https://www.abc-usa.org/2021/11/2021-advent-reflection-series/
DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING
Generosity Project
An opportunity is here for pastors who are ready for a fresh focus to start 2022. A Pilot Program, “Generosity Project” will be launched in Mid-America starting January 2022. This is a perfect program for pastors to learn how to lead their churches toward what it means to be generous the Jesus way.
*One year commitment *Meet monthly with 5-8 participants via Zoom *Group decides the time and day *One book per quarter will be read and discussed *Facilitator will assist with the discussion *You will design at least one generosity experiment for your ministry context *Explore ways to apply your learnings beyond this project after reading the last book *There is no cost for the program or the books, thanks to a Palmer Grant and support from American Baptist Home Mission Societies. We need 5 to 8 participants to form a cohort. By Dec. 10, 2021 please let Rev. Gary Martin know if you would like to participate.
gary@mid-abc.org or 515-329-6434
The list of books that are read during the Generosity Project are:
> Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger
> Beyond the Offering Plate ed. By Adam Copel
> Money and Your Ministry by Margaret Marcuson
> Embracing Stewardship by Charles Lane and Grace Pomroy
And as a reminder, they are free for all the participants. Quarterly, we read a book, discuss it and come up with individual ideas to put into our ministries.
American Baptist Leaders Release
“You Are Special” Storybook Video
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/1/21)—American Baptist Churches USA is pleased to offer a children’s storybook video for the American Baptist family based upon the book, “You are Special” by Max Lucado with illustrations by Sergio Martinez. Members of the National Executive Council provided the voices and narration for the story and director Jonathan Wu produced the video. The story tells of a group of Wemmicks who live in a community where people place dots on one another for bad things and stars on one another for doing good things. One of the members of the community, Punichello, notices that Lucia has no stars or dots and sets out on a journey to discover how this is possible. While the video is drawn from a children’s book, the message is one for all ages.
We invite you to view the video here:
https://www.abc-usa.org/2021/12/american-baptist-leaders-release-you-are-special-storybook-video/
The National Executive Council is comprised of the leaders of American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist International Ministries,
American Baptist Women’s Ministries, and MMBB Financial Services, along with the General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA.
The current members of the National Executive Council are:
Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director, American Baptist Home Mission Societies
Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain, Executive Director, American Baptist Women’s Ministries
Rev. Sharon Koh, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, American Baptist International Ministries
Dr. Louis Barbarin, Chief Executive Officer, MMBB Financial Services
Dr. C. Jeff Woods, Interim General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA
Free, open-access book: Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry is forthcoming from Books @Atla Open Press, Scholarly Editions, Teaching Religion and Theology series, April 2022. Contributors include practitioners, educators, and researchers from the US, Canada, and UK. Short videos from contributors to this book will be posted in the coming months at: https://darrylwstephens.com/bivocational-and-beyond/.
Online class: The Future of Multivocational Ministries, April 7–May 17, instructor Darryl W. Stephens. Six-week class offered through the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry, 2.5 CEUs. Study and discussion of the forthcoming volume, Bivocational and Beyond. Cost TBD. For information, contact pam@lancasterseminary.edu.
https://ccl.ministrelife.org/
Education & scholarships
American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ (ABHMS) Scholarships Ministry administers the American Baptist Financial Aid Program that supports American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) clergy and lay leaders serving in church vocations with grants to enhance their skills for ministry.
Cultivating NEW LIFE
The Cultivating NEW LIFE program provides grants of up to $300 to ministerial leaders to attend conferences, workshops and seminars focused on personal and congregation renewal. Ministerial leaders who are listed in the current ABCUSA Professional Registry may apply for this grant each year. Cultivating NEW LIFE grants may not be combined with other funding provided by ABHMS.
Applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of your participation.
Click here for application.
Continuing Education Grants
Ministerial leaders preparing to visit one of the ABC-related Centers for the Ministry or participating in an ABC-related mission trip may apply for a grant of $250. Applicants must be listed in the current ABC Professional Registry. This grant may not be combined with Cultivating NEW LIFE grants or other funding provided by American Baptist Home Mission Societies. D.Min. students are eligible for $250 awards each of their first two years of study.
Applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of your participation.
Click here for application.
Sabbatical/Study Leave Grants
Ministerial leaders may apply for a limited number of sabbatical grants. Grants are available once every five years and may not be combined with other continuing education funding provided by ABHMS for the past two years. Please see the application for additional grant criteria. Request information and an application from the Office of Financial Aid for Studies (610.768.2067).
