The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - November 2005

November 2005

Volume 10, Issue 9 Inside This Issue: Upcoming Events

2

Don Horton, Moderator

2

Dinner at Baptist State Convention 3 Partnering Churches

4

Soul Repair, Rick Jordan

5

CBFNC Fellowship Dinner Speaker: Ruby Fulbright, Executive Director, NC WMU Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.

Winston-Salem, NC

Village of Hope - Kiev

6

Larry Hovis

7

Prayer Calendar

7

Paid reservations (see page 3) are necessary as space is limited.

Financial Report

7

After the reservation deadline of November 3, please call (888) 822-1944 to determine availability.

Announcing Two New CBFNC Events . . .

CBFNC Children’s Choir Youth Ski Retreat This is the first choral festival for children sponsored by CBFNC; and the first for NC Baptists in many years. Put this date on your church calendar now! For registration forms and the complete repertoire list, see www.cbfnc.org/ youth.htm, call (888) 822-1944, or email cbfnc@cbfnc.org. with Clinician Sandy Holland, Director of the Charlotte Children’s Choir Repertoire: Anthems for the church year

Date: Time: Place: Lunch: Fees:

Saturday, January 28, 2006 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(Registration 9:30; Rehearsal 10:00) First Baptist Church of High Point Served at the church for a $4.00 fee $10.00 per singer with a maximum of $125 per choir, plus lunch

Worship Leader: Kyle Matthews CBFNC is hosting our first ever Ski Retreat for youth grades 6-12. The package includes: Two nights lodging at the Broyhill Conference Center or similar hotel, Continental Breakfast daily, Skiing Saturday at Ski Beech (9a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), Shaped Ski Rental, Lunch at the Slopes, and Worship on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Registration with your group deposit of $300 is due by December 1, 2005.

Options such as equipment upgrades, lessons, or skiing Sugar Mountain are available.

For Informational Brochure: Visit www.cbfnc.org/ youth.htm or call (888) 822-1944.

To Register: Contact Cliff Christian with CTI Group Adventures at (800) 285-7273 or email at cliff@skicti.com.

In next month’s issue of The Gathering we plan to share with our readers the many CBFNC churches who have traveled to the Gulf Coast to assist in Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief efforts as well as the many unique ways our churches are reaching out in this special circumstance.

Please email us with a description (200 words or less) of your church’s trip and/or other relief efforts, including the church’s name and city and a contact person from your staff or congregation. Also send us a few pictures as attachments, formatted as .jpg files if possible. For inclusion in the November edition, email your report to nparks@cbfnc.org no later than November 5th. We encourage you to continue to send us reports after that date, as well, for inclusion in future publications.

A CALL FOR HURRICANE RELIEF REPORTS

November 2005

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UPCOMING EVENTS

FINDING OUR GOD GIVEN MISSION - DON HORTON, MODERATOR

November 15, 2005 CBFNC Fellowship Dinner during the Baptist State Convention with speaker, Ruby Fulbright, Executive Director, NC WMU Bridger Field House, Winston-Salem Reservation deadline is November 3.

See registration form on page 3.

January 20-22, 2006 CBFNC Youth Ski Retreat Boone, NC Registration/deposit deadline: Dec. 1.

For details, see page 1 and visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm.

To register contact Cliff Christian with CTI Group Adventures at 800-285-7273 or cliff@skicti.com.

January 28, 2006 CBFNC Children’s Choir Festival First Baptist, High Point See page 1 for details.

Visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm for registration form and repertoire.

February 20-23, 2006 Youth Ministers’ Retreat North Myrtle Beach, SC with Retreat Leader: John Hendrix For a brochure/registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.htm. or call (888) 822-1944.

March 10-12, 2006 and March 24-26, 2006 Spring Youth Retreats The Vineyard Camp, Westfield, NC For a brochure and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm March 17-18, 2006 CBFNC General Assembly Ardmore Baptist Church Winston-Salem, NC March 31 - April 1, 2006 CBFNC Youth Choir Festival First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC For information and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm or call 888-822-1944.

June 21-24, 2006 CBF General Assembly Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, GA. For pre-registration and hotel reservations, see www.thefellowship.info.

Do you ever have times when you wonder why you are here? Not only here, as in North Carolina or wherever you may be as you read this article, but why are you here in this present life or state of existence?

We should also ask that question of our church. The answer will be relative to the sum total of our life experiences, including those with the church, Bible study, prayer and personal relationships.

I was fortunate enough to be raised by loving parents on a small farm in eastern Wake County, but it was sometimes difficult to feel fortunate as we lived through those early years of my life. We were a tenant farm family with six children, so it is understandable that we lacked most luxuries and some necessities during that time.

What we missed in worldly comforts and desires was more than made up by our communion with family, church and directly with God and His creation. When you are concentrating on serving God and others, your needs and desires seem to fade into the background.

On the farm back then, your encounter with the creation was up close and personal.

What an exhilarating experience it was when spring arrived and you were allowed to go barefoot as you began following the mule and plow around and around the field to break ground for planting. The feel and smell of that fresh turned soil as it gently wrapped around your feet and slid between your toes was an unexplainable delight.

The days were long and the work was tiring as we tended the farm manually with only the assistance of a mule. Sometimes we had two mules, when we could borrow one from the owner of the farm.

Without electricity and money to buy such things as toys or bicycles, we spent a lot of time admiring and enjoying God’s creation. Unencumbered by buildings and electric lights, many hours were spent lying on our backs gazing up into the sky watching cloud formations in the day and marveling at the moon and stars at night.

Toys were created from empty spools that once held the thread Mom used to make our clothes. An old tobacco stick made an

imaginary horse to ride, much like those we might buy today with fancy horse heads attached.

Each year, we purchased tiny seeds on credit from the country store with faith that the Creator would bring forth plants from the Earth that could be harvested and sold for enough to provide the bare necessities for the family and pay the debt we incurred to buy the seeds and fertilizer. Sometimes the rains did not come when we thought they should, and at other times the rains would come accompanied by strong winds and hail that would severely damage or destroy our crops.

At the end of those years, we ended the year in debt before we began the next crops.

Nevertheless, God always provided for us one way or another.

Beyond work, our lives revolved around the country church and our neighbors. The support and fellowship of our church family and those that lived nearby were crucial to our survival. Walking to your neighbor’s house a mile away for a visit was to be expected and was always a blessing.

My experiences while growing up helped me formulate an appreciation for the important things of life, and they continue to help me understand God’s mission for my life. I believe my mission is to respond to the spiritual truth that God created humans to commune with Him and to be stewards of his creation. We are to assemble to worship and praise Him and then go out to witness and serve others. We are to strive to be “little Christs” — little Christs neither in perfection nor power, but in love and service to others.

It is good for us to examine our life’s experiences and reflect on what God was teaching us during those good times and bad times. God has a mission for all of his creation, both individually and collectively.

Will you join me in seeking His mission for our individual lives, for our churches and for CBF of North Carolina?

November 2005

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DURING THE BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION . . .

You are invited to the

CBFNC Fellowship Dinner with Speaker: Ruby Fulbright Executive Director, NC WMU Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.

Bridger Field House (across from LJVM Coliseum) Winston-Salem, NC $12.00 person Paid reservations are necessary as space is limited.

Please complete the form below and return it no later than Thursday, November 3 to: CBFNC, 8025 North Point Blvd., Suite 205, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.

After the deadline of November 3, please call (888) 822-1944 to determine availability of late reservations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Church/City you attend: __________________________________________

Ministerial Position (if applicable): ______________________________________

Names of Each Reservation (please attach separate list if necessary): _____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Number of Reservations: ____________ @ $12.00 each.

Charge my: ____ VISA

Enclosed is my check in the amount of $_____________ made payable to CBFNC.

____ Mastercard

Card No. ________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date ___________________________________________________ Name on credit card: ____________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________

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November 2005

PARTNERING CHURCHES

OCTOBER 2004 - SEPTEMBER 2005

Partnering Churches for the twelve months ending September 30, 2005, are listed below. Churches contributing to CBFNC are listed in bold type. Churches that contribute to CBF National only are listed in regular type. This list does not include churches who partner with CBFNC or CBF in other, non-financial ways and may not include churches who support CBF National through Plan C of the Baptist State Convention Cooperative Program Missions Budget, as this information is not consistently reported to CBF. If you believe your church should be listed but it isn’t, or if your church is listed in error, please let us know at (888) 822-1944 or cbfnc@cbfnc.org.

Earlys ............................................. Ahoskie First ............................................... Ahoskie First ................................................ Albemarle Mount Zion .................................... Alexis Angier ........................................... Angier Neill’s Creek .................................. Angier Woodhaven ................................... Apex First ............................................... Arden First ................................................ Asheboro Oakwood Park ............................... Asheboro West Asheboro ............................... Asheboro Calvary ......................................... Asheville First ............................................... Asheville Grace ............................................. Asheville Lily Branch .................................... Bakersville Calvary ......................................... Beaufort First of Smithton .......................... Belhaven Benson ........................................... Benson First ................................................ Biscoe First ............................................... Black Mountain First ............................................... Bladenboro Lennons Crossroads .................... Bladenboro First ............................................... Blowing Rock Boiling Springs ............................. Boiling Springs First ................................................ Boone Boonville ....................................... Boonville Mount Moriah Calvert ................... Brevard First ............................................... Bryson City First ............................................... Buies Creek Memorial ...................................... Buies Creek Bullock .......................................... Bullock Burgaw .......................................... Burgaw First ................................................ Burlington First ............................................... Burnsville First ................................................ Butner Calypso ......................................... Calypso Hominy ......................................... Candler Greenwood Forest ....................... Cary Westwood ..................................... Cary Casar .............................................. Casar Chadbourn ................................... Chadbourn Bethel ............................................. Chapel Hill Mount Carmel .............................. Chapel Hill North Chapel Hill .......................... Chapel Hill University ..................................... Chapel Hill Park Road ...................................... Charlotte Pritchard Memorial ........................ Charlotte Providence .................................... Charlotte St. John’s ...................................... Charlotte Sardis ............................................ Charlotte First ............................................... Clayton White Oak .................................... Clayton Clemmons First ............................ Clemmons First ................................................ Clinton Rowan ............................................ Clinton McGill ........................................... Concord First ................................................ Cornelius First ............................................... Cramerton Cullowhee ..................................... Cullowhee First ................................................ Denton First ................................................ Drexel First ............................................... Dunn Westfield ....................................... Dunn Calvary ......................................... Durham Cedar Fork ..................................... Durham Hope Valley .................................. Durham Lakewood ..................................... Durham Lowes Grove ................................ Durham Temple ........................................... Durham

Watts Street .................................. Durham Yates .............................................. Durham Edenton ......................................... Edenton First ............................................... Elizabeth City First ............................................... Elkin Elm City ........................................ Elm City First ............................................... Elon Emerald Isle ................................. Emerald Isle Antioch ......................................... Enfield Enfield ........................................... Enfield Enka .............................................. Enka Fair Bluff ...................................... Fair Bluff First ............................................... Fairmont The Chapel Door ......................... Fairview First ............................................... Farmville Cedar Falls ................................... Fayetteville First ............................................... Fayetteville Lafayette ....................................... Fayetteville Lake Lynn .................................... Fayetteville Mount Pisgah ............................... Fayetteville Snyder Memorial ......................... Fayetteville First ............................................... Forest City Florence ......................................... Forest City Mount Vernon .............................. Forest City First ............................................... Four Oaks Pauline .......................................... Four Oaks Burningtown ................................ Franklin First ................................................ Franklin Franklinton .................................. Franklinton Aversboro Road ........................... Garner Covenant ....................................... Gastonia First ............................................... Gastonia Loray ............................................. Gastonia New Hope ...................................... Gastonia First ............................................... Goldsboro First ............................................... Graham Brandt Oaks ................................. Greensboro College Park .................................. Greensboro First ............................................... Greensboro Guilford ........................................ Greensboro Korean Mission ............................ Greensboro Lindley Park ................................ Greensboro Southeast ...................................... Greensboro Arlington Boulevard ...................... Greenville Immanuel ...................................... Greenville The Memorial ............................... Greenville Oakmont ....................................... Greenville Hallsboro ...................................... Hallsboro First ................................................ Hamlet Flat Rock ...................................... Hamptonville Carey ............................................. Henderson First ............................................... Henderson Providence .................................... Hendersonville First ............................................... Hickory Penelope ........................................ Hickory Viewmont ...................................... Hickory Hiddenite ....................................... Hiddenite Emerywood .................................... High Point First ............................................... High Point Parkwood ..................................... High Point Cane Creek .................................... Hillsborough First ............................................... Hillsborough Mars Hill ........................................ Hillsborough Hobbsville ..................................... Hobbsville First ................................................ Huntersville Lake Norman ................................. Huntersville Jackson .......................................... Jackson Brookwood .................................... Jacksonville First ................................................ Jamestown

First ............................................... Jonesville First ............................................... Kannapolis First ............................................... Kernersville Union Cross .................................. Kernersville Quaker Gap .................................... King Spilman Memorial ....................... Kinston Oak Ridge ...................................... Kittrell Knightdale .................................... Knightdale First ............................................... Laurinburg Goshen ........................................... Leland North Brunswick Fellowship ...... Leland College Avenue ............................. Lenoir First ................................................ Lenoir Churchland .................................. Lexington First ............................................... Lexington Jersey ............................................ Lexington Reeds ............................................. Lexington Mount Pleasant .............................. Liberty Lillington ....................................... Lillington First ................................................ Lincolnton Littleton ......................................... Littleton Louisburg ..................................... Louisburg Lumber Bridge ............................... Lumber Bridge First ............................................... Lumberton First ............................................... Madison First ............................................... Mamers First ............................................... Marion Mars Hill ...................................... Mars Hill First ............................................... Marshall First ............................................... Marshville First ................................................ Mayodan New Bessemer .............................. McLeansville First ............................................... Mebane Mount Adar .................................. Mebane Eatons ............................................ Mocksville First ................................................ Mocksville First ............................................... Monroe Aaron ............................................ Montezuma First ............................................... Mooresville First ............................................... Morehead City First ............................................... Morganton Calvary ......................................... Mount Airy First ............................................... Mount Airy Flat Rock ....................................... Mount Airy Piney Grove ................................... Mount Airy First ............................................... Mount Gilead First ................................................ Mount Holly First ............................................... Mount Olive Murfreesboro ............................... Murfreesboro Fairplains ..................................... N. Wilkesboro First ............................................... N. Wilkesboro First ............................................... New Bern Kendalls ........................................ New London First ............................................... Newland Trinity ........................................... Newton Oak City ........................................ Oak City Union Grove .................................. Oak Ridge Enon .............................................. Oxford Hester ............................................ Oxford Oxford ........................................... Oxford Roberts Chapel ............................ Pendleton Stough Memorial ......................... Pineville Mount Gilead ............................... Pittsboro Pittsboro ......................................... Pittsboro Hephzibah ...................................... Princeton First ............................................... Raleigh Forest Hills ................................... Raleigh Greystone ...................................... Raleigh Hayes Barton ................................ Raleigh

November 2005

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SOUL REPAIR

- RICK JORDAN, CHURCH RESOURCES COORDINATOR

A few weeks ago, I bought a new truck.

Brand new, I mean. We bought our 1991 truck in 1991 and kept it for 193,000 miles. When I picked up my 2005 pick up, it had 6 miles on the odometer. I expected a refund of .45 cents a mile, but it never came. This was one of the last 2005 models available in the style I wanted (a box with a radio and air conditioning), so I had to wait a couple of days for it to arrive. I could have picked up a very fancy truck right away for several thousand dollars more, but hey, this is a truck, and I plan to use it as a truck, not as a race car or a living room.

Finally, we got the call that my new truck was in. I call it my truck, but really it is for my oldest son, Todd, to drive to school.

The old truck had no air bags or other safety devices that come standard on newer vehicles, and my wife really was uncomfortable with him driving every day without those features.

(She let me drive without those features for 15 years, but that’s another column.) My wife and I went to the dealership, wrote a check (the largest I’d written all week) and drove off. At home, I got Todd and we rode around a little while, experimenting with the manual drive, finding the light switches and inhaling that new truck smell. I left then for an overnight meeting.

The next day, I got a call from home. It was Susan. “Rick, how long have we owned that new truck?” “Two days, almost. Is

there a problem with it?” “Well, the back bumper’s bent now.” It turns out that as Todd was stopped at a stop sign, another student ran into the back end of my new truck. It was a slow collision, maybe 5 mph. No one was hurt. The officer estimated damages to be about $1000 to each vehicle. The insurance agent and the body shop agreed with that estimate. One thousand dollars for a bumper and two little license plate lights. I figure I could have the whole truck rebuilt for about a quarter million.

Then came the letters from law firm after law firm who, bless their hearts, were very concerned that Todd may have gotten injured in the accident. They each went so far as to send us the accident report, so we wouldn’t be confused which accident they were referring to. They knew ways to help us if Todd had gotten hurt, although they are not physicians. These letters of concern really warmed my heart.

The truck is repaired now. No one knows that it’s been in an accident except my family and, now, about 10,000 of you CBFers.

Back bumpers are easily and quickly repaired or replaced. That’s life in the body shop world. Outside of the body shop, though, in real life, bodies get beaten, homes get destroyed, the poor get ignored – and things are not so easily repaired or replaced. CBF is not a body shop. Neither is the local church. Still, we are in the mending business. We are in the seeking-and-saving-the-lost shop.

At CBF, our missions focus is on the most marginalized and the most neglected people. We are driven to minister to those who minister (continued on page 7)

PARTNERING CHURCHES, continued from page 4 Hillcrest ......................................... Raleigh HomeStar Fellowship .................. Raleigh Longview ....................................... Raleigh Macedonia ..................................... Raleigh New Community ............................ Raleigh New Hope ..................................... Raleigh Ridge Road ................................... Raleigh St. John’s ...................................... Raleigh Tabernacle .................................... Raleigh Temple ........................................... Raleigh Triangle ......................................... Raleigh Trinity ........................................... Raleigh First ................................................ Red Springs Calvary .......................................... Reidsville Richfield ....................................... Richfield First ............................................... Richlands Rosemary ...................................... Roanoke Rapids First ................................................ Robersonville First ................................................ Rockingham Lakeside ........................................ Rocky Mount Rileys Creek .................................. Rocky Point Rolesville ....................................... Rolesville Rose Hill ........................................ Rose Hill First ............................................... Roseboro First ............................................... Rowland Lamberth Memorial .................... Roxboro Roxboro ........................................ Roxboro First ................................................ Rural Hall First ............................................... Rutherfordton Covenant ....................................... Salisbury Enon ............................................... Salisbury First ................................................ Salisbury Neel Road ...................................... Salisbury Ephesus .......................................... Sanford First ............................................... Sanford Jonesboro Heights ......................... Sanford Thanksgiving ................................ Selma

Double Shoals ............................... Shelby First ............................................... Shelby Ross Grove .................................... Shelby Zion ............................................... Shelby Rocky River ................................... Siler City Nobles Chapel .............................. Sims First ............................................... Smithfield Sharon ........................................... Smithfield First ............................................... Southern Pines First ............................................... Spindale Spencer ......................................... Spindale Ephesus ......................................... Spring Hope First ................................................ Spring Hope First ............................................... Spruce Pine First ............................................... Stanfield First ............................................... Statesville Concord ........................................ Stedman First ............................................... Stoneville Brunswick Islands ......................... Supply East Sylva ...................................... Sylva First ............................................... Sylva Antioch ......................................... Taylorsville First ............................................... Taylorsville Teachey .......................................... Teachey Brunswick Islands ....................... Tryon Round Hill ..................................... Union Mills First ................................................ Wadesboro Spring Hill ..................................... Wagram Heritage ........................................ Wake Forest Wake Forest ................................. Wake Forest Woodland ....................................... Wake Forest First Fellowship ........................... Wallburg Warrenton ...................................... Warrenton First ............................................... Washington First ................................................ Waynesville First ............................................... Weaverville

The Church at Weddington ............................... Weddington Weldon ........................................... Weldon Wendell .......................................... Wendell First ................................................ West Jefferson Fishing Creek ............................... Whitakers Hickory .......................................... Whitakers First ............................................... Whiteville Mount Zion ................................... Whiteville New Hope ..................................... Whiteville Wilkesboro ................................... Wilkesboro First ............................................... Wilmington Masonboro .................................... Wilmington Temple ........................................... Wilmington Winter Park .................................. Wilmington First ............................................... Wilson Wingate ......................................... Wingate Ardmore ....................................... Winston-Salem College Park ................................. Winston-Salem Fellowship ..................................... Winston-Salem First ............................................... Winston-Salem Knollwood .................................... Winston-Salem Konnoak ........................................ Winston-Salem Mineral Springs ............................. Winston-Salem Northwest ..................................... Winston-Salem Peace Haven ................................. Winston-Salem United ............................................ Winston-Salem Unity ............................................. Winston-Salem Wake Forest ................................. Winston-Salem Westview ....................................... Winston-Salem Winterville ..................................... Winterville Deep Creek .................................... Yadkinville First ................................................ Yadkinville Maplewood .................................... Yadkinville Youngsville ................................... Youngsville Zebulon ......................................... Zebulon

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November 2005

CELEBRATIONS AND CHALLENGES AT THE VILLAGE OF HOPE - KIEV - JEFFREY VICKERY “The uniqueness of the Village of Hope is not in its beautiful forest location or facilities,” writes Victor Kulbich, but in the “one goal” that Ukrainians, North Carolina Baptists, and other Christians spread across Europe and the US have “to save the lost children of Ukraine.”

Kulbich is the pastor of Bethany Church in Bucha, Ukraine, located just up the street from the Village of Hope. He works in partnership with CBF missionaries Mina and Gennady Podgaisky to lead the Executive Committee that facilitates the ministry at the Village of Hope.

Letters of thanks and celebration from both Kulbich and the Podgaiskys were read at a recent gathering of mission volunteers from CBFNC churches that traveled to Ukraine this summer as part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to children living on the streets in Kiev.

According to reports from Bill Mason, a layman from Wingate Baptist, 32 summer volunteers attended an evaluation meeting at McGill Baptist in Concord. They celebrated the work accomplished by the mission teams this past summer who built more than 1600 feet of concrete and iron fencing, salvaged a large quantity of brick for future projects, refurbished the existing playground, and helped stock clothes in the Lighthouse awaiting the children’s arrival.

True to its intent, the meeting also looked forward to next summer by recommending improvements to the logistics, pricing,

Hey youth minister, how about a little R&R? CBFNC Youth Ministers’ Retreat for Rest & Renewal February 20-23, 2006 Beach Cove Resort, North Myrtle Beach, SC Worship Leader: John Hendrix Need Rest? Come for great beach-front lodging and a flexible schedule which allows to choose the events which best meet your needs – even if that is spending time alone in prayer, playing a round of golf, attending a seminar, or catching up on sleep!

Need Renewal? There will be excellent worship services to help renew your spirit and call and a variety of seminars such as Child Protection in our Church, Baptist Bar Mitzvah, When is it Time to Move?, Developing a Team, and Doing Mission Trips.

For a brochure and more information, visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.htm or call (888) 822-1944.

and work schedule for future volunteer teams. As many as 13 CBFNC-related churches have already requested dates to return and work at the Village of Hope for 2006.

Mason and Jeffrey Vickery of Cullowhee Baptist are on the International Board of Supervisors for the Village of Hope that meets October 21-22 in Bucha to discuss plans for the work yet ahead.

Some challenges lie ahead for the Village of Hope as well. Mason reported at the September 24 meeting that five children have had all the paperwork and legal requirements completed to be placed in the Lighthouse. This process has been a struggle for the Executive Committee all summer long. At the same time, however, the foster family originally assigned to care for the children were “not fulfilling their responsibilities in the Lighthouse” and will be replaced with a new family. As soon as new caregivers are in the Lighthouse, the five children will have their new home!

Any church, mission group, or individuals interested in sponsoring a child in the Lighthouse ($200 per month) or in reserving a date for 2006 to work at the Village of Hope, please contact Mason or Vickery: Bill Mason Jeffrey Vickery 704-233-4645 828-293-9024 wmason@carolina.rr.com jandtvickery@msn.com Jeffrey Vickery is Co-Pastor of Cullowhee Baptist Church. s s s

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FROM CBFNC FRIENDS Surviving or Thriving?

A One-Day Youth Ministry Training Event for Western North Carolina Sponsored by the Smoky Mountain Institue of Christian Studies Location of Event: Western Carolina University BSU November 12, 2005 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Seminar topics: “Planning a Mission Trip,” “How to Lead a Youth Bible Study 101,” “10 Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made as a Youth Leader,” “7 Great Outreach Events.”

For information, contact Dr. Wanda Kidd at (828) 293-9030 or BSU@dnet.net.

Understanding Fundamentalism: Three Conversations with Dr. Sam Hill Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, NC November 19-20, 2005 What characterizes Fundamentalism? Who are the Christians who proudly claim that title? What is their ethical vision for a righteous society? How can one be as earnest about personal faith and social responsibility as they are without sharing their outlook?

The story is complex and deserves our careful attention. The telling of that story is the aim of these sessions.

For more information, visit www.wattsstreet.org.

Third Annual SC/NC CBF Clergy and Women of the Church Conference Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach March 2-5, 2006 Speaker: Eileen Campbell-Reed Clergy: March 2-3 Topic: “What is Sabbath When You Work Every Sunday?”

Laity: March 3-5 Topic: “Keeping the Sabbath: Honoring God and Self” For more information, email Amanda Atkin at atkin@gfbccary.org.

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November 2005

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS - LARRY HOVIS, COORDINATOR I’m beginning to understand more and more that our ability (or inability) to give thanks, in every area of our lives, forms the paradigm, or lens, through which we perceive and experience and live life. Our most basic and foundational attitudes are related to our expression (or lack thereof) of thanksgiving.

Those who frequently express thanksgiving are optimists.

They have the ability to see the glass as half full, rather than half empty, and they give thanks for what they do have, rather than expressing resentment for what they don’t have. Those who don’t often express thanksgiving are pessimists. They tend to see the glass as half empty. They have a sense of entitlement (“I deserve more”) and feel hurt or injured when things don’t always go their way.

Thankful people are more emotionally and spiritually mature than unthankful people. I have seen this truth illustrated in “real time” in recent days. A young father described how he had spent the day with his daughter, treating her to several of her favorite activities: time at the playground; a visit to the home of one of her friends; a meal at her favorite restaurant. Rather than thanking him for these treats, in every case, she cried and pitched a temper tantrum when it was time to leave. Rather than being thankful for what she had, she was upset because she wanted more. I comforted him with a reminder that her behavior is not atypical of four-year-olds. I had a similar experience with my daughter when she was that age On the other hand, I have been impressed with my mother’s ability to express thanksgiving for her life, even though she is fighting a battle against cancer. Her diagnosis last spring came as a complete surprise and has drastically

changed her plans for a full and active retirement. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have affected the quality of her life, and, realistically, the quantity. It would be very easy for her to become resentful and bitter. Instead, she is taking positive steps to deal with her cancer, not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. She is truly thankful for the life and health she has enjoyed, and still enjoys, rather than complaining about what has been taken away.

These are difficult days for churches and for Baptist bodies such as associations and conventions. Tastes and expectations of congregations and communities are constantly changing. Conflict seems rampant. Though the mission has never been greater, adequate resources seem hard to come by. That’s why I’m extremely thankful for our Fellowship, in North Carolina and beyond. After one year as your Coordinator, I can truly say that in this Fellowship, Christians and churches who feel excluded elsewhere are welcomed with open arms. In this Fellowship, resources are growing, not declining. In this Fellowship, we are not bound by doing the same old things in the same old ways. In this Fellowship, we care about cooperating with one another, not controlling one another. Yes, we have our struggles as we face the storms of ministry in these challenging days of the twenty-first century, but we are thankful to be in the same boat, rowing together, focusing our eyes on the Christ who will guide us safely to shore.

Being thankful or unthankful will not change circumstances one bit. Expressing thanksgiving will, though, change us. It will enable us to enjoy life more fully and abundantly. It will help us to be more healthy, emotionally and spiritually. Perhaps that’s why Paul said, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR MISSIONS

FINANCIAL REPORT

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina seeks a coordinator for its missions ministries. Qualified candidates will possess a passion for the Gospel, missions, churches and people, a commitment to CBF values, excellent communication and organizational skills, and the ability to think strategically and act cooperatively.

Applicants must possess a Masters of Divinity (or equivalent) and must have completed at least five years of vocational ministry. Experience with and knowledge of North Carolina and its Baptist churches is a plus. The position requires relocation to the Winston-Salem area, significant travel, and frequent preaching and speaking.

Interested persons should send a resume, cover letter and references to personnel@cbfnc.org.

SEPTEMBER 2005 CONTRIBUTIONS CBFNC Budget — $54,152 Other — $32,751

2005-2006 MONTHLY BUDGET GOAL: $55,455

Soul Repair (continued from page 5)

have the greatest needs and the least resources, physically, economically and, of course, spiritually. Your church is probably in the midst of its budgeting process and at the beginning of its Christmas-time mission emphasis. Remember those who do not know the abundant life that Jesus offers. Help us help them find repair for their souls.

CBF NORTH CAROLINA 8025 NORTH POINT BLVD., SUITE 205 WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27106

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Call today for availability of late reservations for the CBFNC Fellowship Dinner during the Baptist State Convention.

CBF North Carolina November 2005 Phone: (888) 822-1944 • (336) 759-3456 Fax: (336) 759-3459 cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org Coordinating Council Don Horton, Zebulon Greg Rogers, Greenville Moderator Recorder Tonya Vickery, Cullowhee Roger Gilbert, Mount Airy Moderator-Elect Past-Moderator Boyce Wilson, Winston-Salem Treasurer Glenda Currin, Wrightsville Beach Larry Harper, Raleigh Carolyn Dickens, Raleigh David Hood, Hickory Katie Ethridge, Beaufort Steve Little, Marion Kathryn Hamrick, Shelby Roy Smith, Raleigh

Faith Development Ministry Council Jennifer Baxley, Henderson Bruce Hartgrove, High Point Crystal Leathers, Hickory Karen Metcalf, Raleigh Kristen Muse, Raleigh

Mickie Norman, Leland Jeff Pethel, Rolesville Anita Sayles, Asheville Blythe Taylor, Charlotte Tim Wilson, Hickory

Leadership Development Ministry Council Kitty Amos, Winston-Salem Ron Glover, Monroe Kheresa Harman, Erwin Burke Holland, Belhaven Randall Lolley, Raleigh

Ken Massey, Greensboro Pam Riley, Durham Wayne Wike, Matthews Larry Williams, Louisburg Steve Zimmerman, Mebane

Missions Development Ministry Council Cecelia Beck, Forest City Kendell Cameron, Whiteville Ron Cava, Clinton Raymond Earp, Beaufort David Hailey, Raleigh

Carolyn Hopkins, Cary Bill Jones, Newland Shirley Kool, Sylva Judy LeCroy, Lexington Layne Smith, Hickory

CBF Council Members From NC Sheri Adams, Boiling Springs Gail Coulter, Hendersonville Mary Anne Croom, Ahoskie Irma Duke, Fuquay-Varina

Jack Glasgow, Zebulon Bill Ireland, Winston-Salem Guy Sayles, Asheville

Staff

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WINSTON-SALEM, NC PERMIT NO. 162

Larry Hovis ....................... Coordinator Rick Jordan ....................... Church Resources Coordinator Nancy Parks ...................... Office Manager Gail McAlister .................. Financial Assistant Beth McGinley .................. Office Assistant