YOUR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
“And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:24-25).
Did you know that over 900 churches close their doors annually? While we have been active in our Association in strategically planting new churches, the fact is that many of our churches have seen an attendance decline over the years. Some churches are unable to pay a pastor, or compensate him properly. Many of our churches struggle to attract young people or young families in their neighborhoods or communities.
CHURCHES HELPING CHURCHES 2017 Annual Meeting Blue Ridge Baptist Association
Some are having trouble paying their bills in a timely manner. Too many churches are disengaged from the community. Ask yourself this question: "“Would the community notice if our church closed its doors?"
The BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION issued a challenge in 2016 to ALL of our churches that they should be DIRECTLY INVOLVED in either: * assisting a new church plant, * helping a church with a restart or * giving a helping hand to a church in need of assistance.
Our 2017 Annual meeting will be focused on accomplishing just that. Even the smallest church can band together with other churches in our region to provide needed help and support to a sister congregation. T.S. Elliott once wrote: The true Church can never fail. For it is based upon a rock. As we help one another - we can fulfill the calling of God for His church in the BRBA. We hope to see you on October 9th at First Baptist of Hagerstown. Pre-registration begins at 6:30 PM
DISASTER RELIEF PROJECT—SEPTEMBER 9-16 FIELD AND STREAM DAY— AUGUST 26 Gary Buchman, retired pastor from Emmittsburg Community Bible Church is coordinating a field and stream day event…
South End Baptist Church will be going to Procious, WV September 9-16 to repair church roofing from flooding damage. We are looking for any other association members who are interested in helping with this relief project. Are you interested? Please contact Ruby Zecher for more information at 301-514-1809.
BRBA has a new RECOVERY TRAILER that will need to be outfitted with shelving and storage compartments for equipment for recovery efforts. Anyone with skills and a desire to help should contact Al Caho at acaho@verizon.net or 301-788-3530
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BAPTIST CONVENTION OF MD/DE The Mid-Maryland Baptist Association will host a “Field and Stream Day” on August 26 at Friendly Farms,Upperco. There will be an orientation at 8 am followed by a shooting demonstration, a time for all to practice with clay birds, followed by an archery demonstration and archery shooting. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 10 to 15. There is no charge for children under 10. The fee covers lunch, which includes family favorites in addition to game meats such as venison and buffalo. All are welcome. For more information or to register, check out the website.
We support missions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions and through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. And through our Maryland/Delaware State Missions Offering. Every year in September, churches in the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware unite together to pray and financially support ministries that reach people in unique ways. Did you know 100% of all funds supports local evangelism projects? Projects like camp evangelism at Skycroft Conference Center’s beautiful 300-acre campus. Here, thousands of campers meet Christ, mature in their faith, and develop into Kingdom leaders. It’s also where churches and other groups retreat and learn year-round. Did you know that church planting has been a commitment of Baptists in our area since 1836? The State Missions Offering helps church planters and replanters in ways not provided for through our national partners. There are over 400,000 college students in our area. Collegiate outreach is a ministry we value! Since this ministry is no longer financially supported by our national partners, funds from the State Missions Offering go to equipping our churches to reach this huge mission field. One of our greatest “love your neighbor” ministries is disaster relief. When we serve those affected by natural disasters we demonstrate the love of Jesus. This offering provides much needed resources for volunteer training and equipment upkeep. The State Missions Offering also helps churches serve today’s largest unreached people group: families affected by special needs. An estimated 62 million Americans have a disabling condition, yet less than 2% of American churches have any kind of disability outreach.
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We invite you to support your state mission efforts through prayer, using the Maryland/ Delaware State Missions Offering prayer guide, and through your united giving. Thank you.
FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS ARE YOU DE-STRESSING THIS SUMMER? In our culture, summertime is a time of recreation, family trips and vacations, and regeneration. I have fond memories of my childhood summers when we would spend a week at the ocean in Wildwood Crest NJ, and visiting family in the Northern neck of Virginia. When the family wasn't getting respite together, I could be found riding my bike with friends, and spending time in the neighborhood community pool. I'd like to think that summers were as stress free for my parents as they seemed to me as a kid, but the truth of the matter was that I'm sure that wasn't the case. Planning trips, packing and unpacking, paying for retreats and camping excursions, and keeping track of kids who were out of school - all probably added more stress to their lives than normal. If you are finding that your summer has more stress than rest - here are a few thoughts and scriptures that might help you have a wonderful, restful summer experience with the time that you have left: It may seem that easy summers are long gone for you, but sometimes you can plan for respite even when life around you is hectic chaos. God promises He will help us with whatever we face: "The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace" (Psalm 29:11). There are several keys to God’s peace overriding the busyness of life. When we remember to focus on God’s sweet goodness, we can proactively manage and achieve a wonderful summertime. In fact - you can receive God’s calm in ANY busy or stressful time of the year. Try these practical exercises to keep stress at bay:
Focus on all the good things God has done for you and your family so far this year, instead of the challenges ahead. Pray for God’s peace when the demands of family and life seem overwhelming. Ask God to give you rest and strength when you begin to feel stretched thin and worn out. Take daily mini-vacations. Try to set aside five to 30 minute segments to stretch and take a break, staying committed to your time in God’s Word and prayer every day. When you take days off from your work or daily routine, unplug completely - NO phone calls, emails, text messages, instant messages, or social media. Do something for yourself once a week: a nice hot bath, read a good book, spend time outdoors reveling in God's creation, or take a much needed nap.
Don't let stress heat up in the summer sun. Stay cool in your spirit. Depend on God, seeking a daily infusion of His strength and peace. Psalm 13:6 says, "I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms — I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers." (MSG)
Critical Incident Stress Management: Assisting Individuals in Crisis Training Dr. Naomi K. Paget, Chaplain and Crisis Interventionist, will be coming to our area to do a training called Clinical Incident Stress Management (CISM): Assisting Individuals in Crisis. We would like to offer this training to anyone who works in the fields of Crisis Intervention, Disaster Response, Education, Emergency Services, Employee Assistance, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Human Resources, Mental Health, Military, Spiritual Care, Transportation, Chaplaincy or Traumatic Stress. The training will be held on
Friday, September 15 and Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Attendance is required for both days to receive credit and a certificate. It will be held at: South Columbia Baptist Church, 8814 Guilford Road, Columbia, MD 21046. Please note that we are offering a 10% discount for our DR volunteers. Volunteer status will be verified after each registration. $100.00 is the early registration rate. After August 25, 2017, the rate will increase to $125.00. Walk-ins will be accepted but must have $125.00 cash. Materials and lunch for both days will be provided.
Proverbs 8:30 will also serve you well, "Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence." (NIV)
If you, or anyone from the association, would like to register you can go to the website.
May the remainder of your summer be a blessed one! Pastor Bruce Conley, Director of Missions
http://bcmd.org/cism
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WELCOME JOE DALY, NEW BRBA YOUTH MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Want to let others know what’s happening in your church? Want to know what other churches are doing? Like to gain ideas from others’ events?
Let Us Know! BRBA will add your events to our newsletter and calendar
Does this button look familiar?
The BRBA office is desperately trying to update our records and we need your help!
Please complete the church contact form so we might complete our directory…… Why birth dates? Why anniversaries? Our Director of Missions likes to honor these special occasions in your lives! Thank you for your help! If you no longer have the form, please contact Joi Hilton, BRBA Admin. Assistant at 240-818-8760 or joi@blueridgebaptist.org
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Joe Daly, Youth Director at South End Baptist Church, is the new youth director for the BRBA. His job will be to develop and coordinate youth activities within the BRBA. So many of our churches have smaller youth groups and getting together regularly with other member churches just makes sense! IT allows us within the association to pool resources, forge friendships among our students and go a long way to develop our individual youth programs. Joe is anxious to develop programs on a regular basis in which his youth at South End and local association youth can extend Christian friendships, realizing that they do not walk this faith-trek alone. Joe lives in Frederick and is father to Alicia, Noah and Joey (ages 32, 20 & 12) as well as grandfather to Gia and Mickey. He is a 25 year veteran teacher for Frederick County Public Schools where he currently teaches 6th and 7th grades at Thomas Johnson Middle School. He has been actively involved in youth ministry for 33 years. As anyone who has ever been involved with young people in any way knows, there has never been a more critical time for student ministry. The time is short and we need to actively work in their lives. Joe invites you to bring your youth to walk alongside others in this amazing Micah 6:8 walk! Feel free to contact Joe at: day74@verizon.net or 301-694-8340 or 301-639-3047(c). __________________________________________________
ASSOCIATION PRAYER REQUESTS Eli Choy and Family - new church planter in Urbana. Donna Gregory - recent stomach cancer diagnosis. Surgery scheduled at Washington Hospital Center on August 11, 2017. Pray for guidance and wisdom of the surgeon. Tim Kraynack - Pastor of Berks Bible Church in Reading, PA; cancer no longer in remission and undergoing tough treatment. Pray for healing and comfort during treatment. Association Churches - pray for your sister association churches as some are in transition or in times of difficulty.
NAME CHANGE Pastor Joe Engel reports that Emmittsburg Community Bible Church has changed its name to
EMMITTSBURG COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH Want to know what is happening on a month to month basis? Sign up for our email newsletter. __________________________________________________
NEW UPCOMING EVENTS
THE 1 ANNUAL BRBA BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLOWOUT! ST
When: Friday, August 25th 1:00-6:00pm BRBA Student Ministries wants to get our youth together! Simply bring your youth, a chaperone or two, & food and drinks for your group….. Let’s enjoy an afternoon of swimming, games, fun and fellowship!
Beechnut Springs 10909 Wolfsville Road, Myersville RSVP no later than 8/17 to: Joe Daly BRBA Youth Ministry Coordinator Daly75@verizon.net or (301)639-3047
BIRTHDAYS AUGUST 1 1 3 6 8 8 11 11 12 12 13 14 16 19 25 30
R. Krauss Neff Jordan Housman Rose Simpson Smith Cherry Giles Myers C. Crawford T. Crawford Knight Cooper B. Krauss Eubanks
SEPTEMBER 1 5 6 11 11 18 23
Pope S. Rose Sumpter Beall Dukes McHenry Graves
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THE NEWS JOURNAL OF THE BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
You can subscribe to the online version of our newsletter at www.blueridgebaptist.org
Event Calendar August 6 - Social Issues Sunday August 13 - Student Evangelism Sunday August 19 - National Sunday School Director Seminar August 20-26 - Church Music Week August 25 - BRBA 1st Annual Back to School Youth Blowout September 3 - Single Adult Sunday September 4 - Labor Day September 6 - BRBA Pastor’s Breakfast September 10-16 - State Missions Week of Prayer September 15-16 - Critical Incident Stress Management Training
In the churches: August 7-11 - Smithsburg Valley Vacation Bible School September 10-15 - First Baptist Church Hagerstown Revival