Faith Grows As Ministry Diversifies San Diego and Denver
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...w TM tory e ju r s st u t o e y ll i 's t t ! I w g w r w .o e .b n ap li tistlifeon BaptistLIFE Newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware April 2003 Truckers’ wives ministry explodes Blackaby comes to Baltimore By Sharon Mager Staff writer BALTIMORE, Md. — Henry Blackaby and his son Richard, authors of the books “Experiencing God,” and “Spiritual Leadership” are com- ing to Baltimore next month to encourage and motivate spiritual leaders. The father and son team will be the speakers at the Baltimore Association’s official kick-off of “Embracing Baltimore,” a beginning phase in the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) Strategic Focus Cities (SFC) initiative. The conference will be held on Friday, May 16, 7–9 p.m. and Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at Middle River Church, Baltimore. It’s an important first event in a two-year evalu- ation process as NAMB prayer- Ministry to truckers’ wives goes high-tech as new ministry through email and the fully decides which cities will world wide web is launched. Story on page 9. be chosen to implement a SFC initiative. Baltimore is among four cities being evaluated. The other three cities are Cleveland, Faith grows as ministry diversifies San Diego and Denver. If cho- sen, NAMB will pour financial resources and volunteer aid into By Sharon Mager and administration; Tim Byer, The next step will increase the city for planting churches Staff Writer part-time recreation minister; parking and Sunday School and evangelism. The beginning Clyde Way, bi-vocational youth space and expand the office focus will be on calling church- GLEN BURNIE, Md. — Faith minister; and a new pre-school complex. They’re also talking es to prayer and holiness and Church, Glen Burnie, has a minister, Angela Holland. about adding a third service to build and nurture spiritual simple ministry plan: discover “We use ministry as a tool on Sundays. leadership in preparation for where the community itches to reach out to the community. The church averages 650 the tasks ahead. and find a way to scratch it, It’s harder and harder to get in attendance each Sunday. “The greatest need in reach- and do it with excellence. into homes without an appoint- They have reached over 700 ing cities is to have recogniz- The church building ment,” Nichols said. on special Sundays. able, authentic spiritual leaders. is located just a few miles If you’re moving in your own from Baltimore Washington agenda you’re not a spiritual International Airport. Just leader – religious, but not spiri- driving by, a passersby would tual,” Henry Blackaby said. have no idea how much activ- “Our coming, at least from ity is going on in the building. our perspective, is sort of a It’s used every day. There’s foundation – the beginning of Upward basketball, co-ed vol- Strategic Focus City which lays leyball, softball, extravagant a foundation of spiritual leader- musicals, orchestra, praise Columbia, Maryland 21046-1716 Columbia, 1 Baptist ship – across all denominations. 0255 Old Columbia Road band, choirs, evangelistic out- We’ve had a good response reaches, Awanas and many from other denominations,” he LIFE other programs for men, said. women, youth, children and Blackaby will be using seniors. It also has a child themes from the book “Spiritual development center with Leadership,” which he and pre-school, kindergarten and Richard wrote. daycare. On Sundays there “We’ll try to expand and are two blended worship ser- personalize the basic truths in vices and Bible studies. Adults the book,” he said. can choose from ten different Blackaby will speak about classes including an in-depth the leader’s challenge, role and Bible study with an empha- Pastor James Nichols, Faith Church, Glen Burnie, preparation, vision and char- sis on the Greek and Hebrew believes that excellence in communication is what helps acter, goal and influence, deci- background, a class that deals his church’s diverse and growing congregation succeed in sion-making and schedule, and with contemporary issues, and suburban Baltimore. pitfalls and rewards. classes for women, men, co-ed There are three phases in and seniors. Faith Church is growing The Family Life Center is a SFC initiative, each taking two “We live in a Baskin- and changing. The church big draw for the church. About years. The first phase is the Robbins kind of society with all completed two phases of a 250 children, 70% of whom are embrace process, the second is Columbia, MD Columbia, U. kinds of flavors and we like to building program. It is pre- not members of Faith Church, Pe Non-profit strategic planning with some S. try different kinds. Our church paring to start the third and play in Upward Basketball. rm pilot projects and the third is P Postage is like that. We’re not afraid to talking about the fourth. This draws in the children, AID it #350 implementation to create new try new things,” James Nichols, The first part in 1996 was their families and friends congregations, evangelize, senior pastor of Faith Church “Forward with Faith” and and involves more men and mobilize volunteer efforts, said. Nichols shares ministry included expanding the sanc- women in ministry. work with student ministries duties with Raymond Higgins, tuary. “The Second Mile” in continued on page six and emphasize prayer and music minister; Matthew 2000 saw the completion of church health. Bass, minister of education a Family Life Center/Gym. continued on page seven Lessons learned in the school of adversity am a cancer survivor! There I of getting back into the swing of second-guessing, Zachariah es should we worry said it. I never dreamed that it things after eight weeks of recov- was struck dumb and did not (Philippians 4:6). I would happen to me. Cancer ery. Even the worst snowstorm in speak again for five months until (4) Begin every day with always happens to someone else. Maryland history could not keep he named his newly born son, prayer and thanksgiving (I But, during my January 2003 sur- me from advancing to health. “John.” Thessalonians 5:17-18). gery, it was confirmed that there I am indebted to you my From the beginning, I firmly (5) The Lord will never forsake was cancer present. The really readers and all my friends for believed that God would enable you! (Hebrews 13:5). good news is that it was caught your outpouring of prayer, love me to go through my physical It has been a hard, but very early and limited to an and support. You were certainly ordeal. I never doubted it. Years rewarding journey. God has upper level of tissue. It had not key in helping me recover. I of trusting Him had conditioned been with me every step of Bob Simpson gone deeper or spread out. I am thank you from the bottom of me to just let Him be God and to the way to strengthen, encour- Baptist LIFE Editor, very lucky. Actually, I am fully my heart. I especially need to turn my situation over to Him. I age, sustain and heal me. The BCM/D Director of aware that luck had nothing to thank my wife, Lorraine, who could not second-guess His sov- best part is that He often did Communications do with it. Rather, I am the recip- was truly amazing through it all! ereign will for my life. My fifty- His work through so many of ient of God’s wonderful grace. I I have learned so much one years of serving Him had you! I will never forget how know Who did it! He guided the during this time. You don’t already taught me that He does He worked through so many. hands of my surgeons and He always know exactly how your all things well. Again, thanks for helping to see has restored me to good health. faith will serve you until it is I also found that some me through. He truly is Jehovah Rophe…the severely tested. There is a very things were reinforced within I don’t know if it “takes a Lord our Healer! interesting verse in Luke 1:18 me during the entire process: village,” but I do know it takes My prognosis is excellent. where Zachariah questioned (1) Take one day at a time the family of God to come I am told that I am cancer free. the words (and will) of the Lord (Matthew 6:34). along side to help carry the Even my oncologist does not rec- as expressed through the angel (2) Remember all things work load. ommend any follow-up radiation Gabriel. This occurred when he together for good (Romans And, yes, I am really ready or chemotherapy. I have lost over was told that his wife, Elizabeth 8:28). for the spring. It has been a 40 pounds and am in the process was pregnant. Because of his (3) Under no circumstanc- long winter! I believe we are witnessing a movement of God ogether we assisted in they reach have no previous two new churches. Now, that these are not isolated stories! starting 21 new disciple- “church” background or expe- church was not in Florida or God is at work in Maryland/ Tmaking congregations rience. A new church on the Alabama or Atlanta. It was a Delaware. in 2001. In 2002, thirty new Eastern shore has baptized BCM/D church in Delaware! Ironically, we see this hap- churches started. Already over 30 since Oct.