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Quote of the Week
""Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength."
-Deuteronomy 6:5
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Farewell Rev. Daniel Martino
On behalf of the Hispanic/Ethnic Ministry, the Hispanic Organization and the entire Baptist family of CT, I would like to express our gratitude to Rev Daniel Martino for his contribution made over the years to the Hispanic ministry in CT.
On Sunday, September 26, 2021, one era will end and another will begin. After serving twenty-years as the Pastor of Church of the City, Rev. Daniel Martino will be passing the pastoral pulpit to Pastor elected, Rev. Jesus Garcia.
In his twenty-years of dedicated service to the ministry of the gospel, Pastor Martino exponentially increased church membership numerically and spiritually. Under his leadership, the church moved from its first building in the Fort Trumbull area to a new building on Redden Avenue. Also, under his leadership, a merger with the historic First Baptist Church and the purchase of the former Bank of America adjacent to the First Baptist Church at 250 State Street took place. This expansion allowed the church grow their ministries including an English and Haitian services.
Pastor Martino, we thank you for your leadership and for shining the light of Christ in the city of New London. You have served the Lord with gladness, tirelessly, faithfully, and with great compassion for His flock. Your investment in the lives of others has truly made a difference. Now, as the day dawns on the next chapter in your life, may God continue to richly bless you and watch over you and your family. May the God of peace grant you peace and continued success in your future endeavors.
-Rev. Sonia Gonzalez
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From the Desk of the Executive Minister
I hope you have registered for the Annual Meeting. Unfortunately, with the spike in COVID, this year's meeting will primarily be a virtual event with only a few people attending in-person. Still, it promises to be an exciting time. We will have Karen Posiadly, Past President of the ABCUSA as our morning speaker and Rev. Dr. Anthony Bennett, Pastor of the Mt. Aery Baptist Church as our preacher for the day’s event. Plus, a lot of exciting updates and recognitions.
Also, on Friday, September 24th at 7:00p.m, Dr. Jeff Johnson. Director of Evangelism for the ABCUSA, will be our guest workshop leader. Dr. Johnson will be sharing more practical Evangelism insights from his Got Style process of Evangelism.
Register for both events by visiting our website.
Reminder: Please remember the threat of cyber-hacking and digital scamming is real. I will not send any correspondence asking for your personal information. Please contact the office immediately if you receive a suspicious email purportedly from me. Should you choose to email me, please use my work email address. You may also call my direct line 860.519.2217. Otherwise, please use the ABCCONN email to leave prayer requests, or church news you want to share with the ABCCONN Community.
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Announcements from ABCCONN
Upcoming Meetings and Events
September 15th- October 15th- Hispanic Heritage Month
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. Read more about this month's activities here.
September 24th- Got Style-Part II!
Pre-Annual Meeting Evangelism Workshop by: Rev. Dr. Jeff Johnson
We live in a world today that resembles the world of the early church. Most churches want to go back in time. The problem is they want to go back to what they perceive to be their ‘glory days’. What they need to do is go back to the days when the glory of the Lord was touching countless lives. Back to the time when the first disciples were made, who had the capacity to turn their world upside down as was said of those first century followers of Christ (Acts 17:6).
ABCCONN is proud to announce Rev. Dr. Jeff Johnson, National Director of Faith Initiation (Evangelism) and Discipleship under the auspices of the American Baptist Churches Home Mission Societies, will be sharing with the leaders and laity of ABC Connecticut what the world was like then, what our world is like now, and how we can do what they did to have a similar impact. Join us for a time of instruction, interaction, and inspiration, as we talk about sharing faith in comfortable and contextual ways, in the 21ST century, with style, YOUR style!
Registration is required so be sure to register here and mark your calendars for event you truly do not want to miss.
(After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.)
September 25th- 197th Annual Gathering
Registration is NOW OPEN for ABCCONN's 197th Annual Gathering and we want to "see" you there! Though we'd hoped to gather in-person, due to the ever-evolving pandemic concerns and out of the safety of everyone, we've pivoted to a mostly virtual experience you DO NOT want to miss*.
The cost to attend is only $25.00. You can register here and remit payment here. (Indicate ANNUAL GATHERING in the special projects/missions line.)
IMPORTANT NOTE ON ANNUAL GATHERING BUSINESS MEETING:
All ABCCONN family and friends are invited to attend the Annual Gathering for a time of worship, inspiration, fellowship and learning. The Business Meeting portion of the Annual Gathering, however, is limited to church delegates. ONLY delegates from each ABCCONN Church will be voting.
Annual Gathering Mission Project
We are excited about this year's Annual Gathering Mission Project.
Let's all contribute and bless the children of Hartford. Order books TODAY!
Three ways to be involved:
1. Purchase or order copies of your favorite children’s books. Have them delivered directly to: Union Baptist Church of Hartford (1921 Main St. Hartford, CT 06120)
2. Sponsor a Children’s book drive in your church, ministry or Sunday school class, collect the books and deliver them to Union Baptist Church.
3. Order books to be delivered to Union Baptist Hartford. They are a non-profit that supports putting books in the hands of children.
October 2021 -Pastor Appreciation Month
October 4th-October 6th-Pastors' Retreat
Pastors' Retreat (Registration Required)
Rev. Riggs has been hard at work preparing for the Inaugural Pastors’ Retreat and REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! This will be a two-day event held in-person at Camp Wightman and the cost to attend is only $20.
Please note SPACE IS LIMITED and COVID guidelines will be followed. To learn more, register, or pay, please visit our website!
October 4th- New Executive Director of Camp Wightman
Camp Wightman welcomes Todd Garmer as its new Executive Director.
October 8th-October 9th- Annual Hear the Call
International Ministries invites you to Hear the Call! Hear the Call is for any adult considering a call to global mission as a short-term volunteer or as a career. Participants will meet with IM staff and global personnel during our online sessions. Together they will explore their call, be able to ask questions, and banish misconceptions of what it means to be a missionary in today's world. There will be opportunities for worship and personal reflection. All of these elements will make Hear The Call a powerful discernment and preparation experience for those whom God may be calling. Click here for registration information!
November 6th- 2PM - 4PM- Celebration of Holly Blacker
Join us in the celebration of Holly Blacker, retiring Director of Camp Wightman. The Board is truly excited for Holly as she enters into a new chapter in life, and we look forward to celebrating her service.
Connecticut Baptist Homes - Pierce Memorial Baptist Home Job Openings are available!
Click here for more information.
MMBB Makes Disaster Recovery Emergency Grants Available to Members!
Click here for more information.
November 11th- 75th Annual Bazaar & Silent Auction Noank Baptist Church
Join this community wide event while you shop for wrapped baked goods and candy along with prepackaged cheeses Christmas decorations, fine gifts, jewelry, knitted items, personalized ornaments, pickles, preserves, live green arrangements and of course bags of greens! Click here for more information.
ABF Estate Planning
As a participant in our Strengthening Your Financial Future (SYFF) Program we would like to provide your ministry with planned giving resources to help grow your ministry endowment with the American Baptist Foundation (ABF). The Estate Planning will educate donors on the benefits of this type of planned gift and the steps to take once they are INSPIRED to make a gift that EMPOWERS your ministry.
Shut the Back Door!
An Excerpt from Rev. Riggs
In the Church in which I grew up, it was customary after a passionate sermon on the goodness of God for the pastor to declare "the doors of the Church are open." I would hear this phrase in my very young ears and think, to myself, "duh, we got in here, didn't we? Of course, the doors of the Church are open". However, the physical doors of the Church were not what the pastor was referring to. I was too literal. He was offering an opportunity to join the body of Christ, the ecclesia. Nowadays, I do not hear that kind of declaration much anymore. However, the statement has never been more accurate. The doors of the Church are still open. Maybe a little bit too open? My intent here is not to talk about the invitation made to join a Church. Instead, I want to expose the mystery of how people come up missing from the fellowship after joining the Church. I want to talk about the Backdoor. Read more here.
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PRAYERS & PRAISE
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."
-1 Timothy 2:1
The First Baptist Church of Mansfield is seeking a part-time Adult Choir Director. For more information, please contact Grace Riesen.
Prayers for the following churches in search of pastoral leadership:
First Baptist Church Norwich
Second Baptist Enfield
Third Baptist Church Enfield
Union Baptist Church of Stamford
Putnam
Quaker Hill
First New Haven
Shiloh
First Baptist Church Shelton
First Baptist Winthrop
Pilgrim Way Baptist Church
First Baptist Church Branford
Have prayer requests? Please e-mail Brittany Stephenson with your supplications for inclusion in the e-news.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, REJOICE!"
-Philippians 4:4
ABCCONN wants to rejoice with you! Please send your celebratory and good news to Brittany Stephenson for inclusion in the e-news.
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National Announcements
Click here to visit the ABCUSA website for the most up-to-date information.
September 1st
Promotional Start for the 2021 World Mission Offering for partnering churches
October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th: 7PM
The Gospel of John: An Online Yale Bible Study with Dr. Harold Attridge
Join us as we explore the Gospel's narrative strategy, probe the larger theological issues that it raises, and reflect on the process of the Gospel’s development and its engagement with the intellectual and cultural context of its first century audience. Register here.
October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th and November 8th and 15th
Chaplain Skills for Community Ministry
Are you exploring a call to chaplaincy in healthcare, prisons, military or higher education? Are you already providing support as a chaplain, pastor, deacon, or missionary in another context? Then Chaplain Skills for Community Ministry is for you.
October 20th: 12PM-1:30PM
Leading in a Liminal Season with Rev. Susan Beaumont
Liminal seasons call for a different kind of leadership presence, one that connects the soul of leaders with the soul of the institution. Learn how to lead in a liminal season. Register here.
October 21st: 12PM-1PM
Fast-Starting a Career of Consequence with Fred Sievert
Explore the symbiotic relationship between faith and career and provide practical Christ-centered advice for creating a career of consequence. Register here.
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Dr. Riggs's YouTube Channel
(Lead Coach)
You can see Dr. Riggs’ most recent YouTube videos by going to the ABCCONN website. You will also find a tab that invites you to subscribe. In each video, Dr. Riggs shares announcements and a word of encouragement. Also, Dr. Riggs is available to meet with you to discuss all things ABCCONN. Reach out to Brittany Stephenson.
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