CROWNSVILLE, Md. — Members of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware General Mission Board gathered at South Shore Church on Sept. 15 to celebrate young lives changed through summer ministries, hear staff updates and approve the 2027 BCM/D and Skycroft Conference Center budgets to be presented to messengers for a vote at the BCM/D annual business meeting—The Gathering in November. The board also approved the affiliation of two churches.
GMB President Danny Moore, sharing an opening devotional, encouraged board members to look around the room. “We are here today because God called us to be here today. The Lord opened these doors.
“We’re here to make a difference — by staying focused on God, led by God and following God’s lead. I want to remind us we’re here to win souls,” he told the board.
Team Updates
BCM/D Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer Tom Stolle, discussing staff updates, announced the formation of a new senior director team to help provide leadership across the convention.
Megan Jones will serve as senior director of operations and accounting; Somer Phoebus as senior director of marketing and communications; and Jeremy Dickson as senior director of ministries.
Two longtime staff members at Skycroft, Andrew and Taylor Tuel, were also promoted. Taylor now serves as associate director of guest relations, and Andrew is associate director of operations. Both are taking on additional responsibilities to support Skycroft Director Emily Reedy.
Financial Report
Sharing the financial report, Stolle told the board that Cooperative Program (CP) receipts for the eight months ended August 31, 2026, totaled $2,025,048.77. All major expense areas are within year-to-date budget limits. Management anticipates breakeven operations for year-end 2026.
Regarding Skycroft Conference Center, receipts total $2,068,709.11 for the eight months ended August 31, 2026. Stolle said, “We are impacted by increased costs in utilities and repair expenses. Inflation is impacting Skycroft and we are feeling that on the bottom line.
“Looking ahead, management is excited that camp attendance is expected to remain strong in 2027. High camp attendance equals more young people exposed to the gospel.”
Stolle said the BCM/D is in a good, ready-cash position, with its bills paid in full and on time.
Budget Report
Board members approved a $4.05 million BCM/D budget, and a $2.93 million Skycroft budget. Both will be presented to BCM/D church messengers for a final vote at The Gathering.
The new proposed budget keeps the Cooperative Program split at 37% sent to national SBC entities and 63% staying in Maryland/Delaware
In addition to staff and operations, the budget funds the convention’s mission to equip and resource churches to make disciples. Stolle said, “That’s what we do.”
Stolle said the BCM/D strengthens churches through ministries for men, women, college students, youth, children and senior adults, as well as revitalization, camps, coaching, international missions, education and training.
“We focus on formation and help our pastors by providing formative care ministry for every BCM/D senior pastor,” Stolle said. “If you want formative care ministry, we will help you. We will absolutely help you, with the goal that every pastor has a pathway to grow and be healthy.”
The BCM/D also seeks to equip churches in missionally impacting their communities through compassion ministries serving individuals affected by disability, poverty, abuse and natural disasters.
“We take abuse really seriously. We take disaster really seriously, and poverty as well,” Stolle said. “The level of trauma and loss in these areas is quite large. We also take disability really seriously.”
Stolle said the convention is “leading out in disability ministry,” locally and nationally. Stolle, who serves as chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) National Disability Task Force, announced a new partnership between the BCM/D and Joni and Friends.
He said, “One of the greatest days of my life was being invited to meet Joni Eareckson Tada, a woman affected by paralysis who has actually been on a platform with Billy Graham, met with presidents of the United States, and unashamedly shares her faith and her suffering.”
The new partnership will begin with a pilot group of approximately 10 churches that will receive resources and coaching at no cost to help them welcome and serve individuals and families affected by disability.
Showing off his Everyone Belongs T-shirt, designed by two campers, he shared that 110 campers and volunteers attended the BCM/D family disability camp in July at Skycroft.
Stolle was also very excited about reports from Skycroft Conference Center summer camps for children and youth.
“Our staff works really hard. We had nine sessions of camp this summer with 2,491 total campers and adult leaders. Eighty-nine churches participated. That’s pretty impressive.
“But listen to this! We had 119 campers accept Jesus. Forty made other decisions such as baptism or rededication. Two hundred eighteen felt a call to ministry. And four young people were baptized in Skycroft’s pool.
“Camp ministry is hard, but this is why we stay in,” said Stolle.
Caring Well
Associate Executive Director of Church Relations & Evangelism Mark Dooley shared the report for the Caring Well Team on behalf of Team Chair Keith Myer.
Dooley shared that the majority of BCM/D churches recognize the urgent need to protect children and have taken steps to strengthen safeguards. Others are beginning to move forward.
He emphasized that the BCM/D is poised to come alongside churches to assist in helping them take those first steps to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Affiliations Committee
Phil Hurst, chairman of the BCM/D Affiliation Committee, shared the committee’s recommendation of two churches for BCM/D affiliation. Board members approved the motion to welcome First Baptist Church of Holloway Terrace in New Castle, Delaware, and Going Together Baptist Church, a Korean congregation in Hanover, Maryland.
Board members applauded when they learned that Going Together Church recently ordained two men preparing to serve on the mission field.
President’s Address
BCM/D President Ron Blankenship closed the meeting with a message from Romans 8:28, reflecting on God’s faithfulness throughout his 47 years of ministry. He encouraged members to trust that God is working even when they cannot see or understand what He is doing.
“God’s absence from our thought or our sight doesn’t mean that He’s not working,” Blankenship said. “He is.”
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