Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Detroit
 
As summer rolls along and the heat index bounces up and down—this is Michigan, after all—I pray you all will have a great summer.  We certainly will have a better summer than those along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.  If anything, the disaster in the Gulf should remind us all to be better stewards of creation.

 

On another note, I know there are many in the congregation who would like some assistance in exploring ways to share their faith.  Well, here is a great learning opportunity to take that step forward and do it in your own natural personality style.  Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, National Coordinator for Evangelism, American Baptist Home Missions Societies, will lead American Baptist pastors and lay leaders from Metro Detroit ABC congregations in, “GOT STYLE? FINDING YOUR OWN WAY TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.”  This is an approach to sharing your faith that incorporates your own unique personality style.  If 6 or more people from FBC-D attend, the cost will be very minimal as the Woodward Foundation will underwrite the expense. 

 

The event will be held September 10-11 at FBC-D. Please see the informational flyer included in this Focus for more information.  Put the date on your calendar and join some great folks who will be there.

 

Have a great summer and stay cool!

 

Blessings and Peace,

 

 

 

 

Pastor Bill Walker   

 
 
 
Dear Friends,

           

In his final moments with his disciples, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”  “Yes,” Peter replies.  Then, “Feed my lambs,” the Good Shepherd tells him.  “Tend my sheep.”  Three times, Jesus passionately repeats his instruction, pressing his followers:  If you love me, take care of the people I love.  Live your love for me by actively tending these for whom I have sacrificed everything.  (John 21:15-19)

 

Soon, you’ll have an opportunity to offer your gift to One Great Hour of Sharing, empowering our American Baptist ministries of disaster relief and refugee aid, meeting basic needs in Christ’s name throughout the world, and sharing resources that allow people to improve their own lives and communities.  Soon, each of us will decide how to respond to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?”

 

The members of the family of God—from those we know to distant sisters, brothers, and cousins in parts of the world we may never visit—are God’s flock, the sheep of God’s pasture (Ezekiel 34:31).  Yet, God’s flock is often forcefully scattered, as people are chased from their homes and livelihoods by brutal expressions of war, as communities and futures are shattered by natural disasters, as societies and countries are ground down by unrelenting hunger, disease, and poverty.

 

Jesus calls us to tend his sheep caught in these situations of evil and nature run amok.  And with love and energy, the Church responds!  Through One Great Hour of Sharing.

·        disaster victims quickly receive shelter, food, water, and medical supplies

·        local communities develop secure sources of food and clean water

·        minds and bodies grow stronger with new schools and medical clinics

·        refugees receive housing and long-term help to construct new lives.

 

In these challenging times, we often wonder how much we can afford to sacrifice to help feed Jesus’ beloved sheep, when our needs remain pressing.  Perhaps only our prayerful conscience can answer that.  But remember the feeding of the 5,000:  when Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowd, the disciples despaired (Mark 6:34-44).  The five loaves and two fish seemed insignificant compared to the massive need.  Yet when each gave sacrificially from what they had, through God’s blessing, their gifts turned into a miracle of compassion for all.

 
 
 
Dear Friends,

“The Lord is my shepherd.”  Last Sunday we saw the 23rd Psalm as a journey psalm.  To call the Lord “my shepherd” says a lot about God and about us.  God’s provision meets our daily needs and God’s presence guides and leads us along the right paths.  God is a gracious host who audaciously sets a table for us in the presence of danger, threat and challenge.  “And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Against this passage last Sunday, I introduce a shepherding ministry for FBC-D.  Shepherding ministries are as old as the church and FBC-D used to have one years ago.  From the Membership Committee to the Church Council, folks have responded to this idea as a prompting of the Holy Spirit.  And some folks have already stepped forward to become shepherds.

 

This ministry will extend and amplify the pastoral care ministry of the church.  The Shepherding Ministry will not replace the pastoral care I provide as your pastor.  However, I have been aware for some time that our metropolitan congregation is very wide spread and not everyone in the church is connected to others.  The very last thing we want to happen is for someone to fall through the cracks by having an unaddressed pastoral or ministry need.  Shepherds will have specific number of members and friends in their respective “flock.”  They will pray for these folks by name.  They will ask: “How may I pray for you?”  They will also remember folks on significant and special days.

 

Each shepherd’s list is being developed through prayer and the heart of the shepherd.  Our first “Shepherding Sunday” will be at the Annual Meeting, May 23, after the worship service.  Here each shepherd will gather his or her “flock” at a common table and we will hold a different type of Annual Meeting—a celebration of what the Lord is doing in our life.  Each shepherd will share with his or her table any details and lift up dreams for the church.

 

The whole of the spiritual life is predicated on the journey inward and the journey outward dynamic.  As we deepen our walk with God, we deepen our walk with each other.  This ministry will deepen our journey inward as a congregation and it is important that all of us participate.  I look forward to this next step of our journey together.

 

Peace and Grace,

 

 

 

 

Pastor Bill
 
 
Dear Friends,

 

            As we survey our community, we see countless people in need of Jesus’ love and healing touch.  You may ponder, as we do, how you can reach out and make a difference in so many lives.  It’s a difficult challenge to take on as an individual, but we are convinced that as American Baptists working together, we can make a difference by supporting the America For Christ Offering 2010.

            This year’s theme—“With Willing Hands:  Connect. Care.Celebrate” – is a powerful reminder that Jesus’ public ministry was all about connecting and caring for people in need.  Through the work of the National Ministries, which is supported by the America for Christ Offering, we can participate with our Lord in connecting, caring, and celebrating the power of the Gospel:

 

  • as people come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ;
  • as children in poverty are reached through the Penny Project;
  • as youth, children, and adults grow in discipleship;
  • as communities are changed through Christian centers;
  • as we increase church vitality through the Church in Mission trainings, and
  • as we help to support and relocate refugees into churches and communities.
 

            The America for Christ Offering 2010 strengthens our churches by providing support to our pastoral counselors and chaplains, designing leadership workshops and conferences, promoting excellent discipleship resources through Judson Press, and providing opportunities for churches, individuals, and youth groups to participate in home mission through Volunteer Ministries.

            We are encouraged by this year’s theme to come alongside people “with willing hands” to connect, care, and celebrate.  How do we see Jesus at work in our community and country?  How can we help Jesus with this important work?

            Please join me in giving generously to the America for Christ Offering 2010 and help us to reach our goal.  Together we can touch and change lives for the cause of Christ.  Together we can make a difference.  “For the love of Christ urges us on….” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

 

 

Sincerely in Christ,

 

 

THE MISSIONS COMMITTEE

 
 
 
  The Natural Church Development (NCD) process has concluded the first step of an ongoing effort to strengthen the life of FBC-D.  The NCD tool is a research based program that has examined over 50,000 congregations throughout the world.  The study indicated 8 primary characteristics in church life critical for congregational health and mission.  The eight characteristics are:  Empowering Leadership, Gift-Oriented Ministry, Passionate Spirituality, Functional Structures, Inspiring Worship Service, Holistic Small Groups, Need-Oriented Evangelism, and Loving Relationships.  Thirty FBC-D people representing young and old, male and female, Euro-and African-American, andlong time members; as well as, recent members were giving a survey.  The lowest minimum factor that appeared in the survey results was Inspiring Worship; a group was formed to work on worship.  Some results are already evident on Sunday mornings.

 

The NCD theory is that by strengthening the lowest minimum factor you will also strengthen the other seven:  a rising tide lifts all boats.  The group has finished this step of the process and will now become part of a worship planning team in the Worship Committee.  (If you are interested in becoming a part of this planning ministry, contact Pastor Bill.)

 

A second survey was administered and the results are in.  Guess what?  Inspiring Worship moved up but remained the lowest common factor.  I am not surprised given the multi-racial character of the congregation.  There are many expectations at any given time.  Passionate Spirituality remained the same and the others all reveal significant stronger findings.  I have presented these findings to Church Council.

 

We have consulted with Tucker Gunnemann, ABC Region staff who is trained in NCD, and we will now begin to work on Passionate Spirituality.  What exactly is Passionate Spirituality, you ask?  Good question!  We will discover this together.

 

If you are interested in being a part of this next step in the NCD, contact me.  I will be contacting some folks—about 4-6—to undertake this critical ministry.  Passionate Spirituality is related to Inspiring Worship.  But these are all subjective terms and we now need to find a common place where everyone can stand together and allow the Wind of the Spirit to blow through the hearts of the church.  I am excited about this next step and look forward to sharing more with you as time goes by.

Peace

 

 

 

Pastor Bill
 
 
Dear Friends,

 

Thank You check recipients and others who received financial assistance from the 2008 Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering were overwhelmed by the generosity of American Baptist congregations in the midst of the most severe recession since the Great Depression.

 

George and Charolotte Gillespie, Moorestown, NJ, wrote:  “We deeply appreciate the members of our ABC congregations—many of whom may have been dealing with their own financial problems—who contributed to the RMMO out of their love, loyalty and faith.”

 

Contributions to the RMMO in 2008 totaled $1,383,537.  Of that amount, 57% was distributed as Thank You checks to 3,238 retired American Baptist ministers, missionaries and their widowed spouses.  The average check was $258.69.

 

Thirty-eight percent was made available to people with emergency and other heavy financial needs, and 5% was used for administrative expenses.

 

Please join me as we Remember with Love and Give with Gratitude to those who have dedicated their lives to Christian ministry.  Please make a generous contribution to the RMMO, which will be collected throughout the month of January, 2010.  Our church goal is $800.

 

Your gift makes a difference.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Missions Committee

Juliette McClung         Donna Allix

Leslie Bailey               Myrtice Beatty           

Kathy Collins              Martha Green 

Eunita Haskins            Dianne Hubbard        

Joyce McDaniel          Ann Richardson         

Shirley Vincent           Brandy Walton

 
 
 
Dear Friends,

 

            What a great and glorious Easter service.  Of course, it is kind of hard for Easter to be disappointing.  Whatever hope we may have in this life as Christians comes to us from God’s faithfulness.  And in raising Jesus from the dead God says that while death means fatal, it does not mean final.  May the joy of this great season of the Christian year continue to live and reign in your life.

The Natural Church Development that produced the emphasis on “inspiring worship” is continuing as Mike Kuptz, Vickie Furman and I meet this coming Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room to pray and plan a worship service.  If you would like to join us, this is your invitation.

The “Share the Warmth” campaign is doing well and since we have until October to reach our goal of replacing the sanctuary furnace, let’s all continue in prayer and practice.  One such practice might be to redirect some personal spending; say instead of buying Starbucks coffee, I might redirect that money to the furnace fund.  I lose nothing and gain personal discipline. 

The CROP WALK is coming up on Sunday, May 2.   The participation by FBC-D has grown over the years and the money we have raised for famine relief has increased as well.  This year I challenge the adults in the church to walk—it’s healthy and it is a ministry.  You can’t lose.

Finally, I want to thank the congregation for its generosity and prayerful support for the work of Christ through the local church.  God is good and great and we, of all the people on the face of the earth, are most blessed.  May the Lord continue to walk with you and yours and may the grace of God continue to provide and sustain you in these days.

 Peace and Grace, 

Pastor Bill

 
 
FBC-Detroit 2010