Regional Life

Pastors Leading Change – The Nehemiah Leadership Network

The Nehemiah Leadership Network (NLN) is a pastoral leadership training program and ministry of ten American Baptist regions, including the ABCNJ, with support from the Center for Career Development and Ministry, the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB), and the American Baptist Foundation (ABF).

It provides specialized training, guidance and support for persons who have high potential for leading renewal and transformation in their congregations. Participants are nominated by region staff. After acceptance, each pastor submits a proposal for an individualized learning plan that will address spiritual growth, emotional maturity, skills and conceptual models of systems and change.

It is expected that each pastor in the program will participate for three years, working with a group of four other pastors and a mentor with whom the group will meet four times a year, and during annual conference. Pastors and their congregations will be asked to provide a modest amount of financial support, but all major costs will be covered by the Network.

ABCNJ has recently graduated its first NLN class – (l-r) the Reverends Jay R. Thatcher III, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Westmont;  Mia Chang, pastor of NextGen Church of West Windsor; and Rodger J. Harris, Jr., pastor of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, Irvington.  Next to them is Rev. Dr. Frank Reeder, an NLN mentor and pastor of Seaview Baptist Church.

Rev. Mia Chang reflects on her Nehemiah Leadership Network experience,

“The three year journey of Nehemiah Leadership Network has been a wonderfully enriching experience.  As a novice pastor, I was grateful to have received the collegial support and mentorship. Nehemiah’s yearly retreat served as a refreshing time of learning and connecting with fellow colaborers of Christ.

Rev. Rodger Harris, Jr was also deeply impacted by his journey with Nehemiah,

My participation in the Nehemiah Leadership Network gave me balance in my ministry. I was chosen to attend in my first year of my first pastorate and through this experience I have been  able find my personal voice in ministry.
The Nehemiah Network provides invaluable workshops through the retreats and mentor groups. Nehemiah retreats are wonderfully crafted to help us tap into ourselves and critically engage our call and commitment to be effective in the context in which we serve.  The instruction on family systems theory and various readings have aided in my transformation as an effective pastor and servant of Christ.
The past three years I have made new friends and become a healthier disciple of Christ. I thank God for the vision of all my American Baptist family that recommended and supported me through this whole process of growth. I’m a better man and pastor for this experience.

If you are an ABCNJ pastor, and are interested in participating in this outstanding resource to equip you in your ministry, please contact Rev. Drs. Lee B. Spitzer or Elmo Familiaran at the region office.

ABCNJ Alive Videos: 200 Women Attend the ABWM Love Gift Luncheon

Despite snow and cold temperatures, approximately 200 American Baptist women from all around New Jersey journeyed to Fountain Baptist Church in Summit to attend this year’s ABWM Love Gift Luncheon.  In 2011, American Baptist Women in New Jersey raised over $12,000 for American Baptist missions through Love Gift.

Here is a video report of the highlights of the event:

Dr. Lee B. Spitzer brought greetings from the region at the luncheon.  Here are his remarks:

ABCNJ Alive Video: Haitian Evangelical Jersey City

Welcome to ABCNJ Alive – our region’s video blog celebrating all the great things happening within the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey.

Haitian Evangelical Baptist Church is one of 20 Haitian Baptist Churches in our regional fellowship.  I spoke there on January 29, 2012.  Enjoy the interviews and worship!

Insurance Information For ABCNJ Churches

The first presentation meeting on church insurance was held at the ABCNJ offices this evening and the room was filled.  Good attendance, good questions, and a great deal of interest was generated from this our first meeting.  The second meeting is next Monday night and we wanted everyone to know the interest was high and the possibilities to form an insurance group has real possibilities.  We need to have another great showing this coming Monday.  Let us know in the office if you and your trustees are coming.  Seeking to assist our churches and their ministries.

Great News! – ABCNJ Council Update

The first 2012 meeting of the new ABCNJ Council met at Oaklyn Baptist Church on Saturday, January 28.  Rev. Eric Hoheisel welcomed us as host pastor and stayed to participate in the meeting.  Highlights of the meeting included:

1.  Approval of the 2012 ABCNJ final working budget.  The Council also praised God for the 2011 preliminary budget report, which showed that the region ended 2011 with an operating budget surplus of $23,000.  United Mission was up 8.5% from 2010 and exceeded the budget goal by $10,000!  The ABCNJ Region Offering reached the $70,000 mark, up by about $15,000 from 2010, and America for Christ was also up.  Thanks to all ABCNJ churches and individual donors for supporting our ministry!

2.  Review of and discussion about the 2011 Ministry Team report, which details how the regional ministry team serves our churches and pastors.  The council also reviewed a summary chart of the team’s activity from 2003-2011.

3.  Discussion in small groups about who to appoint for the 3 Transformed by the Spirit Adaptive Change Task Forces, which will focus on the following questions:

• Bridging Generational Gaps: What kind of congregational and regional transformation will be necessary for our churches to bridge generational gaps and reach younger adults and youth more effectively?
• Evangelism as a Way of Life: How can our members and churches embrace evangelism (and church growth) as a way of life, so that our witness flows more naturally from our discipleship journeys?
• ABC Identity: How should we address the “identity crisis” we face as American Baptists, in which pastors and lay members seem disconnected from associational and denominational life (except when they need services or support from us)?

4.  Approval of Dr. Elmo Familiaran’s 2012-2013 sabbatical plan.

Haitian Baptists Discussed Possible Pastoral Leadership

The leadership of the Haitian Baptist Church of Williamstown came to the ABCNJ offices to discuss their situation and possibilities for new pastoral leadership with Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer, Rev. Dr. Edgard Nicholas and Rev. Vernl E. Mattson. It was great to hear what is taking place in their ministry and to see such strong faith as they make decisions that will lead them forward. The Rev. Edgard Nicholas, Associate Regional Pastor for Haitian Ministries was present to share the progress the church leadership has made since the tragic accidental death of their pastor the Rev. Leslie George in 2010. This New Church Development congregation continues to meet faithfully giving witness to Christ in Williamstown, New Jersey.

$8,000 Raised for New Church Development

After the 2011 fiscal year reports were closed, we now have the final financial summary of the inaugural ABCNJ Golf Fundraiser held last October 22, 2011.

After paying all expenses, the event raised a net total of $8,095.13 for ABCNJ’s New Church Development (NCD) program! What a joy! We are so grateful to our title sponsor, the Sovereign Insurance Group. We also are thankful to our hole sponsors: John S. Pavlovsky, Jr., Moore Funeral Homes, Fox Lumber, Van Doren Oil, Co., Christ Congregation of Princeton, Rev. Vernl & Corrine Matson, and Rev. Tom McNally. And last but not the least, we also thank the 36 players who came from all point of the ABCNJ compass and participated and gave of themselves generously to this worthy cause.

It was, indeed, a great day of fun and fellowship which was exceeded only by the thought that we were doing so while supporting the ministry of ABCNJ!

We look forward to this year’s event with greater enthusiasm, and the expectation of a bigger turnout that will make that much more of a bigger impact on the ministries and programs of ABCNJ. This year’s golf fundraiser will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012. Save the date now and spread the word!

COAL Training Events Registration Form Available

The fourth annual COAL Training Events serve elected church officers and leaders engaged in ministries.  “Excellence in Ministry,” our 2012 theme, will be the focus of the worship, workshops and plenary speaker.

Dr. Ron Sider

Attention Pastors! The new pastor’s track is designed specifically for you.  Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Sider (Ph.D., Yale) is Professor of Theology, Holistic Ministry and Public Policy and Director of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia will lead this training. Pastors are privileged to be able to have Dr. Sider share in our focus – Excellence in Ministry.  Enroll now!

Attention Church Officers and Leaders! The 2012 COAL Training gives participants a chance to select three workshops.  Mark three different training sessions and the registrar will make every effort to honor it.  There is limited seating so sessions will be balanced for classroom size. Please use the attached registration form.

Below is a brief summary of the days program and a list of the excellent leadership we have for the COAL 2012 Training Events.

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Rev. Dr. Ron Sider is COAL Keynote Speaker

Rev. Dr. Ron Sider

 The Fourth Annual – Church Officers and Leaders Training Events – March 24, 2012 and March 31, 2012

We are pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for the Fourth Annual COAL Training Events will be The Rev. Dr. Ron Sider.  We are so thrilled that he is willing to come and participate in the day long events and to help address this year’s theme of EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY.

We also want to share that Rev. Sider will lead our new addition to the COAL Training Event – a day long track specifically for our ABCNJ pastors. Dr. Pete Ely said,  “Here is truly an opportunity our clergy will not want to pass up. Those in the ABCNJ Academy will receive credits toward their certificate program.”  Truly, everyone who attends will be blessed.  These events promise to be bigger than ever.

The COAL Training Events will be held at two locations familiar to those who have participated in the past.  On Saturday, March 24, 2012, the First Baptist Church of Westfield will be the host congregation and site for our training.  We’re delighted to return to this fine facility for an opportunity to grow in excellence in ministry.  On Saturday, March 31, 2012, we will hold the second event at the Columbus Baptist Church in Columbus, NJ, where last year’s southern event was so graciously hosted.  Rev. Mayra Castaneda, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Westfield and Rev. John Grove, senior pastor at the Columbus Baptist Church of Columbus both extend a cordial invitation to our American Baptist family to come and experience a wonderful day of learning and training together. They will open their churches for registration at 8:30 am and have coffee ready for a time of early fellowship.   The morning Bible Study will begin at 9:00 am, so be certain to arrive early.

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AB Women Hosting Love Gift Luncheon

ABWM Love Gift Event