The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - March–April 2016

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

March/April 2016 • Vol. 21 Issue 2 Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

covenant, connection, and community

strenthening

cbf identity

by Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator

Many ministers and lay leaders are sympathetic to the values, goals, and ministries of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and CBF of North Carolina. They have a Cooperative Baptist identity and would like to lead their churches to strengthen their covenant with the “beloved community” of CBF but they aren’t sure how to go about it. Here are some practical ways to educate a congregation about the mission and ministries of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in North Carolina and around the world, and to equip your congregation for effective mission and ministry in the process.

CBF Gatherings One of the greatest strengths of the CBF community is the quality of our fellowship. Our meetings are inspiring, educational, and enjoyable to attend. Here are a few of the types of gatherings we offer: • CBFNC General Assembly – This year’s annual gathering will take place at Hayes Barton, Raleigh, on a one-day format on March 18.

• CBF General Assembly – This year’s national assembly will be held in Greensboro on June 22-24.

• Regional Gatherings – Consult the CBFNC website (www.cbfnc.org) for a schedule of regional gatherings.

• Retreats, Conferences, etc. – CBF and CBFNC offer retreats, conferences, and other events throughout the year for children, youth, college students, and adults. Check the website (www.cbfnc. org/events), newsletter or ENews listings.

CBF Speakers Invite a CBF speaker to come to your church. Whether a sermon for Sunday morning or a program at another time, CBF speakers enjoy being in churches. Here are several categories: • CBFNC Ministry Coordinators • CBF National Coordinators • CBF Global Missions Field Personnel (missionaries) • CBF Volunteer Leaders – Sometimes the leaders of other congregations in your area, including pastors, church staff and lay leaders, who are also active in CBF and CBFNC leadership, are available to speak in sister congregations.

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Missions Education A good way to educate congregations about CBF, especially CBF Global Missions, is by starting new groups which use CBF missions education materials or by supplementing the materials used by existing groups (Mission Friends, RAs, GAs, adult groups) with CBF missions education materials. These materials may be ordered from CBF through their website, www.cbf.net/resources.

Missions Offering Promotion CBF missions education and support can be included by either adding a new emphasis for CBF Global Missions, or including CBF Global Missions as an offering option when receiving a missions offering at Christmas, Easter, or other times. Whenever you choose to have your CBF Global Missions emphasis, be sure to utilize posters, bulletin inserts, offering envelopes, videos, missions speakers, etc. These materials may be ordered from CBF through the website, www.cbf.net/missions. The same can be done for a North Carolina Mission and Ministry Emphasis, with materials from CBFNC (www.cbfnc.org/MMU).

Mission Trips When planning your next church mission trip for youth or adults, consider partnering with CBF mission personnel, partners, and initiatives.

Christian Education Materials As your church plans its Christian education ministry, consider

supplementing existing curriculum with offerings from CBF or one of CBF’s partners, such as Baptists Today (www. nurturingfaith.net) or Smyth and Helwys (www.helwys.com).

Call a Pastor or Staff minister from a CBF Partner School Our partnership network has educated a new generation of church leaders.

These individuals are faithful, effective ministerial leaders who can help you lead and serve your church while also strengthening your identity and covenant with the CBF community.

Teach Baptist History and Heritage A solid process for educating congregations in Baptist history and heritage over the past 400 years, including the past 25, will help them understand why the CBF community is essential for a healthy Baptist witness in the 21st century. The Baptist History and Heritage Society is a good resource for this topic (www.baptisthistory.org).

Subscribe to CBF and Partner Publications It’s important to be informed about CBF ministries on a yearround basis. CBFNC and CBF have free publications (print and electronic) that are available to all church members. Partner news organizations such as Nurturing Faith and Baptist News Global provide even more news and information about the Baptist world, including CBF. Strengthening identity and covenant among Baptists isn’t easy because of our strong emphasis on freedom and autonomy. It takes intentionality, consistency, and persistence on the part of ministerial and lay leaders. It must be an ongoing process. Yet it is essential because we aren’t Independent Baptists; We are Cooperative Baptists.

In the mid-1990s our church was already firmly committed to mission partnership through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. No longer was our identity shaped by our participation in the Southern Baptist Convention. Our ties with North Carolina Baptists were at the time still strong, yet increasingly tenuous. We found ourselves to be early adopters with regard to CBF, and it was accurate to say we saw ourselves as a CBF congregation by that time.

That came with some baggage of critique from outside the church, as there was no shortage of voices claiming that CBF and its constituents did not believe the Bible, did not follow the Bible, did not believe salvation to be in Christ, and did not have any theological foundation. While few if any inside our church were bothered by these erroneous claims, we were concerned about how these claims might affect the view of potential members concerning our church. Our wise lay leaders counseled, “We need to find a way to express what we believe in a positive manner.” The result was a Statement of Core Values adopted in 1997 and used by the church since that time.

Our Core Values focus on three main areas – that we value worship, ministry, and fellowship, all under the Lordship of Christ. In the worship section, we address our beliefs and affirm the following:

core values

shape identity

by Jack Glasgow, Senior Pastor, Zebulon, Zebulon

e value the traditional Christian beliefs set forth W in the affirmations of the Apostles’ Creed. e value the Baptist beliefs set forth in the affirmations W of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message and the 1995 Mission Statement of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

In the tri-fold printing of our Core Values, we included the Apostles’ Creed and excerpts from the CBF Mission Statement. These Core Values, including these faith affirmations, have served us well. Visitors to our church see faith statements that we both affirm and value. They recognize our commitment to be a part of the Christian church universal and to be faithful to our Baptist identity and heritage. The Apostles’ Creed unites us with historic Christian confession. The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message identifies our historic Baptist distinctives. The CBF Statement identifies our ongoing commitment to live out our Baptist identity with those who are committed to the four freedoms – soul, Bible, church, and religious – as well as to Biblically based global missions, a Biblical vision of justice and mercy, lifelong learning for ministry, and trustworthiness.

These faith statements are more covenantal than creedal. They express our mutual covenant to live together as a faith community and to be in partnership with the body of Christ, and in particular, as mission partners with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We were and are careful with our language – we value these faith statements and their affirmations. We do not use them as a creed and we do not demand adherence.

We do have a statement within the core values, We value leaders that embrace our core values and we expect their leadership to be consistent with our core values. This falls short of a creedal demand placed on clergy and laity leaders. But, it does make clear an expectation that leadership in the church will be consistent with core values. This has proven helpful to the overall health of the congregation and its leaders without being too restrictive.

Nearly twenty years after the adoption of these Core Values, the charges of not believing what we ought to believe have subsided. The church has an effective way of expressing its belief in a non-creedal fashion. The community and guests to our church can easily discover and know what beliefs we affirm and value. Our partners in ministry and mission, like our important partners in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, can know what we value and affirm with dependable confidence as we continue our covenant journey together.

To see the entire Core Values statement, visit www.zebulonbaptist.com/core-values/.

The Gathering – March/April 2016 • 3

beloved Join us at our 2016 Gathering

community: clarifying identity and covenant March 18, 2016 Hayes Barton, Raleigh Dan Day, worship leader Baptist Children’s Home Choir

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Col. 3:12-14 NRSV

4 • The Gathering – March/April 2016

a sampling of workshop offerings Why Church Matters (and doesn’t) to Millennials Engaging Your Church For Diversity & Inclusion Understanding Homelessness: What Your Church Needs to Know A Passport and a Tank of Gas: A Small Church on Mission Sanctuary: Balancing Security and Hospitality The 10 Most Frequently Asked Administrative Questions from Small Churches Strengthening Sunday School Teaching through Media and Variety When it Comes to Congregational Vision May the Source Be With You CBF 101: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About CBF But Were Afraid to Ask The Church’s Response to Mental Illness Preaching the Peace of the City Community of Freedom: Baptist Identity in Action Lost Treasure: Resources for Cherishing and Teaching the Old Testament Pastoral Care Suggestions for Laypersons Caring for the Congregation and Staff Church Benevolence: Beyond the Basics How Do We Love Our Muslim (and other) Neighbors?

Emerging Roles and Contexts in Chaplaincy: A Front-Line Panel Reflects Leadership: Moving from Frustration to Focus & Fulfillment The Five Essential Practices of Healthy Congregations Faith Positive in a Negative World: Marketplace Ministry Freedom in Christ: Paul’s View of Freedom in Galatians English Language Missions in Your Church VBS Reimagined Pilgrim Community: Ecumenism, Baptist-Style The Practice of Fixed-Hour Prayer What Is Your Church’s Story?

parking Limited parking will be available at the church (approximately 150 spaces available for those with special needs). Satellite parking with shuttle service will also be available.

Participants are encouraged to carpool, if possible. Come first to the church to drop passengers and seek parking. If all spaces are filled, you will be directed to satellite parking locations. Parking attendants will be available to assist you at all satellite locations.

worship offering This year’s offering will provide seed money for new Campus Ministry efforts in Raleigh.

divinity student experience Divinity students are invited to participate in our Gathering as well as enjoy networking opportunities with other divinity students from partner divinity schools.

For details, go to www.cbfnc.org/DSE.

children’s assembly “Small but Mighty” day camp. Free! Faith experiences, new friends, and fun times for your child (infant - 5th grade). Be sure to pre-register!

All are welcome!

To register for our free gathering or to find more information, visit www.cbfnc.org/gathering.

The Gathering – March/April 2016 • 5

save the date!

October 3, 2016 Campbell University Divinity School

2016

Elevating Preaching

Elevating Preaching is a conference that began years ago with a challenge from Walter B. “Buddy” Shurden to “elevate preaching.” CBFNC accepted the challenge and responded with two preaching conferences connected to the annual CBFNC General Assembly.

Continuing to seek opportunities to model good preaching and nurture leadership, CBFNC partnered with Campbell Divinity School (2011), Gardner-Webb School of Divinity (2012), Wake Forest School of Divinity (2013), and Duke Baptist House of Studies (2014) to co-sponsor the event.

On Monday, October 3, 2016, the Elevating Preaching Conference resumes with Campbell University Divinity School as host and co-sponsor with CBFNC. Walter Brueggemann, who is considered to be one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last several decades, is the featured preacher/ speaker. Joining Brueggemann for the one day conference in Buies Creek are John Kinney who is Dean of the Brueggemann School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA, and Dorisanne Cooper who is the Senior Pastor at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham.

Elevating Preaching 2016 will focus on Empowering Laity for Missional Living with a theme of “As You Go!” “Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (ISV) For more information (June 2016), visit www.cbfnc.org. sponsors:

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

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mosaic of God’s image

by Kim and Marc Wyatt, CBF Advocates for Internationals, Research Triangle As we write this article, our first guests of Welcome House, a family of nine refugees from Afghanistan, have moved into their own home.

Volunteers from Heritage, Wake Forest, and St. John’s in Raleigh, joined us today for the big move. And a big move it was.

When we arrived at Welcome House to gather the family and their belongings, the 8 bags of luggage they brought from the Middle East had grown to 20!

You see, we gave the family all the linens, blankets, comforters, pillows, towels, plates, glasses, pots, pans, and more from Welcome House for their new home. It was quite a sight to see. Bags and people spilled all over the sidewalk as we sometimes stopped traffic in our semi-organized moving parade. But we survived; no lost bags or people.

Our caravan of cars, vans, and trucks wove our way through the streets of downtown Raleigh to the new apartment just south of the 40 loop. We only lost two vehicles (temporarily), but all made it eventually to the right address.

When we arrived at the new apartment community, the children could hardly wait for the cars to stop. They found the playground immediately and were all over it. It was such a sweet sound to hear their laughter and shouts of joy as they began to explore the neighborhood. Our small union of movers went to work taking whatever items they could manage up the sidewalk and stairs into apartment H, their new four-bedroom home. Like busy bees, everything was out of the vans and into the house lickity split.

While the girls and their mom decided where things should be placed, we took Pastor Richard Wynne, Ali (the father), and Weiss (the eldest son) to our warehouse so the men could pick out their living and dining room furniture. There is something sacred and dignified about picking out your own stuff, you know. Ali smiled as he selected his new lightly used brown sofa and the rocking chair that had been recently donated by a retired couple from North Raleigh who were downsizing. We’ve been

doing this for some years now. Every donated household item has a history and is a treasure from someone’s story. And now that brown sofa and rocker will have a new chapter in a new family’s story.

When we returned, school was out and the neighborhood was filled with children running and playing and laughing. One of the daughters ran up to me and said, “My new friend is also from Afghanistan.” She was very happy. God is so good!

We learned that there are several Afghan families along with other resettled refugees and immigrants who live in the community. It’s one of those hidden communities that we so often miss, tucked away behind a gas station yet filled with the mosaic of God’s image, people he so loves that he sent his only Son .... One neighbor brought over a home-cooked meal for the whole family to enjoy. When the mother saw that her neighbor was an Afghan mom just like her, dressed like her, a woman who spoke her language, and knew what she was going through, well, the mom began to cry. We believe they were tears of happiness. She and her family are now home, safe and sound after such a long, long journey. No more fear of persecution or death. No more longing for a place to be family. No more wondering when and if life would change for the better. In those covered dishes, her new neighbor gave her much more than food.

So many times over the past week our new friends have told us thank you. They shared how happy they were to be in the United States.

They told us that this is a good country and that Americans are good people. They asked how soon they could go to work. They found out Chick-fil-A was hiring, so one afternoon they walked to the restaurant with Kim and took a handful of job applications. Today, the 16-yearold daughter told Marc she had filled out the application and was ready to go to work. I couldn’t help but think how precious this young girl’s desire is to make it here. And she will. She will because God brought her to Raleigh, and his people are wrapping her with love and support.

Tomorrow, we’re heading downtown around 10am to pick up our new friends and take them to St. John’s Harvest Festival. It will take both the van and the car to move everyone. The children are especially excited because they have heard about Halloween and know that somehow, someway candy is involved. We are very happy because tomorrow they are going to be loved on real good by the saints at the Baptist church off Oberlin Street.

Week one of Welcome House has passed. In three days, a family of eight from the Congo will arrive.

And when they do we will welcome them home.

Thanks be to God. And thank you for helping make this ministry possible.

Welcome House Raleigh is a temporary reception home for refugees who are resettled in the Raleigh area and do not have a place to live upon arrival. We provide a safe home, settlement assistance, and bridges into the community.

While with us, guests live together in a three bedroom, four bath apartment supported by a team of hosts for one to six weeks while awaiting long-term affordable housing.

Welcome House has space for up to nine refugee guests.

Lasting friendships are made around the table and in the family room at Welcome House.

Our main goal at Welcome House is to share the love of God in Christ Jesus through the ministries of hospitality and friendship. When permanent housing becomes available we furnish it and even provide culturally appropriate groceries. Then we help our new friends discover their new American neighborhood.

Volunteers from local churches are very important to our ministry. These special neighbors are our refugee guests’ first American friends. Prayerfully, that friendship continues to grow in the grace and love of God. We welcome financial assistance. We are able to provide a safe, welcoming home for newly arrived refugees because of the generosity of donors who want to make a real welcome possible for those who have had to flee their homelands. Financial support helps us provide:

n

Rent and utility start-up assistance Food grants

n

Household items and other lightly used furnishings

n

Furniture and supply storage

n Moving,

n

transportation, and equipment maintenance

Welcome House Raleigh is a partnership between the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Raleigh and CBFNC. Charitable receipts for gifts-in-kind are available from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Raleigh Field Office.

Financial donations should be made to:

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina 8025 North Point Blvd, Suite 205 Winston-Salem, NC 27106 Attention: Wyatt Ministry to Refugees

For more information or to speak with Marc Wyatt, call (910) 632-4774 or write wyatt@cbf.net.

The Gathering – March/April 2016 • 7

conversations PART TWO

by Rev. K. Seth Hix, Wake Forest University Divinity student and CBFNC intern

What does a partnership with CBFNC look like in your church? Why is it important?

These seem like simple, straightforward questions. So try it.

Take a moment and think about your local church. How would you answer these questions? If you are like the 91 church leaders that I interviewed, you might find it difficult to articulate an adequate answer. There is simply no blueprint for a CBFNC partnership.

As you might imagine, I heard a wide variety of responses to these “simple” questions. Church leaders sometimes spoke about financial contributions, mission endeavors, and the trusted leadership of CBFNC. But eventually, the scattered answers began to settle around three central concepts: Identity, Cooperation, and Personal Connections.

There is no doubt that Theological Identity has led many churches to CBFNC. It would seem logical then to assume that our churches are all alike. On the contrary, my conversations revealed a great deal of theological diversity. In fact, it was not uncommon for me to speak with a conservative, a moderate, and a progressive church leader on the same day!

In today’s world of sharp political divisions, it is almost irrational to think that churches spread out across such a wideranging theological spectrum could all find a home together, but they absolutely do. It is remarkable that such exceedingly diverse congregations can celebrate each other’s unique traits and distinctive characteristics.

One unifying element that did emerge was a deep desire to reclaim and redefine the Baptist name in the public square. The open, loving approach to partnership employed by CBFNC’s theologically diverse congregations seems like a great place to start.

Cooperation may seem obvious, but nevertheless, it remains foundational. A common refrain among church leaders was, “Working together we can accomplish so much more than we can alone!” Smaller churches often look to CBFNC for help in extending the limits of their ministry. But many larger congregations also expressed the cooperative sentiment and want to be a part of something beyond even their substantial ministries.

They want and need to be a part of the broader work of the (Baptist) body of Christ.

Arguably, the most effective strategy for fostering healthy partnerships is through Personal Connections. Churches who feel they have received personal attention from CBFNC spoke of strong partnerships, while churches who felt neglected expressed a desire for more direct contact. This need for personal connection was also evident in the resounding chorus of affirmation regarding the need for a quality annual Gathering.

8 • The Gathering – March/April 2016

I was struck by the number of times throughout the interview process that specific names of CBFNC representatives were mentioned. If a church leader knew a CBFNC representative personally, they proudly told me! And even those who did not have a particular personal connection made a point to mention any interactions they did have with CBFNC personnel. I heard, “Larry preached in our church five years ago” and “Jack helped our pastor search committee.” Local congregations are energized by visits from anyone representing CBFNC. Yet, while all three of the above areas are undoubtedly important to CBFNC churches, it was an unanticipated topic that received the most airtime. Remarkably, the most common discussion I had concerning local church partnerships did not involve CBFNC coordinators or clergy. Almost every conversation eventually addressed the role of laity. The overwhelming consensus was: Lay people lack a basic knowledge and understanding of CBFNC.

Here is some of what I heard …

“CBFNC is more for ministers than lay people.”

“The people in our pews don’t know the difference between CBF/SBC/CBFNC, etc.”

“Our (young/new) people are not interested in denominationalism.”

“We just don’t talk about it!”

Furthermore, other portions of my research revealed that even the most engaged church leaders have trouble articulating CBFNC’s mission and identity. While these are probably not new suggestions to many Cooperative Baptist leaders, they were widespread enough that we should all take notice.

The mission of Cooperative Baptists is just that, cooperative.

It is truly a shared endeavor. We all must do our part (clergy and laity) or the Fellowship and its Kingdom goals will suffer. The truth is that the CBFNC table is abundantly large enough for all who will come. Empty chairs only make the fellowship (and passing food) more challenging!

If you are interested in more information about this congregational leader research, you can access a recorded version of Seth’s presentation at www.vimeo.com/142507746.

He will also offer this presentation as a workshop at our 2016 Gathering on March 18th at Hayes Barton in Raleigh.

covenantal living and young adults

by Wanda Kidd, CBFNC Collegiate Engagement Coordinator The understanding and the willingness to engage in covenantal living is possibly the best answer to the almost universal question, “How do we get young people to come to our church?” For the generation who wants to belong before they believe, offering young adults a place to develop relationships, and being a trustworthy place for them to invest their lives is an absolute necessity. If we want them to hear what we have to say about matters of faith, we must provide them with a place to grow and thrive in their covenantal relationships.

So, how would we go about understanding and implementing covenant living in pursuit of the elusive young person? To start with, we must lay down our fears, set aside our preconceived ideas, and open not just our doors, but also our hearts.

With that in mind, we must understand that …

Covenant is agreement, and agreements always require more than one person or one perspective. Like all people, young adults want their voice to be heard and to matter. That only works if we invite them into the conversation. Ask them what they are thinking. It may surprise you that they want to know us and be part of us.

Covenant is intentional. Covenants don’t just happen. There usually is a problem or an issue within the community that needs attention.

Young adults almost universally hate conflict, and their understanding of church is that arguing and taking sides is how things are resolved. Young people need for us to model a way of disagreeing respectfully, and for us to help them know the issues and the reason for the conversation.

Everything is not a fight.

Covenant is personal and relational.

Covenant involves the whole community, not just the powerbrokers and the insiders. Covenant is a promise between every member of the group. It is neither a secret code nor an unspoken expectation.

Talk about the things that matter in your church with everyone who is a part of the community.

What are our core values and how do we live them out as a group of Christ-followers?

Covenant has expectations. As I say to young people all the time, “Unmet expectations are the source of almost all disappointment and disharmony.” We cannot meet each other’s expectations if they are unspoken or unheard. How often do we assume that people know the Biblical story, the church’s story, and our story? To new people, it often feels like they need to know the secret handshake to be part of our church. Tell the stories and help people know they are welcomed and needed to fulfill the bigger story of the Gospel.

Covenant has an outcome and is evidenced by action. Young people want to be a part of a church that has a vision and a clear calling, and they want to know what that vision is and how they can join in.

Young adults are hungry for authentic community. They want a place to serve and make a difference.

Regardless of what you have heard, they are waiting to be invited into a covenantal relationship with Christ and His church. Pray for covenantal ways to be the presence of Christ to these young adults.

The Gathering – March/April 2016 • 9

CBFNC Financial Report:

December 2015 Contributions Undesignated - $149,279 Designated - $288,318 January 2016 Contributions Undesignated - $137,778 Designated - $379,031 April 2015 - March 2016 Monthly Undesignated Goal: $117,447

CBFNC Honorary and Memorial Gifts Jon Howell, Huntsville, AL; in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Ray N. Howell III Kim and Robby Ray, Charlotte; in honor of Jack and Mary Lib Causey Suzanne Harris and Alton Chewning, Chapel Hill; in memory of Mrs. Oma Lee Smith

Visit our website,

www.cbfnc.org Donate to CBFNC today!

to find a listing of our staff and leadership

www.cbfnc.org/give

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

Ministers on the Move

Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator

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

Take a look at CBFNC’s blog,

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

Would you like to contribute?

E-mail smitchell@cbfnc.org.

Coordinator Visits December 2015 - January 2016 Ardmore, Winston Salem First, Clemmons First, Kannapolis First, Mocksville First, North Wilkesboro First, Raleigh First, Shelby Hayes Barton, Raleigh Neill’s Creek, Angier Rocky River, Siler City 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.

10 • The Gathering – March/April 2016

Julie Sugg is serving as the Preschool Director for Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem Emmett Windham has been called as Director of Music Ministries for Hope Valley Baptist Church in Durham Dane Hadley has been called as Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Raleigh Paul Batson has been called as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Elizabeth City Ephesus Baptist Church in Cary has called Kevin Georgas at Pastor First Baptist Church in Biscoe has called Josh Powers as Pastor Robert Dixon has been called to First Baptist Church in Pilot Mountain as Pastor First Baptist Church of Asheboro has called Michael Bentley as Pastor of Worship and Music Sara Jones is serving as the Children’s Minister at First Baptist Church in Clemmons Alan Newcomb has been called as Minister of Youth to Boiling Springs Baptist Church in Boiling Springs Sarah Mears is serving as Minister to Children and Families for Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh 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.

virtual library ... real

help

by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator

Our Fellowship is blessed with many gifted persons! They serve their churches and communities with creativity and ingenuity. The CBFNC Resource Library, found under the Resources tab of the CBFNC website, gives these persons a place to share their work freely with others.

The creators of the documents, articles, webinars, audio files, etc. found in the CBFNC Resource Library have submitted these original works (giving credit to others when due) hoping that their work will bless other ministries.

Dozens of articles, workshops, handouts, worship planning helps, and administrative resources are added every year. When you need a resource from a like-minded ministry, click our site first! And, if have something to share, you may submit it through our website, www.cbfnc.org.

Here are the resources that received the most hits last year: Guidelines for a Baptist Ordination Council 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message Statements: Comparison and Commentary Maternity Leave Policies Offertory Prayers Reimbursement of Insurance Premiums Here are ten of our newest resources: A Minister’s Ordination (Video and Program) Working With Minors (Policies and Forms) Event Planning Guides: Step-by-Step The Good Shepherd in Early Christian Art (PowerPoint presentation) Recruiting Volunteers for Children’s Ministry (A workshop video with handouts) Church History Over the Past 21 Centuries (A pastor’s Wednesday night series) Curriculum Considerations (A workshop video with handouts) A Blessing of the Hands Service for Healthcare Workers Intergenerational Small Groups Freedom from Racism The Gathering – March/April 2016 • 11

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry 8025 North Point Blvd., Suite 205 Winston-Salem, NC 27106

888-822-1944 www.cbfnc.org

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Upcoming Events ~ MARCH/APRIL EDITION New Minister’s Lunch March 3, 2016 CBFNC office, Winston-Salem Youth Choir Festival March 4-5, 2016 Knollwood, Winston-Salem Children’s Choir Festival March 12, 2016 First, Southern Pines CBFNC 2016 Gathering (General Assembly) March 18, 2016 Hayes Barton, Raleigh Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship (502) April 4-5, 2016 CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem History and Sound of First, Asheville April 5, 2016 First, Asheville International Student Retreat April 8-10, 2016 Fort Caswell

Regional Impacting Tomorrow Western NC Teaching Congregation April 16, 2016 First, Waynesville Leading Through Challenges Small Church Conference April 19, 2016 Mount Pisgah, Fayetteville Reaching People Under 30 While Keeping People Over 60 April 30, 2016 The Fountain of Raleigh Fellowship, Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel Mother/Daughter Fellowship May 21, 2016 Falls Lake, Durham Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel Men’s Retreat May 27-28, 2016 Quaker Lake Camp Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel Family Retreat June 18, 2016 Iglesia Bautista La Roca, Raleigh

CBF Global’s General Assembly June 20-24, 2016 Koury Convention Center, Greensboro Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel Children’s Camp July 16-17, 2016 Dixie Camp, Fayetteville Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel Women’s Retreat July 29-31, 2016 Ridgecrest Companerismo Cristiano Emanuel Youth Camp August 26-28, 2016 Dixie Camp, Fayetteville 2016 Elevating Preaching October 3, 2016 Campbell Divinity School, Buies Creek Fall Youth Beach Retreat October 7-9, 2016 Caswell