The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - July–August 2008 by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

CBFNC Upcoming Events

CBFNC Partner Churches Yearly Budget Report

Fellowship on the Move

CBF General Assembly

Missions:

CBFNC and the Baptist Association of Belize by Antolino Flores

A Calling to Belize for Eric and Julie Maas by Linda Jones

Reference and Referral: Choosing an Interim Pastor by Jack Causey Interim Ministry Network

Ministers on the Move

New Contributing CBFNC Partner Churches

The Gathering of

the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

Missional Christians in a Missional Church?

by Harry Rowland, Director of Missional Church Ministries, CBF

The phone rang at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning. I groggily answered and lied, “No, I’ve been awake a while, and it’s okay that you called.” The voice on the other end was that of Bill (not his real name). Bill begins every phone conversation with just “Hello,” and I am expected to know it’s Bill. In Beaufort, SC, this is one of the idiosyncrasies of the “Born ‘n Raised here” crowd. Every time Bill calls, two memories replay. The ﬁrst is that of a church business meeting concerning the renovation of our historic building. The goal was to make the platform area as ﬂexible as possible, so as to be creative in the ways we reached out to our community. At the meeting, Bill stated that the back wall of the church would be torn out only over his dead body. The second memory forwards to shortly after our 18-month 2.6 million dollar renovation and seeing Bill proudly show a visitor where we had knocked out the wall and had built a new platform. Things do change and even people can too, I remind myself as I try to awaken.

vision within the church, and it is scary, I agree. I can relate to the nightmare because I realize that before anything else can change the way God wants it to, I’m going to have to change ﬁrst.” I tried to encourage Bill to be on board at the beginning this time. I asked him to open to Isaiah 43:18-19, the text I was preaching on Sunday. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not see this? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” We read the text together and prayed. That Sunday, I preached this scripture and as I did, I began to change, Bill began to change, the Baptist Church of Beaufort began to change, and we experienced God’s pleasure.

God is up to a new thing that is as dynamic and powerful as the new thing God did 400 years ago called The Reformation.

Bill jumped right in, “Harry, last night I had a dream.” Before images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his speech in Washington could fully develop in my mind, he corrects himself. “Well, maybe it was a nightmare.” I knew he had received the weekly newsletter where I announced the recruitment of a church Futuring Team and that I would be preaching a sermon series entitled: Missional Christians in a Missional Church.

Bill continued, “The nightmare was that God had given you a vision and now we are in for change. Tell me it’s not so.” I responded, “Your dream is right in a way. God is working a new

In the First Reformation, God gave his word back to his people. In this Second Reformation [missional church], God is giving his work back to his people. Missional is not semantics for doing or promoting missions. Missional is the cry of the Holy Spirit for a transformation to occur in the very culture/DNA/life of the church. Missional church is not about an adjustment in how we do church, but rather it is a return to why God created church. When I began that series of sermons, I was pastoring my second church. During those years, I found it relatively easy to make church successful. However, I felt it had little to do with the Kingdom I always discovered in scripture.

Continued on page 9.

July/August 2008

The Gathering

of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

phone: 336.759.3456 • phone: 888.822.1944 • fax: 336.759.3459 • cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org

Larry Hovis ..........Executive Coordinator LHovis@cbfnc.org

Rick Jordan .........Church Resources Coordinator RJordan@cbfnc.org

Linda Jones .........Missions Coordinator LJones@cbfnc.org

Coordinating Council

Greg Rogers, Greenville, Moderator

Gail Coulter, Hendersonville, Past-Moderator

Steve Little, Marion, Moderator-Elect

Glenda Currin, Wilmington, Recorder

Donna Bissette, Winston-Salem, Treasurer

Ray Ammons, Gastonia

Mack Dennis, Mount Gilead

Carolyn Dickens, Raleigh

Don Gordon, Durham

Gary Knight, Winston-Salem

Glenn Phillips, Goldsboro

Bert Young, Bladenboro

Janice Young, Whiteville

Endowment Management Board

Tom Smith, Greensboro, Chair

A. G. Bullard, Raleigh

Joe Harris, Mocksville

Scott Hudgins, Winston-Salem

Drag Kimrey, Laurinburg

Jack Causey ...Ministerial Resources Coordinator JCausey@cbfnc.org

Jim Hylton .... Business Administration Coordinator JHylton@cbfnc.org

Wanda Kidd ...College Ministry Consultant asyougo5@aol.com

Nancy Parks....Programs Manager NParks@cbfnc.org

Faith Development Ministry Council

Blythe Taylor, Charlotte, Chair

Elizabeth Edwards, Nashville, Chair-Elect

Jennifer Baxley, Henderson

Garin Hill, Burlington

Cindy Joy, Oxford

Rebecca Husband Maynard, Elkin

Kathy Naish, Hickory

Tony Spencer, Forest City

John Vestal, Wake Forest

Allen Winters, Hillsborough

Leadership Development Ministry Council

Steve Zimmerman, Mebane, Chair

Burke Holland, Belhaven, Chair-Elect

Mark Ashworth, Kernersville

Larry Glover-Wetherington, Richlands

Rendell Hipps, Charlotte

Terry Honeycutt, Rutherfordton

Scott Hovey, Durham

Jerry Richards, Apex

Sheila Russ, Winston-Salem

Mari Wiles, Murfreesboro

Natalie Aho ....Communications Manager NAho@cbfnc.org

Gail McAlister .....Financial Assistant GMcalister@cbfnc.org

Laura Barclay ......Administrative Assistant LBarclay@cbfnc.org

Missions Ministry Council

Shirley Kool, Sylva, Chair

Kenny Davis, Wise, Chair-Elect

Kent Cranford, Gastonia

Jim Everette, Wilmington

Christopher Ingram, Smithfield

Judy LeCroy, Lexington

Alicia Porterfield, Wilmington

Susie Reeder, Fayetteville

Jose Villasenor, Durham

CBF National Council Members from NC

Lee Canipe, Murfreesboro

Scott Hagaman, Marion

Betsy Newton Herman, Raleigh

Don Horton, Zebulon

Crystal Leathers, Hickory

Jim McCoy, Weaverville

Mickie Norman, Leland

Report: April 2008 Contributions CBFNC Budget - $102,968; Other - $240,752

2008 Contributions CBFNC Budget - $84,439; Other - $126,250 2008-2009 Monthly Budget Goal: $90,746

Initiative

October 24 - 26, 2008

Born out of a desire to see Christ’s riches significantly impact the lives of neighbors living in poverty...

Northeastern: Vance, Warren, and Halifax Counties Western: Madison and Rutherford Counties

Painting, renovation, feeding the hungry, a children’s carnival, yard work - there is something for everyone!

For families, church groups or individuals. $25 per person ($65 max per family) due September 29. Find registration and further details at www.cbfnc.org.

CBF Announces Newly Endorsed Chaplains from North Carolina

Buddy Corbin, Asheville

Hospice Chaplain

Gary McFarland, Charlotte

Pastoral Counselor

Steven Mills, Rutherfordton

Hospice Chaplain

Elizabeth Sexton, Cary CPE Resident

Learn more about chaplaincy and pastoral counselors at www.cbfnc.org or www.thefellowship.info.

• •

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

We are a fellowship of Baptist 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 while preserving historic Baptist freedoms. We provide companionship along our shared journey to be the presence of Christ in the world, calling out God’s gifts in Christians and churches.

We serve each other as equals, sharing a commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

You are invited to attend our assemblies, participate in our ministries or call our staff members or volunteer leaders for information on becoming involved with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.

2008 - 2009 Upcoming CBFNC Events

Find more details, information and registration for these events at www.cbfnc.org.

Fellowship/General CBFNC

Fellowship on the Move

September 22,23,25 and October 20,21

See page 6 for more details.

Fall Fellowship Dinner - November 11

First Baptist Church, Greensboro

CBFNC General Assembly - March 20-21

Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville

CBF General Assembly - July 2-3

Houston, Texas

Monthly Regional Fellowship Groups

Visit our website, www.cbfnc.org, for locations and details.

Missions

NC Missions Initiative - October 24-26

Halifax/Vance/Warren Counties and Rutherford/Madison Counties, NC

Find ongoing mission opportunities on our website or through our e-newsletter.

Adult Retreats

Staff Ministers’ Retreat - February 16-19

Myrtle Beach, SC

Adult Spiritual Formation RetreatMarch 6-8

Caraway Retreat Center, Asheboro

Youth Ministry

Fall Retreat - September 19-21 or 26-28

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ski Retreat - January 23-25 or January 30February 1

Winterplace, WV

Spring Mission Trip - Date TBD

Place TBD - Eastern and Western NC

College Ministry

College Ministry Discussion - August 9

First Baptist Church, Greensboro

Children

Children’s Missions Day -

November 8 - College Park Baptist Church, Winston-Salem

November 15 - Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh

Music

Children’s Choir Festival - Date TBD (Winter 2009)

Place TBD

Youth Choir Festival - March 13-14

First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC

CBFNC Partner Churches

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.

Also, designated in blue are churches who participate in the CBFNC Mission Resource Plan, providing ﬁnancial support for other Baptist ministries through CBFNC. For additional information about the Mission Resource Plan, visit www.cbfnc.org.

If your church contributes through Plan C and is not listed, if your church is not listed and should be, or if your church is listed in error, please contact our ofﬁce at 888-822-1944 or cbfnc@cbfnc.org.

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

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

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

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

Baptist Fellowship ..........Angier

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connaritsa ......................Aulander

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lennons Cross Roads ....Bladenboro

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

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

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

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

Charity ............................Boonville

Mount Moriah Calvert .....Brevard

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

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

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

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

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

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

Iglesia de la Comunidad ..........................................Burlington

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

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

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

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

First .................................Carolina Beach

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

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

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

North Wilmington Community ..........................................Castle Hayne

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

Piney Forest .....................Chadbourn

Lystra ..............................Chapel Hill

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

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

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

Mount Zion .....................Clarkton

Grace Crossing ...............Charlotte

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 .................................Cramerton

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

The Summit ....................Cullowhee

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

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

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

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

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

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

Durham Memorial .........Durham

Glenn School Road .........Durham

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

Lakewood ........................Durham

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

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

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

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

First .................................Eden

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

Blackwell Memorial .......Elizabeth City

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ranlo ...............................Gastonia

Reynoldson......................Gates

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

Rosewood 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

Pleasant Hill .....................Grover

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Hope ........................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 First .................................Jamestown

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

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

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

Main Street .......................Kernersville

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

Iglesia Cristiana San Frontera ..........................................King

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

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

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

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

First Reformed .................Landis

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

Sandhills Community ....Laurinburg

Goshen .............................Leland

North Brunswick Fellowship ..........................................Leland

College Avenue................Lenoir

First .................................Lenoir

Churchland .....................Lexington

First .................................Lexington

Jersey ...............................Lexington

Reeds ...............................Lexington

Mount Pleasant...............Liberty

Lillington .........................Lillington

First .................................Lincolnton

Bear Swamp ....................Littleton

Littleton ...........................Littleton

Mission ............................Locust

Louisburg ........................Louisburg

First .................................Lumberton

First .................................Madison

Antioch ............................Mamers

First .................................Marion

Mars Hill .........................Mars Hill

First .................................Marshall

First .................................Marshville

First .................................Mayodan

New Bessemer .................McLeansville

First .................................Mebane

Mount Adar ....................Mebane

Eatons ..............................Mocksville

First .................................Mocksville

First .................................Monroe

Aaron ...............................Montezuma

First .................................Morehead City

First .................................Morganton

Calvary ............................Mount Airy

First .................................Mount Airy

Flat Rock ..........................Mount Airy

First .................................Mount Gilead

First .................................Mount Holly

First ................................Mount Olive

Murfreesboro ..................Murfreesboro

First .................................New Bern

Kendalls ..........................New London

First .................................Newland

Trinity..............................Newton

First .................................N. Wilkesboro

Oak City ...........................Oak City

Oak City Hispanic Mission

..........................................Oak City

Union Grove.....................Oak Ridge

Enon ................................Oxford

Hester ..............................Oxford

Oxford .............................Oxford

Roberts Chapel ...............Pendleton

Mount Gilead ..................Pittsboro

Pittsboro ...........................Pittsboro

Polkville ...........................Polkville

Hephzibah ........................Princeton

Athens Drive ....................Raleigh

Comunidad Cristiana la Roca

..........................................Raleigh

First .................................Raleigh

Forest Hills ......................Raleigh

Greystone ........................Raleigh

Hayes Barton ..................Raleigh

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

HomeStar Fellowship.....Raleigh

Hope Fellowship .............Raleigh

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

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

Millbrook ........................Raleigh

New Hope ........................Raleigh

Ridge Road .....................Raleigh

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

Tabernacle.......................Raleigh

Temple..............................Raleigh

Triangle ...........................Raleigh

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

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

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

First ..................................Reidsville

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

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

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

Bethel ...............................Robbinsville

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

Enon .................................Salisbury

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

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

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

First .................................Sanford

Flat Springs ......................Sanford

Jonesboro Heights ..........Sanford

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

Double Springs ...............Shelby

Dover................................Shelby

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

Poplar Springs ..................Shelby

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

Sandy Plains .....................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

Mount Zion .....................Stanley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First .................................Tryon

Round Hill ........................Union Mills Cornerstone ......................Valdese

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 Crossroads Fellowship ...Weldon Baptist Tabernacle .........Wendell Wendell ............................Wendell

First .................................West Jefferson Fishing Creek..................Whitakers Hickory ............................Whitakers

First .................................Whiteville Mount Zion .....................Whiteville New Hope ........................Whiteville Wilkesboro ......................Wilkesboro

First .................................Wilmington Masonboro ......................Wilmington Winter Park ....................Wilmington First .................................Wilson Five Points .......................Wilson Wingate ...........................Wingate Ardmore ..........................Winston-Salem College Park ...................Winston-Salem Covenant .........................Winston-Salem

El Mesias .........................Winston-Salem Fellowship .......................Winston-Salem

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

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

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

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

Continued on page 11.

Yearly Budget Report for CBFNC 2007-2008

During the 2007-2008 budget year, CBFNC saw the following increases in giving:

• • •

Undesignated Gifts: Increase of $135,384 or 17%

Designated Gifts: Increase of $597,623 or 70%

Total Gifts: Increase of $733,007 or 44%

CBFNC continues to be gratiﬁed by the trust congregations are placing in us as evidenced by growth in giving of all types. We are taking great care to be good stewards of these resources through the ministries we coordinate and the cultivation of positive relationships with our cherished ministry partners. To view the 2008-2009 budget, visit www.cbfnc.org.

$3,000,000

$2,500,000

$2,000,000

$1,500,000

$1,000,000

$948,849

$813,465

Yearly Budget Report

$2,404,227

$1,671,220

$1,455,378

$857,755

$500,000

UndesignatedDesignatedTotal Gifts 2006-2007 2007-2008

Fellowship on the Move (The

2008 CBFNC Regional Tour)

Theme: Rooted for Action

“You received Jesus Christ, the Master...You’re deeply rooted in him...Now do what you’ve been taught.” Colossians 2:6-7 (The Message)

Keynote Preacher: Jack Glasgow, Pastor, Zebulon Baptist Church and Moderator, CBF National

fellowship meal ministry workshops worship

FBC Mount Airy September 22

FBC Rutherfordton September 23

FBC Weaverville September 25

FBC Bladenboro October 20 Edenton Baptist Church October 21

Join others in your region for a gathering of the CBFNC for a time of fellowship, workshops and worship. This is a great opportunity to learn more about and introduce others to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship movement.

$10 per person, pre-registration is requested. For more details or to register, visit www.cbfnc.org.

Faces of Our Fellowship

The CBF General Assembly in Memphis, TN, allowed an opportunity for North Carolinians and others to gather and share in many ways: the collegiate Memphis Sessions, the prayer discernment meetings, various workshops and general sessions, and our annual state meeting. You can view photos and video and hear audio clips at www. thefellowship.info. This year at our NC state meeting, we focused on the New Faces of Our Fellowship:

Faces of Memphis – Wanda Kidd and participants of the Memphis Sessions trip encouraged us to dream of changes for those in poverty.

Faces of Theological Education – Rick Jordan and scholarship recipients Amy Canosa, Lauren Hayes, Kenny Chapman and Amber Essick shared words of thanks from our many theological education scholarship recipients.

Faces of Students on Mission – Larry Hovis focused on Karen Taylor and Carson Foushee, who are serving with the CBF United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals special project team through Student.Go.

Faces of Spiritual Formation – Rick Jordan with Elizabeth Edwards and Michelle Anderson updated us on past and future activities of youth, children, music, and adults.

Faces of Vocational Fulfillment – Jack Causey enlisted others to represent and read a dialogue between Lester Zeager, search committee chair, and Scott Conner, newly called pastor from Immanuel Baptist Church, Greenville.

Faces of New Missionaries – Linda Jones and the newly commissioned Field Personnel from North Carolina shared their stories.

“I’ve been to the river and I have a dream”

Memphis Sessions 2008 - A Collegiate Missional Experience

CBFNC and the Baptist Association of Belize

by Rev. Antolino M. Flores

The partnership between the Baptist Association of Belize (BAB) and CBFNC has been a wonderful experience and can be compared to a marriage relationship. Two people from two different backgrounds and personalities enter into a covenant relationship which builds on and enhances that which is lacking in the other individual. The result is that together they can accomplish that which individually could not be done. BAB and CBFNC have been and will continue to do this.

I want to highlight one major achievement as a result of the BAB/

CBFNC relationship. The Crooked Tree Baptist Church, built in 1837, has survived the storms of life, but age took its toll on the aged old building. A new worship building was built and serves the congregation well, but the congregation could not ﬁnd it in their hearts to tear down the old historic building. An appeal was made to BAB to assist in the repairs and restoration of the almost 170-year-old building.

The cry for help from the Crooked Tree Baptist Church was heard, and we turned to our partners at CBFNC to assist in this

A Calling to Belize for Eric and Julie Maas

by Linda Jones, Missions Coordinator

Life doesn’t get any more hopeful and exciting than when God interacts with us on a personal level and brings a great thing to pass! Last spring I was leading a breakout at the CBF General Assembly on CBFNC missions, and Belize was one of the topics of the talk. Eric Maas came up to me afterwards and shared that he had a call to missions in Central America and was thinking of Guatemala, but… Belize piqued his interest. Shortly after, I received an email from Julie, his wife. She shared their passion for international missions, their call to Central America, their eagerness to ﬁnd out what God was doing in Belize and if this is where he

was sending them. Julie wrote that they are a family with two small children, predicting a summer 2008 move prior to their daughter starting Kindergarten, with transferable careers that may be useful in the country. She shared that Eric has self-employed construction management skills (he is a general contractor/home inspector), and she has been a nurse for 11 years. Sounds perfect? Eric and Julie are members of Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, NC, and have two small children, Ciera, 5 years old and Josiah, 9 months. (At the time, Josiah was almost ready to be born!) They were also in the process of working through the initial paperwork for the Afﬁliate AsYouGo program for CBF.

Here’s what happened: Eric made a quick trip to Belize in November to check out the possibilities - especially a school for Ciera - and the ministry possibilities. In the fall, the position of director of the Belize Baptist Training School was coming open. Eric, Julie and Ciera returned in February and enrolled her in the international elementary school in Belmopan. The board of the Belize

project. The challenge was taken up by the First Baptist Church of Bladenboro, led by Pastor Bert Young. In November of 2005, the old, dilapidated and almost completely destroyed building got a new lease in life. The group of short-term missionaries

Baptist Training School interviewed Eric and Julie and offered Eric the director’s job. And then their house sold! They were commissioned at the CBF General Assembly in Memphis in June, and they leave for Belize in July: a family of four ready to serve the Lord.

Philippians 3:13 b, 14 “...Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Will you join me in praying for the Maas family and all our new NC ﬁeld personnel as they follow God’s call to serve him away from home?

Old Building of Crooked Tree Baptist Church

from FBC were assisted by members of the Crooked Tree Baptist Church. They spent a week repairing, replacing and installing new windows, old rotted siding, a new floor, new roofing, inside walls and a double coat of painting to the historic building. The electrical wiring was also done, and new florescent lights and fans were installed. Today the restored building is a sight to behold and serves the congregation as Sunday School classrooms and a recreation center. The current worship building also received newly installed fans. Thank you, First Baptist of Bladenboro, for your contribution to the ministry in Crooked Tree.

We give thanks to the Lord for the partner

relationship we enjoy with CBFNC and its afﬁliated churches. Through this medium we thank all those churches which have come along side BAB to assist in establishing stronger churches and getting the Gospel out to a lost world. Together we have accomplished that which we could not have done alone. Much has been done, but much more remains. We invite those who feel the call to do short-term mission work to consider Belize.

Contact Linda Jones at LJones@cbfnc. org or Eric Maas at eric@maasnc.com to volunteer. Learn more about Belize missions at www.cbfnc.org.

Editor’s note: Tropical Storm Arthur has hit Belize since this article was

Missional Christians in a Missional Church?

by Harry Rowland - Continued from page 1.

I knew that for many the present church culture was not only irrelevant but also antithetical to our hopes and dreams for a different, better world. I was realizing that church had to be about more than attracting tons of people and telling them that God had a wonderful plan for their lives. It seemed to me that the Gospel was about an incredible adventure that took me far from meeting “my” needs to a wild journey to places where I would need to display the same kind of grace and love I had been shown by Jesus when I accepted him as my Savior and Lord.

The exciting aspect about this Second Reformation is that no one created it: it is not a program nor just an adjustment in church. Missional church is springing up all around us. So, where do I see this happening?

Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, through individuals in its membership, developed a relationship with government and civil leaders in The Republic of the Congo. God is calling Trinity to minister in the Congo in such a way that true transformation will take place. This missional dream of Trinity arose from

within the church. Now a network of ministry partners consisting of CBF, several churches, Baptist schools, NPOs, individuals, CBF ministry partners, and Canadian Baptist Ministries has been developed to minister together to be God’s transforming agent in the Congo.

Forest Hills Baptist Church, also in Raleigh, through their International Ministry developed close ties with the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. They received an invitation to host a multifaith delegation. Forest Hills contacted CBF, and in September we will jointly host a multi-faith Chinese Delegation in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and will have key Asian ﬁeld personnel meet with this religious delegation to address ministry in China. Once again, this missional calling was birthed within the church. God truly is at work in these churches and many others.

To see the Missional Church Movement as God’s New Reformation means that in fulﬁlling the purpose of the church found in Matthew 28:19-20, each church must embark on a quest of how to reach their own Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and

submitted. Affected areas include the Crooked Tree Baptist Church. Teams are heading this summer to help with cleanup and restoration. Contact Linda Jones at LJones@cbfnc.org if you are interested in assisting.

the utter most parts of the world. This is more than tacking on mission projects to an old church paradigm. It means letting the mission of the church be the new paradigm that transforms traditional church culture. For this to happen, the church must intentionally embark upon spiritual transformation with such studies as It’s Time, enter into a congregational visioning process based on prayer and preparation rather than predicting and planning, and understand they are called to engage their world globally and not to do so alone.

As The Baptist Church of Beaufort made the shift to becoming Missional Christians in a Missional Church, Bill and I both changed. But more importantly the Kingdom of God was enhanced. Two churches were started, mission giving increased $60,000, a coalition of four African-American churches and four Anglo churches adopted the poorest community there, and God grew the church with those who were answering his call to the New Reformation. Won’t you embark along the journey?

Learn more at www.cbfnc.org.

New Building of Crooked Tree Baptist Church

Choosing An Interim Pastor

by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator

As soon as a church loses its pastor, there is usually a high level of anxiety and concern in the congregation. They are worried about who will lead them in worship in the days ahead. Many times they are concerned about who will provide the congregation with pastoral care as well as other needs they may have.

Naturally, the leaders of the church immediately turn their attention to ﬁnding an interim to serve them until a new pastor can be called. And well they should. However, ﬁnding the right interim pastor is not always easy. Sometimes the appropriate leaders of a church contact

CBF of North Carolina to help them. We welcome this!

In order to serve our churches better during the interim period, we are creating an Interim Ministry Network. We have divided North Carolina, by counties, into twelve areas with a volunteer minister serving as a facilitator in each of these regions.

The responsibilities of these facilitators will be to develop a list of possible interim pastors in each of the areas. They will also make themselves available to the churches seeking an interim to assist them in any way they can. This may involve helping

them to determine whether they need a part time, full time or intentional interim pastor. The facilitator then may help them locate an interim pastor that will be appropriate to their needs.

Ministers who desire to serve as an interim pastor may contact the facilitator in his or her area. Likewise, churches may call on the facilitator in their area to assist them in determining the kind of interim they need and then to give them the names of ministers who are available to serve as an interim.

Interim Ministry Network by Area

Far Western Area: Gail Coulter / 828.698.2385

The counties of each area, along with the contact information for each of the twelve regional facilitators, is listed below:

Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Swain, Jackson, Transylvania, Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Graham, Madison High Country Area: Bob Shepherd / 828.584.8797

Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Caldwell, Alexander, Wautauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Iredell Foothills Area: Billy Honeycutt / 828.286.9278

McDowell, Rutherfordton, Polk, Burke, Cleveland, Catawba, Lincoln Greater Charlotte Area: Harry Poovey / 704.289.1144

Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Rowan

Triad Area: Harry Smith / 336.623.8389

Surry, Stokes, Rockingham, Yadkin, Forsyth, Guilford, Davidson, Davie

Central Area: Bruce League / 704.888.5850

Stanley, Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Randolph

Sand Hills Area: Drag Kimrey / 910.276.8865

Chatham, Lee, Moore, Harnett, Cumberland, Scotland, Hoke Durham / Chapel Hill Area: Marion Lark / 252.492.8205

Caswell, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Person Raleigh / Cary Area: Charles Allard / 919.363.4020

Granville, Warren, Wake, Johnston, Vance, Franklin

Northeast Area: Jesse Croom / 252.482.3908

Nash, Wilson, Edgecombe, Halifax, Northampton, Gates, Martin, Washington, Chowan, Dare, Tyrell, Hertford, Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans

East Central Area: Hugh Burlington / 252.756.1413

Wayne, Greene, Lenore, Pitt, Craven, Jones, Onslow, Pamlico, Beaufort, Neuse

Southeast Area: David Stratton / 910.232.8282

Robeson, Bladen, Columbus, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Duplin, Sampson

Rev. Laura Barclay has been hired by CBFNC as an Administrative Assistant for the ofﬁce in Winston-Salem. Laura comes to us from Wake Forest Divinity School, and has worked for Crisis Control Ministry, Wake Forest Divinity School’s Admissions Ofﬁce, and was the 2006 Bill Moyers Fellow at the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. She and her husband, Rev. Ryan Eller, attend Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Laura began her duties with CBFNC on May 27. We are excited to have Laura on staff!

Ministers on the Move

Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator

Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved:

Charlie Bryan is the Pastor at Stallings Memorial Baptist Church, Salisbury, NC.

Jerry Cloninger is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, Mooresville, NC.

Blake Dempsey is the Pastor at Rock Creek Baptist Church, Nashville, NC.

David Elks is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, Lumberton, NC.

Melissa Frazier is the Minister of Children at The Memorial Baptist Church, Greenville, NC.

Wayne Hager is the Pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC.

Fred McCall is the part-time Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Boonville, NC.

Paula McCosh is the Director of Preschool Ministry at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC.

Keith McKinney is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, Rural Hall, NC.

David Phillips is the Pastor at First Baptist Church, Clyde, NC.

Chris Schelin is the Minister of Youth and Congregational Life at Roxboro Baptist Church, Roxboro, NC.

Stephanie Swanson is the Minister of Congregational Life at Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point, NC.

Jared Webb is the Director of Youth Ministry at First Baptist Church, Tarboro, NC.

Kevin Wilson is the Associate Pastor at Flat Rock Baptist Church, Mount Airy, NC.

When you make a move or know of someone who has changed places of ministry, let us know at 888-822-1944 or cbfnc@cbfnc.org. For vocational placement or search committee requests, visit our Vocations page on our website at www.cbfnc.org or call 888-822-1944.

Partner Churches Continued

Continued from page 5.

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

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

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

Wise .................................Wise

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

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

First .................................. Yanceyville

Grace Haven ...................Youngsville

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

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

Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information on partnering with CBFNC.

New Contributing

CBFNC Partner Churches (April - June 2008)

First, Aberdeen

Hillsong Church, Chapel Hill

Macedonia, Raleigh

First, Rural Hall (Formerly CBF only)

New Live Praise, Sanford

First, Yadkinville (Formerly CBF only)

Have You Heard...

Did you know that the Westfalls provide care through medical camps in India?

... Or that WMU is hosting a mission trip to Nada, Kentucky in October?

... How about the Village of Hope updates about the churches serving this summer?

Stay informed with CBFNC’s e-newsletter. Subscribe online at www.cbfnc.org today!

Upcoming Events ~

August 9, 2008

College Ministry Discussion

First Baptist Church, Greensboro

For details and registration information, see www.cbfnc.org. $15 registration due August 1.

Fellowship on the Move

September 22 - FBC Mount Airy

September 23 - FBC Rutherfordton

September 25 - FBC Weaverville

October 20 - FBC Bladenboro

October 21 - Edenton Baptist Church

Visit www.cbfnc.org to register and learn more. Register one week in advance.

September 19-21 or 26-28, 2008

Youth Fall Retreat

Myrtle Beach, SC

Deposit of $15 p/p due August 15. Register and learn more at www.cbfnc.org.

October 24-26, 2008

NC Mission Initiative

Eastern NC - Vance County, Warren County, Halifax County

Western NC - Rutherford County, Madison County

November 11, 2008

Fall Fellowship Dinner

First Baptist Church, Greensboro

Details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org.

Children’s Mission Day

November 8, 2008 - College Park

Baptist Church, Winston-Salem

November 15, 2008 - Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh

More information and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org.

January 23-25 or January 30-

February 1, 2009

Youth Ski Retreat

Winterplace, WV

Details coming soon to www.cbfnc.org. Register with CTI at 800-285-7273.

February 16-19, 2009

Staff Ministers’ Retreat

Myrtle Beach, SC

Formerly the Youth Ministers’ Retreat. Details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org.

March 6-8, 2009

Adult Spiritual Formation Retreat

Caraway Retreat Center, Asheboro

Details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org. Limited space available. Register by December 1.

March 13-14, 2009

Youth Choir Festival

First Baptist Church, Greensboro

Details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org.

March 20-21, 2009

CBFNC General Assembly

Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Fred Craddock

Details and registration coming soon to www.cbfnc.org.

July 2-3, 2009

CBF General Assembly

Houston, Texas

More information can be found at www.thefellowship.info.

The Gathering is published six times a year; mailed by the 5th of the month. All questions may be directed to Natalie Aho, 888-822-1944 or naho@cbfnc.org. For story submissions, contact Natalie Aho for requirements and newsletter deadlines.

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

8025 North Point Blvd., Suite 205 Winston-Salem, NC 27106

888-822-1944 www.cbfnc.org Return Service Requested

PERMIT NO. 162