Short Notices

Editor's Trips

Issue 2009.22, October 19, 2009

Quotable

"The American Banking Association once sponsored a two-week training program to help tellers detect counterfeit bills. The program was unique - never during the two-week training did the tellers even look at a counterfeit bill, nor did they listen to any lectures concerning the characteristics of counterfeit bills....All they did for two weeks was handle authentic currency, hour after hour and day after day, until they were so familiar with the true that they could not possibly be fooled by the false." - Ben Patterson, Waiting: Finding Hope When God Seems Silent (IVP, 1991)

Ron Cary and David Nichols

Comings, Goings, Celebrations, Concerns

§  Members and friends of the First Baptist Church of Royal Oak (aka "The Church on Main Street") gathered on Saturday, October 3 to celebrate the 170th anniversary of their founding as a community of faith. Pastor David Nichols created a presentation that set the church's story in the context of the history of the city and township of Royal Oak and the wider Detroit area. A pioneering spirit has characterized the entire journey of the congregation. The celebration concluded with a call to continue that same spirit as the church moves forward into new ministries in the years ahead. In photo at right the Rev. Ron Cary of the Region staff presents a certificate of recognition to Pastor David Nichols. Click on photo for larger view.


WMO

World Mission Offering

The World Mission Offering (WMO) is used to support 2,500 short and long term missionaries annually, bringing U.S. and Puerto Rico churches together with partners in over 70 countries in cutting-edge ministries that tell the good news of Jesus Christ and demonstrate it in meeting human needs. This offering is normally promoted and received in October, but you may also donate to the WMO anytime during the year.

Read more about WMO.


Metro Association Fall Dinner on November 14

The 7th annual Fall Dinner for the American Baptist Churches of the Metro Association will be held Saturday, November 14. Click here to see the flyer for more information. Dinner, entertainment and good fellowship. Please come and join us.

Brad Berglund to Lead Worship and Music Fest at First Dearborn

First Baptist Church of Dearborn will host a day-long Worship and Music Fest on Saturday, October 24. The morning session (9am to noon) will feature morning prayer, contemplative meditation and prayer workshop.

Brad Berglund

After lunch (1pm to 4pm) the Rev. Brad Berglund will conduct a worship workshop based on his books Reinventing Worship and Reinventing Sunday (both from Judson Press). Berglund directs Illuminated Journeys, an ecumenical ministry devoted to deepening the spiritual life of individuals and churches. He is a spiritual director and consultant who leads worship renewal workshops and retreats focusing on transformative worship and congregational spiritual formation. He has been an American Baptist pastor, church musician, and worship leader for more than twenty years. He recently took on a part-time position as Biennial manager/consultant for the American Baptist Churches, USA, 2011 Biennial, to be held in Puerto Rico, June 24-26, 2011.

The Dearborn church invites all to join in a spirit-filled day to share their own thoughts and ideas and explore new ways of lifting praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. For more information and to register contact the church office at 313 277-7711 or email at fbc-dearborn.org.

Second Webinar for ABC-MI Pastors

Our Region, in cooperation with The Columbia Partnership, is offering pastors and interested lay leaders the opportunity to engage in the second of two one-hour web seminars (webinars) on congregational transformation/revitalization. This webinar includes 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, and provides opportunity for a few interactive questions during the presentation.

DATEWEBINAREMPHASISDESCRIPTION
Wednesday October 28
Noon-1:00pm		Pastoral Leadership For TransformationLeadership DevelopmentLeading a church in transformation is different from pastoring a church. New skills, concepts and approaches must be learned and applied to lead the church into new life.

This is an excellent opportunity to engage in continuing education without leaving the comfort of your office or home. The cost is $10.00 for Ministry Leadership Group (MLG) participants and $20.00 for all others. It requires internet access and possibly a telephone conference call. Set-up details will be provided once you register with the Region office.

Register today by accessing the registration form at http://tinyurl.com/o9yl7h in PDF format. Fill it out and email it to dreetz@abc-mi.org OR fax it to 517.332.3186 OR mail it to American Baptist Churches of Michigan to the address on the registration form. Registration deadline is Monday, October 26. If you previously registered for the October webinar, you do not need to register again. For more information contact Debbie Reetz in the Region office (dreetz@abc-mi.org) or Ron Cary (rcary@abc-mi.org).

Power Connection

2009 ABCUSA Black Church Conference November 3-7

The 2009 Black Churches Conference will take place November 3-7, 2009 in the suburb of Matteson, IL, just outside of Chicago. The theme for the conference is Power Connection: A Call to Greater Works (John 14:12).

The conference offers opportunities for inspiring and uplifting worship, networking, and dialogue. The seminars and workshops provide time to explore theology for a relevant ministry and to gather tips and tools.

The ABC-MI is represented in leadership by the Rev. Ronald Burks, pastor of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church, Detroit. He will present a workshop entitled “Bigger is Not Always Better: Small Church Ministry.” In this workshop he will “offer ingredients for an effective ministry and guide participants through the process of revitalizing or building a mission outreach that makes a real difference in the lives of the people it touches.”

For more information or to register for the conference, go to: http://www.nationalministries.org/ABCPowerConnections/index.cfm.

Short Notices

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