SabbaticalReport,PartIII

from August 2023 BBC Connections

Why Membership?

-ation and meetings This General Assembly was significant for three reasons: 1) It was Devon's first trip away with me to a big city/conference hotel/airplane ride, 2) It was my twelfth Assembly, and 3) I officially became chairperson of the CBF Missions Council (one of three governing boards that direct CBF's ministry around the world).

In addition to introducing Devon to the Coke Museum and Atlanta Zoo, I also attend Missions Council meetings, worshiped with Cooperative Baptists from all over and even co-led a workshop in which I was able to share about BBC's mission ministries with other churches

Yes, Atlanta was hot (as it always is this time of year), but it was also warming to my soul to see the good work God continues to do through CBF and my friends and colleagues who serve around the world

Week Six: One Last Breather

Overall Reflections:

Again, I am thankful for my time away In a vocational field that sees my peers burning out left and right (and one with a current pastor shortage), I am grateful for this time away to rest. You did not put parameters on my leave and it was freeing to just get up every day with no checklists, deadlines or emergencies.

I ended my sabbatical on July 5 a more rested, differentiated, and recharged person that I began it The journey of these last few years of ministry have not been easy (COVID, Felicia s death, more officiated funerals than I can count). This time away was used by God to remind me that I am still a minister called by God's grace and that the best is still yet to be for our congregation and the Universal Church.

JoinusforMusicWednesdaysbeginningSeptember13!

HandbellChoir(noexperienceneeded):6:00-7:00P.M.

ChancelChoirRehearsal(noexperienceneeded):7:00-8:00P.M.

Ifyou'reinterestedinjoiningtheContemporary PraiseTeam,contactRachelWest!

Minister David Woolsey Minister of Traditional Music & Organist

david@bensonbaptist org

Rachel West Interim Contemporary Worship Leader rachel@bensonbaptist.org

Week six was the last week of my sabbatical leave and it was spent at the beach. Devon and I flew back to Raleigh on the morning of July 1 and were resting in a beach condo by that evening Thanks to the generosity of a friend, my family was able to get away (yes, all six of us) for a few days of sitting on the beach, swimming in the pool and exploring the small beach town.

It was a fitting way to conclude my sabbatical leave that began with a solo retreat at St Francis Springs and ended with this time away with my family.

It is my hope that I will be able to maintain the rhythms of rest I experienced even as I transition back into the weekly 'grind' of ministry and caring for all of you. I am thankful to be your pastor and thankful to have the honor of walking alongside you in faith and life.

Truly, the best IS yet to be I can't wait to see where Christ calls us next!

P S for those wondering Yes I did manage to save Hyrule!

It has been Benson Ba few months have seemed like they ve both dragged on forever and flown by. The youth traveled approximately 1,500 miles in “Bertha” (the name the youth have affectionately given our van). We went to Asheville for our mission trip, Greensboro to Wet ‘ n Wild, and Maryville College for Unidiversity Youth Camp We had a fantastic summer and our youth grew in extraordinary ways. Our Fall Retreat is just around the corner on September 8-10 and we cannot wait to travel together again!

Our children traveled to Durham and Raleigh to explore the Durham Museum of Life and Science and Adventure Landing. We almost didn’t have enough room in the van! Not only that, we got to play on Ken Tart’s slip ‘ n slide TWICE this summer; once during Waterpalooza and again at the end of VBS. Of course, VBS is more than the slip ‘ n slide and our new inflatable addition We spent an entire week learning how to shine tremendousjob leading.Wewanttothankallofour volunteerswhohelpedmakethe weekpossible!

Speakingofthanksandinterns,I wouldnothavesurvivedthis summerwithoutLailaWhitmanand AinsleyBlasiusbeingapartofit. Whenyouseethem,thankthemfor helpingmakeour2023childrenand youthsummerhappen!Duetotheir hardwork,Imadeit!We’lldoitall againnextsummerBeonthe lookoutforourFall2023calendars andSummer2024dates.This Augustmarkstwoyearsoflifeat BensonBaptistandIcannot imaginebeinganywhereelse Onward!

As many of you know, over the last few years our congregation has been in 'visioning mode.

It began with our deacons facilitating SWOT analysis conversations with multiple teams of the church and continued with the establishing of a Vision Team. These conversations led to the recent 're-rooming of classes and ministries in our facilities and the by-law changes that were voted on and passed in April

As you may remember, the next step in our vision process is in relation to our 'structure ' By this we mean the overall governance of the congregation currently made up of our Diaconate and over twenty-two committees. While this structure has carried us for much of the last seven decades, the Diaconate –– through the results of the data pulled from the visioning conversations –– has opened discussion around a possible governance restructure that would aid us in moving into the decades ahead. The hope, as we prayerfully seek God s voice in this work, is that we ll come out of these conversations with a more nimble structure that aids us in addressing the current needs of Benson Baptist Church as we seek to build the Kingdom of Christ in the best ways we can

As we've had these conversations, it has come to our attention that our CBF sister congregation, Mt. Carmel Baptist, Chapel Hill, went through a very similar conversation a decade ago Much like the BBC of today they had a lot of committees that were not functioning found a lot of the ministry work was being done by a small group of people, and realized that their congregation s communal connection was lower than it should be Mt Carmel prayerfully revisioned their governance and ten years later says they would not go back. Not only have they developed a more Spirit-led (and efficient) process of governance, they've also seen spiritual and numerical growth that their restructuring prepared them to face.

Like BBC, their community was on the cusp of growth and, like BBC, they knew they had to revision their structure The results of this process for them have allowed Christ to work and move in powerful ways.

Will Raybon

ate Pastor for Children, and Families ensonbaptist.org

On Sunday, August 13, at 4PM, you are invited to join Mt. Carmel's pastor and a lay leader as they share their process, what they've learned, and how we might learn from where Christ has worked in a similar conversation –with a similar congregation – in the past The best is yet to be!

This summer as the BBC Student.Church CBF intern has been amazing! I have made so many new memories, gained new experiences, and made many new connections with staff, children and youth, and the congregation. This summer has been full of highlights as I have grown in my walk with God, and as I have come closer to finding my calling. I have loved getting to work closely with the children and youth by being a part of VBS, chaperoning retreats, mission trips, camp, and of course last minute Fiesta trips for dinner. I have also loved getting to teach them in Sunday School throughout the Summer. I have enjoyed getting to know our congregation as a whole, meeting new people as well as making stronger relationships with those I already knew. Being an intern at Benson Baptist has given me insight to what my calling in life may be. I have loved being here as an intern this summer, I have loved being a part of the staff! I am excited to resume my journey at BBC as a member of the congregation with my family.

Laila Whitman CBF Student.Church Intern laila@bensonbaptist.org

I am incredibly grateful for my amazing summer here at Benson Baptist Church! My internship here has been a redemptive experience, after a not-so-great experience interning last summer. The community at Benson has been so welcoming and uplifting as it allowed me the opportunity to explore a vocational calling to ministry Vacation Bible School has always been the highlight of my summer since I was in middle school. Stellar did not disappoint, and it was so much fun and definitely my high. If you couldn’t tell by my facial expressions inperson while watching River, I did not like hearing and seeing myself on the TV. River is such a wonderful unique part of Benson Baptist, but I personally cringe at the thought of watching myself on the screen. Through it all, I am grateful for this grace-filled space where I was able to better discern my vocation, and the people who surrounded and supported me throughout the journey.

Blasius dren's Ministry Intern bensonbaptist org

The food pantry at Benson Baptist Church is a blessing to many people. Not just the people that we help but also the people that give money, grocery items and even their time to help make it succeed. All of our workers and givers are awesome! What would the church food pantry do without them and all that they do? I have to give a shout out to Amy Hardison. Her faithfulness has helped the food pantry and me so much. I ask her to do anything for the food pantry and she does it Thank you, Amy! You’re the bomb!

Most of you know my story but for the ones that don’t. I was the oldest of 6 children being raised by a single mom. She didn’t work, she was on welfare There were many times that we didn’t have enough food to eat. We went hungry not knowing when we would have our next meal. I remember eating lots of ketchup sandwiches. I guess ketchup must have been cheap back then That’s why the Food Pantry means so much to me I understand hunger. Too many people nowadays understand hunger.

From what I recall we started the Food Pantry in 2011 when Judy Johnson was the Chair of Benevolence We started getting a lot of requests for food and Judy would go pick up food for people. Most of the time she would bring it to the church, and they would come get it. But sometimes she would deliver it to them by herself (That is until I found out and told her husband, M.G., about it. He put a stop to that! Yes, I told on her!).After that they both would deliver food or other items to people in need. Then it just evolved.

We had the small kitchen that wasn’t being used for much and Judy asked (I’m guessing the deacons) if we could use the cabinets for a food pantry. They said yes and the Benson Baptist Food Pantry was born.

About a year or so later Judy found out that people that received food stamps couldn’t buy some basic items with their food stamps: no – laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, toilet paper, toothpaste etc. That’s when we started stocking and handing out those items along with the food We soon realized that we couldn’t keep everything for everyone so now we always try and have on hand T.P., Paper Towels, Laundry Detergent, Bar Soap and Dish Soap plus the food that we give out. We try and keep diapers and wipes in supply also

We’re changing the food pantry hours on August 1 to once a week, on Tuesdays from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. After doing a little research I’ve found that we will need 2 to 3 people every Tuesday to handle the people that will come. We’ve been helping 30 – 40 people a week on our current schedule. If we have 40 people in a 2-hour time frame, we will definitely need more help If anyone can help from 2:00pm –4:00pm on Tuesdays, please contact the church office. Thank you!