Happy new year!
 
By the Rev. Kristy Moeller
      
Dear Friends in Ministry: 

Everything has its time. As you know, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." 
 
Most recently, an immediate family member showed signs of a debilitating disease. As her caregiver, I was impacted by this reality and led to resign as your director of Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries and ecclesiastical endorser. My last day serving you will be Jan. 31, 2018.
 
It has been a sincere privilege representing you and utilizing my skills to raise your ministry to a new level. May God sustain you and bless you, as you impact so many individuals in so many settings. If you are in the Asheville, N.C., area, please feel free to contact me at kdmstrong@yahoo.com. 
 
And, lastly, please submit your annual report, if you haven't done so already. Next year, the due date will be Jan. 1, 2019. Thank you!
 
The Rev. Kristy Moeller will be director of ABHMS' Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries/ecclesiastical endorser until Jan. 31. 


Reflections: A new day is on the horizon!
 
By the Rev. Dr. Patricia Murphy

 . . . because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 
-- Luke 1:78-79 (ESV)
 
Happy new year, Beloveds! It is with great hope that I greet you at the beginning of 2018! As chaplains and specialized ministers, my prayer for us this year is: "May the ministry that you provided across this nation meet you with the strength, wisdom and courage that is available to all because of the mercy of God and the Grace of Christ Jesus." 

As we move into 2018, I see a new day on the horizon, and I believe that the new day is now!  Lest we forget, as spiritual leaders, to continue to meet each new day by being a bright light in dark places of racial divide, hatred, sickness, death, grief and deliberate injustice.

We have an obligation that calls us to daily connect to the divine. As we serve our nation as endorsed chaplains, let us always be mindful to unite in intentionality through strategic prayer.

American Baptist-endorsed chaplains, I charge you to continue to welcome each new day on the horizon with a spirit of love, joy, hope and peace! #todayisanewday #newmercies!

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Murphy is associate director of ABHMS' Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries.


Endorsements
 
Congratulations to all of our newly endorsed chaplains in 2017:
 
Romona Dollison  U.S. Air Force Military Chaplain Candidate Approval
Lauren Mullins  U.S. Navy Military Chaplain Candidate Approval
Kwee T.L. Say  U.S. Navy Military Chaplain Candidate Approval
Terri Sykes  U.S. Army Military Candidate Approval
The Rev. Stella Canty-Floyd  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Jeffrey Challberg  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Mary Fabin  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Jeffrey Hammer  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Richard Hill  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Robert Kraus  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Dr. Gregory Johnson  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Sheila A. Reed  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Dru Roane  Healthcare Chaplain
The Rev. Joseph Schreck  Correctional Chaplain
The Rev. Dwight Shanklin  Healthcare Chaplain
Chaplain Richard Blanchette  U.S. Air Force Military Chaplain 
Active Duty
Chaplain Coston Charles  U.S. Army Military Chaplain
Chaplain Liani Colon Sanchez  U.S. Army Reserve Military Chaplain
Chaplain Ryan Kahn  U.S. Navy Reserve Military Chaplain
Chaplain Sarah Mather  Healthcare & U.S. Air Force Reserve 
Military Chaplain
Chaplain Nakita McCalister  U.S. Army Reserve Military Chaplain
Chaplain Michael Mercier  U.S. Army Reserve Military Chaplain
1st Lt. Kelley Thury  U.S. Army National Guard Military Chaplain

Other celebrations
 
The Rev. Tamara Jackson has passed the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Exam!
 
In addition to telling us about celebrations and promotions, please remember to inform us of any changes to your mailing address, email and telephone numbers so that we can update our database and keep information coming to you in a timely manner. Send an email to endorsement@abhms.org .

2017 annual reports 

All 2017 annual reports are due Oct. 31, 2017-Jan. 31, 2018. To remain in good standing, submit your annual report now at abhms.org > Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries > Submit Annual Report


Events
Save the date for these special events in 2018 :

Feb. 12-15 Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Memphis, Tenn.

April 24-26 American Baptist Churches of the South, training/learning opportunity, Hilton Atlanta Airport

May 9-11 ACPE, Faith Group Breakfast, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel 

May 29-31 Women Military Chaplain Conference, training/learning opportunity, Bon Secours Resort, Baltimore, Md.

July 12-15 APC, Faith Group Breakfast, Anaheim, Calif.

Oct. 6 Specialized Ministry Summit, McCormick Seminary, Chicago, Ill.

Nov. 14-16 Space for Grace, Philadelphia


American Baptist Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haggray
Executive Director/CEO
American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS)
 
Rev. Kristy Moeller
Denominational Ecclesiastical Endorser
Director, Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries, ABHMS

Rev. Dr. Patricia Murphy
Associate Director, Chaplaincy and Specialized Ministries, ABHMS 
 
Alice Mitchell-Cross, MBA
Coordinator  of Ministry and Endorsement, ABHMS
 
Rev. Dr. Delois Brown-Daniels, BCC
Chairperson, Endorsement Committee
 
Rev. Elizabeth Ritzman, LCPC
President, Ministers Council, Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors Chapter




American Baptist Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministries
800.222.3872, x2482 
  
American Baptist Home Mission Societies