go & make issue #12 (oct. 2014)
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MAGAZINE CREDITSEDITOR IN CHIEF
Josh Shirlen
MANAGING EDITORArianne Teeple
ARTJosh BurginJosh Shirlen
CONTRIBUTORSDenise Perry
Jocelyn Rimbey SacksRachel Perry
Trevin Hoekzema
Cover photo by Josh Shirlen.
C.T. Studd, an early 20th century missionary who spent his life serving Christ in China, India, and Africa, is one of my heroes. His most famous quote is one that helps me live in light of eternity:
“Only one life ‘twill soon be past.Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
This year the Lord gave me 150 new heroes: the men and women of BACC who stepped out in faith to “make the trade” by trading in a week of vacation for the sake of a nation. Report after report of those returning from trips has been incredible! For example, last night I was with one of the El Salvador teams, sitting around a picnic table eating Mexican tortilla soup. The team reminisced over the ways God had showed up on the trip. They celebrated university students coming to faith and retold stories of ministering to the poor and serving the needy children at
Greg St. CyrLead Pastor
the Children’s Center. And they talked about how their own lives have been changed.
That’s when the Lord brought something C.T. Studd said about 100 years ago:
“The light that shines farthest shines brightest nearest home.”
For some reason it’s easier to live like a missionary and let our light shine while on a mission trip. The real challenge is to live like a missionary in our own family, neighborhood, and place of work. For that to happen, we need to see ourselves as God’s “sent ones.”
God, by his very nature, is a sending God. He sends Abraham to birth a new nation, Moses to deliver His people, the prophets to call the Jews to repentance, and ultimately, He sends His son, Jesus, to save us from our sins. The post-resurrected Jesus then issues these profound words to his followers:
“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:21
This commission applies to all believers. Every follower of Jesus is a sent one. That means we are all missionaries, called to live a missional life. Most of us view missions as
something we do “over there.” Yet missions is a 24/7 way of life.
The 150 made the trade and God did amazing things. They were missional. But in the words of Ed Stetzer, “Missional means being a missionary without leaving your zip code.” All around us are hurting people, alienated from God and others, seeking relief from pain or searching for life in what the world offers. It is to these who enter the ebb and flow of our lives that we are called to be missionaries to.
One opportunity to be missional this month is to bring your neighbors who have small children to Trunk or Treat (check out this month’s feature story).
I am so encouraged by the 150 who stepped out to serve Jesus in a foreign land. And I’m excited and full of expectation for the 1500+ of us who call BACC our church home as we step out as missionaries in our own zip code.
From here to the nations,
For a comprehensive list of all BACC staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership
Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – [email protected] Hopper, Missional Community Pastor – [email protected] Essamuah, Global Missions Pastor – [email protected] Kelley, Executive Pastor – [email protected] Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – [email protected] St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – [email protected] Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – [email protected] Rimbey Sacks, Connecting Director – [email protected] Shirlen, Gathering Team Leader – [email protected] Lane, Care Network Director – [email protected] Dutton, Financial Administrator – [email protected] Pringle, Worship Leader – [email protected] Linnell, Teaching Pastor – [email protected] Dutton, Operations Director – [email protected] Cozad, Technical Director – [email protected]
BAY AREA LEADERSHIPELDERS
John BattanDennis Brady
Tom DalpiniTim Dotson
Peter GodfreyTim Grossman
Rich HeathRoger Ishii
Brian MallareDavid McPeak
Bill SmithGreg St. CyrJohn Taylor
J Upton
884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 Gathering Times: 8am 9:30am 11:15am
We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at [email protected] and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
ONESSENT
LETTER FROM
THE LEAD
by: Micah Pringle (BACC Worship Leader)
Let me quote what is found in July 22nd’s reading entitled “Judging by Results.”
“If Christianity is true why are not all Christians obviously nicer than all non-Christians? … If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in man’s outward actions — if he continues to be just as snobbish or spiteful or envious … as he was before — then I think we must suspect to be just as snobbish or spiteful or envious … as he was before — then I think we must suspect that his ‘conversion’ was largely imaginary…. Fine feelings, new insights, greater interest in ‘religion’ mean nothing unless they make our actual behaviour better; just as in an illness ‘feeling better’ is not much good if the thermometer shows that your temperature is still going up…. Christ told us to judge by results. A tree is known by its fruit...when we Christians behave
badle, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world. The war-time posters told us that Careless Talk Cost Lives. It is equally true that Careless Lives Cost Talk. Our careless lives set the outer world talking; and we give them grounds for talking in a way that throws doubt on the truth of Christianity itself.”- Mere Christianity
This book contains excerpts from his many writings/books. Each day of the month has a paragraph or two on a topic and several days in a row will focus on that topic. One topic that is really quite striking is grief. The reader may already know that CS Lewis’ personal life is a most interesting story in and of itself. He was a lonely brilliant professor, who began a writing relationship with an American woman. They eventually met, fell in love and wed. It’s quite the love story,
BOOK: A Year with CS Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic WorksAUTHOR: C.S. Lewis
really, and then out of the blue she tragically died from cancer very early in life. He writes about the joy and the immense grief he experiences in several of his later books. The movie “Shadowlands” with Anthony Hopkins is flat out terrific and quite moving depiction of this relationship. Bring some kleenex though.
At any rate, this book will cause you to think. It will drive you to want to know more: about God, life, theology, and the Bible. It will encourage you to search the scripture to see if Mr. Lewis has a point (or not). It will make you take a pause and consider many things. What else does one require of a book? I highly recommend this one—to stimulate your faith and thinking.
- Ed KelleyExecutive Pastor
CS Lewis is the greatest writer and thinker of the 20th century. I know that sounds confident but if one takes into account the number of books sold, the number of graduate courses taught with required CS Lewis writings, the number of TV shows, Hollywood movies, academic articles, and portrayals of his life, it’s a pretty easy case to make. That gives great credence to my choice this month for the book review. It’s called A Year with CS Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works.
For a while now I’ve been spitting out a handful of albums by various artists and giving a short description of why those specific artists were selected for the month. But I’d like to press pause on the music (see that pun I made?) and shed a little light on how I process through music in general at the head/heart level. I hope it proves helpful for others in their pursuit to do the same. Here are a couple practical considerations when listening to music.
1. Am I walking in the Spirit?I find that when I’m walking Spirit-filled and genuinely
abiding in Christ, the way I filter everything, including music, is entirely different. The label of “Christian Music” and “Secular Music” is less important to me than what is actually being communicated inside a song. Rather than let that label be my guide (which was really only created for effective marketing purposes), I allow the inner-working of the Holy Spirit to direct. Because whether it’s a tune by Chris Tomlin or Bob Dylan, if it’s all running through the filter of the Spirit, I can respond appropriately to it. Last summer I listened to a particular song on repeat. This song essentially said, “I’m just as messed up as everyone says that I am”. I found that those lyrics broke me on a regular basis. The Holy Spirit reminded me of how broken our world is, and how our identity is now hidden in Christ and not in the opinion or approval of others; those lyrics actually
motivated me to live on mission.
2. Is the song helpful?Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6 that all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. While the context of the verse isn’t speaking of music itself, the principle holds true. There is some music that simply isn’t helpful for me. If you know a certain song puts you in an aggressive or bad mood, perhaps you should not listen to it. Another way of phrasing it could be, “Does this song move me in a positive way?” That’s not to say a song isn’t allowed to address heavy topics, because we do still live in a fallen world, but does that song, even in the midst of the darkness, move me in positive ways? This past Easter’s first song began with a pulsing heartbeat-esque movement at the beginning. That idea was birthed from a song by a band called M83. Several mornings last winter
I’d drive to Sandy Point State Park and watch the sun come up over the Chesapeake while playing one particular song by this band that had a similar vibe to it. It moved me and made me think of resurrection and new life as a new day would break, and from that positive encounter with the song, it set the tone for Easter’s opening. I’d say that’s pretty helpful.
With that said, I’ll go ahead and toss out one album for your consideration. But I’m not going to say why. You’ll have to figure that out on your own this time. :)
LECRAE - “Anomaly”
MIC
AH
’S M
IX
USNA CRU
L o c a l O u t r e a c hBy Trevin Hoekzema
You’re a plebe, a freshman at the Naval Academy, in your fall semester. In search of a place to make some friends, you find your way across the Yard (USNA campus) into the Laboon Center. One left turn, across a threshold, and you’re inside the 120 seat room. As you enter, groups of other students spot you—you have that “newcomer glow.” A solid pat on the back is met with a raspy, confident voice that almost instantly calms you, “Hey, have you been here before? I’m Dan.”
Dan Shackleton is one of the Naval Academy graduates who maintains a leadership role with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) this school year. He walked onto the Yard as a plebe seeking a community that would give him the opportunity to disciple others and be discipled. After finding Cru, he dove right in. He saw something that was both challenging and comforting, and he wanted to be a part of it.
Navy Cru aims to “transform hearts on the Yard for Jesus and to send Great Commission laborers to the world,” as Kyle Sponaugle puts it. Kyle and his wife Jenn are full time missionaries with Cru and focus their lives on these mids. They want to see midshipmen not only pursue their faith but to see them on mission because of it. This year poses a challenge for them though because they have less staff than in years past.
The new challenge has given Kyle a greater passion to put the leadership and responsibility of the ministry into the hands of the midshipmen. As a skilled developer of leaders, Kyle has stressed three main points to the mids over the last several years: 1) lead a Bible study, 2) share the gospel with a friend, and 3) get plugged into a church. Because of that last point, a lot of mids have found their way over to Bay Area. And we love it! As a church, we love the fact that we have an opportunity to directly impact our country’s future leaders.
Often the transformation doesn’t happen in the walls of this church or even in that room in the Laboon Center. Taylor Vannatta, a 2014 USNA graduate, can attest to that. In the spring of his freshman year, Taylor remembers sitting in his dorm room with an upper classman, chewing over the story of
“Knowing God Personally,” and realizing he had this Christian thing all wrong. Over the course of that study, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and set out on pursuing an intimate relationship with Him.
Taylor went from being the musically-talented kid who wanted to please a crowd to the Christ-focused man who wanted to lead people in worship. For the last three years, Taylor has led Bay Area’s middle schoolers and Navy Cru’s students in worship almost every week. His faith has grown exponentially through leading with Cru and being discipled by Micah Pringle, Bay Area’s worship leader, over those years. He
remembers Cru as having “that great feeling of a big family.” Cru gets people in community, allows for them to be honest and open, and is an avenue for constant encouragement.
Taylor’s testimony seems like it could be a rare find, but it’s not. Just this past year, Sarah Bernhardt came through Cru’s doors, committed her life to Christ as a plebe, became a leader, and is currently being discipled by a mature woman at BACC as a first class midshipman (senior). And did
you see all the mids who were baptized on Easter? Clearly, there is a beautiful relationship between Navy Cru and Bay Area.
Navy Cru is a community where the gospel captures hearts, transforms lives, and launches men and women into a lifelong adventure with Jesus Christ. As a church, we want to specifically partner with organizations like Cru who take such drastic steps towards making disciples.
Sunday morning there are mids like Dan, Taylor, and Sarah who have a need; most simply need a ride to church. If you can help us maintain this beautiful relationship, email Trevin at [email protected] or email Kyle Sponaugle directly at [email protected].
YOU CAN SERVE MIDS!
No checks or cash?Don’t worry, there’s an app for that!
By: Rachel Perry
Over the years, we have seen a huge shift in the way we give our tithes and offerings. What started as just an offering basket passed during the gathering has now expanded across multiple physical and digital platforms.
Many years ago, we introduced online giving on our website to make it easy for Bay Area attenders to give via debit card. A couple years ago, we added our giving kiosk in the lobby so that attendees could still give on a Sunday morning with just a swipe of their card. This year, we want to share that you can now give from your smartphone by downloading the SecureGive app (our online giving partner).
Why the advance in giving technology? We’re learning that people don’t bring (or even have!) checkbooks anymore. What used to always be cash and checks has now turned into an online, credit card culture. And as people seek to give, we want to give them the opportunity to do so easily.
If you call Bay Area your church home but don’t carry cash or checks, you can still engage in the worship and offering experience right alongside the rest of the church. Just grab your smartphone and pull up the SecureGive app for a simple and easy way to give.
To download, visit the app store and search for “SecureGive” on your Apple or Android device.
When you open the app for the first time, search for “Bay Area Community Church” and select it as your Home Organization (you will only have to do this once).
The next step is to “Create an Account.” If you’ve already given online or at our giving kiosk, you may already have one.
After you’ve added a payment option, you’re ready to start giving!
GET THE SECUREGIVE APP:
Whenever you give to BACC using a credit or debit card, 3% of your gift goes to a 3rd party company to cover the transaction and processing fees. Consider giving an extra 3% to supplement the loss and help us receive 100% of your donation.
L E A D E R S H P P R O F I L E
TresCOZAD
By Meredith Thompson
Tres Cozad grew up tinkering with speakers and electronics, pulling things apart and putting them back together again, but it wasn’t until his parents’ marriage fell apart during his first year of high school that he began to toy with the idea of God.
“I did not grow up in a family that went to church … so I grew up mocking it a little bit, thinking it was funny, and not living a Christ-centered life at all,” the Portland, Oregon native recalled.
Highly dependent upon the support of both his parents and struggling through their divorce, Tres reluctantly accepted a friend’s invitation to church during his freshman year, certain that he wouldn’t like it. But after just a few Sundays, he realized his misplaced dependency and the void that had been growing in him during the divorce could both be remedied through Jesus Christ.
“Within three months I was putting in an application to serve on the tech team, not realizing that it would be a life-altering experience and completely change the trajectory of my life,” said Tres, who today serves as Bay Area’s technical director. “Up until that point, I didn’t know anything about sound or lighting or anything that is now my profession. It was something that interested me … but never something I imagined myself doing.”
He quickly evolved from someone who mocked church into someone who volunteered over 1,000 hours a year there throughout his
high school years, and through that volunteerism, was offered a job as a touring sound engineer. Tres spent about 250 days a year on the road from age 18-21, never staying more than four or five days in one place. Stripped of the comforts of home and his church family, it was along those sometimes lonely roads that Tres realized his faith was not dependent upon the people around him, but on his relationship with Christ.
During his last year on the road, he met a young nurse named Vickie Chambers while running sound at a camp, and the two began dating long-distance after a year of getting to know each other. Simultaneously, Tres felt called to pour into people and help develop their skills for the technical arts the way he was mentored in his home church, and he accepted a less transient job as technical director at a church in Portland. Throughout his time there, he travelled from coast to coast to visit Vickie, who had moved to Maryland and was working with Bay Area’s student ministries, and the two prayed that God would provide a way for them to one day live in the same place.
“After a year and a half of working at the church in Portland as a technical director, I decided that it was time to quit and move out to Maryland whether or not I had a job. Within about two weeks God opened a door at Bay Area,” Tres explained. “It went from a long-lost-dream prayer to, ‘This could be a reality – God could be answering our prayer right now through my ability to work at Bay Area!’”
With Oregon in his rearview mirror, the diehard Portland Trail Blazers fan drove 2,800 miles across the country and arrived in Maryland on January 31, 2013. He began as technical director at Bay Area the next day.
Today, he manages all-things video, lighting and sound (with the exception of making the videos, because Josh Shirlen does “a way better job at that” than Tres could ever imagine doing), and oversees everything from equipment maintenance to building and leading volunteer technical teams for Sunday gatherings and weekly events. Additionally, he checks in with each ministry on a monthly basis to offer technical support and discover ways his team can help each expand through the technical arts.
“The opportunities that I have been
given here have been greater than any other, and I’ve really appreciated that because it allows me to grow a lot in my leadership abilities, in my ability to speak into my volunteers’ lives, and to grow in my faith,” Tres highlighted.His ultimate goal as technical director, he stressed, is to create a distraction-free environment for Bay Area’s pastors and the worship team to present the gospel every Sunday. He explained this is realized when all of the elements of a gathering – worship, the message, and multimedia – come together to facilitate people having open experiences with Christ.
A resident of Davidsonville, Tres spends his time outside the tech booth studying and fellowshipping with his missional community. And at 25 years old, he’s still taking things apart and putting them back together: The free time he isn’t able to spend with Vickie is often invested tinkering under the hoods of his red 2004 Mini Cooper S and 2007 Nissan Titan. He’s also logged 40 hours of flight time in pursuit of a private pilot’s license, a hobby he inherited from his grandfather growing up.
Looking forward, Tres hopes to see his base of tech volunteers grow, to both ensure that they are all able to serve and enjoy church, and to allow him to spend more time pouring into them individually.
“My ministry wouldn’t happen without my volunteers. I have some people who are incredibly devoted to serving and I am so blessed to have them, because Sundays wouldn’t happen without them,” Tres praised his volunteers, noting the 14 of them do the work of 30 people. “The great part of our team is that nobody should know they are there, but without them you wouldn’t be able to hear Greg, to see, to read any of the words on the screen … The heart they have to serve is incredible.”
Tres [traís]
Noun1. The Spanish word for three.2. The nickname of Wayne Cozad III.
Every once in a while, kids just amaze me. They do something that challenges me, humbles me, and gives me hope for future generations of Christ followers. Recently, Matthew Woda, the twelve-year-old son of Bay Area’s Tim and Christine Woda, invited my two sons to a new ministry he envisions for skateboarders. This ministry is a gathering of skaters that meet on Saturday nights from 5 to 7 PM at Bowie Skatepark.
Initially I thought, “I’ll take the boys by for a bit and let them skate with Matt. It’ll be a nice activity for them.” My expectations were for little more than the rewards of a trip to the bounce house or a Baysox game. To my surprise, it was so much more.
When we arrived, we were greeted by the Woda family and treated to dinner with the other kids that came out to skate. After dinner, Matt led the entire group of kids and parents in a devotion on Psalm 23. You could tell he had taken his study of the scripture seriously. His preparation and devotion to God was a real blessing. I’m sure Matt had no idea how impactful his example was to my five-year-old son Judah. #kidsdisciplingkids
By Josh Shirlen
After the devotion, Matt’s friend Joe Lagaras gave some instructions on what the group was all about and challenged everyone to invite more people. Following a time of prayer, kids strapped on their pads and took to the skate park. I was soaring with admiration for the faith of these kids. They had very simply and effectively demonstrated what community on mission can look like at Bay Area. They gathered together to love God, love each other, and to love their neighbor, which echoes Bay Area’s UP, IN, and OUT philosophy.
I was uplifted at what had taken place, but the reality of our broken, fallen world is never far away. Standing for Jesus, even as a kid, is a hard thing. Our children were about to find out that even a skate park in a peaceful suburb can become a spiritual battleground.
There was a young man curiously positioned on the perimeter of the park standing motionless and holding a sign that read “Santa Claus and God are not real.” Tim explained that he is an atheist that comes to the park day after day to protest God and religion in front of impressionable youth. He isn’t physically or verbally aggressive, he simply writes provocative and demeaning statements about faith that attract the attention of the kids skating.
His presence elicited a variety of responses from the skaters; some laughed, others snapped pictures to share on social media, while others seemed angry. I witnessed several engage him in conversation. His devotion was remarkable, standing there for hours holding his sign. My heart broke: not only for the young skaters trying to make sense of what he was doing, but more for the man himself. What did he go through to make him protest God in this way?
I was challenged to do something. I felt the responsibility as a Christian, one who works at a church no less, to step in and “save the day.” And reflecting on the faith of the kids in the skate ministry, I wanted to step up. I began to pray, “Lord, what would you have me do? How should
I approach this man who is so against you?” My thoughts raced with potential introductions, but they all felt awkwardly forced, like asking a girl to dance in middle school. For whatever reason, God was simply not giving
me the green light, even though I was truly ready and willing. I felt in my heart, “Shepherd the kids, explain God’s love for this man, and keep praying.” That’s what I did, and I’m planning on going back for more.
Inside of three hours on that Saturday night, I experienced a slew of spiritual ups and downs that ministered to my heart and challenged me about the work we have as followers of Jesus. What a blessing to see parents discipling their children, to see those children step out on mission to lead their peers in Jesus honoring
community, and then to step onto a battleground for the Gospel.
As you think of it, pray for the Woda family and their ministry to young skateboarders. And pray for the devout atheist, that God would use the kids’ presence at the skate park to reveal to him that He exists and wants a relationship with him.
atman and Superman will be there, warding off Cat Woman and Joker. Elsa and Anna will likely bring Olaf
along to enjoy the crisp fall air. And a long way from Kansas, Dorothy will don her ruby red slippers for the evening and accompany Tin Man and Scarecrow to Bay Area Community Church, where there will be no shortage of lions and tigers and bears – oh my!
An annual family favorite, Trunk or Treat will be held October 24 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the church parking lot, inviting children ages 0 to 101 to assume their favorite characters in costume and raid scores of cars for sweet treats. Hosted by The Deep Blue (Bay Area’s children’s ministry), the event serves each year as a fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating on Halloween during which costumed kiddos can collect candy from cars, vans and SUVs decorated in themes spanning animal farms to pirate ships.
In 2013, nearly 500 church and community members came to enjoy a magical evening of food, fellowship, games and, most importantly, amassing enough candy to spoil dinners for months to come. This October, Bay Area is again inviting the community to peruse trunks and collect treats, as well as enjoy hayrides, a hay maze, and a carnival ride. An inflatable train will be available for toddlers to climb aboard, and Chick-fil-A, Burger King, and Robeks are slated to provide free snacks throughout the fall celebration.
This year, Gathering Team Leader Josh Shirlen highlighted, a little competition will be thrown into the trunk-decorating mix: Participants are encouraged to get creative with their décor, and the team with the winning trunk will take home a cash prize. Josh and Children’s Ministry Director Gail Wiles explained the scores of decorated trunks expected to delight crowds will be hosted by Bay Area’s various ministries and Missional Communities, as well as the church’s local outreach partners. “We’re hoping that they come and do trunks that represent in some way their ministry to the local community, and that relationships are built and introductions are made,” Josh noted.
Tricked out trunks and plastic pumpkins full of candy aside, Gail and Josh agreed the most exciting aspects of Trunk or Treat center on community. Not only can families catch up with one another, but children and partents alike can invite their friends to church for a frightfully fun evening of fellowship.
“This is [one of the few] things we do during the year here that’s not a gathering that allows people to invite their friends, their family, their neighbors – whoever they want who might not normally come to church,” Josh highlighted. “It gives people a glimpse of who we are as a people, our community, the love that we have for one another and for our children – it’s a really cool snippet of what it means to be a part of the family here at Bay Area.”
Gail echoed, “We want our families to connect with one another, and we also want to provide them a place that they can invite their neighbors to. We have amazing families that gather here on Sunday mornings, but they don’t ever have an opportunity to catch up, to find out what’s going on in each others’ lives.”
Trunk registration is available online at www.bayareacc.org and costs $10. Half of the proceeds will be pooled as the prize for the winning trunk, and the other half will support charity. Cleanup crews are needed for the night of the event, and interested volunteers also can register online. For more information about Trunk or Treat, contact Gail at [email protected].
october 24th from 6:30 - 8p.m.
Register your trunk on Sundays at The Deep Blue welcome counter, or online at Bayareacc.org/trunkortreat
For the whole galaxy
BBy Meredith Thompson
Those were immortal words uttered by the narrator on the old TV show, Star Trek. It became the theme of the new TV show as the Enterprise explored new frontiers. In a weird sort of way, Bay Area is going where it has never gone before, too, with our budget. Last year, we adjusted the budget upwards to a new record as expenses followed our growth in attendance (which is normal).
The fact is, Bay Area is growing. We’ve set records with recent Sunday morning attendance. In The Deep Blue (Bay Area’s children’s ministry), we’ve had almost 500 kids on a Sunday morning. Student ministries Fusion (middle school) and Fuel (high school) are up to 150-200 students. Our Sunday gathering attendance is through the roof, as is
“To go where no man has gone before.”
BAY AREA’S 2015 BUDGET EXPLAINED
learning community participation in The Docks. Praise the Lord for the people He’s bringing to BACC; God will use them in a mighty way. Our year-over-year growth has prodded us to add more space, build more of a children’s ministry area, and provide more Sunday gathering space for a satellite service next Spring. We’re adding 22,000 square feet for our footprint which means more lights, more maintenance, more heat, more AC, more janitorial work, etc. You get the idea. Our budget must grow to meet these needs. Our adjusted budget last year was $3.613M and we were just shy of reaching that, coming up 1.4% short. With our curtailing of expenses over the summer, we came out fairly well in the end but this year, we just have to do better. Our overall budget will increase by 6.1%. We have new missions initiatives, a new children’s ministry staff person, more funds
for our local partners, and more funds for benevolence, among a 100 other things our operations budget supports. Our new budget goal is $3.823M. The pie chart on this page shows how funds are divided by department per our spending plan. The bar graph shows the trends in attendance and giving. As you can see, great things are happening. We are out to make disciples for Jesus’ sake from here to the nations. We’re glad you’ve joined us in this adventure together. Here’s to a place BACC has not yet traveled. Here’s to a year of following the Lord to greater things for the Kingdom. Yours truly,
Ed KelleyExecutive Pastor
Kim Mitchell has been an active Ministry Partner at Bay Area Community Church for many years with her husband David and their four children. You can find her serving as a small group leader in The Well, Bay Area’s women’s bible studies, on Wednesday mornings or leading the back to school programs and Christmas drives through Walk the Walk Foundation, which she and her husband founded.
Kim, with her husband Dave and two of their daughters, recently went on her first mission trip to El Salvador on one of Bay Area’s short term missions trips. This was an amazing serving opportunity for their family to do together. It all began when her youngest daughter Mary came home from church saying she wanted to “make the trade.”
During their time in El Salvador, Kim and her team worked at the Children’s Center, visited homes in the community, painted a Gospel mural on the Children’s Center outer wall, and did construction work. When talking to Kim about her favorite memories of the trip, she said, “There are too many favorite memories. When we left the US, we were 38 people who sort of knew each other, and when we left El Salvador we were a family”.
When sharing about her time in El Salvador, Kim mentioned a home trip that she and a few of her team members were going on during one of the last days of their trip. At that time, she had no idea what the Lord was intending or planning. On this visit, the team met a young man named Louis and were able to lead him to Jesus. When talking with the team, Louis told them his father had been praying for many years that he would find God for himself.
As a mother of young adults, Kim saw the prayers of a father be answered. This struck a chord in her own life when she realized that she could let go and know that God was working
in her own needs and in her own prayers. She said, “This totally renewed my faith that my prayer WILL be answered which has allowed me to give up my concern for HOW that prayer will be answered.” This realization has brought her complete freedom.
When talking with Kim, you get the overwhelming sense that she is a woman of great faith and a woman who is seeking the Lord with her whole being. She is also a lot of fun to be with. She shared about the many laughs among team members and also the joy
in seeing her youngest daughter, Mary, be baptized while in El Salvador.
Kim’s story shows the realness of encountering and sharing God while “making the trade.” Great things were done, relationships were built, and the gospel was spread to those who needed to hear the good news.
A SHORT-TERM MISSIONS EXPERIENCE
By Ashleigh Bicevskis
Dave and Annie Mitchell build a retaining wall at the children’s center in El Guayabo.
CONNECT WITH BAY AREA
Would you like to be baptized?• K-5th contact: [email protected]• 6-12th contact: [email protected]• Adults: Join us for a group baptism class on October 19 @ 9:30 AM in the front office. Contact [email protected] for more information.
BAPTISM
H A P P E N I N G S
If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a blue shirt in the lobby after each
Sunday gathering or visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/waystoconnect
CARE NETWORK
There are times when every one of us experiences difficulties such as the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce, job loss, addiction, discouragement, spiritual crisis, loneliness, parenting difficulties and many other challenges. God’s intention is that we engage with others and not walk alone through these circumstances! Jesus wants to see us through the challenges instead of avoiding them or going around them. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Christ-centered ministry that assists those seeking help by serving as a bridge to hope and healing through a variety of resources. We offer appropriate referrals and resources such as a Care Coach, a Missional Community, financial assistance, Celebrate Recovery, Christian Counselors, or an appropriate agency or program in the community. If you need some help or have questions, email [email protected] for more information.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, struggles, and habits keep you isolated. Let Celebrate Recovery be a place of healing, hope and community for you! We meet every Monday night, even on holidays, at 7 PM for worship, a lesson, open share groups and fellowship. We share a meal together every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 6-7 PM. The 3rd Monday is a potluck dinner. Stop by our kiosk in the lobby every 1st Sunday of the month to talk with Celebrate Recovery representatives and learn more. Contact [email protected] for more information.
CELEBRATION STATION This is a free, 52-week complementary resource for children, ages 1-12, of parents attending Celebrate Recovery on Monday nights. So while adults explore topics that bring healing and wholeness, children discover the same truths in age appropriate ways. There is limited space, so please be sure to secure a spot for your child/children. Contact Jen Marshall at [email protected] for more information.
HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATIONIf you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound we would love to serve you. Contact us so that we can learn more about how to be of assistance. Contact [email protected] or phone 443-837-3718.
TRUNK OR TREATJoin us Friday, October 24 from 6:30-8 PM for a night your whole family can enjoy. This event is free and open to the community - so invite your friends and neighbors. Festivities this year will include: a trunk decorating contest, hay rides, a hay maze, a carnival ride, free food, inflatables, and more. Registration is $10 if you’d like to host a trunk. You can register your family online at www.bayareacc.org/trunkortreat. Half of the funds will go to the best decorated trunk and the other half will go to charity.
DISCOVER BAY AREANew to Bay Area? Welcome! Join us October 5 from 12:30-1:30 PM in the Bay Café for Discover Bay Area. Learn more about who we are, what we are about, and how you can get plugged in. It’s a great chance for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you. Free lunch included. No RSVP needed - just bring yourself! We hope to see you there. Our next Discover is November 2.
MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPIf you are interested in church membership, our ministry partner process is for you. This 5-week process teaches you about Bay Area, our beliefs, our church, what it means to be a church member and how you can partner with us to achieve the mission of our church. The next process kicks
CONNECTING MINISTRY
Bubby Coale serves weekly as one of our one year old community group leaders in the nursery. His heart to serve families and children is a blessing in the Tidal Pool. Bubby is a true Annapolitan and enjoys everything about being near the water. Thank you Bubby for the love you provide to nursery families every week.
Kasy Schnabel is one of our amazing leaders in Preschool. She says her favorite part of serving is the relationships she has built with the children while serving alongside her own three boys. She’s looking forward to the relationships she’s going to build this year with preschoolers and their families. When Kasy is not serving, she is one of the most competitive “almost” 40 year olds you may ever meet. Be careful; she’s up for almost any challenge!
Bernadette Kraft is one of our dedicated 8 AM community group leaders. She has a passion to teach kids the word of God. Her loving personality captures kids hearts as soon as they meet her. She is a delight to serve next to every week and a blessing to elementary families and volunteers. Thank you Bernadette for being another spiritual influence to the children here at Bay Area.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
PREMARITAL MENTORINGAre you engaged or thinking about getting engaged? The premarital mentor program is just what you need! Strong marriages are the cornerstone of a healthy, Jesus-centered family. Our marriage ministry equips future and existing marriages with the tools they need to make it in marriage. The premarital mentor program pairs couples with marriage mentors (couples who have been married for 10+ years) to help prepare them for marriage. It doesn’t matter whether a BACC Pastor is officiating at your wedding, being prepared is the key! This is the best gift you can give each other as you start your life together as man and wife. Contact Todd & Kim Christner at [email protected] for more information.
PREMARITAL MENTORSHave you been married 10+ years and have a deep desire to see couples start and stay strong in their marriages? If you have a heart for marriage and want to serve in this ministry please join us for a training event on October 16 & 17 at BACC. Contact Kim Christner at [email protected] to learn more and to register. To learn more about the Marriage Ministry at Bay Area visit www.bayareacc.org/carenetwork or contact [email protected]
DIVORCE CAREHave you experienced a divorce and perhaps been a part of a DivorceCare group or another Jesus-focused support group? The Care Network is looking for those individuals/couples who have been supported and encouraged through attending a support group and now may be interested in leading a divorce support group here at BACC. Contact [email protected] for more information.
PRODIGAL CHILDREN SUPPORTLuke 15: 11-32 tells us the parable of the lost son. He leaves home, lives his life the way he wants to and thankfully, he eventually returns to his father. This child has become known as the “Prodigal Child.” While this parable is part of Jesus’ messages describing God’s love for all of us, for some families it is reality. The journey/trial of having a prodigal is incredibly challenging. If you are a parent that has a prodigal, you are not alone. Contact [email protected] for more information about how BACC can lend support and encouragement to you.
off on October 12. To sign up or learn more, visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/ministry-partnership/ or email [email protected]
How Do I Support The Cause of Beyond884: Room For People?
Preferred Methods (no fees charged)
Direct Debit: Go to www.beyond884.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to the BACC Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month.
Personal Check: Write “Beyond884” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to BACC (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401).
Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to BACC. Be sure to note “Beyond884” on the memo line.
NEW Operating Budget Financial UpdateAugust 31, 2014
Fiscal Year ended August 31, 2014 Fiscal Year Giving Goal $ 3,613,000
YTD Giving Goal $ 3,613,000YTD Received $ 3,562,767YTD Actual vs. Goal 1.4 % Behind $ (50,233) AUGUST Giving Goal $ 248,462AUGUST Received $ 342,806
Building Debt Status as of August 31, 2014
Balance Due $ 1,924,171Fiscal YTD Donations $ 46,100
For weekly financial updates, please visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/financials
Please be sure to designate all Building Fund Donations on the Memo Line of your check: “One & Only Life” for Existing Debt or “Beyond884” for the Building Expansion & Beyond884 Outreach. Please note all undesignated checks will go toward the Bay Area Operating Fund.
PRAYEROur missionaries around the world need our relentless prayer. Sign up to receive prayer updates by going to www.bayareacc.org/globalmissions and filling out the sign-up form on the bottom of the page. Please also pray for our short term missions teams leaving later this year.
Please consider giving, over and above, to support those going on short term missions this year. You can give by going to www.bayareacc.org/stm and hit GIVE.
FINANCIALS
GLOBAL MISSIONSGATHERINGS
SATURDAY NIGHT SINGALONGJoin us for Saturday Night Singalong on October 4 at 6 PM.
This is a great opportunity to rest in worship, prayer, and testimony
as a church body. There will be a special space for children to worship
freely with the adults.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORUNITIES
HOSPITALITY COORDINATORBay Area is looking for a Hospitality Coordinator. This position is a part-time, paid position (22-27 hours/week) that requires leadership and hospitality gifts. The Hospitality Coordinator duties include the hosting and catering of events that support various ministries of BACC. The Hospitality Coordinator is also responsible for recruiting, developing, and training teams of volunteers to assist in these activities. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
ELEMENTARY LARGE GROUP COORDINATORChildren’s Ministry is looking for an energetic and outgoing addition to their staff. If you love kids, have drama experience, a creative eye, and would love to plan the elementary large group gatherings each week, ask for more information about the Elementary Large Group Coordinator part-time position. Contact Chyloe at [email protected] to learn more.
KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERSOur team consists of individuals who have a heart for kids. Our workers are paid and we are consistently looking to add to our team. We provide KidCare to all ministries of Bay Area from The Well, Celebrate Recovery, Missional Communities, and different events throughout the year. If you or someone you know is interested in joining, contact [email protected] or visit the Children’s Welcome Desk on Sundays for more info.
PARENT DEDICATIONAre you desiring to dedicate your child? Parent Dedication is more than an event, it’s celebrating your decision as parents to raise your child to follow Jesus. Registration for our next event opens online Sunday October 5. Parents must attend an orientation prior to the event. Visit www.bayareacc.org/deepblueevents for more information or to register your family. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
STUDENT TRAININGAll students fifth grade and above serving in Children’s Ministry this year are required to attend a training session. Join us in the nursery wing Sunday, October 19 at 10:30 AM. We will discuss the policies and procedures of serving in all of our Deep Blue environments. Contact [email protected] for more information.
LOCAL SERVING OPPORTUNITIESMissional Communities often don’t know how to get involved with serving locally. We’re here to help! There are many organizations in the Annapolis area that will be blessed by your involvement; we’d love to connect you with them. Email [email protected] to start the conversation.
NATIVITY SCENE WORKSHOPSWant to make an active step towards reminding people of Jesus during Christmas? Come participate in a nativity building workshop on October 11 from 9 AM - 1 PM at BACC. All materials, tools, coaching and lunch are provided. You’ll walk away with a nativity scene to display in your front yard. Contact Phil Monetti at [email protected] for more info or to sign up.
LOCAL OUTREACH
COMMUNION TEAM: Interested in preparing the communion elements on Sunday mornings once a month?Contact [email protected]
SAFETY TEAM: If you are passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS, First Responders, come be part of helping our church stay safe. Contact Ed at [email protected]
BAY CAFÉ: Interested in serving in the Bay Café? Contact [email protected]
CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Contact [email protected]
PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting those arriving at church. Contact Steve at [email protected]
AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Contact [email protected] SPECIAL BUDDY PROGRAM: Have a heart to serve children with special needs? Contact [email protected] to hear about ways you can bless a child in the Deep Blue by partnering with a family in this unique way.
CONNECTING VOLUNTEERS: If you have a heart for people, you belong on our team. Whether it is greeting at the door or representing Christ and His church on our ambassador team, we need people like you to be our first impression to those visiting or returning to Bay Area. If you
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
FALL LEARNING COMMUNITIESOur fall Learning Communities are underway and in a few weeks new learning communities will be starting up. Stay tuned for the next round of ways to connect in community to learn more about Jesus. To get up-to-date emails, sign up for our Learning Communities newsletter at bayareacc.org/learningcommunities
EL SALVADOR:November 8 - 16Led by Steve & Janice Onken - Full
GLOBAL MISSIONS CONTINUED...
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
UGANDA: HIV/AIDS Ministry and renovation of medical clinicFebruary 2015, led by Leanne Lane
INDIA: ICBMRescheduled for January 3-15, 2015 Led by Mike and Stephanie Lane - Full
UGANDA STM INFORMATION MEETINGCome to an informational meeting for the Uganda short term mission trip on October 26 at 11:15 AM in The Docks in Room B. Contact [email protected] for more information.
SUDAN SEA CONTAINER PROJECTBay Area Community Church is going to be sending a container of needed materials to Sudan later this year. We are looking for highly motivated, organized, servant leaders to form a task force for this significant ministry. If you are interested, please contact [email protected]
THE LILI PROJECTRachel Pletts offers an intimate, engaging setting for Missional Communities to invite friends and family to a musical performance in their home. Through the LiLi Project, Rachel tells stories about what God has done in her life, who He’s proven Himself to be, and offers a glimpse of what it looks like to have a relationship with Christ. If you have people in your life who you think would be impacted by this experience, contact Rachel at racheljoypletts.com/lili/ for more information. For additional questions, email [email protected]
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
From HERE to THERE. “A disciple who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40. At The Well, our ministry for women, we grow from HERE to THERE in our relationship with God. No matter your starting point, God desires a closer relationship with you. Our studies for fall have begun, but we still have one starting at the end of October that you can join.
MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDYTuesdays from 6-7:30 AM in room 236. Email Dennis at [email protected] for more information.
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Did you know BACC has an entire ministry devoted to prayer? The BACC Prayer Ministry is made up of teams of individuals devoted to gathering in prayer for the church worship gatherings, the pastors, our missional efforts and missionaries, the ministries of the church, those who are sick or saddened by grief and those who are wrestling with life’s struggles. The Prayer Ministry provides an opportunity for us to gather together and share our hearts with our Father who loves us. Let’s pray together. The prayer room is located on the second floor of BACC. For more information about prayer or the teams, go online to www.bayareacc.org/prayer or contact [email protected]
PRAYER MINISTRY
THE WELL BIBLE STUDIES
“Lord, Teach Me To Pray”This video series by Kay Arthur is based on the Lord’s Prayer and uses practical lessons helpful for women to learn how to talk to God through prayer. This is helpful for beginners and for those more seasoned in their prayer lives. Join us Tuesdays, Oct. 28 - Dec. 9, from 7-9 PM. Cost: $15. Contact Darby Cate at [email protected]
OTHER EVENTS
WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+)This group of women encourage each other in their walk with Christ and to leave a lasting legacy for others. They meet on Monday, October 13 & 27 from 10:30-11:30 AM in The Warehouse. They are using the book, Teach Me to Number My Days by David Roper. Contact: Cedulie Sanchez at [email protected]
WOMEN IN PRAYERThe Women’s Prayer Team meets on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 AM to pray. Contact Cedulie Sanchez at [email protected]
QUILTS FOR KIDSJoin us on Saturday, October 18 from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM in room 223. Bring your own sewing machine and we provide the fabrics. For the next four months, we will be making 50 quilted tote bags for Virginia nursing students to stuff and deliver to Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. and 50 quilts for Walk The Walk Foundation’s annual Walk of Christmas Drive. If you would like a quilt kit, have a quilt you would like to donate, or have a question about this ministry, please contact Janet Hogan at [email protected] for more information.
BREAST CANCER RUN/WALKWomen’s Ministry will be participating
in the Think Pink Family Fun Run/Walk & Breakfast in the Park sponsored by Pinked Perspective, a non-profit founded
by Bay Area member & breast cancer survivor, Kara Hamilton. This event on Saturday, October 4th, at Broadneck
Park, Annapolis (start time 8:30 AM) will create awareness for breast cancer
and collect materials for kits that are sent to women facing breast cancer surgery. You can register & find a list of items to be donated at www.PinkedPerspective.org
are interested in learning more about this Sunday serving opportunity, contact [email protected]
WOMENS MINISTRY: Interested in serving on an event committee for Women’s Ministry this year? Contact [email protected] for more information.
AMIE MERRIKEN has been with us for a year, working hard to minister to her group of now 8th grade girls. She attends almost all of our events, creating lasting relationships with our students and discipling them to become mature followers of Christ. When she is not at church
working with our students, she works in a clinical microbiology lab, experimenting with new recipes, and learning to play the guitar. Her passions extend beyond our borders to international missions and this year she had the chance to go to Uganda with one of our mission teams.
BROOKE HARTWELL started to attend Bay Area during the Summer of 2013 when she was home from college, looking for a place to be connected with other believers. She started serving with the Student Ministry a year ago when she decided that she didn’t want to simply attend church, but to volunteer and make an impact in the lives of students, just as she was affected by her Young Life leader when she was a high school student. She currently works with our 9th grade girls, mentoring them and seeing them grow in their faith and love for Christ. Brooke is currently studying to get her Personal Trainer certification and occupies her time preparing for her wedding in May. Somehow in between all of this, she tries to spend as much time outside as she can, running and being active. The Student Ministry has been very blessed to have Brooke working with our students.
LEADER SPOTLIGHT
AMPLIFYHigh school students, join us every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 PM for our mid-week gathering where students grow deeper in their walk with God through group-based discipleship. Each Amplify gathering features free food, games, and gender/grade specific Community Groups led by trained and caring adult leaders. Students will experience true community and discipleship in the context of their peers, all in a fun environment. Contact [email protected] for more info.
MIDDLE
All Middle Schoolers are welcome to come out October 10 from 7-9 PM to Bay Area for our October Club 678 “Pumpkin Chunkin.” We’ll be hurling some pumpkins with a
catapult. Bring a pumpkin to carve or throw or both! We’ll have apple cider, and a pumpkin carving contest. Invite your friends and wear orange. Club 678 is the second Friday of every month and is a great opportunity for students to hangout and invite friends who have never been to Bay Area before. Contact [email protected] for more info.
SUNDAY TEACHING SERIES: ALTER EGOEveryone loves a superhero. Superman. Wonder Woman. Iron man. They swoop in and fight the bad guys, save the day, and somehow make their spandex suit look cool all at the same time. But chances are, if we ran into one of them on street, we wouldn’t recognize them. Because almost all superheroes have another side—their mild, unassuming, simply-not-as-awesome alter ego. Their real, every-day life identity is rarely as impressive. In that way, we all have something in common with superheroes. There’s a public side of us. A super-identity that most of the world gets to see. We’re funny. We have friends. We’re confident. But deep in our hearts, we know there’s an alter ego—a less than super side we’d rather hide away. As we take a closer look at three habits that often bury themselves in our alter egos, we find that God has something to say about each one that can free us from living a double-life.
Sunday, September 21: No Worries (9:30 AM & 11:15 AM)Sunday, September 28: Bad to the Bone (9:30 AM & 11:15 AM)Sunday, October 5: All About Me (9:30 AM & 11:15 AM)
PARENT DESSERTParents of middle and high school students, come join us on Wednesday, October 8 from 7-8 PM, for our semi-annual Parent Dessert. You’ll meet your son/daughter’s Community Group Leader, and have the change to form a relationship with him/her that will help point your son/daughter toward Christ. Dessert and coffee will be served. Contact [email protected] for more information.
BAPTISM PARTYOn November 8 at 6-8 PM Children’s and Student Ministries are having a Baptism event. If your child or student wants to be baptized, we would love to celebrate this milestone with you. Middle and high school students go to bayareacc.org/basmbaptism. Grade 5 and below go to bayareacc.org/child-baptism-application to sign up.
STUDENT MINISTRY
