Larry Hovis Executive Coordinator LHovis@cbfnc.org
Andy Jung
Associate Executive Coordinator AJung@cbfnc.org
Rick Jordan Church Resources Coordinator RJordan@cbfnc.org
Linda Jones Missions Coordinator LJones@cbfnc.org
Jim Hylton
Business Administration Coordinator JHylton@cbfnc.org
Wanda Kidd
Collegiate Engagement Coordinator WKidd@cbfnc.org
Seth Hix
Church Engagement Coordinator Seth.Hix@cbfnc.org
Marc & Kim Wyatt Advocates for Internationals mkwyatt@cbfnc.org
Santiago Reales Red Latina NC CBF Director SReales@cbfnc.org
Eddie Hammett Church and Clergy Coach EHammett@cbfnc.org
Scott Hudgins Helping Pastors Thrive Program Director SHudgins@cbfnc.org
Amy Cook Communications Specialist ACook@cbfnc.org
Mary Kaylor Administration Manager MKaylor@cbfnc.org
Jamie Fitzgerald, Appalachian State University
Adam Horton, UNC Greensboro
Caitlyn Jackson, Charlotte Area Schools
Lawrence Powers, Triangle Area Schools
Charity Roberson, East Carolina University
David Stone, Western NC Schools
Chris Towles, Wake Forest
Each of the words in our name—Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina—is important to our identity. But perhaps Fellowship holds the greatest insight into who we are as an organization. We are a fellowship of churches and individuals who voluntarily cooperate to do together what we could never accomplish alone, for the Kingdom of God. We bring together people of shared interests, activities, beliefs, and experience. We provide companionship along our shared journey to be the presence of Christ in the world. We serve each other as equals. At CBFNC, we value fellowship and the many ways it brings us together.
Our Identity
We are a fellowship of Baptists in North Carolina sharing a commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, preserving historic Baptist freedoms, and calling out God’s gifts in Christians and churches to engage in Christ-centered ministry in our state and around the world.
Our Mission
Bringing Baptists of North Carolina together for Christ-centered ministry.
Our Principles
Centrality and Authority of Scripture
We affirm the authority of scripture. We believe the Bible, under the Lordship of Christ, is central in the life of the individual and church.
Priesthood of All Believers
We affirm the freedom and right of every Christian to interpret and apply scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We affirm the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God without the imposition of creed, the control of clergy, or the interference of government.
Autonomy of the Local Church
We affirm that Baptist churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whomever they perceive as gifted for ministry, and to participate, as they deem appropriate, in the larger Body of Christ.
Freedom of Religion
We affirm religious freedom for all people and the separation of church and state.
Showing Mercy
does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
“What
One of CBFNC’s core principles is the centrality and authority of Scripture. We seek to be guided by God’s word in all we do. Over each of the past four years, we have structured our ministries around a Scriptural theme. Our 2018-2019 fiscal year, the focus of this report, sought to address the theme of Showing Mercy and Seeking Justice, based on Micah 6:8.
In our publications we have devoted attention to various aspects of the biblical concept of mercy and justice, including: Loving Mercy; Doing Justice; Serving the Marginalized and Vulnerable; Powers and Principalities; Holy Friendships; and Awareness and Advocacy.
An additional focus of the year was the celebration of CBFNC’s 25th Anniversary at the Annual Gathering, held March 28-29 at First, Greensboro. There we were reminded that we were called together by God a quarter century ago. We celebrated our journey of mission and ministry as a voluntary community of Baptist Christians. We believe God is still calling us together for shared mission and mutual support.
In 2018-2019, we continued to structure our ministries around several strategic priorities. These include:
• Embracing Neighbors Through Missions
• Equipping Ministers and Churches
• Engaging Students and Young Adults
• Enhancing Fellowship
This report contains numbers, stories, and testimonies of how we are engaging in God’s mission together framed around these priorities.
In the midst of our report on these phenomenal ministries, several items stand out:
Staff Additions – We were pleased to welcome several new folks to our staff leadership team as employees and contractors. These include Mary Kaylor, Administration Manager; Amy Cook, Communications Specialist; Andy Jung, Associate Executive Coordinator; Santiago Reales, Red Latina Director (CBFNC Latino Network); Charity Roberson, ECU Campus minister, and Caitlyn Jackson, Charlotte area schools campus minister.
Lilly Grant – CBFNC was awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment as part of its Thriving in Ministry initiative. These funds will be used to establish the CBFNC Helping Pastors Thrive program. Scott Hudgins, who was instrumental in securing the grant, has been enlisted to lead this ministry.
Streamlined Budget – After engaging in a process going back several years, we merged the Missions Resource Plan and the Operating Budget into the CBFNC Mission and Ministry Funding Plan. This approach enables us to be: 1) more clear in how CBFNC and partner ministries are funded; 2) more nimble in responding to changing needs; and 3) more faithful to our strategic priorities.
Thank you for the many ways you participate in our Fellowship, including your financial support. We are individuals, churches, and partners who realize we need each other and are called together to accomplish far more cooperatively for God’s kingdom than we ever could alone. I’m grateful to walk humbly with God and each of you, doing justice and loving mercy as an outflow of our shared pursuit of God’s mission.
–Larry Hovis CBFNC Executive Coordinator
81
Total posts
10%
86% For ministry positions For church administrative or supportive positions
4% For non-church-related positions
“Our search committee was unanimous in expressing their appreciation for the discussion you led and the information you shared with us. They felt that you answered many of their questions before they could ask them. In addition, they felt the advice and perspective you offered gave them insights they had not considered. We all felt that the guidance and information you provided will be invaluable as we proceed with our search.”
–Chair of Personnel committee | First, Mt. Airy
“Thank you for your nurturing leadership in worship, addressing the important theme of ‘God's Call.’ The meeting with deacons was affirming, and the resources provided were spot-on to spur our thoughts moving forward.”
–Deacon | First, Hillsborough
98
Total congregations assisted
39% of requests were for part-time positions
74%
CBFNC assisted ministers and congregations representing 13 different states.
104
Total ministers assisted of ministers are seeking senior pastor positions
During 2018, three regional trainings were held to help church leaders better understand the core principles of Growing Young, a book based on recent research by Fuller Youth Institute.
3 Regional trainings
Total participants
Churches 190
“Growing Young isn’t about changing youth ministry. It’s about changing church culture.”
–Fuller Institute
“Growing Young is changing the culture at First Baptist Church of Statesville.
It’s not something we are doing. It is something we are becoming. As we have become more empathetic to younger folks, they have become more interested in our congregation. We are becoming younger together.”
–Nelson Grenade | First, Statesville
In January of 2019, a Growing Young Cohort was launched in partnership with the NC Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In total, 24 churches (16 CBFNC and 8 ELCA) are participating in a year-long cohort to dive deeper into learning how to implement strategic plans to better welcome and engage young people (ages 15-29) in the church.
The participating CBFNC churches are:
Ardmore, Winston-Salem
First, Burnsville
First, Goldsboro
First, Lexington
First, Marion
First, Mt. Airy
First, Statesville
Forest Hills, Raleigh
Hillsong, Chapel Hill
Lakeside, Rocky Mount Macedonia, Raleigh
Oakmont, Greenville St. Johns, Raleigh
The Memorial, Greenville Trinity, Raleigh Westwood, Cary
IhadNew Church Starts
churches
Mission
Engagement Grants
the privilege of participating in a Racial Equity Institute last May thanks to CBF of North Carolina. From the start the facilitators had my full attention. Simply stated, the 16 hours helped me develop a ‘new analysis of how racism has been constructed and systemized in America.’ The leaders challenged our group—made up of about as many white as black local community professionals—with what will be required to possibly ‘deconstruct this powerful “shape-shifter” that keeps the racialized status quo firmly in place.’ There are two Americas—maybe even a dozen. There is the America I grew up in. And there is the America minorities inhabit. And the two aren’t the same.
When I returned home and tried to explain this to my wife I found myself emotionally moved. I began to consider my black neighbors across the street and down the block. I don’t really know them. We are friendly but seem to just pass greetings and smiles to each other as we come and go. The next day my neighbor was cutting the grass. I went over and stopped him. I apologized for not being a better neighbor and that I wanted to introduce him and his wife to my wife, Kim. We had a great conversation. Turns out his name is Marc. Go figure!
REI gave me, a white man, a sacred gift too. You may get yours by attending the next Racial Equity Institute near you.”
– Marc Wyatt | CBFNC Advocate for Internationals
“CBF has been a family to experience faith, community, and gathering. I am excited to be a part of the CBFNC leadership to continue the work of empowering the next generation of Latino(a)s pastor(a)s and leaders in NC.”
– Santiago Reales | Red Latina CBFNC Director
Racial Reconciliation
7 Welcome Houses for housing refugees
2
Apartments for Community Outreach /ESL
“All over the nation, we are finding our way again. New thinking, new experiments in spiritual community, new ways of imagining our Christian narrative are all helping us find our way again.”
– Doug Hammack
Sr. Pastor of North Raleigh Community Church
Racial Equity Institute attendees
27
“Life can be difficult for a Latino in NC, documented or undocumented. Yet these pastors and spouses (who often function as co-pastors) minister in Jesus’ name with love to each other, to their congregations, and in their communities.”
– Linda M. Jones | CBFNC Missions Coordinator
“Our youth enjoyed the speaker and the musicians. The musician did a great job of getting the youth to sing along!
Angel Pittman was such a genuine person and our group was particularly excited because our Unidiversity offering went to Touching Miami with Love. Her message was well prepared, well delivered and inspired all of us instead of guilt-tripping us. Keep up the good work!”
– Jonathan Eidson | Sardis, Charlotte
152 Churches
10 Registered
236 Registered
“I loved the worship and learning how to ski and the food.” “The music and the service were excellent.” “It was a great sermon and well explained.” “One of the best we have ever had lead worship!” “Excellent and engaging! Incredible food!”
– Youth Ministers on Survey Monkey
14 Churches
2 Churches
39 Registered
“Our group loved the event.” “Children really enjoyed the location and being hands on.” “Getting outside was great for our kids! It was great for our kids to get off our church campus and for the adults to spend time with kids on a trip. We can’t wait until next year’s opportunity!” “Kiddos that are not normally smiling were smiling when we left that day!” “We have loved every Mission Day we have attended, but this one was so hands on. The children really got invested in how we can meet physical needs as well as spiritual.” “The Bible Study was great. It’s always good to be reminded that we are God’s masterpiece and that we are called to live into it.” “My kids were incredibly proud of the kale they brought home, and that was a surprise to their parents!”
– Children’s Ministers on Survey Monkey
Our campuses are amazing places to be the presence of Christ. Students are experiencing more changes than at any other time of their lives since they were five years old. They are learning to live on their own, choose careers and adult friends, and ask a myriad of questions about who they are, what their place in the world is, and who are they created to be. Having a CBFNC campus minister with whom they can relate is paramount as they ask, reflect, and seek answers to these important questions. Our campus ministers do that from a mature and theological perspective. CBFNC’s investment in young adults is unprecedented on the state level and that is something to be proud of for the future of CBFNC.
Students attend local Cooperative Baptist student groups
Appalachian State University
Duke University
East Carolina University
Raleigh Area Collegiate Ministry:
Meredith College
North Carolina State University
William Peace College
UNC Asheville
UNC Chapel Hill
UNC Charlotte
UNC Greensboro
Wake Forest University
Western Carolina University
Partnerships on other campuses:
Campbell University
Gardner Webb University
Mars Hill University
North Carolina Central University in Durham
Wingate University
Number of students from North Carolina gathered at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, SC. On our tenth year of having a Mid-Winter Retreat, we expanded the event to include students from Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.
Students who were part of local CBSF groups were chosen to be part of the CBF annual 25 Young Baptist to Know and Watch. These students were honored at the CBF General Assembly in Birmingham.
From across the state, a student-led group of students under the guidance of Lawrence Powers created a leadership team that helps students across the state to network and create joint ministry and mission opportunities.
Number of Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship Groups
CBFNC is in conversation with 3 people on other campuses to help them start CBSF groups on their campuses in the coming year.
The Wake Forest group went to Cuba March 9–16. We started in Havana, staying at a Baptist hostel called Finca Molina Verde, The Green Windmill. While there we helped uncover a prayer labyrinth made of rum bottles that was overgrown with trees and weeds. The group visited Ebeneezer Baptist Church, William Carey Baptist Church, the Martin Luther King Center, and a few other ministries with the Fraternity of Baptists. In Matanzas, the group connected with First Baptist Church of Matanzas and the Kairos Center. One of the highlights was walking alongside church members in Matanzas to deliver meals.
$344,182
has been provided by congregations and individuals through the CBFNC Mission Resource Plan to support theological education.
Rebekah Gordon
Campbell University Divinity School
Alan Newcomb
Gardner Webb School of Divinity
Emma Tilley
Duke Divinity School
23
2018–2019
Alex Rodriguez Asbury Theological Seminary
Ron Hayes
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
David Brantley
Campbell University Divinity School
Grant Gubbins
Campbell University Divinity School
Michael Sizemore
Campbell University Divinity School
Liz Britt
Campbell University Divinity School
Christian Justice
Campbell University Divinity School
Emily Patton
Campbell University Divinity School
Sarah Seibert
Duke Divinity School
Evan Edwards
Duke Divinity School
Sarah Blackwell
Gardner-Webb School of Divinity
Christi Hollifield
Gardner-Webb School of Divinity
Kelly Settlemyre
Gardner-Webb School of Divinity
Michelle Shadden
Hood Theological Seminary
Alex Alvarado
Logsdon Seminary
in-state partner divinity schools have received significant support to aid specific scholars and to underwrite additional costs of delivering quality theological education.
Laura Ortega Marin
Baptist University of Americas
Justin McDowell
Truett Theological Seminary
Tarsha Banister
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Daniel Godfrey
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Kaylee Godfrey
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Mary Beth Beck-Henderson
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Cynthia Nordskog
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
Evan Sieges
Wake Forest University School of Divinity
26
students have received direct scholarship aid. These students are enrolled in divinity schools and seminaries in North Carolina and other parts of our country.
On March 28–29, 2019, the CBFNC family came together for the Annual Gathering at First, Greensboro to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. Tod Bolsinger, professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Canoeing the Mountains, challenged the Fellowship to think adaptively in a world that is constantly shifting. Clyde Edgerton, renowned author and entertainer, enthralled the crowd at the 25th Anniversary Celebration, and Kyle Matthews masterfully led in worship throughout the gathering. We celebrated the journey of the first 25 years together as CBFNC and prepared ourselves to carry on the mission and purpose of being Christ-followers for the next 25 years.
was given last year for the CBFNC ministry budget
Missions (43%)
Leadership Development (19%)
Faith Formation (18%)
Fellowship/Partnerships (20%)
the amount churches gave through CBFNC to support ministry partners.
Total: $3,500,000 ($800,000 to CBF Global)
Thank you for your generous support of the mission and ministry of CBFNC. Because of you, the love of Christ has been shown to newcomers, young leaders, struggling congregations, transitioning clergy, and many individuals across our state. Your commitment to serve God and serve others through CBFNC ministries and our ministry partners has been
essential in the fulfillment of God’s mission in the world.
We rely solely on your financial support and are grateful that you have chosen to partner with us again. CBF of North Carolina, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not receive operational support from any denominational group, including CBF Global. As a result, CBFNC is dependent on your financial support.
Not including contributions to CBF Global
$3,000,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,000,000
$500,000
$0
Your financial support is vital. CBFNC continues to need your financial support. As we go into churches and communities to serve in Christ’s name, your financial partnership is necessary for our ministry and that of our many ministry partners.
Many individuals give through their church budgets. Continue to give through your church but also consider making an individual contribution directly to CBFNC. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference!
