Why Honey? Our Future Depends on

Our Future Depends On…

By Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin

The DCBC Dream Team’s final report, shared during the Annual Gathering, included a video that explained the dreaming process and the work to which the team believes God is calling the Convention. The honeycomb image offers a visual of how DCBC will function as we move forward: empowering, equipping, engaging and supporting our churches and ministry partners to live into our motto: One

Faith. Many Cultures. Endless Possibilities.

The following seven key initiatives, which will overlap and require all the characteristics surrounding the comb to be employed, will ignite our work at the moment. However, these initiatives are not set in concrete: They are organic, generative and morphing. They include:  Clergy & Disciple Forming (Everyone needs to grow in their faith to make it more than a “church” or “Sunday”

activity.) — Luke 2:52 And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people (The Message).  Glocal Mission (GLObal + loCAL =

GLOCAL (i.e., mission from everyone to everywhere and vice-versa.) — Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy

Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (NIV).  Justice Engagement (Beyond simply responding to crises, justice, grounded in faith, engages systemic, grassroots and global issues from a faith foundation as opposed to an issue-by-issue concern.) —

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to

love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (NRSV).  Resourcing One Another/

Collaboration (Individual members of the body of Christ are uniquely gifted, as are congregations who can share their gifts and wisdom for the good of God’s

Kingdom.) — Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (NIV).  Building Usage to Connect to Our

Mission and Further It (Our buildings should be reimagined to be resources that can equip and engage our churches, as well as develop new mission/ministry partners.) — Matthew 25:14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. (ESV).  Supporting/Developing Ministry

Sources (Ministry in the 21st century involves seeking creative ways to equip ourselves to do the ministry God has called us to do. We will seek to assist our members in grant writing, building development, stewardship development, and other resourcing.) — Romans 1:11-

12 I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you — or, rather, so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine (NRSV).  Training (DCBC has offered traditional and innovative training, which will expand to included certifications in areas such as coaching and mental health, etc.) — Ephesians 4:11-12 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (NRSV). As a result of these overarching initiatives, there are several hopes for 2022. Please contact me to learn more about the initiatives, assist with planning, and/or participate in these activities.

For DCBC to flourish, we must engage younger people, while affirming the many cultures that are present in our Convention. Below is a list of our hopes for 2022 and dreams for 2023:

2022 Hopes

• Clergy Retreat • Senior Pastor Retreat • Facility Use Committee at work • Young Adult Mission Trip • Biennial Social Justice Colloquy • 2 Coach Trainings

2023 Dreams

• Leadership Conference • Biennial Worship and Preaching Colloquy • Holy Land Pilgrimage • 2 Mental Health Certifications • Weekly Prayer Gathering • Lenten Journey • Advent Experience • Trainings

— Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin, DCBC

Executive Director/Minister (Trisha.Manarin@dcbaptist.org)