Serving in Jesus' Name

Jesus said that we are to "go and make disciples of all nations...." Part of that discipleship is simply reaching out and touching people in the Name of Jesus Christ. We cannot sit back and wait for people to arrive at out doorsteps.

Covenant Baptist Church is involved in a number of outreach programs. On this page we will simply note some of those and give an occasional update. Due to security needs of missionary families, we will seldom give information regarding overseas missionaries.

Outreach to Bosnia

Our congregation recently sent a team to Ilidza, a suburb of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Hercegovina. In conjunction with Lifework Forum, this team ministered to both national families and expatriates (missionaries). We held a conference on education and Christian family life. We also got to visit with several national families of young Christians. We had the pleasure of attending a barbecue in the backyard of one of these families. The cevapis (local delight) were great.

Besides lectures and discussions, we had worship and family time each day. We also brought (or sent ahead) boxes and boxes of free educational materials which had been donated by homeschool families, publishers and authors.

Much good was accomplished by this team and we hope to go back to the Balkans again next year.



To Providence

In July another team went from Maine to Providence, Rhode Island, to lead backtard Bible Studies for children in South Providence. Pastor Lovelace was with the group all week. This was a sort of homecoming for him, since he grew up in South Providence, graduating from Central High School in that part of the city. He got to meet with one of his classmates from CHS and spent several wonderful hours on memory lane.

Alpha Pregnancy Help Center
Sanford , Maine

AMMBC is involved with this pregnancy help center in many ways, supporting them financially and spiritually. According to the Alpha website:

Four Little Words, "I think I'm pregnant"
and your world is turned upside down.
This is the worst crisis of your life,
and it seems there is no one you can turn to.
 

We are here for you!

 

It only takes a minute for your life to change. In one brief moment, all your plans, your dreams, your hoped-for future can vanish.

Remember, we can help.

A pregnancy can become a crisis when it is complicated by financial needs, poor timing, family tensions, broken relationships. . .
An unwanted or crisis pregnancy does not mean making uninformed or crisis decisions.
Whether you are considering abortion, adoption, marriage, or single parenting, our staff has the information you need to make the best decision.

Disaster Response

We are very aware that disaster is not something that always strikes somewhere else, and that disasters are not always major regional events, but may simply be personal in nature. As we reach out to our congregation and our community, AMMBC has been preparing for such events.

Several members of our congregation have been attending Disaster Response Training events and are continuing to be trained in various facets of response. Our pastor has also been trained and certified as a Crisis Response Chaplain. Our Deacons recently approved phase one of what we hope will grow to be a comprehensive Disaster Response Plan. Phase one is outlined below.

Disaster Response Plan Proposal

What is a Disaster?

A disaster is defined as anything that causes human suffering or creates human needs that the victims cannot alleviate themselves.

The greatest disasters in our world are not always the huge catastrophes that grab the headlines. There are more disasters that involve one person or one family than the headline grabbers. We cannot minister during the large disasters and ignore the needs of those suffering through individual crises.

How Can the Church Respond?

Churches must plan how they will respond to disasters, large and small, in their communities. These plans need to be well thought-out and discussed by the church leaders. 
 

If the church building is in or near the disaster area and useful in any way, the church has a variety of opportunities. It can offer the use of its facilities for a feeding center. 
 

Additional opportunities for a church building to be used in a disaster are: as a distribution center for clothing or bulk food items; an information staging area for volunteers or work units; as a shelter, child-care center, a communication center, or an information center for other organizations.
 

Church members provide a ready pool of volunteers who may perform any of the above services, whether it’s in the church's facilities or not. They also can provide transportation as well as assist with cleanup and repair. Church members can also provide counseling and assistance for special needs.
 

Step One

Acton-Milton Mills Baptist Church can begin by setting up a procedure by which to serve the surrounding area in case of power outages. This congregation has responded in similar fashion in the past. We simply want, at this point, to “put it in writing.”

 

Emergency Response to Local Power Outage

If the local area suffers a power outage and the church building has power, the following steps should be followed:

 Chairman of the Board of Deacons is notified.

1. Chairman of Deacons notifies Elders.
2. In concert (if possible) they approve implementation of Emergency Response Plan. Pastor can also approve implementation.
3. Deacons are notified and begin canvass of affected area to notify residents that church building is open and available for eating, sleeping, replenishing water supplies, and all other activities necessary and available.
4. Deacons will organize collecting of food and cooking of meals. Food can be brought from affected homes, since electricity outage may cause spoiling.
5. If overnight stay at church building is required, Deacons will organize arrangements and oversee use of building. An officer of the church, or designee, must be present at all times during Emergency Response usage of building. This may require creation of rotating schedule of onsite overseers.
6. An ongoing effort will be made to inform affected residents that the building is open for this Emergency Response.