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Called from Africa to America to Plant and Grow a Church
Called from Africa to America
by Brickson Sam to Plant and Grow a Church Senior Pastor, Together in Christ International Ministries (A CBFNC church start)
Through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Program, my wife Annie, our three children and I moved to the United States in late 2009 from Sierra Leone in West Africa. We were sponsored by Tom and LeDayne Polaski and located in Charlotte.
It is was my dream to use my skills to start a church. I also wanted to continue to promote social justice and compassion in today’s world by either teaching at a high school or college level, or by providing skills to young leaders.
Prior to our immigration to the United States, I was the senior pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Sierra Leone, president of All Africa Baptist Youth Fellowship, and vice president of the Baptist World Alliance Youth Department. My wife was a middle school teacher and president of Baptist Pastors Wives in Freetown, Sierra Leone. A combination of gifting, desire and affirmation all informed my call to plant a church in the United States. When my family was leaving Sierra Leone, two proclamations were made in the farewell service:
1. 2.
that my family plants a church in the U.S. that we come to the U.S. to serve as missionaries.
Two months after I arrived, I was encouraged by Larry Hovis, executive coordinator for CBF of North Carolina, to seek the possibility of starting a church amongst Sierra Leoneans living in the Charlotte area. Having planted and built a church in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the desire was also in me to do the same in the United States. God has gifted me with an evangelistic heart, a dose of evangelistic success, the ability to preach, recruit, disciple, cast vision, lead others, form teams, and entrepreneurial skills.
After ardent prayers with my wife and consultations with various individuals, pastors, leaders and members of the Sierra Leone community in Charlotte, the decision was made to start Together In Christ International Ministries. In September 2011 we started with home cells. Within one year, October 2012, we officially started Together in Christ International Ministries through the support of CBFNC and CBF global. Over the years, our church has received faithful support from CBFNC and CBF. I was honored to have been officially commissioned as church planter at the CBF General Assembly in 2012 in Fort Worth,
Called from Africa to America, continued from page 13.
Texas. And I am grateful to have received further training with CBF pastors and leaders.
The CBF family welcomed us with open arms, making us feel belonged and beloved. I have attended and participated in CBFNC events and CBF General Assemblies and have received equal opportunities just like any other pastor or church.
CBFNC has been an important part of Together in Christ International Ministries, especially the former missions coordinator, Linda Jones. She visited and preached at our church on several occasions.
Last year, we marked another milestone in the growth of our church. In February 2019, upon the recommendation of Rev. LeDayne Polaski, former executive director of Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America and Larry Hovis, St. John’s Baptist Church in Charlotte welcomed us into their campus and provided us our current worship space.
We have held joint services together and are considered as one family at St. John’s. The church family has been very hospitable and has done everything possible to make us to feel at home. The pastors and members have always said to us “we are glad to have you.”
All of CBFNC is such a blessing to my church and family. We are glad and grateful to be part of this great family of Christ.
New Pastor Cohort (2020-2022) Now Forming!
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” —Plato, Republic
STARTING WELL AS A NEW PASTOR IS CRITICAL for sustaining a meaningful, rewarding and fruitful ministry over a lifetime. Learning from peers and seasoned mentors is essential to starting well, and CBFNC recognizes the value of bringing new pastors together for that purpose. The vocation of ministry is a shared one.
CBFNC’s Helping Pastors Thrive Program is currently forming a cohort of new pastors that will begin a two-year journey in formation and learning starting in November 2020. Limited to eight participants, the cohort is designed to be a community and space for interaction, learning, support and growth.
Helping Pastors Thrive is a ministry of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.
CBFNC HONORARY & MEMORIAL GIFTS
A gift was given to the CBFNC operating budget for campus ministry by John Vestal in memory of Cindy Vestal.
A gift was given by Lisa Rust in honor of Kim & Marc Wyatt.
A gift was given by John and Ginny Mills in honor of Hoover, Jo, Tim and Benny Hendrix.
COORDINATORS’ VISITS April – July 2020
Mt. Hermon, Durham (Virtual) Hope Valley, Durham (Virtual) Nobles Chapel, Simms (Virtual) First, Mt. Holly (Virtual) First, North Wilkesboro First, Wadesboro Calvary, Reidsville
YOUR GIFTS TO A CBFNC ENDOWMENT FUND CAN PLANT SEEDS OF BLESSING, OF HOPE, AND OF HELP. Designate a gift for scholarships, new church starts, or where it is most needed.
PLEASE REMEMBER CBFNC IN YOUR WILL OR ESTATE PLAN.
Contact Jim Hylton at 336.759.3456 for more information. Gifts from individual supporters established this endowment fund to supplement the CBFNC annual operating budget. Gifts to this fund assist all areas of CBFNC ministry as we strive to join the work of God in the world.
Donate to CBFNC today! www.cbfnc.org/give
MINISTERS ON THE MOVE Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved:
Derrick Arellano to Westwood, Cary as Associate Pastor for Music and Worship
Wade Arnold to First, Clemmons as Pastor
Andrew Barrettto Trinity, Newton as Pastor
Blaine Brittto Woodhaven, Apex as Associate Pastor to Youth and Young Adults
Nate Dove to St. John’s, Charlotte as Minister for Youth and Young Adults
David Durham to First, Elon as Pastor
Rendell Hipps to Calvary, Asheville as Pastor
Michael Lasater-Sizemore to Benson, Benson as Minister of Children and Youth
Chris Thomas to First, Wilson as Pastor
Ryan Wilson to Wake Forest, Wake Forest as Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Administration
When you make a move or know of someone who has changed places of ministry, please send us an email: seth.hix@cbfnc.org.
For assistance to search committees and ministers seeking vocational discernment, visit the Equip Ministers and Churches page on our website at cbfnc.org or call us at 336.759.3456 or 888.822.1944.
888-822-1944 www.cbfnc.org
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry 2640 Reynolda Road Winston-Salem, NC 27106
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EQUIP Engage Embrace Enhance
CBFNC supports and strengthens ministry leaders and the churches they serve.
CBFNC Annual Gathering
NEXT YEAR, OUR ANNUAL GATHERING WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
The main sessions and annual business meeting will take place at our primary location, Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte. However, other churches around the state will also host smaller gatherings simultaneously so that we may continue our commitment to safety. All of these locations will have online capabilities so that everyone has access to our main sessions and annual business meeting. Stay tuned for more information!
Upcoming Events
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER
Helping Pastors Thrive CBFNC Fall Workshop: Readings in Narrative Preaching How to Lead When You Don’t
September 21-October 23 Know Where You’re Going 5-Week Online Course Monday, October 5 Online
