The Gathering CBFNC Magazine – Summer2024

Reflecting on the Tour of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum

30 for 30 Campaign Announced at Annual Gathering 2024

They Don’t All Agree on One Tune: Baptist Identity 2024

CBFNC: A Brief History

Leadership Through the Years

A Growing Expression of the Kingdom

Witnessing the Power of Campus Ministry 20 HPT: Lessons from Listening to Pastors

CBFNC Launching Helping Churches Thrive

Brickson Sam, pastor of Together in Christ International Ministries in Charlotte, and his wife, Annie, pose for a photo at CBFNC’s 30th anniversary celebration.

TOGETHER

By Larry Hovis CBFNC Executive Coordinator

At the Annual Gathering in March, I was honored to deliver the 30th Anniversary address. Its title was “Together.” I tried to make the point that for Baptists born out of conflict who place a high value on freedom, voluntarily being together, and staying together for three decades, is a significant accomplishment!

Though we have much to celebrate about our first 30 years, four concepts in particular have contributed to our successful experiment in maintaining a thriving fellowship that majors on freedom: The Ties That Bind, Listening and Responding, Missional Collaboration and Fellowship.

The Ties That Bind

We were born out of devotion and a commitment to living out a particular understanding of Baptist principles. They are contained in our foundational documents. They include:

• The Lordship of Jesus Christ alone,

• The Centrality and Authority of Scripture (but not any particular human statement about or interpretation of the Bible),

• The Autonomy of the Local Church, and

• Freedom of Religion for all people.

To these I would add, a commitment to cooperation in pursuit of God’s mission in the world. God’s mission is bigger than any Christian, any church or even our fellowship. It requires our very best efforts to cooperate with one another. We are not Independent Baptists. We are Cooperative Baptists.

Listening and Responding

The portfolio of ministries we have pursued through the years has been impressive. They have come about because of our practice of listening and responding to the needs voiced in churches, ministry partners and the world. Looking back over 30 years, we have come together and have been blessed with some amazing experiences and accomplishments.

We came together in Ukraine to build the Village of Hope and provide homes and families for street children.

We came together in Belize, to conduct a school for church leaders and to partner with local churches to address a variety of needs.

We came together in eastern and western North Carolina to respond to disasters.

We came together to support partners at a level unmatched by any other organization within the CBF network.

We came together to nurture new avenues for theological education and equip the next generation of ministry leaders.

We came together to develop a network of campus ministries across our state, in both state universities and historically Baptist institutions; a ministry that’s unparalleled in CBF life.

We came together to offer faith formation experiences for children and youth that their leaders could trust, which are consistent with the values of their churches.

We came together to resource ministers and churches in a wide variety of ways, even gaining the attention and support of Lilly Endowment.

We came together to form Red Latina, to welcome, support and network Hispanic/Latino pastors and churches.

We came together to work towards racial equity and justice in our congregations and communities.

We came together to encourage and challenge churches to use their property and space to offer hospitality and welcome in the name of Jesus.

We came together to support and empower the leadership of women in every aspect of church life and in our fellowship.

We came together regionally and in state-wide gatherings to worship, work and witness the Good News of Jesus; to be reminded we are not alone, that we have

See “Together” on page 4.

kindred of like mind and heart on the difficult journey of following Jesus in our time.

We have come together as a fellowship, to be more and to do more together than we could ever do alone.

Missional Collaboration

It’s no secret that the larger CBF movement in general, and CBFNC in particular, was founded in the midst of a controversy within Southern Baptist life 30 years ago. A reminder of that history might help us avoid repeating it.

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was founded in 1845 over slavery. For the next 80 years, the SBC was a loosely connected system with neither a written confession of faith nor a common financial plan. That all changed 99 years ago. At the 1925 SBC annual meeting, two momentous decisions were made.

The first decision was to adopt a confession of faith. This decision was an accommodation to those who, for decades, had insisted on a greater degree of doctrinal conformity. Even so, that statement called “The Baptist Faith and Message,” (BFM) made clear that it was not binding on churches.

Fellowship

In the second chapter of Acts, the apostles are together on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit falls on them with a sound like a mighty wind and tongues of fire. They are able to speak in languages other than their own.

They go into the streets of Jerusalem where they encounter people from many different nations speaking a wide variety of languages. The apostles are able to communicate with them and share the story of Jesus; 3,000 of them believe in Jesus and are baptized. The church is born.

Verse 42 is a description of the life these earliest Christians share together: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

We have come TOGETHER AS A FELLOWSHIP , to be more and TO DO MORE TOGETHER than we could ever do alone.

The second decision, which garnered less attention at the time, was the creation of a denominational funding structure called “The Cooperative Program.” This “economic confession” sought to overcome the inefficiencies of the societal method and appealed to those who believed in missional cooperation as the basis of Baptist community.

The rest of the 20th century saw a struggle between these two approaches to Baptist faith—doctrinal conformity and missional cooperation.

The doctrinal conformity proponents were never satisfied, calling out perceived heresies through the decades and creating new versions of the BFM in 1963 and 2000.

The missional cooperation proponents focused on God’s work in the world, building institutions, supporting churches and promoting campaigns like “A Million More in ’54” and “Bold Mission Thrust.”

The CBF movement, in and beyond our state, was formed by those who opposed doctrinal conformity and believed in missional cooperation. That has been our approach in CBFNC and has served us well for three decades.

A four-fold pattern: teaching, eating, praying and fellowship. The word fellowship comes from the Greek word, koinonia, which at other times is translated participation, sharing or communion. Fellowship is not just an activity performed in a room called the fellowship hall. It’s a word that describes the very nature of our life together in and through Jesus Christ.

When CBF was formed, there were many familiar words in existence that had been used to describe Baptist organizations beyond the local church—association, convention, conference, union and alliance to name a few. But we chose fellowship; a Biblical word, endowed with deep theological meaning. And that choice, I think, has made all the difference.

We have often struggled in our 30 years about what to call ourselves. Are we a convention? A denomination? How do we describe ourselves?

I have settled on the word “fellowship” as the best descriptor. But behind that word, for me, lies the image of family. We are a family, bound by a shared history and heritage with a common desire to bear one another’s burdens; to love one another, to support one another and to pursue God’s mission in the world together without expecting that we become clones of one another.

May God bless this family with another 30-plus years, because ultimately, simply being together and thriving together provides a witness to our faith in Jesus that our divided and broken world desperately needs.

A Look Back at Annual Gathering 2024

Annual Gathering is by far one of the most cherished things that we get to do together as a fellowship. It is often described by many people as a family reunion of sorts.

This year’s Annual Gathering was not only a great time of worship, learning and reconnecting with our Cooperative Baptist family, but it was also a celebration of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In addition to the regular sessions held at First Baptist, Greensboro, there were special features this year: a 30th anniversary celebration, a special experience at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum and the return of a state choir.

Celebrating 30 Years of Thriving Together

Hundreds of individuals from across our state and the CBF network join us over the course of two days, March 14–15. We are so grateful to all those who worked hard to make it possible and to all those who took the time to engage and celebrate with us. Many thanks to the staff and volunteers of First Baptist, Greensboro for sharing your church home and your warm hospitality.

Reflecting on the Tour of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum

By Adrian Bullock CBFNC Triangle Region Campus Minister

My first visit to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro took place when I was a teenager, around 15 or 16 years old. I walked through the doors of the museum that first time feeling as if I already knew so much about the information that was going to be shared because of my upbringing.

I was reared by my maternal grandmother who was born during the height of Jim Crow segregation. I would often sit with her, listening to the stories of how she had grown up during this period woven into the fabric of American history. Because I was still young and very immature, I did not fully take in everything that I possibly should during my first visit to the civil rights center. Since then, I have been afforded the opportunity for three additional visits, including the special tour offered by CBFNC’s Racial Equity & Justice Team during the 2024 Annual Gathering in March.

This time was different. It has been over a decade since I first came to the museum. But this past March, when I first walked through the doors of the building with the sign “Woolworth’s” still etched over the doors, I thought about what Elm Street would have looked like back in 1960.

Having lived in a society that killed young children like Emmitt Till and rejected students from attending their school based solely on the color of their skin, I wondered, as I entered the very doors that the North Carolina A&T Four entered over 60 years before, were their hearts racing? What made them so fearless at a time when you could lose your job just by checking off a box to vote?

When I see their pictures in the lobby of the museum, especially Franklin McCain, I see myself. I think about being a six-foot-tall student walking into another historic Black college, North Carolina Central University in Durham, not necessarily involved in athletics and just trying to grow strong connections with friends. I wonder, if I was put in the same space, would I have been bold enough to do what they did?

After having lunch together in the upper lobby of the building we toured the museum and saw several artifacts and pictures that make up the Black culture within American history. As a group, we saw caricatures of Black people with extended lips and worn-out clothing, the gown of a former member of the Klu Klux Klan, the shard of glass from a bombed stained-glass window of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, the unequal prices

on Coca-Cola machines for Black and White people and the wall of martyrs who were killed trying to seek a better life for their children and grandchildren.

Above & Below: The entrance to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in downtown Greensboro.

After crossing through the hall of lynching and killings, we were able to view the actual place where the Sit-In Movement began. At the end of the visit, we saw a picture display which showed the different pictures of living and deceased people who gave their lives for freedom around the world.

I was honored to take the tour with so many that I have come to know and love within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. And in this tour, it was also great to hear the different stories from those on the tour with me who lived during portions of the Civil Rights Movement.

In a real sense, I needed that moment. With the constant movement of life, it was great to pause, not only to remember the sacrifices of people who have gone before me, but to reflect on the similarities of injustice and bigotry

that can be seen and viewed even today. As a minister, as a young Black male, and a citizen of the United States, this tour reminded me that history is not something that just takes place in the past. Every second of our lives is a part of a constant story that is being created.

On February 1, 1960, those four college freshmen were not trying to make history; they were trying to make life better and use the time they had wisely to make ripples across America. And with the time that I have, what am I going to do to make life better for my future children and others within our world?

Unlike that first tour when I was a teenager, I visited this time with eyes wide open to see where I fit in this continual story. I pray that offerings like this by CBFNC continue as part of our Annual Gathering and our continuing work towards racial equity and justice.

30 for 30 Campaign Announced at Annual Gathering 2024

By Jamie Rorrer CBFNC Director of Communications

During Annual Gathering 2024 earlier this year, CBFNC kicked off a new planned giving campaign: “30 for 30.” Through this campaign, CBFNC seeks to have 30 individuals or families make a planned giving commitment in honor of our 30th celebration prior to March 2025.

“30 for 30” celebrates history. It celebrates CBFNC’s 30 years as a place to belong, a denominational home and a place to champion a mission and ministry in the context of Baptist freedoms: soul freedom, Bible freedom, church freedom and religious freedom.

“30 for 30” celebrates the future. Planned gifts, those made through a will or an estate, are a tangible way for individuals and families to leave a legacy. They are a way to look forward and help ensure that this community, committed to cooperation in the context of “free and faithful” Baptist values, remains for future generations.

Retired minister Jack Glasgow who serves on CBFNC’s “30 for 30” campaign team, says that planned giving “is a way to extend your lifetime of faithful tithing. It’s legacy tithing.”

Those who make a planned gift commitment to CBFNC will become a member of the new Free & Faithful Legacy Society. Free & Faithful Legacy Society members will receive:

• The satisfaction of knowing that they have a plan in place to make larger gifts than would be possible during their lifetime.

• Recognition at the 2025 Annual Gathering as charter members of the Free & Faithful Legacy Society.

• Recognition in the Annual Gathering program and on CBFNC’s website.

• Personal communication from CBFNC and invitations to special gatherings.

As some of the first members of the Free & Faithful Legacy Society, Kenneth and Lisa Rust, from First Baptist Lumberton, share, “We have been joyful participants in the work that CBFNC does of equipping churches and loving our neighbors, for a faith family in which to belong. Being generous stewards of God’s goodness in our lifetime is important to us, but we also chose to name CBFNC in our estate plan so that CBFNC’s mission will continue for future generations.” they said.

For more information about making a gift through your will or estate plans, call our office at 336.759.3456 or email finance@cbfnc.org.

They Don’t All Agree on One Tune: Baptist Identity 2024

By Bill J. Leonard

Founding Dean & Professor of Divinity Emeritus, Wake Forest University School of Divinity

These days, Baptist identity may not be as clear as we longtime Baptists may suppose. In the last few years, I’ve heard from a variety of pastors who acknowledged that there were numerous people joining their churches, often drawn by the sense of community and spirituality, and feeling at home. As one pastor said, “Before they read the sign out front.”

In the fluidity of today’s church relationships, no congregation can take it for granted that new members (and perhaps some enduring ones) know why Baptists (or other denominational churches) behave and believe the way they do. In fact, Baptists are themselves diverse enough that there are multiple Baptist identities to be sorted out from church to church.

And that is nothing new. “They don’t all agree on one tune;” that’s how Anglican parson Charles Woodmason described North Carolina Baptists in his journal in 1778/1779, a volume later published as “The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution.”

In 2024, 30 years after the founding of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC), Baptists remain the largest Protestant denominational grouping in the US, but the realities of the present moment are sobering indeed. Consider these challenges:

1. The decline of church attendance deepens every year; even “regular” church attendance is intermittent for many church members.

2. The dramatic increase in Americans identified as “nones,” those who claim no religious affiliation or engagement, presents a continuing challenge. Nones are now between 26%–30% of the population.

3. The changing sociology of Sunday: For many families, churched and non-churched, Sunday now carries the weight of a variety of events and responsibilities.

4. For a growing number of Americans, “non-denominationalism” has become the de facto Christian identity.

5. Intermittent church attendance itself means Baptist identity must not be taken for granted, even among “active” members.

6. These realities, and others, require continuing congregational intentionality about communicating Baptist identity.

Certain theological and ecclesiastical characteristics shaped Baptist identity as a second-generation Protestant communion begun in Amsterdam by a group of English Separatist Christians in 1608/1609. They include:

• Baptists begin as a Believers’ Church, insisting that all church members must testify to an experience of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, and that baptism is to follow that “profession of faith.”

• Faith cannot be coerced by a “Christian state” or its official privileged church (as was the case throughout Europe)—God alone is judge of conscience, thus neither state nor official church can judge the conscience of the heretic or the atheist—Religious Liberty must be the norm for all societies—Since churches and states often try to control religion, dissent is often necessary.

• Biblical Authority is the guide for Christians—Liberty of Conscience means that persons should be free to interpret scripture.

• Regenerate Church Membership—All who claim Christ must experience grace through faith—that experience can come through gradual Christian nurture and/or through a conversion event.

• Sacraments/Ordinances—Immersion Baptism and the communal sharing in the Lord’s Supper are two outward signs of grace shared by Christians. (Some Baptist groups also practice foot washing as a churchly ordinance— Primitive, Old Regular and Free Will Baptists.)

• Priesthood of Laity/Ordination to Pastoral Ministry means that all believers are called to serve others ministry in Christ’s name—those who are called to the ministry of the word are set aside through ordination. (The Six Principle Baptists demonstrated that through the laying on of hands, first to all those baptized as a sign of their ministry discipleship, then extended to those who were called to pastoral ministry.)

• Congregational Autonomy/Associational Cooperation means that the authority of Christ is mediated through the believing community of the congregation which guides the identity and ministry of each specific faith community. Yet early Baptists moved quickly to develop cooperation with other churches through Baptist associations, locally, regionally and denominationally.

• Religious Liberty/Christian Citizenship—Baptists were early advocates of religious liberty for all persons in a specific country. They also affirmed citizenship so long as it did not require them to abandon or contradict their beliefs and consciences.

• Diverse Theological Spectrum—Amid these shared doctrinal/theological beliefs and practices, Baptists differ over many issues. Some share the views of the 16th

2. Historic Baptist diversity offers options for understanding and appropriating Baptist identity. How does our church navigate identity amid that (increasing) diversity?

3. When considering the common threads of identity, (Believers’ Church; Religious Experience; Uncoerced Faith; Conscience; Religious Liberty; Dissent; and Discipleship), how does our church traverse those elements of Baptist identity?

century theologian John Calvin who insisted that God alone is the agent of regeneration. Thus those whom God has chosen for salvation (the elect) are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and only then can they exercise repentance and faith to follow Christ. Others, influenced by the 17th century theologian Jacob Arminius suggest that all persons are potentially elected to salvation actualized when the free will of the individual “cooperates” with the grace of God to make salvation happen. Thus grace and free will precede regeneration.

In considering Baptist identity, churches might ask:

1. Does our church have a commitment to and strategy for passing on Baptist identity now and for the future?

4. Baptist identity begins and ends with each congregation’s understanding of and response to “the Jesus story.” How does our church link Baptist identity with that story?

The group that formed the Baptist tradition in Amsterdam wrote a confession of faith in 1611 that contained this statement of Baptist identity:

“That the church of Christ is a company of faithful people, separated from the world by the word & Spirit of God being knit unto the Lord & one another, by baptism, upon their own confession of faith & sins.” English Declaration from Amsterdam, 1611

Four hundred thirteen years later, let us hope that we Baptists are still “knit unto the Lord and one another,” by grace and can articulate its meaning in a changing culture.

1994

CBF NORTH CAROLINA IS FOUNDED.

THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD ON CAMPUS OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY.

2000

CBFNC moves to new office space on North Point Blvd.

2007 CBFNC commits to providing campus ministry across the state.

1998

First three-year strategic plan is adopted.

The first CBFNC youth retreat is held at Camp Hanes in King.

CBFNC supports its first new church start—Triangle Baptist in Raleigh.

1995

1999

Bob Patterson is hired as the first full-time CBFNC coordinator.

The CBFNC Reference and Referral Network is officially launched.

First budget of $25,000 is organized into Council and General Assembly.

First Baptist on Fifth, Winston-Salem, provides first office, and Kim Hovis is hired as administrative assistant and is the first employee.

2001 Ukraine partnership begins.

2005

A new Council structure is implemented.

Hurricane Katrina response is organized.

2004

Mission Resource Plan (MRP) is developed.

Larry Hovis becomes second CBFNC Coordinator.

2003 Regional Children’s Retreats are started.

Belize partnership begins.

2011 CBFNC with for produce screen Without documentary.

2008

The Randall Lou Lolley for Theological Education launched.

Fellowship of North Carolina HISTORY

2014

CBFNC 20th Anniversary is celebrated at FBC Greensboro.

The 20th Anniversary vision document—“The Road Ahead”—is adopted by the General Assembly.

“The Body of Christ” racial reconciliation curriculum is developed.

CBFNC partners with CBF Global Missions to bring Marc and Kim Wyatt to NC to minister to internationals.

2019

CBFNC’s Latino Network is renamed Red Latina.

The Mission Resource Plan restructuring is complete with the adoption of the 2019–2020 CBFNC Mission and Ministry Funding Plan.

The Jack and Mary Lib Causey Fund for Congregational Leadership is established.

2021

Annual Gathering is conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

200 disaster response and 1,000 totes are delivered to flood victims in western NC.

2024

2018

2011

CBFNC partners with Baptist Center for Ethics to produce and screen “Gospel Without Borders” documentary.

CBFNC is awarded a $1,000,000 Thriving in Ministry grant from Lilly Endowment to fund the Helping Pastors Thrive program.

2017

A new staff structure is implemented.

CBFNC offices move to Reynolda Road.

Randall and Lolley Fund

Theological Education is launched.

2016

Hurricane Matthew Disaster Response effort is conducted in Lumberton.

30th anniversary is celebrated at FBC Greensboro.

2023

CBFNC is awarded its second grant from Lilly Endowment for $1,200,000 to fund the Helping Churches Thrive program. commits ministry state.

2020

Annual Gathering is cancelled due to COVID-19.

Staff pivots to produce resources to address the crisis.

The first Welcome Ride to raise awareness and funds for Welcome Network is held.

Leadership Through the Years

We are grateful for the many individuals who have served CBF North Carolina in any way throughout our 30 years. Highlighted below are the names of those who served as moderator of the Coordinating Council and members of the CBFNC staff.

CBFNC Moderators

1994–Present

David Hughes Winston-Salem 1994–1995

Cathy Hartsell Charlotte 1995–1996

Michael Tutterow Wilmington 1996–1997

Pat Cates Hickory 1997–1998

Randall Lolley Raleigh 1998–1999

Mary Alice Seals Raleigh 1999–2000

Jack Glasgow Zebulon 2000–2001

Mark Edwards Nashville 2001–2002

Tyanna Day Calypso 2002–2003

Larry Hovis Greenville 2003–2004

Roger Gilbert Mount Airy 2004 –2005

Don Horton Zebulon 2005 –2007

Gail Coulter Hendersonville 2007 –2008

Greg Rogers Greenville 2008 –2010

Steve Little Marion 2010 –2011

Donna Bissette Winston-Salem 2011 –2013

Ray Ammons Clinton 2013 –2015

Lisa Rust Lumberton 2015–2017

Doug Murray Gastonia 2017–2019

Becky Keesler Mount Airy 2019–2021

Jeff Harris Tryon 2021–2023

Stacy Nowell Huntersville 2023–2025

Being the first moderator was a great honor but it was also quite a challenge. There was no template; we were figuring it out as we went. We talked a lot about the North Carolina way of being CBF and believed that we might do it a bit differently than other states. We wanted to be unique and true to our own North Carolina culture.”

- David Hughes

“I probably should put a little box around my head because I was the COVID-19 moderator and most of my tenure was on Zoom. We had to cancel our Annual Gathering for the first time in our history. But it was amazing to me how we rallied, how our staff rallied and how CBFNC was able to minister to our churches, helping them grapple with so many issues and look for solutions.” - Becky Keesler

CBFNC Staff | 1995–Present

Kim Hovis, office manager

Alfred Ayscue, field representative

Lynn Odom, secretary

Bob Patterson, coordinator

Jim Fowler, missions coordinator

Gail McAlister, financial assistant

Beth McGinley, office assistant

Sandra Sewell, office manager

Rick Jordan, church resources coordinator

Nancy Parks. office manager, programs manager

Larry Hovis, executive coordinator

Linda Jones, missions coordinator

Natalie Aho, communications manager

Jack Causey, ministerial transition coordinator

Jim Hylton, business administration coordinator

Jennifer Green, administrative assistant

Laura Barclay, administrative assistant, social ministries coordinator

Wanda Kidd, collegiate engagement coordinator

Eddie Hammett, coaching consultant

Allison Gallimore, administrative assistant

Casey Caroll, administrative assistant

Sarah Mitchell, communications manager

Javier Benitez, Hispanic ministry leader coach

Derek Wilhelm, administrative assistant

Ka’thy Chappell, leadership development coordinator

Rebekah Ayers, programs manager

Vickie Traynum, advancement director

Ansley Fennell, programs manager

Seth Hix, ministerial transitions coordinator, associate coordinator

Mary Kaylor, administration manager, associate coordinator

Santiago Reales, director of Red Latina CBFNC

Amy Cook, communications specialist

Andy Jung, associate executive coordinator, ministry specialist

Scott Hudgins, Helping Pastors Thrive director

Tracy Davis, administrative assistant

Jamie Rorrer, communications director

Kathryn Ashworth, ministry support manager

Jason Cogdill, legal resources partner

Andy Hale, associate executive coordinator

Lou Ann Gilliam, ministerial equipping director

Lydia Tatum, Welcome Network director

CBFNC Campus Ministers | 2008–Present

Amy Canosa

Ashley Mangrum

Lawrence Powers

Aileen Lawrimore

Richard Goddard

Michael Page

Chris Towles

David Stone

Jamie Fitzgerald

Danny Steis

Nathan Willard

Charity Roberson

Caitie Jackson

Adam Horton

Liz Britt Johnson

Tierney Boss

Chris Cherry

Adrian Bullock

A Growing Expression of the Kingdom

By Lydia Tatum CBFNC Welcome Network Director

For 10 years, expressions of welcome among North Carolina Baptist churches have pushed past political agendas and “not in my backyard” mentalities in order to follow the biblical mandate for all Christ followers to give drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, welcome to the stranger and comfort to the sick and imprisoned. It all began with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel Marc and Kim Wyatt, who set out to serve and provide space for our CBF North Carolina churches to fulfill this directive from Jesus himself. What started as a single expression, Welcome House Raleigh, has grown into the Welcome Network, the signature missions ministry of CBFNC consisting of over 40 expressions of Christian hospitality throughout the state.

In the first decade of ministry, Welcome House Raleigh has grown to five houses across the city. And now, the statewide Welcome Network consists of ministries in Conetoe, Greenville, Fayetteville, Durham, Hillsborough, and Winston-Salem with dozens more operating with different identified guests and in varying levels of care. CBFNC churches are opening their hearts and their doors to show Christ-like hospitality to their vulnerable neighbors in a variety of contexts: refugees, young girls, those recently incarcerated, migrant workers, under-employed and under-housed.

All of this growth over the past 10 years has been nurtured and sustained by the Wyatts’ original guiding principle of collaboration. In Hillsborough, the local pastors group made up of Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Episcopalians and Pentecostals meets regularly to talk about the issues that face their congregations. Often, those conversations have led to supply drives, bicycle collections, and filling the “Shed of Plenty” that has made the work of the Welcome House Hillsborough team just a little bit lighter as they minister to their guest families.

In Greenville, Oakmont Baptist, Immanuel Baptist, Cedarbridge Baptist and The Memorial Baptist Churches collaborate to offer affordable housing to families in Oakmont’s apartment complex. In Raleigh, Methodists, Unitarians, Muslims, Mennonites, Anglicans, Catholics, Jews, Baptists and “Nones” join together to teach English as a Second Language, to deliver groceries and hot meals, to move furniture donations for apartment set-ups, to serve in Welcome Houses as Day Hosts, and to walk together in Circles of Friendship with refugee families as they move

from temporary housing with Welcome House to their permanent housing and new lives in the US.

Kristen Muse, executive pastor at Hayes Barton Baptist, Raleigh and leader in Welcome House Raleigh shares about a partnership with a neighboring church. “Although Hayes Barton United Methodist is just down the street, there aren’t many times when our churches partner together. When the Afghan crisis began and we had homes that we could use for refugees, new friendships were quickly formed and we started working together. It truly was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ working together.”

Welcome House Raleigh’s model uses house hosts and cultural liaisons to help facilitate round the clock hospitality for guests. Columbian house hosts join together to serve with Congolese and Afghan cultural liaisons providing an extra layer of support through empathy and shared experience to guests from all over the world.

Laura M. along with her husband and children all serve as a host family and as cultural guides into the new realities of living in the United States. Often, they are the first to notice guest needs that go beyond the basics of a roof and a bed. They know because they’ve been there.

Laura shared, “Since before arriving at Welcome House in our journey as refugees, we have known that it doesn’t

Church leaders in Greenville are collaborating to offer affordable housing to local families.

Field Personnel LaCount and Anna Anderson

matter what race or ethnicity you belong to, what country you come from, the religion you profess or even less the gender you identify with. We are just travelers seeking peace, tranquility and the hope of a better future.”

In the Triad, Linda Jones, retired missions coordinator for CBFNC and Welcome House Triad manager, shares that “working collaboratively for all the refugees in the Triad area, churches with Welcome Houses, World Relief Triad, Good Neighbor teams, local government entities and nonprofits hear the latest immigration news, problem solve, share resources, create new events and encourage advocacy.”

Welcome House Conetoe, founded in collaboration with CBF Field Personnel Anna and LaCount Anderson, is one of the first Welcome House expressions to serve in the affordable housing model. Seeing the need for affordable housing for rural farm workers, the Andersons pooled their resources amongst community partners and CBFNC to refurbish a mobile home to offer at an affordable rent.

“As people who considered an unconventional model for Welcome House, we did not really know what to expect out in the farming community of Conetoe. We knew that there were vulnerable neighbors who could benefit from the house, but we couldn’t predict the family who needed temporary housing for the weekend when a funeral brought many relatives into town. We couldn’t predict the mission team that would be able to stay in the house while they worked on construction projects for Conetoe Family Life Center. We couldn’t predict the family with young adult

Many volunteers across North Carolina share God’s love and hospitality with their neighbors through the many expressions of the Welcome Network.

children who had moved around time and time again and never could quite land at a place to stay for any length of time,” said Anna Anderson.

The stories of Kingdom collaboration keep coming: of youth and college groups lending a hand to move furniture and paint railings; of local non-profit food pantries making an extra effort to find Halal meat and country-specific spices; of NC Cooperative Baptists attending Eritrean Christian weddings and being welcomed at Moroccan Muslim Eid celebration tables; and of young people disillusioned by the American Church finding a place at the table serving their neighbors by teaching English. In this Welcome Network, it is not just the guests who are welcomed, it is also the servants who did not know that they were valuable in this Kingdom.

Looking to the future of the Welcome Network means taking this vision of God’s love and hospitality with the guiding principle of collaboration to grow to include more and more expressions of welcome in every community across our state. Today, the Network is expanding to include churches and community partners who do not have houses as a physical asset. Instead, they have disaster relief teams, hospitality teams, food pantry ministries, English as a Second Language teachers, bunk bed building ministries, short-term missions teams, recreation ministries, available meeting spaces and other assets that are ready to be used in the Matthew 25 vision of Christian Hospitality and the Matthew 13 promise of Kingdom-building.

Expressions of welcome are as beautifully diverse as God’s Kingdom, for each of us has been gifted to serve from our hearts, in our home towns and with our gifts. Now is the time to plant the mustard seed, as small as it might seem, and be amazed as it grows.

Welcome Network is a ministry of CBF North Carolina, existing to meet the needs of our neighbors and engage the local church in very real and practical opportunities for daily Christ-like, relational, Kingdom-building missions.

Witnessing the Power of Campus Ministry

It’s 5:00 a.m. and I am wheeling my suitcase into the Raleigh International Airport. I make my way to a group of Chowan University students and leaders gathered nearby. All but two are strangers, yet the peace and joy for the experiences ahead whisper within that we are not strangers at all. Introductions are made in TSA lines and I am reminded that this is the face of campus ministry: unknown yet relational.

After two flights and a long bus ride, we began our week of missions in Ecuador. For four days we traveled to different churches within villages for hands-on construction work, an afternoon children’s bible camp and the relational ministry that accompanied each day.

My role for the week was that of an additional leader rather than being in the driver’s seat of ministry. This is a unique opportunity as a minister, one that was both restful and rejuvenating, and through it, God had other intentions.

By Caitie Jackson Campus Ministries

God gave me a lens through which to witness the power of ministering alongside. Our hosts who guided us throughout the week were the family of a local minister. This family had a ministry that not only impacts its neighbors but stretches across the lands. The people in each village, hours from our homebase, would light up with joy as this family stepped off our bus to greet them. It was a returning of sorts, a remembering of connection and trust that distance and time did not lessen.

The communities gathered to work with us, teaching us of their techniques, welcoming us with a warm and humbling hospitality and feeding us more local cuisine than we could eat. We didn’t speak the same verbal language but we all spoke the language of caring for the land, the community and one another. Our missions weren’t FOR

Associate & Charlotte Region Campus Minister

A group of students and leaders from Chowan University, CBFNC and CBF spent a week in Ecuador on a spring break mission trip in March.

the people of these villages; our missions were WITH our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God gave me a lens through which to witness the importance of campus ministry. Our mission trip would not have been possible without the commitment and trust these students had in their chaplain, Mari Wiles, at Chowan University. As a campus minister, the work we do is that of sowing seeds and preparing our students as leaders for what’s next in the world. With a four-year turnover, we don’t often witness first-hand the fruits of our calling, and yet, I had the honor of witnessing exactly this through the ministry of a colleague I now call friend.

God gave me a lens through which to witness the power of the ministry of young adults. I have worked in college ministry for 11 years and I’ve never met a group of students who were so grounded in their faith, lived each moment through their values and took initiative with joyful leadership. The students came prepared; and I don’t mean prepared by the standards of society where everything was perfectly planned and every “t” was crossed. They came prepared by embodying servant attitudes and leading through their love and dedication, all the while serving one another with humility and encouragement. There was immense power in their unity built on trust and faith.

As we embarked on our journey home with a few days of sightseeing, I understood the whisper in my bones that we are not strangers at all. We are leaders, we are missionaries, we are ministers, we are brothers and sisters through the name of Christ. May we all be given the lens through which to witness the power of ministry alongside the young leaders of the world.

About Campus Ministry

Since 2007, CBFNC has been committed to providing ministry to students on North Carolina college campuses. Today, this ministry encompasses a presence on more than 20 campuses across the state as Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship (CBSF) groups, a staff of full- and part-time campus ministers and interns, an annual retreat, spring break mission trips and a new vision for the future that expands beyond college campuses.

Do you have students in your church headed to an NC campus in the fall or already there?

Help connect them with CBFNC campus ministers and campus ministry groups by completing our student info form.

Students participated in a variety of construction work projects and engaged with the local people.

Helping Pastors Thrive: Lessons from Listening to Pastors

At the end of 2018, CBFNC received the first grant in the history of the organization. It was a $1,000,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry initiative. That grant helped establish Helping Pastors Thrive, a program that is central to how CBFNC equips ministers and churches to do God’s work in our world. Now, five years later after the program began, CBFNC has learned some lessons worth sharing from listening to pastors who have participated.

When we designed CBFNC’s Thriving in Ministry grant proposal for Lilly Endowment, we included plans for offering workshop retreats aimed at enhancing the arts of ministry (preaching, teaching, pastoral care, leadership, etc.), addressing emerging issues in congregational life and attending to the spiritual lives of ministers. The idea was that the content-driven, two-day retreats would allow pastors to come together for a dedicated period of time and learn from teachers, mentors and peers. The first workshop retreat, held in February of 2020, explored how pastoral leaders might better navigate congregational life in our age of political, social and theological polarization. Evaluations of the retreat revealed that participants appreciated both the timeliness of the issue (2020 was an

election year) and the value of practical wisdom shared over the two days.

Three additional workshop retreats were planned for 2020 with exciting leaders secured and retreat space reserved. And then came COVID-19 and most plans for 2020 and 2021 were cancelled, postponed or moved to a virtual platform.

By Scott

Everything came to an abrupt halt and pastors struggled to navigate new waters, leading congregations in a time of shutdowns. The challenges of pastoral ministry, while always difficult, were exacerbated and many wondered how to simply hold things together. It was, for pastors and congregations, exhausting.

As the pandemic waned in 2022, we explored how we might restart in-person workshops as originally planned. A survey was sent to select pastors asking for suggestions on topics and issues that we might explore in light of all that had been experienced during the height of the pandemic. There emerged a pattern in the responses that might best be expressed by one pastor in the survey: “I’m really not sure what topic would draw my interest enough to come on a retreat. I am content-weary and simply don’t have the

Hudgins Director of Helping Pastors Thrive

mental space at the moment. I just need a place to rest and reflect on all that has occurred over the last two years.”

Following the survey we began to plan a “rest and renewal” retreat, designed with no content or program, but with common meals and prayer at the beginning and ending of each day. The response was overwhelming, leading us to offer another “rest and renewal” retreat later in the year. This “rest and renewal” retreat is now a regular offering along with the other workshop retreats that are part of our Helping Pastors Thrive program.

Providing pastors with sustained time away for rest, reflection and relaxation helps pastors thrive. It’s also one way congregations can recognize the often relentless challenges ministers face. Many congregations provide pastors with sabbaticals, which is one way to address the need for time away. But sabbaticals, as important as they are, tend to be earned over time, following five, seven or 10 years of service.

But how might congregations address this need for rest in new, creative ways that recognize the value of time away more frequently?

In short, more frequent periods away, dedicated to rest and renewal, provide immense value for pastors and for the congregations they serve. Consider this list of benefits:

1. Rest and Relaxation: Time away allows pastors to recharge their batteries, both physically and mentally. It offers a break from the stresses and strains of daily life, promoting relaxation and rejuvenation.

2. Perspective and Reflection: Stepping away from familiar surroundings provides an opportunity for introspection and reflection. It allows pastors to gain perspective on their lives, goals and challenges, leading to personal growth and self-discovery.

3. Creativity and Innovation: Time away from routine can stimulate creativity and innovation. Exposure to new experiences, people and environments can spark fresh ideas and perspectives, enhancing problem-solving abilities and fostering innovation.

4. Relationship Building: Whether it’s spending quality time with family and friends or meeting new people, time away often strengthens relationships. Shared experiences create bonds and memories that deepen connections with loved ones and build new social networks.

5. Health and Well-Being: Taking breaks from work or daily responsibilities is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. Time away allows individuals to focus on self-care activities such as exercise, healthy eating and relaxation, promoting physical and mental health.

6. Personal Development: Time away can provide opportunities for personal development and skill enhancement. Whether it’s pursuing hobbies, learning new skills or exploring new interests, time away from routine can facilitate personal growth and fulfillment.

7. Work-Life Balance: In today’s fast-paced world, achieving a healthy balance between work and personal life is crucial for long-term well-being. Time away allows individuals to disconnect from work-related stressors and focus on other aspects of life, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment overall.

8. Seeking Support and Guidance: Seeking support from mentors, coaches or career counselors can be valuable in the process of rest and renewal. These individuals can provide guidance, feedback and encouragement, helping pastors navigate transitions, overcome challenges and renew a sense of vocation.

9. Cultivating Resilience: Building resilience is essential for navigating the ups and downs of ministry. Vocational renewal involves developing coping strategies, adapting to change and bouncing back from setbacks with a sense of optimism and determination.

Helping pastors thrive should be the priority of all congregations. In the end, both pastor and congregation will reap important, life-sustaining benefits.

CBFNC Launching Helping Churches Thrive

In December 2023, CBFNC received news that we were awarded a $1 million Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations grant. As a result, we are launching the Helping Churches Thrive initiative. The aim of the initiative is to encourage the flourishing of congregations by helping them deepen their relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other and contribute to the vitality of their communities and the world. This is CBFNC’s second grant from Lilly Endowment, the first of which was from the Thriving in Ministry initiative and helped establish our Helping Pastors Thrive program.

HELPING CHURCHES

THRIVE

HELPING CHURCHES

THRIVE

be notified by August 9 and will have an orientation call on August 12.

Why Helping Churches Thrive?

Church in today’s world is complex and challenging. But what if churches could embrace their potential to THRIVE instead of accepting the pressure to simply survive?

Helping Churches Thrive aims to journey with congregations in a shared learning experience as they identify, celebrate and grow the characteristics of thriving through the empowerment of God’s Spirit. There are two main components of the initiative: shared learning cohorts and workshop events and retreats.

Shared learning cohorts are designed for up to 12 churches to journey through a 10-month process that includes a 24-hour opening training retreat and a 24-hour closing celebration retreat; monthly learning calls with other churches; facilitator-led church-wide conversations; and creative ministry grants to explore new approaches to ministry.

Cohort churches will appoint up to eight people, with a one clergy-to-three church members ratio. Churches will be provided with a Thriving guide who will provide coaching and help facilitate the church-wide conversations. The only costs for participating congregations are $60 per person for each retreat and up to $2,000 toward the shared cost of a Thriving guide, with financial assistance available.

The first cohort will launch this fall and applications will be received from June 1 to July 19. Congregations will

By Andy Hale CBFNC Associate Executive Coordinator

Regional workshop events and retreats will offer a mix of one-day workshops and overnight retreats to all CBFNC partner churches, for both clergy and laity, beginning this fall. These events will help churches to gain new tools for thriving now and in the future. More information about the topics, dates and locations will be announced soon.

There is an advisory team made up of leaders from across CBFNC life who are assisting in the development of Helping Churches Thrive. Team members include:

• Tim Brock, First Baptist, Raleigh

• Paul Burgess, University Baptist, Chapel Hill

• Elizabeth Edwards, Lakeside Baptist, Rocky Mount

• Don Gordon, Christians Caring for Creation

• Michael Lea, First Baptist, West Jefferson

• Emily Hull McGee, First Baptist on Fifth, Winston-Salem

• Kristen Muse, Hayes Barton Baptist, Raleigh

• Christopher Turner, Neill’s Creek Baptist, Angier

Thanks to Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations grant, Helping Churches Thrive enables CBFNC to invest more in helping our congregations understand, navigate and thrive in this ever-changing world. Working side-byside with our partner churches, discovering the new things God is doing and how we might be a part of it together, is why we do what we do.

Application Period: June 1 – July 19. Cohort of 12 churches selected by August 9. Scan the code for more info and to apply.

The Helping Churches Thrive advisory team has been meeting to assist in developing CBFNC’s newest program to launch in the fall.

CBFNC HONORARY & MEMORIAL GIFTS

January – April 2024

Lauren Alford in honor of Lee Colbert

Gwen and John Bell in honor of Pastor D.J. Waltz

Renee and Jim Bridges in honor of Jack Glasgow

Phillip Campbell in honor of Phillip Tillman

Jana and Bill Cottingham in honor of Mike Queen

Pat and Steve Davis in honor of Larry & Kim Hovis

Dawn and Jonathan Dees in honor of Karen Eickhoff & Lydia Tatum

Julia and Charles Edwards in honor of Jim Hamblin

Brenda Hipp in honor of Kim and Larry Hovis

Marion and Donald Horton in honor of Becky Keesler

Marion and Donald Horton in honor of the Coordinating Council

Kim and Larry Hovis in honor of all CBFNC Moderators

Frances Jones in honor of and David Hailey & Amy and Andy Jung

Rebecca Keesler in honor of Roger and Deidre Gilbert

Catherine Lee in honor of all field personnel around the world

Charles Recktenwald in honor of Lindsay and Daniel Recktenwald

Susan and George Reed in honor of Larry Hovis

Laura Caroline Rick in honor of Rev. Richard Spell

Michael Salter in honor of Josh Owens

Jean and Timmy Stevens in honor of Ruth Dowell

Christa and Ken Warise in honor of CBFNC Staff

Aging Care Matters in honor of Marc and Kim Wyatt

Cathy and Ray Ammons in memory of Jack Causey

Gwen and Steve Canady in memory of Belle Allen

Susan and Tony Cartledge in memory of Bethany Cartledge

Austin and Betty Connors in memory of Lou & Randall Lolley

Mary Foskett and Scott Hudgins in memory of Daniel Tran Foskett Hudgins

Barbara and Jack Glasgow in memory of Jack Causey

Valerie and Nelson Granade in memory of Jack Causey

Rachel and Garin Hill in memory of Jack Causey

Brenda Hipp in memory of Dennis Hipp

Jeanne Hollifield Baucom and Roger Baucom in memory of Rev. & Mrs. Morris S. Hollifield

Barbara Huggins in memory of Kay Huggins

Brenda and Michael Johnson in memory of Rev. Olin Hefner

Rebecca Keesler in memory of Jack Causey

Aileen and Jay Lawrimore in memory of Tommy Bratton

Cam and Tony McDade in memory of Jack Causey

Emily Hull McGee and Josh McGee in memory of Daniel Hudgins

Melissa and Kenneth Millette in memory of Jack Causey

Deborah O’Neil in memory of Fred O’Neil

Mina and Gennady Podgaisky in memory of William (Bill) Mason

Bobbie and Michael Queen in memory of Sarah Beddingfield

Anne Raybon in memory of Tommy Bratton

Miller Sigmon in memory of Barbara Barham

Patrick Simpson in memory of June Kyna Cheek Simpson

Priscilla and John Singletary in memory of Pearl Meachem

Phillip Tillman in memory of Jack Causey

MINISTERS ON THE MOVE

Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved:

Mike Boone to Nobles Chapel Baptist, Sims as Senior Pastor

Eric Mathis to First Baptist, Greensboro as Associate Pastor for Music and Worship

Taylor Miskel to Trinity Baptist, Raleigh as Associate Pastor for Student Ministry

Asher Panton to First Baptist, Shelby as Senior Pastor

Rusty Thomaston to Pritchard, Charlotte as Executive Pastor

Anita Thompson to First Baptist, Wadesboro as Senior Pastor

Tyler Ward to First Baptist, Dunn as Senior Pastor

Seth Wright to First Baptist, Waynesville as Pastor for NextGen Ministries

When you make a move or know someone who has changed places of ministry, please email transitions@cbfnc.org. For assistance with transitions, visit cbfnc.org/transitions or call us at 336.759.3456.

THE QR CODE TO GIVE ONLINE

www.cbfnc.org

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

2640 Reynolda Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27106

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A Look Ahead

JUNE

CBF GENERAL ASSEMBLY — CBF ASAMBLEA EN GENERAL

Koury Convention Center, Greensboro

June 19–21

NC MEETING AT CBF GENERAL ASSEMBLY — REUNIÓN DE LA NC EN LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL DE LA CBF

Imperial Ballroom D Koury Convention Center, Greensboro

June 19 | 4:00–5:00 p.m.

RED LATINA MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING — CAPACITACIÓN EN SALUD MENTAL DE RED LATINA

Greenville

June 23

JULY

ALL-STATE YOUTH CHOIR CONCERTS —CONCIERTOS DEL CORO JUVENIL DE TODO EL ESTADO

July 18: First Baptist, Ahoskie

July 19: First Baptist, Henderson

July 20: The Memorial Baptist, Greenville

July 21: First Baptist, Wilson

July 21: Butler Chapel, Campbell University,

AUGUST

RED LATINA MEN’S RETREAT

— RETIRO DE HOMBRES LATINOS ROJOS

Quaker Lake Camp, Climax

August 23–24

CONNECTING WITH TODAY’S TEENS: YOUTH MINISTRY VOLUNTEER TRAINING

— CONECTANDO CON LAS ADOLESCENTES DE HOY: CAPACITACIÓN VOLUNTARIA DEL MINISTERIO DE JUVENTUD

Zoom

August 17

OCTOBER

AUTUMN READERS AND WRITERS RETREAT

In partnership with Good Faith Media — RETIRO DE LECTORES Y ESCRITORES DE OTOÑO

St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville, NC

October 9–11

FALL YOUTH BEACH RETREAT

— RETIRO DE OTOÑO EN LA PLAYA PARA JÓVENES

Fort Caswell, Oak Island

October 25–27

Buies Creek