Issue 2008.08
April 7, 2008

New Logo

Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns

§  E-Link Online Editor Joe Mortensen's plans for surgery on March 27 took an unexpected turn. Just before he was to be taken to surgery an EKG disclosed a heart problem. The surgery was cancelled. Further tests revealed coronary artery blockage, leading to a triple bypass operation the next day. He has been recuperating at home since April 1. "I'm so thankful for all the concern, support, and prayers from people throughout the ABC-MI family. According to the home health nurse I'm doing very well. My dear wife keeps me moving and doing the breathing exercises. Several walks a day, some of them outdoors, speed the healing. God has been good."

§  The Rev. Dr. Christopher Smith has resigned from the pastorate at University Baptist Church, East Lansing, effective March 30. After serving University Baptist for six years, Dr. Smith is seeking the Lord's call in pursuing collegiate and seminary teaching positions. Chris and Priscilla continue to reside in East Lansing, Michigan.İA pastoral search committee led by Dr. Paul Cooke has begun the work of seeking the next pastor for the Church, and has consulted with Tucker Gunnerman of the Region Office.

Sowing Seeds of Ministry

by Erin Bartels

Spring is a time when many of us in Michigan carefully sow seeds in little pots on the windowsill, hoping to get a jump on the short growing season. We dutifully water little seedlings of tomatoes, herbs, or flowers, waiting for the day when we can put them in the ground and watch them grow. Come summer and fall, if we've put some hard work and love into our gardens, they reward us with bountiful blossoms and tasty vegetables.

Our ministries at the American Baptist Churches of Michigan are the same way. As plants needs light, water, and soil to grow, so our ministries need a variety of things to thrive: dedicated people, prayer, and funding. Because we all want to see a plentiful harvest of changed lives, we need to be careful gardeners.

One of the ways ABC-MI is doing just that is through a new annual Region offering: Sowing Seeds of Ministry. Starting this spring, our churches will have a chance to contribute to our Region to support the many worthy ministries that ABC-MI provides. Money given to this offering will help support efforts to grow healthy churches, cultivateİhealth in our pastors, and sow seeds of the Gospel in Michigan. Over the next few weeks, you will hear about some of those ministries through E-Link Online.

The Sowing Seeds of Ministry offering will be kicking off in May 2008. Advertising and support materials will begin to arrive at your church in early April. Please take the time to read the wonderful personal stories in the 24-page booklet that accompanies the promotional materials you receive. We hope that you will see yourself and your church in some of those success stories.

ABC-MI is proud to stand in partnership with your church, providing the ministries you need when you need them. Now you have a chance to directly impact those ministries through your generous giving. You have a chance to sow seeds of ministry in our state.

Remember: as in bringing forth fruit from the earth, bringing in the harvest of the Kingdom takes time, dedication, prayer, and patience. It also takes financial support. Thank you in advance for yours.

Short Notices

First Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham features monthly B'Jazz Vespers. "Some Sweet Jazz and an Interlude of Worship"İ on the Third Sunday of the Month, 6 to 8 PM, September 2007 through May 2008 featuring some CLASSIC FAVORITESİ and some EXCITING NEWCOMERS." The next event in the series features "gCarl Cafagna and North Star Jazz" on April 20, 2008, 6 to 8 p.m. 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."

Applications are now being accepted for Performance Art at the next ABCUSA Biennial in Pasadena (see link below). Music, dramaİand dance groups and individuals are encouraged to submit their applications to Worship Coordinator, Brad Berglund no later than November 1st, 2008.İ

Biennial Page:
http://www.abc-usa.org/biennial/2009pasadena/biennial2009.htm
(short on information at this early date but the Promotional Video produced by ABCLA & ABCOSH is available)
Application Form:
http://www.abc-usa.org/biennial/2009pasadena/Biennial%2009%20Music%20App%20Form.pdf

Camp Lael's summer brochure and related mailings have been sent to the churches of the Region. Online registration for Camp Lael has begun. The early bird deadline to receive $25 off the camp fees will be May 1st. In the meantime folks can visit www.camplael.com to view the summer schedule and camp descriptions.

On-line Registration For Lake Louise Baptist Camp is now available. Visit the camp website at www.camplakelouise.com to see the camp sessions available for this coming summer.

Camp Lake Louise is taking a giant stride in programming.İH.B. London from Focus On The Family, will be presenting at the Leadership Ahead family camp.İMore details can be found at www.leadershipahead.com.

Camp Lael is accepting applications for summer employment. Needed are cabin counselors, lifeguards, activity directors and CIT's, as well as kitchen and maintenance helpers. Applications are available on our website at www.camplael.com

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 next issue of E-Link Online will be published on April 21, 2008. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by April 3.

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.

The Editor

The Editor

Due to the editor's surgery the only trips he has taken have been to the hospital. "Editor's Trips" will be back in the next issue two weeks from now.