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IN THIS ISSUE
16 COVER STORY: JESUS AND THE TANGLED PEOPLE Spiritually speaking, there are only two kinds of people in the world today: those who are trapped in the tangled mess of sin, and those who have been set free. This Easter season we reflect on Jesus and His love for us, the tangled people.
20 LEADERSHIP PROFILE: PAT LINNELL Ten years into his tenure on staff at Bay Area, Teaching Pastor Pat Linnell shares his story of coming to faith and taking a leap of faith to trade the corporate world in for ministry.
22 SENDING WELL Over 140 members of our church family have committed to going on a short term mission trip this year, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t serve the nations in 2017. Chris Prado reveals four ways senders can come alongside our short term teams this year.
12 ON MISSION: UC BERKELEY In March, a team of five from Bay Area flew across the country to spend a week doing campus ministry in California. Partnered with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, our team built relationships and shared the gospel with students at Berkeley.
We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
MAGAZINE CREDITS EDITOR Meredith Thompson ART DIRECTOR Josh Shirlen ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple ASSISTANT EDITOR Jocelyn Sacks LEAD DESIGNER Josh Burgin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jake Williams CONTRIBUTORS Andy Smith Bryan McFarland Chris Prado Jake Weiduwilt Kyle Sacks
Gathering Times: 8, 9:30, 11:15 a.m.
ELDERS Bill Smith Chris Heacock Don Wiley Greg St. Cyr J. Upton John Taylor Keith Riniker Ken Gilmore Roger Ishii Tim Grossman Tom Dalpini Tom Hogan Warwick Fairfax
884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401
410.544.2222
BAY AREA LEADERSHIP Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – brent.squires@bayareacc.org Brian Hopper, Missional Community Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.org Casely Essamuah, Global Missions Pastor – casely.essamuah@bayareacc.org Craig Fadel, Easton Campus Pastor – craig.fadel@bayareacc.org Ed Kelley, Executive Pastor – ed.kelley@bayareacc.org Gail Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – gail.wiles@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Janet Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – janet.graves@bayareacc.org Jerry Shirlen, Financial Administrator – jerry.shirlen@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Sacks, Missional Community Director – jocelyn.sacks@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, arts – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Lynn Dutton, H.R. Administrator – lynn.dutton@bayareacc.org Meredith Thompson, Communications Director – meredith.thompson@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.org Rachel Perry, Connecting Director – rachel.perry@bayareacc.org Ron Dutton, Operations Director – ron.dutton@bayareacc.org Tres Cozad, Technical Director – tres.cozad@bayareacc.org
For a comprehensive list of all BACC staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership
Saturday, May 20
Dear Bay Area family and Easter guests, As I write, I’m at the University of California, Berkeley, with a team from Bay Area to spend the week sharing the Good News of Jesus with students. We’re partnering with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries to give students compelling reasons why they should consider the person of Jesus. Our first night, we participated in an atheist/Christian dialogue on “Does God Exist and Why Does It Matter?” A RZIM staffer discussed this topic with two Berkeley professors (a physicist and computer scientist/philosopher). At the end of the day, it all boiled down to differing worldviews. The atheist’s position is that the world is a closed system. Anything that cannot be proven scientifically needs – for the sake of intellectual honesty – to be rejected. The Christ-follower’s view is that God stands outside an ordered creation that magnanimously points to Him as the Creator-Designer. God as Creator has both the right and ability to enter at any point into time and space as He sovereignly desires. As a result, the miraculous is not only permissible but also probable. That’s the crux of the debate and disagreement. All of this leads me to think about the greatest miracle of all, the miracle upon which our faith stands or falls: the miracle of the resurrection. Paul boils our faith down to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, and adds that without the resurrection our faith is nothing but futility. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Eyewitnesses gave testimony to it. The disciples were transformed from timid cowards to courageous martyrs because of it. The church was birthed out of it. The Spirit was sent to indwell us as a result of it. And most significantly, for you and me who have believed in the Lord Jesus, we are forgiven, empowered and redeemed children of God who can now walk in an intimate relationship with the living Christ. All of this is possible because some 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ conquered death and sin by rising from the grave. That’s the Easter message we celebrate. If you are a visitor to Bay Area this Easter season, we want you to know how glad we are that you’re here. We are about following Jesus. If there is anything we can do to encourage or help you on your spiritual journey, please let us know. If you are a part of the Bay Area family, let me challenge you to greater steps of loving boldness in sharing with your friends and family the greatest message anyone could possibly hear: the message of the resurrected Christ. From here to the nations, Greg
Greg St. Cyr is the Lead Pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-14
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take a day. hat is not to like about Chick-fil-A? Of all the fine American fast food establishments, it seems like this company is killing it. The food comes fast, the service has a hospitality focus, and my youngest kid is addicted to the nuggets. We spend so much time at this restaurant that when Kristen says thanks for something, I am starting to reply, “My pleasure.” Way to go Chick-fil-A. But there is a pretty big problem – they are closed on Sundays. Some guy wrote a song about it that went viral, because most of us have packed it up to go “eat mor chikin” only to remember halfway there that it is Sunday, and then scrambled for a less desirable alternative. So there you go, work harder for America, Chick-fil-A, so that we can all receive your blessings seven days a week. But it seems like Chick-fil-A is on to something. The company closes on Sundays so that its employees can go to church and worship Jesus. They strategically count the cost of losing a day’s worth of business to take a day for the Lord. The plan seems to be working just fine, as last I heard, the company operates debt-free and is seriously cash-flow positive. In our busy life, we may be well served to take a day, or even an hour, to take in the goodness of worshipful rest. God doesn’t intend for us to run like machines. In the creation account in Genesis 1 God Himself sets a pattern in creation for rest. This is interesting because God never needs to rest, but on the last day of Creation, He rested – He did not continue to create. This was a signal, a model, a way of life that encourages good, creative work balanced with good, restorative rest. This was particularly important for the newly freed Hebrew slaves who were brick makers in the Egyptian workforce. For hundreds of years, a brutal work ethic would shape the culture of the Jews, and now with freedom and a newly fashioned covenant with God that made
them His people, the Jews were learning a healthy work/ life balance. Part of this learning came in the form of the command to honor the Sabbath day and to keep it set apart for God. While people’s views on the Sabbath vary today, we see the pattern of working hard then resting in Jesus’ own personal ministry. Jesus would thrust out among the people, teaching and healing, then retreat, get time alone, charge His batteries and connect with his Heavenly Father. Jesus had the most important mission ever on earth. He was proclaiming the Kingdom of God and was on a path to die on a Roman cross to atone for the sins of the world. It is safe to say that Jesus’ time was very valuable. As the perfect man, it is safe for us to follow His example. It is easy to take time to rest when we are not super busy. But when we are super busy, which tends to sneak up on us quite often, it is really hard to take the faith step of not keeping the work going, especially with pressing deadlines and the growing ability to work from anywhere. Planning, and then actually taking a day to free your mind and body from your project, business or regular chores requires a step of faith that acknowledges that God is running the world, His timing is always perfect, and His timing includes time for rest. Perhaps the practical benefits of rest, like clarity, creativity and endurance will serve your work much better in the long run – for your good and His glory. So go ahead and take a day, it is going to be OK. In fact, make it a habit. You could always use some free time to dine at Chick-fil-A, just not on Sundays. Pat Linnell is the teaching pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.
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JOIN US
APR. 22
WHAT IS THE LINE?
WHY GOD ‘N GRITS?
WHEN DID IT LAUNCH?
As men and brothers, we stand in a line, shoulder to shoulder, facing into the wind of everything life hurls against us - not out of obligation for one another, but out of a common drive to live and walk in truth together.
God ‘n Grits is an opportunity for you to meet other men, gather around good food and conversation, and maybe walk out with more than just a full stomach and a few laughs.
Over 100 men gathered on November 12 to share a meal, pray with one another, build relationships, hear from Pastor Ed Kelley, dig into Scripture together and experience genuine community.
LOCATION Bay Area’s auditorium
REGISTRATION bayareacc.org/mensbreakfast
INFORMATION bob.gregory@bayareacc.org 8 GO&MAKE A P R IL
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SAFETY TEAM? We're looking for men and women with security, law enforcement, military or EMS experience to join our Safety Team on Sunday mornings. For more information email richard.burkhardt4@gmail.com.
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IN
February I had the pleasure, as one of the pastoral residents here at Bay Area, to speak to the middle- and high-school students about sharing their faith. It was so encouraging to see the interest these young people had in learning more about how to share Jesus with their friends and peers. Here at Bay Area, we have all heard Pastor Greg explain “every one a missionary.” Helping equip our students to share Jesus revealed that truly everyone, regardless of age or stature, can be a missionary. If you attended Bay Area’s “Share the Gospel” training last year, you are already familiar with the method I shared with the students. We used the modified bridge model and walked through the steps of brokenness vs. God’s perfect plan for us. Through that model, we unpacked Romans 6:23, which says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” After sharing this model with our students, I challenged them to pray for God to give them the opportunity to share this drawing with their friends at school who were far from Jesus. What happened next was perhaps the most rewarding experience I have had thus far as a pastoral resident. One of the middle school leaders emailed Middle-School Coordinator Lydia MacBride to share that during their small group time they were discussing courage. A young eighth-grade girl spoke up and told the group that she had shared the drawing she learned at church with a boy at her school. Even though the boy did not come to faith right there, she extended an invitation to come to church and learn more. I was so encouraged to hear that someone so young understood the importance of sharing Jesus with her peers.
The courage of the middle school girl would have been enough of a “win” to fuel me for the rest of the residency program, but then I received even more encouraging news resulting from our Share the Gospel training. One of the high-school boys approached Student Ministry Pastor Brent Squires and shared that he didn’t fully understand where he stood in his faith. Brent met with the student, answered his questions, and by using the bridge illustration we talked about in student ministry, led the young man to faith! Praise God! I was so encouraged to hear that the training I shared with these students was producing fruit. I think students are the easiest category to write off sometimes. They aren’t young children who require constant guidance, but they aren’t always considered contributing members of the church body, either, and I think that often causes students to fall into no-man’s land. Eighty-nine percent of high school students are either not Christian or consider themselves Christian but are not living out their faith... 89 percent! I can’t help but be excited about the ongoing Descendants Project we have launched here at Bay Area. These students are truly hungry for Jesus, and they long to bring their lost friends into our community to have a safe environment to ask tough questions and hear more about what the Gospel means for them. By expanding our physical footprint at 884 Chesterfield Road and staffing our children’s and student ministries in Easton, we are simultaneously expanding our footprint across Anne Arundel and Talbot counties and creating environments where more and more students can come to hear the good news of Jesus and grow deeper in their quests to become passionate, maturing followers of Jesus. To learn about or support The Descendants Project, go to bayareacc.org.
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On mission UC Berkeley
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March, a team of five from Bay Area flew across the country to spend a week doing campus ministry in California. Partnered with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, our team – Greg St. Cyr, Krysia St. Cyr, Kyle Sacks, Bryan McFarland and Alex Williams – built relationships and shared the gospel with students at Berkeley. Below, Kyle and Bryan share about how they anticipated hurdles to sharing the gospel, but God worked through them to share Jesus with students who were open to and curious about Christianity.
KYLE’S STORY. When I told people I was heading to do campus outreach at the University of California, Berkeley, most people responded, “Wait, Berkeley? That Berkeley? Yikes. Good luck with that…” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have similar thoughts. A university world-renown for its liberal attitudes is an intimidating place to go talk about Jesus. This trip was arranged by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries to do gospel outreach to the students on UC Berkeley’s campus. Greg St. Cyr is acquainted with some people at RZIM and valiantly volunteered to bring a team to help, seeing this as an opportunity to strengthen Bay Area’s evangelistic prowess. I can’t overemphasize how out of my comfort zone this trip was. Though I’m a brainy dude who likes to talk about heavy subjects, I’m also an introvert. Talking with dozens of hostile strangers about religion for a whole week was going to be a fate worse than death. So with anxiety and grim resignation, I boarded the plane assuming I was about to have a terrible experience. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I wouldn’t be writing this if that’s how it turned out. The structure of the outreach was this: In the morning, our group of about 30 people (including the RZIM team, our Bay Area team and other volunteers) would gather for prayer and worship. Next, we would spend the morning talking to students and handing out flyers for the RZIM talks that afternoon. One of the methods we used involved standing in a public area with a whiteboard that had a thoughtprovoking question written on it like “Does justice exist?” Each day, there were three short talks about topics like “Is religion the problem or the solution?” or “Is Christianity a white man’s religion?” After each talk, we would spent time engaging with students who attended, asking them about their religions beliefs and what they thought about Christianity. Let me tell you, people had opinions. One student told me that history is unknowable and we can’t trust any of it. Another student told me that all reality is determined by physical processes, that everything is chaos. One woman, who grew up in the Soviet Union, told me that, though she disagreed with Hitler, she can’t condemn his
actions as objectively immoral. She makes her truth, and he made his own. Did I mention that she was Jewish? In all this engagement, I was expecting hostility toward Christianity. Surprise, surprise, I was wrong. The students at Berkeley were open, warm and curious. They wanted to dialogue about all sorts of spiritual questions and wanted to hear our take on those questions. I shared the gospel repeatedly. Not only was I not having a miserable time, I felt more spiritually fulfilled during my week on UC Berkeley’s campus than I ever have. I felt like I was finally serving a purpose I’d always been made for, but had never embraced. To quote Pat Linnell from last month’s GO&MAKE, “You won’t be at Bay Area long without hearing ‘every one a missionary.’” Believe me, I’d heard that (and heard it and heard it). However, sharing my faith is, at best, uncomfortable, and, at worst, downright scary. I’ve always had doubts in my head about being able to do it. Then God shoved me into a situation where I had to do it over and over. The spirit is moving on that campus. Students were seeing truth in the gospel. A handful of campus ministries partnered with us and have been sending reports of all the fruit coming from our week there with RZIM. Now I’m home and have already struck up conversations with people in Annapolis about spirituality. No one mocked me, I didn’t struggle to find words (all credit to the Holy Spirit), and every time I felt like I was honoring the Lord in a whole new way. My time in Berkeley showed me I’m my own worst obstacle to sharing the gospel. If you would, say a quick prayer right now for Albert, Sergio, Nancy, Charles, Jeremy, Marina, Nick and Ulysse. Every one of them has some distance to go before they’re ready to trust Jesus. I have no doubt they’ll get there. In fact, I’ll leave you with one of their stories. Bryan McFarland, Bay Area’s college ministry coordinator, met Albert after one of RZIM’s talks and that lead to Bryan and me meeting with Albert multiple times to talk about everything from ancient textual criticism to what makes Jesus different from any other religious figure.
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“IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW OUR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT BERKELEY WERE TOTALLY WRONG...”
BRYAN’S STORY. It was truly life-changing to see the Lord working through us to reach students at Berkeley. It was a great privilege to work alongside RZIM and the local ministries. I was convicted throughout the trip hearing from different speakers, conversing with students and seeing the genuine burden for the lost at Berkeley. I do have to say this trip didn’t come without its challenges, though. Passing out fliers, like a cold-calling salesman, can be discouraging. We had finished our first session passing out fliers and were making our way up to hear the first talks. I sat down determined to be open to what God was doing at our first talks and met Albert. I greeted him and asked him what made him come. He replied, “I am interested in hearing more about Christianity.” Immediately our divine appointment was set. I knew this was my chance to engage with a student. So we exchanged numbers and met up for some awesome boba tea (if you haven’t had it before, do yourself a favor and grab some). I was able to answer some of his questions about Christianity. I learned that Albert grew up as a Buddhist and considered himself an agnostic. He had some correct views about God being all-powerful and all-loving, but couldn’t understand how the Christian God was the only one. We left our conversation with a few questions still in the air. I thanked him for spending time with me and we went on our way. I knew God has something in store for Albert that week. Tuesday rolls by and I invited Kyle to grab lunch with Albert after the talks on Wednesday. The Lord was at work yet again – while talking to Kyle about lunch outside the student union building, Albert showed up right behind us! We were able to sit down and talk a bit more about the Gospel and
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how it is so radically different from other worldviews and religions. As we finished our lunch, I felt compelled to leave Albert with a very clear Gospel story, so I asked him if it would be okay if we laid out the Gospel right then and there. He agreed, and I was able to share the bridge illustration of the Gospel with Albert on a napkin at lunch. I then challenged him to read the Gospel of John to see more about who Jesus was and claims to be. Kyle and I were able to meet up with Albert one last time for tea on Friday. It was amazing to hear, while he was clearly not ready to accept Jesus as the only way, that he had grasped the Gospel and was so enticed by it. One thing I’ll never forget that Friday was our opportunity to share our personal stories with Albert, and his exclamation, “I love hearing your stories because it shows that the Christian God is a personal God!” I was so encouraged to see that the Lord was working in Albert’s life that very second! I am so glad to have met Albert and so glad to have been able to experience God’s work firsthand with these students. Even though Albert still has a lot of searching to do, I’m confident that He has seen Jesus and that Jesus will truly be His Savior. Looking back on the week, I am excited to see how God will use us here in Maryland. It was amazing to see how our assumptions about Berkeley were totally wrong and how God used each and every interaction to show His power to move throughout the campus. Since being back, I have heard that Albert has reached out to one of the ministries we were partnering with at Berkeley. I’m happy to hear that God is still working in Albert and that the faithful workers in Berkeley are continuing to water the seeds that were planted.
“IF YOU WOULD, SAY A QUICK PRAYER RIGHT NOW FOR ALBERT, SERGIO, NANCY, CHARLES, JEREMY, MARINA, NICK AND ULYSSE.”
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BY PAT LINNELL
friend of mine has not spoken with his Dad since 1994. From the sound of it, his dad is not a very nice person, and in hearing about some of that I could tell there were some unhealed emotional wounds – even after all this time. I know siblings that hardly speak and hold long-term grudges against each other. When I sit down at almost any restaurant or coffeeshop, I almost always overhear people talking about other people – discussing what is wrong with their relationships. It doesn’t take long before we can pinpoint some friction between us and other people – there is something messy that comes alongside our relationships. There is a problem, and at the root it is a spiritual problem. This spiritual problem results in us being tangled in a thousand different ways, which at times seems almost impossible to sort out. A P RIL GO&MAKE 17
Spiritually speaking, there are only two kinds of people in the world today: those who are trapped in the tangled mess of sin, and those who have been set free. The dividing line is Jesus. The Bible tells a simple story of a Creator and His creation, how the creation became a tangled mess, and what God has done about that. It starts by saying “In the beginning God.” God has always existed. He is the great uncaused cause of everything. This spiritual being spoke the material world as we know it into existence. Scientific evidence points to a beginning point of our universe, therefore eliminating the material world’s eternality. This leaves God as the most reasonable option of why we are all here. But God didn’t leave us wondering; He spoke in human language to and through prophets and apostles. The miracles, and the community, validated these messages from God as authoritative and truthful. On top of this, God’s word, the Bible, also rings true to everyday life and experience. Life experience tells us that many of us are tangled up in a busted web of what could have been great, what could have been beautiful. The marriage that failed, the business that went under, the accident that paralyzed, the sickness that cut a life short. This is all part of life for the tangled people. This is all a result of what the Bible calls sin. Sin describes the amount that we fall short of the goodness and perfection of God. Sin entangles, distorts and creates a spiritual mess. The worst part of this mess is that being tangled in sin actually separates us from God, making us a spiritual enemy of 18 GO&MAKE A P R I L
God. This only leads to becoming more and more tangled, trapped, at odds with each other, and in need of someone to set us free from sin and redeem the fabric of our life to the beautiful and peaceful way that God intended it to be. This is why Jesus is the central figure in the Bible. The backdrop of our tangled mess of sin between God and other people is established, then the rest of the Bible is about the Savior who would come from God’s called-out people to address the root spiritual problem that we all have. But Jesus didn’t come to teach about self-help, self-actualization or just being a better person. He didn’t come to show us how to untangle the mess of sin that we are all in at a surface level. Rather, He came to absorb the mess, to carry every offense toward God and other people that we have ever made, and to make a spiritual payment for those offenses. This payment was His very life – around the age of 33, Jesus, who never became entangled in sin personally, took the mess we’ve made and absorbed the penalty for it. God’s holy justice was satisfied, and His loving kindness was on display. It is the cross of Jesus that lifts a person from being trapped in the mess of sin. The story of the Bible does not end with the cross. It goes on to report the historical bodily resurrection of Jesus after being dead for three days. This is
what we call Easter, the day Jesus rose from death. Here again the miraculous backs up the words that Jesus spoke from God. Here again the community confirmed this was a real-life event, not a religious fantasy. With the resurrection of Jesus, a pattern of the newness of life emerges. Jesus’ life was restored – and in that fashion, the mess that once so entangled us can begin to be restored, to be remade. By trusting in Jesus, we are told that in addition to the forgiveness of our sins, we also are new creations – with the freedom and help to live differently, to weave the tangled mess of the past into a beautiful new future. This Easter season we are taking time to reflect on Jesus and His love for us, the tangled people. Or perhaps I should say, the once-tangled people. Spiritually speaking, there are only two kinds of people in the world today: those who are trapped in the tangled mess of sin, and those who have been set free. The dividing line is Jesus. Your responsibility this Easter is to open your eyes to the reality of sin, and avail yourself to the only One who came to help. He is the point of the entire Bible, and the Bible says He is alive and near to you right now. Perhaps this is the season that you give Jesus your mess, and trust Him each day to stitch back the pieces, the messes and even the other relationships that were once so very tangled.
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LEADERSHIP PROFILE
PAT LINNELL BY MEREDITH THOMPSON
randma taught Sunday school, mom played the organ, and Pat Linnell attended their small Episcopal church in Baltimore every Sunday and for every event when he was a kid. There, he learned discipline as gospel seeds were sown, but his faith didn’t really develop until his early 20s. “I didn’t know what it was to walk with Jesus in a meaningful way, although I did know Him as my Savior,” Pat explained. “As a kid, I could look up to the crucifix at church and know that that was the Son of God who died for me. But I was an undiscipled follower of Jesus, and it showed in the college years.” In high school, the Glen Burnie native had several classes with a pretty girl named Kristen. They started exchanging letters their junior year, and dated as seniors. Though she went to college three hours away while Pat earned a business and marketing degree at Towson, the high school sweethearts continued their relationship throughout college. Back home, diplomas in hand, they began attending a small-group Bible study through Crossroads, a college-age ministry previously held at Bay Area. On her second night there, Kristen came to faith in Jesus. For the first time, she understood grace, and Pat realized he had a void in his life where everyday discipleship should fit. Bible study led to a mission trip, and that global experience left them with the same conclusion: We want to live for Jesus. While he paid his bills selling motorcycles, Pat got his feet wet in ministry by helping with Crossroads. He observed the ministry’s leader, Brian Hopper, who had left his career to do a pastoral internship and devote himself to ministry. Pat didn’t see himself taking such drastic steps, but God did. A year and a half into selling bikes, Pat interviewed with a pharmaceutical company and was nearly at the point of a job offer, but it would force him to abandon ministry for cash. “The guy that I went out on the field with said, ‘Pat, I am a money man, and that’s why I do what I do.’ And it made me think, ‘I’m a Jesus
man, and I don’t know if this is the right path for me,’” Pat recalled. So he ditched sales, and with Kristen – now his wife of 13 years – took a step of faith into fulltime ministry. He led Crossroads for a few years at Bay Area, then served as Missional Communities pastor for a bit before preaching “for the big church.” When Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr was away for sabbatical in 2010, Pat stepped up to preach on Sunday mornings and felt that’s where his focus needed to be. Early on at Bay Area, he earned a Master of Theology from Columbia International University. Several years into serving as Teaching Pastor, Pat laid out his passion for teaching and preaching: “Teaching is the explaining of it – what’s the context, what was the author trying to say? Then preaching is – how does it apply to my life as the guy who’s studying it and living it, and how can I help apply it to the people’s lives?” He added, “I think when you really unpack the Bible in the spirit and truth that it was written, it’s more digestible, so when it comes to controversial topics in the Bible … my desire is to teach to that and back up to explain where it comes from and flows out of. “We live in a world today where most people question the existence of God, and His character and holiness, so when you get to sin and who’s a sinner, it just seems really odd. So to teach well is to back up, explain about a Creator, explain how He’s revealed Himself … If you can lay that foundation, which most people don’t have, it’s a little bit easier to flow into the idea of the fallenness of people and the holiness of this Creator.” As he’s sought to help his church family grow in relationship with their heavenly Father, Pat has been navigating the waters of fatherhood himself. He and Kristen have four kiddos: Ava, the pack leader; Jack, the justice-oriented artist; Scarlett, resident fashionista; and Max, the dare-devil who loves anything with wheels. “All those personalities combine for a very interesting bedtime,” Pat joked.
takes after: In his spare time, Pat enjoys loading a kid onto his dirtbike with him and tearing it up on their Davidsonville property. During the summer, the Linnells head south to their place in Deltaville, Virginia, where they play on the water and go tubing. He plays golf with his dad, watches superhero movies, and binges on “The Office” with Kristen. They’re both also hooked on “Shark Tank,” wings from Chad’s BBQ, crab dip from Killarney House and Italian eats from Cantina Mamma Lucia.
“ It’s unfathomable to think about heading into eternity without the forgiveness of sins, without the cross.” And, of course, Pat enjoys hockey. He plays men’s league for the Mavericks at the Navy rink. “Jesus has grace-bombed me from birth,” Pat said, thinking about what the gospel means to him. “It’s unfathomable to think about heading into eternity without the forgiveness of sins, without the cross. He died on the cross to forgive my sins, and that gives me confidence in death. To me, that’s everything.”
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o you know people who have had clear direction from God to leave the comforts of home to go to a foreign country to share the gospel of Jesus? These people are called global missionaries or “goers.” Some of us have not yet experienced such clear direction from God. Where does that leave us in God’s call for all believers to be part of His plan to reach people of all tongues, tribes and nations with the gospel? Jesus makes it very clear that no one can accept the truth of the Gospel without God’s involvement in the process. In Matthew 19:16-26 Jesus is confronted by a rich man trying to assure his position in heaven through his own means. Jesus makes the startling statement that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for someone who's trusting in his riches to enter heaven. One must put their faith in Jesus, follow Him with reckless abandon, and rely
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on Him to secure his place in the Kingdom. This may sound easy, but there is a raging spiritual battle going on for such allegiance. God’s enemy will use every means he can – the desires of the flesh, the enticements of the world and flat-out involvement of the spiritual forces of darkness – to keep individuals from seeing God as the only One worthy of one’s allegiance. This is where “senders,” those of us who are not headed to a foreign field, come in. Think about Paul’s description of the church in 1 Corinthians 12. He describes the church as being made up of many different parts with many different functions, just as a human body has many parts with many functions. If the “goers” are the feet, how can the other parts of the body contribute to this mission? Let’s consider four very practical ways we can participate in this great commission as “senders” in support of the “goers.”
PRAY
ENCOURAGE
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm” (Ephesians 6:12). Be assured that this is an absolute and active truth any time the good news of Jesus is being shared. As a sender, one of the most powerful things we can do is pray. Ask God what that should look like for you!
In addition to prayer, be an encourager. Get to know the person or people for whom you will pray. Encourage them in their step of faith in this adventure. Share the process with them and it will become your adventure as well!
First, look for a natural connection. Do you know someone going on a trip? Do you have a connection to a particular STM team? Do you have a heart for one of our missionary partners? Do you have a heart for a particular country to which a team is traveling? Find a person, team or area that provides a strong enough connection that will motivate you to partner in prayer on his/their behalf. If you don’t already have a natural connection, ask God to put someone or a specific country on your heart.
It is daunting to ask for money for a missions trip. This is God’s work, as referenced above. In light of eternity, is there a better investment than in participating in the very purpose for which God has called each of to fulfill? Ask God to give you a genuine desire to use your material blessings to bless others.
Second, consider that many areas of support that can be provided in prayer. Many people traveling on a STM trip are apprehensive, nervous or, if they are honest, really scared! Find out what fears may be churning and ask God to shed His truth on these fears. Talk with them and find out specific things for which to pray. These requests may surprise you! In addition to specific requests, here are a few topics that will support the process well: In the beginning, support raising may seem like an insurmountable requirement for the goer. Pray through the fundraising process with your individual or team or missionary partner. Pray that God will prepare the soil in the hearts of the people to whom the STM team is ministering. If the soil of their hearts is baked clay or full of rocks, it will be hard for the seeds of truth to take root. Ask God to bring people directly to our team members whose hearts He has prepared to hear the gospel. Pray against any barrier the enemy has put into place to keep either our team members, our missionary partner or the people being served from accomplishing exactly what God has planned. Pray for safety for all in all areas, physical, emotional and spiritual.
GIVE
ASK Lastly, when the person for whom you have prayed or financially supported gets home, ask them about their experience. Take the time to have coffee with them or to have them over for dinner. Take the time to draw them out about every aspect of the trip. Ask them about the travel, about the people, the food, the activities in which they participated. Ask them how they saw God orchestrate encounters, how God gave people the right words to say when they were surprised to be asked to share. Ask how people responded to His message. You will bless the goer by your interest in the trip. You, as a sender, are a partner in the whole experience. By finding out the details, your partnership will move from a “black and white” to “living color” shared experience. You will see how your prayers were answered and your faith will be strengthened as well. Everyone has a place in missions, and when we choose to engage, our faith is strengthened as we see how our great God is actively working all over the world! It is an exciting adventure for everyone!
EVERYONE HAS A PLACE IN MISSIONS
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G N I OM
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: R E MM
U S S THI
BY GAIL WILES
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few years back, my son came home from school so excited to show me what he had in his backpack. “Mom! Guess what I got today?” I could hear the joy in his voice. “I was invited to a party! Can I go? Please?” I asked him, “Why do you want to go to this party?” He simply said, “Well, because it will be fun and it makes me feel special that they want me to be there.” With that same excitement, I want to invite you to a very special event this summer at Bay Area called Blitz! With The Descendants Project taking off this summer and our continued growth in Children’s Ministry, we have revamped what Summer Jam will look like for the families and children of Bay Area. We know families enjoy Summer Jam just as much as we do, and this year will be no different. Blitz will be kicking up our summer fun a notch by providing a two-night event packed full of action, energy and audience participation games, and will be Jesuscentered and so much more. It will be a great opportunity for participants to get a taste of community at Bay Area and make a decision that leads them into a lifelong relationship with Jesus. For example, last year during Summer Jam, a child made the decision to accept Jesus as his Savior during our family portion of the evening! How amazing is that? Did you know current statistics from Barna Research found that 87 percent of Americans who accept Jesus as their Savior do so before the age of 13? After the age of 13, the percentage drops dramatically. It’s statistics like this one that fuel our desire to provide environments and events for children that introduce them to our God that loves them and wants a lifelong relationship with them. But, it doesn’t stop once a person makes the decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. The decision is just the beginning of a journey to become more like Jesus every day, which is called discipleship.
The mission of our Children’s Ministry is to provide an environment for families so every child grows in relationship with Jesus and shares Him with others. Events like Blitz! not only provide opportunities to disciple the youngest members of our church family, but also introduce new children and families to the gospel and life with Jesus. I hope you’ll join us for Blitz! this summer, because I want to challenge you to invite those in your neighborhood, school and sports teams to experience the joy of being included in a community that loves and follows Jesus. Here is a sneak peak into our exciting new summer experience: Night 1 will be KIDZ BLITZ Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will participate in onstage challenges and games Nickelodeon style. Trust us, your kids will not want to miss this event. Night 2 will be FAMILY BLITZ This is a night for elementary-age children and their parents to participate together. For each child attending, they will need a guardian or parent to join them. No KidCare will be provided, so younger siblings with their parents are welcome. We haven’t forgotten about your preschoolers! PRESCHOOL BLITZ will be the same nights and times as Kidz and Family Blitz. Preschoolers will participate in our Gadgets and Gizmos themed event where they will have fun discovering how God made each of them unique and in His image all at the same time. We can’t wait to share this experience with families and we hope that you will invite your neighbors and friends to experience Jesus in an exciting new way. Registration will open online on April 2. For more information and to register go to bayareacc. org/deepblueevents.
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CARE NETWORK
HAPPENINGS
Sometimes life hands us struggles: loss of a loved one, serious illness, parenting difficulties, divorce, addiction and many other challenges. These struggles can feel isolating, yet God never intended that we walk through them alone. He is in the business of comforting, restoring and renewing all things for His glory. Your circumstances are not beyond that; He longs to reach you with His redemption and grace. We want to walk with you through this season of life. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Jesus-centered ministry that assists those seeking help. We provide hope and healing through a variety of resources both inside and outside the walls of Bay Area. Let’s partner through these struggles together. Email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org to get started.
BAPTISM Wo u l d y o u l i ke t o b e b a p t i z e d ? For more information... • K-5th: contact gail.wiles@bayareacc.org • 6-12th: contact brent.squires@bayareacc.org • Adults: contact debbie.klimczyk@bayareacc.org CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery (CR) is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits or hangups keep you isolated. Join us on Monday nights at 7 p.m. for community, worship and teaching. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND INVITATION If you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound we would love to serve you. Contact us so that we can learn how to be of assistance. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or 443-837-3718.
CONNECT WITH BAY AREA If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a black shirt in the lobby after each Sunday gathering or visit us online at bayareacc.org/new.
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GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP When experiencing the loss of a loved one, there is a deep, prolonged impact caused by the death of a spouse, child, family member or close friend. The griever needs ongoing support and encouragement. The GriefShare Support Group meets weekly to help those grieving by providing a safe place to walk through this time with the support of others. The support group meets on Thursdays from 6:45-9 p.m. at Bay Area. Email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org with questions or to register. CAREER ASSISTANCE Are you unemployed, just starting a career, or trying to discover what God has uniquely wired you for? Partner with expert Jacques Fox and identify a career path that’s right for you. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org.
MARRIAGE MINISTRY UPDATE We recently partnered with marriedpeople.org, an organization that has developed a marriage strategy for churches. With this strategy we have inspired large group experiences, empowered small groups, and equipped individual couples. We will host three to four large-group events per year, such as the Great Date Night; three to four small-group events such as marriagefocused Learning Communities or weekend retreats; and three to four events for individual couples, such as date nights that include KidCare. Sign up for Bay Area’s weekly email update at bayareacc.org to stay up to date and receive a link to the MarriedPeople Monthly Ezine. Info: leanne.lane@ bayareacc.org PREMARITAL MENTORING Are you newly engaged? We want to partner with you as you establish a strong, Jesus-centered life with your future spouse. Through premarital mentoring you’ll be paired with trained marriage mentors (couples who have been married for 10 or more years) who will equip you with tools and resources you’ll need to succeed in marriage. Info: premarital.ministry@ bayareacc.org MARRIAGE MINISTRY TEAM - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Our marriage ministry team seeks to encourage and equip couples to start and stay strong in their marriages. If you have a passion to help strengthen marriages and have been married for 10 or more years, come be a part of this ministry. Read more at bayareacc.org/marriageministry. Info: leanne. lane@bayareacc.org TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR PREMARITAL COUPLES Occasionally, couples who are living together enter our Premarital Ministry. We believe strongly that the best way to honor God before marriage is to remain pure and live separately. We’re looking for folks who have temporary space in their homes that could be used in order to fulfill this desire. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
CONNECTING MINISTRY DISCOVER BAY AREA - NEWCOMER LUNCH New to Bay Area? We’re glad you’re here. You may have questions about who we are or what we believe so join us on April 2 at 12:45 p.m. in the Bay Cafe for Discover Bay Area. Enjoy a free lunch and hear from a few of our pastors and staff about our mission, values and how you can get plugged in. No RSVP necessary, and kids are welcome. Hope to see you there. Our next event will be on May 7. Info: rachel.perry@ bayareacc.org
MEN’S FELLOWSHIP MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays from 6-7:30 a.m. in room 236 at Bay Area. Info: Jim at jlradcliffe@hotmail.com MEN’S EVENING BIBLE STUDY Sundays from 6-7:30 p.m. in room 235 at Bay Area. This study is geared toward helping men draw closer to Jesus while discussing and discovering God’s answers for the challenges men face at home, work and in society. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Bay Area Community Church for a special evening to be shared by daughters and their dads (or another father figure in their life). Girls from ages K - 12 grade are cordially invited for a fun night of games, dancing and dessert-type refreshments. Tickets are $10 per family. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org THE LINE: MEN'S MONTHLY BREAKFAST Men, join us on April 22 from 8-9:30 a.m. in the auditorium for The Line: God ‘N Grits, a men's monthly breakfast. The Line is an opportunity for men of Bay Area to gather around good food and conversation, and maybe walk out with more than just a full stomach and a few laughs. Register today at bayareacc.org/ mensbreakfast. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org
GLOBAL MISSIONS Are you interested in going on a short term mission trip in 2017? To learn more about going “On the Edge” with one of our 21 short term teams go to bayareacc.org/stm. Give to a short term missionary or team at bayareacc.org/stmgive. Stay in the know with global missions: receive information about events and ways to pray by signing up for our monthly email update at bayareacc.org/globalmissionsemail.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES Learning Communities are intended to strengthen your Biblical knowledge, character and/or practical ministry skills. They are also an opportunity to get to know others at Bay Area on Sunday mornings in an environment of learning and interaction. Sign up at bayareacc.org/learningcommunities.
PRAYER MINISTRY
SHAKEN BY TIM TEBOW / MEN'S STUDY MARCH 19 - APRIL 30 AT 8 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM B A six-week men's DVD/book study on Tim Tebow's autobiography "Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms." This conversation-centered class will focus on testimony sharing, supporting those in need and digging deep into what we believe about the toughest challenges we face in life.
Jesus lived a life of unceasing prayer that connected Him to the Father. We too long to be devoted to prayer. Our Prayer Ministry is comprised of individuals dedicated to gathering in prayer for all aspects of Bay Area life: our gatherings, communities, pastors, missions and so much more. Individuals are also available to pray with you on Sunday mornings after each gathering (front and right of the Chapel stage). Read more at bayareacc.org/prayer. Info: pat.linnell@bayareacc.org
THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE LEARNING COMMUNITY APRIL 23 - MAY 28 AT 11:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM B This LC is based on The Meaning of Marriage sermon series by Timothy Keller. We will watch videos and discuss what marriage should be according to the Bible. Timothy Keller, with insights from Kathy, his wife of 37 years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. Sign up at bayareacc.org/learningcommunities. A P RIL GO&MAKE 27
STUDENT MINISTRY
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
CLUB 678 Club 678 is our once-amonth hangout for middle schoolers. This month’s theme is Egg-stravaganza! One lucky student will walk away with a giant chocolate bunny. Middle school students are invited to join us Friday, April 7, from 7-9 p.m. Students are encouraged to invite their friends and can bring money for snacks. Info: lydia. macbride@bayareacc.org
GOOD FRIDAY 4PM GATHERING Children’s ministry will be offered at the 4 p.m. gathering only. Parents can check in children ages birth through fifth grade at any check-in kiosks.
LEADER APPRECIATION May 7 is our Leader Appreciation Day! Our leaders are an amazing group of people who have been gifted by God to disciple our students. We are encouraging you to bring a gift for your son or daughter’s leaders on May 7 to show your appreciation for them. Some suggestions are: gift cards, notes from the student, candy, devotional, etc. Be creative and let’s show them how much we love them!
LEADER APPRECIATION May 7 is our Leader Appreciation Day! Our leaders are an amazing group of people who have been gifted by God to disciple our kids. We are encouraging you to bring a gift for your child(ren)'s leaders on May 7 to show your appreciation for them. Some suggestions are: gift cards, notes from your child, candy, something depicting a special moment or event that your child remembers, devotional, etc. Be creative and let’s show them how much we love them.
SCAVENGER HUNT High schoolers, join us for our annual Downtown Annapolis Scavenger Hunt! We will meet at the Market House on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. This will be in lieu of our weekly Amplify Meeting. After the Scavenger Hunt we will head to Annapolis Ice Cream Company for a treat! Email lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org if you have any further questions!
THE HUNT Families are invited to join us Saturday, April 15, for a morning in community. Kids will enjoy finding more than 15,000 eggs filled with goodies. We encourage you to invite new families to join you in this fun event for children ages birth through fifth grade. Don’t forget your baskets!
COLLEGE MINISTRY YOUNG ADULT MISSIONAL COMMUNITY Our desire is to see young adults connect in community where they are loving God, serving others and growing spiritually together. Missional Communities are a great opportunity for young adults (ages 18-25) to do this weekly. Info: bryan.mcfarland@ bayareacc.org.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERS Our KidCare team has a need for individuals who have a heart for kids. We provide KidCare for all ministries and various events yearround. Interested in joining our team of paid workers? Visit the Children’s Welcome counter on Sundays or contact our KidCare Coordinator Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org. FACILITY COORDINATOR Full-time position. For a detailed job description or to submit a resume and cover letter, email the Operations Director at ron. dutton@bayareacc.org.
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SURVIVING MIDDLE SCHOOL Parents of rising sixth-graders are invited to Surviving Middle School on Sunday, April 30, at 11:15 a.m. in The Loft. Parents will meet Bay Area’s Middle School Coordinator Lydia MacBride. Lydia looks forward to sharing Student Ministry’s vision and strategy to partner with you in this new phase of life. We highly encourage parents to attend this informative session. Info: lydia.macbride@bayareacc.org WAVE RIDERS PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP Hey Wave Riders! We’re excited to share our April playdates with you. This month we plan to visit a local fire station for a fun tour on April 3, exact location to be determined. Then on April 25 at 10 a.m. we will meet at Bay Area… bring your ride-on toys! For more details about Wave Riders, check us out on Facebook by searching "Wave Riders Play Group." Info: brittany.dunklin@bayareacc.org NURSING MOTHERS Children’s Ministry offers two locations for nursing mothers during Sunday gatherings. If you would like a quiet place to nurse, please come to our Tidal Pool area and you will be directed to a room equipped with glider rockers. If you would like a place to nurse and hear the gathering during the 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. gatherings only, visit our Children’s Welcome desk and you will be directed to our CM director’s office.
FINANCIALS
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Annapolis Campus Operating Budget Financial Update As of March 19, 2017
AMBASSADOR TEAM: If you have a passion for people and Jesus and have attended Bay Area for at least six months, the ambassador role is for you. Come help newcomers get connected. Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org
New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2016 ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Fiscal Year Giving Goal
$ 4,792,000
YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal MAR To Date Received MAR To Date Giving Goal
$ 2,710,418 $ 2,768,045 $ (57,627) 2.1% Behind $ 269,033 $ 285,570
EASTON CAMPUS Fiscal Year Giving Goal
$
187,000
YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal MAR To Date Received MAR To Date Giving Goal
$ $ $ $ $
91,358 104,288 (12,930) 12.4% Behind 10,788 11,583
Annapolis Campus Outstanding Building Debt $3,398,293 (as of 2-28-17) For weekly financial updates, go to bayareacc.org/ financials. Please indicate any designated gifts on the memo line of your check or use the drop-down box online to select your desired giving fund. Note: You will need to donate via check if the fund to which you wish to give is not listed online. All undesignated checks will go toward the general operating fund.
How Can I Participate In The Descendants Project? Pledge cards are available on Sundays at the connect kiosks and online at bayareacc.org. For gifts other than cash, contact our finance team at finance@bayareacc.org. How Can I Continue To Support BAY AREA’s Building Funds? Giving Methods
AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Info: tres.cozad@bayareacc.org CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Info: chairs@bayareacc.org ESPRESSO BAR: Serve as a barista after one of the gatherings once a month. Training provided. Info: sherri. raimondo@bayareacc.org COMMUNION TEAM: Serve by baking allergen-free communion bread once a month or assisting with prep or cleanup during one of the three gatherings on communion Sunday. Info: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S WELCOME TEAM: Welcome and assist new families through the Children's Ministry experience on Sundays. Info: danielle.tritone@bayareacc.org DEEP BLUE BUDDIES: Do you have a heart to serve children with special needs? We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to partner with children on Sunday mornings in The Deep Blue. Info: tammy.taschenberger@bayareacc.org ELEMENTARY SET DESIGN TEAM: Serve monthly on the set design team for our Preschool and Elementary Large Group spaces. Preschool Info: brittany.dunklin@bayareacc. org, Elementary Info: aimee.coyle@bayareacc.org GOLF CART DRIVERS: Looking for friendly folks to pick people up in the parking lot before gatherings to ease their walk into the building. Must be 21 or older and have a clean driving record. Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION: Interested in being part of a team reaching those hospitalized or homebound? Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting people as they arrive. Info: parking@bayareacc.org PRESCHOOL TEAM: Serve the youngest at Bay Area on our Preschool Team on Sunday mornings. Info: courtney. gregory@bayareacc.org
eCheck: Go to bayareacc.org/give to give online through your checking account through a one-time or recurring donation on My Bay Area.
SAFETY TEAM: Are you passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS or First Responders and want to serve in this area? Info: safety@bayareacc.org
Personal Check: Write “Building Fund” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to Bay Area (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401).
USHERS: Create a welcoming environment by serving during Sunday gatherings. Info: mtabramo1@comcast.net
Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to Bay Area. Be sure to note “Building Fund” on the memo line.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Serve on an event planning team or in discipling other women. We would love to get to know you and see how your gifts can be used. Info: janet.graves@ bayareacc.org
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WOMEN’S MINISTRY THE WELL At Bay Area, we invite women to join us on a spiritual journey in community with others. Like the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus meets us where we are and invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. New information about summer studies will be available in May. Info: bayareacc.org/women/ spiritualgrowth QUILTS FOR KIDS Join us to make quilts using donated fabrics for kids in shelters and hospitals. We meet on the third Saturday of the month. Join us April 15 from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in room 235 at Bay Area. Come and learn to sew or learn to sew a new pattern. Kits will be available. Please bring your sewing machine, sewing supplies and your lunch. If you would like a quilt kit, want to donate a quilt, or have questions, contact Janet Hogan at annapolisQFK@quiltsforkids.org. WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+) We meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month for a time of encouragement, prayer and serving from 10:30 a.m. - noon in The Warehouse. On April 10 we will meet to continue to encourage each other in the process of writing our story as a group of legacy. Each one of us has a story to leave to our family and to the next generation to follow us. On April 24 we will discuss our book "Teach Us to Number Our Days" from the chapter, "Paying attention." Info: Cedulie Sanchez at luisandcedulie@gmail.com
EASTON CAMPUS HAPPENINGS 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY On April 2, the Easton Campus is celebrating it’s 1-year anniversary! We are so thankful for all that God has done and want to take time to thank Him and remember this special occasion. Greg St. Cyr will be with us and we will have a lunch right after the 10 a.m. gathering. Plan to join us as we look back at what the Lord has done and look forward to see how He will work in the years to come! GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE Join us as we remember the death of Jesus on Good Friday, April 14. We will meet at 5 p.m. for a more reflective and pared down time of singing and a message. There is no Children's Ministry, but children are welcome to join if they are able to sit in the gathering. EASTER SUNDAY GATHERINGS As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, Easton will have two gatherings at 9:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on April 16. (Our normal 10 a.m. gathering will resume the following Sunday).
THE LOFT BOOK SHELF (
LOCATED IN THE ROOM ABOVE THE CHAPEL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE LOFT”
Feel free to borrow any book on the shelf that isn’t labeled “LOFT COPY” and return it as soon as you can, so that others can enjoy that book as well.
)
WANT TO BRING GO&MAKE ALONG WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO? BAYAREACC.ORG/GOANDMAKE
AN ALL AGES EASTER EGG HUNT SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH
11 AM
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