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ABHMS Announces Activities, Events For ABCUSA 2011 Biennial In Puerto Rico

ABCUSA > Latest Features > ABHMS Announces Activities, Events For ABCUSA 2011 Biennial In Puerto Rico

ABHMS Announces Activities, Events For ABCUSA 2011 Biennial In Puerto Rico


VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/16/11)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) announces its events, activities and learning opportunities slated for before, during and after the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) 2011 Biennial June 24-26 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Biennial attendees are welcome to join ABHMS for any of the following:

  • ABHMS Pavilion, Saturday, June 25 — Features speakers Tysha Sellers, executive director of Edna Martin Christian Center, Indianapolis; Kelli Foreman, summer/after school administrator/public educator at Kodiak (Alaska) Baptist Mission; Yamina Apolinaris, executive director of Corporacion Milagros del Amor, Caguas, Puerto Rico; Dr. Wungreiso Valui, senior pastor of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Baptist Church; and Adam Taylor, social justice advocate and author of Mobilizing Hope: Faith-Inspired Activism for a Post-Civil Rights Generation. Other speakers are pending.
  • American Baptist Latino Pavilion (Pabellón Latino Bautista Americano), Saturday, June 25 — With its theme “Celebrating God’s Mission and the Ministry of Latinos in the ABCUSA Family,” the pavilion celebrates the work and mission of American Baptist Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico. Co-sponsored by Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico, Caucus Nacional Bautista Hispano, and Alianza de Iglesias Bautistas Latinas.
  • ABHMS Luncheon, Saturday, June 25 — “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land” multimedia presentation by the reverends Susan B.W. Johnson and Zachary Mills of Hyde Park Union Church, Chicago, about their diverse ministry partnership and unique urban ministry that includes Taize worship one day and pounding the streets the next.
  • Discipleship, Community and Justice Breakfast, Sunday, June 26 — Features speaker Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., pastor emeritus of Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, Calif., and professor of Preaching and Church Ministries at American Baptist Seminary of the West.
  • Volunteer mission opportunities — Volunteers are still needed for construction of outside worship space at Las Cruces Retreat Center, Wednesday-Friday, June 22-24; food service, clothing distribution and health screenings administration to Corporacion Milagros del Amor clients, Thursday, June 23; maintenance and painting at Primera Iglesia de Caguas and preparation of packages for school children at the exhibit area, Saturday, June 25; package distribution to school children after worship at Iglesia Bautista Betesda and personal hygiene kit assembly at the exhibit area, Sunday, June 26; and general repairs and painting at Iglesia Bautista de Aguas Buenas and Iglesia Bautista de Metropolis, Monday-Wednesday, June 27-29.
  • Judson Press bookstore — Authors reception and book signing, Saturday, June 25; titles at 20 percent off; limited World Wide Gifts items for purchase; features ABC Reads pick “Listen to the Children: Conversations with Immigrant Families” bilingual flip book by Elizabeth Conde-Frazier.

Chaplains, pastoral counselors and Latino pastors, respectively, are invited to the following:

  • Pre-Biennial Events for Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors, Thursday, June 23 — Designed specifically to recognize the life-transforming ministries of chaplains and pastoral counselors: Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counselors Training Experience; Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counselors Merit Award Luncheon; and Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors Plenary.
  • Pre-Biennial Training for Latino Pastors (CECALI XXI) (Entrenamiento para pastores y pastoras), Thursday, June 23 — Provides practical tools that enable Latino pastors to minister effectively and in a transforming way in their churches and communities. (Talleres: Salud y fidelidad en el ministerio pastoral [Desarrollo espiritual del liderazgo pastoral]; Resolución de conflictos y manejo de personas conflictivas; Pastoral de la juventud [Pastoral para la nueva generación — adolescentes y jóvenes adultos]).

A recent ABHMS mailing to churches features a full-color Biennial poster and reproducible bulletin insert detailing Biennial activities. The bulletin insert and a smaller version of the poster are also available for free download on the Biennial page of ABHMS’ Web site at www.abhms.org > Biennial 2011.

Podcasts detailing the luncheon presentation, volunteer mission opportunities and pavilion speakers are on the podcast page of ABHMS’ Web site at www.abhms.org > Podcasts.

For more information about the Biennial or to register, visit the Biennial page of ABHMS’ Web site at www.abhms.org > Biennial 2011.

Link to Spanish Version of Release

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.

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