What is your name?
Sister Maria Baha
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Hawthorne, NJ.
How did you end up here at the Deaconry today?
There was a German church not far from my home. My grandparents, being German, only wanted to go to a German church. So my mom took them every Sunday to the German church in Clifton. I was a little kid, so I was taken along. I grew up in that German church, went to their Sunday school, and later I came to know the Lord there. That was a church planted by the Fellowship Deaconry. From there I was led to Camp Sunshine at 11 years old, and then I became a volunteer spending summers working here. Later the Lord told me he wanted me to serve here as a Sister.
What is your role here at the Deaconry?
Right now I am responsible for the care of the Sisters as their Housemother, and I am also the Director of Liberty Corner Mission. Most of the Sister’s are getting older and do not drive, so I arrange for rides and doctor’s appointments. There’s so much to do regarding Social Security, Medicare, and insurance issues. As Director of Liberty Corner Mission, I see that we send out prayer and news letters and collect donations. We send these to the missionaries in Japan and Taiwan, for their ministries and support, as they need it. I go to the field every couple years to see how things are going and try to encourage and bless them. I help put together the newsletter BRIDGES, which is a quarterly publication. We also organize an annual mission conference in the Fall, called CROSSroads. This is a three-day weekend event held here at Fellowship Deaconry Ministries.
What is a favorite Scripture?
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob,he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Any leaving thoughts?
Serving Jesus in life, and trying to honor him in all things is the ultimate in living. There’s nothing greater and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. And though I’ve failed Him many times, His love and forgiveness are always there to pick me up again. I wouldn’t switch places with anyone. When he tells us to do something, He desires obedience from us. If we give Him a yes, He will always lead us in the way He wants us to go. He came to give us life, so now that life belongs to Him. If I were to die today, I would have no regrets, because He gives fulfillment. I’m totally satisfied with Jesus and His way with me.
