hopeless situation. During these difficult days, the church must be on the front lines in unique ways. But these are things we should be aware of, care about, and act on in every season. While awareness is helpful, ultimately, we

Note: This article focused on domestic abuse and violence. Abuse against children is likely to also increase significantly during stay-at-home regulations. If you suspect child abuse of any kind, consider yourself a mandated reporter. Many states name specific professionals as mandated reporters, but you do not have to be a professional to make a report. If you suspect abuse of a child, contact your local department of social services for help in reporting child abuse. Contacting CPS is not pressing charges. Even if CPS chooses not to investigate, they can help you learn more about what to look for. This article speaks to how to help adults who are experiencing domestic violence. If children are at risk, you should immediately contact Child Protective Services. To learn more about what happens when you report or the differences between ministry responsibilities when caring for a child versus an adult, please see lessons 3, 4, and 7 of the curriculum at churchcares.com. For further guidance and support or to better understand

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must align ourselves with the heart of God. The Lord advocates for the cause of the oppressed, and so should we. “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9 NIV). God’s Word says we ought to do good, seek justice, and correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17). This does not have to be in grandiose actions. The simple confirmation of a friend that “you are not crazy” can do good. The recognition that it is a normal and healthy response to want to get out of an abusive situation can be the start of great relief. The reality that you are not alone can bring incredible hope. Domestic violence is often a missed issue in times like these. And one reason is because it can be hard to spot, especially when we are no longer able to engage in one another’s lives as closely as before. While it is encouraging and necessary to focus on keeping everyone safe from this virus, COVID-19 has brought another ongoing and sobering reality to light: sometimes the most dangerous threats are unseen. For further help on recognizing abuse and helping those in abusive relationships, consider the resources below. Resources: www.thehotline.org/help/ www.chrismoles.org/ www.darbystrickland.com/resources/ www.leslievernick.com/free-resources/

reporting, you can speak with an experienced caseworker anytime day or night by calling the National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). You can learn more about signs of PTSD at bradhambrick. com/13-types-of-impact-frequently-experienced-after-a-trauma/. National hotlines are also helpful in connecting you with an experienced caseworker for support and guidance at any time of the day or night. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or 1-800-787-3224. This article originally appeared in the ERLC’s Light Magazine titled “Ministry in Uncertain Times: A Special COVID-19 Issue,” and is used with permission. To view the free online edition, visit erlc.com/light. Eliza Huie is director of counseling at McLean Bible Church and is the dean of biblical counseling for Metro Baltimore Seminary. She is also a speaker and author.

Disaster Relief — A Long Look Back By Ellen Udovich

Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) brings help, healing, and hope to individuals and communities affected by disasters large and small. The Baptist Convention of Maryland/ Delaware partners with national, state, and local ministries to support churches seeking to minister to their neighbors in times of crisis. Fruit from DR, however, doesn’t always mature overnight. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, years, or even decades. It often takes a long look back to see God’s hand at work in the midst of a crisis. Yet DR volunteers continue to serve with humility and joy, confident in God’s promise. “Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

PHOTO DR work continues, and workers pray the Holy Spirit will use the work to produce spiritual fruit in the future. Clayton Clark, the pastor of Pleasant Valley Baptist church in Rohrersville, Maryland does chain saw work following a historic tornado in Delaware. (photo by Ellen Udovich)

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Blessings from Disaster Relief a Decade Later By Sharon Mager

Disaster relief workers, members of Maryland City Church and South Columbia Baptist Church worked together to help neighbors in a nearby mobile home development in 2012. MCBC has continued to reap benefits from those efforts.

hen Mitch Young, the pastor of Maryland City Baptist Church (MCBC) in Laurel, began his ministry with the church, he and another member began prayer-walks through Parkway Village, a nearby mobile home community. They prayed for residents and asked God to open doors for ministry to the community. But they didn’t expect God to slam open the doors with 60-mile-an-hour winds two years later. On June 29, 2012, a rare derecho hit the area. The powerful line of severe thunderstorms that raced from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic area resulted in 22 deaths, millions of power outages, and $2.9 billion in damage. All 300 houses in the little mobile home community lost their electricity and many had extensive damage — so much that some people could no longer stay in their homes. That storm had a profound effect on MCBC’s members and the community that is felt even today. FA L L 2 02 0

After the storm, the church, amazingly, still had electricity, and they offered their facility to the Parkway Village community as a “cooling site,” a welcoming oasis during the blistering heat of a 100-degree stretch. They also provided overnight shelter and meals, as well as storm cleanup with the assistance of volunteers from the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware’s (BCM/D) Disaster Relief (DR) chainsaw crew and South Columbia Baptist Church’s (SCBC) youth group. “It was a wonderful opportunity to work with the disaster relief team,” said Young. “They’re really good people. God has blessed us with them. We were also very thankful for the help from SCBC.” Reflecting on that time eight years ago, Young said God blessed tremendously. “We really began building relationships. A few people came to the Lord and became part of the church body. Some are still here.” God used the church’s loving service, spurred on by the

We don’t want to ‘go do something to do something.’ We are seeking what God wants us to do.

storm damage, to completely change the relationship MCBC had with the community. Prior to the derecho, Young said they had tried several times to reach out to the mobile home management company with no or little response. Now, Parkway Village management invites the church to be part of local events, including a community day, where the church set up a booth, interacted with residents, and gave away hot foods and canned goods. The church has been involved with several local Girl Scout Troop food drives. MCBC also made sure the residents of Parkway Village were invited to movies on the lawn and they changed their “church picnic” to a “community picnic.” Young has also had a

great relationship with all of the property managers since the storm outreach. The activity has put the church more “in tune” with their neighbors. Members recently discovered a family that was fearful to leave their home but needed assistance. As a result of COVID-19, the father was laid off. The children were no longer able to get food from school programs. Several women from the church visited the family and took food and supplies, communicating God’s love. The church has become aware of a strong Hispanic community within Parkway Village and members are now praying, asking God how He wants them to reach out. “We don’t want to ‘go do something to

do something.’ We are seeking what God wants us to do,” Young said. Looking back before the storm, Young said he and his wife, Kym, were praying about a mission trip — where did God want them to go and what did God want them to do? Mitch said God answered, bringing the mission trip to them in the form of the derecho. As a result, they’re still seeing fruit and they’re still planting seeds and will continue to do so as long as the Lord tarries. (Portions of this article were adapted from BaptistLIFE’s “Maryland City Church provides ‘Helping Hands during storm,’” by Shannon Baker, published on October 15, 2012.) B a pt i st L IF E

Reaping the Benefits of Baptist Disaster Relief By Mark Dooley In 2011, Hurricane Irene caused extensive damage in southern Maryland, kicking Baptist disaster relief teams into overdrive. In an October 2011 BaptistLIFE article titled, “In Md., none ‘of us were prepared for what we saw,’” written by Shannon Baker, Richard Logsdon, the director of missions for the Potomac Baptist Association, expressed his shock after witnessing the devastation. “I don’t think any of us were prepared for what we saw. The news accounts somehow have missed showing this extensive damage. Many of the residents are out of electricity, water, and sewer, and may be for a week or more. Massive trees are down everywhere and many homes have gaping holes in their roofs.” Leonardtown Baptist Church (LBC) became command central, as the church opened its doors for Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief leaders to position and train local and out-of-state volunteers who were assisting with recovery. LBC volunteers became active in the entire operation. Mark Dooley, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware state director of evangelism and LBC’s senior pastor at the time, shared thoughts about the experience and the spiritual fruit God brought forth. The experience we had after the DR ministry in 2011, as a result of our church serving the community, resulted in several people visiting the church and returning to worship with us for some time. One woman stayed for six months until ill health forced her to move out of state.

The greatest fruit, however, was in the growth of our members. We were in the process of implementing a new discipleship strategy described by the words: “SEEK,” “STUDY,” “SERVE,” and “SHARE.” The DR ministry was a golden opportunity to emphasize the “SERVE” portion of that process. It gave many of our people a chance to serve their neighbors, which they willingly did. DR ministry was also a prime opportunity to exercise flexibility. When multiple DR teams from not just other parts of Maryland and Delaware but also from across the country came to serve our community and used our facility for about six or seven weeks, it demanded an adaptation to our schedule and the people of LBC willingly and graciously made the necessary adjustments. This was also an opportunity to partner, not only with fellow Southern Baptists from other state conventions but also with local believers who got involved in lending a helping hand. It was a wonderful time, seeing the body of Christ come together. We saw people of all age demographics in our congregation get involved. The youth were involved. Senior adults were involved. Middle-aged adults were involved. Parents brought their children to be involved. It was a very unifying experience. That DR experience was one that produced great fruit in the life of the congregation. There were challenges associated with it, but the benefits and the fruit far outweighed the challenges and provided a ministry experience that I am grateful we could have.

PHOTO In 2011, Matt Dooley, Alec Gough, Josh Reichard, Phillip Lindsay, and Ryan Linday, youth group members from LBC, wrestle with a tree uprooted by Hurricane Irene. FA L L 2 02 0

Ellicott City Flooding and Fruitful Service By Adam Feldman

The devastating images of Ellicott City’s 2016 flood caused many to gasp as they saw cars, with people in them, float down streets and brave volunteers form human chains to make heroic rescues. Six inches of rain in two to three hours induced flash flooding and severe damage to the historic city, taking the lives of two, and causing significant damage to homes and buildings. Metanoia Church in Ellicott City, Maryland, was a major player in supporting people seeking help. Lead Pastor Adam Feldman and Bethel Baptist Church Senior Pastor Ken Cavey walked the streets after the water receded, sharing with residents, business owners, first responders, and relief workers, offering coffee, praying with them, crying with them, and encouraging them. Working with Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief (DR), Metanoia quickly networked with other local, state, and federal organizations to provide immediate and long-term relief and recovery. In fact, Metanoia became a respected leader in these efforts. Jesse Florida, a staff pastor working alongside

Feldman at Metanoia, became a temporary part-time liaison with the county, state, and other relief agencies, with funding from the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D). Metanoia helped to coordinate a united thanksgiving and praise service at a local Catholic church, which brought the faith, government, and disaster relief workers together to offer thanks to God for helping them persevere through the difficult season. Feldman eventually received a Governor’s Citation for the work the church did in helping the community. Then came the flood of 2018, with eight inches of rain in six hours. Though aghast at the situation, Metanoia was ready. Below, Feldman shares about how God used the 2016 flood to prepare them for the 2018 disaster. The 2016 flood in Ellicott City — where our church gathers for worship — was devastating to our community and to our church. We had no idea what to do, where to start, or how to go about doing it. The task and the need were overwhelming! Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief (DR) was a source

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of strength and guidance that helped us mobilize members of our church and other churches in the area to meet immediate relief needs. When I think about the long-term fruit from our disaster relief efforts with DR, the real, practical fruit of learning disaster relief skills comes to mind. A second flood hit Ellicott City in 2018. This time the floodaffected not only Ellicott City but also neighboring Catonsville where the majority of our church members live. In fact, three families — my own family included — suffered from flooded basements. The flood also caused significant sewage backups in Catonsville and in western Baltimore. Because this flood-affected such a large area, multiple churches called upon DR to help their communities. The disaster relief skills that DR taught members of our church in 2016 came into play in 2018 as we assisted our church members and their neighbors in recovering from the flood. DR was right there to provide us with resources, prayer support, and volunteers to come alongside our relief efforts. As tragic as it was to face two floods in two years, we were able to help many more people during the 2018 flood because we were trained and prepared for the relief skills necessary to help victims of disaster. God provided opportunities FA L L 2 02 0

in 2018 for us to pray with our neighbors as we assisted them with their disaster relief needs. We also connected more deeply with churches in the BCM/D network as we worked together to bring physical and spiritual relief to Ellicott City, Catonsville, and Baltimore. Sharon Mager, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware’s communications specialist, contributed to the introductory material of this story.

PHOTOS 1. Deputy Executive Director at Maryland Emergency Management Agency presents Metanoia Church’s Lead Pastor Adam Feldman a government citation. (Photo by Sharon Mager) 2. The 2016 flood in Ellicott City devastated the town, but God used Metanoia Church, and others in the area to show His love and opened doors to build multi-level bridges to minister to and with the community. 3. (From left to right) Phil Huber, Adam Feldman, Warren Tanghe, Joan King, and Jesse Florida

Transitions and Recognitions Transitions

DAVID BURT stepped down from his role as “co-bivocational” pastor of First Baptist Church of Thurmont (FBCT), in Maryland, on July 26. He is transitioning to “semi-retirement.” The church sent David and his wife, Tunnea, off with a farewell picnic. “I call it ‘semi’ because when you’re called into ministry, you just can’t quit,” Burt said in his final message to the FBCT congregation. He and Tunnea are moving to their home in Arkansas, where David will be available to serve as an

interim pastor or provide pulpit supply as needed. “We have lived here for 30 years and have built many friendships through working in and with churches, associations, and the state convention,” he said. David and Tunnea will be two hours closer to their grandchildren and closer to David’s brothers. His younger brother serves as a director of missions for the Red River Baptist Association in Arkansas. His older brother will be moving to the Memphis area.

Born in Corning, New York, as the son of a glassblower, David met Tunnea at college in Kentucky. They married and moved to Texas, where David attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary before ministering in Georgia. After that, they served in Arkansas and then Boston before accepting the call to Maryland. “God called me into ministry as a junior in high school,” he said. “I was praying and asking the Lord what He wanted me to do. I had other dreams … but the Lord started B a pt i st L IF E

calling me to ministry.” David served as the director of missions for the Blue Ridge Baptist Association from January 1998 to August 2007. He transitioned to LifeWay as a church partner for the Mid-Atlantic region, serving Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania before the organization terminated his position.

CO-BIVOCATIONAL MINISTRY He began ministering as an interim at FBCT before stepping into the permanent position in 2015, sharing the role with current pastor Jay Beard. David shares about the unique ministry model. “I always said ‘no’ to serving as a pastor when I served as interim,” David said, but as he helped the FBCT committee choose a candidate, David felt God’s call to pastor the church. “Tunnea and I were praying. I remember driving to a revival in April 2015, and I started having an argument with God.” David told God, “It’s not right. I don’t have time.” “[God] agreed with me,” David chuckled. “You are right, you can’t do it on your own. But two of you can,” God revealed to him. “I had never heard of a model like that — ‘co-bivocational’ pastor. But the Lord put that on my mind. The search team met again, narrowing down resumes. That day, the Lord began actively bringing Jay [Beard’s] name to my mind,” David said. FBCT’s leadership did not know what David was thinking. “I thought, when we meet, if the Lord wants me to serve, someone else needs to ask me,” he remembered. “We were around the table … all of a sudden, one of the members leaned over and said, ‘We don’t see your resume there.’” “I told them, ‘You are right, but I have to share something with you.’ At that time, I had the clarity of what God wanted to do. The committee said, ‘Have you talked to Jay?’” David told them he did not want to proceed unless the committee and the Lord gave him the direction. They prayed and David called Jay. Beard was an associate pastor overseeing group ministry at Summit Trace Church in Frederick and he works FA L L 2 02 0

as a provider service advocate at United Health Care. Still, he had felt God calling him to pastoral ministry. After praying, he agreed to the new, unique arrangement. “We worked well together,” Beard said. “Before we started, we spent a lot of time talking about the philosophy of ministry and thought, yeah, this could be a good fit.” Beard said the two men didn’t butt heads. They stayed on the same page, he said, adding that an essential factor for the success was open communication. “If someone brought something to me, and I made a decision or had an important conversation, I would bring David up to speed, and he did that with me,” Beard said. “We were both bi-vocational and were both busy, but we scheduled time to get together to ‘recalibrate,’ and discuss things coming up,” Beard added. Beard said they also split teaching and preaching. “David would travel during the week, so I took care of the Wednesday Night Bible Study and he would teach the adult class on Sundays. We split the preaching time. Sometimes he would do a full series, book, or topic, and I would do the same thing, or we would split it. We worked through James and he took some chapters and I took others. We tagged-teamed through Ecclesiastes. It was cool. It was an unusual model, but it worked for us.” Another advantage was that Beard did not have senior pastoral experience and was able to learn and grow while working with David. “It has been a pleasure to work with him. I learned a lot and grew a lot,” Beard said. Jay and his wife, Carissa, have four children: Julie, a sophomore at Towson State University, 15-year-old Caedmon, 13-year-old Avaril, and 10-year-old Raegan. In his spare time, Jay enjoys sports and reading in addition to spending time with family. Reflecting on his years at FBCT, David said God blessed him, Beard, and the church. “It is just unreal to walk alongside a man God has called as pastor, to have the same call as pastor and to have a common vision about church ministry,” David said. Looking over his years in Maryland, David said, “I think of the 30 years here as a great journey.”

I call it ‘semi’ (retirement) because when you’re called into ministry, you just can’t quit.

Transitions

DAVID ERICKSON , who pastored Watersedge Baptist Church in Dundalk, Maryland for 40 years with his wife, Diane, retired on July 12 due to health issues, but they are staying on as members. The church called Ken Ledwell, who formerly served as associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Beltsville (FBCB), in Maryland. Diane said she and David are pleased and excited to see Ken step into the pulpit. “God led him to us. We are really happy with that,” said Diane. Watersedge Church built their current building in the 50’s on property donated by Bethlehem Steele. The church was bustling with families in the early days and had a thriving family ministry, outreaches, and missions. Diane enthusiastically shared that God called many Watersedge leaders to other ministries, both local and international, including Don and Kay Gerlach, who led the Baltimore Baptist Association’s Seamen’s Ministry for years. Others answered the call to become pastors and

some became international missionaries. As youths, David attended an Episcopal church and Diane a Lutheran church. Those were the days of social unrest and Diane shared about when she and David were in a church where a pastor was teaching “better ‘red than dead,’” one of several slogans popular in the Cold War era of heightened fear of communism, Joseph McCarthy, and the “Red Scare.” She laughed and said that “sermon,” though terribly bad, ironically showed both of them that the Gospel they heard growing up was true and that they needed to trust Christ and serve Him in those trying days. When Diane began attending Watersedge Baptist Church with her family, she invited David, and Diane said he so wanted to serve the Lord that he began picking up trash as a service. He later became a Sunday School teacher and a deacon. When the previous pastor, Gardner Koch, left in 1979, David became the interim, and eventually the permanent pastor.

She laughed and said that “sermon,” though terribly bad, ironically showed both of them that the Gospel they heard growing up was true and that they needed to trust Christ and serve Him in those trying days. The Ericksons led the church in outreaches including regular church dinners, festivals, car shows, and fundraisers for local causes. They began a senior center and an active daycare center which is still a vital part of the church’s ministry. Members worked to add air conditioning and a steeple to the building and gradually began updating technology with computers and a sound system. David and Diane have passed the baton to the Ledwells, knowing that they will continue the legacy. Diane said they are excited that Ken has much experience with youth ministry and that he will begin incorporating social media to reach the community. B a pt i st L IF E

Obituaries CONRAD BURCH, who ministered at many Maryland churches through the years, died on March 25. He pastored Nanjemoy Baptist Church; Antioch Baptist Church in Dundalk; Mars Hill Baptist Church in Essex; and First Baptist Church of Lansdowne in Halethorpe, before retiring from full-time pastoral ministry. He also served as an interim pastor at several churches, and prior to his death, he served as a parttime associate pastor of adult education at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Pasadena. Burch also served as a past part-time Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) missionary for planned giving, wills, and bequests and bi-vocational ministry. Working with John Faris, a former chief financial officer with the BCM/D, Burch helped to educate churches about legacy gifts to fund church plants. BCM/D former employee Roy Thomas said Burch’s work had a big impact on the funds raised during that time. In 2007 alone, through those efforts, 50 new estate plans bequeathed $1.1 million for Baptist resources. He also encouraged often-weary bi-vocational pastors. Born on March 19, 1938, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Burch grew up in Hampton, Virginia, and accepted Christ as a teenager. While teaching school in Howard County and attending Savage Baptist Church, he began to feel God’s call to pastoral ministry. He attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating with a master’s degree in theology. He and his wife Doris met at a wedding at Middle River Baptist Church. Doris was the organist. Conrad was officiating the wedding of a friend and called Doris to make arrangements. Doris laughed, sharing how she thought Conrad was the groom and she was asking him questions that he couldn’t answer. “I thought he was the dumbest groom ever,” she said, before discovering he was a minister, not the groom. The two married in 1982 at Middle River Baptist Church. Doris said Conrad had a passion for outreach. “He didn’t FA L L 2 02 0

He didn’t target any specific age group. He knew that if he ministered to the family, he’d reach the grandparents, the parents, and the kids. target any specific age group. He knew that if he ministered to the family, he’d reach the grandparents, the parents, and the kids. “One of his greatest gifts was his calming ability. He could walk into a room of mad hornets and before long they’d be sitting in seats listening to him,” she said. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading novels, and he loved playing golf. “He was

never great at it and he knew it, but he loved being outdoors. He always said that when he got to heaven, if there was a golf course that would be good.” Conrad was predeceased by his parents, Hal Burch and Mary Elizabeth Conrad Burch. He is survived by a brother, Hal Burch, Jr.; a daughter, Lisa Deschenes and her husband, Michael; a son, David Burch; and grandson Brian Dill.

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BaptistLIFE Fall 2020

Articles inside

A Lament for Racial Injustice

God Builds the Storehouse

Transitions and Recognitions

Church Life During COVID-19

BaptistLIFE Perspectives

President’s Letter