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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News of the American Baptist Churches of Michigan
Issue 2008.02
January 14, 2008
2008 Professional Registry Deadline
Last Call
The 2008 Professional Registry questionnaire has been mailed to all Professional Church Leaders in Michigan. Every Professional Church Leader must complete and return the questionnaire in order to be listed in the 2008 registry. Failure to return the completed form may affect your listing in the national ABCUSA directory. The questionnaire must be returned to the Region office by January 15, 2008. To fill out the questionnaire online, go to www.abc-mi.org, click on "Document Library" in the left hand menu, and then click on "2008 Professional Registry Questionnaire."
For more information on the Professional Registry, contact either Dr. Mary Beth Sarhatt, chair of the Commission on Ordination and Standing at 269-345-2195 (pastor@fbckazoo.org) or Ron Cary, Region Staff at 1-800-636-2671 (rcary@abc-mi.org).
Voices
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. -- Isaiah 42:1-4 NRSV
Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns
Erica and David
§ The Rev. David Van Brakle, pastor of Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, Saginaw, and Erica Ashburn were married on December 29 in Peoria, IL. The marriage service was conducted by The Rev. Tom Bayes, former pastor at Judson Memorial Baptist Church, Lansing, and now senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Peoria, and the Rev. Cheri Grizzard, pastor of worship and community life of the Peoria congregation. Erica will receive the Master of Divinity Degree in May from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Members of Michigan Avenue greeted the newlyweds with a potluck dinner on January 10.
§ The Fellowship of Israel and Black America, a Plymouth-based organization, has named the Rev. Kenneth Flowers a recipient of the Martin Luther King Israeli award. The award will be presented January 15 at an award ceremony held at the residence of Israeli President, Shimon Peres. Flowers, who is pastor of the Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Detroit, is being honored for his work to increase goodwill between the Jewish and African-American communities. According to the Detroit News, "Flowers has long linked with Jewish temples in an attempt to recognize and celebrate the shared history of slavery and freedom between Jewish people and African-Americans."
§ We offer our prayers and sympathy to the Rev. Richard Kinnamon, pastor of the Essexville Baptist Community Church. His father passed away on January 4. Funeral services were to be held at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, Illinois on January 11. Notes of condolence may be sent to Richard and his family at 701 McDonnell St., Essexville, MI 48732 or email him at rikinnamon@sbcglobal.net.
§ Please continue prayer for Erika Johnson, wife of Brian Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Stockbridge. Erika has developed a rare and difficult medical condition called "generalized subcutaneous morphea", a cousin of scleroderma. Not much is known about this condition, but doctors have prescribed appropriate treatment. Be in prayer for Erika and Brian, for strength and for healing.
§ The Rev. John Paschen was scheduled for heart bypass and mitral valve replacement surgery on January 9. at the Toledo Hospital in Toledo, OH. John was expected to be in the hospital for about six days and then recuperate at home. Notes and cards may be sent to him at his home: 2531 Hasen Dr., Lambertville, MI 48144.
ACTS 2008 on February 2
ACTS 2008, the Central Area American Baptist Churches training event, will take place at Olivet Baptist Church in Lansing on Saturday, February 2, from 9:00am 12:00pm. (All ABC congregations are invited -- you don't have to be part of a Central Area church!)
There will be six 90-minute workshops offered with topics in areas of mission, personal spiritual development, church leadership and Christian Education. Brochures with workshop descriptions and registration forms are available: click here. Please register by January 23, though walk-in registration is also available.
The morning will also include worship and the Annual Meeting of the Central Area. Important changes will be proposed regarding the structure and future of the Area. Central Area pastors and congregational leaders should have received copies of the proposed By-Law and structure changes. Please contact Sue Ellen Glover (gloverse@hotmail.com or 734-663-9376) if more copies are needed. The input of Central Area congregations is valued and needed for these decisions please plan to attend!
Mission Team Builds Health Clinic in Nicaragua
by Pat Hernandez
"Deep and Wide; Deep and Wide; there's a fountain flowing deep and wide," sang the group of 14 mostly high school and college students. They were spending their Christmas vacation in a remote region of Nicaragua, sharing the love of Christ by building a health clinic. During this 10 day trip, the love of Christ flowed deep and wide as the students dug holes, carried sand, and constructed support beams, partnering with folks from the community of El Encanto to build the first ever health clinic. [Click on images for larger picture.]
...half the population of six million is officially unemployed, and more than 80% struggle to survive on one dollar a day or less.
El Encanto is located in the mountains of Matagalpa, 120 miles north of Managua. In this community of 500 people half are under the age of 14 and all live in dire poverty. They lack access to any health care and struggle to meet even the most basic needs such as food, water and shelter. Nicaragua itself is a country where half the population of six million is officially unemployed, and more than 80% struggle to survive on one dollar a day or less. Extreme poverty is concentrated in the rural areas where 1 in every 10 children does not live past the age of five, and the most common causes of death remain diarrhea and malnutrition.
International Ministries' Partner in Mission, PROVADENIC, has especially addressed the health needs of rural poor by providing integral primary health care services to over sixty communities in remote areas of rural Nicaragua over its 36 year history. Since 1999 when Hurricane Mitch wreaked devastation throughout Nicaragua, American Baptists have been sending mission teams to Nicaragua, not only to help with the rebuilding effort but also and especially to build new clinics in some of the most remote and least accessible areas of Nicaragua.
This recent trip, sponsored by the West Area, drew participants from First Baptist Church, Muskegon, First Baptist Church, Kalamazoo, and Ceresco Baptist Church. The joint effort enabled the churches to do together what no one church could do alone, living out the missional emphasis of ABC-MI as well as of Christ's call.
For more information about mission trips to Nicaragua, please contact Pat Hernandez (phernandez@abc-mi.org) or Debbie Hart at the Region office.
There will be a workshop on Nicaragua Missions at the upcoming Central Area ACTS 2008 gathering, February 2, at Olivet Baptist Church in Lansing. (See article in this issue of E-Link) Registration is at 8:30am. For more information and registration for the ACTS event, contact Sue Ellen Glover, (gloverse@hotmail.com).
Lael Winter Weekend Speakers Announced
Josh Finklea at Lael February 1-3
Josh Finklea's story is very simple. God took a screwed up kid and turned him into a man who is used by Him. Josh's life started on a rough road. He was born deaf, and his father left. From there the road went from being rough to just being the wrong road. After several surgeries he received his hearing, but used it only to listen to the world. Josh hit rock bottom at the age of 17 when he committed a felony offense. After committing the felony, he lay on his bed, wept, and prayed to an "unknown" God. That night for the first time he heard the voice of God instead the voice of the world. Josh found love and purpose through Jesus Christ and now takes that message to the world.
Jay Cameron February 8-10
For more than seven years Josh Cameron has been one of the most recognized voices in the DC metropolitan area for Christian radio. Having been an announcer for Washington's #1 Gospel Radio Station, Heaven 1580am, Jay left radio to pursue his true passion of full time ministry in which he has remained for over three years.
Sandy Noe with Junior Winter Weekend February 15-17
Sandy Noe is a gifted minister who uses story telling, humor, and unique creative communication skills to lead tender hearts to the lap of God. Sandy Noe's love of the "story" began as a little girl growing up in the Appalachian Mountains. Against the backdrop of this rich mountain heritage, young Sandy found the gentle, strong hand of "Daddy-God", sharpened her use of wit, and gained deeply personal insights into the ever present grace of God to comfort, sustain, protect, heal and, when needed, rescue. With a Sandy Noe presentation you will be laughing till your sides ache, while simultaneously gaining fresh understanding into the deeper things of God.
Chris Graebe February 22-24
Chris Graebe is one of the bright stars of MTV's top rated extreme sports reality programs, Road Rules: South Pacific and Battle of the Sexes 2. Chris will also be finished filming and hosting a new reality series entitled Reality Trip, which should premiere nationally in the Fall. Being blessed as a cast member of these highly popular shows, Chris has had the opportunity to become a highly established and nationally recognized speaker. His purpose is to inspire today's youth with positive messages of sexual abstinence, drug and alcohol awareness and his love of Jesus.
Tim Evans with Family Camp Weekend February 29-March 1
Tim is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Mount Morris, Michigan. Tim worked at IBM in upper management until God called Tim into ministry. He and his family have led the family camp programs at Camp Lael for two years. We look forward to having them share their ministry this winter.
For complete information about Winter Weekends go to http://tinyurl.com/2pr724.
Annual Equipping Event DVDs Now Available
Copies of the DVDs of the Annual Equipping Event are now available for churches for the cost of shipping. Workshop DVDs include:
Paul Ryan Friday, October 19 / 9:15 a.m. session
Gregg Scheer Friday, October 19 / 10:45 a.m. session
Carl Clendenning Friday, October 19 / 3:15 p.m. session
Dr. James Perkins Friday, October 19 evening service
Carl Clendenning Saturday, October 20 / 9:15 a.m. session
Worship Panel Saturday, October 20 / 10:45 a.m. session
Carl Clendenning Saturday, October 20 / 1:30 p.m. session
Please contact Sheila Kaminski at skaminski@abc-mi.org or 800.632.2953 ext. 231 with the session titles you are ordering and your mailing address.
FANNING THE FLAME
(A national Pastors' Renewal Conference)
APRIL 22-25, 2008
GREEN LAKE CONFERENCE CENTER
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
Register for this conference today by going to the Region website (www.abc-mi.org).
Free luxury bus transportation will be provided to and from the conference on a first come first served basis until the bus is full. Call the Region office (1-800-632-2953) to reserve a seat.
Apply for a New Life Grant of $300.00 from National Ministries and the conference will cost you nothing! Contact Sheila Kaminski (skaminski@abc-mi.org) to receive an application. You must be listed in the Region Professional Registry to receive a New Life Grant.
National Ministries Seeks Peer Leaders for Estes Park Youth Gathering
The ABCUSA National Youth Gathering will be held at Estes Park, Colorado, July 5-11, 2008. Peer leaders should be ages 16-20. They will provide essential leadership through small groups and will lead discussions and Bible studies and provide other services to the Convention. National Ministries has asked the Michigan Region to nominate 7-10 peer leaders for the Gathering.
Peer leaders will need to arrive at Estes Park before the event begins, for training.
More information about the event is available online at www.morethanaweek.org.
If you wish to nominate a peer leader, need the application, or desire more information contact Jim Davis at Camp Lael or email laelbc@abc-mi.org.
Short Notices
The Flint Journal featured a first-ever hip-hop Christmas program at Third Avenue Baptist Church where the Rev. Malcolm Brown is pastor. The article may be viewed at http://abc-mi.org/elink/3rdavehiphop.pdf.
First Baptist Church of Birmingham's B'Jazz Vespers concert series will celebrate a special Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday Jazz Concert performed by The Guymon Ensely Jazz Quintet. The public is invited, Sunday evening, January 20, 2008, 6 to 8 PM, at the First Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham at the corner of Willits and Bates streets. Pastor J. Wesley Babian of First Baptist Church will speak briefly during the interlude of worship. Pastor Babian states, "The B'Jazz Vespers Ministry is a wonderful way to share God's music and God's word with the community." He continues, "Each month we invite friends and strangers alike into this house of worship to praise the wonders God continues to share with us." No admission charge. Casual attire. For information call 248-644-0550.
Judson Press has some special promotions for January and materials for African American History Month. See the flyer at http://abc-mi.org/elink/judsonpress.pdf
First Baptist Church, Sault Ste. Marie, is offering the following items free for the cost of shipping: Dinnerware: 77 salad plates, 59 Dinner plates, and 65 cups (no saucers) see picture; Communion set aluminum with an engraved memorial on the cover see picture. Contact the church at 906.632.6371, please leave the name and phone number of a person to contact.
Read the Spirit (http://www.readthespirit.com/) offers connections to men and women with great spiritual voices. (h/t to Linda Morford)
The American Baptist History Society has relocated to the Atlanta Campus of Mercer University as of January 1, 2008. The combined collections of the American Baptist Historical Society at Valley Forge and King of Prussia, PA, and the American Baptist Samuel Colgate Library in Rochester, NY, are all now at Mercer. Address: American Baptist Historical Society, 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 30341-4155; phone 678.547.6680.
Read the latest issue of International Ministries Prayer Call: http://abc-mi.org/elink/prayer-call.pdf.
The Friendship House Newsletter is now provided in both PDF and DOC formats. The DOC format is a much smaller file and will take much less time to acquire on slow dialup connections. Read it in PDF at http://abc-mi.org/elink/fh.pdf or in DOC format at http:abc-mi.org/fh.doc.
The latest Friendship House Virtual Family Shop newsletter is here: http://abc-mi.org/elink/vfs.pdf.
The next issue of E-Link Online will be published on January 28, 2008. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by January 24.
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. They are provided here for further thought, discussion, and inquiry. Caveat lector.
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