LETTER FROM THE “Faith & People” LEAD
transition has gone great. To everyone who has stepped up to volunteer, way to go! And thank you. There are still opportunities to serve so stop by the Connect Kiosk in the lobby if you want to give your time and talents.
By Greg St. Cyr ago he met Jesus. Believers from Faith and People. Those are the two things God is speaking to me about as I write from Poland.
“Tomy Church” in Tomaszow (where I am as I write) helped repair his apartment. A few months later Jesus had invaded his life. Today he
Faith in our God who can do anything! Nothing is impossible for Him. He wants to be our best friend, to lead us through struggles, has only our best in mind, and wants to make us into people who help change the world!
has completely changed. He’s been sober since meeting Jesus, growing and serving others, and even runs marathons! God can do anything. He is able! I believe that with all my heart.
People, especially people who don’t know Jesus. People who are generally doing the best they can in life, but nevertheless, people who are missing out on a revolutionary relationship with their Creator. People stuck in their sins and separated from Jesus. People trying to find life in what the world has to offer. I was having lunch with a Polish man named Andrzej. Andrzej is only 43. He spent half his life as a drunk. Five years
At Bay Area, we are growing in our faith in the greatness of God. And we are growing in our burden for those living life without Jesus. That’s why I’m so encouraged when I hear stories of us “next leveling” our missional life! One way we as a church have
Though the transition to three gatherings has gone well, we are working on making the transition increasingly more smooth. Thanks for being patient and flexible as we experiment with solutions for parking and lobby traffic. One way you can help is by working hard to get to church on time! And finally, I love the Christmas season! Why? Because I love focusing on the wonder of the incarnation. We should never tire of the mystery of God taking on flesh. And because it is such an easy time of the year to show good will and talk about the Christ of Christmas with others. I hope you will do that this season. And I hope that you will talk about Jesus with your friends who don’t know Him.
become more missional is by going to three gatherings to make room for people who need Jesus. The
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 IN CHIEF Josh Shirlen MANAGING EDITOR Arianne Teeple ART Josh Burgin Josh Shirlen CONTRIBUTORS Bailey Godfrey Jocelyn Rimbey Meredith Thompson Michaela Graf-Jones Ron Dutton Trevin Hoekzema
Cover photo of Pastor Stephen in South Sudan by Josh Shirlen.
ELDERS John Battan Dennis Brady Tom Dalpini Tim Dotson Peter Godfrey Tim Grossman Rich Heath Roger Ishii Brian Mallare David McPeak Bill Smith Greg St. Cyr John Taylor J Upton
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 Ed Kelley, Executive Pastor – ed.kelley@bayareacc.org Gail Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – gail.wiles@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Senior Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Janet Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – janet.graves@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Rimbey, Connecting Director – jocelyn.rimbey@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, Gathering Team Leader – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Lynn Dutton, Financial Administrator – lynn.dutton@bayareacc.org Micah Pringle, Worship Leader – micah.pringle@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@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
MICAH’S MIX It’s Christmas, which means it’s that time of year when we all eat too much, see folks we love, and pull out our favorite Christmas music to put on rotation for the next four weeks. So in the spirit of Christmas, here are a few of my favorite Yuletide albums. by: Micah Pringle (BACC Worship Leader)
Book: Desiring God Author: John Piper Subtitle: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Until recently, John Piper was the Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. He is a world famous speaker and author mentioned with the likes of Louis Giglio, Tim Keller and Matt Chandler: all voices for a new generation of theology-minded young people. This book is considered his magnus opus. It is all about re-thinking the Westminster Shorter Catechism which states in part that the “chief end of man is to glorify God AND enjoy Him forever.” Mr. Piper argues it should read that the “chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever.” As you re-look at that sentence, there is a depth of meaning in it. Mr. Piper is arguing that enjoying God automatically gives God glory. He then proceeds for over 300 pages explaining why Christians should quit our whining and be all about enjoying God. He argues that many Christians live life between delight and duty but he states that delight is our duty! This book is recommended by such stalwarts as John MacArthur, Os Guiness, Larry Crabb, J.I. Packer, and R.C. Sproul. A must read if you are intrigued by his two main ideas: “The Pursuit of Pleasure is Not Optional, It is Essential. Scripture reveals that the great business of life is to Glorify God by enjoying Him.” - BACC Executive Pastor Ed Kelley (EK4)
Hillsong - “Born Is the King / We Have A Savior”
Last year Hillsong dropped two new Christmas albums comprised of classic Christmas hymns. They have taken songs like “Joy To The World” and given them a folk flavor, leaving the songs intimate and vulnerable. It’s the perfect Christmas music to play in your home on a peaceful Saturday morning while you have that first cup of coffee.
She & Him - “A Very She & Him Christmas”
If you’re looking for a fresh spin on some cultural Christmas classics like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, this is a great album to snag. This may not be the album to listen to if you want to spend time in prayerful meditation about the nature of Advent (for that I recommend the Hillsong albums!). Instead, this is the type of light-hearted album that you’d put on while laughing and cooking dinner with the family. Buy this one, gather with friends, and have a great time.
Phil Wickham - “Songs for Christmas”
Phil Wickham is best known for some of his worship songs like “Cannons” which we worship with regularly at Bay Area. However, his Christmas album is great as well, and carries a good balance of reverence and celebration. This album covers ground from “O Come O Come Emanuel” to “Little Drummer Boy.” Wickham’s beautiful, transparent voice and unique arrangements are spot-on. Play this album while you’re driving in your car to work in the morning and it’ll put you in the Christmas spirit in no time.
Tis the Season: The Giving Wall
The Stanton Center, located .2 miles from the state house surrounded by Section 8 housing (government subsidized), acts as a refuge for children and families who need assistance. Within the white walls of this old building live a public clinic, after-school learning opportunities, a recreation center, medical offices, and We Care and Friends. Bay Area Community Church supports We Care and Friends throughout the year and partners with them every Christmas season. Their Christmas Toy Drive gives the joy of Christmas to over 50 families in their community.
1
Opportunity
This year, join us in partnering with We Care and Friends and help provide Christmas to the needy families in downtown Annapolis through the “Giving Wall.” The Giving Wall will be located right outside the main auditorium. Hanging on the wall are cards with the
children of a specific family. Upon taking a card, you are agreeing to sponsor Christmas for that individual family. Families have between 2 and 6 children and we ask that each child receives a gift(s) in between $20 and $50. Most of them have wishes listed.
The Giving Wall also has three other giving opportunities:
2
Partner with the Annapolis Pregnancy Clinic and Bethany Christian Services to help give local expecting/new mothers and families support during the Christmas season. Your donations help provide them with prenatel vitamins, groceries, maternity clothes, bibles and life affirming sonograms. Opportunity
4
Show your continued love and support for our global pastors in South Sudan and India by providing a donation that will go toward the creation of Christmas care packages for over 50 pastors in India and over a dozen in South Sudan. Each year the pastors are blessed by BACC’s generosity. Opportunity
3
Donations for Uganda will provide families affected by HIV/AIDS with medical care and continued support. A team from BACC will travel to Uganda after Christmas to hand-deliver these care packages, blessing the individuals and families affected by this lifethreatening virus.
Opportunity
This Christmas let’s show Christ’s love to those in our community and around the world. It is a great opportunity to live missionally and unite with your family, friends and community in loving our neighbors. It is such a blessing to bless others in the name of Christ, which is the true spirit of Christmas. For more information stop by the Giving Wall in the lobby or email trevin.hoekzema@bayareacc.org
SPOTLIGHT
ON MISSIONAL COMMUNITY The Myers’ and Scheerers’ MC
By: Meredith Thompson
It was a friend’s invitation that initially brought Harvey and Della Appelbaum through the doors of Bay Area Community Church, but it was the invitation of friendship that led them to know Jesus Christ personally. Worship band guitarist Bob Myers first engaged the couple sitting in the back of the gathering space on a Sunday morning 11 months ago, and through offering Harvey guitar lessons, began to get to know them. “After a month of lessons, I said to him, ‘Harvey, Appelbaum is a Jewish name – are you Jewish?’” Bob recalled, and the budding guitarist affirmed he was. “So I said, ‘How come you’re coming to Bay Area Community Church?’ and he said, ‘I just feel such peace when I hear the messages from Greg and Pat,’ so over the last 10 months we’ve been sharing our lives together, and he and his wife have been coming to our Missional Community.’” “He’s really had an interesting journey getting to know who Jesus is, and he indicated to us a couple of weeks ago he’s ready to get baptized,” Bob added, smiling. “It’s been a friendship-evangelism story where I just reached out to him as a friend.” Bob’s wife of nearly 40 years, Alice, added the couple has become a core part of the Arnold-based MC, faithfully attending and serving as an integral part of the planning process. The friendship-evangelism Bob extended to Harvey is common practice in the Missional Community he co-leads
with Alice and friends Rob and Karen Scheerer. Established over a decade ago, the group of couples and singles, young and old, meets on the first and third Friday of each month to enjoy food and fellowship, worship, studying God’s Word and communicating with Him through prayer. Throughout the week, members are faithful to each other not only through prayer, but also in caring for and checking in on their MC family. “If I needed somebody to come to my house, take Karen somewhere because I was working or do something for me, everybody’s right there for one another,” Rob illustrated. “We really get that feeling of authentic friendship and people who love Christ.” And like any close-knit family, they of course have fun too: Times of fellowship between Friday nights range from bowling to camping, holiday cookouts to the annual Christmas dinner and more. Just as they are invested in one another, the Arnold MC members are committed to reaching out to newcomers at church and people throughout their community. On Sunday mornings, they divide and conquer: Instead of sitting together, group members spread out during gatherings with the intention of getting to know people and inviting them to join their MC. “Bay Area is so big that if you’re not part of a Missional Community you fade into the woodwork there, and you’ve got to know some people when you come on Sunday morning to feel a part of Bay Area,” Alice explained of their intentionality, adding they encourage new friends to try multiple groups. “We just want them in a Missional Community whether it’s with us or someone else.” Beyond the walls of the church, the quartet of leaders and their friends have spent time refurbishing Severna Park’s Cisco Center, donating to the Stanton Center, packing backpacks for the homeless through the county’s Homeless Resource Day, sending care packages to Bay Area missionaries overseas and contributing to the community in countless other ways. Their focus remains not only on knowing who God is through examining His Word, but also reflecting His character through maintaining an outward focus in the church and surrounding communities. Through growing together in prayer, applying God’s Word and taking care of one another, the members of the Arnold MC have all become missional about reaching others for Christ. Whether through striking up a conversation with someone sitting nearby, stepping out in faith to reach a coworker or utilizing friendship-evangelism, they share the common goal of making disciples through invitation. Alice implored, “Don’t be afraid to ask! Just because someone is older or younger, or seems like they’re so different than you, don’t be afraid to ask – you might be surprised what their response is going to be.”
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR
GAIL WILES
BY MEREDITH THOMPSON
S he applied, was offered the job and
said, “No thanks.” When Children’s Ministry Director Gail Wiles was asked to take the helm of Bay Area Community Church’s (BACC) ministry for infants through fifth-graders in April of 2005, she felt ill-equipped and rejected the offer on the basis of being unqualified. Growing up in a Catholic home in North Dakota, Gail believed her father could do anything and everything, and knew she was the apple of his eye, so when he died of diabetic complications while talking to her on the phone, the then high-school senior began to question not only her father’s salvation but her own. As she started dating high-school sweetheart Ray, with whom she recently celebrated 20 years of marriage, her father’s passing propelled Gail into a quest to decipher her relationship with Jesus. “It was very important to my husband that I become ‘evenly yoked’ before we got married, so we got married and became evenly yoked, but I had no clue what the heck that meant because the relationship still wasn’t there,” Gail recalled with a laugh. “I was still basing my whole worth off of what I could do to be a better person, to be a better Christian, to make God love me more.” Her inquisitiveness led her to Ray’s aunt, who was deeply, madly in love with
Jesus and who, with a group of other women, led Gail to begin a true relationship with Christ. Years later, Gail was convicted two weeks after turning down the position of Children’s Ministry Director to re-evaluate her decision when Bay Area’s former family pastor pressed, “Did you pray about it?” and she was forced to admit she hadn’t. With a degree in finance and a career background in mortgage lending, the Cape St. Claire resident had spent the past three years of her life running an in-home daycare, but felt she had no clue where to begin with overseeing a children’s ministry. In retrospect, she observed, “I think that was the point: From day one I have been on my knees asking for God’s direction and guidance for His families … God used me where I needed absolute reliance on Him, and for that I am truly thankful and humbled.” Today, nearly a decade after first setting foot in Bay Area as fulfillment of a New Year’s resolution to find a new church closer to home, Gail pours into the lives of over 400 little ones not just on Sundays but every day of the week by partnering with parents
and families. With the help of five children’s ministry staff members, the mother of two relishes researching and providing tools for parents to develop their children’s faith between Sunday gatherings. “To come alongside a parent and for them to tell us that their child has memorized a verse or has put what they learned on a Sunday morning into action … is very fulfilling,” Gail said with a smile. “[I love] hearing the stories every week of how [children’s ministry has] impacted their home, how it’s impacted their prayer time as a family.” Looking forward, Gail can hardly contain her excitement for what God is going to do through BACC’s blessing event on February 1. She explained the outreach program will furnish parents and grandparents with the opportunity to end a curse and begin a blessing. “It’s an event to teach parents to give their children unconditional love and acceptance, and that if we haven’t been given that as adults we can turn to Jesus Christ for it, and that we can then in turn bless the people that we never got it from in the first place,” she illustrated. She also anticipates expanding Bay Area’s annual Easter Egg Hunt so families can invite neighbors and friends, and implementing creative new ideas for Summer Jam 2014.
The night of Friday, October 25th was one of laughs, creativity, and mystery as Bay Area celebrated another great Trunk or Treat. Close to 500 people came dressed in their most creative costumes ready to collect candy from elaborately decorated car trunks that ranged from The Wizard of Oz theme to an animal farm with a live pig and chicken. “Our hope was that families of BACC would use this opportunity to invite their neighbors,” Gail Wiles, Bay Area’s Children Ministry Director said about her expectations. “[The attendance] was greater than we were expecting.” Families in attendance could enjoy a rock wall, a bounce house, and a smoothie stand with fresh fruit. To end the night, illusionist Danny Ray performed feats of wonder that you had to see to believe. Trunk or Treat again proved to be an evening of fun, as well as an opportunity to invite friends or neighbors to experience a church community in a different way. As one attender said, “I was able to invite some friends who never would have come to church. Now they’re here and they’re impressed by what they’ve seen so far.” By Michaela Graf-Jones
With Bay Area’s transition to three Sunday gatherings, the children’s ministry too has experienced growth: The 18 children who attended the inaugural 8 a.m. service in late October doubled to 40 on November 3, contributing to an off-holiday record 417 children hearing about Jesus in one morning. Yet Gail maintained that while she is thrilled the children’s ministry is growing, she is even more excited there are enough adult volunteers each week to speak into the children’s lives (though she was quick to add they are “always looking for a few good men”). The avid Navy athletics fan emphasized that her heart for the children’s ministry would remain unchanged whether they welcomed five children each Sunday or 500. Gail’s desire is not only for every child to know Jesus, to put their trust in Him and to love Him, but also for students to understand they are loved, worthy and accepted. Along with her colleagues and nearly 280 faithful volunteers, Gail imparts these truths to preschoolers to keep hidden in their hearts; elementary-aged youngsters are encouraged to go a step further and make that life-changing decision to trust Christ. “Being there at that moment where they have to make that big decision – not all of them will, but if we can reach one child it’s all worth it for the Kingdom,” she highlighted. “I don’t think it matters how fast we’re growing. The most important thing for me is that Jesus wouldn’t just happen here on a Sunday morning, but that Jesus would be a part of who [the children] are Sunday through Saturday, and that their faith would continue to grow deeper so that when they leave Bay Area they won’t leave their faith behind,” Gail summarized. Photos by Bailey Godfrey
For us as Christians, Christmas is an annual remembrance and celebration of the moment in time when the world received their Messiah. It’s a bold move on His part: abandoning His heavenly position to enter into our brokenness. To match this utter grandiose movement of God, we could only respond with a grandiose movement of our own during this season: finding a way to boldly and creatively reflect the significance of God incarnate. It’s an especially important time of year for those who enter back into a church environment. Some are coming for the first time this year, some for the first time ever. Cement walls, graffiti... it’s a unique way to see the gospel. I sat down with Josh Shirlen to talk about how his team came up with this year’s Christmas theme, and how the Berlin Wall has anything to do with Jesus.
[Jocelyn Rimbey] How did you get the idea for this Christmas? [Josh Shirlen] This Christmas actually started last Christmas. Pat Linnell was delivering a sermon from our Christmas series “The Silence Was Broken.” Pat is notorious for doing live props and illustrations that are often quite ridiculous but tend to work. In this sermon, he was trying to explain the gospel in a new way. He decided he would create a prop that was a giant Rubbermaid container filled with cement and a few other different kinds of “toxins” to create this nasty witch’s brew of junk. Then he would wear an all white outfit to represent the purity of Jesus. Pat, in all white, gets in the Rubbermaid bin of junk, sits down and says, “This is a picture of Christmas.” Those were the lines he said! That stuck with me, especially after the response came back and people were just sort of raving about what he did. And so I have
kept that in my head all year long: “This is a picture of Christmas.” So in light of that illustration, we decided to do the entire decor out of cement. It’s pretty risky since it is taking what so many people find as a staple each year, even in their emotional experience of Christmas, and really flipping it on its head. All the traditional elements like trees and wreaths are turning into cement installations. There will be giant cement walls and and an installation featuring mannequins with cement block heads to represent our state in life in the world without Christ. We are even going to have giant oversized ornaments that are all made out of what looks like cement to bring home the reality and the weightiness of our human scenario apart from Christ prior to the Incarnation.
going to go over there to meet up with him to film two of our missionaries we are supporting there. I had remembered that Greg told me a story of being in Poland when the Iron Curtain was up and the Berlin Wall was coming down in the ‘80s. That got me thinking a lot about
[JR] Can you further explain the metaphor of the cement?
Communism and the stuckness that the people of Germany were feeling behind the Berlin Wall. I had the idea that since we would be so close that Greg and I would go to Berlin and shoot the very first sermon of the Advent series in front of the Wall.
[JS] Really practically and simply, cement represents the human condition that we all find ourselves in from the moment that we are born: the reality of sin, the reality of our stuckness, the inability to get out on our own strength. The amazing thing about Christmas is that God got into the human condition with us to identify with us and have relationship with us, to show us how to live in the midst of it, and ultimately to break us out of it. That is the really beautiful thing. He didn’t just see us in our human condition in the stuckness of the cement from a far off distant place, but that he showed this amazing expression of love to come down and enter into it and relate. We have this reality that we believe as Christians that all people really are stuck behind this giant cement wall and we can’t get out; we’re stuck there. There is only one way to get out and that is through the person of Jesus. It is only because He came, got in it with us, and broke us out that we can have that freedom. It’s really beautiful. [JR] You recently took a trip to Berlin for the series. What can you tell us about that? [JS] Greg St. Cyr was going to Poland to study for his doctorate and I was
walls into cement walls and taking traditional Christmas elements and covering them with cement. Worlds are colliding here in a way that makes you stop and think. It pushes buttons a little bit; there is a tension there that really gets people to question their perspective. Practically, we had to go through the process of finding materials and faux finishes. Also, we are on a fixed budget. We only have so much money to do it with so we have to be very creative. There is a lot of DIY kind of stuff we are doing so we want to make the very best thing we can using every single dollar we have to reflect God and help people connect with Him. [JR] What is your hope for this year’s Christmas series?
We would hear from Greg about some of the personal experiences he had and really dive deeper into the reality of sin and death apart from Jesus had He not come. The trip was really a great provision for us to do something really out of the box to get people excited about the series and really kick it off in a way that is honoring to God. [JR] Can you give us a behind-thescenes picture of how the decor was developed? [JS] The idea of Berlin came at the beginning of it. We thought about the cement, walls, Communism and that time period. We started looking at pictures of the Berlin Wall and we were just really taken aback by how these images of the cement and how the illustration of what Pat had done really did connect so well to our state without Christmas. So we started thinking about how could we transform this church into an environment that when you came in you would be shocked; not shocked for the sake of being shocked, but for the sake of a re-awakening to the real spiritual, theological significance of Christmas. We started thinking about turning our
[JS] My hope? I have such great hope for this Christmas series. I think this is the most ambitious thing we have done by far at Bay Area and we’ve done some pretty ambitious stuff. My hope is that people see Christmas in a way they never have before and that people that have never considered the significance of God incarnate at Christmas will have their minds blown when they realize what it is all really about. We’re trusting God for everything that we are doing here. We’re trusting the way He made us, the way He is inspiring us, the way His Holy Spirit is leading us to make something that reflects Him and will bless people, changing lives forever. I have a further hope for this series and it’s actually a challenge to the body of believers here at Bay Area. Let this series, from the cement installations to the music to the message, be an opportunity to invite friends or people that may never have wanted to step into a church before. This year, they’ll encounter something that was completely unexpected. They’ll see that the people of Bay Area are passionate about creativity and about God. Really, I want people to see the work and be inspired to do what they would do with it, whether it’s tell a neighbor and bring somebody or to let it inspire their own personal walk and relationship with Jesus.
FINANCIALS Operating Budget Financial Update October 31, 2013 Please note that all undesignated donations go toward the operating budget.
New Fiscal Year began September 1, 2013
HAPPENINGS
Fiscal Year Giving Goal
$ 3,503,500
YTD Giving Goal YTD Received YTD Actual vs. Goal MTD Giving Goal (OCT) MTD Received (OCT)
$ 536,021 $ 573,815 $ 37,794 7.1% Ahead $ 268,360 $ 247,457
Building Debt Status as of October 31, 2013 Balance Due $ 2,087,169 Fiscal YTD Donations $ 10,300 For more detailed financial updates, please visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/financials
BAPTISM Wo u l d y o u l i ke t o b e b a p t i z e d ? • K-5th contact: gail.wiles@bayareacc.org • 6-12th contact: brent.squires@bayareacc.org • Adults: Join us for a group baptism class on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Our next class is December 15th @ 9:30 a.m. in the front office. For more info, contact arianne.teeple@bayareacc.org
If you would like your Building Fund donations to go toward Existing Debt, please write in your check memo “One & Only Life”. All other Building Fund donations will go toward “Beyond884”. How Do I Support Beyond 884: Room For People? Preferred Methods (no fees charged) Direct Debit: Go to www.beyond884.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to BACC Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month. Personal Check: Write Beyond884 on the memo line and mail the check to BACC or drop it in the offering basket on Sunday. Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to BACC. Be sure to note Beyond 884 on the memo.
C O N N ECT 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 blue shirt in the lobby after each Sunday gathering or visit us online at bayareacc.org/waystoconnect
Year End Giving We are deeply grateful for your generous giving to God’s work at BACC. Thank You! As you consider what God may be leading you to give as a special year-end gift, please remember that for tax purposes, all gifts must be received/postmarked by Dec. 31, 2013, and sent to our finance department at the church office. For any stock or bond gifts please contact Jeffrey Furniss at Charter Financial Services (410-987-3590. Please remember that these types of transactions take a little longer to complete. We thank you again for your prayerful consideration.
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES Awakening Prayer 7 a.m. every Sunday with Kammi McGinty and Heide Halik Boiler Room 9:30 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month with Betsy and Dave McPeak For Israel 11 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month with Lynda Bayliss A Penny for Your Prayers 10 a.m. on the 3rd Sunday of the month with Betsy McPeak Repentance 11 a.m. on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month with Crystal Bowers Missions 9:30 a.m. on the 4th Sunday of the month with Tracy Arnold Prayer for Celebrate Recovery With Bryan Gordon. Inquire for time and location details. For Women’s Ministry 9:30-10:30 a.m. every Wednesday with Cedulie Sanchez Revival Prep 7-8 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of the month with Kammi McGinty Prayer for Ministry Leaders For information about specific teams, times and locations, contact Penny at sweetpflora@aol.com Prayer Chain: To submit/receive prayer requests email lyndabill@ verizon.net Want more info about prayer or the teams? Contact Elder John Taylor at seabury2317@verizon.net or 443-324-5560 or Penny Flora at sweetpflora@aol.com or 410-766-0445.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Take it Home Event: We are excited to introduce the new logo for Take It Home. When you see this logo know that we have something for your family to continue faith conversations at home. We will provide simple, fun activities for your family to do together when it’s most convenient for you. Stay tuned for more intentional resources for your family. For more information, email chyloe.cheetham@bayareacc.org “Miracle in the Manger” It is our prayer that this special Christmas “Take It Home” activity will remind your family of that first Christmas night in which heaven’s miracle baby was born. Let it remind you of the miracle of His love and forgiveness—for you! Pick up yours today at the children’s welcome counter. A partnership tool from the Deep Blue. Child Dedication On December 7th, twelve bay area families will make the decision to raise their children for Jesus. Rejoice with us as we partner with these families on this special day.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Nursery Cheryl Cowan and her husband George have been coming to Bay Area for almost 24 years. Being the mom of two grown boys, she was always thankful for volunteers in Children’s Ministry. Cheryl is now doing the same for the next generation. She has been serving in our one year old’s room where she loves to cuddle them, watch them learn new things, and share the love of Jesus with them. She does this by providing a safe and loving environment that parents can feel when they drop off their one year old every Sunday. When not partnering with us at Bay Area, Cheryl enjoys gardening and landscape design and making yearly visits to her family in England. We are thankful for her heart to disciple our wee little ones of BACC. Preschool Meghan Taschenberger is one of our Small Group leaders who serve every week and preschoolers have fallen in love with her. She enjoys playing the viola and is a diehard Ravens fan. Her loving personality is perfect for teaching preschoolers about the God who made them and who loves them. It’s been known that families will arrive 30 minutes before the gathering starts just to get into Ms. Meghan’s room. Watch out! Sometimes at random she’ll start singing and dancing for no reason. Preschoolers love her and so do we. Elementary Tony Faaborg is one of our 3rd grade community group leaders. When Tony is not at church, he is serving our country as an officer in the United States Air Force as a facilities engineer at Andrews AFB. He also has many hobbies but all of his favorite things to do include hanging out with people; either one on one or in a large crowd, it doesn’t matter. It is one of wthe reasons he does so well leading our 3rd graders! If he isn’t hanging out with people you can find him running through the woods on one of the many trails we have around the area. We are so blessed to have him on The Deep Blue team.
CARE NETWORK
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction or just having a hard time dealing with pain in the past or present, this group is for you. You will find hope, encouragement, strength and support in a Godly, safe environment, with people who have the same struggles. The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for many of us. We hope you will check us out. We meet every Monday night, even on holidays, at 7 p.m. for worship, a lesson, open share groups and fellowship. We share a meal together every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 6-7pm. The 3rd Monday is a potluck dinner. For more information for men, contact Mark at markcelebrates@gmail.com and for women contact Kym at kymcelebrates@gmail.com Premarital Ministry We offer premarital mentoring from trained facilitators who will personally walk with each couple through the biblical foundations of marriage. The Marriage Mentors consist of trained couples who have been married a minimum of ten years, are ministry partners with Bay Area and have a huge heart for thriving biblical marriages. Mentor Couples spend a minimum of twelve weeks with each couple as they come to a better understanding of what God’s plan is for marriage versus what our culture strives for. Our goal is to help couples start their marriages in the best possible way. For more information, contact Todd & Kim Christner at premarital.ministry@bayareacc.org Holiday Grieving Resources For some people, the holiday season feels anything but merry. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one, you may be recently divorced, or perhaps you live alone and the holidays only magnify your isolation and lack of family or close friends. There are two resources at the lobby information counter that will be available to help you cope during this holiday season. Perhaps you would like to speak with someone about the heaviness this time of year brings for you. Contact The Care Network at leanne.lane@ bayareacc.org or on our confidential line at 443-837-3718. Hospital Visitations If you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound, we’d love to be of help. Contact the church at 410.544.2222 or email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
FOR MEN Men’s Morning Bible Study Tuesdays from 6-7:30 a.m. in room 236. Contact Dennis at dbradylaw@aol.com Men’s Bible Study Fellowship Tuesday Dec. 3rd & Dec. 10 from 6:45-8:45 p.m. Men are encouraged to bring their school-aged children to participate. Contact: Chris at heacock308@yahoo.com
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Last month we announced our “Christmas in Community” outreach and there’s still time for you to participate! Here’s how: 1.Choose a day in December. 2.Plan a get together & invite your friends, co-workers, or neighbors who have yet to know Jesus. Make it as simple as coffee or dinner together. Or partner with your spouse or a friend to do something special. You can find a fun video & a list of ideas at www.bayareacc.org/womensevents/ 3.Register your idea, tell the story of what God does, and send a photo to janet.graves@bayareacc.org We can’t wait to hear what God does through you this Christmas in YOUR community as we celebrate Immanuel, “God with us.” THE WELL WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDIES
Registration starts December 15th at our kiosk in the lobby or online at www.bayareacc.org/ womensministry
WEDNESDAY A.M.: “A State of the Union” is a 12-week study of I Peter 3 with Marilyn Anderes on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. It starts January 15th. These Biblical principles will give practical help for all our relationships. Register in the lobby or online. You can purchase your workbook for $10 when you register. KidCare for babies & preschool children at The Well will be available on Wednesday mornings only for an additional fee of $35/1 child, $55 for 2+ children. Register for KidCare by contacting jen.marshall@bayareacc.org THURSDAY P.M.: “Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival” (Nancy DeMoss & Tim Grissom). This 12-week study starts Thursday, January 16th from 7-8:30 p.m. This study will lead you to a deeper place in your relationship with God. You can purchase your workbook for $20 when you register. Contact our Coordinators, Michelle at michellebellamy@aol.com or Darby at darby@ dougcate.com for more information about the study.
POWER OF THE PURSE SPECIAL THANKS Special thanks to the 81 people who attended our recent event on Human Trafficking, “Power of the Purse”, to benefit The Samaritan Women organization in Catonsville, Md. Contact www. thesamaritanwomen.org to find out more about this Christian ministry helping victims of human trafficking. You can also link to the “Top 40 Action Items” on the marylandcoalition.org page to learn practical ways we can help stop human trafficking.
Student Ministries: For more information contact: brent.squires@bayareacc.org • SUNDAY Fusion Middle School Gathering @ 9:30 a.m. in The Warehouse • SUNDAY Fuel High School Gathering @ 11 a.m. in The Warehouse • WEDNESDAY Amplify High School Gathering from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in The Warehouse Communications: Feel free to connect with us in a variety of ways:
New High School Series We’ve all seen the nativity with perfectly positioned characters, well-behaved animals, and a holy glow surrounding it all. We see everyone in the scene as if they are one big happy family celebrating the first, and probably the
only, perfect Christmas. Contrast this perfect picture with our own lives, our own families and holiday drama, and we may feel the Christmas story looks nothing like our own. But what if you were able to pull back the curtain and see past the picture-perfect silent night? When we look closely, we find that the REAL Christmas story, the uncut, behind-the-scenes version, looks more like our own than we would have ever imagined. And the same God who scripted these imperfect characters into His story is calling you to join him there as well.
• Simply Text: Text “JOIN FUSION1” (for Middle School) to 40650 or “JOIN AMPLIFY1” (for High School) to sign up for our text message updates. Texts are generally sent out once a week with reminders for that week’s events. Texts are also sent out in case of event cancellations due to inclement weather. • Parent Link: Go to www.bayareacc.org/basm and click on the Parent Link to see our monthly calendar and get access to parenting articles and tips sent out monthly through our newsletter. • Email Updates: Contact one of the Student Ministry staff and request your email address be added to receive our weekly emails sent out containing event details, sermon points, and any other pertinent information for that week. • Online: www.bayareacc.org/basm • Facebook: A great way to get updated information on any upcoming gatherings as well as any cancellations that might occur. “Like” us on Facebook at BACC Student Ministry. • Contact us: Get in contact with one of our staff anytime by email or phone:
Sunday, December 8: Messy Sunday, December 15: Awkward Sunday, December 22: Drama Sunday, December 29: New Year’s Series Begins
• Brent Squires (Student Ministry Pastor) brent.squires@bayareacc.org 443-837-3736 (office) 443-534-7680 (cell) • Austin MacCubbin (Middle School Coordinator) austin.maccubbin@bayareacc.org 443-837-3737 (office) 240-682-3247 (cell or text) • Michaela Graf-Jones (Intern Program Coordinator) michaela.grafjones@bayareacc.org 443-837-3726 (office) 267-614-9445 (cell or text) • Ashleigh Bicevskis (Intern Gathering Coordinator): ashleigh.bicevskis@bayareacc.org
Amplify: Wednesday Night High School Gathering A mid-week high school gathering on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Students will grow deeper in their walk with God through group-based discipleship. Join us for food, games, and grade/gender-specific community groups led by trained, caring adult leaders. Students will experience true community and discipleship in the context of their peers, all in a fun environment. For more information contact brent.squires@bayareacc.org *No Wednesday Amplify on December 25, 2013 or January 1, 2014.
Join us Sundays at 11 a.m. in The Warehouse for this exciting, relevant teaching series. High School Christmas All-Nighter We invite all high school students to register for our annual Christmas All-Nighter. This year’s event takes place on Friday, December 20; 8:00 p.m. The event will kick off at Bay Area Community Church and proceed to several destinations including Greenway Bowling, LifeTime Fitness (rock climbing, swimming, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball), and Double T Diner, before ending back at Bay Area. Registration ends Sunday, 12/15. Pick up a registration form at our Student Ministry Info Kiosk or at our website. Come dressed in your craziest Christmas costume to be eligible for some awesome prizes. Food, fun, and tons of friends. Contact brent.squires@ bayareacc.org for more information.
Winter Meltdown High School Retreat We will travel to River Valley Ranch for our annual high school winter retreat Friday – Sunday, January 24 – 26, 2014. Limited space is available for this retreat that includes paintball, horseback riding, zip line, dodgeball, tons of games, friends, worship, teaching, and much more. Registration deadline is Sunday, January 12, 2014. Pick up a registration form at our Student Ministry Info Kiosk or at our website. Contact brent. squires@bayareacc.org for more information.
CONNECTING MINISTRY
Backpack Buddies There are several students at Fort Meade Middle School on the assisted meal program that go home every Friday with nothing to eat until they return to school on Monday morning. The Middle School students at Bay Area have partnered with a missional community to provide food for these less fortunate students who live only a few miles down the road. We are collecting non-refrigerated food items, bottled water, drinks, and snacks that can be prepared with no more than a microwave as some of the students are homeless. Middle School Club 678 A monthly Friday night hang out for middle school students to have fun, hang out, and invite their friends. Join us on December 13th from 7-9 p.m. in The Warehouse at BACC and bring your best Christmas cookies for our competition. For more information contact austin.maccubbin@bayareacc.org VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Name: Micah Acree Volunteer Role: 11/12th Grade Boys Length of Volunteer Service: 2 years Career: Coast Guard Fun Fact: Went to the movie theatre to see Star Wars on his wedding night. Name: Laurie Fritts Volunteer Role: 8th Grade Girls Length of Volunteer Service: 3 years Nickname: “Mamma Fritts” Fun Fact: Three of her five children will be married in eleven months.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE Espresso Team: Always wanted to learn how to make an espresso? Join our bay cafe team and serve once a month for a 30 minute shift on Sunday mornings by emailing grace. roath@bayareacc.org Greeters: Interested in greeting attenders and newcomers on Sundays? Contact jocelyn.rimbey@bayareacc.org Celebrate Recovery: Serve in audio and/or visual aspects of our Monday Gatherings from 6-8:30 p.m. Contact trevin. hoekzema@bayareacc.org Chair Ministry: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Contact Rich Raley at cndale94@aol.com Parking Ministry: Serve by directing traffic and greeting those arriving at church. Contact Steve at castlelot@msn.com
LOCAL OUTREACH
Our Community Group leaders are the heartbeat of our student ministry. They are on the frontlines of building relationships and providing discipleship to our students. Effective ministry would be impossible without them. We are glad to have these leaders serving within the student ministry. For information about serving within student ministry, contact Brent Squires at brent.squires@bayareacc.org BASM Volunteer Opportunities: Donut Providers (Sundays at 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.); Kiosk Team (Sundays at 9:30 or 11 a.m.); Check-In Team (Sundays at 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.); Café Team (Sundays at 9:30 or 11 a.m.). For specific details on the volunteer opportunities, contact michaela.graf-jones@ bayareacc.org
DISCOVER Whether you need to learn more about faith or about Bay Area, exploration might be on the top of your mind. Join us in the Bay Cafe after the 11 a.m. gathering on the first Sunday of every month for Discover Bay Area. Together we’ll explore our history, our vision, our mission, and how you can get plugged into community. A light lunch and Kid Care is included. No RSVP needed but encouraged. For more information, email jocelyn.rimbey@bayareacc.org
Good News & Jail Chaplain Ministry Join us for the 15th Annual Herman Fletcher Memorial Prayer Breakfast, January 23, 2014. It will be held at Trinity UMC located at 1300 West St. Annapolis. There is no cost to attend; an offering will be taken to support the local jail chaplains. Please RSVP chase.wood@goodnewsjail.org or (410) 222-4549 by January 14. Walk Of Christmas Gift Drive Imagine if you were not able to provide Christmas for your children this year. It would be heart-breaking for the whole family. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many households in Anne Arundel County. Help show Jesus’ love by joining Walk the Walk Foundation in sponsoring local children this Christmas season for their Walk Of Christmas Drive. Your involvement would provide hope and happiness through gifts and love for the children in our community. They also have lots of volunteer opportunities for all ages. Visit WTW at their kiosk December 1st and 8th for information and to get involved. Email Chelsea at chelsea@wtwf.org
GLOBAL MISSIONS Perspectives Course The Perspectives course will once again be offered in January. Gain a better understanding of (1) God’s love for all people, (2) how God is evangelizing the world (past, present, future), and (3) how we can get involved and do it most effectively. This course is a biblical, historical, and cultural analysis of the impact of the world Christian movement, with specific attention given to strategy and the imperative of bringing the gospel to groups that have yet to initially receive it. Register today for this 16 week course on Monday nights from 6:30-9:30pm, starting in January. Due to the planned construction at BACC it will be hosted at Faith Community Church in Crofton. Full cost is $285. Discounts offered for early registration, couples and people in ministry. Alumni are free. The course can be taken for college credit, for a certificate, or simply for personal edification. For more info contact John at john_battan@sil.org or visit the Perspectives website at www.perspectives.org Short term missions in 2014: Last year over 65 people participated in short term missions with Bay Area. If you missed out on the experience, now is your chance to get involved - or if you went and want to go again, even better. We are excited to continue our partnerships with our friends around the globe in the 2014 short term missions season. Below you will find a list of the countries, dates, descriptions, and how to take the steps towards going. INDIA Date: January 5-15, 2014 (tentative) Cost: $3,000 Plan to have 2 teams: Team 1: Be a part of the church planting movement by encouraging pastors and worshiping with newly planted churches in the tribal regions of India. We will also spend time and play games with Indian children in one or more children’s homes/orphanages. Team 2: Spending time with Indian youth, playing volleyball, hanging out, and showing them the love of Christ.
UGANDA Date: January 5-15, 2014 (tentative) Cost: $3,500 Come to Uganda to minister to members of the Precious Souls Support Group made up of Ugandans who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. We will also be supporting a local church plant, providing project management and maintenance to the mission home where we stay and continuing to build on the relationships that started back in 2005. Over the last 5 years we have seen many miraculous recoveries once the sick were embraced by the support group and encouraged/enabled to seek medical care. Adults and college age welcome! EL SALVADOR Date: June/July TBD Join this mission team to the mountainside village of Guayabo to present a VBS program to dozens of local children OR outreach at the local college through teaching classes and running a conference. POLAND Date: July 17-27 (subject to change) Come to Poland and be an active part of the revival of Christianity in Eastern Europe by teaching the love of Jesus and the English language. The team will teach teens and preteens English as a second language. Training is included in preparing to go. GHANA Date: July 28-Aug 3 (subject to change) On this mission to Ghana we’ll share Jesus with the youth of the Scripture Union Ghana through Bible studies, service projects, sports and worship. The team will travel from Accra to several cities around the country, experiencing the variety in the culture in this great nation. If you are at all interested in joining one of these missions trips, please email trevin.hoekzema@bayareacc.org. He will provide you with additional information and next steps on how to apply.