The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - July–August 2010

July/August 2010 • Vol. 15 Issue 4 Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

In This Edition Page 2

Hopeful Imagination

Page 7

Page 3

Celebrating Partner Congregations and Their Faithful Generosity

by Larry Hovis

Pages 8-9

Pages 4-6 Partner Churches

Singing their

The Gathering

Page 6

What are You Doing This Summer?

by Wanda Kidd

Page 10

Paraphrasing Matthew 25

by Mike Currin Stretching Well Beyond our Comfort Zone into Uncharted Territory

by Lee Canipe Rekindling the Flame

by Randy McKinney

of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

hearts out

Racial Reconciliation Issue

CBFNC Missions Initiative weekend: Chowan University singers prepare to perform at Littleton’s John 3:16 Center.

July/August 2010

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

phone: 336.759.3456 • phone: 888.822.1944 • fax: 336.759.3459 • cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org

Larry Hovis . ....... Executive Coordinator................... LHovis@cbfnc.org

Wanda Kidd......... College Ministry Consultant...... WKidd@cbfnc.org

Rick Jordan ........ Church Resources Coordinator........ RJordan@cbfnc.org

Eddie Hammett ....Church and Clergy Coach.......... EHammett@cbfnc.org

Linda Jones . ...... Missions Coordinator.................... LJones@cbfnc.org

Javier Benitez ......Hispanic Ministry Leader Coach... JavierB1@embarqmail.com

Jim Hylton ......... Business Administration Coordinator.. JHylton@cbfnc.org

Nancy Parks . ...... Programs Manager................... NParks@cbfnc.org

Jack Causey . ...... Ministerial Resources Coordinator... JCausey@cbfnc.org

Sarah Mitchell .... Communications Manager......... SMitchell@cbfnc.org

Laura Barclay . .... Social Ministries Coordinator......... LBarclay@cbfnc.org

Gail McAlister ..... Financial Manager................... GMcalister@cbfnc.org Casey Carroll . ..... Administrative Assistant.......... CCarroll@cbfnc.org

Coordinating Council Steve Little, Marion, Moderator Donna Bissette, Winston-Salem, Moderator-elect Greg Rogers, Greenville, Past Moderator Greg Watson, Hickory, Recorder Gary Knight, Winston-Salem, Treasurer Ray Ammons, Gastonia Tommy Bratton, Asheville Susan Ellington, Zebulon David Hailey, Raleigh Martha McDowell, Laurinburg Lisa Rust, Lumberton Bert Young, Bladenboro Janice Young, Whiteville Endowment Management Board Jack Buchanan, Shelby Joe Harris, Mocksville John Hewett, Charlotte Judy LeCroy, Lexington Candy Tennant, Chapel Hill

Faith Development Ministry Council John Vestal, Raleigh, Chair Allen Winters, Hillsborough, Chair-Elect Todd Blake, Fayetteville Gay Gulick, Winston-Salem Beth Heffner, Rutherfordton Garin Hill, Shelby Kathy Naish, Hickory Katie Fam Roscoe, Southern Pines Tony Spencer, Forest City Sophia Steibel, Boiling Springs

Missions Ministry Council Kenny Davis, Wise, Chair Kent Cranford, Gastonia, Chair-Elect George Fuller, Raleigh Brandon Hudson, Winston-Salem Christopher Ingram, Smithfield Andrea Dellinger Jones, Raleigh Pablo Juarez, Sanford Len Keever, Dunn Alicia Porterfield, Wilmington Linda Winslow, Jamestown

Leadership Development Ministry Council Mark Ashworth, Kernersville, Chair Scott Hovey, Durham, Chair-Elect Joseph Alexander, Winston-Salem Ed Beddingfield, Fayetteville Larry Glover-Wetherington, Richlands Rendell Hipps, Hickory Tommy James, Sylva Shane Nixon, Burlington LeAnne Spruill Ryan, Durham Mari Wiles, Murfreesboro

CBF National Council Members from NC Paul Baxley, Henderson Lee Canipe, Murfreesboro Don Gordon, Durham Betsy Newton Herman, Raleigh Beth McConnell, Charlotte Robin Roberts, Raleigh Blenda Sloniker, Hickory

Hopeful

Financial Report:

April May

2010 Contributions Traditional Churches Undesignated - $153,737 Designated - $297,510 2010 Contributions Finding God’s w ay Undesignated - $92,773 Designated - $190,679 April 2010 - March 2011 Monthly Undesignated in a Changing world Goal: $110,538

Hopeful

Traditional Churches Finding God’s w ay in a Changing world

• Learn how churches move from “why we can’t” to “how we can.”

• Discover the power of relationships and how to create missional partnerships to impact a city.

Presenters include Mike Queen, Jim Everette and community leaders, Jayne Davis, Kurt Watchel, Ruben Swint, Ronnie Russell, George Bullard, Bill Wilson, Eddie Hammett, Jeannie Troutman, Don Vigus, Bo Prosser, Larry Hovis and panel of students, Vick Griffin, Deacon Chair of FBCW, Carl Williford, Wanda Porter, and laypersons from FBCW

• Dialogue with pastoral staff and lay leadership that are effectively transitioning a congregation • Learn how churches move from “why we can’t” to “how we can.” from maintenance to mission.

• • Discover the power of relationships and how to Experience encouragement, hope and help for create missional partnerships to impact a city. leaders and congregations.

For more information and registration details,

• Dialogue with pastoral staff and lay leadership visit www.hopefulimagination.info that are effectively transitioning a congregation from maintenance to mission.

• Experience encouragement, hope and help for leaders and congregations.

October 22-23, 2010 Host Teaching Church:

First Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC

A 200 year old church making an impact today and tomorrow.

Visit www.FBCWilmington.org.

Host Teaching Church:

October 22-23, 2010

Registration and workshop details willNC be available 2 • The Gathering – July/August 2010 First Baptist Church, Wilmington, soon at www.cbfnc.org.

A 200 year old church making an impact today and tomorrow.

Visit www.FBCWilmington.org.

Co-sponsored by First Baptist Church, The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina,

Hopeful Imagination is for ordinary leaders who trust in an extraordinary God … who seek a divinely guided church to transform leaders, cities, families ... who expect to be changed and deeply desire to be used by God to change their world.

This event is for all church leaders (clergy and laity).

Be sure to register by August 30th to receive the early-bird registration rate.

Celebrating Partner Congregations and Their Faithful Generosity Coordinator’s Report from Executive Coordinator, Larry Hovis

Number of Churches

Most organizations (businesses, schools, non-profits, churches, are not asked to affirm a doctrinal statement, submit a memberetc.) have a mission statement. Too often, these statements are ship application or surrender to the discipline and oversight of a nothing more than high-sounding words that have little connection denominational hierarchy. Instead, a congregation’s financial gift to everyday life. The stated purpose of Cooperative Baptist Felis a tacit endorsement of our purpose, principles, vision, values lowship of North Carolina is “Bringing Baptists of North Carolina and ministries. The reverse is not true. Because we accept a together for Christ-centered ministry.” That really is what we congregation’s gifts for our shared ministries, neither CBFNC nor do. We exist to bring together individuals, churches and ministry other congregations are endorsing all of the beliefs or practices partners to pursue the mission of God in ways they could never of that partner congregation. Autonomy of belief and practice is do alone. We believe ensured for all. the admonition of This year’s list of Giving Trend: 2007 through 2010 Hebrews 10:25, “Let 358 partner churches us not give up meeting includes North CaroCBFNC Yearly Financial Report together, as some are lina churches who in the habit of doing, have made a financial $4,000,000 $3,606,072 but let us encourage gift to CBFNC or $3,500,000 one another — and all CBF National during $3,018,832 the more as you see the eighteen-month $3,000,000 the Day approachperiod of October $2,370,821 $2,404,227 $2,500,000 ing,” applies to the 2008 through March extended family of 2010. It also includes $2,000,000 $1,959,148 $1,233,214 Baptist Christians. church plants that $1,500,000 We exist to help make currently receive $1,455,378 $1,051,883 that happen. funding from CBFNC. $1,000,000 $948,849 Those we seek to Partner churches $500,000 serve include more are classified accordthan congregations, ing to three types $0 but local churches of giving. Churches Undesignated Designated Total Gifts are the focus of our listed in regular type 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 ministry. Once each have contributed year in this publicato CBF National, tion, we list the names either the regular CBFNC Partner Churches: 4/1/05 - 3/31/10 of these “partner conbudget or the Global gregations.” You can Missions Offering.

350 find them listed on These churches have our website throughnot contributed to 300 299 out the year, but we CBFNC. Churches 275 believe it’s worth the listed in bold type 250 241 pages and ink to list have contributed to 235 221 200 them in The GatherCBFNC. In almost ing, which is our most all cases, they also 150 broadly distributed contribute to CBF 100 communication tool.

National. Churches Following the listed in blue type 50 practice of an earlier have contributed time in Baptist life, to CBF, CBFNC 0 4/1/05 4/1/06 4/1/07 4/1/08 4/1/09 we in the Fellowship and other ministry through through through through through Movement define partners through the 3/31/06 3/31/07 3/31/08 3/31/09 3/31/10 partnership on the Mission Resource Dates basis of financial supPlan, CBFNC’s continued on page 6 port. Congregations The Gathering – July/August 2010 • 3

Partner Churches October 2008 - March 2010 Churches contributing to CBFNC are listed in bold type. Churches that contribute to CBF National only are listed in regular type.

Designated in blue are churches who participate in the CBFNC Mission Resource Plan, providing financial support for other Baptist ministries through CBFNC. For additional information about the Mission Resource Plan, visit www.cbfnc.org.

This list does not include churches who partner with CBFNC or CBF 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 Oakhurst.......................... Asheboro Oakwood Park................. Asheboro West Asheboro................. Asheboro Calvary............................. Asheville First.................................. Asheville Grace................................ Asheville Morningside..................... Asheville Connaritsa....................... Aulander Lily Branch...................... Bakersville First of Smithton............. Belhaven Benson............................ Benson First.................................. Biscoe First.................................. Black Mountain First.................................. Bladenboro Lennons Cross Roads..... Bladenboro First.................................. Blowing Rock Boiling Springs............... Boiling Springs Bolivia............................. Bolivia First.................................. Boone Boonville.......................... Boonville Mount Moriah Calvert... Brevard First.................................. Bryson City First.................................. Buies Creek Memorial.......................... Buies Creek Bullock............................. Bullock Burgaw.............................. Burgaw First.................................. Burlington Northside.......................... Burlington First................................ Burnsville First................................ Butner Calypso............................. Calypso Hominy............................. Candler First.................................. Canton First.................................. Carolina Beach Greenwood Forest........... Cary Westwood......................... Cary Chadbourn....................... Chadbourn Piney Forest...................... Chadbourn Ephesus........................... Chapel Hill HillSong............................ Chapel Hill Lystra............................... Chapel Hill Mount Carmel................. Chapel Hill University....................... Chapel Hill Grace Crossing................ Charlotte 4 • The Gathering – July/August 2010

Park Road.......................... Charlotte Peace Covenant............... Charlotte Pritchard Memorial........ Charlotte Providence....................... Charlotte St. John’s.......................... Charlotte Sardis................................ Charlotte First................................ Clayton White Oak........................ Clayton Clemmons First............... Clemmons First................................ Clinton Grove Park...................... Clinton Rowan.............................. Clinton McGill............................... Concord First.................................. Cramerton Open Arms .................... Creedmoor Cullowhee........................ Cullowhee The Summit..................... Cullowhee First .................................. Denton First.................................. Drexel First.................................. Dunn Westfield........................... Dunn Angier Avenue................. Durham Calvary............................. Durham Durham Memorial.......... Durham Glenn School Road.......... Durham Hope Valley...................... Durham Lakewood........................ Durham Lowes Grove.................... Durham Ministeria Hispano Reino Hoy .......................................... Durham Mount Hermon................ Durham Temple.............................. Durham Watts Street..................... Durham Yates................................. Durham First................................ Eden Edenton............................ Edenton Blackwell Memorial.......... Elizabeth City First.................................. Elizabeth City Elizabethtown................... Elizabethtown First.................................. Elkin Elm City........................... Elm City First.................................. Elon Emerald Isle..................... Emerald Isle Antioch............................. Enfield Enfield.............................. Enfield Enka................................. Enka Fair Bluff.......................... Fair Bluff First.................................. Fairmont First.................................. Farmville First.................................. Fayetteville Lafayette.......................... Fayetteville Lake Lynn........................ Fayetteville Mount Pisgah................... Fayetteville Snyder Memorial............ Fayetteville Unity Christian Center... Fayetteville

First.................................. Forest City Florence.......................... Forest City 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 Ranlo................................. Gastonia Reynoldson...................... Gates First.................................. Goldsboro Rosewood First................ Goldsboro First ................................. Graham Brandt Oaks.................... Greensboro College Park.................... Greensboro First.................................. Greensboro Guilford............................ Greensboro Korean Mission............... Greensboro Lindley Park.................... Greensboro Southeast.......................... Greensboro Arlington Boulevard......... Greenville Immanuel....................... Greenville The Memorial.................. Greenville The Memorial Hispanic Church .......................................... Greenville Oakmont.......................... Greenville Hallsboro.......................... Hallsboro First................................... Hamlet Flat Rock.......................... Hamptonville First.................................. Henderson Providence....................... Hendersonville First.................................. Hickory New Hope......................... Hickory Viewmont......................... Hickory Hiddenite.......................... Hiddenite Emerywood...................... High Point First.................................. High Point Parkwood......................... High Point First................................ Highlands Cane Creek........................ Hillsborough First.................................. Hillsborough Hobbsville........................ Hobbsville First.................................. Huntersville Jackson............................. Jackson First.................................. Jamestown First.................................. Jonesville First.................................. Kannapolis First.................................. Kernersville Main Street...................... Kernersville

Partner Churches October 2008 - March 2010 Union Cross..................... Kernersville Iglesia Cristiana Sin Fronteras .......................................... King Quaker Gap..................... King Spilman Memorial.......... Kinston Oak Ridge........................ Kittrell Knightdale...................... Knightdale Fairfield Mountains Chapel .......................................... Lake Lure First Reformed.................. Landis First................................ Laurinburg Goshen.............................. Leland North Brunswick Fellowship. .......................................... Leland College Avenue................ Lenoir First.................................. Lenoir Churchland...................... Lexington First.................................. Lexington Jersey................................ Lexington First ............................... Liberty Mount Pleasant.............. Liberty Lillington......................... Lillington First ............................... Lincolnton Bear Swamp..................... Littleton Littleton............................ Littleton Mission............................. Locust Hickory Rock................. Louisburg Louisburg......................... Louisburg First.................................. Lumberton Rozier................................ Lumberton First.................................. Madison Antioch............................. Mamers First.................................. Marion Calvary........................... Mars Hill Mars Hill.......................... Mars Hill First.................................. Marshall First.................................. Marshville First.................................. Mayodan 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 Flat Rock.......................... Mount Airy First.................................. Mount Gilead First................................ Mount Holly First................................ Mount Olive Murfreesboro................... Murfreesboro Rock Creek..................... Nashville First.................................. New Bern Kendalls........................... New London First.................................. Newland Trinity............................. Newton First.................................. N. Wilkesboro Oak City............................ Oak City

Union Grove.................... Oak Ridge First................................... Oriental Enon................................. Oxford Hester............................... Oxford Oxford.............................. Oxford Roberts Chapel................ Pendleton Mount Gilead................... Pittsboro Pittsboro........................... Pittsboro Athens Drive.................... Raleigh Crabtree Valley.............. Raleigh Iglesia Bautista la Roca .......................................... Raleigh First.................................. Raleigh Forest Hills....................... Raleigh Greystone......................... Raleigh Hayes Barton................... Raleigh HomeStar Fellowship...... Raleigh Hope Cafe........................ Raleigh Longview.......................... Raleigh Macedonia........................ Raleigh Millbrook......................... Raleigh New Community............. Raleigh New Hope......................... Raleigh Pullen Memorial................ Raleigh Ridge Road...................... Raleigh St. John’s . ....................... Raleigh Swift Creek..................... Raleigh Tabernacle........................ 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 First................................ Rocky Mount Lakeside........................... Rocky Mount Rileys Creek................... Rocky Point Rolesville.......................... Rolesville Rose Hill........................... Rose Hill First.................................. Roseboro First.................................. Rowland Lamberth Memorial....... Roxboro Roxboro............................ Roxboro First.................................. Rural Hall First.................................. Rutherfordton Enon................................. Salisbury First.................................. Salisbury Ephesus............................. Sanford First.................................. Sanford Flat Springs..................... Sanford Jonesboro Heights........... Sanford Primera Iglesia Bautista . ........................................ Sanford Double Shoals.................. Shelby Dover................................. Shelby First................................ Shelby

Poplar Springs............... Shelby Ross Grove........................ Shelby Sandy Plains.................... Shelby Zion.................................. Shelby Centro Familiar Cristiano. ........................................ Siler City Rocky River..................... Siler City Nobles Chapel.................. Sims First................................ Smithfield Sharon.............................. Smithfield First.................................. Southern Pines First.................................. Spindale Spencer............................. Spindale Ephesus............................ Spring Hope First.................................. Spring Hope First ................................. Spruce Pine First................................ Stanfield First.................................. Statesville First.................................. Stoneville Brunswick Islands........... Supply East Sylva......................... Sylva First.................................. Sylva Olyphic........................... Tabor City Tabor City ..................... Tabor City First.................................. Tarboro Antioch........................... Taylorsville First ............................... Taylorsville Teachey............................. Teachey First................................ Tryon Round Hill......................... Union Mills Cornerstone..................... Valdese First................................ Valdese First................................... Wadesboro Spring Hill......................... Wagram Falls................................ Wake Forest Heritage............................ Wake Forest Wake Forest..................... Wake Forest Woodland......................... Wake Forest First................................. Wallace First Fellowship............... Wallburg 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 New Hope....................... Whiteville Wilkesboro....................... Wilkesboro First.................................. Wilmington Masonboro....................... Wilmington Winter Park..................... Wilmington First.................................. Wilson Cashie............................... Windsor Wingate............................ Wingate Ardmore........................... Winston-Salem Bethany............................ Winston-Salem The Gathering – July/August 2010 • 5

Partner Churches October 2008 - March 2010 College Park.................... Winston-Salem Covenant.......................... Winston-Salem El Mesias.......................... Winston-Salem Fellowship........................ Winston-Salem First.................................. Winston-Salem Knollwood........................ Winston-Salem Mineral Springs................. Winston-Salem Northwest......................... Winston-Salem Peace Haven..................... Winston-Salem United............................... Winston-Salem Via Faith Community..... Winston-Salem West Side ....................... Winston-Salem Winterville...................... Winterville Wise.................................. Wise Maplewood...................... Yadkinville Grace Haven.................... Youngsville Youngsville....................... Youngsville Zebulon............................ Zebulon Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information on partnering with CBFNC.

Celebrating Partner Congregations ... cooperative giving tool.

Partner congregations have been extremely generous in supporting our ministries. The accompanying charts (on page 3) show growth in giving from the previous fiscal year to the recently completed fiscal year. Growth in giving to partner ministries continues to expand at a phenomenal pace. Undesignated giving, which supports CBFNC’s basic ministries, is also very healthy, especially in the current economic climate.

Another interesting statistic concerns the growth in the number of partner congregations who contribute to CBFNC’s basic ministries program. As you can see from the accompanying chart, since 2005, the number of churches who make undesignated gifts to CBFNC has increased 35%, from 221 to 299.

continued from page 3

We continue to be humbled and gratified by the trust these congregations place in us. We remain committed to be faithful stewards, operating out of consistent values and principles, devoted to our stated purpose of Bringing Baptists of North Carolina together for Christcentered ministry.

As we look to the future, we are re-doubling our efforts around a new focus: Collaborating with North Carolina Fellowship Baptists to strengthen and develop a Christ-centered missional community for these rapidly changing times.

Thank you, North Carolina Fellowship Baptists, for your participation in and support of our fellowship. Our future, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, is bright. May our tribe continue to increase, to the Glory of God!

What are You Doing This Summer?

by Wanda Kidd, College Ministry Consultant

Through the work of CBFNC collegiate ministry, just under 50 students from North Carolina are working in churches and community ministries this summer.

Behind the Scenes Look at Ministry:

Collegiate Congregational Internship Project

Thirty-four North Carolina young adults will serve in churches from Fremont, CA, to Ahoskie, NC, this summer.

The purpose of the internships is to get a behind-thescenes look at the ministry of the church. Some who will serve are considering ministry as a vocation, but others want to understand the role of nonvocational ministers. These students will help with worship, learn to visit in the hospital and participate in a variety of other aspects of ministry within a local congregation.

Coming into a new place with new expectations can be very complex for both the host and the visitor. These opportunities are often life-changing for all who are willing to risk the journey. When any church thrives, the whole community of faith benefits. Please pray for the students and the churches as they co-minister this summer.

6 • The Gathering – July/August 2010

Ruined by Student.Go Summer Each summer for the past nine years, CBF has sent college students and young adults forth to serve in a variety of Left to right: Adam Canosa, Lauren Hovis, Will Wooten, Barack Obama, Katie Beam, Brandon Baird, Erin Abernethy, ways around Drew Herring, and Kameron Rowe. the country and around the world. North Carolina students have had a strong presence in this ministry from the beginning. Amy Derrick, the director of the program, likes to quote a student who reported that she was “ruined” by her summer of service. She explained that she would always see the world through different eyes because of the things that she saw and experienced during her time on the field.

The Student.Go students gathered in Alabama for orientation.

This summer, North Carolina has a Student.Go team of students serving in Washington, D.C., through National Memorial Baptist Church, and six other students will serve in a variety of other places.

Please pray for the students and for the places where they are going to serve.

The CBFNC Missions Initiative weekend, held April 23- 25, in Littleton was a great success as well as fun and rewarding. Mike Currin, Pastor of Littleton Baptist Church, shares a paraphrase of Matthew 25.

Paraphrasing Matthew 25

by Mike Currin, Littleton Baptist Church I was hungry and you fed me delicious hot dogs, cotton candy, and popcorn. I was thirsty and you gave me Coke or a bottle of water.

I was without a good book and you gave me the best book, God’s word.

But you did not stop, you also gave me another book to read on my level and a bag of goodies to care for my teeth, and sanitizer to clean my hands as you clean my heart.

I was in need of a friend and you gave of your time to play with me, recognizing me as a person of value, getting to know my name and more about me.

I was in need of recreation and you gave me games to play and prizes to win, a balloon, laughter and friends to enjoy.

I was in need of health screenings and you gave them to me in love, concerned not just about the spiritual, but the physical needs too!

I was in need of spiritual encouragement and you sang to me the beautiful story of Christ and his love.

I was the lobby of the Homeless Shelter at Union Mission and two offices at the John 3:16 Center that needed painting, and you spread the paint with care to show to all who entered that we take pride in that which ministers in the name of Christ.

‘I tell you the truth, whatever you do today for one of the least of these friends of mine, you do for Jesus.’

Matthew 25:34-40 (sort of) The Gathering – July/August 2010 • 7

Stretching Well Beyond our Comfort Zone into Uncharted Territory

by Lee Canipe, Murfreesboro Baptist Church

Episode 1

Often churches believe they are “too small” to go “on mission” in another country. Yet Lee Canipe, pastor of Murfreesboro Baptist Church, believes small churches are able to accomplish this and especially are called by God to go. Murfreesboro Baptist Church, along with First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, are sending a team to Montreal, Canada, this July. Lee shares their journey of faith …

We’ve never done anything like this before.

Teams from our church have gone on mission to places like Gulfport; Washington, D.C.; and Helena, Arkansas.

Those experiences stretched us well beyond the comfort zone of our familiar small-town life in northeastern North Carolina.

They were challenging and rewarding missions for us, and they inspired new outreach ministries in our church. But here’s the thing: We didn’t need passports to get to Mississippi. We will need passports this summer. We’re going to Canada.

This kind of mission — an international mission experience — is uncharted territory for Murfreesboro Baptist Church. Our congregation of 250 or so active members has, in the past, encouraged and supported individuals who traveled to other countries for various mission and ministry projects. This July, however, will be the first time we have sent a team outside of the United States.

It’s hard not to see the hand of God at work here. No one at Murfreesboro Baptist Church went out looking for a foreign mission experience. This one found us. In February of 2009, John Pond, our associational missionary, invited First Baptist Church of Ahoskie (our neighboring town) and us to explore the possibility of entering into a partnership with the Union of French Baptist Churches in Canada. It’s fair to say that this invitation took us by surprise. Most folks don’t naturally associate Hertford County with Quebec, where the vast majority of these French-speaking Baptist churches are located. I can’t speak for the initial response in Ahoskie, but when I shared the news of John’s invitation with our deacons, eyebrows were raised. After all, Montreal is a long way — literally and figuratively — from Murfreesboro. What in the world, one deacon asked, could we have to offer them?

As it turned out, a lot. When Anita Thompson, an associate pastor at FBC Ahoskie, and I went to Montreal on an exploratory visit in May of 2009, we found small Baptist churches — some of them native Quebecois; most of them made up of immigrants to Canada from former French colonies such as Haiti, Congo, and Rwanda; none of them with more than 75 members — that are struggling to be faithful to Jesus in an ever more aggressively 8 • The Gathering – July/August 2010

secular culture that once was described as more Catholic than Rome. In 1960, over 90% of Quebec’s population attended a worship service at least once a week. Today, less than 7% do.

Christians in general are having a hard time in Quebec, where even Catholics are now greeted with suspicion. Much further down the religious totem pole, meanwhile, Baptists are considered to be a cult and greeted with downright hostility.

What we found, in other words, were fellow Baptists who needed encouragement and to be reminded that they aren’t alone in their discipleship. Sure, the pastors we met had ideas about outreach programs, renovation projects, Bible schools, and so forth. There were plenty of ways, we learned, that we could roll up our sleeves and help these churches further their ministry and share the Gospel in the Montreal area. More importantly, though, we could simply show up. We could go to Montreal and become their friends, worshipping together and singing together and praying together and eating together and whatever else it is that Christian friends do when they get together. This, I quickly realized, was something our little congregation could do.

You see, Murfreesboro Baptist Church does not have a lot of money. We don’t have a missions endowment. We don’t travel on chartered buses. We don’t make annual treks across the ocean to build schools and churches. There are many things we don’t do simply because we don’t have the resources. But we do know how to be friendly. We do know how to be kind. We do know how to smile and laugh and listen and lend a hand and make sure people know that we care about them. We do know how to do those things because we do it all the time in Murfreesboro. I remember thinking that if what these French-speaking Canadian Baptists really need are friends, then God has equipped us well to handle that kind of a job. There were people in my church who were, right then, more than ready to be international missionaries.

They just didn’t know it yet.

That’s what Anita and I learned last year in Montreal. God had opened a door for our churches to be on mission in Canada. We didn’t seek this opportunity. It found us. The next question was: How would we respond to this opportunity? After all, we’d never done anything like this before. Plus, the very idea of sending missionaries to other countries sounded prohibitively (for us) expensive. Before we could move forward, there were lots of questions to answer.

Before we could move forward, there were lots of questions to answer.

Episode 2 The Lord knew what He was doing. I had been praying for years that God would give my church the opportunity to be a part of an ongoing relationship with Christians in another country. My own time as a Cooperative Baptist missionary in Russia years ago had opened my eyes to the power of experiencing the body of Christ in all its multinational, multilingual, multiethnic, multiracial glory. Talking about this can only go so far, though.

In order for us to appreciate the fact that there are indeed Christians in other countries, we have to go there and meet them ourselves. One week’s mission experience can do more than a year’s worth of sermons. An international mission, however, was not on anyone’s radar at Murfreesboro Baptist Church in the spring of 2009.

Then God opened a door for us to send a team to Montreal and, suddenly, the pieces started falling into place. For a church that had never done anything like this before, Canada seemed like an obvious place to start. As I said, the Lord knew what He was doing. Language anxiety? Sure, they speak French in Montreal, but most folks there also speak English. Plus, all the important signs there are, by law, bilingual. Travel anxiety? You could drive your own car to Montreal from Murfreesboro. No airport security to negotiate, no oceans to cross, no time zones to figure out. Cultural anxiety?

Montreal had its own baseball team for 35 years. Surely it couldn’t be all that unfamiliar.

In other words, Canada was a foreign country that didn’t seem so

frighteningly foreign to a bunch of Baptists from northeastern North Carolina. While no doubt a challenge for us as rookie international missionaries, Canada also seemed do-able. Furthermore, it made sense financially as well. Murfreesboro Baptist Church may not have the budget to send mission teams around the world, but we could send a team to Montreal — and, as they say, the world has now come to Montreal, easily the most cosmopolitan city in North America and, arguably, the world. A fourteen-hour drive due north could put us on common ground with Muslims from North Africa, Buddhists from Vietnam, practitioners of folk religion from Haiti, and a whole host of other unreached people groups. Moreover, with most of the congregations in the Baptist Union made up of immigrants, we would already have a link to the international community there. Simply put, for a church like ours without a great deal of budget money available for things like supporting an international mission team, Montreal offered a lot of foreign bang for the buck (particularly with a favorable exchange rate!).

So, what are we doing now?

In February, we welcomed Patrick Deneut, the Baptist Union’s director of development, as our guest for a week. He preached in Murfreesboro one Sunday and in Ahoskie the next. In both churches, he invited folks to come to Montreal for a week in July. Right now, the Baptist churches we’ll be working with can only accommodate teams of eight at a time.

The response, however, to Patrick’s invitation was much greater than we had anticipated — so great, in fact, that we have had to plan a second mission for October, and possibly another next spring in order to make sure that everyone who wants to serve as a missionary gets the chance to serve. Our July team is almost in place.

What’s next? Next, I suppose, come all the details that make planning for a mission experience such an undertaking. This is true under normal circumstances —which, for us, has always meant here in the United States. In these circumstances? Well, we’ll find out soon if there’s more to planning an international mission than just making sure everyone has a valid passport.

In other words, Canada was a foreign country that didn’t seem so frighteningly foreign to a bunch of Baptists from northeastern North Carolina.

The Gathering – July/August 2010

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9

Rekindling the Flame

by Randy McKinney, The Memorial Baptist Church, Greenville, NC

At the beginning of 2007, two congregations came together in Greenville.

One was mostly Caucasian.

The other was mostly African-American.

One was reeling from the hand of an arsonist to the tune of $3.5 million.

The other became the presence of Christ, coming alongside the first church in their time of need.

A relationship was born as Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church opened their hearts to The Memorial Baptist Church.

10 • The Gathering – July/August 2010

At first, the relationship between time, there were some conversations the two churches blossomed. They regarding becoming more intentional inviting African-American came together for worship and in fellowship.

They came together congregations to participate in the for prison ministry and foreign annual Operation Inasmuch held in Likewise, the Racial missions. There were conversations Greenville. about where God might be guiding Reconciliation Ministry Team of the two congregations. However, CBFNC was considering ways to the relationship between the two bring diverse churches together for congregations lessened over time. relationship beyond the lines of color.

The flame that ignited the two groups Finally, a team working with the CBFNC “Fellowship on the Move” appeared to be diminishing.

A spark continued to flicker. The inquired if there might be a point of pastors of the two churches continued connection. Could it be that God was growing their relationship. They bringing several sparks together in order to rekindle regularly met for the flame? lunch, prayer and Greenville Area Racial The result conversation. The Reconciliation Emphasis was the initial spark grew brighter World Communion Sunday scheduling of a as they became Sunday, October 3 racial reconciliation friends.

While Operation Inasmuch emphasis for their conversations Saturday, October 30 several churches covered a variety in the Greenville of topics, they still sensed God calling their two area during the month of October. congregations into relationship with On Sunday, October 3, “partnering churches,” one African-American, one another.

The two pastors began to talk about one Caucasian, will come together to ways to rekindle the flame that once celebrate World Communion Sunday burned bright. Local missions seemed in a meaningful way of their choosing. to be a natural connecting place. On Saturday, October 30, participating Joining together to make a difference black and white churches, including aforementioned “partnering in the community in the name of Christ the made perfect sense. Likewise, joining churches” will join together for together to celebrate what we knew Operation Inasmuch in the Greenville would transpire at the event seemed area. The “partnering churches” will important. During the joining together, be encouraged to follow Operation it made perfect sense to discuss the Inasmuch with a gathering to discuss paths God might be calling the two the experience and discern what God might be leading them to be and do churches to walk together.

As the two pastors sensed the on an ongoing basis. On Sunday, leading of God, they were struck October 31, CBFNC staff will worship by the notion that there were other in area CBF churches as a part of the relationships similar to theirs being “Fellowship on the Move” event.

You might say God has rekindled experienced by black and white churches in Greenville. So they the flame in ways beyond our assembled some of these pastors expectations. Could God be sparking to have them consider becoming a something in you, in your family of part of the event. About the same faith, and in your community?

Ministers on the Move

Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator

CBFNC Youth Ministry Opportunities

Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved: Matt Dinkins has been called to serve as the Youth Minister of the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Pittsboro Travis Russell has been called to the staff of the First Baptist Church of Whiteville to serve as their Minister to Children, Youth and Families Chris Adams has been called to the First Baptist Church of Wilmington to serve as their Student Minister John Harris has been called as the Pastor of the Evergreen Baptist Church of Rose Hill

Emerald Pointe WaterPark July 29, 2010 Greensboro, NC 10 am - 7 pm for youth in grades 6-12 only.

Visit www.emeraldpointe.com for water park features.

Cost is $32 (youth/adult) or $24 (junior - under 48”) Price includes all-day admission and a picnic lunch.

Register at www.cbfnc.org by July 22.

David John Hailey as been called to the First Baptist Church of Burlington as their Youth Ministry Intern Bob Johnson has been called as the Pastor of the Mars Hill Baptist Church in Colerain When you make a move or know of someone who has changed places of ministry, let us know at jcausey@cbfnc. org. For vocational placement or search committee requests, visit our vocations page on our website at www.cbfnc.org or call 336-759-3456 or 888-822-1944.

New Contributing CBFNC Partner Churches (As of May 20, 2010) First, Burnsville (New MRP* contributor)

White Water Rafting Retreat September 4-6, 2010 Asheville, NC Guided rafting on Nantahala River or French Broad River; worship with band; meals provided; lodging at Lutheridge Conference Center. Early-bird cost for the weekend is $139 per person, all included (August 7 deadline).

Regular registration is $149 per person, all included (August 14 deadline) Register at www.cbfnc.org.

Ephesus, Chapel Hill Immanuel, Greenville (New MRP* contributor) Calvary, Mars Hill First, Mt. Holly (New MRP* contributor) Crabtree Valley, Raleigh First, Reidsville (New MRP* contributor) Riley’s Creek, Rocky Point (New MRP* contributor) Jonesboro Heights, Sanford (New MRP* contributor) Poplar Springs, Shelby (New MRP* contributor) First, Spring Hope Olyphic, Tabor City (New MRP* contributor) Antioch, Taylorsville (New MRP* contributor) First, Valdese Wendell, Wendell Winterville, Winterville (New MRP* contributor) * Mission Resource Plan - visit www.CBFNC.org

Fall Retreat September 24-26, 2010 Myrtle Beach,SC Worship, sand sculpture contest, organized beach games, a block party, Bible study, putt-putt tournament, and lots of free time to play on the beach!

Early-bird cost for lodging, t-shirt and meals is $115 per person (deadline is August 27).

Regular registration is $130 per person, all included (deadline is September 10).

Register at www.cbfnc.org.

The Gathering – July/August • 11

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WINSTON-SALEM PERMIT NO. 162

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

Return Service Requested

Upcoming Events ~ July/August Edition Youth White Water Rafting Retreat September 4-6 - Asheville Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

Youth Fall Retreat September 24-26 - Myrtle Beach, SC Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

Racial Reconciliation Workshops July 13 - Sardis BC, Charlotte July 29 - FBC, Wilmington Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

Youth Day at Emerald Pointe Waterpark July 29 - Greensboro Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

FREE TELECONFERENCES with Eddie Hammett: Ensuring a Missional Focus Through Programming August 10 at 2pm Missional Deacon Ministry That Impacts and Influences August 17 at 2pm Discipling Busy Adults August 19 at 2pm Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

New Church Start Academy Rescheduled August 19-21, Village Inn, Clemmons Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

Fellowship on the Move October 3 - FBC Henderson October 25 - FBC Burnsville (in partnership with Western Network) Follow www.cbfnc.org for more information.

Greenville Area Racial Reconciliation Emphasis October 3 - World Communion Sunday October 30 - Operation Inasmuch ”Hopeful Imagination” Church Leadership Conference October 22-24 - FBC, Wilmington Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

Children’s Mission Day November 6 - First, Asheville Follow www.cbfnc.org for more information.

CBFNC Christian Coaching Certificate Training Part I: November 8-9 - Raleigh Part II: February 7-9, 2011 Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

The Gathering is published six times a year. All questions may be directed to Sarah Mitchell, 888-822-1944 or smitchell@cbfnc.org. For story submissions, contact Sarah Mitchell for requirements and newsletter deadlines.