E-Link Online is the biweekly electronic newsletter of the American Baptist Churches of Michigan



Dr. Michael A. Williams
Executive Minister

Joseph I. Mortensen
E-Link Online Editor
989.835.6923

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About E-Link Online

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Issue 2006.18, Monday, August 28, 2006

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The ABC-MI is pleased to announce this year's equipping event: Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age -- Building Bridges Instead of Barriers and and the ABC-MI Annual Meeting, November 3-4, 2006, at the Chilson Hills Baptist Church of Brighton.

Featured presenter: Edward H. (Eddie) Hammett, Senior Coach for Hickory Learning Communities and Valwood Christian Leadership Coaching, and a founding partner for The Columbia Partnership.

Friday, November 3 -- all-day training event for pastors to assist them in coaching their congregations in building bridges to the unchurched.

Saturday, November 4 -- worship followed by two equipping sessions for both pastors and lay leaders. Morning session: The Challenge of Today's Church, Keeping People over 60 While Reaching People under 40. Afternoon session: Learning to Minister in a Post Modern Culture, Learning to Measure What Matters.

The ABC-MI Annual Meeting -- 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. During this meeting delegates will act on the 2007 budget, nominating committee report, and other business of the ABC-MI.

Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age, an excellent book by Equipping Event keynote speaker Edward Hammett, explores the questions:

‡  How can we be faithful people of God in a post-Christian, post-denominational, post-modern world?
‡  How can we do ministry in, through, and as the church in an increasingly secular world?
‡  How can we build bridges to unchurched people instead of erecting barriers?

The book draws on Biblical concepts from the ministries of Jesus and Paul as they ministered to people unlike themselves during cataclysmic culture change. Similar circumstances prevail today. Hammett offers a 'coach approach' to reflect on current cultural changes, negotiate the transition, strategize for the future, and move congregations from maintenance to mission.

The book is available from the Region Office at the discounted price of $14. Stop by the Region Office (4578 S. Hagadorn Rd., East Lansing) to pick up a copy or call (800 632-2953) to have a copy shipped to you for $17. Pick yours up today.

VOICES

"I think the church today in America partakes of the contemporary American disease of 'Let me alone! I want to get along and I don't want to be bothered with too many things.' And I think that's in the churches. When a pulpit becomes an echo of the pew, it loses, I think, almost all of its reasons for existence." -- The Rev. Gardner C. Taylor [See Editor's Trips below]

"I believe with all my heart that the true leaders of this country are the pastors who are in the pulpits. When you look at our history, it was the pastors that made this country what it is today. It wasn't our elected officials. They mess things up." -- Phil Burress [See Editor's Trips below]

"I started listening to the prayers in my own church, and they seemed very transactional. One method was to inform God of something he didn't already know, or else to talk God into doing something that God was probably reluctant to do. Both of those ideas start with a pretty small idea of God. But a lot of evangelical Protestantism is that 'help me fix up my life' mentality, and our prayers reflect that. My own perception has changed to 'What has God already done in the world? What does God want done in the world? And how can I be part of that?'" -- Philip Yancey [See Editor's Trips below]

Region Executive Committee Acts on Woodside Issue

The Executive Committee of the American Baptist Churches of Michigan has responded to the vote of North Area churches to disfellowship the Woodside Church of Flint. A letter from the Executive Committee has gone out to the ABC-MI constituency to report the recommendation which will go to the full Region Board on September 9. The full text of the letter appears below.

The text of the relevant portion of the Region Bylaws affecting the Committee's decision is in this online document: http://abc-mi.org/elink/exec-comm-rec.pdf.

The entire Bylaws are in this online document: http://abc-mi.org/elink/region-bylaws.pdf.

Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns

§  The Rev. Inga Freyer-Nicholas (former co-pastor with husband Ron at Michigan Avenue, Saginaw) has returned to her Florida home after hospitalization for complex, serious health issues. Ron writes, "She has home nursing and physical therapy care on a regular basis. The home nurse will make the call when Inga needs the upgrade to hospice which her attending physician ordered for her when needed. As he indicated, none of these conditions ALONE is fatal and could be managed, for the most part, but TAKEN TOGETHER--as a whole--the aggregate is life-limiting and life-shortening. This is an unwelcome fact we're learning to deal with at this point. Your support and prayers--and love--are greatly appreciated. The calls, visits, cards, and notes helped make this past week endurable. Inga's finding one beneficial side effect of the short-term memory loss--she can reread the cards over again because they appear new each time. -- Grace & Peace, Ron Freyer-Nicholas, OSL." [Email: ron.freyer.nicholas@gmail.com]

§  Lorraine Demorest went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 10, 2006. Lorraine attended Ingham County Normal and worked for 42 years in the Controllers Office at MSU. She enjoyed music and played the organ and piano for many years at First Baptist Church of Mason (now Mason Community Church) and taught Sunday school classes, from Junior Department age to Senior Citizens. She served on the ABC-MI Region Board, the Central Area Board, and American Baptist Women for many years, and will be missed greatly by those who knew and loved her. We are blessed to have known this faithful servant of Christ as part of the ABC-MI family, and take comfort in knowing she is in the presence of the Savior. Funeral services were held August 15 in Mason. In memory of Lorraine, contributions may be made to Mother Teresa House, PO Box 13004, Lansing, MI 48901 or to Forgotten Man Ministries, 3940 Fruit Ridge NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544.

§  The Lansing State Journal recently spotlighted the Love Clothing Center operated by Judson Memorial Baptist Church. See the article: http://tinyurl.com/zuhdt

Walled Lake Church Gives 200 Bibles for South Africa

On Sunday, August 13, First Baptist Church of Walled Lake hosted ABC-USA missionaries to South Africa, Drs. Rick and Anita Gutierrez. Dr. Rick Gutierrez brought the message entitled Holy Spirit Temple. Since our bodies are the temples for the Holy Spirit, it behooves us to take care of our physical bodies. Drs. Rick and Anita help the people in South Africa take care of their bodies through routine health maintenance and check-ups.

Rick and Anita had expressed a need for pocket size New Testaments for distribution and Bible studies in their community. First Baptist underwrote this project and procured 200 Gideon Bibles. Gideons Larry Ballard (left) and Russ Townley (right) presented them with the Bibles during the worship service.

Following the worship service a potluck dinner was held in their honor. A great time of fun, food, and fellowship was had by all. In this picture, Anita (2nd from right) talks with a few of the women about life in South Africa.

After the potluck dinner First Baptist held a softball game with another church. Despite the magnificent efforts of the pitching staff, flawless execution of our ball handlers, and the powerful hitting of the ball by Drs. Rick and Anita Gutierrez, the other team scored more runs than we did. As you can see from the picture, Rick was about to hit a home run. Click on pictures for larger view. See related article below.

Spotlight on Healthy Churches: Wellspring

Wellspring, an old church in a new location, has a growing and effective ministry. Formed in 1906 as the Hudson Avenue Baptist Church in Detroit, the congregation later became the Northwestern Baptist Church in Southfield. In 2001 the church bought land in Farmington Hills and built a new building and took the name Wellspring Church. The church's new name embodies the congregation's desire to become a wellspring of the Holy Spirit. In October Wellspring will celebrate 100 years of Spirit-led ministry.

One of the healthiest things about the church is the desire of the people for spiritual wholeness. The church has used Natural Church Development assessment for the last three years. Each year has provided a positive focus for spiritual development. The first year the congregation focused on developing need-oriented evangelism. They worked on passionate spirituality in the second year and on inspiring worship in the third. Work in each of these areas fostered spiritual growth among the members. Involvement in Natural Church Development has helped with growth in a number of other areas of church life and ministry as well.

Rev. Jane Moschenrose, church pastor, recommends Natural Church Development to Region churches ready to focus on specific areas of ministry in congregational life.

The movement toward greater spiritual wholeness has led to a major emphasis on prayer. The church is known for its practice of prayer for people near and far away. During Sunday worship prayer has a major part in the service. Some members of the church offer to pray for others as a part of their Christian witness. In fact, people sometimes come to the church just to be prayed for or to leave a prayer request. This offering of prayer for others has grown to the point where some are discovering additional ways to minister to others through their daily jobs. The church understands that a part of their mission is to equip members to witness for Christ in the world outside the church building.

The pastor's role is to guide and equip the members in their common ministry as people of faith. She encourages their growth toward spiritual wholeness, and in turn the congregation encourages and supports the pastor in her growth toward positive pastoral leadership. This too is the sign of a healthy church. With the encouragement of the church, the pastor has just completed the three year CECL program at Green Lake, and this fall she will begin work on a Doctor of Ministry degree. In varied ways, Wellspring church is empowering leadership.

From a strong youth group of active teens, to young adult Bible study, to mission in the community, the church is attempting to live out its purpose to worship the Lord, grow as disciples, share God's love, serve all people, and spread the good news. More than anything they want to be a wellspring of the Holy Spirit!

Note from the Editor

I will be in Russia from September 13 to October 9, as a visiting professor at Moscow Theological Seminary. Therefore only one issue of E-Link Online will appear during September, published just before my departure. Those who submit articles and announcements for E-Link should anticipate their needs accordingly. The first issue in October will come out right after my return.

On three previous occasions (1996, 1998, 2000) I've had the honor and privilege of teaching at the Seminary, which opened its doors in 1993. I look forward to seeing some of the very able first graduates who were my students in 1996 and now administer and teach at the school. Do I speak Russian? Yes, but only if clumsy mangling a few words and sentences makes one a Russian speaker. Fortunately the Seminary has an extremely capable interpreter and English teacher on staff, Valentina Garkusha. She does a superb job of interpreting for visiting professors from the West. Some students also have a good grasp of English.

Gennady Savin, Dean of the Seminary and among the ablest of those first students, has asked me to repeat a course taught on that first trip to Moscow and one other time since: Theology of Baptism. In a religious milieu overwhelmingly dominated by the Russian Orthodox Church and its practice of infant baptism (albeit by threefold immersion!) Baptists profit from looking at their own assumptions and traditions in the light of Scripture.

Russian Baptists customarily honor visiting preachers/professors by inviting them to speak in their churches on Sundays (and sometimes midweek). I will no doubt bring one of the usual four sermons at some of the two dozen or more Baptist churches in the Moscow Region, many of them led by Seminary students.

Since my last trip the Seminary has moved from cramped quarters shared with the Russian Baptist Union to its own spacious and completely remodeled and refurbished campus which I am eager to see. I ask your prayers for our brothers and sisters in Russia, safe journey, good health, and fruitful sessions with the students. --- J.I.M

Ministry Leadership Groups -- Farewell, Richard

On a recent sunny afternoon Chuck McNeil's Ministry Leadership Group gathered to celebrate Richard Wilford's ministry at Clarklake and wish him well as he and his wife Adrienne discover God's next step in their lives. Along with his meaningful ministry at Clarklake, Richard served ABC-MI as Vice-President (2004), President (2005), and now as Past-President, chairing the Region's nominating committee. Members of the MLG showered Richard with cards of thanks as well as a special gift.

Reflecting on his experience in his MLG, Richard remarked, I found the MLG to be a very vital connection in my ministry. Developing relationships with other pastors, having the opportunity to share at a very deep level, praying with others and being prayed for, all have contributed to the strengthening of my ministry. I would encourage anyone who is not yet part of an MLG to join one, right now!

Pictured are Fritz Kruse, Brian Johnson, Tucker Gunneman, Richard Wilford, Kent Jennings, Peer Leader Chuck McNeil, and Randy Johnson. Missing from the picture are Heidi DeMott Shanes and Brian Manary.

In addition to their regular once-a-month meeting, members of this MLG meet regularly for lunch. They also go golfing together, gather with their spouses on special occasions such as ringing in the New Year and watching the Super Bowl, and have even been spotted boating! Their meetings are marked by mirth and merriment but also by serious and sacred reflection on issues important to ministry.

If you are not yet part of an MLG and would like to join this group or one of the other 9 MLGs serving our region, please e-mail Pat Hernandez (phernandez@abc-mi.org).

World Mission Offering (WMO)

The World Mission Offering (WMO) is the single largest source of financial support for the global outreach God accomplishes through International Ministries (IM). Your gifts to WMO make it possible for missionaries to serve in over thirty countries and for staff to provide vital support to the mission outreach of local believers in even more places. What God is doing in our world today is truly amazing. WMO is a vitally important tool you can use to join God in that work.

IM missionaries strive to glorify God in all the earth as they cross cultural boundaries to make disciples of Jesus Christ. They pursue this goal through a great variety of ministries done in partnership with local believers around the globe. We have more than 170 mission partnerships in more than 70 countries proclaiming the good news.

IM was founded by Baptists in American in 1814 for mission throughout the world. Over the past 192 years many things have changed, but the primary thing has remained constant: to see people enter into a deeply transforming relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

Project: Collecting Bibles for South Africa

Bibles are needed to support the ministry of Drs. Rick and Anita Gutierrez, ABC missionaries who are both physicians serving in South Africa. As their home State, we hope to show our support to them by collecting many new or lightly used Bibles that they may take back to the mission field with them. Bibles are very expensive in South Africa and they are used with the lay health builders in training, as well as in evangelism.

The Bibles are the single most useful tool for Rick and Anita right now, because they cannot easily obtain them in South Africa. They will carry these Bibles back with them or ship them a few at a time. Evangelical tracts would also be a blessing for their ministry.

The Gutierrez prefer complete Bibles with OT and NT. They are requesting Study Bibles or Life Application Bibles in King James Version. This is the version of the Bible which the local Baptist and other evangelical Christians prefer. They do a lot of Bible study which requires traditional translations and they can't make good use of translations like "The Message." The problem with more contemporary translations is that new Christians studying the Bible together get confused when their Bible says something different than other versions.

Please prayerfully consider making this a mission project priority and a commitment to support the needs of our home missionaries. You will have a part in giving tools to those dedicated to spreading the Word of God to the other side of the world on your behalf. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Hart, Mission Assistant at the Region Office, by calling 800.632.2953 or e-mailing dhart@abc-mi.org.

A Transitional Church Success Story

Following is the story of one of our churches which has experienced growing health during their time of transition. By engaging in the Transitional Ministry process developed under the vision of Growing Healthy Churches, this congregation has seen God touch them in marvelous ways to prepare them for a new pastor. --TJG

The story of the First Baptist Church of Walled Lake is certainly one of God's goodness and mercy. For over the past year, the church has experienced significant healing and spiritual growth. As Walled Lake's moderator for the last two years, I can tell you that we have learned much in the Lord's classroom.

The road toward much of Walled Lake's healing and growth began in early 2005. Rev. Tucker Gunneman, the Consultant for Transitioning Ministries with the ABC-MI, facilitated a meeting at the church. The attendees participated in an exercise in which conflict management was singled out as the primary area in which church needed to improve.

From this meeting, Rev. Gunneman made two specific recommendations for the church. The first was to contract with a conflict resolution consultant. This recommendation led us to enlist the gifted services of Rev. Dan Buttry, a Global Consultant with the American Baptist International Ministries. The Lord taught us so much through Rev. Buttry's biblically based teachings and guided exercises. The process demonstrated that conflict does not have to be destructive; rather, it can be positive force, used to build each other up and make constructive change. Today, the Walled Lake congregation deals with its inevitable conflicts in a healthier manner.

In the midst of Walled Lake's conflict transformation, we hired the wonderful interim ministry team of Rev. Galen Lowery and his delightful wife, Leeann. The Lowery's have had an encouraging and positive impact on the church during our time of transition. Rev. Lowery's preaching and teaching have focused on how we can better connect with each other and with the community in which the Lord has placed us.

To date, Walled Lake has recruited a Spirit filled pastoral search committee. With Rev. Gunneman's guidance, this team is working on the important job of finding the next settled pastor that the Lord has in mind for Walled Lake.

Finally, we are currently in the process of embracing Rev. Gunneman's second recommendations. He is leading us through the prayerful process of discerning the church's purpose.

The last two years have been a lot of work. There have been many emotions, including joy, fear, anger, and anxiety. But I know that through the whole process, God was in control. He has blessed the First Baptist Church of Walled Lake and I praise and thank Him for it.

Face To Face Coming To New Castle, Indiana

Attention all ABC/MI Clergy and Search Committees:

FACE TO FACE is a one and a half day event which brings clergy, church search committees and seminary seniors in the ordination process together in one location for a series of first time interviews.

The next event will take place Friday and Saturday October 27-28 at First Baptist Church in Newcastle, IN (about 30 minutes east of Indianapolis). The costs are: Clergy: $75 includes registration fee, two meals, snacks, and photos; Search Committees: $75 for committee, plus $20 per Committee member for two meals, snacks, and photos.

Overnight accommodations and other meals are additional. Hotel and restaurant information is available in the registration packet. Registration deadline is September 25, 2006 -- this deadline is final.

Church search committees are assigned an interviewing space and pastoral candidates move from interview to interview. There are nine interview time slots available. Participants are scheduled with churches or clergy who have requested to meet with them and also scheduled with other matches that have been determined by the matching team based on interests, experience, gender and other background information.

Any church in transition may participate, and any pastor seeking a new call or first time call may register.

To register either as a search committee or pastoral candidate, visit the Face to Face website at http://www.abc-grr.org/f2fweb/index.cfm, or contact Rev. Tucker J. Gunneman, Consultant for Transitional Ministry, phone: 586.219.3392, or e-mail: tgunneman@abc-mi.org, or the Region Office.

Other important details and online registration are on the Face to Face website. If you have any other questions, please contact Rev. Tucker J. Gunneman.

Short Notices

The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center in Illinois is offering a couple of workshops this fall. 

Healthy Congregations: This workshop is designed to equip leaders to function as the congregational immune system that serves to put limits on destructive behavior. A key concept at the heart of Healthy Congregations is self-differentiation, people's capacity to calmly articulate what they think and value, and to act on that basis, while staying in active relationship with those who disagree. The dates of this workshop are September 22-23 in Glen Ellyn, IL.

Facilitating Healthy Pastor-congregation Relations: The workshop is based on LMPC's experience in serving as mediator and consultant to conflicted churches. An emphasis on working with these churches has been to help them establish more healthy conflict norms, in addition to implementing structural changes that can help a church function in more healthy ways. The dates of this workshop are October 13-14 in Pittsburgh, PA.

For registration and more information contact LMPC at 630-627-0507 or email at admin@LMPeaceCenter.org.

The Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary fall preaching conference will feature Biblical scholar F. Dale Bruner and preaching professor Timothy Brown in a one-day event on October 12, 2006. For more information go to http://tinyurl.com/qygg8.

Click for the latest issue of International Ministries Prayer Call.

Judson Press has a large quantity of two-sided postcards in stock to use to advertise the 2007 ABC-USA Biennial in Washington, DC at your national and regional events. See this pdf to view both sides of the postcard. There is no charge for the postcards. Please call Judson Customer Service at 1-800-4JUDSON to order your supply (item # 4897). Let's spread the word about this exciting celebration!

ABMEN of the Metro Detroit Association (SEA) are seeking a comedian for our 3rd Annual Fall Dinner. If you have had a Christian comedian (somewhat semi-professional) for an event at your church or outreach program that you would recommend, please contact Dennis via email dennistrezona@hotmail or by phone 800-457-5054 daytime. Fall dinner will be scheduled the beginning of November

Dr. James Gurley, one-time pastor at First Baptist, Davison, divides his year between Florida and Michigan. He is available for pulpit supply and may be contacted at 4576 Cottonwood Dr., Ann Arbor, 48l08. 734-769-O682, jbgurley@juno.com.

The next issue of E-Link Online will be published on September 12. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by September 9. There will be only one issue of E-Link Online during September. See Editor's Note above.

Editor's Trips

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