AssociationLIFE (May 2008)
Arundel Association
Glen Burnie Church will have a Jerusalem Marketplace Holy Land Adventure Vacation Bible School June 22-26. Kids and adults will explore what it might have been like to live when Jesus did. Church members will set up a “Jerusalem Marketplace” behind the church with carpentry, pottery, weaving, jewelry, candy, musical instruments and herbs and spice shops. There will also be a bakery.
Linthicum Church members have an ongoing ministry with the troops and their families at Walter Reed Medical Center. They collect food, toiletries and other items for the mending soldiers and their families. Ernestine Stith, church secretary, said often family members find temporary housing nearby the center to be close to their loved ones. Stith said the families really appreciate the thoughtfulness. Church members also include Christian magazines and tracts and games, videos and books for the kids. Stith said there is always a need for more items. Church member Larry Jacobs is the coordinator of this ministry.
The church had revival services last month, led by Douglas Alberts, pastor of Grace Church of Sunset Beach.
North Arundel Church, Glen Burnie, will have its fifth annual Swap Meet and Bike Show from noon to 5 p.m. on June 14. All classes of motorcycles are eligible for trophies. Members will serve open pit beef, turkey, ham and soft drinks. A variety of motorcycle vendors and clubs will be represented. The band “Snake Pit” will play through the afternoon. Bike registration begins at 11 a.m.
Baltimore Association
Crossway International Community Church, Owings Mills, has sewing classes at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Darsna McKoy teaches the basics and participants work at their own pace making what they’re comfortable with. McKoy has extra sewing machines available for those who don’t have one and will bring them if needed.
The church is planning VBS using Outrigger Island curriculum beginning July 7 and an Upward Basketball camp beginning July 21.
Last month Crossway had a health fair, offering free medical screenings and representatives and information.
First Church, Dundalk, has a ladies craft time at 10 a.m. every Wednesday.
On May 18, Middle River Church's choir will present the cantata, "3:16 The Numbers of Hope," based on Max Lucado's book of the same name at 11 a.m.
Patterson Park Church installed a lift, making their sanctuary handicap accessible as well as providing an alternative to those who find steps too difficult.
Valley Church, Lutherville, will have a kid’s summer sports camp featuring soccer and basketball June 23-27 for kids age kindergarten through fifth grade.
Blue Ridge Association
Paramount Church, Hagerstown, celebrated its 40th anniversary on April 27. Paramount began as Paramount Chapel in 1968. The special anniversary service included special music with projected pictures of church members and activities from years past and an anniversary dinner on the church grounds.
This month, the church will host a mother-daughter dinner. They’ll also welcome the “Bumbaugh Family,” a singing group from Pennsylvania for Mother’s Day.
Delaware Association
Ogletown Church is preparing for its 50th anniversary. Among the festivities there will be an anniversary banquet on July 19 and a picnic at Lums Pond on July 20.
The planning committee is seeking pictures, slides and other memorabilia media. For more information call (302) 737-2511.
Eastern Association
The women of Berlin First Church are selling cookbooks featuring their own homemade recipes. “It started in a garden” costs $10 each and proceeds help fund women’s ministry.
Ocean City Church had an Upward Flag Football clinic in April in preparation for a new league beginning in the fall.
Mid-Maryland Association
Cornerstone Community Church’s young adult group celebrated “Pi day” (March 14) by getting together, eating pies and watching the movie “Amazing Grace.”
Cross Life Church, Elkridge, will have a track and field camp for kids ages 6-13 years old June 23-27 featuring high jump, discus, javelin, long jump, shot put, sprints and distance running. The registration deadline is May 22.
Church members are working to fill a trailer with supplies to be shipped to the Dominican Republic to help victims of Hurricane Noel. Church members will participate in a mission trip to the country in July.
Gethsemane Church, Glenwood, offers free conversational English classes from 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday.
Friendship Church, Sykesville, commissioned a team to go to Rwanda April 26-May 9. The women on the team will work with a missionary to teach homeless girls how to sew, giving them a trade to get them off of the streets. They’ll also show the “Jesus” movie and share Christ in other outreach opportunities.
The men will help rebuild a missionary retreat center at Lake Kivu. They will also show the “Jesus” movie and share as the opportunity presents itself.
The church regularly ministers in Puebla, Mexico. John Hevey, associate pastor and missions coordinator said teams do VBS and construction work, but they also use whatever special gifts team members provide. A doctor joined the team three years ago so they’ve been able to include medical care.
Westminster Church celebrated their senior pastor Larry Steen’s 25-year anniversary as the church’s pastor on Mar. 9. Freddy Parker, BCM/D missionary for Acts 1:8, partnership missions, men's ministry and prayer, was the guest speaker. Other special guests included Carroll County delegate, Tanya Thornton Sewell, who presented Steen with an official citation recognizing his dedicated service to God and to the people of Westminster Church and the community. Linda Ferguson, representing Senator Larry Haines, also commended Steen and presented him with an official citation.
Members honored Steen with fond remembrances and presented him and his wife, Dianne, with a special gift.
Montgomery Association
Georgia Avenue Church, Wheaton, will have is annual mission trip Aug. 4-8. The team will go to Brunswick, N.C.
Han Oh is the new worship pastor at Harmony Hills Community Church of Global Mission Church, Silver Spring. Oh previously served as the youth and worship pastor at Global Harvest Church in Dallas, Texas. Han is a songwriter and professional musician who has performed at Earthlink Live in Atlanta, Atlanta Fest at Six Flags, and JAMA 2005 in Dallas. He has released two acoustic albums, “The Beautiful Life Acoustic Sessions,” and “Benefit of the Doubt.” He is a graduate of Emory University and Southwestern Theological Seminary.
Potomac Association
Joy Christian Fellowship now meets at 127 Bannister Circle in Waldorf.
Marbury Church members and youth from Potomac Heights Church provide breakfasts, laundry, showers and dinners for needy people in their community.
Potomac Heights Church is using an “Ark Almighty” website to connect people in the congregation with specific needs with those who can meet them. For example, recently someone posted that they needed a refrigerator. Someone else provided one. An elderly member needed yard work done. Someone in the church did the work.
The Sunday School department at Bayside Church, Chesapeake Beach, had an adult fellowship dinner boat ride.
Prince George’s Association
First Church, Laurel, is starting a Saturday night service geared towards young adults.
On April 27, First Church's choir and orchestra combined with the BCM/D Chorale and Jubilation Orchestraand four other churches to present the cantata, "3:16 The Numbers of Hope," based on Max Lucado's book.
First Church, Suitland, had a missions conference last month featuring guest speaker Nathan Leigh from Washington Bible College. The mission project was collecting items for Fisher House at Andrew Air Force Base. They collected slippers, t-shirts, sweatpants, socks, backpacks and weight lifting gloves that protect the hands of new wheelchair users.
Church members also met last month to “take Jesus to the streets.” Members gathered for prayer then went throughout local neighborhoods praying for neighbors.
The women of Greenbelt Church are ministering to their local police department. They’ve been praying for policemen and delivering homemade cookies. The ministry is called “cookies for cops.”
Oxon Hill Church has an international ministry led by Ramone Hugo. The church has an ongoing ministry to Filipino teachers. Willard Spurlock, Oxon Hill’s pastor, said teachers from the Philippines come to the area for jobs. The school system helps them find temporary housing, but they need other supplies like house wares, some furniture and other supplies. One of those teachers began attending Oxon Hill and made the church aware of the teachers’ needs. Now the church has about 20-30 Filipinos who attend as a result to the ministry to the teachers.
Spurlock said the church does not want to have a separate Filipino Church, but wants to have an integrated congregation. The Filipinos’ native tongue is Tagalong, but most speak English.
The church is preparing to celebrate its 65th anniversary with a special service on June 19 followed by a reception.
Susquehanna Association
The Women on Mission at Towne Church hosted a "Focus on WMU" Breakfast for their ladies, Acteens and GA's on Saturday, Mar. 8. Former Southern Baptist missionary, Susan Thompson Robertson, shared her dramatic personal testimony relating the truths of God's Word in an inspiring, uplifting, and challenging manner. Hearts were touched and refocused in an amazing way!
Oak Grove Church, Bel Air, will host the Children of the World as part of their 2007-2008 U.S. tour at 6 p.m. on May 18. The choir is comprised of orphaned and disadvantaged children from several different countries. They will sing in English and in their native dialects and they’ll share their stirring personal testimonies. The children have performed in at Focus on the Family events, The Brooklyn Tabernacle, The Crystal Cathedral and at Disney World.
The Oak Grove Elementary Choir will open for the Children of the World. For more information about the Children of the World, see their website: www.worldhelp.net/MusicOutreach.aspx.
Western Association
Western Association will have its annual prayer/evangelism conference this on May 12 and 13. Author and speaker John Franklin is the guest speaker.
The schedule is a supper and message from 6 to 7 p.m. on May 12 at First Church, Cumberland, followed two training sessions and dialogue from 7-9 p.m.
On Tuesday, May 13, there will be a pastor’s lunch with John Franklin and Randy Millwood, BCM/D missionary for missional church leadership, small groups, E-quip.net and seminary extension, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the La Vale Western Sizzlin Steakhouse. The cost is $6 each.
For more information or to register for the events contact Kenny Heath, Western Association’s director of missions, at wbamb@juno.com.
