Our BCM/D Family March 1, 2024
Our BCM/D Family is a roundup of happenings in Maryland/Delaware churches, associations, and the BCM/D. We‘d love to hear what‘s happening in your church. Send your news and photos to [email protected].
WBA Director of Missions to Retire
Kenny Heath, with his wife Deborah, will retire as Western Baptist Association (WBA) director of missions on Sept. 30. “We believe the Lord is
Kenny Heath, with his wife, Deborah, will retire as WBA director of missions on Sept. 30. (Facebook photo used with permission)
preparing us for something new in our ministry and lives,” Kenny said. They’re not sure what that is yet, but Kenny said he and Deborah are at peace.
On his Facebook page, and used with permission, Kenny said, “I’ll continue to work part-time at WFWM Public Radio, and Deborah full-time at the City of Frostburg, although we’re not sure how long. I don’t think I’m ready to quit working yet, and I know I want to continue to serve the Lord. Would you, please, pray for me: that I will finish well with the WBA; that I will seek the Lord and be obedient to Him, not just for what’s next, but also for what’s today; and be willing to follow Him, wherever He leads?
“After 40 years of vocational ministry, this is the first time I haven’t known what’s next, and, at my age (almost 65), if there’s going to be a next vocational ministry position. I know minister friends (some of them in this same strange position of associational missionary, not a pastor, not a denominational guy) who have successfully gone through this. I know God is faithful, and He will get us through this, too. But, in the meantime, it’s a new, awkward feeling, and I would appreciate your prayers greatly. I rejoice that the pastors of our association are doing a great job leading our churches to what the Lord would have them do in the future. It’s a great blessing not to have to be concerned about that!”
The WBA churches are working and praying together for God‘s direction. Kenny will help as needed.
Kenny Heath spied this walking stick in a thrift store and used it to share the gospel. How many more presentations will be shared using this WBA tool? (Photo courtesy of Kenny Heath)
WBA Walking Sticks Still Offer Opportunities to share
For years, WBA churches have used walking sticks with beads to share the gospel at various events, especially at the annual fair ministries. Kenny Heath said he spied one of those sticks on a shelf at a Grantsville thrift shop.
Kenny introduced himself to the cashiers, one of whom was familiar with the use of the stick. Kenny used the “eternal life beads” to share a gospel presentation. “Then, they called over their manager to hear it again. Thanks be to God and to WBA churches and others who made that witness possible back in the day and again, several years after we did this at the fairs.”
Colonial Baptist Church Missions Fair
Colonial Baptist Church, Randallstown, will have its 25th Annual Missions Fair on March 8-10. The conference, designed for all ages, is jam-packed and full of mission-focused activities. It kicks off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with praise and worship from around the world. On Saturday, Keiffer Bent, Pastor of Berwyn Baptist Church, will share several times about missions. In addition to his ministry at Berwyn Baptist Church, College Park. Bent and his wife, Martha, lead the non-profit Essential Piece Ministries International, a mission-driven ministry that focuses on providing training and opportunities to minister and evangelize around the world.
A choice of workshops will be offered, including one for children: You can be a Missionary too!’’ with Denise Morgan, with Children‘s Bible Ministries of Maryland. Additionally, there will be representatives from Open Air Campaigners, Prince George‘s County YWAM, the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, and many more.
During lunch, attendees will view a video about freed slave-turned missionary George Liele.
Oak Ridge Baptist Church is offering an Anxiety Workshop.
On Sunday morning, the church will have their annual parade of flags during the worship service. The guest speaker will be Bernard Fuller, the pastor of New Song Bible Fellowship, Lanham. Missionaries will share presentations in Sunday School classes.
Anxiety Workshop
Oak Ridge Church, Salisbury, will host a free anxiety workshop from 8:45 a.m. to noon in the theater at the church on March 9. The event is designed as an opportunity to provide tools to help attendees understand their own anxiety and discuss “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Register here.
FBC Pocomoke City Hosted BCM/D VBS Training
BCM/D partnered with First Baptist Church Pocomoke City to host the first VBS Workshop on the eastern shore in over four years! Nearly 50 people attended, representing more than 15 churches.
(L-R) Tanya Area, FBC Pocomoke City; Shannon Diehl, Berlin First Baptist Church; Kris Buckman, BCM/D Children’s & Youth Missionary and Laurie Zimmerman, Lynnhaven Baptist Church. (Photo submitted)
Keith Myer, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church, Salisbury and Director of Missions for the Eastern Baptist Association, (EBA) attended the workshop and said, “What a joy it was to see so many leaders come out to connect, share ideas, and jump-start their VBS preparation! I was encouraged to see people from EBA churches and others from over the bridge, and I found the workshops helpful as we got ready to host VBS for the first time in a long time. I’m thankful for BCM/D’S investment in preparing churches for this critical mission: reaching children and families with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Trauma Recovery Ministry
Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bel Air, offers a unique program called Reboot Recovery to help individuals dealing with trauma. Founded in 2011, Reboot was designed as a means to help soldiers from Fort Campbell who had suffered traumatic brain injuries cope with and recover from combat trauma. Since that time, they have expanded their reach beyond combat veterans to include first responders and the general public on their mission to help all who have withstood a deeply disturbing or distressing experience or series of experiences, also known as trauma. Rooted in clinical and biblical principles, Reboot Recovery takes a non-denominational, faith-based approach to empowering people from all walks of life to overcome trauma and embrace a brighter future.
Presently, Reboot Recovery offers three basic level courses: Military, First Responder, and Trauma Reboot. While Military and First Responder Reboot address unique traumas experienced by men and women in those perspective fields, Trauma Reboot addresses hardships endured by the general public. In addition to the three basic level courses, Reboot Advanced is a follow-up course for participants looking to continue their healing process and deepen their spiritual roots. Each Reboot course meets once a week for 12 weeks and is peer-led by those who have encountered their own trauma, learned from their situations, and have a heart to help you heal from others. It’s not a lecture; it’s a conversation. Each week conversations will focus on a different facet of trauma and exercises in how to cope with them. Every participant plays a part in helping one another. No one walks alone.
A current Trauma Reboot class is now meeting at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays at OGBC, but there‘s still time to join. Dinner and childcare are provided. It‘s not too late to join, but the deadline is March 12. Register at https://rebootrecovery.com/trauma/. For more information, contact Leader LaVerne Cash at (410) 459- 9210 or [email protected]. (Reboot information based on information written by LaVerne Cash and Amy Spinks)
