My BCM/D Family July 21, 2023

We are so thankful to God for all He is doing throughout BCM/D churches! Below is just a sample of the various ministries, outreaches and events in Maryland/Delaware. 

“Drive-Thru” Prayer
In spite of 91-degree-plus temperatures and a heat index that climbed to over 100, Christ Creative Baptist Church (CCC), Temple Hills, Md. had a “drive-thru” prayer event on July 15. Members of CCC, along with representatives from Sharon Bible Fellowship in Lanham, and Cedar Baptist Church, Hillcrest Heights, participated. Adron Dozat, BCM/D prayer coordinator and a member of Bethany Church, Columbia also attended, fellowshipping with the group and offering encouragement, fresh ideas and support. CCC cranked up praise music in the church so you could hear it outside as folks stopped for prayer. Prayer volunteers sat under a canopy, with a small fan, and prayed, sang, chatted, laughed, and just enjoyed the fellowship.

Two young sisters, Mateja and McKenzie Gray greeted guests and gave them “goodie bags” with CCC mugs, some candies, and tracks. Several from the church also visited a park behind the church to give away gift bags and pray with a group of people who were having a family reunion. One man heard about the drive-thru prayer and boarded a bus then walked to get to the church and stayed for some time, receiving prayer and talking with several men from the church.

CCC Senior Pastor George Ferguson said the heat probably kept some away, but that didn’t dampen the mood. Ferguson kept smiling throughout the afternoon. He also had a water gun that he wasn’t afraid to use, and most were happy to be “baptized” on the spot. Some of the ladies waved bubble blowers. A cooler of water was well-stocked.

Shamika Smith a CCC deaconess who suggested having the prayer event, said the church wants to do more outreach. She heard of a drive-thru prayer event and liked the idea, as did the leadership. “Sometimes people have a hard day at work, or they’ve had a hard week and just need someone to pray with them to help them through whatever is going on at work, home, or whatever their situation.”

Ferguson’s wife and co-leader, Lawan, said she was thankful for the opportunity to pray with others, among themselves, and to fellowship.

Clinton Church/MedStar partnership
Clinton Baptist Church Pastor Colin Pugh is forging new roads in community engagement and partnerships. He has been strategically reaching out to multiple businesses, community groups, and healthcare providers to build relationships. One of those partnerships is with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. Clinton Church has opened its doors to MedStar for blood drives, prostate screening and mammograms, colon screening, Covid vaccines, and the list goes on. In August, Clinton and MedStar will provide vaccines for students going back to school. Recently, MedStar featured an article about that partnership. It begins with the following paragraph:

“When you think of church, what may come to mind are prayer breakfasts, Bible studies, youth groups, and worship on Sundays. But did you know that churches can also be places that promote and inspire health ministry? At Clinton Baptist Church, Pastor Colin Pugh believes in not only advocating for spiritual health but also the health of the mind and body. That’s why for the past four years, he and the congregation have partnered with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center to build a healthy community partnership—one that puts congregants and the Clinton community on a path to living healthier lives.”                                                                    (Click the button below to read the entire article).

Pugh was blown away by MedStar’s kind response and said he was almost in tears when he read it. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve his community and praises God.

VBS Blessings
Lexington Park Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School had 25 children out of 100 come forward during a gospel presentation at VBS. “That’s the most we’ve ever had,” said Lead Pastor Chris McCombs, and that’s with significantly reduced numbers post-Covid. “We usually have six to ten (who make decisions) each year, and probably one-third follow through and get baptized.”

The church pivoted to an evening VBS this year, and though they lost some kids, they doubled their post-covid number of volunteers since many who couldn’t help in the day were now available. That’s a big deal to McCombs. “I really want to build up teamwork and camaraderie among people,” he said.

God also provided another unexpected blessing this year. The church was planning to transform the sanctuary with Lifeway’s Twist & Turns VBS decorations, but unfortunately, the volunteer who oversees the decorations is battling cancer, and was unable to do the labor of love as usual, so she and Mccombs made some calls and local churches came to the rescue, providing an abundance of VBS decorations and props. McCombs said, “Praise God! Isn’t it good when the body of Christ comes together?” 

Faith Knoxville Pre-School Director is also a Senior Olympian
Elaine Angleberger serves as the preschool director at Faith Baptist Church, Knoxville. She has traveled to the Dominican Republic to hand out Operation Christmas Child boxes, and deployed at least seven times with Maryland/Delaware Disaster Relief, including serving food after 9/11 in New York and in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. At 75, she strives to continue to serve and works to stay fit and active. She actually goes above and beyond in this quest —  she competes in the Senior Olympics, and has done well!  Angleberger placed in horseshoes, shuffleboard, and most recently, corn-hole.

Last week she competed in her fourth national Senior Olympics in Pittsburgh, placing second in co-ed mixed doubles, second place in women’s doubles, and third place in women’s singles in the cornhole competition. In shuffleboard, she placed eighth in women’s doubles.

Her Olympic journey began at a family picnic. “I was playing horseshoes, and someone said, ‘You’re really good! You should do senior Olympics.” She hadn’t considered it, but with encouragement from friends and family, she searched and discovered a horseshoe competition in Lisbon, Maryland. That was eight years ago. Later, horseshoes were dropped from the games, so she had to find another sport and took up shuffleboard. Last year the competition was in Florida, and she especially enjoyed it because she got to visit her daughter.

In addition to the medals she won this month, Angleberger has nine medals — several gold, silver and bronze. She received a bronze medal in horseshoes in Albuquerque at the nationals.

At the finale, Agleberger joined other Olympians to march in the Parade of Athletes at PNC Park, and then stay for the Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium, then stayed to watch the game.

Whenever she returns from her Olympic events, she dons her Olympic shirt and medals and shows her children at church, She laughs and says they like the medals but they’re not overly impressed — it’s a three-and-under class.

Mark Your Calendar – More information is forthcoming
Several Maryland/Delaware churches are joining together to sponsor a men’s retreat — “Step Up: Understanding the Times” from 6-9:30 pm on September 23 at First Baptist Church of Upper Marlboro. Men in the region are invited to a night of worship, challenge, and prayer to remind them of God’s call to step up for Him. The keynote speaker will be  FBCUM Lead Pastor Zach Schlegel, with testimonies by Richard Pope, the pastor of Canvas Church, Salisbury and Chris McCombs, the pastor of Lexington Park Baptist Church.. The cost is $10 and includes a meal. More information and registration information will be forthcoming.

Also, the Arundel Baptist Association is hosting a “Youth Fusion” event on September 16 at Annapolis Area Christian School in Annapolis. The event will feature speaker Richard Pope, the pastor of Canvas Church, Salisbury; and the band “A Day Awaits.” Pope and the band were both at Skycroft’s ReBoot in January.

The event will also feature a Christian rapper and include a barbecue with sides. There is no charge.Registration will be available soon.

This event, though sponsored by the ABA is open to all throughout Maryland/Delaware.

Youth Games & Talent Contest
Colonial Baptist Church, Randallstown, is having some great fun summer events for youth. From 2-5 pm on July 23 they’ll have summer games with basketball, volleyball, relay races, and more. Then on July 29, they’ll have a youth talent show for individuals ages 11-25. Register for singing, dancing, rapping, and poetry. Cash gift cards and trophies will be awarded to winners in each age group. Visit their website for more information and to register.

Obituary
Carrol “Jean” Lipham passed away on July 14 in Tucson Arizona.  She was 82 years old. Jean was married for nearly 53 years to Harold, who passed away in 2012. Together, they were a pastor and wife ministry team that served in many places internationally and throughout the United States. The Liphams pastored Calvary Baptist Church, Bel Air; Indian Head Baptist Church, and Elkridge Baptist Church. In the later years of Harold’s ministry to Maryland churches, Jean worked as an executive assistant at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware from 1990-2000. She served in various areas of ministry including missions and ministry. When she and Harold retired in 2000, they relocated to Tucson, Arizona. Since Harold’s passing, Jean remained as active as possible in her local church and was a strong prayer partner with Blackaby Ministries.

Friends and family said Jean was an outgoing “people person” who always seemed to be able to engage with whomever she met in whatever setting she found herself in. BCM/D Church Partnership Missionary Ellen Udovich said, “Jean was a good worker and delightful person.”

The last few years of her life were spent dealing with health issues, but she never lost sight of her final destination.

Jean is survived by her three sons and four grandchildren. Her family rejoices that she now has a renewed body, “is reunited with Dad,” and is “socializing” with Jesus.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider donations to the International Mission Board or to Blackaby Ministries, in memory of Jean.

We Want your News and Photos! Did you know that although most of our affiliated churches are in Maryland and Delaware, we also have a few elsewhere, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia? We’re a diverse, multicultural group of autonomous churches – traditional, contemporary, church plants, and established churches filled with individuals from a multitude of backgrounds and cultures and we want to share your news, photos, events, unique ministries, and more. And we’ll also share what the BCM/D offers and how we can equip and encourage you. Feel free to share your news for consideration at [email protected].

Feature photo shows George Ferguson, senior pastor of Christ Creative Church with BCM/D Prayer Ministry Consultant Adron Dozat. (Photo by Sharon Mager)