Volume XIX September 2013 Number 5

ABCCONN’s World Mission Conference

September 27-28, 2013

Immanuel Baptist ChurchNew Haven

Coming on September 16, 2013

In February of this year the ABCCONN Board of Managers approved a policy statement on gun violence. In that statement we said that we would do everything we can to help promote a non-violent culture. This peace devotional is designed to allow you to consider, envision and pray about such a world of peace.

The devotional will be ready on September 16th and will be available in a number of ways / formats:

online each day of October as ◊ rss feeddownload document from website◊

www.abcconn.org ♦printedformatatABCCONNoffice:◊

E-mail: ♦ wlanz@abcconn.org orPhone: 860-521-5421 ♦

ABCCONN’s Peace Devotional

Summer Fun at Camp Wightman

“My daughter learned so much abut the life of Christ during her first two weeks at camp. It is as if a door in her soul has opened, and she sees her-self in a very practical way now as a disciple.”

- Parent Comment

September 2013

The theme for the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut for this year and part of next (until the 2014 annual gathering) is “Meeting Human Need.” That seems like a pretty huge task, don’t you think? Maybe even impossible. What can one person do to meet human need in our world, we wonder. And even as we wonder, we have seen many human interest stories about one person making a difference because they became involved in some way or became an advocate for some cause. We should not sell ourselves short on this. We meet human need every time we pray for someone, reach out to a friend in trouble, or even pick up the phone to make contact with an individual.

Meeting human need is what we are all about. Meeting human need is the Christian thing to do. It is the Christ like thing to do.

Our theme last year was “Practicing Radical Discipleship”whichatitscoreisaboutfindingways to be closer to, and more like Jesus. Meeting human need is the next step – having moved closer in relationship to Christ, we are more apt to seek to serve and help those who may be in need, not for our own ego, but for the sake of the gospel. It is living out the concepts of Matthew 25: 31-42 called the Great Judgment in some Bibles. This is the passage in which Jesus talks about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those who are imprisoned or sick, and providing hospitality to the stranger.

This passage came to mind recently for two reasons. ThefirstwaswhenIwasdoingsomeenvisioningwork with one of our churches. When we looked at the lists that had been created by the gathered group, it was clear that their strengths and the things they do well far outweighed the needs they had. And while their strengths are very well suited for outreach ministry, they really did not know what the community needed from them. The pastor is

highly involved in the community but the leaders are not as aware. That is something that they will be working on because they have so much to offer to the community in terms of ministry for the sake of our Lord.

The second way this passage has been made more real to me recently is in our planning for the upcoming ABCCONN World Mission Conference. The theme for this event is “Begin Where You Are, Go Where You Can.” It is looking at ways in which our churches are able to do outreach ministry right in our own neighborhoods, our own communities, as well as helping to provide ministry opportunities in those far off places. In those 24 hours at the end of September we will have among us persons who have been called by God to serve in such far off places as the Congo, South Africa and Mexico; and we will have persons called by God to serve in outreach ministry right in our towns and cities here in Connecticut. It is all done in our attempts to follow Jesus’ words to meet human need both near and far.

I am so excited about this event. I hope you will be there to hear about what is happening in our missionfieldsandtogetideasforyourselfandyour congregation. We will not only be able to have conversations with our missionaries on the national and international scene; we will also have the opportunity to see displays of their ministries as well. And like good Baptists, we will share in meals together. Please put September 27 and 28 in your calendar and get registered today for this conference.

In service to Christ,

The American Baptist Churches of Connecticut (ABCCONN) are:

Churches in Partnership, Sharing Resources, Inviting and Equipping Disciples

SEPTEMBER2- ABCCONNOfficeclosedinobservanceofLabor

Day10 - August mission giving is due in Valley Forge10-11 MMBBRetirementSeminars,ABCCONNOffice10 - Financial Peace University starts, Meriden First13-14 Lay Ministry Institute, Cycle 217- InterimMinistersTraining,ABCCONNOffice27-28 World Mission Conference, New Haven Immanuel

OCTOBER9 - September mission giving is due in Valley Forge14- ABCCONNOfficeclosedinobservanceof

Columbus Day24- HealthyBoundariesTraining,ABCCONNOffice

NOVEMBER1 - Compensation Workshop, Manchester Community2 - Compensation Workshop, New Haven First2 - Lay Ministry Institute, Cycle 2

SAVE THE DATE

Keep Camp Wightman in your prayers

throughout this summer season of life-changing

ministry.

Preparing for Emergencies

In the past year we’ve experienced the destructive power of stormy weather, both by Superstorm Sandy and by the blizzard which immobilized usthiswinter.Inaddition,we’vebeenhorrifiedby the shootings in Newtown. All of this forces us to understand the importance of planning and preparation for emergencies. To that end, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has developed a resource to help churches develop Emergency Operation Plans (EOPs). The 38-page pamphlet, available online for free, will help churches to analyze the risks for various types of emergencies and then to develop plans to mitigate the damage caused by such emergencies.

The document can be found in pdf format at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7649.

Clergy Retirement Seminar

The Center for Career Development, in partnership with MMBB, is offering a two-day New Visions Retirement Planning Workshop on September 10-11 at First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut. It will be skillfully co-led by Doug Wheeler, Clinical Director for CCDM and Lowell Fewster, former Executive Minister of ABCCONN. An MMBB representative will also be present, offering private consultations to discuss your personalfinancialpicture.

Even if you are 10 to 15 years away from considering “retirement,” you have a golden opportunity right now to explore your options anddesignalifeplanfilledwithpurposeandnewpossibilities. When the time comes, you will have thelifeskillsandfinancialtoolstopursueyourdreams.

You and your spouse are invited to join us for what we hope will be an exciting adventure. Thanks to the generosity of MMBB, the cost to you for this workshop is only $50 per couple or $35 per individual.

To register, please contact Jessica Harrington, CCDM’sofficemanagerat(781)329-2100orinfo@ccdmin.org.

Interim Ministry WorkshopABCCONN is offering a one-day Introduction to Interim Ministry for clergy who may be interested in exploring what it means to serve as an Interim Minister. Those currently serving Interim positions, or looking to serve in Interim Ministry are also welcome. We will discuss: Interim identity, covenanting/contracting and exitstrategies,thefiveareasoffocusfortheinterimseason, ethics and boundaries for Interim clergy, and best practices.

The workshop will be on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 attheABCCONNofficesfrom9:30am-2:30pm.Itwillbe led by the Rev. Erica Wimber Avena, Intentional Interim Minister, trained with Interim Ministries Network. Please call ABCCONN to register for the event (860.521.5421). The cost is $20 and includes materials, lunch, and beverages.

The ABCCONN website:

www.abcconn.orgA wealth of information and resources for your ministry.

Published by the American Baptist Churches of CT, 90A North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107-1924; Telephone: 860-521-5421; FAX: 860-521-3206; E-mail to staff: ( first initial last name) @ ABCCONN.org (e.g. jallbee@ABCCONN.org)

Q - It’s now your second summer season at Camp Wightman. What are you excited about this season? What are the good things that are going on at camp?

I’m excited about offering high-quality camping programs to children and youth that will help them grow spiritually, physically, socially, and mentally.

There are so many good things happening at camp! My favorites are seeing the strong relationships that are forged among campers, and between campers and staff members (both paid and volunteer); and seeing campers grow by taking part in the Bible exploration activities.

Q - What’s new at camp this year?

Lots and lots of things! We’ve taken steps to help ensure that Christ is at the center of everything we do at camp. We’ve introduced a centralized program model, so during most weeks, everyone attending camp participates in the same program. The role of summer staff members has been expanded, and most serve both as cabin counselors and program leaders. We have new inflatable“toys”atthewaterfront,anewcommercial-gradeSlip& Slide, a 9-hole miniature golf course, ping-pong tables, a new leadership program for teens known as “LEAD,” and two-week program option known as “Tweekers.”

One thing that has not changed this year is our commitment to using volunteers to help support our programs. There are many ways in which volunteers can be involved with Camp Wightman.

Q - How is camp making a difference for the campers who are attending? How is it making a difference for staff members?

Children who attend camp grow in many ways - spiritually, physically,socially,mentally,inconfidence,inindependence,andin self-reliance. They are immersed in an intentional Christian community - free from the trappings of the technological world - where they can learn, share, and grow. They establish friendships that can last a lifetime. They spend time out-of-doors and develop an appreciation for the natural world.

Our parents say it best. Here’s what two parents had to say about their children’s time at camp:

“My daughter learned so much abut the life of Christ during herfirsttwoweeksatcamp.Itisasifadoorinhersoulhasopened, and she sees herself in a very practical way now as

a disciple. The night she got home...she and I sat up until midnight talking abut what she learned, and the ways in which she feels she is called to walk the path that Jesus laid out for us. Her counselor really brought a clear perspective to the

Bible study...”

“Mysonhadsuchanamazingfirstcampexperience at Camp Wightman this week! He had so much fun, adventure, and personal growth - we will be back next year for sure!! Thanks so much for your leadership.”

Summer staff members work harder and longer than they would in any other summer job. For their effort, they get some awesome rewards - most notably making a HUGE difference in the life of a child. Summer staff members also develop leadership skills, grow spiritually, gain confidence,andlearnorganizationalskills.

Formanyofthem,workingatcampalsoinfluencestheircareerchoices.Wehaveaterrificstaffatcampthissummer!

Q - What are some of the challenges that camp faces?

Overthepastfiveyears,summercampenrollmenthasdeclineddramatically.Weneedtoreversethistrendandfindwaystoincrease the enrollment so we are operating at full capacity. We have other challenges related to deferred maintenance, facility renovation, and securing the equipment we need to offer cutting-edgeprograms.Asenrollmentincreases,wewillfinditeasiertodeal with these other challenges.

Q - What are some of the challenges you face in your ministry at camp?

Balancing the need to respect and honor time-honored traditions while making the changes that are required to ensure the growth and stability of the camp. Marketing in a tough economic period. Trying to expand programs, services, equipment and facilities while balancing the budget.

Q - How can local churches get involved and help support the ministry of Camp Wightman?

Encouragingchildrentoattendcamp,providingfinancialsupport to those who need it, supporting Camp Wightman’s campership campaigns, including camp in their annual mission giving, scheduling a retreat at Camp Wightman, participating in scheduled work days, serving as summer camp volunteers.

Q - Do you have a favorite experience that you’ve had at camp to share?

Hard to choose just one. Certainly I’d include receiving positive comments from camper parents, seeing the staff grow and mature, and hearing the happy sounds of camp throughout the day.

An Interview with Tom Hall, Camp Wightman’s Director

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ABCCONNThe Rev. Dr. Judy G. Allbee, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, 90A North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107; Telephone: 860-521-5421; Fax: 860-521-3206; E-Mail jallbee@abcconn.org.

Department of Missions & Stewardship

Don’t forget to register for the World Mission Conference to be held September 26 and 27 in New Haven (http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5666229846). Below is information about our banquet speaker, Lauran Bethell. The other side of this sheet has a brief introduction to three of our mission showcase speakers and their work: Anita Gutierrez from South Africa, Katherine Niles from the Congo, and Angela Suderman, Coordinator of Volunteers in Global Missions. Our fourth mission showcase speaker, Mercy Gonzalez-Barnes, needs no introduction here in Connecticut.

Lauran Bethell, M.Div, D.D., has been working for more than two decades on behalf of and caring for women who have been exploited and abused. Most recently, she serves as a consultant with grassroots organizations, encouraging the development of new projects dealing with the issues of prostitution, trafficking in persons and other forms of abuse and exploitation. Based in The Netherlands, she travels extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, teaching, training and consulting.

As the first Director of the New Life Center in Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand (1987), Lauran pioneered projects in Southeast Asia that specifically addressed the issue of child prostitution and trafficking of women and children. Rev. Bethell directed the Center for 14 years; at various times there have been as many as 200 girls and young women in the Center’s houses in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The Center also sponsors at-risk girls who are attending schools in their villages or living in hostels. Though the work primarily focuses on preventing girls with high-risk factors from being exploited, the Center also offers rehabilitation and life alternatives to women who have come out of labor and sexual exploitation.

The New Life Center has received international recognition and awards for its work, and has been the subject of many television documentaries (60 Minutes, BBC, Dutch National TV) as well as newspaper and magazine articles. In 1995, Lauran received an award on behalf of the New Life Center from the Prime Minister of Thailand. The Center also hosted former U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

September 2013

Over →

Lauran was honored in 2005 with the Human Rights Award of the Baptist World Alliance, which was presented to her by President Jimmy Carter. She has been invited to testify before U.S. House of Representatives (2003) and Senate (2000) committees, as they drafted and revised the U.S. anti-trafficking legislation.

Dr. Anita Gutierrez (and husband Rick, also a doctor) serve in Durban, South Africa together with IM partner, the Baptist Mission of South Africa. She and her husband train and equip local churches, pastors and missionaries to combat life-style related diseases like HIV/AIDS, heart and artery disease, diabetes and malaria. Portable rapid screening tests for these conditions are offered by trained health builders. The doctors continue to develop a health education DVD series that can be studied individually or in small groups. A holistic approach from the Christian perspective is offered in order to help people achieve their health and life goals.

The vision is to train two or four health builders in each participating church. They would like to see this model of health building become a part of local church missions throughout Africa and other resource-limited settings.

Katherine Niles (and husband Wayne). Katherine is working with a group of Congolese Christian professionals in training community leaders, urban and rural, to be promoters of health in their communities. The staff of a church-related health center in Kinshasa is also using her expertise to make their medical ministry more holistic as they care for urban poor people.

Angela Sudermann is the Coordinator of Volunteers in Global Missions at the International Ministries headquarters in Valley Forge PA. The best way to get a sense of the scope of her work would be to go here:

http://www.internationalministries.org/people/1440 and click on Read more journals & news.

World Mission Conference Speakers

CAMP WIGHTMAN August 2013 Volume 57 Edition 5

Dear Friends: Greetings from Camp Wightman! Summer camp will be drawing to a close by the time you receive this. It has been a fantastic summer here at Camp Wightman. We hope you had an opportunity to spend some time at camp this summer. Here’s how Camp Wightman campers respond to “What I learned about God or the Bible” –

I learned that Jesus is always with us.

I learned that God loves us all!

I learned that when Jesus dies on the cross He was taking on the sins of everyone past, present, and future, not just past.

Here’s how Camp Wightman campers respond to “What I learned at camp this week” –

That being outside can be very fun!

Independence, making friends, and God’s Word.

I learned how to do archery, drama, and fishing.

I learned that is a lot easier to make friends than you think at first. As you can see we are having fun here on Billings Lake while we are building disciples for the Kingdom. If you haven’t checked out our program in a while, it’s time to do so! While you are on the website, sign up for our e-news. Go to www.welovecamp.org and find the “Contact Us” tab under “We love camp!”

Tending the campfire, Tom Hall Minister of Camping & Conferences, ABCCONN

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Connect with Camp Wightman today Address 207 Coal Pit Hill Road, Griswold CT 06351 Office 860.376.2179 Fax 860.376.7059 Email wightman@abcconn.org Website www.campwightman.org Find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest! To connect with us, type the URL of the site, add a forward slash (/), then add “CampWightman” (yep, run it together).

Wightman Prayer Partners We’re looking for a few good men and women of any age who will join with us in praying for the ministry at Camp Wightman. Post this on your fridge or over your desk, keep it with your Bible or devotional – anywhere that will remind you to pray for us on a daily basis. Here are our prayer concerns for the upcoming months:

Summer Staff and Volunteers Campership Donations Registrations for Summer Camp

Camp Wightman Wish List If you can provide any items or are able to donate the money to purchase them, please contact Tom at 860.376.2179, ext. 10. Thank you! Check out our Amazon.com Wish List – On the

website, click on the top box on the right margin (Wish List), then enter “Camp Wightman” in the Find box. Our list includes items from all over the Web!

Instruments – acoustic guitars of different sizes, bass guitar and amp, ukuleles, plus sound equipment including wireless mics.

Gently used or new Board games and costumes Hammocks -- Gently used or new ($25/new) Gently used, road-worthy minivan for town runs Gently used books – The camp library can use books

your children have outgrown. Preferred: appropriate for ages 6-16, and newer or classic.

Four (4) handheld kid-friendly GPS units for on-site geocaching

Eight (8) sets of rubber stamp carving tools MacBook Pro for Program (for film editing, etc.) iPod Nano or iPod (refurb or new) Fender Passport Portable Sound System – Call us

2014?! Really? Yep, we are already thinking about Summer 2014! Our Summer 2014 Preview will be out in a few weeks! Can you believe it? We want to be sure you get your first choice of programs at Camp Wightman next summer. Watch for the schedule shortly after Summer 2013 comes to a close! Dates and deadlines will be available for our Teen Leadership Program to make summer planning easy for older campers. Along with a few new weekly themes, Campolodeon and Outrageous Tweekers will return (three times the fun packed in to two weeks)! Keep your eyes peeled as well for the Camp Wightman Summer Youth Camp 2013 Family Survey. Moms, dads, guardians, etc., will receive an e-mail link to our online youth camp survey. Campers are completing surveys at the end of every camp week – telling us what they liked about the program, the food, the experience, and what they learned and how they grew. Now we want to hear about the camp experience from a family perspective. Here is an opportunity for you to share your perceptions about our programs, site, facilities, and staff. Please tell us your stories! Thank you for helping us in this way!

2013 Dates to Remember: August 16-18 Bluegrass Music Festival www.cwsummerjam.com December 30 Camp Echo ’13 Begins

Year-round staff – Tom, Tim, Michelle, and Joanne Year-round volunteers Safety and spiritual growth for our summer program

Fall Retreats and Gatherings Now is the time to schedule your fall event at Wightman! Another summer has ended and we are making the switch to retreat season. We hope to have you with us to enjoy the autumn colors on Billings Lake!