BCM/D NEWS
The Gathering: One Body, One Heart, One Mission
The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware’s 189th Annual Meeting, The Gathering, was held at the Ashore Oceanfront Resort & Beach Club on Nov. 10–11. The theme was unity, based on Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
Messengers approved a $6.85 million 2026 budget, including $2.81 million for Skycroft Conference Center, with a 63/37 split between BCM/D and Southern Baptist Convention ministry partners. Ministry priorities will continue to center on church strengthening, formation and health, mobilization and planting, and missional impact.
Tom Stolle: “We are One”
By Tom Stolle
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:14, “For the body does not consist of one member but many.”
If you look at your right hand, what does it do? It picks things up, but it’s not just a hand. It has a thumb, fingers, and a palm. Inside are muscles, tendons, blood, and nerves — and the brain has to tell the hand to move. The hand couldn’t function without all those parts working together.
We have different gifts, different talents, and different thoughts — and yet God makes us one. Isn’t that amazing?
Associational Prayer Breakfast
Attendees at the associational prayer breakfast enjoyed the fellowship and time spent praying together.
Participants enjoyed a hearty breakfast and warm fellowship before turning their focus to prayer. Leaders shared specific prayer points, and attendees at each table took turns praying for churches, pastors, and other leaders; the convention; volunteers; The Gathering; ongoing ministries; and missions efforts
Ron Blankenship Unanimously Elected BCM/D President
Messengers at The Gathering, the 189th Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) Annual Meeting, unanimously elected Ron Blankenship as convention president.
Danny Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church of Damascus, nominated Blankenship for the role. He highlighted Blankenship’s long and faithful service as director of missions for the Montgomery Baptist Association (MBA), where the number of affiliated churches has grown from 42 in 1999 to 92 today—representing a remarkable diversity of language groups.
2025 Skycroft Report
By Emily Reedy
This year at Skycroft has been full of momentum—both in ministry and in mission.
In 2025, we saw our largest summer camp turnout ever—an exciting reminder of God’s continued faithfulness. Across 12 total camp sessions (three sessions of winter camp — Reboot, nine sessions of summer camp — Crossings and CentriKid), we welcomed 3,249 campers ranging from 2nd -12th grade from 100 church groups.
2025 BCM/D Formation and Health Report
By Dan Hyun
BCMD’s Formation and Health ministry exists to help our churches do great work for God out of a deepening rootedness in Christ.
We primarily serve our churches by caring for their pastors. This care includes offering personal care, support, and prayer. We have also worked together with Local Associations to host regional Healthier Pastors, Healthier Churches gatherings that equip leaders with practical pathways toward holistic health.