The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - June–July 2007 by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

The Gathering

of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

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 Coordinator.

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.

Jack Causey

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

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

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

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

Endowment Management Board

A. G. Bullard, Raleigh

Joe Harris, Mocksville

Scott Hudgins, Winston-Salem

Drag Kimrey, Laurinburg

Tom Smith, Greensboro

Jack Causey ....Ministerial Resources Coordinator

Nancy Parks....Office Manager

Natalie Aho ....Communications Manager

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

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

Financial Report: April 2007 Contributions

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.

Gail McAlister .....Financial Assistant

Beth McGinley ....Office Assistant

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Heys,

Photo courtesy of CBF

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

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.”

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Nurturing Staff Leaders by Rick Jordan, Church Resources Coordinator

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

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

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.

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

July 10,

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.

November 2 - 4, 2007

Henderson - Littleton Area

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

Poverty in Our Own Backyard A

Friday evening orientation

Weekend of Missions in NC

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.

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!

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

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

Page 3

Up For a College Discussion?

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

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 ~

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.

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.

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

November 13, 2007

Fall Fellowship Gathering

First Baptist Church

Greensboro, NC

More information and registration coming soon.

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.

February 25-28, 2009

Youth Ministers’ Retreat

Beach Cove Resort

North Myrtle Beach, SC

More information and registration coming soon.