The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - March–April 2011

March/April 2011 • Vol. 16 Issue 2 Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

In This Edition PAGE 3

Church Leader Resources for the Missional Journey

PAGEs 4-5 CBFNC PAGE 6

Could This Be Your Sister? ... And You Visited Me

PAGE 8

Governance and Ministry for the Missional Church conference Trustworthy? by Rick Jordan

&

living justice mercy

Page 7

by Rick Jordan

by Rick Jordan

Grounded in Past, Investing in Future by Len Keever God is at Work in Lebanon by Linda Jones

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CBF National General Assembly

PAGE 11

Snapshots from “Joining God in the World” in Graham

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of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

2011 General Assembly

PAGE 7

The Gathering

by Larry Hovis

March/April 2011

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 Joe Harris, Mocksville John Hewett, Charlotte Judy LeCroy, Lexington Candy Tennant, Chapel Hill

Financial Report:

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 Lee Canipe, Murfreesboro Don Gordon, Durham Betsy Newton Herman, Raleigh Beth McConnell, Charlotte Robin Roberts, Raleigh Blenda Sloniker, Hickory

November 2010 Contributions December 2010 Contributions

Undesignated - $100,331 Undesignated - $144,942 April 2010 - March 2011 Monthly Undesignated Goal: $110,538

BWIM, NC 2011 Convocation “Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” Amos 5:24

Baptist Women In Ministry of North Carolina celebrates its annual convocation at Calvary Baptist Church in Asheville on Friday, March 25.

Fellowship begins at 9:15 am Business at 10 am Worship at 10:15 am For more information about BWIMNC, please visit www.bwimnc.org.

2 • The Gathering – March/April 2011

Designated - $153,299 Designated - $277,126

Racial Reconciliation and the Body of Christ May 12, 2011 First Baptist, Asheville 10am-3:30pm Pastoral and ministry staff, congregational leaders and leadership teams invited.

Church Leader Resources for the Missional Journey

by Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator

For several years, Fellowship Baptists have emphasized the missional church.

CBFNC has sharpened our focus on strengthening and developing missional community. Of course, we still struggle to adequately define the word “missional.” Some argue that, like the Kingdom of God, it’s beyond definition but insist that “you know it when you see it.” So, we spend a good deal of time and energy sharing glimpses of missional faithfulness – pictures of missional faith and ministry being exhibited in congregations and ministry partners.

Leadership Structures that Empower Rather than Impede Ministry

n

Dan Hotchkiss, Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership

Just about every congregation has already attempted, is currently involved in, or sees the need to redesign its leadership structure. That’s But what about those who are called to provide big picture leadership? Are because most Baptist churches are designed there resources to assist us in moving congregations in a missional direction for inertia. How many creative ministry ideas at the macro level? I’ve recently come across two excellent books that are get caught up in a vicious cycle of bouncing must reads for any pastor, staff minister or lay leader who wishes to help his around from one church-management group to or her congregation undergo missional transformation. Here are two brief another – deacons, committees, councils, teams, reviews of these books that I commend for further study. etc.? No group feels empowered to act without checking in with other groups, and by the time everyone has n Learning to Count What Counts signed off on the particular ministry initiative, energy is lost Reggie McNeal, Missional Renaissance: and no one cares anymore!

Changing the Scorecard for the Church Dan Hotchkiss, a consultant with the Alban Institute, sees this phenomenon at work in churches of various Much of my professional reading in recent years has been on the denominations all across the country. He’s developed a better Missional Church. I truly believe it is not only the most authentic approach, one that will further the church’s pursuit of God’s way to understand the Church of Jesus Christ, but this vision of mission, maintain appropriate methods of accountability, and the church provides the greatest hope for free and faithful Baptist engage as many persons as possible in meaningful ministry. congregations who are trying to find their way in these changing Hotchkiss’s ideas are captured in a book with a rather times. Unfortunately, most of the books on the Missional Church uncreative title, but the concepts are powerful. I commend his I have read are either too academic or too “non-Baptist” to be book to you, but even more importantly, Hotchkiss will be accessible to most of the folks with whom I work. This book is, in North Carolina on May 6 (see ad on page 8) to conduct a thankfully, a huge exception to that rule. one-day workshop on this topic. I strongly urge all ministers, In this work, McNeal uses language and concepts that are familiar deacon officers and other key church leaders, especially those to Baptists (he worked for many years for the South Carolina Baptist frustrated by your church’s current organizational structure, Convention). He accurately and compellingly shares a new vision to take advantage of this valuable resource. for the church based on missional theology. Eminently practical and The following section from the Preface provides a taste of thoroughly readable, I think every pastor, staff minister and lay leader how Hotchkiss approaches this important subject: should purchase and devour this book.

In general, McNeal argues that effective ministry in our time Once upon a time, Americans joined congregations in the requires that churches and church leaders make three major shifts: secret hope that one day someone might ask them to serve from internal to external, from program development to people on a committee. Today that rarely happens … among the development, and from church-based to kingdom-based. For each fastest-growing congregations and their imitators, [there] shift, he suggests practical ways to change the scorecard so that has been a movement to reduce bureaucracy to make churches can measure what matters when it comes to our efforts to room for ministry … Growing congregations often are the pursue the mission of God in the world. He states: ones that have reformed their structures for governance and ministry, whether they are liberal or conservative These three shifts call for a new scorecard for the missional in their theology. Even more strikingly, declining church. The typical church scorecard (how many, how often, how congregations across the theological spectrum often share much) doesn’t mesh with a missional view of what the church specific organizational patterns. I think those patterns are should be monitoring in light of its mission in the world. The one factor in their decline – a factor, unlike social and current scorecard rewards church activity and can be filled in cultural trends, that a congregation can control. without any reference to the church’s impact beyond itself (p. xvii).

The Gathering – March/April 2011 • 3

Workshops include: Following the Spirit to the Soccer Field Praying with Scriptures - Sophia Steibel

Rural and Urban Poverty Simulations Eat, Pray, Save the Planet Racial Reconciliation and the Body of Christ At the Intersection of Church and State Brent Walker

Jeremiah: Patriotism of a Different Sort Gerald Keown

The Faith We Live: A Christian, Muslim and Jewish Conversation Planting New Churches Stop Human Trafficking

Church’s Care of Caregivers - Cindy Miles

THE HEART OF JESUS:

Vanishing Appalachia - Bill Leonard

Walking In Their Shoes - Hyaets Community The Care and Feeding of Kree-8-ive Ministry Bo Prosser

Exploring Authentic Youth Ministry

Curtis Freeman, LeAnne Ryan, Chris Schelin

&

living justice mercy

"We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us .... Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." (1 John 3:16-18 NRSV)

"We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us .... Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." (1 John 3:16-18 NRSV)

Justice and Mercy for the Immigrant - Russell Hilliard Pilgrimage and Preaching - Darryl Aaron and panel Missions Workshops: Belize, Lebanon, Ukraine, NC Caring for Youth and Children in Stressful Times Marketing Your Congregation: Beyond Billboards and Brochures Reaching Out to the Forgotten Students Biblical Foundations for Active Justice

March 25-26, 2011 First Baptist, Asheville

FRIDAY worship speaker: Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee, Distinguished University Professor

Cal Robertson, Jim McConnell

of Christian Ethics at Mercer University

Involving Your Congregation in Hands-On Missions

SATURDAY worship speaker: Rev. Nancy Hastings Sehested, Co-Pastor of Circle of Mercy

Mark Abernathy

Scattered and Gathered: World Missions A Spirituality for Preaching - Guy Sayles Social Networking and the Church Ten Things You Can Do for the Unity of the Church Steven R. Harmon

Tax Aspects of Church Property

The Dialogue of Worship - Tony Spencer Hymnody of Justice and Mercy - Larry Ballard The Mental Health of the Missional Congregation Steve Scoggin

From the Bed’s Eye View (for chaplains and counselors) Trends in the Worldwide Baptist Community Dick Pierard

How to Have a Difficult Conversation Without Breaking Your Congregation Apart - Chris Gambill Creating Redemptive Relationships and Structures Eddie Hammett

in Asheville, NC, and Chaplain for the NC Department of Corrections

Friday, March 25 11:00 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:00-5:00 p.m.

4:45-6:15 p.m.

6:45 p.m.

8:15 p.m.

Registration and Exhibits Open Welcome and Orientation Ministry Workshop Sessions Fellowship Dinner (requires pre-registration) Worship Fellowship Reception

Saturday, March 26 8:30-9:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast Fellowship 9:00-10:00 a.m. Ministry Workshop Session 10:15-11:10 a.m. Ministry Celebration (incl. adoption of ‘11-’12 budget & council election)

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Worship

The 2011 General Assembly offering will support CBF's Haiti Housing Network ministry The ministry’s goal is to construct 1000 permanent houses in the area of Grand Goave, Haiti, over the next three years, at a cost of $3,500 per house.

We prefer that you register online at www.cbfnc.org, but if you are unable to do so, please fill out the form below.

CBFNC General Assembly Registration Mail your registration and payment to: CBFNC, 8025 North Point Blvd., Suite 205, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.

Name____________________________________________ Address__________________________________________

Another giving opportunity at the General Assembly: We will be collecting kid-friendly food items for the MANNA Foodbank packs. These items include: one-pound boxes or bags of dried beans, rice or pasta; protein/main dish items like SpaghettiOs, soup, beanie weenies, chili, or mac and cheese; small fruit cups such as mixed fruits or applesauce; dried fruit pouches; cereal or granola bars; peanut butter or cheese and cracker snack packs; small boxes of animal or graham crackers; individual cereal boxes or bowls; pudding or jello cups; canned vegetables; and dinner mixes such as Hamburger or Tuna Helper.

CBFNC Prophetic Photography Contest This year, a photo contest will be a part of our General Assembly. Photographs should illustrate this year’s theme: “The Heart of Jesus: Living Justice and Mercy” based on the Scripture, “We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us .... Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” (1 John 3:16-18 NRSV)

_________________________________________________ Phone____________________________________________ E-mail___________________________________________ Church you attend__________________________________ Church’s city______________________________________ Ministerial Position (if applicable) ________________________________________________ Friday Night Fellowship Dinner If paid by March 7th r D inner Buffet (upstairs)

Number of dinners _______ x $10 =$_______ r Vegetarian Dinner Buffet (upstairs)

Number of dinners _______ x $10 =$_______ r Burger/Chicken Grill (downstairs)

Number of dinners ________ x $7 =$_______ After March 7th r Dinner Buffet (upstairs)

Number of dinners_______ x $12 =$_______ r Vegetarian Dinner Buffet (upstairs)

Number of dinners_______ x $12 =$_______ r Burger/Chicken Grill (downstairs)

Number of dinners ________ x $9 =$_______ TOTAL ___________ You may pay by check or credit card. We gladly accept: r Visa r Mastercard r Discover Name (as it appears on card) _________________________________________________

Learn more about General Assembly details and registration, ministry workshop titles, discounted hotel options, childcare reservations, and exhibitor applications at www.cbfnc.org.

Card Number______________________________________ Expiration___________ Card Security Number___________

Call the CBFNC office at (336) 759-3456 for help with registration or to reserve childcare space.

Could This Be Your Sister?

by Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator “What I grew up hearing about people in China – that they didn’t know about the Bible and they didn’t know about God’s love for them – I’ve discovered that’s not just in China. That’s what I deal with every day.” Carol Sasser Dalton is a chaplain at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women in the mountains of North Carolina.

How does one become a prison chaplain?

Most don’t take Carol’s route. “I went to seminary after being a church secretary for 10 years, thinking I was going to be leading discipleship in a local church. But after a long period of searching and interviewing, several chaplain friends contacted me on the same day and told me about the interim position at the prison. It was to be a one-year job.

In the meantime, the prison was to move into a new facility an eighth of mile from my house.”

Carol applied for and got the job. At the end of the year, she stayed in the ministry at the prison in a role funded by a non-profit set up by area churches, Ministry of Hope (www.ministryofhopewnc.org).

That was four years ago. Carol is one of 603 chaplains and pastoral counselors who are endorsed by the national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, 105 of whom are based in our state.

“Most of my time in ministry is spent listening.

Many of these are young women, most addicted to something, and most have been abused in childhood or even as adults. Some call themselves agnostic or atheists. But really, they are seekers.

One woman came to me recently after her addiction treatment session saying, “Chaplain, they told me I needed to believe in a higher power and that it could be anything – a table, a chair, anything.

But I need more than that.” Carol was able to help this woman in her search for recovery and truth.

“Many are dealing with shame,” Carol says, “both for what they’ve done and for what they cannot do to help loved ones on the outside. Especially in times of grief, they feel like, ‘I should’ve been there to be with them before they died, instead of being here.’

They come to the quiet chapel and can sit and cry – or scream – if they want. God is there in that holy place of loss.”

Like any minister, Carol realizes she cannot serve alone. “These churches are amazingly supportive. There are huge numbers of volunteers who come to do worship services and Bible studies. When a prisoner becomes Level 2, they can have a community pass for 6 hours a week. Volunteers take them to church or out to eat. The prisoner must pay her own way, so if they have no money they walk around a park or do something else free. Some volunteers

stay connected even after their release. The volunteers give the inmate someone to talk with, even to hold them accountable.”

Most inmates are not in for major crimes. “The majority are in for drug-related crimes. Many of them are initially placed on probation. You have to pay to be on probation, but you might have had your driver’s license revoked, so it’s hard to get or keep a job to earn the money to pay for your probation. All of this works against them. They violate probation and get sent to prison.” As volunteers and church members hear these women’s stories, they realize they have nothing to fear in ministering to them.

For those inmates who are Christian, there are some opportunities for worship and Bible study.

A program to help them go deeper in their faith is from Kairos Prison Ministry (www. kairosprisonministry.org).

“We have 24 women who come once a month to the chapel.

Outside volunteers come to support, but the inmates do the service.

Two share their stories.

They pray, then go into small groups to discuss questions like ‘Where have you seen God at work this week? How has God used you this week? What’s really happening in your life?’” They come to the chapel every Wednesday at 7:30am for 30 minutes.

Chaplain Dalton encourages you to become involved in a jail or prison ministry in your community. “Yes, they did something wrong, but any one of us could be here in six months if you ran a red light and killed somebody. Once somebody hears a person’s story, they start realizing ‘Oh, this could be my child or sister or mother, and I would want somebody to reach out to her.’”

O

nce

somebody hears a

person’s story, they start realizing ‘Oh, this could be my child or sister or

mother, and I would want somebody to reach out to her.’

6 • The Gathering – March/April 2011

“... And You Visited Me”

by Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator “It is the blessing of my life and the most exciting ministry I have been involved with. Never have I felt so excited or so changed. The closeness of dealing with them one by one – this could be my child – my heart breaks for them. I have tremendous love for them,” Bobbie Smith confesses. She has been involved in jail ministry through her church, First Baptist of Wilmington, for the last eight years. “It began in a deacon’s meeting. There was concern that, here the church sits next to the jail, but we have no ministry to those prisoners.” As a ministry began, some ladies in Bobbie’s Sunday School class became involved. “One lady insisted, ‘Just try it one time.’ She kept insisting. Finally I did and now I’m hooked!”

Now Bobbie leads ministry to women prisoners while Jim Glass leads the men’s prison ministry. The women’s team leads a Bible study every Sunday for 15 inmates. “We always have two from our church present. One leads the Bible study while the other sits with the ladies. Sometimes, they may cry or want to talk with someone privately, so it is good to have two from the church in the room.”

The men’s group leads Bible studies on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The room can accommodate ten prisoners at a time.

“The most wonderful part is that when people are brought into the system they are at their lowest point in their lives, so you are ministering to them at this point and they are very open to the Lord. I’ve taught Sunday School all my life, yet never had the opportunities like this ministry. They become tearful. We have had professions of faith. If they have to go further into the prison system, if they will send me their location, I follow them and send them copies of the sermons,” Bobbie says.

Some of the male prisoners also want follow-up. They are given free Bibles, a special edition published by the American Bible Society for those incarcerated. They are stamped in the front from FBC. “It is amazing how we hear how this impacts them all over the nation as they are moved around. One inmate has begun his own ministry and even sends a weekly tithe back to our church.”

A recent feature of the jail ministry is an e-mailed prayer request list that goes to 60-70 church members. “That has educated our members to the needs of people in these circumstances. The church reaching out has initiated a feeling for people in need. There is a more compassionate spirit and a love of people in need now.”

Recently, a new jail was constructed and the church purchased the old jail. According to the church’s website, www. fbcwilmington.org, “The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center continues its metamorphosis from a place of incarceration to a place of transformation. Previously housing the New Hanover County Detention Center, the Harrelson Center is now the home

of several non-profit agencies which work to touch lives and fill them with purpose, hope and healing.”

Ken Crawley has been involved in the jail ministry of his church, First Baptist of Shelby, for ten years. He schedules Bible studies for visitors from his church, as well as for 10 to 12 other churches. Every Thursday night, they teach a one-hour lesson to about 10 prisoners, then teach the same lesson the next hour to 10 more prisoners. What really excites Ken is the time he has in visitation with the inmates. Church members save good magazines and Sunday School literature for the men to take on their visits. They also take new copies of the New Testament. “We ask if they have/want a Bible. Ninety-nine percent say they want one if they don’t have one. We explain that we’ve come to tell them what a Christian is, and if they aren’t yet a Christian, we ask if they’d like to become one. We have prayer with those who want before we move on to the next cell. I’ve never had one to say ‘No I don’t want to become a Christian.’

We share the four spiritual laws, have a sinner’s prayer and rejoice with them. If people have never experienced it, it is something that really changes the person who leads them to Christ, to feel so close to God, to watch him work. It is amazing to see what God can do.” Ken says.

Because the jail has high turn-over, he seldom sees the same people twice in his weekly visits. “But one Saturday morning, I was at a Bojangles when a man came up to me. He recognized me and came up and said ‘Aren’t you the man who came to our jail cell and led me to the Lord?’ and he thanked me for leading him to Christ. We encourage them to go to church when they get out. You never know where they end up or how much their lives really change, but you just leave that in God’s hands.”

Bobbie Smith concludes, “The hardest Scripture for me was always when Jesus said, ‘I was in prison and you visited me.’ So I tried it. Just try it one time, then you’ll know if you are called to it. Go with someone who has been doing this. Just go to observe at first. If you don’t like it, we certainly understand. But it is absolutely the safest environment once you are there.”

The Gathering – March/April 2011 • 7

Trustworthy?

by Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator

Governance and Ministry

for the Missional Church

May 6, 2011 9 am – 3:30 pm Longview Baptist Church in Raleigh Cost: Early Bird Pricing (due April 15): $30.

Regular Pricing (due April 29): $35.

Cost includes book, lunch and snacks.

Conference leader: Dan Hotchkiss, senior consultant with the Alban Institute, and author of Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership, Effective congregational ministries start with clearly defined roles and authority. It succeeds when pastors, staff and lay leaders conduct ministry together as collaborating partners.

How much time do deacons and committees spend managing programs? How much time do your congregational leaders — paid and volunteer — spend seeking approval for choices they could be trusted to make on their own? True partnership begins with clear role boundaries, effective delegation and a constructive system of accountability. Hotchkiss helps participants with their specific needs, whether they want to sharpen their leadership skills, reorganize to enhance growth, or consider an entirely new model for church organizational structures.

This seminar helps you to: • Keep your congregation’s mission at the center of its ministry.

• Clearly define roles and authority.

• Set clear policies.

• Streamline decision-making.

• Maintain clear limits.

• Trust others to make their own decisions.

• Create behavioral covenants.

• Make space for spiritual discernment and holy conversations, and • Give up micromanaging!

Register at www.cbfnc.org.

8 • The Gathering – March/April 2011

Can you trust God? Even if you have unanswerable questions?

That was the theme of day one of this year’s youth ski retreats. After a beautiful day of skiing in the West Virginia mountains, the youth gathered for a meal and a worship service. Chris Hughes, the first week’s preacher, told a story of finding the courage to jump off a cliff into a river with some friends. There was an element of trust in basic physics – gravity and buoyancy – but the real trust happened because of the relationship he had with his friends.

Belief can be passive, but trust is active.

Louisa Monroe, the preacher for week two, shared how her trust in God was shaken by the murder of one of her friends.

It took a year or so to regain trust in God after that experience. Both speakers invited youth to consider questions that keep them from trusting in God. Each youth had a post-it that they wrote a question on, then put on a large banner proclaiming “TRUST.” They then went to church group devotions led by their youth ministers.

The next morning, the youth found each of their names on another banner. After a message reminding them to trust in God in spite of their questions, they were also challenged to accept God’s trust in them.

Church group by church group came to the banner to find and take their post-it with their name on it, to reveal behind all those post-its the word “GOD.” The retreat was planned by a group of youth ministers around the Message’s translation of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

Matt Dinkins, youth minister of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Pittsboro, said of his first experience at a CBFNC youth retreat, “I applaud CBFNC for providing a retreat weekend with a theme that used probing and questioning to connect my youth to God when often the alternative is to induce guilt and use fear tactics. The Saturday evening worship service was very meaningful to my youth. I loved that the service tackled the fact that we all have hard questions about life that can confound us, yet we trust that God will see us through these things.

I especially liked the idea of sticking the questions to the “TRUST” banner. I believe God has been working behind the scenes here because I had already been allowing them to ask these hard questions during our recent youth meetings and this weekend was an extension and reinforcement of that. It’s great to see God at work!”

Grounded in Past, Investing in Future

by Len Keever, First Baptist, Dunn During the last six years, First Baptist Church of Dunn has had the opportunity to participate in partnership mission trips to both the Village of Hope in Bucha, Ukraine, and Gethsemane Baptist Church in Santa Clara, Belize. People ask, “What are the differences? Which would you recommend?” As I have thought of this, I have found meaning in the metaphor that one strengthens the bonds of our past while the other reaches toward our future; one keeps us grounded while the other gives us wings.

At the Village of Hope, we care for our brothers and sisters who live in Eastern Europe. They are under tremendous hardship as they work to strengthen their witness and deepen the faith experience of the Church in that part of the world. Years of communism and scarcity have deeply eroded the foundation of Christian presence. We are helping to create a Christian neighborhood where children can grow up with the understanding that “Christ is Lord of all.” I cannot help but think that if we intentionally join in caring for their needs and help to rebuild what was lost, we will model for future generations the care we ourselves might one day require. Being connected to our past is important in knowing not only who we are, but also in preparing for where we are going.

On the other hand, work in Belize connects us to our future. It is well documented that Christianity is growing faster in the Third World than in Europe or North America. God is doing wonderful things among the believers in Third World countries. By being connected to the exciting things that are happening in Belize, CBFNC Christians are investing in their future. The believers in that part of the world inspire and encourage us to join God’s work there. Their needs are many and their resources, like those in Ukraine, are very limited. Working in Ukraine, I was reminded of the faith community returning from Babylon to help strengthen the remnant. Working in Belize, I was reminded of the churches in the book of Acts being formed by the Holy Spirit. It was exciting to witness God’s presence among both generations of our Christian family.

A few weeks ago, soon after returning from Belize, my children and my mother came to visit. Three generations were in our house enjoying the fellowship and meaning of our family’s identity. I found myself standing comfortably in the middle enjoying the memories and reminders of my heritage represented by my mother’s presence, and excited about our family’s future through my children and grandchildren’s prospects.

The answer to the question of comparing differences or suggesting which one is best cannot be answered with either/or answers. The answers are both/and. We are at an exciting time in our lives as Christians. We have the opportunity both to teach future generations how to care for their past in our reaching back and to participate with the future by reaching forward. We are very blessed that CBFNC provides us two wings with which to fly. It is important to remember that a one-winged bird does not go very far.

We are very blessed that CBFNC provides us two wings with which to fly.

God is at Work in Lebanon

by Linda Jones, Missions Coordinator Last April, I had the privilege of traveling to Beirut, Lebanon, with Steve and Janet Ayers.

Our purpose ... to help with the Spring Evangelism Celebration that Chaouki and Maha Boulos, CBF field personnel, undertake annually.

Steve preached nightly and I was able to share a prayer during the service. Many people, young and old, Muslim and ... whatever, made professions of faith in Jesus Christ! It was exciting to see that happen. More than that, our experiences – traveling the countryside, having Turkish coffee with the chief military judge and his wife, walking through the Cedars of Lebanon, meeting top Muslim leaders with whom Chaouki has formed friendships, and having conversations with a Catholic priest – all have remained in my memory of how stupendous God is and how he uses us for his purposes in a mighty way.

I am amazed at what God is doing in Lebanon through Chaouki and Maha. In addition to these experiences, seeing a retreat center being built that will minister to many, many people in several area countries is reason enough to get involved with this ministry. Chaouki is looking for individuals and churches to join him and to join God at work in Lebanon. He is looking for financial support to continue building the retreat center or to help with the costs of the Evangelism Celebrations held every April, July and August.

He welcomes individuals and teams to minister in Lebanon. Come be a part of it!

For more information, head to our CBFNC website, www.cbfnc.org, or email Linda Jones at ljones@cbfnc.org.

The Gathering – March/April 2011

•

9

Inspiration and resources for your ministry

20th Anniversary General Assembly June 22-25 in Tampa, Florida

Learn more and register for free: www.thefellowship.info/assembly or (800) 352-8741 God’s mission, your passion: Celebrating our 20-year journey toward faithfulness Highlights include:

Practical Ministry Workshops, Thurs. and Fri., June 23-24

Inspiring Evening Worship, Thurs. and Fri., June 23-24

Praying the Prayers of St. Francis Retreat, June 20-22

CBF 20th Anniversary Dinner Party, Wed., June 22

Essentials Conference, Fri. and Sat., June 24-25

Missions Commissioning Service, Thurs., June 23

Golf with Fellowship Baptists Tues., June 22

Tampa Sessions for College Students, June 20-25

Plus: Leadership Institute on “Prophetic Preaching for Anxious People” Ministry Resource Fair, Children’s and Youth Assemblies, music by Ken Medema and featured speakers Pam Durso, Molly Marshall and Kyle Reese

New Contributing CBFNC Partner Churches (As of January 31, 2011) First, High Point (new MRP* contributor) Hobbsville, Hobbsville

(new MRP* contributor)

Snapshots from “Joining God in the World: A Fresh Look at Missions and Evangelism” This event took place February 1, 2011, at First, Graham.

Longview Baptist Church, Raleigh (new MRP* contributor)

Lower Creek, Lenoir Mill Creek, Monroe (new MRP* contributor) Wake Forest, Wake Forest (new MRP* contributor) *Mission Resource Plan - visit www.CBFNC.org

Coordinator Visits November-December 2010 Fair Bluff, Fair Bluff First, Burlington First, Elizabeth City First, Forest City First, Hickory First, Kannapolis First, Marion First, Weaverville Greystone, Raleigh Hester, Oxford Louisburg, Louisburg Roberts Chapel, Pendleton

Ministers on the Move

Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved:

Charles Brawly has been called as the pastor of College Avenue Baptist Church in Lenoir.

Audio recordings and additional resources are available at our website, www.cbfnc.org.

Swift Creek Baptist Church in Cary has called David Vess as their pastor.

Christopher Turner has been called as the pastor of Neill’s Creek Baptist Church in Angier.

Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church has called Richard Wood as their Associate Pastor of Family Ministry.

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.

The Gathering – March/April 2011 • 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

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Upcoming Events ~ March/April Edition Christian Coaching Certificate Training

Staff Minister’s Retreat February 28-March 3, 2011 North Myrtle Beach, SC Youth Choir Festival March 18-19, 2011 FBC, Greensboro CBFNC General Assembly The Heart of Jesus: Living Justice and Mercy

THE HEART OF JESUS:

First Class - 501 Building Blocks to Christian Coaching

April 28-29, 2011

&

living justice mercy

"We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us .... Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." (1 John 3:16-18 NRSV)

March 25-26, 2011 First Baptist, Asheville

The Big GAME General Assembly Mission Experience for youth March 25-27, 2011 ”The Spirituality of Jesus” Adult spiritual formation retreat

April 8-10, 2011 Caraway Conference Center

Governance and Ministry May 6, 2011 Longview Baptist Church, Raleigh Racial Reconciliation & The Body of Christ May 12, 2011 First Baptist Church, Asheville

Hispanic Men’s Retreat: Walking By Faith May 13-14, 2011 Camp Mundo Vista, Asheboro Christian Coaching Certificate Training

Second Class - 502 - Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship

June 2-3, 2011

Hispanic Family Retreat: Walking By Faith June 3-4, 2011 Siler City, NC Tampa Sessions June 20-25, 2011 Tampa, FL National CBF General Assembly June 22-25, 2011 Tampa, FL Hispanic Children’s Retreat: Walking By Faith July 30-31, 2011 Camp Caraway, Asheboro Hispanic Youth Retreat: Walking By Faith August 5-7, 2011 Camp Caraway, Asheboro Hispanic Women’s Retreat: Walking By Faith August 27-28, 2011 Camp Caraway, Asheboro

Visit www.CBFNC.org to register and for more information.

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.