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The Rocky Mountain American Baptist May 23, 2005
It is with a deep sense of joy that I am able to announce that the Castle Pines property has been sold. The deal was finalized when the buyer wired the money into the Region’s account on Thursday afternoon, May 5, 2005. On Tuesday, May 3, 2005, Richard and I met with Doug Stimple, CEO of Classic Homes. I left the meeting gratified that we were dealing with a man and company with integrity. They have a strong desire to expedite the purchase of the Black Forest property. As a demonstration of their commitment to fulfill their due diligence and inspection, they will spend a considerable sum in a wide variety of tests and analyses. On Wednesday, May 4, 2005, Jan McCormack, Region president, signed the contract with Classic Homes. We now await the sixty days inspection with the closing following thirty days later. On Thursday, May 5, Richard and I met with the Black Forest staff. It is understandable that they will feel and experience grief in a profound way. I was impressed by the way they are processing this decision. They have great ideas of celebrating the memory of Black Forest. We continue to talk to them about their various plans. I am happy to report that we will be able to accommodate all of the major transition issues of the staff. Continue to pray for them as they prepare for Summer Camp, the closure of Black Forest, and their own futures. This Region owes Richard Salcedo a great deal of gratitude for his outstanding work in making both of these transactions happen. He has acted in the interest of the Region and has brought to bear critical financial negotiation and administrative skills that have made a world of difference. He has served us with excellence, and I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to him for his service. Continue to pray that God will lead us in the next chapter of our transition. Desmond Hoffmeister |
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Denver Seminary will host a reunion dinner to recognize its American Baptist alumni and students at the American Baptist Biennial meetings in Denver, Colorado in July. The featured speaker will be Craig Williford (MA, '82), president of Denver Seminary. Williford will be speaking about the seminary's upcoming move to its new campus, as well as recent efforts to work more closely with the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains. Twenty-five American Baptist students are currently enrolled in Denver Seminary, and approximately 10 percent of ABCRM pastors are Denver Seminary graduates. Other program participants will include Vernon Grounds, chancellor; Gary Hoag, vice president of advancement; Randy MacFarland (MDiv, '74), vice president/dean; James Beck, counseling division chair; Janet McCormack (DMin, '03), director of the seminary's Chaplaincy and Counseling Training Center and president of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains; and Daniel Schweissing (MA, '00), American Baptist missionary to the Bahamas. The dinner will be held in room 204 of the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver from 5:00-6:45pm on Saturday, July 2. The cost of the dinner is $30. Tose planning to attend should register by checking item #31 on the Biennial meal reservation form. Forms can be downloaded at Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. and must be submitted prior to June 28. Persons wishing to purchase tickets at the Biennial should check with meal ticket sales in the hospitality area for availability of extra tickets. In addition to the dinner, Denver Seminary has arranged a walking tour of its new campus on Santa Fe Drive, which is scheduled to open for the beginning of the 2005 fall semester. The tour will be held on Saturday, July 2 from 9:00-11:00am. Interested students, alumni, and friends of the Seminary should meet outside of the Convention Center at the pickup area in front of Lobby D. The tour is subject to cancellation due to possible conflict with construction or moving schedules. Please check the message board in the hospitality area in Lobby D for the latest update on the tour. In order to ensure adequate transportation, it is recommended that interested participants RSVP with Lori MacKenzie by sending email to Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. prior to June 28. |
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First Baptist Church of Denver will host an inspiring organ concert on Thursday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. While the concert is free, tickets are necessary unless seats are still available at concert time. Tickets will be available at the Colorado Convention Center registration area on Thursday until 6:00 p.m. and at the church. A free-will offering will be received during intermission. Host pastor, Gary Bowser, has referred readers to the church website for the following information:
The concert organist, Todd Fair, serves as the organist at FBC. Again, information on the church’s website reveals the following information:
Make plans to take advantage of this rare opportunity! |
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Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life" (John 4:1-30, 39). Come meet Jesus in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains! Worship, sing, feel the power of prayer, and celebrate Jesus’ love as we lift him higher and encourage one another in our faith. Guest Speaker: Rev. Trinette McCray, Executive Director, Office of Vocation Development, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and former president of American Baptist Churches USA Featured Music: The Martin Ensemble of Macedonia Baptist Church, Denver, Colorado. You will also experience wonderful music, sharing our HerStories, being part of our wonderful community of faith in Christ. Put it on your calendar now! Registration: 8:00 a.m. To register, mark the Women’s Day pre-Biennial event on the ABC Biennial meal function registration form. Biennial meeting registration packets are available from your church office or the ABC Mission Center at 1-800-222-3872, ext. 2235. Registration deadline is May 31, 2005. |
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Familiar paraphrases from Philippians 4:4-9 rang out in affirmation from those who gathered on Saturday morning at First Baptist Church in Rock Springs for the closing session of the 2005 Area I meeting. "Rejoice in the Lord always." "Don’t be anxious about anything." "Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy–think about these things." "The God of peace will be with us." These are the words that guided delegates in their discernment and decision-making throughout the morning.
The delegates also agreed to recommend to the Region Board the sale of the Black Forest Camp and Conference Center property. |
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My introduction to Region life in the Rocky Mountains was at an Area I meeting in 1972. While I haven’t been able to pin down the location of that meeting, I recall some names and faces. One in particular is Margaret Prine’s. A knowledgeable leader from FBC/Laramie, she was a considerable influence on me as a young pastor’s spouse. I looked up to her, and I still do. She continues to be a central figure in Area I life as well as the life of the denomination as a whole. I thank God for role models like her. As the churches of Area I gathered in Rock Springs recently, God brought together a committed group of people. There were new names and new faces, but there were some familiar ones as well. There were memories shared from years gone by, and there were new ones created. There’s something about the American Baptist family, isn’t there? But what it is that makes us family? Maybe it’s something different for each of us, but for me it’s the fact that American Baptists are an accepting people who seek to draw the circle big enough to include me. Ingrid Dvirnak |
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 I am a mother who has sent our two daughters to camp at Black Forest. As a result, both have begun to walk a little closer with Jesus. I have also lived on the premises and volunteered my services while I was there. I have also served on the Board of Managers. I love Black Forest.
After prayerful consideration of all the options , and three hours of tearful deliberation at our last BFCCC Board meeting, I knew in my heart that Black Forest needs to be sold and that camping needs to be done at a different place and possibly in a different way. I wouldn’t be truthful if I said that the thought of having to sell the camp doesn’t bother me. However, after talking it over with my husband and others both inside and outside of my church, I realize that hanging on to a piece of ground for the sake of just "hanging on to it" is not an option. My heart still says: "No, we can’t sell the Camp," but my mind and God tell me differently. While living and working at BFCCC, I saw the day-to-day frustration of things breaking down and needing repair. I experienced the dilemma of always being short-handed staff wise. We were constantly getting complaints from guests about the lousy mattresses, shabby carpet, lack of air conditioning, and the loud noises the heaters made. The conference center roof will soon have to be replaced at a cost of over $30,000, as most roofs of that kind have a life span of around 20 years. There are many other things that are not up to code. As such, they are hazardous and costly to repair or replace. What about our children, you ask? My girls loved going to camp. They had amazing experiences at BFCCC. But, it’s not the location; it’s what we offer them. Both girls have experienced Christ in many places. They attended "Alien Encounter" in Loveland last October during the Annual Session and had a great experience. This year our church is taking 10 kids on a Mission Trip to Martin, South Dakota. That’s great, but what if we could make the group big enough to really–and I mean really–accomplish something? Why not take kids from around the entire Region on mission trips together? My family’s financial resources are limited. If my children had to choose whether they wanted to go to camp or on a mission trip, they would choose "mission trip" every time. I think that’s true for many families today. If the children were to choose "camp," camping can take place in many places. Charly Whisenhunt |
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Around the Region |
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10 – 15 volunteers to work in childcare. If you are currently working in child care you should have a back ground check and CBI. A copy of this would be helpful for us to have. Also two other persons are needed that are director qualified. We appeal to churches that have child care centers to encourage their staff to volunteer. Sharon Taylor Translation: Do you speak Spanish, French or American Sign Language? Are you interested in helping bridge communication barriers so that everyone can understand the speakers at the Biennial? If so, please consider being an interpreter for the evening sessions of the biennial. Two interpreters are needed per evening for each language. We are also looking for helpers to handle distribution of FM audio receivers to those who would like translation. If you are interested, please contact: Transportation: Two drivers are needed to transport VIP and others between DIA and the convention center and hotels in downtown Denver. POV’s will be used. Parking will be made available at the convention center and at the airport. We will work out of the convention center host desk. Also we will be available for any emergency needs. It is a great way to become involved and support our ABC Biennial. Call: Finances: We need finance team members to collect, count and bundle monies during our Biennial. You need to be available during meeting hours 7:00am to 9:15am, Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 3, 2005. Please email me your availability for selected slots of time/s. Thanks for your willingness to help. Ticket Sales: Ticket Team Volunteers will assist in selling tickets, maintain records, collect and record money. Must be able to use calculators and/or adding machines. Will work in shifts of 2 to 4 hours. Contact Yvonne Whisenhunt at rywhiz@worldnet.att.net. |
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Rev. John Roberts and daughter, Laura Grace Roberts, are both attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Laura is working on her Master of Arts in Theological Studies, while her dad is working on his Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism and Church Growth. It may be unique to SBTS to have a father and daughter enrolled at the same time. |
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Please pray for Jackie Arnold’s (President, ABW Ministries/Colorado) sister and brother-in-law. Vernon's cancer has spread and he is in Denver again for radiation treatment. He will return to Bermuda in three to four weeks. The doctors are now just trying to give him quality of life and are telling us he has six to twelve months to live. His answer to them is, "It’s in God's hands". We should all have as much faith and courage. They and their family need our prayers. Jackie Arnold's husband, Jim, fell on Good Friday and suffered a compression fracture in his back. He is also experiencing quite a bit of pain in his shoulder. If he is not better within 2 weeks, he will go back to the Dr. for a reevaluation. Please keep them in your prayers. |
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| Go to ABCRM home page |
Desmond Hoffmeister, Interim Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains, gave a presentation entitled, "A New Wineskins Vision for ABCRM." Admittedly, it is a work in progress as the people of the Region continue to discover God together and commit to the common ideals of obeying Jesus Christ, building real relationships, doing cooperative mission together.
Mike Oldham, Manager of Black Forest Camp and Conference Center, assured everyone that we as a regional entity are committed to the ministry of camping. It will look different; it will happen in different places, but camping will continue. In fact, we want to see it improve. We are in the process of developing new partnerships with other camps and ministries. Mission trips are part of the new frontier for youth in a global world. We will deal honestly with the obstacles and seek to build a new identity. He also presented an overview of what camping may look like in 2006.
Jackie Arnold, Chair of the Administrative Task Force (FBC/Loveland, CO), reported on the proposed change from three Areas to six Ministry Clusters within the geographic confines of the Rocky Mountain Region. The purpose of this suggested change is to create an environment in which churches work together to do ministry rather than serve the structure. Cluster churches will be encouraged to share ideas, support each other, share speakers, and access the expertise that exists in local congregations. Each cluster will have a coordinator; the program will be revisited in a year or two.
Richard Salcedo, Associate Director of Business Administration for the Region, presented the major points in the proposed ABCRM Investment Policy. The policy itself was put together by experts with vast experience and integrity. The policy protects the principal, gives guidelines for investment, allows for principal growth, requires a qualified investment committee, delineates and protects changes to the principal and/or policy.
Cynthia Rigsby, Area I Moderator, (FBC/Gillette, WY) chaired the business session. The regular business of the Area was attended to, enabling the Area I churches to operate as an Area until there are bylaws written to reflect Ministry Clusters. In addition to the regular business of the Area, the delegates voted to establish a committee to discuss and prepare a proposal for the governance and operation of Camp WYOBA. The committee will consist of five members from the WYOBA Board (to be named when they meet in two weeks), five members chosen by the Area I Advisory Board at the close of the Session (Wayne Beatty, Brenda Schladweiler, Whalen Woodward, Bill Mitchell, Deanna Dyer), and the Region Executive Minister or his representative. It is the intent that this Committee’s forthcoming proposal be submitted to the Region Board by August 1, 2005.
Child Care: