Go & Make Issue #49 (October 2017)

October 2017

ISSUE #49

TRUNK OR TREAT

FREE

www.bayareacc.org/GOANDMAKE O C TO B E R GO&MAKE 1

IN THIS ISSUE 16 COVER STORY: TRUNK OR TREAT Join us for a night at Bay Area National Park on Friday, October 27! This year’s Trunk or Treat will feature decorated trunks full of candy, a guided trail adventure, hay rides, cotton candy and more.

10 LEADERSHIP PROFILE: DUSTIN CARPENTER Bay Area Easton’s new Student Ministry Leader shares his story of how he came to faith and developed a passion for working in ministry.

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BRIAN’S EDITORIAL: A FRESH LOOK AT COMMUNITY If people join gyms for community and shared time with others, shouldn’t they look to the church even more so to get connected? Missional Communities Pastor Brian Hopper offers a fresh look at the richness and value of connecting in community with other followers of Jesus.

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12 GROWING IN GENEROSITY Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr shares Bay Area’s philosophy of generosity by unpacking God’s heart for our personal finances in two simple principles: God owns it, I steward it and GIVE - SAVE - LIVE.

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

Gathering Times: 7:50, 9:20, 11:20 a.m. 884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401

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 Lydia MacBride Michele Rollins Sam Logan

On the cover: Alex Williams and Trevin Hoekzema Photo by Josh Shirlen

ELDERS Bill Smith Chris Heacock Don Wiley Greg St. Cyr J. Upton John Taylor Keith Riniker Ken Gilmore Peter Godfrey Rich Heath Roger Ishii Tim Grossman Tom Hogan Warwick Fairfax

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 Jonathan Madrid, Worship Leader – jonathan.madrid@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, arts – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Meredith Thompson, Communications Director – meredith.thompson@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.org Rachel Perry, Guest Services 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 OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 3

The last thing to be converted is the pocketbook.

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From my heart…

There is a topic that is vitally important to becoming more like Jesus, and yet whenever I speak on it, inevitably a handful of people are turned off. That pains me. I’m referring to the topic of financial generosity. I think you’d agree that most people want to be generous. When we see acts of sacrificial generosity, we are filled with admiration and respect.

I actually find that it is easier to teach on generosity when I’m doing it at another church. That way I can’t be accused of impure motives. And yet God has given me a burden to help all of us become fully surrendered disciples, and that won’t happen unless we get this area right.

On page 12, you’ll read about our simple yet profound convictions of financial stewardship. If applied, your life will be radically changed. Here, I want to share my heart on why I feel so strongly about this.

I want to begin by saying this: Financial stewardship is an important part of discipleship. You and I will not be all that God created us to be if we do not have victory in this area.

My heart for you regarding finances can be summarized like this: “It’s not about what we want from you. It’s about what we want for you.” And the top-three things in this area that I want for all of us are:

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Absolute Surrender

Jesus is Lord, and as such He wants to reign over every area of our life. The area that most of us have the greatest struggle with is finances. We are insecure about the future, uncertain if we will have enough, want to be in control of this area, and typically view money as “mine.”

Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve two masters, that we will either serve God or wealth. God and money are constantly competing for preeminence in our life. We must totally surrender our money to God. This is why you’ll often hear me quote Charles Spurgeon’s words: “The last thing to be converted is the pocketbook.”

For most of us, that’s true. When God has our pocketbook, He probably has all of us. Once we’ve surrendered, inevitably there will be times that we become financially anxious and insecure again. When that occurs, we must re-surrender.

In Philippians 4, Paul expresses thanks for sending a financial gift to meet his needs. But he is very clear why he is so thankful: “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.” Phil. 4:17 Paul rejoices, not so much that they have met his needs, but rather that they are storing up for themselves eternal riches based on their current faithfulness. In 1 Timothy 6:18-19, he reinforces the same truth: “ … be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

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God’s supernatural provision

God takes full responsibility to meet our needs when we trust and obey Him. Many are not experiencing God’s provision because they are not living according to the principles found in His Word. As a result, they are reaping what they have sown.

God is a God of blessing and grace. He longs to shower us with both. And I long and pray for each of us to fully experience all that God has for us. We like to claim Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” However, that statement applies to the Philippians because they were giving generously. If we refuse to obey Him in the area of our finances, then we cannot expect His supernatural intervention and provision. But if we trust Him, God takes full responsibility to meet all our needs. Not necessarily all of our wants, but all of our needs. 2 Corinthians 9:8 confirms this: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

Jesus is very clear that the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the Word and cause us to be unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). This is what I fear for myself and every person who calls Bay Area home. And that is why I’m so passionate about and committed to teaching on financial stewardship… even though some will misunderstand my heart.

From here to the nations,

Let me say as lovingly and resolutely as I can, if you refuse to surrender your finances to God, you are missing out on God’s best. And that makes Him (and me) very sad.

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Eternal rewards

Randy Alcorn says, “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.” He is referring to the reality that one day every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) and give an account of their life. Stewarding our finances for the glory of God reaps eternal rewards. And I want that for each of us.

Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor

Greg St. Cyr is the Lead Pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.

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by Pat Linnell

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utside of Batman, Cindy Crawford and surf culture (thanks to the original Beverly Hills 90210), my adolescent childhood obsession was riding bikes. I remember saving $20 a week for months to buy a legit BMX bike.

It was a Hutch racing bike, slightly less cool than my next-door-neighbor Matt’s GT. The GT was like the Porsche of bikes, Hutch was like a Fiat – in the game but just barely.

Riding bikes was just about the most important thing in my life – it was probably the sense of freedom and speed. I’d ride for hours on end.

It’s what I did instead of homework. And in Glen Burnie, that was more constructive than doing drugs. When the B-movie Rad (google it, live my dream) came out in the mid ‘80s – say goodnight – I was in heaven. From there I eventually moved over to bikes with engines, dirt bikes. My grandfather “Pop” bought me my first dirt bike – more heaven.

For all my two-wheeled experience, I am to this day happy on a trail in the woods, versus jumping off a ramp on a track. I watched motocross on TV and marveled at these guys jumping dirt bikes, and then heard about a guy named Travis Pastrana who put a sport known as freestyle motocross on the map – particularly when he completed the first double backflip at ESPN’s X-Games competition.

Just last year, another Maryland guy named Greg Duffy, who trained with Travis, completed a double front flip in competition and landed it at the inaugural Nitro Circus World Games.

The last person to attempt that trick was Bruce Cook, who was left paralyzed after not landing it. Here’s the deal – jumping a motorcycle looks cool and sounds cool in theory, but, stick me on a 250 pound bike pointed at a ramp and tell me “you got this!” and I’m thinking “there ain’t no way.” There are some real fear and anxiety to push through in hitting that ramp. Likewise, there are some real fear and anxiety to push through in dropping Grace Bombs.

I can say this because I’ve experienced it. When I preached the idea that grace-built people grace bomb people, many were looking at me like “sounds cool, but ain’t no way preacher!”

The week after starting the Grace Bomb movement – giving the Bay Area church family the charge and the tools to fulfill their calling as grace-built people to grace bomb people – I also went out with some little cards that simply said “you’ve been grace bombed” on them. I was ready to do something nice for a stranger, but when the opportunity presented itself, instead of hitting the throttle I procrastinated and missed the moment – and it was something totally chill and easy.

I was sitting across from a young girl at a Starbucks and she was having a loud phone conversation about some drama that was going on in her life. I thought to myself, “hook that

girl up with a gift card just to bless her.” And simultaneously I was thinking, “Ahh – I can do that later, I’m too busy doing nothing right now.” So I put what I should have done in the moment on a to-do list. What was the reason for the fail? The fail was fear of getting a little uncomfortable – anxiety over taking three minutes of my day to brighten someone else’s.

No matter the size or cost of a grace bomb, putting yourself out there – exposing yourself, repping Jesus even in this non-threatening way – will likely come with a side of fear.

That’s OK. In fact, a little nervous energy might mean you are on the right track of faith. There are three things to remember from the life of Gideon from back in the Old Testament that were true for him, and true for us today. This is helpful because Gideon was an anxious guy, fearful of what God called him to do – at first.

God called him “mighty,” even though humanly speaking he was weak and afraid. People in the hand of God carrying out the will of God are mighty.

Secondly, Gideon was sent by God into battle.

Likewise we are sent by Jesus to walk in the good works He has prepared for us in advance, battling the powers of darkness. When God sends you, you can trust that He will provide for you. And lastly, the Lord promised to be with Gideon. We take the same comfort, that Jesus is with us always, and recall the context of that promise is when we are out and about making disciples. So go get your Grace Bomb on despite your initial fears – you got this!

Pat Linnell is the teaching pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributer to GO&MAKE.

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Take a fresh look at community

by Brian Hopper

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recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review about a health exercise company that was trying to forecast their business growth for the future. The CEO was asked, “How confident are you that your business will continue growing at the current pace?” Her answer: “I am confident because people are always looking for places to connect with one another.” She implied, “because we know this truth, our company will grow because that’s what we do, we help people connect” in a gym. She later said it was because “friendships and communities are enduring” that we will continue to grow.

In other words, because this company has tapped into the truth that people need to connect, they have created a form of community around exercise, and as a result, continue to be profitable and successful.

This year, when we asked our leaders to describe how they saw Jesus working in the lives of the people in their community, they used words like humbling, healing, family, breakthrough, friendship and relationship. They shared stories of how the community truly became family, or how they helped each other in times of need. They talked about healing, growth, fun and how their time together was meaningful. Through laughter and tears, they shared stories of individuals whose lives had been changed, whether through trial or blessing,

by Jesus and the community. What these 50 leaders and their spouses shared reflected a type of community that was different. Something real and spiritual. Something significant.

It was, in my opinion, what community is supposed to look like. Can’t imagine a gym could offer that.

This isn’t surprising – one, that people are looking to connect and be in community. It is one of our fundamental needs as humans. We long to be in relationships with others. Nor should it be surprising that companies are built around this basic human truth and are profitable. But, what might be surprising is that for many people – ironically, church-going people – the need to connect with others and be in community doesn’t appear to be as pressing as it is for those who are outside of the church. Or at least it isn’t happening at the same rate.

I share this with you not because I am against businesses capitalizing on what I believe God wired into the fabric of every human being or that I have some angst with people who only come to Sunday mornings. No. I share this with you because I am passionate about seeing people grow and experience a type of community that changes us.

In fact, statistically speaking, only about one in three church people take steps to be connected with others (most churches only have between 30-40 percent of their overall attendance in some form of community). The majority of churches on Sunday mornings are filled with people who (for whatever reasons) come to church, sit through the services, and leave without connecting or interacting with anyone. And if they actually wanted to connect, very few churches allow time in the gathering for people to get to know one another or have any meaningful discussion. In some ways, it appears that the church is sending a mixed message or that we are inadvertently reinforcing the very behavior we are trying to overcome – come be together but don’t get to know anyone.

So what does it say that there are companies who build their business around helping people connect in community, when people in the church often see being in community as an afterthought? Well, as the Missional Community Pastor, it’s sort of scary to be honest. And more than a church problem, what is happening to us individually in the church that we are so reluctant or unwilling to get connected? Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at community in the church. Maybe it’s time to consider the real value of community.

For the last few weeks, I have been hosting dinners at my house for our Missional Community leaders. August ends our ministry year, so I host a series of meals to celebrate where God has worked in our communities in the previous year and look ahead for what is coming in the new ministry year. These times are always fun, refreshing, inspiring and insightful.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid that the invitation to be in community has become more of a duty than opportunity. It is something that we church people feel we have to do, rather than something that we get to do. And for whatever reasons, there are still way too many people who settle for far less when it comes to being part of a church. Coming only to a Sunday gathering is, in the long run, no way to experience Christ or His body. It is good – but not best. He certainly wants us to be together on Sunday (so don’t stop that!), but He also wants you to experience more.

So maybe it’s time to give being in community another try. If we as people are willing to see the value of being in community in a gym, perhaps we can find an even greater value in being in community in a church – a community that is more fulfilling, more nurturing, more life-giving.

Questions, concerns, comments – feel free to email me.

Brian Hopper is the Missional Community Pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributer to GO&MAKE.

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BY SAM LOGAN

DUSTIN CARPENTER LEADERSHIP

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PROFILE

major, and this was the most brilliant stuff I had ever read.”

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missing kidney is a constant reminder of God’s grace in Dustin Carpenter’s life. Mother’s intuition led to the discovery of an extremely rare form of kidney cancer, a Wilms tumor. It was stage three. He was five.

Born in Indianapolis, IN, Dustin moved to Maryland at 7 when the Navy transferred his father to Pax River Naval Air Station. He grew up in Huntingtown, in a family he described as agnostic. He didn’t attend church, and had no real exposure to the Gospel.

“I was at a point where I was hostile to people to who claimed faith, in the sense of if you said you were a Christian, I would challenge you and try to make you feel dumb about what you believed in,” he recalled.

When he was 11, Dustin found himself on the wrong side of an altercation with two older black kids who thought he had used a racial slur. The experience left an indelible mark on his heart that grew into a deeply seated distrust of African Americans — one that would take years and the power of Jesus to conquer.

When a high school friend invited him on a ski trip during their senior year, Dustin — a self-professed comic book nerd — reluctantly agreed to go. He met someone. While they dated, he attended church with her and got a glimpse of Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) through her sister and brother-inlaw. That’s when the questioning began.

Fall 2008 found Dustin at the University of Baltimore (UB) on a full ride in the middle of the city.

A few months later, Dustin had found a new low in his life. He had lost relationships. He was depressed and broke. Working at the college bookstore, he found himself faced with the decision to spend $5 on a Bible — on clearance — or a foot-long from Subway, which would have fed him for two meals. He bought the Bible and immediately began reading the book of Matthew.

“It was my first time reading through the Gospel of Matthew, and I’m rooting for the Pharisees to trick Jesus. But time after time, Jesus is showing them up, answering their questions in a way I would never expect,” he said, adding, “I was a philosophy, literature, history

It wasn’t long before he found himself on his knees, giving his life to Christ. The first work God did in his heart was to remove the fear of African Americans.

Within weeks, Dustin found himself coleading the only Bible study on campus with a young black man.

“At our first Bible study, we had 40 people shoved into this small room. And out of everyone there, I was the only white guy,” Dustin remembered. “And that night we all gave our testimony, so I shared how I used to hate them but Christ has removed that, has forgiven me.”

As the Bible study matured, Dustin realized he needed teaching and mentoring. He connected with CRU, and jumped in head first. By the first summer after his freshman year in college, Dustin was heavily involved in CRU on several campuses with local universities. He was hard-charging for Christ when, in the winter of 2010, Dustin hit a wall in his faith. He was burned out. He fell back into sin and depression.

“It got to the point that one morning, after a real rough night, I just woke up and thought I had crossed the line, thinking God was done with me,” he admitted. “I prayed, ‘God, even if you don’t want me to be your child, I’m still going to serve you.’”

After praying, one of his mentors called soon after to pray for Dustin, and affirmed, “God’s not going to give up on you. He loves you.” Immediately after, a friend who hadn’t reached out in several months called with the same message.

God has not given up on you. “[Then] it started snowing, and the verse from Isaiah 1:18 hit me: ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.’ God was going out of His way to tell me He was not done with me.”

He joined a local church after that day, and while finishing up his studies at UB, Dustin transitioned from the local church, where he participated in an internship program and got his first taste of preaching, to become deeply involved in a Baltimore City church plant. He was involved in all aspects, and soon realized this was his calling.

He wanted to be a pastor.

He also wanted a wife, and began to pray for her. God began to place on his heart the idea of marrying a “young, Godly single mom.” He met her not long after on a mission trip to Seattle in April 2011.

and married in March 2012. Dustin, having now developed a taste for the occasional craft beer, graduated from UB two months later. Within a year, while he worked for a community center, God opened an opportunity for Dustin and his family to become part of a church plant in Baltimore. Dustin dove in and joined what became known as Jesus Our Redeemer Church, when their church plant merged with an older church as an intentional revitalization effort.

“We felt convicted that we were building a new young church on the back of a dying church. What would be a better picture of the Gospel than seeing this church being restored?” he explained.

By 2015, Dustin, Mandy and their three daughters moved again. This time God called them to Easton, where Dustin found a teaching job after the funds for his position with Jesus Our Redeemer ran out.

“I met [Bay Area Easton Campus Pastor] Craig when we moved in. He actually helped us move in,” Dustin said.

Midway through his second year of teaching, he realized he wanted to be back in ministry, so he reached out to Craig. Through The Descendants Project, Bay Area Easton was looking to add a student ministry director, and they hired Dustin in June 2017. As with previous church plant positions, Dustin dove in. He currently directs the Student Ministry and Easton’s Missional Communities. He’s engaged in discipling and pastoral work, and once in awhile steps up to teach on Sunday mornings.

“My favorite part of discipling is meeting up with these kids and sharing a coffee or lunch and talking about Jesus,” Dustin shared of his role.

Today, Dustin enjoys spending time with the students, as well as getting to know folks over a meal. He remains hopeful that God will call him to plant a church in the coming years, but for now is content and focused on what God has called him to do in Easton, mindful of one of his favorite quotes by Daniel Grothe: “Pastoral ministry is slow work. Pastoral work is work that takes a lifetime. Stay in one place for as long as the Lord will let you, pour your life into the people in front of you, and watch the Kingdom come.”

The two were engaged six weeks later, OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 11

GROWING IN OUR GENEROSITY B Y G R E G S T. C Y R

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n area of great struggle for many is that of personal finances.

Too many live from paycheck to paycheck and in the bondage of unnecessary debt.

Far too often, we do not experience God’s supernatural provision and blessing because we take matters into our own hands to get what we want.

Every married couple knows that one of the most common struggles is over money. And all of us have experienced the powerful side effects of anxiety and insecurity over unwise financial decisions.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way! God has a better plan.

As followers of Jesus, we believe that stewardship is part of discipleship. If we want God’s blessing in our life, then we have to surrender our resources to Him and follow His plan.

Your church leadership has been studying the Scriptures to distill the Bible’s teaching on faithful stewardship to a couple of simple principles that everyone can remember. As you read below about faithful stewardship, we want you to know that ultimately we don’t want something from you.

We want something for you! We want you to become a growing, maturing disciple of Jesus experiencing all that He has for you.

We believe that there are the two profound and foundational truths of faithful stewardship. I hope you will let

these simple principles transform the way you manage your finances:

God owns it. I steward it.

The Bible is very clear that God is the owner of everything we possess.

“For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.” Psalm 50:10-11 He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

Or as Psalm 24:1 puts it: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”

Until we get to the point of surrendering our finances to our rightful Owner, we will not only remain possessive of “our” stuff, but also leave God out of our finances. The result of that is always disastrous.

Most of us would agree that it is difficult to be generous with “our” money. Yet, it is relatively easy to be generous with someone else’s money. For example, how hard is it to be generous when you take clients out for dinner on the company card? The point is that we will never get to the place of faithful stewardship, much less generosity, as long as we view ourselves as the owner of our money. Step one is to surrender all of our possessions to the true Owner,

knowing that He is a good God who can be trusted.

God owns it, but He has given us a responsibility. We are to steward what He gives. A steward is a person who manages that which belongs to someone else. The key characteristic of a steward is summed up in one word: faithful.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 Stewardship is never a matter of how much we have. God might entrust us with much or little.

The issue always involves what we do with what we have; in other words, are we faithful?

Now the question that you are probably asking is, “How? How am I to steward God’s money?” Here is the second profound and foundational truth of faithful stewardship. In its simplest form, we can summarize the biblical plan for how to use God’s money as follows:

Give – Save – Live It’s really that simple. Give first, save second, and live contently on the rest.

According to Colossians 1:18, Jesus is to have supremacy over all things. If you agree with that, then it follows that He is OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 13

“God is to have priority, and that priority is reflected by giving to Him first.” to have preeminence over our finances.

This is why the Bible teaches us to give to God first.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.

Proverbs 3:9 God’s plan for using money involves the principle of “firstfruits.” Firstfruits giving understands the priority of honoring God with the first of what He has provided. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates this principle.

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. Genesis 4:3-5

We are not responsible to meet our needs. God takes full responsibility to meet our financial needs when we honor Him by making Him preeminent over our finances and giving to Him first.

Are you willing to take the faith step to begin giving God the firstfruits of what He provides?

If so, that raises another question: “How much am I to give?”

That is an impossible question for anyone to answer for you. Some would advocate the “tithe.” Tithe literally

When we come to the New Testament, we see Paul teaching what has come to be known as “grace giving.” Grace giving embraces the reality that we are now living in the age of grace and our giving is not connected to the sacrificial system. At Bay Area, we embrace grace giving. However, as objects of grace, we are motivated to respond in ways that go beyond the Old Testament law. Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: “…whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not

Abel brought the first and best of his flock, while Cain brought an offering after the harvest. The point is that when it comes to our finances, God is to have priority, and that priority is reflected by giving to Him first.

The truth is that when it comes to giving, most people fall into one of two categories: those who give first and live on the rest, or those who live on what they make and give from what is left over.

Which kind of giver are you?

I have found that the reason most people give God what is left over is because they… · do not see God as the owner · see themselves, rather than God, as responsible to meet their needs.

means “a tenth part.” The Jews were commanded to give the first 10 percent of all their earnings to the Lord. Actually, there were three tithes that the Jews were required to participate in. The Levite tithe was a yearly tithe to support the priests, Levites and the temple. The second was the annual festival tithe, which provided for the sacred feasts and celebrations in Jerusalem. The third tithe was taken every three years for the support of the poor, orphans and widows. Combined, these three tithes amounted to 23 percent yearly.

reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The starting place is to surrender our possessions to our rightful Owner, asking Him to help us take the next faith step toward becoming a faithful and generous steward.

But Greg, “How much should I give?”

Okay… if you insist, I’ll offer a word of pastoral counsel. It is my opinion that most Christ-followers are not giving

“ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 14 GO&MAKE O C TO B ER

financially at the level the Lord would want. If you fall into that category, you are probably giving below the historic Christian benchmark of 10 percent. My pastoral counsel would be to start there.

I would encourage you to set your initial goal as 10 percent and give of your firstfruits to the Lord. Undoubtedly, this will require a lifestyle adjustment, saying “no” to many desires, and working hard to pay off debt.

If 10 percent seems overwhelming because of current debt or overextended financial obligations, then seek the Lord about what percentage of your income He would have you start giving now. God wants you to move beyond an occasional leftover giver to an intentional percentage giver of your firstfruits.

Give – Save – Live. So let’s talk about savings: “How much should I save?”

What we tend to want are clear-cut commandments such as, “Thus saith the Lord, ‘Thou shalt save xx percent.’”

Sorry, it’s not in the Bible. Here is the way to think about it. God wants us to honor Him in our giving, our saving and in our lifestyle. What does it look like for you to honor God in your saving? No one can answer that for someone else. So, ask yourself, “Does my level of savings honor God? Does it reflect trust in Him and faithful stewardship?” One thing I know is that each of us has a tendency to place our security in building “bigger barns.” To the greed-motivated man in Luke 12, Jesus compared him to a wealthy man who reasoned: “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” Luke 12:18 For some, savings is an idol, an indicator of significance, security and unwillingness to trust God for the future. Others are the opposite, living irresponsibly and presuming on the future. We should take prayerful, intentional steps to be wisely prepared for the future while at the same time avoiding a mindset of hoarding. Our heavenly Provider knows what we need and wants us to trust Him with our future. Thus, we hold the faith of Matthew 6:31-34 in tension with the diligence and prudence of Proverbs 6:6-11.

Here is the bottom line: We should each seek the mind of God to set His financial goals for our lives; things such

as paying for a car, saving for a house down payment, preparing for college tuition, family vacations, retirement, unexpected circumstances of life. Again, the starting point is to acknowledge God as the owner and ourselves as faithful stewards. He has supremacy over our finances so we give to Him first. Then, having His mind about His God-given financial goals, we implement His savings plan.

“ God wants you to move beyond an occasional leftover giver to an intentional percentage giver of your firstfruits.”

Give – Save – and Live By “live,” we mean “live on the rest,” i.e. living within our means, being content with what we have, and waiting on the Lord’s provision. Specifically, living on the rest involves: ·P roviding for our family needs (1 Timothy 5:8) · Paying off debts The Bible discourages and cautions against debt, but falls short of prohibiting it. Yet the sad reality is that far too many believers, through mismanagement of God’s money, find themselves in the bondage of debt (Proverbs 22:7).

We encourage you to fully surrender your finances to God, avoid credit card debt, live on an affordable mortgage,

and commit to paying off personal debt as quickly as possible. · M eeting some of my wants and desires (1 Timothy 6:17) God gives us all things to enjoy. It is a good thing when God provides us with new furniture, a reliable car, a nice family vacation, or new clothes. God wants us to enjoy the things He provides.

But satisfying these wants and desires is last on the list. They come after giving our firstfruits to Him, saving for His financial goals, meeting our basic family needs, and paying off indebtedness.

Wants and desires come last. If we take that which is to be last and fix our hope on it, the consequences are devastating.

When we practice Give – Save – Live, we experience God’s supernatural grace and provision. We learn contentment and patience in waiting on His timing.

Let me suggest a simple way you can apply faithful stewardship to the Give – Save – Live principle. This formula is not something the Bible specifically prescribes. I offer it as suggestive guidance. It’s the 10-10-80 rule. Simply stated, it goes like this. Every time you get paid, · take the first 10 percent and devote it to the church and God’s work around the world, · put 10 percent into your savings, · and discipline yourself to live on the remaining 80 percent.

The percentages may vary based on your needs and God’s leading, but I have found this as an excellent place to start for those who are beginning their journey of faithful stewardship.

So here are the simple, foundational principles of financial stewardship at Bay Area that we believe bring honor to God and transform our lives:

God owns it. I steward it.

Give – Save – Live Every follower of Jesus that I have known who has applied these principles can testify to the blessing, provision and freedom they experience in their finances.

So, what’s the next step the Owner is asking you to take as a faithful steward?

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Friday, October 27 6:30-8:30 p.m.

THE night wheN BAY AREA COMMUNITY CHURCH BECOMES

BAY AREA National Park

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR ALEX WILLIAMS AND PASTORAL RESIDENT TREVIN HOEKZEMA PICTURED WITH A SNAKE AND ALLIGATOR COURTESY OF ECO ADVENTURES

16 GO&MAKE O C TO B E R

By Michele Rollins aybe you’ve heard the sayings (often written in In addition to the creative trunks stocked with candy and hashtag form) #optoutside, #adventureisoutthere friendly faces, Trunk or Treat has so much more to offer. Join or #exploremore. If you’ve been tracking with Bay family and friends on a guided trail adventure deep into the Area this summer, you’ve seen this one a time or forests of Bay Area National Park – you never know what two: #gracebomb. I’ve got two more for you to add to your natural wonders you might encounter! After an epic adventure repertoire this fall: #trunkortreat and #bayareanationalpark. on the trail, you might stop by the live animal exhibit to meet That’s right – Bay Area’s annual Trunk or Treat event will be some new friends. Be sure to pick up a park map from the guest a little more rustic this year, with just services park rangers to make sure you as much fun, candy and opportunities don’t miss any of the attractions! We’ll to invite your friends and neighbors have plenty of parking (with a shuttle Join family and to a free, family-friendly event at Bay running all evening) and lots of laughs. friends on a Area on Friday, October 27, from 6:30guided trail 8:30 p.m.

Registration to host a trunk is $10 per vehicle, and business trunks are also adventure deep Trunk or Treat is an evening event welcome for $100 each. Funds will go into the forests designed to make it easy to build toward prize money for the top three of Bay Area community and to invite your friends most creative trunks. Once you’re National Park – and neighbors to Bay Area. During registered, your team provides the trunk, last year’s Trunk or Treat event, we decorations and costumes; Bay Area will you never know welcomed roughly 5,000 adults and provide the candy! I hope you’ll invite what natural children who enjoyed visiting the 49 your friends to join the adventure for wonders you might trunks hosted by families and Missional a fun night of laughter, music and encounter!

Communities and casting a vote for adventure at Bay Area National Park. the most creative trunk. As this event continues to grow, there are more If you can’t host a trunk this year, we opportunities than ever to host a trunk, stretch your creative still need your help: there are opportunities for serving on muscles, and make this event amazing! Creativity is something our setup, cleanup or parking teams. These teams ensure a we value highly at Bay Area – past trunks have included clean, fun, safe event and make sure the parking lot is ready Noah’s Ark, a gorilla enclosure, a pirate ship and Magnolia for Sunday morning. You can also contribute to one of the most Market, where guests received their very own shiplap. What crucial ingredients: candy! Barrels will be available all month will you come up with this year? in the Bay Area lobby for candy donations.

M

To volunteer, register your trunk, or check out our business guidelines, go to bayareacc.org/trunkortreat. see you at the Park on October 27 !

OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 17

NEED SOME TRUNK INSPIRATION? CHECK OUT THESE TRUNKS FROM LAST YEAR!

register your trunk at bayareacc.org/trunkortreat

6 GO&MAKE JUN E

CONNECT WITH US.

@bayareacc

EARLY BIRD SAVINGS AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME Register Online using tour code: Kelley18 RegisterNow.ittworld.com For further information: ed.kelley@bayareacc.org • 443.837.3708 OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 19

FROM EASTON TO EL SALVADOR BAY AREA EASTON SENDS OUT ITS FIRST SHORT TERM MISSIONS TEAM

In late July, Easton campus Ministry Partners Ty and Jenna Grossman led a team of 16 short term missionaries to El Salvador. This half-Annapolis, half-Easton team marked a significant moment in the history of Bay Area Easton – their first team sent around the globe to share the love of Jesus.

Bay Area’s short-term missions coordinator sat down to ask Ty and Jenna a few questions about their team, their trip and what God is doing among the nations through our campus on the Eastern Shore.

Tell us a little about your background and what led you to leading this trip.

TY: My parents were missionaries in the Philippines; I grew up in the Philippines until I was 18, so I’ve always had that in my heart as something that I wanted to be a part of. I moved to Annapolis in 2003 after high school and have been a part of Bay Area ever since. I’ve been on mission trips to the Philippines and to Indonesia, but this is the first time I got to go with Bay Area. It was just kind of God’s timing, using us moving to Easton.

I jumped in with the youth ministry, to get that started, and that was a huge stepping stone for leadership and learning; I feel like that enabled me to be ready to lead this trip.

JENNA: I grew up as a missionary kid in Indonesia and chose to go to boarding school in the Philippines, which is where I met Ty. I went to New York for college, and always felt like life was a ministry, just having grown up overseas. When this trip came up, Ty said we should 20 GO&MAKE O C TO B E R

pray about doing this together. I made a lot of excuses in my head initially, but felt that the Lord was pricking my heart to move forward. We both have some leadership qualities but this was the first time we led together as a married couple. We had a blast!

What’s the significance in your eyes of sending out Easton’s first short term missions team? How did the church respond?

TY: With the Easton campus, we have a smaller body than Annapolis so everyone knew about it; Craig, a handful of times, would talk about it and say, “if you’re not going, you’re sending.” It was a whole-church effort.

Only a handful of people were a part of the Annapolis campus before so it was neat to see people jump onboard and see what God is doing – one and a half years into Easton’s existence, to send out a team. Some people have never been on a missions trip or shared their

testimony. It’s a new thought for some – it opened a lot of people’s eyes to a new worldview. One 16-year-old girl on our team, Caroline, said, “I’ve been praying for a couple years for an opportunity like this.” Her family really only went to El Salvador because she took the plunge to go. So, even before Easton existed as a campus, the Spirit was working on people’s hearts in different ways. So many people were praying for us and the team. God is on the move. We’re going to look back, as a church, and remember this first team and trip.

Do you have a favorite story from the trip? How did you see God work?

TY: So many. Most of my highlights are within the team. Just being a small part of all the people that have poured into our team. Luke, who accepted Christ and ultimately got baptized while we were down there, people have been guiding him, encouraging him, even as a 10-year-old. To come to that point on that trip and be obedient to get baptized right away was humbling, super exciting and thrilling to be a part of it, but I know so many people have poured into him before that. Kara and Hannah both got baptized; their families and people in Annapolis had been pouring into their lives over their 16 years, and to be a part of them saying, “I want to draw a line in a sand” and live for Jesus – I was just humbled to be a part of that moment for them.

Or seeing the Spirit move in someone like Lilly – through the week everyone shared their testimony during our debrief time after dinner, and she didn’t want to because she was shy. Finally Wednesday night, she shared her story.

She’s 15, and the courage to share about herself and what she’s gone through was super cool. It was really freeing for her, and then it snowballed to Greg the next night, who had a similar story – Lilly’s courage freed him up to share and snowballed to encourage him, and in turn, that encouraged Daniel to share.

JENNA: I would say a highlight for me was a house visit we went on, and Milton was with us. He grew up part of his life in El Salvador, and as soon as we got there, I felt like Milton was supposed to share his story. I had no idea why, but he shared his story and we’re asking the woman about her life. She says, “It’s crazy, but it’s exactly like his.” The Holy Spirit was just on the move; it was crazy,

constant pricking of our hearts to move forward with a certain decision. It was really cool to see how God was there every step of the way, ahead of us.

What did God teach you through this experience?

JENNA: It was really easy to make excuses for why I didn’t want to go, so to stop making excuses. But also, humility, watching these kids and people on our team be so willing to be vulnerable to share things, even out of their comfort zone. And the importance of the body; it was so neat to see everyone working together. I feel like God grace-bombed us with our team; everyone was working together, helping each other out. This is how the body of Christ is supposed to operate, whether you’re on the mission field or not – caring for each other, praying for each other, encouraging each other.

“ This is how the body of Christ is supposed to operate, whether you’re on the mission field or not – caring for each other, praying for each other, encouraging each other.”

TY: I feel empowered. I learned a lot but I was also edified a lot by different people, a lot of encouraging words. I just learned so much and felt empowered to be able to do something like that again or with a team in some capacity. The power of being in prayer was super important; God’s Spirit will move in people’s hearts to make things happen, so it’s encouraging to be a part of it. To keep that in mind – you can talk someone blue in the face about the good news but only the Father draws people’s hearts.

At Bay Area we talk about “Every One A Missionary,” this idea that you’re no more a missionary in El Salvador than you are in Easton. How have you seen that play out in your team or personally?

TY: It’s definitely started a conversation.

During the week we got back, Jody wrote that idea in a text to our team: the excitement to do what we did, the fire we have, let’s channel that and do it with our neighbors. We’re not just putting that in a box and it’s gone now; this is something we did but let’s do it right where we are. It’s always a reminder and encouragement – let’s keep it spaghetti: let’s keep it all intertwined.

We’re on mission all the time, abiding in the Father. It’s sweet to jump right into the Grace Bomb series – it’s helped us keep our minds there. It’s simple to love people and serve people.

If there was one thing you could tell the Bay Area family, what would it be?

JENNA: If there’s even an inkling of a desire or a thought that you should go – just do it. Step out and do it, because it will be life-changing. It was so cool to be able to watch other people experiencing that for the first time. Watching everyone grow individually in their relationship with Christ in tangible ways was a highlight for me.

TY: Go on a trip – it will next-level your relationship with God because it’s kind of intense; you’re out of your comfort zone, so if you have a relationship with Jesus you’re going to be relying on Him more. You’re breaking bread with your team and living in community.

It’s a short burst of living, then let God integrate it into your life. God will work on your heart; He’ll work on the fear if you’re afraid to go; He’ll work out the finances. One of the families on our team, the Rosers, said this was so much better than a vacation. There’s so much benefit for everyone; we felt like the Salvadorans blessed us more than we blessed them. Why not go serve somewhere? God will bless your obedience.

O C TO B E R GO&MAKE 21

YEAR ONE GOAL $3,500,000

$1,790,563 AMOUNT TO GO $1,709,437 THEDESCENDANTSPROJECT.ORG

COUNT THEM. SO SHALL YOUR

DESCENDANTS BE.”

AMOUNT RAISED

22 GO&MAKE O C TO B E R

AND COUNT THE STARS, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO

GENESIS 15:5

“NOW LOOK TOWARD THE HEAVENS,

BOMB DROPPED

J

uly through September, we were in a seven-week series called “Grace Bomb” that illustrated the many ways God has graced us with unmerited favor, culminating in the greatest Grace Bomb of all: Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we follow His lead in loving and serving others. Over 10,000 Grace Bombs have gone home in the pockets of our church family to be passed along to others in our community paired with a random act of generosity, kindness or service. Both Grace Bombers and Bombees have been sharing their stories at gracebomb.org. We hope these stories are an encouragement and inspiration for how you can keep the movement going.

My wife Leslie has a girlfriend at work with whom she has been sharing the love of Jesus for a long time.

Unfortunately, this friend’s story of trials and troubles is long and comes with serious consequential damages to her body, specifically her teeth, from years of drug abuse and neglect. Three years ago, this friend made successful steps into sobriety and continues to work very hard, raising a young child on her own and staying sober. Leslie shared with me how impressed she is with her progress and her longing to have her beautiful smile back to go along with the reflection of her heart. Her teeth were so badly damaged from the drug abuse that she was just not able to smile; this broke my wife’s heart. The recent series on Grace Bombing moved my wife so much. Our hearts were so moved that we tag-teamed arrangements through a dentist friend of ours, and after a free consultation and cooperative efforts with the dental practice, we are getting this sweet young lady some NEW teeth so she can smile again. Leslie’s friend cried such tears of joy after her consultation with the dentist. She reported back to Leslie all that was going to be done for her, and she was so thankful. Praises to the King of Grace Bombs and thanks for the inspiration in your weekly sermons at Bay Area.

BOMB RECEIVED I couldn’t believe people were so nice. I was traveling by myself with my daughter. I had so much to carry; luckily the baby slept through the trip. I was grace bombed by a couple who helped carry our luggage to the parking lot and made sure I got to my car safely. I was so grateful, though I didn’t know how to appreciate them any more. But I’m glad they were there – thank you guys so much! I promise to do the same.

GRACEBOMB.ORG GRACEBOMB.ORG GRACEBOMB.ORG GRACEBOMB.ORG GRACEBOMB OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 23

BAYAREACC.ORG/MISSIONALCOMMUNITIES

24 GO&MAKE JUN E 24 GO&MAKE O C TO B ER

AGAINST ALL ODDS

By Lydia MacBride

oday, it is against all odds that a student comes to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our students do not have an easy road ahead of them. From dealing with broken family dynamics, to navigating the negative effects of social media, to decoding the twisted version of truth this world throws at them, this life is messy for today’s generation. But against all odds, Jesus breaks in.

I had coffee with a student the other day. Against all odds, this girl beams with a joy that could only be from God working in her heart. She had accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior a couple of years ago on a student retreat. I had asked her how her time with God had been lately. She excitedly exclaimed, “Really good!” She explained she had been reading her Bible daily and had finished a book about Jesus that her community group leader had given her. She read the book with her younger sister and had encouraged her sister to ask questions, just as we had encouraged her to ask questions, she said.

This summer we challenged our students to ask questions about life, God, relationships and the world around them. The response we received was beyond what we imagined. The questions proved just how, against all odds, in this very messy and confusing world that they are growing up in, our students are seeking truth. Our hope is that the conversations that were sparked from these questions directed our students down a Holy Spirit-led path of discovery.

It’s because of conversations such as these that I follow the call I believe God has placed on my life to work with students. It’s the change in students’ lives that we are seeing today that emphasizes why The Descendants Project is important to the mission of our church.

Bay Area Student Ministry’s heart is for our students to grasp the Gospel in a real, life-altering and tangible way. It is not good enough for our students to know about Jesus; we want them to actively pursue Jesus as followers. I feel we are successful as a student ministry when we see our students not just reading God’s Word, but wrestling with it, applying it and seeing it as a necessary life source.

As a church, we are on mission as disciple makers.

Our community group leaders are disciple makers.

Our students are disciple makers. God is blessing our student ministry with growth, not just numerically, but spiritually in the lives of our students. We’re grateful that The Descendants Project will provide the resources and means to stretch and expand our ministry in a God-sized way.

To learn more about Bay Area’s faith-stretching vision to disciple more children and students, go to www. thedescendantsproject.org.

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CARE NETWORK

HAPPENINGS

Sometimes life hands us struggles: loss of a loved one, serious illness, parenting difficulties, divorce, addiction and other challenges. These difficult circumstances can cause us to isolate, 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.

We want to walk with you through this season of life. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Jesus-centered ministry for those seeking assistance. 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. Info: 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 dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshiping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits or hangups keep you isolated. Join us on Monday nights from 7-9 p.m. for community, worship and teaching. Want to learn more? Join us at our CR Taster on the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. for dinner, conversation and a chance to experience what it’s all about.

KidCare is available. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org DIVORCECARE SUPPORT GROUP Have you experienced the support of others through a DivorceCare Group or another format while going through divorce? We are looking for women and men who feel a calling to be part of this new ministry opportunity at Bay Area. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org

CONNECT WITH BAY AREA If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a black shirt in the lobby after each Sunday gathering or visit us online at bayareacc.org/new.

26 GO&MAKE O C TO B ER

TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR PREMARITAL COUPLES Occasionally, couples who are living together enter our Premarital Ministry. We believe strongly that the best way to honor God before marriage is to remain pure and live separately. We’re looking for folks who have temporary space in their homes that could be used in order to fulfill this desire.

Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP When experiencing the loss of a loved one there is a deep, prolonged impact caused by the death of a spouse, child, family member or close friend. The griever often needs ongoing

support and encouragement. This Christ-centered support group meets weekly to help those grieving by providing a safe place to walk through this time with the support of others.

Join us on Thursdays now through December 14 from 6:45-9 p.m. in the Kelp Forest Room in the Children’s Ministry wing.

For info or registration, email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org.

PREMARITAL MENTORING Are you newly engaged? We want to partner with you as you establish a strong, Jesus-centered life with your future spouse.

Through premarital mentoring you’ll be paired with trained marriage mentors who will equip you with the tools and resources you’ll need to succeed in marriage. Info: premarital. ministry@bayareacc.org MARRIAGE MINISTRY UPDATE Through our partnership with marriedpeople.org we help couples grow closer to Jesus and to each other in their marriages. We host large-group events, like the Great Date Night; small-group events such as marriage-focused Learning Communities; and events for individual couples, like date nights out that include KidCare. Sign up for Bay Area’s weekly email update at bayareacc.org to receive a link to the MarriedPeople Monthly Ezine.

MARRIAGE MINISTRY TEAM - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Our marriage ministry team seeks to encourage and equip couples to start and stay strong in their marriages. If you have a passion to help strengthen marriages and have been married for 10 or more years, come be a part of this ministry. Learn more at bayareacc.org/marriageministry. Info: leanne.lane@ bayareacc.org

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERS Our KidCare team has a need for individuals who have a heart for kids. We provide KidCare for all ministries and various events year-round. Want to join our team of paid workers?

Visit the Children’s Welcome counter on Sundays or email our KidCare Coordinator Dax at dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org

FIRST STEP FIRST STEP New to Bay Area or want to get involved? Join us at First Step, a fun, one-hour gathering where you’ll learn about who we are, what we believe, and how you can get plugged into community and serving at Bay Area! Coffee, snacks and KidCare are provided. Take your first step at Bay Area by signing up today at bayareacc.org/firststep to attend one of the gatherings: Sunday, October 1 at 7:50 a.m., Sunday, October 1 at 9:20 a.m., or Tuesday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in the Bay Café classroom. The next First Step opportunity is January 2018.

Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org

MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES We are all about community. Being connected with others helps us grow in our love for God, for each other, and for our neighbor. You can find out more about Missional Communities at bayareacc.org/missionalcommunities. If you are new or simply looking to get plugged in, there are two ways to get connected into a Missional Community: OCTOBER Join us for First Step on Sunday, October 1, or Tuesday, October 3. First Step is an opportunity to learn about who Bay Area is, what we believe, and how you can get plugged into community and serving. To find out more visit bayareacc.org/firststep.

NOVEMBER Join us for our Missional Community Taster on Sunday, November 12 from 12:45-2 p.m. in The Bay Cafe. The MC Taster is a lunch and info session dedicated to sharing more about our philosophy about community. It’s a great chance to get a “taste” of what community is like. KidCare is available pending registration. RSVP online at bayareacc.org/mctaster.

GLOBAL MISSIONS

SEND: Interested in sending others through prayer or giving?

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT Give to a short term missionary or team at bayareacc.org/stmgive.

We are currently seeking a part-time preschool assistant for For prayer information email michele.rollins@bayareacc.org.

Children’s Ministry at Bay Area. This person works closely with the Preschool Coordinator by assisting with all Sunday morning gatherings and other weekday responsibilities.

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP These include volunteer recruitment and management, communicating with parents, and prepping curriculum. MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDY Ideal candidates will be detail-oriented, and possess strong Tuesdays from 6-7:30 a.m. in room 236 at Bay Area. Info: Jim at interpersonal skills and a positive, can-do attitude. Info: gail. jlradcliffe@hotmail.com wiles@bayareacc.org MEN’S EVENING BIBLE STUDY Sundays from 6-8 p.m. in room 235 at Bay Area. This study is ISRAEL TRIP 2018 geared toward helping men draw closer to Jesus while discussing and discovering God’s answers for the challenges men face at INFORMATIONAL MEETING home, work and in society. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org Sunday, November 5 from 11:20 A.M. to 12:20 P.M. in Dock A. Considering going on the October 2018 trip to Israel MEN’S BREAKFAST but have some questions? Here’s your opportunity to Join us for The Line: God ‘N Grits, a men’s monthly ask questions, review the 10-day itinerary in detail, and breakfast on Saturday, October 15, from 8-9:30 a.m. in the talk to Pastor Ed Kelley about the experience of visiting the Auditorium. The Line is an opportunity for men of Bay Holy Land for this Biblical tour. The trip is October 15-24, Area to gather around good food and conversation, and 2018, and costs $3,892. Register at registernow.ittworld.com maybe walk out with more than just a full stomach and a with tour code: Kelley18. $90 discount expires Nov. 15. few laughs. Register today at bayareacc.org/mensbreakfast.

Info: ed.kelley@bayareacc.org.

Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 27

WOMEN'S MINISTRY THE WELL At Bay Area, we invite women to join us on a spiritual journey in community with others. We call it The Well. Like the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus meets us where we are and invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. Check out our upcoming fall Bible studies and events for The Well below. For more info or to register visit bayareacc.org/women/spiritualgrowth.

ALL THINGS NEW: A STUDY OF 2 CORINTHIANS Wednesdays, September 6 - December 13 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

The same timeless message that encouraged the believers then will encourage you in your daily life today. Cost is $15.

WEDNESDAY MORNING KIDCARE KidCare is available for ages birth - preschoolers for Wednesday morning Well participants with advance r e g i s t ra t i o n . C o s t $ 6 0 / 1 c h i l d , $ 8 0 / 2 + c h i l d r e n .

Info: dax.clinkscale@bayareacc.org I PETER: A LIVING HOPE IN CHRIST Tuesdays, September 12 - November 28 from 7-9 p.m.

Look beyond your present circumstances to our future inheritance described in a video study by Jen Wilkin. Learn about your true identity in Christ, and our need for humility and submission to Christ and one another. Cost is $15.

Info: cmbernie@thekraftfam.com

Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas August 25, 2018.

Learn more at bayareacc.org/womensevents.

Info: Lynn Riley lriley1137@comcast.net LIFE CRAFT EVENTS CLEAN EATING & SIMPLE HOSPITALITY Friday, October 20 6:30-8:30 p.m. Learn about Clean Eating & Simple Hospitality at this workshop. We’ll have food to try, ideas to implement, and you’ll leave feeling motivated to put these good practices in action. Cost is $10. Register at bayareacc.org/womensevents.

QUILTS FOR KIDS Join us October 21 from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. as we make quilts for kids in shelters and hospitals using donated fabrics. Meet in Dock B at Bay Area. Come and learn to sew a new pattern.

Kits will be available. Please bring your sewing machine, sewing supplies and your lunch. If you would like a quilt kit, want to donate a quilt, or have questions, contact Janet at annapolisQFK@quiltsforkids.org WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+) We meet to encourage each other in our walk with Christ and leaving a lasting legacy for others. Join us on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 10:30 a.m. On October 9 we will reflect on “Habitual Tenderness” and distribute shoeboxes for the Operation Christmas Child outreach.

Aftewards we will have a potluck lunch. On October 23, Marilyn Anderes will talk about “Living a Legacy.”

Info: Cedulie Sanchez at luisandcedulie@gmail.com

SEAMLESS: UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE AS ONE COMPLETE STORY Tuesdays, September 19 - November 28 from 7-9 p.m.

Do you need a better understanding of the overall thread that connects the people, places and promises of the Bible?

From Genesis to Revelation we will see how the whole Bible has one seamless story. Join us for a video study by Angie Smith. (Beginners welcome but all invited). Cost $15.

Info: janet.graves@bayareacc.org

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

THINK PINK FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK- SAT., OCTOBER 28 This is a free event to benefit Pinked Perspective, a nonprofit that sends care packages to women facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Meet at at 9 a.m. at the Severna Park Community Center Holy Grounds. Women’s Ministry will collect items to donate like button-down pajamas, Jesus Calling devotionals, pink socks, pink gift bags, bars of Dial soap and more. You can drop off your items at the church office. Visit pinkedperspective. com/events for more information.

GRACE BOMB: KEEP THE MOVEMENT GOING A Grace Bomb is a surprising gift meant to make someone’s day better. We hope everyone at Bay Area will be a part of this movement to bless Annapolis and Easton! Pick up more Grace Bomb cards at any connect kiosk on a Sunday morning or download your own at gracebomb.org.

CURTIS BAY EVENT VOLUNTEERS Join us on Sunday, December 10, in serving as we partner with Drink at the Well, a local nonprofit organization, to prepare a Christmas Outreach lunch for the women at Curtis Bay. We can use your time and talents to help organize the event, provide and serve food, and set up and clean up.

Info: janet.graves@bayareacc.org ON THE GO EVENTS OCTOBER 21. WOMEN’S FALL FOLIAGE HIKE Join experienced hiker Jess Covello. Bring water and your lunch, which we’ll eat on the trail. Register at bayareacc.org/ womensevents. Info: jessc200303@yahoo.com

TRUNK OR TREAT Join us Friday, October 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for a night your whole family can enjoy. This event is free and open to the community - so invite your friends and neighbors. Festivities this year will include a trunk decorating contest, a guided trail walk, hayrides, cotton candy and more! Registration is $10 if you would like to host a trunk. To register your trunk or for more info on volunteer opportunities visit bayareacc.org/trunkortreat.

PRAYER MINISTRY

Jesus lived a life of unceasing prayer that connected Him to the Father. We too long to be devoted to prayer. Our Prayer Ministry is comprised of individuals dedicated to gathering in prayer for all aspects of Bay Area life: our gatherings, communities, pastors, missions and so much more. Individuals are also available to AUGUST 25, 2018 WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP CRUISE pray with you on Sunday mornings after each gathering (front Join other Bay Area women for a five-night women’s and right of the Chapel stage). For more information visit us fellowship cruise from Baltimore to Bermuda on Royal online at bayareacc.org/prayer. Info: pat.linnell@bayareacc.org 28 GO&MAKE O C TO B ER

LEARNING COMMUNITIES Learning Communities are intended to strengthen your Biblical knowledge, character and/or ministry skills. They are also an opportunity to get to know others at Bay Area in an environment of learning. Sign up at bayareacc.org/learningcommunities.

PRIMAL - MEN’S BIBLE STUDY Sept. 17 - Nov. 5 @ 9:20 a.m. in DOCK A (left side) In “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity,” author Mark Batterson challenges and encourages us to rediscover Christianity in its simplest, most radical form. Join us for this six-week men’s study as we discuss ways to live out our faith and impact the world through a sanctified imagination, renewed mind, and reinvigorated soul.

THE LINE - MEN’S BIBLE STUDY Wednesdays, Sept. 13 - Nov. 1 @ 7-9 p.m. in DOCK B (right side) From movies and television to print media and the internet, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images.

It is impossible to avoid such temptations, but thankfully= not impossible to confront them and gain victory over them! Join the men of The Line as we tackle “Every Man’s Battle.”

FREED UP FINANCIAL LIVING Oct. 8 - Nov. 12 @ 9:20 a.m. & 11:20 a.m. in DOCK B (right side) Oct. 11 - Nov. 15 @ 7 p.m. in DOCK A (left side) How do you relate to your money? Does it tend to be your servant or your master? Ultimately, is it really your money at all? Do you seek the peace and freedom that comes from managing your finances according to Biblical principles?

Join us in a six-week class to learn practical tools to help you become a better manager of your personal and family finances in the areas of planning, earning, spending, debt, saving and giving. Info: neal.schaefer@verizon.net

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY BL!TZ CHRISTMAS Save the date for Sunday, December 3, at 4:30 p.m for Bl!tz Christmas at Bay Area Annapolis. This event is for the entire family, and it’s a great opportunity to bring your neighbors and friends. Bl!tz Christmas is a mashup of rockin’ Christmas music, extreme games and crowd participation. Your family will not want to miss this exciting, fast-paced event. Blitz will be a fun Christmas memory, so look for registration to start the beginning of November.

WAVE RIDERS PLAY GROUP Come check out this family play and support group with fun activities, book clubs and socials that offers a space for parents to share parenting knowledge, resources and experiences. Save these dates for our next gatherings: Tuesday October 10 and Monday October 23! Check our Facebook page at facebook.com/waveriderplaygroup or email brittany.dunklin@bayareacc.org for more details.

NURSING MOTHERS Children’s Ministry offers two locations for nursing mothers during Sunday gatherings. If you would like a quiet place to nurse, visit our Tidal Pool area and we will direct you to a room equipped with glider rockers.

If you would like a place to nurse and hear the gathering during the 9:20 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. gatherings only, visit our Children’s Welcome desk and you will be directed to our Children’s Ministry director’s office.

SPRING PARENT DEDICATION Parent Dedication is more than an event, it’s celebrating your decision as parents to raise your child to follow Jesus. To participate, parents are required to attend an orientation. Visit bayareacc.org/parentdedication for more info or to register.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AMBASSADOR TEAM If you have a passion for people and Jesus and have attended Bay Area for at least six months, the ambassador role is for you. Come help newcomers get connected. Info: rachel.perry@bayareacc.org AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM We are looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Info: tres.cozad@bayareacc.org CHAIR MINISTRY Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Info: chairs@ bayareacc.org ESPRESSO BAR TEAM Serve as a barista after one of the gatherings once a month.

Training provided. Info: sherri.raimondo@bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S WELCOME TEAM Welcome and assist new families through the Children’s Ministry experience on Sundays. Info: kristin.collins@ bayareacc.org CHILDREN’S SET DESIGN TEAM Serve on the set design team for our Preschool and Elementary large group spaces. Email brittany.dunklin@ bayareacc.org for preschool and aimee.coyle@bayareacc. org for elementary.

GOLF CART DRIVERS Looking for friendly folks to pick people up in the parking lot before gatherings to ease their walk into the building.

Must be 21 or older and have a clean driving record. Info: gail.wiles@bayareacc.org PARKING MINISTRY Serve by directing traffic and greeting people as they arrive. Info: parking@bayareacc.org PRESCHOOL TEAM Serve the youngest at Bay Area on our Preschool team on Sunday mornings. Info: courtney.gregory@bayareacc.org 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 WOMEN’S MINISTRY Serve on an event planning team or in discipling other women. We would love to get to know you and see how your gifts can be used. Info: janet.graves@bayareacc.org USHER TEAM Serve as an usher during any of our three gatherings in either the Chapel or Auditorium spaces. Info: gail.wiles@ bayareacc.org OC TO B E R GO&MAKE 29

FINANCIALS Annapolis Campus Operating Budget Financial Update As of September 19, 2017 New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2017 ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Fiscal Year Giving Goal

$ 5,185,000

YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal Month To Date Received Month To Date Giving Goal

$ $ $ $ $

EASTON CAMPUS FISCAL YEAR GIVING GOAL $ YTD Received YTD Goal YTD Actual vs. Goal Month To Date Received Month To Date Giving Goal

$ $ $ $ $

238,303 280,830 (42,527) 15.1% Behind 238,303 280,830 187,000 8,932 10,788 (1,856) 17.2% Behind 8,932 10,788

Annapolis Campus Outstanding Building Debt $3,240,656 (as of 8/31/17) For weekly financial updates, go to bayareacc.org/ financials.

Please indicate any designated gifts on the memo line of your check or use the drop-down box online to select your desired giving fund.

STUDENT MINISTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUB678 Club678 is our monthly middle school hangout night during the school year. Our October Club678 will be on Friday, October 6 from 7-9 p.m, and our November Club678 will be on Friday, November 10 from 7-9 p.m. Club678 is a free high-energy evening, full of activities and prizes. Info: tim. agnolutto@bayareacc.org BASM COSTUME PARTY The annual BASM Costume Party will be on Wednesday, October 25 from 6-8:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided and there will be prizes for the best costumes! The event is free and no registration is required. Students are encouraged to invite friends.

Info: tim.agnolutto@bayareacc.org

COLLEGE MINISTRY YOUNG ADULT MISSIONAL COMMUNITY (AGES 18-25) Missional Communities are a great opportunity for people to connect in community where they are loving God, serving others and growing spiritually together. Our Missional Community meets every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. For location information please email bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org .

COLLEGE FALL RETREAT - OCTOBER 6-8 Registration is open online and at the kiosk. Space is limited.

Info: bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org GET CONNECTED For more information on upcoming college ministry events email bryan.mcfarland@bayareacc.org

Note: You will need to donate via check if the fund to which you wish to give is not listed online. All undesignated checks will go toward the general operating fund.

How Can I Participate In The Descendants Project?

Pledge cards are available on Sundays at the 3D model and online at bayareacc.org. For gifts other than cash, contact our finance team at finance@bayareacc.org.

How Can I Continue To Support Bay Area’s Building Funds?

GIVING METHODS eCheck: Go to bayareacc.org/give to give online through your checking account through a one-time or recurring donation on My Bay Area.

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.

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EASTON CAMPUS HAPPENINGS DISCOVER BAY AREA Join us on Sunday, October 8, immediately following the 10 a.m. gathering. If you would like to hear the basics about our church’s mission, key ministries, and get basic questions answered, don’t miss Discover Bay Area. It will last about 25 minutes and no RSVP is required. Kids are welcome to sit in the meeting as well.

We hope to see you there.

MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTER At Bay Area, we have groups that meet in homes throughout the week called Missional Communities.

These are a great way to build relationships and strengthen your faith. If you want to find out what they are and how to be involved in one, come join us for the Missional Community Taster on October 19 at 7 p.m.

Info: dustin.carpenter@bayareacc.org

For more info email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org

When experiencing the loss of a loved one, there is a deep, prolonged impact caused by the death of a spouse, child, family member or close friend. The griever needs ongoing support and encouragement. The GriefShare Support Group meets weekly to help those grieving by providing a safe place to walk through this time with the support of others.

Thursdays through December 14 6:45-9 p.m. at Bay Area Community Church

Freed Up

Financial Living A NEW FALL LEARNING COMMUNITY Oct. 8 – Nov. 12

Sundays at 9:20 a.m. & 11:20 a.m. in Dock B (right side)

Oct. 11 – Nov. 15 Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Dock A (left side)

How do you relate to your money? Does it tend to be your master? Ultimately, is it really your money at all? Do you seek more peace and freedom that come from managing your finances according to Biblical principles?

This fall we will offer a six-week class to provide you with practical tools to help you become a better manager of your personal and family finances in the areas of planning, earning, spending, debt, saving and giving.

bayareacc.org/learningcommunities 32 GO&MAKE O C TO B E R