Capital Baptist Newsletter - Dec 2022/Jan 2023

DCBC Annual Gathering Recap

ChristmasHope&NewYearJoy

District of Columbia Baptist Convention 1628 16th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

202.265.1526 (office) www.dcbaptist.org info@dcbaptist.org

Office of Executive Director/Minister Executive Director/Minister Trisha Miller Manarin, Ext. 214

Ministry Assistant Loretta Polite-Shipman, Ext. 213

Campus Ministries LeeAnn Carrera Adrien Ngudiankama

Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator Jevon Billups

Capital Baptist Editor Sonia Myrick

Office of Administration and Stewardship Chief Operations Officer Lashanor Doolittle, Ext. 203 Building Maintenance Saul Garcia, Ext. 212

Accounting and Administrative Specialist Fam SaeChao Chock, Ext. 206

JBCC Building Coordinator Robin Foulk, Ext. 215

ERT Coordinator James Barbour

Change Your Trajectory in 2023!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

This wonderful proclamation ushers us into a season of joy, hope, peace and love. Yet, it also reminds us that the birth of our Lord and Savior was just the beginning of the gift. The Advent Season is the gateway to new beginnings. But, like the famed symbolic Sankofa bird, we fly forward with our head turned back to honor where we have come and, with a cherished piece of wisdom, to move us forward.

Some of us have opened our doors again, while others have modified openings, and still other are part of a new breed of online churches. However, you worship, the most important thing is that you do worship. When you worship, you are connecting not only with God but with each other. My pray is that you will also connect with your Convention. We are still here supporting, training and providing opportunities for you to flourish and engage with the communities you serve. Find a committee or activity and see for yourself the difference we can make together. This is how the never-ending gift continues to unfold. So, as you pass through the gateway of Advent into your new year, set you heart and your mind to do something new, be something new, and live in the newest of God. Change your trajectory in 2023!

Blessings,

Rev. Patricia H. Fears President of the DCBC Board of Directors

Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy…

In this season of hustle and bustle, I pray you will find some quiet moments to reflect on the power of the incarnation. That God chose to be born and live among humanity is beyond awe-inspiring — it is lifetransforming! Truly, this news should be comfort and joy for us and for others as we share this good, good news near and far!

December can be a difficult time of year for many people. Feelings of depression, loneliness, despair and other concerns can arise in the midst of holiday celebrations. Sometimes they are visible and sometimes hidden, even from those closest to the person suffering. I am grateful for the resourcing to address these concerns that was provided at our Annual Gathering this October and for the work of our program committee led by Rev. Dr. Orlando Bego.

DCBC is committed to engaging, equipping and empowering you to face mental health and wellness concerns. Our Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator, Rev. Jevon Billups, is planning several programs for the new year. Thanks to the DCBC Foundation, we can offer Mental Health First Aid training at an extremely reduced rate for our churches! I encourage you to host this training for your congregation and community members.

As we journey through Advent to Christmas, join us in the Lessons and Carols (see page 3) shared online by our churches. May your New Year’s Watch Night Celebration be a meaningful time filled with thanksgiving for the freedom we have in Christ. In 2023, may we all find new ways to grow deeper in our relationship with God, and when we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, may we heed his words from the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (which Montgomery Hills Baptist Church leader Willie King typed): “…so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.”

May we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, offer comfort and joy even in the midst of tension for the word became flesh and dwelt among us!

Good tidings to you and your kin!

Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin Executive Director/Minister

With this issue of the Capital Baptist, for Point/Counterpoint, we focus on the question: Do we hold church on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday. Our desire is to offer two perspectives on a topic related to society, leadership, mission, polity, the church and so on. The essays are solely the opinion and perspective of their authors, not declarations stating DCBC’s position on the topics. We do, however, hope this feature will provide opportunities for you to begin having conversations with your congregation around issues that may be divisive or even challenging to discuss.

The following essays were written by DCBC members who are pastors As people of faith, we are not asking everyone to agree or disagree with the perspectives in these articles. We do however, invite you to consider beginning a conversation with someone who holds a differing perspective on this or any of the issues raised in this space to try to understand each other

We offer a few questions for you to consider and/or use with a small group as you explore this topic:

1. Do we expect too much from our church leaders when Christmas falls on a Sunday?

2. Do we consider Christmas as one of the most important days in the church calendar that must be observed with a worship service?

3. Do we consider being in church an act of spiritual formation? What does our presence mean to each other and our worship?

If you would like to submit an essay for Point/Counterpoint, send it to cb@dcbaptist.org We do not guarantee your essay will be published, but it will certainly be read and considered.

Christmas day feels like freedom. We relish in the joy of a month of Advent. The parties have dimmed. No one is requesting an email to be returned. Business stops. Time is savored. Children and adults linger in each other’s stories. It is a beautiful day. Its beauty has such a sacred quality that causes us to ask every six years or so, “Are we meeting for worship on Christmas — a SUNDAY?”

Each Sunday, I prayerfully stroll the aisles before people arrive. I imagine where people regularly sit and offer words of prayer for them. I yearn for our worship, to be honest and true. I also often wonder: “Will anyone show up today?” You see, there is a freedom element to our worship that we embrace. I sometimes tell people to “take a Sunday off” or “maybe it would be more beneficial for you to walk through the woods this Sunday.” The sacred is not only found in the sanctuary. These details review a truth about my view of God, the Church and God’s work in the world. As with everything, we hold this truth in tension with a disciplined approach to faith.

The church is many things. It is a stabilizing fabric for many of our communities. It is a social outlet. It can be a place of education. It is a mission outpost. It is a worshiping community. It is a support system. I show up in church spaces not because I always want to but because I need to. I show up, not just for myself but for others — they need me and I need them. In this sense, “Do we have

Church on Christmas Day

By Rev. Scott Shelton

church on Christmas day?” is a diversion from a more profound reality we must establish.

In his role as President Josiah Bartlet in “The West Wing,” Martin Sheen famously said to a group of Georgetown students, “Decisions are made by those who show up.” I argue that this is not a onetime or whenever-I-feel-like-it mindset. Instead, it is a mode of operating that understands the power and importance of presence at church. Consistently committing to a healthy church week after week helps establish the foundation for our spiritual lives. Dare we be so bold to say, “You need to be here” as an act of spiritual formation? It’s worth pointing out that each of us leaders needs to do an ego check to ensure we are not making this demand for a personal boost. Instead, its source should be a place of pastoral care — a shepherd’s heart. Being present allows us to know and be known by others to experience the physical love of God’s people.

On the Advent of Christ, we must consider what our presence means to each other and our worship. COVID was a wrecking ball on our church systems. Many of us have stories of people who have opted out of church altogether. Many left without a return date because they experienced little difference in their lives without church. This sad reality reveals a condemning truth about what many churches have become — a place of social acceptance without requiring social change. We have opted for softening the edges of commitment to spare people the rigor of a disciplined approach

to faith. This kind of discipline can be hard to express without feeling pietistic or Pharisaical

It may go without saying, but this is not my disciplined tone toward my congregation. Quite the opposite, these are the demands I place on my life as an example and servant. When Jesus showed up, everything changed. His presence mattered. My presence matters. Your presence matters.

I expect a small crowd on Sunday, December 25, 2022. Perhaps it will only be my family. Many

sacred things will happen around tables, living rooms, backyards and sanctuaries on this day. At Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Maryland, there will be a simple worship liturgy to help us stay grounded on the essential truth in us — Christ in us.

Rev. Scott Shelton is the Senior Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Maryland.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

A Different Kind of Christmas

By Rev. Mia M. McClain

This December, with my guidance, the Riverside Baptist Church Worship Team, Trustees and Deacons decided not to host inperson worship on Christmas Day. This is for several reasons:

The pandemic has taught us many things, primarily that God’s spirit dwells beyond the walls of our sanctuaries. While many of us professed to believe this before March 2020, the extended quarantine really made us look at how we walk this journey of faith. It also opened us up to many possibilities that included, but were not limited to, gathering on Zoom, pre-recording worship and having coffee hour virtually, and doing in-home Advent and Lenten rituals. This year, because Christmas falls on a Sunday and my very small but mighty ministry team will have a busy January ahead of them (my Installation Weekend is January 7-8, 2023), I decided to not put strain on those few but mighty people to make worship happen. They have gone above and beyond since my arrival. My gift to them this Christmas is a Sunday off so that we can show up strong in January with renewed energy.

Christmas morning worship can be more of a burden than a blessing. We have leaders in our church who have small children who will be opening gifts that morning. We also have many folks

traveling to be with family. To carry out an elaborate service would involve finding coverage for musicians who will be away, volunteer audio and visual folks, and security. Would that be worth it for 15 or 20 people? Could we do something more streamlined instead? Smaller congregations must pay special attention to what showing up costs us, literally and figuratively. While we are not a church that is struggling financially, it costs to put on worship, and if the people are open to an alternative, we must allow ourselves to explore it.

This year, we will be pre-recording a worship service that will air at 10 a.m. on Christmas morning on our YouTube channel. I will also be hosting an inperson Christmas Morning Mingle with pastries and coffee for those who want to gather, have a time of prayer, hear a short homiletical reflection, and sing carols together. I look forward to that intimate gathering in addition to our virtual offering. God is doing a new thing in the world and in our faith; it would behoove us to listen to the needs of our individual congregations.

Rev. Mia M. McClain is the Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

What Churches Should Know — and Do — About a Homelessness Problem You Likely Didn’t Know About

By Kristen Thomason

Reprinted with permission from Baptist News Global © 2022 Baptist News Global. All Rights Reserved. Article can also be accessed here.

When it comes to college, “getting in is only half the battle,” according to Anthony Abraham Jack, professor at the Harvard School of Education.

Elsewhere he has said: “Before all else, colleges must meet students’ basic needs.”

Unfortunately, the nation’s largest annual student assessment of basic needs security, the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice’s 2020 #RealCollege Survey, reveals that 48% of collegestudents strugglewithhousinginsecurity, andafull 14% of studentsarehomeless. Lacking adequate housing or food is the No. 1 barrier to college completion.

Desperate to help its homeless students, Long Beach City College in California initiated the Safe Parking Program, which provides unhoused students a safe and secure place to sleep in their cars. Although a lifeline for the 15 students who receive spaces in the school’s parking deck, the Safe Parking Program alone can do little to alleviate the problem at a college where 1,000 students are unhoused and 3,000 students are housing insecure.

“We’re losing students — human beings with hopes and dreams that are being derailed,” said Michael Munoz, superintendent president. Now in its second year, the program not only provides Wi-Fi, restrooms and showers for students living in their cars, but also car insurance, driver’s licensing and registration to make sure students don’t lose what “homes” they have.

“Homeless college student seems like a contradiction in terms,” according to Wayne State University psychology professor Paul Toro. “If you’re someone who has the wherewithal to get yourself into college, well, of course you should be immune to homelessness. But that just isn’t the case.”

Rising costs and choices to be made

suffer from depression, anxiety, and poorer health, the national research found.

“We like to think that landing a coveted college spot is a golden ticket for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We think less critically about what happens next,” Jack said in the New York Times Magazine. Students of color, indigenous students, LGBTQ students (especially trans students), those who are first generation, and students who receive low-income Pell grants are all at greater risk for housing insecurity and would benefit from on campus housing.

Not enough housing

That’s because attending college in the United States has become exponentially more expensive over the past few decades. The average price of college room and board has doubled since 1994. Adjusted for inflation, average tuition at four-year public universities was 355.1% higher in 2020 than it was in 1963.

Both are set to rise again by as much as 5% in the coming year as schools adjust for the high price of food and fuel. These exorbitant costs make affording college more challenging for everyone, but it’s an even “greater challenge for students that come from families that are struggling,” admitted David Jewell, vice president for business affairs at Cleveland State University.

If a student or their family cannot afford both tuition and room and board, then housing (and often food) is sacrificed.

Education has the potential to lift families out of poverty; but without secure housing, college students are less likely to realize that potential because they are more likely to

The heart of the problem is that there simply is not enough on-campus housing to meet the demand, and most residence halls are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who have the resources to apply and commit early receive the rooms. Those who need more financial aid than the college offers, or who need additional time to work to raise the money they need, get left out. They find themselves on waitlists along with hundreds of other students at the start of the semester. Some give up and look for housing elsewhere. Others give up on college altogether.

Many colleges are actively trying to build more housing; but doing so takes time and resources and often is complicated by politics on and off campus. In Berkley, Calif., attempts to build more affordable student housing have been met with protests by area residents who want to preserve a universityowned park. These protests have stalled construction of a new dorm that would provide 1,100 units for low-income students

and an additional 100 units for the city’s unhoused.

They way in which many colleges and universities are going about building new housing also is problematic. More and more, schools are turning to private sector companies not only to build but also to run their campus housing. These developers are looking to maximize their returns and therefore promote the building of more profitable luxury housing. But these “premium residence halls” come with premium price tags.

Prioritizing amenities over affordability leaves students who cannot afford these more expensive luxury dorms without options during a time of housing scarcity.

In Philadelphia, “they want to take away Section 8 housing to make way for more upscale college apartments — that doesn’t solve the problem (of affordable housing) for either situation,” according to Chaplain and Director for Religious Life at Elizabethtown College Amy Shorner-Johnson speaking to BNG.

And creating separate university housing for the “haves” and “have-nots” further widens the socioeconomic divide within the school.

The problem with off-campus housing

Off-campus housing is traditionally a more affordable alternative for college students, but a decrease in available units coupled with an increase in rent is closing that door too. After the housing collapse of 2008, construction of multi-family units plummeted to levels not seen since the 1960s,

leaving the current housing market with 3.8 million fewer homes to rent or buy.

The Great Recession also left 10 million foreclosed homes in its wake. Some were converted into Airbnbs and removed from the long-term rental market. Millions more were scooped up by large private equity firms which now own such a significant percent of the market that they can essentially raise rents at will. The rise of these landlord oligarchies, coupled with a greatly reduced housing stock, leaves students with few affordable options and increasingly no options at all.

As imposing as these market forces are for all low-income renters, students face additional barriers. Near the UC Irvine campus, landlords currently require student applicants to list a guarantor who earns four times the monthly rent.

“It’s an absurd metric which weeds out a lot of marginalized, underprivileged students,” sociology major Adriana Lugo told the Los Angeles Times.

Bad timing for Pell grants

Many low-income students also depend on their financial aid packages for security deposits. However, federal rules prevent Pell grants from being issued earlier than 10 days before classes start. That left the 6.2 million students who were awarded grants in 20202021 scrambling for housing less than two weeks before school started.

Current funding rules fail students in other ways too. The total cost of attendance at a university determines the amount of funding a student receives. This total is comprised of direct costs like tuition and

fees, plus indirect costs such as books, transportation and housing. Because there is no set standard for calculating indirect costs, school administrators make what they consider to be reasonable guesses. Unfortunately, these guesses have not kept up with the realities of rising costs.

Indirect cost estimates are consistently off by as much as $3,000 for two-year colleges when compared to the MIT Living Wage Calculator. This difference means students are not receiving financial aid commiserate with their actual housing expenses, leaving one in five community college students in California housing insecure.

Some low-income students are eligible for the government’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8) if they are enrolled full time. However, if a student receives non-tuition grants to help with the cost of textbooks, a laptop, fees or even housing, those grants are counted as income, which can then put that student over the qualifying income limit. But even with a voucher, many local public housing developments refuse to accept student applications.

“You get less support from the government when you’re a student than when you’re not,” said Sara Goldrick-Rab, founder of the Hope Center at Temple University.

Finding solutions

Fortunately, some colleges and communities are finding ways to help.

Colleges in Colorado are adjusting the timing of housing deposits to better coincide with dispersal of students’ financial aid.

In Tacoma, Wash., community colleges partnered with the local housing authority to create the Tacoma Housing Assistance Program, which provides housing vouchers to full-time students who are housing insecure. So great is the need, however, there’s currently a six month wait for vouchers.

Tacoma also created the Collegiate Homesharing Program, matching students with residents who have rooms to rent. The program provides a screening service, conducts interviews and arranges background checks.

Even programs not directly focused on housing can reduce students’ expenditures, thereby freeing up money for rent. City University in New York provides free textbooks, tuition and metro cards for students who qualify. As of 2021, more than 700 universities had food pantries on campus and many have added seasonal free farmers’ markets. The nonprofit Swipe Out Hunger helps students at 450 colleges donate their unused meal credits to students who are food insecure.

What you and your church can do

Much more needs to be done. Individuals and organizations interested in helping students afford housing can lobby Congress to revise Section 8 rules that classify educational grants as income, so students aren’t forced to choose between financial aid and housing. They also can advocate for funding at the state level to build university housing focused on affordability as well as rental caps like the bill that created California’s Higher Education Student

Housing Grant. Alumni could encourage their alma maters to take the guesswork out of indirect cost estimates and use HUD’s Fair Market Rent data instead.

Churches can get involved as well. All who follow Jesus have a mandate to care for the marginalized. Low-income students, students of color, indigenous students, those who are immigrants or undocumented, students with dependents, foreign students far from home, and LGBTQ students are all more likely to be unhoused or at risk of losing their housing. Churches can help students in their area by providing access to food and other necessities. Period poverty is an especially unspoken hardship faced by menstruating students who are unhoused and one that often goes unaddressed.

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in California repurposed unused classrooms to create a homeless shelter for students and now provides beds, showers, laundry facilities and meals for 10 students from area colleges. The “Students 4 Students Shelter” was the idea of Louis Tse, a UCLA student who wanted to help his unhoused peers. After 50 houses of worship turned him down, Mt. Olive said “yes.”

“It’s what we should do based on God’s love for all people,” said pastor Eric Shafer There are currently 200 students on a waiting list for a bed at the student run shelter.

Students also need short-term housing during winter break and spring break when dorms and cafeterias are closed, forcing a growing number of students into housing and food insecurity. “Colleges take for granted … what students can afford,” Anthony Jack explained in his TED Talk. “What if you can’t afford to go home? Or what if you don’t

have a home to go to? Or what about, if for you, “hurt” and “home” are synonymous?”

At Elizabethtown College, Amy ShornerJohnson believes students need “soft places to land during breaks.”

Of course, what these students really need is adequate, accessible and affordable housing. One reason homelessness among college students persists and continues to grow is that these college students tend to be invisible.

“They don’t look like the homeless population we’re used to seeing,” Shafer said. “They couch-surf and take showers at the school gym.”

That’s why bringing the problem into the light is so very important. The more attention the student housing crisis receives, the sooner students’ needs can be met. And that needs to happen, for the good of us all.

College students need to “use their smarts on their books, not on finding a safe place to sleep every night,” said Students 4 Students founder Louis Tse. “There is immense human talent we are leaving on the table. You might be helping a future MacArthur ‘genius grant’ award winner, someone who’s majoring in the same field you studied, or someone who might save a life, maybe even yours or mine.”

Kristen Thomason is a freelance writer with a background in media studies and production. She has worked with national and international religious organizations and for public television. Currently based in Scotland, she has lived in Metro D.C. and Toronto, Canada. In addition to writing for Baptist News Global, Kristen blogs on matters of faith and social justice at viaexmachina.com.

#BETHEDIFFERENCE:

Mental Health First Aid Course Opens the 146th Annual Gathering

By Rev. Jevon Billups

This year, DCBC’s Annual Gathering at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland, opened with the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course, sponsored by a generous grant from the DCBC Foundation. Twentyfour participants responded to call to “be the difference” by becoming advocates, empowering their communities, and improving self-care and wellness. The participants, who completed the MHFA certification, represented 13 DCBC member churches, one nonmember church and one

higher education institution. To date, 26 DCBC member churches have either hosted courses or have leaders/member who have completed this training.

Several topics were discussed touching on a variety of mental health and wellness concerns from the pulpit to the pew and throughout the immediate communities where our congregations serve. The participants were equipped with techniques to navigate complicated discussions around more severe or chronic mental health challenges and respond to persons in crises,

Rev. Jevon Billups opens the 146th Annual Gathering at St. Stephen Baptist Church with the Mental Health FirstAid certification course.

(Photo: Marion Shipman, Sr.)

including panic attacks, substance use overdose, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and severe psychotic states. The conversations around the tables were very rich, robust, impactful, provocative and informative, as the participants exchanged ideas and learned how to help others help themselves. They engaged in several activities, small group discussions and worked through scenarios to strengthen their observation skills, recognize signs and symptoms, increase confidence when engaging someone showing concerns or distress, and become a vital link in helping others seek further assistance.

“I feel like this is the most worthwhile course I’ve ever taken,” shared one participant. Another said: “It has allowed me the opportunity to look at myself in this category of service from a more precautionary position,” and, another was thankful for the training.

Mental Health First Aid equips participants with the skills to be the first line of support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges or crises. The DCBC Foundation has graciously extended our grant opportunity another year, and DCBC would like to partner with your congregation to bring MHFA to your church or community. For more information about hosting or attending a course, email me at jevon.billups@dcbaptist.org.

Rev. Jevon Billups is an MHFA National Trainer and the DCBC Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator.

MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING

Darkness to Light

Darkness to Light (aka Stewards of Children®) is an evidence-informed, award-winning two-hour training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

Through interviews with child sexual abuse survivors, experts and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families and communities.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12–18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.

The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a fivestep action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD) and eating disorders.

2022 Annual Gathering Foundations of Coaching Session Recap

Rev.

for the audience in real-time. The audience was afforded the opportunity to observe Dr. Kessler masterfully explore some issues, settle on a topic for discussion and then use questions to narrow the conversation to the main point of concern.

Following the demonstration, there was a lively discussion with great audience engagement. The audience submitted questions and feedback via the online platform. Primarily, their questions centered on how to hold the person being coached accountable for their observations and intended actions, and how to solicit clients for coaching. They also asked about coaching certification requirements, and several attendees expressed interest in enrolling in the CAM 501 and 502 courses in the coming year. The attendees were polled about their one take away from the presentation, and we

More than 30 participants, both in-person and via livestream, attended the Foundations of Coaching session at the 2022 Annual Gathering. Rev. Dr. Ken Kessler presented an overview of CAM 501 Foundations for Christian Coaching, which included the benefits and differences between coaching, counseling, mentoring and consultation. Then Dr. Kessler and Rev. Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams conducted a coaching demonstration

received 17 responses including:

• “Coaching allows the coach to come alongside the one being coached as opposed to telling them what to do.”

• “It’s important to listen rather than advise.”

• “Coaching helps the person discover the direction in which they should go.”

• “Coaching is to create an equal relationship, when we do. No one is higher or lower, equal value.”

• “Coaching is a great tool to add to a Pastor’s tool box.”

Overall the session was well attended and the feedback was positive and encouraging. We were grateful for the opportunity to share this valuable resource.

Dr. Lisa Banks-Williams (left) and Rev. Dr. Ken Kessler conduct a coaching demonstration during their Foundations of Coaching session at the 2022 Annual Gathering. (Photo: Marion Shipman, Sr)

The 2022 DCBC Annual Gathering in Photos

Photos: Marion Shipman, Sr.

Mental Health Award recipients pictured here with Rev. Dr. Orlando Jermaine Bego, Sr. Pastor of CenterPoint Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. (far left) and DCBC Executive Director/Minister Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin (far right) are (left to right) Kyla Armstrong of First Baptist Church, Hyattsville; Minister Kendra Eastman of The

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church; Randi Drewry of Clifton Park Baptist Church; Rev. Skye Hallman McQuillan of Heritage Baptist Church; and Rev. Dr. Alethea Smith-Withers of Pavilion of God Baptist Church.

Americ A n B A pt ist Home m iss ion s oc ieties

Proudly stands with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention on the occasion of your 146 th Annual Gathering of Churches

As you press on toward further strengthening your member churches to advance God’s kingdom, we pray the Lord’s continued blessings upon your work, witness, and steadfast commitment to mission.

Howard University School of Divinity

DCBC thanks the following 2022 Annual Gathering Vendors/Exhibitors:

ABC Creation Justice Network Offers New Free On-Demand Training

The American Baptist Churches Creation Justice Network is excited to offer the ABCUSA Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador Training, a new four hour on-demand training available online, for individuals to complete on their own schedule.

The ABC Creation Justice Network worked directly with Blessed Tomorrow staff to create a training that highlights American Baptist work and lifts up partnering with others to inspire and empower clergy and congregations to advance climate justice. American Baptists can complete the ABCUSA Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador Training, learn positive steps, and begin to implement these today.

Individuals can complete this four-hour training online and on their own time through Blessed Tomorrow’s Learning Management System, and through it will strengthen knowledge about climate change, working for climate justice, and how to speak and advocate on the issue with confidence and

success. The training is FREE and comes with resources and the opportunity (within certain districts) to receive financial incentives for action and advocacy.

Access Our NEW On-Demand Training

Access instructions are included below:

• Go to: https://ecoamerica.litmos.com/selfsignup

• Enter you information and use the Code ABCUSABTAmbassador22 to register

• Then, check your email for the invitation to set up your profile and get started!

• You will have 6 weeks to complete the training and sign up as a Climate Ambassador. During this time, you will receive reminders from us to check-in on your progress.

Blessed Tomorrow is a program of ecoAmerica.

2022 North American Baptist Fellowship Annual Gathering Recap

This year’s North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) Annual Gathering took place October 24–25 at the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) offices in Falls Church, Virginia. DCBC was well represented by James Barbour, DCBC Emergency Response/Disaster Coordinator, who leads NABF’s Disaster Response Efforts; Robert Cochran, who serves as the NABF Treasurer; and Patricia Hernandez and Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin, who serve on NABF’s General Council.

In January 2023, Rev. Emmett Dun, with the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, will be the new NABF President, Rev. Dr. Manarin will be a Vice-President and Rev. Hernandez will be an At-Large Member of the General Council.

BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown brought greetings to those gathered to explore this year’s theme — Seeking Hope. One of the highlights of the meeting saw the Chin Baptist Association of North America formally welcomed as an NABF member. Their Assistant General

NABF General Secretary, Rev. Jeremy Bell, far left, is pictured (from left to right) with Chin Baptist Association of America Rev. Dr. San No Thuan, Chair of the Chin Baptist Association of America Rev. Sa Tin Lal and Julie Justus Williams with the Baptist World Alliance. (Photo: Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin)

Secretary is DCBC Pastor San No Thuan of Falam Baptist Church in Frederick, Maryland. It was a great time of celebration!

Mental health, church revitalization and creation care were the centerpieces of the first day of learning, followed by the business meeting. Each of these sessions was presented by distinguished experts in the field: Rev. Daniel Whitehead of Canada, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, shared about this organization, an “international charity…whose mission is to resource communities of faith to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing.” Rev. Whitehead was delighted that the next day, DCBC’s Jevon Billups would lead Mental Health First

Aid training. On the subject of church revitalization, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Smith, Director of Church Health Strategy for the Texas Baptists; and Rev. Dr. Daynette SneadPerez, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Domestic Disaster Response Manager and CEO and President of DIASPRA, “an intercultural ministry focused on equipping churches in building new relationships with their own communities,” presented two very different perspectives and ideas for engaging the community and reaching out with the Good News. And, world-renown climate scientist, Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor at Texas Tech University, shared a compelling message about loving your neighbor by caring for the earth.

On the second day of the meeting, in addition to the continuation of Mental Health First Aid training, each of the NABF networks

— Scholars Collaboration Network, Disaster Relief Network, and Creation Care Network

— was given time to share updates, encourage collaboration and make new connections with the larger group. The day ended with an information-packed and inspiring presentation by DCBC’s Grant Writing Instructor and Consultant, Stephen Broyles.` Those present were moved to explore grant writing.

A wonderful way to learn from others across Canada and the United States is by connecting with one or more of the NABF networks at https://nabfellowship.org/ You can also learn more about the networks by reaching out to one of our DCBC members who is connected with this wonderful group.

DCBC Emergency Response/Disaster Coordinator, James Barbour.

(Photo: Rev. Dr. Trisha Miller Manarin)

DCBC NOTABLES

DCBC shares the following notable events in the lives of its members…

We congratulate the following congregations and individuals celebrating anniversaries, church dedications and other accomplishments:

 Baltimore Falam Baptist Church, a DCBC member, which changed its name to Emmanuel Myanmar Baptist Church and its Pastor, Rev. James Nei Thaun. On October 30, the congregation held an opening and dedication ceremony at the church building, which it bought, in Mount Airy, Maryland. (Photos provided by Rev. Dr. San No Thuan)

Present at the October 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Emmanuel Myanmar Baptist Church in Mount Airy, Maryland, are (left to right): Rev. Dr. San No Thuan, Rev. James Nei Thuan, Rev. Deborah M.C. Eachran, Rev. R. No Bual Hrang, and Rev. Jacob Rodawla.

(Photo provided by Rev. Dr. San No Thuan)

Rev. R. No Baul Hrang (center) receives a plaque and letter during the dedication ceremony from Rev. James Nei Thuan (left) and Rev. Dr. San No Thuan. (Photo provided by Rev. Dr. San No Thuan)

 Broadneck Baptist Church in Annapolis, Maryland, led by Pastor Abby Thornton Hailey, which celebrated its 40th anniversary on October 16 and held a celebration dinner on October 15.

DCBC NOTABLES

 Powerhouse Baptist Churchin Beltsville,Maryland,ledbypastors Rev.Geoffreyand Mrs. Lucy Gatambia, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 16.



Metropolitan Outreach Ministries in Fort Washington, Maryland, which celebrated its 25th church anniversary and Pastoral Anniversary of Pastor Bishop Anthony Brown on October 29 and 30

 Rev. Larrin Robertson, Pastor of Word For Life Church Ministries in Fort Washington, Maryland, who celebrated his 5th Pastoral Anniversary on October 7.



Paramount Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., led by Rev. Kenneth Rioland, Jr., which celebrated its 115th anniversary on November 27.

Some 100 turkeys were distributed for Thanksgiving at DCBC headquarters on November 22. DCBC Executive Director/Minister Rev. Dr. Miller Manarin, along with Rev. Daryl Washington (St. Mary’s Baptist Church), Deacon James Barbour (DCBC) and Reginald Johnson (Upper Room Baptist Church), helped with the distribution.

(Photo: Loretta Polite-Shipman)

1 Prayer Gathering* | Stewardship Mtg. 6 Ordination Council 14 Chapel/Staff Mtg. 15 Christmas Cookie Drop-In 19-30 DCBC Offices Closed 24 Christmas Eve 25 Christmas Day 31 New Year’s Eve/Watch Night 1 New Year’s Day 2 New Year’s Day Observed | DCBC Closed 5 Prayer Gathering* 10 Pastors Chat (Zoom; 10 a.m.) 11 Chapel/Staff Mtg. 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance | DCBC Closed 17-19 Staff Training Days 21 Board Member/Committee Member Orientation – Baptist Bldg. 2 Prayer Gathering* 4 Mental Health First Aid Training First BC Silver Spring (9 am-3 pm) 6 Grant Writing Class (TBD) 8 Chapel/Staff Mtg. 11 Mental Health First Aid Training Village Baptist Church-Bowie (9 am-3 pm) 13 Grant Writing Class (TBD) 20 Presidents Day | DCBC Closed) 22 Ash Wednesday 25 Justice Forum (9 am – 3 pm.; 19th St. Baptist Church) 27 Grant Writing Class (TBD)

* Prayer Gatherings are held weekly on Thursdays at 8:25 a.m., except for the following Thursdays in December: 12/15, 12/22 and 12/29.

e vent theme: For Such a Time as This, inspired by the Hebrew Bible story of Esther, invites participants into an active engagement with the needs, concerns, and God-presented opportunities in our current time that would lead to deeper and fuller pursuit of our shared mission as American Baptists.

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Church Mission Giving

For the Eleven Months Ended November 30, 2022

The Convention recognizes that the giving cycles of each church are different. Some give monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

DCBC - 65%; Coop - 35%

Churches

Agape Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Agape Bible Christian Fellowship $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00

Alafia Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00

Allow God Deliverance Min., Intl. $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $300.00

American Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $100.98 $0.00 $4,183.62 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $764.40 $5,049.00

Berean Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Broadneck Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,446.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,446.00

Broadview Baptist Church $0.00 $4,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00

Brookmont Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $600.00

Buenas Nuevas de Salvacion $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $200.00

Calvary Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Calvary Burmese Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,200.00

Carmody Hills Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00

CenterPoint Missionary Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00

Chin Baptist Mission Church $0.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,000.00

Church in Bethesda $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00

Church of Restoration, The $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00

Church of the Great Annointing $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $200.00

Clifton Park Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,333.30 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,333.30

Commonwealth Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00

Dayspring Community Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,300.00

Dominion Life Center $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $75.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $146.80 $221.80

East Washington Heights Baptist $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,400.00

Faith Shepherd Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

Falam Baptist Church, Maryland $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

Fellowship Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,300.00 $75.00 $100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,475.00

First Baptist Church of Silver Spring $0.00 $286.39 $0.00 $0.00 $12,242.52 $0.00 $1,231.33 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $13,760.24

First Baptist Church Of the City of Washington DC $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,750.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,750.00

First Baptist Church/Camp Springs $0.00 $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,805.98 $0.00 $520.25 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,626.23

Forest Heights Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $813.14 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $813.14

Fort Foote Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $41,389.00 $0.00 $0.00 $308.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $41,697.00

Glory Baptist Church (Korean) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $100.00

Greater Spiritual Fellowship Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $175.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $175.00

Heritage Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00

Hillandale Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,200.00

Israel Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Lai Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00

Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $673.75 $0.00 $5,613.00 $1,347.50 $2,021.25 $0.00 $149.00 $0.00 $0.00 $9,804.50

Maryland Baptist Church (Tedim Chin) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,100.00 $0.00 $450.00 $0.00 $450.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,000.00

Metropolitan Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,050.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,050.00

Metropolitan Outreach Ministry $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Montgomery Hills Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $7,100.00 $0.00 $3,571.00 $338.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $12,509.00

Morning Star Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00

Mt. Airy Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $550.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $550.00

Mt. Carmel Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

Mt. Gilead Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,200.00

Nations United Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6,169.35 $0.00 $645.74 $0.00 $13,749.44 $0.00 $0.00 $20,564.53

New Bethel Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

Nineteenth Street Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00

Norbeck Community Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $150.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $750.00

Olive Branch Community Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $400.00

Paramount Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,380.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,380.00

Pathways Baptist Church $0.00 $5,400.00 $2,420.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,980.00 $1,000.00 $2,120.00 $1,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $16,520.00

Pilgrim Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Power House Baptist Church $50.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $450.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $450.00

Church Mission Giving (continued)

For the Eleven Months Ended November 30, 2022

The Convention recognizes that the giving cycles of each church are different.

Some give monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

DCBC - 65%; Coop - 35%

100% Designated

Churches UNIFIED COOP ABC COOP CBF COOP PNBC DCBC CBF ABC NCAMO BWA JBCC

MISC

Purity Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Ravensworth Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $450.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $450.00

Rehoboth Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $600.00

Resurrection Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $800.00

Rivers of Joy Bible Fellowship Church $0.00 $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,100.00 $0.00 $0.00 $200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,600.00

Riverside Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,150.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,150.00

Saint Mary's Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00

Salem Gospel Ministries (Silver Spring) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Second Baptist Church SW $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,400.00

Siyin-Chin Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $700.00 $0.00 $300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00

Takoma Park Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $7,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $300.00 $7,800.00

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

University Baptist Church/College Park $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $485.00 $9,346.84 $0.00 $10,430.87 $320.00 $0.00 $0.00 $8,026.22 $28,608.93

Upper Room Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $500.00

Vienna Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,300.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,300.00

Village Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,900.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,900.00

Walker Memorial Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00

Washington Plaza Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $250.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $250.00

West Hyattsville Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $250.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,250.00

Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $1,105.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $5,105.00

Word for Life Church Ministries $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00

$50.00 $11,786.39 $4,593.75 $985.00 $184,140.11 $5,402.50 $26,059.06 $4,186.00 $15,948.44 $0.00 $11,237.42 $264,338.67

2023 Publication Schedule & Article Deadlines

Issue Article Submission Deadline

February – March 2023 Wednesday, January 9

April – May 2023 Wednesday, March 1

June – July 2023 Monday, May 1

August – September 2023 Monday, June 26

October – November 2023 Friday, September 1

December 2023 – January 2024 Monday, October 30

Article Submission Guidelines.

• All submissions should be sent as a Word document with one-inch margins on all sides. No PDFs, please.

• All articles should be typed in 12 pt. font, double-spaced and limited to 400 to 600 words

• All articles should feature original content and be previously unpublished, unless reprint permission is provided. Please also provide a brief author bio in the following format: “[Author name is [job title] at [name of church/org. (email address or social media handle –optional).”

• Please provide a photo credit in the following format for any images you provide to help illustrate your article: “Photo courtesy of [name of photographer or owner of image].” Please provide the names of all persons featured in a picture listed from left to right. Please also provide background information about the image: the who, what, why, when, where.

• All articles are subject to editing and may be held for a future issue.

• Article submissions that do not meet the guidelines may not be accepted or will be returned for appropriate editing.

• Please email article submissions to cb@dcbaptist.org Address questions/comments to Sonia Myrick, Capital Baptist Editor at cb@dcbaptist.org.