August Baptistlife

™

August 2010 | Newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware | www.baptistlifeonline.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Penetrating Lostness .....................2 ‘It’s a New Day’ ..............................10AssociationLIFE.......................12-13Orioles’ Luke Scott has joy .........22

At Northwest Church, Westminster’s Mega Sports and Arts Bible Day Camp in June, 73 percent of the campers were from outside the church. See AssociationLIFE on pages 12-13.

Bob SimpsonBCM/D Assoc.

Executive Director, BaptistLIFE Editor

How’s your influence with others?

David LeeBCM/D Executive

Director

Perspectives... August 2010

Lately I’ve thought a lot about

the legacy I am currently crafting that will some day be left for others to judge. It is my sincere hope that when they read it, one thing will be obvious… I tried to live my life in such a way as to

be a positive influence on any and all that came my way. Have I been perfect at it? No, of course not. But I firmly believe that the preponder-ance of the evidence will show that

I succeeded at it more times than I failed.

Influence… what exactly is it? Some think of it as manipulation. The dictionary defines it as “the capacity or power of persons to be a compelling force on or produce changes in the actions, behavior, opinions of others.” One way to look at it is to think of it as a tool that can be used for either good or bad. I can use a hammer to build some-thing in my home, which would be a good use of a hammer. Or I could use the same hammer to vandalize all the car windows on my street…a bad use of a hammer.

Influence, with the help of the Holy Spirit’s power, can be life

changing in nature. I mention the work of the Holy Spirit because, as Jesus said in John 15:5, “without Me, you can do nothing.” To me, the ultimate influence is what the hand does within the glove. A glove is useless without the influence of the guiding hand.

The presence of a person makes a difference. It influences. That’s why Paul wrote to that very conflicted church in Corinth and reminded them, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple (sanc-tuary) of the Holy Spirit who is in you…?”

While I think we believe this theologically, I’m not sure how prac-tically we believe it. It becomes very

practical when we fully grasp that He goes everywhere we go. He sees everything we see. He hears every-thing we hear. He’s a part of every-thing we do. Now that’s influence!

Jesus calls each of us to be in-fluencers. He wants us to influence everything in our lives in a positive way. He wants us to fulfill the Great Commission in our lifetime by lever-aging all the influence we have with everyone we come in contact with. He even promised His presence as we do it.

Wow! We can learn so much from Him, the master influencer. Maybe that’s why people He encoun-tered often dropped everything and followed Him immediately.

There are times when I don’t like

what is happen-ing around me. And then there are times that I do. There are times like waves that carry us to where we need to go. Other times we feel the force of the “tsunami” carry-

ing away from us things that are precious. There are times that test us and times that prove we are right where we need to be.

I feel at times like I am on a roller coaster. And the last thing I want to do is ride a roller coaster. In fact, on Thunder Mountain at Dis-neyWorld many years ago, I prom-ised God that if he would just let me hit bottom and allow me to walk away from that ride without losing my stomach or my heart, I would never again get on a roller coaster. Promise kept! Sometimes, however, life doesn’t give you that choice. You are there, and you either hold on for dear life, or you find a way to enjoy the ride.

With all that said, amidst the changes that are swirling in Baptist

circles these days, there are parts of this ride that I believe are worth-while and can even be exhilarating. Many words have been spoken and written recently about our direction as Baptists. Yet, there are two words that I believe can become rallying points around which each of us can surge or re-surge toward the accom-plishment of the Great Commission. Those two words are “penetrating lostness.” Expect to hear those words often in the short term as we move forward together as Southern Baptists. That concept will drive our strategy, as it should.

It leads to two important ques-tions. The first is this. What are the largest pockets of lostness in our Maryland/Delaware re-gion? I addressed our General Mis-sion Board recently giving the short answer to that question.

I identified five pockets. I share them with you in reverse order as to the degree of challenge I think each represents to us based on numbers of churches and resources targeted in the direction of each of these pockets.

No. 5 on my list is our bed-room communities. This is where most of our churches and resources presently exist.

No. 4 is our pocket of lan-

guage and cultural diversity. Our convention is one of the most di-verse in the nation. This is a grow-ing area of our cooperative work, yet there is so much to be done just to keep up with the ever-expanding population.

No. 3 is our college and university campuses. On each campus in Maryland/Delaware, the larger majority of the students do not have personal relationships with Jesus Christ. We need more missionaries on these campuses and more churches that see this as part of their “Jerusalem” ministries.

No. 2 is the poor and hurting in our communities. Some of our national leaders have suggested that we need to target more resources to reach the “underserved.” That term fits no group better than those who not only struggle economically, but deal daily with deep-seeded feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

The No. 1 pocket of lostness in our region is our cities. The reason why the cities most represent lostness is because from Baltimore to Wilmington to Silver Spring to Cumberland our cities are com-prised of concentrated pockets of each of the other four. Going forward together, if we intend to penetrate lostness in Maryland/Delaware, we

must strategically target our pray-ing, our going and our resources in these five pockets and in this order.

The second question is this. Where are the major pockets of lostness in the area where you live and go to church, and what is your strategy for penetrating those pockets of lostness? I can think of no more important discus-sion in your next business meeting than an open and honest response to these questions.

Understand, I am an Acts 1:8 guy. I know that some of the great-est pockets of lostness are to be found in the “uttermost parts of our earth.” We are not exempt from tak-ing the Gospel there as well. That means that we must include this in any discussion about penetrating lostness.

Here is the chief question on my mind these days. What are we going to do cooperatively as Maryland/Delaware Baptists to penetrate the lostness in our world starting with Jerusalem, expanding to Judea, not neglecting Samaria, considering our mandate to make disciples of all the nations? Now that is a Baptist conversation I look forward to having with you.

Penetrating lostness drives our strategy

Byron DayBCM/D President

and Pastor of Emmanuel Church,

Laurel, Md.

August 2010 Perspectives...

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I have been crucified with Christ, it is no

longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

Most people desire to live a good life. They want to

enjoy life and try to do so by en-deavoring to live life to its fullest. Some believe material possessions will enable them to get the most out of life. Some believe by doing ex-treme things this will allow them to experience the best life has to offer. Thus, most people spend their entire lives searching for life. The Apostle Paul, however, reminds Christians that a truly abundant, successful, and joyful life is achieved not by striving but by dying.

Note Paul’s attitude. He says, “I

have been crucified with Christ.” Paul had made up in his mind that the life that the world pursues is not really life. This is a life apart from God and full of hopelessness. He considered himself dead to that life. In other words, to Paul that type of thinking no longer existed, it died with Christ on Calvary.

Not only did Paul consider his old life as dead, but also he consid-ered new life as allowing Jesus to live in him. Jesus now makes the decisions and sets the course. “It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me.” How totally opposite of the present day philosophy, which tells us to seize control of our lives and chart our own course apart from God. Jesus has plans for us and desires to live in us that we may glorify our heavenly Father.

Paul goes on to point out that his remaining days on earth since his new birth are lived by faith in God rather than faith in himself. He had determined within himself that he would live the rest of his days completely submitted to the will of God.

His motivation for allowing Jesus to reign in his life is found in the last phrase: “...who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Paul says he lives this way because Jesus sacrificed His own life for him on Calvary. Jesus died that Paul might live and this incomprehensible love stirs him to surrender his life to the Lord.

The completion of the 2010 SBC Annual Meeting has brought change to the Southern Baptist Convention. We have a new SBC president and the GCR Task Force Report has been adopted.

While change is good, we should consider that resurgence will not come simply from changing methods and strategies, but from confronting the people of God with the Savior’s love and challenging them to consider that love and sacrifice. The response to God’s love ought to be a life surrendered completely to the service of the Savior. The motivation for witnessing, giving, and serving is born out of a deep abiding love for Jesus and a life fully surrendered to Him.

A joyful life is achieved not by striving, but dying

Your Church... August 2010

Sharon MagerBCMD/Correspondent

ESSEX, Md.—First Church, Essex pastor John Smith looks and sounds like a young Jimmy Stew-art or Nicholas Cage, depending on one’s generational perception. The 34-year old pastor paces from one side of the podium to the other, waving his hands expressively as he preaches about stepping out of comfort zones and unleashing caged Christians. God is blessing that contagious enthusiasm.

In the past month the church has been averaging ten visitors and one confession of faith each week. Attendance has soared growing from about 35 in February to 100 in June. On July 4, the church drew 140 people for worship and another 100 for their “Freedom Festival” with food, games and prizes.

“I don’t know if our people have ever been that energized. It was everything we prayed and hoped for and God just showed up, especially for the Fourth of July!”

Smith said. One woman walked the aisle during altar call to give her life to Christ and an-other man showed interest in learning more.

“It was the coolest thing. There was this self-proclaimed ‘never walk into a church’ guy who came up to me and said, ‘Pastor, I know people told you I don’t like church…but there’s something different here. I’ve got a lot of questions.’’ Smith said the man has not made a confession of faith, but feels he’s close.

Nine local businesses sup-ported the festival, donating food and prizes. That’s sig-nificant because the church is situated in an old established area in Essex with well-known family owned landmarks like Dudek’s butcher shop, Connel-ly’s Funeral Home and Salvo’s Auto Parts. By partnering with these companies, Smith hopes to show that the church is also a stable piece of the community.

Smith and other leaders knock

on 100 doors a week— letting folks know the church is in the com-munity and leaving information. Smith began by visiting inactive members and shut-ins, resulting in several returns and some curious visitors.

The mostly middle-aged and older congregation is catching the vision and excitement of their young pastor and the influx of visi-tors. Smith seems very comfortable in his new church though it wasn’t how he envisioned God was going to use him.

FBC’s prior pastor left a year ago and members were careworn. Various pastors provided pulpit supply, including Tally Wilgis, pas-tor of Captivate Church.

“Tally told it like it is, in love,” Smith said. Wilgis was prepar-ing the church for the inevitable change required—not going from traditional to contemporary, chang-ing the music, becoming young and hip, rather, changing from the inside out, being willing to go out of the church and engage a lost and dying world, starting with the com-munity that surrounded them.

Smith was working for Fam-ily Foundation of Virginia when

Wilgis, an old friend, called to ask him to consider coming to FBC Essex. Smith was hesi-tant. Smith had aspirations of starting a church.

Even after visiting, Smith didn’t think this was ‘the’ place for him. He goodheart-edly thought he’d share some “words of wisdom” with the church body and help them determine the type of leader they really needed. He chal-lenged them, telling them that if they were not willing to die as a church and commit to the changes God was call-ing them to make then they weren’t going to make it. In fact, he told them, if they can’t do that, they’ll probably close their doors in six weeks to six months.

“They all looked at me and said, ‘We agree. We had other people tell us that, but we weren’t ready. Now we’re ready,’ ”Smith recalled.

As Smith was driving away, he heard the still small voice gently saying, “John, you’re asking that church to die. Are you willing to die?” Smith was astounded. “God told me that First Church of Essex was the place and that if we died together, we could have a resurrec-tion,” he said. Smith obeyed and he and his wife, Amber and their children, five-year-old Lawton and two-year-old Landon, made the move.

Smith looks to his heavenly and earthly fathers for guidance. Gary Smith has been instrumental in church revitalization in upper New York and the younger Smith is using his father’s techniques. Most importantly, he follows his dad’s lead in making prayer a priority.

“It’s unbelievable what an impact this has made on my life,” he said. Originally, Smith deter-mined he would prayer walk Monday through Fridays and give himself the weekends off, but he usually does it on the weekends too. “Now I can’t live without it! It may not make for an exciting story, but it does make an exciting church,” he said.

God tells pastor to die with church and be resurrected together

John Smith, pastor of First Church, Essex, is leading members to engage their community. He and his wife, Amber and their children five-year-old Lawton and two-year-old Landon moved from Lynchburg, Va.

August 2010 Your Church...

By Sharon MagerBCM/D Correspondent

FREELAND, Md.—Gunpow-der Church’s Knit Wits knitting group is so popular spin-off groups are forming including a prayer shawl ministry, a group that meets in a senior adult complex and one that meets at a coffee house.

Church secretary, Iris Singleton, started a prayer shawl ministry.

“Some of their group learned to knit as Knit Wits had assured me they could never learn to knit. They tried to learn as kids and it did not work out. Now they’re knitting prayer shawls!” Pat Ellig-son, founder of the Knit Wits laughed.

Singleton was one of those who didn’t think she’d be able to knit. She was left-handed. Eligson encouraged Singleton and put the knitting needles in Singleton’s right hand and before long Singleton was amazing herself by knitting.

Knit Wits Joyce Moore, Catherine Ben-shoof and Mary Louise Smith live at the Court-yards Retirement Com-munity in Shrewsbury, Pa. Benshoof, who relo-cated from the Freeland area to the retirement community, started a Sister Knit Wits there for women unable to travel to Freeland. Each month, Benshoof delivers a big bag of knitting items back to Elligson.

Benshoof said she knew several women who lived in her retirement community who wanted to partici-pate but couldn’t—some were in wheel chairs or used walkers. So she brought the Knit Wits to them. Now they have a time of fellowship and they enjoy doing something for others. “One lady said, ‘If I read a book, that’s for me, but I’m doing

this for someone else,’” Benshoof said.

Another “Sister Knit Wits” group meets in Perry Hall. It was formed by Gwyneth Lewis, whose mother, Dorothy Hughes, was in the Gunpowder group.

“‘My mom died last year, but about five years ago she told me,

‘before I die you have to know how to knit.’” Lewis remembers trying her hand at knitting on a Christ-mas Eve and she couldn’t even hold the needles, but she persevered and soon she was knitting hats. Hughes wanted Lewis to come to the Knit Wits group at Gunpowder, but it was difficult for her to drive the 70 miles round trip with a busy sched-

ule and three teenagers so Lewis decided to start her own group. She asked around at her home church, Loch Raven Presbyterian, to see if there was interest. Now about eight ladies, ranging from age 12 to 70 meet twice a month at a lo-cal Starbucks. They find a corner, drink their coffees and knit away.

“The group gathers their completed crafts and gives them to Lewis’ dad, who delivers them to Eligson at church.

Sometimes the group makes specific items, such as blankets, for people they know who are ill or going through trying situations. “I made one for my mom and we prayed over it,” Lewis said. “…

there’s something about something homemade especially for you.”

Eligson sends the knitting projects away to meet needs nation-ally and even internationally. Last Christmas, the group sent 20 boxes with 350 knitted pieces, to low income people in the Appalachia area. Gunpowder Church paid for

the postage. They also sent large boxes of knitting to Afghanistan, Peru, Tanza-nia and Ghana. Locally they sent baby caps to Carroll Hospital Center in West-minster and to a special cancer care center.

The Knit Wits group also responds to needs as they arise. When Knit Wit, Carol Angelossi, visited her son, Ben Gruver, serving in the Peace Corps in Micro-nesia, she discovered a need for reading glasses. The grandmother of Gruver’s host family was thought to be partially blind because she couldn’t see anything close up. After trying on several pairs of reading glasses that Angelossi brought the grandmother could suddenly see.

“That lit up her world,” Eligson said. The first thing the woman did is go in her room and get her Bible.

Angelossi and her son realized that there were many others like the grand-mother. Angelossi told her fellow Knit Wits and they collected about 30 pairs of reading glasses that they sent to Micronesia.

“I never dreamed the Knit Wits would go to the heights and accomplish all we have. This was just

supposed to be a simple knitting class for six to eight weeks. Now we will be four years old in January, and have donated over 2,000 items to charity. There is no doubt that we are in the will of God!

Knit Wits are multiplying

Pat Elligson, founder of the Knit Wits, is amazed at how God has blessed her group that now has several sister groups in Maryland.


By Shannon BakerBCM/D National Correspondent

LAUREL, Md.—A local Chris-tian band with ties to the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and First Church, Laurel, played its first national tour this summer.

LifeBlood, a hard rock/metal Christian band from Laurel, Md., opened for Spo-ken, a Christian rock band from Fayetteville, Ark., in what was dubbed “The Lion Tamer Tour.”

LifeBlood, with front man Jeremy Ephraim, who serves as a graphic designer for the convention, has played for many BCM/D events, including the annual meeting of the convention in 2007.

The band, much loved by students throughout the multi-state convention, will perform a concert at the Nov. 5-6 “Uncharted: Crazy Love” youth evangelism con-ference at Ogletown Church in Wilmington, Del.

LifeBlood is comprised of Ephraim, who sings vocals and plays guitar; Daniel Pearson, husband of Misty Pearson who works with the BCM/D’s church multiplication team, who plays guitar; Jeff Grove, who plays bass; and Taylor Herring, who plays drums and sings vocals.

Though the band, who originally came together in 2001 under the name Soul Fire, has played many local ven-ues, including churches and coffee houses, their May and June tour was their first national tour.

Ephraim, now 31, joined his youth group band at his then-youth pastor Ralph Batykefer’s invitation. He played keyboard and later picked up the guitar.

“From there, God pulled on my heart, and I knew this is what God wanted me to do,” he shared.

Over time, Ephraim gradually grew a new Christian band, transi-

tioning it from a combination of rock and rap musicians into a hard rock/metal band. With the new style also came a new identity: LifeBlood.

The LifeBlood rockers say that bringing the life-changing power

of the blood of Jesus Christ to the world is what they are all about—and is what their band name is all about.

“As the blood that courses through our veins brings life to our bodies, Jesus must be the course of our hearts that brings life to our souls. By His blood he has given us life,” the band acknowledged in their biography.

In 2003, LifeBlood released an independent, three-song demo and have been steadily moving forward

since. They released their first full-length, independent album, “Can U Hear Me?” in May of 2006, and in May of 2008 released their single, “A Shot Heard around the World,” recorded and produced by

CR Pendleton at Pendlwood Studios in Columbus, Ohio.

Their EP, also recorded at Pendlwood Studios, “The Storm Is Coming,” came out in the fall of 2009.

Their latest project, a full-length album entitled, “Names on a Heart,” released this past spring. The title track depicts the story of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, where He confronted the weight of the world … “not for one person, but for everybody,” Ephraim explained.

“He had everyone’s name on His heart.”

Noting that the band’s songs’ lyrics also reflect the struggles that young people face, Ephraim said he hoped that the songs encourage

their listeners to stay on fire and to stay focused on God, even when they fall.

“It has to be a choice ev-eryday,” he stressed, noting that many of the songs have arisen out of the band’s per-sonal life experiences.

“Goodbye for Now” chronicles the hope that God gives believers in the face of unexpectedly losing someone close. The song is a tribute to bass guitarist Jeff Grove’s twin brother Jay, who was killed in a car accident in July 2006.

“For a believer, death is not final, but is just ‘good-bye for now’ because we know that we will all be re-united in heaven,” Ephraim explained, noting that the band members strive to be examples of their faith as they live and share their music.

As their music resounds in ever-widening circles, the group hopes to share the Gospel with as many people as they can. And now with experience in their first na-tional tour, traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma and back to the East Coast again, LifeBlood believes that God has a big plan for their ministry.

Even though it has been hard to juggle the ministry with their full-time jobs, each member has committed to following Christ, wherever He leads them.

Want to join in the journey? Join LifeBlood’s official Fan Group on Facebook or visit online at www.myspace.com/lifebloodband to check out their latest show schedule, get updates, and show your support to their ministry. To contact the band directly, email them at [email protected].

Local Christian band, LifeBlood, opens on first national tour

Taylor Herring, Jeremy Ephraim, Jeff Grove and Daniel Pearson, members of LifeBlood and First Church, Laurel, Md., played its first national tour this summer. They will also perform a concert at the Nov. 5-6 “Uncharted: Crazy Love” youth evangelism conference at Ogletown Church in Wilmington, Del.



BELTSVILLE, Md.—First Church, Beltsville, had a video game tournament to honor the memory of one of their young adults and to encourage others to be bold for Jesus.

Troy Terawaki, a member of First Church, Beltsville, was a young man who glorified God—in the midst of his losing battle with cancer. Terawaki had been active at the church since he was in the 7th grade and he continued attend-ing the college and career class when he became ill. In 2006, while on a student exchange program in Japan, the young man had intense pressure in his eye and flew to Hawaii for diagnosis. He discovered he had cancer of the nasal cavity and was transferred to Washington’s Walter Reed Medical Center for chemotherapy and radia-tion. Though he had a brief remission, he died April 3, 2009, just two months shy of his 20th birthday.

“He carried himself with an exceptional level of faith and courage, and not only held tight to his faith during his ‘journey,’ but used his experiences as a vehicle to share his faith in God with others,” FBC youth director Robbie Laing said. Those “others” included doctors, nurses and fellow patients at Walter Reed and at Tripler Hospital in Honolulu.

Lang said when he visited Ter-awaki, the young patient took Lang around the hospital to visit, pray with and encourage other patients.

“We met this one girl named Hannah that Troy really wanted me to come talk to. Troy had been pray-ing with her and trying to encour-age her, and had asked me to help him find some scriptures for her. I remember how cool it was to get a chance to visit and pray with her,

and how important it was to Troy that we meet her that day,” Lang remembered.

To honor the young man’s memo-ry, FBC Beltsville youth and college and career ministries hosted a video game tournament and worship rally on June 5, 2010, Terawaki’s 21st

birthday. Laing said Terawaki loved

playing video games and even in the hospital would always be in the game room if he was able. The youth leader thought a tournament in Terawaki honor, along with a worship service, honoring God and sharing Ter-awaki’s story with others would be an appropriate memorial. Laing sent letters out to church members, fam-ily, friends and other church youth and young adult groups, inviting

them to come. “It was truly phenomenal,” Laing

said. The youth played video games, ate food and enjoyed the evening. One youth won a new Xbox 360, do-nated by a church member who was very close to Troy.

The worship rally was led by “The TNL praise band,” a Waldorf-based music group. Following Bible readings, teens listened to Troy’s favor-ite music including the Cast-ing Crown’s song, “Who am I.” Laing spoke of people who demonstrated extraordinary faith throughout their lives including Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jr. and Columbine martyrs Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. Laing turned off the lights and designated youth shined flashlights up to the ceiling to represent each life and how God used them as lights in the darkness. Then he told about Terawaki.

Laing said the young man acknowledged his struggle.”I don’t like the treatments and I don’t like sickness,” Terawaki told La-ing.

“But Troy stood firm on his faith and never doubted,” Laing said. “I asked him on more than one occasion, ‘Dude, are you mad at God?’ and he said, ‘No, God put me here for a reason and gave me opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I wasn’t in this situa-tion. And you know what? I plan on hanging around as

long as I need to.’ If he ever ques-tioned God, you’d never know it.”

Marvin and Cindy Terawaki, Troy’s parents, were very supportive and encouraging regarding the tournament. Laing said that at the end of the evening, the couple hugged him and said that they thought Troy would have enjoyed the event. Laing is already planning the 2011 annual “Troy Terawaki Video Game Tourna-ment and Worship Rally.”

First Church Beltsville’s video game tournament challenges youth toward extraordinary faith

Troy Terawaki, a member of First Church, Beltsville, glorified God in the midst of his losing battle with cancer.

God’s Initiative:God sent His son, Jesus, to die on

the cross, paying the penalty for your sins, and promised “everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

Our Response:Admit...that you need to be

rightly related to God. Understand that you are a sinner. Pride keeps us from doing some of the most impor-tant things in life. Without God’s intervention, your sin will ultimately lead to death and eternal separation from God. “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious stan-dard” Romans 3:23.

Repent...from your sin and turn to God accepting by faith His gift of salvation. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eter-nal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23.

Believe...that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, makes it possible for you to have a relationship with God. “This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” 1 John 4:10.

Confess...your sin to God. If you want to make this choice now, you can express that desire to God in a prayer similar to this one: “Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus shed his blood, died and rose again to take the punishment for my sin. I accept your offer of forgiveness and eternal life. I thank you for what you have done for me, and I give you my life from this day forward.”

Express...your faith publicly. Share it with a Christian friend or a pastor. You will want to become involved in a local church where you can grow in your knowledge of Christ. If you choose a Baptist church, you will be encouraged to be baptised as a public expression of your faith. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Any-one who believes in Him will not be disappointed” Romans 10:9,11.

Scripture from the New Living Translation

How to become a Christian


By Walt Scarborough

OCEAN CITY—Who would have guessed that French fries could open the door for ministry to thou-sands of students from all over the world?

It happened that way at Ocean City Church, how-ever, when several years ago it was decided to cook French fries in front of the church on Baltimore Avenue in hopes of attracting local teenagers. The local young people didn’t respond, but international students did and a new ministry was born.

That experi-ence marked the beginning of the summertime inter-national student missions program at the church in Maryland’s largest resort city. The stu-dents come there from all regions of the world for sum-mer work in hotels, restaurants and other businesses. When they arrive, church members and other Baptists are there to minister to them.

It is no surprise that food continues to be a primary way of reaching the young visitors. Dinner is provided in the church fellowship hall every Monday evening during the summer season and the students continue to respond in large num-bers. Lynn Davis, who leads the pro-gram and has been involved in resort missions for years, explained that attendance ranges from about seven at the first dinner in June to 300 or more in mid-summer after the word has spread more completely.

It is fitting that Lynn and her husband, Terry, would be involved in such a ministry. Terry, long-time and

recently-retired pastor at Ocean City Church, and Lynn had considered becoming international missionaries years ago, but lacked the language skills. Now, Lynn said, the interna-tional program has come to them.

To illustrate how far-reaching

the program has become, she said that last year young people from 45 nations across several continents participated. Total attendance was nearly 4,000.

This ministry is one of many ways in which the Davises have seen God work. “You can do all the plan-ning you wish, but God must provide the way,” Lynn said. And with inter-national student missions, “God has opened that door.”

Ocean City Church is not alone in this ministry. Churches from the Eastern Association provide and serve dinner throughout the summer schedule, signing up in advance to help. In addition, nine Baptist sum-mer missionaries from various parts of the United States are on-site to

help this year. These missions work-ers, students themselves, also assist in other outreach under Central Atlantic Leisure Ministries (CALM), which Lynn directs.

When international students at-tend a dinner for the first time, they

are registered by computer and given a badge to present on future visits. Each student also is presented with a free health kit containing soap, shampoo, a towel, toothbrush and other toilet-ries. Churches from the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Dela-ware supply the kits, Lynn said.

After reg-istering, the students can be contacted by e-mail and this is important, Lynn noted, because the relationship with the young people does not

necessarily end when they return to their home countries. Lynn

explained that she still receives almost daily e-mails from a young Romanian woman who was in Ocean City three years ago. Such ongoing contact is one of the hopeful signs from the program. Another is church attendance by the students while they are in the resort city.

Lynn’s hope is that the inter-national students will continue to attend church when they go home or that they may seek out a missionary working in their country. “You have to trust God to continue it,” she said.

In order to further encourage attendance, Ocean City Church has begun a new 8 a.m. Sunday worship service this summer, directed in large part at these students. Also, an Internet room has been equipped for

them in the church basement.The students possess some

English skills when they arrive in Ocean City, but an attempt is made to reach as many as possible in their first language. Therefore, Christian literature is made available to them in 27 languages, Lynn said. They are not forced to accept the litera-ture, but it is there for them.

The Davises talk to the students and answer questions, planting spiri-tual seeds that they pray will one day grow. Some made professions of faith and the Davises are praying that those students will share their faith when they return to their home countries.

Terry and Lynn Davis see the ministry as a gift from God. As they minister to this diverse group for the seventh year, they realize “the Lord has placed them here,” Lynn said. “It is a very special privilege,” she added. “It will be exciting to see how He uses it from here.”

Baptists serve international students in Ocean City

Terry and Lynn Davis minister through international student missions in Ocean City, Md. In the summer of 2009, students from 45 different countries came to Maryland’s Eastern shore to work in hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

Sundays at 8:30am EST overThe Trinity Broadcasting Network

(DIRECT TV Ch. 372)

Sundays at 8:30pm EST overThe Church Channel (DIRECT TV Ch. 371)

Consult local cable affiliates in your area for channel allocations

Hope & Encouragement for Life!



ESSEX, Md.—Hollywood came to Tabernacle Church, Essex, to help promote the church’s annual Vacation Bible School. One of the co-stars of the new move “Get Low,’ starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray, Amazing Grace, showed up to entertain the community. Of course Amazing Grace is as mule.

“She ‘kicked it off,’” Suzanne McHenry, the church’s VBS director said with a laugh. “We thought she would go perfect with the Saddle-back Ranch theme.”

“It was great. The whole com-munity came out,” she said. The friendly donkey shot hoops, pushed a baby carriage around and even knelt at a cross.

The mule’s owner, Steven Fos-ter, McHenry’s brother-in-law from Front Royal, Va., shared his testi-mony with the crowd.

Foster is a gentle man, with a southern twang. He’s trained mules and rode in rodeos throughout his life. But Foster struggled with ad-dictions for years and it was ruining his life.

“One morning I woke up and caught myself crying. I never do

that. I began to think of my kids, the past, people I hurt…I knelt down and put my face on my hands and I said, ‘God, If you’re real, I need you in my life. I felt a pres-ence coming over me. I had peace I never had before.”

Foster walked into the kitchen and told his girl-friend Pam, now his wife, what had happened. “I told her I gave my heart to God and I will serve him all of my life.”

God blessed him with “Grace.” Foster didn’t think he wanted any more mules after the heartbreaking loss of his favorite mule, AJ. But a friend came along with a baby that captured Fos-ter’s heart and he took her home. He named her “Steve’s Amazing Grace.”

Foster and “Grace” rode around in his truck, with the little mule sitting on his lap. “She comes in the house and we’ll sit on the porch together. She’ll drink her coffee and I’ll drink mine,” Foster laughed.

“I felt God opened the door for

her and me to do a ministry,” Foster said. He trained the mule to do in-

credible tricks—play music, retrieve mail, smile, yawn, kiss, hug, and, of course, dunk baskets. After sinking a basket, she goes to her cooler and downs a sports drink.

The mule even paints. Foster tells people to pick out the colors

and he has Grace paint for them. They can then buy the painting.

Foster also sells the paintings at auctions to benefit a variety of chari-ties.

“Robert Duvall said Grace is smarter than a lot of people he knows,” Forester laughs, adding that the actor has really enjoyed being around the mule.

Foster just praises the Lord. “I have my kids back in my life, and my grandkids…the Lord just started my life over again.”

At the end of the performances, Foster and Grace kneel at the cross and Foster tells the crowd, “This is where you truly find amazing grace.”

In addition to the movie “Get Low”, playing in the-aters now, Amazing Grace will appear on “Only in America” on the History Channel in September in a skit with Larry the Cable Guy.

‘Amazing Grace’ visits Tabernacle Church

Amazing Grace, a mule, shoots hoops, pushes a baby carriage and even kneels at a cross, as he and his owner, Steven Foster minister and testify about God’s amazing grace.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board has appointed four new missionaries in Maryland.

Lindsey and Brandon Shaffer are serving in Columbia, where Lindsey has been appointed by NAMB as an evangelism special-ist. Prior to her new assignment, she served as a pre-K teacher at the Raleigh Rescue Mission in Raleigh, N.C.

Lindsey holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in education from the Uni-versity of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., and a M.A. degree in Christian ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.

Also appointed to serve in

Columbia is Justin Woods, who will work as a local collegiate evange-lism missionary. Prior to his new post, Justin served as assistant director of admissions at Southwest-ern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

He holds a B.A. degree in English/communication from Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, and a M. Div. degree in Bible and a M.T. degree in pastoral min-istries from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

Woods and his wife, Tera, are the parents of a daughter, Anna. Tera holds a B.S. degree in applied mathematics from Texas A & M.

NAMB appoints new missionaries in Maryland

Brandon and Lindsey Shaffer Justin Woods



GLEN BURNIE, Md.—True financial freedom is to be able to re-spond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when He prompts you to do what He’s placed you on this earth to do, shared Dave Scobey of Crown Financial Ministries.

“That is free-dom,” stressed Scobey, who will be the keynote speaker at a “It’s a New Day for Financial Free-dom” seminar offered Friday, Oct. 29 by the Baptist Conven-tion of Maryland/Delaware.

The seminar, held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Faith Church in Glen Burnie, Md., will present biblical principles about stewardship and offer lessons in money management, such as budget planning and how to handle credit cards, cars and housing ex-penses.

The sessions cost $20 per person to cover materials and lunch, and spouses are encouraged to attend for free.

Church leaders who attend the seminars will leave at the end of the day certified by Crown Financial Ministries to teach the 10-week Life Group Study at their churches.

In his testimony, Scobey shares about he and his wife’s decision to retire their mortgage debt in four years while on a reduced retirement income. In 45 months, three months earlier than expected, the couple had a debt-free home.

“Now, I don’t know how God did that because my calculator and His calculator work differently,” Scobey explained. “But He honored that commitment.”

Shortly afterward, Scobey heard God’s call to move to a new location. And because the couple was free from debt, they were able to obey quickly.

“I can’t tell you the freedom—the lightening—that it has given us to be able to respond,” he said. “That is true financial freedom.”

At the 2006 SBC meeting in Greensboro, N.C., a decision was passed to move the overall teaching of stewardship from LifeWay Chris-tian Resources to the Southern Baptist Executive Committee.

As a result, the Executive Com-mittee selected Crown Financial Ministries to be the program of choice in teaching and delivering a comprehensive program of steward-ship to the many Southern Baptist churches across the nation.

This alliance has a multi-purposed approach that will include Crown teaching solutions, high impact pastor’s conferences, ongoing stewardship teaching for churches, online budgeting resources and much more.

“Because of the climate that we live in, there has never been a better time to have a conversation in church about money than right now,” Ashley Clayton, associate vice president for stewardship at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, told Baptist Press.

“Why wouldn’t a pastor address that? It could be that the people in our churches wonder why their pas-tor never talks about money when it’s clearly in the news all the time,” said Clayton, adding that many people in the pews are preoccupied with job security and how to pay their bills.

Church leaders must begin to see stewardship in a different light, he said, because Jesus spoke frequently about money, a tool that enables ministry.

“Even as a denomination, we spend way too much time trying to divide the Cooperative Program dol-lars when what we should be doing is trying to grow the Cooperative

Program dollars, and you do that through steward-ship,” Clayton said.

Clayton noted that most churches lack a consistent plan for helping people deal with money, and that one of the main benefits of such a plan is that it changes lives on an individual level.

“The person who is worried about their future, who is failing to invest in their future, who is struggling to pay their bills, who is struggling to give often can’t see beyond that,” Clayton said. “It colors their whole world. So a consistent stewardship plan in a church changes lives.”

Also, a consistent plan for helping people deal with money is a cultural bridge from churches to their local communities.

“If you want your church to get a toe hold in your community, if you want people in your community to see your church as being relevant and a place of hope and a place of help, hang out a sign that says, ‘Get out of debt here.’ It’s a strong cultural bridge,” Clayton said.

It’s a new day. How will you spend it? Start by attending the “It’s a New Day for Financial Freedom” seminar on Oct. 29.

For event registration and details, you may now register online at www.sbc.net/newday/events/registration.asp or contact Terry Doherty at (615) 782-8680 or email [email protected].

With reporting from Erin Roach, Baptist Press.

‘It’s a New Day for Financial Freedom’ seminar

‘It’s a New Day for Financial

Freedom’ seminar

on Oct. 29 is designed to

teach:

Fundamental, biblical principles of managing resources, saving, debt and setting priorities.

God’s nature and how He uses money in your life to lead you to financial freedom.

Practical steps to establish a plan to properly manage resources.


Lessons from the Great RecessionBy Chuck Bentley

GAINESVILLE, Ga.(BP)—Recently, on “MoneyLife,” Crown’s nationally syndicated radio program, I had the opportunity to talk with a few of our 10,000-plus Facebook fans.

We had posted the question, “What have you learned from the Great Recession?” and many Crown fans contributed to the online discus-sion. I’d like to share with you a few of their responses, compiled by our program writer, Jim Henry.

– Leanne Suttles:”Our income decreased by 65 percent from 2008 to 2009. I lost my job first, and then my husband lost his job. So we were definitely down to nothing and we have seven children. We were both out of work and I was pregnant with our youngest child. Four weeks after she was born, I went back to work. I have a teaching degree, and I had

lost my teaching job, so I went back to substitute teaching and my hus-band was at home.

“God had called him several years ago to return to college, but with seven children and working, he just didn’t have the time. So while we were out of work, he was able to go back to school while staying home with our younger children. There was no next paycheck or overtime pay coming, but God provided, some-times just when the mortgage was due. My faith has moved to a whole new level. God is faithful. I struggled with the bills and the monthly bud-get, but God was with me. He has never left me or forsaken me!

“God has moved us and grown us in areas of faith that I would never imagine. He is my Source and my Provider.”

God uses difficult economic circumstances to cause us to be-

come more dependent upon Him, to be more reliant on His financial principles, and to reprioritize our lives. I trust that you, too, will be encouraged to embrace the lessons that God has for each of us as we journey through the Great Reces-sion together. Remember, He has promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (See Hebrews 13:5). That is certainly a lesson we all need to remember.

– Bill Wade: “The lessons have been many. I’m the Crown coordina-tor for my church here in St. Cloud, Fla. My wife and I took the Crown study in 2002 and we’ve been blessed on the journey and we’re on our final destination on the Crown Money Map. We’ve paid off our mortgage; we became completely debt free in December 2005. Thank you, Lord and Crown.

“I have learned to be more con-

tent and that the NEED is great to teach others God’s way of handling money, especially now. Because of the recession, people are so open to hear what we have to say and they’re seeking counsel. Many of them are turning to the churches and asking, ‘What can I do?’ but unfortunately, many people wait too long to seek help and counsel. We have a class of high school students that are learn-ing God’s ways of handling money, and they’re being taught by previous students of the class.”

– Jim Podraza: “I would say my wife and I have really fine-tuned the ‘needs versus wants’ scenario. Also while it is hard sometimes, I am holding the line on not taking on any new debt, even when there is a 0 percent financing offer available!”

Chuck Bentley is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries and host of

Crown’s MoneyLife radio broadcast.

By Michael Foust

ORLANDO, Fla.—With the be-lief that pastors who adopt children inspire their congregation to do the same, the SBC Pastors’ Conference will use its surplus offering funds to provide a series of $2,000 adoption grants for Southern Baptist minis-ters and missionaries who want to adopt.

Funds are limited and inter-ested families can obtain more information at SBCAdoption.com. A home study must be complete before applying.

SBC Pastors’ Conference President Kevin Ezell and his wife Lynette have adopted three children in the past six years, adding to a family that already included three biological children. Ezell is pastor of Highview Church in Louisville, Ky.

“Pastors impact churches, and churches impact communities,” Ezell told Baptist Press. “Since we adopted our daughter, we’ve had 130 children adopted in our church [by about 85 church families]. When a pastor does it, it impacts the church. It sets tones of acceptance and lead-ing by example.”

Meanwhile, Bethany Chris-tian Services says it will provide a matching grant for the first 25 pas-tors who are approved for the Pas-tors’ Conference funds and who use Bethany for their adoption service. A news release from Bethany said

pastors can serve as a “multiplier effect.”

“Frequently, when a pastor and their family adopts a child, an average of five families in the same church will also adopt,” the Bethany re-lease said.

Adoption costs vary widely, but typically cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. Ezell said he knows the Pas-tors’ Conference grant will pay for only a portion of costs.

“When God is leading someone

to adopt, finances typically are the greatest hurdle,” Ezell said. “It’s not their heart, it’s their wallet. We want to in some way help, and by doing that it will encourage others to help.”

The Pastors Conference award-

ed the first grant during its June 14 afternoon session to Buff and Cissy McNickle, a Florida couple who adopted twin boys and appeared on stage. Buff is a minister at Idlewild Church in Lutz, Fla.

“Adoption is not God’s Plan B ever. Adoption is always God’s Plan A, if that’s what He’s called the fam-ily to,” Cissy McNicle said during a short video that told their adop-tion story. The couple unexpectedly received an additional $10,000 given by the SBC Conference program sponsors.

Ezell’s three adopted children are from China, Ethiopia and the Philippines.

“I would adopt all over again based on the impact it’s made on my biological children,” he said. “They are so much more informed and the world is a much smaller place to them. They better understand the love of God and how it crosses nationalities.”

Obviously, it’s also impacted his church. “It’s been sweet to watch our people, opening their hearts,” he said.

Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press.

SBC Pastors’ Conference inaugurates adoption fund for pastors

Buff and Cissy McNickle, a Florida couple who adopted twin boys, are the first recipients of a $2,000 grant from the SBC Pastors’ Conference to be used toward their adoption expenses. They also unexpectedly received $10,000 from Pastor’s Conference program sponsors. Photo by Shannon Baker

Your Association... August 2010

Arundel Association

Glen Burnie Church is accept-ing registration for their Upward Soccer program for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade through Aug. 8. The season begins on Aug. 28.

Linthicum Church had a com-munity summertime ice cream social with antique cars, a moon bounce, western dress and calling contest and a white elephant table. They also offered free hot dogs, cotton candy and soft drinks.

Severna Park Church mem-bers will head to West Virginia this month to do missions work in a small Appalachian area Southern Baptist church doing prayer walking, light construction, visiting nursing homes and other outreach ministry.

The church had VBS in July fea-turing the Saddleback Ranch theme. They used the VBS as an opportu-nity to get a head start on collecting shoeboxes and supplies to participate in Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child.

Baltimore Association

Grace Place (GP), Dundalk, had a “day of praise” in June. The church had live bands and summer food including hot dogs, cotton candy and snowballs testimonies. Dallas Bumgarner, campus pastor, wrote in the North Arundel Church’s (NAC) newsletter (GP is a satellite church of NAC): “It was awesome as we let the people of Dundalk know that Jesus is alive through good music, food and a children’s fair. From 1-5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, every-one driving or walking down Delvale Avenue and all the people living around the church heard testimonies and songs about the love of Jesus.”

David Schell retired as pastor of Parkville Church after serving for 28 years. The difficult decision was due to pressing health concerns. Schell began preaching regularly at the age of 12-years-old, went on to become licensed and began church ministry at the age of 22. He is a graduate of Southwest Baptist Uni-versity, Mid-America Baptist Theo-logical Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Schell and his late wife, Brenda, came to Parkville from Union View Church, Franklinton, N.C. in May,

1982. Family and friends gathered for Schell’s retirement dinner. The theme was “A pastor and his sheep: Psalm 23.” His final service at Parkville was June 27. He will reside in Maryland with his son, Nathaniel and his family.

Riverside Church will host a Vacation Bible School at Riverside Park this month with the help of a youth mission team from White Marsh Church

The Church on Warren Av-enue’s new youth group “PRIME” is flourishing. The group kicked off with a launch party in March and in addition to regular “Omega” Bible studies, they’ve gone on to take fun trips to the Inner Harbor and out for ice cream.

The group needs a variety of equipment including a video game system, sound system and a van.

Blue Ridge Association

Fellowship Church, Middle-town, had its annual Children’s Carnival on July 17. The free festiv-ity featured food, games and pony rides. Local non-profit organiza-tions were invited to have displays to inform the community about the services provided.

The Catoctin Promise Band, a non-denominational Thurmont band

played throughout the festival.

Delaware Association

Harrington Church is grow-ing. Sunday school attendance has jumped. In fact, recently, the young adult class, which averages seven had 18 students.

The church, in an effort to reach out to the community, had a free oil change day this spring for young single mothers. Clayton Clarke, pastor of the church, said he was thrilled with participation.

Kids under nine years old helped by leading other children to class-rooms where they could play games or color. Members in their 80’s vol-unteered to be “runners,” heading to the auto parts store for parts when needed. The church plans to offer the service again in October.

Members of Harrington had a hymn sing and celebrated baptisms with a local non-denominational church. Harrington and Grace and Truth Community Church joined together for the evening service and then had a fellowship time after-wards.

Youth from First Southern Church went to Ocean City last month. They ministered with inter-national students, kids’ camps and lifeguard ministries.

Eastern Association

First Church, Easton, has had a busy missions emphasis summer. They sent a mission team to Ocean City in July to work with BCM/D’s resort ministry outreach to inter-national students, ministered to migrant workers on the Eastern shore and collected sunscreen sticks for adults and children for a mission team to take with them to Turkey.

First Church, Easton, has Xtreme Kid through Aug. 11. On Wednesday nights, children enjoy arts and crafts, cooking, water games, tennis, soccer, drama, video making, flag football, music and more.

The program kicked off with a family fun night cookout with games and ice cream. Kids picked out the tracks they wanted to follow for the six-week program.

Immanuel Church, Salis-bury, honored Woodrow Crouse with the title Pastor Emeritus. Crouse served the church for 27 years, from March 1979 to May 2006, the lon-gest serving pastor in the history of the 50-year-old church. Prior to his ministry in Salisbury, Crouse served churches in California, Louisiana and Baltimore for a total of 40 years.

Church members presented a plaque with a picture of the church building and “Deep appreciation for faithful service” engraved upon it.

Deacon Chairman Robert Shores said the award was given from the heart “to honor one who served long and well.” Crouse presented the sermon and preached about commit-ment and loyalty. Over 125 people attended the special worship service.

Gail Crouse, Woodrow’s wife, was also recognized with an award for her work in many ministries at the church through the years. Wanda Ferrier, who organized the service and a dinner the previous evening, presented the award.

Mid-Maryland Association

Mid-Maryland Association will host its annual golf open on Sept. 21 at the Oakmont Green Golf Club in Hampstead. The cost is $75 and includes fees, cart, light lunch, steak dinner and beverages.

Prizes will be available for first, second and third place and cash prizes for a hole in one. Proceeds will

Eastern

Mid-Maryland

Delaware

Blue Ridge

Baltimore

Arundel

Immanuel Church, Salisbury, deacon chairman, Robert Shores, presented an award to Woodrow Crouse as Pastor Emeritus saying the award was given from the heart “to honor one who served long and well.”

August 2010 Your Association...

be used for Haiti relief. Sponsorships are also available.

Nigel Black has been called as pastor of Hope Fellowship Church, Greenbelt. His wife, Eva, directs the young children’s ministry of the church. The couple has three children.

Two hundred ninety five elemen-tary school aged children and 26 pre-schoolers participated in Northwest Church, Westminster’s Mega Sports and Arts Bible Day Camp in June. That’s the highest attendance ever for the annual event. Seventy-three percent of the campers were from outside the church.

The camp featured praise and worship, Bible stories, a sports story and lots of high-energy sports and arts activities including basketball, flag football, baseball, dance, cheer-leading, soccer, cooking, art and theater. Breakfast and lunch were provided each day.

Campers returned for a finale program to show parents on Thurs-day evening and the sanctuary was packed. Local businesses donated a variety of supplies for the event.

A camp reunion was held on July 30 featuring an all-day “run for the son” one-mile fitness walk at the church.

Montgomery Association

Georgia Avenue Church had a workshop on inclusion of people with disabilities and their families. The event focused on informing “how to be an eye, a voice, and an ear for those in need.”

Redland Church and First Church, Rockville, are partner-ing to host Upward flag football and cheerleading. Practice and games will be at Redland Church.

For more information see the church’s website, http://recreation.redlandbaptist.org.

Potomac Association

Trinity Church, Waldorf, has had a “summer of outreach” for teens. In June they had “messy games”—fun times with jello, choco-late syrup and bananas. In July teens came for an outdoor evening movie with free popcorn and snow cones and this month they’ll have a skate party with Christian hip hop, rap and rock music.

The church sent a mission team

to Pikeville, Ky., last month to distribute school supplies and other needed items. They will return in December to deliver Christmas gifts and winter supplies.

Waldorf Church had a farewell reception and wedding shower for Shelley Mager, the church’s family ministry associate. Mager is leaving to get married and move to Las Cru-ces, N. M., with her husband, Joshua Allen, pastor of Grace Bible Church.

Prince George’s Association

Kettering Church, Upper Marlboro, had a young men’s conference called “Preparing for Kingship.” The all-day event was for young men ages 11-25.

Unity Church, Forestville, celebrated their 20th anniversary last month with a special gala event at the Lafontaine Bleu in Lanham.

Susquehanna Association

Calvary Church, Bel Air, had a “law enforcement recognition day” on May 16. The church had a large poster-sized Thank You card for each agency, signed by the congregation. Law enforcement personnel were recognized and given gift bags. Each bag contained a New Testament designed for law enforcement work-ers, and a mini flashlight. Ralph Green, pastor of Calvary, preached

from Romans 13 and shared what the Bible says about law enforcement officers. The service also included a role call of Mary-land officers who died in the line of duty.

Calvary will present the musical “The Sermon on the Mound” at 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 25. Children in first through sixth grades have been practicing for months in preparation for the energetic musi-cal, directed by Ken Tipton, minister of music.

The play is about Mac Wire, a rookie in training who is terrified of dropping the ball, or tripping on the field.

He learns baseball lessons on the field but also spiritual lessons about playing on God’s team, suiting up with the armor of God and spending time with the “head coach.”

Christ Memorial Church, Westernport, recently returned from a mission trip to Alabama, working with Millbrook Church. The team participated in worship, did backyard Bible clubs, prayer walking, visited nursing homes, passed out flyers and helped with a block party. They also did yard work, some random acts of kindness and hosted a movie night featuring “Facing the Giants.”

Montgomery

Potomac

At Northwest Church, Westminster’s Mega Sports and Arts Bible Day Camp in June, 73 percent of the campers were from outside the church.

Prince George’s

SusquehannaWestern

Beryl Little was known throughout the BCM/D for his years serving with the Sunday School conference, now known as Hori-

zons, providing guidance and his support for church leaders as an adult trainer and resource consultant. He also served as direc-tor for Skycroft Conference Center for four years.

Little was born in Amarillo, Texas, though he spent most of his life in the East. He studied journalism at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and then was drafted in the U.S. Army. He continued his studies after the army.

His job with Faith at Work Magazine brought him to Columbia, where in 1973 he joined Columbia Baptist Fellowship (CBF). As CBF’s Sunday School director and teacher, he produced memorable Sunday School programs, combining his love of writing and teaching, to serve God.

He is remembered by his CBF family as an encour-ager and organized many CBF activities including the

men’s ministry. He served with the people’s resources committee, and he helped organize the church’s annual

Angel Tree activity and a winter coat drive.Through his own company, The Training

Group, Little worked with seniors through Florence Bain’s senior center, producing senior-oriented programs for SPRING (Senior Peer Resources: Individuals, Networks and Groups) for 24 years.

Near to his heart was another self-found-ed company, Little Ideas Publishers, through which he self-published and marketed ma-terials on thinking, learning, teaching and personal developments.

Little also taught middle school at Glenelg Country School. Of course we cannot forget Little’s other loves: cats, teddy bears and the Cowboys!

Little is survived by an aunt, Marcie Harper, and two cousins: Thomas L. Harper and Judith E. Pybus, all of Amarillo.

By Rebecca Canfield, Columbia Baptist Fellowship

Remembering Beryl Dean Little (1944-2010)

Your Convention... August 2010

CentrePointe Counseling, Incorporated has been awarded Full Accreditation for January 2010 to July 2013, The Samaritan Institute, located in Denver, Col., announced today.

“Accreditation is a major ac-complishment and demonstrates a Center’s commitment to excel-lence,” according to the Reverend Dr. Paul Bretz, Vice President of the Institute, which is the head-quarters for an international network of Samaritan Centers.

“The accreditation process indicates that Centers offer profes-sional services within a framework of quality organizational, ad-ministrative, and financial prac-tices,” Bretz said. CentrePointe Counseling was established in the early 70’s by an independent board

representing a cross-section of the community and is supported by 28 congregations.

Other key community support-ers of the Center include Arundel Baptist Association, Millersville; Baltimore Baptist Association, Baltimore; Blue Ridge Baptist Association, Boonsboro; Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church, Lutherville; Crossroads Church, Odenton; First Baptist Church, Crofton; Mars Hill Baptist Church, Essex; Montgomery Baptist Association, Gaithersburg; Parkville Baptist Church, Baltimore; Patterson Park Baptist Church, Baltimore; Potomac Baptist Association, Hughesville; and Prince George’s Baptist Association, Lanham.

The Center provides a wide range of outpatient counseling

services, including counseling for individuals, couples, and families; educational programs; and consul-tation for professionals and orga-nizations.

The Samaritan Ministry ad-vocates the concept of interfaith, team-oriented, and cost-efficient counseling, emphasizing the inter-relatedness of mind, body, spirit, and community.

The Executive Director is Kim Cook, MSW, MA, LCSW-C.

The Center is staffed by Marlene Backert, MA, LCPC; Terry Bates, MS, LCPC; Theresa Baxter, LCSW-C, MSW; Rich-ard Beacham, MS, MDiv, LCPC; Lynnda Bird, MS, LCPC; Olga Booth, PhD, LCPC; Ron Brown, BD, ThM, DMin; Carolyn Buresh, MS; David Burt, MA, MRE; Eliza-

beth Devilbiss, MA, LCPC; Elinor Dichshinski, MS, LCPC; Daniel Holler, MS, LCSW-C; Toni Kel-ley, MS, LCPC; Dawn Lewis, MS, LGPC; Patsy Mengiste, MA, MBA, LGPC; Julie Pratt, MS, LCPC; Melvin Pride, MS, LCPC; Mat-thew Reader, MSW, LGSW; Thom-as Rodgerson, PhD, LCPC; Daniel Stinchcomb, MRE, MS, LCPC; and Frankie Wright, MA, LCPC.

The Board of Directors includes Mrs. Doris Burch, Dr. Rev. James Dixon, Jr., Mrs. Carole Frank, Ms. Barbara High, Rev. Kevin Holder, Ms. Joan LeFaivre, Mr. Robert Michael, J.D., Dr. Emily Ulmer Michelsen, Rev. Larry Sharrow, Mr. Don Sweeney, CPA, Ms. Bar-bara Taylor, and Dr. Rev. Nathaniel Thomas, LCSW-C.

CentrePointe Counseling receives accreditation

“Dear Counselor” with CentrePointe Counseling, Inc.

“What do we do when the church seems toxic?” (Part 2)

Dear Counselor,My husband and I have

been in ministry for five years. While we have had many blessed days in minis-try, more recently as we have tried to make some changes, the church just seems toxic and I worry about its impact on our family. How can we learn to survive in such an environment? “Learning to Survive”

Dear “Learning to Survive,”I began to address your issue

last month by taking introducing an approach from a workshop I did with ministers’ spouses entitled, “Building an Immune System to the M1N1STR1 Virus.” Using the metaphor of a virus we found that a virus in ministry is any source of stress, conflict, negativity or ir-ritation. Viruses are always pres-

ent. Viruses only reproduce and take over when there is a “host” cell. With an immune system, viruses are hardly noticed. Prayer is a way of building an immune system and we looked broadly at various ways of praying.

More specifically, there are ways of praying that move one from a “quiet time” to a “quiet life” because we are changed so deeply in the process and because we be-gin to approximate Paul’s admoni-tion to “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17). Some early Chris-tians developed a school of inward prayer (hesychia) which meant to be still and to concentrate. Oth-ers followed a four-fold approach to reading the scriptures – Read-ing, Reflecting, Responding, and Resting – in which the final stage was simply to be still and silent in the face of the scripture. In such silence, things change.

Out of the silence there often emerges a phrase from scripture or an image of God with which one can journey throughout the day. John Cassian (fourth century), for example, took as his single focus a verse from scripture to which he would come back to in prayer over and over again during the day and in the face of any difficulty. His verse was from Ps. 69:2 (trans-lated from the Greek version of the Psalms where the numbering is slightly different): “Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.”

With such a focus of the mind that originates in a stillness before God one becomes watchful, sober, and awake (I Thess.5:6-8; I Peter 5:8) in all circumstances. It is the best immune system one can have.

—Tom Rodgerson

Send your questions by e-mail to [email protected].

CentrePointe has offices in the following locations:

Bel Air, Canton, Catonsville, Charles Village, Clarksburg

(Germantown), Columbia, Crofton, Dunkirk, Eldersburg, Federal Hill, Frederick, Glen Burnie,

Hughesville, Lanham, Laurel, Lutherville, Mechanicsville,

Middle River, Odenton, Parkville, Port Deposit, Rockville,

Severn, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Westminster.

(410) 882-1988 or (800) 491-5369

August 2010 Your Convention...

By Larry Miles

Inviting friends and neighbors to church was one of the original tactics of local evangelistic efforts. Later, the advent of television brought new and effective meth-ods to the efforts of men like Billy Graham. More recently, groups like Promise Keepers have taken advantage of large venues and ef-fective networks of highly organized disciples to reach the hurting and the lost.

In spite of these efforts, how-ever, those who truly have a heart for reaching the lost and fulfilling the Great Commission never tire of seeking new methods to make their labors more effective. One method that has recently received much at-tention is called social media.

What in the world is social me-dia you ask? Have you ever heard of Facebook? Twitter? YouTube? Chances are you have (since by the end of this year experts predict nearly 1 billion people will be con-nected via some form of social me-dia). Nonetheless, in spite of having heard of them, you still may have no real understanding of exactly what they are or how they work.

At this point a few definitions are in order. Let’s start with so-cial media. One of the most basic definitions available on the Internet states: social media is primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among hu-

man beings. Going further, Face-book is: a social networking website - a gathering spot, to connect with your friends and with your friend’s friends. For good measure let’s also throw in YouTube and Twitter. You-Tube is: a video sharing website on which users can upload and share videos. And finally, Twitter is: a so-cial networking service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets.

Now with at least a basic un-derstanding of social media, you might be tempted to wonder (even if only to yourself)… So what? How is this relevant? In some ways the relevance of social media is defined by its size and speed of adoption. A few points of comparison might

help. It took 38 years for radio to at-tract 50 million listeners, 13 years for television to attract 50 million viewers, and in just 4 years there were 50 million people surfing the Internet. By comparison, Facebook alone garnered more than 300 mil-lion members in a little over three years!

Well those stats are fine, you might say, but I’m just not sure about this whole social media thing. Before you get tempted to write off social media as some new-fangled digital amalgam, remember these important words and relax -

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new un-der the sun. Ecc 1:9 [NIV]

Social media is not new, they’re just different, from what a lot of us are accustomed to using. If you decide to explore them – and even to develop a proficiency in us-ing them –think of it as a lot like using the telephone, an ordinary communications tool, but one that in the right hands can become a powerful means of sharing the Gos-pel with the lost.

If you’d like to learn more, check out the following website: http://www.facebook.com/mybcmd.

Larry Miles currently works as a marketing consultant for McClung

Companies, a media company in central Virginia. He has served as

the Chairman of Deacons at two

Baptist churches, teaches an adult Sunday School class and a Bible

Study for a local prison ministry. He is also a published author of Chris-

tian fiction. He resides in Crozet, Va., with his wife Michelle, and

two daughters, Bethany Grace and Anna Faith.

“Like” BaptistLIFE on Facebook to stay up-to-date with the

latest news and events.

Social Media – A new method for sharing the Gospel

Larry Miles

CHILDCARE WORKERS—Faith Family Church of Finksburg, Md., is looking for qualified, dedicated childcare workers 18+. Regular, paid position. Tuesdays. 9-11:30 a.m. Sept - June. Call Sarah at (410) 552-9522 ext. 8.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR—For music and faith development – College Parkway Baptist (Arnold, Md.) is seeking candidates for this full time position. Responsibilities include music leadership, worship planning (with Senior pastor) and oversight

of faith development programs for all ages. For more information, visit www.collegeparkwaybaptist.net. Please send resumes by Aug. 31 to [email protected].

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—The Baptist Convention of New Mexico is currently receiving resumes for the position of executive director of the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, which is located in Portales, N.M. Resumes may be sent to the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, P.O. Box 94485, Albuquerque, NM 87199 to the attention of Children’s

Home Search Team. For more infor-mation on the Home, visit its website at www.nmbch.com.

MAIL, E-MAIL OR FAX YOUR AD Deadlines are the first day of each month for the following month’s issue. Classified advertising is 75 cents per word ($18.00 minimum) for BCM/D churches and church members; 85 cents per word ($20.00 minimum) for non-profit organizations; and 95 cents per word ($25.00 minimum) for commercial organizations. Word count does not include words with two letters or less. Contact [email protected] for display

ad pricing. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of any advertiser’s products or services.

For more, visit online at www.bcmd.org/ resume-center

CLASSIFIEDS

facebook

Name:BaptistLIFE


David JacksonBCM/D Missionary

for Church Multiplication

It was recently pointed out to me that a build-

ing I was visiting had a telltale crack that had appeared in one of the corners where two of the walls came together. The building was older, perhaps a hundred years in age, and from all appearances on the

outside, was quite beautiful and impressive.

However, I was told that the crack—visible only from the in-side—indicated a more serious problem than was even evident to the naked eye. The foundation was flawed, cracked as well, and that this would eventually bring about the demise of the building itself.

Can I state the obvious? Church planting doesn’t always encourage the construction and building of the planter’s own spiritual life. In fact, ministry in general often fights against the necessity of personal spiritual formation in the life of all Christ-followers. I find this especial-ly true, at least anecdotally, among leaders in church life.

I have no doubt that the Enemy is behind a lot of this. He is “look-ing for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Sometimes it’s an all out, frontal assault, but often times it’s not. He’s usually subtler than that. If he can get church leaders to focus on “the good” rather than “the best,” he can neutralize their development or at least encourage a crack to ap-pear in it.

In church planting this is often compounded by the fact that egos are large and resources are small. Planters sometimes think too much of themselves or they have limited options to assist them in the work of ministry. In either case, they often try to do it all themselves. Since everyone, including the planter, has the same amount of time, then something has to give. Unfortu-nately, it’s often their own spiritual development that suffers as a result.

This past month, the BCM/D granted me a sabbatical, for which I

am thankful. My intended purpose for this experience was to retreat, reflect, renew and re-engage, all in the midst of life and ministry learn-ing with family and friends.

During this time I was remind-ed of several keys that are essential for church planters—and all Chris-tian leaders, in fact—to remember as they seek to build strong, healthy spiritual lives while ministering.

Being before Doing. In God’s eyes, who I am is more

important than what I do. If I forget this, I negate the work of grace in my life and attempt to earn God’s fa-vor through my service. In addition, who I am (or may not yet be) will directly impact what I do. If I am to develop as a leader like I should, I must cultivate my spiritual walk with God; it will affect everything else.

Relationship not Religion. Christianity is not a bunch of rules, tasks and obligations. It is a rela-tionship with the living Lord. Our Father desires to develop intimate communion with His children, but religious responses crowd Him out and make the “forms” more impor-tant than the “function.” In other words, relationship makes it per-sonal; religion, impersonal.

Love trumps Duty. What motivates you in your

Christ-life? While responsibility rightly ought to move us to behavior in our ministry, the ultimate mo-tivator in our lives should be love. Jesus taught us the importance of such love in our walk with God and in our connections with oth-ers (Matt. 22:37-39; John 15:12-13). Love is a relational motivator and thus, nurtures our life in Christ. Duty alone, on the other hand, brings burnout and a judgmental heart.

Priority above Activity. To put this another way, quality

is more important than quantity in our lives. Even Jesus didn’t try to do “everything.” He instead chose to do what was most important at all times. He reminded busy, hard-working friend, Martha, that her sister, Mary, who sat at His feet, had “chosen what is better” (Luke

10:42). Doing the right things is always more important than doing more things.

People over Assignment. With so many needs in ministry, it is easy to forget that our assignment is not just checking off everything on our “to do” list. Tasks are not the objective; they are means to an end. The end in our service is always people, God’s choicest creation. Ev-ery job and assignment we have is done for the purpose of helping oth-ers and the calling God has placed upon their lives. If we forget the objective, our hearts become phari-saical and will harden.

Community rather than Isolation.

You can’t be a solitary follower of Christ and grow your soul. The Godhead experiences community; Jesus exemplified it here on earth. We are created for community and need it desperately to thrive spiritu-ally. While leadership in ministry often wars against close “common unity” with others for a variety of reasons (most are self-imposed), the growing disciple will allow “iron to sharpen iron” and will learn the necessity of interdependence in the Body of Christ.

Oswald Chambers reminds us all, “The greatest competitor of de-votion to Jesus is service for Him…The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him” (My Utmost for His Highest, January 18).

In fact, if not careful, we can all too quickly neglect this essential foundation to work on the super-structure. And while superstruc-tures can impress those who view them, the ultimate ability of the building to accomplish its intended purpose depends on what is inside and more specifically, what is unseen.

David Jackson serves the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware as the Team Strategist

for Church Multiplication. He can be reached at (410) 977-9867 or at

[email protected].

Checking the foundation BCM/D August - October

Events

August5-8 Boys Camp, Camp Wo-Me-To, Thursday 5 p.m. - Sunday 2:30 p.m. (ext. 215)

September6 Labor Day - BMRC Closed

10-11 Focused Living for Church Planters, BMRC , Friday 5 p.m. - Saturday 5 p.m. (ext. 222)

12 Asian Concert of Prayer, Hanuri Korean Church, 5:30 p.m. (ext. 228)

16 Children’s Ministers Seminar, BMRC, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (ext. 233)

18 RA Field Day, Bethel Church, Ellicott City, Md., 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (ext. 215)

20-21 Language Pastors and Wives Retreat, Skycroft Conference Center, Monday 1 p.m. - Tuesday, 1 p.m. (ext. 221)

October8 Weekday Education Director’s Support Network, BMRC, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (ext. 233)

8-9 Breathless: A Gathering for Women (ext. 231)

16 Bible Teaching Resource Team Seminar, BMRC, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (ext. 222)

22-24 Deaf Retreat and Interpreter’s Conference, Skycroft Conference Center, (ext. 222)

22-24 Ministers Family Getaway, Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center, Lancaster, Pa., (ext. 211)

29 It’s a New Day Seminar, BMRC, www.sbc.net/newday/events/registration.asp or (615) 782-8680 or [email protected].

For detailed information, go to www.bcmd.org/calendar or call 1-800-466-5290 and dial the

extension listed.

Gayla ParkerWMU Executive

Director/WMU,SBC Missions Innovator

SpecialistMissionary for

Missions Education/Customization


While in high school my young-

est son, Jesse, was asked to write a poem using a par-ticular structure. The topic was irrel-evant. As you might imagine, writing po-ems was not on his top ten (or even top 100) list of things “I want to do today.” Jesse played on the varsity basketball team and would have much preferred

a little b-ball with his teammates. But the assignment was due and to stay on the basketball team, grades had to be maintained. There is noth-ing like a little incentive to get an unwanted job done. This is the poem

that Jesse wrote that afternoon:

Running here and thereLooking for where I’m fromGoing to the very depth of the earth Looking for where I’m fromI’ve searched the deepest caveAnd looked over the highest cloud

Running here and there looking under this and that

I’ve gone to the depth of the earth and to the farthest star

I am lost and looking for where I’m from

I’ve searched the deepest cave and looked over the highest cloudSwam to the bottom of the seaAnd climbed the highest mountI am lost and searching for where I’m

fromI’ve looked under every rock and in every

tree

I am lost and searching for where I’m from

Then on a hill with a cross called Mount Calvary

I find my home.

By the time you read this article the Southern Baptist Convention will be over. There will have been much said about the Great Com-mission Resurgence (GCR) Report. There are and will be varying opinions on the GCR report. But my prayer is this, when it is all said and done we can all agree on this, there are many in our world who are lost and dying without the eternal life that can be found in Jesus Christ. There are billions who are searching for “where I’m from.” We can be the GPS in their lives. We can lead them to Mount Calvary, the place that of-fers eternal life for all.

Over the next few years The North American Mission Board will be talking about GPS (God’s Plan for Salvation). Perhaps your church is already participating. If not, maybe now is the time to agree to be the GPS for someone who is lost and

searching. I’m forever grateful that Jesse

found Mt. Calvary and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But there thousands of children, students, and adults who are still wandering, “running here and there.” They have “searched the deepest cave” in the drug and alcohol world. They have looked “over the highest cloud” in the financially successful world. They have “swam to bottom of the sea and climbed the highest mount” in the sports world. They have looked “under every rock and behind every tree” searching in books and false religions. But they are still lost, running here and there searching. Take time today and be the GPS for them and help them find Mt. Cal-vary and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

‘I am lost and looking for where I’m from…’


COLUMBIA, Md.—Lindsey Shaffer, BCM/D’s newest mission-ary, knows her calling—to minister to those in poverty.

The recent graduate and young newlywed graduated from the Uni-versity of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in special education, but halfway through her graduate studies she realized that teaching was not where God was calling her. She worked with schools where families were economically comfortable and with schools with children living in low-income hous-ing. Her heart broke for the strug-gling families and she became aware that poverty ministry was where her passions lay. She also knew God was calling her to seminary.

“I didn’t want to go,” Lindsey said. The young woman said she told God she wasn’t going to be a statistic. She wasn’t going to be one of those women who go to seminary only to meet a man and get mar-ried. She wasn’t going for her “MRS” degree.

“I met my husband on the first

day,” she laughed. “It was like God was laughing at me and saying ‘so, you think you’re going to tell me something!’”

In 2009 she gradu-ated from Southeast-ern Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., with a Master of Arts in Christian ministry and she married her husband, Brandon, one month after gradua-tion.

As Lindsey pondered how God would use her various degrees and experi-ence, her father, Mark Lydecker, a collegiate coordinator with the North American Mission Board, met with BCM/D Executive Director David Lee and Associate Executive Director Bob Simpson.

As the men discussed various ministry business, Lydecker men-tioned his daughter and her recent graduation. The BCM/D had been seeking an associate missionary to come alongside BCM/D lay mobili-zation missionary, Ellen Udovich, to expand lay mobilization. They encouraged Lydecker to have Lind-

sey submit her resume. She did and the week after the young couple

returned from their honeymoon they were in Maryland discussing the possibilities with Lee and Simpson.

“We weren’t sure what the explicit duties would be. We both felt that God was calling me to poverty ministry so we said, ‘If they offer me that, we’ll know it’s God’s will’,” she said.

The call came. “It was exactly what they wanted to bring me here to do,” Shaffer said.

Her new role is to make church-es aware of the need for poverty min-istry and to come alongside churches to help them develop ways to begin and develop those ministries. She will also supervise summer mission-aries, oversee English as a Second Language programs and help with lay mobilization.

Shaffer made a confession of faith when she was four-years old. She heard Bible stories throughout her very young life. While in Con-necticut, the family didn’t have tele-

vision. Her parents ordered Uncle Charlie’s Bible hour tapes.

“I was listening to one about heaven. My mom came into the room and I asked her how I can get to heaven. I remember kneeling and praying. I was baptized several years later.”

Unlike many who become believ-ers as small children, Shaffer didn’t fall away or feel a need to later recommit. She knew it was a sin-cere conversion. When she went to college, she was no longer under her parent’s authority and had to make her own decisions about her beliefs and her church attendance. In that respect, she said, she took responsi-bility for her own faith.

The Shaffers have been in a whirlwind of change, but they’re excited.

“We love living in Baltimore,” Shaffer said. “We love the culture and the sporting events.”

In their spare time, the energetic couple enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities. They’re busy exploring their new world and ready to chan-nel their youth, energy and excite-ment into ministry in Maryland and Delaware.

Newest BCM/D missionary, Lindsey Shaffer, called to poverty ministry


Students get ‘amped’ up through BCM/D and Skycroft partnershipBy Shannon Baker

BCM/D National Correspondent

MIDDLETOWN, Md.—It’s a beautiful formula.

Cardboard boat regattas, wacky wigs, a zorb coaster, which World of Weird Sports defines as “the sport of rolling down a hill at speed inside a giant inflat-able ball,” Damascus Road, the seven-story waterslide, and Peter, “the reCHARGE” reporter, plus intense worship, incredibly gifted youth speakers and extreme Bible devotions on a mountainside in Western Maryland equals Amped, the new student ministry of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D).

Nestled in the moun-tains, Skycroft Conference Center is the perfect locale for student camps, retreats and mission experiences.

Skycroft’s executive director, Doug DuBois, was already hosting summer and winter camps and mis-sion experiences for teenag-ers throughout the year so it made sense for him to become BCM/D’s missionary for student evangelism.

In fact, just this summer, Amped held three reCHARGE summer camps with 697 students from 39 churches attending. In the winter, Amped will host student winter breakout weekends in coor-dination with local Baptist associa-tions, and will handle the logistics and coordination of an annual convention-wide student mission trips to Guatemala.

The goal is to take missions offerings throughout the camps and impact weekends to help raise money for this mission trips, DuBois said, explaining that the offerings will be used to help build churches and otherwise minister in the Central American locale.

In addition, Amped staff (DuBois, Grace Schofield, and Peter Odulana with the addition of Lauren Rodriguez, communications

manager at the BCM/D who will now serve as associate director at Skycroft) will organize the annual Youth Evangelism conferences.

The next YEC event, “Unchart-ed: Crazy Love,” will be held Nov. 5-6 at Ogletown Church in Wilm-ington, Del.

Rodriguez is super excited about working with the Skycroft staff, she said, “because they are innovators. They don’t want to maintain the status quo. They want

to keep being innovative to

reach as many people as they can for Christ.”

Some of these in-novations include the building of a super-sized Hollywood Squares set for a game show review of the day’s lessons; or the hosting a “reCHARGE’s Got Talent” talent show, with no judges, to showcase student talent.

Noting that the staff is “a big family who puts its all into the ministry,” Rodriguez also shared how Skycroft emphasizes making camps personal for the students.

Most camper-counselor ratios are one to 30 students, she ex-plained, but at reCHARGE, the ratio is two to 25 teens.

“I knew every student’s name—and their story,” Rodriguez said, explaining that she cherished the time to sit with students, many of whom are now her Facebook

friends, and hear what was going on in their hearts.

For DuBois, the ministry goes beyond just the students. He wants to minister also to the student ministers.

Presently, he is working with High Tide Church on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to develop a “Shep-herds Rest”-type home for youth

leaders to use for free. The house, to be avail-

able in the off-season, will give youth ministers a place for retreat and rest.

DuBois and the Skycroft staff also are developing a “student-intern family” to send out interns to churches with little or no stu-dent programming to help develop student ministries and/or special events.

In addition, the Amped student ministry will feature an ongoing unique ministry presence at a mis-sions house located in a low-income housing area in south Frederick, Md. DuBois encourages student ministers to sign their youth groups up one weekend a year to

serve in the community—prayer-walking, hosting Bible studies, tutoring students or doing light construction projects.

“The goal is to have 40 week-ends filled with student ministry groups who are maintaining a Christian presence in this hurting community,” DuBois shared.

Though no overnight stays are allowed at the house, student

groups who minister there can receive a discounted rate at Skycroft, he said.

During this sum-mer’s reCHARGE camps, students re-placed some of their recreational time to go and make a dif-ference in the com-munity.

Neighbors, who took notice of the ministry taking place, asked for Skycroft to come help them, too.

DuBois also is working with asso-ciational directors of missions to provide incentives for assist-ing in the promotion of Amped events.

“The goal is to get churches to call directors of missions for the things to do,” shared DuBois.

To encourage the partnership, DuBois envisions giving associations a portion of the event fees for every child who comes to the event.

“For instance, if we give $5 for each child who shows up, and 1,000 people come, that would be $5,000 that we give to the association for their ministry efforts,” he said.

With all these possibilities in front of them, the entire Amped student ministry team is charged up.

For more information, visit online at www.facebook.com/ampedministry, www.skycroft.org

or http://bcmd.org/youth, or by phone at (800) 536-6759.


By Karen L. Willoughby

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)—Racial reconciliation is his agenda, James Dixon, incoming president of the National African Ameri-can Fellowship of the South-ern Baptist Convention, said at the group’s gathering June 14 in conjunction with the an-nual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Or-lando, Fla.

“I’m discontented with the church I’m at because I’m preaching to folk who look like me, and I’m not prepar-ing for the place I’m going to,” Dixon said, referring to heav-en. He has been pastor for 17 years of El-Bethel Church in Fort Washington, Md.

“God wants us to bring about a unified body not only in the United States but in the world. Racism -- until we deal with that, the Kingdom of God is hindered,” Dixon said. “I’m looking at God to do some amazing things to get people together.”

The NAAF annual meet-ing and banquet also honored three stalwarts: Elgia “Jay” Wells, David Cornelius and Emmanuel McCall. Officers were elected and reports were heard from representatives of SBC entities and from Jo-seph Gaston, president of the National Fellowship of SBC Haitian Churches USA/Cana-da. Three of the nominees for SBC president also addressed the fellowship.

Wells, of LifeWay Chris-tian Resources, received the Friend of Pastors award, established last year by NAAF to honor individuals who have had a longtime, signifi-cant impact on pastors.

“He influences all the work at LifeWay,” said Selma Richards, vice president of the leadership team at LifeWay. “For 21 years he’s shown great strength and great resolve. Jay led in the development of the new ‘You’ urban curriculum. We have run out in both of the last

two issues, which tells us it’s being very well received.”

Virginia pastor Mark Croston presented the award to Wells.

“The well is deep,” Cros-ton said. “Jay has a deep, quiet strength, deep creative thinking -- deep with a committed life. He has a clear passion for educating and discipling people. He’s a well of fresh ideas,” Croston said.

Two other men were honored at the meeting: David Cornelius of the International Mission Board and Emmanuel McCall, who taught most of the African Americans who today are in leadership positions in

the SBC, said NAAF President Mi-chael Pigg, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga.

Cornelius has announced plans

to “move into another area of min-istry” after serving with the IMB for 21 years.

“Because of David Cornelius’ untiring efforts, there is a ris-ing number of African American churches going on mission trips,” Pigg said. “We want to celebrate that. He’s been blowing the trum-pet for missions.”

McCall, first African American to hold a national leadership role in the SBC, served for 23 years with

the Home Mission Board, now the North American Mission Board. Today he is an adjunct professor at Mercer University and pastor of

Fellowship Group Baptist Church in East Point, Ga.

New officers for two-year terms included Dixon as president; A.B. Vines as vice president; Mark Croston as treasurer; Bryon Day as secretary; K. Marshall Williams as parliamentarian; Robert Wilson as historian; Brian King as east region direc-tor; Roscoe Belton as cen-tral region director; and John Wells as west region director.

Vines is pastor of New Seasons Baptist Church in Spring Valley, Calif.; Cros-ton is pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va.; Day is pastor of Em-manuel Baptist Church in Laurel, Md.; Williams is pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia; Wilson is pastor of Sand-town Baptist Church in Atlanta; King is pastor of Ezekiel Baptist Church in Philadelphia; Belton is pastor of Middlebelt Baptist Church in Inkster, Mich.; and Wells is pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Temecula, Calif.

NAAF’s $4,665 budget is unchanged from last year, Croston said.

Three candidates for SBC president introduced themselves to NAAF:

Jimmy Jackson of Alabama; Bryan Wright of Georgia and Ted Traylor of Florida. Wright was elected president the next day by messen-gers to the SBC annual meeting.

Karen L. Willoughby is managing editor of the Louisiana

Baptist Message, an affiliate newsjournal of the Louisiana

Baptist Convention.

Fellowship seeks racial reconciliation

Michael Pigg, right, current president of the National African American Fellowship (NAAF) of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Philadelphia Church in Lithonia, Ga., introduces James Dixon, left, president-elect of the NAAF and pastor of El Bethel Church, Ft. Washington, Md., during the annual banquet June 14 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Photo by Kent Harville.

Your World... August 2010


WASHINGTON, D.C.—Exem-plary college and seminary students interested in addressing today’s cul-tural issues from a biblical perspec-tive have the opportunity to become directly involved in issues that impact millions of people through the Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission (ERLC) of the South-ern Baptist Convention.

“We offer volunteer intern-ships, providing students hands-on experience in the fields of commu-nications, public policy and admin-istration,” shared Bobby Reed, who directs the program.

Noting that an internship can be a tremendously formative experi-ence for students as they prepare for their careers, Reed shared that the ERLC seeks to design each experi-ence around the individual’s gifts and interests.

“Our staff is committed to the success of each intern and will men-tor him or her during the internship program and beyond,” he added, explaining there are internships available for qualified students throughout the year in both ERLC’s Nashville, Tenn., and Washington D.C. offices.

The ERLC office in Washington is located at just four blocks from the Capitol in a house called the Le-land House, named for John Leland, a Baptist minister who championed the cause of religious liberty in colo-nial America.

There, the ERLC interacts with senators and members of the House of Representatives on a daily basis to urge their support for issues that relate to faith and family.

Clifton Drake had just gradu-ated from law school at George-town University when he decided to pursue an internship with the ERLC in 2008. Placed through the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, a min-istry of the Alliance Defense Fund, Drake spent six weeks in ERLC’s D.C. office working on public policy issues of interest to Christians.

The main issues that sum-mer ranged from global warming to broadcast indecency to internet

gambling and FDA’s regulatory authority over the use of tobacco.

“I could not believe the types of things I was able to do,” shared Drake, a prosecuting attorney in Florida. He attended Senate hear-ings, took notes and even debated policy with staffers, exposing them to the SBC’s positions.

“From Day One, I got to interact with really high profile cases and people,” he said, explaining that he read the existing bills, analyzed them and presented them to Barrett Duke, vice president for Public Pol-icy and Research with the ERLC, who manages the D.C. office.

In return, Drake received an interesting insight into the political process, particularly with the Chris-tian perspective.

As a 20-something student, he found himself constantly marveling, “I can’t believe they’re letting me do this! I am actually debating public policy for the SBC!”

In addition to his other respon-sibilities, Drake drafted letters and action alerts, including content for ERLC’s 2008 “40/40 Prayer Vigil” that focused 40 days of prayer on personal, church and national spiri-tual revival.

In a similar way, Natalie (Kas-par) Bunch’s work involved a lot of research and personal interviews. In ERLC’s Tennessee office, located downtown Nashville, she observed the editing and recording of the “Richard Land Live” radio program hosted by ERLC President Richard Land.

Serving as an intern while a student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, Bunch said, “The ERLC got me out of the college-writing bubble and into the bigger ministry bubble.”

Now a freelance writer for the “Upstream Collective,” a non-profit organization that challenges churches to be more missions-mind-ed, Bunch remembers how hard it was at first to interview nationally known figures, such as Vicki Court-ney (author of “5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter” and “Your Girl”).

“I remember being terrified, but now it’s just part of my job,”

said Bunch, who once served as an International Mission Board Journeyman and continues to write for the IMB on a freelance basis. “The ERLC was a great stepping stone for me—and for me to learn how to do things well.”

Brandon Bryant also helped re-search news stories for ERLC’s radio programs. While involved in the techni-cal editing, he gained great experience in media “that I wouldn’t have had otherwise” during his internship as a student at Lib-erty University in Lynchburg, Va.

He now serves at “Overseas Radio and Tele-vision,” a nonprofit Christian multi-media company in Taiwan that uses magazines, radio and television to teach English and to share Christ with the Taiwanese and the greater Chinese population.

Bryant said it was the unex-pected blessing of a mentorship at ERLC that propelled him into min-istry. He credits most of his growth to the long talks he shared with his host family member, Harold Harper, executive vice president of the ERLC.

“It was the coolest experience, much more than the job itself,” he shared, explaining that Jesus was very apparent in Harper’s life. “In our discussions about personal life matters, Harold was instrumental

in helping me grow spiritually.” Reed urges students interested

in current social, moral, and public policy issues to give serious, prayer-ful consideration to the opportunity of an ERLC internship.

Applicants should provide the following: résumé, brief per-sonal testimony (page or less about spiritual journey and passions), paragraph about goals and expecta-tions of an internship, time frame of availability (spring, summer, or fall) and samples of writing abilities.

These items may be sent elec-tronically to [email protected]. For more information, contact Reed at 901 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203 or (615) 782-8407.

For more information, visit online at www.erlc.com and

click on the internship tab.

Spend your semester shaping public policy through ERLC internship

August 2010 Your World...

By Karen L. Willoughby

GULF COAST (BP)—As the oil spill crisis drags on along the U.S. Gulf Coast, Southern Baptists are ministering to people who live on the coast in two main ways – with on-site chaplains and with “Buckets of Hope.”

As much as 200 million gal-lons of British Petroleum unrefined crude oil has been escaping into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sank April 22. The fishing industry has been crippled, as has tourism and local economies in many places across the Gulf. Tar balls have been found on beaches in all five Gulf states. About one-third of Gulf waters have been closed to fishing, and in some cases – such as Grand Isle, La. – the beach itself is closed.

The disaster relief department of the Southern Baptist Conven-tion’s North American Mission Board convened a three-day June 30-July 3 conference in New Or-leans that included Baptist disaster relief leaders from Texas, Loui-siana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, plus regional and national leaders from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A July 7 conference call also was held to follow up on the discussion and plans.

The group decided that six disaster relief-trained chaplains would be onsite – two in each of three locations – by July 11. Sum-mit participants also decided to conduct a “Buckets of Hope” food ministry to permanent residents of Gulf Coast towns.

“For the rest of the world, every-thing is normal. For the folks down here, it’s a reality that life is not going to be the same anymore,” said Joe Arnold, director of missions for Bayou Baptist Association in Ter-rebonne Parish, south of I-10 and west of Plaquemines Parish, where Port Arthur and Venice are located. Venice is 52 miles northwest of the Deepwater containment efforts.

“These are people who are losing their heritage and losing their future,” Arnold said. “They’ve

trained 2,000 or more, and yet only 500 are working on ‘vessels of op-portunity.’ The ‘vessels’ are boats owned by the fishermen, assigned to the task of skimming oil from Gulf waters.

“The support personnel is where the despair is coming in,” Arnold continued. “These people who were supplying these boats and rigs, they’re the ones feeling the crunch. It’s always the bottom man on the totem pole who gets crushed first. ... More than anything else, the frus-tration is from looking to see what tomorrow holds, and not being able to see anything.”

Just the day before, Arnold had talked with a welder, a man who works for a wage in an industry that primarily serves the oil industry in Terrebonne Parish.

“He said business is slower all the time,” Arnold said. “He goes in every day, wondering if today is the day he’ll get a pink slip. It’s hard to live like that.”

Buckets of Hope

While chaplaincy ministries require intensive training and experience, a wide range of South-ern Baptists can help Gulf Coast residents through the “Buckets of Hope” initiative, said Gibbie McMil-lan, disaster relief director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

“When Christ saw the needs of people he was moved with compas-sion and did not wait for them to ask for help,” McMillan said. “He asked, ‘What do you need?’ Because of that model, we, too, need to be Christ to these hurting people of the Gulf.

“One way of offering hope is a small bucket of food that could keep some families from doing without at the same time it would remind them that they can have hope because people do care about them,” McMil-lan said. “It would be my prayer that Southern Baptists would stop for a moment and ask themselves a question: ‘How would I feel if I were in their condition?’ I know I’d want someone to care.”

The buckets were expected to include pasta and sauce, rice and

beans and other non-perishables Gulf Coast residents would want to eat.

“We’ve made the plea for people to stop and realize there is a need,” McMillan said. “This is a way people in our churches can have a part in bringing hope to people in the afflicted areas of the Louisiana coastline. With the Buckets of Hope, we’re providing a way for God’s people to be involved in giving an offering that hopefully will restore hope.”

Chaplains Ministries

Participants in the recent Deepwater Horizon Summit spent at least two sessions talking about the need to minister on an emo-tional/spiritual level to the people of the Gulf Coast. The oil spill has affected people on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast to date more than in any other state. But as the oil slick spreads to all five Gulf Coast states -- affecting tourism, local economies and fishing – similar stress-level indicators alert Southern Baptists and their partners in disaster relief, The Salvation Army and American Red Cross.

U.S. Coast Guard chaplains also see the stress.

“I was at the beginning of this, when the phone rang at 4 a.m.,” said Commander Tim White, who super-vises Coast Guard chaplains in 26 states. “Every day it got bigger and bigger, every single day.

“This is not just event stress,” White said. “The scope is so big, so much oil, the coastline so vast ... there’s so much going on and they can’t fix it. That’s cumulative stress. It wears people down. ... How do you clean up a marsh? They’re out there with paper towels and Shop-Vacs. It breaks your heart to see this.

“They’re fighting an enemy they can’t see,” the chaplain said. “You can see the evil in a natural disas-ter, not in this. And yet it keeps coming. People think not a lot of progress is taking place. And the heat. It’s jungle hot.”

The people of the Gulf are hurt-ing economically, mentally, spiritu-ally, financially and in their day-

to-day lives, White said. “And then there’s the mental disconnect,” he said. “They’re going to BP – who on one level they’re seeing as the bad guy who caused all this – for help.”

Mickey Caison, adult volun-teer mobilization team leader for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, em-phasized the fragility of human life.

“As human beings we can snap and break under the circumstances of life,” Caison said. “As Christians, we can offer the hope that is found in Jesus Christ to people so they can bend in this wind, and not be broken by life.”

During the conference call July 7, the decision was made to place three trailers onsite for chaplains ministering in Gulf Coast towns. One trailer is to house two disaster relief chaplains – rotating in a new team each week for 12 weeks – in Venice, Grand Isle and in Houma. Local chaplains are serving until DR-trained chaplains arrive.

“We’re looking for listeners, people with a calming nature,” said Joe Arnold, director of missions for Bayou Baptist Association. “Life is upside down for the people here, basically because of the uncertainty, not knowing what tomorrow holds.”

In addition to the need for trained DR-trained chaplains, there’s the need to provide suste-nance for them. The disaster relief chaplains will support the local churches and pastors as they pro-vide ministry to the people in the affected communities.

“What we need is for churches or Sunday School classes to provide the means to feed these chaplains,” Gibbie McMillan said. “We figure it will take about $100 a day to provide the food for these six chap-lains.”

Checks to help feed chaplains can be mailed to DOM Joe Arnold, Bayou Baptist Association, 440 Magnolia St, Houma, LA 70360. Note on the check that it is to feed the chaplains.

Karen L. Willoughby is managing editor of the Baptist

Message, newsjournal for churches in the Louisiana Baptist

Convention.

Oil-spill ministries launched on Gulf Coast

Your World... August 2010


BALTIMORE, Md.—There is something that sets designated hitter, Luke Scott, apart from the other players on the Baltimore Orioles. His passion for the game is uncontainable; shining from every inch of the huge grin he flashes the crowd as he rounds the bases. His friendly demeanor portrays a down-to-earth, genuinely nice guy as opposed to a conceited celebrity. But Scott will be the first one to tell you that it’s his relationship with Christ that fills him up and drives him forward each and every day.

But even with unspeakable joy deep inside, Scott can’t help but ago-nize over this year’s pitiful season with the O’s, trailing the league at 25 wins and 57 losses a week before the mid-season All Star Game. Sitting at his dining room table, dropping his head in his hands, he admits, “This has been the season from hell.”

Scott said he’s been doing spiri-tual battle like never before, but, by leaning on the Rock, he’s staying the course. He knows his struggle is not just with an opposing team, but with the “powers and principalities of this world.”

“Satan is attacking me at my heart’s desire—baseball,” he said.

Scott said he feels it when he steps up to the plate and is con-tinually praying, asking for God’s help. He acknowledges that there is a clear parallel between his spiritual walk and his game, citing more “clarity” on the field and less oppressive warfare during those breakthrough periods.

Scott was instrumental in reviv-ing the team for a short-lived rally this spring when he hit a grand slam against the Mariners, bring-ing the team up from a 4-0 Mariner lead. The “O’s” went on to win that game and he hit three more homers within the week.

He goes through periods of suc-cess and challenges, however, and believes there’s no question as to the reason for the satanic attacks.

“I’m bold. I think that’s why he comes at me so hard. He knows I

freely talk about my faith and God, who He is and what He’s done, with-out hesitation,” Scott says.

The powerful athlete, who has been referred to by radio commen-tators as the strongest man on the team, is disciplined in all areas of his life. He eats healthy, avoids sug-ar, filters his water, takes supple-ments and rides his bike to Camden Yards. He’s got a “work hard to get what you want” ethic.

Physical discipline and ethics carry over into his spiritual life—and visa-versa.

Scott continually prays, journals, memo-rizes scripture, takes his Bible to “work” and speaks Scripture over himself. “The Bible talks about the temple—God anointed the hands of the workers.” Scott relates that to God’s anointing over his body and soul.

He takes a beating for his passionate stand for Christ, for his vow to remain abstinent until marriage and for his propensity to “tell it like it is.”

“Right is right and wrong is wrong,” he states. He shares that philosophy with youth groups he has the opportunity to address. “Fame, wealth and power should never come at the cost of integrity honor and character. You can…write a check to get what you want, but having a good name can’t be bought.”

Scott also freely shares his struggles and victories. One of his most poignant memories was not close to the harbor in Baltimore, however, but instead on the South American continent.

Scott travelled to Venezuela more than five years ago. He played there to improve his game, but it was also, he feels, because God had a mission for him. God blessed Scott in an incredible way during his first season in 2005 playing for the Navegantes del Magallanes. He came late to the team, fresh from the World Series with the Astros,

and had to leave early to prepare for the upcoming 2006 season. Dur-ing this short season, however, he played like never before, hitting 12 home runs at his first 88 at bats—breaking a record and earning the nickname “el monstruo de cuad-rangular” which translates to “The Home Run Monster.”

“It was the best time I ever had in my life,” Scott said. He not only took joy in the game; he also

took every opportunity to talk about Jesus on television, on the radio and to people in the crowd. “There’s nothing like it when God takes your passions and your talents and uses it for His glory. It’s the greatest sense of fulfillment. That’s when it’s the best!”

On a more personal level, Scott had the opportunity to be an ex-ample to other players as he stood firm on his convictions, passing up opportunities to party and even beautiful Venezuelan girls waiting for him at his hotel. He admits it was only with God’s strength he was able to resist.

“I took a lot of heat,” he ac-knowledged.

Scott’s return visit to Venezuela in 2007 did not yield such suc-cessful results on the field, but he continued to publicly glorify God in the good and bad.

“My performance was misera-ble,” he said. “(But) God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and I love Him.”

From his initial climb to suc-

cess in Single-A teams in 2003 to his current status in the Major Leagues, Scott has found comfort in the fact that God has a plan and is his biggest fan.

One of his hardest challenges was moving from high A ball with the Cleveland Indians to Double-A then being demoted back again. He was having a great run in 2003, finishing the season with 20 home runs and 81 RBIs. He even won the

home run derby. But the following year he was traded to the Houston Astros who sent him back to Salem, the High A league where he had been an all-star.

“It was a tough mountain to overcome. I spoke the right things, prayed, and really sought after God…and His anointing came on me in my games.”

Almost three months later he moved to Round Rock, Houston’s Double-A league in North Caro-lina where he excelled,

hitting 19 homeruns and scoring 62 RBIs—added to eight homeruns and 35 RBIs at Salem brought him to a total of 27 homeruns and 97 RBIs ending with a .298 batting average. Nolan Ryan, who owned the Round Rock team, vouched for Scott and the homerun monster moved to the Astros 40 man roster.

Scott continues to ride a roller coaster of victories and struggles. His most recent challenge came on June 30 when he pulled a ham-string rounding the bases of a homerun and was sent to the Ori-ole’s spring training camp at Sara-sota, Fla., for recovery. He said he doesn’t understand, but knows God has a plan for all things.

He is praying that God makes up the time for him. Last year he was on the disabled list from May 11 to 24. When he returned, he hit six homers and 15 RBIs in four games—less than a week. “He gave me a month worth of numbers just like that. I don’t put limits on him. I just choose to get out of His way.”

Orioles’ Luke Scott, the ‘Home Run Monster’ has joy in the Lord

August 2010 Your World...

By Tim Ellsworth

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP)—One ... two ... three ...

As the pastor stepped to the pulpit, a young Adam Wainwright began counting.

74 ... 75 ... 76 ... The preaching continued, and

so did the counting inside Wain-wright’s head.

328 ... 329 ... 330 ... “As long as he kept talking, I

would keep counting,” said Wain-wright, a member of the National League team in tonight’s All Star Game. “There were times when I got up almost to 1,000, which is really embarrassing. I’m so competi-tive, and I was so lost at the time, that going to church was a game. That was the only way that I could make myself sit through it without complaining and whining and fuss-ing, was to make a game of it. So I made it a counting game.”

That competitive fire may not have been appropriate for the set-ting, as Wainwright now asham-edly admits, but it has served him well atop the mound. Over the past few years, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Wainwright has become one of the game’s most dominant pitchers. He won 19 games in 2009 and finished third in Cy Young balloting in the National League.

So far in 2010, he’s second in the league with 13 wins and a sparkling 2.11 ERA, good enough to earn his first All-Star spot in a game at Angel Stadium in Ana-heim, Calif.

Wainwright still competes fiercely on the diamond, but now Wainwright has a different attitude when it comes to attending church and hearing the Bible preached.

He grew up in a single-parent home in Brunswick, Ga., where his mom made sure he went to church every Sunday. He heard the Word of God preached year after year, but it didn’t sink in.

“I hated going to church,” he said. “I didn’t let anybody know that, but it was the most boring thing in the world to me.”

His counting games during the sermon continued until middle

school. He then started attending regular Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings, primarily be-cause of his friends and the pretty girls who went.

“High school came, and I started to get farther and farther removed from the Christian way,” Wainwright said. “I grew up going to Vacation Bible School. I could tell you about the Bible and all the par-ables and the stories and all that. But to me at the time, it was really

a history book and not something that was talking about a messiah.”

The Atlanta Braves drafted Wainwright in the first round of the 2000 amateur draft, and in rookie ball his first roommate was Blaine Boyer, now a relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Boyer, Wainwright found someone who was a committed Christian and who lived a godly lifestyle. Wainwright took notice, and began talking to Boyer about why his life was differ-ent.

Boyer told Wainwright about the change that Jesus Christ had made in him, and though Wain-wright admits that he was interest-ed to hear Boyer’s story, he wasn’t willing to make that commitment to Christ himself.

About that time agents began

calling Wainwright, offering their services. Wainwright was drawn to Steve Hammond, an agent from a smaller firm, but someone that Wainwright thought was a good fit for him. Hammond, also a Chris-tian, signed Boyer as a client as well, and the two of them began tag-teaming Wainwright in their witnessing to him.

“They knew I had questions,” Wainwright said. “I was coming to them all the time with questions

about eternity and how do you know you’re right, how do you know Christianity is the way and not Buddhism or Islam or any of these other ones.”

The two convinced Wainwright to attend a conference sponsored by Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO) in 2002. They told him he could leave anytime if he didn’t like it.

“OK, fine, I’ll do it,” Wainwright thought. “I might leave, but I’m go-ing.”

The headline speaker for the conference was Joe Stowell, former president of Moody Bible Institute and now president of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Wainwright remembers hearing Stowell talk about the relationship side of Christianity. That was some-thing he never remembered hearing

about before.“The message had probably

been given to me a lot of times before, but my ears weren’t ready to hear it,” Wainwright said. “At this particular time at PAO, my ears were finally ready to listen.”

On the second day of the confer-ence, Wainwright repented of his sins and trusted in Jesus Christ for his salvation.

A year later, the Braves traded him to the Cardinals. He debuted with the team in 2005, and took over as the team’s closer late in the 2006 season and during the play-offs. He struck out Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers for the final out in the 2006 World Series.

Wainwright moved into the St. Louis rotation the following year and has been an anchor for the Car-dinals ever since. His success has allowed him to earn a healthy liv-ing, which he acknowledges can be a potential pitfall for a Christian.

“Doing what we do, the real-ity of the money that we’re able to make and the obstacles we’re faced with -- temptation-wise -- are tre-mendous,” Wainwright said. “We’re given a platform that’s unlike many others. We’re also given more temp-tation than probably most others. The money side of it, Jesus said that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven.”

That’s why Wainwright said it’s important for him to stay focused on Christ as his ultimate meaning and purpose in life.

“Without God, without Jesus in our life, it’s always going to be empty,” he said. “We’re always going to be striving to get to that next pla-teau, and then when we get to the top plateau, there’s nothing there.

“With Jesus in our life, He says no matter what we do, whether we fail or have the most success, He’s going to love us the same. That message, to me, is so huge for this lifestyle we’re in.”

Tim Ellsworth is director of BPSports (www.bpsports.net), the

sports website of Baptist Press, and director of news and information at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

All Star anchored in Christ

Adam Wright, a member of the National League All Star team, has learned that Jesus will “love us the same” win or lose. Photo by Tim Ellsworth.

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