November 2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Baptists at Their Best<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For 4 weekends in a row, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at four ABC regional meetings. What an opportunity to meet American Baptists at their best! In New Brunswick, New Jersey, I attended their \u201cpastors academy\u201d where they took attendance and taught classes leading toward a certificate. One class was on maintaining good financial records in the local church. Another was on email etiquette. Lee Spitzer and his able staff including Vernl Mattson and Elmo Familiran gathered over 500 for a one-day session culminating with a luncheon at the Hyatt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In St. Louis where Great Rivers gathered, I attended a session led by Marsha Brown Woodard, a former colleague in the Youth Department and heard a message from Adam Bond at their pastors event. BGM member Jim Wolfe oriented me to the region\u2019s business! I met one woman who shared with me about her concern for her identical twin brother who was estranged in Shenyang, China. I assured her that if I happen to meet him, I\u2019d tell him that his sister loves him. Dwight Stinnett led his board through a review of the region\u2019s investment portfolios that I thought was superbly done and should be a continuing educational seminar for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Evergreen Baptist\u2019s meeting was at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship where we visited after our September Executive Committee meeting in Seattle and where Leslie Braxton is pastor and is also a member of the BMS Planning Team. I worked hard that weekend\u2014speaking at the Ministers Luncheon, preaching twice at the annual meeting and then preaching at FBC, Seattle on Sunday morning. A Chin choir sang one night and a Karen group of women danced the next day. BGM member Perla Belo and her husband Gus and Inter-Caucus chair Kenneth Kho were present. I also met Stephanie Commandest, the new BGM member from Evergreen who will be serving next year. AWAB held their meeting after Evergreen\u2019s but the board members came early to participate in the regional sessions. Marcia Patton and people like Yosh Nagakawa are modeling for us how to live into a new reality when consensus decision-making in caucus groups brings us closer to becoming the beloved community. At FBC, Judge Charles Smith introduced me before I preached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, the Philadelphia Baptist held their annual Mission Banquet at the Hilton on City Avenue with close to 600 in attendance. James McJunkin wanted me to speak about hospitality to the stranger and immigrant. Each year, they give recognition to people who have been mission-oriented in their local churches. This is a great idea to encourage people and churches to be missional. Imagine if we gave awards to churches that have done adaptive change, would there be more commitments to facing today\u2019s realities? BGM member Dean Parker gave me encouragement and I met many former colleagues and friends: Norm Green (Norm\u2019s wife, Dolores was an award recipient), Bill Klein, Joe Leonard, and Jeff Snyder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sharing the Word<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For these regional meetings, I prepared 4 messages to give that reflected where my heart is in discerning God\u2019s call for American Baptists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Signposts Along the Way<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I attended the World Relief Committee meeting to learn more about this work especially since their operating manual is being revised. With an improving real estate market, I attended the 588 Real Estate Council to participate in the discussions. And finally, planning and envisioning the 2015 BMS in Overland Park next June was another example of American Baptists at our best! The GS Search Committee will meet prior to BGM to review applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a deep appreciation for the competent and dedicated staff colleagues in Valley Forge to whom I have an opportunity to serve. They make me look so good! Thank you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" November 2014 American Baptists at Their Best For 4 weekends in a row, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at four ABC regional meetings. What an opportunity to