“Jesus said, ‘Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.’” John 4:13
Bill George retirement
William “Bill” George, the pastor of Kensington Baptist Church (KBC), retired preaching his final sermon as pastor of the church on Feb. 12. The church honored George and his wife Diane with a worship service featuring various special speakers and Bill’s favorite hymns and music pieces. Bill preached a sermon about following Jesus, and he shared about God’s call on his life. He encouraged the church to continue following the Lord and told them that even if they had questions, God would show them the way to go.
Bill and Diane George ministered at KBC for twenty years (photo by Ellen Udovich).
Due to COVID-19 concerns in Montgomery County, the church will have a large celebration for Bill and Diane later in the spring.
BaptistLIFE will feature a story on Bill’s retirement in an upcoming blog post.
Pastor Ministers in Haiti
Joseph Constane, the pastor of Eglise Baptiste Hatienne du Calvaire de Hagerstown, left for his home in Haiti on Jan. 19. Constane is assisting multiple churches in Haiti and developing a school to train pastors and leaders. Additionally, Constane and the church, along with the Blue Ridge Baptist Association, are helping plant a Haitian church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Constane is assisting churches in Haiti (photo submitted).
By Faith Alone
ONE HOPE, a ministry of The Garden Church (TGC) in Baltimore, will have a conference on Mar. 5 focusing on “Faith Alone” and how it affects and relates to urban and low-income church ministry.
Joel Kurz, senior pastor of TGC, explains that every two years, the church invites members pastors, church planters, nonprofit workers, missionaries, mothers, fathers, and neighbors to think about how theology drives ministry. This conference will examine “What do these old doctrines have to do with life and work in tough neighborhoods? How should theology affect ministry to the least of these?”
Speakers are:
- Shai Linne, Risen Christ Fellowship (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — “Faith Alone and Ethnic Unity”
- Thabiti Anyabwile, Anacostia River Church (Washington, D.C.) —“Faith Alone and the Character of God”
- Alejandro Molero, Iglesia Bíblica Sublime Gracia (Washington, D.C.) — “Faith Alone and the Prosperity Gospel”
- Joel Kurz — “Faith Alone and the Human Problem”
There is a $10 fee to cover the cost of lunch, but “We don’t want cost to keep anyone away!” Kurz emphasizes. Email TGC for more information. Register on Eventbrite.
On Feb. 2, Clinton Baptist Church (CBC) ordained its first deacons and trustees since beginning its revitalization effort in 2019. Senior Pastor Colin Pugh ordained deacons Leonard Parker, Kenneth Graves, and Greg Blackwell. The men completed an 18-month spiritual training process led by Pugh. Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware Interim Executive Director Mark Dooley also assisted in the training. Additionally, the church installed six trustees: Iris Johnson, Donna Thompson, Charles Smith, Charles Watts, Joseph Tilghman, and Jerry Boiling. The trustees received training from lawyers, a CPA, and Pugh.
CBC leaders pray over newly ordained deacons (photo submitted).
Deacons received deacon manuals, and the trustees received keys to the building. All received Dr. Tony Evans’ study Bible.
CBC has a vibrant outreach emphasis. Celebrating February as the “month of love,” church members distributed cookies and balloons printed with Bible verses to residents of Branchwood Towers, a senior living facility in Clinton. Pugh said that one resident called and said, “You don’t know how much that meant to me. You all made my day!”
Annual Missions Fair
New Song Bible Fellowship in Lanham will have its annual missions fair in March. The theme is “Working Together to Fulfill the Great Commission; the Harvest is Plentiful, but the Laborers are Few,” based on Luke 10:2-3.
- Wednesday, Mar. 23, 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. — missionary-led Bible study.
- Friday, Mar. 25, 7-9 p.m. — youth missions conference.
- Saturday, Mar. 26, 9 a.m to 3 p.m. — missions conference and workshops.
- Sunday, Mar. 27, 10 a.m. — the conference culminates with the worship service.
Pugh distributes keys to newly-installed trustees (photo submitted).
Senior Pastor Bernard Fuller, in a letter to congregants, wrote, “Our hope is that the conference will bring new insights that will help attendees be better equipped to fulfill the Great Commission within the restrictions of a global pandemic.”
CLC’s first baptism at Reisterstown campus
Christian Liberty Church (CLC) celebrated its first baptisms at CLC’s Reisterstown campus, located at Reisterstown Baptist Church’s facility.
Wayne with Williams (l) and Barmore (r) (photo submitted).
Chenise Brayboy and her daughter, Trinity McFadden, began attending CLC as a result of McFadden’s involvement with Imagine Me Ministries, a mentoring program founded by Pascha Lee. Pascha is CLC Senior Pastor Wayne Lee’s wife. McFadden has been in the IMM program since sixth grade. She is now almost 18 and has been accepted at several colleges. Read our BaptistLIFE feature article about Imagine Me.
Additionally, the church recently ordained Associate Pastor Zachary Barmore and Deacon Dwayne Williams.
Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) upcoming events
Check out these opportunities to learn, network, and be refreshed. Click on the links for detailed information and to register.
- Connect Lunches! for children and youth ministry leaders — BCM/D Children and Youth Consultant
McFadden was one of the first people baptized at CLC’s Reisterstown campus (photo submitted).
Kris Buckman wants to meet you for lunch! Take an hour to connect, network, and enjoy some Mission BBQ on us. Register for one of the upcoming lunches in your area.
- Pathways: Prevention and Protection — Sexual abuse is a reality. Be prepared. This training will equip church leaders and workers, including those who may serve in counseling, administrative, and children’s and youth ministries, as well as other areas, with comprehensive insight into creating safety in multiple areas of church life.
- Revitalize Worship Webinar — In this webinar, we’ll learn from and engage with worship and church revitalization experts to go beyond the more “surface” matters of a worship event and focus on the core of what matters in Christian worship.
- Pastors Reset Retreat — Pastors, prepare to “RESET” your church and ministry as we seek God’s wisdom in leading through times of crisis.
Quotable quotes
“… the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray what He taught his disciples to pray: Thy will be done.” — Elisabeth Elliott
History bites
“God is unchanging in His love. He loves you. He has a plan for your life. Don’t let the newspaper headlines frighten you. God is still sovereign; He’s still on the throne.” — Billy Graham
Cover photo: CLC celebrates McFadden’s baptism (photo submitted).