Following the Call to Plant Churches
When I look back and see the church plants I have been involved in over the past almost forty years, I am amazed. Being on the Great Commission Committee for twelve years means that I have gotten to hear the stories behind other church plants as well, but there’s a beginning to every story.
BE Transformed
Michelle Chase, a leader of Love Baltimore (previously Apostles in the City), wants to see Baltimore transformed by the love of Christ. Michelle had a vision of a happy home where kids in Belair-Edison, Baltimore could find a safe place after school and throughout the summer months.
What is the Vision for 50?
Known as the Vision for 50, this plan focuses diocesan resources on planting churches that will plant daughter churches on a regular basis.
A Church Plant Celebrates Holy Week
This was our first Holy Week as a new church plant and we had the joy and privilege of joining with our friends at All Saints' Church to celebrate the Triduum jointly. As I have been thinking back to a few of the highlights of that week, there are three that come to mind.
An International Presence: A Quarantine Blessing
When the pandemic first started in March 2020, Korean Anglican (Lutherville, MD) uploaded a PowerPoint version of the service on YouTube so people could follow along with the virtual service on YouTube. Before this point, our congregation only met in person at Resurrection Anglican in Luthersville with very little online presence. Almost immediately, several fellow Anglicans in other states and in Korea began watching the sermons.
Preparing Little Hearts for a Big, Glorious Easter!
A year of quarantine has only increased the creativity of children, youth, and family ministries. It is amazing to see how churches in the Diocese are encouraging all ages to draw closer to the Lord during Lent, even while apart.
The Blessing of the Burrito Bandits
In February, Tori (my wife)i and I were the self-proclaimed "burrito-bandits", delivering burritos and desserts to students as we race across campus. It's been so fun!
A Message from the Bishop - Meet Our New Canon for Church Planting
And now it is my great joy to announce to you that we have called the Rev. Tuck Bartholomew as our new Canon for Church Planting.
Hosting the Alpha Course during COVID
In this so-aptly-named “Covidtide” season, meeting new people is difficult. It seems to predominantly occur through neighborhood friendships or online discovery, which is difficult to target geographically. All the third spaces (e.g. pubs, coffee shops, etc.) just aren’t there in the way they were a year ago,…
Meet the New Canon for Church Planting
It is with great joy that the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic invites you to meet the Rev. Dr. Tuck Bartholomew.
Five Questions to ask re: Growth as a New Church Plant
There are no recipes or formulas for healthy church growth. Giving each of these five questions your attention will not necessarily lead to new people visiting and joining, but they will help you do your part in preparing to respond to God’s work.
Seven Lessons for Exile from "Life-As-We-Knew-It"
In our earthly residence, one way to see the season in which we find ourselves (pandemic-wise, politically, economically, etc.) is through the lens of exile — not geographic exile, but exile from life-as-we-knew-it.
Stations of the Nativity
New Creation Church offered a “Stations of the Nativity” to help walk worshippers through Jesus' Incarnation, beginning with announcement of John the Baptist's birth to Zechariah and concluding with the return of the Holy Family to Nazareth.
Equip!2020 - Session 1 “Surviving the Digital Shift.”
Enjoy the video now. and participate via zoom on November 12 at 7 p.m. for our first Equip! discussion session, “Surviving the Digital Shift.”
Planting a Church During a Pandemic
The picture with my light ring and computer sitting on a tub of liturgical supplies is such a good microcosm of what it feels like to plant a church during a pandemic: a tabernacling mindset with God's presence as the only constant. Our living room in this picture reminds me that it does not take many resources to make disciples.
Equip!2020 - Being the Church in a Digital World
Please mark your calendar for November 12 at 7 p.m. for our first Equip! session, “Surviving the Digital Shift.” The video will be posted a week in advance, so you’ll have time to view it. We look forward to trying this new format with you and hope that it will scratch the itch for us as we discern how best to "Be the Church in the Digital World."
Holding a Very Precious and Beautiful Thing
“Phoenix was a freshman at a small school in Boston last year. During his freshman year, he dealt with a difficult family situation from afar and he fought through his own personal doubts and darkness. He was lost and looking for truth and in true community.”
Planting a daughter church requires vision
Like most church planters, even before we planted Holy Spirit by God’s grace, my wife Ginger and I had a vision to plant new churches out of our church.
Commissioning Service: The Franconia-Springfield Mission
On September 19 at All Saints’ Church in Woodbridge, VA, Bishop John commissioned the Franconia-Springfield Mission.
Alpha Offered as Outreach to Community
There are around 150,000 people (!) who live in the Lake Gaston area — that's almost nine times the population of Emporia/Greensville County. The next closest Anglican (ACNA) congregation is in the Raleigh/Durham area. It behooves us to reach out to make new disciples around Lake Gaston and to minister to the many Anglicans who have retired to the lake from Raleigh/Durham, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia.