wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR JUNE 11, 1999 (2ND)

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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR JUNE 11, 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 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

UPDATE: June 11, 1999

AMERICAN BAPTIST CONTRIBUTIONS FOR KOSOVO RELIEF WORK 
REACH $175,000
 More than $175,000 in contributions from American 
Baptists now has been received or designated for relief 
ministries in war-torn Kosovo. 
 Much of the funding has been forwarded to the Baptist 
Centre in Tirana, Albania.  Albanian Baptists, who had been 
involved in relief work among Kosovo refugees for many 
months before the start of the NATO bombing and the huge 
influx of refugees, have distributed water, blankets, heavy 
coats, cheese, meat, flour, baby food, blankets and 
mattresses, as well as feed a refugee camp near Tirana.  The 
Albanian Baptists are working cooperatively and ecumenically 
with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, the 
Salvation Army, the Red Cross and several mission societies 
among others. 
 American Baptists can help in the relief effort in 
several ways.
 Churches and individuals can make monetary donations 
through One Great Hour of Sharing.  Place any contributions 
on line 7 of the Monthly Report of Mission Support and mark 
"Kosovo Relief." *
 For churches wishing to send materials to the area, 
International Ministries is working with Church World 
Service to send "Gifts of the Heart" health kits.  Each 
health kit consists of a hand towel, a washcloth, a comb, a 
metal nail file, a bath-size bar of soap, a toothbrush, a 
four-to-seven-ounce size tube of toothpaste and six adhesive 
bandages.  Wrap all items in the hand towel and tie it with 
ribbon or yarn and pack the kits in study cartons.  Multiple 
kits may be boxed together.  Secure all cartons with packing 
tape.  Clearly mark the outside of each box to indicate that 
the contents are health kits and ship them pre-paid to: 
Church World Service, Brethren Service Center Annex, 601 
Main St., P. O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776-0188.  There 
is a $1 charge for processing and shipping each kit.  Do not 
include personal notes, money or any additional items in or 
with the kits, and do not include or decorate your kits with 
religious symbols, as the kits are shared with people based 
only on need, regardless of religion.  Health kits also can 
be donated for $12 per kit.  For more information about the 
kits call 1-888-297-2767.   
 National Ministries has set up a database of American 
Baptist churches and individuals who have called offering to 
sponsor refugees.  This information will facilitate the 
matching of requests for sponsors in geographic areas.  For 
more information about refugee sponsorship call 1-800-ABC-
3USA, ext. 1-2450.  Updates regarding the Kosovar Albanian 
refugees in the U.S. will be posted on National Ministries 
Web site--http://www.abc-usa.org/natmin.  Click on KODOVO 
UPDATE.

*If you would like to have your contributions released 
at once, set your special offering date and inform the 
congregation.  Once the offering is taken and the accounting 
is complete, fax or mail a simple letter of request to 
American Baptist Churches USA/Attention: Barbara Jarrett 
(FAX No. 610-768-2275; P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-
0851).  In the simple transmittal letter use your church 
stationery with letterhead.  Indicate the offering is for 
Kosovo relief, the amount and the date.  As soon as the fax 
or letter is received the funds will be released for 
immediate emergency use.  You do not need to enclose the 
check with the initial request for transmittal.  Use the 
normal channels for American Baptist Mission Support giving 
and indicate your Kosovo offering under the Project I.D. 
OGHKR.  The Destination Code is OGH-03-000000.  In this way 
you will be able to use normal channels, but ensure that the 
gift goes for relief within days of your offering.
 
ABBOYS & YOUNGMEN CURRICULUM TO BE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
 ABBoys & YoungMen, the mentoring ministry of American 
Baptist Men, is now being translated into Spanish.  A 
sampler kit will be introduced at the American Baptist 
Churches' Biennial Meeting in Des Moines this month and the 
Baptist Men’s Conference at Green Lake in July.  The full 
curriculum will be available for churches to begin programs 
this fall.  There are more than 350 Spanish-speaking 
churches in the ABC.
 Mentoring is among the historical ministries of ABMen.  
ABBoys & YoungMen is designed to bring boys and teens to 
Christ and nurture their faith to maturity.  "The mentoring 
relationship sets ABBoys & YoungMen apart from most other 
youth programming," according to Z. Allen Abbott, director 
of Men's Ministries for National Ministries.  "Long-term 
friendships are built between each student and his leader, 
utilizing men from the church.  American Baptist Men have 
taken seriously the challenge of Proverbs 22:6, 'Train up a 
child in the way he should go.'"
 ABBoys is for grades six and under;  ABYoungMen is for 
grades 7 through 12.  Three emphases are woven throughout 
the material: personal faith, personal values and Christian 
discipleship.  Each session includes activities specially 
suited for boys and young men.  Curriculum for two full 
years is available, including a "Mentor's Guide" and a 
"Church Coordinator's Manual."
 The materials were first introduced in English at the 
1997 American Baptist Biennial Meeting in Indianapolis.  
Since that time American Baptist Men has moved into National 
Ministries as part of a larger Men's Ministries program.  
ABBoys & YoungMen recently has received recognition from the 
National Fatherhood Initiative, the Institute on Religion 
and Democracy and several ecumenical groups for its unique 
focus and quality.
 To order materials or for further information call 
National Ministries Resources at 1-800-ABC-3USA, ext. 2464; 
or visit the ABMen website at www.abc-usa.org/ABMen.

CURRICULO PARA NIÑOS Y JÓVENES BAUTISTAS ESTARÁ DISPONIBLE 
PARA LA BIENAL
 Niños y Jóvenes ABC, el material mentoría de los 
Hombres ABC (American Baptist Men), se está traduciendo al 
español.  Tendremos una muestra modelo para la Bienal del 
mes de junio en Des Moines y también para la Conferencia de 
los Hombres ABC del mes de julio en Green Lake.  El 
curriculo completo estará disponible para las iglesias en el 
otoño.  Tenemos más de 350 iglesias hispanas en nuestra 
denominación.
 La mentoría es uno de los ministerios históricos 
dentro del trabajo de los Hombres ABC.  El material que se 
ha preparado para Niños y Jóvenes ABC está diseñado para 
llevar a Cristo tanto a niños como a jóvenes, así como para 
nutrirles en su fe hasta que lleguen a la madurez.  "La 
relación de mentoría que se desarrolla a través de este 
material, lo coloca en un lugar aparte de la mayoría de los 
programas para jóvenes," dice Allen Z. Abbot, Director del 
Ministerio de los Hombres ABC, en Ministerios Nacionales.  
"Entre cada estudiante y su líder se desarrollan amistades a 
largo plazo, utilizando a los hombres de la iglesia.  Los 
Hombres ABC han tomado muy en serio el reto de Proverbios 
22:6: Instruye al niño en su camino."
 El material para Niños ABC cubre hasta el sexto grado.  
El de Jóvenes  cubre los grados 7 al 12.  A través de estos 
materiales se entrelazan tres énfasis: La Fe Personal, los 
Valores Personales y el Discipulado Cristiano.  Cada sesión 
incluye actividades especialmente preparadas para niños y 
jovencitos.  Tendremos el curriculo disponible para cubrir 
dos años completos.  Éste incluirá una Guía para el Mentor y 
un Manual para el Coordinador de la Iglesia.
 Estos materiales se introdujeron por primera vez en 
inglés en 1997 en la Bienal de Indianápolis.  Después de 
ello, los Hombres ABC han pasado a ser parte de Ministerios 
Nacionales.  Recientemente, el material para Niños y 
Jovencitos ABC ha recibido reconocimiento de parte de la 
Organización Nacional de Paternidad (National Fatherhood 
Initiative), del Instituto de Religión y Democracia 
(Institute of Religion and Democracy) y de muchos grupos 
ecuménicos, por su enfoque único y por su calidad.
 Para hacer sus pedidos, o para mayor información sobre 
recursos de Ministerios Nacionales, llame al 1-800-ABC-3USA, 
extensión 2464, o visite la página de los Hombres ABC en el 
Internet:  www.abc-usa.org/ABMen.

'ELDERCONNECTIONS' WORKING GROUP EXPLORES MINISTRIES 
WITH OLDER AMERICAN BAPTIST ADULTS 
by Eleanor P. Lundy, American Baptist Educational Ministries
 A new working group for ministries with older adults 
in American Baptist churches, "ElderConnections," met May 
23-27 at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.  The 
Rev. Debra Sutton, Educational Ministries' director of Adult 
Ministries and New Church Discipleship, announced the 
formation of the group, comprised of American Baptists with 
expertise in key areas of this ministry emphasis. 
 Jan DeWitt of Sioux Falls, S.D., former vice president 
of program and now speaking ambassador for the American 
Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, Wis., was named chair of the 
working group.  "The name we have chosen has powerful 
meaning," DeWitt said.  "ElderConnections happen when older 
adults reconnect with a past experience and discover its 
meaning for their whole life.  ElderConnections happen when 
older adults use an ability they have to meet a need.  And 
ElderConnections happen when older adults meet together for 
personal and spiritual growth."  
 Other committee members include: Blythe Ann Cooper, 
Green Lake, Wis., vice president of adult programming for 
the American Baptist Assembly; the Rev. Herschell Daney, 
Sand Springs, Okla., former director of Indian Ministries 
for National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA; 
Barbara Waller, a Christian educator from Gurnee, Ill.; 
Daniel Pryfogle, director of communications for American 
Baptist Homes of the West, Pleasanton, Calif.; the Rev. 
Wayne Thompson, Saint Petersburg, Fla.; the Rev. Ramonia 
Lee, Suitland, Md., contract staff for ElderConnections, 
American Baptist Educational Ministries; Elaine Tiller, 
Silver Spring, Md., bereavement coordinator for Montgomery 
Hospice, Montgomery County, Md.; Dr. James Chuck, a 
professor at American Baptist Seminary of the West; and 
Sutton. 
 Sutton said the name chosen by the group, 
ElderConnections, reflects their overall goal: to restore 
biblical connotations around the wisdom and value of older 
persons.  "We want to encourage ministries by, with and for 
older adults," she said.  "We want to see an increased 
appreciation and respect for the older adults in our 
churches and communities, and we want to share resources 
that will lead to exciting and revitalizing ministries."  
Sutton added that older adults have a wide variety of 
experiences and wisdom to share with the generations that 
follow them.  "To increase our 'connectedness' with older 
adults, we need to know who they are.  We need to value them 
in our communities of faith.  We need to listen when they 
tell us what their needs are, and we need to encourage them 
to share their gifts," she said. 
 The group hopes to establish partnerships with other 
American Baptist organizations involved in ministries with 
older adults.  It is planning two conferences next year in 
cooperation with Green Lake staff: a hands-on workshop for 
older adults Sept. 24-29, 2000, and an event for church 
leaders in ministry with older adults Oct. 22-27, 2000. 

UPDATE: AMERICAN BAPTIST-RELATED SCHOOLS
 Several schools related to American Baptist Churches 
USA through Educational Ministries recently have announced 
initiatives and news:
   The University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D., is 
in the midst of a major renovation of its 70-year-old 
Glidden Hall and the establishment of the Roger and Ruth 
Fredrikson School of Education and Center for Christian 
Thought, which will be located in that building.  The 
Fredriksons, long active in many aspects of denominational 
leadership, served First Baptist Church of Sioux Falls from 
1959-1975.  They were instrumental in beginning several lay 
witness missions in the community during that time.  Roger 
Fredrikson, a graduate of the university, was awarded an 
honorary degree by it in 1977.
   The Education Department of Franklin College, 
Franklin, Ind., has receive re-accreditation from the 
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.  
Such affirmation, according to Professor of Education 
Barbara Divins, is a testimony to the "rigorous, sequential, 
individualized and purposeful education program" at 
Franklin.      
   Dr. Robert E. Fulop, professor of Church History and 
Missiology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas 
City, Kans., is retiring June 30 after 26 years.  Fulop and 
his wife, Vernette, previously served American Baptist 
International Ministries as commissioned missionaries in 
Yokohama, Japan, for 15 years.

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