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Winter 2015
Newsjournal of the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network/BCMD • www.baptistlifeonline.org
SPECIAL EDITION: NETWORK’S 180TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION MARKED BY UNITY AND WORSHIP
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RICK HANCOCK Interim Executive Director Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network
PERSPECTIVE BY RICK HANCOCK
would like to say “a good word” about the 2015 Annual Celebration in Ocean City. If you attended this year’s celebration, you probably noticed a radical difference in the spirit of the meeting. Good words were spoken from the platform, breakout sessions and exhibit hall. That’s not radically different at all. The Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network has a long history of a gracious staff, outstanding speakers, special guests and amazing worship at the Annual Meeting. Nothing new about this at all. The difference this year was not evident so much in the convention hall, but in the hallway. Did you see it? Brothers and sisters in Christ were talking, laughing and praying together. Racial and ethnic diversity was at its best in Ocean City. Unity was in abundance. Pastors and planters, tenured and beginners, inner city and suburban leaders came together and celebrated the goodness of Jesus Christ. We encouraged one another with great joy! The long line at Monday night’s ice cream social was more about continuing the sweet fellowship than the delicious dessert. We laughed again. Proverbs 12:25 reminds us, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, but a good word maketh it glad.” How true. Let’s not stop now. Let’s continue what was started in Ocean City. Make a call today, plan a meal or share a cup of coffee with someone in the Network. There’s no better time than the Christmas season to encourage one another. Good words produce great results.
PERSPECTIVE BY BILL WARREN
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hat gnaws at you and makes you worry? Perhaps your greatest fear is darkness. Your future is dark and you don’t know what to do. You are afraid you will make the wrong choice and mess up your family, life, and career. And yet, Psalm 27: 1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” The Light of the Lord makes the path ahead very clear. Seek Him. Ask Him. And surrender. The same God who said, “Let there be light” and who led the Israelites out of Egypt with a “pillar of fire” at night can make your path clear. Maybe your present is dark. You are afraid it’s never going to get better. Four years ago, I was there. I had classic burn-out. I could not cope. I could not even write or preach a sermon. Pulling away for a time, I learned a valuable lesson: “God never leaves His people on the cross. There is always a resurrection.” It’s not going to be dark forever if the Lord is your light and your salvation. Perhaps there are bizarre things happening in your life. No wonder. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But you have nothing to fear from Satan. You must choose to fear or to focus. In Psalm 27:4, David focused on one thing: “...that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...” He chose to seek God’s presence. Instead of focusing on the fear, stop and pray. Think of God’s power, compassion and love. Doing this has changed my life. And I know it will change your life, too.
BILL WARREN President Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network Senior Pastor Allen Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, Md.
--This perspective is an adaptation of Dr. Warren’s President’s Address, offered during the Annual Celebration of the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network.
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Winter 2015
VOLUME 100 ISSUE 4/ Winter 2015
Contents p. 4
BaptistLIFE (ISSN 331-640) is published quarterly as a Cooperative Program ministry of the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network/BCMD. BaptistLIFE 10255 Old Columbia Road Columbia, MD 21046-1716 (Phone) 800-466-5290, ext. 245 (Fax) 410-290-6627 Send address changes & advertising questions to: iwhite@bcmd.org BaptistLIFE Staff
Shannon Baker, Director of Communications Iris White, Managing Editor/Mailing Sharon Mager, BaptistLIFE Correspondent p. 10
p. 10
Features The Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network celebrates 180th year with prayer and encouragement p. 4 This year’s annual celebration was marked by unity and worship Messages point to hope, partnership in Gospel p. 12 Do whatever it takes to love your neighbors, urges annual celebration speakers Six things your love does for your husband p. 14 Kathy Ferguson-Litton encourages ministry wives to unconditionally love their ministry husbands
Transitions p. 15 The Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network honors recently retiring pastors
Perspectives RICK HANCOCK p. 2 BILL WARREN p. 2 INSIDE THIS SPECIAL EDITION: This year’s annual gathering for Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network church leaders proved to be informational —and inspiring.
Missed the Annual Celebration in Ocean City? Download the recordings of each of the Business Sessions as well as the Plenary Sessions’ Messages at
www.bcmd.org/annual-recap There, you can also download the videos that were aired throughout the meeting. Event photos may be viewed and downloaded at
www.flickr.com/bcmd Winter 2015
Address change: Send the new address with the old mailing label at least three weeks prior to move or send an email to iwhite@bcmd.org with your old and new information. Advertising rates are available. We do not automatically accept all advertising. We typically accept ads for services provided to Maryland and Delaware Baptists related to or assisting in starting new churches and strengthening existing ones. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of any advertiser’s products or services. The deadline for news and advertising is the first day of the month preceding the next issue. Free Subscription by request Press Releases and Photos: We welcome letters from readers, press releases and photos of topics of interest to Maryland/Delaware Baptists. Digital photos sent electronically are preferred. If you send glossy prints, please include a SASE for return. Letters to the Editor (LTTE) do not reflect the views or opinions of BaptistLIFE. We prefer letters from Maryland and Delaware. Only letters marked clearly for publication as a LTTE, signed with addresses will be considered. Please include a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. Letters may not exceed 300 words. Letters attacking churches or individuals will not be published. Letters will be edited for clarity, BaptistLIFE style and space considerations, but not for content. We regret that we cannot respond to all letters not accepted for publication. BaptistLIFE is a member of the Association of State Baptist Papers, Baptist Press News and Evangelical Press Association and is printed by HG Roebuck & Son, Inc., in Baltimore, Md.
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CELEBRATION Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network celebrates 180th year with prayer and encouragement
OCEAN CITY, Md.—Close to 500 messengers and guests representing 165 churches met at the Clarion Fontainebleau Resort in Ocean City Nov. 8 to 10 for the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network’s 180th celebration. In the midst of a year of transition, the theme of the event was “Loving Our Neighbors,” and the emphasis throughout was being one in Christ, united together, and reaching out to share the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Sunday Evening
nounced the recent transition of Network interim leadership. Rick Hancock, who recently On behalf of the Network, became the director of misMaster of Ceremonies and sions for the Mid-Maryland Network Catalyst Reid SterBaptist Association is servrett welcomed messengers. ing as the interim Network Niel Augustine, ASL executive director as Tom interpreter and minisBy Stolle is stepping down ter of youth and young adults at Paramount Sharon from the role. Stolle was serving as both the NetBaptist Church, HagerMager work executive director and town, Md., tirelessly as chief financial officer foland with passion, lowing Will McRaney’s sudden provided interpretation for resignation in June. the deaf community throughNetwork President Bill out the three-day celebration Warren told messengers, “I through announcements, sercan think of no better way mons, prayer, and during the to call this meeting to order music and worship. than through prayer.” Warren Sterrett officially an-
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led a time of “worship-based” prayer, using Jesus’ priestly prayer in John 17, “that all may be one.” “We are humbled and touched that we were on Your mind on the night before You died,” Warren prayed. “You prayed that we would be one even as You and the Father are one. That’s impossible for us, Lord God… for You and the Father are one in a that way we can’t even imagine, and we can’t achieve, but You prayed for it, You asked for it, therefore it must be possible for You. “So we ask Lord Jesus that You would make us one
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as you and the Father are one. It has been a difficult year… I pray that You will help us to love one another, to see Christ in one another, to forgive where forgiveness is needed, to confess where confession is needed, to humble ourselves together before You so that we may be one so the world will know You were sent by Your Father….bring us together as one for Your glory….” Jose Nater, chairman of the order of business committee, and pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Cambridge, welcomed messengers and guests. “We pray that God will use this time to equip us as we continue to serve during the difficult times facing our society,” he said. Sean Davis, pastor of Ocean City Baptist Church, welcomed guests. Davis said the world has come to Ocean City, referring to international college students who arrive each summer to work in the various beach businesses. Davis said the church, in partnership with Central Atlantic Leisure Ministries and many churches throughout the Eastern Baptist Association, has had the opportunity to minister to students from 45 countries this year. “We have the world come to us every summer,” Davis said. Bill Archer, minister of music at Redland Baptist Church (RBC), led a huge praise team from RBC singing a mixture of music, old and new. The team included a choir, praise band and orchestra. Archer said the praise team represents eight decades of life, from teens to those in their 80’s. Plenary guest speaker Steve Davis said, “After that (continued on next page) Top: Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network President, Bill Warren prays during the Monday morning Presidents’ Prayer during the Nov. 8-10 annual celebration in Ocean City, Md. Bottom: Maryland/Delaware WMU President, Barbara Matney, left, participates in worship. (MABN Photos/ Shannon Baker) Winter 2015
Presidents’ Prayer On Monday morning of the Annual Celebration, Network President Bill Warren (pictured on preceding page), joined by past presidents Byron Day, Rick Hancock, Jim McBride and Tim Simpson, gathered to pray before the day’s proceedings. Warren led the participants on a prayer journey, which consisted of praying through Psalm 28:1-2, 30 in small groups and individually. Participants also laid hands on and prayed for Tom Stolle, outgoing interim executive director of the Network, and Hancock, who assumed that role on Nov. 15. Jud Kossum, music minister at Allen Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, Md., led in worship.
Annual offering to benefit international students Thank you to all those who contributed nearly $2,200 to this year’s Annual Celebration offering to help Pastor Sean Davis (pictured above) and Ocean City (Md.) Baptist Church/Central Atlantic Leisure Ministries (CALM) reach international students. Every summer, over 5,000 students from all over the world, many from nations closed to the Gospel, live and work in the coastal city. Ocean City Baptist, with assistance by Eastern Baptist Association churches and summer mission teams, uses the opportunity to witness, providing free weekly dinners as well as coffeehouses and music nights.
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ANNUAL CELEBRATION FOCUSES ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS (cont.)
great music I feel like a guy calling a business meeting after the rapture!” Davis is regional vice president, East Region of the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Davis introduced NAMB’s new logo and message—to equip “every person in the pew to take the next step in missional engagement.” Davis said NAMB’s new “SEND Network” and “SEND Relief” will open up more avenues for Southern Baptists to be more engaged in ministry throughout North America. “We want to help you make that next missional step,” he said. Referring to the celebration’s theme, “Loving Our Neighbors,” Davis said, “If we don’t start there, we’re not going to reach North America with the Gospel.” He explained one of NAMB’s core values, “Whatever it takes.” “We’re committed to that. We want to do whatever it takes to penetrate ‘lost-ness, and conserve the harvest by planting churches,” he said. Following a video highlighting several Mid-Atlantic area directors of missions, Reid Sterrett said every Monday pastors are going through “holy hangovers,” often feeling discouraged, lonely and inse-
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cure. Sterrett praised directors of missions for their “local touches.” Sterrett also said the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network is covering pastors in prayer. “We believe that praying for our pastors is one of the most important things we can do.” Dennis Kim, pastor of Global Mission Church, Silver Spring, Md., and second speaker for the evening, said, “I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit among us tonight.” Speaking to the meeting’s theme, Kim said the Old Testament Patriarch Joseph was an “outstanding example” of loving our neighbors, especially when neighbors are unloving. Kim said Joseph could love because he relied on God who was always with him; he was faithful to God in small tasks and God’s grace made Joseph’s dreams come true. Joseph endured the hardships and setbacks in order to fulfill his God-given dreams. “We must be faithful carrying out our God-given mission. We must be faithful in loving our neighbors,” he said. Kim prayed, “Dear God, we thank You so very much for Joseph and for people like Joseph who love their neighbors and sacrifice themselves to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. So let us continue
the great commission by loving our neighbors.” Network Second-VicePresident Randall Blackmon closed the first session with prayer. Blackmon prayed, “… Help us be empowered by the Holy Spirit to move from the pew to our communities… stir us up…You sent Jesus, You send us on a mission…make us one around the Gospel, restore and refresh us.” Monday Network President Bill Warren led an hour of prayer early Monday morning. Based on Psalm 18, “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer…in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold…” Former BCM/D Presidents Rick Hancock, Jim McBride, Winter 2015
Several church leaders shared in the worship services held during the Nov. 8-10 annual celebration of the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network, including Jimmy Painter, pastor of Cresthill Baptist Church in Bowie, Md., left; Wayne and Amy Hetrich and friends from Leonardtown Baptist Church, center; Tom Stolle, outgoing Network interim executive director and Network President Bill Warren, top right; and Dave Aubrey, minister of music and youth and other worship team members from Cornerstone Church, Dover, Del., bottom right. (MABN Photos/Shannon Baker) Byron Day and Tim Simpson led a time of prayer. In addition to group prayers, there was opportunity for individual private confession and a time of praying and laying hands on Tom Stolle and Rick Hancock, thanking God for Stolle’s leadership and praying for him and his family and their continued strength in his Network ministry and for Hancock as he takes the role of the Network’s interim executive director. Jud Kossum, music minister, Allen Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, led soft worshipful music between the prayers. Throughout the morning, there were multiple NetworkWinter 2015
sponsored equipping and networking brunches available for pastors, ministry wives, children and music ministers, church planters and lay leaders. Afternoon breakout opportunities included sessions about ministry to Muslims, churches ministering to families with special needs, same sex marriage and how it impacts the church, the church and immigration, and a candid racial reconciliation panel discussion. Several affinity dinners were held for seminary alumni, church planters, language pastors, and leaders interested in
continuing ministry after the riots in Baltimore. During the Monday evening session of the celebration, Cornerstone Church of Dover, Del., led worship. Steve McAdams from Maryland’s Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives expressed gratitude from the Governor regarding community efforts made by the Network in Baltimore after the spring riots. He urged church leaders to become partners with the local government, which has access to several resources. (continued on next page) Page 7
LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS (cont.) Business Sessions Messengers re-elected Bill Warren, pastor of Allen Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, as Network president. Curtis Hill, pastor of Ogletown Baptist Church, Newark, Del., was elected first vice-president; and Keith Myer, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church, Salisbury, as second vice-president. David Gaines, pastor of Manna Bible Baptist Church, Baltimore, was re-elected as recording secretary and his wife, Tracey, will serve as assistant recording secretary. Victor Kirk, pastor of Sharon Bible Fellowship Church, Lanham, chairperson of the executive director search committee, presented an update on the search. Kirk said the application process closed on Oct. 15. There are seven official candidates for the position. “We are in the process of interviewing, researching and vetting [the candidates],” Kirk said. Messengers approved a $7.9 million budget, which includes Cooperative Program (CP) receipts of $3.875 million. The budget includes increased church planting funds as a rePage 8
sult of a new strategic partnership with NAMB. General Mission Board (GMB) President Mark Dooley said the budget covers some “extremely exciting” new initiatives supported by the State Missions Offering and additional budgeted funds. These new initiatives include church revitalization and new strategically-targeted African American, Jewish, and Muslim church planting as well as planting churches for families with special needs. Dooley said Network budgeted funding comes through many different sources, but the “lion’s share” of funding is from the gifts churches provide through CP giving. He highlighted that the 2016 spending plan includes a one percent increase in the convention’s CP giving, explaining that in 2015, 41.5 percent of CP receipts were forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention to support national and international ministries rather than being kept “home.” Though CP receipts have not been increasing, the GMB recommended taking a step of faith to increase the CP
giving to 42.5 percent with an eventual goal of reaching a 5149 percent split, sending more than keeping. Dooley said, “To do that requires all of our churches to make a commitment to CP as our primary funding mechanism. While increasing our one percent won’t keep missionaries on the field, it’s a step in the right direction.” Messengers and guests gave $2,165.01 to the annual offering, which was designated this year for ministry to international students in Ocean City. Special Guest Christopher Duffley Tom Stolle introduced special guests Christopher Duffley and his mother Christine. Christopher, a blind and autistic 14 year old, was born at 26 weeks, one-pound, 12 ounces and placed in foster care. His then aunt, now his mother, visited him as a baby when Christopher had double pneumonia. She and her husband, Stephen, prayed, brought Christopher home and eventually adopted him as their son. “It really all started with a Winter 2015
prayer in the morning, ‘Lord, I surrender all to you,’ and this was before God placed Christopher on my heart,” Christine said. He flourished in the love he found in his new home but as he grew he struggled to communicate. But he could sing. Duffley said his parents played the “Shout to the Lord” praise album “constantly,” but they especially encouraged him to sing “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” “They wanted me to know that God loved me and He lived in my heart and that could see Him through my heart,” Christopher said before he sang the song. Monday Night Sermon
Photos (top to bottom): Harold Phillips, left, pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church, Port Deposit, Md., and member of the Network’s Administrative Committee, leads prayer for the Network staff. Redland Baptist Church’s worship team, led by Bill Archer, left, leads worship, assisted by ASL interpreter, Niel Augustine, right. Reid Sterrett, executive director of the Eastern Baptist Association, serves as emcee for this year’s gathering. Messengers pray over Rick Hancock and Tom Stolle, center, during the Presidents’ Prayer on Monday morning. (MABN photos/Shannon Baker) Winter 2015
Michael Crawford, in his Monday evening message, focusing on “Whatever It Takes,” said, “We stand on the edge of unprecedented opportunity. Never in the history of this convention have we had so many opportunities to do so much” with what God has given us. “Whatever it takes is a mentality…an attitude…a commitment to accomplish the mission no matter the cost,” he told messengers and guests. Crawford passionately shared his excitement about God’s movement in church revitalization, collegiate ministry, and a new outreach opportunity to partner churches to to pray for congressmen and senators. He also expressed excitement for the Network’s new initiatives in the area of African American church planting, and planting and equipping churches to reach Jewish people and Muslims, as well as families with disabilities. “Our future is incredible,” Crawford said. Tom Stolle closed the Monday evening session with prayer. Tuesday The final day of the Annual Celebration brought a time of worship, commitment, laugh(continued on next page) Page 9
LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS (cont.) ter and prayer. A majority of messengers and guests stayed for the final session. Jud Kossum led worship before Bill Warren shared the annual President’s address. “What are you afraid of? What makes you worry?” Warren asked, noting the typical top ten fears people have, including public speaking, heights, spiders….and darkness. “These are dark times for some of you and you are afraid it will not get any better. “God never leaves His people on a cross. There is always a resurrection,” Warren said. Tom Stolle recognized new pastors and staff members, and thanked Executive Office Coordinator Donna Jefferys for her management of the celebration’s logistics. He also recognized directors of missions and called them on stage one by one. Bruce Conley, Blue Ridge Association director of missions and president of the Baptist Foundation of Maryland/Delaware, presented the Foundation’s report. Conley reported that through the Foundation’s loan program, 18 Network churches are being assisted with over $2.5 million in loans. The interest is used to start and strengthen churches. Conley, on behalf of the Foundation, presented Bill Warren, on behalf of the Network, a check for $123,779.225. Barbara Matney, the Network’s Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) president reported for both the WMU and for Melody Knox, specialist of church strengthening: women and WMU. Matney said the WMU emphasizes being a missionary wherever you are at this time in this place. “Let’s do whatever it takes, no matter what it means to empower limitless missionary teams to reach unreached people for the glory of God,” she said. Matney Page 10
encouraged churches to welcome with “open arms” the International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries returning from the field after IMB’s recent downsizing (due to lack of funding). Ed Litton, pastor of First Baptist Church, North Mobile, Ala., (now known as Redemption Church) presented the final sermon. Litton began his presentation following a video about church revitalization. “Southern Baptists have a mindset that death is an event. It is a process,” Litton said, referring to the video, in which Randy Millwood stood in what looked like a church with stained glass windows. In reality, it was a coffee shop that used to be a church. “Churches becoming beauty shops, coffee shops and bars…I say God forbid!” Litton said emphatically. Litton said Christians live in a day of pluralism and secularism. “How shall we now live? Do we embrace the culture or withdraw?” Litton said God calls us to fearlessly love the city where he has placed us because God loves the city where we live. Drew Worsham, a Christian illusionist and mentalist from Drew Worsham Ministries, brought a refreshing time of laughter and amazement as he “guessed” words people picked out of imaginary books and cards from a card deck. Worsham, also a full-time campus pastor at Resonate Church in Pullman, Wash., uses his illusionist ministry as an oppor-
tunity to share the Gospel and encourage others in ministry. “I’m not a guy who doesn’t understand the ‘trenches,’” he said. “I love and have a heartbeat for missions and church planting.” Worsham encouraged listeners to lead their lost culture by loving their neighbors. A lot of the time, it starts with a conversation, he said. Bill Warren closed the celebration in prayer, “We leave today as one. Keep us that way for Your glory.”
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Photos: The Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network recognized several directors of missions who minister in Maryland and Delaware (left to right, top): Reynold Carr, Reid Sterrett, Bob Mackey, Ron Blankenship, Rick Hancock, Keith Corrick, Bruce Conley and (bottom left) Dan Sheffield. Christopher Duffley, (preceding page, bottom right) leads worship. Jud Kossum (top right) and Bill Warren (middle right) of Allen Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, Md., lead during the Tuesday session. Christian illusionist and mentalist, Drew Worsham (bottom right), performs with Kym Young of Maryland City Baptist Church, Laurel, Md., also on Tuesday morning. (MABN Photos/Shannon Baker) Winter 2015
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Michael Crawford
Messages point to hope, partnership in the Gospel “We stand on the edge of unprecedented opportunity,” said Michael Crawford, state director of missions for the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network, in his Monday evening address. “We’re not here absent-minded; we’re not here without Bibles; we’re not here without the Holy Spirit; we’re not here without each other....We are, in the language of Mordecai, born ‘for such a time as this.’”
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rawford said, “God has strategically put us in the generation of Caitlyn Jenners ... where autism is on the rise ... when the city of Baltimore is burning, and the people are killing each other. We are the generation that must own Ferguson, ... that serves under President Obama, ... that answers the cries of North Korea, because we were born for ‘such a time as this, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission.” Crawford detailed historical and biblical people—Esther, Jesus, Zacchaeus, the Apostle Paul and the many listed throughout Hebrews—who did whatever it took to accomplish their assigned missions. “In Scripture, we see a ‘WHATEVER IT TAKES’ God, Crawford explained. “God, throughout redemptive history, has chosen so many different ways to speak
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to us. God is willing to do whatever it takes to reach you!”“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). “Was the Gospel a tithe? No! He gave everything!” Crawford stressed. People, on the other hand, face several enemies that prevent them from doing whatever it takes, including: having a wrong view of God, having an undefined or worthless mission, narcissism, suffering, division or the simple fact they’ve never experienced the grace of God. “When you realize how committed God is to saving your soul when He says, ‘I will never leave you and never forsake you,’” he said. “When you experience that grace, ‘WHATEVER IT TAKES” is ‘Yeah! Of course!’” He challenged, “We serve in, if not one of, the most stra-
tegic areas in all of America. What an incredible opportunity we have!...What if by 2020, we have 750 Southern Baptist churches doing whatever it takes?” With that backdrop, Crawford identified several new initiatives the Network will undertake to help churches do “whatever it takes” to “love their neighbors” with the Gospel. “We started with the Brick Tour and have continued with prayer. We’ll continue to pursue consistent contact and support with you,” he said. “We know as a Network and as a Network staff, there are times when we’ve failed. There are seasons when we are not competent. On behalf of all of the staff, we apologize... some of you have been hurt and offended by us. We haven’t strengthened your church. We haven’t helped you. We ask for your forgiveness. We ask for your understanding. You need Winter 2015
to know that we are people, too.” He shared how Randy Millwood and the church-strengthening team has worked on several initiatives designed to help churches be healthier. He shared about Joel Rainey and the Engagement team’s efforts to work with Open Door America to work on the systemic issues that spawned the Baltimore riots. He pointed to the over-the-top outreach being done by the Network’s team of collegiate ministers. He also shared about current plans to assist churches in adopting and praying for congressmen and senators in our Nation’s Capital. And then he shared about church planting, which will focus a large part of its budget on reaching varous people groups: African Americans, Jewish people, Muslims, and families with special needs. (Visit online at www. bcmd.org/annual-recap to see videos of each of these initiatives.) “We are going forward. We are going to do whatever it takes to reach people with the Gospel,” Crawford said. “We can do it.” Focusing on the second part of a three-year theme of “Gofwd, Loving Neighbors, Sharing Christ,” guest speakers for the 2015 Annual Celebration also addressed “loving our neighbors.” In his remarks, Steve Davis noted there is one SBC church for every 1,385 people in Mississippi. Davis is vice president for convention relations, East region, for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Conversely, in Delaware, there is one SBC church for every 26,973 people. In Maryland, there is one for every 10,622 people. “We want to do whatever it takes to penetrate lost-ness, and conserve the harvest by Winter 2015
planting churches,” he said, challenging others to do whatever it takes. Doing so will require three things, he stressed:
Dr. Steve Davis
Dr. Dennis Kim
Dr. Ed Litton a fresh conviction about the lost-ness of people (Romans 10:1); a genuine expression of the love of Jesus (2 Cor. 5:14); and an understanding about the lateness of the times (Romans 13:11). Will you do whatever it takes? Dennis Manpoong Kim, senior pastor of Global Mission Church in Silver Spring, Md., challenged listeners to live like the Old Testament Joseph, who had every reason to be discouraged by what was happening
to him. And yet, he still loved his neighbors. “Loving our neighbors means to care for them, to heal their wounds, to provide their needs, and to share the Gospel for their salvation,” he said. How did Joseph love his neighbors? He relied on God who was always with him—under all circumstances (Gen. 39:1-3), Kim said. “Because he solely loved God, he was able to love the unlovely—his master and even his fellow servants in Egypt,” he said. “Yes, we can fall into despair when we look at our own situation and circumstances, but if we turn our eyes to God who is always with us and helps us in times of need, we can love even the unlovely, even our neighbors.” Ed Litton, senior pastor of First Baptist Church North Mobile, Ala. (now known as Redemption Church), acknowledged that today’s church is living in a time of great change. Many wonder how to be authentic. “We either embrace the culture, or we withdraw from the culture bound by our traditions,” he said, adding, “The Gospel is the only thing that can change culture.” Pointing to Jeremiah 29:4-8, he challenged his listeners to heed God’s call to fearlessly love the city where He has placed them because God loves the city where He has placed them. He explained, the key is family engagement for the Gospel, noting through the Prophet Jeremiah, God’s people were told to build houses, settle down, plant gardens, marry, increase their number, and to “seek peace and prosperity” where they were sent. Our goal is to be the Gospel in this culture, he said. “We have a choice to be Lot’s wife, to be Jonah, or be like Jesus who wept over the city,” he said.
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six Ministry Wives:
things your love does for your husband
At this year’s Ministry Wife Brunch, Kathy Ferguson-Litton shared six ways a ministry wife’s unconditional love for her husband makes a difference in his ministry: 1) Your love gives your husband courage and confidence in a world in which he is constantly proving himself to others; 2) Your love helps quiet his fears about himself; 3) Your love tells him the truth in love (but doesn’t nag him with unsolicited advice); 4) Your love gives him a place to be vulnerable, where he doesn’t have to regret opening up and being honest; 5) Your love is not dependent on his performance but is an unfailing love; and 6) Your love draws him into emotional intimacy, which is especially accomplished through an atmosphere of humor and laughter. Kathy Ferguson-Litton is married to Ed Litton, pastor of First Baptist Church of North Mobile, Ala. (now known as Redemption Church). She serves as national consultant for ministry to pastors’ wives for the North American Mission Board. Page 14
Winter 2015
TRANSITIONS Congratulations to the following pastors who recently announced their retirements: Stan Beall, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Laurel, Md., announced he will retire in April 2016. He has served at this very diverse church for the past 16 years. Gayle Clifton will retire as pastor of Upper Seneca Baptist Church on Dec. 31. He and his wife, Beth, Stan Beall have served at the church since 2007. Prior to that they ministered at Olney Baptist Church for 28 years. They will remain in the local area.
Gayle Clifton
Ken Stalls retired on Nov. 22 as pastor of South End Mitch Dowell Baptist Church after serving for 24 years. He and his wife, Joan, moved to Richmond, Va., on Nov. 30.
800-466-5290 + ext. below)
DECEMBER 2015
1-6, Week of Prayer for International Missions (x218) 24-Jan 1, Network Center closed for Christmas
4, Network Center reopens 8-10, reBOOT@Skycroft, for Grades 6-12 (800-536-6759 x111) 9 & 16, ESL Training for new teachers, First Laurel, 9am4:30pm (x226) 15, Church Planter Orientation, Network Center, 10am-2pm (x222) 14, Weekday Education Directors Network, Network Center, 10am-2pm (x218) 15-17, reBOOT@Skycroft, for Grades 6-12 (800-536-6759 x111) 17, Sanctity of Life Sunday 18, Network Center Closed Martin Luther King Day 26, Ministers Tax Seminar, Network Center, 9am-1pm (x204)
FEBRUARY 2016
Ken Stalls
SENIOR PASTOR: First Baptist Church of Laurel, Maryland, is seeking an experienced Pastor to lead our congregation. First Baptist is a missions-minded, multi-national church with a congregation comprising persons from over 50 nations, and is located midway between Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D.C. Candidates must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in pastoral leadership of a multi-ethnic and/or multi-cultural church body. A Master of Divinity is required and a Doctorate of Theology/Ministry is preferred. This position becomes available in April, 2016. Qualified candidates should submit, in addition to their resume, a one-page cover letter describing their involvement with a multi-national congregation, comments on their personal devotional life, overview of their leadership style and why they sense God is leading them to serve in Laurel, Md. Submittals should be sent to the Pastoral Search Committee, First Baptist Church of Laurel, 15000 First Baptist Lane, Laurel MD 20707 (email: psearch@fbclaurel.com). Electronic submittal is highly preferred. Prior to their submittal, applicants should review the material found on the web site, www.fbclaurel.com/ pastorsearch. Winter 2015
(www.bcmd.org/calendar or
JANUARY 2016
Mitch Dowell retired as Delaware Baptist Association’s director of missions on Nov. 30. He and his wife, Rosetta, will move to Las Vegas, Nev. Dowell formerly served as executive director of Embrace Wilmington.
For more details about these pastors and others, visit baptistlifeonline.org.
Winter Network Events
6, Kids’ Ministry Conference, The Church at Covenant Park, 9:30am-2:30pm (x218) 11-17, Focus on WMU (x218) 8-9, Interim Pastor Training, Network Center, 9:30am-4pm (x217) 12, Cohort #1 for Church Planters (x222) 12-13, Leadership Lab for student leaders, Skycroft (800-536-6759 x111) 14, Racial Reconciliation Sunday 21, Baptist Foundation of Maryland/Delaware Sunday 27, VBS Expo/Celebration, South Columbia, 9:30am-2pm (x218) 29-Mar. 1, AWAKEN: Church Revitalization, Skycroft (x217) Please note: Dates and events are subject to change.
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