GO&MAKE #91

WINTER '23-'24

ISSUE #91

The Spirit-Filled Artist DISCIPLESHIP AT BAY AREA 10 YEARS OF GO&MAKE

FREE bayareacc.org/GOANDMAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 1

IN THIS ISSUE 14 10 12 18 20 The Spirit-Filled Artist

Free & Beautiful: God's Grace at a Street Festival From The Very Beginning Hello My Name Is Jesus Chain Reaction

ABOUT THE COVER Kelly Lagaras (pictured) opens her home studio and her heart as we dive into her personal journey from science teacher to full time artist. Join us on page 14 as we take a closer look at Kelly’s approach and unique style. She reveals her source of inspiration and how community became the catalyst for big change and deeper faith.

2 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

E

MAGAZINE

ELDERS

BAY AREA LEADERSHIP

EDITOR Abbie Hoekstra

Bill Smith Chris Heacock David Grabau Greg Dixon Greg St. Cyr John Taylor Keith Riniker Ken Gilmore Kevin Rump Kyle Sponaugle Mat Soltis Roger Ishii Ron Dutton Stu Cooper Tom Dalpini Tom Hogan Warwick Fairfax

Allen Smith, Missional Communities Pastor – allen.smith@bayareacc.org Aaron Hixson, Teaching Pastor – aaron.hixson@bayareacc.org Brian Hopper, Annapolis Campus Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Jason Barthelemy, Odenton Campus Pastor – jason.barthelemy@bayareacc.org Jeff Supp, Executive Pastor – jeff.supp@bayareacc.org Jake Wieduwilt, Student Ministry Pastor – jake.wieduwilt@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Sacks, Serving Director – jocelyn.sacks@bayareacc.org Jonathan Madrid, Worship Leader – jonathan.madrid@bayareacc.org Kammi McGinty, Care Network & Marriage Ministry Director – kammi.mcginty@bayareacc.org Kristin Collins, Annapolis Children’s Ministry Director – kristin.collins@bayareacc.org Megan Heath, Women’s Ministry Director – megan.heath@bayareacc.org Shawn Hart, Global Missions Pastor – shawn.hart@bayareacc.org

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Josh (Burgi) Burgin PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple LEAD DESIGNER Jake Williams CONTRIBUTORS Jason Barthelemy Brendan Cothran Kristin Collins Courtney Tompkins Kevin Rimando Michelle Wright

For a comprehensive list of all Bay Area staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/ourteam.

COVER PHOTO Arianne Teeple

We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.

FINANCIALS

GIVING AT BAY AREA

GIVING METHODS

ANNAPOLIS

The financial generosity of our church family helps fuel our mission of making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. Every gift is used to resource our ongoing ministries at our two campuses, and support dozens of local and global missions partners who are reaching people with the gospel around the world. Want to learn how to manage your finances God’s way? Read our Philosophy of Generosity at bayareacc.org/give.

If you would like to give, you can do so at bayareacc.org/give, or by mailing a check to our Annapolis Campus (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401). Please be sure to include your campus designation on all gifts.

YTD Giving through 9/30/23: $488,690 YTD Budget through 9/30/23: $505,790 Actual vs. Budget: –$17,100 ODENTON YTD Giving through 9/30/23: $36,730 YTD Budget through 9/30/23: $37,410 Actual vs. Budget: –$680

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 3

LETTER FROM THE LEAD oes the name “Oswald Chambers” mean anything to you? When I think about those who have impacted my life for Christ, Oswald Chambers is amongst the top. He died at the age of 43 in 1917. In 1924, his wife Biddy compiled some of his teachings into what would become the alltime best-selling devotional: “My Utmost for His Highest.” I’ve read “My Utmost” for over 15 years. No book outside the Bible has had more of an impact on my life.

On January 1 of “My Utmost,” Chambers opens with these words:

“My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest – my best for His glory.”

This phrase, “my best for His glory,” has laid hold of me. It begs the question, “Will I give my best for God’s glory?”

Throughout the Bible we see men and women giving their best for God’s glory. Caleb at Kadesh Barnea stands against the majority report and declares, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).

Mary of Bethany takes a pound of pure nard and lovingly anoints the feet of Jesus (John 12:3).

A young boy, perhaps eight years old, places his five loaves and two fish into the hands of Jesus and 5,000 are fed (John 6:9).

4 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

Each of these gave their best for His glory.

We give our best for God’s glory by intentionally deciding to follow Jesus as His disciple. Said another way, by becoming more like Jesus.

This is our ministry year focus – that each of us would become more like Jesus.

With that in mind, there are two key verses we are claiming as a church:

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

" This year, perhaps like never before, we are laser focused on becoming more like Jesus." advance His mission of making disciples from here to the nations.

The more we become like Jesus, the more He uses us on mission. The vision of Bay Area reflects this belief:

God’s intended purpose of your life is to be like your teacher, Jesus.

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19).

Matthew 4:19 gives us our definition of a disciple. I pray that all of us will embody this definition:

A disciple follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and is on mission with Jesus.

Helping to change the world by advancing the gospel in YOU, your neighbors and the nations.

To the extent that YOU (i.e., all of us) are changed by the gospel of Jesus, to that extent Jesus uses us on mission to help reach our neighbors and the nations. Said another way, our impact on the world depends upon the depth of our personal, intimate relationship with Jesus.

That is why it is so important that each of us make a decision of our will to be intentional about being a disciple of Jesus.

In Matthew 4, Jesus challenged Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow Him. Immediately they left their nets and followed. They made an intentional decision of their will to follow.

It was not an easy decision nor was it the easy path. It involved challenge, opposition and sacrifice. But it proved to be the path of love, joy and purpose. As they followed, they experienced life change. So much so that those who opposed these uneducated and common men “were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

When we are with Jesus, He changes us! The outflow of such change is God using us to

This year, perhaps like never before, we are laser focused on becoming more like Jesus.

That happens as we see ourselves as His disciples who follow Him, are being changed

by Him, and are on mission with Him. As Jesus changes us, our character will be formed more into His likeness. As that happens, we will be used on mission with Him like never before.

His life will be expressed through us, and we will be part of seeing loved ones, neighbors and the nations become His disciples.

I cannot wait to see what the Lord does in and through us in the days ahead!

From here to the nations,

G

RE

G S T. CY

R

Greg St. Cyr is the lead pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributor to GO&MAKE.

LEAD PASTOR

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 5

BR

IAN HOP

P ER

BY

Cracking The Discipleship Code ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS PASTOR

arna, an evangelical Christian polling firm, recently partnered with the Navigators to conduct a poll on the state of discipleship in churches. What they found was that roughly 40% of believers are not engaged in any form of discipleship personally and the primary reason was - they simply haven’t thought about it.* This is a jarring revelation. Almost half of people who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior, who believe that Jesus’ final words to make disciples are true, are not engaged in any form of personal discipleship because they haven’t thought about it. Which begs the question - what are they thinking about? And what are their churches thinking about?

“The elephant in the room in many churches is the unstated assumption that a person can be a Christian without being a disciple.” - Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship I’m not trying to be overly dramatic here, it just stuns and saddens me that so many people in our churches are focused on so many things other than the one thing Jesus told us to focus on - make disciples. Now clearly this doesn’t equate to everyone being aloof or apathetic to their spiritual growth.

Certainly there are many good things in our churches that we can and should focus on.

But wouldn’t we agree that keeping the main thing the main thing should be a priority? The main thing being discipleship.

And this is, in part, why we as a church felt led to elevate our primary focus for our ‘23’24 ministry year to be all about discipleship - becoming more like Jesus. I have been part of Bay Area since 1997 and I can remember showing up to Annapolis High School to hear Greg preach (he wasn’t even lead pastor at that time). From the very beginning, our church has always had a passion for discipleship. In fact, over the 25+ years of being here, I could

6 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

tell you many of the ways and methods we have intentionally (and faithfully) tried in order to make disciples. It is in our mission statement, we have a definition of what a disciple is, we even have a vision of how our discipleship should go from here to the nations. Yet, with all our attempts, we don’t feel like we’ve ‘cracked the code’ on discipleship here at Bay Area. We have made great strides and seen the Lord work tremendously in the lives of thousands of people over the years, but we’ve yet to experience a widespread sweeping movement of growth and transformation throughout our church body, where every person not only made their spiritual growth a priority, but actually took a faith step to become more like Jesus.

That’s why we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes to help bring as much clarity as possible to the process of discipleship. We don’t simply want to recommend great environments of discipleship (like our gatherings, community groups, women’s or men’s Bible studies) or even resources (like Chapter a Day). We don’t want to just elevate the “tasks” of being a disciple, like our spiritual disciplines of daily Bible reading, pray, fasting. While all of these are good and necessary, we want to elevate how we grow spiritually and who we are becoming like through discipleship: Jesus.

Enter the nine discipleship essentials, or “the way.” These

NINE ESSENTIALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

essentials are straight from the pages of scripture, as we look to Jesus as our guide for discipleship.

How did He disciple? How did the early church continue this work?

And what does it mean for us?

Through prayer, research and some friendly debate, we ended up with these nine:

Holistic

The gospel should infiltrate and transform every part of our lives.

Intentional

We must be actively engaged in the spiritual growth process.

Spirit-Led

We are guided and motivated by God’s Spirit.

WordCentered

It is God’s Word that forms and shapes us.

Prayerful

We are changed as we commune with God through prayer.

These essentials are foundational and timeless! While forms and methods might change, these truths about the process of discipleship won’t. If we can commit to them as a church and as individual disciples, we can trust that God is going to work through them to bring about great transformation in us… that we’ll remain “on the road” of discipleship.

By elevating our personal growth as the top priority, we desire as a church, to help every person prayerfully discern the area(s) that Jesus wants us to grow in

Relational

Spiritual growth happens best in the context of relationships.

Costly

Jesus invites us to count the cost and deny ourselves in order to follow Him.

Evangelistic

It aims to reach the lost through both word and deed.

Reproducing It invests in and equips others so we can reproduce disciples who make disciples.

- and take that step of faith to change. While our focus this year is building the foundation of discipleship at Bay Area, our goal is to never stop growing as a disciple. As we build the foundation it's important to learn about each essential, but not to try and change a million things at once. Instead, set them all before God and ask Him to help you identify "the one." And as you take this step, our hope is that we'll all collectively be becoming more like Jesus together.

*see Growing Together: www.barna.com/research/christians-discipleship-community

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 7

END OF YEAR Shopping online?

C H R I S T M A S AT B AY A R E A G AT H E R I N G T I M E S ANNAPOLIS S AT U R D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 3

7 p.m.

As you're making purchases this holiday season, consider partnering with us through Amazon Smile.

Select Bay Area Community Church and support our ministry with every purchase you make.

smile.amazon.com

S U N D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 4

9 & 11 a.m.

4 6 & 8 p.m.

ODENTON

S U N D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 4

9:30 11:15 a.m. &

Make reservations starting in November at bayareacc.org/christmas or join us online at 4, 6 & 8 p.m.

8 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

chapter a day AVA I L A B L E D E C E M B E R 3 1

ADVENT Join us November 26 for Aaron's annual teaching on Advent as we launch into the Christmas season.

This year families will participate in Advent with our Family Christmas Month boxes.

Join us for year four of Family Christmas Month in Children’s Ministry!

Pick up drive-thru on Tuesday, November 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Annapolis Campus. If this pickup date doesn't work for you, other options are available at registration. bayareacc.org/annapolis-events

If you are not in a family with young kids and want to still engage with Advent, there are many resources out there. A free one we recommend can be found at thecommonrule.org/advent-edition.

NEW YEAR'S EVE G AT H E R I N G ANNAPOLIS

9 & 11 a.m.

CARE NETWORK There are times when every one of us experiences challenging circumstances, losses, relational pain and difficult transitions in our lives.

We're here for you. bayareacc.org/carenetwork

Children's Ministry available only at 9 a.m. gathering (it's a Pajama Party!)

Student Ministry available only at 9 a.m. gathering for both Middle and High School

ODENTON O N E F A M I LY G AT H E R I N G

9:30 a.m.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 9

Free & Beautiful

he Piney Orchard Street Festival is a yearly gathering the second weekend in September in the Piney Orchard community where hundreds of vendors come to sell, advertise, entertain and engage with the Odenton community. The organizers of the event close the street down and hundreds of people drop in and participate.

Odenton Connecting Coordinator, Alex Williams and Sean Smith were the genesis of the idea – what could Bay Area Odenton

N RE

DA N C OTH N

ODENTON CAMPUS PASTOR

&B

L Y

BY

N B A RT HE

RA

O AS

EM

J

God's Grace at a Street Festival

ODENTON CAMPUS WORSHIP LEADER

contribute to this community event that could bring sunshine and light to the community? They both worked hard to create an experience and build a team to support it. The plan was to have a flower stand with sunflowers and other filler flowers where guests could come through and make a free bouquet. When the flowers ran out, we had a plan for activities for kids and families to participate in.

This was the first time anyone from our team had attended this event and while we had some idea

of what to expect, none of us really knew the scope and magnitude of what may take place.

Alex, Jason and a set of volunteers kicked the day off, and other volunteers alongside Brendan Cothran and Sarah Williams closed it out. Both crews had completely different experiences the day of the event.

Here’s a report from each group

Our team got the stand organized, prayed, and perfected the flow for what the process would look like. We had a few thousand flowers ready to go. Our prayer was that we would provide much more than just free flowers – we wanted to provide a presence and share the love of Christ in a meaningful way. There are several examples for how God answered these prayers. One of these was that we were given one of the best locations - we were the first booth most attendees encountered as they arrived.

We immediately had a line of people who were willing to wait to make a bouquet and the line continued. At one point, we timed how long it took for someone to wait in line and complete a bouquet – 25 minutes! This afforded us some opportunities for great conversations. The very

2ND SHIFT

1ST SHIFT

Alex and Jason

first family had a young girl that had a shirt on it that said “Better Together!” One conversation with a woman named Gene made us realize that she might get what we are doing more than we do. She shared: “I get it!

God’s grace is free and beautiful and these flowers are free and beautiful!” Another family was eager to take these flowers to

bless a family who had recently experienced a loss.

It was clear that we were accomplishing what we set out to accomplish! And thankfully we hadn’t run out of flowers.

We handed our roles off to the next shift to take it from here.

It was hot, we were tired, but it was worth it!

Sarah and Brendan As we walked toward the booth to take over for the second-shift, it quickly became clear that the flower tent was popular.

Everywhere we looked, there were people carrying bright sunflower bouquets wrapped with paper and a sticker that said “Bay Area Odenton.” We walked by the live band and heard the lead vocalist say, “this goes out to everyone out there carrying those beautiful flowers!” before launching into “When I was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. We took over the second shift and continued to pass out flowers, smiles and conversations.

We soon realized that it wouldn’t be long before we ran out. No problem – we had anticipated this.

We began initiating the backup plan - becoming a kids pinwheel craft tent.

As we began the reset, the temperature began to dip and the first drops of rain began to fall.

By the time we had fully pivoted, the floodgates had opened, and

we were in a full on deluge. As people began running for cover, we once again became a popular tent! We spent some time chatting with our captive audience, but it didn’t take long before we realized that the rain wasn’t going to letup and it was time to call it a day.

We began hauling the equipment through the thunderstorm to the trailer a soaking 200 yards away.

We waded through the small river that was once a road with our trusty portable wagons in tow. Our amazing volunteer team rallied together, and in short order, everything was packed-up and tied down.

Looking back, we were amazed at God’s provision and timing.

The Lord knew exactly how much time we needed to hand out all those flowers. We believe that we were able to spread a lot of joy and the love of Jesus that day in the Odenton community. We trust that the seeds that were planted will continue to grow.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 11

L

S

BY

ST I N C OL

IN

I KR

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

From The Very Beginning We made the decision to relaunch our Special Buddies program after COVID in 2021 because we knew there was a greater need from families that we wanted to serve. This program has a specific set of leaders who partner with families of children who have

12 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

special needs so that they can still have an intentional Sunday morning experience where they can learn about Jesus on their level. Currently we have eight special buddies serving five families. We continue to be in awe of everything God is doing

in the lives of our families and leaders involved in this ministry, specifically Jayce, a four-yearold who has an incredible bond with his special buddy, Melanie Willhite.

When speaking to Jayce’s mom, Janine Tillman, she shared the incredible connection she has had with not only Melanie but the entire Willhite family. Back in 2015 Janine and her husband Jonathan were attending Bay Area and met Jen, Melanie’s mother. Having noticed that Jen had a baby that she was fostering, Janine dropped off a meal to the Wilhites. They bonded over their hearts for little ones, foster care and adoption. Jen shared about her family’s experiences with fostering and helping hurting families. The rewards and pain are great, but the entire family is passionate about the calling to serve and care for those in need.

Janine shared that she saw the Willhite family as an inspiration, and even though she has a large family, she was feeling God’s pull to look into fostering.

Within the year, her family moved to Hawaii. Making fast friends with other fostering mothers, Janine began to research how they could take the next step.

After adopting their youngest daughter and fostering for several years, Janine got a call from her agency that would change her family’s life forever. A baby boy was in the hospital recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Previously Janine said she could never imagine taking on such a serious case, but as soon as she saw Jayce’s big brown eyes, she knew God had called them to more. In December of 2021 they adopted Jayce and have been navigating how best to love their son and care for his special needs.

" A simple act of friendship and being better together changed the course of a family’s life forever."

Last summer the Tillman family moved back to Maryland and started attending Bay Area again.

Realizing that Jayce would need some assistance in Children’s Ministry, Janine reached out to Mickey Huntington, Bay Area’s Children’s Ministry Coordinator who oversees the Special Buddies program. Reviewing each family’s needs and the skills of our Special Buddies team, Mickey spends time praying on who to pair together so that each child can have the best chance at experiencing Jesus in their own way.

The Lord brought Melanie Willhite to mind because she had been serving in Children’s Ministry for many years and just recently joined the Special Buddies program. Not knowing that the families already knew each other, Mickey paired Melanie with Jayce, and Janine quickly realized the

incredible correlation. Janine shared how she knows God saw this connection from the very beginning and is in awe of where God has brought them to today.

A simple act of friendship and being better together changed the course of a family’s life forever.

When speaking to Melanie, she shared about the joy and impact Jayce has had on her life. The happiness he brings to her and the entire room in Children’s Ministry is a gift. We are so grateful to Melanie and all of our special buddies and families. Our prayer is that more people will feel called to serve families who are in need so that each child can learn about Jesus in a safe and welcoming environment just for them. If you’re reading this and feel like maybe that’s you, email Mickey to start the conversation at mickey.huntington@bayareacc.org.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 13

14 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

N E Y TO

M

CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

INS

BY C

T UR

PK

O

The Spirit-Filled Artist hen you begin to consider the vastness of God’s love, many would suggest that spending time in creation, having encouraging friendships, or even looking into your newborn’s eyes are ways to measure the depth of our Creator’s love. For Kelly Lagaras, she clearly remembers a moment when a friend suggested that God may use painting to show her how much He truly loves her.

Kelly and her family moved from Ohio to the Annapolis area in 2007. She was a science teacher at Annapolis Area Christian School for 7 years while raising her three children and attending Bay Area. She recalled that throughout her life, she would find herself doodling and appreciated art, but it wasn’t until 2013 that she started to feel a calling or desire to be creative that she could not explain. In reflection, she is keenly aware that it was the Holy Spirit nudging her into a deeper relationship beyond her normal routine and comforts of life.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 15

" The encouragement from her people became the validation she needed to take her next step in pursuing a career as a full-time artist."

After sharing this desire with her family and friends she began to see the outpouring of support. She endearingly calls them, “my people.” They are the ones who came alongside her and would bring new ideas and encouragement. One day her best friend left a gift of new paints, canvases and brushes at her front door with a little note that read, “Let’s just see what will happen.”

Kelly was also blessed to find a mentor and prayer partner with friend Karen Benitez. Karen gifted her a book titled “The Creative Call, an Artist’s Response to the Way of the Spirit." It was more than a gift, it became an invitation. She also shared that through conversations with others, she was connected to a group of like-minded artists who would gather for Bible study and paint at the same time.

Even her husband James, who is a small business owner and local plumber, found his unique way to support his wife’s artistic journey. Together, the Lagaras’

turned a portion of their kitchen into an art studio. This was Kelly’s safe haven and space to create for many years until her children began graduating high school and moved on to college. They then relocated her studio into a guest bedroom, where her husband even installed a working sink for clean-up. She said that the encouragement from her people became the validation she needed to take her next step in pursuing a career as a full-time artist.

When asked what inspires her to paint, whether it was nature, social concepts or relationships, she revealed it was scripture and stories from the Bible that sparked excitement and creativity. She taps into the concept of God’s faithfulness and provision in the midst of the unknown. Just how the Israelites were cared for while wandering in the desert or how God’s protection covered Daniel in the lion’s den, this is the same supernatural power that Kelly has experienced as she made the transition from teacher to artist, all while discovering the many layers and challenges of starting a business from the ground up.

Consequently, her paintings are a beautiful representation of her personal relationship with Jesus.

She went on to share that when she puts Jesus at the center of her heart and life, the art comes naturally. Each painting is a direct result of God’s presence.

Very similar to the fruits of the spirit, each of her pieces reflect a new aspect of God’s perfect love.

For a season Kelly was enraptured

by Psalms 23: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” This idea

16 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

" So much of her art is a physical representation of just one step of faith after another, solely trusting in Jesus, one painting at a time." that the Lord sets a table before His children became a catalyst for Kelly. She would meditate on this idea frequently and eventually discovered that her desire was to have a deeper connection and fully experience the greatness of God’s love. She was challenged by this idea, “how could I replicate that stunning love through the canvas?” Kelly shared that it’s been a messy process. It’s not always been a clear path forward.

So much of her art is a physical representation of just one step of faith after another, solely trusting in Jesus, one painting at a time.

He has continued to reveal His plan for her life and how He wants her to abide in Him. The art is just the result of her seeking Him first.

Kelly was approached by Megan Heath, the Women’s Ministry

Director at Bay Area, to see if she would be interested in teaching an art inspired class for women.

The idea of simulating one of those paint-and-sip events did not entice Kelly at all. True to herself, Kelly instantly wanted to take the opportunity to talk about Jesus. She believed that the only way the event would be considered a success was if they created a space for prayer, to dive into scripture, and share how God is independently moving before they reached for the brushes and paints. Her goal was to create a Bible centered experience that just happened to provide art supplies. The outcome was spectacular. The women who attended the event not only left with a stunning piece of art but a better sense of the Creator’s love for them individually. "It was a huge

success," says Megan Heath.

One that her and her team are already in the works to recreate soon.

The story of Kelly Lagaras is the story of all of us. It’s a story of discipleship and faith. It’s a story of big dreams and even bigger prayers. It’s a story of seeking Him and finding Him. It’s a story of leaning into community and listening to the Holy Spirit. Like Kelly, we can see the overflow of walking with the Spirit in every area of our life when we learn to surrender our will, our plans, and our callings to Jesus. Every day we choose to surrender is another step toward sanctification. And as a painting is not completely revealed by the first brush stroke, Kelly’s story is not over. She, like all of us, is a masterpiece in the making.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 17

BY

VIN RIMAN

DO

KE

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR

HELLO MY NAME IS

JESUS ourtney and her family (husband and son) began regularly attending Bay Area Community Church in July of 2022. They had moved to Annapolis from Korea in May 2022. Her husband, Billy, is in the Air Force, so they have become accustomed to the rhythms of moving and learning to make a new location feel familiar and grounded. It takes a lot of skill to relocate frequently and turn each new place into a home. You’ve got to be intentional and determined to develop connections with a community.

If you ever get the chance to talk with Courtney, you’ll quickly see just how good she is at connecting with people. You’ll probably feel like you made a new friend in the first five minutes. She is easy to talk to, asks great questions, and is often smiling. MerriamWebster has been debating whether or not to put a picture of her under the definition of “gregarious.”

It came as no surprise when she shared the story of how she helped another family get connected to Bay Area. Courtney’s son Taylor became friends with Peter on the first day of school, which prompted her to reach out to Peter's mother (Sara) to grab coffee. They formed a friendship just as quickly as their sons after learning that they shared a lot in common. Both were new to the Arnold neighborhood.

What started as a friendship between two eighth graders soon became a friendship

18 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

between two families. During the rest of that Fall, both families spent a lot of time together boating and attending Navy games. The time they spent together over many months built enough that when Sara shared some difficult news, Courtney felt like it was appropriate to offer prayer in response. Courtney said, “I have a vivid memory of asking to pray with her one day (she received news that her next-door neighbor’s daughter was diagnosed with leukemia).

I definitely noticed that she was not comfortable praying but mentioned how thankful she was that I was willing.”

Building on their friendships, Courtney invited Sara to attend a Sunday morning gathering and Taylor invited his new friend Peter to attend Amplify at the beginning of this year. Their family is now attending regularly and are seeking opportunities to get even more involved. Sara has told Courtney that she would never have come to church if Courtney had not invited her.

Sara even shared our online broadcast with her mother in South Carolina.

When Courtney shared this story with me, my first thought was: “Of course someone like Courtney, whose personality is friendly and welcoming, would have a story of bonding with some new people and eventually inviting them to church. I bet it comes naturally for her!” But she closed her story with a comment I found surprising, “I don’t think I’m very gifted in evangelism.”

" Every follower of Jesus is called to spread the good news of God’s Kingdom."

This brought some of my assumptions about evangelism to the surface. I often think that sharing the gospel is “easier” for people who are outgoing and friendly. People who will strike up a conversation with a stranger at a moment’s notice.

People who have something social planned 9/7 nights of the week. And while it can be true that people who are extroverted can also be gifted in evangelism, the two are not synonymous.

Every follower of Jesus is called to spread the good news of God’s Kingdom (Mark 16:15). There are no caveats for personality traits. As an introvert, I’ll be the first to admit that “sharing the gospel” is a skill that favors the extroverts and encumbers the introverts. There’s a quote from author and pastor Rich Villodas that has been helpful in undoing this assumption: Extroversion is not a spiritual gift. Introversion is not a spiritual liability.

If the command is for every follower of Jesus to spread the gospel, then there must be a “way” of sharing that includes every personality type, stage of life, cultural background, geographical location, etc.

One verse that I often hear referenced when talking about evangelism methodology is 1 Peter 3:15. Living in a world where endless information is accessible at my fingertips has influenced my understanding

" We are sharing about an opportunity to have a relationship with a person: Jesus."

of “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in” me (1 Pet 3:15).

My instinctual response is to formulate a “gospel script” that I can pull out at a moment’s notice.

To have an airtight argument for why I choose to follow Jesus. And while it is good to be clear on what you believe, the verse goes on to talk about how to actually present your reason for hope: “with gentleness and respect.”

What if relational strength played a bigger role in our effectiveness in sharing the gospel?

What I love about Courtney’s story is that her “method” of evangelism was to simply share her life with Sara. She invited Sara and her family into the normal rhythms of life, not discriminating between the social events and the “spiritual” ones.

There was no timeline dictating when to share the gospel. They moved at the pace of friendship.

When Sara ran into difficult circumstances, their friendship was the foundation for Courtney to be able to share some good news: when life is difficult or challenging, there is a Person we can turn to for hope. And this is where relational strength plays a big part in sharing the gospel, because we aren’t sharing a script or another argument. We are sharing about an opportunity to have a relationship with a person: Jesus.

Courtney’s story and friendship with Sara has helped to think about evangelism in a different way. To not worry so much about how outgoing I am feeling or how smart I can sound in a conversation. Sometimes sharing the gospel is more like introducing a someone to your friend Jesus.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 19

M

IC

How a team of 8 students brought the gospel to Kenya and back to their peers.

HELLE WR

I

GH

T

BY

Chain Reaction

STUDENT MINISTRY EVENTS & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

20 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

I think we can all agree that a mission trip can change your life.

But what about the people around us who stay back and don’t go?

Can that same trip change their lives as well? So often when it comes to missions, we think of life change happening only on the mission field, but what about on a simple Sunday morning? Can hearing stories from those who went have just as much of an impact as those who experienced it firsthand?

On July 1, a team of eight students and four adults boarded a 16hour flight to Mombasa, Kenya, serving for 13 days with Bay Area’s global partner Gideon Banda of Renewal Project Africa.

While on the mission field, the students were challenged further than most adults. They taught Vacation Bible School to kids, shared their testimonies in front of multiple non-English speaking churches and ultimately assisted in discipling children, youth and adults. For many of the students, this was their first time serving on a short-term team; what a bold step of faith to take!

After the team arrived home and settled into their normal routines, the students were given an opportunity to participate in a special BASM gathering called Sent Student Sunday, which dedicated the entire preaching time for those students to share stories and experiences. On the trip, 15 believers got baptized, five of whom had given their life to Christ that very morning

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 21

in church. One student, Abby Conlon, a Junior at Broadneck High School, decided she wanted to get baptized. While she had the opportunity to get baptized in the Indian Ocean after speaking with our Global Missions Pastor Shawn Hart, she knew she wanted to wait until she got back home so that her family could be a part of this next step of faith. So, toward the end of Sent Student Sunday, Shawn baptized Abby with her family and friends present.

As we continued in worship, there was an invitation to accept Jesus.

10 students gave their lives to Christ that day. 10 students went from death to life in a moment where there was no formal teaching, only students sharing about Whow God moved in their lives and the lives of those they served. These 10 students who now walk in new life with Christ will get to experience a rich community within BASM, develop deeper Christ-like relationships and hopefully one day follow in their peers’ footsteps and will join a short-term team on a trip to experience Jesus like this for themselves.

It’s truly amazing to experience the fire this trip has given these students to want to serve the Kingdom. As a leader, it excites

22 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

" It’s truly amazing to experience the fire this trip has given these students to want to serve the Kingdom." me to see these students running towards Jesus and serving. This experience has made them bold; before the trip, many of them had never shared their stories of faith and Jesus. Now, they are actively seeking to do so, asking if they can share their stories in our Sunday gatherings. Not only are these students seeking discipleship, but students like Abby are also being asked by younger students to help mentor and disciple them.

Next time you think your story doesn’t matter, remember that 10 lives were changed because eight students boldly went, obeyed, served and shared about what Jesus did in them. I am looking forward to seeing the way the Lord will use these students and more next summer when we return to Kenya! After all, BASM is a place all about making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 23

Eyes On The Son • EP SPRING 2024

SCAN WITH SPOTIFY’S CAMERA FEATURE LOCATED IN APP SEARCH BAR

B AY A R E A M U S I C 24 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

SOULS AD

F E B R UA RY

I S

SO U L S

SE ASO N

C H E C K O U T PAG E 3 0 O F H A P P E N I N G S F O R M O R E D E TA I L S

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 25

Meal Train Ministry A new initiative of the Care Network to provide relief from meal preparation after coming home with a new baby, recovering from a medical procedure, caring for a loved one, or other unforeseen circumstances. If you or someone you know would like to request a meal train, or you would like to serve in providing meals, head to our website to learn more and sign up: bayareacc.org/carenetwork#Meal

Care Coaching If you are walking through a challenging season of life and would like someone to come alongside you, consider reaching out to a Care Coach to walk with you for a season. To learn more, email Kammi McGinty at kammi.mcginty@bayreacc.org.

If you have walked through a significant trial and feel God’s calling to comfort another experiencing similar suffering, please also contact Kammi to discuss how we can get you plugged in to serve in the Care Network.

DivorceCare Support Group - Fall and Winter Sessions Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m., Virtual Meetings ALL CAMPUSES DivorceCare is a weekly seminar/support group that will help you heal from the hurt of separation and divorce. It’s a warm, caring environment led by people who understand what you are going through. Learn practical information and gain hope for your future.

26 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

CARE NETWORK CONTINUED

CARE NETWORK

HAPPENINGS

GriefShare Support Group - Fall and Winter Sessions Thursdays, 6:45-9 p.m., Virtual Meetings ALL CAMPUSES GriefShare is a special weekly seminar and support group designed to help you rebuild your life after losing a loved one.

Our group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and want to help you through the difficult days ahead. We know it hurts and we want to help.

Caregivers Support Group Every 4th Monday, 7-8 p.m., Virtual Meetings ALL CAMPUSES If you are in a season of caregiving and want to learn about resources available, or just talk with others who may be journeying with you in a similar season, join us for our Caregivers support group. We are starting back up with new leadership this fall.

Surviving the Holidays Seminars DivorceCare - November 8, 7-9 p.m., Virtual GriefShare - November 12, 2-4 p.m., Virtual ALL CAMPUSES Walking through the holidays after experiencing a significant loss or marital breakup can be difficult. We are here to support you! Join us for these events to find help and hear from others who have walked the road ahead of you.

Learn more about these groups and more at bayareacc.org/carenetwork.

ALL CAMPUSES Families! You're invited to join us for a movie night for the whole family.

We'll be watching the live action Little Mermaid so feel free to dress up as your favorite Disney character! There will be free snacks and chairs will be provided.

Please feel free to bring any blankets or pillows. Head to our website to register: bayareacc.org/annapolis-events

Family Christmas Month November 14, 5-7 p.m.

ALL CAMPUSES Join us for year four of Christmas for the whole month of December in Children’s Ministry! To kick off Family Christmas Month, you and your entire family are invited to come to our Christmas themed drive-thru to pick up your Family Christmas Month box! Only one box is needed per family. If this pickup date doesn't work for you, other options are available at registration on our website: bayareacc.org/annapolis-events

Pajama Sunday December 31 during 9 a.m. gathering ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Kids are encouraged to wear fun pajamas to church for New Year’s Eve. There will be no children’s ministry during the 11 a.m. gathering.

Serving in CM with Special Buddies Have a heart for serving with children who have special needs? We would love to have you as a part of the Special Buddies team! E-mail mickey.huntington@bayareacc.org.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

November 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

We have changed the name Missional Community to Community Group.

Nothing else in our group ministry has changed, just the name. It’s like painting the front door of the house: the inside of the house has not changed, just the front door has a fresher, more inviting color.

And it’s our hope that this new name will be more hospitable to help more people open the door and enter a Community Group.

Feeling led to host a Pilot Community Group?

Pilot Community Groups are a taste of Community Group life at Bay Area. They are the main vehicle to get you into longterm community and connection.

If you would like to know more about how to lead or get connected in community, head to bayareacc.org/ community or email Kevin Rimando at kevin.rimando@bayareacc.org.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Family Movie Night

Gifts For Children ALL CAMPUSES Each year we have the opportunity to bless 500 children with Christmas gifts in economically struggling Bluefield, West Virginia. We would like to bless each child with approximately 4 – 6 gifts.

Clothing and shoe sizes will be provided, along with a few items from their “wish lists” for you to select what you might like to purchase.

Online signups: Open November 5 In-person signups: November 19 and 26 at the Annapolis Campus Drive-thru dropoff: November 26, 29 and December 3 Starting November 5, head to bayareacc.org/gifts-for-children to register to sponsor a kid, serve, or learn more about the cause.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 27

November 5, December 3, January 7, February 7 at 9 a.m. in Room 237 ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS If you are new or looking to get connected at Bay Area, join us for First Step. You’ll get a chance to learn about our mission, vision and how to get connected. Find more details and sign up on our website at bayareacc.org/nextsteps.

First Step Odenton November 5, December 3 ODENTON CAMPUS Join us in the Arundel High School Teacher's Lounge to hear more about who we are as a Church and find out how you can be more connected.

Ministry Partner Orientation January 21 at 9 a.m. in Room 237 ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Interested in learning what it would look like to officially partner with us in making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations? This one-hour introduction to the process of becoming a ministry partner (our version of church membership) is a great place to start. Visit bayareacc.org/nextsteps to register.

Good Stewards Workshop January 26 and 27 ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Over the last couple months, we've been learning a lot about discipleship and becoming more like Jesus. This applies to every area of our lives, including our finances. Join us as we host speakerteacher-financial planner Greg Tutino for a two-day financial workshop where we'll dive into the biblical basis for generosity and explore practical ways to be good stewards of our finances.

More information and registration will be available soon at bayareacc.org/financial-resources.

28 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

MARRIAGE MINISTRY

CONNECTING

First Step Annapolis

Serving If you have been successfully married for ten years or more, and are interested in coming alongside other couples to help them develop thriving marriages, then please reach out to me to discuss opportunities to serve. kammi.mcginty@bayareacc.org

Premarital Counseling ALL CAMPUSES Whether seriously dating or engaged, we want to partner with you as you establish a strong Jesus-centered life together. Through premarital mentoring, you will be paired with trained marriage mentors who will equip you with the tools and resources you will need to succeed in marriage. Learn more at bayareacc.org/marriage.

Weekend to Remember Conference November 17-19 in Cambridge, MD ALL CAMPUSES No marriage is static. Each day, each choice — you’re either moving closer together toward oneness or coasting farther apart. At the intersection of a faith-based marriage conference and romantic retreat from everyday life, Weekend to Remember helps couples do just that — choose oneness. Whether you’re sending up an SOS for marital rescue or looking to foster an already flourishing connection, Weekend to Remember is your best next step toward being, and staying, one. For more information and to register head to bayareacc.org/annapolis-events.

Winter Date Night COMING SOON! ALL CAMPUSES Keep an eye on the events page of our website in early December for info on our upcoming winter date night!

January 26-28, 2024 ALL CAMPUSES Come join the men of Bay Area for a Men's Retreat at White Sulphur Springs Retreat Center in Manns Choice, PA. Aaron Hixon will be our keynote speaker as we journey with other guys to be more like Jesus and become more faithful men. Learn more and register at bayareacc.org/annapolis-events.

Men's Breakfast Third Saturdays, 8-9:30 a.m. starting September 16 ALL CAMPUSES Join the men’s ministry every 3rd Saturday of the month for breakfast in the Student Ministry warehouse and café. To find out more or register you can go to bayareacc.org/annapolis-events.

Men’s Bible Studies ALL CAMPUSES There are several bible studies in progress at Bay Area throughout the week. See the options and contact info at bayareacc.org/men.

Men's 1-on-1 Mentoring ALL CAMPUSES Developing 1-on-1 relationships to help encourage men as they grow in their journey with Jesus. We seek to apply biblical principles to everyday life situations, encourage growth in prayer life, Bible reading/study, and pursuit of community with other believers. Learn more and register at bayareacc.org/men.

MISSIONS

MEN'S MINISTRY

Men's Retreat

Global Missions Prayer Team 2nd and 4th Sundays. 10:15 a.m. in the Prayer Room ALL CAMPUSES If you have a heart for Global Missions, but can't join a team this year, check out the Global Missions Prayer Team! Our team prays for our global partners based on specific prayer requests the partners send each month. Contact team leader Joan Stefun at joanstefun@gmail.com for more information.

Short Term Mission Interest Meetings November 5, 12:30 p.m. in the BASM Café ALL CAMPUSES Ever thought about joining a Short Term Missions Team to Kenya or Belize?

Consider joining us for an interest meeting whether you're considering going in 2024 or in the future. We'll provide an overview, Q&A session and a light lunch. Parents of BASM students interested in either team are strongly encouraged to attend. Any former team members are also invited to share their experiences.

Global Partner Visit November 12 ALL CAMPUSES Rose and Migiel, our partners in the Dominican Republic, will be in town and would love to connect with you. Keep an eye on the weekly email and our events page for more information to come.

Remembering His Works February 4, 12:30 p.m. in the BASM café and Auditorium ALL CAMPUSES Join us for light fare from around the world and a time of sharing and hearing stories from our 2023 STM team members! Keep an eye on bayareacc.org/annapolis-events for more information and to register.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 29

February 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

ALL CAMPUSES From grandeur to granular, our God is the God who sees all the nations and still knows your heart. At SOULS this year, we’ll be talking about how God sees even the furthest and hardest to reach people groups and His heart is that they would know His love. We know that one day, every tribe, every nation and every tongue will be worshipping as one in the new heavens and the new earth. Join us as we dive into how we can live today in light of that day, bringing the good news of God's loving work on the cross from here to the nations. Learn more and register at bayareacc.org/soulsconference.

Global Missions 101 February 25, 10:10-11 a.m.

ALL CAMPUSES Are you interested in learning more about Global Missions? There are several ways you can serve in Missions that don't include GO-ing. Join us to learn more! Register at bayareacc.org/annapolis-events

WOMEN'S MINISTRY

MISSIONS CONTINUED

SOULS World Missions Conference: The God Who Sees

Single Moms Family Luncheon October 29, 12:15-2 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Join us for our Single Moms Family Luncheon where we will eat lunch together as families, then enjoy a time of fellowship, encouragement and prayer while the kids have some fun activities to do together in the next room.

Women’s Evening of Gratitude November 17, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Gratitude has been known to change our outlook and bring us joy even through hard circumstances. As followers of Christ, we are adopted into His family and given blessing after blessing.

We hope you will join us as we enjoy an elegant evening feasting on the goodness of God. The evening will include a potluck Thanksgiving dinner, a powerful testimony that will remind us of the importance of gratitude even in challenging times, and a wonderful time of fellowship. Learn more and register at bayareacc.org/women-events.

November Book Club

SAFETY SECURITY MINISTRY

November 30, 7-8:30 p.m.

Has God been tugging at your heart to serve? Are you capable and not yet where you feel God can use your skills and talents? Could He be calling you to serve in Bay Area’s Safety and Security Ministry (SSM)? Do you feel SSM might be where God wants you, but need skills training?

The need is clear and we have prayed God would rally his servants for medical, safety and security service. Always present are those who seek to harm the sheep. We are "Sheepdogs" called to be prayers, healers, witnesses, encouragers, and when needed, to stand in defense of the flock! If you are one of the called or think you are being led in that direction, head to bayareacc.org/serve, select your campus, and fill out the interest card under "Safety."

30 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS We will be discussing Unafraid: The Biblical Story of Mary by Francine Rivers. Find out more information about the book and register at bayareacc.org/women-events.

Women’s Christmas Movie Night December 1, 6-8:30 p.m.

Hope you can join us for this fun evening! We’ll have a fun Christmas movie to watch together with a time of fellowship and an opportunity to serve others through a service project benefitting women who are experiencing a difficult season. We will fill shower caddies with personal hygiene items and handwritten cards of encouragement.

January 13, 2024 9a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Save the date for our annual Women’s Quiet Retreat. There will be short times of teaching and times of personal study with a study guide. This is a time of presenting your heart to God and allowing Him to move. Registration will open in December at bayareacc.org/women-events.

Winter Bible Studies ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Our new Winter Bible Studies for women will start in January! Childcare will be offered at our Wednesday morning study.

These study groups are a wonderful time of fellowship and learning more about God through His Word. Keep an eye out for more info and registration at bayareacc.org/women-biblestudies.

Women’s Ministry in Odenton There are lots of ways to connect, grow and serve with the women in Odenton.

Some events to look forward to include Bonfire and Worship on November 4,Cooking Making on December 9, and a concert in January! Reach out to Lisa Brown for more info at baccodentonwomensministry@gmail.com.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (20’S-30’S) MINISTRY

WOMEN'S MINISTRY CONTINUED

Women’s Quiet Retreat

The BACC Deck Bible Study 3rd Fridays, 7 p.m.

ALL CAMPUSES Join us on 3rd Fridays as we dive into the word together during our monthly Chapter A Day Bible study. This is a great opportunity to connect with other 20’s-30’s over a time of fellowship.

You can learn more about what to expect each week at bayareacc.org/youngprofessionals.

Friendsgiving November 3, 6:30-9 p.m. at Brian Hopper’s house ALL CAMPUSES We can’t wait to be at the Hopper Home diving into an awesome meal and time together. Meat will be provided, we just ask that you bring a side or dessert to share! It’s giving.. friends. Head to bayareacc.org/annapolis-events to sign up for a dish and let us know you’re coming.

Christmas Party December 1, 7-9 p.m. in the BASM Café ALL CAMPUSES Join us as we ring in the month of Christmas with our 2nd Annual Christmas Party! Come dressed in your holiday best or an ugly sweater, prepped to play some holiday games and enjoy some themed refreshments. Let us know you're coming - can't wait to see you there! bayareacc.org/annapolis-events Keep an eye out for two special events coming January 5 and February 2! We’ll post the details in late December at bayareacc.org/youngprofessionals.

W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24 GO&MAKE 31

This issue we are celebrating 10 YEARS of GO&MAKE magazine.

In November 2013, the first ever issue of GO&MAKE was published. In his first Letter From The Lead, our Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr shared the "why" behind the title which we still carry in our identity as a church family today: "Go." Each of us is sent by Jesus on mission. "Make." All of us have a calling: to make disciples of Jesus. I want to say with the deepest conviction possible that no matter how famous or successful you might become in the eyes of the world, nothing you will ever do can compare to being on mission with Jesus to make disciples.

The reality is that we have been called and chosen on purpose, for a purpose. And that is to be obedient to Jesus' last words: "go and make disciples." How appropriate that on this 10th anniversary issue, we are zooming in on our identity as disciples of Jesus, on The Way of discipleship with one another.

Over the years we have had over 130 contributors, 900 articles, 90 issues, and 160 people on our cover, all in an effort to share stories with you of how God is moving in and through the lives of YOU - our Bay Area family. We hope that you have been encouraged and spurred on in your faith because of the stories we've shared.

On behalf of the current GO&MAKE creators, thank you for allowing us to share your stories for the last 10 years. We can't wait to see what the next 10 will bring!

32 GO&MAKE W I N T E R ' 2 3 - ' 24

EDITOR Abbie Hoekstra

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Josh (Burgi) Burgin

PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple

LEAD DESIGNER Jake Williams