Vol. 78 Issue 27 Week of July 6-12, 2020
Midweek Moments

Midweek Moments will continue next week. Until then, consider the summer reading books suggested by Dr. Dennis Foust and Leslie Bragg about Racism. You can always view past editions of Midweek Moments on the SJBC YouTube Channel.
The COVID-19 Task Force would like to have your input on our reopening plans for St. Johns. The group has developed a short survey for the people of St. Johns so that your input can be taken into consideration as we make plans to move forward this fall. Please click the button below to complete the survey.
Our COVID-19 Task Force continues to meet on Zoom video-conference calls. Four work groups have prepared reports which are now being condensed into recommendations for the church. These recommendations will be brought forward later this month. We have already implemented Facility Procedures which are linked here and have been posted them on our website and at our building entrances. Meanwhile, wear your face coverings, wash your hands and practice physical distancing.

Our medical professionals on the St. John's COVID-19 Task Force have identified the following websites to be trustworthy resources for information related to this pandemic:


Goal of $15,000
Received to Date: $280

We never would have dreamed that we and our friends at the Nyarweng School in South Sudan would be sharing another connection. Just as we have had to do here, the school there had to suspend operation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The students were sent home to their parents, and except for the older students, the 8 th graders, the school is temporarily closed. Teachers are continuing to be paid and will be ready to resume as soon as it is determined to be safe.

In spite of the current situation for the school the community has gradually taken on more responsibility for the operation, with the parents paying fees which provide 20% of the cost of the teachers. This investment by the community gives hope for the long range future of the school.

Please join in prayer for the students, the teachers, and the whole community that they will be able to stay safe and well and will, in the near future, be able to resume classes.

The St. John’s Mission Resource Team has agreed to designate the Nyarweng School in South Sudan as the recipient of our 2020 Global Mission Offering, with a goal of $15,000.

The offering will remain open through the end of August.

Please send your offering by mail to Jacquelyn McAbee at the church, or click the button below to give electronically.
What folks are saying...

For the past few weeks we have been taking a look at how some of our partner organizations are coming up with creative ways to provide needed services to those most profoundly impacted by the pandemic. Although we have not been able to be involved in person as we are during more normal times, we continue our support of their work by through our own financial contributions so that SJBC can honor the pledges our Mission Resource Team has made to these organizations.

Recently we have received letters of appreciation from these organizations, with notes of how the help provided has benefited those in need . Crisis Assistance Ministry recently wrote “Your gift is already hard at work helping families in our community who otherwise might be without lights, water, a home to return to, a clean bed to sleep in., and many other life necessities. Every day, Crisis Assistance Ministry provides compassion and coaching to individuals in financial crisis, helping them toward financial security.” 

Baptist Peace Fellowship (Bautistas por la Paz ) tells us that they typically have had an annual summer gathering for worship, fellowship, and a sharing of efforts and strategies for promoting peace. Because of the pandemic they have shifted this summer to an online “gathering” to “build community, energize, and prepare us all to continue this work for peace…”

Rather than close their doors during these unprecedented times it has been inspiring to witness the creativity these partners are using to provide desperately needed services and continuing to partner with us in opportunities for “doing God’s work in the world.”
Realm at St. John's

In the winter of 2020 we transitioned to a new church management software called Realm. This is a tool that helps the staff and congregation to better connect, stay up to date, give online, and enhance our ministries. In the coming weeks will be sharing resources for you to view to learn more about how to use this new tool, especially as the scattered church. We will be adding more events and ways to connect to the life and ministry of St. John's via this tool over the coming weeks.

You can always access your personal Realm profile from any smart device via the Realm App or from a computer's internet browser. Click here to visit our church website and click on the "Realm Log In" from the top menu bar.
Church Staff Updates

Upcoming Maternity Leave for Mallory Brown

As many of you know, Mallory Brown, our Administrative Assistant, is having a baby in July and will be going on maternity leave very soon. For the past several weeks, she has been working with another administrative staff member, Derek Henson, to assimilate him into her primary job responsibilities which he will oversee while she is away this summer and fall. These tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.      Family News
2.      Worship Resources (digital and print)
3.      Mid-Week Moments Videos
4.      Communications
5.      Digital and Social Media
6.      Membership Records
7.      Realm Church Database & App

Therefore, if you regularly communicate with Mallory to send content to be published, videos to be processed, or information to be updated and more, please start sending all requests and questions to Derek at this time, as well as Mallory. When she officially goes on maternity leave, Derek will be the primary touch point for the tasks that Mallory normally does.

Derek can be contacted at dhenson@sjcharlotte.org or by mobile phone at 704.879.1805.

Derek joined the St. John's staff in late January to provide administrative support to our church staff. He began attending St. John's in the fall after moving to Charlotte in October. He previously served as an Associate Pastor of Administration and Communication in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Brite Divinity School of Fort Worth, Texas and also a previous staff member of Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth, a CBF and Alliance of Baptists congregation. He and his partner Paul will become residents of Pineville, NC this July.
Welcoming Rev. Nathan Dove
Pastor for Youth & Young Adults

Nate is the newbie on staff at St. John’s where he serves the congregation as the Minister to Youth and Young Adults. He considers both ministries to be paramount to the future of the church and strives to create experiences where young folks can engage with spirituality in non-intimidating ways.

Nate has roots in both South and North Carolina, having lived in both states. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he majored in religious studies. He received a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.

Nate is an advocate for technology and its inclusion in more progressive and traditional forms of worship. You might see him from time to time with a video camera in hand.

Nate enjoys spending time with his wife Emma and their dog Rufus. All three, like long walks, good food, and lazy Saturday afternoons.

You can reach Nathan via email at NDove@sjcharlotte.org .

Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy
Andrew Adair, Emily Batts, Byron Bullard, Mary Chilton (mother of Amy Chilton),
Carol Drye, Don Furr, Camille Green, Polly Hull, Gene Poole, Elma Thomas,
Alison Zieglmeier (daughter of Ken and Donna Scott), Barbara Ledford;
Parker Jackson, military
Prayers and sympathy to the family of Robby Ray following the death of his father, Pete Dixon on July 1st.
Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of July 1-7: $17,445
Income through July 1: $596,624
Annual 2020 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
You can make contributions, view your giving history and pledge status, as well as update your pledge and giving information anytime by accessing your personal Realm profile online or via the app.
St. John's New YouTube Channel
St. John's has recently launched a new YouTube channel. Here you can view videos of worship, mid week moments and other church related content. If you click on the subscribe button of our YouTube page, you will be notified when a new video is added.
Click below to visit the new page.

Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
 Dennis Foust - 704-359-7234
Lee Gray - 704-451-1309
Nate Dove - 704-662-2154
Allison Benfield - 828-448-8412
Kevin Gray - 803-524-0287
Mallory Brown - 704-477-3349
Jacquelyn McAbee - 434-579-1177
Derek Henson - 704-879-1805