SE P T E M B E R GO&MAKE 1
2 GO&MAKE S EP TEM B ER
IN THIS ISSUE 16 COVER STORY: JOURNEY TO UGANDA Back in the states after a mission trip to Uganda, our short term team recounts their experience serving those affected by HIV/AIDS.
15 STAYING GROUNDED AT COLLEGE
5 LETTER FROM THE LEAD: EVERY ONE A MISSIONARY
College Ministry Coordinator Bryan McFarland offers five ways for college-age students to stay grounded in their faith during the ever-busy academic year away at campus.
Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr unpacks what makes Bay Area unique, and challenges every person who calls our church home to do five things.
We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
MAGAZINE CREDITS EDITOR Meredith Thompson ART DIRECTOR Josh Shirlen ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple ASSISTANT EDITOR Jocelyn Sacks LEAD DESIGNER Josh Burgin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jake Williams CONTRIBUTORS Andy Smith Bryan McFarland Lauren Gibeault Lia Dalpini Marsha Boehm Trevin Hoekzema
On the cover: Edward Wakholi, Rosemary Namarome and their children Photo by Arianne Teeple
Gathering Times: 8, 9:30, 11:15am
ELDERS David McPeak Don Wiley Greg St. Cyr J. Upton John Taylor Keith Riniker Roger Ishii Tim Grossman Tom Dalpini Tom Hogan Warwick Fairfax
884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401
410.544.2222
BAY AREA LEADERSHIP Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – brent.squires@bayareacc.org Brian Hopper, Missional Community Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.org Casely Essamuah, Global Missions Pastor – casely.essamuah@bayareacc.org Craig Fadel, Easton Campus Pastor – craig.fadel@bayareacc.org Ed Kelley, Executive Pastor – ed.kelley@bayareacc.org Gail Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – gail.wiles@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Janet Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – janet.graves@bayareacc.org Jerry Shirlen, Financial Administrator – jerry.shirlen@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Sacks, Missional Community Director – jocelyn.sacks@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, arts – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Lynn Dutton, H.R. Administrator – lynn.dutton@bayareacc.org Meredith Thompson, Communications Director – meredith.thompson@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.org Rachel Perry, Connecting Director – rachel.perry@bayareacc.org Ron Dutton, Operations Director – ron.dutton@bayareacc.org Tres Cozad, Technical Director – tres.cozad@bayareacc.org
For a comprehensive list of all BACC staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership SE P T E M B E R GO&MAKE 3
THE GREATEST RUN/WALK IN HISTORY
THE ANNAPOLIS PREGNANCY CLINIC PRESENTS
WALK W
H T I W N RU
ITH
ED
OR
SAT
17
TH SEP
G E R G
WHEN YOU REGISTER MAKE SURE YOU SELECT
TO JOIN BAY AREA’S TEAM!
TO LEARN MORE OR REGISTER GO TO WALKANDRUN.ORG | MORE INFO: OUTREACH@BAYAREACC.ORG
THE ANNAPOLIS PREGNANCY CLINIC EMPOWERS WOMEN TO MAKE THE CHOICE FOR PROVIDES ESSENTIAL COUNSELING AND CARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.
LIFE 4 GO&MAKE S EP TEM B ERAND
In May of 2008 I had a huge “kairos” moment in the midst of a discouraging time. Kairos is one of the Greek words for time. In contrast to chronological time (chronos), kairos signifies a particular, often significant, moment in time.
to worship together as a church family because we are drawn deeper into our relationships with God through singing, reading Scripture, praying, applying the sermons and being challenged to greater steps of faith.
Here’s something you don’t know about me: When I get discouraged, my fantasy is to run away to another foreign country - any country - and give myself to the “carefree” life of a global missionary. That sounds weird, doesn’t it?
Connect in Community.
Well, on this particular day in May of 2008 I was sitting in the backyard of my mentor, Jim Hiskey, bemoaning the pastoral life. Grumbling with a pout, I said to Jim, “I don’t want to do this anymore. I just want to be a missionary.” The words that fell from Jim’s lips forever changed me: “Greg, you are a missionary and you need to see yourself leading a thousand missionaries.” That simple statement radically transformed the way I have viewed my role as lead pastor ever since. Immediately, something deep inside resonated as I thought, “Okay, I can give my life to leading a thousand people into living as missionaries.” From that kairos moment the conviction “Every One a Missionary” has gripped my soul. Today, if you were to ask me what makes Bay Area distinct, I would answer that we are a family of Christ-followers who see ourselves as missionaries. In other words, we are sent by Jesus into the world (John 20:21) to participate in His mission of making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. We tend to think of missionaries as some kind of elite believers who travel overseas ministering in foreign cultures. No! Not so! We are no more a missionary in El Salvador than in Edgewater. Each one of us is sent by Jesus to live as a missionary 24/7 in every place the Lord has us. Some are led overseas to serve as vocational global missionaries, but each one of us is sent by Jesus and therefore a missionary in our own locale and setting. So how are we helping you live out your missionary calling? Great question! There are five specific things we want to challenge you to do. If you’ve been around the church for any length of time, you’ll already be familiar with each of these. As missionaries, we want to: Worship together. Worship is all of life - our jobs, home life, personal devotional time and corporate worship on Sundays. It’s important for us
We believe that life change happens best in relationships, specifically those in communities of people who are on mission. Missional Communities are our primary environments for discipleship, and focus on building relationships with God, each other and those who need Jesus. Community is also found in Women’s Ministry, leadership teams and other groups. Serve Like Jesus. When we serve, we model the way of Jesus “who came not to be served but to serve.” Missionaries exemplify a heart to serve others. Go on a mission trip. Each year, our hope is that 10 percent of our church family would “make the trade” to bring the love of Jesus to a foreign land. As we go, pray and give to short term mission trips, we grasp God’s grand plan for the nations and learn how to live out our missionary call back home. Share the Gospel. We are called to be Christ’s witnesses. In order to do that we need to be equipped. That’s why we launched our Share the Gospel training this past summer, and will continue every year to equip people to share about Jesus. Worship. Connect. Serve. Go. Share. Seeing yourself as a missionary changes the way you think, act, pray and order your priorities and time. Whether you know it or not, you are a missionary sent out by Jesus! Can you imagine the impact if a thousand of us lived out the simple conviction, “Every One a Missionary”? From here to the nations,
Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor
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6 GO&MAKE S E P T E M B E R
SUNDAY MORNING ISN’T CENTERED AROUND YOU by Ed Kelley I’m back. For those of you who didn’t know, Greg arranged for me to have a six-week sabbatical this summer and it was terrific. I set out on a course of reading three C.S. Lewis books that I’ve had for years but never got around to. They are really tough ones in my opinion: “Till We Have Faces,” “The Four Loves” and “The Discarded Image” (his last book). I also planned a couple long day trips with my wife Susan to places we’d not yet seen in Pennsylvania and Virginia, along with a few days reading a couple other books by Norman Geisler and Lee Child (The Jack Reacher Series). In the middle of it all, I took a 12-day road trip to check on former students, disciples and staff of mine over the years. I went to Portland, the Oregon Coast, Seattle, San Jose, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Dallas. I can’t tell you how special all that was. I even got to see the Minnesota Twins play the Cleveland Indians at Target Field and see the Texas Rangers play the Kansas City Royals at Ranger Stadium in Arlington. I played games (Age of Empires and California RISK), I ate the best Teriyaki ever (in Bakersfield and Tacoma believe it or not), and I went and saw a community play on the Oregon Coast, where I ran into longtime friends I hadn’t seen for years. Great six weeks. During sabbatical, I also visited six churches and talked with a half-dozen pastors, catching up on what’s been going on in their congregations. As
you probably suspect, I was watching intently how they do their Sunday morning experience, from parking to greeting, music to preaching, and communicating information to welcoming first-time guests. First, after seeing all these churches and talking to many leaders, let me just say that while no church is perfect, I so appreciate the effort that our team at Bay Area puts into pursuing excellence. The Bible is replete with stories of God’s people giving their “leftovers” to God (see Malachi 1 for example), when the Lord actually expects “first fruits” from His people. Our Lord definitely deserves our best and at Bay Area we, on the main, strive for that excellence. Second, details make an experience truly great. This is true in hotels, restaurants and yes, churches. It had been a long time since I was just a visitor at a church service. Each church did great things, whether the greeting team was friendly or the stage seemed bright and cheery or the sermon really was on the money. However, there was one detail that bothered me. In each church we visited, we were only talked to by the people we already knew there or the greeting guys at the door. Not once did someone come up to us and talk with us. You know, find out where we were from, find out if we knew where we were going, find out why we were there, etc. This made me think, “I wonder how we at Bay Area do in this arena?”
Do you and I ever go up to someone just standing there and introduce ourselves and ask something simple like, “how long have you been coming to Bay Area?” Do we ever strike up conversations with people and introduce them to people we know? Or are you and I so focused on our own circle of friends that we just aren’t aware. One guy at one of the churches said, “Hey folks, Sunday morning isn’t centered around you.” Lightning bolt. “That’s right!” I thought. It’s around Jesus and hurting, lonely, needy people. Aren’t we all hurting, lonely and/or needy at certain times? Bay Area is an excellent place to belong. I just hope those of us who call Bay Area home realize that many others in the world don’t feel they belong to anyone or any place. Wouldn’t it be great if we helped one person each Sunday to belong?
Ed Kelley is the executive pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.
SEP T E M B E R GO&MAKE 7
INVESTing IN JESUS by Pat Linnell
ife is an investment. We only have a small allotment of time to figure out what we are here for and to get on with it. On July 30, 2016, professional skydiver and stuntman Luke Aikins (42) became the first person to successfully jump out of an airplane at 25,000 feet and land with no parachute or wingsuit. He landed in a 100x100 foot net, in Simi Valley, California. He jumped out with a few friends also falling at 120 mph, one of whom helped take his oxygen mask off about halfway through the 8 GO&MAKE S E P T E M B E R
trip, because when you jump out of a plane when you can also see the curvature of the earth, it is smart to have one. Google his name and watch the feat for yourself.
years. I have no desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane (although I’ve been told that there is no such thing as a “perfectly good airplane”), but if I did, sign me up with this guy.
Luke had the confidence to take on this jump because he had invested much of his life in the sport of jumping out of planes. You could say that he has given his life to this adventure. It is reported that he has completed more than 18,000 jumps since he started skydiving at age 12. I’m no mathematician, but that averages more than 1 jump per day over 30
All of us are investing our lives in something, or someone. It might be professional sports, like this guy, or professional education, or business, or government, or farming, or the profession of raising children or making a home. We are all channeling our creativity, efforts and energy into something, making it count for some cause, thrill, rush or purpose – at
least we hope we are. And while many of these are worthwhile and live-giving pursuits, I submit to you today that they all pale in comparison, in lasting effect, in legacy, to another investment you can make with your one and only life. I am talking about investing your life in and for Jesus. This might sound as crazy as jumping from 25,000 feet with no parachute, but stay with me for the two minutes before impact. Jesus was a man who lived about 2,000 years ago, and after he died and was resurrected bodily three days later, the world drastically changed. Almost everyone today respects Jesus. While plenty of people diss His followers, not too many are really down on Jesus. But respecting Jesus because He seemed like a good dude and believing that what Jesus claimed about Himself to be true are different. Let me say it this way: if Jesus was who He claimed to be, it’s worth investing your life in Him. Jesus’ claims have been carefully recorded from eyewitnesses in what are known as the Gospels. The Bible is unique in that it was written by over 40 different authors, on three continents, in three languages, spanning 1,500 years, yet tells one comprehensive story about who God really is and how people can know Him. John’s gospel contains many of the claims of Jesus. Here are a couple to consider as you go about investing your life. Jesus said: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Here Jesus is debating the religious rulers of His day. Jesus was Jewish, and the rulers were Jewish, and they were upset because Jesus had been breaking their rules (even though Jesus was actually keeping what their rules were really about, like loving people by meeting their physical and spiritual needs). The rulers thought Jesus must have had some weird demonic power, because He was able to heal people – but this was not true. Jesus in this verse claims divinity for Himself. He basically says that He lived before the Old Testament patriarch Abraham, that He is the “I AM” who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, that He was more than a Jewish Rabbi, that He was God. Jesus distinguished that He was God the Son, not God the Father. In another place
in John’s Gospel Jesus says: “I and the Father are one.” These are staggering claims. At this point you really cannot respect Jesus if He was not telling the truth. But if Jesus was not telling a boldface lie, then to follow Him is to follow the Creator Himself. It is my contention that Creatures (us) can only fulfill our true purpose in life when we live thankfully and in dependence on the Creator (Jesus). Jesus also claimed this: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Here, Jesus is talking about how people are able to walk with God now, and spend eternity with God later in heaven. Since Jesus already established that He was God, this
next part makes sense: The only way to God is through God. There are tons of religions in the world today, but they don’t all lead to God, talk about God, or have any power of salvation, unless they end up with Jesus. The entire world, every person in every nation, is in the same boat: we all need to be forgiven from our “sin,” which is our rebellion against a unique and perfect (Holy) God. Spiritually, we have all jumped out of a plane with no parachute. God’s plan to show us His love and to fix this problem for us was to send the Son, in the flesh, to take our terminal impact. That is why Jesus rolled up on earth – to die, to tell us that God is there, and that God really cares. In other words, God put out a 100x100 foot net to catch us, and that net is Jesus. Any “religion” out there that does not speak to sin as our problem, and Jesus
as our only hope, is false and ultimately misleading. To invest your life in Jesus is not only to believe Him, but also to help others see the reality of the brokenness of our world, and how our hope to be restored is not found in a religion, but in a person – Jesus. Jesus claimed and taught many other life-giving things in John’s gospel, but I will end with these words from Jesus. In context, He is speaking to a guy who was investing his life in something else, and Jesus said, “Follow me.” He could have said, “invest your life in me.” And the invitation stands for all of us, every day. To invest our lives in Jesus is to first believe in Him, to trust that what He claimed about Himself is true, and then to begin to adopt His ambitions for your life. We live in a world that says what we do matters the most. This is shortsighted. Our goals, careers and ambitions are important. You will impress many people I am sure, but in time those memories will fade, and someone will set a new record. There is something that is more important. What matters most in this life is God, our Creator, who has revealed Himself and has an eternally significant purpose for you. In knowing Him and making Him known, you will not just be amazing people with great achievements, but people who show others His great achievements, like creating a universe, and rescuing a world of people by a gift of love, the sending of a savior, and an invitation to the adventure of a lifetime by following Him. This all sounds crazy, I know, but so does jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.
Pat Linnell is the teaching pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.
SE P T E M B E R GO&MAKE 9
IT’S
JUST A
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ecently I attended my family reunion in North Dakota. It was a great time catching up with family and friends. On Saturday of that week, we had our family gathering and picnic. Usually it is my cousin that will kick off our time together in prayer. This time he looked over at my 13-year-old son and said, “Do you want to lead us off in prayer?” Without hesitation, he said yes and delivered a beautiful prayer. As his mom, I was so proud that he took this faith step, praying in front of about 30 relatives he barely knows. He was confident in his faith. As parents, we desire for our kids to have an unwavering faith, yet sometimes when we are in the thick of it we can wonder if they are even listening. As our children change, so does our role as their parents. It’s easy to get stuck in how I parent and disciple. In order to effectively pass on the faith of our Lord Jesus to our kids, my husband and I needed a plan of how we would raise them. As parents, we’ve found it helpful to think about it in stages that allow for appropriate moral development and responsibility to be given in increasing amounts. Below are five stages that have encouraged Ray and I as we disciple our children.
STAGE 1: CATERING (AGES 0-2) At this stage of a child’s development, parents cater to their child, attending to their every need. Sleep deprivation is a real thing and I considered baby formula my new perfume for the first three weeks after having my daughter. Singing “Jesus loves me” while rocking her to sleep was our first step in discipling our bundle of joy.
Stage 2: Conforming (Ages 2-5) In this stage, it’s about obedience, and you are able to start teaching Biblical moral principles and developing Biblical moral reason. One of the dangers to be mindful of in parenting in these early stages is to remember not to continue stages one and two past about the age of 5. If this restrictive authoritarian approach continues, it may well exasperate the child and result in eruptive rebellion.
Stage 3: Coaching (Ages 6-10) Preparation for this stage is dependent upon sowing seeds of wisdom through the previous stage, and explaining Biblical moral principle and reason when giving instructions and discipline. This begins to bear the fruit of obedience, first to us as parents, but ultimately to God (John 15:10). In this stage, you will be able to set up a structure for learning Godly wisdom. I remember a time where my oldest came home and let me know she found a girl on the playground at school who felt 10 GO&MAKE S EP TEM B ER
left out, and other girls were not being nice to her. I told her each person is precious to God and asked why she thought it is important to be kind. This more didactic teaching allows her to think and reflect on the why she is being encouraged to be kind, rather than being told.
STAGE 4: CONSULTING (AGES 11-17) Ah, the turbulent years of adolescents or so they say. As we see our growing children go through adolescence, we will have built a framework for Biblical moral reasoning and critical reflection that they will continue on their own. At this stage, we can help them reflect on what happened, why it happened, and what God may be doing in this situation. We aim to do this in an open and honest way – as “off the field” consultant coaches. Although this current stage has been challenging, it is also rewarding. I love our conversations with our son and daughter, helping them think through what their response should be and what God is doing in that situation. Sometimes the only answer my husband and I have had is that we should pray about it. These moments have strengthened their relationships with us and their Heavenly Father. A continued loosening of control at this stage will be important in preparation for our children to stand on their own with us as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are hoping to construct with them a framework for thinking and acting wisely through explaining, promoting and supporting Biblical moral reasoning, principles and critical reflection.
At the same time, we give progressively wider responsibility to our children. I have observed that many parents at this stage attempt to “rein in” the boundaries. In a permissive approach to parenting, children who have not experienced the tight control and boundaries earlier on in stages 1 and 2 are unprepared to assess and respond to what lies out there. Their parents also are not prepared and fear the worst, drawing control tightly in. This frustrates adolescents who need to begin the process of individuation - exploring who they are and where they fit into the world. This frustration is exacerbated as the concerned parents apply tighter control. The result is eruption and breakdown of relationship.
STAGE 5: CARING (AGE 18 AND BEYOND) At this stage, we see the goal of preparing our children for adult maturity. Our goal for our children is maturity in Christ. However, even as adults we remain relationally the children of our parents. At this young adult stage of their life, they don’t need the dependent care seen in stage 1, but the care of a leader. Paul uses the word “care” to describe an aspect of leadership, which is an essential aspect of Christian leadership (Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 3:5). This type of care that parents have for the young adult or adult children may be seen as we pray, show gospel values expressed in our priorities, listen empathically, guide through critical reflection, and model the Christian life.
My husband and I are in stage 4 of our parenting/discipling journey. Our hope is that through prayer, training in Biblical moral reasoning, wisdom and the word of God, we will have good and developing relationships with our children. We need to remember - one stage at a time, building blocks. Even though we have our ups and downs, staying the course is important. We need to pray for our kids, encourage them, and train them up in the way they should go so they can develop cognitively, psychologically and spiritually into maturating followers of Jesus. In the middle of all of this, we have those moments, like seeing their faith play out in front of a full room of family and friends.
*Stages of Parenting information is a parenting approach taken from Confident Parenting Home Word Azusa Pacific University.
Gail Wiles is the Children’s Ministry Director at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributor to GO&MAKE.
FAMILY MAP The Bay Area Family Legacy Map is available as a parenting tool to help compliment and resource your parenting through these stages of discipleship. bayareacc.org/ familymap
SE P T E M B E R GO&MAKE 11
SEPTEMBER
BOOK: The Holiness of God AUTHOR: R.C. Sproul
is said to be the pinnacle of his writings, and while I’ve yet to read another Sproul book, I can’t imagine it getting any better than this.
With book reviewer Ed Kelley enjoying the last week of his sabbatical at deadline, the GO&MAKE editorial team asked Missional Community Director Jocelyn Sacks to review a current read in his place for the month of September. Holiness is not a word we hear very often. It’s definitely not one we regularly ascribe to ourselves or others. We use other descriptors in its stead: moral, ethical, good. The term “holiness” seems to belong to a bygone era of the staunchly religious. Yet our understanding of the word holiness deeply impacts our understanding of God Himself. I was unprepared when I opened R.C. Sproul’s “The Holiness of God.” I picked it off my shelf on a whim, looking for something to jolt energy back into my spiritual slump. There it had been collecting dust since 2013 when I received it as a Christmas gift from my dad. My first great surprise was the ease with which I read. R.C. Sproul knows how to write. It probably helps that he’s written and published at least a book a year since 1973. “The Holiness of God” 12 GO&MAKE S EP TEM B ER
Sproul opens with the story of his confrontation with God’s holiness as a college student - one beckoned from bed some evening seeking the solitude of the campus’ chapel. Newly a Christian and challenged in a philosophy class, Sproul couldn’t stop thinking about Augustine’s view on creation: That God created the universe out of nothing with simply the sound of His voice. This curious idea blossomed into a journey to understand God - the one who created all but seemed so absent from the world in which we live. The one central concept confronting Sproul was this idea of “holiness.” The term “holy” is often thought of as “purity,” but its primary meaning is “separate” and “transcendent.” Sproul writes, “He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way.” Sproul found the idea of holiness so central to Biblical teaching; God’s name itself is “holy” (see Luke 1:49). God is called holy because He IS holy. Yet He is never treated as holy and this broken world we live in is a reflection of our lack of reverence. Sproul argues that “God’s kingdom will never come where His name is not considered holy. His will is not done on earth as it is in heaven if
His name is desecrated here.” He goes on to argue that our understanding of God and His holiness affects all areas of our life, not simply the “religious” parts. We cannot know Him and live under His Lordship without first knowing His holiness. All of this appears in the first 13 pages! The moment I closed out that first chapter, I had two reactions. The first was how badly I wanted to put this book right back on the shelf and not go a page further. I was afraid of how it might challenge me. But the second reaction was laden with a sense of urgency, a desperation, a deep desire to know more. I knew if I kept reading, I would have to come face to face with God’s holiness, and in light of that, come face to face with myself. This is exactly what Sproul writes about Isaiah’s interaction with God in the temple found in Isaiah 6:1-5. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said:
‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.’”
voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”
Sproul interprets that Isaiah, a man considered righteous by his contemporaries, caught a glimpse of the Holy God and completely fell apart. Isaiah responds to the sight of God with words of terror, angst and confession: “I am completely and utterly destroyed and unraveling at the seams! Oh, how deeply I am flawed, a sinner amongst many sinners.” All integrity and identity was lost upon this confrontation with God. In light of God’s holiness, Isaiah could do nothing but see his own inadequacy. He had been measured by the ultimate standard and unraveled in light of it. But God doesn’t see fit to leave Isaiah quaking. He cleanses him of his sin and commissions him to the world. That classic verse from Isaiah 6:8 has a new meaning to me now: “Also I heard the
Sproul goes on to write about Job, Habakkuk, Paul and others from the Bible who experience God’s holiness that changes them completely. He even dedicates an entire chapter to Martin Luther of whom he writes, “[His] spirit was troubled by a deep knowledge of the character of God.” Each personal story is filled with the same pattern: God appears, people are struck with terror, God forgives, heals and sends. Toward the end of the book, Sproul challenges us to live this reality out as “saints,” which simply means “holy ones.” How is it even possible for us? He writes that when we come to know God, we have been “set apart” by Him. We are to abide by Romans 12:1-2 and “offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Our example is Christ, and Sproul instructs us to think as Jesus thought, value the things He valued, prioritize the things He did. He argues that this starts with “mastery” of His
Word and hunger for deeper spiritual things. Solid food, anyone? I don’t want to give the rest away because you’ll so enjoy reading this. Sproul jolted me out of my spiritual slump with this book that is rich with beautiful imagery, descriptions of God, and explanation of the Scripture. I gobbled up each page, taking detailed notes and writing in the margins. I’ve been haunted with that passage of Isaiah being undone in God’s holy presence. I’m challenged to see myself and live in light of God’s holiness. I’m reminded of my true, sinful nature. And I’ve come away more grateful for a holy God who forgives, heals and sends.
An annual effort to bless local children with Christmas presents
coming We are building our volunteer teams now and we’ll start training in October.
NOVEMBER 2016 Email Trevin if you’d like to serve this year: giftsforchildren@bayareacc.org
SE P T E M B E R GO&MAKE 13
COMING THIS FALL... LEARNING COMMUNITIES MAN UP
9/11 - 10/30
MARRIAGE
10/23 - 11/27
THEOLOGY OF WORK
10/23 - 12/11
THE HOLY SPIRIT
10/2 - 10/16
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN THE HAPPENINGS SECTION
BAYAREACC.ORG/LEARNINGCOMMUNITIES 14 GO&MAKE S E P T E M B E R
5 T O
W A Y S S TAY
GRO U N DE D I N
YO U R
F A I T H AT COLLEGE By Bryan McFarland
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ooking back on my years at Cedarville University, I encountered many challenges and boosts in my faith. Even though I was inundated with Christian doctrine from the university, there were other facets of life that greatly influenced my walk with Jesus. Young adults have a unique perspective and opportunity, especially at a college campus. If you’re a college student back on campus for fall semester, I’d like to send you off with five ways to continue maturing in your faith in your college environment. 1. FIND COMMUNITY The college experience is a unique period of time where you are able to meet countless people with different worldview, faiths, perspectives and opinions. Wading through who to spend time with can be a daunting task (especially for those who are introverted). Find some people that are also walking with God on campus and pour into them! Hang out, eat together and be with one another. Community is great because you have a tangible relationship that shows you that you are not alone in your walk. 2. C ULTIVATE HEALTHY SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES This is one of the hardest things to do, in my opinion. While we want to cultivate community and build friendships, our prayer life and reading of scripture often takes a backseat on our to-do list. I want to encourage you to make this your top priority. A healthy prayer and Biblereading life is a natural response to wanting to know God more. Ask a friend on campus to come alongside you and pray and read together! Accountability and fellowship through prayer and scripture are great ways to stabilize your faith.
school. Take some time to shop for a church that you feel will help you grow spiritually. If you are a local student here in Maryland, keep up with your commitment to Bay Area; we’ll have many events and opportunities for you to be involved throughout the academic year. 4. SERVE IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH Not only is finding a local church essential, but being an active servant in the church is vital to keeping yourself grounded. Serving others in a church environment fosters healthy community and helps you understand the church and their people. So if you always wanted to be a student ministry leader, a children’s ministry volunteer or a small group leader, give it a try! 5. STEWARD YOUR TIME WELL Lastly, this is one that all people have trouble with doing. Whether or not to go see a movie, stay up playing a board game, studying at the last minute, or catching some needed Z’s are all questions of how we utilize our time. Set healthy rhythms in your life that incorporate fun, study, fellowship with others, prayer, reading scripture, and serving in your church. Having a flexible yet structured schedule will help you balance school, faith and fun while you are on campus. These things are helpful suggestions that are applicable, not only to a young adult, but anyone who is facing a new environment and life change. I encourage you to take a moment to adopt these things into your lifestyle, as they will help you keep a balanced look at how our faith and our lives are one and the same.
3. PLUG INTO A LOCAL CHURCH One of the first things to look for should be a local church within reach of your college campus. There might be several churches with a campus ministry that are already pursuing students at your SE PT E M B E R GO&MAKE 15
By Marsha Boehm
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ur first day began with prayer, our hearts and hands open to what Jesus would do in our midst. What followed was a short-term mission trip to Butiru, Uganda, approximately seven miles from the border of Kenya in East Africa. In July 2016, our team of six traveled 26 hours to the remote village to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Precious Souls Ministry, a ministry supported by Bay Area. Led by “Maa Christine,” and coordinated by Alex Khaukha, Precious Souls focuses on connecting those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS with medical, emotional and spiritual support. As we traveled from Kampala, we observed children in uniforms walking home from school, boys pushing a bicycle with a bundle of sugarcane and a tier of bananas strapped to the frame, and women and children carrying jerrycans of water. Roadside homes combined living quarters with kiosks that sold everything from farm produce and grain to furniture and mattresses. As we drove
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further east, the landscape became more agrarian. Homes included small plots of land where plantains and corn grow intermingled with beans and peanuts; larger fields covered the landscape and nothing seemed to suffer drought.
asked where she sees Jesus in Butiru, amid so much poverty and suffering, she replied, “He is in the people that we serve. He is reflected in every single person we clothe, visit and feed, as it is written in Matthew 25:36-40.”
Maa Christine received us with big hugs. She has opened her home to Bay Area’s short-term mission teams for the past 10 years. Our team was blessed by her hospitality. A Saturday morning “walk about,” as she called it, provided evidence of her love for the Lord and a humble understanding of, “to whom much is given, much is required.” She built a thriving small church on her land, a place where God’s Word is spoken and a choir sings praises to our Lord.
ADVOCATING FOR THOSE PRECIOUS TO GOD
A community well sits on her land and is used year-round. As a servant leader, she has extended second chances to those who may not have deserved it but through prayer and patience, have returned as the prodigal son did as good managers and hard workers. When
At the height of the HIV epidemic in Uganda, Maa Christine lost scores of family members to the disease. The impact of the HIV epidemic was generational, killing 1 in 4, and affected everyone, including babies yet unborn. Maa Christine’s faith in Christ became her banner. The Precious Souls Ministry was conceived in 2006 in the shadow of the HIV epidemic. Love and compassion toward those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS were necessary to overcome the stigma of the disease, calm fears and save lives. To date, over 120 ministry clients who
have tested positive to HIV/AIDS have registered for help through Precious Souls Ministry. We had the opportunity to visit the homes of 19 of the earliest and most successful clients. Many had prepared for our arrival, borrowing chairs from neighbors. We were welcomed enthusiastically, and they talked about their children and grandchildren and each shared their story with us. Collectively, they don’t want to be defined by a disease that once bound them in uncertainty. All of them are on treatment and are rebuilding their lives. They possess an uncanny strength and resilience to overcome and a commitment to a closer walk with our Lord. We visited them in the name of Jesus and asked them to tell us about their faith journey. We shared the gospel, and learned much about the human spirit. A measure of God’s presence in Butiru is the multiplication of what is happening throughout the community. Many of the clients are now encouraging others battling HIV/AIDS, sharing the gospel that was shared with them, and creating an inclusive community of hope. “I would like to explore further my relationship with Jesus Christ,” Edward Wakholi shared with our team leader, Angela, during a home visit as they discussed our need for Jesus and the foundation of the Christian faith. She drew a simple drawing in the dirt in front of his home, based on Bay Area’s Share The Gospel training, to describe the brokenness of the world, our need for a Savior and the free gift of eternal life. Edward had an “ah-ha” moment when he realized the difference that Angela was describing between calling himself a Christian and knowing that Jesus died for him on the cross.
one of them achieved in their lifetime. She had drawn numbers on the side of their home so their children can learn and practice every day. With team member Leanne’s help, Precious Souls is exploring partnership with a malnutrition clinic in Butiru supported by a church in Virginia that provides medical and spiritual care and education. In Butiru, the incidence of malnutrition is surprisingly high despite the abundance of food. We visited their facility, and with the help of a translator, our team member Darby had the opportunity to speak to a group of mothers and children in a malnutrition class. She shared the gospel through the story of the Prodigal Son, emphasizing the need we all have to know God through His son. A hand raised above the crowd as Darby asked if anyone wanted to have this relationship. Darby knelt on the floor with a woman as she sat among the crowd and prayed with her to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Later, while touring the facility, we were introduced to Justine, a young girl infected with HIV. She was too weak to walk and so severely malnourished that she was in need of emergency care at the closest hospital, which was an hour away. Many parents do not have the financial means to afford treatment at a hospital. They are left with the decision of further crippling their family’s financial situation through expensive care or accepting the loss of a child so that they can continue to provide for the rest of their family. Meeting Justine, seeing the pain and tears on her father’s face, made it starkly apparent that HIV/AIDS is still a life-and-death reality for many.
FAMILY DAY “Muna Muna!” Giggles ensued as team member Arianne encouraged children, “smile!” in their native language. With team member Zachary’s help, she photographed 98 clients and over 200 of their family members during Family Day. It was the culmination of our mission trip and celebration of Precious Souls Ministry’s 10-year anniversary. Many had never owned a family portrait. We printed copies of the photos and framed them for each to treasure in their homes. The photos captured just a glimpse of the unity and restoration that Precious Souls Ministry has brought to this community devastated by the HIV epidemic. Volunteers and clients gathered early that morning to prepare plantains and beans for lunch. Alex Khaukha and Agnes Pepera, a retired teacher and leader in the community, expressed their appreciation to Pastors Greg and Casely, and to their Bay Area church family who support the work that has been done and continues in their midst. The sun lowered as families sat in the grass and enjoyed meals while children ran and played. This is what family looks like, we thought, this unity to support, encourage and provide for one another. The fruit of humble service and sacrifice of the many short term mission teams from Bay Area and local volunteers over the past 10 years was tangible. Precious Souls Ministry in Uganda is just one of many global partners that Bay Area supports. For a full list of global partners, or to learn more about missions through Bay Area, go to bayareacc.org/globalmissions.
Edward Wakholi and Rosemary Namarome were diagnosed with HIV in 2008. They both became clients of Precious Souls in 2010. They are determined to live with a positive attitude in the face of their common diagnosis. Edward serves as a community leader, employed by the local government to handle community disputes. He also cultivates a large plot of land on which he grows plantains for sale. Rosemary received financial support to start a used clothing business. She works hard to ensure that her children value education and go further than either SE PT E M B E R GO&MAKE 17
PORTRAITS OF UGANDA Arianne Teeple is a professional photographer. Her formal training is in photojournalism, but her expereince as a global short term missionary has sparked a love for portraiture. These portraits are a selection from a larger body of her photographic works composed on her recent mission to Uganda.
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LOCAL OUTREACH:
LOVING THE STRANGER BAY AREA ADDS TO LOCAL OUTREACH PA RT N E RS By Trevin Hoekzema
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lmost immediately after His birth, Jesus and His family became refugees. Jesus’ life was at risk because King Herod had decided that the prophecy that the “king of the Jews” was born in Bethlehem was troublesome. He declared that all boys around Bethlehem under 2 years old were to be killed. Being warned by an angel, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus fled to Egypt. Even after Jesus and His family returned to their home region years later, they were afraid to return to Judea because of the danger of living under the reign of Archelaus, the new king of Judah, so they took refuge in Nazareth. They had no home and no option but to run from the persecution and targeted killings. Jesus was a refugee.
and assisting of refugees. They define a refugee as “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.”
Two thousand years later our world is in the midst of a refugee crisis, particularly (but not exclusively) in Syria. Our response can range from fear to compassion to denial to action, and anything in between. It is comforting to know we can turn to a God who experienced it – and a God who clearly tells us how to respond. The question we must ask ourselves, then, is how would Jesus respond to this refugee crisis?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT REFUGEES?
WHO IS A REFUGEE? The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the global organization that countries receive guidance from on the definition, tracking, protection 26 GO&MAKE S E P T E M B E R
This is what we see happening in Syria. There are currently 4.8 million registered Syrian refugees in the world; almost half of them live in camps just over the border in Turkey. Syrians were, and are, forced to flee their country because of persecution, war and violence, so when they migrate to a different country, they receive the label of a refugee.
In the Old Testament, we find the Hebrew word “ger,” which can be translated to immigrant, and “paliyt,” which is closest to refugee or “escaped one” (remember, refugees are immigrants escaping from violence, war, persecution, etc.). Different Bible translations use different English words for ger. Common translations are sojourner, stranger or foreigner. The word ger actually appears 92 times in the Old Testament. In Leviticus 19, Moses delivers the word of God to his people, reminding them of their past and commanding them on
how to interact with immigrants: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God” (v. 33-34). In this command, we get another picture of how God chose to set his people apart from the world around them. A foreigner would have been looked at suspiciously. But God’s people were commanded to welcome the immigrant and to “love him as yourself.”
WHAT DOES BAY AREA SAY ABOUT REFUGEES? At Bay Area, we are motivated by Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). We take that command seriously and desire to see it boldly lived out in our church body. You’re probably familiar with our mission statement: “making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations.” We are at a pivotal time in history where the nations are moving in next door, by choice or by force. We no longer have to get on a 14-hour plane ride to reach a new people group (although we will continue to do that). Nations are settling within our borders because of strife – nations that have quite possibly never heard the name “Jesus” before. We have an opportunity to take God’s name to the nations, and it might be as simple as meeting our neighbor. Making disciples of all nations is what we’re called to do as followers of Jesus and it’s our greatest motivator as a church. To serve and love the refugees among us, we have added World Relief to our roster of Local Outreach partners.
WORLD RELIEF One of the leading organizations on resourcing and resettling refugees since 1944, World Relief ’s mission is to empower the local church to serve
the most vulnerable. This mission comes to fruition in multiple arenas – disaster response, health and child development, refugee and immigration services, economic development and peacebuilding. We have partnered with their Anne Arundel office, which focuses solely on resettling and resourcing refugees. Both World Relief Anne Arundel (WRAA) and Bay Area are motivated by what the Bible says about refugees. As Stephen Bauman, president of World Relief, said, “It’s also our conviction that our commitment to the Scriptures compels us to continue with this vital ministry. Among the refugees World Relief has resettled over the past few years, more were persecuted Christians than any other religious background. Welcoming refugees presents an important opportunity to stand with the persecuted Church: When we welcome one of ‘the least of these,’ Jesus tells us, we welcome Him (Matthew 25:31-46).” Our partnership with WRAA comes with a bonus: we have an inside man – or woman in this case. Our former Global Missions Coordinator Ashleigh Bicevskis recently departed staff here to join WRAA as their Employment Specialist. Ashleigh began working for World Relief in April 2016. Her role with WRAA is both joyful and burdening. “Refugee resettlement is a big undertaking,” she explained. “Our office and its staff do all we can to make a refugee’s transition into life in the U.S. smooth, but it’s not just us doing it. We rely greatly on volunteers and churches.” Compassion crossed her face as she recounted a testimony that was transcribed and sent around her office. Talal and his family are Syrian refugees living in Anne Arundel County. Their lives have been forever changed by WRAA and a local church. “For the first time in my life I feel safe. For the first time in my life, I have no fear of anything. For the first time in my life I have a life,” Talal’s testimony reads. “The help and support we got from World
Relief and Harundale Presbyterian Church was unbelievable. They set an example of how people should live together and stand for each other; they taught me what it means to be human. They never left us a moment, and made a fantastic effort to overcome the culture shock and gave all the support to blend in the American society, and to get a job and be independent. I learned that USA didn’t become the world leader because of its military capabilities and economy, but because of its morals that the American people stand for.” Talal’s testimony of Harundale Presbyterian’s impact on his family’s life is one of many testimonies that numerous resettled refugees proclaim. All of their stories include a specific church or church family that they were connected with through World Relief.
THE NUMBERS AND OPPORTUNITY Talal is one of 4.8 million Syrian refugees. Syrians are one of almost a dozen people groups who are eligible to obtain refugee status, including people from Somalia, Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq and other countries. As of June 2016, there were an estimated 21.3 million refugees in the world. To put that number into perspective, that is close to four times the population of Maryland. According to a 2016 LifeWay Research survey, 86 percent of protestant pastors in the U.S. agree that we should care sacrificially about refugees, but only 8 percent of their congregations are currently involved locally. The numbers show never-before-seen amounts of people displaced in the world and an American church that is slow to respond. Harundale Presbyterian is one of a few churches in Anne Arundel County (and the U.S.) that has responded as God commands and as Jesus modeled. Bay Area has the opportunity now to impact refugees, too. In the future, there will be unique ways for us to respond. Go to bayareacc.org/localoutreach to stay up-to-date and learn more.
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August 2016, 46 high-schoolers from Bay Area joined hundreds of their peers at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference in New Jersey for Big Beach Weekend. An extended weekend of worship, learning and fun, the annual trip is designed to help students not only enjoy their summer vacation, but more importantly, grow stronger in their individual walks with Jesus. Upon their return, Student Ministry Coordinator Lauren Gibeault asked several students how the trip impacted them. Here’s what they had to say...
“ Between Rob’s teaching and our in-depth small group talks, my faith grew to whole new levels. I was able to dig into the theology of my faith and learn how to defend what I believe.” - NOAH BURKHARDT, SENIOR
“ Our speaker challenged the students to know truth from the Word instead of taking what our culture says as truth, and it really resonated with me, too. It got me excited to know the Lord more through His Word, not only for my own relationship with God but to also pass on to others.” - REBECCA MEEKINS, BASM LEADER
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“ Big Beach Weekend helped me to better understand how to share my faith.” - ETHAN BURKHARDT, SOPHOMORE
“ Big Beach Weekend has allowed me to see the lies of this world and how God has shown us truth through His Son. I loved worshipping with everyone and spending time in devotion with my friends every morning.” - RACHEL SOLSMAN, JUNIOR
“ The fellowship I experience at Big Beach always brings me closer to the Lord. I love having the opportunity to meet new people and be in a safe and vulnerable place where we can talk about our walks with God and how we can pray for each other.” - GARRETT ATKINSON, SENIOR
“ This camp is made for high schoolers by our leaders. They know how to make an experience that we love and a place we won’t want to leave, with speakers and activities that cater to us and give us amazing memories!” - ALLIE BATTAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN
“ Big Beach Weekend impacted me by helping me to remember what is true and to live my life for Him.” - LIVVIE MELLINGER, SOPHOMORE
“ I realized how vitally important reading the Bible is to my walk with the Lord and how much it’s already changed my thinking with talks about it this weekend.” - MATT BRANDT, SOPHOMORE
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CARE NETWORK
HAPPENINGS
Sometimes life hands us struggles: loss of a loved one, serious illness, parenting difficulties, divorce, addiction and many other challenges. These struggles can feel isolating, yet God never intended that we walk through them alone. He is in the business of comforting, restoring and renewing all things for His glory. Your circumstances are not beyond that; He longs to reach you with His redemption and grace. We want to walk with you through this season of life. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Jesus-centered ministry that assists those seeking help. We provide hope and healing through a variety of resources both inside and outside the walls of Bay Area. Let’s partner through these struggles together. Get started by emailing leanne.lane@bayareacc.org.
BAPTISM Wo u l d y o u l i ke t o b e b a p t i z e d ? For more information... • K-5th: contact gail.wiles@bayareacc.org • 6-12th: contact brent.squires@bayareacc.org • Adults: contact deb.shipley@bayareacc.org
CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery (CR) is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits or hangups keep you isolated! Join us on Monday nights at 7 p.m. for community, worship and teaching. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org CELEBRATE RECOVERY SEMINAR SEPTEMBER 24 Celebrate Recovery is a path for anyone seeking Jesus, healing and community. Join us for a Celebrate Recovery Introductory Seminar on Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in The Warehouse. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND INVITATION If you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound we would love to serve you. Contact us so that we can learn how to be of assistance. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or 443-837-3718
CONNECT WITH BAY AREA
NEW GRIEFSHARE PROGRAM AT BAY AREA Have you benefited by attending a GriefShare program after the loss of a loved one? Perhaps you have a heart for those who are in the grief process. Join us for a brief gathering on September 18 from 1-2 p.m. in The Loft to share more about this valuable program. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a black shirt in the lobby after each Sunday gathering or visit us online at bayareacc.org/new.
CAREER ASSISTANCE Are you unemployed, just starting a career, or trying to discover what God has uniquely wired you for? Partner with expert Jacques Fox and identify a career path that’s right for you. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org. MARRIAGE MINISTRY UPDATE The Bay Area Marriage Ministry recently partnered
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with MarriedPeople.org, an organization that has developed a marriage strategy for churches. At Bay Area, we are implementing this marriage strategy by inspiring large group experiences, empowering small groups, and equipping individual couples. Our Marriage Ministry will host three to four large-group events per year, such as the Great Date Night in February; three to four small-group events such as marriage-focused Learning Communities or weekend retreats; and three to four events for individual couples, such as date nights that include KidCare. We will also provide a monthly email to help married couples stay focused on the marriage strategy all year long. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRUNK OR TREAT This event is one of Bay Area’s most attended community outreach events, and a great opportunity for people in our local neighborhoods to see what community looks like at Bay Area. In addition to many decorated trunks that will hand out candy, attendees can enjoy a carnival ride, inflatables, a live band and food. We hope your family joins us for this free fall event on Friday, October 28, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For info on volunteer opportunities or hosting a trunk, go to bayareacc. org/trunkortreat.
WAVE RIDERS A new and exciting season of Wave Riders kicks off September 13 at 10 a.m. at Bay Area and September 26 at Kinder Farm Park. PREMARITAL MENTORING Are you newly engaged? We want to partner with you Wave Riders is our preschool support and playgroup for families as you establish a strong, Jesus-centered life with your to come together in community during this sweet life stage. future spouse. Through Premarital Mentoring you’ll be For more information, go to facebook.com/waveriderplaygroup. paired with marriage mentors (couples who have been Info: stacey.burkhardt@bayareacc.org married for 10 or more years) who will equip you with tools and resources you’ll need to succeed in marriage. DEEP BLUE LEADER HUDDLE If you are one of our amazing Deep Blue volunteers, our first Info: premarital.ministry@bayareacc.org. Leader Huddle of the ministry year is Sunday, September 11, at 12:45 p.m. Our time will begin with lunch, followed by behindMARRIAGE MINISTRY TEAM - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED the-scenes news and updates specific to the area you serve, Our marriage ministry team seeks to encourage and equip encouragement and fun. Please RSVP to your area coordinator: couples to start and stay strong in their marriages. If you have Tammy.Taschenberger@bayareacc.org for elementary or a passion to help strengthen marriages and have been married Courtney.Gregory@bayareacc.org for preschool. for 10 or more years, come be a part of this ministry. Read more at bayareacc.org/marriageministry or email leanne.lane@ bayareacc.org to get involved. LEARNING COMMUNITIES TEMPORARY HOUSING NEEDED FOR PREMARITAL COUPLES Occasionally, couples who are living together enter our Premarital Ministry. We believe strongly that the best way to honor God before marriage is to remain pure and live separately. We’re looking for folks who have space in their homes that could be used on a temporary basis in order to fulfill this desire. Connect with us: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERS Our KidCare team has an immediate need for individuals who have a heart for kids. We provide KidCare for all ministries and various events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining our team of paid workers, contact KidCare Coordinator Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org or visit the Children’s Welcome counter on Sundays for more info.
MEN’S BIBLE STUDIES MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays from 6-7:30 a.m. in room 236 at Bay Area. Info: Dennis at dbradylaw@aol.com MEN’S EVENING BIBLE STUDY Sundays from 6-7:30 p.m. in room 235 at Bay Area. This study is geared toward helping men draw closer to Jesus while discussing and discovering God’s answers for the challenges men face at home, work and in society. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org
Learning Communities are intended to strengthen your Biblical knowledge, character and/or practical ministry skills. They are also an opportunity to get to know others at Bay Area on Sunday mornings in an environment of learning and interaction. Sign up at bayareacc.org/learningcommunities. MAN UP SEPT. 11 - OCT. 30 AT 9:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM B Connect with other men at Bay Area while grappling with the everyday challenges of following Jesus. Bob Gregory will teach as we dig into the Word and let the Word dig into us. MARRIAGE OCT. 23 - NOV 27. AT 11:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM A Every married couple is unique. They are an “US.” Whether they are loving their US, wondering if their US is going to make it, or somewhere in between, every couple at some level wants to become their best US. Over the course of this series, couples will discover what habits they currently have, and what habits they can start to develop to become their best US. THEOLOGY OF WORK OCT. 23 - DEC. 11 AT 9:15 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM A Does your work matter to God? Explore this topic using Timothy Keller’s book, “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work.” Often, we find the workplace competitive and frustrating. Come and learn how the Biblical view of work can provide a basis for a thriving professional life, and a balanced personal life. THE HOLY SPIRIT OCT. 2-16 AT 9:30 A.M. IN THE DOCKS, ROOM A Most of us forget about God the Holy Spirit, but His presence is very real in our lives. How can we know what that looks like? Join Ed Kelley for this three-week study. SE P T E M B E R GO&MAKE 31
CONNECTING MINISTRY
FINANCIALS Annapolis Campus Operating Budget Financial Update As of August 21, 2016 Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2015 Fiscal Year Giving Goal
DISCOVER BAY AREA - NEWCOMER LUNCH New to Bay Area? We’re glad you’re here. You may have questions about who we are or what we believe so join us on September 4 at 12:45 p.m. in the Bay Cafe for Discover Bay Area. Enjoy a free lunch and hear from a few of our pastors and staff about our mission, values and how you can get plugged in. No RSVP necessary, and kids are welcome. Hope to see you there. Our next date is October 2. Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org MINISTRY PARTNERSHIP REGISTRATION OPEN If Bay Area is your church home, consider becoming a Ministry Partner. Lock arms with us as we partner to make passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. Start the process by joining us for our next Ministry Partnership Orientation on Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hear teaching from Greg St. Cyr and other leaders. KidCare and lunch are provided with advance registration. Learn more and register at bayareacc.org/ministrypartnership.
$ 4,417,654
YTD Received $ 4,407,532 YTD Goal $ 4,334,665 YTD Actual vs. Goal 72,867 1.7% Ahead $ AUGUST To Date Received $ 245,877 AUGUST To Date Giving Goal $ 248,968 For weekly financial updates, go to bayareacc.org/ financials.
Please indicate any designated gifts on the memo line of your check or use the drop-down box online to select your desired giving fund. Note: You will need to donate via check if the fund to which you wish to give is not listed online. All undesignated checks will go toward the general operating fund.
GLOBAL MISSIONS SHORT TERM MISSIONS Are you interested in global missions or thinking about making the trade in 2017? Learn more: bayareacc.org/ globalmissionsemail To support any of Bay Area’s short term global mission trips, go to bayareacc.org/stmgive.
EL SALVADOR • CHILDREN’S MINISTRY & HOME VISITS • November 12-20
SOUTH SUDAN • MINISTRY TO CHILDREN AND CHURCH LEADERS • October 9-19
HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BAY AREA’S BUILDING FUNDS? Giving Methods eCheck: Go to bayareacc.org/give to give online through your checking account through a one-time or recurring donation on My Bay Area. Direct Debit: Go to bayareacc.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to the Bay Area Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month. Personal Check: Write “Building Fund” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to Bay Area (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401). Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to Bay Area. Be sure to note “Building Fund” on the memo line.
ISRAEL TRIP
PRAYER MINISTRY
Join Executive Pastor Ed Kelley and his wife Susan as they host an 11-day Biblical tour of the Holy Land in Israel April 24 - May 4, 2017. With an Israeli Defense Forces tour guide, the group will walk in the footsteps of Jesus and re-live Old and New Testament events. The cost for the trip is $4,200 all inclusive, and includes a first-century boat ride over the sea of Galilee and a snorkeling adventure in the Red Sea. Email ed.kelley@ bayareacc.org or attend an info session on Sunday, October 30 at 9:30 a.m. in the Loft for more information.
Jesus lived a life of unceasing prayer that connected Him to the Father. We too long to be devoted to prayer. Our Prayer Ministry is comprised of individuals dedicated to gathering in prayer for all aspects of Bay Area life: our gatherings, communities, pastors, missions and so much more. Some of these individuals are also available to pray with you on Sunday mornings after each gathering (front and right of the auditorium stage). Read more at bayareacc.org/prayer. Info: pat.linnell@bayareacc.org
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OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
LOCAL OUTREACH
AMBASSADOR TEAM: Serve as an ambassador by helping newcomers get connected. If you have a passion for people and Jesus, and have been attending Bay Area for at least six months, the ambassador role is for you. Info: rachel. perry@bayareacc.org
LOCAL OUTREACH SERVING OPPORTUNITIES Missional Communities often don’t know how to get involved with serving locally. We’re here to help. There are many organizations in the Annapolis area that will be blessed by your involvement; we’d love to connect you with them. Go to bayareacc.org/localoutreach to fill out an involvement form.
AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Info: tres.cozad@bayareacc.org CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Info: chairs@bayareacc.org BAY CAFÉ & ESPRESSO BAR: Do you love coffee? Enjoy hospitality? Join our team in the Bay Cafe and/or espresso bar. Info: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S MINISTRY WELCOME TEAM: First impressions are important, join our team of volunteers who welcome and assist first time guests with children. Info: chyloe.cheetham@bayareacc.org COMMUNION TEAM: Opportunities to serve our church family include baking allergen-free communion bread once a month or assisting with preparation or cleanup during one of the three gatherings on communion Sunday. Info: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org GOLF CART DRIVERS: Looking for friendly folks to launch a new aspect of our visitor experience: Sunday morning golf cart drivers. You will pick people up in the back of the West parking lot before gatherings to ease their walk into the building. Those interested must be 21 or older and have a clean driving record. Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org
PREGNANCY CLINIC WALK/RUN FOR LIFE The Annapolis Pregnancy Clinic empowers women to make the choice for life and provides essential counseling and care for pregnant women. On September 17, the clinic will have their annual Walk and Run for Life fundraiser. To learn more or register, go to walkandrun.org. This year we have a friendly competition between our Lead Pastor Greg and Executive Pastor Ed as to who will have the largest team. So when you register, make sure you select Bay Area under the “church attending” tab and select your team: either “Run with Greg” or “Walk with Ed.” Info: outreach@bayareacc.org BUILD YOUR NATIVITY WORKSHOPS Learn how to build a yard nativity scene and honor Jesus at Christmas this year. Workshops will be hosted at Bay Area on September 10 and October 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign up at bayareacc.org/nativity. Info: outreach@bayareacc.org GIFTS FOR CHILDREN Want to join us for Gifts for Children, our annual effort to bless local children with Christmas presents, this year? Fill out our short form at bayareacc.org/giftsforchildren.
MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES
HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATION: Interested in being part of a team reaching those hospitalized or homebound? Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting people as they arrive at church. Info: parking@ Bayareacc.org SAFETY TEAM: Are you passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS or First Responders and want to serve in this area? Info: safety@ Bayareacc.org USHERS: Be a part of creating a welcoming environment by serving during Sunday morning gatherings. Info: Michael at mtabramo1@comcast.net WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Serve on one of our event planning teams or in discipling other women. We would love to get to know you and see how your gifts can be used. Info: janet. graves@bayareacc.org
MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER Are you new to Bay Area and/or looking to get connected in community? Join us for our Missional Community Taster on September 11 at 12:45 p.m. We will introduce you to our version of mid-sized groups that will help you continually grow spiritually, relationally and missionally. Lunch and KidCare are provided. RSVP at bayareacc.org/mctasterrsvp. Info: mc@bayareacc.org
STUDENT MINISTRY CLUB 678 Club 678 is a once-a-month hangout for middle schoolers. Middle school students are welcome to join us Friday, August 16 from 7-9 p.m. for a night of games, fun and more. Students are encouraged to invite their friends and can bring money for snacks. Info: lydia.macbride@bayareacc.org SE PT E M B E R GO&MAKE 33
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
COLLEGE MINISTRY
THE WELL At Bay Area, we invite women to join us on a spiritual journey in community with others. Like the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus meets us where we are and invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. For more information visit bayareacc.org/womensministry.
YOUNG ADULT MISSIONAL COMMUNITY Our desire is to see our young adults connect in community where they are loving God, serving others and growing spiritually together. Missional Communities are a great opportunity for young adults 18-25 to do this on a weekly basis. If you would like to get plugged into community contact bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org
ARMOR OF GOD BY PRISCILLA SHIRER WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 7 - DEC. 14 FROM 9:30-11:30 A.M. All day, every day, an invisible war rages around you. A cunning, devilish enemy seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters to you - your emotions, your mind, your family, your future. But when the enemy meets a woman dressed in God’s armor, he fails miserably. This Bible study will challenge you to suit up, stand firm and secure victory in your life. Cost: $15. Info: Laurie Gregory at thewell@bayareacc.org BRIDGES ON THE JOURNEY WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 7 - NOV. 16 FROM 9:30-11:30 A.M. TUESDAYS, SEPT. 13 - NOV. 15 FROM 7-9 P.M. This study is recommended for women who are new to faith or beginners to Bible study. In this class, we will cover the gospel, the Bible, prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit and other essentials to get you started in your growing relationship with Christ. Cost: $15. Wednesday info: jodyyearwood@gmail.com or Tuesday info: janet.graves@bayareacc.org WEDNESDAY MORNING KIDCARE KidCare available for ages birth - preschool with preregistration for The Well on Wednesday mornings only September 7 - December 14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Cost $60/one child, $80 for 2+ children. Space is limited. Your registration is not final until enrollment is confirmed by Dax Clinkscale at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org. DANIEL BY BETH MOORE TUESDAYS, SEPT. 13 - DEC. 6 FROM 7-9 P.M. Study the ways Daniel dealt with pressure and temptation to apply to life today and the prophecies given to prepare us for the second coming of Christ in the future. This popular video series will keep us studying the Scriptures throughout the week so we can discuss what we’ve learned in our small groups. Cost $20. Info: Darby Cate at darby@dougcate.com. QUILTS FOR KIDS Join us to make quilts using donated fabrics for kids in shelters and hospitals. We usually meet the third Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in room 235. Come and learn to sew or learn to sew a new pattern. Kits will be available. Please bring your sewing machine, sewing supplies and your lunch. We will meet on Saturday, September 17. If you would like a quilt kit, have a quilt that you would like to donate, or have questions, contact Janet at annapolisQFK@quiltsforkids.org. WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+) This group of women meet on the second and fourth Monday of the month for a time of encouragement, prayer and serving. On September 12, we will regroup and share how we have experienced God’s presence this summer. Come meet new and old friends after our summer break. On September 26, we will talk about the topic of Fear as discussed in the David Jeremiah book, “Slaying the Giants in Our Life.” Afterward we will have a potluck lunch together. For more information, contact Cedulie Sanchez luisandcedulie@gmail.com. 34 GO&MAKE S E P T E M B E R
LEARNING COMMUNITIES Learning Communities are opportunities to grow in your Biblical knowledge, character and/or practical ministry skills. There will be Learning Communities exclusively for young adults ages 18-25 in September and over Christmas Break. Info: bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org
EASTON CAMPUS HAPPENINGS DISCOVER BAY AREA New to Bay Area Easton? We’re glad you’re here. You may have questions about who we are or what we believe so join us on September 11 following the 10 a.m gathering for Discover Bay Area. Hear Campus Pastor Craig Fadel share about who we are as a church, our story, our vision for making disciples, and how you can get plugged in. No RSVP necessary, and kids are welcome. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER Get a taste of Missional Community through our MC Taster event. Join us on September 15 at 6:30 p.m. for information and a taste of community. Dessert will be served. KidCare is available in most cases upon request. Please RSVP to easton@bayareacc.org. MINISTRY PARTNER ORIENTATION Would you like to become a ministry partner (member) of Bay Area Community Church? Ministry Partnership is a commitment to live out our faith together under the mission of making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. It is an invitation to pursue Christ personally, for our community, and for the nations. It’s a commitment to be a disciple and to make disciples. Join us on September 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you have questions or would like to attend, please email easton@bayareacc.org.
ARVID PETTERSEN Norwegian singer-songwriter Arvid, his wife Reni and their daughter Josefine will return to Bay Area to host a special musical event this month.
SEPTEMBER TH 7 P.M.
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BACC CHAPEL
Currently on tour in the U.S., the Pettersons are known for their original Christian music that conveys faith, hope and love through song.
The performance is
For more information, contact Frank Kraus at fkraus516@yahoo.com
TO THE PUBLIC
FREE & OPEN
trunk or treat6 ‘1 october 28
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Trunk or Treat is Bay Area’s biggest community outreach event of the year, and it’s just around the corner! In 2015, over
3,500 people came out for Trunk or Treat. They stockpiled candy, visited trunks and enjoyed rides. But most importantly, they got a taste of who we are as a church family. Every year, I hear stories of people who attend Bay Area because they were first invited to Trunk or Treat – one of many reasons I gladly paid the $20 entry fee last year for my teenage daughter to host a trunk. (Side note, it was my trunk!) I was happy to purchase candy and décor for her, giving her an opportunity to invite her friends to experience community – and that’s just what she did. Four friends from her school donned beards and plaid clothes with her – their trunk was themed “Duck Dynasty” – and they all came away with a picture of what it’s like to be part of our church family. We’ve set an ambitious goal this year of doubling the number of trunks we had last year, from 50 to 100, and we’re encouraging you to host one with your Missional Community, family, missions or serving team, coworkers or friends from your neighborhood. Trunk or Treat is a great opportunity to invite people to a fantastic event where they can learn about who we are as a church. Will you be one of the 100? To register to host a trunk, or to learn more about Trunk or Treat, go to bayareacc.org/trunkortreat. Registration costs $20, with half going to support one of our local outreach partners and half going to the most creatively decorated trunks! We hope to see you there! Gail Wiles Children’s Ministry Director 36 GO&MAKE S EP TEM B ER