wfn.org | Re: AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 23, 2996

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

To: wfn-editors@wfn.org

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 18, 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: RICHARD.SCHRAMM@ABC-USA.ORG)

UPDATE: September 18, 1998

CRUZ NAMED DIRECTOR OF LATINO MINISTRIES 
FOR AMERICAN BAPTIST NATIONAL MINISTRIES
The Rev. Eddie Cruz, pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Misionera in Chicago, has been
 named director of Latino Ministries for American Baptist National Ministries.  
Cruz will begin Nov. 1.
Cruz will identify and develop Latino, Hispanic, Haitian and Portuguese-speaking
 leaders and congregations and enable National Ministries and other American Bap
tist groups to respond positively to partnership opportunities within the denomi
nation.  He also will serve as National Ministries' liaison with the American Ba
ptist Hispanic Caucus, Spanish American Baptist Seminary, and American Baptist C
hurches Hispanic Executive Council.
Prior to his current position Cruz pastored Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago an
d Spanish Baptist Church in Gary, Ind.  He also served interim pastorates at Fir
st Baptist Church of Waukegan, Ill., and  Millard Avenue Baptist Church in Chica
go.  In addition to pastoral duties Cruz has held positions as assistant directo
r of the Minority Engineering Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 
unit director of the Logan Square Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, an
d project coordinator of the La Casa Housing Project of the United Community Cen
ter in Milwaukee.
In recent years Cruz has been active in Asociación Hispana de Iglesias Evangélic
as Misioneras, the Chicago InterFaith Council, The ABC Ministers Council, the Ch
icago Gang Crime Commission, the Interfaith Board of the Chicago Board of Educat
ion, and the Management Development Institute.  He is a past president of the Mi
dwest Baptist Hispanic Church Association (Asociación Bautista Lagunera).
Cruz holds a B.A. degree from Judson College and an M.Div. from Northern Baptist
 Theological Seminary, where he received the Charles Koller Preaching Award.
In announcing the appointment David Laubach, National Ministries' associate exec
utive director for Evangelism and Church Renewal, said, "Eddie brings a rich arr
ay of skills in church growth, strategic planning, urban and second-generation e
vangelism, preaching and leadership.  These skills will strengthen the important
 partnership of National Ministries with 'Visión 2001: The Measure of the Statur
e of Christ' and the relationship with new and dynamic churches who worship in S
panish, Portuguese, French and Creole."
Al anunciar el nombramiento, David Laubach, Director Ejecutivo Asociado del Cent
ro Ministerial para la Evangelización y la Renovación de la Iglesia, de Minister
ios Nacionales, dijo que "Eddie posee una amplia gama de talentos en liderazgo, 
predicación, crecimento de iglesia y planificación estratégica, así como en evan
gelismo urbano y de segunda generación, los cuales fortalecerán la importante re
lación de Ministerios Nacionales con el programa 'Visión 2001: Creciendo a la Me
dida de Cristo' y también nuestra relación con iglesias nuevas y dinámicas que c
elebran adoración en español, portugués, francés o creolé."

JONES NAMED DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR DISCIPLESHIP 
FOR AMERICAN BAPTIST EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES
by Eleanor Lundy, American Baptist Educational Ministries
The Rev. Jeffrey D. Jones, director of American Baptist Educational Ministries' 
SERVICECENTER and resource development, has been named director of Educational M
inistries' Department of 
Education for Discipleship, effective immediately. 
Dr. Jean B. Kim, executive director of Educational Ministries, announced the app
ointment Sept. 9.  
In his new position Jones will supervise Educational Ministries' program departm
ent and staff, including ministries of leadership development, age group ministr
ies, national conferences, congregational education, church vocational leadershi
p, financial aid, Black church education, Hispanic Christian education, and part
nerships with American Baptist regions.  
Jones has been director of the SERVICECENTER and resource development since Apri
l 1998.  He will continue to direct the SERVICECENTER in addition to his new res
ponsibilities.  The SERVICECENTER is a new ministry being piloted in four Americ
an Baptist regions to resource local churches and strengthen discipleship minist
ries. 
Jones brings extensive expertise in discipleship and age group ministries to his
 new position.  From 1975-1986 he served on Educational Ministries' staff, first
 as a program associate and then as director of the Department of Ministry with 
Youth.  He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Chili, N.Y., from 1988
-1991, and First Baptist Church of Pitman, N.J., from 1992-1998. 
He has edited Young Adult Clipboard, a quarterly newsletter of Educational Minis
tries, since October 1994 and has written quarterly American Baptist curriculum 
supplements for Educational Ministries.
"Jeff Jones brings all the right gifts and experience to this position," said Ki
m.  "His understanding of the local church, his work for Educational Ministries 
with different age levels, and his heart for nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ
 made him an outstanding candidate.  We welcome him to this new role!" 
Jones succeeds the Rev. Donald Ng, who resigned this summer to become senior pas
tor of First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco. 

EVANGELISM MEETING, FOCUSING ON "REACHING CHANGING 
GENERATIONS WITH THE UNCHANGING GOSPEL," DRAWS 300
Inspiration, motivation and training formed the three-fold goal of the 11th annu
al evangelism conference sponsored by American Baptist National Ministries last 
month at the American Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, Wis.  More than 300 particip
ants met for worship and study around the conference theme: "Proclaim Jesus 2000
: Reaching Changing Generations with the Unchanging Gospel."
Conferees sang in Spanish and in Hopi, prayed in Portuguese and Malaysian and re
ad scripture in Mandarin and Creole.  They worshiped with drums, guitars and syn
thesizer.  One enthusiastic participant said that "the rich diversity was a fore
taste of the Kingdom."
The conference began with a concert by contemporary musical artist Kim Boyce.  D
r. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III, executive director of National Ministries, pre
ached at the Sunday morning worship service from Luke 12:22-34.
Each weekday began with spirited preaching and Bible study led by the Rev. Brend
a Little, pastor of Bethany Baptist Church of Christ, Elgin, Ill.  Participants 
heard Dr. Doug Murren, president of Square One ministries and author of Baby Boo
merang and Leadershift, address the challenges of evangelism with the "boomer" a
nd "buster" generations.
The evening preachers included the Rev. Carol Franklin Sutton, executive directo
r of American Baptist Women's Ministries; Dr. Keith Russell, president of Americ
an Baptist Seminary of the West; the Rev. Jenny Quey, pastor of Community Baptis
t Church, San Mateo, Calif., the Rev. Casey Kimbrough, pastor of Mt. Carmel Bapt
ist Church, Charlotte, N.C., and Dr. Alberto Mottesi, world evangelist from Arge
ntina.
Learning tracks focused on new church planting, small membership churches, lay e
vangelism, pastoral leadership for evangelism, evangelism leaders and youth.  Tw
enty-five different workshops 
were offered in English and Spanish.
The Rev. David Laubach, associate executive director for National Ministries' Ev
angelism and Church Renewal, introduced strategies for "New Life 2010," the Amer
ican Baptist goal of starting 1,010 new churches and reaching 1,000,010 new beli
evers by the year 2010.
 During the conference a new evangelism prayer task force met to pray for the co
nference sessions and plan for a major prayer emphasis as the first part of "New
 Life 2010."  The task force agreed to serve as the spiritual enrichment committ
ee for the "New Christians, New Churches, New Century" capital funds campaign fo
r American Baptist new church planting.
Mrs. Onie Kittle of Riverton, N.J., who serves on the prayer task force, said, "
I really believe that the evangelism conference is the most powerful event of ou
r denomination.  And why shouldn't it be, with those coming who have a burning p
assion to see revival 'in our day.' "
A copy of the text, images and message of the "New Life 2010" presentation is av
ailable on CD-ROM.  The 1998 evangelism conference morning and evening plenary s
essions are available on audiotape, and Monday to Friday evening sessions are av
ailable on videotape.  For ordering information call National Ministries' Minist
ry Center for Evangelism and Church Renewal at 1-800-ABC-3USA, ext. 2462.
The theme for the 1999 evangelism conference to be held Aug. 7-13 at Green Lake,
 Wis., is "Proclaim Jesus 2000: Reach Up and Reach Out."

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: MISSIONARY UPDATE 
American Baptist International Ministries officials last week released the follo
wing update on conditions in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
 Though the Evangelical Hospital compound at Vanga now has been touched by the c
onflict in the Congo, International Ministries missionary Bill Clemmer reports t
hat he and fellow missionary Glen Chapman, who remains in Kikongo, are safe.
 On Sept. 4 a Congo government military delegation arrived at the hospital, carr
ying a letter from the country's interior minister, giving soldiers permission t
o requisition any vehicles and other resources deemed necessary to help them in 
the war effort.  Clemmer said the a local government official with the delegatio
n seemed to understand that to take everything would severely cripple operations
 at the hospital.  In an e-mail to the Mission Center Clemmer wrote, "After much
 negotiation the soldiers took two of our three hospital vehicles [four-wheel dr
ives], some food and fuel, and then left."  No one was hurt.  He added that the 
government official promised to return the vehicles when their mission was compl
ete, but gave no timetable.
Several hours after that group left, three armed men, suspected of being retreat
ing rebel soldiers, came to the German Brothers compound at Vanga demanding fuel
, money and a vehicle.  They took several personal items from the brothers and l
eft in one of their vehicles with Brother Gottfried as a hostage. 
 The bandits broke into other area mission stations.  However, they fled on foot
 when approached by another vehicle, which turned out to be one of the Vanga Hos
pital Landcruisers with government soldiers aboard.  Brother Gottfried returned 
to Vanga, unharmed, with his vehicle.  
 Despite those events Clemmer is not discouraged.  He wrote, "I am becoming conv
icted that this is indeed a difficult field and we are in a challenging time in 
the history of Central Africa, but the Lord has called us to remain and to serve
 ."  He added that he recently spoke with Chapman, who said all has remained calm
 in Kikongo.
 "The situation in the Congo remains very unsettled, despite talks aimed at a ce
ase-fire," said Donna Anderson, associate executive director of International Mi
nistries.  "However, God can accomplish what we cannot.  We need to continue our
 prayers for peace, for our missionaries, and for our brothers and sisters in th
e Congo."
 Leaders of the Western Congo Baptist Community have urged the missionaries to s
tay where they are and to keep a low profile until the conflict is over.
 International Ministries missionaries Nobantu Addis-Carter, Wendy Bernhard, Rit
a Chapman and her three children, Ann Clemmer and her four children, Valli Howar
d and two of her children and Jill and Mike Lowery and their three children all 
are in an apartment complex in Durban, Republic of South Africa.  They were join
ed by Bob and Heather Cutillo and their two children on Sept. 9.  International 
Ministries volunteers Andy and Louise Williamson, who will assist in home school
ing the children, are scheduled to arrive in Durban Sept. 14. 
 Tom Howard remains in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, wher
e he is 
coordinating operations for Mission Aviation Fellowship.  George Win is in Lesot
ho.  Mark and Sandy Jo Thompson are in the United States, waiting to return to t
he Congo.  Ed and Miriam Noyes are in the United States on home assignment.

RUIZ NAMED TO HISPANIC MINISTRY POST IN NEW JERSEY
 The Rev. Raul Ruiz, pastor of Hispanoamericana in Union City, N.J., has been na
med coordinator for Hispanic Ministry for the American Baptist Churches of New J
ersey, effective Oct. 1.  He will continue to serve as pastor of the Union City 
congregation.
 The Rev. Leonard Ballesteros, who has been interim coordinator of Hispanic Mini
stries since the death of the Rev. Bernardino Martinez in 1996, will become spec
ial assistant to the executive minister.

JOSIE LEE KUHLMAN DIES
 Word has been received of the death Aug. 2  of the Rev. Josie Lee Kuhlman, who 
with her husband, the Rev. Harold Kuhlman, served a term as an American Baptist 
International Ministries missionary in the Philippines.  She was 84.
 The Kuhlmans were appointed for service in 1945.  They retired for health reaso
ns in 1952 and subsequently served churches in Arizona and California.  In 1985 
they founded Chrysalis House, an adoption service, in Fresno, Calif.

98U918WFN.TXT

American Baptist News Service press releases are available on: "Update," a biwee
kly print newsletter mailed first class; "ABC/USA News Now," a toll-free fax-on-
demand service---1-800-ABC-3USA/ext. 2215; ABNET, the American Baptist computer 
network--- "American Baptist News Service"; World Wide Web site for American Bap
tist Churches USA---www.abc-usa.org ; World Wide Web site for World Faith News -
--www.wfn.org/wfn.
 -0-