Arundel Association
Glen Burnie Church called Robert Rudman as their new senior pastor. Rudman is from Cleveland, Ohio. He has served churches in Virginia, Florida and South Carolina.
Rudman attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned degrees in pastoral studies and evangelism and church growth. His wife, Mary, is a registered nurse working at Baltimore Washington Medical Center.
Lake Shore Church, Pasadena, hosted homeless visitors in December as part of the Arundel house of Hope Winter Relief program. Members treated their guests to meals, haircuts, music programs and companionship in addition to a comfortable place to sleep for the night.
When another church couldn’t fulfill their obligation, Lake Shore stepped in and hosted their guests for another weekend. It turned out to be the weekend of Dec.18 when Pasadena received close to 20 inches of snow. Fortunately, the guests arrived before the storm hit. Instead of leaving in the morning, they stayed at the church, grateful to be able to sleep in where it was warm and cozy.
Baltimore Association
Members of Streetlite Christian Fellowship, Federal Hill, and its campuses participated in a 21-day “Daniel’s Fast,” to observe the spiritual discipline of fasting, with an emphasis on prayer.
Reisterstown Church is in the midst of an “Experiencing God” study using the new updated materials with additional testimony and illustrations now available.
Colonial Church, Randallstown, and Baltimore County Government officials partnered to host a Martin Luther King Celebration Day at the church on Jan. 15. Special speakers included Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Superintendent of Baltimore City Schools, Joe Hairston, and Delegate Adrienne Jones.
Robert Anderson, senior pastor of Colonial Church, offered a commencement and closing prayer and a time of spiritual reflection.
The event also included the announcement of the fifth annual “Content of Character” honorees. In conjunction with Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the Baltimore County Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs sponsors the award program, honoring a man, woman, boy and girl, who have made significant contributions to their communities.
One of the honorees was Colonial member, Shakera Kyle. The 17-year-old New Town High School student has made all state choir for three years, all county choir for four years and the Baltimore High School Honors Jazz choir for one year, participated in the American Music Aboard European Gold Tour choir singing in five countries, and is very active in her school government. Shakera was recently accepted to Syracuse University where she will study architecture.
Blue Ridge Association
Fellowship Church, Middletown, will have a Purim Party this month. Children will dress in Esther and Mordecai costumes. As the story of Esther is read, listeners will use noise makers and cheer as Mordecai and Esther are mentioned and they’ll boo and hiss when Haman’s name is read. Church members will bring traditional Hamantashen filled triangular pastries.
In addition to celebrating Purim, the church has had Passover meals and Hanukkah celebrations, learning about and celebrating Christianity’s Jewish heritage.
Delaware Association
The Delaware Association sponsored its annual medical mission trip to Moldova on Oct 25-Nov. 7. Team members were Mal and Mary Utleye and Jesse Pratt, Hockessin Church; Gayle Clifton, pastor of Upper Seneca Church; Ricky and Barbara Matney, Greensboro Church, and Robert Johnson, Bethany Church.
Mal Utleye said the goal of the annual trip is to draw non-believers to the clinics so the team could minister to them both spiritually and physically. Utleye said many believers gave up their clinic appointments for those who were unchurched.
One thousand five hundred seventy-six people from 39 villages came to the clinics. Approximately 47 percent were unbelievers.
The $12,000 for medicine was provided by churches and friends from across the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D), and from Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Several Ukrainian and Russian churches contributed this year.
Donations for medical supplies for the 2010 Moldova trip can be sent to: Delaware Association, 967 North State St., Dover, DE 19901. Checks should be made payable to: Delaware Baptist Association and designated for the Moldova/Ukraine medicine.
Every year, Lewes Police Department hosts an annual “Lewes Night Out,” in conjunction with the national night out campaign to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, and to strengthen community partnership and spirit.
Other community groups are invited to participate, including Seaside Church, Lewes.
Eastern Association
Eastern Association churches have been meeting together weekly at Immanuel Church, Salisbury, on Sunday nights.
Each week, a different church brings the music, gives an update on what’s happening in their church, and the pastor of the guest church for the week gives the sermon.
Faith Fellowship, Cambridge, sponsored a mission trip to the Operation Christmas Child distribution center in Charlotte, NC, to pack shoeboxes filled with gifts for shipment to children throughout the world. Twelve members of the congregation, joined by 32 others from 13 different churches in Maryland and Delaware, departed Dec. 1 and returned Dec. 4. Randall T. Blackmon, pastor of Faith Fellowship accompanied the group. Plans are being made for a return trip in December 2010. For information, contact Shirley Kailianu at (800) 877-5026 or email tidewatermotorcoach@comcast.net.
Three representatives from Grace Church, Seaford,–Mike Wilt, April Alvino and Martin Chavez–along with members of four other churches recently returned from a mission trip to Nicaragua. Goals for this trip were to repair and paint a baptismal pool, structural and landscaping work, and purchasing new desks for a school. The team was able to complete all their projects with the exception of the student desks. In addition to the work that was accomplished, the team participated in a 6th grade graduation, an Anniversary celebration service, and socialized with the children and people of Nicaragua, sharing the good news of Christ.
Ocean City Church Pastor Terry Davis retired in December after serving the church for 31 years. Davis’ son, Sean, is succeeding him.
Mid-Maryland Association
About 300 people representing at least 70 churches attend Community Bible Study (CBS) at Westminster Church every Wednesday morning. Larry Steen, pastor of Westminster Church said it’s exciting to see that many people coming in on a weekday.
A spin-off group started in Eldersburg and Steen said that’s now growing like crazy.
“I like to think its doing our part to minister to the entire church community in Westminster. God has really blessed this. People are hungry for an in-depth Bible study.”
Steen said that though the study is not sponsored by Westminster Church, several Westminster Church members are involved and people have joined the church as a result of coming to the study.
The Church at Covenant Park, Ellicott City, had a couple’s spaghetti and game night fellowship recently.
Montgomery Association
Seven Locks Church, Potomac, will sponsor a women’s conference on Mar. 13 featuring counselor, writer, wife and mother, Tasha Levert. Levert is the author of “Stories of Hope for the Sleep Deprived.” The cost is $30.
Potomac Association
Hughesville Church held a sports banquet last month, where Charles Alsheimer, field editor for “Deer and Deer Hunting” magazine, was the guest speaker.
Potomac Heights Church, Indian Head, had a women’s waffle brunch.
Prince George’s Association
First Church, Laurel, recognized senior pastor, Stanley Beall’s, tenth anniversary as pastor of the church. Bob Ryerson, chairman of the personnel committee presented Beall a plaque and a love offering by the congregation.
Susquehanna Association
The women’s ministry of Oak Grove Church, Bel Air, hosted “A Day of Beauty.” Ladies came and brought their friends for a time of pampering.
The women received a massage and had their hair styled and make up applied while listening to jazz, snacking on finger foods and chocolates and sipping tea.
Afterwards, Shannon McFerren, leader of the women’s ministry, took digital photos of the ladies. McFerren, after retouching the photos, emailed the photos to the women.
A local restaurant donated free dinner coupons, so the “prettied” up women could go home and ask their husbands and boyfriends to take them to dinner.
McFerren said the free pampering was for the ladies in the church to invite their friends to a non-“churchy” event. While there, the ladies received information about other upcoming women’s ministry events.
McFerren said the event was her first “act of kindness” outreach since recently becoming the head of the women’s ministry.
Men recently had their own “man day,” shooting hoops, doing target practice and eating barbecue.
Western Association
LaVale Church hosted about 400 boys from Juvenile Service’s Greenridge Youth Center for a Christmas party in December. The boys enjoyed a spaghetti dinner and magic show by church member Darla Lewis. They also had a great time singing Christmas carols, especially the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Obituary
Whitney Dale Grimley died on Dec.1 after a lengthy illness. Services were held at Cresthill Church, Bowie. Grimley was well known in the convention, serving as associate and senior pastor in many Prince George’s churches including Berywn, Clinton, Central and Greenbelt. He was also named honorary pastor of Cresthill Church where he served until his death.
Grimley loved serving in churches, singing in choirs and helping where needed. He recently began a “Sam’s Club” – senior adult ministry at Cresthill. He also led the church through a constitution and by-laws revision and a long-term visioning process.
“He was very active. If he could get to church, he was there,” Kay Grimley, Dale’s sister said.
Grimley also served the Prince George’s Association as moderator, vice-moderator and mega focus leader.
“As director of missions, I could always count on his support and honest evaluations as we planned together. Dale had the unique ability to deal with the fine details. He loved constitutions, by-laws and policy manuals and people,” Ron Rogers, former PGA director of missions wrote in an email about his friend.
Grimley enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Dale Grimley is survived by his wife, Diana, and his children: Wendi Haselberger, Benjamin Grimley and Staci Grimley. He is also survived by his brother Edward and sisters Linda Herrara, Peggy Ahmay, Donna Kauffman and Kay Grimley and grandchildren: Hailey, Kortni, Ashlei, Emili and Erin Haselberger.