Events
ABCVNH Annual Gathering
March 18-19, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Vermont and New Hampshire,
Please join us for the 33rd Annual Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of VT/NH to be held March 18 and 19 at Fireside Inn & Suites in West Lebanon, NH.
This year’s theme is Resilience in Ministry, focusing on scripture from 1 Chronicles 28:20:
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” We all know that ministry can be difficult and messy at times, but we also know the source of the strength we have to draw on and the promise of God’s constant presence.
On Friday evening, our keynote speaker will be Pastor Andy Bauer, who, along with his wife Kate, serves at Fireside Church in Salisbury MA and Seabrook NH. Saturday morning, Rev. Dr. Emmett Price, Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee in Boston MA will be our keynote speaker. Free childcare will be available on Saturday for children ages 3 (and potty-trained) through grade 4, to enable parents to take part in the day's program.
Presenter: Rev. Rebecca Sommons: Rebecca studied Spiritual Formation as part of her education at Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine and Palmer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. She has been serving as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Manchester Center, Vermont for the past four years. Rebecca enjoys engaging with people of all ages and seeing people grow in their life of faith. Some of her favorite things are singing, spending time in nature, creating meals, and experiencing new things with her husband and two college-age daughters.
Saturday AM Workshops
Cultural Intelligence: The Answer to Understanding and Loving Your Neighbor- Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the ability to interact and work effectively in intercultural settings or contexts. These may include family structures, organizations, congregations, regions of the country, ethnicities, etc. Many times, church leaders do not understand the culture(s) within their own church, much less the surrounding community. This workshop will help your church gain knowledge of 1) what Cultural Intelligence is, 2) the 10 unique Cultural Values seen everywhere, and 3) a dose of unconscious bias in an effort to get you excited about understanding and loving your neighbor at a greater level, and to make you feel compelled to want more. (CEUs for Pastors who attend)
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Dee Stokes: Dr. Dee Stokes is a spiritual advisor, speaker, coach, author, and educator who is known as a program builder. Dr. Stokes utilizes her apostolic gift to repurpose organizations and build influential people who change the world and live out the Gospel practically. Dr. Stokes ministers in a variety of settings, but her passion is preaching, teaching, and empowering others to WIN. Dr. Dee serves on the teaching/preaching team at Christ Wesleyan Church, Greensboro, NC. Dr. Stokes is also on the Fresh Expressions US staff as the Director of Cultural Intelligence & Trainer.
Making Disciples in the 21st Century– Church leaders often see the great significance of creating a culture of discipleship in their churches, but struggle to know how to get started. We get the why, but struggle with the how, who, when and where of it. This session will provide ridiculously practical next steps for your church context and offer hopefilled stories and examples of how to engage with people who have little to no context or connection to church and see them grow to follow Jesus. (CEUs for Pastors who attend)
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Michael Beck: Michael Adam Beck is the Director of Remissioning for Fresh Expressions US, Director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at United Theological Seminary, and Cultivator of Fresh Expressions Florida UMC. Michael and wife Jill are co-pastors of two revitalization congregations Wildwood and St Marks UMC in Ocala FL, and a network of thirteen fresh expressions. They direct an inpatient rehab, homeless shelter, and an interracial unity movement. Michael earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Semiotics and Future Studies at Portland Seminary with his mentor Dr. Leonard Sweet.
Sustain It! How leaders can use digital discipleship as an integral pillar to help build and sustain faith communities. - During the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, many faith communities turned to digital platforms outreach and “in-reach” as a stop-gap until things “returned to normal”. However, the pandemic exposed the need for a “new normal” of multi-modal discipleship and churches that do not pivot to that reality may miss new opportunities for discipleship and outreach. This workshop is an interactive session that explores how leaders can embrace digital discipleship as an integral part of a sustainable, multi-modal discipleship initiative that engages disciples and “seekers” during the “in-between time” from Monday through Saturday. Using a live example (and work-in progress) of The Blueprint Ministries, participants will discuss approaches that allow for the judicious use of digital engagement to disciple and mentor Christ-followers, while providing accessible “on-ramps” for seekers to become servant-leaders for the Kingdom.
Presenters: Rev. Dr. Keith Bagley and Minister Bobbie D. Bagley:
Rev. Dr. Keith Bagley is a missions-minded servant of the Lord. He has extensive experience in leadership, visioning and education, and he believes “missions is everywhere”. Keith has applied this passion to the mission field in Africa, the French West Indies, various campus efforts and other ministry settings. His giftedness is in teaching, preaching and edification, and he is driven to help others unleash their gifts for the Glory of God. Keith has earned two doctorates: a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) from Rockbridge Seminary and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts. In addition to pastoring and teaching, Keith is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science college at Northeastern University. Rev. Dr. Keith was ordained by Rev. Dr. Bertha Perkins of New Fellowship Baptist Church, where he serves as associate minister. He is also co-pastor and one of the founding directors of The Blueprint Ministries: a “fresh expression” ministry that provides outreach to non-believers who are seeking, and to believers who feel their lives are stagnant and lacking vibrancy.
Minister Bobbie D. Bagley is co-pastor of The Blueprint Ministries and is also an associate minister at New Fellowship Baptist Church. Minister Bobbie’s early calling was to street ministry, college campus ministry, Indian Reservation ministry and international ministry. Bobbie is an adept missions’ worker, leading teams in missions to Africa, the French West Indies, Dominica, urban outreach, and campus ministries. Minister Bobbie is a nurse and public health administrator by profession. She is currently the director of a local health department in the second-largest city of the State of NH. She is a servant leader that is passionate about public service, education and community. She has earned degrees in Biology, Nursing, Public Health and Nursing Education. She is a life-long learner and is in the process of earning her Doctor of Public Health in Leadership. In all things Min. Bobbie is always in pursuit of obtaining excellency in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and she loves the Lord!
Human Trafficking in New England - Every year, millions are trafficked around the globe … and right here in New England. It’s happening here, in rural and urban communities, among all types of family structures, ethnicities, ages and income levels. Traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to lure victims into cycles of exploitation and abuse. This workshop will expose you to the truth of trafficking here in New England and empower you to join in the antitrafficking movement here.
Presenter: Stephanie Clark: Stephanie Clark is an author, speaker, activist, advocate, and CEO of Amirah. Knowing of the evil of sex trafficking since she was a child, Stephanie has pursued a calling of compassion and liberation for survivors of sexual exploitation. She is a vocal advocate for practical solutions for victims of sexual exploitation. Amirah, Inc. has made its mark in the anti-trafficking movement as a leader in aftercare. The whole-person care approach is taught to organizations throughout the region. Her first book, Letters to an Activist: Discovering Hope in the Pursuit of Social Change, is now available. Stephanie lives near the White Mountains in New Hampshire with her husband, Dave, and two daughters.
March 18-19, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Vermont and New Hampshire,
Please join us for the 33rd Annual Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of VT/NH to be held March 18 and 19 at Fireside Inn & Suites in West Lebanon, NH.
This year’s theme is Resilience in Ministry, focusing on scripture from 1 Chronicles 28:20:
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” We all know that ministry can be difficult and messy at times, but we also know the source of the strength we have to draw on and the promise of God’s constant presence.
On Friday evening, our keynote speaker will be Pastor Andy Bauer, who, along with his wife Kate, serves at Fireside Church in Salisbury MA and Seabrook NH. Saturday morning, Rev. Dr. Emmett Price, Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee in Boston MA will be our keynote speaker. Free childcare will be available on Saturday for children ages 3 (and potty-trained) through grade 4, to enable parents to take part in the day's program.
Presenter: Rev. Rebecca Sommons: Rebecca studied Spiritual Formation as part of her education at Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine and Palmer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. She has been serving as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Manchester Center, Vermont for the past four years. Rebecca enjoys engaging with people of all ages and seeing people grow in their life of faith. Some of her favorite things are singing, spending time in nature, creating meals, and experiencing new things with her husband and two college-age daughters.
Saturday AM Workshops
Cultural Intelligence: The Answer to Understanding and Loving Your Neighbor- Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the ability to interact and work effectively in intercultural settings or contexts. These may include family structures, organizations, congregations, regions of the country, ethnicities, etc. Many times, church leaders do not understand the culture(s) within their own church, much less the surrounding community. This workshop will help your church gain knowledge of 1) what Cultural Intelligence is, 2) the 10 unique Cultural Values seen everywhere, and 3) a dose of unconscious bias in an effort to get you excited about understanding and loving your neighbor at a greater level, and to make you feel compelled to want more. (CEUs for Pastors who attend)
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Dee Stokes: Dr. Dee Stokes is a spiritual advisor, speaker, coach, author, and educator who is known as a program builder. Dr. Stokes utilizes her apostolic gift to repurpose organizations and build influential people who change the world and live out the Gospel practically. Dr. Stokes ministers in a variety of settings, but her passion is preaching, teaching, and empowering others to WIN. Dr. Dee serves on the teaching/preaching team at Christ Wesleyan Church, Greensboro, NC. Dr. Stokes is also on the Fresh Expressions US staff as the Director of Cultural Intelligence & Trainer.
Making Disciples in the 21st Century– Church leaders often see the great significance of creating a culture of discipleship in their churches, but struggle to know how to get started. We get the why, but struggle with the how, who, when and where of it. This session will provide ridiculously practical next steps for your church context and offer hopefilled stories and examples of how to engage with people who have little to no context or connection to church and see them grow to follow Jesus. (CEUs for Pastors who attend)
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Michael Beck: Michael Adam Beck is the Director of Remissioning for Fresh Expressions US, Director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at United Theological Seminary, and Cultivator of Fresh Expressions Florida UMC. Michael and wife Jill are co-pastors of two revitalization congregations Wildwood and St Marks UMC in Ocala FL, and a network of thirteen fresh expressions. They direct an inpatient rehab, homeless shelter, and an interracial unity movement. Michael earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Semiotics and Future Studies at Portland Seminary with his mentor Dr. Leonard Sweet.
Sustain It! How leaders can use digital discipleship as an integral pillar to help build and sustain faith communities. - During the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, many faith communities turned to digital platforms outreach and “in-reach” as a stop-gap until things “returned to normal”. However, the pandemic exposed the need for a “new normal” of multi-modal discipleship and churches that do not pivot to that reality may miss new opportunities for discipleship and outreach. This workshop is an interactive session that explores how leaders can embrace digital discipleship as an integral part of a sustainable, multi-modal discipleship initiative that engages disciples and “seekers” during the “in-between time” from Monday through Saturday. Using a live example (and work-in progress) of The Blueprint Ministries, participants will discuss approaches that allow for the judicious use of digital engagement to disciple and mentor Christ-followers, while providing accessible “on-ramps” for seekers to become servant-leaders for the Kingdom.
Presenters: Rev. Dr. Keith Bagley and Minister Bobbie D. Bagley:
Rev. Dr. Keith Bagley is a missions-minded servant of the Lord. He has extensive experience in leadership, visioning and education, and he believes “missions is everywhere”. Keith has applied this passion to the mission field in Africa, the French West Indies, various campus efforts and other ministry settings. His giftedness is in teaching, preaching and edification, and he is driven to help others unleash their gifts for the Glory of God. Keith has earned two doctorates: a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) from Rockbridge Seminary and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts. In addition to pastoring and teaching, Keith is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science college at Northeastern University. Rev. Dr. Keith was ordained by Rev. Dr. Bertha Perkins of New Fellowship Baptist Church, where he serves as associate minister. He is also co-pastor and one of the founding directors of The Blueprint Ministries: a “fresh expression” ministry that provides outreach to non-believers who are seeking, and to believers who feel their lives are stagnant and lacking vibrancy.
Minister Bobbie D. Bagley is co-pastor of The Blueprint Ministries and is also an associate minister at New Fellowship Baptist Church. Minister Bobbie’s early calling was to street ministry, college campus ministry, Indian Reservation ministry and international ministry. Bobbie is an adept missions’ worker, leading teams in missions to Africa, the French West Indies, Dominica, urban outreach, and campus ministries. Minister Bobbie is a nurse and public health administrator by profession. She is currently the director of a local health department in the second-largest city of the State of NH. She is a servant leader that is passionate about public service, education and community. She has earned degrees in Biology, Nursing, Public Health and Nursing Education. She is a life-long learner and is in the process of earning her Doctor of Public Health in Leadership. In all things Min. Bobbie is always in pursuit of obtaining excellency in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and she loves the Lord!
Human Trafficking in New England - Every year, millions are trafficked around the globe … and right here in New England. It’s happening here, in rural and urban communities, among all types of family structures, ethnicities, ages and income levels. Traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to lure victims into cycles of exploitation and abuse. This workshop will expose you to the truth of trafficking here in New England and empower you to join in the antitrafficking movement here.
Presenter: Stephanie Clark: Stephanie Clark is an author, speaker, activist, advocate, and CEO of Amirah. Knowing of the evil of sex trafficking since she was a child, Stephanie has pursued a calling of compassion and liberation for survivors of sexual exploitation. She is a vocal advocate for practical solutions for victims of sexual exploitation. Amirah, Inc. has made its mark in the anti-trafficking movement as a leader in aftercare. The whole-person care approach is taught to organizations throughout the region. Her first book, Letters to an Activist: Discovering Hope in the Pursuit of Social Change, is now available. Stephanie lives near the White Mountains in New Hampshire with her husband, Dave, and two daughters.