ABHMS staff summit features transition announcements, planning, education

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/6/18)—During a three-day summit held last month at the American Baptist Mission Center, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Haggray welcomed new staff member Lauren Ng, introducing her to colleagues and announcing her role as an ABHMS network strategist.

Ng has been actively involved with the denomination since youth. Her roles have included those of associate pastor, First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco; member of the board of directors for both ABHMS and Bacone College, Muskogee, Okla.; and development communications specialist, International Ministries.

“ABHMS’ network initiative demonstrates the diverse body of Christ, in which the individual parts are designed to work together for a common purpose,” Ng said. “I’m most excited about collaborating with our ministry partners across the nation—getting to know them, their successes and challenges, and how we might support them in common service to our God.”

Haggray also told those assembled that the Rev. Kristina Moeller has, for family-related reasons, resigned her roles as director of Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries and as ecclesiastical endorser.

“ABHMS is thankful for the outstanding leadership that the Rev. Moeller provided to advance our chaplaincy program,” Haggray said.

Announcements regarding a new director of Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries and ecclesiastical endorser will be forthcoming.

In addition, staff members from various ABHMS ministries used a portion of the summit to collaborate in planning Aligned Action Network meetings and other national gatherings, including those scheduled for later this year in Boston; Washington, D.C.; Anchorage, Alaska; Muskogee; and Chicago.

Learning opportunities included a discipleship education presentation by the Rev. Cassandra Carkuff Williams, Ed.D., ABHMS director of Discipleship Ministries.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

 American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.