Center for Continuous Learning

Rev. Joy Martinez-Marshall, MDiv, serves as pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln, NE and as Interim Associate Region Minister to Mission Development for the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska. Most recently, she moved from Waco, TX where she served as a Student Life Minister. FBC Lincoln shares in ministry with 2 other congregations (Lincoln Karen Baptist Church and Livingston Christian Church) that call 1340 K Street their home. As pastor, Joy helps lead K Street Lunch, a sack lunch ministry in partnership with FBCL’s sibling congregations, other nonprofits, and a local retirement community. Joy serves as Vice President of the Faith Coalition of Lancaster County and on the Board of Directors for Baptist Women In Ministry. She is committed to helping the local church partner with what God is already doing in the neighborhood while encouraging creative ministry.

Rev. Donald Ng is "Baptist by birth" at the First Baptist Church in Boston, MA. (Thus, he is also a lifelong fan of the Red Sox!) After retiring as senior pastor from the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco, Don continues his Baptist life serving on the boards of the American Baptist Historical Society, the American Baptist Foundation, Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School, and the Friends of North East Christian University in India. Don has said, “If it wasn’t for First Baptist, Boston, I literally wouldn’t be here today.” Come find out why!

Rev. Rebecca Irwin-Diehl, PhD, is founding director of the ABHMS Center for Continuous Learning. Rev. Rebecca holds a Master of Theological Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, as well as a Master of Arts in Theology and the PhD in Theology from Villanova University. Her research has focused on lived spirituality, especially among those who are religiously disaffiliated or who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious." Dr. Irwin-Diehl is passionately committed, both personally and vocationally, to lifelong learning, especially when it comes to equipping other disciples with the tools they need to pursue ongoing faith formation and spiritual growth, individually and in community. In addition to her work with ABHMS, Rebecca serves as associate minister at the Second Baptist Church of Germantown, in Philadelphia, PA, where Rev. Dr. Crystal Jennings is pastor.