American Baptist Churches of the Northwest |

Welcome Churches Pastors

We're Working Together

Welcome to the website of American Baptist Churches of the Northwest - 150 churches scattered across a vast geography throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana and Utah with more in Oregon, Nevada and California. We believe that Jesus is the head of his Body and as its Living Lord he continues to "seek and save that which was lost" through healthy, mission-focused churches. We hope to inform and resource churches and pastors.
We're Reaching People

God is at work reaching the Northwest through churches engaging their communities in a myriad of ways. Transformation is happening. New believers are coming to Christ. Our connection with one another continues to be strong in spite of our vast geographical spread. New Testament churches knew they were part of something greater than themselves. By joining forces we believe we can increase our ability to reach the Northwest for Jesus Christ.
We're Training Leaders

Developing great leaders is a critical strategy for reproducing disciples. We are committed to leadership development. Our network of Leadership Learning Communities helps pastors become life-long learners who in turn develop leaders in their local churches. We are creating a common language for discussing and applying fundamental leadership concepts and influencing leaders who will produce disciples.

Biennial Celebration in Chehalis – May 18-19

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE | DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

BULLETIN INSERT

An Invitation…

I invite you to attend this year’s ABCNW Biennial Celebration, May 18-19, at First Baptist Church Chehalis, WA. This gathering is designed to be heavy on worship, encouragement, training and growing our connection together. Our theme is “Friends Together Extending Life. “ This theme is centered on a passion that our speaker, Dr. Lee Spitzer, has for pursuing friendships as a means for building community, sharing the Good News, forming disciples and pursuing spiritual growth. We also have important business to consider, namely, adopting new Bylaws & Standing Rules for our Region.

Please take a few moments to prayerfully consider bringing a team of friends from your church to this year’s gathering. Let’s celebrate the friendships and mission that we have together in Jesus Christ. May we worship our awesome God and give glory to His name and His Gospel. May our time together renew our efforts in extending life to those who have not yet found life eternal. Check out the Biennial Celebration brochure arriving in your mailbox this week; or download it here off of our website.

In Christ,

Charles Revis

Executive Minister

7 Reasons to Attend Biennial

The ABC of the Northwest celebration convenes in just a few short weeks. We’re praying that God will bless the worship, training, fellowship and good reports with His presence and power. Every church is encouraged to send a team of people to join in with the vision of “growing healthy, mission-focused churches that multiply disciples and churches.”

Here are seven good reasons for attending:

1. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Lee Spitzer, will provide great teaching on the power of friendships and how they revolutionize evangelism, discipleship and community.

2. Hosted by one of ABCNW’s dynamic, growing congregations, FBC Chehalis. Experience the excitement and friendship of a church reaching its community for Christ.

3. Connect and reconnect with sister churches and friends in Christ within a historic ABC regional connection that seeks to engage the Northwest with the Gospel.

4. Hear stories of church transformation leading to renewal and new disciples.

5. Opportunities to pray together and be encouraged in your walk with Christ.

6. Eight, relevant, insightful, workshops for learning.

7. Adopt new bylaws and standing rules to keep the Region current, nimble and legal. (We know, we know…not, the most exciting thing in the world, but it IS important business.)

Proposed Bylaws and Standing Rules

The Region Board is proposing a new set of Bylaws and Standing Rules to replace the present Bylaws and Rules for Procedure. Copies of all these documents have been sent to every church in the Region. They are also available for review on our web site in the Document Library section, along with an explanatory letter from our executive minister, Dr. Charles Revis. The proposed Bylaws and Standing Rules will be introduced and voted upon during the business session at the forthcoming Biennial Celebration in Chehalis, WA.

In summary here are the reasons for the changes:

1. The new bylaws are written to reflect our actual, real-time structure while simultaneously modeling accountable governance for our member churches.

2. A significant percentage of the language in the existing Bylaws is related to Areas and since these no longer exist, except for the Big Sky Area, it is important that our governance documents reflect our actual practice.

3. With no Areas we need a new method for selecting Region board members. The changes in the new bylaws provide that method.

4. The Region needs to be a flexible and responsive organization, given the rapidly changing world in which we live. To accommodate this need the bylaws have been shortened and simplified. The bulk of the day-to-day operational guidelines have been moved into the Standing Rules.

We encourage you to make these proposed Bylaws and Standing Rules available to your leadership board, interested persons in your congregation and the delegates who will be attending the Biennial from your congregation.

You can access these files in our Document Library.

ABM Ministry Opportunity

The American Baptist Men Plan a Major Anniversary Celebration in Arizona

THE ABMEN-USA / ARIZONA-HOPI-PROJECT

JUNE 18, 2012 – JULY 28, 2012

The American Baptist Men-USA National Board has approved a “NATIONAL PROJECT” for the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona, beginning June 18, 2012 with a projected completion date of July 28, 2012. Women are invited to participate in this mission.

This project will kick off our celebration of 90 years of American Baptist Men’s Ministry, which began June 18, 1922. We are very pleased and proud to announce that we are working in partnership with the American Baptist Home Mission Societies to perform this mission.

There are three work-sites; the Sunlight Community Mission Church at 2nd Mesa, AZ; the First Mesa Baptist Church at 1st Mesa, AZ; and the Hopi Mission School located at Kykotsmovi, AZ.