Baptistlife June 2011

™

June 2011 Newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware • www.baptistlifeonline.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Repairers of the Breach.................4-5 General Mission Board................8-10 BCM/D Missionaries..................11-14 AssociationLIFE...............................15 COURAGEOUS screening.............. 18

BCM/D prepares to embrace opportunities and face challenges during the May GMB meeting.

See story on page 8.

Perspectives...

Page 2

June 2011

Let’s join hands, hearts and resources as we move forward

P

eople tend to say about me that I am the eternal optimist. They also say that I tend to look at things the way I want them to be rather than the way they are.

Guilty! I am, at David Lee BCM/D Executive heart, an optiDirector mist. I do look for the good in things and people. I do tend to have a high trust level. You get my trust in advance and will have to do something to violate that trust before I withdraw it. I am also very quick to forgive. I take seriously what Jesus said about remembering how much we have been forgiven and forgive accordingly. Sometimes the optimism and trust serve me well.

Sometimes they leave me vulnerable.

With that said, here I go again!

It has been a very interesting year and a half leading up to this year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Ariz. God was right. We are his “peculiar people.” (Most often in the good sense of that word.) I am watching what appears to me to be an undercurrent leading to what could become a major movement forward for our convention. It may be my optimism sprung loose again or it may be that I am viewing things as I wish they were rather than how they really are.

Here’s what I see.

At least twice in my more than four decades as a Southern Baptist, I have seen our convention come to the brink of a great opportunity to join hands and hearts and resources to make a significant move

forward to accomplish our Lord’s Great Commission. In both cases we either made poor choices or found something else that we could fight about. The moments were lost and we spent time in the wilderness.

I believe we are there again with the opportunity to join hands and hearts and resources to take our greatest step forward as a convention to accomplish the Great Commission. The conversations have not been easy. Neither have been the decisions.

But what I am seeing is a major effort on the part of many at every level of Baptist life to reassess where we are and set new priorities focused on Acts 1:8 missions.

If church leaders, associational leaders, national leaders, and state leaders can come together, not in uniformity, but in unity, with a

genuine Great Commission focus, we may very well see the greatest chapter in the life of our cooperative missions history.

If we cannot find that common ground, and we again make bad choices or find other ways to disagree and battle, then I am not optimistic about our future.

Thus, as I prepare for Phoenix, I am praying that God will give us wisdom, enable us to become one, and give us his Holy Spirit to lead us to shake this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I certainly pledge to try to do my part.

(I write this before Phoenix. I hope as you read this article along with the reports from Phoenix that what I see is more than just wishful thinking. Buckle your seat belts.

We could be in for quite a ride!)

A tribute to my dad on Father’s Day

M

ost all sons are proud of their fathers.

I am certainly not the exception. My father, Marvin Simpson, is now 82 years old. Unfortunately this man, Bob Simpson who has enjoyed BCM/D Assoc. excellent health Executive Director, most of his life, BaptistLIFE is now fighting Editor stage-four bone cancer. Typical of him, he is upbeat about his situation. He has always exuded optimism throughout the various passages of his life. While some of this comes from his natural “glass half full” personality, I also am confident that his relationship with Christ is the headwater of his positive attitude. He is a remarkable man.

My early childhood memories of him were before he became a pastor. Most of those memories revolve around him as a layman at Second Church, Cumberland, Md. In actuality, he fought the “call to preach” for ten years. During that time, he

immersed himself in church work doing every major lay role including deacon, teacher and lay preacher.

But God’s call is distinctive and exclusive.

One day on his drive into work, he pulled the car over to the side of the road, exited the car, got down on his knees and surrendered to the perfect will and call of God on his life. From that day on, he never looked back.

He was ordained on my ninth birthday. The day before I was not a “preacher’s kid.” The day after, I became one. As a family we began the journey of ministry that continues to this day. Dad’s first pastorate was the First English Church, Frostburg, Md. From there he was sent by the then Southern Baptist Home Mission Board to a little town in upstate New York: Plattsburgh.

In the early 1960’s Plattsburgh was the home of a U.S. Air Force Base. There were a lot of transplanted Southern Baptists on the Air Force Base who had started a little church and needed a pastor.

It was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base with nuclear missile capability both via in ground mis-

siles surrounding the base and on the B-52’s that were stationed there. While there our family lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Needless to say, those were interesting times for our nation and our family.

In 1967 Dad moved our family back to Maryland where he became the pastor of Bethany Lane Church, Ellicott City. This was the first of two stints at Bethany Lane. At the end of his Maryland ministry in the seven years before his retirement, Bethany Lane once again called him back to be their pastor.

He retired from there as Pastor Emeritus. In between his two times as Bethany Lane’s pastor, Dad pastored Grace Church, Cumberland and First Church, Waldorf.

Dad was a natural leader who worked tirelessly to maximize his impact for the Kingdom. He not only pastored well, he was also very active in the life of both the Associations where he served and the Baptist Convention of MD/ DE. As a pastor leader in various associations, he chaired missions, evangelism, personnel and finance committees at different times.

For BCM/D he served as 2nd vice

president of the Convention, a member and vice president of the General Mission Board, chair of the nominating committee, chair of the church pastoral assistance committee, member of the executive committee, and member of the camp/ conference committee.

I tell you all of the above in order for you to gain a perspective on what it means for me, his oldest son, to be standing on his shoulders even in what I do currently for the BCM/D. It is humbling and motivating to see how God prepares you to follow His perfect will in life.

The truth is that none of us are self-made. We all benefit from the care and loving leadership of those who have gone before us.

In my role at BCM/D, I often cross paths with someone who says to me, “Your dad led me to the Lord!” That is always amazing for a son to hear. What a legacy for each of his five children (four sons and a daughter)!

Happy Father’s Day, Marvin!

You have led your family and your churches well!

Perspectives...

June 2011

The fields are ripe for the harvest

A

re you familiar with the word egocentric? You probably are aware of the word and possibly it is a part of your everyday usage. It does not take a wordsmith to notice that the Ken Stalls BCM/D President first three letters remind us of the and Pastor of South word ego. EgocenEnd Church, tric means thinkFrederick, Md. ing or acting with the view that one’s self is the center, object and norm of all experience. It is an extremely selfish outlook on life. In fact, egocentricity is the antithesis of the Christian missionary approach to life. The missionary approach involves a deliberate attempt to reach all people everywhere with the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Contrary to the egocentric approach, life is not all about ME. It is all about God and those He loves (all people everywhere).

One of the main reasons that I

have affiliated with Southern Baptists since my conversion has been our denomination’s focus on Christian missions and evangelism. I do not mean to infer that other denominations do not care about missions, but Southern Baptists have always intentionally made outreach a focus of our efforts, prayers and our giving. The Church of the first century was missionary and evangelistic not because of ambition, pride or arrogance, but because they fully understood that reaching others was an integral part of who and what we are. It springs from a desire to share the incomparable blessing that we have from our Lord with all people. No one should be denied the privilege of knowing Christ.

Granted, there have been times when we as the Church have diminished our zeal and at times, even appear to have lost it. However, our Lord always draws us back to our focus. Southern Baptists have been very much used by God to keep this focus before His Church.

Even deeper than our own innate feelings about the necessity to be mission minded and evan-

gelistic, is the fact that reaching out to others did not begin with us, but with our God. The love of God made outreach essential. God demands that those on the outside be reached. It is the Good Shepherd’s heartbeat to reach out to the downtrodden, rejected and the overlooked of this world. Therefore, it must be our heartbeat as well, if indeed, He lives within us. He does not change when He indwells us; we do…we must!

As God’s people here in the blessed states of Maryland and Delaware, we have a tremendous opportunity to be missionary and evangelistic warriors for our Lord.

Truly, the words of Jesus in John 4:35b apply to us as much as to the original hearers, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!

They are ripe for the harvest.”

(NIV).

May your day be blessed by the privilege of being a blessing to others. Thank you for the privilege of serving as President or our great convention. May we all be found faithful by our Great God and Savior.

LATEST BCMD.E-QUIP.NET TRAINING RESOURCES AVAILABLE MOST RECENT ADDITIONS

• For Women Too

• Ministry and Aging: How to work with the 50+ population • Bi-Vocational Leadership Teams • Membership Matters • Passages in the Life of a Church Planter • Church Life Cycles and Leadership • Missional Mindset Panel • Growing a Missional Lifestyle in Girls Ministry • Legal Issues in the Church

ONGOING SUBJECTS: Church Planting Mentoring Ministry to Children Music and Worship Pastors/Pastoral Staff Sharing Christ Single Adults Small Groups Technology WMU Resources

Page 3

BaptistLIFE

Vol. 95 No. 3 Serving Baptists since 1849 BaptistLIFE (ISSN 331-640) is published bimonthly except for January 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 Send address changes to: iwhite@bcmd.org BaptistLIFE Staff

Bob Simpson Executive Editor Iris White Managing Editor/Mailing Shannon Baker Design Editor/

BCM/D National Correspondent Sharon Mager BCM/D Correspondent Lauren Rodriguez Media Specialist

Address change: Send the new address with the old mailing label at least three weeks prior to move or send an email to iwhite@bcmd.org with your old and new information.

Advertising rates are available. We do not automatically accept all advertising. We typically accept ads for services provided to Maryland and Delaware Baptists related to or assisting in starting new churches and strengthening existing ones. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of any advertiser’s products or services. The deadline for news and advertising is the first day of the month preceding the next issue.

Subscription: free of charge by request.

Press Releases and Photos: We welcome letters from readers, press releases and photos of topics of interest to Maryland/Delaware Baptists. Digital photos sent electronically are preferred.

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, 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 Carroll County Times, Westminster, Md.

Page 4

Your Church...

June 2011

‘Repairers of the Breach’ cofounder: ‘I was so damaged, and no one knew’

By Shannon Baker BCM/D National Correspondent CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md.— Harold Dugger, a Maryland pastor, believes that Jesus didn’t die on the cross.

He says that Jesus “died” in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He “died” to His own will and fully surrendered his life to His Father’s will.

“All of us go through Gethsemane,” said Dugger, senior pastor of First Church of Capitol Heights, Md., “but not everyone makes it to Calvary. If you never make it to Calvary, then you can never make it to the resurrection.”

A young man while in seminary, Dugger learned about Gethsemane—and Calvary—when he left the school during his third year to pursue a seedy lifestyle.

Though he came from a strong Christian family—both of his parents served in the ministry—and he had a genuine salvation experience when he was 12, the seminary he attended was close to the “Red Light District” where it was commonplace to see prostitutes and drug dealers hanging out on the street.

There, Dugger befriended a local shop owner who one day asked him to go on a ride with him. It turns out the man was a pimp.

“I was infatuated with what he did,” Dugger recalled.

It wasn’t long before Dugger withdrew from seminary and signed up full time for life on the streets, where he saw men killed, drugs dealt, and community leaders visiting the houses of prostitution.

Even in the darkness, Dugger clung to his salvation encounter with God, which he never doubted was real. And he continued going to church and even spoke from the pulpit on several occasions.

“But who I was in my distorted view of God kept coming up empty,” he said, explaining that he had the women, the money, the nice

things in life. He was entertaining “I ended up on a spiritual emsuicide as an option when he heard bankment, and no one in my church God say to him, “You have everycame to my rescue. No one asked me thing but Me.” how I was doing. I was so damaged, A visiting preacher helped him and no one knew.” “refocus [his] spiritual alignment” After five years “on the streets,” using the powerful words found in the now long-time minister—32 Jude 1:4-25, years and beginning with, counting—fi“Now unto nally learned Him that is that while he able to keep had accepted you from fallJesus as his ing…”

Savior, his To this day, flesh had Dugger still not. Upon remembers this revthe preacher elation, he explaining how began the familiar roads hard work cause people of “dying” to to ignore the his fleshly signs. desires and “Because surrendering we think we to the Lord’s know the road desires. so well, we stop “As I paying attenlistened to tion to the road His voice, I signs,” Dugger stayed there related, notand let God ing that all too Dugger, senior pastor of First Church of heal me in soon folks find Capitol Heights, Md., seeks to help repair the the wilderthemselves off breach between men and God. ness experithe road and ence. I heard into the embankment, in need of a God say, ‘There are things I don’t tow. take away from you. There has to be “In the spiritual environment a dying in the process. You have to on a road we think we know so well, put some things to death,’” Dugwe stop fasting, praying and reading ger said, describing his newfound our Bible,” he said, adding that the awareness of Jesus’ Gethsemane adage, “Familiarity breeds conexperience. tempt,” came true in his life.

“I knew that God wasn’t the

problem. I just needed to know what the problem was,” he said.

Over the years, his firsthand experience with the slippery slope of sin has propelled the pastor to reach out to others, especially men, to help them repair their lives.

He is inspired by Isaiah 58:12, which says, “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach …”

The scripture became the basis for a men’s ministry that Dugger co-founded with Nathaniel Thomas, senior pastor of Forestville New Redeemer Church; Anthony Minter, senior pastor at First Rock Church in Washington, D.C.; and Lawrence Barbour, pastor at Expectation Bible Church in Suitland, Md. Barbour previously started a men’s fellowship called “Manning the Gap.” The “Repairers of the Breach” ministry, which officially began in Jan. 2010 through the Prince George’s Association in Lanham, Md., is a series of conferences that focus on God in the lives of men and teen boys.

The goal of each conference is to equip men to know, serve, and glorify God in their relationship with Him, their families, their church and their communities. (See related story, “‘Repairers of the Breach’ unites, challenges men in PG County” on page 5.)

These conferences have “challenged me as a man and as a man of God,” Dugger shared, noting that if his relationship with God is not properly aligned, then it adversely affects everything else.

He is excited to see the ef. . . that part of the original church building of Chestnut Ridge fort paying off, with as many Baptist Church, established in 1742 in Lutherville, Md., is still being as 80 men coming to each used today? event.

“It’s beginning to bring men together and allows Henry Sater started Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church. He was the great-great-grandfather of an important layperson in our convention. a window outside of one’s church to see other men of Some called her indomitable, others indefatigable. Who was she?

God,” he said. “You don’t feel alone when engaging in the Find the answer at http://bcmd.org/history disciplines of God.”

Did you know...

June 2011

Your Church...

Page 5

‘Repairers of the Breach’ unites, challenges men in PG County

By Shannon Baker BCM/D National Correspondent LANHAM, Md.—Since Jan. 2010, as many as 80 or so men have gathered quarterly to talk about their roles and responsibilities in their relationships with God, family, church and community.

These men gather from the Prince George’s Association’s (PGBA) composition of churches to attend the quarterly “Repairers of the Breach” conferences, which are held on the third Friday of every quarter. Their two-to-three hours together include praise and worship, a devotional teaching and breakout sessions progressively focusing on their relationships.

Inspired by Isaiah 58:12, which says, “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach …,” the “Repairers of the Breach“ ministry focuses on God in the lives of men and teen boys.

The scripture became the basis for a men’s ministry cofounded with Harold Dugger, senior pastor of First Church, Capitol Heights, Md.; Nathaniel Thomas, senior pastor of Forestville New Redeemer Church; Anthony Minter, senior pastor at First Rock Church in Washington, D.C.; and Lawrence Barbour, pastor at Expectation Bible Church in Suitland, Md. Barbour previously started a men’s fellowship called “Manning the Gap.”

The “Repairers of the Breach“ ministry, which officially operates through the Prince George’s Association in Lanham, Md., has gathered men from churches throughout the Association on a quarterly basis to help them “develop and execute an understanding of their roles and responsibilities; in their relationship

Pastor Daniel Mangrum, pastor of Cornerstone Peaceful Bible Church, Upper Marlboro, shares at the “Repairers of the Breach” Men’s Conference at Maryland City Church, Laurel.

with God, family, church and community, through sound principles, relevant instructions and great fellowship.”

“Some men come to church and

don’t understand their role and responsibility. We want to make sure we have healthy men in our congregations and community. If we don’t understand our role and responsibilities, it will affect every realm of our lives,” Dugger explained, adding that the goal of the ministry is to “help men identify and develop their godly responsibilities in the light of biblical principles, profession and practice.”

“It is an experience when you have a sanctuary full of men… worshipping without any inhibitions,” shared Reynold Carr, PGBA’s director of missions. “My hair stood up on the back of my neck! You just bask in the glory of the whole thing.”

The last event was held April 15 at Maryland City Church in Laurel, where the men were blessed and uplifted as the church’s praise team ushered them into the presence of God with great singing. Daniel Mangrum of Cornerstone Peaceful Bible Church challenged the men at the close of the conference, which focused on men’s relationships with their wives and children.

“We approach everything biblically,” said Dugger, noting that though there is plenty of self-help material available, it is this ministry’s intent to focus solely on what the Bible says.

Keiffer Bent, the new pastor of Berwyn Church in College Park, Md., says his church is still “riding the wave” since hosting the January’s “Repairers of the Breach” meeting.

The “Repairers of the Breach“ ministry, which officially began in Jan. 2010 through the Prince George’s Association in Lanham, Md., is a series of conferences that focus on God in the lives of men and teen boys.

Mitch Young, pastor of Maryland City Church, Laurel, addresses the group at the “Repairers of the Breach” Men’s Conference hosted at his church on April 15.

“It was a spiritually enthusiastic, refreshing and energizing force at Berwyn,” where even the women have been touched by the men’s encouragement, Bent said.

“It was a very intense moment in our church” to see over 80 men of all races gathered in the Fellowship Hall,” he said, adding, “To see the entire Fellowship Hall full of men was an effective tool to build stronger men and their relationships in church and in their marriages.”

The next scheduled quarterly conference will be held July 15 at Landover Hills Church with the theme, “The Man’s Role in the Church.”

In addition to the quarterly conferences, the men meet monthly to do evangelism walks. They’ll pick a community, prayer walk, hand out tracks and minister to people.

They also meet once a year for a conference retreat at Skycroft Conference Center. This year’s Sept. 1–3 retreat is co-sponsored by First Rock Church, in cooperation with PGBA, and will focus on the theme, “Come Back to the Heart of Worship.”

To learn more, contact Carr at (301) 731-4199 or email reynoldcarr@yahoo.com.

Page 6

Your Church...

June 2011

HALO Ministry ‘loves ‘em like Jesus’

By Shannon Baker BCM/D National Correspondent SALISBURY, Md.—Love ‘em like Jesus.

It’s a simple mission statement, but it is one that is having a profound impact on homeless and disenfranchised individuals and families in Salisbury, Md. Hope And Life Outreach (HALO) started as a ministry of Oak Ridge Church (ORBC), but by simply following their mission statement, it grew so quickly that it had to become a separate entity.

Since beginning seven years ago, HALO has started at least nine outreach ministries, with over 700 volunteers from ORBC and other area churches and businesses, who seek to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the homeless and the hurting.

HALO offers a variety of meal programs, including its very own restaurant, the HALO Café, which opened in Jan. 2010, as well as HALO on the Streets (H.O.T.S.), which provides meals to homeless individuals and families who live in the area and are unable to come to the HALO Café. Over 42,000 meals, breakfast and dinner, have been served since the doors opened.

“Meal serving is not just about serving a meal; It’s about building relationships and demonstrating God’s love,” shared HALO’s executive director, Celeste Savage.

HALO also hosts holiday meals, including “Fill My Cup” Easter and “Be Our Guest” Thanksgiving dinners, where the homeless and hurting in the area are waited upon in a fine dining atmosphere.

Since Nov. 21, 166 guests have passed through HALO’s doors during its “Code Blue” emergency shelter for women and mothers with children.

The night shelter, hosted in a gigantic warehouse space converted into individual sleeping areas, allows women and children a safe and warm place to obtain respite from the streets.

Each night, guests eat a hot meal together, participate in devotions and perform chores to help in the upkeep of the shelter. A separate entertainment area allows the guests a chance to unwind by reading or watching TV or simply to be loved on by HALO

volunteers.

Beginning at the end of June or early July, HALO’s shelter will expand to accommodate individuals during the day as well in “A OneStop Homeless Day Center.”

While in the shelter, women are encouraged to take advantage of HALO’s other programs, namely the Resource Connection, a communitybased, one-stop-shop for individuals and families looking for a hand up, not a hand out; the Journey of Hope, an 18-month to 2-year phased program structured within a scriptural, Christian-based environment designed to assist in life change and management; and HALO Reads, a confidential, one-to-one literacy coaching opportunity.

Another ministry is HALO’s thrift ministry through its Bargain Center, which provides quality clothing, furniture, household goods and electronics at affordable prices. Participants who meet the criteria for HALO’s Journey of Hope program are entitled to a Home At Last Voucher, which allows them to furnish their new home with items from the Bargain Center.

Other outreach activities include an Adopt-a-Family ministry where HALO matched donors with families in need, providing a “Christmas” wish list for each child in the family.

This past Christmas, HALO donors adopted over 700 children, enabling the families to experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Finally, donations of all food, clothing and household items are dropped off at HALO’s Community Outreach Center, a centralized location where items are sorted and organized for best use.

HALO relies heavily on donations from individuals, businesses and churches. They consistently organize donation drives so that people of all ages can get involved. HALO clients benefit from a HUGS (Hats, Underwear, Gloves, and Socks/ Scarves) effort in the winter, a “Cool Down” bottled water, sunscreen and insect repellant drive in the summer, as well as ongoing “Great Scrub-Up” and “Soap and Suds” cleaning and hygiene supplies drives. They even encourage “The Great Paper Chase” drive for donated toilet paper and other paper goods.

Food from drives, such as a “Stock the Pantry” and “Christmas in July,” are used to serve the homeless and hungry in the HALO Café, serve the homeless on the streets through the HALO on the Street (HOTS) ministry and fill food boxes for families in need. They encourage donors to hold “Back to School Mania” drives to feed children and “Souper Bowl” drives for canned soup to be held on or near SuperBowl Sunday.

To an outsider, HALO’s ministry is overwhelming, but to Savage, who has a degree in social work from Salisbury University, it’s a testimony of the power of God. She credits a failed business for opening her eyes to the needs and equipping her to serve and develop these ministries over the past seven years.

“Losing the Motorcoach touring business was the best thing that happened to me,” she said, explaining that facing her own financial crisis helped her understand that homeless people are not bad people. They’re just homeless.

Still driving school buses, Savage drove a different route one day and saw a homeless person’s bedroll sitting under a tree in a Salisbury neighborhood.

“I completely lost it!” she recalled. For two weeks, she tried to find the owner of the bedroll, driving by different times throughout the day. “At 1 a.m. in the morning, I finally found him!”

His name was Rick, a real live person that Savage wanted to help.

“God was really working on me,” she said, explaining that she was “the person who said, ‘Get a job!’ I was the one who was giving a hot dog, but no more.”

But Savage’s heart was changing, and she soon felt called into a homeless ministry. At the same time, ORBC also was hearing the call.

When Savage inquired at the church,

she learned that leaders had met once already to discuss how to help the homeless in the area.

She went to the next meeting and over time, Savage’s desire to help expanded into full time ministry. She can share about miracle after miracle when other impassioned people have joined in the cause, either giving of their time or their resources to help the least fortunate.

Over and over, usually just in the nick of time, God provided food, clothing, property, and financial resources—even a $500,000 check—to see the ministry become a reality.

Throughout the entire process, HALO has gone above board in ensuring that all building and operation codes are followed and has become the “go to” place for people facing homelessness. HALO’s seven board members, primarily consisting of community business executives, assist Savage in strong Christian leadership and relationship building with other area businesses and the local court system.

“It’s been a ride out of this world!” exclaimed Savage, who’s been awarded the “Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award;” Junior Achievement’s “Woman of the Year” Award; and the Soroptimist “Best for Women” Award, which recognize women who make changes in the community.

“Since taking on the role of director, I’ve seen the urgency of reaching people. We have to do whatever it takes to reach them. It can be frustrating and hard, but if you can look through their eyes and into their souls… you know the answer they need. It’s Jesus Christ!”

To learn more, visit www.haloministry.org. To sponsor a donation drive, contact Teresa Schevel at (410) 742-9356 or tschevel@HALOministry.org.

June 2011

Your Church...

Page 7

Hockessin Church brews with boldness in reaching Wilmington

By Sharon Mager BCM/D Correspondent WILMINGTON, Del.—In January 2010, Hockessin Church’s senior pastor, John Boulet, preached a sermon series based on Acts about “scattering.” He explained what it meant for the early church to leave the center of Jerusalem and move out planting the seeds of the Gospel and what it would mean for Hockessin Church to spread out where God would lead. The church was so serious about this that they formed a “spreading team” and God opened amazing doors. One of those doors now opens to a chic, cozy, sophisticated, church-owned coffee shop.

LOMA (named to reflect Lower Market Street), was a God-given vision early in 2010. Now it’s bustling with business as the local community and shop owners and workers pop in for fresh brewed coffee, expresso drinks, gourmet snacks and café style food. They’ve even got LOMA t-shirts and souvenirs.

On opening day, lines were long—way out the door, and the shop was packed. Local business leaders and politicians crowded in, praising the coffee shop and the church for stepping into the community in this way. Now, business is steady and there’s usually a few Hockessin members hanging about chatting among themselves and with patrons.

The church raised $100,000 to buy the business. Embrace Wilmington and BCM/D also assisted in the funding through Cooperative Program giving.

Taking that initial step of faith is big for any church, let alone a moderate size, mostly middle-aged congregation, Boulet shared.

“It’s heroic,” Boulet stated emphatically. “It’s a real blessing for the church to step up.”

Associate pastor, Terry Foester, who has been coordinating and overseeing the LOMA process described it as a “missional step” for the church.

Foester said the church wanted to embrace the city, but it’s hard to put your arms around everyone.

“We began to think, instead of the whole city, what if we take just one neighborhood. Who knows

what can hapabout the shop pen?” Foester chatting with explained. others. Embrace The church Wilmington exknew that by ecutive director, operating a cofMitch Dowell, fee shop, they’d drops in often. be engaging the Dowell uses the neighborhood, coffee shop to but they had no meet with folks idea how much. who want to get Through the together for some original business very non-threatset-up and dayening relaxed to-day business, discussions about they’re really in Christianity. the marketplace The next step dealing with is opening a recontractors, vensource area next dors, government door where the agencies, customchurch can have Hockessin Senior Pastor John Boulet and Associate Pastor Terry Foester share a special events ers, employees and other small cup of coffee at LOMA, a church-owned coffeeshop in Wilmington’s Lower Market and meetings. business owners Area.

The possibilities and operators. will expand. In the fruition of the dream.

It’s a whole new world and a whole fact, they’re endless.

The church is careful not to be new mission field. “preachy” through the shop. Boulet, Foester said the opportunity is Foester or other members may be Life 1/31/11 1:06 PM Page 1 cmu002235 TrustAd_Sq.qxd:Baptist fabulous to show people who genuine Christians are in so many different aspects of life.

The church is fully using its gift mix. Businesspersons, lawyers, bankers and artists have been providing their talents and skills to make the coffee shop a reality.

To prepare for such an undertaking, Foester met with Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. National Community Church owns Ebeneezer’s Coffeehouse, a similar church/coffeehouse ministry that is Let’s face it … insurance is basically a matter of trust: you trusting making an impact on its community. a company like ours to be there for you when you need us.

Foester saw first hand the necessary Church Mutual insures more than twice as many congregations time, effort and sacrifice the new as any other insurer. Our experience and dedication to the religious coffeehouse was going to be. community are simply unparalleled.

“It’s a big endeavor and not for the faint of heart,” Foester admitted.

For a detailed on-site risk analysis of your Church members young and old facilities and activities (a value-added service rallied around the decision and are we offer at no charge), or for a closer look supportive. at why more than twice as many religious “I thought it was a neat idea. I organizations trust Church Mutual, think we needed to step out of the simply call 800-554-2642 or go to box. We can’t expect everyone to www.churchmutual.com/onsite. come to us,” Hockessin member, Church Mutual has received consistently Barbara Perry, said. high ratings from industry analyst “I was for the idea from the A.M. Best every year since 1952. beginning—going where the people are,” longtime member, Jack Hill, said. But Hill was still amazed at Listening. Learning. Leading. is a registered trademark of Church Mutual Insurance Company. © 2011 Church Mutual Insurance Company

Your congregation has placed its trust in you…

…more than 100,000 congregations place their trust in us.

Page 8

Your Convention...

June 2011

BCM/D prepares to embrace opportunities and face challenges

By Sharon Mager BCM/D Correspondent COLUMBIA, Md.—David Lee, Baptist Convention of Maryland/ Delaware’s executive director, challenged General Mission Board (GMB) members to be prepared for the multitude of opportunities God is giving to Maryland/Delaware and to be prepared for the challenges that always accompany opportunity.

The GMB met at the Baptist Mission Resource Center on May 3. Missionary for music and worship, Bill Archer, led a short good old-fashioned hymn sing time of worship.

General Mission Board President David Sandvick called the meeting to order and shared about his mom. Sandvick said his mother had a washing machine with a wringer and how she once had her arm pulled in to the elbow. Sandvick laughed and said she really did know what it meant to “go through the wringer.”

“Many of us are in ministry up to our necks and we, on a daily basis, meet people going through the wringer,” Sandvick said. Or, perhaps you are, he said to members. Sandvick encouraged them to continue to pray for one another as the culture we live in continually keeps us near or in the “wringer.”

Executive Director Report BCM/D Executive Director David Lee told GMB members that as a pastor, his favorite day of the ministry year was always Resurrection Sunday. There are always many visitors and those who just attend on special occasions. Lee said it was always fun when churches had to add chairs for the service.

It was exciting, he said, to stand and preach to a full house, telling people that Jesus could change their lives. “I could say to them, ‘However you have been living, you don’t have to live that way anymore through the power of the resurrection.’”

Lee asked for GMB members to share highlights from their Resurrection Day services.

Bill Cochran, pastor of Lands-

down Church, praised God for Resurrection Sunday baptisms.

Robert Anderson, pastor of Colonial Church, Baltimore, said he preached to a full house on Resurrection Sunday and that they had 300 people attend their sunrise service.

David Lee reiterated BCM/D’s mission, to intentionally assist in

hand of God at work there,” he said.

“We continue to seek to reach our cities,” Lee reported. He said doors are opening in Wilmington, but the challenges are great.

Lee commended Baptist Family & Children’s Services and Open Door Community Development Corporation for their work in minis-

starting and strengthening congregations so that together “we can accomplish the Great Commission as given to us by our Lord in Matt. 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.” Lee explained that the convention is approaching that mission strategically in five areas: church multiplication; church services; leadership development and support; Acts 1:8 missions involvement and resource development.

“In each of these areas, opportunities abound, but so do the challenges,” Lee said. If an opportunity is presented, a challenge is connected, just like having the extra visitors for Easter and having to add extra chairs.

“2010 was a banner year in church planting with more than 30 new churches with four of those representing the crossing of language barriers,” Lee reported. Reports indicate that language church planting is continuing to expand, he said.

“We have the opportunity to plant more churches in Maryland/ Delaware than ever before. It will not be easy. There are open doors of opportunity, but there are also many challenges. Pray that God will raise up church planters in our midst,” Lee said. Many of those who will plant churches are sitting in our pews, he told GMB members.

Lee said there are also signs of a spiritual movement of God on the Eastern shore. “Keep looking for the

tering to those who are hurting and often neglected.

In addition, Lee said God is opening doors in collegiate evangelism. “We could very well have the opportunity to reclaim ministries that we had to pull back from in the past. We are also talking about expanding our ministry touch to include new campuses. We are also exploring how to connect church planting to this area of our ministry.

“In the area of church services, we are about to launch a major pilot to tackle the challenge of plateaued and declining churches in Maryland/Delaware,” he said. Transformational Church is providing a foundation for the convention to help our churches redream the dream.

Lee said BCM/D continues to support and equip leaders. One way is through Shepherd’s Rest, a peaceful retreat at Skycroft Conference Center that ministers may use free of charge. The house is 90 percent booked for 2011. Lee said there is a lower unit that needs to be completed and made available to provide more opportunity.

Lee said in some areas you don’t have to go looking for God, He just seems to open a door or pitch a tent right there. One area that is happening in, Lee shared, is in ministry to special needs children. A BaptistLIFE article written by Shannon Baker about BCM/D’s chief financial officer, Tom Stolle, and his fam-

ily has been given national coverage and there has been a great response by families who empathize with the Stolles and need ministry resources.

Tom Stolle shared about the struggles that face families of special needs children. Many families opt to watch church on television rather than attend in person because they do not want to face rejection or find themselves the object of derisive stares that they get when they’re shopping in department stores, Stolle said.

Stolle said that Seaside Church in Lewes, Del., made the decision to become a special needs church with full inclusion. “My son, for the first time,...can participate in a full worship service. Praise God! They made special accommodations for him.”

Other families are taking notice and are attending the church as a result.

Stolle said he and Charlie Arnold, pastor of Seaside, went to the Sussex Consortium, a partnership and association of eleven school districts who pooled their resources to fund the expertise and programming for special needs children, and asked how the church could partner with the consortium. Stolle said consortium leaders were surprised, but pleased. The church will be participating in a water park event with 200 special needs families and in a special software training.

“I am praying for a revolution.

I’m praying that God will create such a move amongst his people that we would have no choice but to go out and make accommodations and serve these families,” Stolle said.

David Lee reported that he has been in contact with friends in Alabama and other areas where deadly tornados recently struck. “They need our continued prayer and support.

What a classic example of challenge and opportunity!”

“There have been a couple of moments in my ministry career that have spanned more than four decades now where Southern Bap-

Continued on page 9

June 2011

Your Convention...

Page 9

Continued from page 8

tists had the opportunity to come budget amount fo $4,300,000. together amidst challenges to unite The other primary source of powerful forces to literally make a income, receipts from the North major difference in our communities, American Mission Board, total our nation and our world. But we $202,167 or only 20.2 percent of failed to seize those opportunities. the annual budget due primarily to We made bad choices. Or we chose NAMB-funded staff positions which something new to fight about rather remain vacant. than capture our momentum to Within a few expenses categoimpact our world. ries, disbursements are running a “Maybe I am naive, but I believe bit higher than year-to-date budget we are at that moment again.” due in part to the timing of expense Lee said he is seeing Southern recognition. This includes ConvenBaptists havtion Missionary Benefits ing better, but as well as the Baptist Missometimes harder sion Resource Center due conversations, seekto the timing of the recing to find ways ognition of both staff and to work together. business insurance costs.

There is a greater Additionally, Convention focus on mission.

Operations are running “If a critical slightly higher than the mass of our nationyear-to-date budget due al, state, associato Transformational tional and church Church training which leaders can get on took place early in 2011. the same page [or Note also that Leadership at least in the same Development expenses Book!), and speak Robert Anderson, pastor are also running slightly the same language of Colonial Church, ahead of budget due to of unity, love and the increased demand of shares about his church’s mission, we could those in ministry accessResurrection Day Sunday see something hap- services. ing counseling services pen that has not through Centrepointe. happened in our lifetimes.

At present, management ex“I want to make a statement in pects all expense categories to end our 2012 budget. Our work here is 2011 within budget. strategic. We do not and must not Stolle said the BCM/D remains dismantle our infrastructure. But in a good ready cash position. He we must join hands as Southern thanked God for His continued Baptists if we hope to make any blessing of our churches and the difference in this world for Jesus state convention.

Christ. We are working on a budget that represents a bold step in a Administrative Committee Report journey to changing our Cooperative Jimmy Painter, administrative Program (CP) formula with a 2 percommittee chairman, reporting cent adjustment in 2012 with a goal for the administrative committee, of 49/51 by 2020. I am praying that introduced the recommendation to Maryland/Delaware Baptists will transfer the ownership of the Bapembrace this new direction. tist Student Ministry building (Tom “At the end of the day ministry Woodie Center) to the Western Asis about opportunities and challengsociation. GMB members approved es,” Lee said the recommendation.

Financial Report BCM/D Chief Financial Officer Tom Stolle, presenting the financial report, said Cooperative Program (CP) giving is running slightly ahead of budget for the first quarter of the year with $1,105,199.36 in year to date receipts, which represents 25.7 percent of the annual

Embrace Wilmington Mitch Dowell, executive director of Embrace Wilmington, said Wilmington churches are active and some churches are becoming passionate about having an impact on the city of Wilmington.

Dowell reported that John Coleman, senior pastor at EverSpring

Church is reaching a diverse group bers, three teen boys were saved of people in Bear, Del. This is a through BFCS’s programs. “We plant that meets at a Boys and Girls are delighted with that–not only to club is drawing 35-40 children. nurture, but to lead young men to Plans are underway for a new the Lord.”

Hispanic plant working through The back-to-school effort, collectthe areas of Christiana Court and ing backpacks full of school supplies Maryland Park apartments. Folfor needy families, is already startlowing seasons of prayer offered ing. Gerstmyer said the focus for

by Berlin and Bethany churches, this program is Baltimore, Cumchurch planter Alexis Vides plans berland, Cambridge, Salisbury and to form a core group through home Seaford.

Bible studies.

Gerstmyer also encouraged Dowell said there is also the GMB members to consider leading potential for an African American by example, participating in the church plant in the Edgemoor comSafe Families program, providmunity working to reach a Nigerian ing a safe haven in their homes for community. children whose families are going Part of the Embrace Wilmington through difficult times. strategy is helping churches move “This is an opportunity to pracbeyond the “simple tice biblical hospitality,” evangelistic event Gerstmyer said. model” and being more Tim Simpson, intentional and creative pastor of Greenridge in connecting with Church in Boyds, Md., people. asked Gerstmyer, Dowell said Ogle“What’s the best part of town Church and Iron your job?”

Hill Community Church Gerstmyer replied, are using Celebrate “Telling stories about Recovery as an outreach kids who have been tool. Iron Hill is also transformed by the hosting coffee houses at power of Jesus Christ.” their “Common Ground Deborah Heath Cafe.” Hockessin has reported for the Bapbeen equipping their tist Foundation of congregation to share Maryland/Delaware.

Deborah Heath gives The Heath said that curthe gospel with MusBaptist Foundation report. lims. rently 16 churches have LOMA Coffee, a outstanding loans. coffee shop owned and “If your church operated by Hockessin Church, is needs a loan, or if you know of a doing well. Dowell meets with Del church, that is in need of a loan to Tech students on Tuesdays and buy property, renovate what you Thursdays to answer their spiritual have, consider talking with us. It’s questions. a win-win. We provide low interest Other outreaches include Ogleloans, and what you pay in interest town Church’s five-week camp and starts other churches. You can’t beat Solid Rock church’s four-week camp. that,” she said.

“Pray for me as I seek God and to be the best I can be in coming Strategy Team Reports alongside churches. I am seeing lives Acts 1:8 Team Strategist Ellen changed and God glorified,” Dowell Udovich reported for the Acts 1:8 said.

Missions Involvement Team.

Udovich introduced Lindsey Shaffer, Agency Reports associate missionary in lay mobilizaRobert Gerstmyer reported for tion. Shaffer shared about volunteer Baptist Family & Children’s Ser- portals, a new networking initiavices. Gerstmyer shared that eight tive that provides churches a way to children were adopted in BFCS’s post needs that can’t be fulfilled by CHOSEN program and seven chiltheir congregation and allows others dren were returned to their families.

Continued on page 10 Additionally, he told GMB mem-

Page 10

Your Convention...

BCM/D prepares to embrace opportunities and face challenges Continued from page 9

churches opportunities to serve.

Udovich shared about disaster relief regarding Japan.

Baptist Global Relief representatives are working with Japanese Baptist Churches to equip them to do ministry. Udovich said Japanese pastors are reporting seeing Jon Boulet, Randy Millwood and Curtis Hill talk before GMB meeting. people’s hearts more open and people asking more quesMinisters Wives Retreat in March. tions. Nick Niche, a Japanese church An African-American Awareness planter in Rockville, said he is also Conference was hosted in March having more spiritual conversations with 40 participating. The group with people since the earthquake. was challenged regarding personal “Please be praying for an outprayer life, and provided church pouring of God’s Spirit. This could growth tools. Fifty church leaders be the time of a great revival of have participated in ShepherdNet Japanese people coming to know the groups, small learning clusters and Lord,” Udovich said. approximately 5,000 training videos Udovich also asked GMB memhave been viewed on E-quip.net. bers to continue to pray for churches Other successful miniseries include in Alabama as they minister to their Restore My Soul ministry retreats communities. and Church Refuge initiative used Tom Stolle, BCM/D chief during a forced resignation and financial officer, reporting for the ministers’ counseling service.

Resource Development Team, Mike Watterson reported for said the team works in cooperation the Church Services Team. In a with the Baptist Foundation providwritten report, Watterson said the ing education including minister Horizons Ministry Conference was tax seminars, helping new finance shifted to two one-day conferences teams and promoting planned givdue to economic conditions. This, ing. however, drew a minimal response In addition, the team is commitand the conference was postponed ted to promoting the Cooperative for this year. Watterson said the Program. This year’s strategy inteam is looking at other possible cludes the continuation of mailed CP scenarios. “Horizons has not disappromotional materials. Videos will peared off into the horizon. It will continue to be developed and the return,” he wrote. team will use Facebook and other Out of the four VBS clinics ofsocial media to increase exposure. fered to date as of the report, there The team plans to initiate a pilot were 520 participants. project in which some churches will In a Church Multiplication receive a flash drive loaded with CP Team report, David Jackson, team resources. In addition, the team is strategist and church multiplication exploring the possibility of developmissionary, said eight new works ing a CP “app.” are underway in 2011 so far. These In written reports, Randy can be found among the AngloMillwood, Leadership DevelopAmerican, Burmese, Filipino, Hisment and Support Team leader panic, Japanese and Korean people and missionary for missional church groups. An African-American and leadership, small groups, seminary Ghana church plant will soon follow. extension, spiritual formation and Jackson said there are major E-quip.net, reported 13 couples signs of progress. “We’ve seen our attended the Ministers and Mates second work among the Japanese Retreat in January. One hundred take place in less than 12 months, twenty women participated in the remarkable in that we’ve not been

able to start work with them in our history before 2010.

Jackson also reported attendance “highs” in new church starts that have set all-time records.

Ad Hoc Committee David Lee, representing the Affiliations Committee, presented Trinity Church of Hyattsville to become a BCM/D church.

Lee said the church is very much in line with Southern Baptist theology and was previously affiliated with the D.C. Baptist Convention.

GMB members voted in favor of accepting the church into the convention.

Kerry Hinton reported for the Strengthening Churches Grants Committee. Hinton said $93,000 was requested from 27 churches and $45,000 was awarded to 15 recipients. Churches used the grants in a variety of ways including a trailer for a block party, after school programs, VBS, a biker ministry, ministry to internationals and more.

President’s Remarks BCM/D President Ken Stalls shared how proud he is when he sees Baptist disaster relief “yellow hat” volunteers on the television working in the background during news coverage of the recent disasters.

“It has been such a blessing to see the work our folks are doing,” Stalls said.

“Those people work like Trojans,” Stalls commented. “They’re not wasting time. I noticed something about them–they’re not arguing about worship styles. They’re not arguing about the Great Commission Resurgence, methodologies or best authors–you know why? They know the task at hand is far too important to waste time arguing.

“Maryland/Delaware, I’ve got a news item. We’ve got a lot of differences, but we have an awful lot that is alike...That’s where our focus needs to be...where God would have us to come together and do what needs to be done. The disaster we’re dealing with is people’s lives day in and day out. How can we not be focused?”

June 2011

June, July & August Events June

14-15 SBC Convention, Phoenix, AZ 19 Father’s Day

19-24 reCHARGE Student Camp, Skycroft Conference Center (800-536-6759)

24-25 Mother/Daughter Camp, Camp Wo-Me-To (ext. 218) 25 Your Shape for Church Planting, BMRC, 9 am-3 pm (ext. 222)

26-Jul 1 Girls’ Camp, Camp WoMe-To, (ext. 218) 26-Jul 1 reCHARGE Student Camp, Skycroft Conference Center (800-536-6759)

July

3-8 reCHARGE Student Camp, Skycroft Conference Center (800-536-6759 4 Independence Day - BMRC Closed

13–16 Maryland/Delaware Trip to BLUME @ Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL (ext. 218)

August

4-7 Boys Camp, 5pm – 2:30pm, Camp Wo-Me-To (ext. 215/226) For detailed information, go to www.bcmd.org/calendar or call 1-800-466-5290 and extension.

Your Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware is ready to serve you BOB SIMPSON, COO Associate Executive Director; Editor, BaptistLIFE

DAVID LEE Executive Director Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, New Orleans Baptist Seminary, New Orleans, La. Bachelor of Arts, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Master of Business, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Bachelor of Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Dr. Lee pastored churches in Mississippi and Maryland for 20 years before joining the BCM/D staff as Director of Church Growth and Services. He has served as BCM/D’s Executive Director since 2000.

A native of Maryland, Bob has 35 years of ministerial, nonprofit and business experience. He has served churches in Oklahoma, Virginia, Florida, and Maryland. He has experience both as a pastor and a music/worship leader.

He also has a decade of experience in the secular business field where he was a corporate director of marketing.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Strategic Planning • Deacon Training • Leadership Development • Churches in Transition • Interim Pastor • Coaching • Caring for Ministers

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Strategic Planning • Public Relations and Marketing • Interim Pastor • Transformational Church Consulting • Communication Strategies • Worship Consulting

DAVID JACKSON

TOM STOLLE, CFO

Team Strategist Resource Development

Team Strategist Church Multiplication

Bachelor of Science in Accounting University of Maryland Passed the Nov. 1988 uniform certified public accountant examination

Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, South Hamilton, Mass.

Master of Theology in New Testament, Princeton Seminary, Princeton, N.J. Master of Divinity, Southwestern Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Ark.

Tom possesses approximately 24 years of combined experience in for-profit and not-for-profit accounting (approximately 16 years of that experience is at the Controller level or above, managing accounting and finance office operations). He was ordained to the Gospel ministry August 2005 at Cresthill Baptist Church in Bowie, Md.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Ministers Taxes • Establishing accounting and finance operations internal controls • Creating an effective comprehensive church budget • Stewardship Training • Planned Giving • Church Loans • Human Resources

RANDY MILLWOOD

Team Strategist, Leadership Development and Support Doctor of Education, Master of Religious Education New Orleans Baptist Seminary, New Orleans, La. Bachelor of Science, Philosophy (Religion) & Psychology Univ. of the Cumberlands, Cumberland College, Williamsburg, Ky.

AUTHOR OF To Love and To Cherish From This Day Forward: A Portrait of a Healthy Church, Missional Press, December, 2010

A former associate professor at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, Randy has taught masters and doctoral courses in discipleship and spiritual formation. He founded The Institute for Church Health for research and consulting, directed a seminary-wide Spiritual Formation Program, and has served in a variety of church staff positions and as a church planter. He now serves as an adjunct faculty/field mentor for various seminaries. He is also a certified coach through Creative Results Management and CoachNet.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Pastor and Church Leadership Coaching • Leadership Training • Spiritual Formation, Discipleship and Transformation Retreats • Small Group Ministry • Ministry Preparation/Theological Education • Keynote Speaker

AUTHOR OF PlantLIFE: Principles and Practices in Church Planting, Missional Press, 2008

Since 2001, David has served as NAMB missionary for church multiplication at the BCM/D. Prior to that, he served as an award-winning pastor, church planter and denominational servant from coast to coast, in places as diverse as Arkansas, California and Massachusetts.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Church Planting • Multi-Site Church Development • Partner Mobilization • Church Plant Growth/Health Assessment and Equipping • Church Restarts

ELLEN UDOVICH

Team Strategist Acts 1:8 Mission Involvement Master of Social Work, Master of Divinity, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Bachelor of Arts, Westhampton College, University of Richmond (Va.) Since 2000, Ellen has served as BCM/D’s missionary for ministry evangelism. Prior to that, she served as Director of Church and Community Ministries at the Baltimore Baptist Association and Director of Weekday Ministry at Seventh Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Ministry Evangelism • Ministry Strategy and Skills Training • Disaster Relief Training • Older Adult Ministry • God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS) • Outreach Events

Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware • www.bcmd.org • (800) 466-5290 • 10255 Old Columbia Road, Columbia, MD 21046 • www.baptistlifeonline.org • www.facebook.com/mybcmd

BILL ARCHER

SHANNON BAKER

Missionary for Music & Worship

Public Relations Manager; National Correspondent, Design Editor, Staff Photographer, BaptistLIFE

Masters of Church Music, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Bachelor of Music, University of Maryland, College Park

Graduate studies in Christian education at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, New Orleans, La. Bachelor of Arts, Journalism & Mass Communications University of N.C. at Chapel Hill

A native of Kentucky, Bill has served as a minister/music/ worship leader for 30 years in churches in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. He has experience in leading traditional, blended and contemporary worship and has conducted choirs in musical/drama productions, concert presentations and mission choir tours. He is also an accomplished trombonist and a Handbell Ministry leader.

A native of N.C., Shannon worked in the corporate world in management, technical writing and corporate communications before serving as the director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Seminary. She and her husband then served as North American Mission Board missionaries, and she worked on a church staff, overseeing communications and children’s ministry. She has written for BaptistLIFE, Baptist Press and other media outlets, and is a Bible curriculum writer and conference/retreat speaker.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Securing Music/Worship Leadership • Vocal and Instrumental Musical Training • A/V Resource Development • Worship Service Evaluation • Worship Leader Mentoring • Worship Planning Assistance

RON BROWN Church Conflict Resolution Consultant Doctor of Ministry, Chicago (Ill.) Theo. Seminary Master of Theology, Duke Divinity School, Durham, N.C. Bachelor of Divinity, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Bachelor of Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ron has an extensive background in pastoral ministry, campus ministry, and denominational service throughout Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. He has served at the BCM/D since 1980 in the areas of collegiate ministry and leadership development for ministers, as well as church conflict resolution.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Church Conflict Assessment, Intervention, Reconciliation and/or Resolution • Church Healing Process Development and Implementation

JAMES DIXON, JR.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Public Relations and Marketing • BaptistLIFE Reporting • Branding • Communication Strategies • Graphic Design, Photography, Videography

ROLANDO CASTRO

Missionary for Church Planting / Evangelism, Language Churches, Hispanic Church Development

Graduate studies in Christian Leadership Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va. Licenciatura en Derecho (Attorney at Law) Universidad de Costa Rica (University of Costa Rica) A former attorney and law school professor, Rolando moved from Costa Rica to Maryland to plant a new Hispanic Church. Since 2006, he has overseen BCM/D’s church planting process among the Hispanics and has coordinated ministry for other language groups as well. He has served as president of the Language Directors Fellowship of the North American Mission Board and as Chairman of the Centro de Entrenamiento Ministerial in Columbia, Md.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Hispanic Church Planting • Leadership Development, Assessment and Coaching • Resource Development • Transformational Church Consultant • Parent Church Training • Language Church Development

MITCH DOWELL

Missionary for African-American Church Development

Executive Director Embrace Wilmington

Master of Divinity Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, D.C. Bachelor of Arts, Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.

U.S. Army, U.S. Cavalry Armored Reconnaissance Intelligence Specialist

A native of Birmingham, Ala., James has served in the ministry for over 35 years, pastoring a total of five churches and serving as a home (North American Mission Board) missionary for eight years. Presently the pastor of the El-Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Md., he has served in several leadership positions at the BCM/D and at the National African-American Fellowship of the SBC. He is the Director of the Antioch Institute, a new initiative specifically designed to train African American leaders to go out as teams, evangelize, start Bible studies and begin new self-supporting churches.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Discipleship Training Program • Leadership Development • Mission Trip Preparation • Church Planting • Pastoral Counseling • Race Relations

In addition to 25 years of military service, where Mitch earned numerous military awards, including the Bronze Star Metal for valor during service in the first Iraq war, Mitch has served as pastor in West Germany and in Illinois. He also served as state evangelism consultant at the Illinois Baptist State Association and through the North American Mission Board as mission evangelism missionary and associate director of Embrace Baltimore for the BCM/D. He served on the NAMB’s first Strategic Focus Cities Team in Chicago.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Evangelism Training • Preaching/Prayer-Walking • Urban Missions Evangelism • Special Evangelistic Events Training • Leadership Training • Transformational Church Consultant

Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware • intentionally assisting in starting and strengthening congregations so that together we can fulfill Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8

DOUG DUBOIS

Missionary for Student Evangelism; Executive Director, Skycroft Conference Center Bible and Theology, Trinity Bible College, Ellendale, N.D. General Studies, Stephen F. Austin State Univ., Nacogdoches, TX /Catonsville (Md.) Community College Since 1996, Doug has overseen many of the operations of Skycroft Conference Center, where he has seen the highest camp attendance levels and the largest number of people groups in its history. Prior to that, he served as project manager for insurance restoration of commercial/residential buildings for Poposwski Brothers in Towson, Md., and as project manager for the construction of custom residential homes for MasterKraft Homes in Westminster, Md. He has also served in youth ministry off and on since 1993.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Retreat Programming • Event Programming • Student Evangelism • Missions/Outreach • Summer Camps • Student Leader Development

JUNE HOLLAND

Missionary for Bible Teaching / Sunday School, Preschool /Children, VBS, & Weekday Educ.

Graduate studies, Southeastern Baptist Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. Master of Arts, McDaniel College, Westminster, Md. Bachelor of Science, Towson (Md.) University June has been BCM/D’s Bible teaching, Vacation Bible School, and Children’s Ministry missionary for 13 years.

Prior to coming to the BCM/D, she served as an elementary public school teacher. Her educational background, public school teaching and life experience undergird her belief in a quality childhood education in the Christian context.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Child Evangelism • Ongoing Children’s Ministry and Bible Study Development for Churches/Church Plants • Vacation Bible School Volunteer Training • Safety/Security for Children’s Ministry • Resource Development

MELODY KNOX

Missionary for Women’s Ministry

BLAKE HARDCASTLE

Missionary for Evangelism, Collegiate Evangelism Ph.D. in Leadership, Master of Divinity The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Since 1996, Blake has led the Baptist Student Ministry at the University of Delaware, where he supervises a student leadership team, delivers weekly sermons, and leads college student outreaches and mission trips. He has also served as a National Collegiate Week task force leader and member at LifeWay’s Ridgecrest and Glorieta Conference Centers.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Initiate or retool a ministry for college students • Evaluate curriculum and educational strategy • Retreat Speaker • Transformational Church Consultant • Pulpit Supply

ROBERT KIM

Missionary for Asian Church Planting / Evangelism, Language Churches, Asian Church Development

Doctor of Ministry, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif.

Master of Divinity, Southeastern Baptist Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. Before serving as a missionary for Asian people groups in Maryland in 2007, Robert served at the North American Mission Board as a national missionary for the Korean people group and as a church-planting missionary for the Baptist Convention of New York. Prior to that, he served over a decade as pastor of Seoul Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and Korean Baptist Church in Petersburg, Va.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Asian Church Planting • Strengthening Existing Asian Churches • People Groups’ Fellowship Meetings • Prayer Concerts • Language Church Retreats • Language Music Celebrations

SHERRY LEE

Missionary for Ministers’ Wives and Families Graduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, Loyola College and Goucher College Bachelor of Arts, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Melody is an encourager of women. In her role as a Missionary for Women’s Ministry, she assists and encourages leaders of women’s ministries in Maryland/ Delaware churches to set up holistic women’s ministry that will encourage women to lead lives that are pleasing and totally yielded to the Lord. She has worked for the government for 24 years in the areas of Social Security, Office of Child Support Enforcement, and the Center for Medicare/Medicaid. She presently serves as program management specialist in the Graduate School at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a member of the WMU Executive Board.

After 25 years of teaching, Sherry retired as English Department Chair at Glen Burnie High School. She is a speaker, teacher, writer, and conference leader. She coordinates a ministry of encouragement and support for ministers’ wives in Maryland/Delaware that includes convention-wide events for women, couples, and families and promotes connection for ministry wives through networking and mentoring.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Holistic Women’s Ministry • Women’s Bible Study Resource Development • Women’s Retreat and Program Development • Retreat Speaker • Community Ministry/Missions Education

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Connection and Support for Ministers and their Families • Assists Churches in Ministering to their Ministerial Staff and their Families • Offers Inspirational Gatherings as well as a Safe Place for Ministers’ Wives to Share

Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware • www.bcmd.org • (800) 466-5290 • 10255 Old Columbia Road, Columbia, MD 21046 • www.baptistlifeonline.org • www.facebook.com/mybcmd

SHARON MAGER

PAUL MULANI

BCM/D Correspondent, BaptistLIFE

Language Church Coordinator Candidate, Doctor of Education in Counseling, The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Master of Divinity, Capital Bible Seminary, Lanham, Md. Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va. Bachelor of Arts, Washington Bible College, Lanham, Md. Diploma in Biblical Studies, Moffat Bible College, Kijabe, Kenya/Scott Theological College, Machakos, Kenya A native of Kenya, Mulani is the senior pastor of Disciples Fellowship International Church in Silver Spring, Md., a church he founded in 2004. He has also planted churches in Orlando, Fla., and Baltimore, Md., both of which are now autonomous.

Undergraduate studies in Communications Arts Technology/Interactive Technologies Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Md. Since 1999, Sharon has written for BaptistLIFE, telling the story of what God is doing in churches throughout the multi-state convention. She enjoys doing freelance work for local community newspapers including the Severna Park and Pasadena Voice. Before joining the BaptistLIFE staff, she wrote a column and did some feature writing for the Maryland Gazette. She has also worked in various administrative positions, in commercial real estate, and founded and managed a home school tutorial for 10 years.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: BaptistLIFE Feature Stories • Ministry/Event Promotion • Facilitating Networking through BaptistLIFE • Cooperative Program Promotion

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Ministry Support to Language Churches • People Groups’ Fellowship Meetings/Events • Language Church Retreats • Language Music Celebrations

FREDDY PARKER

GAYLA PARKER

Missionary for Acts 1:8 Partnership Missions, Men’s Ministry, Prayer, Bivocational Ministry

Executive Director, WMU of Maryland/ Delaware; Missionary for Missions Education, Missions Customization

Master of Divinity The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Bachelor of Arts in Religion Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Ark.

Graduate studies/Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Social Work, Jacksonville (Ala.) State University Undergraduate studies, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Ark.; University of Louisville (Ky.)

A former pastor in Arkansas and Alabama, Freddy spent 13 years as an International Mission Board missionary in the Philippines. There, he helped start 13 churches among a people group and the Sarangani Baptist Association (which now has 43 churches). He also served as mission administrator, facilitating the ministry of 35 IMB units, and as team leader for an unreached people group.

Since 2006, Gayla, a retreat speaker and author, has served as WMU’s executive director for Maryland/Delaware. Prior to that, she served as preschool/children/student ministry consultant for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. A former pastor’s wife and WMU leader, she served for 13 years in the Philippines with the International Mission Board, where she coordinated home school, supervised language development and planned retreats, among many other assignments.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Vision Mission Trips • International/North American Mission Trip Preparation/Training • Men’s Retreats • Prayer and Prayer-Walking Training • Acts 1:8 Strategic Mission Planning and Implementation

LAUREN RODRIGUEZ

AUTHOR OF Active Compassion, New Hope Publishers, Fall 2011 Connections: A Daily Prayer Guide for Students, WMU, 2005

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Holistic Women’s Ministries • Missions Education for ALL Ages • Customized Missions Education • Ministry Projects for ALL Ages • Missions Offering Promotion • Human Exploitation Ministry Training

LINDSEY SHAFFER

Emerging Media Specialist, Communication Manager & Assoc. Director, Skycroft

Assoc. Missionary, ESL, Lay Mobilization, Ministry and Servant Evangelism, Poverty Issues and Ministries

Bachelor of Arts in Communication University of Maryland, College Park

Master of Arts in Christian Ministry Southeastern Baptist Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. Master of Arts in Elementary Education (Interdisciplinary Studies)/Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (Special Education) University of Florida, Gainesville

Lauren joined the BCM/D staff in 2007, rising quickly as an expert in emerging media and web technologies. She understands the value of using social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, podcasting and other strategies, to connect people in churches with their communities. She is also well versed in other web applications that streamline church operations, increase connectivity, and organize information.

As associate director at Skycroft, she helps churches promote their events and retreats.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Training in Facebook, Twitter and Other New Online Technologies • Tips on Developing a Strategy to Reach Your Community with Emerging Media • Event/Retreat Promotion through Skycroft

Prior to serving at the BCM/D, Lindsey, a former preschool teacher, served at the Raleigh (N.C.) Rescue Mission’s Children’s Development Center where she worked with homeless and low-income preschool students. She has also worked with World Changers of the North American Mission Board and participated with Campus Crusade for Christ.

Areas of Expertise to Assist You: Poverty Ministry • Partner Development with Social Service Organizations • English as a Second Language (ESL) • Summer Missionaries/Intern Placement • Volunteer Mobilization in and from Your Church

Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware • intentionally assisting in starting and strengthening congregations so that together we can fulfill Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8

June 2011

Your Association... to great cars there will be live music, fun, games and prizes.

Eastern Association Eastern Grace Church, Seaford, celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 1. “The Sounds of Joy” provided music for the special event.

Teens from Faith Church, Glen Burnie, camped overnight at the church worshipping with the internationally known Christian band, Willet, fasted and participated in a “water walk” to understand what it feels like to have to travel to get something as basic as water.

Arundel Association Arundel Thirty-two youth from Faith Church, Glen Burnie, fasted for 24 hours to raise awareness and funds for orphans through the organization “Food for the Hungry.” Teens camped overnight at the church worshipping with the internationally known Christian band Willet, and participated in a “water walk” to understand what it feels like to have to travel to get something as basic as water. They also did hands-on ministry, working with Arundel House of Hope, a Glen Burnie homeless resource center, cleaning the facilities and praying with homeless men and women. Each youth obtained sponsors to raise money to “adopt” a Haitian or Mozambique orphan, providing meals, clothing and other necessary living expenses.

Severna Park Church will have its fourth annual “Cruise ‘N Car Show & Chicken BBQ” from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on June 25. Besides a great selection of cars, there will be music, children’s activities, crafts, door prizes and awards for the car show along with barbecued chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. For more information see www.severnaparkbaptistchurch.com/Events.

Emmanuel Church, Gambrills, recently had a “Kids’ Flea Market.” The event was an opportunity for parents to clean out kids’ closets and toy boxes and for other families to get some great deals. It also provided an opportunity to meet new families in the community.

Riva Trace Church, Davidsonville, will have plenty for youngsters to do this summer. They’ll have sports camps, VBS and afternoon game time. The church will have a multi-sport camp from 1-4 p.m. July 11-15 during VBS week. So kids can

come at 9:00 a.m. for VBS and stay through the sports camp. The following week, July 18-22 will feature another multi-sport camp from 9 a.m.-noon, then from 1-4 p.m. kids can stay for “great games.” In addition, Riva will have a football camp from 6-8 p.m. July 17-19. All the camps are biblically-based. For more information, see the church website, www.rtbc.org.

Baltimore Association Baltimore Colonial Church, Randallstown, will have its 13th annual “Camp Colonial” this summer. From June 20 to Aug. 5 the church will offer kids a daily Christ-centered chapel service, academic reinforcement, entertainment, pool visits, field trips and an overall good time.

Woodbrook Church will have a Choir Concert at 4 p.m. on June 12.

Musicians young and old will present some of their favorite songs.

Blue Ridge Association Blue Ridge Fellowship Church, Middletown, recently had a free market.

Greenbriar Church had their third annual “Greenfest” last month.

Smithburg Valley Church had a marriage retreat last month.

Delaware Association Delaware First Southern Church has a “Mommy and Me” ministry. Moms take turns hosting the socials at their homes. Mothers enjoy the fellowship; kids enjoy the playtime.

Iron Hill Church, New Castle, will have its ninth annual Iron Hill Father’s Day Car Show from noon to 4 p.m. on June 19. “Cruizers for Christ Christian Car Club” will host the event at the church. In addition

Mid-Maryland Association Mid-Maryland Mid-Maryland Association is preparing for mission trips this year to Antigua, Australia, India and Japan.

The Church at Covenant Park will have an All About Kids Camp June 21-July 1. Kids who have completed grades 1 to 6 can participate in the weeklong high-energy adventure with music, theater games and acting. The week culminates in a play production. For more information about All About Kids see http:// www.lamplightartists.com.

Montgomery Association Montgomery Kids at Georgia Avenue Church had a fashion show and spaghetti dinner fundraiser with a “New York, New York,” theme tying in with this year’s VBS theme.

Kensington Church will host a Spring Festival of Flutes on June 5 at 4 p.m. for member Amy Thomas and her students.

PotomacPotomac Association Bayside Community Church will register for 2011 Upward Football and Cheerleading for kids K-6 from 5-7 p.m. on July 18 at the Pocomoke YMCA. Kids should be dressed to run some drills for evaluation. For more information, email upward@ baysidecommunitychurch.us.

Dunkirk Church will have their seventh annual Father’s Day Car, Truck & Bike Show from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on June 19. Registration is free. Church members will be serving refreshments and there will be music, children’s activities and door prizes, as well as trophies for winners in the show. For more information see www.dunkirkbaptistchurch.org/carshow.php Prince George’s Association Prince George’s Landover Hills Church has monthly snack and family fun movie

Page 15 nights. The next presentation is June 26 starting at 6 p.m.

The church is having a day camp July 11-13 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Each day will feature Bible stories, music, recreation, games and lunch.

Kettering Church, Upper Marlboro, will host “Sisters Experiencing the Fresh Wind in Unity and Love” conference on June 11 at the Marriott Greenbelt. The guest speaker will be Sheila Bailey. Bailey is the widow of the late Dr. E.K. Bailey, founder and pastor of the Concord Baptist Church and the founder and president of EK Bailey Ministries.

Susquehanna Association Susquehanna Men from Calvary Church, Bel Air, are heading to the bay for a fishing trip fellowship on June 11.

They’ll have a professional guide, all bait, tackle, fish cleaning, food and drinks.

Pleasant View Church’s pastors are ready to tee-off for a friendly golfing competition, “Puttin’ with the Pastor,” from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m on May 19 at the Chesapeake Bay Golf Course, North East, to raise funds for Lighthouse Christian Academy.

Each pastor–”Hole-in-One Harold,” “Josh Fairway Phillips,” “Sandtrap Seth,” and “Dennis Divot” is accepting sponsorships for the game.

Church members who don’t want to pick favorites just donate funds to the school and watch the fun. Money will be used to purchase new curriculum and provide other enhancements to the school.

Western Western Association First Keyser Church recently sent a mission team of nine volunteers to Guatemala. Since the team returned they have had multiple opportunities to share about their ministry, even in their church and in their community.

Western Association churches are gearing up for their annual fairground ministries. They’ll be at the Allegany County Fair July 17-24 and at the Garrett County Fair from August 14-21. Churches will be doing a variety of activities including operating baby comfort stations, serving free dinners to amusement workers, greeting, giving away stickers, bracelets, Bibles and walking sticks.

Your Convention...

Page 16

One of the greatest love stories

W

ho doesn’t enjoy a good love story? And if we have had a part in the matchmaking… well…that is even better! On occasion I have been accused of trying to “match Gayla make” in the lives of my three sons, Parker especially where WMU Execumy oldest is contive Director/ cerned. But then WMU,SBC Missions Inno- again, he did marry vator Special- a young woman he ist “happened” to meet Missionary while visiting us in for Missions Baltimore.

Education/ One of the highCustomization lights of my year is the Barnesville Church Women’s Rally. This year while preparing, I was reading the love story of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz.

Even though I know the story well, it spoke to me in new ways this year.

Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons were living in Israel in an unstable time. Saul was coming into power and Beth-

lehem was in a drought. Perhaps it was these circumstances that drove Elimelech to move his family to Moab.

It was in Moab where tragedy struck. Elimelech and her two sons die. Naomi, battered and weary, makes the decision to return to Bethlehem with Ruth, her daughterin-law by her side. So… Would someone follow me unconditionally because of my faith? When Ruth said, “wherever you go, I go... and your God, my God” she was declaring her new faith. Naomi had made such an impact on the life of this young woman that she was ready and willing to leave her false religion to worship the God of Israel.

How many of us would love to hear someone say, “Because of the way you have impacted my life I want to accept Jesus as my Savior?”

The pursuit of goodness and mercy. Boaz is smitten with Ruth as she gathers in grain from his fields.

He gives his staff instructions to take care of all Ruth’s needs. The twenty third Psalm tells us that goodness and mercy will PURSUE us all the days of our lives. This is

By Sharon Mager BCM/D Correspondent

through a partnership between the National WMU and the WMU of Texas and was held in the computer lab of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Castro said the conference time was like an intense college class that even included homework. Students studied basic grammar, developing style and writing for audience attention.

Dianne Daniels, National Woman’s Missionary Union multicultural consultant and editor, said the conference was designed to begin developing a pool of Hispanic writers for the WMU’s “Nuestra Tarea,” (Our Task) a missions magazine for laywomen, Hispanic churches and for the WMU website and Facebook. WMU leaders

June 2011

goodness and mercy in pursuit of Ruth. Regardless of what we are facing in our future we can be assured that goodness and mercy are right on our heals pursuing us!

Let the love story begin! Naomi realizes there is potential in this relationship and that Boaz could be their kinsman redeemer. (Is it coincidence that he is in Bethlehem, where the ultimate kinsman redeemer shows up?) She also knew what Ruth would need to do to get his attention. Naomi could not have claimed the promises of her culture had she not known to seek them.

Don’t miss the importance of knowing “biblical culture”! If we do not know the promises of God we cannot claim the promises of God. Take His promises to heart and claim them!

Naomi shares her cultural knowledge with Ruth and tells her how to pursue Boaz. If you know the promises of God, share them with those who do not. Just think what would have happened if Naomi had not told Ruth what to do. Am I telling others how to attract our “kinsman redeemer?”

Ruth’s pursuit. Ruth follows

all the instructions of Naomi and pursues Boaz. Matt. 7:7 tells us to seek and we will find. Rev. 3:20 tells us to knock and the door will be opened. And Rev. 21:9 says, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” The lesson here, PURSUE CHRIST. The believer’s love story. Ruth is the story of every believer. She was redeemed even though she wasn’t a Jew. She was brought into a position of favor just as we are brought into a position of favor with God. She was endowed with riches and privilege just as we are endowed with the riches and privileges of Christ. She was the redeemer’s bride just as we the church are the redeemed bride of Christ; laying at His feet under the hem of his garment today, but His bride at His coming. She was loved with profound love just as Christ loves us with the profound love of the cross.

“Blessed by the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life…” Ruth 4:18.

want Hispanics writing material for Hispanics to read, instead of Anglos writing and having it translated.

Daniels said the growth in their writing skills from the beginning to the end of the conference was substantial.

Students were given homework at the end of the class–to choose a topic and write an article for publication in “Nuestra Tarea.”

Castro knew right away what she wanted to write about–women using their gifts for the kingdom of God. She’s passionate about the subject and often speaks at conferences sharing ideas about how women can serve.

“I want to encourage women to use anything that God gave us

to reach un-Christian people,” she said. Castro said women can use crafts, baking, jewelry, whatever they like, to reach out to people, develop friendships and share Christ.

“Hopefully what Zulma learned will help her as she communicates to our language churches what WMU is all about,” Gayla Parker said. “Nationwide, WMU does very well in Hispanic churches. We hope to see the same kind of growth that is taking place nationwide here in Maryland/Delaware soon. Zulma just joined our board last year so we are just getting started. But I have no doubt that she will take us far!

As Zulma tells the mission story and how everyone can be involved in sharing the good news of Christ, I’m sure we will see God-sized results,” Parker said.

Daniels said the WMU hopes to offer this opportunity to other language groups in the future.

Castro represents BCM/D WMU at Hispanic Writer’s Conference COLUMBIA, Md.—When Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware Women’s Missionary Union Director Gayla Parker asked Zulma Castro, WMU language consultant for the WMU’s Maryland/Delaware Executive Board, if she wanted to attend a Hispanic Writer’s Conference, Castro didn’t have to think twice. “Yes!” she enthusiastically replied.

“I was so happy; this was a dream!” Castro said with a huge smile. Before coming to America, Castro, a lawyer, had been studying journalism and was one semester short of getting her degree. The conference was a God-send, she said.

The Hispanic Writer’s Conference in March was the first of what the National WMU hopes to be an annual winter training event for ethnic writers. It was provided

June 2011

Your Association...

Calling us to do what?

By Amy Rainey COLUMBIA, Md.—“God’s calling us to do what?” That was my response the evening that my husband shared his desire to plant a church in our hometown. We had been living in Kentucky for four years, serving a sweet little church for three of those years, and becoming quite comfortable in that role. And yet, he was telling me that it was time to move on. It wasn’t so much the call to plant a church that threw me for a loop; it was the location.

“Really? Back home? Do you know how many churches there are in South Carolina? Why on earth would God call us to start a church where so many already exist?”

For the rest of the evening, we discussed the most recent demographic data from our home state.

Joel had discovered that more than half of the residents were classified as unchurched, right in the buckle of the Bible belt. Many there had become so familiar with the Gospel that they had become immune to its message. Everyone was a “Baptist,” but there was a minority of believers. We knew that church planting was the most effective mode of evangelism that God has provided. And, whether it sounded crazy or not, God had called us to go.

We uprooted our small family and set out for our hometown. Our first Bible study took place in our living room and consisted of my husband, me and three other people.

Our home was the church office, our meeting space, a counseling center, a mailroom and a fellowship center for the next year. The following months consisted of one long rollercoaster ride of joys and disappointments.

Satan attacked us, and the people who came alongside us, relentlessly. He attacked our marriages, our finances, our peace, our contentment and our faith. He did all that he could to derail us and cause us to lose our focus. But, this was nothing new; he has always been active where the church is working together to push back darkness. Those battles were hard-fought, but as I consider how far many of those who fought Satan with us have come, I

can see that the battles have been won.

He taught us so much during those years, some things that I’m just now beginning to understand.

we flipped the switch. We needed $2,500 to replace it with a modest system. My husband finally gave the go ahead to put it on a credit card.

While we were away on vacation

Page 17

now, but how many lives would have remained unchanged by the Gospel?

On paper, what was accomplished during that time may not look too impressive. Fortunately, God does not call us to be responsible for the results; those are His department. Our calling is to be faithful in what He’s asked us to do. There is freedom in resting the results firmly in His hands. Isaiah 55:9 says it best, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” He knows what He’s doing. The amazing part is that He allows us to participate if we are willing.

Amy Rainey is the wife of the Associational Director of Missions/ Church Starter Strategist for MidMaryland Baptist Association and part of a former church planting family. She can be reached by email at Preacherswife76@juno.com or by phone at (410) 489-7018.

From left to right: Samuel (11), Joel, Seth (5), Grace (2) and Amy Rainey

He taught us that it was His church, not ours. He taught us that ministry in the trenches is messy, people’s lives are messy, and that He is the only solution. He also taught us to: 1. Expect the Unexpected.

Every time we thought we knew what God was doing, He would surprise us. We were told that we could only reach families with young children, because that was “who we were.” God, though, brought us an eclectic mix of people, more than half of whom were college students.

We had gothic teens, grandmas and almost everyone in between. Guess whom we did not have? Families with young children!

2. Wait and See What God Will Do. More than once we were tempted to go into debt personally for the plant. At one point we were using a borrowed sound system that could best be described as an antique. We literally prayed each week that it would turn on when

the next Sunday, a one-time visitor dropped a check in the offering plate for exactly $2,500. We learned to wait and see how God would choose to provide for our needs.

3. Measure Ministry by Lives Changed. The church that we started eventually merged with another and adjusted its focus and core values accordingly. Most of the people that served alongside us in the beginning scattered to all points of the compass. Little of what we began years ago can still be seen in the church today. This once bothered me because I defined it as a failure. Then God began giving us glimpses into the changed lives of those scattered people. God is using them all over the eastern half of the United States. Many of them met Jesus or found their calling while we were laboring together in the birth of that church. What if He had never scattered them? The church we planted might look very different

Sundays at 8:30am EST over The Trinity Broadcasting Network (DIRECT TV Ch. 372) Sundays at 8:30pm EST over The Church Channel (DIRECT TV Ch. 371) Consult local cable affiliates in your area for channel allocations

Hope & Encouragement for Life!

Page 18

Your Convention...

June 2011

Baltimore church leaders respond to ‘Courageous’ screening

By Shannon Baker BCM/D National Correspondent

that he would like to ask his father to go see it with him when it comes out on Sept. 30th. It was wonderful that it had impacted him that much.

“I realize that the film was geared towards fathers and their children...but, as a wife and mother, it opened my eyes to a lot of things that I tend to overstep my boundaries about with regards to my husband being the leader in the home.

Thus, seeing the film and really absorbing what its message was, I will now be more intentional about allowing my husband to truly lead our family and to be the man that God intended him to be in my life and in our children’s lives.”

BALTIMORE—As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes and their partners, are confident and focused. They willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift further and further away from them.

Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those that are most dear to them?

That is the question raised in COURAGEOUS, a new movie that opens in theaters on Sept. 30.

COURAGEOUS is the fourth release of Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Church in Albany, Ga. Their first release since FIREPROOF, the No. 1 independent film of 2008, Courageous joins FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL in touching and impacting lives through heartfelt stories of faith and hope.

Several church leaders in Baltimore were invited to a special screening of the movie in April.

They had strong responses to the movie, including the following: Robert Anderson, Pastor, Colonial Church, Randallstown: “I believe the film COURAGEOUS will mark a turning point in Christian cinema. Personally, I give it three and a half stars out of four! The best aspect of all was the clear message of the Gospel and the challenge to fathers to step up to the plate and be the man God has called them (us) to be by leading their families as godly men with love, honor and integrity. Needless to say, I highly endorse and strongly recommend this film for every-

body. Multitudes of families will be blessed for eternity.”

to see it again when it comes out Sept. 30th.”

Ed Reese, Pastor, Hazelwood Church, Baltimore: “I thought the movie was the most intense, moving and inspirational movie I’ve seen since ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ I thought the quality of the movie was right up there with the best of the secular movies out there today. I can’t wait

Bridget Wilson, member, Streetlite Christian Fellowship: “I attended the film with my husband (Collie III) and my two teenage sons (Nicholas-15 and Collie IV-17). We all loved the film!

Personally, I thought that the movie was very thought provoking and intentional. My 15-year-old son said

At a Question and Answer session at the end of the movie, a participant asked why the movie isn’t opening on Father’s Day. Kris Fuhr, vice president of Provident Films, answers on the COURAGEOUS blog (http://www. courageousthemovie.com/blog), “Late September is an ideal time for churches to rally around a film as a new ministry year is beginning. Leading up to that, we will be providing churches with clips and other COURAGEOUS resources for use with Father’s Day 2011.”

They suggest that churches reach out to the men in their church and community and celebrate courageous dads through a big Father’s Day celebration or a Saturday morning breakfast.

To assist in the effort, www. courageousresources.com has a series of videos, a sermon outline, and an encouraging article for dads available to develop a celebratory Father’s Day event. There is also a quick step-by-step guide to use.

The filmmakers also urge that church leaders begin praying for those who will see the film.

“For more then a year we’ve prayed to be sure that we’re pursuing God’s idea and not our own,” said Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Church.

To learn more, visit online at CourageoustheMovie.com.

June 2011

Your Church...

Page 19

Passing the mantle from father to son at Ocean City Church

By Sharon Mager BCM/D Correrspondent OCEAN CITY, Md.—Sean Davis grew up in Ocean City (OC) Church. His father and mother, Terry and Lynn Davis started the church in the late 70’s. Besides Terry being the pastor, Lynn ministered with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a resort missionary.

“I was at church every time the doors were open. We started small.

Sometimes I was the only one in Sunday School, so I got a lot of individual attention. It was a loving church and the people poured into me,” Sean reminisced. The lifestyle was as natural as breathing in the beachy smells, or listening to the ocean waves at night. In 2006, Sean came home from college to be the youth pastor of Ocean City Church and the athletic director of Ocean City Christian School. In 2010 he became pastor of Ocean City Church and is being mentored by his dad.

Sean accepted Christ when he was seven. “We had the Lord’s Supper service and I didn’t understand.

I started asking questions and Dad explained the Gospel through the elements of the Lord’s Supper and I asked the Lord into my heart. God used that and I began to grow in my relationship with the Lord. God called me to ministry in college.”

The younger Davis received his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Carson Newman College in Tennessee. He later went to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Four years later, Sean felt God calling him home.

“We had the school (Ocean City Baptist School) then and they needed an athletic director. I came back and worked under my father’s supervision for four years. I want to be mentored by Dad. That basically led me to becoming pastor when he retired.”

Did that surprise Sean? Did he think about being the preacher at OC Church when he was a small boy? Not really, he said, but he remembers his mom making comments about the possibility.

“He was either going to be a

pastor or a lawyer,” Lynn said with a laugh. “He was always in front of people, he couldn’t help himself.

And he was always a compassionate youngster. “ Terry wondered what God was going to do with Sean’s life. “When he was little, he’d go visiting with

Dad can do no wrong. In your teen years, Dad knows nothing. As I got into ministry, into seminary, my dad knew everything,” Sean said.

“He had the best heart for a pastor I’ve ever seen. I never heard my father say anything negative about anyone. He didn’t bring the

Sean Davis (left) came home to pastor Ocean City Church, taking the reins from his dad, Terry Davis (right).

me and he related to everyone. Senior adults loved him. People in the hospital appreciated him. He was a natural,” the elder Davis said.

“Coming home did surprise me. I figured God would send him somewhere else to do all the things He had planned–I even thought maybe he’d go into international missions. We were looking for a youth pastor and I was surprised he said yes. It was great to have him on staff. He’s a real go-getter and is solid in his theology–all the stuff you want in a youth pastor.”

When Terry decided to retire, the church didn’t have to think twice about calling Sean to step into his father’s shoes.

Asked how it is for him, being mentored by his father, Sean responded, “I don’t have a word to describe it. It is a blessing. When you’re younger you think your

drama of church home, but kept the mission first. He left the politics out of it. He always put Christ first, mother second, us third, and the church fourth. I’m trying to learn how to do that–to balance it all “ Terry and Lynn are a little surprised at the changes in OC Church but they’re excited at the growth and energy. Sean led the church in having church services at their building just off of the Route 50 bridge instead of the facility in west Ocean City near the White Marlin Mall.

Though the downtown area is landlocked, and parking is difficult, Sean said it’s where the people are.

OC Church works with the North American Mission Board-sponsored resort ministry and ministers to thousands of young adult internationals who flood Ocean City to supply labor to the shops and mar-

kets. Having the church on a visible corner in town opens a big door for them to be able to attend services.

Ocean City Christian School is located at the West campus and Sean said the building, along with school, will be utilized for Upward soccer, movies, Bible studies and many more outreach ministries.

Terry and Lynn are thrilled with their son’s ministry. Terry said the church has had a strong congregation comprised of Ocean City year-round residents and regular summer vacationers.

The resort ministry is flourishing as the church partners with Lynn and resort ministry volunteers to provide food, activities and friendship to the international students. But there’s even more new life at OC Church now.

“Sean is bringing young people in. They’re doing things I would have never done, changing things left and right. They’re redesigning worship, they moved church services back downtown...and the praise band keeps growing and growing,” Terry said.

Terry and Lynn are continuing as members in the church. Terry helps with maintenance and upkeep but will not take a leadership position for some time.

Sean and his wife, Anna, have a two-year-old little girl named Charlotte (Charlie). The couple met when Sean returned to the church to work as youth pastor and also at the OC School where Anna worked.

As of this writing, the couple was expecting their second child any time.

“It’s all really exciting. We’re watching God move and trying not to get in way,” Sean said.

Page 20

Your Church...

JoJo Carr–Her father’s right arm in missions

By Sharon Mager BCM/D Staff Correspondent WESTERNPORT, Md.—In 2004, JoJo Carr was nine years old when she first had a desire to go on a mission trip to Jamaica. Her father, Steffan Carr, pastor of Christ Memorial Church, decided to be like God to Abraham. He told her if she could find ten willing mission team volunteers, he’d do it. JoJo, not to be discouraged, downloaded the information, assembled packets and began recruiting. She didn’t get the ten volunteers. She got 13! Steffan was blown away, but relented and off they went to Jamaica.

The little girl didn’t stop there.

Now, seven years later, JoJo has not only been on 16 mission trips, but has organized them, negotiated airfare and managed room and ministry assignments.

“She’s my right arm person,” Steffan Carr says proudly.

“It’s the neatest experience to work together and plan the trips,” Carr says.

The church rallies around JoJo and members have come to catch the young woman’s mission fervor.

“It has become a part of our DNA. About a quarter of our budget goes to mission causes,” Carr explains.

Christ Memorial members work with CL Missions and partner with Bamboo Tabernacle. Team members lead devotions in schools, minister to children in hospitals, orphanages and to abused young women. They also do VBS and light construction.

The trips have been eye-opening for JoJo. “It’s more poverty than I had ever seen. We saw one man living in a cave. There are people

living on the side of the road,” she says.

But JoJo also sees people coming to know Jesus.

“Missions help me grow in my relationship with Christ. Going there makes me realize how blessed I am. I think it’s helped me grow in general,” she says.

It has also helped her father grow.

“JoJo has helped me live out my dreams,” Steffan Carr says fondly.

She prompted her dad to go do the missions he wanted to do. And, she even encouraged him to run.

“She came to me and said, ‘Dad, do you want to do something together?’” Carr, of course, being the dad that he is, said sure. The pair began not only running together, but went on to race in 5K’s. It was something he always wanted to do, but never tried.

June 2011

“She put the gasoline in my dreams,” Carr said.

JoJo is a junior at Calvary Christian School and is already working to help plan a mission trip for her senior class next year.

Her plans for the future? She’s not sure, but she knows they’ll include missions.

“She’s got a real heart for missions and, being her pastor, I can let her explore her passions. You can’t do that in a lot of churches, but here they let JoJo be JoJo and me be me.”

Baltimore church planters represent BCM/D at NAMB’s ‘Send North American Experience’ exhibit ples of God’s providentially opening doors of opportunity in His time.

Gallery Church, launched in BALTIMORE, Md.--Two BaltiSeptember 2008, has been a unique more church planters, Samuel Cho, journey, Prince shared. The church founder and pastor of both Bhutan didn’t “take off” the way Ellis hoped.

Church and Nepal Church, and “It didn’t feel like we were getEllis Prince, pastor of Galting anywhere. We lery Church, will be among were being obedia contingent of church plantent, but there was ers featured at the Southern no fruit.” The church Baptist Convention in Phoenix found, however, that later this month. in His time, God was Cho and Prince were chofaithful and honored sen to participate in the North the church’s obedience.

American Mission Board’s Last year the church “Send North America Experigrew by over 400 ence” exhibit in the convention percent. center’s exhibit hall. Visitors Year-to-date, the can visit cityscapes throughout church averages a the hall that will feature life Sunday attendance of Ellis Prince shares at 300. Easter weekend in each of five North AmeriBaltimore’s Gallery can regions and they’ll hear brought 500 people.

Church, which grew directly from missionaries The church is by over 400 percent going through much working in those areas. last year.

The exhibit is part of transition. They’re NAMB’s effort to emphamoving from their size its overarching focus Harbor East location on church planting and encourto Pier 5 Hotel in Baltimore’s Inner age churches to become personally Harbor and they’re preparing to involved. start a third worship service in a Both Cho and Prince are examstrong African American community

By Sharon Mager BCM/D Correspondent

near Wilkens Avenue. In addition, come to know Christ and planting the church has a Hispanic small churches. group and will soon beCho, as he began seegin having services with ing the needs of Bhutan a Spanish translation refugees, started Bhutan near Patterson Park.

Church in 2008. After Cho is a 73-yearmorning worship with the old church planter who Nepal Church, the Cho’s accepted Christ at the minister at the afternoon age of 39 and finished Bhutan Church that meets seminary at the age at The Moravia Assembly of 59. While at dinner of God. It now has about 70 one evening, Cho and members. his wife, Young, met Now the industrious a Nepali waitress and senior saint is working to her husband. The Cho’s Samuel Cho baptizes train Nepali and Bhutan became friends with believers to become missiona young man from the Hindu couple and aries to share Christ in the Morang Baptist led them to Christ. The Church, in Nepal.

United States and in their waitress opened her native countries, exhorting Four others were apartment for a Bible them to preach the gospel baptized on that study and invited famand to plant churches. same day. ily and friends. That In a letter of invitaled to the beginning of tion, Chad Childress called Nepal Church, which now has over church planters “heroes of our 50 members and meets at Govans convention.”

Boundary Methodist Church.

“I’m no hero,” Cho laughed. “I The Chos became immersed in just preach the Gospel.” the ministry, traveling to Nepal to For more information about minister to those in refugee camp NAMB’s new North American stratset up by Bhutanese governments, egy, see www.namb.net. preaching Christ, seeing hundreds

Your World...

June 2011

Page 21

“Dear Counselor” with CentrePointe Counseling, Inc.

“What should I do if I suspect a child is being sexually abused?”

Dear Counselor, I teach a Sunday School class of children in the early elementary school age group. I have noticed one child who is more withdrawn than the other children and often complains of stomach aches. Most peculiarly, she also will make comments while playing that have sexual overtones to them. My gut is telling me that something is not right with this child although she comes from a good family who are leaders in the church. I am wondering what I should do?

Wondering Dear Wondering, Thank you for your question and for having the courage to follow what you “gut” is telling you.

What you are reporting raises the suspicion of possible child sexual abuse. Since children usually do not communicate directly about being abused (and are often threatened so that they will keep things secret), we are often left to pick up on the CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR— Cornerstone Community Church is currently interviewing to fill an opening in the church office. The Church Administrator is responsible for carrying out the administrative operations of the church and providing support to designated ministry activities. If you or someone you know is looking for a part time position and has a heart for ministry please let us know.

To learn more or to submit a resume, contact one of the acting Leadership Health Team members or Pastor Bruce: kim.richeson@verizon.net; pjbdpjsa@ yahoo.com; denisefrance@msn.com; dave3838@comcast.net; pastor@ cornerstone-d6.org.

DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS—The Eastern Baptist Association (EBA) is actively searching for a full-time Director of Missions. The EBA encompasses the counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the southern area of Delaware and currently consists of 37 member and 5 mission churches of varying sizes, styles, and languages.

indirect communication.

Behavioral indicators of sexual abuse in the pre-school child would include: Advanced sexual knowledge observed in play with toys or peers or in pictures; excessive sleeping or inability to sleep; physical complaints like headaches or stomach aches; nightmares; over or under eating; difficulty separating from parents; difficulty making friends; moodiness; bedwetting; anxiety, jumpiness, easily startled; aggressive or withdrawn behavior; resumption of immature behaviors such as thumb sucking, baby talk and clinging to objects or parents.

Behavioral indicators for the school-aged child or teenager would include: problems at school; increasing social isolation; sleep disruptions; changes in eating patterns; specific fears of people, places or things; moodiness, irritability, depression or anxiety; aggressive or withdrawn behaviors; running away and suicidal ideas; immature or pseudo-adult behaviors; lying and stealing; physical complaints; de-

structive behavior; advanced sexual knowledge and behavior with others.

Physical signs in children and teenagers would include: stains, discharge or blood on child’s underwear; swelling, redness soreness, bruises, or itching of the genital areas, buttocks or breasts; venereal disease; vaginal or penile infections; pregnancy; burning on urination or frequent urination; retention of bowels.

The law for helping professionals is that we are to report even the suspicion of child abuse. This can be difficult when it seems unlikely that this could happen to a child in a “good” family. You may first want to go to your pastor to report your suspicions. Your church should have some sort of policy about how to handle these situations. Child protective services or the State’s attorney’s office should be contacted so that they can do an investigation. Remember that the reporting is trying to save a child from possible devastating abuse. In these circumstances, it is often said that

June CLASSIFIEDS

A job description is available at www. easternbaptist.org/domsearch. All interested candidates should submit a current resume to domsearch@ easternbaptist.org. Compensation is approximately $60K/year depending upon the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

MUSIC DIRECTOR—Northwest Baptist Church in Reisterstown, Md., is looking for a part time contemporary music director to lead the 9:30 a.m. service and possibly starting a Saturday night service in the fall. He would work under the minister of music pastor. If you know of anyone with the skills, please feel free to forward this email to the person or give us their information. Contact us at Grant@ nwbcmd.org or pastor@nwbcmd.org.

Or call (410) 833-7220 and ask for Associate Pastor Grant Lauterbach.

SENIOR PASTOR – Potomac Heights Baptist Church (PHBC) – Indian Head,

Maryland. PHBC seeks a full time Senior Pastor. PHBC is located 20 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. The mission of PHBC is to provide a safe haven where lives can be changed and where changed lives are empowered to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Our congregation is passionate about caring for those who are hurting in our community. PHBC is a member of the PBA and SBC. Current staff includes a full time Associate Pastor of Assimilation & Family Ministry and Administrative Assistant. Minimum education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree. Experience: 5 years minimum as Associate/Senior Pastor. Salary range: based on experience. Forward resume to: PHBC Pastor Search Team (pastorsearch@phbc.com), 4781 Montaine Place, La Plata, MD 20646.

VOLUNTEER – The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware is seeking an individual who is interested in working in the History Room of

there is a perpetrator, a victim and a non-protective bystander. The non-protective bystander is often someone who at some level knows of the abuse, but says nothing. For the victim, the pain of someone saying nothing is often as great as the pain caused by the abuse itself.

Tom Rodgerson Send your questions by e-mail to trodgerson@bcmd.org.

CentrePointe has offices in the following locations: Bel Air, Canton, Catonsville, Charles Village, Clarksburg (Germantown), Columbia, Crofton, Dunkirk, Eldersburg, Federal Hill, Frederick, Glen Burnie, Hughesville, Lanham, Laurel, Lutherville, Mechanicsville, Middle River, Odenton, Parkville, Port Deposit, Rockville, Severn, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Westminster. (410) 882-1988 or (800) 491-5369

the convention. This service will be approximately one or two days a month at the Columbia facility. Applicants will be willing to learn the computer software program, ResourceMate 3.0.

Prior historical experience or interest will be helpful. Applicants can send resume via e-mail to history@bcmd.org or by mail to History Committee, 10255 Old Columbia Road, Columbia, MD 21046. No phone calls please.

MAIL, E-MAIL OR FAX YOUR AD Deadlines are the first day of each month for the following month’s issue.

Classified advertising is 75 cents per word ($18.00 minimum) for BCM/D churches and church members; 85 cents per word ($20.00 minimum) for non-profit organizations; and 95 cents per word ($25.00 minimum) for commercial organizations. Word count does not include words with two letters or less. Contact us for display ad pricing. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of any advertiser’s products or services.

Page 22

Your World...

June 2011

Christian hospitality creates Safe Families for children

By Tricia Sakles Bapitst Family & Children’s Services COLUMBIA, Md.—Our society is plagued by stories of child abandonment. Recently, a 20 month old was abandoned in a bathroom in Delaware, and a 5 year old left at a Cathedral in New York. Similar scenarios of parents unable to care for their children occur throughout the country with greater frequency than most of us suspect.

State child welfare hotlines throughout the nation receive over five million calls each year reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

Of those calls, about one million meet the State’s criteria for abuse, thus activating services. What happens to the remaining four million families or the countless families that are in crisis but are not identified? Their situation remains unchanged.

The current child welfare system is given the mandate to remove abused or neglected children from their parents’ custody at which time the children become “wards of the State.” This system of care is controversial and the concept of government protecting children from their parents is relatively new starting in the 1940’s and 50’s. Prior to this, churches and other faith-driven organizations were at the forefront of caring for vulnerable children. In fact, throughout history, the church and other religious organizations were the safety net for discarded and vulnerable children.

Church history is filled with accounts of believers rescuing “exposed” infants in ancient Rome, taking in all sorts of orphans, caring for the sick and the elderly, and sheltering pilgrims. Many orphanages, hospitals and asylums were first developed by Christians putting their faith into practice. However, with the development of state-run child welfare within the last 50 years, the church has relinquished this role.

As the government has stepped up, the church stepped back to the point of becoming irrelevant to the real and significant needs of hurting families.

Throughout scripture, there are

numerous references to widnon-coercive nature baptized by the Wrights. She also ows and children. James asof Safe Families is became a devoted mother, spendsociates the care of orphans a hallmark of the ing hours helping her children with and widows with purity of program. Parents their schoolwork and reaching out faith. He writes “Religion in crisis are able to to other overwhelmed mothers. Also that God our Father acplace their children Donna said, “The Wrights wouldn’t cepts as pure and fault(newborns through give up on me and wouldn’t let me less is this: to look after parenting teens) give up on myself. They challenged orphans and widows in safe homes, still me to think differently about life in their distress and to maintaining custoand my kids and God. They were keep oneself from being dy of their children. exactly what I needed in order to polluted by the world.”

For example, change.”

(James 1:27). Isaiah concurs: a single mother We have even more stories of “Learn to do right! Seek named Donna suffamilies in crisis that we couldn’st justice, encourage the opfered from depreshelp because we don’st have enough pressed. Defend the cause sion and was feeling safe families volunteers willing to of the fatherless, plead the very overwhelmed. open up their homes. For example, case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

She would tuck her daughters (ages just last week we didn’st have a With the changing economy, 4 and 2) into bed and leave the home for a 2-year-old boy. The boy’s many more families are experiencapartment to do drugs and attempt mother, a 21-year-old who recently ing financial crisis, unemployment to escape her problems. She had no lost her job and was about to be and homelessness. Others are dealfamily to help and at one point, she evicted, could no longer care for her ing with family violence, parental called the State to hand over her son and was contemplating foster drug and/or alcohol abuse, illness or children. care or putting her son up for adopincarceration. During such crises, The State referred her to Safe tion. She called us explaining that many parents are not capable of Families. Things had gotten to the she just needed time to get her GED, providing a safe and caring environ- point that she almost didn’st care get a job and get stable housing so ment and are at increased risk for about anything, but she did want to she could once again provide for her abusing or neglecting their children. get better so she agreed to have her son. Unfortunately we had to refer Historically the extended family children placed with Safe Families her to other services because we often stepped in to support parents volunteers Mike and Katy Wright. didn’t have the families to help. by taking care of children for short Donna started meeting with a counSafe Families volunteers epitoperiods of time, and neighbors came selor to work through issues related mize the biblical command for all alongside families in crisis. Howto her own abuse experienced as a Christians to live lives characterever, many families are socially child. She began visiting her chilized by hospitality. Join this wave isolated and their extended family dren at the Wright’s home and even- of biblical hospitality by using your is not available. The children in a tually began spending weekends home for Kingdom purposes. family traumatized by crisis become with the family. During the four To learn more about Safe Famiespecially at risk for neglect or months that Donna’s children lived lies for Children, contact Melissa abuse as their parents struggle to with the Wrights, Donna received Mazeski at (800) 621-8834 or email cope with crushing circumstances Christ and became involved in a mmazeski@baptistfamily.org. and emotions. supportive church where she was Safe Families for Children is a network of host families who are passionate about NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In order to as a state missionary for church administrahelping and carcomply with new safety regulations taking tion and said churches that have weekday ing for at-risk effect in June, churches need to replace their ministries or daycares especially need to children and their nursery cribs, which could already pose a heed the new safety standards. parents. Designed danger to children and leave churches open to Beginning June 28, all cribs manufacto extend and liability lawsuits. tured and sold must comply with the new strengthen the The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Comfederal standards. Some manufacturers, community safety mission unanimously approved sweeping new such as Church Interiors, which supplies net for at-risk safety rules, which outlaw drop-side cribs and cribs purchased through LifeWay Christian families, it is a require stronger hardware and supports. The Stores, already are selling cribs that comply positive alternacommission said it is unlikely that existing with the new standards. tive to the State cribs will meet the new standards. child welfare

By Erin Roach, an Jim Swedenburg of the Alabama State system. The assistant editor of Baptist Press.

Board of Missions served more than 10 years voluntary and

Church nurseries must replace cribs

June 2011

Your Church...

Page 23

Father-son relationship develops through mission experiences

By Shannon Baker BCM/D National Correspondent

became “all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22), Rob explained, “Sam became a Guatemalan kid to the Guatemalans” when he played with the children.

The difference in culture and language in San Cristobal didn’t stop the seventh-grader from wholeheart-

FREDERICK, Md.— Seven years ago, when Sam Downs was six years old, his father Rob was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes. He underwent surgery to remove the primary tumor and three months of chemotherapy Sam (left) and his father Rob to remove the metastatic Downs found their relationship growths. flourishing the more they got It was a challenging involved in missions. Inset: Sam time for the whole family, but plays with a Guatamalan girl on a Sam was deeply impacted, mission recent trip with BCM/D’s Rob shared. “I believe that Amped Student Ministry. in a six-year old’s mind their father is a superhero who is beyond the reach of illness, weakness, or death.”

When Rob explained his illness to Sam, he shared that Lance Armstrong survived the same disease. “I explained that Lance was a world-class athlete and cyclist before cancer, but had never won a Tour de France. However following his treatment, he set the world record for consecutive Tour victories,” Rob said, explaining that just as Lance had become a better cyclist following cancer, he would become a better father.

Sam replied, “I don’t want a better father. I want you just the way you are.”

The statement challenged Rob. Was he the father he should be?

Fast-forward seven years and Sam is on his first international mission trip. He traveled edly reaching out to the children. But April 16-23 with the Baptist Conven- it did make him question whether he tion of Maryland/Delaware’s student was being “all things” for Christ in ministry, Amped, on its annual mishis every day life in Frederick, Md. sion trip to Guatemala.

For the past four-to-five years, While there, the team installed Sam has played on a travel hockey stoves in the residents’ homes, addteam, which has consumed a lot of ing chimneys that led smoke outhis—and his father’s—time. Though doors—out of harm’s way. Sam used it has taught valuable skills, such as the opportunity to share how God sportsmanship and teamwork, the had given his family the strength to father-son duo and Sam’s mother deal with his father’s illness.

Lora and sister, Nadya, wondered if The trip challenged Sam to be the busyness caused them to “run “more devoted to God,” something without aim.” that has had a residual effect on the So they had a family meeting to whole family. discuss the situation.

Pointing to the Apostle Paul, who “We sat down and asked our-

selves: Should we change what we are doing?” Rob said. The family decided to take a year off from the travel hockey to pursue what God would have them do.

Out of that decision came opportunities for a father/son ministry that has brought healing and direction— not only for Sam, but also for Rob. As a young boy, when Rob’s parents divorced, Rob found he also divorced himself from God. He attended church on holidays, but he struggled with his mom giving of her meager resources to the beautifully decorated stained glass Presbyterian church.

Over time, through his stint through the Coast Guard and

beyond, Rob fell further away from the church. It wasn’t until meeting and developing a relationship with his new mother-in-law, a Christian, that he and his wife began to pursue spiritual matters.

Ultimately, it was at a non-denominational church in San Francisco that Rob surrendered to Jesus.

He told Jesus, “I give up. I’m done running. I’ll accept that Your Word is true.”

It was in this small church of 4050 people that Sam was born—and where Rob and his wife were mentored through the Scripture.

Later, the Downs moved to Maryland, where Rob now works at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the U.S. Department of Commerce. The family attends Summit Trace Church in Frederick, where they have actively been involved in mission trips in Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky.

“For four years in a row, Sam has gone on a mission trip,” Rob shared, noting Sam was eight years old when he went on his first trip.

“His passion brought me along,” shared Rob, adding that the family is doing local missions as well.

Ironically, it was the shared mission efforts that helped Rob be a better father. The efforts together offered the father and son ample opportunities to talk about God and about what it means to be a Christian in today’s world.

In other words, the missions experiences “help me to see the kind of man my dad is as a Christian, so that I can be like him,” Sam said.

Acknowledging the importance of such opportunities, Rob and Sam are developing a father/ son small group for their church and may have opportunity to assist with father/son retreats led by Doug DuBois of the Amped student ministry.

DuBois, BCM/D’s missionary for student evangelism, envisions bringing fathers and sons together so that fathers can take on their God-given role as the primary disciplers of their children. To that end, he is developing a model for families to use on an ongoing basis.

To learn more, contact DuBois at (301) 991-8890 or ddubois@skycroft.org. To learn about Amped and the many opportunities for students, visit online at http://ampedministry. org or www.facebook.com/ampedministry.

Non-profit U.S. Postage PAID Columbia, MD Permit #350

BaptistLIFE 10255 Old Columbia Road Columbia, MD 21046-1716

connect... 2010 Allen Memorial Barnesville Bayside Beacon Bel Forest Berlin, FBC Berwyn Bethany Bethel Brantly Burtonsville Calvary, Bel Air Calvary, Rising Sun Calverton Canton Carsins Run Catonsville Cockeysville College Parkway Colonial Columbia Fellowship Community Baptist Mission Conowingo Cordova Crossroads Comm. of Harford County Deep Creek Dublin Missionary Elkridge Baptist Church Emmanuel Haitian Emmanuel, Gambrills Faith Baptist Fellowship Faith Southern Faith, Glen Burnie Faith, Knoxville FBC of Brooklyn FBC of Brunswick FBC of Cambridge FBC of Crisfield FBC of Cumberland FBC of Damascus FBC of Delmar FBC of E. New Market FBC of Easton FBC of Eastport FBC of Edgewater FBC of Elkton FBC of Frederick FBC of Girdletree FBC of Hagerstown FBC of Havre De Grace FBC of Hurlock FBC of Keyser FBC of Kingsville FBC of Laurel FBC of Mardela Springs FBC of Mount Rainier FBC of North East

Thank you for giving to the BCM/D State Missions Offering

FBC of Perryville FBC of Princess Anne FBC of Rockville FBC of Temple Hills FBC of Waldorf FBC of Westernport FBC, Essex FBC, Kent Island FBC, La Plata FBC, Pocomoke City First Baptist Church, Savage FBC, St Charles FBC, Upper Marlboro First Southern

Hughesville Iglesia Bautista Alfa Y Omega Iglesia Cristiana De Armistead Gardens Immanuel, Baltimore Immanuel, Salisbury Jessup Kendall Kensington Kettering Korean Church of Washington Lake Shore Landover Hills Laurel LaVale

Dear Pastor, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Phil. 1:3-5 (NIV) These words that were spoken by Paul are indeed still true for us today as the missionaries of Maryland/Delaware reflect on your partnership over this past year; your partnership in praying, in giving, and in walking alongside the missionaries as together we work towards making Christ known in our states, nation, and world.

Because you were willing to give, ministries such as church planting, disaster relief, Christian Women’s Job Corp, VBS, Children’s Mission Camps, Language work and many more were a great success. There is a financial cost to ministry. While missionaries cut every corner possible, Bibles, facilities, materials and supplies all have a price tag. But the cost of one coming to Christ is priceless.

Thank you for making it possible for ministries to continue, new ministries to begin, and many lives to be able to hear the message of salvation through your praying, giving and going with us.

Serving Alongside, The Acts 1:8 Team

Georgia Avenue Germantown Gethsemane Glen Burnie Good Shepherd Ministries Goodwill Grace Church of Sunset Beach Grace Community Baptist Church Grace, Bryans Road Grace, Cumberland Grace, Seaford Graceland Greenridge Greensboro Gunpowder Hampden

Leonardtown Lexington Park Lighthouse Baptist Church of Overlea Linthicum Little Meadows Loch Raven London Village Lynnhaven Maple View Marbury Mars Hill Maryland City Mason Dixon Memorial Heights Middle River Nanjemoy

New Day Church North Glen North Harford Oak Grove Ocean City Ogletown Oldtown Fellowship Olney Open Bible Deaf Open Korean Oxon Hill Paramount Patterson Park Pitts Creek Pleasant Valley Pleasant View Potomac Heights Primera Iglesia Bautista Cambridge Primera Iglesia, Easton Rehoboth Reisterstown Riverside Salem Gospel Ministries Seaside Second, Cumberland Seven Locks Severna Park South Columbia South End Southern Calvert Stoney Run Temple The Church On Warren Avenue Towne Travilah Tumaini Baptist Church United Valley Viers Mill Virginia Avenue Weems Creek Westminster White Marsh White Plains Whitehall Wildwood Woodbrook World Mission Trinity