Your June/July 2017
SBC ANNUAL MEETING 2017 IN PHOENIX The 2017 SBC Annual Meeting will take place in Phoenix, Arizona on June 13 and 14 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Equipping evangelists to minister in the 21st century will be the focus when the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists gathers in Phoenix in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting.
An evangelists’ retreat and business meeting June 9-10 at the Arizona Biltmore will be followed by a Sunday worship service hosted by Southern Baptist evangelists June 11 at First Southern
Baptist Church in Phoenix. A “Southwest Supper Sing-A-Long” June 12 will give pastors an opportunity to connect with evangelists.
The emphasis on evangelists’ work in the 21st century will include discussion of mentoring a new generation of evangelists and using technology to facilitate Gospel witness.
An evangelists booth in the SBC exhibit hall will help Southern Baptists understand the work of evangelists internationally and in North America and allow convention attendees to meet Southern Baptist evangelists.
Visit sbcannualmeeting.net for info.
THE FORGOTTEN PRINCIPLE OF ASKING From Bruce Conley Your Director of Missions When I was a child, I remember holding back asking my parents for things that I wanted or needed, because I felt like I was asking too much, or that they would get mad. In reality - most times neither was true, and my parents would have gladly listened to my request - and probably would have provided what I was asking for.
But I would never know if they would say YES or NO to my request, because I never made it of them. In the first part of James 4:2, Jesus said: "You want something but don’t get it." Then at the end of that scripture he explains why: "You do not have, because you do not ask God."
This a simple principle that so many of us overlook in daily life ... WE NEED TO ASK GOD for what we want, or feel that we need. In Phil. 4:6, Paul challenges us to "...make your petitions known to your heavenly Father ..."
Jesus also said in Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
This principle has always served me well as a administrator. Whether it was when I was a police Chief, or as a Baptist minister or denominational leader .... when there is a NEED - I ALWAYS ASK! The result has been that God has come through with provision in some AMAZING ways.
The season that we are in with the Blue Ridge Baptist Association is a typical example of this principle in action. We have been able to get grants and assistance this year that we NEVER would have received, if we hadn't ASKED, and then watched God work. Let me give you some practical examples:
A BRAND NEW DISASTER RELIEF / SEND RELIEF TRAILER
The oldest vehicle in our fleet is an older trailer that has been used for physical labor disaster relief. It has limited space on board for equipment because of it's size. It's functional, but has been in need of an upgrade for some time.
In 2016 NAMB said that they were going to be making available NEW trailers for Send Relief to State Conventions and Associations that had active ongoing disaster relief programs and had need. We prayed and felt that God was telling us to ASK for one of the new units. After some negotiations, we were told that BRBA would be getting one of the new longer trailers to replace our old DR recovery unit, and we're expecting it to make it's way from Alpharetta GA to Knoxville MD in June. Our total investment for a $9,000. trailer? $1,500 thanks to our ongoing partnership with the North American mission board!
GOD IS GOOD ..... ALL THE TIME!
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GRANT FOR A NEW (ADDITIONAL) BLOCK PARTY TRAILER For years we have had a problem in BRBA with our one block party trailer being overbooked with the great need that comes every summer, with VBS programs, backyard bible clubs, neighborhood outreaches, etc. As Director of Missions I hate to turn down ANY of our churches for use of a vehicle or equipment simply because someone else reserved the date before they could. In January, as part of our ongoing partnership with the Baptist Convention of MD / DE , we submitted for a STRENGTHENING CHURCHES GRANT that they open up to churches and associations yearly. We told them of our desire to put together a 2nd block party trailer, and we asked for them to give us $4,000. towards the contents, pledging that we would provide the trailer. The trailer that we plan to use will be the old Disaster Relief trailer once it is taken out of service and all the DR equipment is transferred to the new NAMB trailer. We were awarded the grant for $4,000. for block party contents, and we already own the trailer that will now have a new purpose and use. Cost to the Association? $ - 0 GOD IS GOOD ..... ALL THE TIME! GRANT TO HELP RE-STARTS AND REVITALIZATION IN EXISTING CHURCHES Over the last six + years I have been spending a lot of extra time helping churches that have been in decline to turn things around, and focus on church health and evangelism. As much as we believe in church planting, revitalization of our existing churches is a huge priority in BRBA, and many of our churches have already benefited from the extra time and attention that the DOM has invested in helping them to turn things around. An opportunity recently arose for us to request (ASK) for a grant for additional outside funding to help churches in decline to re-start, re-focus on church health, and revitalize. We were awarded that grant in May and received $12,000. which will be invested in the continued work of helping churches to get back on a growth and outreach track. GOD IS GOOD ...... ALL THE TIME!! My challenge to you is this ....... ASK! Many times we have not, because we ask not. Please don't fall into this trap. Make your petitions known to your heavenly Father, and then wait and see what He does.
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Engel Called to Emmitsburg Community Bible Church Rev. Joe Engel was voted in as the new pastor at Emmitsburg Community Bible Church on May 21, 2017. ECBC was started as a mission plant about 6 years ago by Gary and Debbie Buchman, Joe Engel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help the small church to embark on a new future of ministry and outreach in northern Frederick County.
Joe and his wife Rochelle live in the Frederick MD area.
Joe has been pastoring since 1972, and was ordained in 1976. He has served in churches in Iowa, Missouri, and Maryland. He has done mission revivals in India and Romania. He has studied at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Washington Bible College and Freedom University.
Pastor Engel has dedicated his life to proclaiming Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the joy and peace promised by God.
Joi Hilton New Administrative Assistant at BRBA Joi is a 1996 graduate of Liberty University. She worked professionally in the healthcare field for 15 years until she and her husband, Mike, were blessed with their two children, Lily Ann and Henry Michael. Joi is the daughter of retired pastor Larry Rickard at Paramount and she served in that church faithfully for many years. She lives in the Martinsburg area with her family.
Joi has been very involved in church ministry as a Sunday School teacher, VBS Director, choir member, outreach worker, van ministry coordinator and much more. Joi currently ministers as a member of the National Christian Choir based out of the D.C. metro area; she has been a member for more than six years.
Joi looks forward to working with church leaders and volunteers to ensure our many ministries run smoothly and to build relationships to help grow the BRBA ministry to touch lives for Christ.
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Faith Baptist Church Knoxville is also continuing to search for a full-time Senior Pastor. Please contact them at faithsbc.org for more information.
Chambersburg Baptist Church, a growing local church, is seeking a church music leader part time. This person would lead the church choir and congregation in both traditional and contemporary worship services. Submit resume' by e-mail preferably to cbcsbc@embarqmail.com or to PO Box 43, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
BRBA is still looking for a part time Summer Missionary to help our churches with their various programs. Please contact Bruce Conley at bruce@blueridgebaptist.org
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Dear Fellow Servant,
Something new is happening. After pastoring for over thirty-five years, God has led Debbie and me into full time missions. We have been accepted by Churches in Missions (CiM). For the last 25 years, short term missions and supporting missionaries has been a significant part of our ministry. Then in these last six years, our Lord has shown us the need to care for pastors and pastor’s wives. CiM is a ministry that focuses on both of these important areas.
As we begin this new venture for our Lord, we are looking for churches, pastors and individuals whom God will touch to partner with us in prayer and financial support.
1) Assisting Churches in experiencing Short Term Mission Trips. CiM will show you areas of need and opportunity and lead the administrative aspects of these trips. This frees you and the mission team to focus on ministry.
2) Encouraging pastors and their wives here and abroad. We would like to come alongside pastor couples to encourage them to “finish well”.
For anyone interested in beginning a financial partnership with us, you can use the enclosed envelope or our website listed above. Your gift is taxdeductible & used as designated. We’d love to have you on the team!
Partners enable us to help churches understand their potential for short term missions and provide needed encouragement for pastors and wives.
The focus of our new ministry is described to the left in the sidebar of this letter.
I will call you next week to see the possibility of sharing our new journey. We are excited to share how God has led and blessed. I cherish the opportunity.
I earnestly look forward to the opportunity to sit with you and hear how God has blessed you and your ministry.
Excited,
Gary & Debbie
410-259-1490 buchman.cim@gmail.com
Gifts sent to: P.O. Box 51519, Durham, NC 27717
Or use our safe and convenient site: www.churchesinmissions.org
Designate for Gary & Debbie Buchman
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Congratulations to Christopher Neff (pastor - Greenbriar) and his wife Jenny on the birth of Charity Anna Charity Anna Neff born June 2, 2017 @ 3:59am; weighing in at 8lbs. 2oz., and 20 inches - praise the Lord.
Want to know what is going on on a month to month basis? Sign up for our email newsletter. Go to blueridegebaptist.org/newsletter and you can get Your 411 in your inbox!
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Youth Mission Trip to
July 29 - August 5 Blue Ridge Baptist Association is partnering with Ocean City Baptist Church and the Eastern Baptist Association to sponsor a youth mission trip to Ocean City, MD. Teams will be working with the church to do outreach to the local community.
The church likes to embrace the recreational focus of the resort community by hosting sports camps for children, surf lessons, Vacation Bible School and sports on the beach. Thousands of young adults from around the world also come to Ocean City for summer employment through a cultural exchange program. We oer meals, Conversational English classes and a variety of fun activities for them in their free time.
The cost of the trip is $300 per person, some scholarships are available. We are in need of 4 chaperones, 2 men and 2 women who’s trip will be covered. If you are interested in participating in the trip, please contact Bruce Conley at 301-821-0370 or
bruce@blueridgebaptist.org. We are in need of 4 chaperones, 2 men and 2 women.
BRBA, South End, and FBC Brunswick are partnering together to present
an ALL ABOUT KIDS PRODUCTIONS Camp, a performing arts day camp for kids going in to grades 2 to 8. The camp will take place at SEBC from July 23 - 28. Kids can expect great music, theatre games, drama, stage choreography, some hard work, lots of laughter, new friends, and Bible study that ties all the pieces together. The week ends with a Friday night show.
The cost is $139 per student. Scholarships are available. For more information and registration, visit https://lamplightartists.com/camps.
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Donna Gregory Needs our Help Friends of Donna Smith Gregory want to assist her during this very difficult time of stomach cancer treatment and ongoing persistent AFIB health issues.
The money raised will be used to help Donna pay for the overwhelming medical bills, traveling expenses, and household bills coming in that the health insurance does not cover and since she is unable to work at this time.
Donna has grown up and worked in the Boonsboro/Frederick area and has volunteered extensively with youth and children's ministries, generously helping others her whole adult life. She was secretary at both Faith and FBC Hagerstown.
Please keep Donna in your prayers and make a donation to offer encouragement to whittle down the overwhelming distressful financial situation, as it continues to mount during her cancer treatment.
Fund raising info. for Donna Gregory:
Saturday, June 17 from 5-8pm: Roy Rogers Fundraiser on Rt. 85, (across from Lowe’s)-5622 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick MD. 21704 and (correction from previous email) they will donate 25% of each order, if the customer asks to please credit to the Donna Gregory Fund when placing their order.
Saturday, July 8 from 12-3pm: Texas Roadhouse Restaurant at 5101 Pegasus Ct., Frederick,
Texas Roadhouse Restaurant will donate 10%, if customer brings a flyer for checkout to credit the Donna Gregory Fund. There will also be bake sale items for purchase at a table at the restaurant FBO Donna Gregory.
Saturday, September 30 from 6-8pm: Dinner and Silent Auction FBO Donna Gregory Cancer Treatment Fund at the Faith Baptist Church Family Life Center 2212 Jefferson Pike, Knoxville, MD. 21758
If you would like to make a donation to help Donna, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/cancertreatment-for-donna-gregory
PNC Bank - Attn: Amber Ault, 1300 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick, MD. 21716, FBO Donna Gregory Fund. Please put in the memo on the check: FBO Donna Gregory Fund and Amber will be sure to deposit it appropriately.
Also, any donation checks or gift cards can also be mailed directly to:
Donna Gregory at 1345 Marker Road, Middletown, MD. 21769.
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Event Calendar NO PASTORS BREAKFAST FOR JUNE/JULY June 10 - Crossover−SBC, Phoenix, AZ
Birthdays JUNE
1 17 27 28 30
John Koontz
Kathy Rickard
Duane Musgrove
Joanne Jordan
Nancy Knight
June 25 - Mission:Dignity Sunday
July
4 6 18 19
Gary Buchman
Michael Cooper
Bruce Conley
Amy Rainey
July 4 - Independence Day
Anniversary
June 2 - Mother Daughter Camp
June 8 June 8 June 11 June 12 June 18 June 20 June 28 June 28 June 29 June 29
Oyerly
Musgrove
Marsico
Pope
Hamilton
Eubanks
Rich
Buchman
Sumpter
Daly
July 4 July 18 July 21 July 23 July 23 July 30
Wills
Jordan
Heishman
Beall
Stalls
Rainey
July 9 - 14 - Western Baptist Association annual youth retreat in Hedgesville, WV (open to BRBA too!) June 13-14 - Southern Baptist Convention, Phoenix, AZ June 18 - Baptist Men's Emphasis June 18 - -Father’s Day
July 7 - Girls Camp July 9 - Boys Camp July 23 - 28 - ALL ABOUT KIDS PRODUCTIONS Camp at South End in Frederick July 29 - August 5 - BRBA SUMMER YOUTH MISSION TRIP to Ocean City
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In the Churches North Star - Ijamsville: The church will be sending a mission team to Guatemala from June 10 - 17.
Berkeley Baptist - Berkeley Springs, WV: The church will host their VBS from July 23 - 28.
First Baptist Church - Brunswick: The church will be partnering with BRBA and South End to host an All About Kids Production Camp from July 23-28.
The Youth from Summit Trace Church will be leading the worship service on July 9.
South End - Frederick: The church will host their vacation Bible school from June 19 - 23.
They will be offering a High Impact Soccer Camp from July 10 - 14.
SEBC will host an All About Kids Production Camp from July 23-28.
Faith Baptist Church - Knoxville: The church youth group will be on missions to Bruce Outreach Center in Western Association is June 25 - July 2.
First Baptist Church - Thurmont: The church will host their VBS from July 19 - 23.
Church members will be going on a mission trip to Memphis, TN June 24 - July 1.
NOTE: PLEASE LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR VBS AND OTHER PROGRAMS SO WE CAN HELP YOU PROMOTE THEM. !11
Prayer Requests: Donna Gregory - has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Please pray God will provide healing and finances to pay the medical bills. Pray for Pastor Tim Kraynak - Pastor of Berks Bible Church in Reading, PA who had been getting glowing reports about his cancer being in remission, but now the oncologist says that since the last surgery the pancreatic mass has nearly tripled in growth and his liver which was declared "clean" has 50+ spots. It only had 5 in this last year. Pray for Tim's recovery and healing. and that the cancer has not spread through his body through his blood. Faith Baptist Church - as the continue to search for a new senior pastor. First Baptist of Brunswick - as they look at renovating their bellower and fixing their foundation. They are also in the process of revising and updating their constitution and by-laws. Eli Choi and his family - as they work to launch a new church in Urbana. Also pray for their sponsor church Summit Trace. Brian and Michelle Hamilton - as the begin the process to adopt a little girl from southeast Asia.
Praise Reports: Phil and Kristie Graves - have finished their adoption process and their new daughter Elliana is home and doing very well adjusting to her new family. Joe Engel - has accepted the call to become the new pastor at Emmitsburg Joi Hilton - has accepted the position as the BRBA’s new administrative assistant. Chris and Jennifer Neff’s new baby girl The two grants that we received to help us as we minister in the BRBA.
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THE NEWS JOURNAL OF THE BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
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