Mid-Atlantic District Church of the Brethren
PO Box 480; New Windsor, Maryland 21776
410-635-8790
Gene Hagenberger
Cathy Baker
Administrative Assistant
Our District Executive Minister writes…
Friends, this month I’m asking you to sow seeds of prayer. Please pray for the congregations and search committees that are in a pastoral search process. Those congregations are Bush Creek, Dranesville, First Church Baltimore, Frederick (Youth and Young Adult Pastor), Hagerstown, Manassas, Monocacy, Nokesville, and Thurmont. In addition to what you feel led to pray for, please pray for patience and discernment for these congregations and their committees, and that God will lead them to a good and fruitful match.
Please pray for the congregations that are considering and/or embarking on the Church of the Brethren’s Vital Ministry Journey: Edgewood, Midland, Oakton, Union Bridge, and Westminster. (Other congregations that have been involved in Vital Ministry Journey: Easton, Glade Valley, Grossnickle, Hagerstown, Manassas, and Woodbridge.) In addition to how else you would pray, please pray that God will bless the investment of these congregations in the process with increased health, vitality, and growth.
Please pray for our district leadership team: Chris Stockslager (Chair), Gretchen Zience (Vice-Chair), Craig Gaunt, Teresa Albright, Everett Fisher, Luke Croushorn, Rolland Kiracofe, Harry Swope, Brenda Hall, Kaye Horr, Mike Kenney, Ray Donaldson, and Jessica Syms. Ex-officio members are Moderator Craig Stutzman, Moderator-Elect Glenn McCrickard, Senior Standing Committee representative Jim Benedict, Treasurer Barb Watt, Recorder Anna Poole, and myself. Please pray for our District Moderator Craig Stutzman, Moderator- Elect Glenn McCrickard, and the members of our District Conference Program and Arrangements Team as they plan for upcoming District Conference to be held this year in Manassas on October 10-11. Please pray for the wide and committed participation of all of our congregations in district conference, and that God will bless it to the strengthening of our congregations and ministries. Please pray for all of our District Ministry Teams and Task Teams. A team that I feel especially needs our prayers for new members and vision is our Outreach and Service Ministry Team.
Please pray for Jeff Carter, a native son of Mid-Atlantic District and former Pastor at Manassas, who will be installed as the tenth President of Bethany Theological Seminary on Saturday, March 29. Please pray for Jeff and his family as they continue to acclimate to Richmond, IN and whole new lives. Please pray for Jeff for the strengthening of all the gifts he has and needs to lead the seminary forward in preparing students for fruitful church leadership. Please pray for his wife Kim’s health and strength.
Please pray for me. I’m feeling the pressure of a lot of ongoing search processes, various congregational concerns and urgent problems that need thoughtful response and attention. And we’re working to be responsive with less support staff time and declining overall congregational financial support and appreciation for the value and importance of district ministry. There is also a tremendous amount of travel and late nights on the road. I need your prayers.
Maybe this Lent, beginning March 5, could be a season of committed prayer. Let’s see what God does with the seeds that are sown…
Thank you in advance for your prayers,
Gene Hagenberger, Mid-Atlantic District Executive Minister ()