wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS UPDATE FOR APRIL 21, 1999

[LEAH_MCCARTER.parti@ecunet.org (LEAH MCCARTER)]

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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS UPDATE FOR APRIL 21, 1999
American Baptist News Service
Office of Communication / American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Richard W. Schramm, Director (E-mail: RICHARD.SCHRAMM@ABC-USA.ORG)

April 21, 1999

WEISS COMMENDS ‘ENGAGEMENT OF ENTIRE DENOMINATION’
IN SUPPORTING ‘NEW LIFE 2010’ GOAL

 VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABNS)—American Baptist Churches USA General 
Secretary Daniel E. Weiss has expressed “tremendous encouragement and 
excitement about the engagement of our entire denominational family 
in supporting the New Life 2010 emphasis,” a goal of planting 1,010 
new congregations and welcoming 1,010,000 new believers within the 
denomination.

 Joining other American Baptist leaders in Tuscon, Ariz., for a 
joint meeting of the Regional Executive Ministers Council, General 
Executive Council and World Mission Support Council, Weiss 
emphasized, “We have been discussing how cooperative efforts among 
national, regional and local American Baptist groups and individuals 
are giving us energy and a unified focus in this ambitious endeavor.”

 The denominational councils gathered here have heard reports on 
the processes and goals of New Life 2010 from Michael Cox, director 
of New Church Planting for National Ministries, and Ken Giacoletto, 
representing the New Church Planting Council.

 Among actions announced this week about New Life 2010 are the 
development by Educational Ministries of educational resources 
specifically designed for new churches, a commitment by National 
Ministries and International Ministries to work with new church 
planters engaged with congregational groups within the U.S. and 
overseas, and a commitment from leaders of American Baptist-related 
seminaries to promote New Life 2010.

 Weiss said, “We are witnessing a concentrated effort involving 
a wide range of organizations and individuals to meet a specific 
goal.  In a denomination as diverse and large as ours, this is a 
testimony to how a common vision of service to Jesus Christ unites 
and energizes us.”

 “The success of New Life 2010 is not dependent only on any one 
part of American Baptist Churches, but is everyone’s responsibility 
to carry out.”

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