Missionaries Inspire Ministry Ideas
Drs. Rick and Anita Gutierrez, American Baptist global servants in South Africa, met with members of ABCORI churches during the final week of April to talk about ways their mission work might inspire ministries in Rhode Island.
Members of American Baptist Women's Ministries of Rhode Island worked with Rick and Anita to learn to make shade covers for large domes that are used by South Africans in raising chickens and growing fruit trees.
Health screening, respite care, walking groups, nutrition, and small-group studies were just some of the possibilities discussed during two sessions with Rick and Anita about ways that ABCORI churches might develop health-related ministries.
Members of ABCORI churches built the same kind of dome that Rick and Anita use in their mission work in South Africa. The domes are used in raising chickens, growing young fruit trees, and providing meeting spaces.
Three congregations hosted the missionaries during their Rhode Island visit. Rick and Anita spoke to members from four ABCORI congregations during a dinner at Georgiaville Baptist Church. Rick then spoke at a potluck dinner at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church and during the Sunday worship service at Central Baptist Church in Westerly.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about these possibilities and/or inviting Rick and Anita to visit your congregation when they return to Rhode Island in late summer or early fall, contact Rev. Kathryn Palen at kpalen@abcori.org or (401) 522-9731. To see more photos from their April visit, go to http://www.abcori.org/south-africa-to-ri.html.
Board of Ministries Considers Resources
Needed to Fulfill Vision for ABCORI Members of ABCORI’s Board of Ministries gathered on April 24 to consider their role in helping ABCORI move into the future.
Executive Minister Courtny Davis Olds shared some of her hopes for ABCORI’s future:
ABCORI will earn a reputation as a go-to organization for resources, expertise, assistance, and support.
This will require ABCORI to develop new programs and resources through a process of discerning, experimenting, and evaluating—and trying again and again.
It also will require maintaining a qualified staff.
ABCORI will equip congregations and their leaders in new and expanding ways so that they may be engaged in vibrant and relevant ministries where they are.
This will require ABCORI to continue establishing relationships—with congregations and with other ministry organizations.
It also will require ABCORI to provide ministry opportunities that allow possibilities beyond what an individual congregation might be able to do.
The ultimate goal will be proclaiming the gospel and transforming lives.
Rev. Dr. Davis Olds noted that ABCORI will need to be financially stable and well governed if those hopes are to be fulfilled. The board will be responsible for providing leadership in those areas.
Board members spent time in small groups reflecting on the assets that ABCORI already has that would help the organization reach this new sense of vision. The groups identified assets such as a strong staff; ABCORI’s property; existing relationships with and among congregations; and God’s leadership.
Working in small groups, board members also considered the resources, information, and training they need in order to do their work. They identified such things as learning more about how to understand the organization’s finances; working with an outside consultant on developing more productive board practices; and gaining a better sense of current and future cultural trends.
Board members also reviewed action steps they identified during a board retreat in January and considered possible actions steps to add to that list. They also began a discussion of how to evaluate their work as a board, including progress made on the identified action steps.
The meeting concluded with reports from representatives from ABCORI committees and other organizations and staff members.
Members of Central Baptist Church in Jamestown celebrated the retirement of their pastor,
Rev. Kurt Satherlie, on May 7. His final day with the congregation included worship with the Matsiko Choir and the dedication of the church's new patio. (Weather prevented an outdoor dedication.) Kurt began his service at CBC on May 1, 2016.
Join us this summer
at Canonicus Camp & Conference Center
for these great ABCORI-sponsored opportunities
From Our Churches First Baptist Church of North Kingstown(1135 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown) Spring Bazaar May 6 | 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
The event will feature handmade May baskets, baked goods, a white elephant table, and various vendors. Lunch will be available. (See flyer.)
Georgiaville Baptist Church(100 Farnum Pike, Smithfield) Two Organs Available The church has two organs available to donate. For more information, contact the church office at (401) 232-5925 or geobapt@gmail.com. (See photos of the organs.)
First Baptist Church in America (75 N. Main Street, Providence)
The congregation is creating a raised-bed vegetable garden thanks to a grant from RI Conservation Districts; USDA Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the RI State Conservation Committee.
Other News & Opportunities Lifespan Community Clergy Luncheon The Lifespan Spiritual Care Department invites clergy and other community faith leaders who may do visitation in their hospitals to a community clergy luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on May 16. It will take place in Rhode Island Hospital's Gerry House Lounge, 593 Eddy Street, Providence.
The luncheon will provide an opportunity to:
* Meet the Lifespan spiritual care team as they discuss how to partner in supporting patients. Lifespan’s community visitation policy will be addressed.
* Hear from Lifespan’s Community Health and Equity Department about Lifespan's work to bring health programs to the communities of Rhode Island.
* Network with other clergy colleagues from throughout the state.
RSVP by Monday, May 8, to Se Ennis at SEnnis@lifespan.org or (401) 444-5726. Please indicate any dietary requirements you may have.
Amercan Baptist Women's Ministries of RI Annual Conference Join us for our annual conference on Saturday, June 17, at Union Baptist Church in Pawtucket. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Sandra Barnes. The day also will include time for fellowship, creative workshops, and lunch. The registration deadline is June 5. Flyer Registration Form
Everyday ABC Conversations The next Everyday ABC Conversations event will focus on "Congregational Innovations." It will begin online at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, and feature Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula and Rev. Travis Norvell. They will share about how they are innovating in their own ministries. For more information and to register, visit https://www.abc-usa.org/how-we-serve/events/everyday-abc-conversations.
Biennial Mission Summit Online Sessions An online option will be available for a number of events during the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit, which will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The online events are to include:
Friday, June 23
* Welcome Session, 3:00 p.m. (ET)
* Spotlight on Puerto Rico, 4:00 p.m. (ET)
* Worshipful Work - International Ministries Report, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
* Friday Evening Worship, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Saturday, June 24
* Worshipful Work - American Baptist Home Mission Societies Report, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
* Saturday Evening Worship, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Sunday, June 25
* Sunday Morning Worship, 9:00 a.m. (ET)
* Business Session, 2:30 p.m. (ET)
* Worshipful Work - American Baptist Churches USA, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
* Sunday Evening Worship, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
The registration fee to participate online is $49. To register, visit https://web.cvent.com/event/dab7a5fb-00e4-48f6-b6c6-499c30e7b4e9/regProcessStep1?locale=en-US.
Sturgis Mission Trip The ABC Emergency Services Center Mission Project will be open August 5-12 during the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in and around Sturgis, South Dakota. The project is sponsored jointly by ABC Dakotas and ABC Nebraska. To learn more about this mission opportunity, view the flyer/registration form.
New Pulpit Supply Resources ABCORI is excited to share new resources related to pulpit supply for congregations. These resources include: * the current pulpit supply list. * a set of guidelines for congregations related to pulpit supply. * a form that will help congregations provide information to supply preachers. * a set of guidelines for supply preachers.
We invite you to share this information with everyone in your congregation who has a hand in arranging/working with your pulpit supply process (i.e., administrative assistant/secretary, deacon chair, pastor).
We plan to update the pulpit supply list on a quarterly basis. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Dr. Courtny Davis Olds at cdavisolds@abcori.org or (401) 522-9733.
Pray for Our Churches in Pastoral Transition * The Baptist Church of Warren, Warren * Calvary Baptist Church, Providence
* Central Baptist Church, Jamestown
* Chepachet Union Church, Chepachet * Congdon Street Baptist Church, Providence (Rev. Dr. Cynthia Smothers, Interim Pastor) * First Baptist Church, East Greenwich (Rev. Paul Rollins, Interim Pastor) * First Baptist Church, West Warwick (Rev. Dr. Paul Hanson, Interim Pastor) * First Baptist Church, Wickford(Rev. Dr. Reppa Cottrell, Interim Pastor) * Greenville Baptist Church, Greenville (Rev. Dr. Tom McKibbens, Interim Pastor) * Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church, Cranston * Sheldon Street Church, Providence If you are interested in applying for any of these church pastoral positions, please contact Rev. Dr. Courtny Davis Olds at (401) 522-9733 or cdavisolds@abcori.org.
The next Connections will be published on Friday, May 19.
Items should be submitted to info@abcori.org by noon on Wednesday, May 17.
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