"for I was hungry and you gave Me food; for I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; for I was a stranger and you took me in" - Matthew 35:25 (NKJV) [emphasis mine] You can read the same Scripture passage a thousand times, and it may come across the same way each time, until you live out its application. This was certainly the case with my recent short-term mission trip. Dover partnered with Corinth Baptist Church and The Hope Project to launch our first collaborative mission trip to Nicaragua. As one Body of Christ, we washed feet and gave out shoes. We fed, taught, and played games with children. We built and delivered bunk beds to families who were sleeping on dirt floors and on benches. We hosted a pastors’ conference, and through our interpreter, taught sound doctrine to local ministers. We secured, and helped pastors obtain water filters to fend off the prevalence of waterborne illness. We funded medicine for them and their families. Women were taught to crochet for both their own needs, and to sell to help support their families. Most importantly, we prayed daily (and will continue to do so) for these precious people and leaders in the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere. As we served, my heart and mind took me, as it often does, to Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 25, verses 31 – 40. This is the proclamation of Jesus, who reminds His faithful followers, that “whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.” As we were delivering food, serving meals, and pouring drinks, I was stricken by a new revelation that I had not thought of before. Perhaps, I was the stranger who needed to be taken in. You see, when I was young, I cared little about missions. I was more concerned with self than serving, and the least of these was the most distant thing from my mind. I was estranged from God, self-absorbed, and wandering off the path God wanted me to follow. It wasn’t until I hit my lowest of lows, that I cried out, and God took me in. He picked me up, washed off the dirt (and there was a lot of dirt), and restored my soul. He sent a mentor, who had also once been estranged, but who, like me, needed to be taken into the family of God and discipled, so that he might disciple others. When I was in Nicaragua, I was also a stranger, and yet, the people invited me into their homes. The blessing of serving was far more beneficial for me than it was for them. The two words that describe it best are “life changing.” I pray that you might consider a life-changing mission trip, both for the least of these, and for yourself. God Bless, Arnold "Win" Davis Executive Director of Missions Note: If you are part of a church that may not currently be able to field a whole mission team or have always wanted to serve in short-term national and/or international missions, consider joining fellow Dover Baptist Association church members to be the hands, heart, feet and voice of Jesus. Mission Scholarships are available. For more info, email us at Dover.Info@doverbaptist.org.

As the school year revs up, I am reminded of the tradition I participated in as a student, See You at the Pole™, which takes place on September 24th this year. Christian students participate in this prayer meeting by gathering before the bell rings at the flagpoles on their campuses to pray over their school, peers, teachers and faculty for the year. It reminded us students that faith is not only a right and privilege to practice in the public square, but also a responsibility to wield with grace and compassion for those we encounter every day. Nowadays, I am no longer a student. I am a proud mother of a toddler and a second child due in December. While preschool and afterschool care is not part of our family’s routine yet, I have become very aware that we churches are not thinking about the privilege and responsibility we have in stewarding ministries to young families in our immediate neighborhoods…right under our stained-glass windows. Many churches rely on child development and care centers to help subsidize their mortgages or even employ or partner with church member staff and parents. Some of the most reputable, long-standing preschools I know are a stone’s-throw from my home and operated by, or at least within, churches. And, in a US population where about half of adults “seldom or never attend religious services,” it’s a fact that fewer people are walking through church doors, whether in seeking Jesus or out of a once-expected social obligation for the local watering hole news (Pew Research Center, February 26, 2025). So, when areligious parents are entrusting their most treasured persons into the hands of a church…are we, the church, meeting them at the curb? According to a report issued April 29, 2026 by the Center for American Progress, nearly half of children under 6 live where there are too few licensed slots for the number of children who need care (see childcaredeserts.org for an interactive map to see where your home lands). Apart from statistics, I see the childcare and early childhood education crisis firsthand among my fellow parents: waitlists for preschools, pricey daycares, and forced financial sacrifices that come with having to choose between working and finding not only supervision for your child, but also qualified, quality care for your child. We churches can lead the way in living out the love of the Gospel in providing quality, licensed, and affordable childcare. When congregations minister to and subsidize young families that come to their preschools, child development centers, and afterschool programs, they are not only emphasizing children as a worthwhile and critical part of the church, but also setting out to reach and support the families searching, whether intentionally or not, for loving communities exemplifying Christ. When students pray at the flagpole, the aim is to love and minister to fellow students and school staff. So, I ask, when we churches accept these families at the curb at drop-off, are we also ministering to them? Have the parents shaken hands with a pastor and been prayed with—regardless of their religious affiliation? Are the teachers being equipped as ministers of the church to disciple their childcare staff and the families they encounter daily? Do the parents feel that our church is a safe place they turn to if and when their lives turn upside down? Is our church seeing kids not as the future church, but the church now? Evangelism is the first stage of discipleship when Jesus deploys each of his ambassadors to offer to walk alongside the lost before we can invite them to walk with Him. As the saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Churches have always had the task to build bridges through intentional relationships with all generations for the sake of making Christ known. Just like the Lord called Philip to meet the Ethiopian on the side of the road to meet him where he was—our commission is not limited to church walls or even the flagpole. Instead, let us vow never to kick someone to the curb, but simply walk the extra steps to meet them there instead. Claire McAuliffe, Guest Writer Dover Communications & Operations Manager

Chief Adkins speaks at Historic St John's Church “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” – Revelation 7:9-10 (NKJV) “But we’ll never be truly free until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me.” – "My Shot," Lin-Manuel Miranda, from the Broadway Musical Hamilton The irony was almost breathtaking. Chickahominy Indian Chief Stephen Adkins was invited to speak at Historic St. John’s Church. A little more than 250 years ago, on these same hallowed grounds, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech. Chief Adkins noted that the liberty Henry passionately petitioned for did not include American Indians, women, African American slaves or even non-landowners. He stressed, however, that the Declaration of Independence written a few months later, would carry a message “everyone” can embrace and fight for today. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” [emphasis mine]. Chief Adkins addressed the long and complex journey of Virginia's native tribes. He noted the systematic racism that had oppressed Indians and people of color, and how religious leaders, throughout history, had condoned the colonization and subjugation of America’s indigenous peoples in the name of Christianity. I felt comfortably uncomfortable as I listened and learned what the history books I read in grade school had failed to disclose. Adkins, now 80, has spent much of his life advocating for equality and achieving Federal recognition for Virginia Tribes as sovereign nations. Many in those tribes are part of our Dover Baptist Association. As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, some would say that bringing up the dark days of our past detracts from our country’s celebration, and how far we’ve come. No matter how hard we try, we can’t erase history. As Christians, we need to learn from our mistakes, and repent of our sins–past, present and future. As Spanish-American writer George Santayana noted, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We can be better: better in our attitude, better in our actions, better in our acceptance of others, despite our differences. This doesn’t mean we are to condone sin, bad doctrine, or boorish behavior, but as Jesus admonished, we need to first take the plank out of our own eye in order to see clearly how to remove the speck of sawdust from our brother’s eye (Matthew 7:5). We will never hate anyone into the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Baptist denomination has taken a few hits lately as a few folks have been, as my grandmother used to say, “just acting ugly.” As Christians, our primary role is to make disciples and example the love of Christ. During this historic celebration, and our love of country, may we share the love of Jesus, by loving our neighbors as ourselves. May we fight for the freedom of others: freedom from inequality, freedom from racism, freedom from financial and food insecurity, and freedom from fear. Through our actions, may others be blessed by what many of us have experienced all our lives: to know the benefits and blessings of liberty and being One Nation under God. God Bless, Arnold ‘Win’ Davis, Executive Director of Missions

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10: 32-33 (NKJV) I’ve been thinking a lot about compromise lately. When we should, and when we shouldn’t. Thousands of government and supporting workers are back on the job because a Virginia politician compromised. He now faces backlash from his own party. Thousands of marriages have been saved because husbands and wives have compromised. Others will fail because one or both spouses choose not to. More prisoners of war returned. More ceasefires on and off. Even more cars and houses sold, all because of compromise. In a few weeks, pundits, preachers and messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention will, once again, undoubtedly contest the roles of women in ministry. Some will suggest compromise, while others will choose conviction over compromise. Undoubtedly, more Southern Baptist churches will leave or be asked to leave the denomination. Almost daily, each of us makes a decision about compromise. Recently, I sat by the hospital bed of someone in hospice care. I walked her through the plan of salvation to affirm and/or encourage her faith in God, and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Shortly after she passed, a relative reached out to me about the funeral I’d been asked by the departed to officiate. “We don’t want this to be a church service, they instructed, “so please limit ‘the religious stuff’ to a prayer and a reading from the Psalms you mentioned at the hospital.” I politely informed them that, I needed to honor not only the person, but also God. I let them know that, in order to do that, I felt it was important to let everyone know that God had, in her words “restored her soul” as the Psalmist wrote. My hope, I explained, was that others would have the same peace as the departed, knowing she was now in a place where the Bible promises God “will wipe every tear, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” I offered to step aside, if that wasn’t acceptable, and they quickly took me up on it. This saddened me greatly. Although it would have required me to drive several hours as well as prepare for the service, I was looking forward to honoring this lovely woman and sharing the Gospel. I have come to realize, that the love of Jesus is not always received lovingly. What I do know is Jesus is very specific about compromise. We are to acknowledge Him before men. We are to do it, in both our words and actions, and more often than not, our actions speak louder than our words. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit gives us the discernment to know the difference between our passions and preferences, and His plan, for our lives, our church, and the lost. No compromise.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." —Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) This past weekend, so many good things were going on. A celebration service and reception were given for a pastor, who is retiring after 28 years of faithful shepherding. A patriotic ceremony and reception honored another pastor who retired from military service after 20 plus years as a Navy chaplain. Tribal leaders and citizens from our Native American churches participated in a historic 250th anniversary celebration of our nation centered on the history and enduring sovereignty of Virginia’s Tribal Nations. One of our Dover churches had a fish fry and “note burning” to celebrate financial freedom as they paid off the church’s addition. Pastor anniversaries were celebrated, concerts and a women’s conference were hosted, and a few churches held Sabbath after a busy Saturday of community service and outreach. The Dover Baptist Association also had its Semi-Annual Meeting of church leaders and Messengers. A wonderful presentation was given by the host church, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Great food and refreshments were provided. Reports were given about God’s faithfulness. A matching church challenge of $1,776 was issued to kick off our Watson Mission emphasis. The conundrum was that because of all the other good things going on, our attendance was light and unfortunately, for the second year in a row, we didn’t have enough churches to make a quorum to conduct the business portion of the program. Less than two weeks earlier, at our Dover Executive Committee Meeting, we announced record- breaking returns on our investments, blessing us with over $300,000 to invest in missions, ministries, disaster relief, pastor support, scholarships and more. Now, more than ever, Dover is ready for a change for good. This double entendre implies that we need to implement positive improvements, which will also last. This, I believe, is a key factor in our ability to serve and support our churches, mission and ministry partners, pastors, and others with the resources we’ve been blessed with. In the weeks and months to come, your Dover leadership will be working on priorities, presentations, and proposals to make changes for good. With tens of thousands of dollars to invest in Kingdom Work, we can’t risk analysis paralysis. We need to grow forward! We need to move full steam ahead! In the meantime, I pray you will begin this “Change for Good” by accepting the Dover Church Challenge. A generous gift of $1,776 will be added to our Watson Mission Offering if $1,776 is contributed by our churches and members within the first two weeks of May. Let’s bless others with the blessings we’ve been given! God Bless, Arnold ‘Win’ Davis, Executive Director of Missions

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: loosen the chains of injustice, lighten the burden of those who work for you, and set the oppressed free.” - Isaiah 58:6 I have often remarked, that if God had a nickname for me, it would probably be “Amoeba Boy.” Over the years, I have come to the realization that my intellect and wisdom, compared to God’s, is comparable to that of an amoeba’s with Albert Einstein (or Solomon, if we’re staying in the theological wheelhouse). Nowhere is this more obvious, than when I come up with a “great idea” to build God’s Kingdom, without spending a significant amount of time with my Lord, in prayer. A few years ago, I decided to join a few of my ecumenical friends during the forty plus days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. I “gave up” a number of food items including white sugar and flour, and even french fries. “French fries? For forty days? For Me? Wow!” This was the imaginary response I found myself hearing from my Lord. “Hey, Peter,” I imagined Him summoning “The Rock,” as the two watched me from their Heavenly box seats. “Looks like Win has another ‘great idea’: He’s giving up french fries,” I imagined my Lord patiently observing. “You’re going to let him fail again, aren’t you, Lord?” I envisioned Peter responding. And sure enough, once again, God allowed me to learn from my mistakes. Jesus gave up His life for me, and I gave up french fries for him. When I think about it, it sounds pretty silly. I got so caught up in giving up stuff. What I hadn’t given up, was self. In Isaiah, God’s prophet delivered some pretty specific instructions regarding our actions and attitude, when it comes to personal sacrifice: Break the chains of injustice! Lighten the burden of others! Free the oppressed! We can’t do any of these when our focus is on ourselves. Jesus mirrored these admonitions when he scolded the self-righteous for turning their piety into a performance, and sacrifice into a show. What are you giving up? More importantly, what are you giving Him? Jesus doesn’t need you to forego french fries, Frappuccino, or even Facebook, unless they own you more than Him. He needs you to forego your ego. He wants your faithful (mostly behind the scenes) service and Christian compassion. Not just for forty days a year, but for the other 325 as well. So let’s begin. Happy Easter and God Bless, Arnold 'Win' Davis, Executive Director of Missions

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27 There’s a lot going on, in the name of peace, these days. Since I started writing this blog, athletes from around the world walked in symbolic unity during the Parade of Nations to open the Winter Olympics. A Super Bowl commercial featured rock star Lady Gaga singing her version of Fred Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” AI tells me it was to emphasize community, kindness, and neighborly connection in a polarized world. The cynical side of me thinks it was a multi-million-dollar investment to promote the sponsor’s brand. As I’m typing, nineteen Buddhist monks and their dog, are walking just a few hundred yards from my office. For hours, people have been lining up, setting up folding chairs, and wading in the snow to get a glimpse of what has been titled, the “Walk for Peace.” The stated goal for this journey, which began in Texas, and concludes in our Nation’s Capital, is “to raise awareness of inner peace and mindfulness across America and the world.” Peace is certainly a worthwhile goal. Our country and world could use a little inner (and outer) peace right now. Unwittingly, these men, like the athletes of the Olympic games and Gaga, have become celebrities. Over a million people have lined up along their 2,300-mile path. Thousands have packed into the venues in which their leader has addressed the crowds. Unfortunately, most of those who need to heed and internalize their mission of peace have not. During their journey of a couple thousand miles, thousands of lives have still been lost to violence. No war has waned. No protest paused. No division diverted. Over two thousand years ago, a lone figure also took a painstakingly long walk. Upon His shoulders, he carried both the weight of the Cross, and the weight of the world. In the fourteenth century, Franciscan monks named this path, the Via Dolorosa, Latin for “Way of Suffering.” Symbolic markers point out the “Stations of the Cross,” commemorating the events of Christ’s last day as He walked from condemnation to crucifixion. As we prepare our hearts for Easter, and reflect on our Savior’s sacrificial walk, death, burial, and resurrection, may we too pray for peace. Pray for the peace, the Bible promises, surpasses all understanding. Pray for the peace Jesus promised to leave and give to His followers. Pray for the peace given, not as the world, not as men, monks, or even ministers give. Pray for the peace of Christ. I also pray that each of us will take our own walk for peace. Perhaps it’s a walk out of our way to mend a tattered relationship. Perhaps it’s a walk up to that person to ask for or extend forgiveness. Perhaps, it’s a walk around our neighborhoods, schools, or government buildings to pray for God’s intervention. Most of all, I pray we internalize “the” walk for peace our Savior endured for your sins and mine. God bless. Arnold "Win" Davis Executive Director of Missions

"We're a bunch of misfits." These were the words of quarterback Fernado Mendoza, after giving “all the glory to God.” If you’re a sports fan or just following this feel-good story, you know that Mendoza led his team of “misfits” to the National Collegiate Football Championship. A team, mostly comprised of little known and often disrespected players, defeated a team chocked full of highly recruited, elite athletes. The key, most experts agree, was that the less talented individuals were the greater team. They functioned better as one cohesive unit, and “we” was more important than “me.” "Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) If you think about it, we Christians are also “a bunch of misfits.” We come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, races, incomes, and abilities. The one thing that all of us have in common is our imperfection. The simple fact that we are all sinners saved solely by the grace of God, and our professed faith in His only Son, Jesus Christ. We are also champions. We are champions for Christ. We are each called to champion His cause, champion His message, champion His commission. When we take the time to set aside our individual desires and focus on our collective desire to serve our Savior, we can do some pretty impressive things, as a team. Recently, I had the privilege to witness this firsthand, as leaders from over thirty Dover churches met in teams and/or as an Executive Committee. Together Dover awarded more than $40,000 in grants and scholarships to missions and ministries. Members from over fifty churches contributed offerings to support Christ-centered causes. Together we formed one cohesive unit. More importantly, we championed the cause of Christ. From the inner cities of America to small villages in Africa, from the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to southern India, Dover churches have shared the love of Christ. From ministering to the unhoused, those incarcerated, battling addiction, and poverty, to rescuing babies of unwanted pregnancies, our prayer is that every dollar donated, is delivered with the message of Christ’s love, and the hope we have in Jesus. That’s my hope. That’s my prayer. That’s my dream. I guess you could say that, for your Dover Baptist Association, like those bunch of misfits who became national champions, “It takes teamwork to make the dream work.” I pray that God gives you big dreams this year, not for personal glory, but to glorify God. I pray that you fully engage and become part of our incredible Dover team. I pray that together, we are champions. As a team, I pray we champion the will, message, and hope of Jesus Christ! God Bless, Arnold ‘Win’ Davis Executive Director of Missions CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF OUR DOVER DIARY ISSUE THIS MONTH!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)    Mark Twain is credited with the quote, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." I’ve been thinking a lot about the latter as one year closes and another begins. I’m one of those guys who often writes out New Year’s Resolutions, as a fun (and nagging) way of goal setting. This year’s resolution may be the most paradoxical and lofty resolution yet.  This year I resolve to be Imago Dei every day.     If you’re not familiar with this Latin expression, it literally means “Image of God.” Some of you may already be focusing on the obvious half of the paradox, thinking, “Well, that’s one resolution you can’t break, because God’s Word tells us, we’re made in His image.  In verses twenty-six and twenty-seven of Genesis, chapter one, we read, “Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,”  and “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."     My resolution is more than being the physical creation that my Creator crafted. My objective is to live my life in a way that honors the gift of breath that my Lord put in me…”Every day!” To be perfect, Jesus admonished, “as your father is perfect (Matthew 5:47).”  A command, I interpret, that is more about striving than perfecting.  Perhaps I’ll begin the New Year by picking the low hanging fruit my Lord has provided. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that draws me nearer to Him, and makes me closer to His image (Galatian 5:22-23).     Perhaps, this year I’ll be more obedient to His Word and meditate on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Perhaps by doing that, I’ll finally obtain that peace of God, that surpasses all understanding and guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-8).    Like pretty much all my New Year’s resolutions, no doubt I’ll break this one. I’ll fall, fail stumble, loose my cool and patience. The difference this year I pray, is I’ll continue to come back, again and again to the promises of my Lord. My Lord who made me in His image, Imago Dei, every day.  Arnold ‘Win’ Davis Executive Director of Missions

Congratulations to Dover's Executive Director of Missions Win Davis and his wife Debbie on the birth of their grandson, Julian. As I’m writing this blog, my heart is filled with joy as we celebrate a beloved family’s first-born son. As we draw closer to Christmas, that joy will undoubtedly increase. Travelers from afar bringing precious gifts. A baby boy swaddled from head to toe to keep him warm. Every heart, every eye, every prayer focused on this child. This Christmas, one of our greatest gifts, will be meeting our new grandson. Recently, I heard about a discussion between two Christian leaders. They spoke about the value of a theological education. The first had apparently invested a good amount of money to get a degree from a well-known theology school. The second leader responded that, more important than the brand, was the application of the Christian education. Every Christian school, he argued, was valuable, if the foundation of the education was the teaching found in God’s Word. The first countered that you get what you pay for. As Christians, we know that’s not necessarily true. As followers of Christ, we know that we don’t get what we pay for. We get what “He” paid for. Our successes, our families, our careers, our very lives, will ultimately mean nothing, if our trust is not placed in the One we celebrate this Christmas. Our greatest gift is another baby boy. Another family’s beloved first-born son. Another child who moved travelers from afar to bring precious gifts. A child who was swaddled securely to keep him warm. A child who was laid in a manger, because there was no room for him at the inn. One day, every heart, every eye and every prayer will be focused on this child. This child, who was born, lived a perfect life, gave that life to pay our debt of sin and rose from the dead. One day, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. As believers, may we all set aside our temporal gifts to share the greatest gift we’ve ever been given. This Christmas, may we share the joy that comes from knowing, one day, we’ll get what He paid for. Merry Christmas! Arnold "Win" Davis Executive Director of Missions

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) At your Dover Baptist Association’s Annual Meeting last October, we announced something unprecedented. In a struggling economy with an uncertain future, you blessed our ministry & mission partners with record giving. More food insecure folks were fed and given drink. More homeless people were provided with shelter. Those sick and in prison were aided by our Christian jail, rehab, and medical ministry partners. As the Executive Director of Missions for your Dover Baptist Association, I am grateful for your presents, i.e. those generous gifts, donations and love offerings you and your churches poured out to love those Jesus referred to in Matthew’s Gospel as “the least of these.” This October 14 and 26, and in the coming year, Dover can be even greater with your presence—the eyes, ears and voice of your church, and the head, heart and hands of your association. At these key meetings, and beyond, you will help discern our budget and give feedback on new investments. You will nominate key leaders who direct Dover assets into funding our scholarships, new works, mission trip support and more. You will learn more about your association’s newest ministry and mission initiatives and learn firsthand how our ministry partners and your churches can serve together. You will acquire essential information on preparing for aging, including how to effectively steward your and/or your loved one’s finances to address the ever-increasing cost of long-term Christian care. Most importantly your prayerful participation will help protect our children and raise up new pastors, churches and church leaders through continuing education. Your Dover Baptist Association is “Grateful for Your Presents” of financial support, but we are even “Greater with your Presence” and participation! Thank you for the privilege of serving your Dover Baptist Association. God Bless.

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up." - Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NKJV) As I’m writing this blog, a new season is about to begin. There’s crispness in the air. Faithful followers are getting excited. Inspirational words will be written and rehearsed in hopes that lives will be changed. Menus will be planned. For Jesus followers, this new season refers to the Body of Christ known as the local church. New Sunday school classes and sermon series are starting. Homecomings and Gospel concerts are being planned. Pews are refilling after summer slumps and slow-downs. For many folks, however, football will be the religion of choice. Tailgating will be the most frequent form of fellowship. Fight songs will be battle hymns and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the most familiar anthem. I’ll be at both, attending church and cheering on my team, although there’s a big difference. On Saturdays, I’ll be a spectator. On Sundays (and when needed), I’ll be a participant, a volunteer, a team player, a servant leader if called upon. Unlike my stadium seat, which is reserved just for me, I’ll gladly give up my familiar church seat to a visiting guest. I love my alma mater. I love God’s church more. I want to see her grow. I would love to see her pews packed on Sunday like the stadium on Saturday. The gridiron is not my Holy Ground. The star quarterback is not my Savior. My favorite team doesn’t have a mascot. My favorite team worships Jesus. Your Dover Baptist Association is kicking off a new season as well. We hope you will be part of our team. We hope you’ll be a participant, a volunteer, a servant leader if called upon. In September, Dover will begin hosting classes for those who desire a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in Theology.  We’ll fund scholarships and Bibles for missionaries and ministers.  We’ll provide specialized training for children, youth, and young adult leaders, including an emphasis on child abuse prevention. We’ll help train deacons and other church leaders. In October, New Highland Baptist Church will host our 242nd Annual Meeting and Missions & Ministry Fair. There you will learn how lives are being changed, and how you can be part of the solution. We’ll help educate our seniors regarding long-term care. We’ll support our churches’ short-term missionaries. We’ll conclude what we hope is another year of record-setting support for our Watson Mission Partners. Please check out this edition of our Dover Diary . This fall, I want to encourage you to “Get into the game!” This fall, I want to cheer you on, as you kick off a new season. God bless.