The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - July–August 2016

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

July/August 2016 • Vol. 21 Issue 4 Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

THIS ISSUE:

Engaging students and young adults

PAGE 6

vocational clarification One of the most important developmental tasks in late adolescence and young adulthood is vocational clarification.

The CBF community takes very seriously the responsibility to help adolescents find their vocation – in their Christian lives, through a divine call to service, with a particular occupation, and in the calling of God. Here are some of the ways we strive to help young Baptists discern and follow God’s call:

Children’s Mission Days On two to four Saturdays each November, CBFNC sponsors day-long events across the state. Churches bring elementary school children together to help them grow in faith and learn about and experience Christian missions.

Youth Retreats In various settings and seasons each year, CBFNC sponsors weekend retreats for middle- and highschool students that focus on faith formation. These weekends filled with fellowship, worship, and study help students reflect on God’s call in their lives. They encounter the call to follow Christ and the challenge to orient their lives around God’s purpose for them.

Children’s and Youth Choral Festivals Choirs from churches around the state come together to learn to worship God and lead others in worship. Though not all Christians sing, worship is a central part of every Christian’s calling.

Collegiate Ministries CBFNC is committed to ministries with college students, a group intentionally exploring their vocation – how they will invest their lives professionally, but also, with our nudging, their call to follow Christ. Here are several components of CBFNC’s collegiate ministry portfolio: n Consulting with churches that minister with college students. n S upporting and partnering with campus ministries on historic Baptist university campuses. n S upporting and coordinating campus ministry groups on state university campuses. n Annual retreat for college students.

Internships The CBF community also helps young adults with vocational clarification through several programs: n S tudent.Go – Summer or semester-long opportunities for students to engage in mission work, often alongside career missions field personnel. n S tudent.Church – Summer opportunities for students to serve in congregations to learn how church works and to prepare them for church staff either as employees or lay leaders. n P assport – Serving as staff persons in summer mission camps for children and teenagers.

Divinity School For those young adults whose sense of God’s call leads them to pursue theological education, CBFNC 2 • The Gathering – July/August 2016

by Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator

vocation

1. a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling 2. a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.

3. a divine call to God’s service or the Christian life.

4. a function or station in life to which one is called by God.

source: Dictionary.com

(along with CBF Global) provides significant financial and relational support. This support comes while they are in school and as they approach graduation and seek employment in congregations, mission settings, chaplaincy, non-profits, or the general marketplace.

“Gap Year” opportunities I would like to see the CBF community expand opportunities for young adults to explore their vocation by providing “gap year” experiences, either after high school or after college, in a variety of settings such as global mission sites; inner city neighborhoods; under-resourced rural communities, etc. In some cases, we can refer our young people to existing programs. In others, we may need to create opportunities where we have the capacity to do so.

The CBF community has done an amazing job during our first twenty-five years forming young adults who have followed God’s call to vocational ministry. We are known (maybe even envied) among many other denominations, as “that group with all the young clergy.” What a cause for celebration!

But now we need to devote as much attention to equipping young laity who aren’t vocational ministers, but who still follow Jesus and see their vocation as a call from God, even though they may work in business, education, healthcare, government, technology, or the non-profit sector. As a parent, I’ve witnessed this reality firsthand. Our daughter, Lauren, heard God’s call on a Passport-sponsored mission trip to Kenya, and then through other CBF-related programs (see related article on page 11). She is living out her Christian and professional vocation through a secular non-governmental organization, seeking to make a difference in God’s world.

My prayer is that we can help everyone in our CBF community, especially young people, to discern and follow God’s call for their lives in ways that transform this world into the kingdom of God. It’s a huge task that will require the participation of everyone, not just those who receive a paycheck from the church.

partner churches Churches making contributions October 2014 - March 2016

Giving Trends:

Designated

2012 through 2016

Undesignated

$4,500,000 4,000,000 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

In the 2015-2016 budget year, undesignated gifts totaled $1.35 million, a 3.5% increase over the previous year. Designated gifts exceeded $2.5 million, resulting in total gifts of $3.85 million.

CBFNC continues to be gratified by the trust congregations and individuals are placing in us.

As you form your church budget for next year, we prayerfully and humbly ask that you consider increasing your gifts to CBFNC. We pledge to be good stewards of God’s resources and your trust.

We are taking great care to be good stewards of these resources through the ministries we coordinate and the cultivation of positive relationships with our cherished ministry partners.

To view CBFNC’s 2016-2017 budget, visit www.cbfnc.org/budget.

Churches contributing to CBFNC are listed in bold type. Churches that contribute to CBF Global only are listed in regular type.

Designated in blue are churches that participate in the CBFNC Mission Resource Plan, providing financial support for other Baptist ministries through CBFNC. For additional information about the Mission Resource Plan or for more information on partnering with CBFNC, visit www.cbfnc.org. This list does not include churches who partner with CBFNC or CBF Global in other, non-financial ways.

Earlys............................... Ahoskie First.................................. Ahoskie First.................................. Albemarle Mount Zion...................... Alexis Angier............................... Angier Baptist Fellowship........... Angier Neill’s Creek.................... Angier Olive Chapel .................. Apex Woodhaven...................... Apex First................................ Arden First.................................. Asheboro Oakwood Park................. Asheboro West Asheboro.................. Asheboro Calvary............................. Asheville First.................................. Asheville Grace................................. Asheville Morningside..................... Asheville Connaritsa....................... Aulander First................................ Belhaven Benson............................ Benson First.................................. Biscoe

First.................................. Black Mountain First.................................. Bladenboro Lennons Cross Roads..... 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 First.................................. Burlington First................................ Burnsville First................................ Butner Calypso............................. Calypso Sawyer’s Creek................ Camden Hominy............................. Candler First.................................. Canton First.................................. Carolina Beach Greenwood Forest........... Cary

Westwood......................... Cary Chadbourn....................... Chadbourn Piney Forest...................... Chadbourn HillSong............................ Chapel Hill Iglesia Bautista Amor de Dias .......................................... Chapel Hill Lystra............................... Chapel Hill Mount Carmel................. Chapel Hill University....................... Chapel Hill Grace Crossing................ Charlotte Iglesia Communidad Evangelica Internacional La Red...... Charlotte Park Road.......................... Charlotte Peace Covenant............... Charlotte Pritchard Memorial........... Charlotte Providence....................... Charlotte St. John’s.......................... Charlotte Sardis................................ Charlotte Together in Christ Intl. Ministries ........................................ Charlotte First................................ Clarkton

The Gathering – July/August 2016 • 3

partner churches

Churches making contributions October 2014 - March 2016

First................................ Clayton White Oak........................ Clayton Mosaic.............................. Clayton Clemmons First................. Clemmons First................................ Clinton Grove Park...................... Clinton McGill............................... Concord First.................................. Cramerton Open Arms....................... Creedmoor Cullowhee........................ Cullowhee The Summit..................... Cullowhee First .................................. Denton First.................................. Dobson First.................................. Drexel First.................................. Dunn Westfield........................... Dunn Calvary............................. Durham Durham Memorial.......... Durham Iglesia Bautista Valle De Esperanza .......................................... Durham Hope Valley...................... Durham Lowes Grove.................... Durham Mount Hermon................ Durham Temple.............................. Durham Tobacco Trail Church..... Durham Watts Street..................... Durham Yates................................. Durham First................................ Eden Edenton............................ Edenton Blackwell Memorial.......... Elizabeth City First.................................. Elizabeth City Elizabethtown................... Elizabethtown First.................................. Elkin First.................................. Elon Emerald Isle..................... Emerald Isle Enfield.............................. Enfield Enka................................. Enka Fair Bluff.......................... Fair Bluff First.................................. Fairmont The Chapel Door............. Fairview First.................................. Farmville Cedar Falls........................ Fayetteville First.................................. Fayetteville Lafayette.......................... Fayetteville Mount Pisgah................... Fayetteville Snyder Memorial............ Fayetteville Unity Christian Center... Fayetteville First.................................. Forest City Florence.......................... Forest City

4 • The Gathering – July/August 2016

Mount Vernon................. Forest City First.................................. Four Oaks Pauline............................ Four Oaks Burningtown.................... Franklin Centerpoint...................... Franklin Franklinton...................... Franklinton Fremont Missionary ..... Fremont Aversboro Road............... Garner Covenant.......................... Gastonia First.................................. Gastonia Loray................................ Gastonia New Hope......................... Gastonia Reynoldson...................... Gates First.................................. Goldsboro Rosewood First................ Goldsboro First ................................. Graham College Park.................... Greensboro First.................................. Greensboro Guilford............................ Greensboro Lindley Park.................... Greensboro Southeast.......................... Greensboro Immanuel....................... Greenville The Memorial.................. Greenville Oakmont.......................... Greenville Pleasant Hill...................... Grover Hallsboro.......................... Hallsboro First................................... Hamlet Flat Rock.......................... Hamptonville First.................................. Henderson Providence....................... Hendersonville First.................................. Hickory Mountain Grove ............. Hickory Viewmont......................... Hickory Hiddenite.......................... Hiddenite Emerywood...................... High Point First.................................. High Point Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Viva .......................................... High Point Parkwood......................... High Point Cane Creek........................ Hillsborough First.................................. Hillsborough Hobbsville........................ Hobbsville First.................................. Huntersville First.................................. Jonesville First.................................. Kannapolis New Life Chinese............. Kannapolis First.................................. Kernersville Main Street...................... 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 First ............................... Liberty Mount Pleasant.............. Liberty First ............................... Lincolnton Bear Swamp..................... Littleton Littleton............................ Littleton Mission............................. Locust Hickory Rock................. Louisburg Louisburg......................... Louisburg Rozier................................ Lumberton First.................................. Lumberton First.................................. Madison Antioch............................. Mamers First.................................. Marion Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer. ........................................ Marion Calvary........................... Mars Hill Mars Hill.......................... Mars Hill First.................................. Marshville New Bessemer.................. McLeansville First.................................. Mebane Mount Adar..................... Mebane Eatons............................... Mocksville First.................................. Mocksville First.................................. Monroe First................................... Mooresville First................................ Morehead City First.................................. Morganton Calvary............................. Mount Airy First.................................. Mount Airy Mission Uno..................... Mount Airy Piney Grove..................... Mount Airy First.................................. Mount Gilead First................................ Mount Holly First................................ Mount Olive Murfreesboro................... Murfreesboro Nashville......................... Nashville

partner churches

Churches making contributions October 2014 - March 2016

Rock Creek..................... Nashville First.................................. New Bern First Chin ........................ New Bern Kendalls........................... New London Trinity............................. Newton First.................................. N. Wilkesboro First................................... Oriental Enon................................. Oxford Hester............................... Oxford Oxford.............................. Oxford Roberts Chapel................ Pendleton Pfafftown........................... Pfafftown Iglesia Bautista Misionera Roca Fuerte .......................................... Pittsboro Mount Gilead................... Pittsboro Athens Drive.................... Raleigh Christ.............................. Raleigh Crabtree Valley.............. Raleigh First.................................. Raleigh Forest Hills....................... Raleigh The Fountain.................. Raleigh Greystone......................... Raleigh Hayes Barton................... Raleigh Iglesia Bautista La Roca .......................................... Raleigh Iglesia Nueva Generacion .......................................... Raleigh Longview.......................... Raleigh Macedonia........................ Raleigh Millbrook......................... Raleigh New Hope......................... Raleigh Ridge Road...................... Raleigh St. John’s ......................... Raleigh Swift Creek..................... Raleigh Tabernacle........................ Raleigh Temple.............................. Raleigh Triangle............................ Raleigh Trinity............................. Raleigh First.................................. Red Springs Calvary............................. Reidsville First................................ Reidsville Richfield........................... Richfield First.................................. Richlands Rosemary......................... Roanoke Rapids Bethel................................ Robbinsville First................................... Rockingham Dortches........................... Rocky Mount Lakeside........................... Rocky Mount Rolesville.......................... Rolesville

Evergreen......................... Rose Hill Rose Hill........................... Rose Hill First.................................. Roseboro First.................................. Rowland Lamberth Memorial....... Roxboro Roxboro............................ Roxboro First.................................. Rutherfordton First................................... Salisbury Ephesus............................. Sanford First.................................. Sanford Flat Springs..................... Sanford Iglesia Bautista Nueva Comienzo ........................................ Sanford Jonesboro Heights........... Sanford Primera Iglesia Bautista ........................................ Sanford Beaver Dam...................... Shelby Double Shoals.................. Shelby Dover................................. Shelby First................................ Shelby Poplar Springs............... Shelby Ross Grove........................ Shelby Zion.................................. Shelby Centro Familiar Cristiano. ........................................ Siler City Rocky River..................... Siler City Nobles Chapel.................. Sims First................................ Smithfield Sharon.............................. Smithfield First.................................. Southern Pines Spencer............................. Spindale Ephesus............................ Spring Hope First.................................. Spring Hope Central............................... Spruce Pine First .................................. Spruce Pine First................................ Stanfield First................................ Stantonsburg First.................................. Statesville First.................................. Stoneville Brunswick Islands........... Supply East Sylva.......................... Sylva First.................................. Sylva Olyphic........................... Tabor City Tabor City ..................... Tabor City First.................................. Tarboro Antioch........................... Taylorsville First................................ Tryon Round Hill......................... Union Mills Cornerstone..................... Valdese

First................................ Valdese First................................... Wadesboro Falls................................ Wake Forest Heritage............................ Wake Forest Wake Forest..................... Wake Forest Woodland......................... Wake Forest First................................ Wallace Warrenton........................ Warrenton First.................................. Washington First................................ Waynesville First................................ Weaverville Crossroads Fellowship...... Weldon Baptist Tabernacle.......... Wendell Wendell............................ Wendell First................................ West Jefferson Fishing Creek.................. Whitakers First................................ Whiteville Mount Zion...................... 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 Iglesia Cristiana Sin Fronteras .......................................... Winston-Salem Knollwood........................ Winston-Salem Mineral Springs................. Winston-Salem Northwest......................... Winston-Salem Peace Haven..................... Winston-Salem United............................... Winston-Salem Wake Forest................... Winston-Salem West Side ....................... Winston-Salem Winterville...................... Winterville Wise.................................. Wise Maplewood...................... Yadkinville Bethlehem........................ Youngsville Grace Haven.................... Youngsville Youngsville....................... Youngsville Zebulon............................ Zebulon Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information

The Gathering – July/August 2016 • 5

today and tomorrow

by Wanda Kidd, CBFNC Collegiate Engagement Coordinator

Carol Ann Hoard has served as Youth Minister at First, Shelby, since 1998 and has a passion for investing in youth and young adults. One of the ways she has consistently and faithfully done that is through mentoring interns.

Carol Ann, right, with Amy Brown

We posed some questions to her to encourage other CBF ministers to take up the mantle of mentoring young adults as the church of today and tomorrow.

Why do you think it is important to mentor young adults? It is important for me to help young adults have a positive experience working in a church setting so they can see the ins and outs of how church life works. I try to be transparent with the young adults I mentor by sharing not only positive ministry experiences I have had over the years but also sharing hard and negative experiences. I value the impact of a church investing and giving back to young adults by offering a place to serve, grow, and learn while being encouraged through the process.

In the 15 years you have had interns, what results have you seen of your investment?

I have had some of the best interns go on to do wonderful things in ministry. Three of my interns from the past are currently working in CBF churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi. Another intern is serving as a campus pastor in South Carolina, while another is preparing to serve in the mission field. Many of the young adults I have mentored are attending or have graduated from Divinity School. Some interns have discerned their call to ministry after serving with youth, while others have determined that youth ministry is not where God is calling them.

What are some of the challenges of working with young adults in the role of mentor?

The challenges have changed over the years and are different for everyone I have mentored. I feel like I have a stronger relationship with the interns who spent multiple summers working with me or grew up at First, Shelby. Another challenge of mentoring young adults is making sure expectations are clearly understood. Ministers should be constantly looking for students who show interest or in whom you sense a calling. Mentoring rarely just happens.

What are some of the things that young adults have told you about their time interning with your program? Amy Brown said, “The summers I spent interning at First, Shelby, and working with Carol Ann gave me real-life experience. I felt equipped when I started working at a church. I was always thankful that I knew I could call Carol Ann and she would still be there for me. We have developed a great friendship over the years.”

6 • The Gathering – July/August 2016

bless support encourage CBF young adults across our state are using their gifts, education, and calling for non-traditional ministry. They understand what it means to be missional even if they do not know the word, and they have an innate understanding of asset mapping. They missionally want to reach out beyond the walls of the church but still stay tethered to the local church.

They also embrace their assets and share them with their peers and community, rather than looking at a list of overwhelming problems. They are going to use those gifts somewhere.

Fortunately, there are CBF congregations who see their calling and bless their efforts.

One of these stories is unfolding at First, Spring Hope. Their pastor, Kevin Moore, told me about an NC State University student who is making an impact on their church and the community. He has been struck by her desire to be involved both in her home church and her community while she attended college. He suggested that I talk to her about her calling and what motivates her to invest in the church and her small town.

This is what Tori Parker, a recent Agriculture Education graduate, shared with me.

Tell me about your idea to reach out to the community.

The church project I initiated is sort of a workshop series.

Although we have had only one workshop so far, we plan to have them quarterly throughout the year. These workshops are nonreligious and are on topics of interest to the general public. The goal was to simply bring people into our building without mentioning God, without praying, or without pushing the Christian faith on them. I thought if people could just get into our building and mingle with our people, they would eventually be curious about our worship and ministry. I call it a “silent ministry.”

In light of her goal for the project, I asked her about the value of church. It is very important to me to be a part of a church family, if for no other reason than to have a stable environment where I know people support me and my religious and nonreligious endeavors. Although my church family has always been small and for the most part elderly, I have always

by Wanda Kidd, CBFNC Collegiate Engagement Coordinator

felt as though I had a family in Christ that others in other “mega” churches did not always experience.

How did you help the church share your vision of reaching out to the community in this way? When I presented the idea to the church members, I stressed to them the importance of attending the workshops whether they were interested in the topic or not, and, while they were there, being the most friendly and hospitable people anyone had ever met, without talking about church stuff unless asked!

How did the plan work? The first workshop was about container gardening. I had a local master gardener come and present on how to create beautiful containers that are easy and fun for the spring. We had door prizes and refreshments.

Although many in attendance were members, we had a few people from neighboring churches and from the community.

One guest has even recently attended our morning worship service (several times!).

I like to think this project is a good reflection of my faith and the faith of our church as a whole. Although we aren’t out shouting our faith and being bold about inviting people into our church, I feel as though this is the right move for us. We have tried so many different things in the past and still have a dwindling congregation. They say, “if you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” So, we are doing something different!

The young adults you taught about Jesus, and nurtured to respond to His call, are waiting to be invited to the ministry table.

They want to do more than sit in a pew. They want to be the hands and feet of Christ. Bless them, support them and engage their gifts and enthusiasm.

The Gathering – July/August 2016 • 7

faithful intentionality

by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator

Where are you going today? To school? To work? To the golf course? Normally, if we are healthy and have the means, we are on the go.

Jesus gave his followers a commission to be his representatives “as you go.” In other words, in your normal, daily life. You are already “going.” Are you being intentional in your role as an ambassador for Christ as you go?

There are some who are called by God to devote their full-time energies in professional ministry. For most Christians, however, that is not the call.

You are invited to join other “normal people” who have stories of success and stories of struggle in this call on their lives. These are lay persons who see their jobs as their ministry, use their passion/ hobby/volunteer service as an avenue of Christ-centered service, or use their power/influence for Christinspired good in their local community.

Celebrate the ways God is using normal Christians to demonstrate the presence of Christ, to offer service for Christ, and to have positive impact in their home towns.

Connect with other lay persons who are seeking to infuse faith in their daily walk.

Be challenged and inspired to be a living witness “as you go.”

“As You Go” events will be held on Sunday afternoons, 4-6pm. Each event will include testimonies, small group clusters, and large group sharing followed by refreshments and fellowship. CBFNC staff members Eddie Hammett and Rick Jordan will lead teaching and discussions.

Dates and Locations September 18 – Mount Carmel, Chapel Hill October 9 – First, Henderson October 16 – Hominy, Candler (Western Network Regional Meeting) November 13 – First Baptist, Mocksville For more information including registration details, go to www.cbfnc.org/events.

8 • The Gathering – July/August 2016

resource gap Kid’s Club After-School Ministry serves as a safe and loving environment for children to receive care and further their daily educational opportunities.

Developed to fill a gap in after-school childcare options in Sylva, First Baptist Church Kids’ Club is offered at an affordable rate and offers children love, support, biblical education, tutoring, and mentoring from college students at nearby Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

The ministry is an opportunity for children to complete homework, interact with other children, learn life skills, and participate in field trips. The ministry to children and families is a representation of what it means to be the Body of Christ and share God’s love.

Children grow in their relationship with God as they also participate in Wednesday night programming, attend worship, and develop relationships with congregants. The ministry allows children and church to connect with college students and young adults who need employment as they serve among us as mentors.

by Kelly Brown, Associate Pastoral Intern & After-School Ministry Director, First, Sylva

Our After-School Ministry began three years ago to fulfill a community need. We wanted to provide quality care to children in our community who needed a safe place to go after school. We wanted to offer them the chance to be mentored by college students, learn about God, have fun, and be safe.

We began the ministry by serving ten middle-school children two days a week for free, but then God called us to do more with this program. We then hosted a half-day summer camp three days a week for all ages. Halfway through the summer, we expanded our after-school offering to match the grades that our local elementary schools serve (K-8). We had approximately 30 kids each day learning about God, having fun, and being mentored by college students. Again, we sensed God calling us to do more, so we expanded our summer camp to five days a week, which welcomed more than 30 children each day of the summer.

Now in our third year, our AfterSchool Ministry is at its strongest! We serve almost 50 children each day. We use our church bus to pick up students from two local schools. We provide opportunities for students to learn about other cultures, hear Bible stories, and be led by “cool” college students from the local university. Recently, our commitment to provide quality out-ofschool space for children was recognized by the North Carolina Center for After School Programs, when we were named the 2016 Faith-Based Program of the Year. We have found a way to connect with families in our community and share God’s love. This coming summer, we are planning to provide a full-day camp experience.

Since creating this ministry, many families and college students who have worked in the program have joined our church. Church members volunteer and lead activities. Several children have accepted Christ. Several children have helped to restore their parents’ faith. This ministry has become an integral part of who we are at First, Sylva.

Additionally, we welcome mission groups to come and be part of what we are doing throughout the year. We also welcome the opportunity to talk with other churches who are considering providing an after-school ministry or summer camp. We have and will continue to listen for what God is calling us to do next in our community.

The Gathering – July/August 2016 • 9

CBFNC Financial Report:

April 2016 Contributions Undesignated - $106,289 Designated - $232,261 May 2016 Contributions Undesignated - $88,652 Designated - $148,841

CBFNC Honorary and Memorial Gifts Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wyche, Whiteville; In memory of James Dunn

April 2016 - March 2017 Monthly Undesignated Goal: $114,432

Donate to CBFNC today! www.cbfnc.org/give

Choose a particular ministry, our Mission & Ministry Offering, or undesignated.

Take a look at CBFNC’s blog,

Thoughts from across our state ... cbfnc.wordpress.com.

Would you like to contribute?

E-mail smitchell@cbfnc.org.

Ministers on the Move Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved: Dane Martin to Ardmore Baptist Church of Winston-Salem as Minister to Students Ben Wines to Sharon Baptist Church of Smithfield as Pastor Hal Hiatt to First Baptist Church of Carolina Beach as Pastor Mack Dennis to First Baptist Church of Asheville as Pastor Marcus McGill to Ross Grove Baptist Church of Shelby as Pastor

Coordinator Visits April 2016 - May 2016 Boiling Springs, Boiling Springs Calvary, Asheville First, Graham First, Hickory First, New Bern First, Richlands First Chin, New Bern Forest Hills, Raleigh Greenwood Forest, Raleigh

Andrew Corley to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Grover as Pastor

Hickory Rock, Louisburg

Rob James to First Baptist Church of Fayetteville as Pastor

Hope Valley, Durham

When you make a move or know of someone who has changed places of ministry, let us know by e-mailing us at cbfnc@cbfnc.org.

For assistance to search committees and ministers seeking vocational discernment, visit our reference and referral page on our website at www.cbfnc.org or call (336) 759-3456 or (888) 822-1944.

10 • The Gathering – July/August 2016

HillSong, Chapel Hill

Mountain Grove, Hickory North Raleigh Community, Raleigh Oakmont, Greenville CBFNC ministry coordinators are available to visit your church to speak, preach, teach, consult, lead and minister in ways appropriate to your context. Contact the CBFNC office for more information.

I was raised in a CBF home that valued being the presence and work at their summer camp for children who may not have of Christ by serving those in need. I had seen isolated instances any other place to go during their summer break. Through this of poverty from volunteering in soup kitchens and taking part experience and my subsequent CBF mission trips to Haiti, Belize, in short-term mission trips. However, I had not anticipated the Malawi, and Kenya, I learned that addressing issues related magnitude of poverty that I would witness when I participated in a to poverty requires thoughtful courses of action that focus on Passport camp trip to Kenya in 2007. When I joined the program, empowering communities rather than providing handouts. In fact, I was more excited about traveling with other kids in my youth when I interned with CBF field personnel in Kenya two years group than experiencing the Christ-centered team-building and later, I noticed that the development projects that focused on the cultural awareness components of the program. Little did I know actual needs of a community were more successful in poverty that when I reduction returned from than projects Kenya, this that ushered experience in their own would begin plans without molding my consultation college and with the professional community. aspirations in Building on international the knowledge affairs.

I gained One during this particular experience and moment on my passion the trip still for politics motivates and religious me to work liberty, I diligently on interned for my professional goals. During the Baptist Joint Committee one of our trip excursions in for Religious Liberty (BJC) the Great Rift Valley, we led after college. Working at the

by Lauren Hovis, Grants Manager, ActionAid USA Bible-school-type activities at BJC gave me insight on CBF’s a nursery school. At the end presence in Washington, D.C., of the day, we passed out bags of school supplies to enable the and the important issues Baptists continue to voice as it pertains children in that town to attend primary school. Children with to separation of church and state, especially for marginalized supplies not only have the opportunity to receive an education, communities. A year later, I began graduate school in order to but they also have the opportunity for a brighter future. When learn how to critically analyze issues concerning marginalized word spread around the village about our gifts, other children communities on a global scale. ran out of their homes in hope of receiving the supplies as well.

Having recently finished graduate school, I realize I would not After all of the bags had been distributed, most of the children be where I am today without the consistent presence of CBF in my who did not receive anything walked back to their homes except life. From youth group mission trips, to CBFNC campus ministry, for one little boy. He stood on the other side of the fence, staring to Passport Camps, to internships through Student.Go, to the at me with a face filled with disappointment and sadness. At that practical experience I gained from BJC, to my current membership moment, I knew I needed to do something about the causes of at Calvary Baptist Church in D.C., I have been able to think more global inequality and poverty. innovatively about my role as a young Cooperative Baptist in With a new sense of purpose, I decided to study political combatting problems of injustice and poverty facing the world. science and global studies at the University of North Carolina As I work for ActionAid USA, a secular international at Chapel Hill because I wanted to understand the relationship development organization, I strive to be the hands and feet of between power, inequality, and poverty. I also joined and later Christ in the world and continue to use my transformational became President of CBFNC’s campus ministry at UNC where experiences to guide my work in addressing issues related to I participated in thoughtful theological discussions as well as poverty and economic development. I will always remember social-justice-related missions. During my first year of college, the little boy on the other side of the fence who not only my female campus minister empowered me to apply for CBF’s represents those who fall victim to an inequitable political and Student.Go summer missions program. This program enabled me economic system but who also represents the bright possibility to intern at National Baptist Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., of a more just future.

bright possibilities

The Gathering – July/August 2016 • 11

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888-822-1944 www.cbfnc.org

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Upcoming Events ~ JULY/AUGUST EDITION Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel - Children’s Camp July 16-17, 2016 Dixie Camp, Fayetteville

Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel - Youth Camp August 26-28, 2016 Dixie Camp, Fayetteville

Oasis Church Music and Worship Conference July 18-20, 2016 Campbell University

Creating a Spirit-Led Deacon Ministry September 10, 2016 Mountain Grove, Hickory

Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel - Women’s Retreat July 29-31, 2016 Ridgecrest Selah Vie August 3-6, 2016 Nashville Congregational Coaching August 19-20, 2016 Christmount Conference Center Coaching Change, Transition and Transformation (503) August 22-23, 2016 CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem

As You Go September 18, 2016 Mount Carmel, Chapel Hill WNC Baptist Ministers’ Meeting September 19, 2016 Lutheridge Conference Center, Arden 2016 Elevating Preaching October 3, 2016 Campbell Divinity School, Buies Creek Fall Youth Beach Retreat October 7-9, 2016 Caswell

As You Go October 9, 2016 First, Henderson As You Go October 16, 2016 Hominy, Candler CBFNC Coach Reunion October 24-25, 2016 CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem As You Go November 13, 2016 First Baptist, Mocksville Foundations of Christian Coaching (501) March 13-14, 2017 CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem 2017 CBFNC Gathering March 30-April 1 First, Hickory Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship (502) June 8-9, 2017 CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem