We are pleased to welcome Wendy Jones as the new Coordinator of Ministry Priorities for the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. Wendy will be providing key organizational support for the Transition Team as they seek to provide assistance and serve our churches and pastors. She will be the first point of contact for churches and pastors seeking assistance and will direct their inquiries appropriately.

Acadia Divinity College is hosting the Simpson Lectures February 6-8 in Wolfville, NS. This year`s guest lecturer is Dr. Arthur Paul Boers, the R.J. Bernardo Chair of Leadership and Associate Professor at Tyndale Seminary. The subject of the lectures will be "Living Into Focus: Embracing The Abundant Life." To register, go to the ADC website: http://www.acadiadiv.ca/.

Planning for Springforth 2012 is well underway. This annual event, which attracts hundreds of youth and leaders, is one of the largest youth gatherings in Atlantic Canada and is partially sponsored by our Convention’s United in Mission Fund.

Mr. Dale Berry, Board Chair for the Atlantic Baptist Seniors Citizens' Home Inc., is pleased to announce the Appointment of Mr. Gerald Ingersoll as the new Director of Seniors Housing for ABSCH Inc.

Mr. Ingersoll began his duties on January 10th succeeding Mr. Steven Campbell, who has faithfullly led the Organization for 18 years. Mr. Campbell officially retires on February 16th. Mr Ingersoll brings with him many years of leadership in the areas of business and education, and has provided leadership in many areas.

ABSCH Inc. has operations in several areas of the Maritimes including Moncton, Saint John, St George, Bathurst, Shediac, Hillsborough, Charlottetown, PEI, North Sydney, Bridgewater and Windsor, N.S.

We are looking forward to other opportunities within our Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches as Resources permit.

Bet Shean, Israel

From April 20th to May 10th, Acadia Divinity College is sponsoring an educational tour of Israel and the Palestinian Territories for students, pastors, and interested lay people. All participants will register for the tour as a credit for ADC or for transfer to another institution, or will register with ADC as a course guest. Hosted by Dr. Glenn Wooden, the group will move from Galilee in the north, at Dan and Caeserea Philippi, to the region of the Sea of Galilee (complete with a boat ride), on to Nazareth, Megiddo, and Bethlehem, and from there to the Wilderness and Dead Sea region where we will visit Jericho, Qumran, Masada and swim in (float on) the Dead Sea. Before heading north again to Jerusalem, we will visit the southernmost part of the traditional boundary of ancient Israel, Beersheba.

CABC President Rev. Daniel Walton

Happy New Year! Friends, I can hardly believe that another year is behind us. It seems a year just begins and ends before we even know it. In the midst of the rush, God has certainly blessed us!

This past year has seen some major changes for us as a denomination. Not only have we seen our family embrace major changes at Oasis last August in relation to our new staffing structure, we have seen very successful ministry happen through our staff during a period of question and change. God has been good to us!

The dawn of a new year brings us all renewed opportunities to hope and dream about what the next twelve months will bring. As a Convention, we are dreaming about what our shared ministry will look like and the beginning of 2012 begins a transition period as we move towards the vision we believe God is leading us into. As any church has experienced, the process of transitioning to something new can lead to some bumps in the road. This being said, as a Convention we are diligently working at making this transition as smooth as possible.

We are looking forward to August 22-25, 2012 when we will converge on Crandall University for our 166th annual assembly known as Oasis: Refreshment for the Journey.

We are very pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Allan Demond will be our keynote speaker for Oasis 2012. Allan is the Senior Pastor of NewHope Baptist Church (http://www.newhope.net.au) in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. He has been Senior Pastor since 1995 and prior to that was Senior Pastor of Highfield Baptist Church in Moncton, NB and serving in our Convention. Allan is originally from the Atlantic Provinces.

View the Christmas Greetings from our Executive Minister Dr. Peter Reid. Please take the opportunity to share this with your church families. This is also available on our Youtube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/cabc1655.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dr. Bruce G. Fawcett has been appointed as the eighth President and Vice Chancellor of Crandall University. The appointment was made this week at a special meeting of the Board of Governors following a presentation by the Presidential Search Committee.

Mr. Greg Cook, Chair of the Board of Governors, stated “We are very pleased that Dr. Fawcett has agreed to serve as Crandall’s next President. We believe his expertise, experience, and enthusiasm for the mission of the university will help lead it to a new level of growth and influence.” Fawcett will assume office on August 1, 2012.