Check out the new post by Ann

Elizabeth McInvale about fostering!May 17, 2018 | Vol. 25 No. 9

RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE MISSIONS AND MINISTRIES STUDY COMMITTEE

In the fall of 2017 the Council on Mission authorized the creation of an ad hoc Missions and Ministries Study Committee. Members of the committee are Carol Dean, Howard Goodwin, Fisher Humphreys, Jenny Smith, Ronald Williams, and Dennis Wilson. The committee’s task was to study our church’s giving to missions and other ministries and to make recommendations for the future. On April 27 the committee sent the following recommendations to the Council on Mission; they will be on the agenda of the Council on Mission when it meets on May 20 and on the agenda of the church’s business meeting on May 23. Any changes the church approves will go into effect in 2019.

1. We recommend that beginning in 2019 the church devote at least 12% of its annual budget to the support of missions and ministries.

2. We recommend that the missions section of the budget include all the partnerships supported by our church who carry out ministries away from our church.

3. We recommend that each year the Ministry Committee review all current ministries and all current missions partnerships with a view to making a recommendation about the level of funding for each partnership for the following year.

4. We recommend that each year by January 31 the chair of the Ministry Committee appoint a Partnership Admissions Sub-committee. The sub-committee membership should include the Minister of Community Engagement, a member of the Ministry Committee, a member of the Council on Mission, and at least two other persons. Its tasks are to review the applications of missions or ministry groups who would like to receive support from the church, to recommend whether to accept the application, and, if the application is accepted, to recommend the level of support for the following year. The sub-committee will report its recommendations to the Ministry Committee who in turn will develop amounts for all missions partnerships and ministries recommended for inclusion in the following year’s budget. The Ministry Committee will make its recommendations to the Council on Mission which will accept or revise the recommendations and make its recommendations to the church as a part of the annual church budget development process.

5. We recommend that the annual pledge cards be designed with a recommended amount of funding for each missions partnership and ministry, but also provide all church members the option to specify how the missions portion of their personal giving will be allocated.

6. We recommend that each year the Minister of Community Engagement, in consultation with the Partnership Admissions Sub-committee and the Ministry Committee, prepare a brochure about current ministries and current missions partnerships. The brochures should be distributed on Sundays and Wednesdays, through the mail, and on the website so that all church members have access to them.

7. We recommend that each year several Wednesday evening programs be devoted to presentations concerning Christian missions in general and our own missions and ministries in particular. The presentations could be made by our ministers, by active or retired missionaries, by church members who serve on the boards of our partners, by the Partnership Admissions Sub-committee, by representatives from the staffs of our partnerships, or by others.

Respectfully Submitted, Fisher Humphreys

Crossroads

Baptist ChurCh of the Covenant2117 University Boulevard Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35233 | www.bcoc.net | 205-328-0644

INTRODUCING eGIVING WITH ACSBCOC is changing its on-line giving application to one that offers more options and is more user friendly: ACS Technologies.

• ACS allows us to accept credit/debit cards or direct withdrawals from checking or saving accounts. • Members can now contribute to multiple funds through one transaction. • ACS also allows for giving through the Church Life App. Visit the app store on your smart phone and download

Church Life. • If you have set up a recurring payment through our former partner NCS Giving please CANCEL ASAP. That payment

will not transfer over to the new system. • If you have any questions contact Sherri Swickard or Josey Windham, 205-328-0644.

Consider setting up a recurring gift to BCOC with our new system and take one thing off your to-do list!

4 EASY WAYS TO GIVE

To contribute to BCOC please click HERE.

Text BCOC and amount to 73256

Visit our websitewww.bcoc.net/egiving

Sunday Mornings at 9:00 a.m.

Download the free Church Life app

There are detailed instructions and screen shots to help guide you on-line at www.bcoc.net/egiving.

Below are screen shots for how to give via the Church life app.

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TAKE WHAT YOU NEEDFOR MAY: Travel-size toiletries

3RD SUNDAY FOOD DRIVESUNDAY, MAY 20

Please bring food pantry items next Sunday for the 3rd Sunday Food Drive ministry to support Greater Birmingham Ministries. April, BCOC brought 349 items for the pantry. Pantry needs include canned vegetables, beans, fruit, meat and soup, as well as cereal, flour, sugar, jelly, pasta, peanut butter and rice. Let’s help fill the pantry!For I was hungry and you gave me food

– Matthew 25:35

General Fund Gifts needed each week to meet the 2018 Budget: $14,127.06

The indebtedness of the church is $635,975.22

FINANCIAL REPORTS HOME

Winifred BryantKathy GrissomRalph HoefelmanNella Stephenson

Bob Powell, Cottondale Christian Church, Cottondale, AL

Shalom Baptist ChurchCorita BlancoBoca de Mariel, Cuba

Elizabeth Lott, St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA

Prayer Concerns

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIPMay 23May 30 – August 8August 15

Business MeetingNo Activities Activities Resume – Summer Report

Dave Wilson 5/4 Paul Hall 5/18Eric Cheng 5/18Caitlin Miller 5/19Jack Brymer 5/20Connie Bowers 5/20Sally McElroy 5/21

Brent Cotton 5/22Karen Stinnett 5/22Angela Ferguson 5/26Ken Hinton 5/29Tim Mann 5/29Faith Stockton 5/31Laura Jones 5/31

BUSINESS MEETING MATERIALSThe recommendations by the Missions and Ministries Study Committee that will be presented next week are available on the piano and in the sanctuary foyer. Changes to the Constitution and Bylaws that will be voted on Wednesday, May 23 are also available.

MAY 1 - MAY 16General Fund $28,421.40Building Fund $876.05

FOSTERING WITH BCOCThere are currently about 6,279 children in foster care in the state of Alabama. There are roughly 2,200 licensed foster homes. The majority of children in foster care are in Jefferson County. Some of these children come into care for just a few days and others for years. Some are reunited with family while others age out of the system or find permanency through adoption. Their reasons for being in care are different, but they all come to us needing to feel safe and loved. I am convinced that the growing number of foster families at BCOC is a result of how well this church loves. Keep loving.

What to pray for Foster families:• Pray that we will be the advocate that each child

needs.• Pray for patience when things don’t go the way we

think they should.• Pray for emotional healing when our hearts break

after a final goodbye. • Pray that we will have the courage and self-

awareness to say “yes” or “no” when we get a placement call.

• If the situation allows, pray for healthy relationships with birth families.

• Pray for thoughtful and productive communication between foster parents, social workers, legal advocates, and others directly involved in each case.

To read more about Ann Elizabeth’s personal journey as a foster parent check out www.bcoclife.com.

ARTS CAMP 2018 JUNE 25-29

BCOC will hold an Arts Camp June 25-29 at the Southtown Community Center.  There will be stories, crafts, and games! BCOC children grades K-5 are welcome to attend and youth are invited to help with activities. Adult workers are needed. Join the fun! Serve our community! Contact Taylor Bell, Carol Dean, or Valerie Burton.

Week of May 20 Week of May 27SUNDAY, MAY 20 – PENTECOST

GBM Canned Food Drive9:00 a.m. – Morning Worship, Youth Sunday10:00 a.m. – Coffee Fellowship10:30 a.m. – Sunday School10:30 a.m. – Covenant 10111:30 a.m. – Finance Committee12:00 p.m. – Council on Mission2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Rec Basketball, Southside Baptist Gym

MONDAY, MAY 219:30 a.m. – Staff Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Overeaters Anonymous6:30 p.m. – Book Club with Taylor Bell

WEDNESDAY, MAY 235:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Adult Dinner5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Preschool & Children’s Dinner6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – End of Year Party for Missions Education6:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Prayer, Announcements, Business Meeting

FRIDAY, MAY 254:30 p.m. – Depart for Camp BCOC

SATURDAY, MAY 26Camp BCOC9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Saturday Morning Grocery Ministry

SUNDAY, MAY 279:00 a.m. – Morning Worship – Rodney Franklin, preaching10:00 a.m. – Coffee Fellowship10:30 a.m. – Sunday School11:30 a.m. – Ministries Committee12:00 p.m. – Return from Camp BCOC2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Rec Basketball, Southside Baptist Gym

MONDAY, MAY 28Office Closed for Memorial Day – Sarah Shelton on call

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30No Wednesday activities

SATURDAY, JUNE 29:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Saturday Morning Grocery Ministry

Volunteers

SUNDAY, MAY 20Deacon of the Week: Pam Patterson

Helpers’ Drivers: Esther Gardner, Becky BelcherLobby Monitors: Mark Burge, Rick MitchellAlley Monitors: Ann Elizabeth McInvale, Jill HolleyGreeters, Ushers, Offering: Anna Li Bateman, Sara Bateman, Trinity Martin, Will Martin, Luke McLendon, Dorothy PlumberWorship Care: Sue Shaddix, Pat Brown, Faye Allen, John BurgeCoffee Fellowship: Cindy Goodwin, Delane Tew, George CrearOffering Counters: Pat Hawley, Sue ShaddixBuilding Lockup: Matt Lader

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23Check Signers: Lynn Smith, Ellen DossettChoir Lockup: John HollisBuilding Lockup: Debbie Sumrall, Sim Butler

SATURDAY, MAY 26Grocery Ministry: Brian Vaughn, Jeff Barton

SUNDAY, MAY 27Deacon of the Week: Kelly Mitchell

Helpers’ Drivers: Elaine Stephens, Bill PeeplesLobby Monitors: George Crear, David HoefelmanAlley Monitors: Marsha & David HendersonGreeters: Dianna Anderson, Ann YatesUshers: Preston Miller, Mark RitterOffering: Angela Moore, Sue RitterWorship Care: Kristen Evans, Cheryl Pathasema, Matt/Karen Stinnett, Sarah HinesCoffee Fellowship: Denise Gardner, Connie McCrory, Marsha Henderson, Pat Hawley Offering Counters: Robbie Yarbrough, David HendersonBuilding Lockup: Susan Jackson

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30Check Signers: Lynn Smith, Ellen Dossett

SATURDAY, JUNE 2Grocery Ministry: Tim Liptak, Lisa Whitman