VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/25/13)—On November 16, 2013, staff members of the former Educational Ministries/American Baptist Board of Education and Publication will reunite for dinner and celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, King of Prussia, PA at 5:00 p.m. The event will recognize the contributions of all former Educational Ministries (EM) employees as well as lift up ongoing ministries that continue to transform individuals, churches and American Baptist organizations.

Approximately 100 people are expected to attend the event, the first ABC-sponsored gathering of EM staff since 2003. The reunion was initiated by Rev. Dr. Don Ng, president-elect of American Baptist Churches USA. Ng, senior pastor of the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco, served on the EM staff for 20 years. “I left EM with skills, abilities, and experience that prepared me well to serve a local church,” says Ng.

Known as Educational Ministries from 1972 – 2003, the American Baptist Board of Education and Publication traces its history to the establishment of the Baptist General Tract Society in 1824. The Society first formed out of the need for printed Baptist literature. Its outreach expanded through many years in the areas of Christian education, higher education, campus ministry, book and curriculum publishing, lay leadership development, men’s and women’s ministries, professional church leadership development, scholarships, age-group ministries, camping and conferencing. Ministry and mission support centers such as historical archiving, communications, computer services, printing, and shipping were also related to EM.

In 2003, EM completed its ministry and transferred its major ministries of discipleship, education and publishing, including Judson Press, to American Baptist Home Mission Societies.  “The faithful and life-transforming contributions we made . . . added to God’s Kingdom work then, as it still does today,” notes Ng. “I envision our time to simply be a celebration of the staff of Educational Ministries, to thank God for what is, and to pray to God for what will be, for surely we have all been blessed beyond words.”

The EM Staff Reunion, sponsored by American Baptist Churches USA and American Baptist Home Mission Societies, is hosted by Don Ng and Laura Alden, Judson Press publisher. The event is open to all former employees of Educational Ministries. Attendees must RSVP to Cathy Brubaker at cathy.brubaker@abc-usa.org or by calling 610.768.2273.

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.