The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - June–July 2007

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry Volume 12, Issue 5

June/July 2007

CBF National General Assembly Washington, DC June 28-29, 2007

CBFNC State Meeting June 28, 3:45 p.m.

Join us at the National General Assembly for our North Carolina state meeting on Thursday, June 28. The Ministry and Coordinating Councils will share highlights from 2006-2007, and there will be plenty of time to fellowship!

CBFNC Names New Ministerial Resources Coordinator R. W. “Jack” Causey has been called to fill CBFNC’s newly established position of Ministerial Resources Jack Causey C o o r d i n a t o r.

He was introduced April 26, 2007, at the annual orientation retreat of the CBFNC Ministry and Coordinating Councils.

In 47 years of ministry, Causey served as pastor of several congregations in North and South Carolina, most recently as senior minister of First Baptist Church of Statesville, NC. Since his retirement from that congregation, he has been actively serving interim pastorates around the state and as Director of Services to Ministers for the Center for Congregational Health.

Throughout his long and successful ministry, Causey has been a leader in Baptist life in general, including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The Search Committee which recommended Causey to the Coordinating Council consisted of Gail Coulter, Hendersonville, CBFNC Moderator; David Hood, Hickory; Burke Holland, Belhaven; and Sheila Russ, WinstonSalem. Donald Horton, Zebulon, CBFNC Past Moderator and Larry Hovis, CBFNC Coordinator, served as ex officio members of the committee. They looked for a person who had significant pastoral experience, a broad network among North Carolina Baptists and extensive CBF involvement.

Causey’s duties (formerly fulfilled by Rick Jordan, current CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator) will include the following: aiding churches searching for ministers; assisting ministers searching for ministry positions; guiding new seminary graduates with ministry placement; and supporting congregations through interim ministry. He will also continue to coach ministers and serve as pastor/mentor for the Young Leaders’ Program through the

Center for Congregational Health.

“We are extremely excited to have Jack Causey joining the CBFNC staff to coordinate this important work,” said Hovis. “Jack will enable us to expand our current efforts in this ministry area by expanding our intentional, proactive reference and referral ministry for CBFNC that will assist churches experiencing ministerial transition from the time a ministerial vacancy occurs until a new minister is called and installed. Jack brings a wealth of ministry experience, tremendous credibility among North Carolina Baptists, and a passion for connecting ministers and churches. We feel blessed to have such a respected Baptist leader serve our Fellowship in this new capacity.”

Causey and his wife, Mary Lib, will continue to live in Statesville. He will begin his new ministry with CBFNC on June 1.

June/July 2007

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

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

Larry Hovis .......... Coordinator

Jack Causey .... Ministerial Resources Coordinator

Gail McAlister ..... Financial Assistant

Rick Jordan ......... Church Resources Coordinator

Nancy Parks.... Office Manager

Beth McGinley .... Office Assistant

Linda Jones......... Missions Coordinator

Natalie Aho .... Communications Manager

All email ............ firstinitiallastname@cbfnc.org

Coordinating Council Gail Coulter, Hendersonville, Moderator Greg Rogers, Greenville, Moderator-Elect Don Horton, Zebulon, Past Moderator Glenda Currin, Wilmington, Recorder Donna Bissette, Winston-Salem, Treasurer Carolyn Dickens, Raleigh Don Gordon, Durham Kathryn Hamrick, Shelby Steve Little, Marion Glenn Phillips, Goldsboro Roy Smith, Raleigh Bert Young, Bladenboro Janice Young, Whiteville

Faith Development Ministry Council Blythe Taylor, Charlotte, Chair Elizabeth Edwards, Nashville, Chair-Elect Jennifer Baxley, Henderson Cindy Joy, Oxford Rebecca Husband Maynard, Elkin Kristen Muse, Raleigh Kathy Naish, Hickory Jeff Pethel, Rolesville Tony Spencer, Forest City Allen Winters, Hillsborough

Missions Ministry Council Bill Jones, Newland, Chair Shirley Kool, Sylva, Chair-Elect Seth Asbill, Raleigh Cecelia Beck, Forest City Kenny Davis, Wise Jim Everette, Wilmington Carolyn Hopkins, Cary Christopher Ingram, Smithfield Judy LeCroy, Lexington Jack Watson, Apex

Leadership Development Ministry Council Steve Zimmerman, Mebane, Chair Burke Holland, Belhaven, Chair-Elect Mark Ashworth, Kernersville Kheresa Harmon, Erwin Scott Hovey, Durham Mike Jamison, Charlotte Jerry Richards, Apex Sheila Russ, Winston-Salem Karen Sherin, Oxford

CBF National Council Members from NC Sheri Adams, Boiling Springs Buddy Corbin, Asheville Scott Hagaman, Marion Don Horton, Zebulon Bill Ireland, Winston-Salem Crystal Leathers, Hickory Mickie Norman, Leland

Endowment Management Board A. G. Bullard, Raleigh Joe Harris, Mocksville Scott Hudgins, Winston-Salem Drag Kimrey, Laurinburg Tom Smith, Greensboro

Financial Report: April 2007 Contributions

CBFNC Budget - $62,827; Other - $78,948 2007-2008 Monthly Budget Goal: $76,255

Happy 5th CBFNC Anniversary to Rick Jordan!

You may notice a few things missing from our newsletter this month: articles from our coordinators. The focus this month is on you - our partnering churches. However, if you would still like to read a word or two from our staff, visit our website, www.cbfnc.org, and then News/ Views. Also, let us know what other resources we can provide.

2 • The Gathering – June/July 2007

Photo courtesy of CBF

Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant

On January 30 - February 1, 2008, the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant will be held in Atlanta, Georgia. Baptists from more than 30 organizations, including CBF, are expected to attend.

The three-day event will begin with a key keynote address by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The program will feature speakers and presenters who will address historic Baptist commitments and explore other opportunities to work

by Patricia Heys, CBF

together as Christian partners.

“The New Baptist Covenant Celebration promises to be a dramatic opportunity for the Baptist movement in our nation,” said Jimmy Allen, chair of the program committee. “The deep barriers of distrust created by racism, regionalism, sexism, materialism and theological dogmatism are being swept away. Reaching across these barriers are more than 20 million Baptists still connected in the North American Baptist Fellowship. They represent a new voice across ethnic and racial lines. They are reaching for new ways to work together in bringing good news to a suffering world. A new day for the Baptist witness is dawning.”

For the latest news and information about the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, go to www.newbaptistcovenant.org.

Year End Budget Report for 2006-2007 Repeating the phenomenal financial growth of the past two years, CBFNC once again celebrates strong giving to its ministries and those of our partners.

At its meeting on April 27, 2007, the Coordinating Council approved the yearend financial statement for the 2006-2007 budget year, ending on March 31, 2007.

Churches and individuals gave 103.6% of budget needs, an increase of 18.6% over the previous year. In addition, contributors more than doubled gifts over the previous year to designated (non-budget) causes, most of which was forwarded to partner

Nurturing Staff Leaders

by Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator

The vision of the Leadership Development Ministry Council is to “discover, nurture and sustain current and future ministerial staff leaders.”

One way this is done is by providing scholarships for persons studying for the ministry. Last year, $40,000 was distributed evenly to the four CBFNC-partnering Divinity Schools (Campbell, Duke, Gardner-Webb and Wake Forest). Those schools choose scholarship recipients who have strong potential for ministerial leadership

Scholarships Available In-State Theological Education: Campbell, Duke, GardnerWebb, and Wake Forest, talk to your school’s admissions office.

Out-of-State Theological Education: Visit our website www.cbfnc.org to download the application.

Fax or mail by June 22.

ministries through the Mission Resource Plan.

“Churches continue to look to CBFNC, in increasing measure, to be a vital, viable partner in helping them to discover and fulfill their God-given mission,” said Larry Hovis, CBFNC Coordinator. “Our financial health is one indicator of the trust congregations and other ministry partners are placing in our fellowship. We are grateful for the opportunity to help meet so many needs at this critical time in the mission of God.”

in our churches. One expectation of the recipient is that they will attend the state General Assembly (with CBFNC covering their expenses).

This year, David Odom of the Center for Congregational Health and I led in a pre- and a post-General Assembly discussion with the scholars. This gave the students a great time to meet one another, to compare experiences at their different schools and to learn more about the values and vision of CBFNC. Scholarships are also now available for students from North Carolina who are attending divinity schools outside of our state. Last year, we distributed $10,000 to seven students attending five schools in four other states.

Scholarship applications for the next school year are now available at our website or from our office and are due back by June 22, 2007.

Money is one tangible way to display support for these students who will lead our churches soon. We are also exploring creative ways of developing deeper relationships between students and CBF-oriented churches as well as with CBFNC. As we get to know our scholars, we are even more excited about our future.

2006-2007 Year-End Total CBFNC Contributions Budget: $813,465 Other: $857,755 Total: $1,671,220 2006-2007 Budget Goal: $785,000 Received: 103.6% 2005-2006 Total: $1,053,569

Up for a College Discussion?

Last year, over 40 persons gathered in Winston-Salem to discuss college ministries in our churches and on our campuses.

We left with some answers, some new friendships and some hope.

We will again meet to discuss this very important ministry on

August 4 at Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

We will have panel discussions as well as small group workshops, and we will announce a new “volunteer” staff member who will join the CBFNC staff for a year to help us focus on college ministry!

Visit the website, www.cbfnc.org, for updated information and to register.

There will be a $15 fee to cover the cost of your lunch and conference expenses. Register by July 27.

The Gathering – June/July 2007 • 3

Partnering Churches October 2005 - March 2007 Partnering churches for the eighteen months ending March 31, 2007 are listed below.

Churches contributing to CBFNC are listed in bold type. Churches that contribute to CBF National only are listed in regular type.

This list does not include churches who partner with CBFNC or CBF in other, non-financial ways and may not include churches who support CBF National through Plan C of the Baptist State Convention Cooperative Program Missions Budget, as this information is not consistently reported to CBF. 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 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 Mount Beulah ................. Bessemer City 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 First ................................. Burnsville First .................................. Butner Calypso ............................ Calypso Hominy ............................ Candler Greenwood Forest .......... Cary Westwood ........................ Cary Casar ............................... Casar North Wilmington Community .......................................... Castle Hayne Chadbourn ...................... Chadbourn Piney Forest ..................... Chadbourn Mount Carmel ................ Chapel Hill North Chapel Hill........... Chapel Hill 4 • The Gathering – June/July 2007

University ........................ Chapel Hill 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 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 First ................................. Elizabeth City First ................................. Elkin Elm City .......................... Elm City First ................................. Elon Emerald Isle.................... Emerald Isle Antioch ............................ Enfield Enfield ............................. Enfield Enka ................................ Enka Fair Bluff......................... Fair Bluff First ................................. Fairmont The Chapel Door ............ Fairview First ................................. Farmville Cedar Falls ...................... Fayetteville First ................................. Fayetteville Lafayette ......................... Fayetteville Lake Lynn ....................... Fayetteville Mount Pisgah.................. Fayetteville

Snyder Memorial............ Fayetteville First ................................. Forest City Florence ........................... Forest City Mount Vernon................. Forest City First ................................. Four Oaks Pauline............................. Four Oaks Burningtown ................... Franklin First .................................. Franklin Franklinton ..................... Franklinton Baptist Fellowship .......... Fuquay-Varina 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

Partnering Churches October 2005 - March 2007 Hobbsville ....................... Hobbsville First ................................. Huntersville Lake Norman ................... Huntersville Jackson ............................. Jackson First ................................. Jonesville First ................................. Kannapolis First ................................. Kernersville Main Street ....................... Kernersville Union Cross .................... Kernersville 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 ................................. Mooresville First ................................. Morehead City First ................................. Morganton Calvary ............................ Mount Airy First ................................. Mount Airy Flat Rock .......................... Mount Airy Haymore Memorial ........ 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 Union Grove..................... Oak Ridge Enon ................................ Oxford Hester .............................. Oxford Oxford ............................. Oxford Roberts Chapel ............... Pendleton Mount Gilead.................. Pittsboro Pittsboro ........................... Pittsboro First ................................. Plymouth Polkville........................... Polkville Hephzibah ........................ Princeton Athens Drive .................... Raleigh First ................................. Raleigh Forest Hills ...................... Raleigh Greystone ........................ Raleigh Hayes Barton .................. Raleigh Hillcrest ............................ Raleigh HomeStar Fellowship..... Raleigh Hope Fellowship ............. Raleigh Longview ......................... Raleigh Macedonia ........................ Raleigh New Community .............. Raleigh New Hope ........................ Raleigh Ridge Road ..................... Raleigh St. John’s ........................ Raleigh Tabernacle....................... Raleigh Temple.............................. Raleigh Triangle ........................... Raleigh Trinity.............................. Raleigh First .................................. Red Springs Calvary ............................ Reidsville 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 .................................. Wallace First Fellowship .............. Wallburg Warrenton ....................... Warrenton First ................................. Washington First ................................. Waynesville First ................................. Weaverville The Summit .................... Webster Crossroads Fellowship ... Weldon Baptist Tabernacle ............ Wendell Wendell ............................ Wendell First ................................. West Jefferson Little Helton ..................... West Jefferson Fishing Creek.................. Whitakers Hickory ............................ Whitakers First ................................. Whiteville Mount Zion ..................... Whiteville New Hope ........................ Whiteville Wilkesboro ...................... Wilkesboro First ................................. Wilmington Masonboro ...................... Wilmington Temple.............................. Wilmington Winter Park .................... Wilmington First ................................. Wilson Five Points ....................... Wilson Wingate ........................... Wingate The Gathering – June/July 2007 • 5

Partnering Churches Ardmore .......................... Winston-Salem College Park ................... Winston-Salem Covenant ......................... Winston-Salem Fellowship ....................... Winston-Salem First ................................. Winston-Salem Knollwood ....................... Winston-Salem Mineral Springs................ Winston-Salem Northwest ........................ Winston-Salem Peace Haven.................... Winston-Salem United............................... Winston-Salem Wake Forest .................... Winston-Salem Westview ......................... 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.

We Need Your Ideas!

One of the primary purposes of CBFNC is to serve as a resource for churches. We would like to feature different and unique church ministries, mission trips and activities in our upcoming newsletters and on our website.

If you feel your church has a ministry, mission or activity that would be valuable for our fellowship to learn about, send us a description (please have a church staff member approve the article first). Articles should be no longer than 360 words and need to include the church’s name and city, main staff member who oversees the activity, and a contact person with phone or email. Remember to explain how this ministry, mission experience or activity is meaningful to your congregation. Pictures are desired! Send articles to Natalie Aho at naho@cbfnc.org anytime throughout the year.

Also, are you planning to take a mission trip this summer? Visit www.cbfnc.org, then Mission Resources, to find helpful articles for your preparation. When you return, send us a report about where you went and how you were challenged. You can also upload your own pictures to our website on the Missions Photo Gallery.

6 • The Gathering – June/July 2007

Returning with More It doesn’t matter where my family and I travel or the length of our trip, we always seem to return with more than we were carrying when we left home. My two younger children stuff their pockets and our vehicle with rocks, sand, dead bugs and assorted food items – all things we left home without. My older kids bring back souvenir knickknacks and t-shirts.

And, we all return with new memories and experiences.

I’ve come to realize the same is true with youth retreats. This year the crowd from Hominy Baptist in Candler, NC gathered on Friday, April 27th to attend CBFNC’s annual Spring Youth Retreat. The youth weren’t able to load their gear immediately (we had to wait for the church bus to bring another group home from another trip). As we patiently waited, I noticed how neat their bags and belongings looked – everything appeared to be in order, and once we loaded, everything fit just right.

But, coming home with youth is so much like returning home with family. Clothes hung out of luggage that wouldn’t close completely. The bus floor needed to be raked when we pulled into the church parking lot.

Where did all this stuff come from?

Now, the trash has been tossed, the bus cleaned, the clothes all washed and order restored. Still the youth carry more than they did when they left for this year’s Spring Retreat. After a week or so they appear to vaguely recall the call to “Shine.” But, they will never forget the sacred fellowship they shared in small groups or just hanging out. They will always remember how this weekend seemed a little more holy than some of their other weekends.

And as long as they are able to, the youth will do just what our families do – they will crave and set aside those special times to participate in the sacred because they always seem to return with more than they were carrying when they left home. That’s a good thing. ~Rev. Trey Doyle, Associate Pastor, Hominy Baptist Church, Candler

CBFNC Youth Day at Emerald Pointe Water Park Greensboro, NC July 10, 2007 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Cost includes all-day admission and a picnic lunch.

For youth in grades 6-12 only.

Visit www.emeraldpointe.com for water park features. $30 per person due by June 22.

Register at www.cbfnc.org.

NC Missions Initiative . . . For the Whole Family!

November 2 - 4, 2007 Henderson - Littleton Area Poverty in Our Own Backyard A Weekend of Missions in NC Friday evening orientation

Saturday devotional, work at job sites, evening reflection/celebration

Sunday morning worship

Visit www.cbfnc.org for a video and details (lodging, projects and registration).

Sponsoring churches: First Baptist Church, Henderson, Littleton Baptist Church, Warrenton Baptist Church, and Wise Baptist Church all in partnership with CBFNC!

Littleton Baptist Church and our regional churches are excited about the opportunity of hosting families and churches from across our state to assist those in our community affected by generational poverty. This long-standing problem leaves families “stuck” with few options and little hope. So much of our community lives in poor housing and lacks the education, transportation, and available jobs to significantly improve their life situations. Our vision through this November Initiative is to bring renewed hope to these families as well as to the churches and relief agencies trying to make a difference one by one.

In a recent regional missions initiative, volunteers changed the entire look of the John 3:16 Center, an agency in Littleton, with landscaping, painting and general clean up and improvements. What an encouragement this was to those working in the front lines of poverty and to our local volunteers who work tirelessly to make a difference. Our volunteers ended

the missions initiative day very tired, yet encouraged that they had made a big difference in their community in Jesus’ name. You can too! Join us! ~ Rev. Mike Currin, Pastor, Littleton Baptist Church The goodness of our mission work in Henderson really exists on two levels.

The first level is the obvious one: families are fed, children are given the tools they need to get a better education, and people are given the shelter that they deserve as children of God (this last one was evident as we patched that leaky roof at Greater Little Zion and gave Lifeline a new paint job). The second level is less obvious but perhaps more important. It is good for our church members to work with people of different races and economic levels because that is what Heaven is going to look like. As people whose cry is “Come, Lord Jesus!,” we need to start working on these issues in the here and now.

Poverty is pervasive here in Henderson.

We’re seventh (out of 100) in the state in unemployment; we have over 12% of our community living without a ninthgrade education (and less than 8% who have graduated from college); we have 80% - 90% of our children relying on the free and reduced lunch programs at their schools (which begs the question as to how they eat in the summer months); 12% of our households are single mothers raising children; the list goes on. If we let it, our task really could be paralyzing.

Thankfully, though, with the help of CBFNC and our local partners, we’re working to address it.

When we meet people who are genuinely poor, we see the overwhelming monolith of “poverty” break down into individual stories. It becomes this single mother who can’t keep a job because she doesn’t have any access to childcare, and another single mother who can’t keep a job because she doesn’t have any reliable transportation.

We learn of this man who is really trying to come clean off of an addiction but can’t get his feet up under him because he doesn’t have any sort of support structure.

Because he doesn’t have any hope, he decides to turn back to the comfort of a bottle. “Poverty” becomes real people who live in real homes with no heat or inadequate plumbing facilities. When we meet individuals, we learn that we can

“If we let it, our task could be paralyzing.

Thankfully, though, with the help of CBFNC, we’re working to address poverty.” help them because they have concrete issues that God has gifted us to address.

We also learn that incorrigibility isn’t the only ill that plagues the poor.

This is the best gift that we can offer those who come and stand alongside us November 2-4. They will go home with new eyes through which to see needs, to see poor people not as lazy or as threatening but as people with real needs and hopes and struggles and identities as children of God. ~ Rev. B.J. Hutto, Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church, Henderson Come work with us and leave a changed people!

The Gathering – June/July 2007 • 7

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

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

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In This June/July 2007 Edition ~ Page 1 CBFNC Names New Ministerial Resources Coordinator Page 3 Year End Budget Report Page 3 Nurturing Staff Leaders

by Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator

Pages 4-6 Partnering Churches Page 6 Returning with More

by Trey Doyle Page 7 NC Missions Initiative...For the Whole Family!

by Mike Currin and B.J. Hutto

Page 3 Up For a College Discussion?

The Gathering is published ten 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.

Upcoming Events ~ November 13, 2007 Fall Fellowship Gathering First Baptist Church Greensboro, NC More information and registration coming soon.

June 28-29, 2007 CBF National General Assembly Washington, DC CBFNC meeting June 28, 3:45 p.m.

Visit the CBF website to pre-register at www.thefellowship.info.

July 10, 2007 Emerald Pointe Water Park Greensboro, NC Cost is $30 per person.

Balance due June 22.

Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information and to register.

August 4, 2007 College Discussion Greystone Baptist Church Raleigh, NC Cost is $15 per person.

Registration due July 27.

Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information and to register.

September 7-9 or 21-23, 2007 Youth Fall Retreats Sea Palms Motel Myrtle Beach, SC Cost is $105 per person.

Non-refundable deposit of $15 per person due August 1, 2007. Balance due August 17. Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information.

January 25-27 or February 1-3, 2008 Youth Ski Retreat Winterplace, WV Cost before upgrades is $149 per person. Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information.

Call CTI at 800-285-7273 or email Tim Wilson at twilson@skicti.com to register.

November 2-4, 2007 NC Missions Initiative Henderson/Littleton Area Visit www.cbfnc.org for further details and to register. See page 7 for more information.

February 25-28, 2009 Youth Ministers’ Retreat Beach Cove Resort North Myrtle Beach, SC More information and registration coming soon.