Your 411 News for Blue Ridge Baptists by Phil Graves

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013

YOUR 411

News for Blue Ridge Baptists

2013 BRBA Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association will be on Monday evening, October14th, 2013 at 7:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Frederick. We urge representatives from YOUR church to support this vital event and set the pace for ministry in our 4+ county region for years to come! Together we will celebrate what God is doing in and around the churches in our region, including: • • • • • • • • • •

new church plants strengthening churches Association sponsored mission trips ministry networking groups new resources available to our churches regional partnering with other Associations and churches reports from local church planting catalysts missionary updates virtual office report future plans for greater effectiveness in local missions

Please come out and support your Association as we gather together to celebrate God's movement in Blue Ridge churches. There will be a time for refreshments and fellowship following the meeting. This year’s meeting is hosted by First Baptist Church of Frederick located at 7040 Bowers Rd, Frederick, MD. For more information contact Mae at the Association office via email mae@blueridgebaptist.org or by phone at 240-818-8760. We look forward to seeing a great number of our churches represented at this important meeting.

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FALL, FINANCES, and AFFIRMING (your Pastor) - A MESSAGE FROM OUR DOM. See page 2 for more information.

FALL, FINANCES, and AFFIRMING (your Pastor) From Bruce Conley Your Director of Missions

I love the approach of the Fall season. I like the cooler temperatures, the onset of the leaves changing, getting back into the routine of school for the kids, and looking forward to the holidays that approach towards the year’s end. I also know that Fall is a time when our local churches and organizations work on their budget preparations for the coming fiscal year. As your stewardship committees and financial leaders work on your church budget for 2014, I would ask you to consider the following information: Social security recipients, civilian and military retirees received a 1.7% cost of living increase in January 2013. The 2014 COLA rate for those people in the coming year is projected to be 1.5% however there is no way to actually know at this time what will be implemented. Unfortunately - most Federal Government employees had their salaries frozen in place last year, and many also had to take up to 10 furlough days without pay due to sequestration. It’s almost as if the government is saying to people in their employ: “We know that the cost of living has gone up, but we are reducing your effective living salaries by not giving that adjustment to you”. While I do understand the reasons why our government has gotten into the fix they find themselves in (large budget deficits and continued out of control spending mandate some action) – I also think that this is not the best model for the church to follow as you consider how you should best take care of your ministerial staff. The scriptures tells us that "the workman is worthy of his hire" (1 Tim. 5:18). This simply means that consistent with the revealed heart of God – we need to offer fair wages to anyone in our employ. Our pastors and ministerial staff work hard to minister to and meet the needs of the local body of Christ in each church. Of course – we also know that many churches have limited resources to provide for salaries and benefits for church staff. It is my hope that your entire church, (not just your stewardship leaders) will engage in a time of prayer as considerations are made regarding what you will pay your staff in the year ahead. It is my belief that unless your church at a minimum provides for a cost of living increase for your pastor(s) – then you are effectively DECREASING their salaries for the coming year. DON'T FORGET too - that PASTOR APPRECIATION SUNDAY this year is October 13th, 2013 - with Lifeway recommending that the entire month of October be used to show love, and appreciation to your pastor(s). Please keep in mind though that gifts of love and appreciation on a one time basis are no substitute for reasonable budget planning - where you make sure your ministerial staff and their families are being properly supported and taken care of. The BRBA office stands ready to assist your church if you need any further assistance in your budget planning process. May God richly bless your church family as you plan for the future!

Rev. Bruce Conley Director of Missions

ANNUAL CHURCH PROFILE WARNING: You may be entering unfamiliar territory. Some confusion is normal. But we'll get through it together. Yikes, it’s that time of year again.Yeah, I know, the only thing more boring than recording statistics is the aggravation of hounding them out of the people who have them locked away in a drawer somewhere. But many of the churches in our Association have been or are currently funded by the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and they're counting on us to do this. Ultimately, this touches us all. The deadline we've set for submission of the Annual Church Profile in BRBA is November 22, 2013. If you are set up to submit the data online go ahead and follow the instructions. The passwords you used in past years haven’t changed, but you can contact me for them if needed. Or if you need someone to input it for you just get the survey to me and I'll take it from there. And if all else fails request our short form, and we’ll assist you in filling it out. We need you to gather and summarize the 2013 statistics for your particular church. My job is to clear away any obstacles that might hinder the smooth completion of this task. Thank you for helping with this thankless job. Ready...set...GO! Mae Argilan, Administrative Assistant mae@blueridgebaptist.org 2977 Stoneybreak Rd Warfordsburg, PA 17267

October 7 - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Christian Skate Night at Turner Skate Palace on Virginia Ave. in Hagerstown. November 4 - 6:00 - 8:00 PM - Christian Skate Night at Turner Skate Palace on Virginia Ave. in Hagerstown. Sunday Night, October 13 - 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Fall Youth Night at Skycroft. Free to all BRBA youth groups. Open Gym, Snack bar, Live Music, more!

CHURCHES SEEKING HELP IN MINISTRY Several churches within the Blue Ridge Baptist Association are seeking new pastoral leadership. New Hope Church in Inwood, WV, is seeking an Associate Pastor for Youth and Family Ministry. The job is part time until January of 2014 and then becomes full time with a salary and benefits package. Please contact Pastor Don Cherry for information at (304) 671-3980. Boonsboro Bible Baptist Church is seeking a new full-time Senior Pastor. Inquiries and resumes can be submitted to Director of Missions Bruce Conley at bruce@blueridgebaptist.org. Faith Baptist Church in Knoxville, MD is looking for an Associate Pastor of Youth and Family ministry. Inquiries may be directed to the church office at (301) 834-7755.

Connect: The Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware November 10-12, 2013 | Newark, Delaware Connect is the annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, which allows Maryland and Delaware Baptists to gather for inspiration, fellowship and free ministry training. The meeting features worship, ministry reports, an exhibit hall featuring resources for churches & business sessions, and plenty of opportunities to connect. The annual meeting is at Ogletown Baptist Church 316 Red Mill Rd Newark, DE 19713

49 percent will go to help the hungry in Maryland/Delaware through the Maryland and Delaware Food Banks. In addition to the offering, which will be taken on the evening session on Monday, Nov. 11, messengers will be asked to donate nonperishable food items, also to be evenly distributed between the two food banks. For more information visit connect.gather2scatter.com

Responding to hunger needs across Maryland and Delaware, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offering at the annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/ Delaware will be used to help feed the hungry: 51 percent of offering will go to the SBC World Hunger FundÂ (now called Global Hunger Relief);

BRBA MISSION TRIP in 2014 March 8-15, 2014 the BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION will sponsor a mission trip to Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic to help Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse Ministries to deliver gift boxes to impoverished people & children in that nation, and to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. The cost of the mission trip is $1,100.00 - but if you are a first time participator in an international mission trip such as this - BRBA will contribute $200. to your cost to go on mission for the Lord. That will reduce your actual cost to go on the foreign mission field to $900.00. The cost covers airfare, food, lodging, and transportation while in the Dominican Republic. Shuttle transportation to and from the airport will also be provided by the Blue Ridge Association, if needed. We are looking to pull a team of missionaries from many BRBA churches to participate in this venture especially from churches that haven't sent anyone on a mission trip in some time (or ever). This is a perfect way to "get your feet wet" and catch the fever for international missions. Please note that a passport will be needed for this trip. We suggest that you start that process as early as possible. Pastor Peter Guadalupe - a good friend of BRBA - and his wife have agreed to lead this mission trip for us, as they are fluent spanish speakers. Airfare tickets will need to be purchased by November 2013, so you will need 50% of your fund raising in by that time. If you are interested in participating in this mission trip - contact Mae in the BRBA office at (240) 818-8760, or Pastor Bruce Conley - Director of Missions at (301) 821-0370.

Disaster Relief Regional Training Saturday, November 2 Time: 8:30 - 4:30 Location: First Baptist Church of Frederick 7040 Bowers Rd. Frederick, MD 21702 Cost: $30.00 - New Volunteers Cost: $20.00 - Returning Volunteers Classes Offered: Introduction to Disaster Relief: This is the prerequisite to all unit training and specialized classes. Recovery Unit: Classroom and hands-on exercise covers equipment, safety and procedures for chainsaw, temporary emergency repairs and flood recovery operations. Feeding Unit: Classroom and hands-on exercise covers equipment, safe food handling and operation of a mass-care feeding incident. For more information and to register: bcmd.org/drtrainingfrederick Donna Shiflett 410-290-5290 ext 226 or dshiflett@bcmd.org

2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT! In 2013 Southern Baptists celebrated 125 years of annual giving to support international missionaries. More than 3.5 billion has been given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, whose namesake inspired the first collection of gifts in 1888 so the world might know Christ. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering provides the largest portion of IMB’s income — 54 percent — and gives Southern Baptists a chance to support their missionaries through 100 percent of their gifts.

Who was Lottie Moon? Lottie Moon - the namesake of the international missions offering - has become something of a legend to us. But in her time Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today's missionaries. She was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus. Why was the offering named for this early missionary?

Throughout her career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters triggered Southern Baptists' first Christmas offering for international missions - enough to send three new missionaries to China.

What Will You Give? Will you participate in the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for 2013? Please pray that God will direct your heart as you consider what gift you can give to support international missions.

Event Calendar October 1 - 31 - Cooperative Program Emphasis Month (SBC). October 2 - 8:00 AM - Pastor’s Fellowship Breakfast at Bonnie’s at the Red Byrd in Keedysville. October 4 - Building on Purpose seminar in Annandale, VA. For more info visit www.bop2013.eventbrite.com October 6 - Soul Winning Commitment Day (SBC) October 11 - 13 - Collegiate Fall Retreat at Skycroft. See bcmd.org/collegiatefallretreat for info and registration October 13 - World Hunger Sunday (SBC) October 13 - Pastor Appreciation Sunday (SBC) October 14 - 7:00 PM - BRBA Annual Meeting at FBC Frederick (See page 1 for more information) November 2 - Disaster Relief Training at FBC Frederick. See Page 6 for mote information. November 3 - Disaster Relief Appreciation Sunday (SBC)

Birthdays OCTOBER 5 Don Cherry 17 Brenda Coblentz 20 Allen Youngbar 24 Jon Beall NOVEMBER 10 Kristie Graves 12 Joan Stalls 17 Scott Johnston 18 Joan Oyerly 22 Clint Guthrie 23 Ken Oyerly Anniversary Oct 5 Oct 18 Nov 6 Nov 19

Johnston Simpson Conley Youngbar

November 3 - Daylight Savings Time November 6 - 8:00 AM - Pastor’s Fellowship Breakfast at Bob Evans on Route 40 in Frederick. November 10 - 12 - BCMD Annual Meeting in Newark, DE. See page 5 for more information.

In the Churches

NorthStar Community Church - Ijamsville will be having their First Sunday Food Pantry collection on October 6. NorthStar will host a Trunk or Treat at Windsor Knolls Middle School is on October 27th from 12 - 2 PM. The church will also be participating in A Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway at Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne,Va on November 22 - 24. Boonsboro Bible Baptist Church - Chris Walls will serve as interim Pastor while the church searches for their next senior pastor. South End Baptist - Will be sending several of its leaders to attend the AWANA Conference on October 19 at Grace Baptist Church in Bowie, Maryland. The church will be hosting a Meet and Greet with new BCMD Executive Director. Will McRaney. Please call the church office at (301) 662-4347, for details. First Baptist Church - Brunswick will have a Baby Comfort station and Moon bounce on October 5th at Brunswick RailRoad Days. Immediately after, they will host a Chili Cook-off and block party in the church parking lot. The church’s 107th Homecoming Celebration on October 20th. Rev. Bruce Conley will preach and a luncheon will follow immediately afterward. Paramount Baptist Church - Hagerstown will be having a Pastor Appreciation Dinner on October 13 at 5:00 PM. The church will be hosting a Trunk or Treat event on Wednesday October 30 at 6:30 PM. Pleasant Valley Baptist Church - Rhorersville will host their monthly food bank on October 19. 10

Please pray for Don Yost, husband of Cindy Yost - the secretary at the Arundel Baptist Association. Don has terminal cancer, and although he has been under the care of some very fine doctors - they've been informed that there is nothing more than can be done. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding, God's healing hand, and abiding presence. Please continue to pray for Erin Youngbar, daughter-inlaw of Pastor Allen Youngbar - Smithsburg Valley Baptist Church. She is suffering from a rare form of brain cancer, and has been receiving care from specialists at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. Pray for a miraculous healing, and for endurance for her & the family. Pray for Dr. Will McRaney - the new Executive Director for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Pray for his family as they prepare to move from Florida to Maryland to serve here on our mission field along side of our over 500 churches. Pray for SBC missionaries to Guinea, West Africa - Gregg and Amy Freese and their family. After dropping their oldest son at Liberty University this Fall, they returned home to Conakry, and just this week their house caught fire in the middle of the night. No one was hurt physically - but about 3/4 of their belongings are destroyed. They are asking for prayer as they deal with the aftermath of this loss. Pray for the upcoming annual meetings of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association, and the Baptist Convention of MD/DE. Pray that God would revel himself to all of our church leaders in a fresh way, and that together we can better partner to reach the lost with the gospel. Please pray for 2 pastors in our Association (and their families) who have recently stepped down from their ministries, and for the churches who are seeking God's will for the next pastors to come and serve these local churches. Pray for our new church planters. Pray for the victims and families of the senseless violent rampage at the Washington Navy Yard recently. Please pray for all of our SBC Churches around the country as we seek to raise continued support for international missions during the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Praise that pastor Alan Myers just successfully completed the church planter assessment process with the BCMD and is now eligible for funding through the North American Mission Board.

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