AWAB Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson with author, Brian Mclaren
Dear Rainbow Circle,
My October travel schedule has been full. After a visit to Kentucky, where I had the opportunity to spend time visiting AWAB family and friends, including connecting with Highland Baptist Church, Crescent Hill Baptist Church, and Central Baptist Church, I traveled on to Ohio for some time with my family. Then, I went to Salt Lake City for the Evergreen Association (ABCUSA) Annual Gathering, hosted by AWAB member First Baptist Church. It was great reconnecting with several AWAB churches and many supporters.
The Evergreen Association’s theme for its gathering was based on Hebrews 10:24-25, “Provoking one another to love and good deeds…” Executive Minister Doug Avilesbernal challenged us powerfully with this biblical admonition. It was refreshing and energizing to hear of Rev. Avilesbernal’s support and gratitude for AWAB. From Salt Lake City I went to Harrisville, Rhode Island where I attended worship and preached for Berean Baptist Church’s 150th Anniversary celebration. It was a delight to connect with this new AWAB congregation and to hear stories of several of its members who otherwise wouldn’t be members except for the congregation’s commitment to being welcoming and affirming. In fact, because of this commitment, Berean Baptist Church has grown in number.
From Rhode Island, I journeyed on to Florida where I had opportunity to visit with members and friends of Circle of Faith in St. Petersburg, Riverside Church in Jacksonville, and concluded my trip in Pompano Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. In addition to these church visits, it was good to share AWAB’s story with friends whose generosity for AWAB is inspiring.
With a few days at home to do laundry and repack my suitcase, and after attending the opening of the Good Faith Forum at AWAB member Pine Street Church in Boulder, Colorado, which featured Brian McClaren, I was on my way to Portland, Oregon to connect with AWAB congregations and prospective member congregations too.
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Through this travel on your behalf, I continue to be encouraged by the faithful witness of congregations who are committed to welcoming and affirming ministry and by the stories of individuals who bear witness to the power and hope such welcoming and affirming ministry affords.
As I conclude this travel journal entry, and as I think about so much that is happening at the global, national, and local levels of our time, I leave us with a thought from Brian McClaren, “We can be obsessed with what is ending or be in wonder of what is beginning.” This thought has helped me manage some of the “collective-anxiety” which seems to be permeating so much of our mental and emotional states these days. And this thought also makes me grateful for you and the collective work we share. We are not doing welcoming and affirming ministry alone. We’re in this together. If I was preaching, I’d say, “Amen.”