Our BCM/D Family June 6
Summer is almost here! Temperatures are heating up, and most of the kids are out of school. Church life is busy, with lots of outdoor gatherings, opportunities to connect with neighbors, and, of course, VBS and summer camps. Email i[email protected] to send us your news, events, new ministries, etc.
Father/Daughter Dance Helps Church Connect With Community
On June 1, fathers and daughters of all ages enjoyed spending time together, laughing, dancing, eating, and just having fun outside in the pavilion at Olney Baptist Church at their annual Father/Daughter Dance.
Olney Pastor Brian Tubbs with his daughter, Jennifer Vasa. Pastor Tubbs says, “I enjoyed the event, but as my daughter can tell you, I have no dance moves.” (Photo courtesy of Olney Baptist Church)
Laura Woodside, who coordinated the event, was pleased with the turnout and the added beautiful weather. “Seventy-five individuals attended—with about half from the community,” she said. Marketing & Outreach Director Aashikaa Dwyer said she was pleased to see a number of new faces.
The dance was an opportunity to honor God and give fathers and daughters a chance to be together and connect with their community. Woodside said, “The dance decor focused on Ephesians 2:10, emphasizing to girls that they are God’s masterpiece.” The church used paint buckets/splashes of bright colors and a colorful balloon arch to emphasize beauty.
In addition to food, fun, and dancing, dads and daughters especially liked the photo booth, where they could use props and act goofy for pictures. There were also drawings of Wizards/Caps/Mystic games (sponsored by Monumental Sports), a family movie night basket, and a week at Crossings Camp at Skycroft Conference Center.
The church also used the opportunity for outreach. In addition to getting to know their community, visitors could stop by a table for information about the church’s Vacation Bible School and other children’s ministries. Visitors had a chance to help those in the community affected by food insecurity by bringing donations to support the community‘s “Quests to Feed Montgomery.”
Church members brought food and snacks for the dance and helped with set up and clean up. The youth directed parking.
Woodside said she would be happy to help churches plan and implement a similar event. Contact the church at [email protected].
To Cuba With Love
Severna Park Baptist Church (SPBC) Pastor Dave Brown and church members Bill Swartz and Joe Dine recently returned from a seven-day mission trip to Cuba. Dine, the founder of Bridging the Nations Ministries International, Inc.(BNMI), led their three-person team. This was SPBC’s second trip, following a fact-finding mission last year. Many SPBC members supported the group with over-the-counter medications and letters of encouragement to Cuban pastors.
Pastor Pedro Garcia; Abraham (the driver for the team), Pastor Danny Rivera (BNMI Cuba Team); Bill Swartz (SPBC member); Joe Dine (Founder BNMI, SPBC member); Maria & Pastor Otoniel Hernandez, and Pastor David Brown (SPBC). (Photo courtesy of BNMI)
Brown and Swartz shared at conferences in four locations—two in the Havana area and two in the Western Province of Pinar de Rio. The theme for the conferences was “Why should you believe in Jesus and belong to a church?” Dine reported that about 400 attended over the four days. At each location, attendees were treated to a full lunch and a snack. At the conclusion of the day, they all received certificates of completion.
Dine emphasized, “For many of these people to attend, they would have traveled for hours, some walking many miles. Some of the conference locations did not have power, meaning no fans and no lights, with temperatures reaching close to 90 degrees. But they came, they worshiped, and they received the blessing.”
Following the conferences, Brown and Swartz also shared at evening worship services. In total, Dine said, the team shared four full days of conferences and visited five different pastors at their churches. Additionally, SPBC was able to assist one pastor complete a project to improve his living conditions; provided clothing, soccer balls, pumps, and first aid items. The team also delivered over-the-counter medicines to all the pastors, as well as to a doctor to assist in providing help due to the lack of medicines in Cuba.
Brown said, “My words will fail to express the ways we saw people visibly moved from the power of scripture to soften hearts and strengthen faith. Know that Jesus is very much exalted, and His Spirit is working through His church in the people of Cuba. When we make ourselves available to the Lord, He has ways to teach us, move our heart for people, and use our weakness for His glory.”
Dine emphasized the need for more help in Cuba, and Brown agrees, saying, “In addition to describing the friendships and beautiful scenery in Cuba, we also saw the reach of oppression, disappointment, and distress among many. 90 miles away, or less than an hour’s flight from the USA, is a country that wakes each day uncertain if electricity will turn on or if they will have enough food for their family.”
If you or your church have questions about taking a mission trip to Cuba, joining a team already scheduled to travel, or getting more involved in the ministry opportunities
Grace Baptist Church will install their new pastor, Michael Thompson, and his wife, Kayla, on June 30. (Photo courtesy of Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach)
in Cuba, email [email protected]. There are multiple ways to help in addition to the trips. You can adopt a pastor for $40 a month or $480 a year, purchase OTC medicines, or provide food for a Cuban family for $20 a month.