We’re there
by Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator
when you need us
A well-known insurance company makes the claim, “We’re there when you need us.” It’s brilliant. No one wants to crash their car, have their house burn, experience illness or injury, or be the subject of a lawsuit. But all of these things happen. And when they do, it’s good to know that they will back you up. CBF of North Carolina has many wonderful ministries. Our oldest ministry is one that churches and ministers would prefer not to utilize, but eventually almost all of them will need it. I’m referring to our ministries that assist churches and ministers in transition. When CBFNC was founded in 1994, David Hughes, pastor of First, Winston-Salem, was elected as our first moderator. We had no staff. Almost immediately after CBFNC was constituted, ministers and churches began writing and calling David to ask for help with ministerial placement issues, or what came to be known in CBF circles as “reference and referral.” Through the years, different persons have coordinated this ministry. In 2007, CBFNC called Jack Causey, a well-known and widely respected North Carolina pastor to provide focused leadership for this important task. Our confidence in Jack and our commitment to this service was symbolized by Jack’s new title: Ministerial Resources Coordinator. Under Jack’s leadership, this ministry has evolved to include the following components:
Supporting Ministers – Jack serves as a “pastor to
ministers” and spends time counseling and praying with ministers who are seeking God’s direction for their ministry. He also shares their resumes with prospective congregations and in those unfortunate situations in which a minister has suffered employment termination, Jack, with input from the CBFNC Leadership Development Council, provides support, including in some cases, limited financial assistance.
Assistance to Search Committees – Because (hopefully) churches don’t frequently search for new ministers, committees often don’t know how or where to begin their search. We train search committees in this all-important task and share resumes of ministers who might be a good match. A new service involves providing ongoing coaching with committees to ensure they follow a healthy and effective search process. Interim Ministry Assistance – Through our experience with assisting search committees, we have learned that it is critical that churches begin with a healthy approach to the interim period between pastors. A relatively new service is helping congregations with a “bridge to the interim,” referring trained resource persons 2 • The Gathering – November/December 2013
who can not only fill the pulpit, but also explain to the congregation the various interim options at their disposal, including: n Part-time traditional interim n
Full-time traditional interim
n I ntentional
interim (through the Center for Congregational Health)
n P art-time
traditional interim with transitional facilitator (in partnership with the Center for Congregational Health)
As Jack explains, “A healthy interim process is as important in the search for a minister as a GPS system and is often essential to arriving at a desired destination. A healthy process includes engaging the congregation in clarifying its God-given mission, prayerfully discerning God’s leadership and relating to every minister it considers with integrity and compassion.” In an address I gave in March 2005 during my first CBFNC General Assembly as executive coordinator, I said the following: I dream of the day when we can develop a comprehensive Pastoral Transition Strategy which will include a network of folks all over our state who will work together to be aware of churches who lose their ministers and will step in to offer assistance to that church at every step in the process, from finding the initial supply preacher, to enlisting a strong interim minister, and, ultimately, to securing the next installed pastor who will be a good fit for that congregation, who will share their Baptist principles, who will lead them to discover and fulfill their unique, God-given mission, and who will maintain a close relationship with CBF, in North Carolina and around the world. I’m pleased that dream is becoming a reality through the development of our regional coordinator network. We have divided the state into eight regions and have enlisted a coordinator for each region to help us maintain closer contact with congregations and assist them with transition issues, along with other regional needs. Jack adds, “Our eight regional coordinators are seasoned ministers who, with competence and integrity, have a passion for working with ministers and congregations on their faith journey. I have the highest regard and respect for each of these ministers.” CBFNC is committed to the health, well-being and missional vitality of partner congregations. Congregations cannot thrive without ministers who share their values, have the gifts for ministry the congregation needs, and who, as servant-leaders, can equip them to participate in God’s mission in their communities and the world. Sometimes that means saying goodbye to one minister and searching, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, for another one. When that happens, CBFNC is “there when you need us.”
The Gospel of gardening
When Rick and Jane Gardner took over the Community of Gardens, they had one goal in mind: provide fresh produce for local food pantries. Two years into this ministry through First, West Jefferson, they have discovered several unexpected by-products. The produce that Community of Gardens harvests goes to individuals in need as well as to Ashe Outreach Ministries (AOM). According to their website, “Ashe Outreach Ministries is a feeding program serving nearly 2000 people with food per month. Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity in Ashe County.” AOM provides 60 meals a day, three times a week. Community of Gardens allows them to offer fresh produce as well as staple items. Jane served this past year as development manager for Out Grow Hunger, an initiative of AOM through grant funding, working to bring a community together by producing locally grown food for those who are food insecure. Community of Gardens has a unique model of monoculture gardening. One crop is planted per garden site. This makes for easier planting, protecting and harvesting. First has four plots, one each for corn, potatoes and winter squash, and a fourth with a wide variety of plants as a teaching/demonstration garden. The plots are formerly fallow home garden sites. Besides the produce, COG has other fruit. According to Pastor Michael Lea, “This has been very exciting for the aged widows and homebound. They get to see their garden come back to life. They get fresh produce again. They know their land is used to serve others. And, they get regular visits from church members who come to work the garden.” One member, Georgia Davis, is a 92-year-old who has lived on the same corner lot her entire life. She told the Gardners that there had been a garden there her entire life, which may make it a 100-year garden! Now she can again watch a garden grow, give food and receive visits. The Gardners have secured many persons of all ages from the church to plant, tend and harvest the gardens. Some persons
by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator
who are not able to work the garden are able to join the ministry freezing or vacuum sealing the food. Another benefit of the ministry is the partnership COG has formed with several community agencies besides AOM. The Cooperative Extension Service has been helpful by suggesting plant varieties as well as providing families continued education and resources. For example, if a family takes a 9-session course (EFNEP), they receive a free freezer through Out Grow Hunger. “Gardening is becoming a lost art,” Rick says. “Our goal now is to take five families through a similar training.” Two other local churches have joined First in this ministry. The high school agriculture department is saving seeds to provide plants for families in the Out Grow Hunger Program. Persons wanting Master Gardener certification need volunteer hours, so are eager to help. Students from Appalachian State University have volunteered as well. “This has given us an opportunity to reach out into our community and region,” Michael noted.
Suggestions for churches considering this ministry: Determine your goals and purpose for raising a garden. The leader needs to be an educated gardener who has time to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. They are giving April-September to this ministry. Research the best plants though the Extension Service. earn about potential partners who can help in education, L volunteering and food distribution. im to be successful by starting small. “You can always A expand as your number of volunteers grows or goals change.” he ideal would be to have three teams, one each for growing, T harvesting and processing. Rick and Jane have helped other churches begin gardens. You may contact them through First, West Jefferson. Another excellent resource on community gardens is Don Durham, leader of CBFNC partner, Healing Springs Acres (healingspringsacres.org). The Gathering – November/December 2013
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100s of resources at your fingertips
by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Reources Coordinator
... a wide range of subjects trusted by CBFers and all free! CBFNC would like to offer the opportunity to spread these resources around the state through a link on our website. Here are some issues we get frequent calls about: n n n n n n n n n n
Vacation Bible School curriculum Deacon training Ordination services Retreat outlines College Sunday School literature New church member orientation Helping children transition to “big church” Creating by-laws for a new church C hurch policies (personnel, child safety, permission forms for trips, etc.) Fund raising for youth ministry
To search our library: 1) Go to www.cbfnc.org. Hover your mouse on the “Resources” tab, and click on “Resources Library” in the drop-down menu. 2) Type a word in the search engine box. Click the “search” button.
To submit a resource: 1) Go to www.cbfnc.org. Hover your mouse on the “Resources” tab, and click on “Resources Library” in the drop-down menu. 2) Click on the link in the “Submit a Resource” box. We have many gifted persons in our churches who use their talents and energy to create retreats, Bible studies, worship services, policies, and many other practical resources for their local churches – resources that could be easily adapted to other churches, but that are too often kept within the four walls of that church.
4 • The Gathering – November/December 2013
A passport and a full tank of gas
by Lee Canipe, Murfreesboro Baptist Church
Mission teams from Murfreesboro Baptist Church and Temple Baptist Church in Durham gather in July with pastor Daniel Cimon (far left) outside Église Chrétienne le Rocher in Châteauguay, a suburb of Montreal.
Did you know that one of the most challenging mission fields in the northern hemisphere is within driving distance of North Carolina? It’s true. Across North America and Europe, no culture has become secularized as rapidly or as widely as Quebec has over the last two generations. In 1960, nearly 96 percent of all Quebecois attended a Christian worship service (in most all cases, Catholic Mass) at least once a week. By 2000, only 4 percent did. What does this mean for the relatively small handful of Quebecois Baptists in this proudly Frenchspeaking part of Canada? Spiritually speaking, it means that they are among a small minority of practicing, evangelical Christians in their native land. It also means that, as Baptists, they are religious outsiders in a culture that has traditionally equated Christianity with Catholicism. Simply put, our French Canadian Baptist brothers and sisters are walking a lonely and sometimes discouraging road as they try to be faithful disciples of Jesus in a difficult environment. One French Canadian Baptist congregation is in Châteauguay, a city of 45,000 on the outskirts of Montreal. Église Chrétienne le Rocher (The Rock Christian Church) and its pastor, Daniel Cimon, have been trying to share the good news of Jesus with the community since its founding in 1984. Only within the last few years, however, have their outreach efforts begun to bear fruit. How have they done it? As Rev. Cimon puts it, when they started listening to their neighbors, they discovered that many of the people who lived near the church were working class folks who were having trouble affording nutritious food for their families. Responding to that need, Rev. Cimon’s church began a weekly food bank that now serves more than 150 families—many of whom haven’t stepped foot in a church in years, let alone a Baptist one. Yet now, many food bank clients consider Rev. Cimon their pastor.
What’s more, some of these families have become active in the church and come to faith in Christ. For the last three years, several CBFNC churches have been building a relationship with Église Chrétienne le Rocher: First, Ahoskie; Temple, Durham; and Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro. Inspired by the example of Paul and Barnabas and their ministry of encouragement as described in Acts 14:22, these churches have discovered that being engaged with hands-on, international missions does not necessarily require large budgets and transcontinental flights. All it takes is a willing spirit, a passport, and a full tank (or two!) of gas in the car, and missionaries from CBFNC churches can be serving alongside their French Canadian Baptist brothers and sisters in Châteauguay as God opens doors for them to be the presence of Christ in their community. Want to learn more about this international mission partnership for churches that want to do international missions but never thought they could? The best way to start is by contacting Daniel Glaze at daniel@fbcahoskie.org, Scott Hovey at sahovey@gmail.com, or Lee Canipe at canipembc@ lycos.com. An international missions relationship is a lot closer than most of us realize! The Gathering – November/December 2013
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&
Renewed
refreshed
Going on sabbatical is renewing to the soul and a gift beyond measure. As I planned for this time, I had hoped to experience our ancient church roots and see future expressions of the church in our complicated world. I was not disappointed! My sabbatical began with a trip to Israel with Gardner-Webb Divinity School, led by Dr. Robert Canoy, dean of the school. His devotionals at each place opened my eyes and my heart to the scripture narrative. Thirty-six of us traveled throughout the Holy Land and Istanbul for ten days visiting Galilee along the Jordan valley near Samaria and up to Judea. We spent several days in Jerusalem, and visited the Dead Sea and Masada. It was a profound experience to walk where Jesus walked and breathe the air that Jesus breathed. Several impressions from the trip have stayed with me. I was surprised at all the ancient shrines that covered each holy place. The hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of Jewish stone caskets on the hill of Olives awaiting the coming of the Messiah was astonishing. I remember visiting the Church of the Dome and going literally around the corner to the Wailing Wall on the Jewish side. While in Jerusalem, we stayed in a Bethlehem hotel in the occupied zone. Looking out my hotel window, I felt shame to see forty-foot-high walls and guard towers cutting right through the neighborhood. Talking with a Christian Palestinian young man illuminated my understanding of how Israel retained total control of all goods and services going into that area and thus limiting opportunities and employment. The young man felt that he was in a type of prison. The trip finished with two-and-a-half days in Istanbul, the ancient capital of the Eastern Roman Empire where we visited magnificent mosques and the Topkapi Palace. As a result of this trip, whenever I read scripture I can truly “see” where it took place. Scripture has become so much more alive for me. I certainly encourage you to take this trip too. The next trip took me to Denver to visit the House of Sinners and Saints, an emergent church led by Lutheran pastor Nadia Boltz Weber. I found meaningful, vibrant worship with the full participation of the congregation, an acapella choir, and chairs placed in the round with the communion table in the center. A trip to Charlotte’s Place in New York City followed. Around the corner from the World Trade Center, Charlotte’s Place ministers 6 • The Gathering – November/December 2013
by Linda Jones, CBFNC Missions Coordinator
to the whole community as a “fresh expression” ministry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. It is a place for gathering … eating lunch, using the computers, spiritual conversations, taking lessons in art, dance, music and a myriad of other events. I also visited an Episcopalian meditative worship service in Los Angeles on my way to Bali. The soft music, candles, scripture readings, liturgical readings all contributed to heightened experience of time with God. Once we reached Bali, my husband, Joseph, and I hit the ground running. Jonathan and Tina Bailey, CBF field personnel in Bali for 17 years, work with more than 40 students from all over the world who come to Bali to study gamelon (tympanic symphony), dance and art. This group was invited to present a two-hour program of gamelon and dance where they interpreted the story of Jesus’ love. We found the students to be a cohesive, collaborative group sharing their spiritual gifts and abilities with the Balinese. It was wonderful learning how to relate spiritually with the culture through the arts. I finished my sabbatical by attending the Wild Goose Festival (a Celtic Christianity metaphor for the unpredictable spirit of God) in Hot Springs, NC. It was a four-day meeting “at the intersection of spirituality, justice, music and art.” Young and old came together to build community amidst our differences as we attended workshops, listened to main stage speakers and musical groups and discussed theology, our families, churches, and our life. It was uplifting and thought provoking, especially since I am co-pastor to new church start, Via Faith Community in downtown Winston-Salem. Throughout my sabbatical, I encountered new ways of reaching our culture with the Gospel message through fresh and sometimes ancient approaches. Each new expression of church had a specific calling for their “neighborhood,” a strong leader and a leadership team who attempted new things that sometimes failed. Thank you for the opportunity to be renewed and refreshed for my continued journey as Missions Coordinator for CBFNC.
Scholarships 2013 CBFNC Theological Education Scholarship Recipients Each listing includes hometown, church, vocational goal and school attending.To learn more about giving to theological education through CBFNC, visit www.cbfnc.org.
Scholars from North Carolina who attend Out-of-State or Non-Partner Schools Thomas Alexander Alvardo Sanford, NC Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Comienzo Worship Leader/Youth Minister Baptist University of the Americas Meghan Alexander Beddingfield Fayetteville, NC First, Fayetteville Pastoral Counselor Princeton Theological Seminary Alethia Ellen Chappell Raleigh, NC River Road Church Congregational Ministry or Chaplaincy Truett School of Theology Alvaro G. Cisneros Sanford, NC Ven a El Missionary or Pastor Baptist University of the Americas Mireya Cisneros Sanford, NC Ven a El Missionary or Pastor Baptist University of the Americas Nicholas Hall Clanton Concord, NC Calvary Baptist Collegiate Ministry/Pastorate Truett School of Theology Gloria Marcela Hernandez Sanford, NC Primera Iglesia Bautista Serve God with my future profession Central Carolina Community College Miriam Sarai Juarez Marion, NC Primera Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer Youth and Children’s Minister Baptist University of the Americas
Karla Lopez High Point, NC Worship Guilford Technical Community College Lucero Lopez Sanford, NC Baptist Mission in High Point Children’s Ministry Guilford Technical Community College Ngoma Ngoma Masiala Raleigh, NC United African Baptist Pastor Liberty University Jessica Marie Moses Wilmington, NC Winter Park Baptist Church Social Worker Truett School of Theology Michael Scott Rotolo, Jr. Henderson, NC First, Henderson Global Mission or Pastor Princeton Theological Seminary Barbara Andrea Sostaita Winston-Salem, NC Iglesia Cristiana Sin Fronteras Global Missions Salem College Nelly Tello Sanford, NC Primera Iglesia Bautista Children’s Ministry Baptist University of the Americas Cornell William Thomas Charlotte, NC Steelecreek Church Urban Ministry or Pastor Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Karen Zimmerman Mebane, NC Peachtree Baptist International Missions McAfee School of Theology The Gathering – November/December 2013
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M. Christopher White School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb www.gardner-webb.edu/admissions/graduate/divinity Boiling Springs, NC Degrees Offered: Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry Ron Allen Shelby, NC Poplar Springs Pastor Elizabeth Barnard Statesville, NC First, Statesville Outreach/Missions Elizabeth Maye Wingate, NC Zion Baptist Children/Youth Ministry David Hodge Murfreesboro, NC College Park Baptist Children/Youth Ministry
Susan Borders Shelby, NC Washington Missionary Baptist Christian Counselor Terry Roach Marion, NC Clinchfield Baptist Pastor Lynnette Sills Asheville, NC First, Asheville Christian Education Haven Parrett Rockwell, NC First, Kannapolis Pastor or Assistant Pastor
www.divinity.wfu.edu Winston-Salem, NC Degrees Offered: Master of Divinity, MA of Religion, M Div/Juris Doctor, M Div/MA in Counseling Larke Griffin Brevard, NC First, Blowing Rock Youth Ministry Melissa Kessler Kernersville, NC First, Kernersville Pastor Rachel Revelle Murfreesboro, NC First, Ahoskie Social Justice Ministry
This wonderful group of students brings spiritual and academic gifts to our school which are contagious to our entire community! Coupled with CBFNC’s support of theological education through the Mission Resource Plan, we are able to help students graduate and to enter (or continue in) their first full-time ministry positions without unmanageable education debt. CBFNC’s heart and head are truly focused on our Lord and the work of His Kingdom.”
Chelsy Mitchell Durham, NC Hope Valley Baptist Chaplaincy
Wake Forest School of Divinity
“Each academic year, the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb welcomes with enthusiasm its new and returning CBFNC scholars.
Robert Canoy, Dean
Nicholas Stewart Martinsville, VA Grace Baptist Church Hospital Chaplaincy Alyssa Szymanski Ocala, FL Brookwood Baptist Pastoral Care and Counseling “The scholarship support provided by CBFNC enables our graduates to go into ministry placements unencumbered with educational debt so they can to freely serve where God calls them. Wake Forest University School of Divinity educates students who will be leaders for justice, reconciliation, and compassion in church and community. Our strong partnership with CBFNC has been instrumental in this educational pursuit. CBFNC scholarships help many Wake Forest divinity students who excel academically, have strong promise for ministry, creative leadership abilities, and commitments to the Baptist heritage and tradition.”
Gail R. O’Day, Dean
CBFNC is honored to partner with divinity schools in NC in support of theological education. These divinity schools are Campbell, Duke Baptist House of Studies, Gardner-Webb, and Wake Forest. During the 2013-2014 academic year, CBFNC is providing $11,000 per school for theological education scholarships. These funds are sent directly to the school where staff selects scholars and distributes funds. Each school determines the number of scholars that are selected. 8 • The Gathering – November/December 2013
Campbell University Divinity School www.campbell.edu/divinity, Buies Creek, NC Degrees Offered: Master of Divinity, MA in Christian Education, M Div/MBA, Doctor of Ministry, M Div/MA in Community Counseling
Libby Johnson Wilmington, NC Winterpark Baptist Young adult education and missions Johnson Ramsaur Lumberton, NC Snyder Memorial Music Ministry
Steven Chewning Wadesboro, NC First, Wadesboro Hospital or Prison Chaplain
Alicia Turner Boiling Springs, NC First, Kernersville Children’s Minister/Missions
Lisa Grissom Raleigh, NC Westwood Baptist Church Preach/Teach the Bible/Gospel Daniel Heath Wilson, NC First, Wilson Youth Minister
Tyler Wood Smithfield, NC First, Smithfield Pastor or Missions
“Scholarship funding from CBFNC for theological education at Campbell University Divinity School is a God-send for the students who receive it. Together with the funds provided through the Mission Resource Plan, this support is a symbol of our partnership to provide ChristCentered, Bible-Based and Ministry-Focused theological education.” Andy Wakefield, Dean
Baptist House of Studies at Duke Divinity School www.divinity.duke.edu/programs/baptisthouse, Durham, NC Degrees Offered: Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, MA of Theological Studies, Doctor of Theology Jacob Drake Dickson, TN Crievewood Baptist Church Pastor or Professor
Joy Freemyer Boerne, TX DaySpring Baptist Church Christian Education
John Thornton Waco, TX Watts Street Baptist Pastor
“The support of CBFNC has been an enormous blessing that supports the calling of students and encourages their involvement in the life of our churches. We are grateful for our partnership in the gospel with CBFNC.” Curtis Freeman, Dean
l stil
Each year, our fellowship experiences a “family reunion” in the form of the General Assembly. The Assembly offers inspiring worship, informative ministry workshops, and helpful resources from various ministry partners and rich fellowship with Christians from around the state.
2014 CBFNC General Assembly
Be still and know that I am God
psalm 46:10
March 28-29, 2014, at First Baptist Church in Greensboro Worship leaders: Larry Hovis, Ken Medema and CBFNC Vision Team
The Gathering – November/December 2013
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