The Gathering CBFNC Magazine – Fall 2022

Fall 2022 Vol. 27/Issue 3

IMAGINE the

possibilities cbfnc.org

The Gathering is a seasonal publication of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, 2640 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106.

3 Traditioned Innovation 4 Helping Churches and Clergy Thrive Through Transitions

Larry Hovis

Executive Coordinator

Jamie Rorrer

The Gathering, Editor

5 Get to Know Our New Associate Executive Coordinator 6 Creative Uses for Church Properties: Ardmore Baptist, Winston-Salem

Director of Communications

Amy Cook

The Gathering, Graphic Designer

8 Creative Uses for Church Properties: Providence Baptist, Charlotte

Communications Specialist

Subscribe to The Gathering and our weekly eNews on our website at cbfnc.org. Fill out a subscription form by clicking the SUBSCRIBE button.

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jrorrer@cbfnc.org

STAY IN THE

10 Cost-Effective Solutions for Church Staffing & Benefits

ABOUT CBFNC!

12 Thinking Differently

KNOW |

336.759.3456

On the Cover: Youth at Ardmore Baptist, Winston-Salem create artwork for the church’s new Welcome House.

MINISTER SEARCH PROCESS

Conversations

Starting in October!

CBFNC’S MINISTERIAL TRANSITIONS TEAM will host bi-weekly Zoom conversations designed as shared learning experiences for representatives from search teams across our state. Conversations will be held the second and fourth Mondays at 6:30 p.m. with a specific topical focus. Join the conversation(s) that apply to your church or participate in all six.

Learn more at cbfnc.org

JOIN US!

October 10 & 24 November 14 December 5 January 9 & 23

Traditioned Innovation

By Larry Hovis CBFNC Executive Coordinator

T

he past 20 years have held tremendous change for our culture in general, and our churches in particular. The global pandemic, now in its third year, has accelerated that process of change. There is little clarity and even less agreement on how to adapt to the changes we are facing.

Some counsel on staying the course. After all, God is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:18).

Others encourage abandoning existing forms and practices in favor of new ones since we worship and serve a God who “makes all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Pastoral Leadership A growing number of churches, especially in rural communities, are finding it increasingly difficult to attract full-time seminary-educated residential pastors to serve their congregations. There are numerous reasons for this trend. What are they to do?

They could look to their tradition for guidance. Many of these churches only became “full-time churches” in the mid-20th century. Prior to that they had part-time or bi-vocational pastors, or were part of a “church field” in which they shared a pastor with one or more neighboring churches.

Traditioned innovation is not a “one size fits all” solution for every congregation but in my travels to churches around our state, I see some common challenges that could benefit from new approaches based on traditioned innovation.

A better path, I believe, is to steer a middle path between old and new, utilizing what Greg Jones calls “traditioned innovation.” Jones is the president of Belmont University and former dean of Duke Divinity School. Faith and Leadership, the online publication of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, contains several articles on this concept.

Jones describes traditioned innovation as “a pattern of thinking, bearing witness to the Holy Spirit who is conforming us to Christ.” He states, “Transformative change, rooted in tradition and the preservation of wisdom, cultivates the adaptive work that is crucial to the ongoing vitality and growth of any organism, Christian institutions included.”

We Baptists should be well-practiced at traditioned innovation. We were birthed from the concept that in order to return the church to a posture more faithful to the New Testament, we must develop new structures more conducive to the movement of the Spirit.

Traditioned innovation is not a “one size fits all” solution for every congregation but in my travels to churches around our state, I see some common challenges that could benefit from new approaches based on traditioned innovation. Here are three examples.

What might they learn from their tradition to adapt to the modern challenge of securing pastoral leadership?

How can our fellowship support this effort?

Youth Ministry While in a meeting with fellow CBF state coordinators, one of my colleagues commented that available youth ministers “are as scarce as hen’s teeth!” We all concurred. The same is true for children’s ministers. Even large churches with good compensation packages for these positions are finding few prospects when faced with vacancies.

The shortage of youth ministers shouldn’t stop a church from ministering to young people. As I explained recently to a church lay leader, youth ministry as a vocation didn’t emerge until the 1970s. Prior to that, lay people conducted very effective faith formation with youth and children through Sunday School, Training Union, RAs, GAs and graded choirs.

Recent studies have shown that if young people have significant relationships with multiple adults in the church, they are more likely to remain in church as adults than if their primary faith formation came from a single, charismatic youth minister.

See “Traditioned Innovation” on page 4.

Fall 2022 | 3

Helping Churches and Clergy THRIVE Through Transitions

T

he church is in a liminal place; an in-betweenness or threshold of where we have been and where we are going. This pandemic experience has rocked our notion of what is certain and attainable. Therefore, ministerial transitions, especially into what can feel like an unknown future, bring anxiety, excitement, fear, formation, worry, discovery, creativity and hope.

And yet, we are people of faith, drawn to the leadership of God to face an unknown future to a known God. Moments of transition are extraordinary opportunities for thriving; none more so than clergy discerning a shift in calling and congregations seeking the right minister to serve alongside

By Andy Hale them.

CBFNC Associate As our world has changed so draExecutive matically, now is the right moment for Coordinator congregations to clarify their hopes and dreams, core values and identity regarding searching for their next ministerial role. CBFNC is here to help churches through this process by offering a suite of resources, whether it be best practices for a minister search committee, creative church-wide conversations on dreams for the present and future or how to welcome a minister with excellence well beyond a call Sunday.

In turn, for clergy seeking new opportunities, the present has brought a fascinating shift as ministers not only clarify their sense of calling but reconsider healthy vocational practices. CBFNC offers resources for broadening your network, building a more robust candidate profile, navigating interviews and negotiating compensation.

CBFNC seeks to journey alongside churches and clergy throughout the ministerial transition, providing insight, coaching, resources and networking. Our goal is to help you feel prepared, equipped and empowered to find the best ministerial-congregational matches for the thriving of God’s church. May we journey together in faithfulness into the unknown.

Visit www.cbfnc.org/transitions for more information, to connect with a member of the Ministerial Transitions team or to interact with the latest resources for churches and ministers.

Traditioned Innovation, continued from page 3 Maybe the time has come for us to re-equip lay leaders to conduct faith formation with young people, rather than “hiring it out” to paid staff. Such an approach might be more feasible, more economical and more effective.

Table Fellowship For most of my life, a staple of Baptist church life has been Wednesday night supper. The mid-week meal served as a point of contact for church members and offered convenience for families to attend mid-week programming. In many churches today, the mid-week meal has been phased out, or is on life support.

I recently participated in a multi-day charity bike ride with a group of Methodists. Each of our two nights on the road we stayed overnight in Methodist churches. In both cases they were serving meals in their fellowship halls.

These meals were not for the benefit of church members, but their communities. The meals were prepared by church members as a ministry of hospitality for community members in need – whether that need was hunger or loneliness.

4 | The Gathering

In one of the churches, First United Methodist of Rutherfordton, the meal that night was served by members of First Baptist of Rutherfordton, a CBF partner congregation! My Methodist cycling colleagues explained that serving community meals is becoming more common in their congregations. In some cases, new worshipping congregations are being birthed out of the community that gathers for these meals, a recovery of the ancient New Testament practice of the agape meal.

Most of our Baptist churches have fellowship halls that go unused most nights of the week. Our members may no longer see the need to dine there on a weekly basis, but we believe strongly in offering the hospitality of Jesus to our neighbors. Perhaps a new approach, based on old practice, might be a catalyst for renewal for both church and community.

As Bob Dylan sang, “the times, they are a-changin’.”

Maybe the best clues for how to innovate and adapt to changing times are found in our tradition.

GET TO Our New Associate Executive Coordinator

KNOW

5 QUESTIONS with

Andy Hale

1. Do you have a hidden talent?

This might be a bit outdated, but I learned to climb coconut trees the summer I coordinated tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka. The tallest I climbed was 60 feet.

The key is to save enough energy on the descent. If not, you’ll slide down it like a fire pole only to have your chest torn to pieces.

I can also hold my breath for a long time, making snorkeling much more interesting to deeper depths. I can typically swim 2.5 laps in the pool underwater without coming up for a breath. However, I feel someone will call my bluff on this at an upcoming General Assembly, forcing me into the pool for proof.

2. When are you most productive?

I am an early riser. My most creative time is 6:30-8:30 a.m. I like to gulp down at least four cups of coffee while thinking and writing before the beautiful busyness of the day kicks into high gear, with Amazon Music turned to the Film Score station.

In a collaborative setting, I strive to create a climate of transparency, candor, inclusiveness, equity, and creativity. I hope that the collective “we” will continually understand why we do what we do, how we can live into our why more authentically and discover what new possibilities exist.

3. What’s on your bucket list?

Andy Hale officially joined the CBFNC team in June 2022 as associate executive coordinator. His responsibilities include collaborating with Larry Hovis, executive coordinator, for the thriving of CBFNC churches and clergy: developing innovative ministry with young adults and college students; starting new faith communities; and partnering with CBFNC ministry staff. Andy, his wife Jennifer and two daughters relocated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he served as the senior pastor of University Baptist Church. He will be based in the CBFNC office in Winston-Salem and can be reached at ahale@cbfnc.org.

Our family loves visiting the National Parks, taking in all the parks in Colorado and Utah over the pandemic. We have Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Acadia and Yosemite on our shortlist for the coming years.

Expanding beyond the United States, I have a lifelong dream of exploring Middle Earth/New Zealand, backpacking to Machu Picchu, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and sailing around the Caribbean. Of course, who wouldn’t want to go to Rome, Paris, Athens, or Jerusalem?

4. What do you do to “refill your tank?

Did I mention I have an affinity for good coffee? I cannot function without 50-60 ounces of java per day with a companion of water from my Hydro Flask. Intense workouts refill my tank, as much of a contradiction as that sounds. I enjoy long runs while listening to either an audiobook or podcast episodes and high-intensity workouts. Our family goes for evening walks with our pup, BB-8, named after the Star Wars droid because of the identical shape patch on his back.

5. What are you most looking forward to about working with CBFNC? I love the church. I desire to help congregations leverage their God-given strengths, passions, and assets for thriving. Now, more than ever, churches have the unique opportunity to follow the leadership of God into the unknown future with bold confidence that great things are in store.

Serving in vocational ministry for nearly 25 years, I yearn to help clergy live into their sense of calling and flourish vocationally, familially, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I look forward to doing my part in serving our more than 275 churches, 25+ partnerships, thousands of congregational leaders and hundreds of ministers as we seek to equip, engage and embrace God’s good work in North Carolina and around the world.

Fall 2022 | 5

Creative Uses

for Church Properties:

I

Ardmore Baptist, Winston-Salem

While the pandemic was n March of 2020, wreaking havoc all around the a few ministers world, one of the blessings our from Ardmore missions team discovered in Baptist Church sat the chaos was time and space at a Churchworks to pray, research and discern.

Conference hosted We spent the next year as a

by CBF at a church

By Amy Gallaher church being led by God to join in Knoxville, TN. Minister of Missional the welcome.

While there, Engagement, We had a two bedroom, we got to hear Ardmore Baptist one bathroom house in from Marc and desperate need of some rehaKim Wyatt of the Welcome House bilitation but it was across the Community Network share about street from the church, within the need for churches with house walking distance of the grocery properties to consider using them stores and parks, accessible to as temporary housing for refugees. a bus line and in the heart of At that time, our church owned Winston-Salem. a property that had been a blessing Another affirmation for our to the hospital community for many church to move in the direction years. This house had hosted out-ofof Welcome House was from a town families of patients admitted Above: The former guest house that is now Ardmore’s previous survey of our memto our local hospitals. Other organiWelcome House. Below: Preparing for the launch of the bers during the Growing Young zations in our community began to new Welcome House. process.

That survey revealed meet the needs of housing for families of patients and our house became less and less used for to us that one of our most profound strengths as a commuthat purpose. We were at a crossroads of discerning what nity was in welcoming newcomers and offering hospitality.

Refugee ministry was also not that far off as our church to do with the house that we owned across the street. had assisted with several families through Good Neighbor Then the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teams with World Relief.

6 | The Gathering

The missions team knew that God was calling us in a new direction to a ministry that would help us welcome the stranger and love our neighbor. So, as the education process started in our church, our goals were to use our strengths as a community, identified in our survey, and continuously create intergenerational opportunities through the ministry of Welcome House.

After a church conference vote overwhelmingly affirmed this direction for our house, the first group of people to take ownership in the ministry of welcome was the youth. They showed up from the very beginning to create the space that would create hope and become a home.

Over the next six months we hosted work days to tear out, rebuild, paint, lay floor and decorate the house.

We had painters as young as four-years-old to light fixture installers at age 80 working together. We had entire groups of friends and Sunday Bible Study classes sign up for training as Hospitality Teams who would welcome our new friends.

We’ve had box after box arrive at the church as donations by members from our Amazon list. And last, but certainly not least, we’ve had prayer. From our youngest to our oldest, our community has advocated for and supported the Welcome House through praying for those that will step foot through the doors that all would be blessed.

We officially commissioned the Welcome House on June 12 with our church family. Just three days later, we received a call from World Relief seeking a place for a Syrian refugee family of four. The family had been living in refugee camps for years. We happily embraced them in our new Welcome House and are excited to share that they will be moving out into their own home in September.

Since opening our Welcome House, we have had churches and individuals reaching out constantly in support and asking questions about how they can help or how they can create their own welcome for neighbors needing a safe loving space to breathe deeply.

What have we learned? The spirit of welcome is catching and spreading; let’s do the work and get ready!

To learn more about the Welcome House Community Network, contact Marc and Kim Wyatt at wyatt@cbf.net.

Above: The former guest house that is now Ardmore’s Welcome House. Below: Preparing for the launch of the new Welcome House.

Fall 2022 | 7

Creative Uses

for Church Properties: Providence Baptist, Charlotte

When it comes to church buildings, space reserved specifically for college and young adult ministry is RARE.

A

t Providence Baptist Church, we have roughly 70 classrooms.

Out of these rooms, seven are for children’s ministry, 10 are for youth ministry and 19 are for adult Sunday school classes. One is for college ministry. That one room has been created into a college lounge designed specifically for ministry to and with college students. This is a story of how that one room became a lounge and the impact of it.

For five years, there was a college Sunday school class at Providence that met only during the summers and holidays when students returned home. And this class took place in a room that was occupied year-round by children’s ministry. College students were guests in this space…in the church in which they grew up. After two years, we expanded into a college summer program, and the need for a permanent space for college ministry became greater.

You may be thinking, “If the college students are only there for the summer, why would a valuable space be dedicated to this ministry?” The answer is because college and young adult ministry looks different than most. It doesn’t happen on a Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. It happens on a Tuesday afternoon while studying, or a Thursday evening for small group or on a Friday morning over coffee. Sometimes it happens underneath the awning lights over a pick-up game of 4-square. It is a ministry that is more organic and fluid, less structured. But it still needs a home base.

These young adults are in a formative time of their lives.

Our role as the church is to equip, empower and extend

By Caitie Jackson CBFNC Campus Minister, Charlotte-area

8 | The Gathering

hospitality to students and that starts by providing a safe, consistent space for them. And that is what we are trying to embody through our college lounge at Providence.

The lounge consists of two intentional spaces: a dining area with tables and a couch area with a tv and games. Each piece of furniture or wall hanging is intentional and serves a purpose for our students.

There is even a keypad entry for students to access the lounge on their own during church hours.

Above: CBFNC Campus Minister Caitie Jackson and students enjoy the college lounge at Providence Baptist in Charlotte.

Below: Scenes of the revamped space at Providence Baptist where college students come to grow their faith, talk about hard things and be in fellowship together.

Overall, this lounge has served a purpose in 4 ways: The first purpose is ministry Everything College Ministry related on our church campus is based out of this room.

The lounge is occupied almost every day of the week.

Because my office is attached to this room, students swing by to hang out during work hours. It is truly a gift when a student uses their time to visit you and feel as though they have a comfortable space to do that.

Partnership with campus ministries Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship Charlotte is the local CBFNC campus ministry for three different universities in the area. They all call the lounge home throughout the school year while Providence students are away. CBSF uses it for weekly programming and events. We even have open lounge hours where students can use it for studying or resting between classes.

There have been many benefits to this partnership but two stand out. CBSF has a place that looks and feels like their own supported by a local church AND students get involved at Providence.

On Wednesday evenings, adults stop by before small group to ask how students are doing. Youth come to play games and hang out for as long as they can get away with.

Even the children at Providence have deemed it a magical space that they get to be a part of in the future. During summer camp, I heard a young child exclaim to his friends, “That’s the college room; we get to go there when we’re older!”

The college lounge serves as a safe space It’s powerful to sit around the couches and witness students open up to their peers about deep and difficult experiences in their lives. (About their sexual identity, about their relationships, about their depression.) Students have stated that they never thought they’d be able to talk about these things inside a church building and feel safe and not feel judged.

It’s humbling to receive a call at 9:00 p.m. asking if we can meet in the lounge because a student is experiencing a loss and they don’t know how to be home right now. So I meet them; and I hold them as they grieve.

As a result of using our facilities to make a home for our college students, I truly feel as though our church is beginning to embrace this ministry and engage with our students in new ways. Ways that will lead us towards a community for all people, on earth as it is in heaven.

This lounge has come as a surprise: intergenerational connection Because of its highly visible location, our lounge is seen every day by members of the church and community. They can see if someone is in our lounge, which often encourages them to go inside and engage with our students.

Fall 2022 | 9

CO$T-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS

for Church Staffing & Benefits

One of the blessings of our work is the opportunity to know, observe and assist churches around the state.

This partnership model provides a window into how different churches approach similar challenges to business and financial matters, including staffing of ministry and administrative personnel as well as employee benefits.

By Jason Cogdill CBFNC’s Legal Resource Partner

By Jim Hylton CBFNC Business Administrator Coordinator

I

t is no surprise that churches in today’s world must find creative ways to do ministry and missions within a flat or decreasing budget model. As a result, churches are asking tough questions and seeking external input on how to maximize ministry with limited financial resources. Examples: “How can we reduce personnel expenses without sacrificing ministries of our church?”

“Is there a way to accomplish this new goal without hiring another employee?”

“How can we provide valuable employee benefits in light of rising health insurance costs?”

In response to these questions, below is a summary list of several trends and options that we are seeing in the listed categories:

Administrative Functions •

Outsourcing financial management tasks to a contract partner (including back office accounting, reporting and audits);

•

Outsourcing property management and janitorial services to a contract partner;

•

Outsourcing additional roles – technology, communications, marketing, etc. – to a contract partner;

•

Use of a minister of administration or “Chief of Staff” to oversee/manage admin functions and contractors, rather than a larger staff of employees doing all work in-house;

•

Sharing of administrative staff among multiple churches (such as a single financial manager working for three churches, with time and compensation divided among them).

See “Cost-Effective Solutions” on the next page.

10 | The Gathering

Outsourcing of Financial Services Now that churches are returning to a more routine work schedule following the disruption of the pandemic, many are finding their financial employees are moving to other employers and/or retiring. Trying to replace these lost employees has become a challenge.

So what are churches to do? This is a very important position in church administration and needs to be filled by a competent person who can be retained. The answer is outsourcing.

Lately, CBFNC has been helping more and more churches find financial services companies that can do the needed work at a reasonable price. Besides price, once the financial company learns the church financial systems, they can recommend changes that lead to more effectiveness and efficiency.

And, the church no longer has to worry about an employee leaving this position. The financial service provider will be there to help when needed.

Currently CBFNC is recommending three possible financial services providers for churches: • Outfitters4 (outfitters4.com) is located in the Triad area.

• Trinity Concepts (trinityconceptsnc.com) is located in the Triangle area.

• Missional Business Services (mbservicesllc. net) is located in Alabama.

Cost-Effective Solutions, continued from page 10.

Ministry Positions

•

Increasing education and communication about benefit options for staff, including option for consultation with insurance and tax resources at no cost; Reducing benefits expenditures by increasing use of part-time, shared or contractor roles in place of full-time positions, as noted above.

•

Increasing use of part-time ministers (including individuals who are bi-vocational);

•

Use of volunteers and lay ministers to fill existing or new roles traditionally held only by ordained staff, particularly in light of increasing challenges around identifying and hiring vocational ministers;

•

•

Sharing of ministry staff among multiple churches (such as a music minister, children’s minister or musician who works at two churches, with time and compensation divided among them).

These options and trends are representative of various approaches in current church life. We will discuss these and additional options in upcoming Video Learning Sessions.

A goal of CBFNC is to provide support and assistance to partner churches and ministers. Our team is available to help your congregation do what you have to do in order to be in a position to do what you are called to do in the world.

Jim Hylton is CBFNC’s business administrator coordinator with decades of experience in finance, human resources, and church leadership. Jason Cogdill is CBFNC’s legal resource partner and serves on the Coordinating Council.

Employee Benefits •

Exploring alternatives to traditional group health insurance coverage, including new Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement option as well as stipend model (which works well with ACA Marketplace coverage and availability of health coverage through spouse’s employer);

Financial Wellness for Pastors

Retreats FINANCIAL WELLNESS FOR PASTORS–WEST

October 2-4

CBFNC’S HELPING PASTORS THRIVE MINISTRY is excited to partner with CBF CHURCH BENEFITS BOARD this fall in offering two retreats for pastors and spouses focusing on financial wellness: one in eastern NC and one in western NC.

Lake Junaluska Retreat Center Lake Junaluska, NC

FINANCIAL WELLNESS FOR PASTORS–EAST

November 6-8

Trinity Retreat Center Pine Knoll Shores, NC

Making decisions for your financial future is easier with a little help. That’s why CBF Church Benefits Board offers incentives through the Financial Wellness Initiative to help clergy design and implement a financial plan. Attend one of the Financial Wellness for Pastors retreats to learn how to build a financial plan and implement incentives to help you map your financial future.

Find more details on Helping Pastors Thrive retreats and workshops at helpingpastorsthrive.org.

Fall 2022 | 11

Thinking

By Jack Glasgow Retired Pastor & Interim Pastor at Oakmont, Greenville

I

am often asked, “What was it wars led to splintering along the lines of worship preflike to have the same job for 40 erences. What constituted active and healthy church years?” My reply is a simple one, commitment and participation was thoroughly redefined.

“I have no idea.” Serving Zebulon Baptist Church (ZBC) as And, I was changing, from a 26-year-old in the early stages senior pastor for 40 years was a dynamic tenure, a ministry of adulthood to a 66-year-old grandfather with so many journey that required adaptive and innovative thinking and new perspectives on faith and theology that emerged through life experience. Throw in at the end of practice on my part in collaboration with the church my tenure one more little thing that called and its leaders and staff. for dynamic leadership—a global The ministry context in 2022 was differ“I actually pandemic! ent in so many ways from the context in My first counsel to ministers 1981, when I transitioned from a partfound the pandemic and lay leaders would be to time staff role as a seminary student to have a curiosity about changes the pastorate at ZBC. Our Baptist famto be an energizing and a passion for effective ily fractured, argued and split; our adaptation that takes our partnerships for mission and fellowtime as a leader. changing ministry context ship changed drastically. Zebulon I embraced it as seriously. A head in the sand became a less rural town and more approach that stubbornly of a Raleigh suburban town. The an opportunity to believes doing the same role of church and the perception thing over and over again in of churches and Christians in society work collaboratively the hope that we will miracuchanged drastically. with church leaders lously recover the church of the Communication changed com50s or 60s is a doomed strategy. pletely with 24-hour news, the internet to be innovative I actually found the pandemic and social media. This fueled a political to be an energizing time as a leader. and social divisiveness that posed great chaland nimble.”

I embraced it as an opportunity to work lenges for healthy congregational life. Worship

12 | The Gathering

Jack Glasgow retired earlier this year after 43 years of serving Zebulon Baptist Church.

Jack and his wife Barbara talk with members of the church during the retirement celebration.

collaboratively with church leaders to be innovative and nimble. We worked well together providing ministry that energized the congregation. The key is the willingness to see change as a challenge to be embraced and a victory to be celebrated.

My second encouragement would be to understand you and your congregation’s purpose, passion and unique giftedness. No minister can be all things to all people. No church can be effective at any and all ministries. Trying to copy what looks like success from other churches lacks authenticity and simply does not succeed.

What does work is an unshakable conviction that what we do is important; a willingness to work collaboratively in healthy processes that discover vision and then organize ministry; the development of ministry competency that helps Christians grow; welcoming and including others; and engaging the church on relevant ministry consistent with clear core values.

Believe that what we do matters. Let that belief kindle a passion for discovering relevant and life changing ministry as a congregation. It is worth our best effort.

Sunday, September 25 3:45 to 7:30 p.m.

Edenton Baptist Church 200 S. Granville Street Edenton, NC in partnership with Chowan University

FEATURED SPEAKERS Melody & Sam Harrell

Former CBF Field Personnel

GATHERING INCLUDES: Meaningful Worship Informative Breakout Sessions Fellowship Meal

For more information & registration

cbfnc.org

Fall 2022 | 13

A Ministry of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

Upcoming Workshops & Retreats FALL REST & RENEWAL FOR PASTORS September 25-27 St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville, NC

FLOURISH:

A TIME TO HONOR & INSPIRE YOUTH MINISTERS October 27 Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point

PASTORS AS SPIRITUAL GUIDE January 22-24 St. Francis Prayer Center, Stoneville, NC

FIND MORE DETAILS

on Helping Pastors Thrive retreats and workshops at helpingpastorsthrive.org.

14 | The Gathering

CBFNC HONORARY & MEMORIAL GIFTS April 2022 – June 2022

Jennifer and Seth Asbill in honor of Jesse Croom Jocelyn Blair in honor of Ashley and Szymon Glimasinski Sherry and Mike Hancock in honor of Life Application Class - Greystone Baptist Church Marion and Donald Horton in honor of Jack and Barbara Glasgow Marion and Donald Horton in honor of Donald and Jo Ann Horton Frances P. Jones in honor of Wanda Kidd Lisa and Kenneth Rust in honor of Marc & Kim Wyatt Robert Sizemore in honor of CBSF Raleigh Jean and Stanley Spence in honor of Marylou Smith Joyce Wolcott in celebration of Mary Anners’ Birthday Melinda Alvarez in memory of Randall Lolley Jennifer and Paul Baxley in memory of Randall Lolley Anne and Matt Bullard in memory of Randall Lolley Steve Cobb in memory of Randall Lolley Paul Edmond in memory of Randall Lolley Kim and Larry Hovis in memory of Randall Lolley Dr. and Mrs. Michael Johnson in memory of Randall Lolley

MINISTERS ON THE MOVE Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved: Randy Carter to Temple Baptist, Durham as Pastor Randy Clipp to Olive Chapel Baptist Church, Apex as Senior Pastor Scott Henson to First Baptist Church, Taylorsville as Pastor Brian Lockamy to Woodhaven Baptist, Apex as Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults Katharine Martin to Knollwood Baptist, Winston-Salem as Minister of Adult Faith Formation and Education Jake Mauk to Lakeside Baptist, Rocky Mount as Minister of Music David Pace to Clemmons First Baptist as Pastor Amy Starr Russell to First Baptist, Greensboro as Associate Pastor of Children and Families 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 (cbfnc.org) or call us at 336.759.3456.

Nancy Patterson in memory of Randall Lolley Nancy P. Wilson in memory of Randall Lolley Mary-Stuart Parker Alderman Fund in memory of Randall Lolley Laura Lee Slate in memory of/in honor of Randall Lolley / Lou Lolley Tammy Poindexter in memory of Cindy Vestal John Vestal in memory of Cindy Vestal W. Hamilton Crenshaw in memory of Charles and Helen Hovis

Your gifts to a CBFNC endowment fund

can plant seeds of blessing, hope, & help.

Designate a gift for scholarships, new church starts, or where it is most needed. Please remember CBFNC in your will or estate plan.

For more information, contact Jim Hylton at (336) 759-3456 or JHylton@cbfnc.org.

DONATE

to CBFNC today! www.cbfnc.org/give

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.

Fall 2022 | 15

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WINSTON-SALEM PERMIT NO. 162

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

www.cbfnc.org

2640 Reynolda Road Winston-Salem, NC 27106

Return Service Requested

SEPTEMBER

NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL CBFNC GATHERING (In partnership with Chowan University) Edenton Baptist, Edenton

September 25

OCTOBER

A Look Ahead . . .

FINANCIAL WELLNESS FOR PASTORS-WEST (In partnership with CBF Church Benefits) Lake Junaluska Retreat Center

October 2-4

GIVING & GENEROSITY COURSE

FALL REST & RENEWAL FOR PASTORS

St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville

September 25–27

HOW TO HAVE COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE IN THE CHURCH & BEYOND

(presented by CBFNC’s Racial Equity & Justice team) Greystone Baptist, Raleigh

October 22

October 4, 11 & 18

FLOURISH: A TIME TO HONOR & INSPIRE YOUTH MINISTERS

CBFNC YOUTH BEACH RETREAT

October 27

Online with Digital Congregations

Fort Caswell

October 7–9 MINISTER SEARCH PROCESS CONVERSATIONS On Zoom, Bi-Weekly (October – January)

October 10 & 24

Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point

NOVEMBER

FINANCIAL WELLNESS FOR PASTORS-EAST (In partnership with CBF Church Benefits) Trinity Center, Salter Path, NC

RED LATINA MARRIAGE CONGRESS

November 6-8

October 21-22

MINISTER SEARCH PROCESS CONVERSATIONS

La Voz De La Esperanza Baptist Church, Charlotte

On Zoom, Bi-Weekly (October – January)

November 14