“You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Coronavirus outreach updates
Hillcrest Baptist Church, in Temple Hills, Maryland, is hosting online Sunday School classes through conference calls led by Sunday School teachers. Church Member Shirley Russell said that many who don’t regularly attend classes “are participating in great numbers in and out of state.”
Sunday school directors have been distributing church literature via a “drive-by” in the church parking lot.
The church has prayer via conference calls led by Pastor W. Clyde Pearson on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
On Thursday evenings, First Lady Amelia Pearson hosts a women’s prayer session starting at 8:30 p.m. It is open to all ladies who would like to participate, both members and non-members.
Pastor W. Clyde Pearson’s weekly messages are available at any time on the church’s website.
Redeeming Grace Baptist Church (RGBC) in Lexington Park, Maryland, will host “Living Romans 14 in light of COVID-19,” at 7 p.m. on May 9. Senior Pastor Adam Polk and Associate Pastor Jeremy Rhoton will lead the Facebook Live event.
Polk said the event will be a discussion regarding Christians’ different responses to the COVID-19 crisis, especially with the anticipation of the economy’s reopening and the gradual lifting of restrictions.
While some people believe restrictions should have been lifted earlier and want to get out and to get to church, others will decide they want to stay home longer and protect themselves. People are thinking through issues well and finding themselves at different ends of the spectrum. “How do you respond to a pandemic? Most of us have not been through this,” Polk said.
Photo courtesy of Redeeming Grace Baptist Church.
Polk said Romans 14 deals with some of those issues — respecting each other, living in those tensions when you have disagreements that are not doctrinal matters, and allowing others to agree and disagree.
“Our goal is to call believers to extend grace to one another and to respect each other’s consciences,” Polk said.
In order to assist those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 situation, RGBC is doing an outreach for a few weeks to local healthcare workers and other first responders, as well as teachers, and retail workers.
The church has partnered with “The Beanery,” a local coffee shop, to give growlers of cold brew coffee to healthcare workers, teachers, retail workers, and others working hard in St. Mary’s County.
“The church has connected with the local hospital, area medical care facilities, and networked with others in the community to provide this service and say thanks. Workers are able to request a growler via an online form and members of the church deliver to them.”Twelve volunteers are taking time each week to make the deliveries. They tag each coffee or lemonade with a thank you card from the church and RGBC is covering the costs of the coffee or lemonade.
The church has blessed almost 100 people through the ministry. “People are very appreciative. It’s a neat way to say ‘thank you’ to those on the front lines of this situation,” Polk said.
Children’s Ministry bi-monthly Zoom meetings
BCM/D Children’s Ministry and VBS Consultant Kris Buckman will host online discussions about children’s ministry during COVID-19 every other Tuesday at 2 and 7 p.m., beginning on May 19 and lasting until June 30. Topics will include reconnecting with youth, and a variety of VBS information, including safety and security.
Your one-time registration will give you access to all forums!
May 19 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Topic: Connecting/Reconnecting with Youth
June 2 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Topic: VBS Promotion
June 16 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Topic: VBS Safety & Security
June 30 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Topic: VBS Hacks
For more information regarding theses events, email Kris Buckman.
Video of international students
Ocean City Baptist Church (OCBC) in Maryland, recently produced a video with clips from international students from around the globe which the church has served, past summer missionaries, and current staff. The speakers shared greetings, gave brief updates, and encouraged OCBC members. Each referred to the worldwide pandemic and stated, “We’re all in this together.”
The church showed the video during a recent worship service, interspersed with music and the sermon.
The comments included the following:
“We appreciate your impact in student life. We are thankful for God in His work. We want to say we all are family even though the ocean separates us now.”
“I was very happy in Ocean City, Maryland, maybe because of the people in Ocean City Baptist Church – they tried to help me with anything I needed or wanted. When I asked something, I always got a very good answer. Something is kind of different from Thailand and America, like the culture. If I didn’t know something, I could ask anyone in the church and they could answer me clearly and really good. I promise, if I get a chance to go to America again I’ll try to go to Ocean City.”
“I live in the Ukraine and it’s great you have your services and Bible studies online so I can still be connected to your church.”
“I’m still connected with Ocean City Baptist Church,” the speaker from Kiev, Ukraine said while pulling on his OCBC T-shirt. “I’m still praying for you. I hope you are doing well. I’m praying for Pastor Sean and for surf camp. Guys, you are the best. We’re in the same situation. It is a hard time for all of us. Just keep our eyes on Jesus.”
https://www.facebook.com/ocbaptistchurch/videos/833720637394270/
Quotes:
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” C.S.Lewis
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Francis Chan
“Christians can never sin cheaply; they pay a heavy price for iniquity. Transgression destroys peace of mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer, brings darkness over the soul; therefore be not the serf and bondman of sin.” Charles Spurgeon
History Highlights
In 1975, William Heaps was ordained as the first deaf deacon in a hearing congregation in the history of Maryland Baptists. He served at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Bel Air, Maryland. Later that year, the first Deaf Retreat was held at Western Maryland College (from GoFwd, A Southern Baptist Retrospective, a special feature publication of BaptistLIFE).
Cover Photo by virginia lackinger on Unsplash