January 2019

 
ABCUSA NEWS UPDATE
A monthly newsletter to keep you informed about ABCUSA

Register Today for the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit!
 
Individual registration is now open for the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit, June 21-23, 2019, to be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Va.

Join us this summer for the Summit by the Sea!

Register now for the national biennial of American Baptist Churches USA. Bring the whole family to Virginia Beach, where you will hear inspiring speakers and preachers, learn from experienced professionals and leaders through the all-new ABCUSA Biennial Academy, participate with peers in sharing and learning about topics impacting YOUR local church ministry through Baptist Talk conversations, and more. Church Delegates will participate in the business session on Sunday afternoon. View the full Agenda here.

Board Directors and staff will receive a separate invitation with additional registration instructions. Please wait until you receive this invitation to register if you are a Board Director or staff member.

For more information and to register, visit www.americanbaptists2019.com. Share this event by using the hashtags #summitbythesea and #abcmissionsummit.

To view the full announcement, click here.
ABCUSA President Gives Update on General Secretary's Return to Office

In a letter sent on behalf of the Board of General Ministries Executive Committee, ABCUSA Board of General Ministries President Josué Gómez-Menéndez shared that American Baptist Churches General Secretary Lee B. Spitzer will return to the office on March 1, 2019.

Read the letter here.
Beach Break: A 3-Day Youth Conference Announced; Join Us June 21-23 in Virginia Beach

American Baptist pastors, youth leaders and youth are invited to bring your youth groups to Beach Break: A 3-Day Youth Conference. Please be sure to include it in your summer 2019 youth/church calendar! The event, running in conjunction with the American Baptist Churches USA Biennial Mission Summit in Virginia Beach, Va., June 21-23, 2019, will be a whole new way to experience the Biennial - while the adults are down the street, the youth will be playing games, enjoying the beach, immersing themselves in live worship, engaging in service activities and learning from guest speakers.

The event is open to youth groups and individual attendees from Kindergarten through 12th grades. Elementary aged youth will participate in a VBS camp on-site at the Convention Center, and older youth will join selected events at the Biennial Mission Summit.
ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary Welcomes Inaugural Women in Ministry Intern

On January 7, 2019, the ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary welcomed Rev. Rebecca Driscoll, the first person to be accepted for a new Women in Ministry Internship program.

The internship provides a nine-month opportunity for a woman in ministry to serve in a national leadership setting within American Baptist Churches USA. The funding for the internship was provided by a generous anonymous donor, with total funding available for up to three women to complete the Internship program.

Driscoll, a recent seminary graduate, will gain experience within the full scope of national denominational activity as a member of the ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary working in Valley Forge, Pa. Her work with the denomination will include mentorship and interaction with a broad range of ABCUSA ministries (international, national, regional, and local church). She will work closely with the General Secretary and Associate General Secretary for Women in Ministry, along with many additional staff members of the Office of the General Secretary and national partners.

New Region Executive Ministers Called

New Executive Ministers have recently been called in two American Baptist Churches regions.  Click the titles below to read news releases about the new Regional Executive Ministers.
Please be in prayer for these leaders as they begin new roles with the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago and the American Baptist Churches of Ohio.



Green Lake Conference Center/American Baptist Assembly - 75th Anniversary
A Closer Walk with God since 1944: Celebrating 75 years in 2019!

75th Anniversary events will occur August 4-11, 2019 at Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wis.

Please share your Green Lake stories as part of this celebration. There is a link to a form on the anniversary page, here.
Recent Highlights from the ABCUSA Website

Mowbray Ecumenical Award Nomination Deadline is January 30

Younger Award Nominations Open

American Baptist Historical Society Announces Call for Papers for Torbet Prize

ABHMS Awards $723,111 in Grants in 2018

Judson Press Invites Customers to Restock the [Library] Shelves
 
ABHMS, ABF Announce 2018 Palmer Grant Recipients

IM Global Servant Accepts National Award for World Peace


American Baptist Churches USA
PO Box 851  Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851  
800-ABC-3USA


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