These measures include: banning assault weapons; requiring criminal background checks for sales at gun shows; strengthening regulations of gun dealers; required reporting of lost or stolen guns to law enforcement; and restoring firearms research funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We want to provide the tools for local churches to take action,” said Board President Dr. Clifford Johnson when he introduced the statement. “This will be a board of action,” he said. “If we are to be true to our history, we have to speak out on issues on like gun violence.”

The meeting of the board served as a retreat to explore the theme “Proclaiming Liberty,” based on Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” Retreat leader Dr. David Laubach asked members to consider liberty in the context of personal freedom that allows Christians to follow a moral compass leading God’s way rather than the way of popular culture.

Included in the two-day retreat were visits to the American Baptist Historical Society, which holds the largest collection of Baptist materials in the world; Habitat for Humanity International; Ebenezer Baptist Church; the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and the tombs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The latter three visits were led by the Rev. Dr. Albert Brinson, a personal friend of the King family and former associate general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA.

Rhea Triche, an organizational consultant with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Programs, led the board’s tour of Habitat’s international headquarters. In her message, she posed the question: “Is American Baptist Home Mission Societies doing what God has called you to do?” Triche challenged members to embrace the past, “but run toward the mark that you need to accomplish to meet today’s needs.” She reminded the board that both organizations are “vehicles for delivering God’s love.”

Referring to Joshua 4:6-7, Dr. Aidsand Wright-Riggins III, American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ executive director, closed the meeting with the question: “What do these stones mean?” Wright-Riggins challenged members to consider: “What has God brought us? What is God calling us to remember?”

American Baptist Home Mission Societies—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA)—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.

 American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.

Read American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ “Public Witness Statement on Gun Violence.”

Watch Board President Dr. Clifford Johnson present statement to American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ Board of Directors.

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“The success of the Circles of Hope ASK event is attributed to an extraordinary team that worked for months ensuring that follow-up and cultivation of potential donors was a primary focus. The generosity manifested by invited guests is a powerful acknowledgment that the work of ABHMS is making a transformational difference every day in communities and neighborhoods throughout the United States and Puerto Rico,” says the Rev. Eddie Cruz, associate executive director of ABHMS Development.

The event featured a touching video that spotlighted the work of ABHMS and included interviews with a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and a participant of Immerse, the 2012 national gathering of American Baptist youth.

 “The pages of ABHMS history are writ large with hope,” said ABHMS Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III. “That same spirit of inspiring hope has continued in the DNA of American Baptist Home Mission Societies down through the years. Today, we inspire hope for children living in poverty.  We inspire hope for prisoners who are attempting to re-enter society.  We inspire hope for young people wrestling with matters of faith and vocation.  We inspire hope for church leaders discerning how to transform their congregations and neighborhood.  We inspire hope for communities devastated by natural disasters.  This is why I serve here.  I am proud to be an ambassador of hope for American Baptist Home Mission Societies.”

The Rev. Douglas Avilesbernal of Calvary Baptist Church, Norristown, Pa., spoke about ABHMS’ influence on his life and career, while the Rev. Tom Beers of Central Baptist Church, Wayne, Pa., spoke about ABHMS’ involvement in the Nehemiah Leadership Network, a group that provides collegiality, mentorship and learning among pastors.

A call to action was offered by the Rev. Dr. Clifford I. Johnson, ABHMS board president. The prayer was offered by the Rev. Kathy Eagles, Upper Merion Baptist Church, King of Prussia, Pa. Welcome and closing were provided by the Rev. Alan R. Rudnick of First Baptist Church, Ballston Spa, N.Y.

The event was the culmination of the year-long “Faces of Hope Mission Tour,” in which guests to the Mission Center learned about various ABHMS ministries of discipleship, community and justice via compelling stories told by ABHMS staff.

To learn about how you can donate to support the important ministries of ABHMS, contact ABHMS’ Susan Bogle at susan.bogle@abhms.org or 1-800-ABC-3USA, x2028.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA)—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABNS 7/27/12)—

Youth from American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) Metro Chicago region painted and installed drywall in classrooms at a soon-to-be opened location of Centro Nia, a bilingual charter school that offers early childhood education and after-school programs.

At Emmaus Services for the Aging, youth played games and socialized with clients. They also packed shopping bags with groceries and delivered them to senior citizens. Tiara Cousins, 18, of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Charleston, W.Va., noted that interaction among youth and senior citizens is mutually beneficial.

“They [senior citizens] have so much to teach us, and we [youth] have ears to listen,” Cousins said, as she and an agency client bowled virtually on a Nintendo Wii gaming system. “We can benefit greatly by taking their wisdom and applying it to our lives.”

A group of youth from Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Anchorage, Alaska, collected litter along a street near Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a national park.

“It’s important to do it [collect litter] because it makes it [the area] cleaner and nicer, and people will be able to appreciate it more,” said 17-year-old Tiana Blevins.

Shani Powell, 17, and LeRoya Simmons, 18, both of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Palmer, Alaska, were among a group of youth who pulled bottles, Styrofoam and other debris from Nash Run, a tributary of the Anacostia River.

“It feels good that we’re helping the community and whatever [wildlife] lives in there [the tributary],” Powell and Simmons agreed.

Wednesday was the first of two days devoted to “Mission in the City.” Another was held yesterday.

In addition, Immerse features worship with nationally recognized guest speakers, small group discussion and a prayer walk on the National Mall. More than 1,000 youth and their adult leaders attended.

Immerse is open to youth of all ecumenical walks of faith who are ages 14-19 or entering at least freshman year of high school.

ABHMS—the domestic mission arm of ABCUSA—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.