Arundel Association
Glen Burnie Church is accepting registration for their Upward Soccer program for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade through Aug. 8. The season begins on Aug. 28.
Linthicum Church had a community summertime ice cream social with antique cars, a moon bounce, western dress and calling contest and a white elephant table. They also offered free hot dogs, cotton candy and soft drinks.
Severna Park Church members will head to West Virginia this month to do missions work in a small Appalachian area Southern Baptist church doing prayer walking, light construction, visiting nursing homes and other outreach ministry.
The church had VBS in July featuring the Saddleback Ranch theme. They used the VBS as an opportunity to get a head start on collecting shoeboxes and supplies to participate in Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child.
Baltimore Association
Grace Place (GP), Dundalk, had a “day of praise” in June. The church had live bands and summer food including hot dogs, cotton candy and snowballs testimonies. Dallas Bumgarner, campus pastor, wrote in the North Arundel Church’s (NAC) newsletter (GP is a satellite church of NAC): “It was awesome as we let the people of Dundalk know that Jesus is alive through good music, food and a children’s fair. From 1-5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, everyone driving or walking down Delvale Avenue and all the people living around the church heard testimonies and songs about the love of Jesus.”
David Schell retired as pastor of Parkville Church after serving for 28 years. The difficult decision was due to pressing health concerns. Schell began preaching regularly at the age of 12-years-old, went on to become licensed and began church ministry at the age of 22. He is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Schell and his late wife, Brenda, came to Parkville from Union View Church, Franklinton, N.C. in May, 1982. Family and friends gathered for Schell’s retirement dinner. The theme was “A pastor and his sheep: Psalm 23.” His final service at Parkville was June 27. He will reside in Maryland with his son, Nathaniel and his family.
Riverside Church will host a Vacation Bible School at Riverside Park this month with the help of a youth mission team from White Marsh Church.
The Church on Warren Avenue’s new youth group “PRIME” is flourishing. The group kicked off with a launch party in March and in addition to regular “Omega” Bible studies, they’ve gone on to take fun trips to the Inner Harbor and out for ice cream. The group needs a variety of equipment including a video game system, sound system and a van.
Blue Ridge Association
Fellowship Church, Middletown, had its annual Children’s Carnival on July 17. The free festivity featured food, games and pony rides. Local non-profit organizations were invited to have displays to inform the community about the services provided. The Catoctin Promise Band, a non-denominational Thurmont band played throughout the festival.
Delaware Association
Harrington Church is growing. Sunday school attendance has jumped. In fact, recently, the young adult class, which averages seven had 18 students.
The church, in an effort to reach out to the community, had a free oil change day this spring for young single mothers. Clayton Clarke, pastor of the church, said he was thrilled with participation. Kids under nine years old helped by leading other children to classrooms where they could play games or color. Members in their 80’s volunteered to be “runners,” heading to the auto parts store for parts when needed. The church plans to offer the service again in October.
Members of Harrington had a hymn sing and celebrated baptisms with a local non-denominational church. Harrington and Grace and Truth Community Church joined together for the evening service and then had a fellowship time afterwards.
Youth from First Southern Church went to Ocean City last month. They ministered with international students, kids’ camps and lifeguard ministries.
Eastern Association
First Church, Easton, has had a busy missions emphasis summer. They sent a mission team to Ocean City in July to work with BCM/D’s resort ministry outreach to international students, ministered to migrant workers on the Eastern shore and collected sunscreen sticks for adults and children for a mission team to take with them to Turkey.
First Church, Easton, has Xtreme Kid through Aug. 11. On Wednesday nights, children enjoy arts and crafts, cooking, water games, tennis, soccer, drama, video making, flag football, music and more.
The program kicked off with a family fun night cookout with games and ice cream. Kids picked out the tracks they wanted to follow for the six-week program.
Immanuel Church, Salisbury, honored Woodrow Crouse with the title Pastor Emeritus. Crouse served the church for 27 years, from March 1979 to May 2006, the longest serving pastor in the history of the 50-year-old church. Prior to his ministry in Salisbury, Crouse served churches in California, Louisiana and Baltimore for a total of 40 years.
Immanuel Church, Salisbury, deacon chairman, Robert Shores, presented an award to Woodrow Crouse as Pastor Emeritus saying the award was given from the heart “to honor one who served long and well.”
Church members presented a plaque with a picture of the church building and “Deep appreciation for faithful service” engraved upon it.
Deacon Chairman Robert Shores said the award was given from the heart “to honor one who served long and well.” Crouse presented the sermon and preached about commitment and loyalty. Over 125 people attended the special worship service.
Gail Crouse, Woodrow’s wife, was also recognized with an award for her work in many ministries at the church through the years. Wanda Ferrier, who organized the service and a dinner the previous evening, presented the award.
Mid-Maryland Association
Mid-Maryland Association will host its annual golf open on Sept. 21 at the Oakmont Green Golf Club in Hampstead. The cost is $75 and includes fees, cart, light lunch, steak dinner and beverages.
Prizes will be available for first, second and third place and cash prizes for a hole in one. Proceeds will be used for Haiti relief. Sponsorships are also available.
Nigel Black has been called as pastor of Hope Fellowship Church, Greenbelt. His wife, Eva, directs the young children’s ministry of the church. The couple has three children.
Two hundred ninety five elementary school aged children and 26 pre-schoolers participated in
At Northwest Church, Westminster’s Mega Sports and Arts Bible Day Camp in June, 73 percent of the campers were from outside the church.
Northwest Church, Westminster’s Mega Sports and Arts Bible Day Camp in June. That’s the highest attendance ever for the annual event. Seventy-three percent of the campers were from outside the church. The camp featured praise and worship, Bible stories, a sports story and lots of high-energy sports and arts activities including basketball, flag football, baseball, dance, cheerleading, soccer, cooking, art and theater. Breakfast and lunch were provided each day.
Campers returned for a finale program to show parents on Thursday evening and the sanctuary was packed. Local businesses donated a variety of supplies for the event.
A camp reunion was held on July 30 featuring an all-day “run for the son” one-mile fitness walk at the church.
Montgomery Association
Georgia Avenue Church had a workshop on inclusion of people with disabilities and their families. The event focused on informing “how to be an eye, a voice, and an ear for those in need.”
Redland Church and First Church, Rockville, are partnering to host Upward flag football and cheerleading. Practice and games will be at Redland Church. For more information see the church’s website, http://recreation.redlandbaptist.org.
Potomac Association
Trinity Church, Waldorf, has had a “summer of outreach” for teens. In June they had “messy games”—fun times with jello, chocolate syrup and bananas. In July teens came for an outdoor evening movie with free popcorn and snow cones and this month they’ll have a skate party with Christian hip hop, rap and rock music.
The church sent a mission team to Pikeville, Ky., last month to distribute school supplies and other needed items. They will return in December to deliver Christmas gifts and winter supplies.
Waldorf Church had a farewell reception and wedding shower for Shelley Mager, the church’s family ministry associate. Mager is leaving to get married and move to Las Cruces, N. M., with her husband, Joshua Allen, pastor of Grace Bible Church.
Prince George’s Association
Kettering Church, Upper Marlboro, had a young men’s conference called “Preparing for Kingship.” The all-day event was for young men ages 11-25.
Unity Church, Forestville, celebrated their 20th anniversary last month with a special gala event at the Lafontaine Bleu in Lanham.
Susquehanna Association
Calvary Church, Bel Air, had a “law enforcement recognition day” on May 16. The church had a large poster-sized Thank You card for each agency, signed by the congregation. Law enforcement personnel were recognized and given gift bags. Each bag contained a New Testament designed for law enforcement workers, and a mini flashlight. Ralph Green, pastor of Calvary, preached from Romans 13 and shared what the Bible says about law enforcement officers. The service also included a role call of Maryland officers who died in the line of duty.
Calvary will present the musical “The Sermon on the Mound” at 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 25. Children in first through sixth grades have been practicing for months in preparation for the energetic musical, directed by Ken Tipton, minister of music. The play is about Mac Wire, a rookie in training who is terrified of dropping the ball, or tripping on the field. He learns baseball lessons on the field but also spiritual lessons about playing on God’s team, suiting up with the armor of God and spending time with the “head coach.”
Christ Memorial Church, Westernport, recently returned from a mission trip to Alabama, working with Millbrook Church. The team participated in worship, did backyard Bible clubs, prayer walking, visited nursing homes, passed out flyers and helped with a block party. They also did yard work, some random acts of kindness and hosted a movie night featuring “Facing the Giants.”