E-Link Online -- News of the American Baptist Churches of Michigan

Voices

"The greatest things in life are not reasonable. The mind may make sensible comments about these greatest things in life, but they are not reasonable. The love of a mother for her child has reason, but it is not reasonable. The love of a man for a woman, and the other way around, is surely not reasonable. Beauty, a sunset, the great plunging torrents of Niagara, the final tremendous thunders of the Hallelujahs in Handel's Messiah, the catch in the throat when the sun sets over the sea striking a line of gold on the calm waters, touches us at a different level from logic and reason. And the love of God for us is not reasonable." -- the Rev. Gardner Taylor

Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns

§ Ron Cary writes, "I want to express my appreciation for the many notes, cards and email messages of prayer support and encouragement which have been sent to me during my recent hospitalization and now my recuperation at home from open heart surgery. The need for the surgery was quite unexpected, but so has been the caring response of so many friends and colleagues from around the region. Your concern and your prayers have been a blessing to me. The surgery was "successful" and the anticipation is that I will make a full recovery and will return to work soon. Continue to pray that the healing touch of our Lord will prevail. Ron Cary"

§ Allen Park Baptist Church will install Dr. Charles B. Slay on March 11 during the 10:45 a.m. worship service. A luncheon will follow the service. All are welcome and invited to share in this joyous occasion. Dr. Slay and his lovely bride Luanna have been married 43 years. Luanna is a very gifted musician. They have four grown children and reside in Ann Arbor, where they have served in the community for several years. Dr. Slay is currently an adjunct professor at Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids. He is also a member of the ABC ministers council, and has been very active in the ABC transitional ministry. This is a time of great rejoicing at Allen Park. God has truly blessed this church, by sending his faithful servant to us. We thank Reverend Slay for being that servant. God is good!

§ Olivet Baptist Church of Lansing will dedicate a new worship center with ribbon cutting and open house at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 18. The Rev. Ed Owens is pastor at Olivet.

MDA Men's Breakfast

Men from across the Metro Detroit Association of American Baptist Churches met Saturday morning, February 14, at the First Baptist Church of Birmingham for good food, fellowship, inspiration, and prayer. This eighth annual event has become one way urban and suburban congregations have come together in a spirit of love and unity. Over the years, this event has rotated each year between a suburban church and an urban church.

The Rev. Dr. Wes Babian, senior minister of the host church, welcomed the men and challenged the gathering to consider what God can do through the group as men encourage each other in their Christian walk.

This year's keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. Samuel V. White, senior pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church of Detroit. He addressed the Scripture text and theme of the day, "As iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other" (Proverbs 27:17). He reminded the men, "God will put people in your life to sharpen you. God is more concerned about your character than your comfort." In speaking about mentoring as a way one can sharpen another, he stated, "God may just lead you to someone you do not want to mentor--you must be open to how the Spirit of God is working in your life if you are to be used of God and faithful."

In a show of support for the American Baptist Women's Ministries Naga Leadership Mission effort, the men collected in excess of $800 to support the upcoming women's mission trip to Nagaland, India. They responded to this mission endeavor after hearing from Mr. Scott Moore, who described the purpose of the mission trip.

The men concluded their morning by gathering around tables to share prayer concerns and to pray for one another. Following a season of prayer, they held hands and joined in singing "Blest Be The Tie That Binds". A special word of appreciation goes to the men of First Baptist Church of Birmingham for hosting this year's event. The planning team included Dennis Trezona, Dave Greene, Jamar Ahmad, and Roger Bradley.

Hagadorn Road Bridge Construction

Hagadorn Road in East Lansing will be closed to traffic between Grand River and Service Road from early March through mid-August while the bridge over the Red Cedar River is replaced. The road closing will affect ABC-MI constituents coming to the Region Office for meetings, especially those who travel I-69 to I-69 Business and proceed via Hagadorn Road.

For assistance in re-routing, please do not hesitate to contact the Region Office. We will gladly help you identify an alternate route to the Region Office!

'67 Riot Anniversary Observed

The Metro Detroit Association of ABC is emphasizing the Fortieth Anniversary of the civil disturbance in Detroit of 1967, commonly known as the '67 Riot. A Lenten Devotional is available for our churches for those Forty Days for reflection that may lead to repentance, renewal, and reconciliation. [Download the 22 page Devotional]

In a communication to colleagues, MDA vice-chair Dr. Wes Babian wrote, "On March 14, 2007, at 8:00 am, we have been graciously invited to meet at Friendship Baptist Church. A breakfast will be provided. We will share our reflections and thoughts about the question of how far we have come and how far we have yet to travel toward renewal and reconciliation since the events of July 1967."

Babian went on to say, "This is an important topic regarding one of the defining events of our metropolitan community. Come on March 14 for a time of prayer, conversation, and exploration. Please invite key lay persons from your congregation to attend as well."

The Association is subsidizing the cost of the breakfast. Please plan to contribute $ 5.00 for the meal. RSVP to the Association Office 1-248-443-6888 or by email by March 2, 2007. If you have questions about the event call Babian at 248-644-0550 or email wbabian@sbcglobal.net.

Executive Committee Amends 2007 Budget

At its February meeting the Executive Committee of the ABC-MI, taking into account actual receipts and expenses for 2006, amended the 2007 budget as follows: Budgeted Revenue: $726,305.00 for 2007 instead of the 2006 budget of $765,454.00. Budgeted Expenses: $733,616,00 for 2007 instead of the 2006 budget of $765,773.31. The complete news release is at http://abc-mi.org/?q=node/154.

Friendship House Matching Grant Extended

The ABC-MI Executive Committee has extended the church matching grant program to continue addressing the Friendship House "Mountain of Debt." The Executive Committee voted in Spring 2006 to challenge churches to join the Region to deal with the large debt facing Friendship House and set aside up to $20,000 from reserves to match all church contributions dollar for dollar throughout 2006. It was hoped that our churches would give $20,000 in 2006 which the Region would match. Through December 31, 2006, our churches gave nearly $10,500 through the ABC-MI remittance form specifically for the "Mountain of Debt" relief effort. With the Region match nearly $21,000 was forwarded to Friendship House.

The ABC-MI Executive Committee has extended the matching grant offer through July 31, 2007, up to the $9,500 remaining of the $20,000 originally set aside for this purpose. If the churches raise $9,500 by July 31, then coupled with the matching grant of $9,500 by the ABC-MI, Friendship House will receive another $19,000 for a grand total of $40,000 raised since the Spring, 2006 to address the nearly $80,000 original "Mountain of Debt."

In addition to the church matching grant program, the ABC-MI Executive Committee voted to restore funding through the Region budget to Friendship House for 2007 at a level previously approved by ABC-MI delegates in 2004 when they approved a five-year funding plan for Friendship House. So Friendship House will receive a grant of $17,500. Coupled with the $9,500 in the matching grant program, the ABC-MI funding in 2007 will total $27,000.

"This is quite a challenge for the Region to restore funding to Friendship House in light of the cuts we had to make to the 2007 budget (see news release entitled "ABC-MI Executive Committee Amends 2007 Budget")," according to Dr. Michael Williams, ABC-MI Executive Minister. "We believe, however, it is the right thing to do in light of the tremendous effort by the Friendship House Board of Directors to restore the historic ministry of Friendship House. We trust our churches will step up and sacrificially give to support our common mission and ministry."

Soar and Play

by Pat Hernandez

This year's clergy retreat featured the Rev. Dr. Kirk Byron Jones in a setting that allowed for connections and conversations with colleagues.

After sharing his own story of burnout and the resulting emotional, physical, and spiritual toll on himself and his family, Dr. Jones addressed the problem of clergy "overload" and "overcommitment." Citing as culprits the 3 A's: achievement, adrenaline and affirmation of others, Dr. Jones reflected on how overdoing becomes our undoing resulting in "holy, dead persons walking." In the drive to serve others, many ministers end up losing all sense of self in an unbalanced theology of sacrifice.

Dr. Jones pointed out the dangers of such unholy and unhealthy living by reminding pastors of the "sleeping Savior." Using as his text Mark 4:35-41, a passage in which Jesus falls asleep in the midst of a raging storm, Dr. Jones drew from Jesus strategies to deal with overload and living in overdrive which he has termed "Back of the Boat living."

"The back of the boat is that place where we may go to remember who and whose we are. It is the place where roles and responsibilities are no longer the matters at hand. What matters in the back of the boat is that we receive a refreshing of mind, body, and spirit."

Dr. Jones' strategies for "Back of the Boat" living are:

See More Clearly -- Seeing more clearly involves seeing slowly, reflectively, and gratefully, and slowing down enough to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and taking time to 'see on purpose' a sunset or a rainbow or the first light of day.

Listen More Carefully -- Listening more carefully involves paying attention to sounds and silence, becoming more aware not only of the sounds themselves but of the way they are shaped by silence.

Think More Deeply -- Thinking more deeply is not about accumulating more knowledge but about having a 'searching soul' which approaches life with a sense of genuine curiosity as well as reverence towards all of life.

Key to each of these strategies is a slower pace of life.

Says Jones. "Rest leads to peace; peace leads to clarity; clarity leads to creativity." While it might seem counterintuitive, slowing down actually results in a more productive life!

To help with these strategies and with adapting a 'savoring pace of life' visit www.savoringpace.com where you may also take the 'hurry test.'

Extend the Retreat!

Many clergy just returned from the "Soar and Play" retreat at the St. Francis retreat center. For those who want to extend the retreat and implement the strategies for 'living at a savoring pace' as well as for those who may not have been able to attend the retreat at all, Dr. Jones' book Morning B.R.E.W. ($13) as well as the Morning B.R.E.W. Journal ($9) is available for sale at the ABC-MI region office.

B.R.E.W. stands for:

Be Still (Psalm 46:10)
Receive God's Love (John 3:16)
Embrace Personhood (Psalm 118:24)
Welcome the Day (Psalm 118:24)

Have you had your B.R.E.W. today?

The book includes devotions that inspire and invite living with joy and purpose as well as at a slower pace. The journal is filled with inspirational thoughts and quotes as well as with plenty of room to write and reflect.

Call (800 632-2953, ext. 221) or e-mail the region office (dhart@abc-mi.org) to purchase your book today.

Short Notices

Camp Lake Louise Online Registration is available at www.camplakelouise.com. Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount

International Ministries joined with many other Christian groups to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the end of the slave trade. See news release at http://abc-usa.org/news/2007/20070223b.htm.

Read the latest issue of International Ministries Prayer Call: http://abc-mi.org/elink/prayer-call.pdf.

Read the latest Friendship House newsletter: http://abc-mi.org/elink/fh.pdf

The next issue of E-Link Online will be published on March 12. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by March 8.

Editor's Trips

Disclaimer: listing of these references does not imply endorsement of positions or policies advocated in them by either the American Baptist Churches of Michigan or the editor of E-Link Online. Caveat lector.

The Editor

§  Jews and Resurrection (Book Review) -- http://tinyurl.com/yomor6
§  IRS Now Requires Receipts for Small Donations -- http://tinyurl.com/2bj8kc
§  Discern Church's Hidden Core Values -- http://tinyurl.com/ysx5kz
§  No More CEO/Senior Pastor? -- http://tinyurl.com/2ro3fy
§  Reviving the Confessional -- http://tinyurl.com/3b5fx6
§  Outstanding Example of Urban Ministry -- http://bethelnewlife.org/default.asp (Thanks, Wes Babian)

Reader Response

To the Editor:

In response to the article linked about church bonuses for staff members based on performance ["Editor's Trips," January 29, 2007, E-Link Online, http://TinyURL.com/293yje]:

I am appalled that the business model is now being applied to clergy and staff members. Of course, now measurable standards, benchmarks, goals, and objectives will be created. What's easiest to measure in church? Bottoms in the pew, baptisms, money collected, children in Sunday School etc. etc.

As someone who felt coerced into accepting Christ as my Savior, and with the attendant doubts and pain associated with this event, I urge anyone reading this to reject this model of measurable goals. It will lead to more well-meaning pressure on individuals whose true needs may go unmet as long as they give a church what it needs to feel good about itself.

How hard it is to do what Jesus tells us with no way of knowing whether there has been a positive effect on anyone. How much closer to Him we walk when we live by faith and not numbers.

-- Name withheld by request

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