The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - May–June 2010

May/June 2010 • Vol. 15 Issue 3 Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

In This Edition Page 2

CBFNC Scholarships Available

Page 7

Fostering Community

by Larry Hovis

Page 3

CBF General Assembly Coming to Charlotte

Page 8

CBFNC Hunger Fund

by Laura Barclay

Page 9

Where is God on Mission?

by Linda Jones

Page 10

WMU Addresses Poverty

Pages 4-5 CBFNC General Assembly Celebration

The Gathering

Page 6

by Steve DeVane

Seeing (and Serving) Downtown

by Rick Jordan

of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

One Family, One Faith, Many Journeys

Photos by Doug Broadway

2010 CBFNC General Assembly

May/June 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

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 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, 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

January February

2010 Contributions Undesignated - $137,889 Designated - $352,722 2010 Contributions Undesignated - $70,938 Designated - $196,719 Traditional Churches April 2009 - March 2010 Monthly Undesignated Goal: $98,798 Finding God’s w ay in a Changing world

CBFNC Scholarships Available Through the CBFNC budget and the Mission Resource Plan, CBFNC provides significant scholarship assistance to students engaged in theological education.

In-State Theological Education:

Campbell, Duke, Gardner-Webb, and Wake Forest These schools receive equal grants and choose scholarship recipients who have strong potential for ministerial leadership in our churches.

Talk to your school’s admissions office.

Out-of-State Theological Education:

Students from North Carolina who attend theological schools outside of our state apply for scholarships directly with CBFNC. Visit our website www.cbfnc.org to download the application. Fax or mail by June 18.

2 • The Gathering – May/June 2010

Hopeful 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.

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

• Experience encouragement, hope and help for Discover the power of relationships and how to leaders and congregations.

For more information and registration create missional partnerships to impact a city.

details,

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

October 22-23, 2010

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

Host Teaching Church:

First Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC

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

Visit www.FBCWilmington.org.

October 22-23, 2010

Registration and workshop details will be available Host Teaching Church: soon at www.cbfnc.org.

The Gathering – May/June 2010 • 3

... through your word, through your testimony, your struggle and your prayers article and photos by Steve DeVane Fellowship Baptists in North Carolina celebrated generational diversity and rejoiced in spiritual unity March 19-20.

More than 1,300 Baptists gathered for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina’s annual General Assembly at First Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Under the theme, “Generations Connected — One Family, One Faith, Many Journeys,” they appreciated the past, enjoyed the present and envisioned the future.

The meeting included nearly 60 ministry workshops, two worship services, a preaching conference, several networking events and a celebration of CBFNC ministries. Sermons from a CBF patriarch and a young couple ministering on a college campus highlighted the weekend.

Workshop leaders discussed racial diversity in missions; understanding Muslim women; Hispanic leadership; the challenges of poverty; creative teaching methods; mission trips; reaching young people while keeping older folks; religious liberty; responding to CBF’s critics; and numerous other subjects.

Networking events included retired ministers, divinity school students, youth ministers, children’s ministers, CBFNC advocates and ministers’ spouses.

Cecil Sherman, who served as the first coordinator for CBF’s national group in the early- and mid-1990s, preached during the evening worship service on March 19. Sherman related CBF’s early years to Acts 15, when church leaders discussed whether Gentiles needed to become Jews before they joined the church.

“The church was forced to adapt to changes and she’s been doing that ever since,” he said.

Change was also forced upon CBF, Sherman said. He talked about three “faces of CBF.” First, he talked about the “face of conflict.”

When he asked how many people remembered the spirit of Southern Baptist Convention meetings in the 1980s, the crowd groaned.

Nevertheless, one cannot understand the birth of CBF outside that history, Sherman said. “If there hadn’t been a conflict, we wouldn’t be,” he said. Sherman said CBF formed at the right time because those involved in the conflict knew when to quit.“We quit because we were at risk of becoming like the people we opposed,” he said.

CBF also has the face of growth, Sherman said. During the organization’s early days, income was needed to support missionaries. “We had to grow to meet our obligations,” he said.

Sherman said he wishes CBF would grow larger to send missionaries who are ready to go, but the group cannot afford to send them.

CBF also has struggled with its identity, in effect wondering what it’s going to be when it grows up, Sherman said. He said he sees the organization as a missions delivery system, a supporter of theological education and a teacher of Baptist polity.

Sherman said he realizes that his generation will not determine the next face of CBF. He shared some ideas he hopes those who have that responsibility will keep in mind. First, CBF should stay in 4 • The Gathering – May/June 2010

CBFNC 2010 General Assembly touch with “mainline Baptists,” including those from traditional and smaller churches, he said. “Know your people and you’ll make good decisions,” he said. Next, Sherman said missions should always be CBF’s priority. “That’s what the people want,” he said. Lastly, CBF’s leadership should be willing to grow and not be satisfied with just meeting the budget and organizing the group. That leadership will mean the difference between vitality and mediocrity, he said.

During a ministry celebration on the morning of March 20, CBFNC staff members talked about recent ministry efforts involving youth, Hispanics, pastor search committees, college students and churches.

Later, CBFNC passed its 2010-11 budget of $1.33 million. The organization also expects to bring in another $2.03 million for various state and national ministries through its Mission Resource Plan. Those attending the General Assembly also approved the Council Development Committee report. Donna Bissette, who had been serving as CBFNC’s treasurer, is moderator-elect and will serve in 2011-12. Steve Little, who was elected last year, will serve as moderator for 2010-11. Greg Rogers, who served as moderator in 2009-10, becomes past moderator.

In his Executive Coordinator report, Larry Hovis presented a focus statement that will serve as a vision for CBFNC’s next chapter: Collaborating with North Carolina Fellowship Baptists to develop and strengthen Christ-centered missional community in these rapidly changing times (see related article on page 7).

During worship on the morning of March 20, Craig and Jennifer Janney preached from John 17.

The Janneys are both on staff at Chowan University. Craig Janney is assistant dean of strategic communications, athletic chaplain and instructor in religion. Jennifer Janney is associate minister to the university and instructor in religion.

The Janneys both graduated from Chowan and Gardner-Webb University’s Christopher White School of Divinity. They said they represent the young generation of CBFers who found their identity in the CBF identity.

Craig Janney said his voice hadn’t yet changed when conflict was raging in the Baptist life. He discussed learning about the controversy in divinity school. “We didn’t live in the conflict about which Dr. Sherman spoke last night, but we have ears and we hear,” he said. “The strange part of these younger Baptists is that we have

this absurd optimism for unity and we learned it honest.”

Jennifer Janney said CBF has a rich history filled with joy and pain, tears and laugher. “I know it came at a cost, but rest assured with the model that has been set before us we have a rich future as well,” she said.

In John 17, Jesus entrusts the future to God, praying that His disciples be one. Craig Janney said he’s heard that prayer echoed in their generation. The younger generation is proud of differences and praises diversity, he said.

Jesus prayed for Christians to be one, but not for them to agree on everything, Jennifer Janney said.

CBF’s generations are connected, Jennifer Janney said. “We have come to faith through your word, through your testimony, your struggle and your prayers,” she said.

Fostering Community ... continued from page 7) Organizational Alignment – The Markers and Pathways, along with expressed needs of congregations who have conducted a selfassessment, will become the basis for making decisions regarding the deployment of CBFNC resources (finances, staff and volunteer leadership, calendar, programs and ministries).

Happy Birthday, North Carolina Fellowship Baptists. We’re sixteen. We’ve got our driver’s license, and keys to the family car. We mustn’t get distracted. Let’s keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. Let’s maintain our focus on fostering the kind of community that is committed, first and foremost, to participating in God’s mission in North Carolina and the world in these wonderful, but challenging times.

The Gathering – May/June 2010

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5

Seeing (and Serving) Downtown

by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator The teenage drummer left his perch, took the mic and said, “I’ve been downtown, but I’ve never seen it.

You know what I mean?” A hundred and thirty teens knew just what he meant. After spending several hours walking and cleaning the streets of Winston-Salem, visiting with officers who patrol those streets and playing games with folk who live on those streets, they knew. His testimony matched their experience. They’d been to town before, but they’d never seen it like they saw it today. Today, they saw it through the eyes and heart of Jesus.

The Big GAME was the first-ever youth retreat held in conjunction with the CBFNC General Assembly. After a Friday night of group games and a Saturday morning of Bible study, the youth took to the streets. Later that evening, several would share their stories during the worship service.

A third of the youth distributed home-baked goodies to the local police station, fire station and bike patrol station. “We were so glad to do this,” one girl said, “because they don’t get the appreciation they deserve.” Cards with hand-written notes of appreciation were included.

Another third of the youth went “Trash Talking/Prayer Walking,” picking up trash along the streets and stopping to pray for persons on the street or in the stores. “It was a chance to experience parts of the city we don’t usually go to. You don’t know how bad it is until you see it for yourself,” one young person testified.

Another added, “People asked why we were doing this, because no one ever does anything like this.”

A third group held a block party for the homeless in the gym of First Baptist Church. The biggest surprise? Children. “I was really amazed at how many children were homeless. They were so adorable.” Another surprise? That they as youth could actually do this. “You got to step out of your box to talk with people that you wouldn’t automatically talk to. They kept telling us stories, so many stories – I guess because they don’t have anyone to talk to.” Bingo was a bit hit, as was the Wii game time and the pick-up basketball game.

One teen didn’t feel comfortable with all these people though, so he went to a corner with his guitar. A homeless man came to his corner and started talking with him about music, then asked if he could play his guitar. “He was, like, the best guitarist I’ve ever seen and totally one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He lost his home in the hurricane and is trying to get his life back together.

I got a guitar lesson from a guy I’d never met. I learned that it’s not that these people are dumb or lazy. It’s terrible things that can happen to anybody. I have a lot more respect for these people.”

“It was a heart-warming experience, a good experience,” one student concluded. And that’s how the Big GAME (General Assembly Mission Experience) was played.

To see slides of the youth in action, visit www.CBFNC.org.

6 • The Gathering – May/June 2010

Follow Up Thomas Allen, the chair of the Big GAME planning team, sent a follow-up email to the other team members that included this evaluation: “I did some debriefing with my youth Sunday at College Park and we talked for an hour and a half about everything.

They learned so much, it was incredible. I asked what they learned about being Baptists and they started rattling off things about Roger Williams, Holland, Four Fragile Freedoms, Priesthood of the Believer and on and on.

They were really excited to know what Baptists have been standing up to defend for 400 years. They also loved being a part of something bigger than themselves. They said it was really neat to take communion with everyone on Saturday morning and spend time with so many different youth groups.

And the mission projects were amazing as well. I felt like we were able to accomplish all of our goals for this event: missions, fellowship, interaction between youth groups, and meaningful worship.

My youth loved everything, but the part they loved most was worship. We had three (including Sunday morning) exciting and different approaches to worship and they were all fantastic. I asked them which one was ‘right’ and they said all of them were. I think it really opened their eyes to see how exciting and diverse worship can be and they left this weekend knowing how REAL God is.

In fact, when we started talking about the services, two of my youth said that Saturday night was the best worship service they’d ever been in. That proves to me that this weekend was a gift from God and his Spirit was working among us.”

Charlotte Sessions June 21-­‐26 A Collegiate

Missional Experience

In conjunction with the CBF General Assembly

Price Correction: It is $110.00 rather than the published $150.00

That price includes: Lodging, most meals, mission opportunity, Leadership Institute and Breakfast with Lauren Winner

Fostering Community – Faithful to Join God’s Mission

by Larry Hovis, Executive Coordinator, CBFNC The following is a condensed version of the report delivered by Larry Hovis during the Ministry Celebration of the General Assembly on March 20, 2010.

Life’s Chapters I’ve often found it helpful to view life as a series of chapters in a book. For example, your life might include chapters for childhood, youth, college, single adulthood, marriage with no kids, marriage with kids, and the empty nest. Your church’s history might be characterized by the era of the founders, the construction of a new building, the launching of a significant ministry initiative, or the tenure of a particular pastor.

CBFNC Chapters Last fall, at our annual CBFNC staff retreat, we looked back over the sixteenyear history of our fellowship and found it easy to divide our story into three distinct chapters.

Fellowship and Connection (19941999) – In the early years, we were a place for folks (individuals and churches) who lived in North Carolina but also people of like mind and heart who identified with CBF to connect with one another.

missional markers missional pathways organizational alignment

Bridges and Doors (1999-2004) – In this period, a professional staff was hired to develop value-added ministries to augment the basic function of fellowship.

Confidence and Consolidation (2004-2009) – Because of changes in the larger Baptist world, it became apparent that CBFNC would either become a primary expression of Baptist identity for congregations and ministry partners or would be relegated to a secondary role. Our focus during this chapter was on expanding ministries, reaching new churches, developing new partnerships and creating a new network for “free and faithful” Baptists in North Carolina to relate to one another and serve together.

The Next Chapter – Clarifying Our Focus In each of these chapters, lasting around five-years, CBFNC was successful in accomplishing tasks appropriate to the time. CBFNC is now ready to launch into the next chapter of our ministry. Our basic mission statement will not change, but we do believe a new, clear focus is needed for how we strive to lead this fellowship to participate in the mission of God as together, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we write the next chapter in our history. The following statement will guide our staff and leadership in evaluating current ministries and developing new ministries: Collaborating with North Carolina Fellowship Baptists to develop and strengthen Christ-centered missional community in these rapidly changing times.

Collaborating – Our method is not to direct, force, coerce or manipulate, but to work with, beside, and in concert with those whom we are in relationship.

North Carolina Fellowship Baptists - Though we are not narrowminded and we believe that the kingdom of God is broader than our “tribe,” we realize that we are called to serve in a specific arena within the larger Christian Church.

Develop and Strengthen Christ-centered Missional Community – We will focus our corporate efforts (our fellowship community) as well as our constituents (the communities within our fellowship) to develop and strengthen participation in God’s mission, through Jesus Christ, in our state and our world. By claiming the word, “missional,” we affirm our support of the emphasis of the larger Fellowship movement and we commit ourselves to more assertively define this term, not simply as a synonym for “missions,” but as a metaphor, or lens, for envisioning an incarnational approach to living out the Gospel of Jesus in ways that focus not on meeting our own needs, but of being agents of God’s mission in our communities and in the world.

Rapidly Changing Times – Though every generation of God’s people feel as if they live in changing times, many social commentators believe that the pace of change is more rapid in our age than in any other in history. Participation in God’s mission in this age requires that we understand that the arena in which we minister has changed drastically, and that to participate faithfully in God’s mission means that we focus not on ourselves, but on our neighbors who may view reality from a very different vantage point.

Strategic Components In order to realize this vision, we will gather a team to engage in a process over the next twelve months to develop tools to fulfill this vision. This team will consist of employed and elected leaders (staff and council members), partners (including CBF national colleagues), and other resource persons. These components are: Missional Markers – We will develop an assessment resource by which congregational leaders can evaluate their church, its ministries and its relationship to the larger body of Christ (especially the Fellowship Movement in North Carolina and beyond) as to its missional strength and effectiveness.

Missional Pathways – Once a congregation has assessed its missional readiness and effectiveness, we will point that congregation toward a wide variety of resources to help it move forward in the missional journey. continued on page 5 The Gathering – May/June 2010 • 7

CBFNC Hunger Fund: A Call to Donate or Apply for Funds

by Laura Barclay, Social Ministries Coordinator In early 2009, the Wealth and Poverty Task Force of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina established a Hunger Fund. In the heart of the recession, with church budgets in the balance and an ever-growing number of people in poverty, our task force felt called to address hunger in our church communities.

In the spring of 2009, we established the Hunger Fund, as newspaper headlines reinforced our decision. The New York Times read, “Hunger in the U.S. at a 14-Year High.” EthicsDaily. com cried out, “With Many People Going Hungry, Will Churches Help?” Reports of 36.2 million families living in a condition of food insecurity can seem overwhelming.

Think of millions of families deciding between food or health care, groceries or school supplies, dinner or gas to drive to work. What can we do?

That’s the question we sought to answer when we met to discuss the details of the Hunger Fund. How can we have an effect on hunger?

We felt the best action would be to support and encourage partner churches who are feeding people in their own communities. We began to publicize to churches that they could now donate and apply for funds on our website.

Churches that are awarded funds could use the grant toward running an on-site food pantry, a soup kitchen, a community garden or farm.

We received a few generous donations to get us started, and then received two applications for assistance. Last year, Hominy Baptist in Candler and Brunswick Islands Baptist in Supply requested funds for their food pantries. This year, Open Arms Fellowship in Creedmoor, a CBFNC new church start, was awarded funds to start a food pantry. Dave Stratton, pastor of Brunswick Islands Baptist and chair of the Wealth and Poverty Task Force, explains how his church used the grant: “For about 12 years, Brunswick Islands has housed a community food pantry through which a dedicated group of laypeople from 8 • The Gathering – May/June 2010

numerous area churches seeks to serve households at risk for hunger. We used the Hunger Fund grant that we received to buy food for the hungry. Our food pantry has no paid staff and none of the funds were used for administrative costs of any kind. I don’t know what we would have done without this assistance. In this recession, the lines at our food bank have been getting much longer and we have been finding it tougher and tougher to meet the needs. The grant from the CBFNC Hunger Fund helps us to help others in Jesus’ name and for that we are very thankful.”

If you feel called to fight hunger, please go to our website and click the “Donate Now” button designating “Hunger Fund” in the comments section, or send a check to CBFNC with “Hunger Fund” in the memo line. If your church has a feeding ministry and would like to apply for funds, please visit our website at www. cbfnc.org, and then click the “Wealth and Poverty” line under the “Missions” tab at the top. On this page, you can download the application for a grant. Funds are distributed every January, or throughout the year in emergency cases. You can also visit this section of our website to download bulletin inserts to spread news about the Hunger Fund at your church.

Perhaps the best reason to act can be found in Jesus’ words from Matthew 25:35-40, “…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me …. Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Where is God on Mission?

by Linda Jones, CBFNC Missions Coordinator

New Opportunity in Montreal, Canada u

A new collaboration has been birthed between French Canadian Baptists, Campbell Divinity School, CBF of NC, CBF of SC and churches in both states. Butch and Nell Green, CBF field personnel who are moving to Montreal in September, brought everyone together. Patrick Deneut, missions coordinator for the French Canadian Baptist Union shared some of their needs.

The French Baptist Union is the oldest union in Canada and has 34 churches and between 2,000-3,000 members. There are a multitude of immigrants, including 30,000 French-speaking Muslims in Montreal. Two thirds of the churches are Haitian.

The greatest challenge for the French Union is multi-culturalism and multi-religions. Youth ministry training and renovating

were identified as two of the Canadian’s immediate needs with the primary goal of creating a relationship with each other and ministering together. The French Canadian Union is seeking a true partnership of reciprocity where each ministers to the other!

Murfeesboro Baptist Church and FBC Ahoskie are partnering together to send a team in July and possibly October. Plans are for two days of prayer walking and outreach with a Haitian church and two days of renovation work at the new Matthew house in Montreal. Both churches are excited for all that God has planned for them. Could this be a ministry for your church – large or small? Teams must be no larger than eight. Canada is easy to fly or drive to, English is spoken and Patrick Deneut is a warm, engaging person to work with.

Belize

Ukraine u

There’s much to celebrate at the Village of Hope: 3 sets of parents and 19 children.

Construction on the Laurel House is close to completion; They hope to be finished this summer. Teams are still needed and teams are now able to stay at the renovated dorm on the VoH property.

Each room has its own bath and the single beds are very comfortable. The rooms are hot-water heated, and a by-product of the heat is that there is plenty of hot water for bathing. The rooms are very comfortable. In addition, a kitchen has been built on the first floor with stove, refrigerator, cabinets and an eating area. This past summer there were church camps at the VoH and a total of 308 campers who stayed in the dorms! Gennady & Mina Podgaisky will be in the U.S. for a year and once again will be staying at FBC Black Mountain’s missionary house. You will be able to see and visit with them at CBF’s General Assembly in Charlotte this June!

Church-to-church relationships continue to grow as CBFNC teams minister in Belize. Construction and children’s ministry are just two of the many different opportunities available. Consider a long-term relationship with a church in Belize. The Baptist Bible School of Belize continues to give quality training to pastors and lay leaders three times a year. The next week of training is in May. The opportunity to teach is always available to pastors, professors, and lay leaders with a master’s degree. Belize is only a two-hour flight from Miami and is reasonable in cost for teams.

George Fuller, Sr. Pastor of New Community Church in Raleigh, has shared that North Carolina CBF folks could truly make a tremendous “kingdom” difference in the country of Belize.

Haiti u

The disaster in Haiti has certainly touched the hearts of our CBFNC churches.

We thank you for the generous outpouring of medical supplies for Haiti brought to the CBFNC General Assembly at FBC Winston-Salem!

New Church Start Academy

The New Church Start Academy sponsored by CBFNC and CBF was snowed out in February and is rescheduled for August 19-21.

Do you have a tug on your heart that you just cannot shake? Starting a new church is risky. It requires much sacrifice, but it is so rewarding! Register at www. CBFNC.org.

The Gathering – May/June 2010

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9

It has made me to know that I am so blessed and fortunate to have what we have, and that the homeless, for the most part, are just ordinary people like me with unfortunate circumstances surrounding them.

How it impacted my life: At almost every action Saturday evening and yesterday, I marveled at my freedom of movement (car, home, church, friend’s home, relative’s home, etc.). It has so heightened my awareness of how blessed I am. I turn on the faucet and clean drinking water comes out; I conveniently go to the bathroom, can go to the frige and cabinet and get food, to the closet and pick clothing from an overfilled closet, etc.)

As I looked into the faces of the homeless, I wondered what had happened in their lives that made it necessary for them to be on the street. Was it bad choices? Illness? Addictions? Family problems? Lost job? Some appeared to have a drinking or drug problem, but not all of them.

Testimonials from Plunge 2 Poverty There were whites, black Americans, internationals, young people, adults and some who needed assistance to get around.

My heart was touched most by the mothers Designed for leaders who with young will go back to their own children. They communities and create a did need food similar experience to eat, but they also needed love, compassion, stability, and a real understanding DATE: that God loved August 20-21, 2010 them and cared

AN INTENSIVE POVERTY SIMULATION EXPERIENCE/ TRAINING

about them.

Friday noon-Saturday noon

This has had a lasting experience for me. I not only look at homeless people differently, I look at what I have, what am I doing and how I react to toward money. When I think of paying to get my computer fixed and then think of what a homeless person could do with that money, I feel selfish.I have taken so many simple things for granted and this has opened my eyes to it.

I learned several things from this LOCATION: encounter. Krista Roanoke Rapids is homeless, I sat down on one but she was of the steps and concerned about just looked at all others who were COST: those belongings hurting more. $25 lined up down SPONSORED BY (1) Relationships there along the are important to WOMAN’S MISSIONARY UNION wall. Every bag, the homeless and OF NORTH CAROLINA tote or suitcase they look out for represented each other. As a family’s or we talked some person’s worldly Contact Margaret Harding at mharding@wmunc.org of Krista and belongings; I felt Darla’s friends for registration information and forms filled with shame. walked past and wanted to So often we fuss know how Darla and complain was feeling. about how things (2) Some of the are just right and homeless on the how we “need” street choose to be there and do not want to change their lifestyle. to do this or that to improve what we have or to take it to the next That’s hard for me to understand, but it appears to be true. level. I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit that maybe, just (3) It’s hard to know who to help and how to help them. Several maybe, I was a little more attached to “things” than I like to churches and organizations in Raleigh do a lot, but breaking the think I was. I thought I had let go of that type of mentality two cycle of poverty and addictions is difficult. years ago after returning home from living short term in a thirdworld country.

“I was reminded of how much I have, how much I have to share and how little I do share. I Ah, God whispered, was also made aware of how great and complex the needs of the poor and homeless really maybe you did let go but are. And, most importantly, I was reminded that the people we interacted with are created in somewhere in the past God’s image and are loved by Him, who is trying to teach us to show His kind of love.” two years, things became important again.

wmunc.org

10 • The Gathering – May/June 2010

CBFNC and Youth Ministry ~ For the Youth: White Water Rafting Retreat September 4-6, 2010 Asheville, NC

Emerald Pointe Water Park Greensboro, NC July 29, 2010

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)

10 am - 7 pm for youth in grades 6-12 only. Visit www.emeraldpointe.com for water park features.

Cost: $32 (youth/adult)

$24 (junior - under 48”) Price includes all-day admission and a picnic lunch.

Register at www.cbfnc.org by July 22.

New Contributing CBFNC Partner Churches (As of March 31, 2010)

Register at 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.

Neills Creek, Angier (New MRP* contributor; formerly CBF only) Tabor City Baptist Church First, Shelby (New MRP* contributor; formerly CBF only) First, Weaverville (New MRP* contributor) New Hope, Whiteville (New MRP* contributor) Boiling Springs Baptist Church (New MRP* contributor) First, Laurinburg (New MRP* contributor) Olive Chapel, Apex Benson Baptist Church (New MRP* contributor) First, Highlands Hickory Rock, Louisburg (New MRP* contributor) First, Whiteville (New MRP* contributor) First, Liberty First, West Jefferson (New MRP* contributor; formerly CBF only) Primera Iglesia Bautista, Sanford First, Boone (formerly CBF only) First, Clayton (New MRP* contributor) First, Morehead City (New MRP* contributor) Iglesia Bautista Misionera Roca Fuerte, Pittsboro First, Rocky Mount First, Tryon (New MRP* contributor) Poplar Springs, Shelby (New MRP* contributor) *Mission Resource Plan - visit www.cbfnc.org

Ministers on the Move

Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator

Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved: David Benton is now serving as the Associational Missionary of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, Rockingham.

Larry Bostian has been called as the Pastor of the Red Oak Baptist Church in Rocky Mount.

Chris Carroll is now serving the Elizabethtown Baptist Church as Pastor.

Jenny Alyn Scott has been called as the Youth Director of the First Baptist Church of Dobson.

Travis Russell has been called at the Minister of Youth and Children for the First Baptist Church of Whiteville.

Steve Sumerel has been called as the Associate Pastor for Adult Learning of the First Baptist Church of Greensboro.

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 – May/June 2010 • 11

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 ~ May/June Edition All Councils Meeting June 3, 2010 CBFNC Offices, Winston-Salem CBF General Assembly June 24-25, 2010 Charlotte See page 3. Registration and details at www.thefellowship.info/assembly.

College Charlotte Sessions June 21-26, 2010 Charlotte See pages 3 and 6. Registration and details at www.thefellowship.info/assembly.

Racial Reconciliation Workshops July 13, 2010 - Charlotte July 29, 2010 - Wilmington Registration and details at www.cbfnc.org.

Youth at Emerald Pointe WaterPark July 29, 2010 Greensboro Follow www.cbfnc.org for more.

Youth White Water Rafting Retreat September 4-6, 2010 Asheville Follow www.cbfnc.org for more.

Youth Fall Retreat September 24-26, 2010 Myrtle Beach, SC Follow www.cbfnc.org for more.

Hopeful Imagination: Church Leadership Conference October 21-24, 2010 First Baptist, Wilmington Follow www.cbfnc.org for more.

New Church Start Academy Rescheduled August 19-21, 2010 Village Inn, Clemmons Follow www.cbfnc.org for more.

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.

Photos by Doug Broadway