go & make issue #17 (march 2015)
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MAGAZINE CREDITSEDITOR IN CHIEF
Josh Shirlen
MANAGING EDITORArianne Teeple
ARTAndrew Beyea
Josh BurginJosh Shirlen
Micah Pringle
CONTRIBUTORSEsther Sharon
Jocelyn Rimbey SacksMeredith Thompson
Rachel Perry
On the cover - Jeff Beeker (Construction Superintendent)
Andrew Beyea (Project Architect) Ravi Waldon (Principal Architect)
As I write, I’m in Hyderabad, India along with Josh Shirlen and Kurt Parsons. We’re privileged to be able to spend a week here with Pastor Samuel Devraj and his family to encourage the pastors and churches that Bay Area has helped plant. We also have the delight of spending time with the children of the Ratna Children’s Home.
Let me tell you how I’m feeling being here: overwhelmed with joy! Joy in how God is using our church family to help reach the nations, and overwhelming joy for how God is mightily at work through our church family in the greater Annapolis area. When I think about the opening of the chapel and children’s wing this month, the great things happening with students and children, more people connecting in community, new churches being planted through the
Greg St. CyrLead Pastor
Sent Network, the emotion I feel is joy!Why such joy? Because joy is rooted in grace. When we experience an undeserved, unearned gift, the response we feel is that of joy. The work that you and I are a part of in India is a gift. The fruit that God is bearing in Annapolis is a gift. But the greatest gift and ultimate expression of grace is the cross of Christ. Through the cross we come to know God’s grace and love. And that is the reason I feel such joy. As Peter writes,
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice withjoy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…” 1 Peter 1:8
I hope seeing God bring souls from Annapolis to India into His kingdom is filling you with joy! For the joy of all peoples,
“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!” Psalm 67:4
For a comprehensive list of all BACC staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership
Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – [email protected] Hopper, Missional Community Pastor – [email protected] Essamuah, Global Missions Pastor – [email protected] Kelley, Executive Pastor – [email protected] Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – [email protected] St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – [email protected] Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – [email protected] Rimbey Sacks, Connecting Director – [email protected] Shirlen, Gathering Team Leader – [email protected] Lane, Care Network Director – [email protected] Dutton, Financial Administrator – [email protected] Pringle, Worship Leader – [email protected] Linnell, Teaching Pastor – [email protected] Dutton, Operations Director – [email protected] Cozad, Technical Director – [email protected]
BAY AREA LEADERSHIPELDERS
Bill SmithBrian Mallare
David McPeakDennis Brady
Greg St. CyrJ Upton
John BattanKeith Riniker
Peter GodfreyRich HeathRoger Ishii
Tim DotsonTom DalpiniTom Hogan
Warwick Fairfax
884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 Gathering Times: 8am 9:30am 11:15am
We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at [email protected] and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
LETTER FROM THE LEAD
that I enjoy reading authors with whom I don’t see eye to eye. It’s challenging to do so. Plus I think all Christians should be lifelong learners; assuming one’s systematic theology is firm, one can read lots of variety, taking some of it with a grain of salt. Leonard Sweet isn’t my normal cup of tea (though when I saw him speak live, I really enjoyed his talks), as he’s left of center in political and spiritual realms, camping out with the likes of Tony Jones, Margaret Feinberg, and Tony Campolo. He is a very articulate, entertaining speaker and writer, and normally quite provocative to me. In The Gospel According to Starbucks, Mr. Sweet argues that life isn’t supposed to be boring, but rather a rich, deep experience. He believes life should be lived at the intersection of faith and irresistible experience.
Throughout the book he asks provocative questions that include “Is God a reality to be experienced or a belief to be remembered?” and “Is Christ a living force to be experienced or a historical figure to be reckoned with?” Personally, I don’t believe experience interprets doctrine or truth, but the other way around: Correct doctrine interprets what we experience. I think far too many people make decisions based on how they feel instead of what’s right. That said, it seems to me in reading this book that Mr. Sweet (and Mr. Piper before him) argues for a vibrant, experiential, lifelong engagement with God. He makes great points along this line and the book is thoroughly entertaining, comical and down to earth. It also serves t w o p u r p o s e s : G e t t i n g Christians to live a little in the glory of the Lord and getting
people of all walks of life to see a better way of running things, whether a business, a household, a marriage, etc. his book’s principles all apply. Let me finish by quoting from the book: “You don’t stand in line at Starbucks just to buy a cup of coffee. You stop for the experience surrounding the cup of coffee (sic: whether you know it or not). Too many of us line up for God out of duty or guilt. We completely miss the warmth and richness of the experience of living with God. If we’d learn to see what God is doing on earth, we could participate fully in the irresistible life that He offers.”
Enjoy,
- Ed KelleyExecutive Pastor
The first couple questions one runs into in reading this Leonard Sweet book on passion are “What have you been missing that sits within easy reach, inviting you to grab and hold and enjoy?” and “What would the Christian life look like (and feel like) if it was understood to be something to experience … something to fully participate in and something that connects you directly to God and other Christians?” Anyone who has taken one of my classes knows
Kings Kaleidoscope“Becoming Who We Are”
Kings is one of the bands to have emerged from Seattle’s Mars Hill Church. They are known for their energy, musical complexity (they have a ten-piece band for heaven’s sake!) and lyrical richness. You may think you’ve never heard them,
but if you’ve arrived early for any of our services, you’ve probably heard a few of their tunes, as well as the credit they rightfully deserve for their contribution to the arrangement of Amazing Grace that we play regularly.
Bethel Worship“We Will Not Be Shaken”
A handful of the songs we have in our Sunday morning rotation are by Bethel Worship, so it should be no surprise that I would include their new album in my monthly recommendation. It has
a distinctively raw sound, and reminds us of simple, yet profoundly important truths like our identity as sons and daughters of God in the song “No Longer Slaves.”
by: Micah Pringle (BACC Worship Leader) MICAH’S MIX
BOOK:
AUTHOR:
The Gospel According to Starbucks
Leonard Sweet
By Brian Hopper / Photos Arianne Teeple
Bay Area has a long tradition of supporting local missionaries and ministries, but none quite as long (and as impactful) as our partnership with Young Life (YL). They have been reaching teens since 1941, and their mission, which is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith, has remained the same since their inception. A true testimony to their dedication and commitment to reaching adolescents with the Gospel.
What is even more striking is that YL has been reaching kids here in Anne Arundel county for over 45 years! Literally thousands of kids have been impacted by the gospel through the ministry of YL. It’s this commitment to Jesus and the fruitfulness of YL that have led us to partner with them for so long.
Consistently, we have seen the Lord use the leaders and volunteers to come alongside students where they are and walk with them through their middle and high school years. Similar to our commitment to minister to kids through families, YL doesn’t replace the role or influence of the parents, but comes alongside them to help them grow in their faith. And the fruit of this has not only brought kids to faith, but also has brought them to our (and other) churches.
One high school student invited her volleyball teammates to Lake Champion, which is a weeklong summer camp for YL in upstate NY. These weeks have been huge for many kids spiritually. Because this student knew the power a week like this can have on the lives of her friends, she encouraged her teammates to join her. By the conclusion of the camp, several of her friends responded to the gospel and came to faith. And once back in Annapolis, they all began coming to BACC, and even some of their parents have come as a result. This story has played out countless times over the 45 years that YL has been in Anne Arundel County, and it is why we continue to support and pray for their ministry.
YL focuses on building relationships with kids where they are (quite literally), and by walking with them, leaders are able (over time) to introduce them to Jesus. Andrew Boyd, the area director of YL here in Anne Arundel County, says the need to reach kids is greater now than ever. He said, “The group of kids called adolescents used to refer to a period of about three to four years in the life of a teenager. But over time that span has been expanding. Experts now think it stretches from age 12 to 25. What that means is that adolescence is harder now than ever before because of what kids face - it is more intense than generations before. Early adolescents have minds that can’t yet comprehend the gravity of the situations they face
and that’s why our adult volunteers work hard to meet kids where they are.”
Andrew has been with YL since 1999 and became the local area director in summer 2012 when he and his family moved to Annapolis. They have come to BACC since December 2013. Andrew represents the newest chapter in the lifelong work of YL here our county. In this new chapter, he is once again working to expand the footprint of YL into more local schools. They currently are connected to several high schools including Broadneck and Severna Park.
Andrew and his team play a crucial role in reaching kids in our county. With such a strong legacy of ministry, we feel privileged to partner with YL and help continue the work. Andrew says YL works best when you have loving, caring adults who want to help students come to faith and walk with them through their adolescent years. He is trusting the Lord for that to continue.
We invite you to join us in supporting and praying for Andrew and YL here in Anne Arundel County. If YL is new to you and you would like more information or want to talk to Andrew about helping out, you can contact him directly at [email protected], or you can learn more about their ministry online at annearundelcounty.younglife.org
WALK WITH THEM
young lifeLOCAL OUTREACH:
Andrew Boyd YL Area Director
By: Pat Linnell
How about that Super Bowl? Maybe you tuned in for the commercials or to see Katy Perry suspended on a shooting star singing “Firework” and stuck around for the game. Maybe your team was in the hunt, or perhaps you got swept up in “Deflategate,” wondering with the rest of us if the Patriots cheated or not, and tuned in hoping the Seahawks would hand them a fistful of justice.
Of all the traps and turns of the biggest game of the year, the most unforgettable moment without a doubt was the regrettable play call that turned what seemed like a sure game-winning touchdown run into a game-ending interception. Just after my heart broke for Seattle fans and my spirits lifted for Patriots fans, my brain attempted to process the call to pass, in light of having one of the best running backs in the NFL and three chances for him to do what he has done all year. What a bummer to have blown the Super Bowl. When it comes to my life as a husband and father I feel that the “Super Bowl” is how I am doing discipling my family for Jesus. The stakes are high, and Jesus has given my wife Kristen and I the job of calling the plays to plant and water seeds of faith in the lives of our four kids. I also have the responsibility of loving my wife so that she is able to carry out her God-given roles as a wife and mom. Now at some point the Seahawks are going to have to sit in a room together and watch the tape of the game. They are going to have to debrief the play call and botched execution that cost them the Super Bowl. So in a spirit of transparency, and for the sake of getting better, I’m going to share
some of my first downs and some of my fumbles, with the prayer that Jesus will bring victory to my house, and to yours. Recently I’ve had some first downs, some completed passes. One I saw in my oldest daughter Ava, who was able to recall and explain Jesus’ reaction to the woman who was caught in adultery from the Gospel of John. Since Ava is 7, she understands adultery to be when a man or woman tries to steal another person’s husband or wife. She could recall this because a few nights before I sat the kids down on the living room floor and read this short story out of the Bible to them, and asked them to tell me what just happened. This was not a magical time when all the kids were perfectly behaved; trust me, it lasted three-and-a-half minutes before the younger ones lost focus and a wrestling match broke out. Yet for Ava to retain some of the story, and for her to remember Jesus’ mercy a few days later was a first down.
Likewise, another small win is that my son Jack, 5, looks forward to me reading a Bible story with him at bedtime. It dawned on me that this time is becoming significant to him when he told Kristen, “Daddy reads the Bible to me every night.” I’m thankful that Jesus is helping me move the chains. At the same time of having some wins, I’ve also had some fumbles. One of these is my lack of consistency in making good play calls and faithfully executing them. What I mean is that I start things for a while with the kids, some Bible time or prayer time, but then on a night that I come home tired, I’ll just skip it. Sometimes this lack of consistency also shows up in my discipline or follow-through with consequences,
and this has direct implications on their respect of my authority. And this is important, because I want them to learn about Jesus’ authority through me. A typical example of this is at bedtime when my 4-year-old Scarlett is told not to run around, literally run around, in her bedroom. The consequences to running around at bedtime vary, but the problem is, I rarely go back to enforce the rule anyway, so Scarlett being a keen youngster plays her odds and does gymnastics most nights after she’s been put to bed. Another fumble is not praying every day with Kristen. I don’t think it is very easy to pray out loud with your spouse, but I do think it is a very special and important thing to do. Praying with her and for her keeps in front of me my role as husband to lead my family, love my wife, and continually and intentionally invite Jesus to give us more of His life. Some nights I think, “I should probably pray with Kristen before we fall asleep” – but then I don’t. That’s an intercepted pass – that’s a bummer. So how is discipling your family going? How are you fulfilling your God-given role in your family? If you don’t have a family, are you walking with Jesus and for Jesus in your most important relationships? When you look back on the Super Bowl of your life, will you regret any of the plays you are calling now? If so, be encouraged, because the game is still on, life is still happening, Jesus is your running back, and thanks to the Seahawks you know the right call.
FirstDowns
AND Fumbles
Making Sense of an Ever-changing
Youth Culture
by Austin MacCubbin
Middle school is a polarizing subject. When you ask people, like my wife, they speak highly of that time, remembering friends and memories positively as one of the best times in their lives. However, when you ask someone like myself about middle school I don’t look back on it fondly at all. You couldn’t pay me to relive my middle school days. I was a kid who was bullied constantly. Maybe you have a student who is facing a similar dilemma.
This is the very reason I love working with middle school students: If I can take even one student and make their middle school experience a positive one, and, more importantly, if I can point them toward Christ, then I have made all the difference. Bullying is something that is prevalent among today’s adolescents. It’s not merely the story of the one large, intimidating kid terrorizing the bookworms for their lunch money each day at school. Bullying takes on many forms and can look different depending on the situation.
There are four major types of bullying. Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking, tripping, pinching, pushing, or damaging property. Verbal bullying includes name-calling, insults, teasing, intimidation, and verbal abuse. Covert or hidden bullying occurs when gossip and the spread of rumors are intended to hurt or destroy someone’s social reputation. This is often much harder to spot. Lastly we have cyberbullying, the latest and hottest subject when it comes to bullying. This is when digital technologies are used in an effort to bully someone else. This could be through a text message or email, or over social media. Nearly one in three students reported being bullied during the 2013 school year according to the Nation Center for Education Statistics. More than 50 percent of students admit they have been bullied at some point. You can go online and find all kinds of different studies done by different organizations and the numbers generally stay the same, but this isn’t just about the numbers. When you bring a group of students together and bring up the subject of bullying almost everyone has something to say. Students want to talk about this. I would dare to say they need to talk about this. We’ve all heard the old rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break
my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It’s an easy answer to give when we see someone who has been hurt by words, but let’s be honest, words have a ton of weight. I’m sure you can still remember something cutting and cruel that someone said to you. Proverbs 12:18 says, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Our tongue can cut like a sword, but it can also heal and console others. It’s funny that our mouth can do so much good, but also so much harm.
Oftentimes we’ll say things like, “They’re just jealous” or, “That bully just has low self-esteem.” Studies in fact have shown the opposite. Students who are considered bullies often have higher self-esteem. The real thing that I think all students struggle with, not just bullies, is shame. The last thing anyone wants is their failures shown to the world. At a time when adolescents are still figuring out exactly who they are, failure can be much more devastating in their eyes.
One of the problems I see is in cyberbullying. When we are face-to-face and hurt someone, we see the look on his or her face. We see the effects of our words as soon as they leave our mouth. When we type text on a screen and hit send we don’t see the effect. Human interaction shows us the effects of our words. When we remove that from the equation, bullying can take an entirely new and cruel shape.
The truth is that those who bully lack empathy for their neighbor. They truly do see themselves as better. Studies have shown that the majority of bullying stops when a peer steps in. Start a conversation with your student, whether they’re bullied or not.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving God and loving your neighbor are intertwined. Bullying comes down to a subject of loving our neighbor. If we love God truly with everything, then we should see everyone in light of who they are in God.
Tigers and Tribesbravery for the gospel
ext to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in India live a remarkable pastoral couple, Ravi and Mallika, and their two children Sergin and Ratvika. A star hangs above the entrance of their home, a beautiful symbol of the light they bring to the 40 other
village families. Together they lead an International Cultural Bible Ministries church. God recently used them and the ministry of ICBM to provide fresh water through the construction of a well for the village. As a result, new doors of opportunity for the Gospel opened. Today 25 people gather in their small living room on Sunday mornings. Though impoverished materially, they are rich spiritually. The local government is so appreciative of Ravi and Mallika that they recently gave them a beautiful piece of land in which to build a church and community center. Ravi and Mallika are praying and believing God for His provision.
The vision of Mallika and Ravi expands far beyond the border of their own village. These ambassadors of Christ walk many kilometers every week to the 6 neighboring villages to share God’s love and forgiveness. Traveling next to the Tiger Reserve, they pray for divine protection. For 15 years they’ve been reaching out to these tribal people whom the government displaced from the jungle roughly 30 years ago. Mallika frequently brings clothes that she has sown by hand. Ravi helps provide food during the rainy season when the men are without work. Through the funding of ICBM, Mallika has spearheaded an effort to build wells in 4 of the 6 villages. The early years were very slow but today 5 of the 6 villages have believers that gather weekly.
In many ways Mallika and Ravi are like a modern day Priscilla and Aquila, preaching the Good News and planting churches. ICBM, led by Samuel Devraj, stands with them in providing direction and support. And we stand with the International Cultural Bible Ministries. You are being used to help people like Mallika and Ravi plant churches and start Children’s Homes in 7 different regions of India. Besides our monthly support, through Beyond884 we hope to further the kingdom by funding the construction of a Children’s Home and ministry headquarters in Hyderbad, as well as further resourcing church planters such as Ravi and Mallika.
The star that hangs over the entrance of Ravi and Mallika’s home is a beautiful symbol not only of what God is doing through ICBM, but also of how Jesus is shining through the family of Bay Area Community Church from here to the nations.
NBy Greg St.Cyr
A SHORT-TERM MISSIONS EXPERIENCE
By: Ashleigh Bicevskis
“I would encourage everyone to go on at least one short-term mission trip. It may seem uncomfortable but God has not called us to live a life of comfort. He calls us to go and make disciples. He calls us to stretch ourselves and to seek His face in all that we do. Short-term mission trips provide us with the opportunities to become more like the people God has called us to be.” - Stephanie Lane
From the very beginning, the Lord was setting Stephanie Lane up for a life filled with adventure and with a passion to see His name made famous in all the world. Growing up in Chile and Mexico as a missionary’s daughter, Stephanie developed a heart for the nations and a desire to share the truth of Christ with the lost. Little did she know, the Lord would slowly but surely call her to the country of India where she would have the opportunity to travel to more
than five times before her mid-20s.If you know Stephanie well, you know two things: she loves
India and she is a huge sports fan. So it only makes sense that her first experience in India was filled with teaching
basketball to children through a sports camp. After that first trip, she was hooked. She went on to lead Vacation Bible Schools, help teach English, and minister to children in
various ways. Each trip to India, Stephanie fell more in love with the country, a country diverse in people, cultures, and
religions.One of Stephanie’s favorite memories from her experiences in India was while teaching Bible songs to children. Seeing their faces light up when they finally learned the song and got it right was such a beautiful moment. “Every time they saw me they would start singing the songs and asking me to sing with them,” she explained with a smile. This expe-rience left an impact on Stephanie’s heart. It made all the
hard work she was doing real and of great importance when she saw that these children were really remembering the
truth about Jesus, the only one who could love them with an everlasting love.
Another experienced that left an impact on Stephanie’s life was having the opportunity to climb up to the top of a
mountain and sing praises to the Lord with Indian believers. This was particularly special to her because before going to India, Stephanie often had thoughts about how God could
use her or if He even could. This moment proved something to be true.
“God’s love and power transcend like no other. The people that have come to know Christ are so on fire for God,” she
said. “They finally see that there is one true God and all others fade away.” She saw people filled with hope, knowing
that although they did not have many earthly possessions, they were rich in Christ.
Stephanie has learned many things from her experience, service, and travels in India. Through it all, she says she has truly seen the joy of the Lord. “It is very difficult to see peo-ple in such poor and dirty circumstances and not feel like you need to help them,” she highlighted. “However, when you see how joyful and loving they are despite their condi-
tions, you are truly able to see the joy of the Lord. Seeing the magnitude of the joy and contentment they have in the Lord
is not something I can forget easily.” It is safe to say that short-term missions
has changed the trajectory of Steph-anie’s life. “Short-term mission trips give you an avenue to explore and grow in your faith that is unlike any other! Every trip I go on,
God challenges me more and more,” she said. The work the Lord has done through Stephanie’s time in India has given her the desire
to continue to return to India. And over and over again, she has seen the hand of the Lord change not only the people
with whom she shares Jesus, but also her own life and faith.
It may seem uncomfortable, but God has not called us to live a life of comfort.
To learn more about short term missions at Bay Area Community Church visitbayareacc.org/stm or contact [email protected]
January 2012, Bay Area Community Church witnessed God moving in an extraordinary way as attendance at Sunday gatherings experienced unprecedented growth. During those early winter weeks, God brought people from across Anne
Arundel County and beyond – and lots of them – to 884 Chesterfield Road in Annapolis, and worshippers quickly outnumbered available seats in the Sunday gatherings, while upstairs in Children’s Ministry the number of little ones hungry to learn about Jesus exceeded classroom capacities. It was a terrific problem for the church to have, but one that the elders, pastors, and staff of Bay Area knew needed to be addressed promptly. “We had just come through an exciting Advent Christmas season, and God had brought a lot of people. Afterwards, for the first time, I saw people physically come and not be able to find a seat, our Children’s Ministry was turning away children because they were at capacity, and people were leaving,” Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr recalled. “Seeing people physically come and physically leave was unbearable for me. That’s when we decided we needed to do something.” Prayerful consideration first led to the temporary addition of an evening service, but the change did little to alleviate Bay Area’s Sunday morning seat shortage. God continued to roll wave after wave of children, teens and adults onto the shores of Bay Area as the months of 2012 ticked by. “The following January, [more] people left – it was even bigger, even worse – even though
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2
T H E S T O R Y O F O U R N E W C H A P E L A N D C H I L D R E N ’ S W I N G
R O O M F O R P E O P L E
In
By Meredith Thompson
“Beyond884 is bigger than just the chapel and children’s wing – it’s part of our vision of seeing the nations reached, of planting churches, of reaching the local Annapolis area, and of paying down our debt so we can do even more,” Greg highlighted. “It’s not like there’s a set number of people, … a certain size we want to be – nobody cares about the size – it’s really about seeing people come to faith and grow and mature and become disciples. This affords us more room for people who don’t know Jesus to come to Jesus, and people who do know Jesus to become mature disciples of Jesus.”
Founded on Prayer On a cold, grey Sunday in March 2014, several shovels synchronously displaced small, hard patches of earth on Bay Area’s west lawn as members of the church family celebrated the official groundbreaking on their new chapel and children’s wing. Inside, people penned the names of loved ones, friends and colleagues whom they prayed would be impacted by the addition in permanent marker on flat, round stones. Gathering Team Leader Josh Shirlen explained that the staff of Bay Area later prayed over the stones and scattered them over the ground before the foundation of the chapel was poured, making the structure literally founded on prayer.
One Church Fits All Continuing the nautical architectural theme of Bay Area’s existing facility – found in features including its wave-like roofline and balcony and blue and brown flooring – the new chapel embodies the shape of a boat, and the children’s wing continues the underwater seascape of The Deep Blue. Designed by Waldon Studio Architects and constructed
b y T r i o n f o B u i l d e r s , t h e m o d e r n chapel blends traditional and contemporary e l e m e n t s t o provide a more contemplative
atmosphere than the celebratory environment that will remain in Bay Area’s main gathering space. Ample natural light accentuates wooden accents incorporated to reflect God’s creation, lending to an overall feel that architect Andrew Beyea described as a tasteful, clean industrial aesthetic. A member of Bay Area for nearly two years, the architect noted he began attending regularly with his family after getting to know the church’s pastors and staff through the architectural process. “I really appreciated their creative approach to the way they present the gospel and the way they create community,” Andrew reflected. “A verse that has
we had made some changes, people were still being turned away,” Greg said. “That’s when the elders really got serious about what we should do, and out of that time of praying, we made the decision it was time to build to make room for people.” Elder Brian Mallare, who served on the church staff as facility expansion pastor during construction of the first phase of Bay Area, explained the additions of a chapel, children’s wing, and 1,500-seat auditorium were always part of the master plan for Bay Area’s campus. As the elders sought what God would
have them do to create room for people, they felt led toward c o n s t r u c t i o n of a 350-seat chapel – larger than the 200-seat space originally p r o p o s e d , a n d m o r e affordable than an auditorium.
Additionally, they agreed it was imperative to make more room for the nearly 500 children and counting who flooded the halls and classrooms of The Deep Blue each Sunday morning – a need Brian understood firsthand. “One weekend, I had my grandkids and I showed up at five of whatever time the service was, and there was no room for them. I said, ‘This is unacceptable – we’ve got to fix this,’” he recounted of what he quickly recognized to be a “screaming need” for expansion.
From Here to the Nations Building a chapel and children’s wing would fulfill Bay Area’s mission of making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus here – but what about the nations? Instead of asking the church family to commit the $4.6 million needed for
construction of the two-part addition, in May 2013, Bay Area launched Beyond884 – a next-leveled campaign that
challenged the body to sacrificially give $7.1 million. Led by Brian Mallare, the initiative also funds helping
pay off the Annapolis Pregnancy Clinic’s mortgage, planting a church in Washington, D.C., completing
the Mission Gardens of Christ in South Sudan, building a children’s home and training
facility in India, and paying down debt remaining from the construction of Bay
Area’s existing facility.
Through the campaign, which runs through May 2015, the church
leadership prayed that 884 households from within the
church family would pledge extravagantly generous
gifts over two years. To date, more than 670
households have contributed over
$3.1 million, with another
$1.7 million pledged.
really stuck with me this whole time is Isaiah 66:1, and it says, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my
footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?”’
It really humbles me to think that we’re designing a space where people are going to worship God.” Though the company’s collective
corporate portfolio includes over 400 churches, Andrew and Waldon Studios
President Ravi Waldon explained designing their own church has truly been a unique experience. “It’s just a joy to work together with Bay Area because I believe in the mission so much,” Ravi, who also has attended BACC for nearly two years, highlighted. He added, “Andrew and I represent two different generations – I’m 60 and he’s 30 – and I think [the chapel] shows Bay Area’s understanding of people like me – I’m going to be worshipping in that chapel, I like a bit more of a formal space – so it really means a lot to me that the ministry crosses generations.” Similarly, the worship experience offered in the chapel will cross not only generations, but also various church backgrounds. Worship Leader Micah Pringle explained that while the same contemporary songs will be presented in the chapel, they will have a softer, more contemplative sound furnished through instruments including piano and acoustic guitar. “It’s understandable that some weeks one may come to church ready to sing loudly and passionately, and the next week there may be life circumstances that beg for quietness. The great thing about where we’re headed is that every Sunday we’ll have both offerings of worship available,” he illustrated. With the addition of six large classrooms and a playroom, the new space also provides room for many more young people, too. The underwater oasis where children learn to know and love God, The Deep Blue, will spill over into the new space, welcoming youngsters with bright colors and seascape murals, Children’s Ministry Director Gail Wiles explained. On the first floor, a playroom specially designed for nursery and preschool-age children will offer families a dedicated space to enjoy time together after the gatherings. “I’m really excited to give children a space they’ll be able to call their own – it’s definitely kid-specific, the colors are vibrant – it will just have that sense of discovery and wonder,” Gail said, describing the new children’s wing with a smile.
Filled with Prayer
Regardless of scale, renovations often are synonymous with exceeding a set budget and timeline. While Bay Area’s new chapel and children’s wing are opening on time, Executive Pastor Ed Kelley IV, who served as general manager throughout the construct, explained that the unanticipated addition of a fire wall and two fire doors required by the county, paired with residual traffic impact fees lingering after the first build, catapulted the project nearly $400,000 over budget before the church even had its building permit in hand. Still, Ed noted, the project overall was incredibly smooth: While construction of Bay Area’s existing building was plagued by over 200 change orders, the chapel build required only nine.
One year after ground was broken on the chapel and children’s wing, the 20,000-square-foot addition today stands ready to welcome people from across the greater Annapolis region – children, adults, and the hundreds of individuals held dear by members of the Bay Area family whose names are built into the chapel’s very foundation.
And when the doors open on March 15, Brian Mallare predicted, the space will already be packed. “Somebody came up to me the other day and said, ‘My daughter and I come once a week, we part in the parking lot … and we pray over the chapel, pray for the people who are going to come,’ and it just became so obvious to me that there’s a lot of people praying for what God is going to do in that chapel and in the children’s wing,” Brian expounded. Likewise, the pastors and staff of Bay Area have regularly
covered the space in prayer. In addition to periodically traversing the expansive lobby between office and chapel to intercede for those who soon will fill the space, Josh Shirlen explained that the BACC leadership gathered in early October 2014 to pray throughout each of the rooms and write prayers and Scriptures on the addition’s exposed beams. On a large sandstone block facing Chesterfield Road, Psalm 67:1-2 is engraved on Bay Area’s façade – a prayer that God would bless the church for the sake of the nations. “Verse 7 [of the Psalm] says, ‘God blesses us that all the ends of the earth may fear Him,’” Greg said, adding, “And that’s what I see God doing – He is blessing us not for our sake but He’s blessing us so that others may come to know and revere and love the Lord … I close my eyes and I get overwhelmed by the thousands
of people – the thousands and tens of thousands in years to come – who are going to come through that chapel and be totally blessed, and the children – the scores of children who are going to be impacted there, whose lives are going to be forever changed because of what they receive there.”
L E A D E R S H I P P R O F I L E
By Meredith Thompson
othing was going right. The massive project was behind schedule, fraught with disputes with the county. In a word, it was a disaster. Standing in mud up to his
ankles in an empty field located at 884 Chesterfield Road, with traffic whizzing by behind him on I-97, Brian Mallare was freaking out. Taking on the role of facility expansion pastor in 2004, he had been charged with overseeing the construction of Bay Area Community Church’s permanent home, and none of it was going according to plan. There are select moments in Brian Mallare’s life that he has heard clearly from God. Standing in that mud-caked field pleading with God for direction is one of them. “I had gone to seminary and thought I wanted to be a preacher. This was my church family, and I had left [my job] at the peak of my career, and it just seemed crazy that I had gotten here and within two years I’m standing in a field of mud saying, ‘God how did I get here?’” he recalled, illustrating the challenges he worked through transitioning from his career to being on church staff. “And He said, ‘Well, I put you here,’ and I was like, ‘Of course! This is a perfect job for me.’” A quarter of a century earlier, Brian began his walk with Jesus in the musty basement of an old, wooden church. Though he was raised Catholic, his wife Kathy – whom he noted with a smile goes by Kate – came from a Lutheran background, and when they moved to Anne Arundel County for Brian’s assignment at Fort Meade, they joined a small Lutheran church in Odenton. “Because I wasn’t a card-carrying Lutheran, I was invited to go through the membership course,” he said, recalling details of the musty basement where it was held. “They showed me this 16-millimeter movie – I can still smell it and I can feel it and I can hear that clickety-click – about Martin Luther. At the point where he described that salvation is a gift – that it’s by faith, by grace that you have been saved – when he said that, I sat up a little bit and was like, ‘I knew that.’” That was the moment for Brian when the words of the Catholic liturgy he had heard for 22 years clicked and, he gestured, moved from his head to his heart. Ten years and a move to Millersville later, the Mallares’ friends who attended a growing church plant called Bay Area Community Church invited them to check out a Sunday gathering, then held at Anne Arundel Community College. It was an experience that
Brian remembers vividly two-and-a-half decades later. “We walk into the auditorium at the community college and there’s this kid on the stage with a ponytail standing at a keyboard, talking like he’s the priest or something, and I was just like ‘What in the world?’” Brian painted a picture of his first visit to Bay Area, describing the worship leader. “And then people started clapping and they were standing up, they were raising their hands, and I was like, ‘What have I stumbled into here? We’re leaving.’ [But Kate] said, ‘Sit down.’” The Mallares stayed through the service, but didn’t return to BACC for two years. When they did come back in 1993 at the invitation of Kathy Metzger, Founding Pastor Mike Metzger’s wife, they got involved serving in the Children’s Ministry before Brian was tapped by BACC’s new pastor, Greg St. Cyr, to be part of a team of men who partnered with him in leading the church. After a year, he was invited to become an elder, and later came on staff with Bay Area as its operations pastor in 2002 before overseeing construction of Bay Area’s physical home from 2004-2006. It was the perfect job for him, Brian recalled, but beyond the build, he didn’t feel led to any other role on staff. He rested in knowing the build was what God had called him to do at the time – he was going to do it if it killed him – and that when it was complete he was free to pursue other opportunities. “We decided that among the elders a year before we finished the building. Toward the last three months of building, people started to connect the dots and ask, ‘Where’s your office, Brian?’” he remembered with a laugh. After returning to his previous career field, Brian came back on as an elder several years ago. In that role, he assists in facilitating Ministry Partner interviews and coaching people through baptisms, though his primary focus since early 2013 has been leading Beyond884. Alongside Greg and a half-dozen fellow campaign leaders, Brian has directed Bay Area’s $7.1 million capital campaign for building the new chapel and children’s wing, which also funds helping pay off the Annapolis Pregnancy Clinic’s mortgage, planting a church in Washington, D.C., completing the Mission Gardens of Christ in South Sudan, building an orphanage and training facility in India, and paying down debt remaining from the construction of Bay Area’s existing facility.
brian mallareN
Photo by Arianne Teeple
Though not tied to his role as elder, Brian most enjoys the opportunities his ordination as a pastor affords him to facilitate weddings. “I do a lot of what I call evangelistic weddings, meaning not people inside the church and potentially not even churched at all,” he highlighted, illustrating the opportunities such weddings present for sharing the gospel and discipling people. Though he admittedly is terrible at it, Brian enjoys hitting the links with his brother to play nine holes on early summer mornings before heading to Entegra Systems, where he serves as vice president and senior systems engineer. Home improvement projects are his therapy, he noted, and fortunately, that skillset far exceeds his golfing abilities. Brian and Kate, his high-school sweetheart whom he met in 10th grade English class, reside in Shipley’s Choice and are the proud parents of three adult children: Jason, 31, is married to Diane, and they attend Bay Area with their four little ones; 29-year-old Erica is married and lives in Atlanta; and their youngest, 24-year-old Ben, lives in Los Angeles. As the opening date for Bay Area’s new chapel and children’s wing nears, the Beyond884 chairman is looking forward to what God is going to do in the lives of the hundreds of people who will soon fill the space. “As long as God keeps jamming people into the building, we’ll keep expanding … He’s doing all the hard work, and the least we can do is make a little space,” Brian said of the growth the church is experiencing, adding a prediction that the chapel will be full on day one. “We’re being swept along in the flow, and it’s just apparent what God is doing: He’s filling the space before we even have the space, and we’re just going to have to turn around and build the next chunk or two. “God’s already filled it, and when we open the doors, everyone’s either going to go ‘Uh oh!’ or ‘Hallelujah!’”
It has occurred to me that it is my duty to inform you on the current nature of the war from one of our most important fronts: teenage life. I need not remind you of the great and serious battle we are engaged in against our Creator’s rebellious enemy, nor remind you that the enemy has and will strike at our greatest weaknesses. With this being said, I feel that we are experiencing such an attack on the ranks of our youth. The enemy has turned youth culture against itself, twisting and corrupting it to the point that it is but an empty shell of its former self. Drugs, pornography, violence, and even something as good as music have been used against the young men and women combating the great evil of this world in the Lord’s name.
I am deeply concerned, as I feel you should be, about the youth of this world. What affects them, affects us all. They are the future of the church, our pastors, missionaries, artists, musicians, and leaders. Teenagers have the greatest potential out of all of us, potential to learn from our mistakes and someday surpass us. But with this potential for good comes potential for evil. If we allow this front to fall, the war for humanity is lost.
But there is always hope! One of our strongest fronts has been from the Bay Area Student Ministry. Our student ministry has done an excellent job in strengthening teenagers against the trials of the world. BASM has connected with youth on their own level, within their own culture. The youth are not only willing to listen, (which in and of itself is an accomplishment
worth celebrating), but they are ecstatic to learn about Christ. This is what we need! I personally have connected with my brothers in the student ministry. Our group of young men, under the guidance of our tireless and faithful leader, has gone through the trials of this war. We have been through thick and thin, always supporting and serving each other. We are best friends and as close as family.
BASM has equipped teens with the knowledge that they need to be able to face the enemy head on. The youth group retreats are exactly what they sound like, retreating. Not giving up the fight, but a tactical retreat into a community that is just for Christ. These retreats are BEYOND value. Teens are feeling more secure, not just in their faith, but also in the community. This brings me to another point: one of our greatest weapons and one of our enemy’s greatest fears is community. This might be the defining factor of the student ministry. In our base of operations, The Warehouse, everybody knows everybody. This community of young people is dedicated to Christ and to each other, an invaluable combination.
These teens are our vanguard and we must not forget that. They face the same evils that adults do everyday. Seeing the way BASM has taught and equipped these men and women, I am confident that complete victory is inevitable.
Sincerely,J.T. Lagaras
DEAR COMMAND,
J.T. Lagaras is a ninth grader at Annapolis High School with a passion for writing. He volunteers in Bay Area Student Ministries Student Action Leadership Team
(SALT) as well as being active in Bay Area’s High School ministry. We asked J.T. to give us a creative glimpse of the student ministry experience and this was his
perspective, writing as a soldier sending a letter to his command.
THEDOCKS
TO CROW
NSVILLE R
D.
CHU
RCH F
RON
T
DROP OFF
BACC
WEST LO
T
EAST LOT
ON
E WAY
ON
E WAY
ENTER ROUTEEXIT ROUTE
STOP SIGN
KEY
WHAT’SWITHTHETRAFFIC?
WE’RETRYING
SOMETHINGNEW.
The above illustration depicts the latest updated strategy for smooth trac flow between gatherings.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
ONE WAY
ON
E WAY
CHESTERFIELD R
D.
CONNECT WITH BAY AREA
Would you like to be baptized?
For more information...• K-5th: contact [email protected]• 6-12th: contact [email protected]• Adults: contact [email protected]
BAPTISM
H A P P E N I N G S
If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a blue shirt in the lobby after each
Sunday gathering or visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/new
CARE NETWORK
There are times when every one of us experiences difficulties such as the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce, job loss, addiction, discouragement, spiritual crisis, loneliness, parenting difficulties, and many other challenges. God’s intention is that we engage with others and not walk alone through these circumstances! And Jesus wants to see us through the challenges instead of avoiding them or going around them. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Christ-centered ministry that assists those seeking help by serving as a bridge to hope and healing through a variety of resources. We offer appropriate referrals and resources such as a Care Coach, a Missional Community, financial assistance, Celebrate Recovery, Christian counselors, or an appropriate agency or program in the community. If you need some help or have questions, email Leanne at [email protected] for more information.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits, and hangups keep you isolated. Let Celebrate Recovery be a place of healing, hope, and community for you! We meet every Monday night, even on holidays, at 7 PM for worship, a lesson/testimony, open share groups, and fellowship. We share a meal together every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 6-7 PM. The 3rd Monday is a potluck dinner. Stop by our kiosk in the lobby every 1st Sunday of the month to talk with Celebrate Recovery representatives and learn more. Contact Tom at [email protected] or Leanne at [email protected] for more information.
*SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER for Monday March 16We are excited to have Dr. William W. Williams of Full Circle Psychological Services join us on March 16 as the speaker. Dr. Williams is a Licensed Psychologist and may sound familiar as he was the Executive Director of the Christian Counseling Center of Annapolis for 35 years before going into private practice. There will be a potluck dinner beginning at 6 PM prior to the program start at 7 PM. All are welcome! Contact Tom for more information at [email protected]
GOOD FRIDAY 4 PM GATHERINGFull Children’s Ministry will be offered for families at the Good Friday 4 PM gathering only. All check-in kiosks will be open for you to check your children into their age appropriate rooms. We look forward to celebrating the Easter season with your family.
DEEP BLUE DISCIPLESHIP TRAININGAll Tidal Pool, Coral Reef, and Submarine Canyon ministry year volunteers save the date for March 18, 2015 from 7-8:30 PM for a required training event. We will have some snacks,
Adrienne Howard’s love for children shows by the relationships she has built with the one year olds and their parents since starting to serve in the Tidal Pool every Sunday. Adrienne is a full time nanny and has been working with children for the last eight years. She comes from a big family and loves to dote on her nephews and nieces. Adrienne loves to cook for her friends
and meeting new people. Thank you for serving!
Ellie David is one of our faithful preschool leaders who serves every week. She is currently a college student working on a degree in social work and is a nanny. Ellie loves spending Sunday morning with the children teaching them that Jesus loves them and what it means to love God back, all while understanding the importance of investing in the next generation. When she is not serving in preschool, she loves playing jokes on her friends and family as she is always looking for ways to make others and herself laugh. We love having Ellie on the Preschool team! She is amazing and so loving with the children. Thank you, Ellie,
for serving families at Bay Area!
Buddy Rowe has been serving with the 4th and 5th graders since this last summer. He has been leading both large and small groups every single week. Buddy serves because he wants to make a difference in the lives of the children and families at Bay Area. He is energized just watching them grow in the Lord and it doesn’t hurt that Buddy is a big kid himself! When Buddy is not
serving in elementary, he is spending time with his beautiful wife Linda (who also serves alongside him), playing golf, and hunting. Buddy, thank you so much for the joy with which you serve!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
MARRIAGE MINISTRY Have you been married 10+ years and have a deep desire to see couples start and stay strong in their marriages? This ministry team seeks to encourage existing marriages through the development and scheduling of enrichment opportunities such as learning communities, marriage workshops and events, and small group Bible studies. To serve on this team or learn more about the Marriage Ministry visit bayareacc.org/marriageministry or [email protected] for more information.
PREMARITAL MENTORINGDid you get engaged or are you thinking about getting engaged? Premarital mentoring is just what you need! Strong marriages are the cornerstone of a healthy, Jesus-centered family. Our marriage ministry equips future and existing marriages with the tools they need to make it in marriage. The premarital mentor program pairs couples with marriage mentors, couples who have been married for 10 + years, to help prepare them for marriage. It doesn’t matter whether a Bay Area pastor is officiating at your wedding, being prepared is the key! This is the best gift you can give each other as you start your life together as man and wife. For more information contact Todd & Kim Christner at [email protected]
MARRIAGE LEARNING COMMUNITYSave the date! A new marriage focused learning community is in the works for April 12 - May 17 in The Docks. Join us for this exciting opportunity to enrich and grow your marriage God’s way. Visit bayareacc.org/marriageministry or contact Leanne at [email protected] for more information. PRODIGAL CHILDREN SUPPORTLuke 15:11-32 tells us the parable of the lost son. He leaves home, lives his life the way he wants to and thankfully, he eventually returns to his father. This child has become known as the “Prodigal Child.” While this parable is part of Jesus’s messages describing God’s love for all of us, for some families it is reality. The journey/trial of having a prodigal is incredibly challenging. If you are a parent that has a prodigal, you are not alone. Contact Leanne at [email protected] for more information about how Bay Area can lend you support and encouragement.
HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATIONIf you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound, we would love to serve you. Contact Leanne at 443-837-3718 or email her at [email protected] so that we can learn more about how to be of assistance.
CELEBRATION PLACE This is a free, 52-week complementary resource for children, ages 1-12, of parents attending Celebrate Recovery on Monday nights. So while adults explore topics that bring healing and wholeness, children discover the same truths in age appropriate ways. There is limited space, so please be sure to secure a spot for your child/children. Contact Jen Marshall at [email protected] for more information.
How Do I Support The Cause of Beyond884: Room For People?
Preferred Methods (no fees charged)
Direct Debit: Go to www.beyond884.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to the BACC Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month.
Personal Check: Write “Beyond884” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to BACC (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401).
Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to BACC. Be sure to note “Beyond884” on the memo line.
Operating Budget Financial UpdateJanuary 31, 2015
New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2014 Fiscal Year Giving Goal $ 3,832,000
YTD Giving Goal $ 1,642,583YTD Received $ 1,666,522YTD Actual vs. Goal 1.5% Ahead $ 23,939 JANUARY Giving Goal $ 273,344JANUARY Received $ 257,544
Building Debt Status as of January 31, 2015
Balance Due $ 1,844,556Fiscal YTD Donations $ 20,800
For weekly financial updates, please visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/financials
Please be sure to designate all Building Fund Donations on the Memo Line of your check: “One & Only Life” for Existing Debt or “Beyond884” for the Building Expansion & Beyond884 Outreach. Please note all undesignated checks will go toward the Bay Area Operating Fund.
FINANCIALS
DISCOVER BAY AREANew to Bay Area? Welcome! Join us in the Bay Cafe for Discover Bay Area on March 1 from 12:30-1:30 PM to learn more about who we are, what we are about, and how you can get plugged in. It’s a great chance for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you. Free lunch included. No RSVP needed - just bring yourself! Kids welcome. We hope to see you there! Our next Discover is April 12. Make note that this is the SECOND Sunday of the month, not the first as it usually is.
CONNECTING MINISTRY
Learning Communities are smaller groups of people that meet in “The Docks” (the building in the east parking lot) with the focus of learning, applying, and living out the Bible. We offer many different courses not only to help you develop theologically, but also in our character development and practical lives following Jesus. Our Winter sessions are currently underway. For information about our next semester starting in April go to bayareacc.org/learningcommunities or see below.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERSOur team consists of individuals who have a heart for kids. Our workers are paid, and we are consistently looking to add to our team. We provide KidCare to all ministries of Bay Area from The Well, Celebrate Recovery, Missional Communities, and different events throughout the year. If you or someone you know are interested in joining, contact Jen at [email protected] or visit the Children’s Welcome Desk on Sundays for more info.
STARTING POINTThis 8 week LC starts April 12 at 9:30 AM in The Docks. Starting Point is for people who are curious about God, have a new relationship with Jesus Christ, or are returning to church after being away for a while. In this group discussion based Learning Community, they will walk through some of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity.
EXPERIENCING GODThis 8 week learning community starts April 12 at 11:15 AM in The Docks. This learning community helps the mature Christian further his/her relationship with God to help them know and do the will of God. Through examination of biblical and contemporary illustrations, participants will understand and apply seven realities of experiencing God over the course of eight weeks.
conversation and a training session for all people who will be serving during the school year. Contact [email protected] for more info.
THE HUNTJoin us Saturday, April 4 on the east lawn. Kids will have fun gathering more than 10,000 eggs. Invite your neighbors and friends for a morning of fun in community. The hunt will begin promptly at 11 AM, don’t forget your easter baskets.
MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDYTuesdays from 6-7:30 AM in room 236. Email Dennis at [email protected] for more information.
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
LOCAL SERVING OPPORTUNITIESMissional Communities often don’t know how to get involved with serving locally. We’re here to help. There are many organizations in the Annapolis area that will be blessed by your involvement; we’d love to connect you with them. Email [email protected] to start the conversation.
WINTER RELIEF IS COMINGWe’re housing 25 homeless people March 16 - 23. Are you interested in serving? Contact us: [email protected]
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY HOMELESS RESOURCE DAYAnne Arundel County’s Eighth Annual Homeless Resource Day is Saturday, March 28 at Annapolis High School, 8:30 AM to 4 PM. A “one-day, one stop” opportunity for individuals and families experiencing homelessness to access benefits, medical care, substance abuse resources, and mental health counseling intake as well as a variety of social services which can ultimately lead to housing and self-sufficiency. You can donate goods to help the homeless or volunteer by serving in a variety of ways. It’s a great way for your entire MC to spend a day serving and making a difference locally. For more info or to register go to: aacounty.org/HomelessResource
LOCAL OUTREACH
MISSIONAL COMMUNITY TASTERGet a taste of what a missional community is through our MC Taster event. Join us on March 8 for a light lunch and some info from our Missional Community Pastor, Brian Hopper. We’ll spend about an hour in community together, loving God, and thinking about how to engage those around us. RSVP online at bayareacc.org/mctasterrsvp or email [email protected] for questions.
MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES
EL SALVADOR • May 30-June 7 • June 13-21• July 4-12 • July 11-19 • July 18-26 • November 7-15
INDIA• May 9-19
GHANA• June 4-14 • July 16-26
POLAND • July 8-20• July 22 to Aug 3 • October 12-21
BRAZIL• July 10-18
SHORT TERM MISSIONSShort term mission teams will be traveling to 7 different countries during the Summer of 2015. Have you been considering how you might take part in Make The Trade? The February 28 registration deadline has passed but if you are still interested in Making the Trade, find out how to get involved by contacting [email protected]
*Note: All trips are subject to change based on leadership availability
GLOBAL MISSIONS
MALAYSIA• June 14-28
SATURDAY NIGHT SINGALONGJoin us for Saturday Night Singalong on March 7 at 6 PM. This is a great opportunity to rest in worship, prayer, and testimony as a church body. Kidcare is provided on a first come first served basis for children ages 1 through pre-k, and there is also a special space for the children to worship right alongside the adults in the main space.
GATHERINGS
INDONESIA• August 14-24
LONG TERM MISSIONSIf you have been on a short term mission in the past and are interested in doing missions long term, take a look at the Missions Next Forum. It’s a 2 day conference May 8-9 that will help you with the next steps in global missions. Go to finishers.org for more information!
THE WELL MORNING STUDIESJust like any other relationship, we need to learn how to communicate well in our relationship with God. Starting this month, we will focus on learning to listen and talk to God to bring us closer to Him. Register online at bayareacc.org/womenspiritualgrowth
Lord, Teach Me To PrayThis Kay Arthur study, based on the Lord’s Prayer, gives practical lessons helpful for women to learn how to talk to God through prayer. Join us Wednesdays 9:30 - 11:30 AM, March 4 - April 15. Cost: $15. Contact Laurie Gregory at [email protected]
KidCare is available for The Well morning studies only. For this class only, $25/1 child, $35/2+ children. Registration isn’t final until confirmed by Jen Marshall. Space is limited.Contact Jen at [email protected]
WOMEN’S GETAWAY“Undone by God’s Love: Transformed to Love Like He Does.”March 13, 7 PM - March 15, noon Speaker: Kammi McGinty
Join us at the beautiful Osprey Point Retreat and Conference Center in Royal Oak, MD for a time to relax, recharge, and reconnect with friends and with the God who loves you. Registration includes Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Cost: Double - $235/per person, Triple - $185/per person. Saturday only $75. Scholarship donations accepted. Space is limited. Registration is not complete without payment. Contact Janice at [email protected] to be placed on a waiting list for space available or last minute cancellations.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
From HERE to THERE. “A disciple who is fully trained will be like his teacher” Luke 6:40. At The Well, our women’s Bible studies, we grow from HERE to THERE in our relationship with God. No matter your starting point, God desires a closer relationship with you.
AMBASSADOR TEAM: Our ambassadors are passionate about connecting with new visitors, answering questions, and helping others connect into the Bay Area family. If this sounds like you, join us! Contact [email protected]
AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Contact [email protected]
BAY CAFÉ & EXPRESSO BAR: Do you love coffee and lattés? Enjoy hospitality? We would love for you to serve in the Bay Cafe and/or Espresso Bar. Contact [email protected]
CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Contact [email protected]
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Do you have theatre experience and appreciate energetic environments? Our elementary large group time may be your perfect fit. Contact [email protected]
COMMUNION TEAM: Contact [email protected]
PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting those arriving at church. Contact Steve at [email protected]
SAFETY TEAM: If you are passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS or First Responders, come be part of helping our church stay safe. Contact Ed at [email protected]
STUDENT MINISTRY: Interested in serving middle and high school students? Contact [email protected]
WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Interested in serving on an event committee for Women’s Ministry this year? Contact [email protected]
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
The BACC Prayer Ministry is made up of teams of individuals devoted to gathering in prayer for the church worship gatherings, the pastors, our missional efforts and missionaries, the ministries of the church, those who are sick or saddened by grief, and those who are wrestling with life’s struggles. The Prayer Ministry provides an opportunity for us
PRAYER MINISTRY
to gather together and share our hearts with our Father who loves us. Let’s pray together. The prayer room is located on the second floor of BACC. ALSO! Every Sunday, immediately following the gatherings, members of our prayer team will be up front and to the right of the stage if you would like someone to pray with. For more information about prayer or the teams, go online to bayareacc.org/prayer or contact [email protected]
STUDENT MINISTRY
We are so blessed to have Rick Stewart on our team this year. A golf coach at Broadneck High School, Rick is one of our 9th grade guy leaders and his constant dedication to our students means a lot to us. Rick plays golf professionally which couples well with his love for travelling. This wanderlust has even taken him to bungee jump off of the highest bridge in the world at 708 feet in South Africa. Rick’s sense of
adventure and his passion for leading teenagers towards Christ makes him a vital member of our team.
Stephanie Mabrey is a wonderful mentor to our 10th grade girls, but really all of our high school girls in our ministry. During the school year she teaches science at a local high school and in the summer she coaches a swim team so she is no stranger to interacting with teenagers. When she is not at church she enjoys being with her husband and her cat and pursuing her love of camping and cooking. We love having Stephanie on our team and we know our students feel the same!
LEADER SPOTLIGHT
SUNDAY TEACHING SERIES: ONCE UPON A TIMEEveryone loves a good story. Even if you hate reading, you probably don’t mind movies, TV shows, or a great musical. There is just something about a story, a good story that we can’t resist. When we were little, all the great ones started with “Once upon a time.” They were tales of heroes and villains, evil queens, noble princes, and fairy godmothers. And while the characters in our favorite stories look different now, not much else has changed. We still love to see the good guy win, the bad guy lose, and the couple live happily ever after. Maybe it’s because no matter how old you are, great stories have the power to pull you in and make you feel like you’re a part of them. Jesus knew that and He often told stories, called parables, that worked the same way. His stories may not have involved princesses or evil villains, but as we take a look at four of these famous parables we may just find that the characters look more familiar than we could have ever imagined. Sunday, March 8: “Lost and Found”Sunday, March 15: “Head of the Table”Sunday, March 22: “Tenacious”Sunday, March 29 (No Fuel gathering due to Impact Conference)
FRESHMAN AGAIN LEARNING COMMUNITYThis learning community is open to all current high school seniors. We will meet April 12 - May 17 for six Sunday sessions at 9:30 AM in “The Loft” above the new chapel. Participants should register on-line to be assured a spot in the class. There is no cost and resources will be provided. The six week sessions will include:#1 – Introduction and Overview#2 - What Is Truth? (Does truth exist? How do I know that Christianity is the right faith?)#3 - Spiritual Independence (How to make faith your own.)#4 – College Life (Take an honest look at some issues that will confront you – sex, dating, alcohol, roommates, parents)#5 – Time/Money (Learn tips for how to manage both well.)#6 – Writing Your Life Story (Discover what you are designed to do and how to go after your future.)
IMPACT CONFERENCEHigh school students, join us for our annual Impact Conference in Ocean City, Maryland, Friday – Sunday, March 27 – 29. Only three weeks of registration (3/1 – 3/15). Limited space available – only 30 student spaces available at $130.00 each. These 30 spaces will fill up quickly, so do not wait until the final week if you are serious about attending. Register online at www.bayareacc.org/basm. For more information regarding Impact, contact [email protected].
WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+)This group of women meets to encourage each other in their walk with Jesus and to leave a lasting legacy for others. Join us on Mondays, March 9 & 23 from 10:30 - 11:30 AM. Contact Cedulie Sanchez at [email protected]. You can purchase the book, Teach Me to Number My Days for $15.
QUILTS FOR KIDS Join us as we celebrate National Quilting Day with the Annapolis Quilt Guild. Our sewing workshop this month is on Saturday, March 21 from 10AM - 3 PM at the Edgewater Police Station 35 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater. There will be a variety of sewing projects including quilts, drawstring bags, and mastectomy pillows that will be donated to hospitals. Bring your sewing machine or come to iron and help stuff pillows. If you would like a quilt kit, have a quilt you would like to donate, or have questions, contact Janet Hogan at [email protected]
MIDDLE
All Middle Schoolers are welcome to our March edition of Club 678 for Laser Tag on March 13 at 7PM! Invite your friends and come
prepared to zap your opponent. Don’t forget to bring a few bucks for the snack bar. Club 678 is our monthly fun outreach for middle school students to invite their friends to church. Club 678 happens on the second Friday of every month. Contact [email protected] for more info.
High school students, join us every Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM for our mid-week gathering where students grow deeper in their walk with God through group-based discipleship. Each Amplify gathering features free food, games, and gender/grade specific community groups led by trained and caring adult leaders. Students will experience true community and discipleship in the context of their peers; all in a fun environment. Contact [email protected] for more info.
CELEBRATERECOVERY
MONDAY MARCH 16TH
FEATURING GUEST SPEAKER
DR. WILLIAM W. WILLIAMS
of Full Circle Psychological Services
For more information see the Care Network section.
