Entries for March 2010

Recovery, rebuilding and strengthening the 87-year partnership with the Convention Baptiste d’Haiti  (CBH) was the focus of the American Baptist International Ministries (IM) delegation to Haiti on March 17-19, 2010. 

Judson Press, a publishing ministry of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA, has selected nuChristian: Finding Faith in a New Generation by Russell Rathbun as the “ABC Reads” title for 2010–2011.

During Autism Awareness Month (April), Judson Press has scheduled a virtual book tour and free webinar to launch its newest release, Autism & Alleluias. From April 1–7, 2010, nationally known author and speaker Kathleen Deyer Bolduc will take to cyberspace with interviews, guest posts, and reviews of her book on more than 30 websites. Participants in the virtual tour include individuals and families touched by autism, autism experts, disability-related organizations, and related Christian ministries.

Rev. Dr. David Nichols has been named the American Baptist Foundation’s planned giving representative at the American Baptist Churches of Michigan (ABC-MI). 

In a recent press release, the Baptist World Alliance announced that Denton Lotz, former general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), will receive the BWA Human Rights Award during the Baptist World Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii, from July 28 to August 1.

The more than 100 American Baptist churches and other organizations participating in The Penny Project—launched by National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA, to raise awareness about child poverty and support for ministries that serve at-risk children—have reached the 2 million mark in pennies, on the way to the national goal of 14 million.

In response to the economic concerns of the past two years, Judson Press has launched a program to help book buyers find quality resources at discounted prices. Titled “Books Like New,” the on-line program offers both current and out-of-print favorites at 60% off their original retail price.

As of March 10, 2010, International Ministries has received $325,093.18 given by American Baptists for earthquake relief in Haiti.  Total giving through American Baptist channels is $1,280,324. $126,000 was sent in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.  As our Haitian partners identify specific needs and projects, additional funds are being released.

$20,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing funds have been sent through International Ministries in response to the 8.8 earthquake that jolted Chile on the morning of February 27.

In a recent press release, the World Council of Churches reported that there was a March 3 meeting between Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and Rev. Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss common concerns around Christian unity.

Rev. Jane Esdale, founder and former director of Cameron Community Ministries, Rochester, N.Y., died on Wednesday, February 24, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., after a three-week illness. She was 62 years old.

Dr. Paul T. Losh, former president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, KS and executive minister of the Vermont Baptist State Convention, died Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Meadowood Retirement Community in Worcester, PA where he had resided since 2003. 

An additional $21,600 in One Great Hour of Sharing funds has been sent to an International Ministries’ (IM) partner in Haiti.  This amount is in addition to the $105,000 already provided to IM’s various Christian partners in Haiti in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, the capital of this Caribbean nation, and the surrounding area.

National Ministries seeks to ensure that all Haitian American Baptist congregations are aware the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced availability of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians who cannot return to their country because of the devastation caused by January’s massive earthquake.