Here’s a roundup of what’s happening in Maryland/Delaware churches. God is working through his people to share His love and mercy.
Faith Baptist Church, Knoxville, called Kevin Marr of Memphis, Tenn. as senior pastor. He is pictured with his daughter Kati, son, Connor, and wife, Jill.
Faith Baptist Church, Knoxville, called Kevin Marr of Memphis, Tenn., to be their senior pastor. Marr is joined in ministry by his wife, Jill, daughter, Kati, and son, Connor. He most recently served as pastor of LifePointe Baptist Church in Hernando, Miss., and director of Veritas Classical Schools for the past 13 years. He graduated Valedictorian with a master of divinity degree in 2008 from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis and has over 25 years of ministerial experience.
The church will have an installation service for Marr and his family during the 10:50 a.m. worship celebration on April 29, followed by an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Family Life Center.
First English Baptist Church, Frostburg, ordained a new deacon, David McGann, at a special service on Palm Sunday.
Those who participated in the ordination service are (left to right) Kenny Heath, Western Baptist Association Director of Missions Kenny Heath; Deacon Jeff Blank; Pastor David Sandvick; Deacon David McGann; Deacon Stan Eisel; Deacon Gerry Snelson; Deacon Bruce Alderton; and Deacon Brian Alderton.
McGann has been a member of FEBC for ten years and also serves as the church’s treasurer and head trustee. He is married to Carley who is the Sunday school director and a Sunday school teacher. They have two children in elementary school, Brayley and Weston.
Welsh Baptist Church, Frostburg, has a “kids clothes closet,” on the first Thursday of each month. Community Pastor Joe Saweikis said nearly 30 families show up each week, often bringing clothes to exchange, since, as Saweikis said, children tend to grow out of their clothes before wearing them out.
The ministry kicked off six months ago and Saweikis said already two people visited the church, interested in a sermon series they heard about at the clothing giveaway. Members are praying that God will open doors for spiritual conversations through this ministry
Church Members Leslie Felton and Merry Medearis oversee the ministry.
Saweikis said the church garners much support inside and out of the church with the community donating clothing, as well as other churches, even as far as Baltimore, sending clothes.
Kevin Smith
Grace Baptist Church, Cumberland, will show “The Insanity of God” at 6:30 pm on May 6 followed by a time of prayer for the persecuted church.
Kevin Smith, who serves as executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) and is a member of Weems Creek Baptist Church, Annapolis, is one of the nominees chosen by the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Committee on Nominations to serve as a trustee of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Nominees will serve if elected by the messengers to the SBC annual meeting, June 12-13 in Dallas.
Roger and Ann Kim
Long-time church planters, Roger and Ann Kim, who have touched many Johns Hopkins University (JHU) students, among others, through their Grace Life Church network, were honored in a commissioning service on Sunday, April 8 at the JHU’s Interfaith Center in Baltimore. The Kims are moving to Peru, where they will continue serving at Grace Life, Lima, which already has over 130 members. They also will launch a seminary in Peru.
During the commissioning service, church members and friends honored the Kims for how they have helped introduce them to Jesus and to full-time ministry. As the Kims move, Phil Yang will serve as lead pastor of Grace Life Church, Elkridge, and Allen Jiang will lead the JHU “Stepping Stone” campus ministry.
Baptism at Connecting Church, Abingdon, Md.
Connecting Church, Abingdon, celebrated their first anniversary on April 22 with five baptisms and 98 in attendence—a record for the church. Pastor Phil Gifford said he and the church were very excited and praising God.
At the anniversary celebration, the church members shared “God-stories, vision updates, baptisms, worship, and time in God’s word.” Also….cupcakes!
On his Facebook page, Gifford shared this fun fact: “We’ve grown by 256 percent in average attendance this first year. We have a big task still ahead, but reason to stop and thank God for all He has done.”