Plenary Session
The Rev. Dr. Roy Medley will be our plenary speaker at this years COAL Training Event. Dr. Medley has just completed his sabatical in which he had the opportunity to do study on the Missional Church. We are delighted that he is willing to come to New Jersey and share in our annual event.
Rev. Roy Medley is no stranger to ABCNJ leadership having served within the region for many years prior to his becoming the General Secretary for the American Baptist Churches in the USA. He has an extensive knowledge of the churches across the denomination having traveled both nationally and internationally.
Shepherding and Worship
Track 1 - The Church and Domestic Violence- Responding in Ministry - Adalia Gutierrez and Raymond Schellinger
Description: Ray and Adalia will offer a workshop on alternatives to violence, self-esteem, relationship skills, and communication.
Biographical Information; Adalia and Ray work with the women of the "Dios Con Nosotros" Baptist Convention of Northern Baja California, Mexico. Together with the women of Tijuana, they have begun Deborah's House, a ministry to victims of domestic violence. Deborah's House brings together a diverse mix of services, including crisis intervention, healthcare, shelter for victims, counseling and education for both victims and abusers in these situations.
Track 1 - - Welcoming the Stranger - Developing a Multicultural Ministry -
Rev. Dr. Elmo Familiaran, moderator, Rev. Elizabeth Congdon, Rev. Hojin Yu, Rev. Mia Chang, and Rev. Diana Brown.
Description: A panel of pastors involved in Multicultral Ministry will be presenting information for our churches involved in doing multicultural ministry within their church setting. They will share their discoveries, challenges, opportunities and dreams. Here in New Jersey the possibilities are endless when seeking to do ministries of this nature. You will be engaging in conversation with those who are in the midst of doing this right in their neighborhoods.
Biographical Information: The Rev. Elizabeth Congdon, Interim Pastor for the First Baptist Church of Trenton, The Rev. Hojin Yu, Pastor of the Asian Ministries and co-pastor at First Baptist Church of Merchantville, The Rev. Mia Chang, Pastor of NextGen Church, Princeton. Rev. Diana Brown, First Baptist Church, Cranford/Elizabeth. All of these presenters have been or are directly involved in multicultural ministries.
Track 1 - Viva Le iRevolution(?) - Wes AllenDescription: The world of communications is exploding into new realms on an almost daily basis. This never-ending growth of social media, in particular has caused many Christians to throw up their hands and give up trying to learn every new tool that gains popularity - the task seems overwhelming. The reality is, however, that it is not. We live in the midst of a communications revolution, and we continue to have a story to communicate. That one simple sentence can help thrust us into the middle of the communications revolution with the Gospel of life.
Biographical Information - Wes is the pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Riverton-Palmyra and the Regional Pastor for Ministry and Technology for ABCNJ. He has a passion for the history of the Church's thought and worship and discovering how to tie the ancient faith to present, and future, realities. He's convinced that in the midst of the communications revolution the Church has a calling to help people with their persistent connectivity in a way that ennobles, rather than tarnishes, their humanity.
Stewardship and Property
Track 2 - Financial Planning for Church Building Projects - NEW!
Dr. Benjamin Greene, Vice President and Loan Services Director, The American Baptist Extension CorporationDescription: This workshop will give guidance in measuring and proposing a sound financial structure on which to develop the building process, including raising of capital funds and securing of permanent financing.
Biographical Information: Dr. Benjamin Greene Jr. is Vice-Presidents and Loan Services Director of The American Baptist Extension Corporation (ABEC). Dr. Greene provides consultation to churches as they consider and implement the construction of new buildings or the renovation of their existing facilities. Dr. Greene has published books, articles and papers.
Track 2 - Budgeting for a Pastoral Ministry - Rev. Margaret LewisDescription: "This workshop will touch on issues related to effectively developing an annual pastoral budget including the breakdown cash salary/housing allowances/Social Security offset, comprehensive staff benefits, and accountable plans."
Biographical Information: Rev. Margaret Lewis is education director and also serves as an officer of MMBB in the role of corporate secretary. Prior to joining MMBB in 1999, Maggie pastored churches in Vermont and Connecticut. She has an MBA from Cornell University, an M.Div from Palmer Theological Seminary and a B.A. from Eastern University.
Track 2 - Developing Missional Church Budgets that Inspire Giving Today - Rev. Vernl E. MattsonMajor Planned Gift Strategies to Fund our Mission Tomorrow - Linda S. Cassel CSA
Description: This workshop will develop strategies for presenting budgets that inspire giving. Examples of budgets that develop the mission and vision of the church. Strategies will also be presented for Planned Gifts funding current ministry today and for generations to come.
Biographical Information: Linda S. Cassel has worked for over 20 years as a Certified Senior Advisor. and financial management professional. She is currently serving the churches of ABCNJ with the American Baptist Foundation. Linda has done numerous workshops on Estate Planning and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Northeastern Pa.
Linda is married to the Rev. Earl Cassel pastor of the United Baptist Church, Scranton, Pa.
Rev. Vernl E. Mattson, Associate Regional Pastor for ABCNJ has done extensive study in church finance and stewardship resources. He provides stewardship and administrative counsel to ABCNJ congregations and has led many annual fund programs for local congregations. He has over twenty-five years of regional ministry and mission experience within the American Baptist denomination.
Discipleship and Missions
Track 3 - Title: How to Build Service and Evangelism Into Small Groups - Rev. Dr. John NanneryDescription: This workshop will look at how small groups operated in the early church. From there participants will be shown how service and evangelism components can be incorporated in any small group, which meets on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. There will be time given for questions related to the subject matter.
Biographical Information: Rev. John Nannery is currently the pastor at the First Baptist Church of Collingswood. Before arriving in Collingswood in December of 2008, Pastor Nannery was the small groups pastor in a 2500 member church in Greenwood, Indiana where he was responsible for 45 small groups. He has been involved in small group ministry as a pastor, leader, coach, consultant, and curricuum developer for over 30 years.
Track 3 - Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds: Becoming the Missional Church - Rev. Dr. Tom BeersDescription: Answering our Great Commission calling requires more than simply trying to do what we’ve always done, but somehow doing it better. It requires that we open ourselves to the full transforming movement of the Holy Spirit. This begins, in Paul’s words, with the renewal of our minds: the reshaping of our ways of thinking about church, our assumptions about what marks success for a church, and our sense of what we’re called to do as the body of Christ. In this session we will challenge ourselves to name and examine the assumptions and mental models we have been operating with in our churches, and then we will look again to the New Testament calling to reframe our thinking about what it means to “be church.”
Biographical Information: Rev. Dr. Tom Beers is the Coordinator of the Nehemiah Leadership Network, a three-year program to help gifted pastors become better equipped to lead change in their congregations. The Network is a cooperative effort involving 11 Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic ABC regions, National Ministries, the Center for Career Development and the Ministry, and MMBB. Tom also works as a consultant with churches to help them articulate a vision and to enact transformation. Prior to this Tom served for 5 years on staff with the Philadelphia Baptist Association, and 10 years as a pastor.
Track 3 - Community Outreach Beyond the Walls of the Church - Rev. Malva Wise-WhiteDescription: Do you know your church’s community outreach potential? This hands-on workshop will provide the necessary tools for understanding and identifying the essential building blocks needed for engaging in effective community outreach. Resource materials will be provided for each workshop participant.
Biographical Information: Rev. Malva Wise-White is the ePastor of Space for Grace @ a virtual Internet church ministry on the Internet. She is the Associate Regional Pastor of New Church Development for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey.
Fellowship and Hospitality
Track 4 - "The Spirituality of Church Life and Mission" -
Dr. Lee B. SpitzerDescription: How does a church know if it is fulfilling God's will? How can we choose what ministries and projects to participate in when there are so many possibilities to choose from? How can pastors, lay leaders and church members cooperate together in discerning, embracing and living out God's vision for their life together? In this workshop, we will explore how Christian spirituality can inform and enhance the spiritual journeys of the local church.
Biographical Information: Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer is the Senior Regional Pastor and Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey. His love of the churches here in New Jersey is evidenced upon the leadership he is giving to the region with an emphasis upon the health and faithfulness of its leadership. He has served ABCNJ since 2003 as one of the strongest regions within the ABC/USA.
Track 4 - Making Your Church Their Church - Rev. Danny Eugene Scotton, Sr.
This workshop is designed to provide steps for intentionally connecting new members to your church. It will provide keys that will help to assimilate the new members into your church. This will help them to become more comfortable and feel at home in their new church. Consequently they will be more committed to the ministry, connected to the members and one another, genuinely connected to church, committed to the ministry and become more active in the ministry. In turn the church will have “More Member per Member”.
Biographical Information: Graduated in 1982 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University . Received the degree of MS in Electrical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ, in 1986. Married college sweetheart, the former Linda Cornelous of Chicago, IL in 1983. Proud parent of two young men, Danny Jr., a 22 year old senior at Princeton University and Terrance, an 18 year old freshman at Northwestern University.
Worked as an Electrical Engineer for over twenty years serving in numerous positions from Design Engineer to Sr. Program Director. Accepted the call to Ministry in November of 1993. Graduated from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2000 with a Master’s of Divinity Degree.
Served in the Lord's Ministry at Alpha Baptist Church for over fifteen years (duties included Assistant Pastor, Youth Pastor, Deacon, Youth Task Force Administrator, member of the Men's Task Force and sang on multiple choirs.
Joined the Tabernacle Baptist Church Family in Burlington, NJ in January of 2000. Served as an Associate Minister under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Richard W. Jones. Major duties at Tabernacle included coordinating the youth programs (SHINE Youth Ministry), teaching the Sr. High School Bible Study, teaching the New Members Class and assisting the pastor during worship services.
Installed as the pastor of the Alpha Baptist Church in Willingboro, NJ on September 29, 2002. Was blessed to become a full-time pastor at Alpha in January 2004. Loves the Lord and truly loves the Lord’s people.
Track 4 - Creating a Climate of Hospitality - Rev. Joe GratzelDescription: Most church folks will say that theirs is a warm and friendly church. While that may be true to longtime members, it may not be true for guests and newcomers. The workshop will explore your facilities, attitudes and programs that help people to feel welcomed. Participants will learn simple, practical steps for creating a climate of hospitality
Biographical Information: Rev. Joe Gratzel has been the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Manasquan since 1996. Joe is currently a member of the General Board of ABCUSA and is a Past-President of the ABCNJ Ministers Council.
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