This Christmas bulb sums up our hope in the gospel as we end 2020: the weary world rejoices!

The birth of Jesus gives us reason to celebrate. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus changes everything. We are committed to bringing that message to a weary world.

We are amazed at all God has done in 2020 to build BALM in spite of the pandemic!

"If you had told me when we launched BALM that in two years, we'd have four full-time staff when I questioned the survivability of one, I would have said you were crazy," Craig said recently.

Yet God has done another amazing thing. Kevin Good, who has 23 years of starting and running urban ministries, is joining us as Director of Urban Ministry Leadership Development.

"Baltimore has a crucial need for gospel-centric works of mercy and justice," Kevin says. "Yet we have a severe shortage of leaders trained for these works who courageously adhere to biblical values." Kevin will partner with churches and faith-based non-profits to help build such missional leaders.

God is doing a new thing and we stand amazed. Metro Baltimore Seminary classes resumed this week, and we marvel at specific answers to prayer:

• God provided 14 new students for the new MBS @ Freedom Church site! Eight attended in person, and five attended on Zoom. God also provided teachers for the two classes (Old Testament Survey and Doctrine of Scripture).

• We needed $20,000 for the renovation and scholarships for this site. BALM received $10,000 from individuals and churches in addition to a $10,000 matching grant! We have reached our goal! The renovations looked fabulous, the technology was in place, and new tables arrived.

Jesus promises he is with us "to the very end of the age." We delight in this promise and in his ongoing work as we seek to go and make disciples of all nations. God is building his church, even in the midst of Covid.

BALM is fulfilling our mission to "multiply cross-cultural disciple-making leaders for Baltimore and beyond" by facilitating affordable theological training at Metro Baltimore Seminary (MBS). BALM helped launch MBS in 2019, and designed, sponsors, and oversees two Master of Divinity programs. As Deans of the Urban Ministry track and the Church Planting and Renewal track, Pastors Stan and Craig know the strength of cross-cultural team leadership. They co-lead monthly cohort meetings where students discuss class material, hear from guest speakers, and explore contemporary issues in ministry.

How do we build disciple-making leaders who understand not only the Scripture but the context in which we live? Men and women like those of Issachar, “who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”? (1Chron. 12:32)

Two weeks ago, twenty-five volunteers renovated classroom space for MBS at Freedom church in northeast Baltimore. BALM partners with Metro Baltimore Seminary to sponsor the Church Planting and Renewal track and the Urban Ministry track. This strategic second site makes theological training more accessible for students from Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and even a new student from New Jersey!

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8 NIV

What a year it has been. What a month. What a week.

Pastors Stan and Craig are having flashbacks to 1968, when as teens they saw the nation erupt in riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Maria, then age ten, remembers glimpsing the Washington Monument from a tall tree near her Virginia home, and wondering what was burning there. Last week was also the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa race riots. Five years ago, Baltimore exploded after Freddy Gray’s death in police custody. America's "original sin" of racism has yet to be healed.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

The prophet Habakkuk paints a bleak economic picture of scarcity and pending famine. Yet he still rejoices in God! May we be similarly joyful as we remember the Sovereign Lord, and Jesus, who “loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

We praise God for answered prayer even in the midst of a pandemic and a lockdown.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deut. 31:6

In this unprecedented time of global upheaval, suffering, emotional stress, economic uncertainty and social distancing, we are grateful to know that we have “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Heb. 6:19) We have a triumphant Savior who promises Himself to us in covenant love and quells our fears. We have hope! We have a balm in our distress.

God is fulfilling our dream for an interdenominational seminary serving the Baltimore metro area! We are delighted to announce that BALM is partnering with Metro Baltimore Seminary to open a second site this fall. Freedom Church, located near the intersection of the 695 Beltway and 95, will join Chapelgate Presbyterian as a host site for MBS classes.

What a year it has been! As we consider how God has worked to fulfill BALM’s vision of multiplying Christ-centered, cross cultural leaders for disciple-making movements for church planting and renewal for Baltimore and beyond, here are some the highlights:

This 1981 photo shows our earliest leadership team in front of the Garriotts’ newly-acquired five-unit, former-slumlord house in Baltimore. These InterVarsity students and staff workers helped launch Faith Christian Fellowship (FCF). The bearded man on the left is Stan Long.

Thankful. That was my core emotion after teaching the New Testament Survey class last week. 

The grass is growing, the new trees are thriving, and the community is enjoying the newly landscaped lot at New Song Community Church in west Baltimore! God provided abundantly!

When Craig told me (Maria) about the New Song Community Church landscaping project, I wanted to put on the brakes.

With the encouragement of the elders of FCF and my own sense of the Spirit’s leading, I recently announced that I will complete my service as pastor of FCF on August 31st.

With deep gratitude I want to thank you for your prayers. The motion of the Mission’s Committee for BALM to be an official partnering mission work of the Chesapeake Presbytery for disciple-making movements and church planting was unanimously approved.

I covet your prayers for the approval of a motion before the Chesapeake Presbytery tomorrow morning to affirm BALM (Baltimore Antioch Leadership Movement) as an official partnering mission of the Chesapeake Presbytery in leadership development for disciple-making movements and church planting.