Message from Reverend Mar Imsong:
MBMM has successfully implemented the Thriving Pastoral Ministry Program funded by the
Lilly Endowment through Ethnic Clergy Group (Cohort) and Intercultural Clergy Group
(Cohort) for the last 4 years.
One of the important factors for ethnic pastors to thrive in ministry is instead of building parameters around who and where we are to serve, we must be willing to cross borders by building bridges with one another and learn and grow together. Currently, we have 97 pastors participating in our Thriving Pastoral Ministry Program from 76 churches representing different ethnic, cultural and theological camps.
Although, we have been working hard to break down barriers, what Martin Luther King, Jr.
said in 1956 is still true: “You must face the tragic fact that when you stand at 11:00 on
Sunday morning to sing “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” and “Dear Lord and Father of
all Mankind,” you stand in the most segregated hour of Christian America.”
We are now in a time of even greater diversity than when King spoke those words, yet we
can still find ourselves segregated based on culture, theology, or politics. Scripture calls on us
to be one body, with Christ as the head in order to thrive in the ministry. Our goal is to have
honest and bold conversations and build bridges with one another. We hope that you will
join the Allelon Gathering. Your presence is very important because you are part of the
whole.
Many Blessings,
Mar Imsong
When: September 26-28, 2024
Where: Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701
To receive the discounted group rate, rooms must be booked by Thursday, August 29, 2024!
Featured Presenters
Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain
(General Secretary, American Baptist Churches, USA)
Rev. Dr. Gina C. Jacobs-Strain was called as General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA by the Board of General Ministries on November 4, 2023, and her service in this role began on February 1, 2024.
Dr. Jacobs-Strain’s devotion to the Lord began in her elementary school years when she committed her life to Christ. Previously, she served as Executive Director of American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) for six years. Under her guidance, ABWM introduced the AB GIRLS program, “Building Bridges and Gateways to Girl’s Future/Hie-STEAM,” an initiative connecting AB GIRLS Christian Curriculum with local STEAM providers, empowering girls to recognize God’s creative potential within them. ABWM has also broadened its Beloved Community and Domestic Violence ministries and now offers seminars and webinars tailored for young adult women nationwide.
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haggray
[Executive Director, American Baptist Home Mission Society (ABHMS)]
As executive director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies and Judson Press, Dr. Jeffrey Haggray finds the heart of his ministry in motivating Christians to impact communities with their deeply-held faith; encouraging emerging leaders to discern and respond to God’s call; and emphasizing God’s loving concern for humanity’s well-being, wholeness and justice.
Haggray works closely with diverse national and regional partners to provide a clear vision of the Christian mission in today’s world, to cultivate relationships and to develop resources for transformational ministry with congregations, communities and regions across the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico.
Having served congregations in New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; and Georgia, Haggray understands the day-to-day needs of local congregations involved in disciple-making, worship, leadership development, evangelism and mission engagement.
Rev. Dr. Doug Scalise
(Pastor, Brewster Baptist Church)
Doug graduated cum laude from Colby College ’86 in Waterville, Maine where he double majored in American Studies and History and Boston University School of Theology ’89 (Master of Divinity in Biblical and Historical Studies).
He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1999. Doug’s primary ministry interests are preaching, leadership, equipping people to discover and use their spiritual gifts in ministry, spiritual formation, and making disciples.
Several themes at the core of Doug’s philosophy of ministry are sharing God’s love, grace, and mercy and the joy we have in Jesus while serving God and others. Outside of BBC, Doug enjoys playing baseball with the Orleans Pirates in the Veteran’s Baseball League of Cape Cod in the spring and fall and and supporting the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Doug likes watching the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics, movies, especially comedies and classics, reading good books, going for long walks with Jill, and spending time with family and friends.
Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri
[Director of Intercultural Ministries for American Baptist Home
Mission Societies (ABHMS)]
As director of Intercultural Ministries for American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri is enthusiastic about continuing ABHMS’s historic commitment to relevant ministry within ethnic- and language-specific communities while also raising the attentiveness and ability of all leaders and disciples to engage in transformative work in an increasingly multicultural and multiracial society.
She says, “Transformative work that reflects the fullness of God comes through a life-long journey that includes all of God’s people. This shared journey requires commitment and intentionality by those who are privileged and/or positioned to shape the journey for others to remove all human-made barriers that limit each person’s engagement in the work and contribution to the transformation.”
Rev. Dr. Mar Imsong
(Executive Director, Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries)
Rev. Dr. Mar Imsong currently serves as the Executive Director of both Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries and the ACE Center for New Americans. Rev. Imsong is a trainer, coach, mentor, public speaker, and preacher. Originally from Nagaland in northeast India, he holds a doctoral degree (Th.D.) in Social Ethics from the Boston University School of Theology.