Three Questions is a semi-regular series introducing individuals across the NAB by asking them about their story, their ministry, and what they are learning. This week, we hear from Bob Baumann, lead pastor of Eastwood Christian Fellowship in Kitchener, Ontario.
What’s your story?
I was raised in a Christian family and am a first generation Canadian. My folks were Germans from the former Yugoslavia, and dad survived three and half years in concentration camp before coming to Canada. I have lived almost all my life in Kitchener, Ontario, with the exception of six months on the Amazon between high school and college.
I always understood that I would be deeply involved in the church, as my dad was a lay minister and it seemed we were always doing something in or around the life of the congregation. As a young man, I began to help with youth leadership and eventually in outreach, Bible study leadership, and preaching.
After finishing an engineering technology program in college and getting married, my wife and I joined a small group that was attempting to plant a church. As I helped lead this group, I realized my need for theological training, which was strongly discouraged in the very conservative faith community of my youth. So I went off to Bible college on a part-time basis, squeezing a four-year degree into eight.
Eventually, our church plant of forty people merged with a small NAB church in Kitchener, and in February of 1998, I left my job as a technologist in the municipal government and entered full-time pastoral ministry. I have continued to serve the same congregation ever since. . . .
There is less than one week to go before the early bird registration for Triennial 2024 ends!
Once this timer runs out on February 1, it will already be too late. You will still be able to register, but the cost will be $420 per person instead of the lower early bird rate of $345.
Taking place in St. Paul, Minnesota, July 11–14, 2024, the theme of this Triennial is Becoming a People of Peace. You won’t want to miss out as we gather together to celebrate what God has done and is doing and look ahead to what he will do.
If you are curious about Triennial 2024 but still want more information, you can check out the digital version of our registration brochure. Inside, you will find ample information about our speakers, special events, breakouts, and more, giving you everything you need as you prepare to register online.
We look forward to seeing you in St. Paul in July!
Speaking of Triennial, come early and join us for Bonfire 2024! This year’s speaker is Jeff Christopherson, author of the book Once You See: Seven Temptations of the Western Church.
Our time together at Bonfire, July 10–11, 2024, will include presentations from Jeff, table discussions, sharing stories of God at work, and praying with one another. It will be an excellent opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues across the NAB.
Jeff Christopherson is a missiologist, movement catalyst, and author. He leads Church Planting Canada and the Canadian National Baptist Convention and is co-founder of Send Network, as well as co-founder of Church Multiplication Institute.
You can register for Bonfire when you register for Triennial 2024 using the link below.
Register for Bonfire at Triennial
The following guides contain practical pointers and easy-to-understand explanations to assist US churches and US ministers in cutting through the complexity of taxes and finance. The guides are published by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), of which the North American Baptist Conference is a member.
The 2024 Minister’s Tax and Financial Guide (for 2023 Taxes), which includes:
- The latest legislative updates
- Clarity on ministerial tax status
- Housing exclusion worksheets
- Sound retirement planning ideas
- Compensation planning guidance
- Sample tax return
The 2024 Church & Nonprofit Tax and Financial Guide (for 2023 Taxes), which includes:
- The latest legislative updates
- Tips on handling charitable gifts
- Tried-and-true steps for reporting financial information
- Key steps in sound compensation planning
- Examples of required IRS filings
If you have any questions about either of these, please feel free to reach out to us at communications@nabconf.org.