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Sowing the Seeds of Ministry -- A Personal Story of Blessing
This spring American Baptist churches across Michigan are participating in the first ever Region Offering: Sowing Seeds of Ministry. By now you should have received material for this offering. If you have not yet received materials, please contact the Region office.
The offering will support the many ministries of ABC-MI and will help to continue its ongoing ministry of growing healthy churches, cultivating health in pastors, and sowing seeds of the Gospel in Michigan.
One way ABC-MI cultivates health in pastors is by connecting pastors to each other as well as to the Region. Isolation is one of the key factors in the high rate of pastor burnout. Connecting to community enhances health and empowers leadership. Rev. Jerry Koller shares how becoming part of ABC-MI has been a blessing to his ministry:
It was early 2001 and I had entered my tenth year of pastoring an Independent Baptist Church. It had been a long ten years and I had come to the conclusion that being an "independent" church was not such a great thing. There is no support, no fellowship, no encouragement.
That same year the ABC-MI Executive Minister, Dr. Michael Williams, drove two hours to have a chat with me. He had never met me before. I was not in the ABC family. Yet he took time out of his busy schedule to see if he could help a brother in need. He listened as I shared my passion with him. He explained that much of what I was seeking, as far as ministry support is concerned, could be found within ABC-MI.
As I listened to Dr. Williams talk, I felt a deep desire to belong to a family of churches that have joined together for mutual support and mission. I'll never forget him saying, "It's not about building our own kingdoms. It's all about building the Kingdom of God."
I am now entering my seventh year of ABC-MI life, and it has been a great journey. I support the ABC-MI mission. I support their vision. I am all for "Growing Healthy Churches." Without the help and encouragement of our Executive Minister, I may never have had the opportunity‹or privilege‹to become a part of the ABC-MI family. Thanks, Dr. Mike, for inviting me into such a wonderful fellowship.
-- Rev. Jerry Koller
Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns
§ First Baptist Church of Lincoln has called the Rev. Dr. Arie Van Brenk to be their part time pastor. Van Brenk has over 25 years of service in the ABC. Starting with Youth Ministry in the FBC of Redwood City CA, where he was ordained by the ABC of the West, he then served in LA and the Central Valley of CA as well, before coming to Tawas in 1988, where he served as their pastor for 12 years. For the last seven years he has worked with AuSable Valley Community Mental Health, but has stayed active in ministry during that time with the Methodist church, leading small groups. He is a graduate of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA. and has a Doctorate in Church Growth from Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his wife Thelma have been married 32 years and have one child, Jennifer, who is a manager of Starbucks in Milwaukee. We welcome Arie and Thelma back into active ABC life and look forward to our fellowship and ministry together through the GNBA and the Region.
§ Dr. James C. Perkins of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit has a new book out through Judson Press, Playbook for Christian Manhood. The book offers twelve essential lessons to sustain black males ages 11-15 in their growth from young boys to men of integritry and godly character. For more information and to order the book click on this link to the Judson Press website: http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=12405.
§ The Rev. Doug Walters, pastor for the past 13 years of the Richfield Road Baptist Church in Flint, has taken a leave of absence for an undetermined period. Doug has a chronic lung condition and is on the waiting list for a lung transplant. It is not known when a lung might become available, but Doug is ready whenever this might happen. Meanwhile he is on medical disability from his teaching position and from his position as pastor of the Richfield Church. Please hold our brother in your prayers. Letters of encouragement may be sent to him at: 3241 N. Term St., Flint, MI 48506, email dpwally@iflint.com, or call him at 810-736-4260.
§ A Note from E-Link Editor Joe Mortensen: "I deeply appreciate all the messages of support and encouragement I have received from the ABC-MI family. They have been of immense help as I continue to recover. I will soon begin cardiac rehab and am now able to resume some activities, including driving. I hasten to add that some reports of my surgery have taken on legendary proportions, so let me set things straight. The original object of the surgery (removal of non-malignant tumor) quickly became a secondary concern when, as that procedure was about to begin, I was found to be in atrial fibrillation. Some very fast testing disclosed three blocked coronary arteries. Triple bypass surgery was done the next day. Removal of the tumor will take place at some later time, probably next fall. Two untrue tales have circulated: 1) that I had a heart attack - not so, and 2) that I was the very first patient to have bypass surgery in MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland's new cardiac program. That program began last August and by now has done more than 175 procedures. And more to the point -- the surgeon has been doing them for 20 years."
§ The Rev. Johnnie B. Saulsberry, pastor of the Greater Southern Missionary Baptist Church of Detroit died April 16. Funeral arrangements were not known at E-Link publication time.
§ Harvey and Carole Curley's daughter Victoria fought the good fight but was overcome by leukemia the first week of April. A Memorial Service will be held for Victoria (Curley) Wallach on Saturday, May 10 at 4:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Royal Oak. The choirs from Royal Oak and Eastpointe will be singing during the service. Continued prayers for the family would be appreciated. The Curleys' address if you would like to send a card is: 24519 Lexington, Eastpointe, MI 48021-1305.
CCCU Supports BIM Project in Thailand
Christian Community Credit Union has pledged $232,500 to launch three tribal villages in Northern Thailand over the next two years through "The Cards that Give to Missions and Ministries" Program. In partnership with the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) and American Baptist International Ministries, the Credit Union's "Launch a Village" project will provide water and sanitation resources, build a school and a health clinic as well as provide micro enterprise lending. The donation will also help sustain the three villages economically by providing agricultural and business training, purchasing a 4-wheel drive truck and facilitating the production and marketing of Arabica coffee. In photo at right Dr. John T. Walling (left), Christian Community Credit Union President/CEO, presents a check for $232,500 to Mike Mann, Global Consultant of Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) for the Credit Union's "Launch a Village" project in Northern Thailand.
For over 18 years, Mike and Becky Mann of ITDP, missionaries in Thailand, have provided a positive alternative to the hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Their efforts have provided much-needed help and hope to the tribal people, who in the past were involved in child prostitution, growing opium and criminal activities. "Partnering with Christian Community Credit Union members is a great opportunity to put Christ's love into action by helping resource-poor villagers in Thailand be alleviated from poverty and at the same time plant the seeds of Christ," says Mike Mann, ITDP Global Consultant. "To see the lives of villagers changed when they finally have running water, when they can afford to send their children to school with new clothes and shoes, and most of all, when they become new believers is the greatest joy," says Becky Mann. "The 'Launch a Village' project is an answer to prayer. Not only do we help bring water and life skills to the poor and remote villages in Thailand, we're also sharing about the Living Water that will flow into each of the villager's heart and soul!" To date, Christian Community Credit Union's "Cards that Give to Missions and Ministries" program has given over $2.5 million. Of that amount, International Ministries has received over $750,000 making the Credit Union's total donation of more than $1 million to the larger American Baptist family. The donation comes from interchange income the Credit Union receives from fees merchants pay to card issuers.
Following the Trends...
"Anonymity is not the driving value for seeker services anymore," says [Greg] Hawkins [executive pastor at Willow Creek]. "We've taken anonymity and shot it in the head. It's dead. Gone." In the past Willow believed that seekers didn't want large doses of the Bible or deep worship music. They didn't want to be challenged. Now their seeker-sensitive services are loaded with worship music, prayer, Scripture readings, and more challenging teaching from the Bible. -- out of Ur blog
April Region Board Meeting
The ABC-MI Region Board met on April 5. A summary of the meeting may be viewed at http://abc-mi.org/elink/board-hilites.pdf.
News From Camp Lael
Camp Lael Work Weekend May 16-17
Arrive Friday night to get acquainted with the group or arrive Saturday for breakfast. Work groups begin at 9:00am. Come help clean up Camp Lael after a hard winter. Projects include: window and screen repair, painting, picnic table repair, yard maintenance and drainage improvements. We also plan to put a roof on the front of Kresge 1. Plan to get dirty! This would be a great outing for your youth group. Please call Jim Davis to register. Cost: $15 for overnight and two meals, $10 for Saturday only. This price is lower than what is advertised in our summer camp brochure.
High School Weekend Retreat at Lael on June 27-29
THIS IS A NEW SUMMER OFFERING AT CAMP! Maybe you can't do a week of summer camp this year but still want to have a camp experience. We will pack a lot into this weekend with a guest speaker and a band. The format will be similar to our winter weekend programs except there will be more to do for free time than go sledding! The weekend includes four meals, two snacks, the program and lodging, plus waterfront time and a chance to climb our ropes course. Groups are required to bring their own chaperones. COST: $60 per person. Speaker and Music leaders to be announced soon.
Camp Lael is no longer accepting applications for summer jobs.
Dr. Williams' Sabbatical Reading List
ABC-MI Executive Minister Michael Williams has put together an annotated list of readings from his recent sabbatical leave. He highly recommends some of the titles for all ministerial leaders. You may read and/or download the list at http://abc-mi.org/elink/williams-sabbatical-readings.pdf.
Church Health Initiative: Resource Review
"Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60"
Edward Hammett with James Pierce, Chalice Press 2007
Edward Hammett was our keynote speaker at the 2006 ABC-MI Equipping Event. This book is an expanded discussion of what he shared during his presentations to us. An outstanding church coach, he augments the contents of his book with powerful coaching questions in each chapter that would be useful for small group discussion.
Every pastor (and every church) struggles with the theme of this book. Hammett notes that in many congregations, as members remain active well into old age, a congregation may be ministering to five different generations. The challenge of doing effective ministry with each generation is addressed as Hammett and Pierce present a "win-win/bridge building" strategy for ministry between the generations.
A description of the various generational differences is worth the price of the book, including a discussion of modern vs. postmodern cultures and implications for the church. Hammett, however, is not merely descriptive, he is also prescriptive, offering many specific ideas for cross-generational ministry. Church leaders will discover in this book a wealth of ideas around which they can build effective ministries.
Most pastors are well acquainted with the theme of this book, and most grapple regularly with its implications for the church they lead. But often laypeople in the pews have only a vague idea of how to address this fundamental struggle to reach out to those under 40 while ministering to those over 60. Lay leaders are the ones who need to read this book, and pastors can lead the way by seeing that a copy is placed in their hands.
Though Hammett and Pierce sound a clear word of warning concerning the consequences of our failure to address postmodern cultural issues with the gospel, they also provide a hopeful way of reaching new generations while keeping the established church moving forward. As Bill Easum says in his foreword: "This book should be on the desk of every pastor of an established church for the next two decades." And, we might add, in the hands and hearts of every lay leader as well!
Short Notices
Metropolitan Detroit Association Of American Baptist Churches Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, May 4 - 3:00pm 5:00pm (dinner To Follow Program) at First Baptist Church Of Wyandotte. "Make a Difference" -- Dr. Kevin Turman, Guest Speaker. Contact The MDA Office (248-443-6888) to Register By April 25. >>> Registration information and packet (http://abc-mi.org/elink/mdaannual.pdf).
Metropolitan Detroit Association of American Baptist Churches Ministers Council Meeting, Wednesday, May 14 (11:30am 1:30pm), First Baptist Church Of Detroit (southfield and Eight Mile). Presentation By Richard Reese, MMBB Representative. Complimentary Lunch Courtesy Of MMBB. RSVP 248-443-6888.
Have you considered a health enrichment plan for your church? Ron Cary, Region Consultant for Church Health, is ready to talk with you about the possibilities the region can offer to you and the leaders of your church. We can talk about an enrichment plan that would fit your specific situation. Contact Ron at 1-800-636-2671 or rcary@abc-mi.org. Or go on line to the Region website, www.abc-mi.org and click on "Congregational Health Enrichment" for more information.
Applications are now being accepted for Performance Art at the next ABCUSA Biennial in Pasadena (see link below). Music, dramađand dance groups and individuals are encouraged to submit their applications to Worship Coordinator, Brad Berglund no later than November 1st, 2008.
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 and ABCOSH is available)
Application Form:
http://www.abc-usa.org/biennial/2009pasadena/Biennial%2009%20Music%20App%20Form.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 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
»» Willow Creek Alters Course -- http://tinyurl.com/6hbl45
»» Critical Questions About Youth Ministry -- http://tinyurl.com/6mapan
»» Modern Black Church Shun's MLK's Message -- http://tinyurl.com/5j9ow7
»» Is It Still Gospel Preaching? -- http://tinyurl.com/6hsyok
»» Francis Collins on Religion and Science (video) -- http://tinyurl.com/5ts2bl
»» On the Use of Media in Preaching (video) -- http://tinyurl.com/6djz9v
All Rights Reserved
Dr. Michael A. Williams, Executive Minister
Joseph I. Mortensen, E-Link Online Editor. 989.835.6923
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Last update -- Thursday, May 1, 2008
