Arundel Association
First Church, Edgewater, has a monthly coffeehouse featuring local musicians. Church members sell hot dogs, nachos with cheese and other food and snacks along with a variety of beverages. The auditorium is decorated with net type of décor and each table has a fish bowl for band donations. Upcoming bands include “Uprising,” on Oct. 23 and “Beyond the Veil” on Nov. 20.
FBC Edgewater joined with Riva Trace Church, Davidsonville; Chesapeake Christian Fellowship; Mariners Church, and Bay Area Community Church for a See You at the Pole party prior to the event. Youth and their leaders from all of the churches met at Camp Wabanna in Edgewater. The evening included food, a live band, speakers and a time for small group prayer.
Members of Glen Burnie Church were do-si-doing around their church’s back parking lot last month during their barbecue and square dance party. The evening included dancing, food, and old-fashioned fun.
The church’s senior group, Silver Sages, will travel to the American Music Theater in Lancaster, Pa., for the Mark Lowry Show on Oct. 10.
Twenty-five 25 Asian Baptist churches joined in a Sept. 13 Asian Concert of Prayer with approximately 200 attendants filling up the newly built sanctuary of Hanuri Korean Church in Silver Spring, Md. The entire 2.5 hours were infused with powerful praising and praying aloud in four different languages, including Korean, Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese, with English sub-titles available. The prayer concert ended around 8:30 p.m., culminating in a time of intercessory prayer in small groups of 3-4 individuals, with people praying in their native tongues. Organizer Robert Kim, BCM/D language churches missionary, shared that the night of prayer was much like the Pentecostal scene in Acts 2, where people from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds gathered to pray. To view more photos of this exciting night, visit online at www.bcmd.org.
New Hope Church, Pasadena, will host this year’s Arundel Association annual meeting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 12.
North Glen Church, Glen Burnie, is partnering with God’s Helping Hands ministry to provide 100 children from the poorest region of Kentucky with Christmas gifts. Sponsors receive the name of a child in need then buy them requested clothing and a toy.
Members of North Glen are driving to Garrett in December to deliver the gifts and to throw a Christmas party for the children. In addition to sponsors, the church needs donations of cleaning supplies and non-perishable foods as well as funds to help offset the travel costs. For more information, see http://northglenbaptist.com/giftsforgarrett.
Baltimore Association
Bethlehem Church will have a fall revival from Oct. 22-24. Pastor Darnell Ransom will preach on Oct. 22. Stephen Hardnett, pastor of New Christian Bible Church, will be the guest speaker on Oct. 23 and on Friday, Oct. 24; “Joy Night” there will be a celebration in song and praise. All services begin at 7 p.m.
Long Green Church, Glen Arm, will have its fifth annual women’s conference on Oct. 17. The event is from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the church and features guest Debbie Reynolds.
Reynolds is a resident of Woodbury, Conn., and is called to missions. She spent five weeks ministering in Southeast Asia in January. She volunteers at drug and alcohol rehab center and serves the poor. She is involved in mission education at her church, leads a co-dependency program and volunteers at a drug and alcohol rehab center. The cost of the conference is $15 and includes a continental breakfast and light lunch. For registration information see the church website, http://www.longgreenbc.org.
Stauros Ministries, sponsored by White Marsh Church, will host an annual men’s retreat on Oct. 3 and 4 in Frederick. Guests will stay in Elim House, a cabin that Stauros members recently built on donated property.
Dave Tierney, pastor of New Day Church, Baltimore, will be the guest speaker. Jeremy Suits, who has been helping with fellowship exercises, such as building Elim House, will share his testimony of coming to know the Lord.
Stauros is an international organization dedicated to helping those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions and to offering support to their families. It differs from 12-step approaches to addiction, offering one-on-one support and a belief that once one is free, he or she is free indeed.
The local chapter is the only one of its kind in the United States. http://www.staurosministries.com.
Woodbrook Church members had a book sale and raised $415 for literacy programs in Haiti.
The church will have a scarecrow festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 17. The event will feature a scarecrow making station, children’s activities and refreshments.
Blue Ridge Association
Ender Zambrano, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispania, Hagerstown, and his family are moving to Gaithersburg to start a new church.
Four summer missionaries helped spread the word this summer at a Hispanic apartment complex. The young adults prayer walked and gave out literature about the new church and they gave away free school supplies. Aidsa Zambrano, wife of Primera Iglesia’s pastor Ender Zambrano, said the missionaries’ work was very fruitful. Language was not a barrier and, in fact, the Hispanics were very receptive to the young English-speaking missionaries.
“We know sometimes Hispanics won’t receive from us, but if English speaking people go and give something they receive it very easily,” Aidsa said.
One woman the missionaries visited offered her home for Bible studies.
The Zambranos are praying for a lay pastor to continue to minister to the Hagerstown congregation.
Rock Spring Church, Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., had a Labor Day celebration and potluck picnic on Sept. 6 followed by a paint ball tournament.
Delaware Association
The women of Iron Hill Church meet on Tuesday evenings for a time of study and fellowship. The ladies have been studying “Extraordinary Women,” by Julie Clinton.
Seaside Church, Lewes, sponsored an event for neighbors to come meet and greet members of the Lewes Police Department. Church members provided chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks, information about the church and tracts as well as an opportunity to stop by and pray.
Eastern Association
First Church, Easton, sponsored a concert by the African Children’s Choir at Easton High School auditorium last month.
The choir is comprised of very needy African children. Most of the kids have lost either one or both of their parents to poverty or disease. Children selected for the choir spend five months at a training academy where they learn songs and dances, attend school, play and attend Sunday school at a local church. The choir raises awareness to the plight of African children and it raises funds to provide food, shelter and medicine for those kids. For more information see www.africanchildrenschoir.com.
FBC Easton will have a fall festival on Oct. 31 on St. Michael’s Road with food, games and more.
Mid-Maryland Association
Mt. Airy Church will host local Christian music artists Bill and Karen Itzel in concert on Nov. 16.
Thirty-six members of Westminster Church traveled to Hunterville, W.Va., for a mission trip. The team did a variety of repairs for the elderly and the needy including installing a heater, removing tree branches, adding gutters and working on roofs and decks. They also ministered to shut-ins, conducted a VBS, visited at a prison and helped with a free yard sale. Church members also brought a trailer of items for the free sale.
The church has a First Place program that meets on Thursday mornings. The classes focus on putting Christ first in all areas of life and living a healthy lifestyle that includes memorizing scripture, eating healthy foods and exercising.
Montgomery Association
The youth of Georgia Avenue Church, Silver Spring, had a bake sale to help support ”The Great American Bake Sale,” an effort to end childhood hunger.
Kensington Church celebrated Grandparents Day on Sept. 13, encouraging members to bring their grandparents and for grandparents to invite their grandchildren. A light carry-in lunch followed the service.
Seven Locks Church, Potomac, has a coffeehouse for young adults. Church members bring their music, poetry and even YouTube videos to share.
Viers Mill Church will celebrate their 60th anniversary on Oct. 24 and 25.
Potomac Association
First Church, St. Charles, has a divorce care support group that meets on Thursdays. Those divorced or separated are invited to come for support and encouragement.
Church members regularly lead worship services at Morningside House assisted living facility each Tuesday evening.
Val Ham, a member of Lexington Park Church, recently returned from her annual trip to Moldova, teaching at summer camps. Ham took five youth and four adults. The team spent ten days working with the young Moldavians studying Philippians as well as reading Kay Arthur’s book, “Lord, Heal My Hurts.”
Times are changing in Moldova and Ham is heartbroken to learn that the government is being more restrictive.
In a Lexington Park Church newsletter, Ham writes, “I was sad to hear that the parliament passed an amendment that does not allow the Gospel to be taught in summer camps. Five camps had already been closed this summer. It is harder to be a Christian in Moldova.”
Ham is thrilled, however, to see the fruit of many years of ministry. “Two of the girls I have worked with for the past five years went to Nepal this year to teach leaders how to disciple new believers,” she said.
Leonardtown Church started a third worship service that will meet at their Christian Life Center. In January, the service will move to an off-site location.
Prince George’s Association
Maryland City Church called Mitch Young as their full-time pastor.
Oxon Hill Church had a Filipino open house for new teachers coming to Prince George’s County from the Philippines, providing them warm clothing, linens and kitchen items to help them in their transitioning time.
Susquehanna Association
Pleasant View Church, Port Deposit, had an apple festival outreach last month with food, fun and fellowship with an autumn apple theme.
North Harford Church’s Children’s Choir will be performing an original musical drama entitled “Seeking Treasure” on Sunday, October 25th, at 6:30 PM. The Children’s Choir leaders wrote the script, using songs written by the pastor. The plot centers around a children’s explorer club finding a special book in the attic of an old house which teaches them of true treasure.
Towne Church, Joppa, youth have been studying the book, “Crazy Love.” In conjunction with the study, the teens meet on Sunday nights for a live band, video clips and to play the game “Towne Has Talent.”
The youth group will travel to Liberty University’s annual “Scaremare” Halloween program on Oct. 30-31. While at LU, the teens will watch a Liberty football game.
The Church at Riverside, Belcamp, had a blow out block party last month with games for all ages, crafts, horseback and pony rides, free food, contests and much more.
Western Association
Grace Church, Cumberland, will host a mission team from Owingsville, Kentucky on Oct. 8-11. The team will prayer walk, renovate the youth area and help build a retaining wall.
Women on Mission at Second Church, Cumberland, had a WMU Worldcrafts party. The Worldcraft items are handmade crafts from around the world. Proceeds help the crafters support their families and provide schooling for their children.