The Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) met June 16-18, 2016, at the Green Lake Conference Center/American Baptist Assembly in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

On Thursday, June 16, and Friday, June 17, Board of General Ministries directors, along with members of the ABC Nominating Committee and the General Secretary's Search Committee, joined together in a retreat setting to focus on building relationships and exploring issues of race, gender and culture and the impact of those issues on our life together.

In her first report addressing the Board of General Ministries, Interim General Secretary Dr. Susan Gillies addressed the recent shooting in Orlando. Read Gillies' words, published on Friday, June 17, here.

On Saturday morning, June 18, the Board of General Ministries voted to recognize the Kachin Baptist Churches USA as an Associated Ministry Organization of ABCUSA.

Read the full news release.

American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is introducing a new profile-style feature entitled "My Baptist Life." Watch for the first stories to appear soon in our Enewsletter! In presenting "My Baptist Life" ABCUSA recognizes the important place story-telling has in a tradition that values the contributions American Baptists in various walks of life have made both within our denomination and also to so many other people and causes around the world.

Learn more or nominate a friend to be featured.

Join us for a webinar on August 03, 2016 at 2:00 PM EDT.

You're invited to attend a presentation and discussion on how American Baptists can use today's most popular technologies to spread Christ's loving message. This presentation is ideal for anyone interested in discipleship, social justice, and preparing today's youth to be tomorrow's faith leaders. The Webinar will also address cost effective, easy to use tools to spread the message of Christ.

Click Here to Register Now

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

This learning opportunity is sponsored by United Mission. United Mission is the Vehicle! Please visit the UMIsTheVehicle.org website for free resources and more information.

Two praise reports were recently featured on the ABCUSA website:

$2,000 Matthew 25 Grant to NYC Church Boosts Clothing, Food and Referral Initiative
A $2,000 Matthew 25 Grant from American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) enabled services to hundreds of underserved individuals and families late in 2015 on the East Side of New York City's Lower Manhattan.

$2,000 Matthew 25 Grant Enables Solar Panels Project in the Dominican
A $2,000 Matthew Grant awarded this spring is making it possible to install solar panels on the roof of a new school and some of the houses that are part of an impoverished Dominican Republic village, where electricity and lighting are considered a luxury.

For more information about the Matthew 25 Grant, click here.

View the latest issue of ABCUSA Connections, featuring an interview with Interim General Secretary Dr. Susan Gillies and a highlight of the Transformed by the Spirit initiative.