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

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God of all who are cast down,
you call us to seek good
and to meet oppression with justice.
Teach us to find salvation
in the emptying of ourselves for the sake of those in need,
so that goodness may prevail
and your kingdom come in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Comings, Goings, Celebrations, Concerns

§ Irene Gardner, mother of Dr. Trinette McCray, passed away peacefully on July 11 at age 105. Dr. McCray, who heads the American Baptist Historical Society, will be featured at the ABC-MI Annual Gathering in October. Cards may be sent to: Rev. Trinette McCray. P.O. Box 18623, Milwaukee, WI 53218. Dr. McCray has requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the "History Matters Campaign" of the American Baptist Historical Society in honor of Irene Gardner.

Camp Lake Louise Panoramic Waterfront View

There's Still Time for Camp

Lake Louise isn't just for the kids in August and September. There are family camps, adult camps, retreats, and Leisure Time available for everyone. We would love to see you on our beautiful shore before the 2009 camping season ends.

Information is available at www.camplakelouise.com. Call Resident Director Ryan Madis at 800-440-1238 or email him at ryan.madis@lakelouiserocks.com with any questions.

For a grand, panoramic view from the Camp Lake Louise waterfront click on the image above.

Church Outreach Ministries Survey Underway

As a result of the Future Search Conference, a database is being created to network churches doing ministry outside their own congregation with those seeking to do the same. This is a friendly reminder to all ABC-MI churches to fill out the Church Outreach Ministries Survey which you should have received in the mail and send it to the Rev. Dr. Jon Good as soon as possible. You may access more information and the survey at www.abc-mi.org or the following links:

Webinars for ABC-MI Pastors

Our Region, in cooperation with The Columbia Partnership, will offer pastors and interested lay leaders the opportunity to engage in two one-hour web seminars (webinars) on congregational transformation/revitalization. Each webinar will include a downloadable PowerPoint live presentation by Bill McConnell, author of Renew Your Church: Healing the Sick, Raising the Dead, and pastor of the Legacy Christian Church in Harrison, OH. There will be opportunity for a few interactive questions at the end of the presentation.

The first webinar will be offered on Wednesday, September 16 at noon. The subject will be “First Steps in Church Transformation,” dealing with systemic issues that need to be addressed before transformation can begin. The second webinar will be offered on Wednesday, October 28, at noon. The subject will be “Pastoral Leadership for Transformation,” dealing with skills, concepts and approaches that will lead a church into new life.

This will be an excellent opportunity to engage in continuing education without leaving the comfort of your home or office. All it requires is internet access and a telephone conference call. The cost for each webinar is $10.00 for members of Ministry Leadership Groups (MLG’s) and $20.00 for all others.

More information and registration details will be available in the next edition of E-Link. For more information now, contact Ron Cary (rcary@abc-mi.org).

Short Notices

Since 1993 Benjamin E. Mays Male Academy has sent forth graduates who become great men of purpose, character, scholarship, and leadership. For example, Stephen Worthy is doing great things at Michigan Tech in the Upper Pennisula, both academically and on the football field. Deonte' Morris is doing great things at Morehouse. Gary Davis-Headd is a renowned public speaker. Timothy Gilbert is at Tennessee State. And the list continues. Let's support our school, parents, children, and our community! -- Rev. Jabulani McCalister
The Friendship House Newsletter is now provided in both PDF and DOC formats. The DOC format is a much smaller file and will take much less time to acquire on slow dialup connections. Read it in PDF at http://abc-mi.org/elink/fh.pdf or in DOC format at http:abc-mi.org/fh.doc.
The next issue of E-Link Online will be published on August 10, 2009. Please send news items and notices to the Editor (editor@abc-mi.org) by August 6.

Editor's Trips

Every edition of E-Link Online features links to articles the Editor has tripped over while wasting time surfing the Web. Posting of these links does not necessarily mean that either he or the American Baptist Churches of Michigan agrees with, endorses, or otherwise promotes the views expressed in them. Their value, if any, consists of whatever further thought, discussion, inquiry, discernment, fury, or occasional laugh they may provoke. Readers are welcome to send their own suggestions to the Editor.

The Editor

»»  Roger Williams' Dangerous Ideas -- http://tinyurl.com/nmx55e
»»  Can Social Networking Get Your Church Sued? -- http://tinyurl.com/lmlfqs (h/t to Trina Knox)
»»  The Mother of Modern Missions (Ann Hasseltine Judson) -- http://tinyurl.com/la82df
»»  One Good Reason for Belonging to a Church -- http://tinyurl.com/lpn7px
»»  Q & A on ABC Diversity -- http://tinyurl.com/ljgtgx
»»  God So Hates the World -- http://tinyurl.com/nk7uqr
»»  ABC-USA Website Gets a Makeover -- http://tinyurl.com/mdoy45
»»  Going Out in Style - a Deluxe Lay-Away Plan -- http://tinyurl.com/kwamwh
»»  Chuckling in The Shack -- http://tinyurl.com/n7ahwc
»»  Why Worship Leader Forsook Contemporary Christian Music Movement -- http://tinyurl.com/lorvrn