Nov/December 2006 fellowship!

fellowship!

CBF

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP | WWW.THEFELLOWSHIP.INFO

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

Baptists serve through summer missions

E

very summer, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship partner churches and individuals spend thousands of hours

serving others, seeking to be the presence of Christ in the world.

inside

this issue...

talking about going back next year.”

As planning time approaches for next summer, this issue of fellowship! contains missions opportunities

sonnel and to experience what they do day in and day out.

Volunteers are able to come in for one week or two weeks and get a glimpse of the work the Fellowship is involved in all the time.”

The Fellowship’s volunteer missions office works together with Fellowship partners and coordinates with field personnel to identify volunteer needs. Fellowship staff connect churches and individuals with opportunities that fit volunteers’ schedules and skills.

They provide resources and expertise related to planning mission trips, along with a volunteer training manual and comprehensive information on specific locations.

Information on all the opportunities listed in this issue can be obtained by contacting the volunteer office. f!

SERVE – For information on any of the opportunities listed in this issue, call (800) 782-2451 or e-mail volunteer@thefellowship. info. For additional opportu-

Tiffany Jennings photo

This past summer, some churches traveled overseas — like members of Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta, who built water wells in Sri Lanka. Other churches found missions opportunities in their own state — such as Trinity Baptist Church in Harker Heights, Texas, which sent a team of 11 volunteers to lead youth camps in Lasara, Texas.

“While in Sri Lanka, we experienced the collaborative fruit of CBF partnerships,” said Jake Myers, coordinator for missional community at Wieuca Road. “By finding niches to fill rather than working in competition with other organizations, CBF Global Missions field personnel are able to accomplish far more than would be thought possible otherwise. Our Wieuca team observed first-hand the degree to which the Fellowship’s missional presence in Sri Lanka is being felt.”

Trinity Baptist involved the entire congregation in its trip to Lasara. During vacation bible school, the church collected toiletry items and then donated 150 packets of these items to the community center in Lasara.

“Working in Lasara enabled us to see that there is a different world out there from ours,” said David Morgan, pastor of Trinity Baptist. “We take shampoo and toothpaste for granted, but the people in Lasara were excited to receive those items. We came back excited about being able to help people and already

field personnel, Fellowship for churches, individuals partner organizations or other and students for the summer Fellowship Baptists. months of 2007. Through “Volunteering is one way to the volunteer missions office, be a part of the Fellow“Volunteers are able to the ongoing ship seeks come in for one week work of CBF,” to connect or two weeks and get a said Karen volunteers Gilbert, the with opportuglimpse of the work the nities that Fellowship is involved in Fellowship’s associate allow them to all the time.” coordinator do missions for volunteer and partnership locally and globally. These opmissions. “It’s an opportunity portunities involve working to work alongside field perwith CBF Global Missions

nities, go to www.destination missions.net.

Members of Trinity Baptist Church led camps for children at Iglesia Bautista Adonai in Lasara, Texas.

By Patricia Heys, CBF Communications

General Assembly to celebrate religious freedom

T

HE COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship’s 2007 General Assembly will be held June 28-29 to celebrate religious freedom and Baptist collegiality at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, with auxiliary events June 27 and 30.

Under the theme “Free to Be the Presence of Christ,” the Assembly will focus on “religious freedom, which is what makes it possible for us to live out our calling as the presence of Christ,” said Jim Somerville, chairman of the Assembly’s planning

• Page 2 — Smiths work in

South Africa

committee.

The Assembly will celebrate Baptist commonality through

a Friday night joint worship service with American Baptist Churches USA, which will be meeting at the Convention Center for their biennial.

“ABC and CBF have much in common, and we are al-

• Page 3 — Cowboy Church

creates four church starts

ready engaged in a number of significant partnerships,” said CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal. “The celebration on Friday night will be an affirmation of our common commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord, to Baptist principles, to global missions and to social justice.”

Thursday evening’s worship will feature keynote speaker David Coffey, president of the Baptist World Alliance.

“David Coffey will bring us

• Page 8 — Ministry residency

helps shape calling

to an awareness of and connection to the greater Baptist family around the world,” said Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s congregational life coordinator. “He will challenge us to be free to be the presence of Christ in our communities and also in communities around the world that need us to help.” f!

LEARN – For hotel information, see page 10. To pre-register for the Assembly, visit www.thefellowship.info/CL/ GeneralAssembly/reg.icm.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

• Page 10 — Viewpoint: CBF

moderator Emmanuel McCall

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fellowship!

Global Missions

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

Smiths reach out to caregivers in South Africa

C

aroline Smith remembers the day she brought a cake and a bagful of books to a training session for NOAH volunteers in

Johannesburg. NOAH, Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity, is an organization that meets the needs of more than 13,000 children in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa.

In a country where 5.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and 1,000 people die from the disease each day, Caroline and Josh Smith train volunteers and caregivers who are helping to fight

helped them produce. On the album, the children from the orphanage sing songs in Zulu, Sotho and English. Money from the sale of the CDs will help Lerato Love Home continue to care for the children.

The Smiths encourage Fellowship churches to become more educated about HIV/AIDS and its effect on communities.

They encourage churches to become involved by writing letters to lawmakers,

by giving, or by using their voices for the voiceless in creative ways. f!

GIVE – To support the work of the Smiths and other CBF Global Missions field personnel, give to the Offering for Global Missions. To give, go to www.thefellowship.info/landing/ giving.icm.

By contributing writer Melissa Browning, Chicago, Ill.

this pandemic.

CBF Global Missions photo

or write. She makes sure the children she On the day Caroline showed up with helps have a different future. The nursery a cake and bagful of books, a volunteer school she founded provides care for 72 with a new grandson said it was a sign children and her feeding program feeds from God. The grandmother insisted that 600 children each day. She is the pastor of Caroline name the new baby.

“This is a very poor family, but they still bring food to their neighbors and speak out against ignoring the poor, the widowed and the orphaned,” Caroline said.

“I knew a child growing up Josh Smith helped the children at Lerato produce a music CD. in this family her church and a mother figure to the 92 would learn to stand up against injustice, children who live at Lerato Love Home. so I named the baby Amos, after the “It takes a village to raise a child, prophet.” but today the village is a slum and the For the Smiths, life in South Africa government and these communities are is about naming the good they see in overwhelmed,” Caroline said. “I love this the volunteers they work with each ministry because it gives a solution day. The Smiths, who serve through while keeping the kids in their the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s community.”

Global Service Corps, first became The children at Lerato Love Home interested in moving to South Africa recently recorded a CD the Smiths after volunteering with the Fellowship in Nairobi, Kenya. The Smiths consider their work in South Africa a call of caring for the caregivers.

One of these caregivers is Margaret THE FELLOWSHIP’S 2006-2007 Mokoka, who opened the Lerato Love Global Missions Gift Catalog provides Home in Alexandra. Mokoka grew up hundreds of opportunities to support and during apartheid, and because education participate in the work of CBF Global was not available she never learned to read Missions field personnel serving around the world.

Vol. 16, No. 6 The catalog, available for the third COORDINATOR • Daniel Vestal straight year, is based on the requests COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS & of field personnel to help meet the RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT • Ben McDade EDITOR • Lance Wallace needs of the most neglected people. It MANAGING EDITOR • Patricia Heys contains project descriptions with the ASSOCIATE EDITOR • Carla Wynn specific amount of money needed to fund PHONE • (770) 220-1600 each project. Gifts range in price from FAX • (770) 220-1685 E-MAIL • fellowship@thefellowship.info $0.33 to $20,000. All purchases are tax WEB SITE • www.thefellowship.info deductible. fellowship! is published 7 times a year in Sept./ To access the Global Missions Gift Oct., Special I (Oct.), Nov./Dec., Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., Catalog, go to www.thefellowship.info/ May/June, Special II (Aug.) by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, globalmissions/giftcatalog.

Teach Missions Learn more about the Smiths’ work and the work of other field personnel by using CBF’s teaching resources for adults, youth, children and preschoolers. Go to www.missionseducation.org or call (888) 801-4223, ext. 1619.

Lerato Love Home CD You can purchase the Lerato Love Home CD by sending a check* for $10 to the following address: Jean Norton, 1201 Elmwood , Abilene, TX 79605 *Please make your check payable to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

On the memo line of your check please write “#89932 – Lerato Love Home Orphanage.”

Please be sure to include a return address where the CDs can be shipped.

Gift Catalog adds meaning to holiday gift giving

GA 30341-4115. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. USPS #015-625

Examples of project purchases:

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “fellowship!” Newsletter,

dentist, two medical nurses and one dental nurse.

most immediate spiritual and physical needs of

Each patient pays a small fee, but the cost of the

the refugee/migrant. Areas of ministry include

medical consultation is much larger.

spiritual guidance and prayer, listening and encouragement, meeting basic needs — food, shelter and medicine, emergency lodging for medical crises, counseling on how to take the next step

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■ $35 provides a doctor’s consultation and

prescribed medication.

■ $135 will cover the cost of a nurse for one

and looking together for solutions for the future.

month.

■ $5 provides a blanket for a family.

■ $195 will cover the cost of a doctor or

■ $7 provides a much needed coat.

■ $10 provides three boxes of baby food.

■ $15 provides two weeks of food.

dentist for one month.

PROJECT 80855, Indonesia — Hunger Relief. This project provides milk for village children that are in a scholarship program, as

■ $30 keeps a child in school.

well as widows and their families. This project

■ $56 provides one month of emergency

also helps street kids that beg for money.

housing.

Instead of giving them money, boxes of milk is

PROJECT 80943, Southeast Asia — The

■ $1,200 will support the purchase of milk for

River Ministry. The centerpiece of this project is a medical boat that services villages along a

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329

Smiths Reach Out to Caregivers

assist local congregations in trying to meet the

provided, which they can sell.

30 village children for a year.

PROJECT 81413, Middle East — Refugee/

major river system in Southeast Asia. The medical

■ $100 per month will purchase milk for street

Migrant Assistance Center. This project will

boat is staffed with a team of one doctor, one

kids. f!

Global Missions Gift Catalog

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Congregational Life

fellowship!

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

3

Cowboy Church starts four new churches

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tarted less than two years ago, the Cowboy Church of Erath County in Stephenville, Texas, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

partner church, has helped start four new cowboy churches in the north and central part of the state.

tailored appeal to a not reached people group in the U.S.,” said Phil Hester, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator of new church starts. “The preaching is simple and CBF relevant. The music may range from traditional to Toby Keith’s ‘If I Were Jesus’ to Dale Evans’ ‘Happy Trails to You.’” Most people in attendance, including the pastor, wear western clothing and cowboy hats.

Two cowboy Church member Jacob Keeping was baptized in a horse trough. boots and a milk jug are located in the back of the church several throughout the summer while the for those who want to give money, prayer churches look for and train permanent pastors. One of the new church starts is affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist New Cowboy Fellowship and three affiliated with Church Starts the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), a Fellowship partner Cowboy Church of Young County in Graham, started April 2005, averages 250 organization. in attendance Most people attending the cowboy churches have never been to church or Happy Trails Fellowship in Glen Rose, started June 2006, averages 36 attendees have not attended a church for many years. The low-key, relaxed format offers Crossroads Cowboy Church of an atmosphere that contrasts with the Madisonville, started June 2006, averages 100 in attendance traditional church setting — in line with the Fellowship’s indigenous approach to Double N Cowboy Church of Dublin, starting churches. started July 2006, averages 110 in attendance “The success of these cowboy churches illustrates the power of a genuine custom-

Photo courtesy of Charles Higgs

Photo courtesy of Charles Higgs

“Wherever there’s a sale barn, you can start a church,” said Charles Higgs, pastor of Cowboy Church.

Higgs has been instrumental in the new church starts, including preaching at

Charles Higgs has called himself a ‘circuit-riding preacher in a Ford pickup.’

requests or indicate that they prayed the sinners’ prayer with the pastor at the end of the service.

“They feel accepted,” said Higgs, who wants to help start 250 cowboy churches in the next five years. “They like to come in [to church] after feeding their stock in the morning. They like the country flavor of the music.”

When Higgs started the Cowboy Church of Erath County, he wanted “this church to be a contributing church and a reproducing church.” Five families from Higgs’ church committed to joining and helping the Double N Cowboy Church of Dublin, and two Baptist Student Ministries students from Tarleton State University in Stephenville lead the music at the new church in Glen Rose.

“I hadn’t been here two days before Phil Hester came and helped us,” he said.

“[CBF] kind of reminds me of these cowboys. They are down to earth. You really sense an attitude of being a servant.

I hope we can have a lot of cowboy churches team up with CBF.” Begun in a sale barn, the Cowboy Church of Erath County currently meets in a banquet hall and averages 300 on Sundays. They will pay off 22 acres of land in October and are planning to start construction on an outdoor arena in September and a church building/ meeting area in November. Higgs is developing ministry teams and lay pastors while transitioning to his new position as director of western ministries for the BGCT. He will work part-time in that role until moving to full time on Aug. 1, 2007. f!

By contributing writer Alison Wingfield, Dallas, Texas

First ‘It’s Time’ grants awarded

to help fund a new program called Faith and

Back to the Book for students in that

grant. For information on “It’s Time,” go to

Sports Together, which will use sports as an

community.

www.thefellowship.info/ItsTime.

Toward Missional Faithfulness” study and

congregational ministers among the laity,

FREDERICKSBURG Baptist Church in Virginia

support of its Back to the Book event, which

meeting other requirements, congregations

church censuses, funding for student field

and First Baptist Church of Dalton, Ga., were

provides school supplies, clothing and other

are eligible to apply for the grant. To

internships, development of resources to

awarded the first It’s Time Missional Ministry

items to nearly 1,200 students in the Dalton

review the grant application process, log

strengthen family life within the missional

Grants by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

community. In July, 22 church members

on to www.thefellowship.info/ItsTime/

church context and encourage children and

Fredericksburg will use the $25,000 grant

traveled to Tchula, Miss., and conducted

TheMissionalChurch/grant.icm.

youth to develop missional lifestyles.

Fellowship receives $1.5 million grant

New stewardship resources online

THE COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship was

stewardship are now available online at the

agent for positive change.

FBC Dalton was awarded $25,000 in

After completing the “It’s Time: a Journey

awarded a $1.5 million grant from Christ Is Our Salvation foundation to be administered over the next three years. The grant will be used to encourage churches in missional Photo courtesy of FBC Dalton

ministries.

Half of the funds from the grant will support the Fellowship’s “It’s Time” missional ministry grants. Congregations who complete the “It’s Time: a Journey Toward Missional Faithfulness” study and meet other Members of FBC Dalton provided book bags and school supplies to children in the community.

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

requirements are eligible to apply for the

The grant will also provide training for

STEWARDSHIP is about more than money.

Resources related to many aspects of Fellowship’s congregational life Web site, www.thefellowship.info/CL. CBF’s new online resources provide a wealth of information to address the questions of stewarship. The information on the site is divided into several categories: articles, books, consult, events, sermons, studies/programs and Web links. The resources are designed to serve not only pastors but also lay people. f!

Cowboy Church Starts

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Congregational Life Updates

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fellowship!

Summer Missions

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

Churches travel overseas to work with field personnel of Photo courtesy

Wieuca Road

B

utch and Nell Green know the importance of a volunteer team.

When they first moved to Belgium nine

Wieuca Road Baptist Church members in Sri Lanka

years ago, it was a group of volunteers who created inroads in their new

FBC Chattanoog a

neighborhood by building an atmosphere

Photo courtesy of

of trust.

In the months that followed, Butch and Nell were asked, “Why did these people give up two weeks to come here and help us?” As they answered this question, the Greens were able to share their own faith story of a God who called them to a new neighborhood.

Nine years later, the Greens say the legacy of that first team is still felt in that neighborhood. The doors that were opened have paved the way for more teams to come and more ministries to happen.

Oakland Baptist Church in Rock Hill, S.C., where the Greens are being hosted this year during their offfield assignment, has sent three teams to Brussels — two taught English as a Second Language to children of immigrants and one participated in a prayer encounter, where they visited Oakland Baptist associate pastor David Brown traveled to Brussels with the team from his church. mosques and churches

Photo courtesy of Terri Treptow

FBC Chattanooga members in Croatia

Baptist

Photo courtesy of Oakland Baptist

Good News Baptist Church in New Orleans, La.

Wingate Baptist Church in Alabama

Photo courtesy of

Ardmore Bapti st

Photo courtesy of Oakland Baptist

of Wingate Photo courtesy

Moroccan immigrants and refugees they met during their time there.

Oakland Baptist also helps the Greens in other ways. They make quilts that are given away as gifts, and the children have packed suitcases of supplies for various ministries. In the midst of this work the church has started to notice the diversity in its own backyard. With the help of the Greens, they are beginning a new ministry for international students from Winthrop University.

“These teams fulfill a real need, they lift a burden as they do the work we would be doing,” Nell said.

“The teams and semester volunteers coming in to teach ESL have given me time off to form deep relationships in the community,” Butch said. “Without a doubt, volunteers have benefited this ministry. They are a great asset to our work.”

The Baptist Church of Beaufort in South Carolina is another church which partnered with the Greens

Photo courtesy of Julie Schuler

Ardmore Baptist Church in Kiev, Ukraine

Oxford Baptist Church in Bucha, Ukraine

C h u r c h e s Vo l u n t e e r i n O v e r s e a s M i s s i o n s

in Belgium. Eric Spivey, the church’s associate pastor, said the experience has enriched the life of the church.

“The work of the teams has become part of our church’s faith story,” said Spivey. “God transforms us as we accept and respond to our missional calling. That’s what we’re seeing here. People are answering the call, and they are being transformed.”

But Oakland Baptist and The Baptist Church of Beaufort are only a glimpse of the stories the Greens have to tell. In their time on the field they have seen many volunteer teams Volunteers from Oakland Baptist taught English to children during their trip come through their doors. With each to Belgium. team there is a story of how both the and learned how to pray for the work going on in work in Belgium and the lives of the volunteers have Belgium. been forever changed. f!

“We have been wonderfully blessed by this partnership,” said Christy McMillin-Goodwin, associate minBy contributing writer Melissa Browning, Chicago, Ill. ister of education and missions at Oakland Baptist. “It has broadened our ministry and given us a chance to Volunteer Missions be the hands and feet of Christ in our world.”

For information on any of the opportunities listed She went on to say the work in Belgium has in this issue, contact the volunteer office at strengthened the missional life of the entire volunteer@thefellowship.info or call (800) 782-2451. congregation. This month, during Ramadan, For additional opportunities, go to Oakland Baptist is studying Islam and hosting a www.destinationmissions.net. traditional Moroccan feast. For those who have visited Brussels, the food might remind them of the C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Summer Missions

fellowship!

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

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Student.Go offers summer opportunities

A

round the world and throughout the country students have

School student, served in Brooklyn, N.Y. this past summer, working alongside Greater Restoration Baptist Church and Metro Baptist Church in Manhattan. Clements directed a day camp for approximately 45 children in the

the opportunity to spend their summers and semesters with

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel through Student.Go.

Student.Go Opportunities for college and graduate students to spend a semester serving with CBF Global Missions field personnel or CBF partner organizations.

Student.Go provides a $1,000 stipend, room and board, local transportation at the ministry site, travel to orientation and secondary insurance.

For more information visit www. destinationmissions.org or contact Amy Derrick at aderrick@thefellowship.info.

ministry partners in locations around the world. A variety of mission assignments are offered that give students hands-on experience serving among the most neglected groups.

“Students fill vital needs on the field,” said Amy Derrick, associate coordinator for student missions. “There are ministries that simply would not happen if these students were not there. We are amazed every year at the ways that God uses summer and semester Student.Go personnel in the Jennifer Chessons, Phillip Meece and Carrie Seay worked lives of those with whom they miniswith urban youth at Camp Fraser in Great Falls, Va. ter. But we are equally amazed at how Albany Housing Projects. the Holy Spirit works in the lives of the stu“It’s been a blessing to be here and see dents through these experiences.” all aspects of urban ministry and to see Felecia Clements, a Beeson Divinity CBF photo

Student.Go offers undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to spend a summer or semester serving alongside CBF Global Missions field personnel and

Passport provides mission opportunities for youth

Individual

Photo courtesy Passport

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

By Courtney Hodges, CBF Communications

International Volunteer Opportunities

labor costs per home.

EACH SUMMER thousands of youth Velma Porraz, minister of adult and travel to locations across the United States youth education at Primera Iglesia Bauto participate in Passport, a national program that combines camp with hands-on tista (First Baptist Church) in Dallas led mission projects. This summer, 450 of her youth group to New Orleans for the those students gathered in New Orleans to Passport camp. give their support to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

“What matters is that 450 teenagers see this — dealing with rats and mold and trying to understand that there is sadness and tragedy and injustice in the world, and that Jesus calls us to be right in the middle of it,” said Colleen Burroughs, executive vice president for Passport.

“I never get tired of watching Youth working in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward wore protective suits as the light bulbs go on when they gutted damaged homes. students understand they just made a difference in life of another because “While the missions experience was the of Christ’s love for them.” primary reason for selecting Passport, the Teenagers from around the country multi-cultural opportunity was a definite worked throughout New Orleans’ Ninth added bonus,” said Porraz. “We encourWard and areas south of Lake Pontcharaged the parents to allow their children to travel out of state, to attend a non-Hispantrain, which were hard hit by Katrina. As part of their work, the youth gutted damic camp, and to go to New Orleans, a place that the media portrayed as dangerous.” aged homes — an estimated $6,000 in Passport, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship partner organization, has been proPassport viding youth with missions opportunities Passport is a CBF partner organization for 15 years. To date, Passport has had althat combines aspects of youth camp and most 50,000 participants, with community mission trip, offering teenagers a week of service hours totaling more than 628,000. intentional Bible study and hands-on mission “I learned not to take things for granted,” projects. said Izela Alcala, 16, from Primera Iglesia For more information, go to www.

Bautista. “So many things that we have can passportcamps.org or (800) 769-0210. be taken from us by natural disasters, so we Mission Exchange should be more concerned with what we Mission Exchange is a Passport program can contribute to society rather than what sponsored by CBF that matches student society can give to us.” f! groups to ministry sites. For more information, contact Marnie Fisher Ingram at marnie@passportcamps.org.

the full picture,” said Clements. “These kids totally change you. They really help you understand that they may not have what we have in terms of material possessions, but these kids have more in community than we could ever dream of.”

This year more than 40 students served in locations around the world, including Hungary, the Middle East and India. Their work supports and expands the ministries of CBF and ministry partners in Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Florida, New York, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. “A summer or semester missions experience can broaden a student’s worldview, shape their sense of calling as a follower of Christ, and help them learn how their individual gifts and skills can be used to make a real difference in the world,” Derrick said. f!

By contributing writer Amy Cook, Danville, Va.

Work in coordination with CBF Global Missions field personnel Ralph and Tammy Stocks.

■ Middle East, English Teacher

■ Balkans

In coordination with CBF field personnel, teach conversational English to Middle Eastern University students.

■ Middle East, Agricultural Specialists In coordination with CBF field personnel and agriculture company, specialists are needed in areas of soils, agronomy, citrus, stone fruits, field crops, horticulture, vegetable crops, organic farming, and/or mushroom production.

■ China

■ Middle East, Irrigation Specialist Irrigation specialist needed to assist farmers in planning and properly using irrigation systems.

Volunteer needs to have expertise in irrigation, flood, drip and sprinkler systems.

■ Middle East, English Teacher English teachers or individuals with ESL background are needed to teach conversational English classes in a non-profit English language school for students and professionals.

■ Middle East, Marketing Specialist Individual needed to examine work being done by a small agricultural firm and to recommend how this business can be marketed. Helpful skills include advertising, preparing a marketing plan and conducting marketing workshops.

■ Middle East, NGO Specialist

■ Africa Teams needed to help rebuild and renovate a children’s home in a mountain village.

■ Southeast Asia

■ Nanning, China Work with Brenda Lisenby, a CBF China representative. Opportunity to visit churches, worship with Chinese Christians, dialogue with Christian leaders, guest lecture at schools and play with children at Angel House, a school for Chinese kids with cerebral palsy.

Experienced puppeteers needed to teach puppeteering to a new team in a local church.

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■ China Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and developmental interventionists needed to assist the Tianjin Institute of Children’s Welfare and other classrooms for handicapped children.

Volunteers will work with staff therapists and teachers to provide daily therapy for disabled children, long term evaluation and training for local teachers.

Team of volunteers needed to work with field personnel Dianne and Shane McNary, who have partnered with Lucenec Baptist Church in their outreach to the Roma community in nearby Cinobana, Slovakia. A construction team of six to ten volunteers is needed to assist in the reconstruction of the building and grounds for use as a church/ministry center.

Teams

■ Middle East

Experienced English teachers are needed at Zhongshan Road Church for adults and children with varying degrees of English competency.

A basic curriculum is provided, but volunteers must fully develop the material. Work with Brenda Lisenby, a CBF China representative.

■ Slovakia

A new NGO has been opened by local believers. Training is needed in the following areas: effective direction, bookkeeping, potential projects, grant writing methods and sources of grants.

Student.Go Offers Summer Missions Opportunities

A team of three or four people are needed to work with the teaching staff of a local kindergarten. The team will create lesson plans, make visual aids, and teach in a special fourday class for children who have just completed their yearlong kindergarten program. Work in coordination with CBF Global Missions field personnel Arville and Shelia Earl.

Team of two to three people needed to facilitate the teaching of English to nursing students. Volunteers would engage students in conversation, play language games, lead cultural lessons, topical seminars, conversational English classes and other creative approaches.

Volunteer Missions – For more information, contact volunteer@thefellowship.info or (800) 782-2451.

P a s s p o r t P r o v i d e s O p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r Yo u t h

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fellowship!

Summer Missions

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

U.S. summer missions South Dakota

Together for Hope Projects: Teams needed to provide funds and labor to move the Pow Wow Grounds on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Volunteers needed to lead children’s Bible and sports camps, do home repairs and work with the Lakota Training and Leadership Institute

Nebraska Together for Hope Projects: Construction and clean up at the White Clay Ministry Center on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

San Francisco, Calif.

19th Avenue Baptist Church Projects: Refugee ministry, children’s camps, homeless ministry

Helena, Ark. Together for Hope

Los Angeles, Calif.

Projects: Teach swimming lessons to kids and adults.

Also, many projects during “All Church Challenge” volunteer blitz such as construction, sports camps, children’s camps

Global Missions International Team Projects: Opportunity for individuals or small groups to work with international students and their families

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama Hurricane Katrina relief

Rio Grande, Texas KidsHeart Projects: Home building and repair, children’s camps, social ministries, supply distribution

Summer Missions Opportunities

Projects: Teams are needed for drywall removal, drywall installation, removal and installation of flooring, roofing, painting, and general clean-up

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Summer Missions

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

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opportunities CBF partner opportunities ■ Appalachian Outreach

Waterbury, Conn.

Waterbury Baptist Ministries Projects: Lead day camps for children living in the inner city

New York City, N.Y. Global Missions Urban Team Projects: Summer day camps for at-risk children in two locations

Kentucky Mountain Hope Projects: Sports and music camps, home building and repair, social ministry, teach trade skills to adults, youth and children programs

Washington, D.C. Calvary Baptist Church Projects: Variety of inner city ministries for teams

Appalachian Outreach seeks skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist with a diverse range of services for people who are struggling to live on minimal incomes. These projects include home repair projects, backyard Bible clubs, food pantry and clothing ministry.

■ Andrew P. Stewart Center Location: Atlanta, Ga. Opportunities for teams to help with Bible studies, field trips, recreational activities and work with children in the inner city.

■ Atlanta Intercultural Ministries Inc. Location: Atlanta, Ga.

Fredericksburg, Va. LUCHA Ministries Projects: Latin ministry work for teams and individuals, especially Spanish speakers

Asheville, N.C. Western N.C. Slavic Ministries

Perry County, Ala. Sowing Seeds of Hope Projects: Housing rehabilitation, community development, health care, sports/drama camps for youth and children

Miami, Fla. Touching Miami with Love Projects: Teams of at least 25 are needed to coordinate summer camp for children, lead worship services, assist with a clothing closet, fellowship with the homeless, work in a local gardening project

Projects: Teams needed to build relationships, lead backyard Bible clubs for immigrant children

Opportunities for individuals and teams to work in the food pantry, health services, outreach, tutoring, ESL, summer day camps, spring and winter break teams, Bible clubs and office work.

■ Buckner Children and Family Services Location: Rio Grande, Texas Opportunities for teams and individuals to work in a variety of ministries, including, distribution of clothing and school supplies, home and church repairs, sports camps, vacation bible schools, summer enrichment programs and construction projects.

Location: El Paso, Texas, and Berino, N.M. Teams are needed for sports camps, Bible clubs, medical and dental clinics and minor household repairs.

■ World Hunger Relief Location: Texas Teams needed to help complete apartments for individuals being trained for missions and agricultural assignments in developing countries. This project involves framing, insulating, and finishing out. This project will require skilled labor and experienced workers as well as inexperienced helpers.

Serve For information on any of the opportunities listed in this issue, contact the CBF volunteer office at volunteer@thefellowship. info or call (800) 782-2451. For additional opportunities, go to www. destinationmissions.net.

The Volunteer Missions office can match your team’s size and skills with a volunteer opportunity. They also connect individuals and groups with travel insurance.

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Summer Missions Opportunities

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fellowship!

Leadership Development

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

CBF residency program shapes ministry calling

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uring her first year as ministry resident at Trinity Baptist

was interested in preaching during an upcoming worship service — she was hesitant.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Luck

University’s Truett Theological Seminary, “I’m glad to be a woman in ministry, Mercer University’s McAfee School of but I didn’t want to be the girl who carries Theology and Hardin-Simmons Universithe banner for women preachers,” said Luck. “Besides, I took preaching [class], ty’s Logsdon School of Theology. and thought I was horrible.”

“We hope we are getting them started But with guidance from Trinity paswell — learning healthy ministry practices and habits,” said IME project coordinator tor Ronnie Brewer and three weeks of Valerie Burton. “We hope the teaching preparation, Luck found herself preaching congregation proves to be a place where before 450 worshippers. they can get practical ministry experience “People of all ages came up to me after the service and asked when I was going to preach again,” she said. “They said, ‘I see this gift in you.’ It made me realize the banner I was trying not to carry was one I was carrying myself.”

Luck’s two-year residency is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Initiative for Ministerial Excellence (IME) Ministerial Residency Pilot Project, a Lilly Foundation-funded program in which graduates serve in teaching congregations that offer mentoring and collegial and congregational support.

“I’m learning not only how to do the work of a minister,” said Luck, a Chester, Va., native and 2005 graduate of The DiLuck traveled to Bayou La Batre, Ala., with her church to do vinity School at Campbell hurricane relief work.

University. “I’m also learnin a loving, encouraging environment.” ing how to be a healthy minister.”

Luck is more than halfway through her Two graduates from five CBF partner residency, where she has preached periodischools annually participate in the project. In addition to Campbell’s divinity cally, conducted Wednesday Bible studies school, schools include the Baptist Theoand chapel services, written youth curlogical Seminary at Richmond, Baylor riculum, assisted with missions projects,

Photo courtesy of Jason Loscuito

Young leaders remember Sept. 11 with service MORE THAN 15 groups around the country led an effort to help their local communities Sept. 16, as part of a national response to the Sept. 11 anniversary by Current, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s young leaders network.

Started two years ago, this nationwide community outreach project was intended to be a tribute to the tragedy that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. The 11-on-11 project seeks to engage students and church members in a oneday event where various states participate in simultaneous mission projects.

To learn more about Current go to www.thefellowship.info/ In Macon, Ga., students did repairs at the home of a senior adult during the 11-on-11 day of service. current. f!

Ministry Residency Shapes Calling

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9/11 Remembered

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Photo courtesy of Rachel Luck

Church in Madison, Ala., Rachel Luck was asked if she

As part of her residency, Rachel Luck, center, works with youth at Trinity Baptist Church.

coordinated the church Web site, developed video presentations, organized youth and children’s events, performed a wedding, participated in senior adult events and served as a staff liaison to church committees.

“The awesome thing about being in a teaching congregation is that the church understood that I was a ‘rookie’ and didn’t expect me to know everything right away,” Luck said. “As I’ve learned to be a minister, the tasks and relationships have formed along the way.”

The residency has given Luck space to learn how to live in the real world — navigating new realities such as rent, bills, insurance and taxes — while acclimating to church work. The experience is also shaping her initial call to ministry, helping her discover her gifts and what it means to be a minister.

Trinity is also benefiting from Luck’s residency, Brewer said.

“Rachel has endeared herself to our church, and it has been rewarding to invest in someone and feel that this will make a difference in the long run as Rachel continues to pursue her call,”

Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors THE FOLLOWING chaplains and pastoral counselors were recently endorsed by the Fellowship, bringing the total number of endorsees to 538.

Corrections Daniel D. Bland, Beaver, W. Va. Hospice Carol Fletcher, Bogart, Ga.; Craig S. Klempnauer, Waco, Texas; Vicki G. Lumpkin, Wentworth, N.C.; Roger Dobbins, Columbia, S.C.; Sharon K. Eldridge, Smithfield, N.C.; Cynthia G. Smith, Pittsboro, N.C. Hospital Carita L. Brown, Memphis, Tenn.; Michael E. Bumgarner, Norman, Okla.; David K. Chan, Houston, Texas; Richard J. Forest, Louisville, Ky.; David B. Gladson, Anderson, S.C.; Judith A. Grace, Waco, Texas; William H. Hemphill II, Decatur, Ga.; Phillip S. Lee, Opelika, Ala.; Leanna J. Pearse, St. Louis, Mo.; Stephen L. Saunders, Temple, Texas; Lynda A. Schupp, Denton, Texas; Terry J. Tatro, Louisville, Ky.; Audrey L. Wilson, Durham, N.C.; Peter M. Arges, Durham, N.C.; Tony A. Biles, Concord, N.C.; Brad M. Hood, Knoxville, Tenn.; Leigh E. Jackson, Austin, Texas; Steve D. Sullivan, Little Rock, Ark.; Cynthia G. Thorpe, Greenwood, S.C.; Ryan E. Wagers, Clarksburg, W.Va. Military Seymone W. Porter, Grayson, Ga. Pastoral Counselors John S. Harris, Birmingham, Ala.

New Chaplains, Counselors

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CBF Scholarship Recipients

said Brewer. “It is also rewarding for the church to have to think more deeply about ‘call’ and what vocational ministry entails. Many within the church need to address the issue of call in their own lives in various ways, and watching a young minister wrestle and grow with it keeps the issue in front of us all.”

When her residency is over, Luck isn’t sure where her calling will lead, but she is open to the possibility of continued church ministry.

“I feel the local church is an option more than ever,” she said. f!

LEARN – To learn more about IME and ministry residencies, contact Terry Hamrick at (770) 220-1615 or thamrick@thefellowship.info.

By contributing writer Melanie Kieve, Alabaster, Ala.

2006-2007 CBF Scholarship Recipients Baptist Seminary of Kentucky Jeremy Colliver, Bert Montgomery, Crystal Shepherd Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Mary Carol Anderson, Sam Duenckel, Amanda Hambrick, Greg Harrell, Eric Hasha, Tiffany Kellogg, Lindsay McClintock, Julie Perry, Darcie Smith, Baptist University of the Americas To be announced Campbell University Divinity School Joel Baucom, Sarah Boberg, Whitney Edwards, Emily Johnson, Kelly Rhodes, Laura Roach, Christina Suggs, Charles Walker, Al Whitehouse Jr., Candler School of Theology Emory University Michael Goodman, Erin Hall, Brad Jackson, Chad McGinnis, Central Baptist Theological Seminary Chris Homiak, Tammy Jackson, Lori Williamson Duke Divinity School Graham Ashcraft, Amy Canosa, Alisha Damron, Todd Ferguson, Chris Sims M. Christopher White School of Divinity Gardner-Webb University Cecelia Beck, Jennifer Courtright, Jamye Duncan, Terry Honeycutt, Martha Kearse, Lamont Littlejohn, Brandon Moore, Stephen Summers, Janie Toy Logsdon School of Theology Hardin-Simmons University Dan Bullock, Josh Reglin, Chris St. Clair, Kate Whitney McAfee School of Theology Mercer University Lauren Colwell, Rebekah Duke, Daniel Harrell, Allison Hicks, Jeff Howard, Gigi Kerr, Jennifer McClung, Cody Sanders, Eric Wickman George W. Truett Theological Seminary Baylor University Josh Brewer, Casondra Brown, Tiffany Combs, Graham Cook, Heather Deal, Jeff Holcomb, Jaime McGlothlin, Jon Polk, Jon Mark Shillington, Emily Womack Wake Forest Divinity School Sarah Carver, Chad Crawford, Jeremy Fox, Gil Gulick, Garrett Vickrey

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Inside CBF

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

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CBF Foundation manages funds to help Georgia church increase ministry

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Photo courtesy of Milledge Avenue

illedge Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Ga., expects to do even

ers could provide,” Barnett said. “What was unique to CBF were the services they more missions and ministry because of its new relationship with provide in helping us promote planned giving within our congregation so that we the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Foundation. can grow our foundation.”

And growing the foundation means ago, it started looking at other manageMilledge Avenue is one of approximore money for missions and ministries, mately 20 churches that have turned to ment options.

Barnett said. The church uses a competitive the Foundation for fund management.

Among the features the church was grant process to allocate the spending of the With a substantial foundation established looking for in a professional fund manincome from its foundation. six years ago when a charter family gave a ager were a competitive fee structure, “While a proposal must be initiated by major gift to the church, Milledge Avenue experience working with churches and a member, the scope of our projects is not had been investing its funds through a lothe ability and willingness to avoid investlimited,” Barnett said. “We have funded cal bank, said Barry J. Barnett, chair of the ments a church might find objectionable. projects for our local school system and church’s foundation committee. Two years “Those are all things that CBF and othfor Habitat for Humanity.

We have funded mission projects in Athens and in other countries. Sometimes we fund needs around our church, like support for a youth mission trip. If we can attract more giving into our foundation, that opens the door for us to give out more. The intention has never been to sit on a pot of money and see it build up.”

“We help take care of the mechanics of managing funds so that churches can focus on the ministry that the money makes possible,” said Don Durham, president of the CBF Foundation. “We help a church integrate the promotion Katie Walter, a member of Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, served cotton candy at the church’s Block Party, which was attended by more than 250 people from the community. of its endowment into the

rhythm of the church as part of its overall stewardship program. We offer onsite training for promoting church endowments, help establishing effective endowment policies, and participate with churches as they promote and administer their endowments to pay for vital ministries. Milledge Avenue Baptist Church is our newest client and we look forward to serving them.”

The CBF Foundation was founded in 1994 and has about $30 million under management. The Foundation’s management fee is 1.1 percent annually on assets under management. f!

By contributing writer Sue H. Poss, Greenville, S.C.

CBF Foundation The CBF Foundation offers services for individuals, churches and ministry organizations: •

Administration of charitable trusts and gift annuities

•

Monitor preservation of endowment principal

•

Private consultation on endowment promotion strategies

•

Seminars on the importance and uses of endowments

•

Educational seminars on giving options through wills, bequests and trusts

•

Assistance with direct donor solicitation

Contact: Don Durham at (800) 352-8741 or ddurham@thefellowship.info For more information visit www.cbff.org.

Church Benefits Board meets needs of N.C. church staff THE ANNEX of a 7-Eleven store in Cary, lina church.

N.C., housed Westwood Baptist Church “We feel very comfortable with the in 1992. Today its more than 450 memmission outreach and the emphasis on Baptist freedom that bers meet on 11 acres “If we help a church and comes with CBF,” said Alnear research Triangle Park in the Raleigh, N.C., lard. a minister deal with area. Pastor Charles AlRecently, the Fellowthese things in a holistic lard said most visitors ship has been able to way, we help create a describe the church as provide Westwood Baptist working environment “one of the most friendly with a needed resource. in the area.” that enhances ministry.” Three staff ministers Mike A little over a decade Eddinger, associate pashas passed since Westwood made a delibertor; Caroline Allen, minister of music and worship; and Michelle Anderson, minister ate decision to become a Cooperative Bapof youth, now receive benefits through the tist Fellowship partner church. Like many CBF Church Benefits Board (CBB). churches, outreach programs, hand bell The Church Benefits Board began Occhoirs, visitation, youth activities, corporate worship, fellowship dinners and mission tober 1, 2000, as a partnership between partnerships characterize this North CaroCBF and American Baptist Churches USA. As the first partnership between faith groups to provide employee benefits Church Benefits Board to churches, the Church Benefits Board The Church Benefits Board provides offers retirement, death, disability and retirement, death and disability and medical medical benefits to ministers, missionarbenefits to ministers, missionaries and ies and lay employees of CBF member lay employees of CBF churches or related churches or related organizations. organizations.

“I really believe that benefits create a For more information visit www. working environment that enhances minchurchbenefits.org or contact Gary Skeen at (770) 220-1621. istry,” said Gary Skeen, Church Benefits Board president. “Ministers are experts at w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

ministry not at finances. Finances, retirement, all these things create anxiety on the part of a minister, because they are not their area of expertise. If we help a church and a minister deal with these things in a holistic way, we help create a working environment that enhances ministry.”

Unlike other benefits providers, whose services are geared toward corporate settings, the CBB is targeted toward the unique needs of churches and ministers. Skeen explained that churches run by rotating committees and consensus; therefore, a church plan, like CBB, offers

churches and ministers continuity with their benefits provider. And Skeen is a part of that stability, offering personal contact and consultation with ministers. The CBB also allows ministers to reap the tax benefits of housing allowance even into retirement, which other benefit providers cannot supply.

“I do appreciate the openness, honesty and the personal concern that the staff has shown to all of us here,” said Allard. f!

By Courtney Hodges, CBF Communications

National goal: $6.23 million To give, go to www.thefellowship.info/landing/giving.icm.

CBF Foundation Helps Increase Ministr y

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Church Benefits Meets Church Staff Needs

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fellowship!

Inside CBF

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

journey As We

By CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal

The CBF experience and experiment AT SOME POINT in my past, I read the description of our republic’s founding as “The American Experiment.” It stirred my patriotism because it reminded me of the founders’ vision to form a nation based on the presuppositions that all are created

equal, that freedom of speech, press and religion be guaranteed to all and that the government derives its powers from the consent of the governed. But the phrase also implied that these founding truths must be preserved, interpreted and applied by following generations if the vision of the founders is to be fulfilled. Hence this nation is an “experiment” in the history of nations.

In a similar way I believe that Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is an experiment in Baptist life. The core values that birthed this Fellowship are inspiring. Our love of

Being the presence of Christ

viewpoint: Emmanuel McCall BEING THE presence of Christ — what an exciting idea! We, human vessels of clay, earthen jars, as the apostle Paul would say in 2 Corinthians 4:7, are the presence of Christ. It is mind boggling to know that with all of our shortcomings, faults and failures, Christ allows us to represent him. He takes us just as we are, allows us to walk a pace with him and then gives us the privilege of representation.

Any person who Emmanuel McCall takes seriously the task of representing another is concerned to represent that person accurately, honestly and honorably. We would not want to dishonor someone who trusts in us.

We in CBF have used “being the presence of Christ” to emphasize our missional intent. God has used this Fellowship to do many wonderful things around our world. Each day the news carries stories of CBF persons, churches, fellowships and staffs doing wonderful things on behalf of Christ. We are found in disaster relief, rural poverty, inner cities, mountain hamlets, in lands beyond the seas, in places where others dare not or cannot go. We are being the presence of Christ. We give testimony to his love and concern for the human situation. We earn the right to bear witness of our faith in him and our obedience to his command.

Let me be so bold as to suggest one other area where we might concentrate more on being the presence of Christ — reflecting his love within the bodies of believers.

Ours is a time when hate crusades within the body of Christ are at an all time high.

Some may see it as fashionable to speak evil of other Christians who are different or do not belong to the same organizations or whose interpretations of scripture may differ. We might find it exhilarating to see conflict in the organizational camps of those

A s We J o u r n e y

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Vi e w p oint

with whom we disagree. Pride may lead us to disassociate ourselves from those who do not look like us or think like us or act like us. To do so may indicate the absence of the presence of Christ in us.

As Christians, we often destroy ourselves as we try to destroy each other. We can be our own worst enemies. A hateful, disgruntled, exalted and arrogant attitude will not tell a sick and dying world that the Christ we serve can be trusted to alter life situations. Indeed, we cannot be his presence if our actions contradict and misrepresent the Christ of the Holy Bible who dwells in us through his Holy Spirit.

We in CBF will have some unusual opportunities for fellowship and cooperation with other Baptists and other Christians during this next year. We are partnering in relief projects, in crises responses, in evangelistic initiatives, in transformational ministries to the marginalized and in “equipping the saints.” We are open to discovering other believers who are passionate about the same things that we are committed to.

Our presence in the Baptist World Alliance has opened up new vistas for being the presence of Christ, allowing us to partner with 16 other Baptist bodies in the U.S. We live beside and worship next to some of them without knowing who they are. We need to get to know them as fellow Christians serving the same Christ. We may not agree with all of their theological or polity positionings, or their practices, but if we try, we will find those areas of commonality in Christ.

As your moderator for this year and as a Christian for as long as I live, I challenge all of us to take the high road in Christ.

Let us be the presence of Christ, especially as we relate to other believers. f!

Emmanuel McCall is the CBF moderator for 2006-2007. He currently serves as pastor of Baptist Fellowship Group in East Point, Ga., and vice president of the Baptist World Alliance.

freedom, our passion for the Gospel and our commitment to servant leadership that includes women as well as men are compelling convictions.

Our vision to be the presence of Christ and our mission to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission are equally compelling. But in order to appreciate all this, one must actually experience it. These values are understood as they are lived. They must be practiced.

As I see it, what has unfolded in the past 15 years has been a beautiful experiment as many have embraced our vision and values and then begun to cooperate with one another in ministry. The result has been an emerging identity as a Fellowship of Christians and churches within the Baptist family. Our cooperation also shapes our identity. At present CBF is …

• A missions partner with local congregations in sending and supporting missionaries, • A provider of congregational resources in faith formation and building community, • A chaplaincy endorsing body, • A non-governmental organization responding to disasters in the U.S. and around the world, • An association of churches providing retirement benefits for clergy, • A national network of Baptists passionate about social justice, religious liberty, a free press, evangelism and ethics, • A fellowship with permanent financial resources providing endowment management services, • A leadership development partnership with 14 seminaries in theological education, • A member body of the Baptist World Alliance,

• A member body of Christian Churches Together in the U.S., • A denomination-like home where Baptists can enjoy and encourage one another, • A movement of spiritual, congregational, ecumenical, missions and denominational renewal.

But this experiment continues as we respond to the following challenges. Will Baptists value this Fellowship enough to invest in it with their love and care? Will they fund it? Can Baptists who value freedom also value cooperation? Is it possible for mature and seasoned Baptists to let go of the structures from the past to embrace a partnering network model of organization? Can Baptists who are shaped by modernity view effective ministry in terms other than consumerism and engage in holistic, strategic, global missions? And can post-modern Baptists who value a multi-faceted view of the world live and work in fellowship with their forebearers who will never view the world as they do?

There are other questions that shape this experiment. Can CBF celebrate generational, gender and geographical diversity?

Are we willing to make inter-cultural and inter-racial community building a priority?

Will we put the local church at the center and be willing to ask how we can serve and sacrifice on its behalf? Are we willing to risk and create spaces where the Spirit is free to work where we can’t control the outcome?

One reason I am encouraged with this experiment is because of the large number of people in CBF that have experienced grace. They are not only gifted, committed and motivated Baptists, but they have experienced the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Because they have experienced grace, they can give grace, and they understand that the CBF experiment is itself a work of grace. f!

O F F I C I A L H O T E L I N F O R M AT I O N

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 2007 General Assembly Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. June 27-30, 2007 (Auxiliary events only will be held June 27 and June 30, main General Assembly meeting will be held June 28-29.)

H O T E L I N F O R M AT I O N Grand Hyatt Washington (headquarter hotel) – 1000 H Street NW • Washington, DC 20001 Single/Double – $160 plus tax (Current room tax 14.5%) Triple/Quad – $180 plus tax (Current room tax 14.5%) Renaissance Washington DC Hotel – 999 Ninth St. NW • Washington, DC 20001 Single/Double/Triple/Quad – $160.00 plus tax (Current room tax 14.5%) Pre-registration for the 2007 General Assembly is required before making a hotel reservation at the Grand Hyatt or Renaissance.

Please make your hotel reservations by phone or online by May 30, 2007.

Online — For pre-registration and reservations, go to www.thefellowship.info/CL/GeneralAssembly/reg. icm. After registering online, you will be directed to the room reservation Web site for the Grand Hyatt or Renaissance. You will be asked for a credit card number to hold the reservation, and your credit card will be charged at that time. The deposit is refundable if cancelled 7 days prior to arrival.

Phone — Please call the CBF Resource Center at (800) 352-8741 to pre-register for the General Assembly.

After registering, you will be given instructions to make your reservations by phone at either the Grand Hyatt or Renaissance. Once in touch with a hotel, you will be asked for a credit card number to hold the reservation and your credit card will be charged at that time. The deposit is refundable if cancelled 7 days prior to arrival.

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Fellowship Roundup: News from CBF’s states, regions and national offices CBF of Florida will host the fourth Kindle Retreat for youth Jan. 12-14, 2007, at Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Ocoee, Fla. Kindle is designed to bring the youth and youth leaders of Florida churches together for worship, mission projects and fun. This year’s guest preacher will be Dan Stokum from Beeson Divinity School. For more information, go to www.floridacbf.org or www.kindleretreat.com.

■ Georgia

Photo courtesy of CBF of Georgia

On Sept. 16, CBF of Georgia sponsored a Sunday School Teacher’s Academy for Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Macon. The event was developed around the theme of teaching the adult learner. Frank Granger, minister of education for First Baptist Church of Athens, conducted a session on how to relate to adults in the learning environment and a second session on how to do outreach and inreach with adult Sunday school students.

Devita Parnell, CBF/GA associate coordinator for Devita Parnell congregational life, conducted a third session titled “From Information to Transformation.” Karen Massey, assistant professor of Christian Education at McAfee School of Theology, spoke to the joint group on “The Bible and How It Relates to Our Everyday Lives.”

Malkhaz Songulashvilli, president of the Union of Evangelical Baptists of the Republic of Georgia will take part in CBF of Georgia’s fall convocation.

Malkhaz will engage the congregation in a discussion about the work in the Republic of Georgia. CBF of Georgia is working on a two-year partnership with the Baptist Union there.

The inaugural Georgia Youth Choir Festival will be held Jan. 12-14 at the Calvin Center in Hampton, Ga. Nine churches and around 160 youth plan to participate in this event that is cosponsored by CBF of Georgia and the Townsend-McAfee Institute at Mercer University. John Simons, director of the institute, is the primary conductor for the event, along with local church music ministers. The choir is to perform on Jan. 14, with a morning concert at FBC Griffin and an evening concert at Briarcliff Baptist Church, Atlanta.

CBF of Georgia is accepting resumes for the position of associate coordinator for missions. Qualified candidates must have an abiding commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to sharing the Gospel with all people, a commitment to Baptist principles as embraced and practiced by the CBF of Georgia, and excellent skills in communications, leadership, administration and team-building. Applicants must possess a master of divinity (or equivalent), two years or more experience in a related field and a willingness to relocate to the Macon area. Additional information is available on the CBF of

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

Georgia Web site, www.cbfga.org. Re-

Guinn at (800) 677-2287, ext. 103 or

sumes will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2007. Send resumes via e-mail attach-

107. Additional information is available at www.cbts.edu.

Sixteen persons from three neighboring states met in Chattanooga on July 27 to discuss possible commonalities between the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Emergent church movement. Mike Young, missions coordinator for TCBF, initiated the gathering after conversation with Jake Myers, a church planter and coordinator for missional community at Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. Myers led a breakout session at the CBF General Assembly in Atlanta that attracted about 150 people.

ments to ershauf@bellsouth.net and to spowell@cbfga.org or mail to Search Committee, CBF of Georgia, P.O. Box 4343, Macon, GA 31208.

■ North Carolina More than 40 persons attended a day-long “Discussion on College Ministry” Aug.12. Breakout sessions included ministry with internationals, leading a mission trip, Bible study skills, community college ministry and a welcoming attitude.

CBF of North Carolina provides five youth retreats each year. The two fall retreats were held at Myrtle Beach, S.C., in September with CBF field personnel Kim and Marc Wyatt of Toronto, Canada. More than 200 youth attended each retreat. The upcoming ski retreat will feature CBF field personnel Brandon and Tirzah Turner of Washington, D.C. This summer, 12 teams with a total of 117 volunteers from North Carolina traveled to the Ukraine.

Much work was accomplished but more importantly, relationships were established or reconnected as the Americans, Ukrainians, Swedes and Germans worked together at the Village of Hope. Groundbreaking for the cottage was the week of May 21. And now two foster families are living in the Village of Hope. The Maltsev family: Yuri and Lena and their two biological daughters, Jana and Diana, have Alexander (Sasha) and Michael (Misha), brothers who are 5 and 3 years old. The Moskalenko family: Andre, Natasha and their two biological sons, Daniel and Dimitry, have Katia and Tanya, sisters who are 6 and 2 years old.

The Belize Pastor’s School, sponsored by North Carolina churches and individuals, was held in September with 12 students attending. Roy Smith, retired executive secretary of North Carolina Baptists, active in CBF and BWA, and Randy Carter, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Hillsborough, taught evangelism and exegesis of Isaiah and Romans.

■ Tennessee Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Shawnee, Kansas, began the second year offering classes at First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro. The seminary has adopted a “teaching church seminary” approach to make theological education more accessible to those serving local churches. This year’s student body in Murfreesboro includes 12 degree-seeking students and three lifelong learners. Although several of the students live in Murfreesboro and Nashville, others come from Clarksville, Clinton and Knoxville. For more information about “the teaching church seminary” contact Steve

■ South Carolina Marion Aldridge, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina, and Randy Wright, pastor of Fernwood Baptist Church in Spartanburg, taught at the Gypsy Smith School in Bucharest, Romania, the last week of September. The Gypsy Smith School trains Gypsy pastors, and relies on volunteers to provide the week-long training at intervals throughout the year.

Draper Smith, a junior at the University of South Carolina and a member of First Baptist Church in Green-

ville, is working as an intern for CBF of women and one man as charter members. FBC of Greenville took a lead role South Carolina this year. She will spend in organizing the Cooperative Baptist a significant amount of time asking Fellowship. Church member John Cochurches how CBF of South Carolina can help them do ministry better. thran was on the organizing council.

CBF of South Carolina sponsored Former pastor Hardy Clemons and a day-long conference for pastors of associate pastor Donna Forrester small churches in October. Participants have served as national moderators. received a free lunch, a free book and Beverly Greer was the South Carolina had their mileage reimbursed by CBF of South Carolina.

The conference, called “A Breath of Fresh Air: An Emotional and Spiritual Boost for Pastors of Small Membership Far right, Carol Holladay of FBC Allendale Churches,” included small group conversation where member of the Nominating Committee pastors could share their experiences. in August 1990 that nominated the “Baptists, like every other denomithree South Carolina members to the nation, have more small churches than initial Steering Committee. large churches,” said Aldridge. “In our First Baptist Church of Allendale, ‘bigger is better’ society, it’s someS.C., and Christ Central Ministries times easy to forget that.” provided bed linens and mattresses to First Baptist Church in Greenville, Rajmish Kumar, Joseph Frederick S.C., culminated a year of celebratand Sally Thomas, who came from ing its 175th anniversary with special India to teach in the Allendale County services and activities on Oct. 29. The public schools. Teachers, who have Greenville Baptist Church was officially been attending FBC Allendale, were organized on Nov. 2, 1831, with nine sleeping on pallets in their apartment.

Photo courtesy CBF of South Carolina

■ Florida

Upcoming Events NOV. 4

NOV. 11

IME Regional Learning Event

Experience the World: A Missions Day Camp Event for Children

First Baptist Church, El Paso, Texas “Leadership for the Missional Church” will be led by Reggie McNeal.

Held at Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. for children in grades 1-6.

This workshop will explore questions regarding the rise of the missional church. The event is sponsored by the El Paso Baptist Association, CBF and Center for Congregational Health. There is no charge for the event.

Info: www.cbfnc.org/youth.html

Info: Josue-epba@sbcglobal.net or epba@sbcglobal.net or (915) 544-8671 NOV. 5 face2face: Missional Church

NOV. 12 – 15 Youth Workers Summit Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Fellowship is one of 11 religious organizations sponsoring an ecumenical conference for youth ministers and workers.

Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, Ga.

The conference cost is $275. Room costs are $387 for a single room and $195 for a double.

Speaker: Bo Prosser

Info: (800) 769-0210 or www.youthworkerssummit.org

Sharing. Listening. Engaging. This event brings CBF Missional Church representatives together with the local church to explore and further understand the missional church journey.

Info: www.thefellowship.info/face2face/ or Amy Morris (770) 220-1630 NOV. 5 – 6 CBF/GA Fall Convocation First Baptist Church of Christ of Macon, Ga. “A Gift Too Good to Keep!” is the theme for the fall convocation.

Speakers include Rob Nash, CBF Global Missions coordinator, and Bill Underwood, Mercer University president.

Info: (877) 336-6426 or www.cbfga.org NOV. 11 face2face: Missions CBF of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.

NOV. 13 CBF of South Carolina Fall Convocation First Baptist Church, Clinton, S.C. Speakers include Evelyn Oliveira, SC/CBF urban minister in N. Charleston, and CBF moderator Emmanuel McCall. The theme of the event is “Missions: The Heart of CBF.” Info: Contact Marion Aldridge at coordinator@cbfofsc. org or visit www.cbfofsc.org NOV. 14 CBFNC Fellowship Dinner First Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C. Dinner held during the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m., $10 per person for meal. Richard Brunson of NC Baptist Men will be speaking.

Info: www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.html

Speaker: Keri Gage Sharing. Listening. Engaging. This event brings CBF Field Personnel and/or Global Missions staff together with other fellowship people in the local church to share the missions story.

Info: www.thefellowship.info/face2face/ or Amy Morris (770) 220-1630

To submit an event to be listed on the calendar, email contact@thefellowship.info.

Check out the CBF Calendar online at www.thefellowship.info/Inside CBF/Calendar.

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Upcoming Events

Photo courtesy of the Whitleys

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ily Liberian refugees, and other volunteers traveled to Fremont, Calif., to host an arts camp with Afghan refugee children.

Streun hopes what his church did through one week of summer missions will enhance 19th Avenue’s ability to reach children long-term.

“The mission week helped our church to become aware of needs in the Bay Area that we can fulfill,” said Joy Yee, pastor of 19th Avenue. “We’re already considering ongoing ministry with the refugee families in Oakland and long-term benefits we hope to see include shaping our church to be missional, encouraging our members to serve and love the people all around us, and witnessing God bring all people closer to God’s heart.”

The idea for the missions week originated when 19th Avenue explored the possibility of working with the WhitVolunteers from FBC Hereford and 19th Avenue led sports camps for leys, who are members of children in Oakland, Calif. the church. the church had worked with such a variety “A part of what we want to do is get of ethnic groups. churches involved with internationals and “I’m not sure where else in the world refugees,” said Tiffne Whitley. “It was good one can find that many religions and ethto see a church from Texas come here and partner with us and with 19th Avenue. nic groups cooperating,” said Kyle Streun, Together, we built good rapport with the pastor at FBC Hereford. “We were able to refugees, and opened a lot of doors for us help a church with a very different cultural and 19th Avenue to build on.” f! background than ours and realize that they are very much like us in many ways.

GIVE – Support mission projects like this, We worked with Muslims, Buddhists and here and around the world, by giving to the Hindus in a non-threatening, caring enviCBF Offering for Global Missions. Go to www. ronment and came to appreciate them as thefellowship.info/landing/giving.icm. human beings created and loved by God.” SERVE – To find out more about volunWorking together, the churches held Vateer opportunities in San Francisco, e-mail cation Bible School each morning at 19th volunteer@thefellowship.info.

Avenue. In the afternoon, the groups divided up, with some volunteers headed to East By contributing writer Sue H. Poss, Oakland to lead a sports camp for primarGreenville, S.C.

A WEEK WORKING among internationals in San Francisco was enough to open the eyes of members of First Baptist Church in Hereford, Texas, to the need of people all around the world to be loved.

The Texas team worked with members of 19th Avenue Baptist Church in San Francisco and with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions field personnel Tiffne and Joel Whitley and Doug and Becky Shenton.

It was the first CBF-related mission trip for FBC Hereford, and it was the first time

Churches, field personnel work together during missions week

Carla Wynn photo

(800) 352-8741

www.thefellowship.info

P.O. Box 450329 • Atlanta, Georgia 31145-0329

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Jessica Faley, a member of Lyndon Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., trims sheetrock during a construction project in Kentucky.

Stories on pages 4-7

Summer Missions Opportunities

Serving Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission

2007 General Assembly Information Pages 1 & 10

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

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