The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry Volume 12, Issue 8
October 2007
Church Freedom by Larry Hovis, Coordinator It was a very full, but fairly typical Sunday in the life of Autonomy Baptist Church in Freedom, North Carolina. School had begun the week earlier and folks were looking forward to returning to a more regular schedule. Being the first Sunday of the new church program year, pupils were not surprised to be greeted with a few changes when they arrived at Sunday School, the biggest one being new literature in several classes. Based on requests from teachers, the Christian education committee, under the leadership of the Sunday School director, had been studying their curriculum for about a year. For decades, they had ordered literature for every class, from preschool through senior adults, from the same denominational publishing house, but many teachers and class members had become dissatisfied. With guidance from the new CBF resource, Destinations, they developed a plan that met their church’s unique needs which utilized literature and resources from a variety of sources.
After Sunday School, church members and guests gathered in the sanctuary for worship. The service featured both traditional and contemporary elements, including hymns from the Baptist Hymnal, a praise chorus downloaded from a nondenominational worship resource website (with appropriate copyright permission), and a litany from the Methodist book of worship. The pastor’s sermon was based on 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom,” one of the four daily texts of the Revised Common Lectionary, though the pastor did not always choose to follow that particular guide. At the conclusion of the sermon, an invitation to discipleship was extended and the Smith family responded. The Smiths had been visiting Autonomy Baptist for several months and felt led to unite with the congregation. Jane and Jim Smith, the parents, were coming on transfer of their membership from their former church, a Baptist congregation in another state. Their oldest child, elevenyear-old Catherine, was making a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and was a candidate for
believers’ baptism. Their youngest child, Dylan, a second grader, was not yet ready to take that step but had already become active in the church’s children’s ministry. With a hearty “Amen” the congregation voted to receive Jane, Jim and Catherine into church membership. Following the benediction, the church moderator called the church into a brief business session to consider a recommendation from the Personnel Committee to call Mary Williams as associate pastor. Mary was a recent graduate of a CBF-partner divinity school, and this was her first full-time ministry position. Mary had already been introduced to the congregation in a variety of ways, and the church voted to call Mary with only one dissenting vote (Though Grover Jones liked Mary, he believed that you should never have a unanimous vote on anything!). On Sunday evening, two important meetings took place. In a joint session of the missions, stewardship and denominational relations committees, a presentation was made about the CBFNC Mission Resource Plan (MRP). Continued on page 7.
5th Annual CBFNC Fall Fellowship Gathering
November 13, 2007 First Baptist Church, Greensboro
Seminar - 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. Dinner - 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Worship - 7:15 - 8:30 p.m.
Attend the ‘Ending the Worship Wars’ Seminar with Kyle Matthews, stay for our annual fellowship dinner and then join us for worship led by Kyle Matthews and Emmanuel McCall, past moderator of CBF. Register online at www.cbfnc.org by November 1. The seminar and worship are free; dinner is $10 per person.
We asked our partner churches where they have been on mission in 2007. Take a peek at their postcards and passport stamps on pages 3-5.
October 2007
The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
phone: 888.822.1944 • phone: 336.759.3456 • fax: 336.759.3459 • cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org
Larry Hovis .......... Coordinator LHovis@cbfnc.org Rick Jordan ......... Church Resources Coordinator RJordan@cbfnc.org Linda Jones......... Missions Coordinator LJones@cbfnc.org
Jack Causey .... Ministerial Resources Coordinator JCausey@cbfnc.org Wanda Kidd .... College Ministry Consultant asyougo5@aol.com Nancy Parks.... Office Manager NParks@cbfnc.org
Natalie Aho .... Communications Manager NAho@cbfnc.org Gail McAlister ..... Financial Assistant GMcalister@cbfnc.org Beth McGinley .... Office Assistant BMcginley@cbfnc.org
Coordinating Council Gail Coulter, Hendersonville, Moderator Greg Rogers, Greenville, Moderator-Elect Don Horton, Zebulon, Past Moderator Glenda Currin, Wilmington, Recorder Donna Bissette, Winston-Salem, Treasurer Carolyn Dickens, Raleigh Don Gordon, Durham Kathryn Hamrick, Shelby Steve Little, Marion Glenn Phillips, Goldsboro Roy Smith, Raleigh Bert Young, Bladenboro Janice Young, Whiteville
Faith Development Ministry Council Blythe Taylor, Charlotte, Chair Elizabeth Edwards, Nashville, Chair-Elect Jennifer Baxley, Henderson Cindy Joy, Oxford Rebecca Husband Maynard, Elkin Kristen Muse, Raleigh Kathy Naish, Hickory Jeff Pethel, Rolesville Tony Spencer, Forest City Allen Winters, Hillsborough
Missions Ministry Council Bill Jones, Newland, Chair Shirley Kool, Sylva, Chair-Elect Seth Asbill, Raleigh Cecelia Beck, Forest City Kenny Davis, Wise Jim Everette, Wilmington Carolyn Hopkins, Cary Christopher Ingram, Smithfield Judy LeCroy, Lexington Jack Watson, Apex
Leadership Development Ministry Council Steve Zimmerman, Mebane, Chair Burke Holland, Belhaven, Chair-Elect Mark Ashworth, Kernersville Terry Honeycutt, Rutherfordton Scott Hovey, Durham Jerry Richards, Apex Sheila Russ, Winston-Salem
CBF National Council Members from NC Sheri Adams, Boiling Springs Scott Hagaman, Marion Don Horton, Zebulon Bill Ireland, Winston-Salem Crystal Leathers, Hickory Mickie Norman, Leland
Endowment Management Board A. G. Bullard, Raleigh Joe Harris, Mocksville Scott Hudgins, Winston-Salem Drag Kimrey, Laurinburg Tom Smith, Greensboro
Financial Report:
August 2007 Contributions
Attend a Destinations: Annual Church Planning Workshop October 1, Asheville October 11, Durham October 18, Winston-Salem October 25, Greenville All workshops are from 1-4 p.m. Cost is $15 per person ($50 max per church). Learn more and register within one week of the workshop at www.cbfnc.org.
CBFNC Budget - $84,648; Other - $102,678 2007-2008 Monthly Budget Goal: $76,255
CBF Offering for Global Missions
“Embrace the World” Promotional Resources Available for Download The promotional packets for the fall/Christmas CBF Offering for Global Missions emphasis have been mailed, and items such as video clips, bulletin inserts, children’s sermons, litanies and much
more are now available for download. If you are responsible for promoting the CBF Offering at your church and you have not received this material, check with your church office. If you need a packet sent, notify Lance Wallace at lwallace@thefellowship.info or call (770) 220-1641. Visit the CBF website http://www.thefellowship.info/ ogm/ for more information.
CBFNC 2008 General Assembly
Youth Ski Retreats
April 11-12, 2008 Forest Hills Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC
January 25-27 or February 1-3, 2008 Winterplace, WV
“Calling Cards: Hearing and Responding to God’s Call” With Keynote Speaker: Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell Ministry workshop titles, details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org. 2 • The Gathering – October 2007
Cost before upgrades is $149 p/p. To register, contact CTI at twilson@ skicti.com or 800-285-7273.
Where Have Our Partner Churches Been on Mission in 2007? Scattered across the next few pages are postcards sent to CBFNC from some of our churches as they were on mission in 2007. Each postcard contains a small reference to their experience. You can read their accounts in full and view more pictures on our website, www.cbfnc.org.
tist Church, Danbury Bap Danbury, NC
Hello from Toronto, Canada!
talk to that he wanted to d te ca di in b ay uh S with the y questions he has me about the man has G y hy do you sa od Christian faith: “W ife?” I tried to pay od’s w a Son? Who is G the his difficulties with careful attention to rstanding . I knew his unde Christian message d not be me slowly and coul co ly ab ob pr ld ou w to grapple have many things s lim us M . ed sh ru ing flesh’ the ‘Word becom of ar he ey th as tiwith out as a mul We reached em!). many ethnic e th (blasphemy to th to am ic te
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We Are a People of Freedom I recently had the pleasure of meeting with two Hispanic pastors: one serving in Raleigh and the other living Linda Jones in Florida. Luis, the Florida pastor, was interested in moving to North Carolina. As we talked, I learned that Luis grew up in Venezuela in a Baptist Christian home. His father was a missionary and lay pastor. Both he and his wife grew up actively serving as leaders in their local church and both were called into full-time ministry as foreign missionaries from Venezuela to the United States! I was impressed with his education, his experience and abilities and especially his passion for the Lord. I shared about CBFNC and about our name: we cooperate, we hold to Baptist principles and we love fellowship and being in relationship together. I talked about partnering together for Kingdom purposes and sharing common core values with no strings attached as to how God calls the local church to reach out to its own community. Of course, general
Baptist Campus Mini str y, East Carolina Universi ty
Strasheni Boarding Sch ool (orphanage) where we provided crafts, food and medic ines.
Hello from Chisinau, Moldova!
Vitalii, an 18-year-ol d at Betesda Orphanage, needed a new pair of shoes. We went to the “mall” and he found a nice pair of lea ther sandals. As we were leaving, he had a huge smile on his face, and I heard him whisper something to the interpreter. She relayed that this was the first pair of new shoes he ha d ever had.
by Linda Jones, CBFNC Missions Coordinator
accountability of how funds are spent is always needed. I watched Luis’ face light up. In being honest with me, he replied that he left an atmosphere of control. Best of all, he shared his joy and willingness to become a part of us, CBFNC. I have also been working with several new church planters who feel “called” to reach out to the postmodern thinkers of their communities. Because postmodern people think differently than we “modern thinkers,” reaching out to them will require a different approach than the methods we are used to. Most postmodern people have not grown up in church. In fact, they are distrustful of institutions, including the church. Relationships are of utmost value to them with all the fragmentation of modern society. It is through their deep friendships that they look for truth. Are we going to give these church planters the freedom to reach to them in different ways, especially when many of us do not understand the postmodern culture? As people of CBFNC, we are a people of freedom. We are free to choose Christ, to follow him, to be a part of his plan. We are free, male or female, to follow his calling
on our lives. As churches, we are free to discern our own calling, our own mission in the world. As I travel throughout our state, I have discovered that there is a wide diversity: different communities, different worship styles, and different ministries. However, what is common among all is a love for the Kingdom of God. But I have to ask, are we truly “on mission” for God? Do we really have eyes to see and ears to hear what is around us and where he is calling us to be “on mission” for him? Have we assessed our congregation - what are their spiritual gifts, their abilities, their experiences? Where is God already working in our community? As a church body, what is he calling us to be involved in? Do we care enough to sacrifice our worship time or methods to reach “those not here yet”? Tough questions. Isn’t it wonderful that in valuing each other and church freedom we can work through these questions together?! As our CBFNC mission statement says, we are committed to Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry! The Gathering – October 2007 • 3
In addition to the postcard accounts from our churches, you will notice the “passport stamps” on these pages. When churches send CBFNC their newsletters, we read them for many pieces of information. One thing we learn is where they’ve been doing missions. These passport stamps represent the information we’ve learned based on their newsletters. Ask your church to send us your newsletter, too! Our website, www.cbfnc.org, has more information. Ecuad or
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The W. Haynes Co mmunity Center had fallen into disrep air so youth volu nteers donned work glov es and sneakers to replace the roof, paint th e inside and compl ete many other repairs . In another projec t, the librarians spent th e week helping to process new and donated books to be placed on the shelves. Youth an d adult volunteers tr ul y exemplified “It’s Not About Me.”
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Our church has served in Hel ena the past five summers by wor king in the swim camp, on constru ction projects, with the ‘Stories on Wheels’ bus, and with the kid ’s, youth and preschool camps. It has been amazing to rekindle relationships each year and see how God is working in the commu nity. Swaziland
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Lakota people in the One project with the st ervation was at the 21 Pine Ridge Indian Res , radoxically enough Centur y Center, and pa a home that had no the other project was electricity...in the 21st running water and no ~FBC Greensboro centur y in America. by the poverty we We were overwhelmed age annual income is experienced. The aver ovided ever y child at less than $4,000. We pr g supplies.~Grace Crossin camp a backpack with The Gathering – October 2007 • 5
Photo by Gene Prescott
Church Fire Leads to Relationship
Shock and disbelief. These words describe my state of mind as I watched flames run the roof line of the sanctuary of The Memorial Baptist Church, Greenville, NC, during the later hours of Saturday, January 13, 2007. As I arrived on the property early Sunday morning, smoke continued to penetrate my nostrils. My feet cut a path through a parking lot littered with wet debris. My eyes focused on the yellow caution tape surrounding a shell of a building and a flame ravaged steeple. Certainly, it could have been much worse. However, soaking in what would later be determined as 3 million dollars worth of damage at the hands of an arsonist is overwhelming. It was not what I expected during my first year as pastor. Later that Sunday morning, the congregation gathered near the picnic shelter on the back of the property. Numbness characterized our assembly as we read Scripture, offered prayers, and lifted our voices in song. As we were ending our time together, I began to notice some unfamiliar faces. People were joining us in our time of crisis. Not only did they come by our side, they embraced us, cried with us, prayed with us, and encouraged us. I soon discovered that a congregation from our city had ended their time of worship in order to join us in our time of need. The scene that unfolded broke the numbness that imprisoned our minds. As tears began to flow down my face, Pastor Sidney Locks wrapped his arms around me and spoke words that reached deep inside my soul. Through the love of these 6 • The Gathering – October 2007
by Randy McKinney, Pastor, The Memorial
sisters and brothers in Christ from Cornerstone Baptist Church, we became keenly aware of the presence of God. Later that afternoon, The Memorial Baptist Church assembled for a time of worship in a local house of worship. During the sermon, a truth needed to be proclaimed: “Had the shoes been on the other feet, we would not have done what Cornerstone Baptist Church had done for us that morning.” You see, Cornerstone is a predominately black congregation and The Memorial is predominately white. Sometimes the truth hurts. However, sometimes a declaration of the truth can begin a journey of healing and reconciliation. During our time of displacement, Cornerstone graciously allowed us to utilize their facilities on two Sundays. Likewise, I have preached for Cornerstone and Pastor Locks has preached for The Memorial. However, the greatest part of this journey for me has been building a friendship with Sidney. We both agree that God has brought us together for a purpose. We have discerned that the purpose includes bridging the racial divide that exists in our community. In the near future, we hope to begin exploring this purpose with people from our two congregations. In the meantime, we are intentionally building our relationship. The truth of Joseph’s statement to his brothers is becoming our reality: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish now what is being done” Genesis 50:20 (NIV). Randy McKinney serves on the CBFNC Diversity Task Force, an Initiative of the 2007 Strategic Plan. The task force invites you to share your stories of relationship building across the racial divide. Send them to Natalie Aho at NAho@cbfnc.org. Learn more at www.cbfnc.org.
CBFNC New Day Tour The 2007 CBFNC New Day tour began in May in Eastern and Central North Carolina and continued in August in Western North Carolina, following an identical format of a fellowship dinner, multiple ministry workshops, and a worship service. East Sylva BC in Sylva, Calvary BC in Asheville and FBC Gastonia provided gracious gatherings.
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conducted by numerous leaders, including faculty and staff from Mars Hill College and Gardner-Webb University. All together, from May to August, over eleven hundred persons from 125 churches participated in the 2007 New Day Tour. “There is obviously a great hunger for CBF folks to connect with one another in fellowship, worship and service, but it’s not always possible for them to attend the annual general assembly,” said Larry Hovis, Coordinator. “These New Day gatherings have convinced me that CBFNC needs to offer more regional events for our fellowship.”
NC Missions Initiative
Family-Friendly Mission Weekend!
November 2-4, 2007 Henderson/Littleton Area Born out of a desire to see Christ’s riches significantly impact the lives of neighbors living in poverty, the North Carolina Missions Initiative is an opportunity for faith and action to meet. Come work alongside other Baptists from across North Carolina! Cost is $25 per person ($65 max per family). Register at www.cbfnc.org by October 1. View our website for details including lodging recommendations.
CBFNC Encourages Offering for WMU CBFNC coordinator. “With gratitude for the tremendous support they have provided for Baptist missions in the past, CBF of of North Carolina North Carolina wants to help ensure that their legacy of missions leadership and empowerment will continue in the future, In late August, Woman’s Missionary and stand with them in a special way Union of North Carolina (WMU of NC) during this critical time of transition.” took a dramatic and courageous leap Second, CBFNC encouraged partner of faith by announcing its decision to congregations to observe a day of prayer relinquish offices at the Baptist building for WMU of NC on September 30. A in Cary and assume responsibility for its special prayer guide was produced, with own human resources and payroll. This input from WMU of NC and posted on decision came following more than a the CBFNC website, www.cbfnc.org, for year of prayerful searching and intense congregations to download and use to conversation with convention leaders. assist with the prayer emphasis. The current leadership of the convention Third, congregations were encouraged sought unprecedented involvement in to receive an offering and authority over “WMU of NC has during September and personnel matters at WMU of NC and were been the missions October to aid WMU of NC during this time unwilling to make backbone for of transition. Churches compromises regarding Baptists in North participating in this that demand. Because of the convention’s Carolina for over 120 emergency offering may insistence in this area, years. CBFNC wants mail contributions to the leadership of WMU to help ensure their CBFNC, clearly marked of NC reached the legacy will continue for the WMU of NC offering. conclusion that leaving in the future.” “WMU of North the office space in the Carolina is very appreciative of the Baptist building and surrendering access continued support of CBFNC and the to a variety of support services provided churches of this fellowship,” said Ruby by the convention were the only means Fulbright, executive director of WMU of maintaining the integrity and freedom of North Carolina. “We are grateful for inherent in their ministry since they were the partnership we share in missions organized in 1886. education and involvement. Now, I am When this announcement was made, overwhelmed by your kindness in helping CBFNC acted quickly. The Coordinating us to meet practical needs – paying the Council held a conference call meeting bills. So many times the Father shows His and the Council unanimously approved amazing love in very unexpected ways.” a recommendation from members of Paul Baxley, pastor of First Baptist the CBFNC New Day Task Force that Church of Henderson and chair of the CBFNC express support to WMU of CBFNC New Day task force said, “The North Carolina. This support took several WMU of North Carolina has leapt out in forms. faith and grabbed hold of Isaiah’s promise First, a news release expressing that God is doing a new thing, that God support for WMU of NC was sent to is making a way through the wilderness. several Baptist news agencies. “WMU Now they’re looking to us, watching and of North Carolina has been the missions waiting to see if we will leap out and join backbone for Baptists in North Carolina them in this new day.” for over 120 years,” said Larry Hovis,
Church Freedom
Continued
Continued from page 1. They discussed the MRP because the congregation was looking for a vehicle to express their missions Larry Hovis giving in ways that the congregation could both understand and direct with more clarity and conviction. The second meeting was a team of the Diaconate, which discussed a request for ordination to the Gospel Ministry from Sue Johnson, a young woman who was reared in the church, felt called to ministry in college, had pursued that call by attending seminary, and now was preparing for a ministry in hospital chaplaincy, including endorsement from CBF. Many of the actions taken by Autonomy Baptist Church that day - choosing educational curriculum, ordering worship, accepting members, formulating missions giving and ordaining ministers - were a function of a cherished Baptist principle, congregational autonomy, referred to as “church freedom” by Baptist historian Walter Shurden. Other denominational families “permit” congregations to make decisions about some of these matters, but Baptists have insisted that we weave church freedom into the fabric of our life together. Sadly, many Baptists today have abandoned or forsaken this cherished principle. Thankfully, CBF is committed to promote this principle in theory and to live it out in practice. That commitment can be messy at times, especially when one congregation might make a decision that other congregations don’t agree with. Historically, Baptist cooperation has not been based on congregations agreeing with or approving of all beliefs and practices of another congregation, but a commitment to doing together things that would be difficult or impossible to do on their own. The CBF movement operates out of this understanding of church freedom. It’s an approach that has worked well for four hundred years and is needed more than ever today. The Gathering – October 2007 • 7
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
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WINSTON-SALEM PERMIT NO. 162
Return Service Requested
In This October 2007 Edition ~ Page 1 Church Freedom
Page 6 CBFNC New Day Tour
by Larry Hovis, Coordinator
Pages 3-5 Where Have Our Partner Churches Been on Mission in 2007?
Page 7 CBFNC Encourages Offering for WMU of NC
Page 3 We Are a People of Freedom by Linda Jones, CBFNC Missions Coordinator
Page 6 Church Fire Leads to Relationship by Randy McKinney The Gathering is published ten times a year; mailed by the 5th of the month. All questions may be directed to Natalie Aho, 888-822-1944 or naho@cbfnc.org.
Upcoming Events ~ October 2007 Destinations Workshops Asheville, October 1, 1-4 p.m. Durham, October 11, 1-4 p.m. Winston-Salem, October 18, 1-4 p.m. Greenville, October 25, 1-4 p.m. Cost is $15 per person ($50 max per church). Visit www.cbfnc.org for further details and to register. November 2-4, 2007 NC Missions Initiative Henderson/Littleton Area, NC $25 per person due October 1; max. of $65 per family. Visit www.cbfnc.org for further details and to register. November 13, 2007 Fall Fellowship Gathering First Baptist Church Greensboro, NC Visit www.cbfnc.org for more details or to register. $10 for dinner due November 1.
January 25-27 or February 1-3, 2008 Youth Ski Retreat Winterplace, WV Cost before upgrades is $149 per person. Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information. To register, call CTI at 800-285-7273 or email Tim Wilson at twilson@skicti.com.
March 14-15, 2008 Youth Choir Festival First Baptist Church Greensboro, NC Repertoire is now available. Cost is $10 per singer ($125 max per choir); $5 per person for food. Visit www.cbfnc.org for further details and to register.
February 16, 2008 Children’s Choir Festival First Baptist Church Winston-Salem, NC Repertoire is now available. Cost is $10 per singer ($125 max per choir); $5 per person for food. Visit www.cbfnc.org for further details and to register.
April 11-12, 2008 CBFNC General Assembly Forest Hills Baptist Church Raleigh, NC Details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org.
February 25-28, 2008 Youth Ministers’ Retreat North Myrtle Beach, SC More information and registration coming soon.
April 18-20 or 25-27, 2008 Youth Spring Retreats Vineyard Camp Westfield, NC Visit www.cbfnc.org for further details and to register.