DOVER, Del.—Frank Page, former Southern Baptist Convention president, and Ed Stetzer, research director for LifeWay Christian Resources, are among this year’s speakers at the Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware on Nov. 10-11.

This year’s Annual Meeting, as voted by the BCM/D’s General Mission Board this past May, will be shortened with the meeting ending at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, immediately following the annual sermon.

Frank Page, Senior Pastor of First Church of Taylors, S.C.

Page, senior pastor of First Church of Taylors, S.C., since 2001, served two terms as SBC president in 2006-2007. He holds the Ph.D. degree from Southwestern Seminary in the field of Christian Ethics focusing on moral, social and ethical issues. Prior to that, he earned the master of divinity degree, also from Southwestern Seminary. He also earned the bachelor of science degree with honors from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, with a major in psychology and minors in sociology and Greek.

Page’s speaking experience includes revivals, Bible conferences, family life conferences, lecture series at colleges and seminary chapels and evangelism training conferences across the nation and overseas. His speaking engagements have taken him around the world to such places as Germany, Norway, Mexico, Israel, Ecuador, Australia, Nigeria, Brazil, Canada and Africa. He has also taught adjunctively for both Southeastern and Southwestern seminaries.

Page is also the author of several books and many articles for several magazines, theological journals, etc.
As pastor of the 4,300-plus member First Church of Taylors, located in suburban Greenville County, Page has seen tremendous growth, reaching an average worship attendance exceeding 2,400 and over 1,800 in Sunday school attendance. Taylors First has become a leader in the state of South Carolina in missions involvement as well as in missions giving.

Stetzer, well known speaker and author of  “11 Innovations in the Local Church” with Elmer Towns and Warren Bird; “Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can Too”, with Mike Dodson; “Planting Missional Churches”; and “Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community,” is a former church planter and pastor.

Christian artists, Calling Levi, will lead worship on Monday afternoon, and other musical groups will lead throughout the annual meeting.

Fred Dyer, pastor of White Marsh Church and chairman of the BCM/D’s Administrative Committee, will preach the annual sermon at the end of the meeting’s third session.

In addition, there will be verbal reports from International Mission Board and North American Mission Board representatives, and representatives from other agencies will be available at booths where individuals can get information and ask questions.

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

COLUMBIA, Md.—Children learn about God’s love for them through wonderful Bible stories, songs and fun activities designed just for little ones. Children’s ministry volunteers and staff understand the special nurturing each child needs and strive to see that each child feels and understands Jesus’ love for him or her.

“Every time your child is at church, we want to him to feel loved and secure,” shares June Holland, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware missionary for preschool/children, VBS and weekday education. “Every effort should be made to help him be safe and well cared for by loving, dedicated teachers.”

She stresses that, in order to keep children safe, rooms for preschoolers and children at church must be safe, too.

“As a child experiences security, he begins to develop a sense of trust that will help form a foundation for spiritual decisions later in life. And when a child feels secure about his room environment and teachers, he is better able to participate in class activities.”

A former kindergarten teacher, Holland suggests the following ways to ensure a safe and secure environment for church children.

First, review the building, electrical, and fire codes in your area for up-to-date requirements, she said. Though fire inspectors do this annually, she suggests that specific church individuals monitor these codes more frequently. Emergency lighting should be tested as well.

Post fire escape routes and disaster procedures in each room, she continues. Churches who currently do not have such procedures need to make developing them and training volunteers and staff about them a priority. If necessary, she suggests that churches contact their insurance agents and local fire officials to determine effective practices.

Aisles and hallways should always remain unobstructed and walking areas well lit, she advises. Doors to outside areas and classrooms should be secured so as to prevent intruders from entering or children from leaving the rooms without permission. Holland suggests churches employ hall monitors who closely observe the entrances to the preschool and children’s rooms.

Holland also says churches should provide a first aid kit as well as a list of individuals in the church who are trained in first aid and CPR. Teachers and volunteers should be informed of the location of these items as well as a list of emergency procedures.

In addition, churches must furnish preschool and children’s rooms with age-appropriate equipment and supplies, Holland says.

“Rooms should be checked for unsafe equipment—splintering chairs, protruding nails, damaged carpet, dangling electrical cords, and exposed electrical outlets. Repairs need to be made immediately and unsafe items removed from the room,” she advises.

Also make sure equipment is secured so that it cannot be pulled over, fall on, or harm a child in any way, she adds. Also ensure that the materials and toys are safe, nontoxic and free of sharp edges, small parts or openings and hinges.

Outdoor playground equipment should be age appropriate and firmly mounted. Care should be given to the space between the equipment, use of recessed bolts, cushioning material under equipment and fencing.
Holland encourages churches to check with local daycare licensing agencies or insurance agents to evaluate the playgrounds. She also urges churches to ensure their policies indicate the number of adults needed outdoors to supervise the children.

Holland also stresses the importance of a good security system for all children involved in the church’s programs.

“The basic procedure is that all parents must show a security card to the teacher before the child can be released to the parent,” she explains.

Safe Kids, Inc. (www.churchnursery.com) offers two-or-four-part custom or stock security labels that provide nametags and property labels for children with corresponding numbers for the parents. A box of 800, two-part custom nursery labels cost $86.00. Or churches may choose to design and print their own labels using precut labels from the local business supply store.

“The key is that children are signed in, given unique identification numbers that are matched with parents’ or guardians’ numbers to prevent children from abductions or other unsafe practices.”

Parents can help protect their children by following simple guidelines and church policies that state children are to be released to only parents or other authorized adults. Show a teacher your ID card when you come in for your child. Come for your child yourself. Knock on the classroom door, and then remain outside the room until a teacher brings your child to you.

“When appropriate policies are followed consistently by all preschool and children’s programs, your church is in the best position to protect preschoolers and children, safeguard teachers, and reduce the legal liability of your church,” Holland shares.

“Moral, spiritual and legal responsibility requires that churches continue to meet the needs of preschoolers and children with loving, informed diligence.”

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

Evangelizing in the Streets of Bolivia

POTOMAC HEIGHTS, Md.—A Potomac Heights Church mission team got caught in the middle of civil unrest and mounting instability in Bolivia late this summer. Protestors closed the road leading to the airport on the day before the team had to go home.

“Though there was a real good likelihood that we wouldn’t be able to leave, we were never scared for our safety,” team member and Associate Pastor Jason Ferrell said. The summer trip was Farrell’s fifth to Bolivia.
Bolivia has been in the midst of escalating political unrest but Ferrell said the team mainly saw peaceful protests. Few Bolivians carried weapons, though some had sticks.

The team was in Trinidad, a ten-hour ride to the airport in Santa Cruz, when a roadblock that would have prevented them from getting to the airport was erected on Wednesday. The team was preparing to leave the next day. They quickly got word out asking for prayers. Emails were passed along throughout the BCM/D and beyond. God answered those prayers. Ferrell said that for an unknown reason, the protestors postponed the date for the blockade from Wednesday to Sunday. The barriers were removed, and the team was able to leave peaceably.

“What happened was a God thing,” Ferrell said.

Team members decided that if they had to stay, they would just continue on with their work, training Bolivian Christians to evangelize, and disciple and start new churches until they were able to leave.
The Potomac Heights members worked with a group called e3 Partners Ministry. They worked in teams with Bolivian church members from five different churches and translators to evangelize, disciple, start churches and teach them to do the same.

Ferrell said the teams use a unique ministry approach. They walk in an area and meet local people. They use the ministry device “EvangeCube” to share the gospel, give away Bibles and they invite people to new churches, which may be under a nearby tree or soccer field.

The churches, Ferrell explained, have to be within walking distance for the people because the very limited transportation.

On the next day, the team goes back to the people who have shown interest or have made confessions of faith and do Bible studies.

“If they accepted Christ, they were excited and brought others to meet us. Usually when we went back there were more people in the house,” Farrell said.

The team continued that model, leading more to Christ and strengthening the 700-plus people who made confessions of faith.

As the teams worked in groups, the Americans were the ones who first engaged people through the translators. Through the week, the Americans began to say less and the Bolivians took the lead.
“We continue to pass the torch to them,” Farrell said. There may come a time when American teams can’t come back, but the work will continue.

Farrell said Potomac Heights Church has a heart for Bolivia, and for missions, thanks to a mission minded senior pastor, Gary Willet. The church has sent eight teams to Bolivia since 2004. Forty-five church members have ministered there over the years. Those who can’t go provide support through prayer, funding and collecting needed items such as toiletries, socks, hats, gloves and eyeglasses that the teams take with them to distribute.

The church partners with Enzo Saavedra, a former drug lord who found Jesus and is now a missionary. Farrell said Potomac Heights Church loves Saavedra. In fact, he came back to America with the team this summer and spoke at Potomac Heights Church before going to Virginia to see his family. Ferrell said northern Virginia has the highest population of Bolivians in the United States and Potomac Heights Church sees some potential open doors for ministry there.

Since PHBC members have been serving in Bolivia, they’ve helped to establish 25 churches with over 3,000 people meeting every week.

“This is where God has called us to go,” Farrell said. “When I went the first time it radically changed my life. It was the last step for me to go into full-time ministry.”
One of this year’s team members, George O’Leary, agrees that it’s life changing. This was O’Leary’s third trip to Bolivia.

“It used to be hard for me to talk in my own community about Jesus. When you go there it’s hard to think that those people don’t have the opportunity to hear about Jesus. It strengthens my ability to do the same in my own community.

“I will always be going on these trips,” O’Leary said.

“You don’t come back the same,” Ferrell said.

CALLAWAY, Md.—After serving in the Army for 20 years, retired Army Master Sergeant Daniel Moore, now pastor of Callaway Church in Callaway, Md., worked for the Frederick County’s (Maryland) Social Services. He called that time an “eye-opening experience” which opened his heart to ministering to families in need.
Drawing from his own experiences in the military and working with the government, the pastor seeks to minister to the many military families that surround his Southern Maryland church. He offers the following suggestions for others who are interested in doing the same in their own communities.

Visit local veterans’ centers and offer regular worship services and Bible studies.

Presently, Moore holds two worship services each week at nearby Charlotte Hall Veteran’s Home. In addition, he leads a Bible study for the former enlisted men and women.

“These seniors want to keep active, and it’s a great opportunity to share about Jesus with them,” Moore notes, adding that he has had the opportunity to lead several veterans to Christ. He has been able to encourage others, many who know the words of hymns by heart, in their faith.

Encourage those on active duty by sending care packages and notes of encouragement.

On holidays, Callaway Church’s Woman’s Missionary Union and other church members work together to make care packages to send to enlisted church members who are away on active duty. This simple act of kindness reassures the soldiers that someone back home is praying for them.

Build partnerships with area military educational institutions.

For the past 13 years, Callaway has served as a place of Protestant worship for the nearby Harry Lundeberg Seamanship School in Piney Point, Md. As a result, the school now transports students to weekly church services so that they can participate first-hand in worship at the church and be a part of the local church body.

Honor veterans and/or active military personnel on special holidays.

Each year on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, Callaway Church leaders recognize and pray for those who have been involved in the military or who have had family members involved in the military.
Set aside money in a missions fund to assist military families.

Working with “Partners in Care,” Callaway Church knows that families left behind when their loved ones are deployed will have unforeseen needs. And they want to be prepared. Accordingly, they have begun to reserve part of their offerings in a missions fund to assist these families with their practical, financial, and other needs.
Get out in the community.

Callaway Church also networks with other neighboring churches to do outreach in parks and other areas where military families tend to spend time. In addition to benefiting from the outreach personally, these families have a chance to see the church in action, which encourages their participation.

“We’ve had families join our church just because they have seen us actually doing ministry,” Moore says.
As he looks back on all the ways Callaway Church ministers, Moore affirms, “God does big things in small churches!”

Even though his church has just over 100 members, mostly because of the transient nature of the area, it is very mission-minded, he says.

“Most people move away when they’ve completed their military duties here, but it is our hope to touch them with the Gospel before they leave.”

Shannon Baker
BCM/D National Correspondent