Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
Living our story Our story lives in the shared experiences of ministering together.
Listen to the voices of those serving through CBFNC ministries and experience all that God has done with your help.
www.cbfnc.org
A message from Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator Baptist … North Carolina … Cooperative These words have been central to our story since the beginning. We are loyal to our Baptist heritage, proud to be residents of the Tarheel state, and always seeking ways to partner with others to pursue God’s mission in our communities and the world. Transformation … Engagement … Community These words are central to our story as we look to the future. Rather than waiting on folks to come to us, we face outward, engaging the world, in word and deed, with the transforming love of Christ. The stories that follow describe some of the concrete ways we’ve lived our story in mission and ministry in 2016. These ministries wouldn’t have happened without your financial support. Thank you for your past support. And thank you for continuing that support with a new gift as we approach the end of this year.
Demonstrating God’s love “When we finally spotted the three refugee men leaving their gate, I was relieved to see they made it. However, there was hesitation in their eyes as we greeted them. I can only imagine what they had been told about their arrival and the thoughts that were running through their heads:
What if no one is there to meet us? Who are these people? What will my future hold? Will I ever see my family again?
They shook all of our hands, and we discovered that their English was pretty limited. Our interpreter translated words from Dari into English. We loaded up and headed to North Durham where we showed the gentlemen around their new apartment …
Marc and Kim Wyatt, CBF field personnel based in the Research Triangle, have been partnering with CBFNC for more than two years. Their commitment and passion for ministering to the needs of internationals and refugees is contagious as they model, mobilize, and coach our CBFNC churches. It has been a labor of love for all involved. Many of our churches and individuals have opened their hearts to refugee families fleeing war-torn countries, dire poverty, and other severe hardships. Welcome Houses, temporary homes for refuges when they first arrive, provide a place where relationships are formed and God’s love is demonstrated.
… I really wanted them to know that all that was in the apartment was theirs now. Mike, another volunteer on our Welcome Team, later shared that they seemed overwhelmed when shown all that had been provided for them. When we served our new friends dinner, they asked us to join them, saying the meal that we brought was too much for just them to eat. That gesture warmed my heart. It was a glimpse into their generous souls. These men who had nothing but what they carried with them were offering us all they had. We declined but asked if we could pray with them. Hesitation had softened in their eyes, and tired smiles appeared on their faces. We parted with hopes to see them soon and blessings of rest and rejuvenation for them. I am so proud of our team and the roles they played to be God’s hands and feet. One thing became perfectly clear to me that night: this ministry is right where God needs us to be. I cannot wait for the next opportunity.” Cara Bolton Hope Valley Baptist Church, Durham
Passing it along CBFNC’s Collegiate Ministry needs volunteers and campus ministers to engage young adults in missions and ministry. CBFNC is committed to the whole scope of calling in our young adults. People like Seth Asbill are part of our comprehensive ministry to college students. As a young man, Seth was very involved in Baptist campus ministry at NC State University. He grew in faith, mission, service, and leadership. Collegiate ministry offered him skills and ethical perspective that still serve him today as a businessperson in the Triangle area. Seth wants to ensure that his children and others have the same opportunities to grow. That is why he serves on the CBFNC Collegiate Engagement Team, recruits others to serve and contribute, and looks for creative ways to promote CBFNC’s college engagement and ministry.
CBFNC is blessed to have a called, committed, and prepared team of collegiate ministers serving on college campuses across our state. One of those ministers is Adam Horton, who serves as a volunteer collegiate minister at UNC-G. Adam was nurtured by a CBFNC youth minister and became involved in NC Baptist Campus ministry as a student and then served as a year-long collegiate intern. His passion and commitment to student ministry took him to Truett Seminary to prepare to serve with young adults. He has found his calling to serve as a bi-vocational collegiate minister. He is a full-time IT person at UNC-G and, four years ago, began serving as a CBFNC collegiate ministry in partnership with First Baptist Church in Greensboro. Adam’s quiet presence creates a place for students to grow in their Christian faith while at college. We are grateful for Adam’s prepared leadership our college students.
Students are the reason for CBFNC’s calling to college engagement. One student is Megan Purdee, president of the Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship at ECU. She joined the group as a sophomore because CBSF was, “a place where people want to know your name. They want to get to know you while you’re getting to know Christ.” Through CBSF, she has become involved in other opportunities. She has attended both CBFNC and CBF Global General Assemblies, Selah Vie, and is a great advocate for our missions. CBFNC Collegiate ministry has been the portal for her to grow as a leader. This ministry has shown her the value of being stronger together rather than alone. We are grateful for the enthusiasm Seth, Adam, and Megan bring to CBFNC Collegiate Ministry to help our young adults find a place of belonging in the Christian family of faith.
Walking those paths together The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is woven throughout the life and call of Elizabeth Maye. Elizabeth began exploring her sense of call to professional ministry during her teens when she was a member of Wingate Baptist Church. Her church leaders encouraged her to attend Echo summer camp at Wingate University to take part in a process of discernment for youth. Echo was breathed into life by a grant from the Lilly Endowment given to the Samuel Project and the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Echo invites students wrestling with a call to ministry and encourages them to discover God, themselves, and their call. Elizabeth responded to God’s call. After graduating from Montreat College where she majored in Bible and Religion with a concentration
in Youth Ministry, Elizabeth attended Gardner-Webb School of Divinity, a CBFNC partner school, and received a Master of Divinity. During her divinity school experience, Elizabeth was selected to be a CBFNC Scholar and became an active leader and participant in the Divinity Student Experience at CBFNC’s Annual Gatherings. Elizabeth continued to support CBFNC while she served as Children’s Pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Shelby by serving on planning teams for CBFNC’s Children’s Mission Days and Youth Beach Retreat.
When Elizabeth began to search for her first full-time ministerial position, she contacted the CBFNC office for conversation, direction, and networking. Along the way, CBFNC staff members provided coaching and encouragement. Elizabeth used the CBFNC website, www.cbfnc.org, as a resource to research ministry position postings. Elizabeth has recently accepted the role of Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Life at First Baptist Church of New Bern. Throughout her life, Elizabeth has listened for God’s call and she has responded. We have been enriched by walking those paths with her.