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Maryland/Delaware Roundup 5/26/22

If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26

Focus on the Family’s Glenn Stanton speaks about Ministering to LGBT students
Glenn Stanton from Focus on the Family recently spent the weekend at Bethany Church in Columbia, speaking to a variety of audiences on ministering to LGBT students. Saturday night and Monday morning, he met with youth leaders from several BCM/D churches to discuss and answer questions regarding this issue. Stanton preached at both services on Sunday morning and, after the second service, met with parents for a time of Q&A. Sunday evening, over 30 youth from surrounding churches attended Bethany to hear Stanton and to have an opportunity to ask questions. BCM/D’s Children’s and Youth Ministry Consultant, Kris Buckman said, “Stanton encouraged youth leaders, parents, and students to see the individual apart from all of the ‘labels.’ He stressed the importance of getting to know their individual stories and encouraged us to love others as Jesus did, with grace AND truth.”

Clinton Church Continues Multiple Outreaches: Vaccines, Blood Drives and more
Clinton Baptist Church  (CBC), in partnership with the health department, will offer Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines for adults and children ages 5 and older from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday. The church has been a vaccine site throughout the pandemic.
In August, CBC will have a health fair focused on children in conjunction with their back-to-school ministry. Immunizations will also be offered at that time.

Clinton Baptist Church partnered with the health department to host a blood drive. Donors received gift certificates provided by Amazon.

June 5 is the church’s “Bring a friend” Sunday and Senior Pastor Pastor Clinton Pugh is stressing to his congregation that the special Sunday is designed for evangelism, and encouraged members to intentionally bring unsaved or unchurched guests. Also, June is ice cream month, and the church has partnered with a local Rita’s Italian Ice to serve free frozen treats after church services. On June 25, the church will have a paper shredding and bulk trash day for the community.

 
Recently, CBC hosted a “Practical Shepherding Conference” featuring keynote speaker Dr. Brian Croft, along with many other guest speakers. Fifty pastors, across several denominations, attended. Pugh said the church will continue to host the conference each year and focus on the mental, physical and financial health of leaders and pastors. Pugh said, “Brian did a great job.”
 
Over fifty people participated in the church’s blood drive. CBC partnered with the Red Cross and Amazon. Those who gave blood received $20 of free Amazon gift cards.
 

 

Anniversaries
Elvaton Baptist Church (EBC), in Millersville, Maryland, celebrated their golden anniversary on May 14 with a banquet at an Elks Lodge in Severna Park. EBC Pastor Chris Rice welcomed guests. Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) Director of Evangelism Mark Dooley brought greetings from the convention, and Dr. Greg Kame, the Arundel Association director of missions, sent video greetings. The Itzell’s music group gave a mini-concert. Individuals representing the past five decades shared testimonies, and Deacon Bill Peacock read a history he compiled. Others who participated included Dallas Bumgarner, former pastor and now the administrator of Elvaton Christian Academy; former Youth Pastor Adam Pfahleert; former interim pastor Alan Carter; former BCM/D Children’s Ministry Consultant June Holland, who with her husband Ward was part of the church for some time; and former youth director Joe Klipp.

June Holland, former BCM/D children’s consultant, and a former Elvaton member shared at the church’s 50th-anniversary celebration. (photo submitted)

Peacock read from his compiled history, “The dream for the establishment of a church-type mission was planted in the hearts of two men while serving with the National Security Agency in Japan. Mac McDaniels and Jim Perry helped in the building of a mission church in Japan and committed themselves to do the same if they should ever be together back in the States. Mac and Jim came back home and found themselves at Fort Meade Maryland. Mac was a member of Severna Park Baptist Church and Jim a member of Faith Baptist Church in Glen Burnie.

The Rev. Elwood Ulmer, the first pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach, shared at the anniversary celebration. (photo submitted)

“They called a meeting of interested persons to meet in the Southgate Elementary School on March 23, 1972. Sensing the Lord’s leadership, a name was chosen for the new fellowship, “Elvaton Road Baptist Mission,” and a date was set for the first worship service to be held on May 7, 1972, at the Southgate Elementary School with Charles Barnes (a former BCM/D executive director) preaching.

“The Severna Park Baptist Church agreed to sponsor the mission along with Glen Burnie Baptist Church, Faith Baptist Church, and Severn Baptist Church (now the Church at Severn Run).

“On June 15, 1972, the mission selected a pulpit committee to begin the search for a pastor. After several months the committee presented Pastor Mark Pullen who was called as the first pastor at a special business meeting on October 22, 1972.  Pastor Pullen began his ministry on Sunday, December 3, 1972.”

Highlights through the years included starting Girls in Action and Royal Ambassador programs, a building program, and new educational/fellowship building, and beginning Elvaton Christian Academy. The church participated in missions to India, the Philippines, Wales, Indonesia, and Moldova.
 
Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach celebrated its 65th anniversary on May 1. Gordon Fox, the church’s senior pastor, welcomed guests. Elwood Ulmer, the church’s first pastor was a guest speaker. Ulmer told the church he knocked on many doors through the years engaging neighbors in the gospel. He encouraged members to be diligent and keep sharing the gospel of Jesus. BCM/D Director of Evangelism Mark Dooley brought greetings from the convention and shared from Matthew 20: 1-16, the parable of the vineyard workers, and referred to it as, “the scandal of grace.” Dr. Kame shared during lunch, encouraging the church to keep evangelism at the center of their efforts. The Itzel family provided music and members enjoyed a catered lunch. Roger and Kathy Ford, leaders in the church who met there as teens, accepted an anniversary plaque from the BCM/D on behalf of the church.
 

 

Navigating the Changing Seasons of Life  
Pleasant View Baptist Church in Port Deposit will host, “Women Helping Women: Navigating the Changing Seasons of Life from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on June 18 at the church. The Keynote Speaker is Kelly Ellison.
 
The conference touches on the various changes in women’s lives — entering college, singleness, marriage, motherhood, grief, and changes beyond their control. Choose from two breakout sessions including, “How to Manage it All and Stay Sane,” “Fantasy Island … The Myths About Marriage,” “Wouldn’t Change a SINGLE Thing,” “How to Find Peace When Your Heart is in Pieces,”  “A Woman’s Identity in Christ in Every Season,” “This Little Light of Mine … Why Won’t it Shine?” “From Newborn to Nana: Spanning the Seasons of Motherhood,” “Chase Grace, Not Perfection; The Full Bag: Blended Families and Divorce,” and  “You’re Gonna Miss This.”
 
The cost is $12 and includes lunch and swag. Click here for more information or to register.

 

Music and Food Trucks
Northpoint Baptist Church in Dundalk is having a Summer Concert with Food Trucks starting at 4 p.m. on June 11. The fellowship and outreach is an opportunity for families to enjoy relaxing outside, choosing from a variety of food trucks, and listening to music provided by Stauros Alive!, a division of Stauros Ministries.
 

 

BCM/D Upcoming Events:
 
 
 
  • June 8 and August 10: Connect Lunches! For Children & Youth Leaders  —  Let us take you to lunch! You deserve it! Connect with BCM/D Children’s and Youth Ministry Consultant Kris Buckman and other children and youth leaders in your area.
 
  • June 28: Lunch With Micahel Crawford — BCM/D Executive Director Michael Crawford wants to get to know you! Join him for lunch, a short talk, and a time of Q&A at the BCM/D office in Columbia. The event is open to pastors, church leaders, and members, and is free of charge. Space is limited, so register early.
 
  • August 23: Core Value Index Webinar (CVI)— The CVI quantifies the unchanging innate nature of a person that inscribes where a person can make their highest and most productive contribution to the world. This is an interesting tool that can help you in your ministry and personal life.
 
Feature Photo: (l-r) The Rev. Elwood Ulmer, The Rev. Gordon Fox, and The Rev. Mark Dooley, BCM/D evangelism director enjoy fellowship at Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach’s 50th-anniversary celebration.
 

 

Quotable Quotes
 
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Francis Chan
 

 

History Bites: 
 
On May 13, 1925, messengers at the SBC Annual meeting approved the formation of the Cooperative Program. (sbchistory.com)
 
John Leland was born on May 14, 1754. Leland was an early baptist leader, outspoken abolitionist, and early advocate for religious liberty. (sbchistory.com)
 
In May 2010, Greenbriar Baptist Church had revival services. Royce Williams will be the guest evangelist. The “Men in Black” provided Southern Gospel-type music every night. (BaptistLIFEonline.org 2010)
 
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