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IN THIS ISSUE CALM AND BRIGHT 16 “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright.” The birth of Jesus is God’s declaration that all is calm, all is bright. This is a message we need this Christmas in the midst of all the unrest.
PIZZA AND DISCIPLINE 8 Charles Obe lives out discipline in every aspect of life. From the moment we wakes up, to the moment he goes to sleep, he has his whole day planned out to the hour. Exhausting or freeing?
FAITH IN WAITING 6 Abraham, Daniel, Noah and others were all set to be recipients of God’s promise, but some never lived to see the promise come to fruition. Though this was the case, their faith never wavered.
A STAR ROSE IN HYDERBAD 12 Joseph and Esther, our global partners in India, have special Chrstimas traditions that allow them to both celebrate and share the good news of Jesus’ birth to the people of Hyderbad.
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MAGAZINE
ELDERS
BAY AREA LEADERSHIP
EDITOR Abbie Hoekstra
Barry Willhite Bill Plenge Bill Smith Chris Heacock Greg St. Cyr Horacio Tablada John Taylor Ken Gilmore Kyle Sponaugle Merrill Hoekstra Peter Godfrey Rich Heath Steve Youtsey Stu Cooper Tim Grossman Tom Dalpini
Abbie Hoekstra, Communications Director – abbie.hoekstra@bayareacc.org Allen Smith, Missional Communities Pastor – allen.smith@bayareacc.org Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – brent.squires@bayareacc.org Brian Hopper, Annapolis Campus Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Jason Barthelemy, Odenton Campus Pastor – jason.barthelemy@bayareacc.org Jeff Supp, Executive Pastor of Operations – jeff.supp@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Sacks, Serving Director – jocelyn.sacks@bayareacc.org Jonathan Madrid, Worship Leader – jonathan.madrid@bayareacc.org Josh (Burgi) Burgin, Creative Director – josh.burgin@bayareacc.org Kristin Collins, Annapolis Children’s Ministry Director – kristin.collins@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Megan Heath, Women’s Ministry Director – megan.heath@bayareacc.org Michele Rollins, Short Term Missions Director – michele.rollins@bayareacc.org
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Josh (Burgi) Burgin PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple LEAD DESIGNER Josh (Burgi) Burgin DESIGNERS Callie Johnson Forrest Williams Jake Williams Abbie Hoekstra CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Rimando Michele Rollins Barry Willhite Leanne Lane Lauren Gibeault Kammi McGinty
For a comprehensive list of all Bay Area staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/ourteam. We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
COVER PHOTO BY Arianne Teeple
GIVING AT BAY AREA
GIVING METHODS
PHILOSOPHY OF GENEROSITY
The financial generosity of our church family helps fuel our mission of making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. Every gift is used to resource our ongoing ministries at our three campuses, and support dozens of local and global missions partners who are reaching people with the gospel around the world.
If you would like to give, you can do so at bayareacc.org/give, or by mailing a check to our Annapolis Campus (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401). Please be sure to include your campus designation on all gifts.
Want to learn how to manage your finances God’s way? Read our Philosophy of Generosity at bayareacc.org/give to discover what the Bible says about how we can steward our finances in a way that honors God.
Make your online Christmas shopping count for a little extra with AmazonSmile. Visit bayareacc.org/give for more information. W I N T E R 2 02 0 GO&MAKE 3
LETTER FROM THE LEAD
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ootball season is upon us in spite of COVID-19 limitations. Tragically, my team isn’t doing so great. Why? Largely because of poor blocking and tackling. The last nine months have led me to do a lot of reflecting. As 2020 is in the fourth quarter of its formidable year, I find myself seeking God about what 2021 looks like for us. Like most, I’m ready to put this year behind and launch into a new year. I believe God desires to take us back to the basics in 2021. To use a football analogy, back to the blocking and tackling of our faith. Allow me to review with you some of the basics. The faith that we embrace is faith in a Person: Jesus. If I had one word to describe our church, it would be Jesus. We are Jesus people! Jesus has very clearly told His followers their mission. In two words, it is to “make disciples.” It is expressed nowhere more powerfully than in the well-known verses of our Lord’s Great Commission. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 Did you know that in 1987 the Great Commission was a core conviction for the founders of Bay Area? They expressed the original vision as “to play a part in the complete fulfillment of the Great Commission in this generation.” Today, our mission statement embodies the same convictions every time we say, “making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations.” Here is how I think about you, me, and the Great Commission: God has drawn us to Himself through faith in Jesus, placed us in this geographic location at this time, and called us to be part of a specific church family, Bay Area Community Church. Since the mission of the Church involves the Great Commission, and He has called us to be part of this local church, we must conclude that: It is the will of God for us as a church to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of all nations.
So here is my question: Are you resolute about growing and making disciples? As we wrap up this year and enter 2021, there are five specific, doable “blocking and tackling” things you can do, with God’s help, that will revolutionize your life. Here they are: Reflect on one chapter a day of God’s Word every day (You can always do more). As you meditate on the Word, spend time with God in prayer. We recommend the Chapter A Day Guide and Journal. You can download the 2020 version at bayareacc.org/ chapteraday or pick up the 2021 journal on December 27 at the church. Identify three people who do not know Jesus whom God has brought into your life. Commit to praying, serving and sharing the Good News with them. Connect weekly with two spiritual friends with whom you can study the Bible, pray, encourage and hold mutual accountability. Serve in one ministry. God has uniquely gifted you for service. He wants to use all of His children. It might be through a Missional Community or in student ministry. Perhaps it is in children’s ministry or local outreach. Take the next generosity step. God wants to grow our generosity, sacrifice and faith. This might mean increasing your regular giving, getting out of the bondage of debt, or giving a sacrificial gift to further the kingdom. God has great things for us in the coming months. He will impact hundreds of children and students. Many will connect in community, grow in their faith, and serve. New churches will be planted through Sent Network. We will see God raise up new global partners to reach the nations. The greater Annapolis area and beyond will be impacted. But all of this is contingent on us executing on the basics. Nothing fancy or glamorous. Just the faithful things Jesus calls us to do: Daily time with Him, reaching out to people around us who need Christ, connecting with spiritual friends, using our gifts in serving, and growing in generosity. Can you imagine the impact in the coming months if everyone of us go back to the basics of blocking and tackling as we enter 2021? Will you?
From here to the nations,
Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor
Greg St. Cyr is the lead pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributor to GO&MAKE.
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his summer Greg preached snap His fingers and fix what is broken. and have not given up on God. They on Habakkuk, which He would rather partner with humans believe Him, even though the tragedies famously states that, “The to rescue His good world. I think that is of this world have reached right righteous shall live by faith.” Then in why these New Testament authors keep into their very lives. My pastor in the fall the pastors worked through referring to the need to live lives full Boston in 1990 had a seven-year-old Galatians where Paul says, “Abraham of faith, waiting in the hope that God is daughter die of leukemia. My brother’s believed God and it was counted as going to get it done. 18-month-old son was diagnosed with righteousness.” If you google that retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye. phrase from Galatians, you will see If you want to know about more of He had one eye removed and the other that Paul got it from Genesis and these Old Testament people living by radiated. Today he is in his thirties and retweeted it two more times in his faith, you can turn to the “Hall of Fame is legally blind. In 1993 my friend Rod letters to the Romans, and James also of Faith” in Hebrews 11. The author and his wife were buying their first included it in the letter he wrote. describes their faith as living with home. They were enjoying a family Sometimes you wonder if these guys the “assurance of things hoped for.” picnic at a lake by their new house were using a shared Office 365 account Their hope was in that old promise to when their toddler son went missing. to save money. They just kept cutting Abraham; that God was going to bless He had drowned. Some of you may and pasting from each other. In some have known the family at Bay ways, that is exactly what they Area who lost their daughter were doing, because they were in a sailing accident nine years working from the same collection IT SEEMS LIKE GOD’S PLAN FOR ago. All of these people still of the Hebrew scriptures. God had believe in God so many years told Abraham that his children ALMOST ALL HUMANS INVOLVES later. They have felt the tragedy would be as numerous as the stars, of this broken world, and yet it and Abraham believed Him. Later BIG CHUNKS OF WAITING. remains true that the righteous in the story God tells Abraham will live by faith. “Righteous” that He is going to bless the whole people are those who are in world through his descendants, the whole world through him. If you “right relationship” with God. They and Abraham believed that, too. That’s grew up going to Sunday School, you are in right relationship because they faith. The thing is, Abraham never got will recognize many of the names on believe God, just like Abraham did. to see the completion of that promise this roll call: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, because God waited another 2,000 Moses, Rahab, David. The author says In the story of the fiery furnace in the years to send Jesus to that manger in these people all had one unusual thing Book of Daniel, three friends are about Bethlehem. in common – they all died without ever to get tossed into the fire. Before they seeing the promise come to fruition. go in, they say that their God will save It seems like God’s plan for almost Why did he pick that trait to unify them. Then they say that even if He all humans involves big chunks of them? doesn’t save them, even that will not waiting. From the time God first spoke stop them from believing in Him. Wow. to Abraham until Isaac was born was We are living after Jesus, so we “see” All of these people have a unifying trait: twenty-five years. The Bible is very that promise to Abraham fulfilled at faith. The literary genius who wrote dense literature and it often covers Christmas. But just like those famous Hebrews said there was not enough large blocks of time in just a couple people, we are still waiting for the end time to write down everyone’s name. of pages or even a few sentences. of the story. The last couple pages of the That’s why I would add those three Sometimes I think of how long these Bible tell us about the new heaven and friends that survived the furnace, stories took in real time and I realize the new earth where God will take up and then I would add my old pastor, that faith and waiting go hand in hand. residence with us, and there won’t be my brother and his wife, Rod and his When you hear someone teach a long any more crying and no one will have wife Bonnie, and those precious Bay list of the attributes of God, they will cancer. In a way that makes us just Area parents who lost their daughter. talk about how He is eternal, selflike the people in Hebrews 11, we are Sometimes the greatest act of faith is to existing, loving, creating, unchangeable waiting and living our lives by faith. keep believing through all of the chaos and holy. As they go down the list, one of this world. thing they probably won’t say about When I think of my own Hall of God is that He values efficiency! For Fame of Faith, I think of people who some reason the God who spoke the have experienced this broken world universe into existence doesn’t just
Merrill Hoekstra is an elder at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributor to GO&MAKE.
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By Kevin Rimando f you’ve ever met Charles Obe in person, it’s immediately evident that he works out. A lot. He trains to achieve a level of fitness I know nothing about, which is to be, as he described, a “complete athlete.” But his journey into fitness began at the age of seventeen with a different goal in mind: be the guy with the largest muscles in the room. Charles dove headfirst into the world of fitness and weightlifting, and by the time he was 21 years old, he was 240 pounds of muscle. He achieved his goal of being the biggest, strongest guy in the room, but he also “achieved” something else. At a routine doctor appointment, Charles learned that he had incredibly high levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure. He was confused. How can someone look fit and be unhealthy at the same time? For Charles, the answer was found in his diet. Although he was working out all the time, as a 21-year-old guy in college, he also ate a lot of pizza. Too much pizza. His exact words were, “everything was pizza.” Charles’ eyes were opened to the fact that his fitness goals were not dependent on just lifting weights and looking buff. He had to invest in other areas like nutrition, anatomy and routine. As he gave time and energy to one area, the others also saw improvement. Through planning out meals and choosing food wisely, Charles had more energy to work out. As he learned more about anatomy, he was able to focus on different muscle groups that allowed him to be more mobile and athletic. Through years of committed work and strict regimen, Charles dropped 40 pounds of muscle. Around the age of 27 he was introduced to the American Ninja Warrior competition and signed up to compete. And although he didn’t progress very far, the testing of his skills opened him up to pursuing other forms of fitness, like free-running and parkour. People began to notice that his commitment to fitness resulted in real growth and changes. Charles saw the opportunity to use his years of hard work and study in fitness to start his own business as a personal trainer. Charles Obe is a busy man. He is an entrepreneur, a personal trainer, a photographer, serves on the worship team, and is currently working on Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications. I spoke with him over Zoom on a Wednesday for about an hour, which happened to be his only free hour that day. I asked Charles to describe his typical schedule for the next day. He broke it down hour by hour:
2 A.M. Wake up, read Bible, spend time in prayer
3-6 A.M. Head to the gym for an hour Go home, shower, eat breakfast
6 A.M. Head back to gym to meet first client
7:30 A.M. Teaching a fitness class
8:30 A.M. Meet with another client
9:30-11:30 A.M. Work on classes for AWS certifications Eat lunch
4 P.M. Take a nap
5 P.M. Practice music (for serving on worship team)
6 P.M. Devotional time
7 P.M. Eat dinner Check work emails and business social media accounts
8-9 P.M. Go to sleep
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Are you tired or overwhelmed reading that? I know I am. As I listened to Charles’ entire day, guilt over my own inefficiency slowly crept into mind. When he mentioned taking a nap at 4 p.m. I immediately felt like taking a nap. Before he even finished recounting his entire day, I was ready with my next questions:
“How do you keep that pace up?” “Are you overwhelmed and tired every day?” “Why are you so much more efficient than me?” As the interview continued, I noticed that Charles spoke with confidence. He revealed no bitterness or defeat in having a day planned out hour by hour. In fact, he almost seemed relieved to know exactly what he would be doing the next day. For the entire hour we talked, Charles never once said, “I don’t have enough time in the day,” or “I have too much to do,” or even, “I don’t know how I will get it all done.” Phrases that are in my everyday repertoire. Phrases Charles never used a single time. I asked him how he even came up with such a seemingly insane schedule, and he shared a simple answer: write out everything you want to do and pick some of those things. Then stick to your schedule. There’s no way that was the answer. Surely Charles is on some miracle regimen of a top-secret experimental serum that gave him the ability to pause time. I pressed him for more details, but there was nothing more to share. Charles literally sits down and writes out everything he wants or needs to do in a week, picks things and adds them to his calendar, and then follows the schedule he just made. It was at this point in our conversation that I began to see what made Charles different; what it was that prevented Charles from burning out and yet remaining fulfilled and accomplishing his goals. Are you ready? (The original title for this article was The Secret Part 2: The Actual Secret). Charles lives out discipline. If you look at his schedule for a normal day, he begins and ends with discipline. From the moment he wakes up and begins with reading the Word and spending time in prayer, to investing in his education in his free time rather than doing nothing, there is a level of discipline in every part of Charles’ day, in every activity he does. You could argue that all that effort in discipline in every part of your life would be exhausting, in the same way that we are exhausted by “too much to do”
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and “not enough time.” But Charles is such a clear example of how the opposite is true. Discipline actually frees him from worrying about having too much to do and too little time because he has a clear, thought-out schedule that he can stick to. Discipline is how Charles changed from being an unhealthy hulk to a lean, agile and vigorous athlete. Discipline is how Charles maintains multiple businesses while continuing his personal education. Discipline is how Charles grew from playing one instrument on the worship team to three. Discipline is how Charles has entered into a deep and growing relationship with Jesus. “Reading the Word is seven days a week; there’s no changing that. It becomes an everyday thing. The more you do it, [the less] you have to think about it.” Pay special attention to how Charles explained that. It becomes an everyday thing. Charles has done that through praying and reading the Bible as soon as he wakes up, every single day. Charles is a walking reminder that discipline actually opens new doors. If I work out every day with 20-pound weights, eventually I will be able to lift 30-pound weight. If I choose my routines and schedules carefully and stick to it, I won’t be overwhelmed by a lack of time. I think we all experience a similar fear when we first begin a new discipline. It probably sounds similar to this: “What if I turn this activity into a planned, scheduled routine, and it becomes boring and dry?” I know that thought has crossed my mind plenty of times. Personally, I experience this fear when I think about my spiritual routines. If I create a schedule and a routine to read my Bible and pray at the same time every day, will it become so routine that my brain starts to check out? If I practice Sabbath on the same day every single week, will that day eventually turn into a day where I sit around and do nothing? But in the same way that I’ll never experience lifting a large weight unless I start with a smaller one, I won’t experience the depth of knowledge and wisdom in God’s word unless I start reading every day. I won’t experience the fruit of regular rest in God unless I start designating a time in my week to Sabbath. And while there may be a limit to how much weight I can lift (trust me there is a limit and it is low), there is no limit to how much God can teach us from reading the Bible. There is no limit to what God can do with us when we have been rested and refreshed in Him. I encourage you to try what Charles does and add a little discipline into your life. You don’t need to start big, in fact I’d say start small! Read a chapter of the Bible every day. Plan one meal a day that is intentionally healthy. Set a daily alarm to take five minutes to pray. And keep your eyes attentive to the doors that discipline can open.
Exciting things are in store for Bay Area’s Marriage Ministry, including a NEW monthly newsletter starting December 1, and a Date Night Box in the new year. Head to our website for more information: bayareacc.org/annapolis/marriage
Tune in before each Christmas Eve Gathering for a very special Kids at Bay Area presentation of the nativity story! W I N T E R 2 02 0 GO&MAKE 11
By Michele Rollins
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y grandmother grew up in France, and as a child I heard stories of Père Noël, midnight Mass and Fête des Rois (Epiphany). The idea of celebrating Christmas in so many different ways in so many different cultures helps me reflect on the creativity of God. In fact, learning about the way that our global partners celebrate significant moments and holidays like Christmas is one of my favorite parts of my role on the missions team here at Bay Area. Last year, I learned about Lebanon and the way that Syrian refugees might celebrate Christmas (check out the December 2019 issue of GO&MAKE!). This year, I decided to go a little farther away – to Hyderabad, India where our global partners Joseph and Esther and their four children live amongst a majority Hindu population. In Hyderabad and the surrounding villages, Indian Christians will gather on Christmas Eve at church to worship and celebrate Immanuel, God with us. One fun tradition is that people of all ages will wear new clothes to celebrate the occasion! Believers will also share a meal with family members, although they might replace your ham or turkey with several kinds of curries. There are not many Christians in India (Joshua Project puts the number at two percent of the nearly 1.4 billion people), so gathering with one another at significant moments like Christmas is especially encouraging in light of the challenges and isolation that they can face in their day-to-day lives.
For Joseph, Esther and their family, they also follow an Advent devotional leading up to Christmas Day. The family gathers to light candles each week as they learn about and reflect on Jesus’ birth and His purpose on earth. Joseph and Esther have four young children, so just like parents here in Annapolis, Easton or Odenton, they have the opportunity in the Christmas season to disciple their children in a fresh and significant way, and teach them about the birth and life of Jesus. Their family has lived in India for nearly two years, where Joseph leads the International Cultural Bible Ministries and trains and disciples pastors who
That’s why Joseph, Esther and their children live in Hyderabad instead of living comfortably in Annapolis. That’s why we send short-term missions teams to serve alongside their family and our other global partners around the world. And that’s why we host events like the SOULS Conference, where you can be equipped to have conversations with people who think differently than you or maybe even speak a different language. It’s all for the same purpose – so that your neighbors and Joseph’s neighbors and the neighbors of Jesus-followers all over the world could really celebrate Christmas and experience the joy, hope and peace that Jesus brings.
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2 work among the unreached tribal peoples of southern India. That’s maybe the biggest difference about Christmas in India. Here in the United States, it’s likely that many of your neighbors celebrate Christmas – even if they might not actually understand who Jesus is or why His incarnation is so significant for us. But in India, there are people, families, neighborhoods and whole cities where no one has ever heard the name of Jesus. These men, women and children don’t have a neighbor who can put a star atop their house or share the reason for the hope that we have (Peter 3:15).
One tradition that I found especially poignant as I talked with Joseph has to do with the star that marked the birthplace of Jesus. Rather than Christmas lights, Christians in India will hang an illuminated star from the outside of their houses in recognition of the way the wise men followed the star to find Jesus.
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leader spotlight By Lauren Gibeault
david kellner
melanie saderholm
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avid Kellner and Melanie Saderholm have been well known fixtures in Bay Area Student Ministry over the last seven years. They both serve as community group leaders within BASM. What makes them unique? They have been with the same group of students from the beginning of middle school until the students’ senior year of high school.
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BASM’s strategy is to provide each student with a person, a place and a plan. These are our distinct action steps for how we aim to reach the lost students in Talbot, Anne Arundel and surrounding counties. People like David and Melanie are those people. The safe, caring, trained adult leader who walks with students year after year. They serve as mentors, helping students make good and Godly life choices. In addition, they are secondary voices in the lives of students, reinforcing the words of a student’s primary influencer – the parent. To give you a better feel for what it might be like to serve with BASM, I asked David and Melanie to share what their experience has been like.
Q: Why did you get involved in BASM in the first place?
[David] A: I have enjoyed working with youth ever since I was told that I no longer could be one. There is a certain authenticity that characterizes students and I have always been drawn to it. If you ever want to know who you are - who you really are - ask a student. I love the way that students push on what they know and see if it holds. I love that they test whether my actions match my words. I love that they always are asking (usually without words), “Do you care about me?” and covet a genuine answer. I love that they always ask for more. Students have become a way to learn God’s love for me and share in it with others. [Melanie] A: Over our first year or so of attending Bay Area I could see all the love, dedication and attention to detail
from the staff and other adults serving in BASM. It was a place where my kids learned more about Jesus, felt welcome, and had fun all at the same time. My sons, Joshua and Zachary, were enjoying BASM so much and getting so much out of it that I wanted to get involved and help out in some way. I started out by greeting students and serving juice, coffee and donuts at our Sunday gatherings and loved it! As time went along and my daughter, Hannah, was in her last year of elementary school, God was nudging me to make a commitment to serve as a Community Group Leader. I was pretty apprehensive about leading a group of students in middle or high school, but after quite a few months of thought and prayer, I finally decided to step out of my comfort zone, say yes to God, and say yes to being a Community Group Leader for the 7th grade girls.
Q: What has kept you coming back year after year to serve these students you have been walking alongside?
[David] A: Simple, the students. I remember when I first was serving as a community group leader in the old Warehouse and a successful group was marked by my ability to keep the students from falling from their chairs during the 20 minutes that we were together. I was lucky if a thought was shared uninterrupted. Since then I have had the honor of being a witness to each of their journeys. I have shared many stories and experiences with these guys and have come to love and appreciate them uniquely. I have watched these young men learn to love God and love one another in a way that challenges and inspires me. I think we have found a real joy in being together. What a privilege to walk these paces with them! [Melanie] A: I can answer that in one word: relationships! Hour by hour, week by week, month by month, and year by year our relationships grew and deepened. My relationship with the girls, their relationships with each other, their relationships with other believers and those who are not, and for each one of us, our relationship with the Lord. The
relationships that have grown over the years in this group are priceless and are the kind that will be lifelong. My girls are from numerous different schools, have many varied interests and personalities, but when we all come together we have something really special that I am so blessed to be part of. We really look forward to our time together each week and I never could have imagined how much of a blessing this would be!
Q: How would you encourage someone who is thinking about getting involved?
[David] A: To choose to develop relationships with students requires little more than playfulness, a love for God, and a genuine curiosity about who they are. I would like to say that I think these guys are better because of the time that they have spent with me, but in truth it is me who is better. I have so enjoyed my time with these guys and hope that it does not end in their graduation in a few short months. I would invite anyone thinking about getting involved to jump in. It’s so worth it! [Melanie] A: I would encourage anyone who is thinking about getting involved in BASM to say “Yes!” If you feel God putting BASM on your heart just reach out to anyone on staff and they can help you find a place that will be a good fit for you! All you have to bring is a willing heart, excitement to serve students, and desire to point them towards Jesus. BASM will provide well thought out training, resources and anything else you could need to come alongside the students in our ministry.
Two out of every three people make a decision to follow Jesus before their 18th birthday, making student ministry not only a critical ministry but a great place to serve! If you have ever considered pouring love and truth into the life of a middle or high school student, don’t hesitate! Please email Lauren Gibeault at lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org to learn more about how to serve as a community group leader.
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The birth of Jesus is God’s declaration that all is calm, all is bright. Whenever we focus on the incarnation of Jesus, our stresses and anxieties lessen.
Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright ‘round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
By Greg St. Cyr
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favorite Christmas carol sung around the world is Silent Night. On a quiet and calm night, overlooking a winter-laden town in Germany not long after the Napoleonic wars, Joseph Mohr, a newly ordained priest living near Salzburg, penned the famous words of Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht. Joseph Mohr was born into a humble family. He sung in the choir as a youth. His mother was a seamstress. His father served in the army. After graduating from Salzburg University, he was ordained and ministered in churches around Salzburg. On Christmas Eve of 1818, Mohr sang Silent Night for the first time. He played the guitar and sang along with Franz Xaver Gruber, the choir director who had written the melody. Why such popularity? Each of the verses captures a heart-penetrating aspect of the gospel from the miracle of the incarnation, to God’s redemptive grace. The last line of each verse is sung twice for emphasis which further brings the message home. And undoubtedly, part of the popularity lies in the melody. Sung in a style of a lullaby, the melody brings calmness and comfort when sung, not unlike when a mother sings softly to comfort a baby to sleep. This beautiful carol captures our need, and that of the world. Upheaval and unrest abound. COVID-19, racial unrest, political division, the breakdown of the family, economic uncertainty, loneliness from isolation and unemployment are all challenges we may be facing. Yet Christmas is a reminder that all is well. This Christmas, we need a message of calm and bright. Whenever we focus on the incarnation of Jesus, our stresses and anxieties lessen. When we ponder the reality that God became man and was born of a virgin who is called Immanuel, when we see the Child in the manger as the Prince of Peace, when we embrace Him as love’s pure light who guides us through darkness, when we crown Him as King of all and King over our life, no pandemic, election or economy can steal our joy and peace. The birth of Jesus is God’s declaration that all is calm, all is bright. God has invaded the world in the person of Jesus. Wherever Jesus is, there is calm. He is the Prince of Peace. Wherever Jesus is, there is bright light that penetrates the darkness and guides us along His path. He is the Light of the World.
Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright ‘round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar, heav’nly hosts sing alleluia; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born! Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Silent night! Holy night! wondrous star, lend thy light; with the angels let us sing alleluias to our King; Christ, the Savior, is born!
Calm and Bright Series
November 29 - Matthew 1:18-25 December 6 - Luke 2:8-20 December 13 – Luke 2:21-32 December 20 – Matthew 2:1-12 Christmas Eve gatherings - Luke 2:1-7
This Christmas, it’s our prayer the you will let the biblical narrative of the birth of Jesus and this muchloved song, Silent Night, bring calmness to your soul and light to the darkness.
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WHAT’S YOUR STORY? By Abbie Hoekstra
et me just start with this: prior to writing this article, I had never met and only recently heard of Courtney Buiniskis. But if you were to peek in the office where I was hiding for this interview, you’d see me either hysterically laughing or ugly crying and wonder what in the world was wrong with me. We were wrapping up and she says, “I’ve never met you before in my life, but we have shared stories and now we are connected.” One hour on the phone with her was all it took to move us from strangers to connected family. At 43 years old, Courtney has experienced more pain and loss than most experience in double the time. But still she finds herself asking God, “what do you want me to do through this? How can I help other people? How can I help other women?” She believes that she is here with a story to tell. Courtney grew up in a religious family, familiar with who Jesus is, but the older she got, the more she steered away from her upbringing to try what the world had to offer. She spent time reading gurus and self-help books, did a lot of meditating, and attended yoga retreats. She experienced a brief period of fulfillment after each, but that fulfillment didn’t last. Courtney has a heart condition called cardiomyopathy where her heart has a hard time finding a regular heartbeat and delivering blood to the rest of the body. Sadly, her brother shared that diagnosis and died in 2006. She’s had some close calls, including a heart attack in April of this year. Because of her heart condition she isn’t able to exercise as rigorously as most of us, so she joined a water aerobics class. Although she felt out of place surrounded by women significantly older than her, she continued to show up. Courtney remembers having a really bad day once, thinking about how she didn’t really know who she was or what she was doing with her life. George Harrison’s song “My Sweet Lord” came on, and although she had heard it a thousand times, that day it felt like God was talking to her through that song. When Courtney showed up at water aerobics the next day, her instructor could tell something was off. As it turns out, her instructor attended Bay Area and she invited Courtney to come with her to church. Courtney agreed to go and shortly after started meeting regularly with Pat Linnell, bringing notebooks full of questions. Courtney says that it was obvious God was using Pat to speak to her – to pour more of Himself into her. “Long story short, God won,” and in 2015 Courtney was baptized by Pat. Her heart condition, familial problems and internal struggles didn’t go away, but now she had God. Over the years she has led and been involved with Bible studies through Women’s Ministry and served with Children’s Ministry. Working through the Chapter A Day Journal really changed her life. “It infused the good Word in me,” Courtney said. God continued to meet her as she served, connected with others and engaged with the Scriptures. Everything was good – she felt like her life finally clicked. “I wasn’t asking ‘why’ all the time and I began to know my purpose,” Courtney shared. Then, in November of 2017, her mom passed away at just 63 years old. It was incredibly quick and unexpected. Some of you reading this may know that my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer almost a full year ago. It’s been a really challenging battle for my
family, and I often find I have no idea how to be a person whose mom has cancer. Then I meet people like Courtney. “It’s suffering,” she said, “and people don’t understand unless they go through it.”
Just like that, Courtney and I have a similar experience that pushes through all of our differences, all racial lines, to connect us to one another. There have been many opportunities for Courtney to walk away from Bay Area when things got challenging, yet she has remained connected. “I feel I’m here for a reason,” Courtney shared when reflecting on surviving the heart attack she had earlier this year. “This is my church home.” Even though it’s hard for her to look around sometimes and see few like her, she loves the people, especially the women she gets to study with. “I wouldn’t be learning those things; I wouldn’t be humbled by my experiences if I weren’t put in uncomfortable situations where I need to grow and be stretched.” Through her frustrations and confusion, the pain of losing her brother and mom, and all the hard conversations, Courtney recognizes how God changed everything for her. Courtney and I have one big, worldly difference: I am white and she is biracial. Because of that, our experiences on this Earth will be different at times. But Courtney and I also have one big, heavenly similarity: we are both created in the image of God and loved equally by our Creator. Because of that, we can share stories and experiences and share in the joy that comes from being fully known and fully loved by the One who came to save us. Courtney believes, following the example of Martin Luther King, that “if you can find common ground with someone, it doesn’t matter what color they are or anything.” I can confidently say this is true with Courtney and I, and with equal confidence I can say that we would both like to challenge you to spend time getting to know the people around you. If you are willing to be transparent, you might find it reciprocated, and in turn find common ground. However, it’s up to you – in the confidence of the gospel – to take that first step. So here’s a question for you: Have you been intentionally getting to know your neighbors? For those of you who have learned about the struggles of your neighbors, both immediately in your community and in the surrounding areas, what are you doing about it? Just a few weeks ago, I didn’t know Courtney and might have never met her if not for this article. Now I know that I can pick up the phone any time I want and ask her questions. The Lord has been good to me - He has continued to surround me with people who have experienced the pain I am experiencing, even if it was in their own, different way. Sharing and asking can both be hard. But if I hadn’t asked Courtney to do this article, if she hadn’t shared with me about her story, if I hadn’t spoken up about my own story, there would be some things I would miss in trying to best enjoy whatever time I do have left with my mom on this Earth. What could you be missing out on right now? You probably don’t even know! But how would you ever find out if you didn’t ask?
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The Habit of Prayer in the Midst of Crisis By Barry Willhite
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have fallen into the most delightful and spiritually enriching habit since the start of the COVID-19 quarantine. Because of this habit, I have met and become friends with several members of the Bay Area family whom I have never seen in person. I’ve been encouraged in my walk with Jesus each and every week at the start. I feel even more connected with fellow Bay Area believers than I did before the COVID crisis. I’m talking about being in the habit of a weekly prayer date with my brothers and sisters in Christ at Bay Area. When first considering setting aside time to pray for an extended period of time on Zoom in the midst of a crazy busy schedule, it seemed so difficult for the habit to form. I think our natural inclination is to disregard the invitation all together. But with each Monday that I committed to going, I’ve become more aware of God’s work through prayer. For one hour, a group of about 30 set aside time to pray for one another and the church around the world. We also spend time asking the Lord to deepen our walk with Him, to use Bay Area for the advancement of His kingdom, and to bless our nation and our leaders. Now eight months into the COVID-19 crisis, I get excited every Monday evening, and I look back and wonder why it was so difficult to start this habit in the past. A couple thoughts on prayer. Oswald Chambers, in his devotional “My Utmost For His Highest,” states “Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.” Isn’t it just mind-blowing that God designed prayer to have such an integral role in the advancement of His
kingdom? Prayer brings us closer to God, builds our faith as we see God answer, grows our heart for people, and brings guidance and power to fulfill our calling. Prayer is GOOD FOR US! In John 15:16, Jesus says “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” Even Jesus, though He was God, made prayer a top priority. He chose us, desires a relationship with us, commands us to pray, and invites us into the work that He is doing. It’s all about relationship! We have won if all we do is focus on the One with whom we will spend eternity. I recently received an email from Jim Hiskey, who, looking forward to a Monday prayer gathering, wrote “I don’t think there is a more important work Bay Area can be doing than this.” Thanks for the encouragement Jim! I’d like to extend an invitation to everyone who calls Bay Area home – come join us in prayer! We’re still on Zoom but hoping to transition to in-person in the near future. It will take some discipline and help from the Holy Spirit to get started, but you will not regret it. The One who made you desires a deeper relationship with you, to bless you with community, and to fill you with peace, joy and purpose in whatever circumstances you may find yourself. Before you know it, you, like me, will look forward to Monday nights and wonder why you had ever hesitated to accept the invitation to lock arms with your Bay Area brothers and sisters in prayer. I hope you’ll consider joining us!
join us Monday nights on Zoom at 7 p.m. for an hour of prayer. Meeting ID: 840 8527 6814 Passcode: 442638 W I N T E R 2 02 0 GO&MAKE 21
B E H I N D
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A CHAPTER A DAY Kammi McGinty reflects on what it’s like to write 365 prayers for our annual Chapter A Day journal.
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hen Abbie asked me to write about my experience being involved in the production of the Chapter A Day Journal, my first thought was, “How do I describe what it is like to write these prayers?” It is indeed a blessing, because anytime we engage with God through His Word, He reveals deeper insights into His character and love while revealing deeper truths about us. I know that you have experienced this as you have answered the call to study through Chapter A Day. Yet you also know that the process is not always easy. But as the saying goes, “nothing worth having comes easy,” and so it is with studying to write the prayers.
when it takes longer than I anticipate to finish a chapter and the process feels more like a duty than a delight. And in those times, I have to pray for God to restore my faith in His enabling and trust He is going to see me to the finish line.
When I approach a chapter, I quickly read through, noting the general content. Then I jot down a few key thoughts and focus on them to attempt to identify a single thread that ties the whole passage together. There are times when the central theme is obvious, and the prayer just flows. But generally, it takes time to develop the main idea. Sometimes this is because my heart is not in it and I do not connect well with the passage. When that happens, I have to pray and ask God to tune my heart and mind to seek Him. At other times, the chapter covers quite a bit of territory in terms of content and it takes some time to connect the dots to see the bigger picture. In those instances, I pray and rely on the Spirit to give me clarity. Then at other times, I become anxious
To give you a flavor of what God does through this process, I want to share a reflection I recorded after working through Genesis:
As challenging as it can be, I am grateful for the opportunity to do this work because God continues to use it to transform me by His grace and to increase my knowledge of His glory. My wonder and awe constantly grow as page after page God’s mercy toward rebellious and stiff- necked people – like me – is on full display.
If I had to describe Genesis in one word, it would be grace! Tracing this grace through the narrative has increased my awe and reverence, especially as I look at each scene through the lens of man’s fall in Chapter 3. The effect of the fall is evident in each following chapter. And while it would be easy to condemn them, honesty and humility demand that I see myself in each account. Though I want to claim I walk the walk of Enoch, I know that I have much more in common with Abraham and his descendants. Rummaging through my closet proves it by the skeletons I find. As I have processed
this, my vision of God’s grace leaves me almost incredulous. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I only deserve condemnation but walking through Genesis continues to remind me that God’s goal is not condemnation but redemption. This is evident page after page as God knits His redemptive plan through the lives of marred and corrupt sinners. I pray I keep this in the forefront of my mind, so I continue to be transformed by truth and grow in greater amazement over God’s grace to become more deeply rooted in His affection. On December 27, Greg will be bringing a message on the axiom that has inspired the creation of this journal: a chapter a day for the rest of my life. If you’ve been around Bay Area for any time, you have likely heard Greg share this from the stage. If my highest priority in life is cultivating my personal relationship with Jesus (another of Greg’s axioms), then I need to spend time getting to know him. By reading even just a chapter of the Bible a day, I can grow in my understanding of Jesus’ grace that is seen right from the beginning! As we prepare to move into this next year, consider grabbing your own copy of the newest edition while you’re in the building, or download it from the website. I pray that your journey through A Chapter A Day in 2021 will grow you in awe and wonder of God’s amazing grace and anchor your hearts firmly in His love.
Join us on Sunday, December 27 to hear Greg explain the importance of reading a chapter a day for the rest of your life, and pick up your copy of the 2021 edition of our A Chapter A Day Journal.
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TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE ...because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.� - Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10
By Leanne Lane
The Care Network at Bay Area has a lot going on under its umbrella. Someone once told me that this ministry is more like a triage for those seeking help. I guess that is a good analogy as my primary role is to meet with those looking for help and to assess how we can assist them both within existing Bay Area ministries or through referrals to the many Christian resources in the community. We all experience challenging circumstances, losses, relational pain, and difficult transitions in our lives, yet God never intended that we go through these experiences alone. Amidst the various groups that Bay Area offers for people experiencing things like divorce or loss is another free resource of care for those who are in difficult situations: Care Coaches.
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Care Receiver #2
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Care Receiver #1
Why did you reach out to the Care Network? I really needed someone to talk to and I didn’t have the funds for a therapist. Thankfully I found the Care Network Card in the ladies’ room at Bay Area. (Very smart to place stacks of them in there!) What were you hoping to gain? I have bipolar disorder and anxiety, so I was hoping to gain tools to help with symptoms of my illnesses. How did processing with a Care Coach help? She gives me tools plus a Christian perspective which is more than what a non-Christian therapist would do. I’ve had a few therapists over the years and my Care Coach offers that unique perspective. She always ends with praying for me which is so nice! How was this different then talking to a friend/family member about your struggles? My Care Coach has a therapy background so she understands bipolar disorder and anxiety more than a friend or family member does. She asks questions that help me examine my situation and doesn’t judge where I’m at. Would you recommend meeting with a BACC Care Coach? I would definitely recommend meeting with a Care Coach.
Why did you reach out to the Care Network? I reached out to the Care Network after I experienced a traumatic family event this summer. What were you hoping to gain? I was hoping to gain some peace in my mind and better understand the flood of emotions I was feeling. Soon after the event, I realized that even though our traumatic event had a miracle ending, I still was struggling with the trauma of the whole day. I needed to gain my peace of mind back. I needed to just talk it out with someone who would listen and ask questions to help me sort it all out in my head. How did processing with a Care Coach help? Processing with a Care Coach helped me go back to the traumatic day and put a balm over it. I was able to talk it out with someone who wanted to listen and ask questions to help me get to the bottom of where my unrest was from the event. Along the journey of processing with a Care Coach, I realized that I was holding myself back in other aspects of my life. My Care Coach helped me compartmentalize and find peace for many differing situations, traumas and events I was holding onto. How was this different then talking to a friend/family member about your struggles? While I love going to family and close friends about what is on my heart or what I am struggling with, there was a sense of relief talking with someone on the outside. It was able to give me the freedom to talk openly and be completely honest with myself in talking. I was able to say whatever I wanted and know that it was being held in confidence and stayed between us. Why would you recommend meeting with a Bay Area Care Coach? I would recommend meeting with a Bay Area Care Coach to anyone feeling the need to talk to someone. I recommend it because it is an incredible resource to talk openly and honestly and to find peace during whatever you are going through. Meeting with a Bay Area Care Coach can feel overwhelming or scary, but it is a much-scarier thought to be stuck in a place in life when The Lord wants you to experience His Freedom! The step of deciding to meet with a Bay Area Care Coach is an incredible one and I pray you say yes to the invitation.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Care Coach Ministry or becoming a Care Coach email Leanne Lane at leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or head to bayareacc.org/annapolis/care W I N T E R 2 02 0 GO&MAKE 25
We are so excited for our Family Christmas Month to begin on December 1. It was such a blessing to see so many families at our drive-thru pick up dates! Advent kits are still available! If your family wasn’t able to pick one up, email Kristin today at kristin. collins@bayareacc.org to arrange a new pick up time.
AN AT-HOME FAMILY� ADVENT EXPERIENCE By Kristin Collins
Our heart behind creating this advent kit was to offer a Christcentered Christmas experience. Our hope is that families make memories with these activities that they will cherish forever. From
ODENTON
1 YEAR REFLECTION By Amy French
Family, that is the word that comes to mind as I look at all the faces that have come together to celebrate our one year anniversary. We are family by choice, united by our desire for community and our love for Jesus. I see new life in the three babies that were born in the past six months, joy from the children who can finally run around the courtyard together, and people catching up after a long time of quarantine. This isn’t just a party, it’s a family reunion. And like any good reunion, we have stories to share. Over there is a little girl named Noelle. She came with her family in late February, and was not so sure about all the new faces. At three years old, it is a lot to take in when you go to a new church for the first time. Her stuffed unicorn was with
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acting out the nativity scene, to making an ornament for their neighbor, the month is going to be so much fun! As a special weekly activity, families will light an advent candle to signify hope, love, joy and peace during this special season. The Kids at Bay Area team is praying for you during this Christmas season. Make sure to tune in every Sunday to our Kids at Bay Area Sunday Special at 9:05 and 11:05 a.m. and save the date for our Kids at Bay Area Christmas Eve Special!
her for comfort, but accidentally got left behind at the end of the gathering. Luckily they were reunited later that afternoon. It was a sweet moment that opened the door for the family to find a home at the Odenton campus. Today they are involved in a Missional Community, inviting others to experience the same sense of family that they have found. Twelve months ago, twenty four families stepped out in faith to start the campus, and now we have over ninety families that call Odenton home. As things started shutting down mid-March, closing the doors of the church did not stop these families from caring for each other, despite the uncertainty and panic that was setting in around us. One family from our launch team reached out to ask how they could help. They joined our staff phone tree and began checking in with anyone who had attended a gathering in the past three months. One of the people they reached was in need of bread and milk at a time when the grocery stores were bare. Without hesitation, the family jumped in and made the delivery an hour later. The generosity in that moment allowed the receiving family to feel the love of Jesus in a very powerful way. In fact, that new family is at our anniversary party. They are part of our community now. As we celebrate all that God has done in the last twelve months, it would be tempting to break it down into numbers: ninety three families (and growing), forty five children, five Missional Communities, seventeen students in BASM, etc. However, behind those numbers are lives being transformed by Jesus, and that is the real impact of opening the Odenton Campus.
LOCAL OUTREACH IN 2021 By Alex Williams
Over the past few months the Eastport Team has had to adjust how they serve in Eastport Terrace because of COVID-19. Despite the restrictions, the Lord has continued to show us that He is for us! Relationships with the community have surprisingly deepened during this time. The team was invited to serve in September with the Care Packs for Families initiative and the larger body at Bay Area came together to provide over 300 families with much needed cleaning supplies! The community was tremendously grateful. Thank you, church family, for your generosity and serving!
members, said “it’s been really tough to see these kids falling behind on their schoolwork but I am just here twice a week to help however I can, give them some hugs, and remind them I love them.”
Since school is 100% virtual right now, the team has stepped in to help with e-learning during the week. Many children flock to the community center to set up their chrome-books for the day. They desperately need help staying on task and need to keep up with their studies. Heather Persick, one of our team
This holiday season we are hoping to bless the children and families. We are listening for the needs and hearing from the community. We look forward to seeing how the Lord leads and we are excited to respond with generosity and kindness. Be in prayer for this community and for the team.
The team continues to meet and pray for this community and are longing for deeper, mutual relationships to form. It is a long road ahead but we are committed to seeing this community flourish and advancing the gospel. Jesus is doing a mighty work in Eastport and in each of us on the team.
By Jocelyn Sacks As I’m writing this, we’re in the middle of the third week of the Serve Your Neighbor Challenge. So far, 334 of us have said, “yes, I want to be a better neighbor by Christmas.” Many of you sent in pictures of your neighborhood maps and updates on how God is working through you in your community. By the time you read this you’ll have prayed over a specific neighbor and been preparing to be intentional during Halloween week. Just in these short weeks, we’ve stepped out of our comfort zone to be a light to those God has placed among us. It is incredible for me to think about the number of people that will be impacted by each individual participating. Simply think: if each of our current participants prays for 5 neighbors over the course of this challenge, 1670 residents of Anne Arundel or Talbot County will be prayed for. Imagine what God can do with those prayers for those 1670 households! It is the same
God who multiplied a young boy’s meal to feed thousands. Jesus took compassion on the crowd and moved to meet their most basic need. And now He’s waiting to work through each one of us to do the same. But we don’t want to stop there! We’re hoping that even more people join up, pray for their communities, and serve during this next month. If you haven’t signed up, you can jump in right now! All our prompts are up on the website for you to look over - take a step of faith, a step out of your comfort zone, and a step into your community. The Message version of John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” Text “serve” to 410-886-6684 to get started.
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HAPPENINGS ASSIMILATION Are you looking to take your next step at Bay Area? Whether you’re new or you’ve been here for years, we’d love to help you get connected. Head to our website for more information.
Info and register: bayareacc.org/nextsteps
FIRST STEP ALL CAMPUSES January 10 9:20 a.m. via Zoom If you’re new to Bay Area and not connected yet, we would love to invite you to First Step, where you’ll get to know a little bit about who we are as a church, meet some of our leadership, and find out how to get connected in this season of social-distancing.
VIRTUAL MINISTRY PARTNER ORIENTATION ALL CAMPUSES Sunday, February 7 1:30 p.m. via Zoom If you’re interested in making Bay Area your church home, join us for Ministry Partner Orientation where you’ll get to hear from Pastor Greg St. Cyr about what it means to be a Ministry Partner, and what next steps look like.
BAY AREA STUDENT MINISTRY Our goal is to empower students, 6th grade through 12th grade, to become disciples of Jesus who take their faith beyond our church walls and beyond their high school graduation.
Annapolis info: bayareacc.org/annapolis/students Odenton info: bayareacc.org/odenton/students Easton info: bayareacc.org/easton/students
AMPLIFY Amplify is a mid-week gathering for middle and high school where students will connect with friends through worship, teaching and community group time. Groups will be socially distant and masks will be required.
Info: lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. The Warehouse EASTON CAMPUS Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Easton Family YMCA
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ODENTON CAMPUS Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. The Hendrix’s (address on website)
BASM SUNDAY GATHERING ANNAPOLIS CAMPUSES Sundays, 9:20 and 11:20 a.m. The Warehouse Students will experience live worship, practical teaching, and a time of hanging out and fellowship. Masks are required.
CARE NETWORK The Care Network provides a variety of resources, trained volunteers and referrals to professional counselors who can help you navigate the difficult parts of life. Below are a list of support groups launching this fall that you can join at any time. You can find more information about the Care Network and all they offer on our website.
Info: bayareacc.org/annapolis/care Register: bayareacc.org/register
DIVORCECARE SUPPORT GROUP ALL CAMPUSES Mondays, February 8 - May 10, 2021 6:45–9 p.m. via Zoom Separated or in the midst of a divorce? Don’t walk through this difficult time alone. DivorceCare is a support group led by trained facilitators who have experienced divorce and rebuilt their lives through the help of this group.
GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP ALL CAMPUSES Thursdays, February 4 - May 6, 2021 6:45-9 p.m. via Zoom If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, this can be a very confusing time. GriefShare is designed to help you face these unknowns and challenges and take steps moving forward.
CAREGIVERS’ SUPPORT GROUP ALL CAMPUSES 2nd Sunday of every month 1-2:30 p.m. via Zoom Being effective in providing care requires support, encouragement and practical advice. This group will provide you with helpful resources that can equip you to better care for yourself and your loved ones. No registration is necessary.
**To receive Zoom link email: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
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HAPPENINGS MARRIAGE MINISTRY Many fun things are being planned to encourage and enrich marriages this ministry year. Head to the Marriage Ministry page of Bay Area’s website to learn about more activities and resources that will be made available for all couples.
Info: bayareacc.org/annapolis/marriage Register: bayareacc.org/register
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT CLASS: SMART STEP-FAMILY ALL CAMPUSES Sundays, January 10 - February 21, 2021 9:30-10:45 a.m. in room 237 at the Annapolis Campus (Socially Distanced) When step-family life gets tough, remaining dedicated to your commitment is a day-today decision. The Bay Area Marriage Enrichment Team wants to help you discover how to communicate effectively and solve the everyday puzzles of step-family relationships.
MISSIONS We aim to reflect God’s heart for the nations, and we partner with those who are serving Jesus around the world. Above all, we reach out by living a lifestyle that demonstrates we are members of the global family of followers of Jesus Christ.
Info: bayareacc.org/missions Register: bayareacc.org/soulsconference
SOULS WORLD MISSIONS CONFERENCE ALL CAMPUSES Saturday, March 6 Annapolis Campus Join us for our third annual SOULS: World Missions Conference where together we’ll be inspired, challenged and equipped to take the gospel to the world! Join speaker and author Ed Stetzer and hundreds of others to learn about why and how we GO – both locally and globally.
Interested in joining our staff team? Browse our current job openings on our website. bayareacc.org/jobs 30 GO&MAKE W I N T E R 2 02 0
WOMEN’S MINISTRY In Women’s Ministry, women disciple women so together we can learn to live and love like Jesus did. When women commit themselves to meeting weekly, lives are changed. They learn to love God back, love each other, and love those who don’t know Jesus. Women’s Ministry is taking advantage of the flexibility of virtual gatherings and offering a great variety of fall Bible Studies. Head to our website to keep up to date with those studies.
Info: bayareacc.org/annapolis/women
SOCIAL MEDIA Are you interested in becoming part of our Social Media team? We are looking to expand our social media and online presence and are in need of contributors. If you have a knack for social media and creativity, enjoy writing and video presentation, we would love to hear from you!
Please email megan.heath@bayareacc.org
COMMUNITY OUTREACH GIFTS FOR CHILDREN ALL CAMPUSES Sunday, December 6 Annapolis Campus We would love to serve alongside you during the “Gift Drive-Thru” coming up this month. Come and help gather, sort and pack gifts with the team as we prepare to send them to West Virginia.
Sign up: bayareacc.org/giftsforchildren
EASTPORT E-LEARNING ALL CAMPUSES Elementary aged children living in the Eastport Terrace and Harbour House communities are in need of assistance during the week with e-learning and homework. If you would like to join the team, prayerfully consider your commitment level. All volunteers must be able to serve one day a week for at least 6 months.
Info: alex.williams@bayareacc.org
Keep checking back to see what new events we’re lining up for this fall! bayareacc.org/events W I N T E R 2 02 0 GO&MAKE 31
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID
BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT NO. 1040
Make reservations at bayareacc.org/christmas starting December 6
A NNAPOLIS December 23 6 & 8 p.m. December 24 2, 4, 6, 8 & 11 p.m. ODE N TON December 24 7 p.m.
EASTON December 24
Or join us online at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. 32 GO&MAKE W I N T E R 2 02 0
7 p.m.