April/May 2005

What Fellowship people dowhen disaster strikes

I found our personnel tired but committed to the task, grieving over the unprecedented loss of life, up to the challenge, and uniquely gift ed and experienced for the ministry. We had the opportunity to pray together, sing, share stories, cry, read Scripture and plan for the future.

Aft er weeks of clean up, assessment and providing emergency medical care, food, shelter and clean water, CBF Global Missions personnel are looking toward the future role for our organization and our partners. Committed to the long-term recovery of fami-lies and communities, Global Missions personnel took the opportunity to meet together in various locations around the region and refl ect on what has happened as well as make plans for the future.

What CBF has done in the relief eff ort:• found those areas where

other agencies are not work-ing and determined strate-gic locations for response

• provided health clinics staff ed by our personnel and volunteers

• provided water purifi cation units and experts for train-ing in their use

• engaged in debris removal and clean up

• provided food, blankets, hygiene kits and tents for displaced persons

• provided vehicles for delivery of supplies to remote areas

• partnered with local churches and Christian organizations to address spiritual and emotional needs of survivors

• conducted soil and water testing

• provided logistical support for our personnel and our partners

• provided member care for those working in this stressful eff ort.

What CBF plans to do as we enter the phase of recovery and development:• continue medical support

in the form of supplies, inoculations and expertise

• analyze and rehabilitate wells and water systems

• analyze soil and provide expertise in agricultural eff orts

• provide appropriate tech-nology concrete block-making machines and training in how to use them for rebuilding homes and businesses

• partner with Habitat for Humanity in building homes

“I just returned from spending two weeks with all our personnel

and several of our partners involved in relief work in Southeast

Asia. CBF Global Missions has almost 30 fi eld personnel actively

engaged in the tsunami relief and recovery eff orts — some began their work

only hours aft er the deadly waves hit.

April/May 2005

CBFfellowship! COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP | WWW.THEFELLOWSHIP.INFO

Following are excerpts from an address given by Barbara Baldridge, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions

coordinator, to the CBF Coordinating Council about the response of CBF Global Missions and Fellowship Christians and

churches to the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

CBF, Buckner sign partnership to expand global ministry among childrenA MAJOR INITIATIVE designed to transform the lives of children and families domestically and abroad is being launched in 2005 through a partnership among African Baptists, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Buckner Baptist Benevolences. Th e partnership was signed March 1 during a meeting of CBF state and regional coordinators by CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal and Buckner President Kenneth L. Hall.

Th e agreement, expressed through a memorandum of understanding, pledges the two groups’ cooperation in “advancing their respective missions” while demonstrat-

ing God’s “love for widows and orphans around the world.”

Th e memorandum notes several initial focus areas, including “mission work along the border with Mexico and

Texas; work on the continent of Africa; and other projects in the United States and internationally as is agreed by both parties.”

From left, Barbara Baldridge, CBF Global Missions coordinator; Daniel Vestal, CBF coordinator; and Ken Hall, Buckner Baptist Benevolences president, sign a memorandum of understanding to create a new partnership to expand ministry to children at risk around the world. Leaders from CBF national and the autonomous state and regional organizations provided input on the new ministry opportunity during their meeting Feb. 28-March 1 in Kansas City, Mo.

Russ

Dild

ay p

hoto

— Continued on page 7

‘fellowship!’ gets an extreme makeoverBEGINNING WITH THIS ISSUE of “fellowship!,” the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s bi-monthly newsletter, you should notice a big change. “fellowship!” was redesigned to better connect you with the ministries of the Fellowship.

This new design complements the look of the Fellowship’s Web site, www.thefellowship.info, as well as our signature publication, “Who We Are.” You will also notice the new format gives us more flexibility to present the work of the Fellowship through dramatic photography and compelling stories as well as practical ways to respond.

And a bonus feature of this new design is stewardship. By shifting to this format and making a few other changes, we are able to give you a more attractive product at a reduced cost to the Fellowship. This means we can do more ministry with the dollars you give.

We hope you enjoy your new-look “fellowship!” Please don’t hesitate to send your questions or comments to Lance Wallace at lwallace@thefellowship.info.

— Continued on page 6

Tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka adjust to life in temporary shelters.__________Cover: A young tsunami survivor in Sri Lanka enjoys drinking water. CBF Global Missions field personnel have provided water purification units in Southeast Asia.

Stre

tch

Ledf

ord

phot

os

L E A D E R S H I P D E V E L O P M E N T

C u r r e n t R e t r e a t | C h u r c h P l a n t i n g E d u c a t i o nC O O P E R A T I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o

2

Current retreat draws young leaders to Asheville for rest, inspiration

Current — a group composed of the CBF Young Leaders Network, Seminarians Network, Youth Ministry Network, Col-legiate Ministry Network and Children’s Ministry Network — focused on the theme of “Pause” with the intent of rejuvenating ministers and young Fellowship Baptists to face the challenges of ministry.

Retreat leaders Marty and Robin Ander-son of University Baptist Church in Balti-more, Md., provided devotional thoughts each morning and thought-provoking worship each evening. In between, partici-pants learned from peers and top ministry professionals in a variety of workshops and enjoyed activities in and around Asheville.

In keeping with a daily theme, the fi rst night’s worship was based on the text in Mark 6 when the disciples returned from being sent out in teams of two to minister in the surrounding areas. When they returned, Jesus emphasized the need for rest and fel-lowship together as a community, according to Robin Anderson.

“Jesus knows the disciples are exhausted and need rest,” Anderson said. “He knows you need to take a break if you are going to keep on serving.”

In conjunction with the Current retreat, children’s ministers and Christian educators gathered for the CBF Children’s Ministry Network fi ft h annual retreat. Participants engaged in joint times of fellowship and worship with Current retreat attendees, in addition to an expanded schedule with their own track of workshops led by Delia Halverson.

“As ministers, our week revolves around Sabbath, but it isn’t Sabbath for most of us,” Anderson told the group in a morn-ing devotion on the

second day of the retreat. “My hope is today we will all fi nd time to have Sabbath moments.”

Marty An-derson led the music for the service, which centered on

the text Exodus 33:7-14 when Moses visits with God in the tent of meeting.

“When life becomes overwhelming,

what happens to our tent of meeting?” Anderson asked. “Spending time with the Holy is the way to be intimate with God ... If we make ourselves be still and silent, then we will hear new whispers from the Holy.”

Th e fi nal day of the retreat was reserved for vocational rest. Aft er more morning workshops and aft ernoon free time, the retreat concluded with dinner and wor-ship. Anderson spoke from Mark 1:27-39 to drive home the point that ministers need

rest if they are to serve others.

“We are never going to accom-plish every min-istry task that is laid before us,” An-derson said. “No matter how sincere or diligent we are, there will always be more that can be done.”

Some found the increased free

time to be just what they needed from the experience.

“It gave me the freedom and permission to refl ect and be restored for ministry,” said LeAnn Gunter, associate pastor at Peachtree Baptist Church in Atlanta. “It gave me the opportunity to have fellowship with other ministers and leaders in other creative ministries.” f!

LEARN – For more information about Current, go to www.thefellowship.info/current/current.icm.

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

The sixth annual Current retreat drew more than 100 participants

Feb. 23-26 to Asheville, N.C., to engage in communal, vocational

and personal rest.

Tommy Justus, left foreground, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist Church in Mars Hill, N.C., leads discussions about formative spiritual experiences.

Current’s new steering committee was also announced on the fi nal day of the retreat. The new committee is made up of the following:

• Carol McEntyre, Augusta, Ga., co-chair • Kelly Burkhart, Houston, Texas, co-chair • Rhonda Abbott, Louisville, Ky. • John Uldrick, Orlando, Fla. • Anne Jernberg, Boston, Mass. • Steve Guinn, Kansas City, Kan. • Bryn Bagby, Richmond, Va. • Ryan Clark, Atlanta, Ga. • Scott Ford, Conyers, Ga. • Chris Homiak, Waco, Texas

Lanc

e W

alla

ce p

hoto

CBF, seminaries partner for church planting education

A WEEK-LONG church planting “boot camp” in May will be the fi rst component of a New Church Starts and Restarts concentration at sev-eral Cooperative Baptist Fellowship partner theological schools.

The May 23-27 event at Gardner-Webb University’s M. Christopher White School of Divinity in Boiling Springs, N.C., is for current or prospective church planters and spouses.

Previously, the Fellowship used parachurch organizations to train church planters, but CBF Global Missions decided an area that im-portant should be done in-house. “It is critical that we build this into our DNA. It strengthens our seminaries, and it strengthens us,” said Phil Hester, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator for church starts.

Participants will learn from vari-ous presenters that represent suc-cessful CBF church starting efforts, Hester said.

About 25 couples can attend the camp, said Don Berry, associate professor of missions and world reli-gion at Gardner-Webb. For this fi rst boot camp only, CBF Church Starts is providing a scholarship for all par-ticipants. The scholarship will cover books, training, and room and board, leaving transportation costs to the participants. Registration and the scholarship will be granted on a fi rst-come-fi rst-serve basis.

The concentration will include fi ve partner schools: Campbell University Divinity School, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Semi-nary and Gardner-Webb. A series of courses and praxis will constitute the concentration, which will be em-bedded in each seminary’s master of divinity degree.

With a grant from the Lilly Endowment, BTSR plans to offer church planting courses online, Hester said.

The event and its partner concentration will also educate about church restarts. Eighty percent of churches are plateaued or declining, Hester said. A restart could bring renewed life for a faith community.

Gardner-Webb is the pilot project for the concentration. The school offers a missions concentration that includes material on church planting, Berry said. The school is discussing the option of a new concentration or including a greater church planting emphasis in the missions concentration.

LEARN – Registration forms are available from CBF’s state and regional organizations. A second boot camp will be offered January 2006 at BTSR.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

During 15 minutes of solitude following a message by Robin Anderson, a retreat participant makes a creative response through journaling.

Carla

Wyn

n ph

oto

3

M i n i s t e r i a l R e s i d e n c i e s | C l a s s N o t e s | S a b b a t i c a l G r a n t s w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 0 5

L E A D E R S H I P D E V E L O P M E N T

Churches, graduates learn together through ministerial residencies

Terry Hamrick, CBF leadership devel-opment coordinator, said that a growing number of graduates are reporting nega-tive experiences with their fi rst churches. Th ose diffi culties stem from multiple fac-tors, ranging from the increasing stress of cultural changes to a lack of practical ministry prepara-tion. However, the deeper issue is that fewer people are attending seminary in the fi rst place, Hamrick said.

“We have a double-edged problem,” Hamrick explained. “We have fewer choosing to attend seminary, and then still fewer who feel ready to lead congregations when they graduate.”

Th e Ministerial Residency Pilot Project addresses that issue on the premise that a graduate who spends two years with a teaching congre-gation will be better prepared for the challenges inherent in everyday church ministry. Th e project is placing 10 graduates from the partner seminaries’ classes of 2004 and 2005 into 10 teaching congregations for two-year residencies.

“Th e residents receive hands-on training in the full life of a congregation,” Hamrick said. “Th ey experience everything from budgets to banquets, deaths to deacons’ meetings, and committees to Communion.”

Valerie Burton, Ministerial Residency Pilot Project coordinator, described how the churches challenge the residents to hone their practical ministry skills; residents, in turn, challenge the churches to participate in a lifelong ministry learning process.

“Our hope is that these young ministers will be sustained throughout their ministry careers because of the strong start they

are creating for themselves during the residency,” Burton said.

Jo Ann Sharkey is the resident minister at First Baptist Church of College Station, Texas. “As I minister here, I want to learn more about my gift s and where I can use

them most,” Sharkey said. “I also want to gain insight about the current state of the church and how it relates to culture — how the church has to change to be relevant while remaining faithful to its mission.”

While most residents spend only two years with their teaching congregations, Minister-In-Residence Daniel Glaze continues the ministry he started as a college intern at First Baptist Church of Frankfort, Ky. Glaze fi nds most fulfi lling his duties as coordinator of Th e Mission Frankfort Clinic, the church’s free medical and dental clinic and pharmacy.

“Being a good minister has much to do with getting one’s feet wet in an actual ministry position — succeeding and failing — learning all the while,” Glaze said.

First Baptist Church of Frankfort has a history of training ministers.

“Together, we have learned what ministries work and what ministries need improvement,” said Pastor David Hinson. “Th e young, thoughtful eyes of a new graduate have oft en led us to see something that was there all the time, but our familiarity perpetuated its neglect. Now, our church members have realized that we all learn together, and that Christian education needs to be a partnership that results in lifelong learning.” f!

LEARN – For more information about ministerial residencies, contact Valerie Burton at (205) 823-5337 or avburton@bellsouth.net.

By contributing writer Sarah Satterwhite, Houston, Texas

Churches and seminary graduates are joining together to learn

about practical ministry through the Ministerial Residency Pilot

Project. As a part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Initiative for

Ministerial Excellence, the project responds to the widespread needs of

ministers in their fi rst jobs aft er seminary.

Jo Ann Sharkey serves as the resident minister at FBC, College Station, Texas.

How to Respond

COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship aims to deliver practical help to congregational leaders through the Initiative for Ministerial Excellence. The initiative has a three-pronged approach: peer learning networks, funded sabbaticals and ministry residencies for seminary graduates.

LEARN more about the Initiative for Ministerial Excellence by contacting Terry Hamrick at (770) 220-1600 or thamrick@thefellowship.info. Or go to Church Life/Leadership Development/IME at www. thefellowship.info.

■ Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. The seminary was recently named the sole benefi ciary of a charitable gift annuity offering a $350,000 initial gift from A. Tredway Layne. The gift will be matched by Mr. and Mrs. Harwood Cochrane, who pledged to match up to $1 million in seminary gifts received before March 31.

■ Campbell University Divinity School. Charles Kimball recently delivered the annual religion

department lectures, which focused this year on contemporary developments within Islam. Kimball is the author of “When Religion Becomes Evil.”

■ Central Baptist Theological Seminary. The Association of Theological Schools recently approved the addition of two degrees. The Master of Missional Church Studies will begin in the fall, and the Master of Christian Formation will begin at a later date.

■ McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University. Joanna Adams, pastor of Atlanta’s Morningside Presbyterian Church, delivered the William L. Self Preaching Lectures Feb. 21-23. On April 11, the school’s Institute for Healthy Congregations will sponsor a workshop for pastors and laity about “Leading Strategic Planning in the Church.”

Class Notes: News from partner schools

Cour

tesy

of J

o An

n Sh

arke

y

Minister-in-Residence Daniel Glaze (l-r), Dr. Clark Cash and dental assistant Heather Crump help a patient at The Mission Frankfort Clinic.

Cour

tesy

of D

anie

l Gla

ze

Ministerial excellence initiative offers sabbatical grants

THE COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship’s Initiative for Ministerial Excellence is accepting applica-tions for 45 sabbatical grants to be awarded in 2006.

The Initiative awarded 20 grants in 2004 and recently awarded an additional 35, said Terry Hamrick, the Fellowship’s leadership develop-ment coordinator. Pastors who have been in the same ministry setting for at least seven years are invited to apply for the $2,500 grants. The pastor’s congregation must approve the sabbatical, which must last a minimum of four weeks.

The grants are designed to raise awareness of the benefi ts of sabbatical leave, Hamrick said. “Sab-batical leave is not indigenous in our churches. It’s been relegated to the academic community, but the need for renewal goes beyond that,” he said.

Because the program was designed to model sabbaticals for churches, Hamrick said the number of grants awarded have increased each year as more congregations have embraced the idea.

The grants have been benefi cial to recipients, said Mike Harton, one of the regional coordinators for the Initiative. “Some were nearing burn-out. Others were experiencing low spiritual vitality, and a number were in need of a new vision for their ministries,” he said. After a time of renewal, many pastors returned with a new sense of call, Harton said.

Ranging in length from four to 13 weeks, sabbaticals have given pastors the opportunity to fi nish writing projects, take a mission im-mersion trip, complete a Doctor of Ministry degree, or just relax. Some recipients were taking their fi rst sabbatical in 25 years of ministry.

The sabbatical program is part of a $1.9 million Lilly Endowment grant that has also created 56 peer learning networks and ministry residencies for recent seminary graduates. Hamrick said the Initiative’s support can help prevent clergy burnout or dropout.

Applications for 2006 grants are taken on a rolling basis, with each applicant being considered as they apply instead of previous years where all applications were evalu-ated at once, Harton said.

The Initiative’s partners provide resources to sabbatical participants. The partners are Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, Campbell University Divinity School, Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University and the Center for Congregational Health.

LEARN – To receive an application for the sabbatical program, contact Harton at (804) 379-0915 or mike@harton.net.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

G E N E R A L A S S E M B L Y

2 0 0 5 G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y I n f o r m a t i o n , P r e - R e g i s t r a t i o nC O O P E R A T I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o

4

Leadership institute to feature Duke Divinity dean THE CONGREGATIONAL Leadership Institute at this year’s General Assembly will focus on “A Life Worth Living: Resurrecting Excellence in Ministry,” with leadership by L. Gregory Jones, dean of Duke Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Jones, who recently completed a book on excellence in ministry, is also an editor-at-large for The Christian Century and a co-convener of the Theological Colloquium on Excellence in Ministry.

Typically held on the Thursday morning of General Assembly, this year’s schedule change moves the institute to Wednesday afternoon, June 29. Registration is $45 per person. The charge for students or for congregations registering more than three is $40 per person. Registration is open to congregational ministers and lay leaders. Registration information is available at www.thefellowship.info.

Other participants will include CBF Leadership Scholars and the facilitators of CBF’s peer learning groups. Peer learning groups are part of the Fellowship’s Initiative for Ministerial Excellence, which relates directly to Jones’ presentation material. The Initiative, which began in January 2003, is funded by a nearly $2 million grant from the Lilly Endowment.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

2005 General AssemblyGaylord Texan Resort • Grapevine, Texas • June 29-July 2

Daniel Vestalfeatured speaker

Joseph Martinguest pianist

Carolyn Staleyguest speaker

Albert Reyesguest speaker

H ighlights for this year’s General Assembly include:

• featured speaker Daniel Vestal, CBF national coordinator

• guest pianist Joseph Martin• guest speaker Carolyn Staley, associate

pastor of Briggs Memorial Baptist Church in Bethesda, Md.

• guest speaker Albert Reyes, Baptist General Convention of Texas president

• Hispanic leadership conference• “Companions in Christ” training (English and

Spanish on Wednesday) and

• Congregational Leadership Institute (Wed-nesday) with Greg Jones, Duke Divinity School dean.Other General Assembly events include Friday

morning’s Communion service, new Global Missions fi eld personnel commissioning Friday evening, and the choice of 70 workshops.

Th ere is no charge to attend the General Assembly. However, separate pre-registration, advance reservations and cost may be required for some auxiliary events.

For more information or to pre-register online, go to www.thefellowship.info or call (800) 352-8741. f!

General Assembly Q&AWould you like to attend the 2005 CBF General Assembly? It’s easy and relatively

inexpensive to do so. Here are some simple steps for you to follow if you would like to attend.

Where is the General Assembly being held?The General Assembly 2005 meeting will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort and

Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. This is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility. Situated away from the city on beautiful Lake Grapevine, the facility encompasses the Convention Center, hotel and restaurants all under one roof. There’s no need to worry about rain or the heat as you move throughout the facility. If you would like more information on the Gaylord Texan, go to www.gaylordtexan.com.

When is the General Assembly?The General Assembly is a two-day event beginning on Thursday morning, June 30,

and concluding Friday evening, July 1. Auxiliary events will be Wednesday, June 29, and Saturday, July 2.

How do I get there?The Gaylord Texan is located near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, a brief shuttle ride

from the airport. If you choose to fl y, you have the option of fl ying into DFW airport or Love Field in Dallas. The Gaylord Texan does not offer hotel shuttle service from the airport; however, you may ride the Super Shuttle, (800) 258-3826 or www.supershuttle.com, for a nominal fee. Reservations are needed for the shuttle service. Rental cars are available at either airport and the Gaylord Texan is a 25-minute drive from Love Field and approximately 15-minute drive from DFW. Once on the Gaylord property, free shuttle service is available to take you to the fascinating Texas town of Grapevine, and/or to the Grapevine Mills Mall, located just a few minutes from the resort. Many people tell us that the meeting is especially fun and meaningful if you come with friends; so we recommend gathering a group from your church to come together. Church buses and vans are welcome! For driving directions, contact the Gaylord Texan at www.gaylordtexan.com or (866) 782-7897.

How do I make reservations?You may reserve your hotel rooms at the Gaylord Texan for the unbelievable rate of

$99 per night. The same rate applies before and after the meeting if you are interested in an extended stay. New this year, you must pre-register for the General Assembly at www.thefellowship.info before making your hotel reservations online. Please register yourself and your spouse separately. You will receive the CBF discount code at the conclusion of the pre-registration process. You can also pre-register by fi lling out the form below. Hotel reservations may also be made by phone at (866) 782-7897. If you contact the hotel directly, you must have the CBF discount code in order to secure the special rate. If you prefer to make your reservations by mail, contact the national CBF

offi ce at (800) 352-8741 for a hotel reservation form.

What about meals?There are several restaurants at the Gaylord Texan Resort and you are only minutes

from other dining opportunities in the town of Grapevine.

What’s the meeting like?The meeting consists of three types of events — business sessions, worship

and workshops. The business sessions will be Thursday and Friday morning with a Communion service following the Friday business session. General worship sessions are Thursday and Friday evening and feature renowned preachers, teachers and musicians leading in worship. Workshops will be held twice on Thursday and Friday and provide opportunities for learning on subjects of interest to you. There is also plenty of time for fellowship, meals and visiting the Resource Fair which features more than 100 exhibitors.

What about activities for children and youth?Childcare for preschoolers, including birth through those entering kindergarten,

will be provided on-site at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. The Children’s Assembly, for those who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade, includes both on-site and off-site activities. Contact Lori Franklin at (940) 566-3313 or CBFchildren@southmont.org for more information.

The Youth Assembly is for students grades 7-12 and will involve on-site and off-site activities. Contact Scott Jones at (214) 361-2809 or sjones@royallane.org for more information.

To download a copy of either registration form, go to www.thefellowship.info.

Greg Jones

General Assembly Pre-Registration June 29-July 2, 2005 • Gaylord Texan Resort, Grapevine, Texas

Name __________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________

City_______________________State______ Zip _______________

Church _________________________________________________

City_______________________________________ State _______

Home Phone ____________________________________________

Work Phone _____________________________________________

E-mail __________________________________________________

Birthdate mm / dd / yy Gender ❑ Female ❑ Male

This is my fi rst Assembly ❑ Yes ❑ No

Highest degree earned ___________________________________

Graduate of _________________________________ Year _______

I am: ❑ Laity

❑ Clergy/Church staff - Position ______________________

❑ Student – School ________________________________

❑ Anticipated Graduation Date _______________________

❑ Degree ________________________________________

MISSIONS INVOLVEMENTHave you ever volunteered with CBF Global Missions?Self: ❑ Yes ❑ No Spouse: ❑ Yes ❑ No

If yes, in what ministry area did you or your spouse serve?❑ Construction ❑ Medical/Dental❑ ESL/Education ❑ Technical (IT, Ag., ❑ Art/Music ❑ Engineering Tech-❑ VBS/Backyard ❑ nology, etc.)❑ Bible Club ❑ Other CHURCH INVOLVEMENTI am currently serving as/on: Self Spouse Church Clerk ❑ ❑ Deacon ❑ ❑Missions Committee ❑ ❑Finance Committee ❑ ❑Personnel Committee ❑ ❑Stewardship Committee ❑ ❑Denominational Relations Committee ❑ ❑Other _______________ ❑ ❑

CHURCH LAITY POSITIONSI am currently serving in/as: Self Spouse Missions Education Preschool ❑ ❑ Children ❑ ❑ Youth ❑ ❑ Adult ❑ ❑Music Ministry Preschool ❑ ❑ Children ❑ ❑ Youth ❑ ❑ Adult ❑ ❑Sunday School Director ❑ ❑ Preschool Teacher ❑ ❑ Youth Teacher ❑ ❑ Adult Teacher ❑ ❑Christian Education Ministry ❑ ❑ Specify:____________Evangelism/Outreach ❑ ❑Missions Volunteer/ Advocate ❑ ❑Other _______________ ❑ ❑

SPOUSE INFORMATION

Name ______________________________

Please register my spouse ❑ Yes ❑ No

Work Phone ________________________

E-mail ______________________________

Birthdate mm / dd / yy

Spouse’s fi rst Assembly? ❑ Yes ❑ No

Highest degree earned ______________

Graduate of ________________________

________________________ Year _______

Spouse is:

❑ Laity

❑ Clergy/Church staff

Position _____________________________

❑ Student

School ______________________________

Degree _____________________________

Anticipated Graduation Date ____________

Please complete one form per person or couple. There is no registration fee. However, separate pre-registration or advance reservations and costs may be required for some auxilary events.

Return this form to: CBF General Assembly, Attn. Laura Domke, PO Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329. You may also pre-register online for any of these events at www.thefellowship.info.

How to Respond LEARN – To pre-register or to make online hotel reservations, go to www.thefellowship.info.

PRAY – If you are interested in participating with the prayer ministry for the CBF General Assembly, please contact Dorothy H. Foster, General Assembly prayer network coordinator, at SonPrinses@aol.com.

SERVE – Guest speaker Carolyn Staley would like to hear from individuals and churches about the General Assembly theme, “Being the Presence of Christ in All the World.” Tell her what you believe the theme means and how you or your church are living out the theme. Contact Staley at staley3@cox.net.

G E N E R A L A S S E M B L Y 5

2 0 0 5 G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y Wo r k s h o p s , A u x i l i a r y E v e n t s , S c h e d u l e w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 0 5

WorkshopsFor a complete listing of workshops, go

to www.thefellowship.info.

Spiritual Formation and Bible StudyStephen Bryant

Discuss and experience ways of being together in the Word that open the Scripture, illumine our minds, connect us with God, and transform our living in Jesus Christ.

Preaching and Leadership: The Call to Adaptive ChangeCharles Bugg

Bugg will guide the participants in looking at how the preaching event becomes a means to promote adaptive change both in listeners as well as in the speaker.

Spiritual Leadership in a Secular AgeEddie Hammett

How can we build bridges instead of barriers with the unchurched? Hear an interview between Eddie Hammett and a post modern spiritual traveler.

Spiritual Roadblocks and How to Move Around ThemBrian Harbour

Roadblocks often prevent the Christian from experiencing the abundant life Jesus wants us to experience. Here’s practical help on moving around them.

What is the Baptist World Alliance?Denton Lotz and Emmanuel McCall

An overview of the worldwide organization of Baptists to which CBF belongs with BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz and Emmanuel McCall, vice president of the BWA.

Stewardism — Being a Missional Church Results in a New Look at StewardshipGary Moore

Being missional requires that we integrate faith and practice into our daily walk. Stew-ardship has become associated with con-tributing to the church. Revisiting our biblical traditions broadens our view of stewardship to include all of our economic lives.

(The Church Benefits Board and the CBF Foundation are sponsoring this workshop)

Understanding FundamentalismPhilip Wise and Fisher Humphreys

Examine the history, theology and attitudes of fundamentalism and discover ways in which progressive Baptists may respond to fundamentalists in their families, churches and communities.

Setting Deacons Free!Tom Stocks

See a comparison of the Family Ministry Plan for Deacons and the Team Based Ministry Plan. Rosalind Hills Baptist Church made the switch to the team ministry plan and it has revolutionized the ministry of the church.

The Once and Future Sunday SchoolMichael McCullar

A look at the past, present and future of Sunday school for adults with a focus on innovative growth and how to reach new people.

A Conversation on the Missional ChurchBruce Powers

Come have a guided conversation about developing a missional church. Topics include renewing your spiritual passion and vision for the church and developing a strategy for effective ministry in transitional and multi-cultural communities.

Children in AfricaDaniel Vestal and Ken Hall

A conversation with Ken Hall, president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences, and Daniel Vestal, national coordinator of CBF, about a strategic partnership ministry to children in Africa.

Helping Your Local Church Embrace a Missional Vision: Practical PrinciplesDennis Foust

What is a missional church? Hear how one congregation is learning how to embrace the missional vision, living

out practical principles of incarnational Christian faith, connecting personal and congregational opportunities with the purposes of the Kingdom of God.

Series of Bible Studies Jim Denison, senior pastor of Park Cities

Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, will lead an exciting series of Bible studies occurring in each workshop session.

Missions Workshops Featured

Global Missions: A Strategic Response to the Most NeglectedBarbara Baldridge

CBF Global Missions has identified the most neglected as our number one focus in ministry. Hear how personnel are responding to the needs of the world’s

unevangelized and marginalized populations.

Missions: The Next Generation Amy Derrick and Colleen and David Burroughs

Come and hear about ways for youth and college students to experience first-hand what it means to be the presence of Christ through Passport, Student.Go and Mission Exchange.

Responding to Disasters WorldwideDavid Harding

Hear an update of CBF’s response in Asia following the devastating aftermath of the recent tsunami.

Presence Alongside in the Poorest Counties in AmericaTom Prevost

Find your way to ally with people on the rural poverty front! What you learn with Partners in Hope leaders will equip you for involvement in “20-plus” counties and in your own community.

Lift Every Voice? ... and Sing! Martha and Rick Shaw, Joseph Phelps, Lucy Rushing and Jean Meredith

CBF’s Albanian-Balkan Team and partnering churches are engaged in multi-faceted ministries, encouraging Albanians and other neglected Balkan peoples to raise their voices for justice and mercy.

Engaging in the Missions Story Through Missions EducationTamara Tillman and Leon Castle

Have you heard? CBF produces age-graded missions education curriculum which enables churches to engage in hands-on missions study with preschoolers, children, youth and adults.

The Church Has AIDS: Challenges and OpportunitiesFran and Lonnie Turner

This workshop will raise your awareness to the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS. You will learn how to recruit volunteers from the interfaith community with expertise in business, medicine and education.

Auxiliary Events

For a complete listing of auxiliary events, go to www.thefellowship.info.

Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held in the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center.

African American Network LuncheonFriday, July 1Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Reservations required. Contact: Edgar Berryman, (601) 421-0947, eberryman@thefellowship.info

Asian Network BanquetFriday, July 15:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Reservations required. Contact: Yoo Jong Yoon, (214) 343-2270, glorychurch@gbronline.com

Associated Baptist Press BanquetThursday, June 305:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Speaker and cost TBA. Reservations advised. Contact: Franceen Cornelius, (800) 340-6626 or franceen@abpnews.com

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Dinner for Alumni and FriendsThursday, June 305:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Reservations and information are available through BTSR. Contact: Audrey Thomson, (804) 204-1206, athomson@btsr.edu

Baptist Women in Ministry Annual Business Meeting and Worship ServiceWednesday, June 292:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Contact: Karen Massey, (678) 547-6460, massey_k@mercer.edu

Baptist World Alliance Window On the World BanquetSponsored by The North American Baptist FellowshipWednesday, June 297:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Tickets for the banquet can be secured by e-mailing Carolina@bwanet.org.

CBF Interim Network Meeting Sponsored by The Center for Congregational HealthWednesday, June 291:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Contact: Les Robinson, (336) 716-0790, blrobins@wfubmc.edu

Campbell University Divinity School Ice Cream CelebrationThursday, June 309:00 – 10:30 p.m.

Contact: Irma Duke, (800) 334-4111, Ext. 1847, duke@campbell.edu

Central Baptist Theological Seminary — Central ConversationsThursday, June 303:10 – 3:45 p.m.

Contact: Bill Prather, (913) 371-5313, Ext. 155, bprather@cbts.edu

Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors LuncheonFriday, July 111:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Reservations required. Contact: George Pickle, (770) 220-1617, gpickle@thefellowship.info

6th Annual Children’s Ministry Network LuncheonFriday, July 1Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Cost: Free, Reservations required. Contact: Rachel Sciretti, (254) 773-2910, sciretti@hotmail.com

Church Benefits Board Member LuncheonFriday, July 111:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Cost: Complimentary, reservations required. Contact: Wanda Hyde, (770) 220-1629, whyde@thefellowship.info

Companions in Christ One Day Training (English)Companerismo en Christo One Day Training (Spanish)Wednesday, June 299:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $75 Early bird by Wednesday, May 26. After May 26, $100 for first person from a church, $85 each additional person. Materials and lunch included. Contact: Rick Bennett, (770) 220-1605, rbennett@thefellowship.info

Congregational Leadership InstituteWednesday, June 292:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Focus will be on “A Life Worth Living: Resurrecting Excellence in Ministry,” led by L. Gregory Jones. This year’s institute will be on Wednesday afternoon. Registration: $45 per person; $40 for students or if more than three are registered from the same congregation. Contact: Mary McCoy, (770) 220-1637, mmccoy@thefellowship.info

Coordinating Council Alumni DinnerFriday, July 15:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Reservations required. Contact: Charlotte Taylor, (770) 220-1640, ctaylor@thefellowship.info

Foundation Heritage Society BreakfastSaturday, July 27:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Cost: Complimentary, reservations required. Contact: Sally Saffer, (770) 220-1663, ssaffer@thefellowship.info

George W. Truett Theological Seminary Alumni Association LuncheonThursday, June 30Noon – 1:15 p.m.

Cost: $45 with a reservation and $50 at the door. Contact: Dorothy at Truett: (254) 710-3755 or Steve Wells, (713) 529-4167, pastorsoffice@smbc.org

Hispanic Network DinnerFriday, July 15:00 – 6:45 p.m.

Cost: Complimentary, reservations required. Contact: Bernie Moraga, (505) 247-4781, b_moraga@yahoo.com

Interim Pastor Network Dinner Thursday, June 305:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Cost: Complimentary, reservations required. Contact: Bob Beck, (817) 294-5511, rjbeck@flash.net

International Fashion Show – A Celebration of Women Around the WorldThursday, June 308:30 p.m.

Will be held in the Resource Fair in conjunction with the Art Auction. Contact: Becky Buice Green, (770) 220-1624, bbgreen@thefellowship.info

John P. Newport Foundation Awards BanquetThursday, June 305:00 – 6:30 p.m.

The John Newport Foundation will host its Annual Leadership Awards Banquet featuring George Gallup as this year’s award recipient and the keynote speaker. Contact for reservations or more information: Phyllis Nichols, (210) 408-1987, phyllisnichols@satx.rr.com

Mercer University McAfee School of Theology Dinner for Alumni and FriendsThursday, June 305:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Contact: Sharon Lim Harle, (678) 547-6420, lim_s@mercer.edu

Ministers on the MoveFriday, July 111:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

An opportunity for clergy who are seeking a new place of ministry to meet and talk with CBF Reference and Referral personnel. Come by Mustang Room 6 and reserve your time slot between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday. Contact: Clarissa Strickland, (770) 220-1635, cstrickland@ thefellowship.info

New Field Personnel ReceptionFriday, July 19:00 p.m.

Come meet CBF’s newest Global Missions field personnel in the CBF Resource Fair.

Pack The “Current” BoothThursday, June 305:00 – 5:30 p.m.

The Current Network invites all younger Baptists to stop by our booth. Contact: Kurt Varney, (404) 219-3920, kurtvarney@hotmail.com

Persian World Outreach Annual MeetingWednesday, June 299:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: World Connex Office, 1409 S. Lamar, #905, Dallas, Texas. For further information, contact pwo@worldmail.org

Annual Religious Liberty Council Luncheon Friday, July 1Noon – 1:45 p.m.

Sponsored by the Baptist Joint Committee. Contact: Wanda M. Henry, (202) 544-4226, whenry@bjcpa.org

Texas Baptists Committed & Mainstream Baptist Network BreakfastFriday, July 17:00 - 8:30 a.m.

For ticket information, call (325) 659-4101 or visit www.txbc.org

Whitsitt Baptist Heritage SocietyThursday, June 301:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Jimmy R. Allen will receive the 2005 Whitsitt Courage Award and address compassion in the church. Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact: John D. Pierce, (478) 301-5655, jpierce@baptiststoday.org

2005 General Assembly ScheduleWednesday, June 29 Auxiliary Events9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Companions in Christ2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Congregational Leadership Institute7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Baptist World Alliance Window on the World BanquetThursday, June 307:00 – 8:45 a.m. Auxiliary Events8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Resource Fair Open9:00 – 10:10 a.m. Workshops (several of your most requested)10:30 – 11:40 a.m. Opening Session & Business I11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch and Auxiliary Events2:00 – 3:10 p.m. Workshops (includes Business Breakouts)3:45 – 5:00 p.m. State Meetings5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Auxiliary Events6:45 p.m. Pre-Worship Gathering7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Worship8:30 p.m. Resource Fair EventFriday, July 17:00 – 9:00 a.m. Auxiliary Events8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Resource Fair Open9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Communion and Community & Business II11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Fellowship Time11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch & Auxiliary Events2:00 – 3:10 p.m. Workshops3:30 – 4:40 p.m. Workshops5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Auxiliary Events6:45 p.m. Pre-Worship Gathering7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Worship8:30 p.m. Resource Fair EventSaturday, July 2 Auxiliary Events National Gathering of Hispanic Leaders

G L O B A L M I S S I O N S & M I N I S T R I E S

U r b a n Te a m | N e w G l o b a l M i s s i o n s D V D sC O O P E R A T I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o

6

CBF Global Missions releases people group DVDs

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST Fellowship Global Missions recently released several DVDs in a new missions emphasis series promoting Global Missions and the Offering for Global Missions. DVDs on the Balinese, the Lampungese, and CBF’s work among international students, immigrants and refugees are available.

The DVDs contain updates of previous videos on the topics with new interviews and graphics. They also contain a slide show suitable for incorporation into worship services or prayer gatherings.

The Balinese DVD contains extended footage from a Balinese cremation ceremony, giving an in-depth look into a signifi cant Balinese cultural ceremony. “We hope this ‘deeper look’ into the lives of the Balinese will lead to transformed lives and communities, not only in Bali, but among those who will engage in this strategic ministry,” said Steve Johnson, CBF Global Missions communications liaison.

The Lampungese DVD highlights the people of Lampung, which is located on the southern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The DVD also contains a drama called “Revenge or Forgiveness,” which describes a Lampungese man’s struggle whether to follow his cultural rules, which encourage revenge on others, or to forgive according to God’s teaching.

The Balinese and Lampungese DVDs also contain virtual prayer walks, footage that invites viewers to pray for people they see.

The internationals DVD focuses on immigrants, refugees and international students living in metropolitan areas around the world who have found friends and family in CBF Global Missions fi eld personnel.

LEARN – The “Focusing on Internationals DVD” is $7.50. The “Focusing on The Balinese DVD” and the “Focusing on the Lampungese DVD” are $9.95 each. Shipping will be charged. Order from The CBF Store at (888) 801-4223 or www.thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Local churches, urban team meet needs among cities’ most neglected

Aft er years of working in urban ministry in East St. Louis, Williams read about a posi-tion for a community outreach coordinator at Greater Restoration Baptist Church in Brook-lyn, N.Y. “I was reading the job description and I felt like they were describing me, but they just didn’t have my name yet,” Williams said.

Aft er visiting Greater Restoration and feeling “immediately at home,” Williams was appointed by the Fellowship in 2003 and began actively establishing relationships with both the church community and the greater Crown Heights community in Brooklyn. One of Williams’ regular outreach activities involves the church’s neighbors at Albany Homes, a multi-family housing development. Williams visits the housing development weekly in an eff ort to “build trust as a way to start relationships and eventually connect people with the

community of faith and a life-changing relationship with Christ,” she said.

Ronnie Adams, one of CBF’s Global Missions fi eld personnel based in Manhat-tan’s Hell’s Kitchen district, serves as Wil-liams’ mentor and is impressed with the relationships Wil-liams has established and nurtured in her short time at Greater Restoration.

“She’s done a great job helping us [CBF] to connect to Albany Homes,” Adams said. “It’s one of the largest and most violent areas; many churches moved out of the area because it was so violent, but Greater Restoration stayed and said ‘we don’t need to run from this; this is

our open door to spread the light of Christ’ and now she [Williams] is a trusted member of that community.”

In addition to their mentoring relation-ship, Adams works with Williams through his position as program director at Rauschen-busch Metro Ministries, a ministry of Metro Baptist Church in Manhattan. Each summer both Greater Restoration and Metro Baptist hold summer camps for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. For fi ve weeks in the summer, “mission teams from CBF churches around the country come around to help us out,” Adams said.

Th e camp provides a welcome space for all children in the com-munity — not just those from the housing de-velopments — to enjoy activities including arts and craft s, music, rec-reation and fi eld trips. “It gives them time to have some fun and be a

kid. Sometimes that’s hard to do in the city,” Adams said.

Th rough these various outreach eff orts, Williams has built the relationships she cherishes with her neighbors. “It’s nice to walk down the street and see people you know and have kids wave to you,” she said.

“Th at’s what I really appreciate about her ministry,” Adams concluded. “It’s been a concentrated eff ort on her part to get to know people. She does ministry in a wonderful way — she’s their neighbor.” f!

LEARN – The Fellowship’s April 2005 missions education curriculum highlights ministries in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. The May 2005 materials focus on CBF fi eld personnel making a difference in Europe. (Annual subscriptions: adult and youth: $20; children and preschool: $80. Shipping will be charged.) Order from The CBF Store at (888) 801-4223 or www.thefellowship.info.

By contributing writer Amy Walker, Atlanta

When people think of missions work they tend to conjure up images

of remote rural locations and substandard living conditions,

but inhabitants of the world’s largest and most developed cities also harbor

unmet needs. Th at’s where people like Mary-Katherine Williams, one

member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Urban Team, step in.

How to Respond

FELLOWSHIP CHURCHES and individuals are invited to assist the efforts of CBF Global Missions field personnel and their partners in Southeast Asia by taking the following actions:

LEARNThe CBF Web site contains resources compiled by CBF’s Initiative for Congregational Life to assist congregations in their response to the crisis in Asia. To access these resources, go to www.thefellowship.info/CL/FF/CMResources/Disaster.icm.

PRAYPray for the tsunami survivors and CBF Global Missions field personnel and volunteers working

with them. Prayer updates are available online at www.thefellowship.info/AsianResponse.icm.

GIVEGifts should be earmarked #17016, Asian Response and can be mailed to: ASIAN RESPONSE, CBF, PO Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392. Gifts can be made by credit card online at www.thefellowship.info/Landing/Giving.icm.

SERVEFor more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Timothy Wood at (800) 782-2451, twood@ thefellowship.info or visit www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/Volunteer Missions/asiarelief.icm.

• provide school supplies for children returning to class

• engage in economic recovery by helping to provide fi shing boats and other equipment, sewing machines, seed and fertilizer, and micro-enterprise development opportunities

• inventory current supplies in warehouses and match with needs in communities

• develop a rotation schedule for personnel so that all can get the rest they need

• partner with local churches and Christian organizations to provide for spiritual needs.” f!

When disaster strikes— Continued from page 1

Mary-Katherine Williams reads with ‘College and Career’ teens at Greater Restoration Baptist Church in Brooklyn.

Stre

tch

Ledf

ord

phot

os

Ronnie Adams helps with the Page Turners after-school program at the Rauschenbusch Center.

Students help with invitations to a class for internationals in Toronto.

7

T i d a l C r e e k F e l l o w s h i p | B u c k n e r P a r t n e r s h i p w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 0 5

G L O B A L M I S S I O N S & M I N I S T R I E S

Volunteer team returns from India tsunami relief

SOME CRIED with the mother watching her child’s painful cyst drained. Others held the hand of a lonely orphan getting shots or an ear blockage removed. These tears and this comforting presence were part of what a Tidal Creek Fellowship volunteer team provided tsunami victims through medical camps in southern India.

The six-person team worked 10 days in India with CBF tsunami relief efforts. They returned in mid-February changed by what they experienced. “What we brought back in our hearts is unexplainable — it’s life-changing,” said volunteer Cherie Cahoon.

The team hosted medical camps in two villages, averaging treatment of 70 people a day. The needs were so overwhelming that they bought medication and supplies daily. “Many of the people had minor problems that had advanced to life threaten-ing just because they did not have proper health care available,” said Scott Hunter, one of CBF’s Global Missions fi eld personnel.

Many children in the villages suffered from meningitis, prolonged infection, boils and broken bones. “It was a great feeling to take some pain from them, even as minute as it was. There was a love in their eyes and a thankfulness in their eyes,” Cahoon said. “I have a feel-ing God touched those kids.”

In the second village, the medical camp was in a Hindu man’s house, which was abandoned because his family didn’t want to live there after the tsunami.

Field personnel and volunteers wanted to comfort and to heal spirits as much as bodies. “We tried to be personal and treat the patients one at a time as people, not victims being pushed through a system. Our doctor is very good and caring, and the quality of his attention to the patients shows,” Hunter said.

The team also prayed silently for each person they touched through medical treatment. “This meant that over 300 people in this village were touched prayerfully with the love of Christ as they received health care,” said volunteer Nina Ellison.

The Fellowship’s relief efforts will shift from meeting emergency needs to striving for long-term transforma-tion in the area. “Now we will shift to rebuilding lives, and while health issues will be a concern, transforma-tion is the goal. We will fi nd one vil-lage and try to make a long-term and eternal difference,” Hunter said.

For the volunteer team and other people involved in Indian relief ef-forts, the experience was monumen-tal. “We have saved lives, we have shown love, we have made friends and our lives and theirs are better for the encounter,” Hunter said.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

S.C. new church start encourageschanging hearts from the inside out

What he quickly learned was that he already lived in one of the most unchurched areas of the country.

Following the model laid out by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that included a year of planning and with fi nancial support from several places, Tidal Creek Fellowship on Ladys Island, S.C., was born. And Holland’s vision is being realized: 35 to 50 percent of the current members were previously unchurched.

Keri and Layne Cook are two of them. With their two young children, the Cooks found their way to Tidal Creek at the invitation of a friend, and were baptized in June 2004.

“We liked the family atmosphere we found, and the way they went about teaching just clicked with us,” Keri says. “I already believed in God but did not have a relationship with God. Tidal Creek provides a place for me to develop and grow that relationship.”

Th e initial work at Tidal Creek began in 2001 when CBF paid for the demographic research that defi ned the target area for the new church, and followed up with focus group research led by Phil Hester, CBF’s associate coordinator for church starts. Th e church also used the resource “New Church Starts: A Ministry for Everyone Packet” as an outreach tool.

Once a community was targeted, Tidal Creek started with a core group of seven

families that met for a year before worship services began in September 2002. “It is better to create an energetic environment for a church’s launch than it is to begin meeting for worship with everything half-baked,” Holland says.

“Our worship style and worship environment have played a huge part in our ability to fulfi ll our vision. Th e atmosphere is casual, the music lively, and the

message practical and Bible-centered,” Holland says. “And, we have remained fi rmly committed to our vision of reaching the unchurched and helping them become

fully devoted followers of Christ.” Th e Cooks see that vision and have

already brought in three new members. “When you believe in something as much as we do, when it makes a diff erence in your life, you want to go out and bring in others,” concludes Layne Cook. “Being at Tidal Creek has made a tremendous diff erence in our lives. Once you have a relationship with Christ, it can’t help but change your heart from the inside out.” f!

LEARN – For more information about new church starts, contact Phil Hester at (678) 429-9753, or phester@thefellowship.info, or go to Global Missions/Church Starts at www.thefellowship.info.

To order CBF’s “New Church Starts: A Ministry for Everyone Packet” that includes a book and CD-ROM packed with reproducible resources, contact The CBF Store at (888) 801-4223 or www.thefellowship.info. ($149, available after April 29)

By contributing writer Sue H. Poss, Greenville, S.C.

Five years ago, David Holland was an associate pastor at Th e

Baptist Church of Beaufort in South Carolina when he began

thinking his ministry eff orts should be turned toward the unchurched.

Tidal Creek Fellowship volunteer Cherie Cahoon examines a tsunami survivor at an Indian medical camp.

Phot

os c

ourte

sy o

f Tid

al C

reek

Vestal stressed the agreement’s impor-tance to the group. “Th is plan will receive the highest priority we can give it in CBF life. I believe with all my heart that God will use this partnership and the work we’re about to do to have a dramatic impact on His kingdom.”

Th e partnership is an evolution of a pre-vious two-year partnership signed in 2003 by the two groups to engage in mutual missions work in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas called “KidsHeart.” Th e two organi-zations have also worked together in Kenya for the past three years through the Baptist Children’s Center of Nairobi.

Central to the new agreement and dis-cussion preceding the signing is the two organizations’ commitment to providing

ministry in sub-Saharan Africa at the re-quest of African Baptists.

Leaders said the new partnership plan is intended to provide transformational de-velopment in the areas of early childhood initiatives, HIV/AIDS education and inter-vention, and ministries to children at risk.

“I think God is dreaming a lot bigger for us,” Vestal said. “If we don’t care who gets the credit or let our own egos or fears get in the way, then I don’t think we can dream what God can do.”

Douglas Waruta, a professor at Nairobi University and a member of the initial plan-ning team for the project, said it is time “to take seriously our mission to children. When children receive love and are given an opportunity, you cannot go wrong.”

Vestal and Hall said the initiative brings together the extensive missions expertise of CBF Global Missions with Buckner’s 126

years of ministry to children and families. “Our two organizations have been stra-

tegically positioned by God at this moment to have a dramatic impact on Africa,” Hall said. “Th is is a big continent and God has given us a big vision to change the destiny of thousands of children.”

Each group also named contacts for the new partnership. Grace Powell Free-man, CBF associate coordinator for mission operations, will represent the Fellowship, while Scott Collins, Buckner vice president for external aff airs, will represent Buckner mission eff orts. Free-man can be reached at (770) 220-1600 or gpfreeman@thefellowship.info. Collins can be reached at (214) 758-8060 or at sacollins@buckner.org. f!

By Russ Dilday, Buckner Communications, and Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

CBF Buckner partnership— Continued from page 1

Pastor David Holland baptizes Keri and Layne Cook in the Atlantic Ocean.

C O N G R E G A T I O N A L L I F E

I o w a C h u r c h | N e w C L We b S i t e | S p i r i t u a l F o r m a t i o n E v e n t s C O O P E R A T I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o

8

Spiritual formation events calendar

THE COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship’s Faith Formation Initia-tive is partnering to sponsor a four-day international spiritual formation conference in June.

CBF is a sponsoring organization for Renovaré’s International Confer-ence, an annual event held June 19-22 in Denver, Colo. This year’s theme, “The With-God Life: The Dynamics of Scripture for Christian Spiritual Transformation,” will be ex-plored through a host of workshops, prayer experiences and worship sessions. The keynote speakers will be author and Renovaré founder Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, an ordained Southern Baptist minister and professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California.

An international and ecumenical organization, Renovaré has “a long history in spiritual formation and spiri-tual formation resources,” said Rick Bennett, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator for faith formation. “This signals an expansion of spiritual forma-tion partnerships for the Fellowship.”

Several leaders from the Fellowship’s Spiritual Formation Network will attend the conference. Through the partnership, Fellow-ship participants can register at a discount rate of $149. For more information, go to www.renovare.org/journey_events_2005ic.htm.

Other events sponsored and co-sponsored by CBF’s Faith Forma-tion Initiative include:

• Upper Room Five Day Acad-emy for Spiritual Formation. Oct. 16-21, Camp Sumatanga, Gallant, Ala. This is CBF’s fi rst sponsorship of an Academy. The Academy will be led by Mary Jayne Allen, minister of education at First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Loyd Al-len, professor of church history and spiritual formation at Atlanta’s McAfee School of Theology at Mer-cer University; and Hazelyn McCo-mas, a United Methodist layperson and retired faculty member from Milwaukee Theological Institute.

• Companions in Christ train-ing (English and Spanish). June 29, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., CBF Gen-eral Assembly, Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas. Carolyn Shapard of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and Jorene Swift from Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth will be the English facilitators. Carmen Gaud, international editor for Upper Room Ministries, will facilitate the Hispanic session. Cost: $100, includes all sessions, meals and materials used.

• Spiritual Formation Network Steering Team meeting. June 2005, Grapevine, Texas. The team will meet for the fi rst time during General Assembly.

LEARN – For more information, contact Bennett at (770) 220-1605 or rbennett@thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Iowa church impacts community through outreach to children

“We are a little country church with a big heart and vision for missions,” said Edith Little, who serves as pastor of the congrega-tion that meets in a former horse barn.

Little’s older sister Molly Carver serves as children’s minister, Sunday school director, missions director, secretary/treasurer and deacon. “Without Molly I don’t know what I would do,” said Little,

who lost her job as a social worker and hospice chaplain last year and now works in telemarketing to help make ends meet.

Up to 25 children attend services at the church that contains three core families. “We asked God to increase our numbers, and He did with children,” Little said.

As the children told their friends about the church, the children’s program grew. When the need for Sunday school teachers in-creased, teenagers Nicolay Stein and Michelle Chandler received training as teachers, while other teens learned to run the sound system.

“Molly and I are very proud of the children,” Little said.

Last summer to raise money for their church program, the children organized bake sales, picked and sold blackberries,

and held car washes. Th ey also helped raise money to pay for the church’s winter fuel bill.

Th e sisters noticed that the children oft en came to Wednesday night services hungry. “We serve a balanced meal to help ease the hunger so these children can hear the Word,” Little said.

Th e church also helps community mem-bers. “We try to keep a food pantry at the church and when there is a need, we take

up food baskets,” Little said.

“A few years ago, we came to realize that most of the chil-dren did not have a Bible,” Little added, “so we started a Christmas fund and bought all the chil-dren one. A few times, we’ve asked, ‘Where are we going to get $20 for a Bible?’”

Th anks to the generosity of CBF individuals and churches, CBF Congregational Life has been able to help cover some of the expense. “Th e chil-dren tell their friends that when you come to church, you will get a Bible and you don’t have to do anything to get it,” Little said.

Before the church called her as pastor in June 2003, Little had served as youth director and Sunday school director. When she felt called to preach in 1987, Little was attending Southern Seminary. “But of course I could not fi nd a Baptist church that would license or ordain me,” she said. “I felt that God would answer this in my life in His time, and He did.”

Aft er the resignation of First Baptist Blue Grass’ pastor, Little preached on Sunday nights since local Baptist leadership did not want her preaching the morning sermon. She discovered CBF resources on the Inter-net and called Bill Bruster, CBF networking coordinator. Th e support of CBF staff like Bruster and Bo Prosser, CBF Congrega-tional Life coordinator, has been crucial, Little said. “If there is a need, I call and hear someone say, ‘Th is is what I can do to help.’”

“I think we’re on the verge of a breakthrough,” Little said. Across from the church a subdivision is being developed. For the Christmas play, 65 to 75 people packed into the church.

First Baptist Blue Grass has big dreams. “We are a small, struggling church who would be a great mission outreach for a larger church to adopt,” Little admitted.

“I can envision programs here, buildings here. I see the impact God can have on this community,” Little said. “God has a plan for us to be here or we wouldn’t be here.” f!

By Lisa M. Jones, CBF Communications

Big faith comes in small packages at First Baptist Church of

Blue Grass, Iowa.

Congregational Life introduces new Web siteCBF’S INITIATIVE for Congregational Life debuted its new Web site, www.thefellowship.info/CL, earlier this year with a variety of online resources specifi c to the strategic initiatives of Faith Formation and Building Community.

Faith Formation resources online will include:• a resource directory for local church

ministry with material for worship, teacher training and age group ministry

• extensive missional church information • a list of church consultants • monthly resource columns from Bo Prosser,

CBF coordinator for Congregational Life • Spiritual Formation Network and other

spiritual formation resources• online registration for Congregational

Life events.Building Community resources online

will include:• a CBF church fi nder• links to CBF’s various partners

• Task Force for Ecumenism and Justice information

• information about CBF’s numerous ministerial networks. Another facet of Congregational Life,

chaplaincy and pastoral care, will also have a Web presence with information on endorsement through the Fellowship.

LEARN – Rick Bennett, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator for faith formation, invites churches and individuals to offer feedback on potential resources that would be most helpful in ministry or personal development. Contact Bennett at (770) 220-1605 or rbennett@thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Pastor Edith Little baptizes Ashley Chandler.

Cour

tesy

of F

BC, B

lue

Gras

s

How to Respond GIVE – First Baptist Blue Grass has the following ministry needs:• a van to transport children• church repair work, including electrical work,

completion of an unfi nished basement, installation of a disability-accessible bathroom

• a digital hymnal for use with the sound system • a projector to use with an existing laptop

computer

• a copier• help to complete a community needs survey• volunteers for Vacation Bible School• a grant writer to fi nd funds for programs.

LEARN – For more information, contact Bo Prosser at (770) 220-1631 or bprosser@thefellowship.info.

9

C h a p l a i n ’ s S e r v i c e i n I r a q | C B F E n d o r s e s C h a p l a i n s , P a s t o r a l C o u n s e l o r s w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 0 5

C O N G R E G A T I O N A L L I F E

CBF endorses 22 chaplains and pastoral counselors

AFTER RECENTLY endorsing 22 chaplains and pastoral counselors, CBF now has a total of 459. The following individuals were endorsed:

Corrections Chaplain • Donald Lederer, chaplain, North Carolina Department of Corrections; Hendersonville, N.C.

Hospice Chaplains• Betty Drayton, chaplain, Tuomey Home Services; Sumter, S.C. • Connie Graham, chaplain, Beverly Healthcare Glenwood; Decatur, Ga. • Edwin Hollis, chaplain, New Beacon Hospice; Birmingham, Ala. • Duewayne Tullos, chaplain, Hospice Ministries Inc.; Ridgeland, Miss.

Hospital Chaplains• Charline Berry, chaplain, Univer-sity of Maryland Medical Center; Baltimore, Md. • Butch Branscome, chaplain, CMC- University Hospital; Charlotte, N.C. • Paul Byrd, chaplain, Children’s Health System; Birmingham, Ala. • James Ellis, clinical pastoral education (CPE) resident, Erlanger Health System; Chattanooga, Tenn. • Joanna Harris, CPE resident, Har-ris Methodist Health System; Fort Worth, Texas • Ruford Hodges Jr., part-time chaplain, Baptist Health System; Birmingham, Ala. • Fred Madren, CPE resident, The McFarland Institute; New Orleans, La. • William McCann, chaplain, Re-gional Medical Center; Madison, Ky. • Neal Sasser, chaplain, Maryview Medical Center; Portsmouth, Va. • Mary Timms, CPE resident, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System; Spartanburg, S.C.

Military Chaplains• Michael Cosgrove, chaplain, U.S. Army Reserves; Gulf Breeze, Fla. • Claudia Forrest, volunteer chap-lain, Civil Air Patrol; Memphis, Tenn. • Byron Johnson, chaplain candi-date, U.S. Navy; Waco, Texas • Michael Langston, chaplain, U.S. Navy; Sanford, N.C. • Brady Lanoue, chaplain, U.S. Army; Danville, Va. • William Stallard, chaplain, U.S. Navy, Lorton, Va.

Public Safety Chaplain• Clyde Waters, volunteer chaplain, Columbia Police Department; Columbia, S.C.

LEARN – For more informa-tion about CBF chaplaincy and pastoral counseling, contact George Pickle at (770) 220-1617 or gpickle@thefellowship.info. Information is also available at www.thefellowship.info.

PRAY – An online prayer calendar for CBF chaplains and pastoral counselors is available at www.thefellowship.info/church life/ chaplains pc/prayer calendar.icm.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Memorial services dominate CBF-endorsed chaplain’s Iraq service

As always, Gaster and his chaplain assistant, Airman 1st Class Marco Avecilla, went to the fl ight line, where a C-130 Hercules aircraft waited to take the soldier’s body back home. When the U.S. Army truck carrying the body arrived, a sergeant called all present to attention. Gaster and his assistant led the pallbearers and Honor Guard into the cargo hold.

“Th ere we were under dim lights looking at the fl ag-draped casket and thinking about the young soldier beneath it, lying in rest at our feet,” said Gaster, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-endorsed chaplain. He urged the troops to come closer and then shared with them. “I suspected he had slept in a tent last night with his friends and comrades, ate breakfast with them that morning and didn’t plan to end his day like this,” he said.

Moments later, “Hear the word of the Lord,” Gaster said. Airman Avecilla read Psalm 23. A moment of silence was held, and then Chaplain Gaster off ered a prayer for the soldier’s family, hometown and the nation. Th en he prayed for the soldier’s comrades.

“When you see your friend shot or killed in front of you, it’s stark reality.

You had breakfast with them, but they are not back for supper. Th ey won’t answer at roll call anymore. Th eir cot will be empty that night,” he said.

Gaster prayed for the aircrew fl ying the soldier home and for the U.S. Army

mortuary aff airs team. “Th ey do what few would want to do and even fewer want to talk about. God bless them,” he said.

Th e prayer ended. Th e military detail went out of the aircraft and back into formation. Th e troops off ered a fi nal salute. With the formation dismissed, the aircrew fl ew into the desert night. Th e whole ceremony takes about fi ve minutes. “It is some of the most honorable fi ve minutes I can think of,” Gaster said.

In 111 days from May to September, the length of Gaster’s deployment with the 447th Air Expeditionary Group in Baghdad, 106 memorial ceremonies were conducted by Gaster and the other Air Force chaplains.

In addition to memorial ceremonies, Gaster met with injured troops, led wor-ship services and Bible studies, counseled with troops, and operated “Th e Oasis,” a ministry that provided snacks and drinks for more than 500 troops a day.

Gaster said morale was still high among the Air Force personnel in the 447th at Baghdad. “Th eir endurance was inspirational. For a military career that began in 1973, I’ve never seen less complaining in such austere circumstances,” he said. f!

PRAY – Prayer for troops is essential to keeping morale high, Maj. Shane Gas-ter said. GIVE – Gaster suggested that churches pool resources and send care packages to deployed military personnel or the families left behind. Churches located near military installations could also volunteer child care for mothers or fathers left as a single parent because of a deployed spouse.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

The phone rang about 9 p.m. in the chapel tent in June 2004.

U.S. Air Force chaplain Maj. Shane Gaster, 48, answered. It

was U.S. Army mortuary aff airs. A U.S. war casualty would soon be

arriving at Baghdad International Airport. It was the 40th call like

this in Gaster’s then fi rst month of deployment.

Maj. Shane Gaster, senior Protestant chaplain for the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, led chapel services during his recent deployment to Iraq.

“When you see your friend shot or killed in front of you, it’s stark reality. ... Th ey won’t answer at roll call anymore. Th eir cot will be empty that night.”

Cour

tesy

of M

aj. S

hane

Gas

ter

I N S I D E C B F

‘A s We J o u r n e y ’ | C o u n c i l U p d a t e | L e a d e r s h i p P r o f i l e C O O P E R A T I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o

10

Leadership Profile: Ben McDadeEditor’s Note: Following is a profi le of Ben McDade, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship coordinator for communi-cations and resource development.

Ben McDadeAge 44, married, three children

Education: University of South Carolina for bachelor’s and master’s degrees

Experience: Senior Associate Vice President of University Relations & Marketing for Mercer University, Vice President of Marketing and Commu-nications for Smyth & Helwys Publish-ing, Associate Director of Communica-tions and Marketing for South Carolina Baptist Convention, and President of McDade & Associates Inc.

So what’s your job? My assign-ment is two-fold: One is to lead in positively positioning this move-ment of free and faithful Baptists as a fellowship that shares a passion for the Great Commission of Jesus Christ and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice.

The other equally important assign-ment is to ensure that the Fellowship has the fi nancial support and resources necessary to fulfi ll its vision and mission.

How does communications/resource development help accomplish the Fellowship’s mission? A fellowship by defi nition implies familiarity, a high level of trust and common purpose. My assignment ensures that these three attributes are as robust as possible within the Fellowship. One signifi cant way in which we do this is through providing good informa-tion from which to make ministry decisions and to meet the needs of our supporting churches, individu-als and our partners. We also are highly intentional about cultivating the goodwill among those who fi nancially support the Fellowship.

Travel to-do list: Two places that I hope to visit are Alaska and Austra-lia. Both strike me as some of the last wide open relatively unspoiled environments. I’ve also been fortu-nate to have hiked segments of the Appalachian Trail. I hope to do lon-ger segments in the near future or at least before my knees wear out.

Why do you and your family enjoy camping? My wife is a third genera-tion school teacher who takes her work seriously and as a passionate ministry calling. We have three kids who are very active in sports, church and other social activities. My work can be all consuming. Camping is the one activity that ensures quality family time unencumbered from day-to-day distractions and obligations. Along with our faith tradition, an apprecia-tion, love and respect for the out-doors is one of the greatest gifts my wife and I are giving to our children.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Council approves naming Assembly offering for CartersShurden: ‘… the Carters transcend partisan politics …’

THE COOPERATIVE BAPTIST Fellowship Coordinating Council made signifi cant personnel moves, received dramatic ministry reports on tsunami relief and poverty, approved the 2005-2006 budget and voted to name the annual off ering collected at the General Assembly for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter during the Feb. 17-18 meeting in Atlanta.

Th e off ering proposal was one of seven recommendations from the Baptist World Alliance Task Force, led by Walter Shurden, director of the Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

Th e new off ering will be called the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Off ering for Religious Liberty and Human Rights,” with two-thirds designated for the Fellowship’s religious liberty or human rights ministries and one-third for the Baptist World Alliance’s eff orts in similar areas.

“While the task force clearly recognizes that the Carters have been in politics, we are in no way making a political statement through this recommendation,” Shurden said. “We make the recommendation

precisely because we believe the Carters transcend partisan politics in the area of religious liberty and human rights.”

Th e Council ratifi ed the nominating committee’s report off ering the following slate of offi cers: Joy Yee, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in San Francisco, automatically assumes the role of moderator at the conclusion of the General Assembly in June; Susan Crumpler will be voted on for a third one-year term as recorder; and Emmanuel McCall, retired pastor of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in College Park, Ga., will be the nominee for moderator-elect, the fi rst African-American to be nominated.

In other business, the Fellowship took the following actions:• Th e Council approved a $16.47 million rev-

enue budget, with expenditures of $21.58 million that will utilize funds from desig-nated gift s to the Fellowship in recent years.

• Aft er 19 months of consultation with partners, research with Fellowship staff and internal deliberations, the Partner Study Committee proposed a set of 13

guidelines for partnerships. Th e Council received the report and released it to the Fellowship at large for comment and response. Th e committee’s report is online at www.thefellowship.info/Landing/partner.icm.

• Th e Council approved a search com-mittee’s unanimous recommendation of Constance McNeill to fi ll the coordina-tor of administration position at the Fellowship’s Atlanta Resource Center.

• Th e Council affi rmed the recommendation from the Global Missions and Ministries Initiative Team and Personnel Committee to name Barbara Baldridge as Global Missions coordinator, retroactive to Jan. 1.

• Th e Constitution was revised slightly to refl ect wording changes made necessary by the maturation and growth of the Fellowship. f!

LEARN – To view the proposed changes, visit www.thefellowship.info/Landing/constitution.icm.

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

Ben McDade

CBF and partnershipsIN 1995, THE COOPERATIVE BAPTIST Fellowship adopted a mission statement which defi ned the purpose of the fl edgling fellowship with the following words: “To network, empower and mobilize Baptist Christians and churches for eff ective missions and ministry in the name of Christ.” Th e signifi cance of that statement is that it clearly articulated the reason for our existence to help Baptist Christians and churches. It placed the local church in the very center of all we do.

Four years later, we began a strategic planning process that involved listening sessions all across the country. We sent out surveys, employed a professional research fi rm and actually used a General Assembly session to form small groups for conversation. Th e craft ing and unanimous adoption of our Strategic Plan in 2000 was the result of that process. Th e plan built upon the earlier mission statement, but refi ned it by saying that the purpose of CBF is to “serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfi ll their God-given mission.”

CBF exists to serve churches; not itself

or its partners. Th e old denominational/convention model where churches supported and served the denomination/convention and its agencies is over. Th e day of entitlement for denominational agencies is over. Some people wish this weren’t so and can’t come to terms with the new reality. Others celebrate it and don’t even want to talk about the old model. Still others are indiff erent and care little about conversation concerning denomination/convention.

We in CBF have declared that we are a new way of being a Baptist body. We do not ask churches to elect messengers for an annual convention. We do not own and operate institutions. We do not elect trustees that govern partnering ministries and organizations. In the craft ing of our Strategic Plan, in the structure of our Coordinating Council and in the subsequent years of budget adoption, CBF has charted a bold and creative missional and organizational course.

CBF exists as a network of partnering churches and individuals. To the degree that churches and individuals believe in us and to the degree that we provide value to them in their ministry settings, they will engage and give to implement a shared vision, i.e., being the presence of Christ in the world. One of the ways

we seek to live out this vision is through partnering. We enter into partnership with organizations, institutions and ministries to serve local churches. Th e number of those partnerships has increased dramatically through the years. CBF funds some of these partners and some of them fund CBF. Th ese partnerships are voluntary and intentional based on mutual trust, shared values and a common commitment to serve churches. CBF does not view partners in a proprietary way and each partner is valued and respected.

We invite churches to give undesignated dollars to our unifi ed budget, which funds a number of partnerships. But a large portion of the funds we receive are designated dollars for specifi c ministries. We recognize that most, if not all, of our partners make direct appeals to churches and individuals for support. Th is is the context in which we live. We have not tried to re-create the old system, but to discern the times in which we are living and create a way of cooperation that fosters fl exibility, responsiveness and freedom while at the same time creating collaborative ministry.

I continue to believe that CBF is a spiritual and missional renewal movement in the Baptist family. One of the ways in which renewal has taken place has been in the energy and synergy created by partnerships. Something dramatic and powerful happens when free and faithful Baptists voluntarily enter into partnering relationships for the glory of God and the good of others. Just as partnering is the way of the future for churches, it is also the way of the future for organizations like CBF. We gladly embrace that future. f!

As We journey By CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal

11

F e l l o w s h i p R o u n d u p w w w . t h e f e l l o w s h i p . i n f o A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 0 5

I N S I D E C B F

Fellowship Roundup:News from CBF’s states, regions and national offices■ Alabama

AlabamaCBF has named John Mitchell as its coordinator for mission partnerships. The mission partnership position developed through the ongoing partnership between AlabamaCBF and Sowing Seeds of Hope, a faith-based community development initiative in Perry County which AlabamaCBF helped birth five years ago. Before joining AlabamaCBF, Mitchell was the Mission Exchange director with Passport Inc. in Birmingham.

■ ArkansasThe CBF of Arkansas General

Assembly will be April 15-16 at Calvary Baptist Church in Little Rock with guest speakers Randall O’Brien and James Dunn. On Friday night, there will be a retirement recognition for Tom Logue and Rosie Dunham who founded the CBF movement in Arkansas and served as coordinator and administrative assistant, respectively, for 11 years.

Contact information for the CBF of Arkansas new office is: 3 Innwood Circle, Suite 109, Little Rock, AR 72211, (501) 223-8586. Web site: www.cbfar.org.

■ FloridaCBF Florida’s second annual Youth

Missions Conference took place at Central Baptist Church and the Ocean Walk Resort on Daytona Beach. Nearly 200 students from eight different churches experienced this year’s theme, “Kindle” based on 2 Timothy 1:6. Students logged nearly 500 hours in hands-on community missions work.

Touching Miami With Love held an open house at their new location, 711 NW 6th Avenue, Miami, on Feb. 25. This event provided all the ministry partners an opportunity to tour the new facilities and learn about the work of the center and staff. TML is a partnership missions ministry of CBF Global Missions, CBF Florida and local congregations.

■ GeorgiaAl Shauf was named the 2005-

06 CBF of Georgia moderator.“Baptists Today” will honor Walter

B. Shurden as the recipient of the

Judson-Rice Award for Leadership with Integrity on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta. The event is open to the pub-lic. Tickets are $25. Make reservations by calling (877) 752-5658.

■ KentuckyRhonda Abbott is the new associ-

ate coordinator for missions for the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship. She will coordinate missions efforts on a statewide basis with a focus on Partners in Hope, the Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative, in Eastern Kentucky. Abbott served as Baptist campus minister at the Univer-sity of Georgia for seven years.

■ MissouriThe CBF of Missouri General

Assembly will be held in Jefferson City, April 22-23. Michael Graves from Central Seminary will lead the Leadership Seminar on Friday dealing with the theme of “sabbath.” Saturday’s worship preacher will be Doyle Sager, pastor of FBC, Jefferson City. Register online at the CBFMO website, www.acteva.com//booking.cfm?bevaID=82158. Rooms are available until April 8 at Hotel DeVille at (800) 392-3366.

Partners in Hope at the High Plains Cheyenne River Reservation needs volunteers May 23-27. Needs are for dentists, dental assistants and den-tal hygienists to provide care at the Takini School. Others are needed to assist with registration. Contact Chris Thompson at (816) 792-3058.

■ NationalA guide for church ministers filing

2004 tax returns is available online through the CBF Church Benefits Board. Compiled by the Ministers & Missionaries Benefits Board (MMBB) of American Baptist Churches USA and Richard R. Hammer, the guide is available through a partnership with MMBB. The minister’s tax guide, sample tax return forms and federal

reporting requirements for churches are available at www.mmbb.org/tools_literature_library.cfm.

George Pickle, CBF associate coordinator for chaplaincy and pastoral counseling, was recently elected a member at large on the executive committee of the National Confer-ence on Ministry to the Armed Forces. NCMAF, the leading organization for military chaplain en-dorsers, is the organization that relates directly to each Chief of Chaplains and their staffs of all branches of the U.S. armed forces. Pickle will serve in the position for three years.

CBF employees marking employment anniversaries include: Barbara Baldridge, 5 years (11/99); Valerie Hardy, 5 years (2/99); and Tom Prevost, 10 years (2/95).

■ NortheastThe Baptist Fellowship of the North-

east will hold its 2005 General Assembly at Bay Community Baptist Church in Swansea, Mass., April 29-30. Guest speakers include Catherine Allen of Global Women; Rick Bennett, CBF associate coordinator for faith forma-tion; and Martin Knox, pastor of FBC, Temple, Texas. The Quality Inn hotel in Somerset, (508) 678-4545, is 1.2 miles from the church, (508) 677-0720.

■ OklahomaIn January, Tom Ogburn, former

CBF Global Missions field personnel and associate coordinator, was installed as pastor of First Baptist Church of Okla-homa City. Spring Creek Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, hosted a reception for Oklahoma native Molly Marshall, president of Central Baptist Seminary. February brought both Bo Prosser, CBF coordinator for Congregational Life, and Phil Hester, CBF associate coordinator for church starts, to the state. In March, First Baptist Oklahoma City hosted the Oklahoma Women in Baptist Life confer-ence with speakers Pam Durso and Julie Pennington-Russell.

CBFO General Assembly will be held April 29-30. Speakers will be Hardy Clemons, Paul Montacute, Grace Powell-Freeman, and Oklahoma musi-cians, Max Lyall and Harold Jones.

■ WestGlenn Hinson, retired professor of

spirituality, worship and church history at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, will be the keynote leader for CBF West’s 2005 annual meeting in San Diego, March 31 - April 2. Spiritual formation will be the focus of the meeting. For additional information, view the Meetings page on CBF West’s Web site, www.thefellowship.info/CBFWest, or e-mail CBF West Moderator Patti Baynham at pbaynham@earthlink.net.

Journeys Youth Mission Camp 2005 registration is open. Dates are July 11-16. Cost is $235. All youth are welcome to attend. Camp facilities are along California’s Central Coast in Arroyo Grande. For more information, see the Youth Camp page at www.thefellowship.info/CBFWest or e-mail Journeys Camp Director Mari Licking at JOURNEYSCAMP@msn.com.

CBF announces new partnership with Center for Congregational Health

THE FELLOWSHIP has announced a new, three-year partnership with the Center for Congregational Health, a consulting and training center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Center for Congregational Health will provide services for the Fellowship’s congregational life and leadership development initiatives until June 2007.

The partnership will allow for the creation of a network of CBF-trained intentional interim pastors available for churches. The Center will also provide consultation to

Fellowship churches in areas in-cluding strategic planning, interim ministry, conflict management, staff relationships and leadership.

The partnership provides a new way to nurture and strength-en congregational ministers. A new program called Convergence will train and develop ministers to lead a missional church. Par-ticipants will attend four retreats during the yearlong intensive leadership course. Two courses will eventually be offered each year. The first was sponsored by CBF of Georgia in January. f!

LEARN – For more informa-tion, contact the Center at (336) 716-9722 or congreg@wfubmc.edu. Or contact Terry Ham-rick at (770) 220-1600 or thamrick@thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Coming AttractionsJUNE 2-4

Baptist History and Heritage Society Annual MeetingSamford University, Birmingham, Ala.Theme: “Women in Baptist History”Keynote Speaker: Sarah Frances Anders Info: www.baptisthistory.org

JUNE 30 –JULY 1CBF General AssemblyThe Gaylord Texan Resort, Grapevine, TexasInfo: www.thefellowship.info/Church Life/GA2005

JULY 27-31Centennial Congress of the Baptist World Alliance Birmingham, EnglandRegistration: (703) 790-8980, congress@bwanet.org

LEARN – For a complete schedule of events, go to www.thefellowship.info/Inside CBF/Calendar.

Vol. 15, No. 2

COORDINATOR • Daniel Vestal

COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS &

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT • Ben McDade

EDITOR • Lance Wallace

MANAGING EDITOR • Lisa M. Jones

PHONE • (770) 220-1600

FAX • (770) 220-1685

E-MAIL • fellowship@thefellowship.info

WEB SITE • www.thefellowship.info

fellowship! is published bi-monthly by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 30341-4115. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. USPS #015-625

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “fellowship!” Newsletter, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329

Rhonda Abbott

George Pickle

China Christian Council CBF hosted a delegation from the China Christian Council (CCC) in February. The delegation toured the Atlanta Resource Center before meeting President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center. The purpose of the visit was to promote the China Bible Exhibition tour in the U.S. this fall. Pictured are, from left, Daniel Vestal, CBF Coordinator; Rev. Bao Jiayuan, CCC associate general secretary; Earlene Vestal; Chen Meilin, CCC executive associate general secretary; Brenda Lisenby, a CBF representative in China; President Carter; Rev. Cao Shengjie, CCC president; Pat Anderson, CBF Global Missions advocate; Wang Xiuling, deputy director, Christianity Affairs Section, State Administration of Religious Affairs; and John Qu, director of the Global Communication Center of the Evangelical Chinese Fellowship International.

CB

Ffe

llow

ship

!

CO

OP

ERAT

IVE

BA

PTI

ST

FELL

OW

SH

IP

| W

WW

.TH

EFEL

LOW

SH

IP.IN

FO

fello

wsh

ip!

fello

wsh

ip!

fSe

rvin

g C

hris

tians

and

chu

rche

s as

the

y di

scov

er a

nd f

ulfi l

l the

ir G

od-g

iven

mis

sion

April

/May

200

5

Wha

t F

ello

wsh

ip

peop

le d

o w

hen

disa

ster

st

rike

s—

Sto

ry o

n pa

ge 1

2

| 4

| 6

| 9

| 10

|Cu

rren

t ret

reat

pro

vide

sre

st, i

nspi

ratio

nGe

nera

l Ass

embl

yhe

ads

to T

exas

Citie

s ha

rbor

un

met

nee

dsCB

F ch

apla

in

ser

ves

in Ir

aqCo

unci

l app

rove

s na

min

g of

offe

ring

Cooperative Baptist FellowshipP.O. Box 450329 • Atlanta, Georgia 31145-0329www.thefellowship.info(800) 352-8741

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

AS

A P

UBL

IC S

CH

OO

L vo

lunt

eer,

Kim

W

yatt

was

just

hel

ping

a g

irl w

ith m

ath

prob

lem

s. Bu

t whe

n th

e ne

w P

akis

tani

im-

mig

rant

star

ted

impr

ovin

g he

r mat

h sk

ills,

she

aske

d W

yatt

to m

eet h

er m

othe

r, w

ho

was

rece

ntly

wid

owed

. W

yatt’

s pra

ctic

al h

elp

open

ed th

e do

or fo

r muc

h m

ore,

as t

he fa

mily

ac

cept

ed W

yatt’

s inv

itatio

n to

a c

hurc

h C

hris

tmas

par

ty. “

She

expe

rien

ced

man

y fi r

sts t

hat e

veni

ng: C

hris

tmas

car

ols a

nd

the

genu

inen

ess o

f Chr

ist’s

love

shar

ed

over

hot

cho

cola

te,”

said

Wya

tt, o

ne o

f C

oope

rativ

e Ba

ptis

t Fel

low

ship

’s G

loba

l M

issi

ons fi

eld

per

sonn

el se

rvin

g w

ith h

er

husb

and,

Mar

c, in

Tor

onto

. A

s str

ateg

ic c

atal

ysts

for m

inis

try

amon

g in

tern

atio

nals,

the

Wya

tts n

etw

ork

and

part

ner w

ith lo

cal o

rgan

izat

ions

and

C

hris

tian

min

istr

ies t

o m

eet t

he n

eeds

of

imm

igra

nts a

nd in

tern

atio

nals.

“We

are

netw

orke

rs, p

artn

ersh

ip fa

cilit

ator

s and

ca

taly

sts f

or b

uild

ing

up th

e in

fl uen

ce

and

scop

e of

God

’s K

ingd

om in

our

are

a an

d be

yond

via

our

team

mat

es in

Nor

th

Am

eric

a an

d Eu

rope

,” M

arc

said

.Th

e Wya

tts ar

e par

t of C

BF’s

inte

rnat

ion-

als c

lust

er —

a g

roup

of C

BF fi

eld

pers

onne

l w

ho m

inist

er to

peo

ple l

ivin

g fa

r fro

m th

eir

hom

elan

ds. Th

e in

tern

atio

nals

clust

er is

hi

ghlig

hted

as p

art o

f Miss

ionC

onne

ct, t

he

sprin

g em

phas

is of

the 2

004-

05 O

ff erin

g fo

r G

loba

l Miss

ions

.M

issi

onC

onne

ct

invi

tes c

hurc

hes a

nd

indi

vidu

als t

o pa

rtne

r w

ith th

e in

tern

atio

n-al

s clu

ster

by

prov

id-

ing

fi nan

cial

supp

ort,

tang

ible

goo

ds fo

r the

ir

min

istr

ies a

nd p

erso

nal

invo

lvem

ent.

Base

d on

1

Cor

inth

ians

3:9

, thi

s ye

ar’s

Off e

ring

them

e is

“To

geth

er …

Bei

ng

the

Pres

ence

of C

hris

t.”

Th e

Off e

ring

goa

l is

$6.1

mill

ion

with

a

chal

leng

e go

al o

f $6.

3 m

illio

n.Th

e W

yatts

hel

ped

rece

ntly

form

the

Fello

wsh

ip’s

Inte

rnat

iona

ls M

inis

try

Net

wor

k, w

hich

serv

es a

s a w

ay to

br

ains

torm

min

istr

y id

eas a

nd e

ncou

rage

th

ose

min

iste

ring

to in

tern

atio

nals.

Th e

ne

twor

k sp

onso

rs a

n on

line

foru

m a

t ww

w.co

nnec

tglo

bally

.org

. Th

e W

yatts

hop

e to

invo

lve

mor

e lo

cal

chur

ches

in th

is m

inis

try.

At J

une’s

Gen

eral

A

ssem

bly

in G

rape

vine

, Tex

as, t

hey

will

off

er a

bre

akou

t ses

sion

and

an

auxi

liary

lu

nche

on a

bout

thei

r wor

k.

f!

S

ERVE

– F

or in

tern

atio

nals

min

istr

y vo

lun-

teer

opp

ortu

nitie

s, c

onta

ct T

imot

hy W

ood

at

(800

) 782

-245

1 or

twoo

d@th

efel

low

ship

.info

.

L

EAR

N –

For

mor

e in

form

atio

n ab

out t

he

Offe

ring

for

Glo

bal M

issi

ons

or to

pro

vide

ite

ms

for

the

Wya

tts’ m

inis

try,

go

to w

ww.

thef

ello

wsh

ip.in

fo.

G

IVE

– U

se th

e co

ntrib

utio

n en

velo

pe in

th

is is

sue

to h

elp

mee

t thi

s ye

ar’s

Offe

ring

goal

. Or

go to

ww

w.th

efel

low

ship

.info

to

mak

e a

cont

ribut

ion

onlin

e.

By C

arla

Wyn

n, C

BF C

omm

unic

atio

ns

Off

erin

g su

ppor

ts C

BF

Glo

bal

Mis

sion

s fi

eld

pers

onne

l in

Tor

onto

0410

P011

Kim

Wya

tt, c

ente

r, ga

ther

s in

an

unfu

rnis

hed

apar

tmen

t with

oth

er C

hris

tians

to

pra

y G

od’s

bles

sing

on

thos

e w

ho w

ill li

ve a

nd m

inis

ter

ther

e as

an

exte

nsio

n of

a n

ew c

hurc

h st

art i

n St

. Jam

esto

wn.

CO

OP

ER

AT

IVE

BA

PT

IST

FE

LL

OW

SH

IP

ww

w.t

hef

ello

wsh

ip.i

nfo