FEATURED RESOURCE
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Get Active with 'Affect'
Affect™, a full-color quarterly magazine, gives adults insight into the missional journey and engages them in meaningful prayer and active response. Affect includes six sections: a feature story, devotional reflection, prayer calendar, reading group suggestions, a call to action, and leader’s guide. To order, visit the CBF Store online or call (888) 801-4223.
How to Use: Use Affect in small groups, worship, adult Bible studies, church publications, and at home. Use with teachers of preschoolers, children and youth for additional background; for parents of preschoolers, children, and youth who are studying Form, Spark and Ignite.
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Summer 2011 Collegiate Congregational Internships
The Fellowship’s Collegiate Congregational Internships provide opportunities for college and seminary students to serve through local CBF partner churches. This summer, CBF is facilitating 10-week full-time internships to help students who are exploring a call to congregational ministry. The host church provides the intern with an overview of the church’s ministry, housing and living expenses, and church-related travel and ministry expenses. Interns receive a stipend through CBF. Orientation is May 23-26 for interns east of Mississippi and May 27-30 for interns west of Mississippi. End of summer debriefing is August 10-11. Click here for more information.
CBFVA & BTSR Ministry Jobs Posting Service
A new online tool is available that will allow churches to advertise current ministry opportunities at no charge via the CBFVA website and ministry networks, as well as BTSR's student and alumni/ae network. If you represent a church that would like to advertise with CBFVA and BTSR, please complete the ministry posting form. Upon review and approval by CBFVA and BTSR staff, the ministry posting will be shared for up to three months online and on BTSR's campus in Richmond. If you have questions about this new ministry posting tool, please contact Rob Fox. We also encourage churches who wish to use the CBF resume-matching service to email Clarissa Strickland for more information on reference and referral services.
One-Day Prayer Retreat Offers Renewal
Parkway Baptist Church in Duluth, Ga., recently experienced a One Day Prayer Retreat as part of their congregational emphasis, "Rebuilding the Church of God." For two months, the church prayed for a renewal of God's Spirit in several aspects of their life together. CBF Congregational Life provides this downloadable PDF as a free resource for your church.
Movie Review: 'To Save a Life'
"I have a proclivity toward skepticism of most any overtly 'Christian' movie. Stemming from experiences watching the 'cheese' and melodrama of Left Behind and Facing the Giants, I did not expect anything different from To Save a Life, the newest in the growing Christian film industry. This time, I was wrong." Read the rest of this review by Kristopher Norris.
Congregational Resource Guide Answers Your Questions
The Congregational Resource Guide (The Alban Institute) e-newsletter provides a variety of resources answers to your congregational ministry questions. Following is a brief sample from their latest issue:
Q. There are so many resources on pastoral care, can you point to publishers who produce significant works in that field?
A. Have no fear, CRG is here. Click here for several digging deeper into best practices in pastoral care.
Congregations have breathed new life into the environmental movement. This year marks the 40th Earth Day celebration, and the beginning of a new generation of green. Check out more Earth Day resources.
CBF 2010 Book Sale Offers Deals
 Church State Matters by Brent Walker articulates a cogent Baptist understanding of the importance of the First Amendment’s religion clauses in protecting our God-given religious liberty. This collection of essays, speeches, sermons, and congressional testimony provides a living history of the modern era the life of the Baptist Joint Committee, now in its eighth decade. Regular price: $28; sale price: $19.95. To order, visit the CBF Store online or call (888) 801-4223.
CBB Provides Health Care Reform Summary
The Church Benefits Board offers a summary of the new Health Care Reform that may be helpful to you and your congregation. Click here for this resource. For more information, please contact Gary Skeen, President of Church Benefits Board, at (770) 220-1621.
FEATURED RESOURCE
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'Klesis' Helps You Discover Calling
.jpg.aspx?width=155&height=200) The call of God is extended to every person; first to become a believer in Jesus, then to become Christ’s presence in the world. Klesis: God’s Call and the Journey of Faith is written to help Christians more carefully consider how God might be calling them to be the presence of Christ in their world. More than a spiritual gifts study, Klesis leads participants to a more holistic consideration of their unique call. To order, visit the CBF Store online or call (888) 801-4223.
How to Use: Can be used as a follow-up to It’s Time: A Journey Toward Missional Faithfulness by individuals or in a small group setting. Perfect for adult Sunday School classes.
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CONFERENCES & COURSES
BTSR Offers Online Courses
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond School of Christian Ministry announces upcoming continuing education opportunities for clergy and lay leaders. Four online courses begin May 24. Each online course is $125. Course details are listed below.
- Theological Reflection SCM 1311: Examine the process of theological reflection as a tool for decision making in a local ministry context. Course dates are May 24 – June 20. Learn more.
- Expanding Your Preaching Repertoire SCM 8220: Increase your creativity and skills in preaching. Course dates are May 24–June 20. Learn more.
- Hidden Lives of Congregations SCM 3222: Uncover the ways hidden life dynamics manifest themselves in your congregational setting. This course incorporates Bowen Family Systems Theory. Course dates are May 24–June 20. Learn more.
- Church Finance SCM 8410: Increase your understanding of church finance matters. Course dates are May 24–June 20. Learn more.
For more information: scm.btsr.edu, (888) 339-2877 (toll free), or scminfo@btsr.edu. Register online.
Growing Generosity Now: Essentials for Creating a Culture of Stewardship in Your Church
This workshop is designed to help congregational leaders develop stewardship growth strategies.
Presenters: Ruben Swint and Dr. Chris Gambill. This premier training event for church leaders is offered at only $25 per person. This track is part of the Essentials Conference, a new event at CBF's annual General Assembly. Designed specifically for deacons, teachers, committee members and other church leaders, you can choose from 14 different ministry topics. Learn more and register today at www.EssentialsConference.info or www.thefellowship.info/assembly/essentials.
Pre-register online for CBF's General Assembly at www.thefellowship.info/assembly.
Join BWIM for Breakfast Gatherings at General Assembly
- Thursday, June 24: Join Baptist Women in Ministry at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and worship at Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C. Cost: $15. To register and pay, visit the BWIM website or e-mail Pam Durso.
- Saturday, June 26: Come to breakfast and hear Lauren Winner! The breakfast, which begins at 7:30 a.m., is co-hosted by Baptist Women in Ministry and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's Initiative for Ministerial Excellence. Lauren Winner, an assistant professor of Christian spirituality at Duke University's Divinity School, is author of several books including Girl Meets God. The breakfast will be held at the convention center and costs $20. To register and pay, visit the BWIM website or e-mail Pam Durso.
NEWSSTAND
Founding CBF Coordinator Cecil Sherman Passes Away
Cecil Sherman, longtime leader of free and faithful Baptists and one of the central figures to help give birth to the renewal movement known as Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, died from complications of a heart attack April 17 in Virginia. Full article.
DISASTER RESPONSE
You can be part of the Fellowship's earthquake response in Haiti and Chile. Construction teams are needed in Haiti for earthquake recovery May 2-7. Apply to serve. You can also:
- Read blogs from Chile and Haiti,
- pray,
- and share resources with your church.
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EVENTS
Effectively Leading Your Congregation Through
Size Transitions,
A Learning Experience for
Clergy, Church Staff, and
Lay Leaders
May 6
First Baptist Church
Inman, S.C.
Workshop presenters: Mark Tidsworth, president of Pinnacle Leadership Associates, is a Certified Leadership Coach. Doug Cushing, a Pinnacle Leadership Associate, is a long-time student and teacher of Size Transition Concepts. Doug leads the Tyger River Presbyterian Church through its transitions as its pastor. Cost $60. Click here for more information about this partnering workshop between Pinnacle Leadership and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina.
Green Building Symposium for Faith Based Groups
May 8
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Atlanta
Fired up after Earth Day, but want to do more? Attend the Green Building Symposium for Faith Based Groups from 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. This event will include more than 15 speakers and feature a keynote address at lunch. Plus, find out how your church might qualify for some of the $400,000 Georgia Interfaith Power & Light received for energy efficiency programs in churches. Dr. David Gushee, a professor at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology, will be the keynote speaker discussing "Faith, Ethics and the Environment." Fees are $15. Register online.
Church Start Academy
Aug. 19-21
Clemmons, N.C.
Are you curious about being a church planter? Maybe you are already taking steps to start a church and need some direction. Or you could be a church planter years into your ministry but could use some fellowship and conversation. Join us to KNOW church planting. Tex Sample, a specialist in church and society, is the main speaker. The event is sponsored by CBF and CBF of North Carolina. Cost of $150 includes lodging and most meals. Get more information and register online.
Hopeful Imagination:
Traditional Churches Finding God’s Way in a Changing World
Oct. 22-23
First Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C.
A 200-year-old church can make an impact today and tomorrow. Learn how churches move from "why we can’t" to "how we can." Discover the power of relationships and how to create missional partnerships to impact a city. Dialogue with pastoral staff and lay leadership that are effectively transitioning a congregation from maintenance to mission. Experience encouragement, hope and help for leaders and congregations. Registration and workshop details are available at
www.hopefulimagination.info.
2010 Youth Worker Summit:
Sacred Space for Youth Workers
Dec 1-4
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The 2010 Youth Worker Summit, an ecumenical gathering, will bring together youth ministry leaders from congregations across the country. Find Sacred Space to explore your unique experiences and a unified call. For more information, visit www.youthworkersummit.org.
CBF BLOG
Check out all updates from ministry in Chile and Haiti. Other recent entries include:
Farewell to a Friend
Peer Learning Group … Ideas for Getting Started
Lay Leadership and CBF Resources
Find more on the CBF Blog.
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