The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - November 2005

Volume 10, Issue 9

Inside This Issue:

Upcoming Events2

Don Horton, Moderator2

Dinner at Baptist State Convention3

Partnering Churches4

Soul Repair, Rick Jordan5

Village of Hope - Kiev6

Larry Hovis7

Prayer Calendar7

Financial Report7

CBFNC Fellowship Dinner

Speaker: Ruby Fulbright, Executive Director, NC WMU

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.

Winston-Salem, NC

Paid reservations (see page 3) are necessary as space is limited.

After the reservation deadline of November 3, please call (888) 822-1944 to determine availability.

Announcing Two New CBFNC Events . . .

CBFNC Children’s Choir

This is the first choral festival for children sponsored by CBFNC; and the first for NC Baptists in many years. Put this date on your church calendar now! For registration forms and the complete repertoire list, see www.cbfnc.org/ youth.htm, call (888) 822-1944, or email cbfnc@cbfnc.org.

with Clinician Sandy Holland, Director of the Charlotte Children’s Choir

Repertoire: Anthems for the church year

Date:Saturday, January 28, 2006

Time:9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(Registration 9:30; Rehearsal 10:00)

Place:First Baptist Church of High Point

Lunch:Served at the church for a $4.00 fee

Fees:$10.00 per singer with a maximum of $125 per choir, plus lunch

Youth Ski Retreat

Worship Leader: Kyle Matthews

CBFNC is hosting our first ever Ski Retreat for youth grades 6-12. The package includes: Two nights lodging at the Broyhill Conference Center or similar hotel, Continental Breakfast daily, Skiing Saturday at Ski Beech (9a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), Shaped Ski Rental, Lunch at the Slopes, and Worship on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Registration with your group deposit of $300 is due by December 1, 2005.

Options such as equipment upgrades, lessons, or skiing Sugar Mountain are available.

For Informational Brochure: Visit www.cbfnc.org/ youth.htm or call (888) 822-1944.

To Register: Contact Cliff Christian with CTI Group Adventures at (800) 285-7273or email at cliff@skicti.com.

In next month’s issue of The Gathering we plan to share with our readers the many CBFNC churches who have traveled to the Gulf Coast to assist in Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief efforts as well as the many unique ways our churches are reaching out in this special circumstance. Please email us with a description (200 words or less) of your church’s trip and/or other relief efforts, including the church’s name and city and a contact person from your staff or congregation. Also send us a few pictures as attachments, formatted as .jpg files if possible. For inclusion in the November edition, email your report to nparks@cbfnc.org no later than November 5th. We encourage you to continue to send us reports after that date, as well, for inclusion in future publications.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 15, 2005

CBFNC Fellowship Dinner during the Baptist State Convention with speaker, Ruby Fulbright, Executive Director, NC WMU Bridger Field House, Winston-Salem Reservation deadline is November 3. See registration form on page 3.

January 20-22, 2006

CBFNC Youth Ski Retreat Boone, NC

Registration/deposit deadline: Dec. 1. For details, see page 1 and visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm.

To register contact Cliff Christian with CTI Group Adventures at 800-285-7273 or cliff@skicti.com.

January 28, 2006

CBFNC Children’s Choir Festival First Baptist, High Point See page 1 for details. Visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm for registration form and repertoire.

February 20-23, 2006

Youth Ministers’ Retreat North Myrtle Beach, SC with Retreat Leader: John Hendrix

For a brochure/registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.htm. or call (888) 822-1944.

March 10-12, 2006 and March 24-26, 2006 Spring Youth Retreats The Vineyard Camp, Westfield, NC

For a brochure and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm

March 17-18, 2006

CBFNC General Assembly Ardmore Baptist Church Winston-Salem, NC

March 31 - April 1, 2006

CBFNC Youth Choir Festival First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC

For information and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.htm or call 888-822-1944.

June 21-24, 2006

CBF General Assembly Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, GA.

For pre-registration and hotel reservations, see www.thefellowship.info.

FINDING OUR GOD GIVEN MISSION

Do you ever have times when you wonder why you are here? Not only here, as in North Carolina or wherever you may be as you read this article, but why are you here in this present life or state of existence? We should also ask that question of our church. The answer will be relative to the sum total of our life experiences, including those with the church, Bible study, prayer and personal relationships.

I was fortunate enough to be raised by loving parents on a small farm in eastern Wake County, but it was sometimes difficult to feel fortunate as we lived through those early years of my life. We were a tenant farm family with six children, so it is understandable that we lacked most luxuries and some necessities during that time.

What we missed in worldly comforts and desires was more than made up by our communion with family, church and directly with God and His creation. When you are concentrating on serving God and others, your needs and desires seem to fade into the background.

On the farm back then, your encounter with the creation was up close and personal. What an exhilarating experience it was when spring arrived and you were allowed to go barefoot as you began following the mule and plow around and around the field to break ground for planting. The feel and smell of that fresh turned soil as it gently wrapped around your feet and slid between your toes was an unexplainable delight.

The days were long and the work was tiring as we tended the farm manually with only the assistance of a mule. Sometimes we had two mules, when we could borrow one from the owner of the farm.

Without electricity and money to buy such things as toys or bicycles, we spent a lot of time admiring and enjoying God’s creation. Unencumbered by buildings and electric lights, many hours were spent lying on our backs gazing up into the sky watching cloud formations in the day and marveling at the moon and stars at night. Toys were created from empty spools that once held the thread Mom used to make our clothes. An old tobacco stick made an

- DON HORTON, MODERATOR

imaginary horse to ride, much like those we might buy today with fancy horse heads attached.

Each year, we purchased tiny seeds on credit from the country store with faith that the Creator would bring forth plants from the Earth that could be harvested and sold for enough to provide the bare necessities for the family and pay the debt we incurred to buy the seeds and fertilizer. Sometimes the rains did not come when we thought they should, and at other times the rains would come accompanied by strong winds and hail that would severely damage or destroy our crops. At the end of those years, we ended the year in debt before we began the next crops. Nevertheless, God always provided for us one way or another.

Beyond work, our lives revolved around the country church and our neighbors. The support and fellowship of our church family and those that lived nearby were crucial to our survival. Walking to your neighbor’s house a mile away for a visit was to be expected and was always a blessing.

My experiences while growing up helped me formulate an appreciation for the important things of life, and they continue to help me understand God’s mission for my life. I believe my mission is to respond to the spiritual truth that God created humans to commune with Him and to be stewards of his creation. We are to assemble to worship and praise Him and then go out to witness and serve others. We are to strive to be “little Christs” — little Christs neither in perfection nor power, but in love and service to others.

It is good for us to examine our life’s experiences and reflect on what God was teaching us during those good times and bad times. God has a mission for all of his creation, both individually and collectively. Will you join me in seeking His mission for our individual lives, for our churches and for CBF of North Carolina?

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.

Bridger Field House (across from LJVM Coliseum) Winston-Salem, NC $12.00 person

Paid reservations are necessary as space is limited.

Please complete the form below and return it no later than Thursday, November 3 to: CBFNC, 8025 North Point Blvd., Suite 205, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Name:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the deadline of November 3, please call (888) 822-1944 to determine availability of late reservations.

Phone: Email:

Address:

Church/City you attend: Ministerial Position (if applicable):

Names of Each Reservation (please attach separate list if necessary):

Number of Reservations: ____________ @ $12.00 each. Enclosed is my check in the amount of $_____________ made payabl e to CBFNC.

____

____

PARTNERING CHURCHES

OCTOBER 2004 - SEPTEMBER 2005

Partnering Churches for the twelve months ending September 30, 2005, are listed below. Churches contributing to CBFNC are listed in bold type. Churches that contribute to CBF National only are listed in regular type. This list does not include churches who partner with CBFNC or CBF in other, non-financial ways and may not include churches who support CBF National through Plan C of the Baptist State Convention Cooperative Program Missions Budget, as this information is not consistently reported to CBF. If you believe your church should be listed but it isn’t, or if your church is listed in error, please let us know at (888) 822-1944 or cbfnc@cbfnc.org.

Earlys .............................................Ahoskie

First............................................... Ahoskie

First................................................ Albemarle

Mount Zion....................................Alexis

Angier...........................................Angier

Neill’s Creek..................................Angier

Woodhaven...................................Apex

First............................................... Arden

First................................................Asheboro

Oakwood Park...............................Asheboro

West Asheboro...............................Asheboro

Calvary......................................... Asheville

First............................................... Asheville

Grace.............................................Asheville

Lily Branch....................................Bakersville

Calvary.........................................Beaufort

First of Smithton..........................Belhaven

Benson...........................................Benson

First................................................Biscoe

First...............................................Black Mountain

First...............................................Bladenboro

Lennons Crossroads....................Bladenboro

First...............................................Blowing Rock

Boiling Springs.............................Boiling Springs

First................................................Boone

Boonville....................................... Boonville

Mount Moriah Calvert...................Brevard

First...............................................Bryson City

First...............................................Buies Creek

Memorial......................................Buies Creek

Bullock..........................................Bullock

Burgaw..........................................Burgaw

First................................................Burlington

First............................................... Burnsville

First................................................Butner

Calypso.........................................Calypso

Hominy .........................................Candler

Greenwood Forest.......................Cary

Westwood.....................................Cary

Casar..............................................Casar

Chadbourn...................................Chadbourn

Bethel.............................................Chapel Hill

Mount Carmel..............................Chapel Hill

North Chapel Hill..........................Chapel Hill

University.....................................Chapel Hill

Park Road......................................Charlotte

Pritchard Memorial........................Charlotte

Providence ....................................Charlotte

St. John’s......................................Charlotte

Sardis............................................Charlotte

First............................................... Clayton

White Oak....................................Clayton

Clemmons First Clemmons

First................................................Clinton

Rowan............................................Clinton

McGill...........................................Concord

First................................................Cornelius

First............................................... Cramerton

Cullowhee.....................................Cullowhee

First................................................Denton

First................................................Drexel

First............................................... Dunn

Westfield.......................................Dunn

Calvary.........................................Durham

Cedar Fork..................................... Durham

Hope Valley..................................Durham Lakewood.....................................Durham

Lowes Grove................................Durham

Temple ...........................................Durham

Watts Street..................................Durham

Yates ..............................................Durham

Edenton.........................................Edenton

First............................................... Elizabeth City

First............................................... Elkin

Elm City........................................Elm City

First............................................... Elon

Emerald Isle.................................Emerald Isle

Antioch.........................................Enfield

Enfield...........................................Enfield

Enka..............................................Enka

Fair Bluff......................................Fair Bluff

First............................................... Fairmont

The Chapel Door.........................Fairview

First............................................... Farmville

Cedar Falls...................................Fayetteville

First............................................... Fayetteville

Lafayette.......................................Fayetteville

Lake Lynn ....................................Fayetteville

Mount Pisgah ...............................Fayetteville

Snyder Memorial.........................Fayetteville

First...............................................Forest City

Florence.........................................Forest City

Mount Vernon..............................Forest City

First...............................................Four Oaks

Pauline..........................................Four Oaks

Burningtown................................Franklin

First................................................Franklin

Franklinton..................................Franklinton

Aversboro Road...........................Garner

Covenant.......................................Gastonia

First............................................... Gastonia

Loray.............................................Gastonia

New Hope......................................Gastonia

First............................................... Goldsboro

First............................................... Graham

Brandt Oaks.................................Greensboro

College Park..................................Greensboro

First............................................... Greensboro

Guilford........................................Greensboro

Korean Mission............................Greensboro

Lindley Park................................Greensboro

Southeast......................................Greensboro

Arlington Boulevard......................Greenville

Immanuel ......................................Greenville

The Memorial...............................Greenville

Oakmont .......................................Greenville

Hallsboro...................................... Hallsboro

First................................................ Hamlet

Flat Rock ...................................... Hamptonville

Carey.............................................Henderson

First...............................................Henderson

Providence ....................................Hendersonville

First............................................... Hickory

Penelope........................................ Hickory

Viewmont ......................................Hickory

Hiddenite.......................................Hiddenite

Emerywood ....................................High Point

First............................................... High Point

Parkwood.....................................High Point

Cane Creek....................................Hillsborough

First............................................... Hillsborough

Mars Hill........................................Hillsborough

Hobbsville.....................................Hobbsville

First................................................ Huntersville

Lake Norman.................................Huntersville

Jackson..........................................Jackson

Brookwood....................................Jacksonville

First................................................ Jamestown

First............................................... Jonesville

First............................................... Kannapolis

First............................................... Kernersville

Union Cross..................................Kernersville

Quaker Gap....................................King

Spilman Memorial.......................Kinston

Oak Ridge ...................................... Kittrell

Knightdale....................................Knightdale

First...............................................Laurinburg

SOUL REPAIR

A few weeks ago, I bought a new truck. Brand new, I mean. We bought our 1991 truck in 1991 and kept it for 193,000 miles. When I picked up my 2005 pick up, it had 6 miles on the odometer. I expected a refund of .45 cents a mile, but it never came. This was one of the last 2005 models available in the style I wanted (a box with a radio and air conditioning), so I had to wait a couple of days for it to arrive. I could have picked up a very fancy truck right away for several thousand dollars more, but hey, this is a truck, and I plan to use it as a truck, not as a race car or a living room.

Finally, we got the call that my new truck was in. I call it my truck, but really it is for my oldest son, Todd, to drive to school. The old truck had no air bags or other safety devices that come standard on newer vehicles, and my wife really was uncomfortable with him driving every day without those features. (She let me drive without those features for 15 years, but that’s another column.) My wife and I went to the dealership, wrote a check (the largest I’d written all week) and drove off. At home, I got Todd and we rode around a little while, experimenting with the manual drive, finding the light switches and inhaling that new truck smell. I left then for an overnight meeting.

The next day, I got a call from home. It was Susan. “Rick, how long have we owned that new truck?” “Two days, almost. Is

-

RICK JORDAN, CHURCH RESOURCES COORDINATOR

there a problem with it?” “Well, the back bumper’s bent now.” It turns out that as Todd was stopped at a stop sign, another student ran into the back end of my new truck. It was a slow collision, maybe 5 mph. No one was hurt. The officer estimated damages to be about $1000 to each vehicle. The insurance agent and the body shop agreed with that estimate. One thousand dollars for a bumper and two little license plate lights. I figure I could have the whole truck rebuilt for about a quarter million.

Then came the letters from law firm after law firm who, bless their hearts, were very concerned that Todd may have gotten injured in the accident. They each went so far as to send us the accident report, so we wouldn’t be confused which accident they were referring to. They knew ways to help us if Todd had gotten hurt, although they are not physicians. These letters of concern really warmed my heart.

The truck is repaired now. No one knows that it’s been in an accident except my family and, now, about 10,000 of you CBFers. Back bumpers are easily and quickly repaired or replaced. That’s life in the body shop world. Outside of the body shop, though, in real life, bodies get beaten, homes get destroyed, the poor get ignored – and things are not so easily repaired or replaced. CBF is not a body shop. Neither is the local church. Still, we are in the mending business. We are in the seeking-and-saving-the-lost shop. At CBF, our missions focus is on the most marginalized and the most neglected people. We are driven to minister to those who minister

PARTNERING CHURCHES, continued from page 4

Hillcrest .........................................Raleigh

HomeStar Fellowship..................Raleigh

Longview.......................................Raleigh

Macedonia.....................................Raleigh

New Community............................Raleigh New Hope.....................................Raleigh Ridge Road...................................Raleigh

St. John’s......................................Raleigh Tabernacle....................................Raleigh

Temple ...........................................Raleigh Triangle.........................................Raleigh

Trinity...........................................Raleigh

First................................................Red Springs

Calvary..........................................Reidsville

Richfield....................................... Richfield

First...............................................Richlands

Rosemary ......................................Roanoke Rapids

First................................................Robersonville

First................................................ Rockingham Lakeside........................................Rocky Mount

Rileys Creek..................................Rocky Point

Rolesville....................................... Rolesville

Rose Hill........................................Rose Hill

First...............................................Roseboro

First...............................................Rowland

Lamberth Memorial....................Roxboro

Roxboro........................................Roxboro

First................................................Rural Hall

First...............................................Rutherfordton Covenant.......................................Salisbury Enon............................................... Salisbury

First................................................Salisbury

Neel Road......................................Salisbury

Ephesus..........................................Sanford

First...............................................Sanford Jonesboro Heights.........................Sanford Thanksgiving................................ Selma

Double Shoals...............................Shelby

First............................................... Shelby

Ross Grove....................................Shelby

Zion ...............................................Shelby

Rocky River...................................Siler City

Nobles Chapel..............................Sims

First............................................... Smithfield

Sharon...........................................Smithfield

First...............................................Southern Pines

First...............................................Spindale

Spencer.........................................Spindale

Ephesus.........................................Spring Hope

First................................................Spring Hope

First...............................................Spruce Pine

First...............................................Stanfield

First............................................... Statesville

Concord........................................Stedman

First............................................... Stoneville

Brunswick Islands.........................Supply East Sylva......................................Sylva

First............................................... Sylva

Antioch.........................................Taylorsville

First...............................................Taylorsville

Teachey..........................................Teachey

Brunswick Islands.......................Tryon

Round Hill.....................................Union Mills

First................................................Wadesboro

Spring Hill..................................... Wagram

Heritage........................................Wake Forest

Wake Forest.................................Wake Forest

Woodland.......................................Wake Forest

First Fellowship...........................Wallburg

Warrenton...................................... Warrenton

First............................................... Washington

First................................................Waynesville

First............................................... Weaverville

(continued on page 7)

The Church at Weddington...............................Weddington

Weldon........................................... Weldon

Wendell.......................................... Wendell

First................................................West Jefferson

Fishing Creek...............................Whitakers

Hickory ..........................................Whitakers

First...............................................Whiteville

Mount Zion...................................Whiteville

New Hope.....................................Whiteville

Wilkesboro...................................Wilkesboro

First............................................... Wilmington

Masonboro.................................... Wilmington

Temple ...........................................Wilmington

Winter Park..................................Wilmington

First...............................................Wilson

Wingate.........................................Wingate

Ardmore....................................... Winston-Salem

College Park.................................Winston-Salem

Fellowship..................................... Winston-Salem

First............................................... Winston-Salem

Knollwood.................................... Winston-Salem

Konnoak........................................Winston-Salem

Mineral Springs............................. Winston-Salem

Northwest..................................... Winston-Salem

Peace Haven.................................Winston-Salem

United............................................Winston-Salem

Unity.............................................Winston-Salem

Wake Forest.................................Winston-Salem

Westview....................................... Winston-Salem

Winterville .....................................Winterville

Deep Creek.................................... Yadkinville

First................................................ Yadkinville

Maplewood.................................... Yadkinville

Youngsville...................................Youngsville

Zebulon......................................... Zebulon

CELEBRATIONS AND CHALLENGES AT THE VILLAGE OF HOPE - KIEV

“The uniqueness of the Village of Hope is not in its beautiful forest location or facilities,” writes Victor Kulbich, but in the “one goal” that Ukrainians, North Carolina Baptists, and other Christians spread across Europe and the US have “to save the lost children of Ukraine.”

Kulbich is the pastor of Bethany Church in Bucha, Ukraine, located just up the street from the Village of Hope. He works in partnership with CBF missionaries Mina and Gennady Podgaisky to lead the Executive Committee that facilitates the ministry at the Village of Hope.

Letters of thanks and celebration from both Kulbich and the Podgaiskys were read at a recent gathering of mission volunteers from CBFNC churches that traveled to Ukraine this summer as part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to children living on the streets in Kiev.

- JEFFREY VICKERY

and work schedule for future volunteer teams. As many as 13 CBFNC-related churches have already requested dates to return and work at the Village of Hope for 2006.

Mason and Jeffrey Vickery of Cullowhee Baptist are on the International Board of Supervisors for the Village of Hope that meets October 21-22 in Bucha to discuss plans for the work yet ahead.

According to reports from Bill Mason, a layman from Wingate Baptist, 32 summer volunteers attended an evaluation meeting at McGill Baptist in Concord. They celebrated the work accomplished by the mission teams this past summer who built more than 1600 feet of concrete and iron fencing, salvaged a large quantity of brick for future projects, refurbished the existing playground, and helped stock clothes in the Lighthouse awaiting the children’s arrival.

True to its intent, the meeting also looked forward to next summer by recommending improvements to the logistics, pricing,

Some challenges lie ahead for the Village of Hope as well. Mason reported at the September 24 meeting that five children have had all the paperwork and legal requirements completed to be placed in the Lighthouse. This process has been a struggle for the Executive Committee all summer long. At the same time, however, the foster family originally assigned to care for the children were “not fulfilling their responsibilities in the Lighthouse” and will be replaced with a new family. As soon as new caregivers are in the Lighthouse, the five children will have their new home!

Any church, mission group, or individuals interested in sponsoring a child in the Lighthouse ($200 per month) or in reserving a date for 2006 to work at the Village of Hope, please contact Mason or Vickery:

Bill MasonJeffrey Vickery 704-233-4645828-293-9024

wmason@carolina.rr.comjandtvickery@msn.com Jeffrey Vickery is Co-Pastor of Cullowhee Baptist Church. s s s

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FROM CBFNC FRIENDS Surviving or Thriving?

A One-Day Youth Ministry Training Event for Western North Carolina Sponsored by the Smoky Mountain Institue of Christian Studies Location of Event: Western Carolina University BSU November 12, 2005 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Seminar topics: “Planning a Mission Trip,” “How to Lead a Youth Bible Study 101,” “10 Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made as a Youth Leader,” “7 Great Outreach Events.”

For information, contact Dr. Wanda Kidd at (828) 293-9030 or BSU@dnet.net.

February 20-23, 2006

Beach Cove Resort, North Myrtle Beach, SC Worship Leader: John Hendrix

Need Rest? Come for great beach-front lodging and a flexible schedule which allows to choose the events which best meet your needs – even if that is spending time alone in prayer, playing a round of golf, attending a seminar, or catching up on sleep!

Need Renewal? There will be excellent worship services to help renew your spirit and call and a variety of seminars such as Child Protection in our Church, Baptist Bar Mitzvah, When is it Time to Move?, Developing a Team, and Doing Mission Trips

For a brochure and more information, visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.htm or call (888) 822-1944.

Understanding Fundamentalism: Three Conversations with Dr. Sam Hill Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, NC November 19-20, 2005 What characterizes Fundamentalism? Who are the Christians who proudly claim that title? What is their ethical vision for a righteous society? How can one be as earnest about personal faith and social responsibility as they are without sharing their outlook? The story is complex and deserves our careful attention. The telling of that story is the aim of these sessions.

For more information, visit www.wattsstreet.org.

Third Annual SC/NC CBF Clergy and Women of the Church Conference

Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach March 2-5, 2006

Speaker: Eileen Campbell-Reed

Clergy: March 2-3

Topic: “What is Sabbath When You Work Every Sunday?” Laity: March 3-5

Topic: “Keeping the Sabbath: Honoring God and Self” For more information, email Amanda Atkin at atkin@gfbccary.org.

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

I’m beginning to understand more and more that our ability (or inability) to give thanks, in every area of our lives, forms the paradigm, or lens, through which we perceive and experience and live life. Our most basic and foundational attitudes are related to our expression (or lack thereof) of thanksgiving.

Those who frequently express thanksgiving are optimists. They have the ability to see the glass as half full, rather than half empty, and they give thanks for what they do have, rather than expressing resentment for what they don’t have. Those who don’t often express thanksgiving are pessimists. They tend to see the glass as half empty. They have a sense of entitlement (“I deserve more”) and feel hurt or injured when things don’t always go their way.

Thankful people are more emotionally and spiritually mature than unthankful people. I have seen this truth illustrated in “real time” in recent days. A young father described how he had spent the day with his daughter, treating her to several of her favorite activities: time at the playground; a visit to the home of one of her friends; a meal at her favorite restaurant. Rather than thanking him for these treats, in every case, she cried and pitched a temper tantrum when it was time to leave. Rather than being thankful for what she had, she was upset because she wanted more. I comforted him with a reminder that her behavior is not atypical of four-year-olds. I had a similar experience with my daughter when she was that age

On the other hand, I have been impressed with my mother’s ability to express thanksgiving for her life, even though she is fighting a battle against cancer. Her diagnosis last spring came as a complete surprise and has drastically

ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR MISSIONS

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina seeks a coordinator for its missions ministries. Qualified candidates will possess a passion for the Gospel, missions, churches and people, a commitment to CBF values, excellent communication and organizational skills, and the ability to think strategically and act cooperatively. Applicants must possess a Masters of Divinity (or equivalent) and must have completed at least five years of vocational ministry. Experience with and knowledge of North Carolina and its Baptist churches is a plus. The position requires relocation to the Winston-Salem area, significant travel, and frequent preaching and speaking. Interested persons should send a resume, cover letter and references to personnel@cbfnc.org

- LARRY HOVIS, COORDINATOR

changed her plans for a full and active retirement. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have affected the quality of her life, and, realistically, the quantity. It would be very easy for her to become resentful and bitter. Instead, she is taking positive steps to deal with her cancer, not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. She is truly thankful for the life and health she has enjoyed, and still enjoys, rather than complaining about what has been taken away.

These are difficult days for churches and for Baptist bodies such as associations and conventions. Tastes and expectations of congregations and communities are constantly changing. Conflict seems rampant. Though the mission has never been greater, adequate resources seem hard to come by. That’s why I’m extremely thankful for our Fellowship, in North Carolina and beyond. After one year as your Coordinator, I can truly say that in this Fellowship, Christians and churches who feel excluded elsewhere are welcomed with open arms. In this Fellowship, resources are growing, not declining. In this Fellowship, we are not bound by doing the same old things in the same old ways. In this Fellowship, we care about cooperating with one another, not controlling one another. Yes, we have our struggles as we face the storms of ministry in these challenging days of the twenty-first century, but we are thankful to be in the same boat, rowing together, focusing our eyes on the Christ who will guide us safely to shore.

Being thankful or unthankful will not change circumstances one bit. Expressing thanksgiving will, though, change us. It will enable us to enjoy life more fully and abundantly. It will help us to be more healthy, emotionally and spiritually. Perhaps that’s why Paul said, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

FINANCIAL REPORT

SEPTEMBER 2005 CONTRIBUTIONS

CBFNC Budget — $54,152 Other — $32,751

2005-2006 MONTHLY BUDGET GOAL: $55,455

Soul Repair (continued from page 5)

have the greatest needs and the least resources, physically, economically and, of course, spiritually. Your church is probably in the midst of its budgeting process and at the beginning of its Christmas-time mission emphasis. Remember those who do not know the abundant life that Jesus offers. Help us help them find repair for their souls.

CBF North Carolina November 2005

Phone: (888) 822-1944 • (336) 759-3456

Fax: (336) 759-3459 cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org

Coordinating Council

Don Horton, Zebulon Moderator

Tonya Vickery, Cullowhee Moderator-Elect

Greg Rogers, Greenville Recorder

Roger Gilbert, Mount Airy Past-Moderator

Boyce Wilson, Winston-Salem Treasurer

Glenda Currin, Wrightsville Beach

Carolyn Dickens, Raleigh

Katie Ethridge, Beaufort

Kathryn Hamrick, Shelby

Larry Harper, Raleigh

David Hood, Hickory

Steve Little, Marion

Roy Smith, Raleigh

Faith Development Ministry Council

Jennifer Baxley, Henderson

Bruce Hartgrove, High Point

Crystal Leathers, Hickory

Karen Metcalf, Raleigh

Kristen Muse, Raleigh

Mickie Norman, Leland

Jeff Pethel, Rolesville

Anita Sayles, Asheville

Blythe Taylor, Charlotte

Tim Wilson, Hickory

Leadership Development Ministry Council

Kitty Amos, Winston-Salem

Ron Glover, Monroe

Kheresa Harman, Erwin

Burke Holland, Belhaven

Randall Lolley, Raleigh

Ken Massey, Greensboro

Pam Riley, Durham

Wayne Wike, Matthews

Larry Williams, Louisburg

Steve Zimmerman, Mebane

Missions Development Ministry Council

Cecelia Beck, Forest City

Kendell Cameron, Whiteville

Ron Cava, Clinton

Raymond Earp, Beaufort

David Hailey, Raleigh

Carolyn Hopkins, Cary

Bill Jones, Newland

Shirley Kool, Sylva

Judy LeCroy, Lexington

Layne Smith, Hickory

CBF Council Members From NC

Sheri Adams, Boiling Springs

Gail Coulter, Hendersonville

Mary Anne Croom, Ahoskie

Irma Duke, Fuquay-Varina

Staff

Larry Hovis Coordinator

Jack Glasgow, Zebulon

Bill Ireland, Winston-Salem

Guy Sayles, Asheville

Rick Jordan Church Resources Coordinator

Nancy Parks Office Manager

Gail McAlister Financial Assistant

Beth McGinley Office Assistant