Steve Damon, Christian Ed. Coordinator
I have been attending UCB for the last few years.
My upbringing was American Baptist at Greenfield First Baptist. Upon its closing, my lovely bride, Joyana, and I started attending UCB, her childhood parish. She, along with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew immediately joined. I took a while – “Summer and Wintering,” an old Yankee might say – before making the commitment. I joined on April 5, 2009.
Since being at UCB, I’ve been a Deacon, read scripture, coordinated “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” told children stories, taught Sunday School, sung in choir, worked on many suppers, and watched little people in the nursery; I’m known for always having a baby in my arms. My two favorite activities at UCB are working with the infants and taking Communion to shut-ins.
Last night I completed Rev. Richard D. Philips’ book, “The Masculine Mandate,” which revolves around Genesis 2, where man is told to (in Phillips’ words) “build and maintain.”
That is what I plan to do with education at UCB.
Here, many people have built. Now, I will add to and maintain.
Christian education is for all – not just children. I hope to revitalize Youth Group (I still think of it as “BYF,” Baptist Youth Fellowship), establish a working Men’s Fellowship, and start adult classes in world religions.
I, having studied and taught in public schools since 1975, am a proponent for Socratic Method and love to question. Let us question together, and have God lead us.
(reprinted from United Spirit, November 2011)