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

Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns

§ David Van Brakle will be installed as pastor at Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, Saginaw, on August 26.

The Rev. John H. Brown Retires: A New Beginning!

by Pat Hernandez

After serving the First Baptist Church of Muskegon for 32 years and 6 months, the Rev. John Brown has retired. A service of song and celebration recognized both his years of service to the Muskegon congregation and the larger community and his total ministry of 45 years. Members, friends and family gathered to give testimony to the ways Pastor John had touched their lives and invited them to a deeper walk with Jesus.

The church was filled to overflowing. Overflowing too were tears of joy for a pastor much cared about who cared much about others, one who led the church to be a community committed to "loving and learning about each other," a commitment which extended far beyond the walls of the church. To that end, Pastor John led the church in establishing a significant ministry to prison inmates.

He also led the church in purchasing a van to transport children from all over Muskegon to the church's "Our Kids" program, as well as in undertaking a major building project resulting in a multi-purpose Family Life Center the intent of which was for community outreach.

Part of that building project involved designing a state-of-the-art television studio through which Pastor John began an award winning television ministry, a ministry which served not only the congregation but the community at large. Through this ministry, Brown established an ecumenical table around which pastors from various churches and denominations gathered for conversation and dialogue around important faith issues. While differences were many, their common bond in Christ was clear.

Pastor Brown's tremendous ecumenical work was noted by The Friends of Hackley Public Library in its granting him a commendation for service in the humanities for his "ecumenical activities and for his work on behalf of the brotherhood of man."

For John Brown, Christ always was central and so he ended his ministry as he had begun it, by calling people to Christ. Five young people were baptized during the service culminating his ministry.

As for retiring, Pastor John remarked, "Retirement for me is just the freedom to take on new challenges." Indeed, Pastor John already has two mission trips planned to Nicaragua. So much for retirement. So much more for new beginnings!

New Pastor Orientation

The ABC-MI will be sponsoring an Orientation for New Professional Church Leaders at the Region office in East Lansing on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. According to the Rev. Tucker Gunneman, ABC-MI Transitional Ministry Consultant, "This event will provide new pastors and associate pastors with an opportunity to meet the ABC-MI staff and also to learn about the exciting ministries the Region has to offer as we seek to fulfill our vision of Growing Healthy Churches. This will also be a great opportunity to become acquainted with other professional church leaders who also are new to their ministry settings." There is no cost for this event. If you would like to attend, please notify Debbie Hart at the Region office by phone at (800) 632-2953 x 221 or email dhart@abc-mi.org.

Intentional Interims Needed

by Tucker Gunneman

As the ABC-MI continues to develop strategies for ministering to churches in transition, there is an on-going need for Intentional Interim Ministers. "Intentional" refers to those who feel called to ministering to congregations in transition and are trained to do so in line with the Region vision in Michigan of "Growing Healthy Churches". In transitional ministry we are constantly learning and growing as we explore better ways to serve our churches.

We are looking for interim pastors to join our team who desire to learn and grow. We are also seeking interims who can be trusted with a high level of responsibility and authority, while being held accountable to our vision and the Consultant for Transitional Ministries.

These interim ministers must be able to travel and at times be away from their home for 3-4 days per week. This is one of the challenges of being an interim as the opportunities for interim ministry are rarely in your "back yard." We prefer interim candidates who have a proven track record in some form of ministerial leadership, but we are open to those new to ministry upon a recommendation from an ABC pastor or Region staff. In addition, anyone desiring to serve as an interim must go through our training, and/or be approved by the Consultant for Transitional Ministries. Our next "Introduction to Interim Ministry" training event will take place on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at the Region office from 9am-4pm. If you would like more information or wish to register for this training, please contact Rev. Tucker J. Gunneman at tgunneman@abc-mi.org, cell phone 586.219.3392; or Debbie Hart at the Region office at 800.632.2953 ext.221, or dhart@abc-mi.org.

While each congregation is different and has different health issues, we are developing ways in which the interim can "seize the day" to help our churches:

Discover how they can move from being a maintenance church to a missional church
Discover for themselves health issues to be addressed
Empower the leadership to address those health issues
Preparing the congregation for new pastoral leadership
Provide a caring ministry of healing for congregations who have said goodbye to their pastor

If these concepts excite you and you would be interested in joining our team or learning more, please contact the Consultant for Transitional Ministries, Rev. Tucker J. Gunneman at tgunneman@abc-mi.org, cell phone 586.219.3392.

Introduction To Interim Ministry: Training Event Planned

The next "Introduction to Interim Ministry" training event will take place on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at the Region office from 9am-4pm. Our focus will be on understanding the team approach to interim ministry, the role of the interim in ABC/MI churches, the tasks of the interim, and a brief introduction to conflict management.

If you would like more information or wish to register for this training, please contact Rev. Tucker J. Gunneman at tgunneman@abc-mi.org, cell phone 586.219.3392; or Debbie Hart at the Region office at 800.632.2953 ext.221, or dhart@abc-mi.org.

Short Notices

First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo

315 W. Michigan Avenue
Downtown Kalamazoo

"Raising the Roof" Rummage Sale
August 25th ~ 9am - 3pm

269-345-2195, www.fbckazoo.org, office@fbckazoo.org

FREE on-street parking
handicap accessible
air-conditioned
free admission
concessions

This event is a fund raiser for the church's new roof.

Information about the Fall Youth Retreat at Camp Lake Louise is on this flyer: http:abc-mi.org/elink/CAMP%20LAKE%20LOUISE%20Retreat.pdf.

Read about the Friendship Golf outing: http://abc-mi.org/elink/fhgolf.pdf.

The Annual Equipping Event and Annual Meeting (AEE/AM) documents are posted to the ABC-MI website (http://abc-mi.org) for anyone who needs the same information that went out in the registration packets. Also, a downloadable Youth Leader Core brochure has been posted to the AB Youth section of the website.

Those who are involved ABC-MI Leadership need to submit annual reports for the AEE/AM to do so by September 1, 2007. Send them to Sheila Kaminski at skaminski@abc-mi.org.

The Bruntons

The Cooperative Ministries Committee of the Central Area is sponsoring a Senior Fall Fling on Thursday, September 20, 2007, beginning at 11:00 AM at Olivet Baptist Church, 5455 Willoughby Road, Lansing. Lunch will be served followed by a fantastic music program by Bob and Becky Brunton. Bob and Becky have been performing all over the United States and in several foreign countries since 1979. Their concerts feature original compositions as well as familiar favorites. Reservations can be made by calling the church office by September 11 at 517-887-0988. The cost is only $5.00 per person.

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 August 27. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by August 23.

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Editor's Trips

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