MMBA gathered for its 2026 Annual Meeting on October 5, 2026, at 5 p.m., with a wonderful evening of dinner and fellowship. Our language churches graciously provided dinner. Laughter, conversation, and fellowship filled the room as pastors, church leaders, and members from across the Association gathered.
Pastor Chad Grisham, Elders Baptist, and MMBA Moderator, along with Pastor John Mackall, Director of Missions and Pastor of CrossLife Community Church, opened the Annual Meeting at 6:30 p.m. with greetings followed by Praise and Worship led by the Hampstead Baptist Church praise team.
Terry Stockman, a newly ordained pastor, highlighted his journey to becoming the new pastor at Liberty Baptist Church on July 5, 2026, sharing, “Our plans are not God’s plans. Watch what He can and will do, and it is for His glory. Our plans are meaningless unless we look to Christ.”
Adam Feldman, Provost at Metro Seminary Baltimore, which has an established relationship with MMBA and BCMD, shared how those called to ministry are equipped in the classroom and by mentors to prepare them in their calling. Reilly Kleppin, a Bachelor of Theology student and Student Director at Bethany Church Columbia, shared a powerful testimony of finding his identity in Christ in high school, which has led to his seminary education. During a question-and-answer session with Feldman, Kleppin brought laughter to the room when he shared that Hebrew had been his hardest class. Counseling, however, was his favorite, he explained, because it helped him learn to see people from a different perspective.
BCMD, a faithful partner of MMBA, were represented by Tom Stolle, Mark Dooley, and Katie Matthews. Tom, Executive Director/CFO/Director of Compassion Ministries, spoke of the relationship, “BCMD enjoys a special partnership, close bond, and open line of communication with MMBA, and I am encouraged by what MMBA is doing.” Tom went on to share the heart of BCMD with their Compassion Ministry, Poverty Ministry, and Disaster Relief stating, “We are called to love, serve, and assist.”
Mark Dooley, Associate Executive Director of Church Relations & Evangelism emphasized the importance of the Cooperative Program stating, “It provides the finances as fuel for ministry to reach every person in every city and every nation.” He went on to highlight the emphasis by BCMD on Evangelism training, including an upcoming training opportunity at Skycroft on October 15th. “We are responsible for equipping the saints, and evangelism training is one way BCMD is helping people be better prepared to share their faith and the Gospel,” Dooley said.
Katie Matthews, Disability Ministry Consultant, encouraged MMBA churches to consider how they can strengthen ministry to individuals and families affected by disability. “BCMD wants to help you start or strengthen a disability ministry, so the Gospel is shared across the world to those with disabilities,” Matthews said. She highlighted the continued Everyone Belongs Camp on the mountain at Skycroft and noted the second Sunday in July is Disability Sunday, as easy observation a church can share with their congregation. She paused for prayer in the room and then went on to urge churches to start small, even something as small as sensory bags for a family in attendance.
Pastor John Mackall presented the Director of Missions Report, recapping MMBA’s ministry in 2026 and looking ahead to opportunities in 2027. Referencing Isaiah 6:8 in his message, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.,” he shared it is the Lord who calls; however, we must be faithful to pray for a harvest and to look for leaders to raise up within the local church.
As part of MMBA’s 2027 Mission Experience Initiative, Pastor Dave Scafide of Manchester Baptist Church shared how a one-day ABWE missions conference several years ago helped ignite a passion for missions within his church. The conference led Manchester Baptist to pray for missionaries and for God to raise up new missionaries. Last year, the church traveled to Jamaica on mission, with 80 percent of those participating experiencing missions for the first time. He encouraged MMBA churches to participate in the Association’s upcoming ABWE one-day missions conference on March 6, 2027.
Andy Bell, pastor of Hampstead Baptist Church and part of MMBA’s OMC Team, shared his call and vision for MMBA’s Youth Initiative that would bring collaboration amongst the local churches to encourage and reach the next generation with the Gospel of Christ.
Pastor Chad Grisham, MMBA Moderator, opened the Business Session of the Annual Meeting. Unity was evident in the room as each of the four items up for vote passed. Cheers filled the room as the Association voted to welcome Going Together Baptist Church as a new member of MMBA.
The 2026 MMBA Annual Meeting closed in praise and worship marking a night of celebrating God’s faithfulness and preparing to usher in 2027’s call to “Live Sent!”
