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

Arrivals, Departures, Celebrations, Concerns

§ First Baptist Church of Walled Lake has called the Rev. Larry Donald of Clinton Twp, MI to be their new pastor beginning May 5. The church has become a healthier congregation through the excellent ministry of the Rev. Galen Lowery, who has served as their Interim Minister for the past three years. Pastor Donald has earned both a Masters in Theology and a Doctorate in Education from Union Baptist Seminary, Detroit. He has served churches in Missouri, and Detroit, was on part time staff at First Baptist Church, Mt. Clemens (now Crosspoint Church), and most recently has been leading a congregation in his home in Clinton Twp. His wife Connie is a pharmacist, and they have three children ranging in age from 13-25. We welcome Pastor Donald to the greater ABC-MI family and wish God's blessing on his ministry in Walled Lake.

§ First Baptist Church of Charlevoix has called the Rev. Gene Stringer to be their new pastor beginning July 1. Pastor Stringer has served churches in Ohio in specialized ministry and Minister of Evangelism, and most recently as a pastor in New York. He earned his Bachelors in Biblical Studies and MDIV degrees from Omega Bible Institute and Seminary in Louisiana, and was ordained in 2005 at the Busti Federated Church in Busti, NY. He has also served as a chaplain for the Busti Fire Department, taught courses at the Cornerstone District (UMC), and is the moderator for the Chautauqua Baptist Association. He and his wife Tiffaney have four boys ranging in ages from 11-18. We welcome Pastor Stringer to the greater ABC-MI family and wish God's blessing on his new ministry.

First Ever Region Offering -- Sowing Seeds of Ministry

The first ever Region offering -- sowing seeds of ministry -- is currently being conducted to support the many seed sowing ministries of ABC-MI.

One of the Region's key areas of focus is cultivating health in pastors. Healthy clergy are key to healthy churches. Energetic and enthusiastic pastors in turn energize, inspire, and empower congregations to live out their Kingdom potential. To this end, ABC-MI has formed Ministry Leadership Groups, committed communities of learning with the purpose of

Stimulating minds
Enhancing health
Nurturing relationships
Deepening spirituality

Based on Jesus' own life of health and balance, as well as his citing the first and greatest commandment as "loving the Lord our God is all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.." these groups address and engage each of the four dimensions of heart, mind, soul, and strength as they seek to promote personal growth and professional development. The acronym SEND indicates the connection between Great Commandment and Great Commission living.

In MLGs pastors work with Peer Leaders and their colleagues to identify, analyze, and reflect theologically on issues related to leadership. At the same time, they work to develop a plan to enhance their own emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being by seeking balance, congruency and integration in their ministry. The end result is pastors who feel an increased sense of renewal and revitalization for ministry.

Jon Good shares his experience of being part of a Ministry Leadership Group....

Sowing Seeds of Ministry -- Jon Good's Testimony

I believe that God is at work through the American Baptist Churches of Michigan. When I first considered accepting a pastoral ministry call in Michigan, I remembered that it was through the campus ministry at Michigan State University that my father became a Christian almost 45 years ago. However, it was not walking through the portals of the past that brought me the most excitement. Rather, I felt that Michigan was a place I wanted to be because of the innovative direction in which the Region leadership was moving.

ABC-MI's Consultant for Leadership Development encouraged me to explore the newly-formed Ministry Leadership Groups. This unique Region ministry fosters an opportunity for pastors to reap the benefits of collegial study and fellowship, as well as spiritual and physical accountability. Each group is composed of a trained Peer Leader and several pastors who are active in ministry. I am thrilled to have this opportunity and I am thankful for the Region's commitment to pastoral vitality. I have been involved with my Ministry Leadership Group for over two years. At each meeting, I anticipate learning from the experience of seasoned pastoral leaders and engaging in diverse theological discussion. The openness within my group provides an atmosphere of trust through which I am able to share new thoughts and ideas. It is a wonderful source of strength for my ministry and my church.

Jesus' Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations" has always been the Church's mission. It is a challenging mission for every church in today's world. This is why I am thankful for the ministries and programs of ABC-MI. It is a joy to know that we share a passion to equip leaders, grow healthy churches, and change the world one life at a time.

Rev. Jon Good, Pastor
Covenant Baptist Church
West Bloomfield

[Pastor Jon Good's story is available as a bulletin insert which has been mailed out with other offering materials. If you would like more bulletin inserts, please contact the Region office. The inserts are also available online at www.abc-mi.org.]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have." -- Hebrews 13:16a

Over time we come to realize that all of our gifts come from God, and that sharing actually enriches us. In blessing others with our gifts, goodness and love flow from our hearts. The blessing returns to us, changing us and building that desire to respond even more generously to God's call to do good and to share what we have.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offers an opportunity for each of us to share with people in need around the world giving them much more than a handout. When we share our resources, we help to ensure that children suffering from disease not only receive treatment, but enjoy the benefits of a community made safer with proper sanitation and clean sources of water. We partner with a family living in hunger, offering them not just food, but the tools and training to build a sustainable source of income for ourselves improving their world and ours.

Many American Baptists understand the OGHS offering to be the "disaster relief offering." That's true, but OGHS provides for much more. Funding for development projects and refugee ministries to national, international and ecumenical partners totaling over $1,000,000 is made possible each year because of your generosity. Commitments to our partners for the funding of these projects and ministries are made in faith that your undesignated gifts to the offering will provide the resources necessary to support them. A sampling of some of the projects is listed below:

† Across the United States Resettlement of Refugees
† Burundi Construction of a Health Center
† Salvador Food Security for 100 Families
† Dormitory and Training Center for Freed Slaves
† Trenton, NJ Legal Services for Immigrants
† Palestine Support for the People of the Gaza Strip
† Thailand Integrated Tribal Development Program

When we share our resources through OGHS, we make a difference in the lives of others. We reach around the world, giving shape to the heart of Christ. When we understand how the blessing of sharing changes lives, our own lives are never the same again. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Hart at the Region Office by calling 800.632.2953 ext. 221 or dhart@abc-mi.org.

Short Notices

The current issue of Prayer Call for ABC International Ministries is online at http://abc-mi.org/elink/prayer-call.pdf.

Third Avenue Baptist Church of Flint has published its spring newsletter. It's online at http://NewsletterSpring08.pdf (very large file -- be patient).

The spring issue of Refreshing Times, the newsletter of Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries, is available online at http://springrt08.pdf.

Two sextons are needed to work at the First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor. Free boarding (two blocks from UM campus) in exchange for approximately 10 hours of work per week (some heavy lifting). We are looking for summer help with the possibility of continuing into the fall/winter semesters. Please go to http://www.fbca2.org/Programs/Sextons for further information. Complete applications (references included) will be accepted through Friday, May 9. No pets allowed. E-mail: office@fbca2.org with questions.

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.

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 May 19, 2008. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by May 12 (note earlier deadline).

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

»»  Unchurched Prefer Traditional Church Architecture -- http://tinyurl.com/5w5rcv
»»  Tough Times for Russian Protestants -- http://tinyurl.com/4yzokd
»»  Russia Cracks Down on Non-Orthodox Christians (video) -- http://tinyurl.com/6crncw
»»  Everything Must Change (review of Brian McLaren's latest book) -- http://tinyurl.com/6adxul
»»  Who Owns a Congregation? -- http://tinyurl.com/38tbpj
»»  How to Use Your "Stimulus" Check -- http://tinyurl.com/64pn4z
»»  Church Becomes Coffee Chain -- http://tinyurl.com/6xetyu
»»  Evangelical Manifesto to Say Faith is Now Too Political -- http://tinyurl.com/5l98pc

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