If your Capital Campaign steering team were selecting a theme this week, there certainly would be some competition for “For the Long Run.”  Dr. Caldwell in his sermon (April 10), which can be heard online, used the term “faith that takes the long view.”  This phrase eloquently expressed the idea of delayed gratification and the idea that an investment today may only show rewards in the distant future.  The real purpose of this campaign is not to repair the leaks in the roof or keep us comfortable in our buildings, though it will do so.  Our real purpose is to support, sustain, and even expand our ministries. Our campaign is asking for gifts “over and above” your regular giving.  Deciding on an amount is a challenging process which requires prayer followed by action.  No effort will be made to tell any person what he or she should commit. Questions one might consider in determining one’s part include: 

1.  Have I asked God to direct my decision? 
2.  Does this amount give an accurate reflection of who I am and what my resources are? 
3.  How does this amount represent sacrifice for me?

These questions can only be answered by each of you after prayer and reflection.

Some questions we can answer are as follows:
Q. What is the purpose of the commitment cards?
A. Our church is facing a significant financial endeavor. To use our financial resources wisely, we must have an accurate indication of our cash flow for the immediate future. Completed commitment cards enable our church leaders to make wise decisions. Your historical giving provides the Finance Committee with enough knowledge to formulate our annual budget.  For this campaign, however, we need to know how much and when to expect these gifts so that decisions can be made wisely.

Q. When do commitments begin?
A. As has been announced, Commitment Sunday is May 1. However, we will receive gifts as early as today!

Q. I don’t know the future. What if I can’t fulfill my commitment?
A. You are right. None of us know the future. We ask only that you pray and let God lead you to a sacrificial commitment. If your circumstances change, you can revise your commitment accordingly. This is an invitation to faith and commitment.

Q. Will my commitment remain confidential?
A. Yes! As with all church receipts, commitments will be confidential.

Q. How can I know what to commit?
A. The key ingredients of a worthy commitment are prayer, sacrifice, and faith. These are three guideposts that can lead you to the right decision.

Q. When and where will commitments be made?
A. You have received a commitment card and privacy envelope in the mail. Most members will complete their cards prior to the Commitment Sunday worship service on May 1 and turn them in during the service. The cards can also be mailed to, or brought to, the church. In addition, commitments can be made online, and these are also confidential. We will receive your commitment whenever you decide.

Q. How should I give my offerings over the next three years?
A. That is your decision. Many people will give weekly or monthly, and others will give quarterly or annually.

Q. Can I give something other than cash?
A. There can be significant tax benefits to giving property, stocks, bonds, or other appreciated assets. You are encouraged to ask your financial advisor what will be best for you.

This Sunday, we will begin sharing information about a capital campaign, “For the Long Run,” which is aimed at freeing resources for ministry by addressing long term capital needs. The Campaign Communication team has prepared informative materials about our capital campaign and campaign project. Please stop by any of the Sanctuary exits or Friendship Hall after Worship on April 3 to pick up your bag of materials. (One per household, please.) 

Thank You! 

We are happy to announce that we are now using REACH Alert to send you timely information relevant to the church congregation. 

What does this mean for you? We will be able to better communicate with you by providing immediate information regarding a number of potential situations.  As a user of REACH Alert, you will be in control of how you receive your messages from us. This means you will be able to: 

This group, facilitated by Cassie Lyles will read, and discuss The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward Baptist. Please RSVP to Susan Reed (susanr@broadwaybaptist.org) if you would like to reserve a copy of the book for $25.  The initial meeting will be held on March 20 at 5 p.m. in the Lower Level Meeting Room to pass out books and get to know one another.  The group will begin weekly discussion meetings on Sundays at 5 p.m., beginning April 10.

Palm Sunday, March 20               
The congregation will gather outside to participate in the Palm Sunday Processional. The children’s choir will sing as part of the processional and the Chancel Ringers will play bells. In addition, the Chancel choir will sing Cantique by Gabriel Faure.
               
Maundy Thursday, March 24
On Thursday, March 24, we will gather in the sanctuary at 6 p.m., for a Tenebrae Service as we observe communion by intinction. Preceding the service will be our weekly fellowship meal in Friendship Hall starting at 5 p.m. (Wednesday Night Dinner will be cancelled this week.) Standing reservations do not apply. Please call the church office by 12 p.m., on Wednesday, March 23, to make a reservation. 

Resurrection Sunday, March 27
After traveling down the path of our Lenten theme, Prayers and the Labyrinth, we will gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The Chancel Choir and organist, Glenna Metcalfe, will lead us in our Hallelujahs as we celebrate Christ is Risen. Christ is Risen indeed!

Dr. Lloyd Storment, and my first Hospital visitation as a deacon.

My first week of hospital visitation came around the end of January. Four church members were in the hospital, including: Robin Riddle and Dr Lloyd Storment.
     
Robin Riddle convinced me to become a deacon. I went to visit her first and talked with her and her husband about how nervous I was visiting in the hospitals. I asked them for advice since Robin has been a deacon many times before. When I left her room, I conveniently only had to walk to another part of the same floor to visit Dr. Storment, but, thanks to Robin, I felt much more comfortable about the visit.

When I walked into Dr. Storment’s room, he was very happy to see me- he didn’t look sick at all! I asked him how he was doing, and exchanged the usual pleasantries, but he immediately deviated from my plan of discussing how he was doing, and proceeded to praise me! He told me how proud he was of my parents for raising me the way they did, how proud he was of me for continuing to go to church and for being a role model for others my age, and for my leadership in the church as a new deacon. He lifted me up in ways I cannot begin to describe in mere words. Dr. Storment had known me my entire life and had watched me grow up in the church. He was a minister at Broadway when my parents joined before I was born. Yet, the most striking thing for me was that he was the minister on call the week I was born, and was one of the first people to hold me as an infant!

When we had talked for a few minutes, he asked me if we could pray before I left. Knowing his background I asked him if he would like to pray or if he wanted me to pray, to which he responded that I should. I prayed for his health, and a comfortable recovery and especially for the people caring for him.  When I had finished, he continued to pray! For me, for my wife and family members, for my continued Christian leadership and growth!

Looking back on my visit with Dr Storment, I can honestly say that I might have gotten more out of the experience than he did. I will miss his wonderful sense of humor, his loving smile, and his ability to reach people on the deepest level, even when he was the one in the hospital!

Most of you are not surprised to hear that our church hosts many weddings every year. What you may not know is how seriously we take our marriage ministry at Broadway. Couples who use our church as their wedding venue are required to take part in marriage ministry classes together through our counseling center. These classes are designed to help the couples as they prepare for marriage through traditional pre-marital counseling, but also through interaction with other couples in the same stage of life, as well as through the welcoming and loving environment of Broadway Baptist.

The Marriage Ministry classes take place during the Sunday School hour, so many of the couples choose to join us for worship afterwards. It is a great opportunity to introduce them to this wonderful community of faith. Please be in prayer for the couples currently taking part in our marriage ministry, and the ones who will come to Broadway in the future. If you see any of these couples in the Atrium or Sanctuary, please take a moment to reach out to them and offer the hospitality that we are known for!
~Emily Holladay 

A Prayer Labyrinth is an ancient spiritual practice. It is a place for reflection and contemplation. A Prayer Labyrinth can be a path on the ground or a design that can be traced with your finger. Throughout the season of Lent, there will be a Prayer Labyrinth available at the church for those who would like to learn more about praying through walking the labyrinth. Workshops will be available on the following dates and times: 
 
Thursday, February 18, from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. (FLC Multipurpose Room)
Tuesday, February 23, from 6 – 8 p.m. (FLC Multipurpose Room)
Sunday, February 28, from 2 – 4 p.m. (FLC Multipurpose Room)
Monday, February 29, from 2 – 4 p.m. (FLC Multipurpose Room)

The Quarterly Business Meeting will be held Wednesday, February 24, at 6:15 p.m. in Friendship Hall. The 2015 year-end financial statements will be presented at this meeting. Please plan to attend. If you would like a dinner reservation, please call the church office at 502.895.2459 before noon on Tuesday, February 23.