For the first time in tax history, all non-profits--including religious organizations--must comply with new IRS 403(b) regulations by December 31, 2009, or risk plan termination, possibly subjecting their employees’ retirement assets to tax, penalties, and interest. Is your ministry prepared? The Summit Center's new 403(b) compliance package will protect your ministry. To find out more information or order the package, click here.
Summit Center Update
June 9, 2008
Eight CBTS students took part in the first “official” offering of the new Sweetbriar Baptist Church ministry simulation during the week of January 21-25, 2008. Participants took on individual roles of the leadership team at the fictional church and experienced a real-time “day in the life” of the multi-faceted ministry.
The simulation challenged the students to assess Sweetbriar’s current condition (spiritual, organizational, and financial) and develop a strategy for the future of the ministry. Then, as a team, they were faced with a myriad of day-to-day issues regarding administrative, theological, legal, and interpersonal matters needing attention at the church. The highlight of the simulation came on the final day when the team received feedback on their leadership of Sweetbriar. Feedback focused on the team’s overall effectiveness in guiding the church. The students also met in individual coaching sessions with the experienced pastors who observed them as they worked as part of the ministry team.
Describing his experience in the Sweetbriar simulation, Adam Almaroad commented, “It allows us to put into practice the things we have been learning. It facilitates an atmosphere in which we can learn things that could never be taught in a classroom or learned from a textbook. It allows us to learn things about ourselves that no one could teach us.”
The Sweetbriar Baptist Church simulation is designed to serve as a capstone project for M.Div. students at CBTS, allowing them to apply what they have learned in their seminary careers in a realistic situation.
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Summit Center 
Eight CBTS students took part in the first “official” offering of the new Sweetbriar Baptist Church ministry simulation during the week of January 21-25, 2008. Participants took on individual roles of the leadership team at the fictional church and experienced a real-time “day in the life” of the multi-faceted ministry.
Describing his experience in the Sweetbriar simulation, Adam Almaroad commented, “It allows us to put into practice the things we have been learning. It facilitates an atmosphere in which we can learn things that could never be taught in a classroom or learned from a textbook. It allows us to learn things about ourselves that no one could teach us.”