wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR MARCH 20, 1998

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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR MARCH 20, 1998
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: RICH_SCHRAMM@ECUNET.ORG)

______________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE: MARCH 20, 1998
____________________________________________________________________________

AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION SUPPORT EXCEEDS 1997 GOAL;
UNITED MISSION BASICS, WORLD MISSION OFFERING GIVING INCREASE
     Praising the "great response American Baptists have made to the
goodness and grace of God," American Baptist Churches Associate
General Secretary Robert H. Roberts has noted much encouragement
about many aspects of 1997 mission giving.
     Comparing the final report of 1997 American Baptist Mission
Support to similar figures for 1996, Roberts said: "I rejoiced that
United Mission Basics increased by almost $200,000, that the World
Mission Offering increased by 11 percent, that five of nine
categories exceeded their goals, and that our total American Baptist
Mission Support is 101.3 percent of its goal."
     In 1997 ABMS totaled $38,968,050, exceeding the goal of
$38,481,000.
     Roberts noted that while overall 1997 ABMS figures were 0.3
percent below 1996, "the 1996 figures were inflated by more than $1
million because of the generous outpouring of gifts to the church
arson fund ($767,000) and one-time church gifts ($506,000)."
     "Although the report shows a total decrease," he added, "we
actually received more than $1.1 million over 1996.  We did very
well!"
     "While rejoicing, " Roberts said, "we also are concerned about
the shortfall in America for Christ and general plateauing of most
categories over the past few years.  It is important for American
Baptists to support all areas of our common mission for Christ.  Any
mission fund below the inflation index needs our attention."
     
JONES TO DIRECT EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES' NEW SERVICE CENTER
     The Rev. Jeffrey D. Jones will join American Baptist
Educational Ministries' program staff as director of the Educational
Ministries Service Center and Resource Development effective April
16.  The announcement was made by the Rev. Donald Ng, director of the
Department of Education for Discipleship.  
     The Service Center is a new ministry area that will extend
Educational Ministries' capabilities in providing resources and
consultation directly to local churches.  Using contact management
software to become acquainted with congregations and a database to
compile recommended resources, the Service Center will help
strengthen personal and congregational discipleship ministries. 
Unique features of the Service Center will include some weekend and
evening access for telephone consultation services, as well as direct
access to resource databases via the Internet.  
     Beginning this spring the Service Center will be piloted in the
American Baptist regions of Michigan, Chicago, Cleveland and Ohio,
and in Alliance of Baptists congregations.
     In the area of resource development, Jones's responsibilities
will include writing quarterly American Baptist curriculum
supplements that address Baptist heritage and identity for four age
levels; editing the quarterly Young Adult Clipboard newsletter; and
developing youth resources for an ecumenical curriculum project. 
     Jones is a former Educational Ministries staff member, having
served as a program associate in the Department of Ministry with
Youth from 1975-1983 and as the department director from 1983-1986. 
Since then he has pastored congregations at First Baptist Church,
Chili, N.Y. (1988-1991) and First Baptist Church, Pitman, N.J. (1992-present).
     "Jeff brings a wealth of insights and gifts to ministry," said
Ng.  "He has expertise in ministry with virtually every age level. 
His interest and knowledge in personal and congregational
discipleship together with his immediate experiences in the local
church setting will be valuable assets for our new Service Center. 
Church pastors and leaders will find Jeff to be an extremely helpful
consultant.  We are excited to welcome him as a colleague in
ministry, helping local churches to strengthen their discipleship
ministries."  

ROBERT MIDDLETON, PASTOR AND M&M BOARD LEADER, DIES
     Dr. Robert G. Middleton, longtime pastor and a leader in the
work of The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (M&M) for many
years, died of a heart attack March 7 in Pittsfield, Mass. 
Middleton, who was serving as interim pastor of First Baptist Church
there, was 79.
     A member of the Board of Managers of The M&M Board from 1958 to
1967, Middleton served as vice president in 1960 and president from
1961 to 1967.  M&M has established the Robert G. Middleton Memorial
Fund in his honor.
     Middleton retired in 1983 as minister of the First Baptist
Church of Birmingham, Mich.  He previously had served as pastor of
the First Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo.; the Baptist Church of the
Evangel, Narberth, Pa.; and First Baptist Church, Haddonfield, N.J. 
He was a graduate of Colgate University and Colgate Rochester
Divinity School, and held an honorary D.D. degree from Ottawa
University. 
     He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, and sons Robert, Jeffrey
and David.  Condolences may be sent to his wife and family at 2
Christopher Terr., Saco, ME 04072. 

DEATHS OF ROSE UHLINGER AND MYRTLE WHITED REPORTED
     Word has been received of the recent deaths of Rose Uhlinger
(Feb. 12) and Myrtle M. Whited (Nov. 3), former American Baptist
International Ministries missionaries. 
     Uhlinger, who was 72, served with her husband, Philip, in Zaire
from 1948-1975 and then in Haiti from 1976 until their retirements in
1988.  They were involved in a wide range of educational, family,
evangelistic and health ministries.  Condolences may be sent to the
Rev. Philip J. Uhlinger at 660 Alden Rd., Claremont, CA 91711.
     Whited, who was 95, served a medical ministry in China from
1928-1941 and again from 1946 until her resignation in 1951.

AMERICAN BAPTIST YOUTH TO MEET IN ESTES PARK IN 2000
     The Rev. Thom Son, national director of youth ministries for
American Baptist Educational Ministries, has announced that the 2000
National Gathering of American Baptist Youth will be held at the YMCA
of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo., July 1-7, 2000.
     The Rocky Mountain location was the site of two previous
Educational Ministries youth gatherings, "Summit" and "Venture," and
was highly rated by conferees.  "I believe the YMCA of the Rockies
will be an appealing destination for both our youth and their adult
leaders," said Son.
     
BREAD FOR THE WORLD CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON AGRARIAN, RURAL NEEDS IN
AFRICA
     The plight of small-scale farmers and struggling rural
communities in Africa is the focus of the 1998 Offering of Letters
campaign of Bread for the World, the Christian anti-hunger
organization supported by many American Baptist churches and
individuals.
     The campaign, "Africa: Seeds of Hope," seeks to encourage U.S.
congresspersons  to extend help to poor and hungry people in Africa. 
Bread for the World hopes to generate more than 100,000 letters from
individuals and congregations to their congressional representatives,
urging them "to keep in mind the largest segment of the African
population when discussing trade and investment."
     Bread for the World cites statistics showing that the number of
inadequately nourished people in sub-Saharan Africa has doubled in
the last quarter century to 215 million.  "Unless African agriculture
prospers, Africa will not," said David Beckmann, Bread for the World
president.  "Any long-term solution," he noted, " must include
programs that benefit small-scale farmers and rural entrepreneurs."
     Information and resources for the campaign are available from
Bread for the World, 1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD
20910; e-mail offering.of.letters@bread.org; phone 1-800-82BREAD.

URBAN MINISTRY CONFERENCE SET FOR GREEN LAKE IN MAY
     The 1998 Project Hope conference for those working in urban
ministry, to be held May 28-31 at the American Baptist Assembly in
Green Lake, Wis., will focus on "Developing a Community of
Reconciliation."  The program will feature a keynote address by the
Rev. Gus Roman, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Philadelphia,
workshops and worship experiences.  To register or for additional
information call Green Lake at 1-800-558-8898.

AMERICAN BAPTIST PARTICIPATION IN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NOTED
     Statistics cited in the February/March issue of "Habitat World"
reveal that nearly one out of four American Baptist congregations
support the work of Habitat for Humanity, the ecumenical Christian
ministry committed to "eliminating poverty housing and homelessness"
by helping to build homes with families in need.  According to
Habitat, some 1,358 ABC/USA congregations (23 percent) are involved
in the outreach of the organization.

98U320.WFN

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