Sept 2025

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

  than to trust in princes.  Ps.118:8-9


Dear friends,


We asked our friend Gerry Sutter (deacon, Sunday School teacher, MBS graduate, and poet) to help us address invitations to our banquet next month. When he left, I gave him a loaf of homemade bread to share with his wife. He emailed the next day:


Every name I wrote with the same ardency that I write a poem. I prayed over each person. I prayed that the Lord would encourage that person to recognize the beauty of what BALM is doing. The result of this 'apparent service' was that I was blessed and renewed in the service of his Kingdom.  


Then you gave me your bread....[he shared it with his wife Kim, who had just returned from her work as a mobile crisis counselor.] She had had a horrible day ... But when I told her that I had Maria's bread, her eyes lit up. She took a piece and gave another to me. It renewed her. And me.


This God is sovereign-stuff is deeper than any of us can unravel. I don't believe that there is a single "coincidence" in the entire transaction. By serving him, we serve one another, the Kingdom grows...


Amen! BALM exists to serve the Kingdom by helping to renew churches, provide a transformative seminary education for all, start new micro/house churches, and encourage the church in works of justice/mercy. May God continue to help us!

Come Celebrate!

BALM is Seven Years Old!


Register now to join us at our Oct. 24 banquet to celebrate all God has been doing over the past seven years through BALM. Hear from pastors, leaders, and MBS students impacted by our ministry to multiply disciple-making leaders for new and renewed churches. The evening with be emceed by Tracey Tiernan of SHINE95 with a message from Dr. Thurman Williams. We will also share our plans for the future--including leadership transitions.


To register, click here or scan the QR code!

MBS student Krishna Kandel leads a Discovery Bible Study in his home attended by approximately 30 Nepalese people. Pray for him and for the growth of BALM's microchurches!

Why Encourage Disciple-Making that Leads to Planting & Renewing Churches?


  • Regular church attendance has declined steadily since the turn of the century. (Pew Research, Gallup)
  • 20% of Americans attend church every week. (Gallup)
  • Approximately 60% of Americans seldom or never attend religious services. (Gallup, Pew Research)
  • From 2000-2015, several mainline denominations lost 40% of their members.
  • The median church size has dropped from 150 to 65.


In contrast, the disciple-making movement that leads to renewing churches and planting reproducing disciple-making churches (micro/cell/ house) is growing around the globe, and even in the U.S. Today, 60% of Americans will not attend traditional churches but are spiritually interested, and may attend a home Discovery Bible Study that could lead to a church. BALM's Discipleship Pathway Training helps prepare ordinary believers to lead these studies become everyday missionaries. Our next 7-week Discipleship Pathway Training online cohort begins on Oct. 1. Click here to learn more!

Prayer Requests


  • We are preparing for our banquet next month. Pray that many people will come and be blessed as they hear how God has been working!
  • Pray for Maria as she has restarted her two Parakaleo groups for pastors' wives this week (one online, one in person). Pray we would all be strengthened in the gospel!
  • Praise God that the Church Health Assessment for Inverness Presbyterian has been completed; pray as the church begins to envision its future direction.
  • Pray for our micro-church leaders, especially Elvis and Jamie Le (Parkville), Steven and Rebecca Vega, Krishna & Dilu Kandel, and Derek & U'Vonda Pulliam.
  • Pray for financial support for BALM!

Baltimore Antioch Leadership Movement

Access our secure giving site here, or mail a check to

BALM • P.O. Box 39477 • Baltimore, MD 21212

410-935-4830

www.Baltimoremovement.org

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