of the Word DOERS Be
BEING DOERS OF THE WORD
By Larry Hovis CBFNC Executive Coordinator
This article is the first in a series on CBFNC’s Three Overarching Commitments.
In this issue we focus on A Commitment to Engagement:
“Be Doers of the word” (James 1:22)
We seek to be engaged with the world and with our communities. We want to follow the foremost commandment of Jesus to love God with all we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27). CBFNC desires to assist congregations and Christians in discovering and fulfilling their divinely-appointed mission. Our greatest potential for engagement is through the incarnational living of the member of every congregation. We want to connect followers of Jesus who share a common missional calling and passion. We envision a future for CBFNC that focuses on the mission of God in the world. We desire to be agents of God’s love for connecting Christians and congregations to that mission and encouraging them in their ministries.
Holistic Engagement
The Missional Church
In 2004, the year CBFNC celebrated its tenth anniversary, the Coordinating Council led our fellowship in a strategic planning process. The Council enlisted Jack Glasgow, pastor of Zebulon Baptist Church (at that time) to chair the process. The final plan had the title, “Being the Presence of Christ: The Missional Church.” The introduction to the plan quoted CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal: “Now is the time for individual Christians and churches to discern God’s mission in the world and discover their participation in it.”
Thus began CBFNC’s decade-long commitment to equipping churches to be missional; that is, not simply passively waiting for people to come to church, but engaging with their communities and therefore participating directly in God’s ongoing mission in the world.
20th Anniversary Vision Team
Fast-forward a decade. The missional church concept caught on with many churches and their members. In preparation for CBFNC’s 20th anniversary in 2014, the Coordinating Council appointed a Vision Team to develop a framework for CBFNC’s third decade. Chaired by Guy Sayles, pastor of First Baptist Asheville (at that time), the team conducted listening sessions around the state and developed “Three Overarching Commitments” and “Four Areas of Focus.”
The team’s report stated: “Drawing on our heritage and history, honoring our identity, values, and mission, acknowledging our strengths and growing edges, and trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Vision Team believes that CBFNC will participate in God’s mission by pursuing three overarching commitments,” including the commitment to engagement.
Missionally-Engaged Churches
In some ways, the 20th Anniversary Vision process was simply capturing what was already happening in the vast majority of partner congregations. The theology of the missional church, engaged in its community and world, had taken hold.
This was illustrated in 2015 when Seth Hix, a CBFNC divinity student intern then, conducted a research project. Seth interviewed around 100 church leaders: pastors, associate ministers and lay leaders. He asked a series of questions about their churches and their involvement in Cooperative Baptist life. A key discovery was that most churches had shifted their identity from being purely attractional to being intentionally missional. They were actively engaged in missional ministries in their communities and around the globe. A significant portion of their people understood that discipleship required active engagement, not only inside the walls of the church, but perhaps even more so outside the walls of the church. Folks told Seth that if there was weakness, it was that their robust ministries often failed to lead to close relationships with the recipients of these ministries and they were not being assimilated into the life of the congregation.
Being Doers of the Word,
Healthy Engagement Requires Balance
During the last 10 years, we have learned that our extreme emphasis on engagement has, at times, led to a church and a fellowship that is out of balance. Just as a weight lifter would not exercise only one part of the body, neither should the church. A healthy church’s engagement with God’s mission requires missional activity, to be sure, but those activities must be matched by other dimensions, including:
Prayer and Spiritual Formation
Worship and Community
Outreach and Evangelism
Advocacy and Public Witness
Stewardship and Administration
Thriving Churches and Pastors
Today, we realize that healthy engagement in God’s mission requires thriving churches led by thriving leaders,
News & Notes Staff Updates
starting with pastors. Aging, declining congregations with crumbling facilities, inadequate financial resources and over-stressed pastors simply cannot pursue a healthy engagement with God’s mission in the world.
Thankfully, Lilly Endowment Inc. has seen CBFNC as a worthy investment and it has funded two key programs: Helping Pastors Thrive and Helping Churches Thrive. We believe these programs are not ends in themselves, but a means to a greater end: the healthy engagement of God’s churches in God’s mission in the world.
Our fellowship has learned much about engagement over our three decades. Engagement in God’s mission in the world is the purpose of the church. But engagement must be holistic. Healthy engagement requires a healthy, thriving church with healthy, thriving leaders. It’s not either/or, but both/and.
CBFNC is excited to announce that Marc Wyatt joined our staff as Welcome House Raleigh ministries director earlier this year. Marc is no stranger to CBFNC and CBF life, having served as CBF field personnel since 1996. He retired from his role as CBF field personnel at the end of January and began his new role with CBFNC on February 1, 2025.
As Welcome House Raleigh ministries director, Marc’s duties include:
• Management of Welcome House Raleigh staff and properties.
• Mentorship and supervision of interns including CBF Student Serve personnel.
• Missional discipleship through cross-cultural training for individuals and local churches.
For 29 years, Marc and his wife, Kim (who remains in her role as CBF field personnel) served in ministry with immigrants and refugees in Canada and North Carolina. In partnership with CBFNC, they founded Welcome House Raleigh and the Welcome Network. As a signature missions ministry of CBFNC, the Welcome Network empowers, connects and inspires local congregations to engage in ministries of welcome with vulnerable populations in their communities. Welcome House Raleigh is the oldest and largest expression of the Welcome Network. Connect with Marc at mkwyatt@cbfnc.org.
REJ Team Awards February 1 Grant
In 2024, CBFNC’s Racial Equity & Justice (REJ) team created the February 1 grant as a way to encourage and support student events at CBFNC partner campuses to commemorate the legacy of the “Greensboro Four” during Black History Month. This year, the team graciously awarded a February 1 grant to sponsor the Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship (CBSF) visit to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro in conjunction with the CBSF weekend retreat. The grant covered the students’ admission fees as well as an opportunity for fellowship afterward. Thanks to the REJ team’s generosity, 14 students and five ministers were able to attend this significant experience.
Students explored the museum’s powerful exhibits, including the historic Woolworth’s lunch counter where the “Greensboro Four,” students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), led a pivotal sit-in protest on February 1, 1960.
Marc Wyatt
Meet Our New Moderator
“10 Questions with Marion Horton”
Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?
I don’t have a hidden talent. I am very much a “what you see is what you get” kind of person.
What do you do to “refill your tank”/recharge?
I am admittedly on the quiet and reserved side, but spending time with loved ones, soaking in their presence, talking and laughing helps to “fill my tank.” I don’t leave home without my Kindle (or Nook or an actual book). Reading is the primary way that I disconnect from stress and recharge. Hence, the reason that I prefer not to read suspense, thriller or mystery; give me a “happily-ever-after” story any day of the week.
What book are you reading now or have you recently read?
I just started “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. Usually, you will find me with my Kindle (I don’t leave home without it) reading historical fiction.
Where was the last place you visited?
My husband and I just returned from a quick trip to Washington, D.C. We had the opportunity to tour the Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol, the Baptist Joint Committee offices, National Archives and Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Name something that makes you happy.
Without a doubt, my boys; my husband and two grown sons are what bring me the most joy. Seeing Don, Nathaniel and Ethan excel and be recognized for their unique talents makes my heart soar. While I may have mixed feelings about not being able to spend time with both of my sons like I would like to now that they are grown, knowing that they are becoming such amazing, talented and productive adults makes me so happy.
During the CBFNC Annual Gathering in March, Marion Horton was elected to serve as the new moderator of the Coordinating Council. She has served CBFNC on the Coordinating Council and has been serving as moderator-elect for the past two years. Marion is a lay leader in Zebulon Baptist Church in Zebulon where she has served as the church’s moderator, an administrative deacon, a congregational care deacon and ministry team deacon. She is active in the ZBC Ladies’ Bible study group and her Sunday school class. As a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, she is a proud Tar Heel. Marion is married to Don Horton, Jr. and they have two adult sons, Nathaniel and Ethan.
Name something most people don’t know about you.
Musical theatre is a passion of mine. In high school, I developed a love for performing in musical productions. Given the chance, I will choose a classic musical to attend.
Also, before I had children, I was a bit of a daredevil. I have ridden in an open cockpit stunt biplane. I’m so glad that I did it, but once is enough!
What’s been your favorite band/musician?
Chicago is my all-time favorite band. My Apple Music playlists have an eclectic mix of 80’s pop, musical theatre scores, classical, country, classic rock and occasionally rap.
How would your friends describe you?
I actually asked a couple of close friends to describe me and their responses were hilarious. One friend said that I was always up for shenanigans and laughter. Another friend said that I was our group’s moral compass (I’m not sure what this says about that group of friends). They all agreed that I am not the instigator, but am always up for an adventure. Apparently, my friends think that I am trustworthy with secrets and a talented cheerleader of others.
What’s on your bucket list?
I love to travel and have traveled quite a bit within the U.S. but I have a few things to check off my list: Alaska and Badlands. I also look forward to doing some European traveling. The United Kingdom and the Christmas markets in Germany are top of my list.
What are you looking forward to as moderator of CBFNC?
I am very much looking forward to getting to know more people within CBFNC and CBF Global. Over the past several years, serving on the Coordinating Council has afforded me the opportunity to meet and get to know truly remarkable people from across the state. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the people and churches of CBFNC as we continue to find ways to cooperate, work together and fellowship with each other as we share God’s love in our communities and state.
The Impact of Being an Encourager Church
One day in September of 2018, a woman in obvious pain sat with her young child beside another woman, an older woman whom she did not know. She had heard about this Women’s Ministry meeting and had come today. At the end of this meeting, she sat beside this older woman and shared her struggles. She asked for prayer. The conversation shared by these two women was made possible through a translator; one woman only spoke Farsi and the other only spoke English. The connection felt between two women who had just met was made possible through God. I was the older woman.
by
filled with many different ethnic, religious and political groups that make up both the Lebanese citizens and the refugees from the surrounding countries.
I had an opportunity to see firsthand the firm reliance on God that Maha and Chaouki practice on a day-to-day basis. It was a humbling experience for me to see their daily challenges and compare these to mine. They never faltered in their beliefs that God would meet their needs and the needs of their ministries.
First Baptist Hillsborough has been an Encourager Church for Maha and Chaouki Boulos, CBF field personnel who served in Lebanon until their retirement earlier this year. I went on my first mission trip outside of the United States to visit them in Beirut, Lebanon. Our mission team had come to observe and participate in the ministries our church had pledged to support. It was an opportunity to experience firsthand the struggles, joys, challenges and impact the Bouloses were making in such a volatile part of the world. That is an area
While in Lebanon, I was fortunate to participate in a women’s meeting, help prepare and distribute food packages, assist with a dental clinic, attend a twoday, city-wide Celebrate Jesus event and participate in a renewal retreat for local church leaders. The people and experiences had quite an impact on my faith and how I now look at missions.
The Encourager Church model offers many benefits for field personnel, local churches and individuals. For me, it deepened my trust in the “God who provides” for His people and who works in wondrous ways across our world. It helped me see God’s love and mercy as He used His servants to heal hearts and hurts, some of which were unimaginable to me. It connected me to people in the larger world in a way that only God could.
As I prayed with the woman I met on my first day in Beirut, I felt something different. I still do. I felt like I was part of God’s work in a way that was very different from other “mission” experiences. I am very grateful for that experience.
You can learn more about becoming an Encourager Church at cbf.net/global-missions/encourager-church or contact Ellen Sechrest, CBF’s director of Mission Engagement, at (esechrest@cbf.net).
Cherie Bevill Laity at First Baptist Hillsborough
Chaouki Boulos signs the Encourager Church covenant and Cherie Bevill assists with a dental clinic in Lebanon.
A Sense of BELONGING
IBelow is a reflection shared by a young Afghan woman who was a recent guest of Welcome House Raleigh. She arrived in our country and state just days before the widespread changes to U.S. immigration policies.
am a girl from Afghanistan—a war-torn country, yet rich in culture, literature, poetry and art. A country that could never truly be my homeland. A country where being a girl can feel like the worst fate in life.
I remember well just five years ago, I was free and happy. I was a journalist. I could work, travel and dream without fear.
But everything changed in a single night. August 14, 2021 is a day I will never forget. That night, my goals, my dreams and the life I had built were destroyed.
I lived under Taliban rule in Afghanistan for more than a year. I know firsthand how suffocating and brutal it is. I remember the day a Taliban soldier stopped me on the street because I wasn’t wearing a mask. He insulted me and warned me to cover my face. I remember the day they stormed our office, forcing me to hide in the bathroom, trembling in silence.
But all of these humiliations, insults and threats came down to one thing: I was a woman. And worse than that, I was a female journalist. It was there that I first felt the deep and piercing pain of discrimination.
Eventually, the threats became unbearable. I had no choice but to leave, to escape. I left Afghanistan with a thousand fears and dangers chasing me, seeking refuge in a foreign land.
Immigration has its own struggles, but it is also an opportunity. A chance to meet new people, learn new cultures, embrace new languages and walk through the pages of history in new places.
In the last two years, I have traveled to many countries: Pakistan, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium. I lived in France for over a year, collecting some of my most beautiful memories in the most beautiful city in the world: Paris.
But even in this new life, something weighed on me heavily. One thing hurt more than I expected. Discrimination. Yes, more than anything else, it was discrimination that made me suffer in a country like France.
It may be unfair to say this but it is my personal experience. The way many French people looked at me, as if they were always above me. As if I could never truly belong. I was constantly made to feel that I would never be like them, that no matter how hard I tried, France could never be my home.
Even in the newsroom where I worked as a journalist, I saw the differences in treatment. Time and time again, I noticed how my employer treated me differently from my French colleagues.
Then, one day, I asked myself: why not become an immigrant in the land of immigrants?
The opportunity to come to America presented itself, and I knew I had to take it. I had to start fresh, in a place where so many others had come to rebuild their lives. Even though I had an official position as a journalist in France, I made my decision. I chose a new path.
When I arrived in America, my hopes became reality. When my confidence grew, so did my belief in myself, my talents and my abilities.
When I saw a Christian raise his hands in prayer for me, a Muslim, I felt a new kind of acceptance.
When I saw that the church gives me a place to live and the mosque gives me food, I felt the true meaning of honor and humanity.
When I heard an American say, “You have the right to live and find peace in this land,” I felt a sense of belonging.
When I realized that Americans saw me not as an immigrant, but as a human being, I felt valued.
When I saw people moved by my suffering, saddened by the hardships I had endured, I knew I’m not alone.
When I saw kindness, compassion and a willingness to help in any way possible, my heart felt lighter.
When I saw women who were from different nationalities and even from different races, but we had common pains, I felt understood.
When they promised me solidarity, I felt a sense of strength and unity.
When I saw that they wanted me to integrate into society, to grow, to improve, I found the motivation to move forward.
Now, the situation has completely changed. The land once built by immigrants has now closed its gates to them. Whether Ukrainian, Arab, Afghan, Hindu or any other nationality. And unfortunately, I sense the familiar scent of discrimination once again.
But this time, I am relieved to know that it is not among the people. It lingers only in the halls of power, where a few make decisions that shape the fate of many. And this time, I am counting on those people who believe in democracy and freedom of speech; those who will stand with me, step by step. People who value authenticity and humanity. People whom the world will one day recognize and appreciate for their kindness and integrity.
Thank You to Larry for 20 Years of Leadership
For the past two decades, Larry Hovis has served as CBFNC’s executive coordinator. His insightful guidance and invaluable wisdom have helped lead this organization through ordinary days as well as the trials of a world-wide pandemic and several natural disasters in our state. Larry has been an innovative, visionary leader through important milestones. With unending energy, Larry, and his wife, Kim, have shown consistent, loving commitment to the people of North Carolina.
While leading CBFNC, Larry has been a pastor and mentor to hundreds of ministers; friend and advisor to countless people across the state and nation; and an invaluable resource to churches. With a smile and uncanny astuteness, Larry has been the leader that CBFNC has needed for 20 years. Larry is CBFNC!
There are times when a simple “thank you” is not enough to convey the level of appreciation that we have for Larry and his servant leadership, but it is the straight-forward way we must use to express our deep appreciation for all he has done and continues to do.
Where Grief and Gratitude
Both Reside
The Rollins Community has existed quietly for generations along the French Broad River in Madison County. For as long as they have lived there, the people have lived with the threat of the river leaving its banks and jeopardizing their homes. They are accustomed to the river inching its way across the street and lapping dangerously close, but nothing prepared them for the power and speed of Hurricane Helene’s wind and rain last September.
As soon as the waters receded, owners, neighbors and strangers began to assess the damage, wheelbarrow out mud, tear up flooring and haul out mattresses and priceless memories. Few structures escaped significant damage.
Tommy Justus, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist Church, met Mary Jane the day after the flood. He took a group of students from Mars Hill University to do whatever needed doing. Thankfully, the weather was a balmy autumn day, making the chaos around them even more pronounced. Volunteers were in constant motion while many of the older people sat out in their yards surrounded by the soggy remains of their possessions.
Tommy has learned that people who have experienced trauma need the space to talk about what they have been through. While they appreciate the help, they are often so overwhelmed by their experience that they are incapable of knowing what to do next or even how to respond.
When he began talking to Mary Jane, she kept mentioning how she wanted to save her Princess House crystal she had been collecting for years. To most people, that
would seem like a trivial thing to fixate on; but grief is like that. Often, one thing represents the sum of all that is lost.
Mary Jane’s desire to save her crystal collectibles lingered with Tommy after the team returned home. At church the following day, he asked if I had any plastic tubs he could use and if I would go over to Rollins to take care of a matter and bring as much packing paper as I had.
Driving over to Mary Jane’s house, he explained why we were going to pack up and save these seemingly frivolous items in light of all that she had lost. He reminded me that when something happens that upends someone’s life, there are multiple avenues of help. Some people will come in and want to restore everything to how it was before the
By Wanda Kidd Helene Disaster Response Director
Scenes of the devastation caused by flooding from Hurricane Helene last year in Madison County.
storm, and others will help by funding the needs. Still, a vital role that is needed is the person who will listen to the people who are impacted and start with the small thing that is foremost on their mind. That is what will help them move forward, if only by a small step.
My first sighting of Mary Jane’s house told of her overwhelming loss. We got out and went to speak to three women sitting under a canopy tent: Mary Jane and two of her friends. All around her were pieces of her life, pictures and other odds and ends. They appeared oblivious to all the activity around them. They were cordial but not ready to engage in chit-chat.
When we went inside, her floors were buckling, the sheet rock was beginning to mold, and people were moving her appliances out to the pile of wreckage by the road. In the corner stood two display cases.
The display cases were ruined, but inside was piece after piece of crystal bowls, pitchers, candle holders and commemorative ornaments, all baptized with or holding flood water from the French Broad River. Because it was important to Mary Jane, we carefully emptied the water and wrapped up her prized glassware for better days. We labeled them and told her friends where they were. Mary Jane had taken a walk; her grief was palpable. The Princess Crystal was just a talisman of what she had lost.
Natural disasters not only destroy things, but they devastate the people in the way. They are forever changed. Hurricane Helene and the Flood of 2024 left more than watermarks on buildings; it left watermarks on people, towns, and the region.
Listening to their stories without judgment or requiring them to be concise or orderly is crucial to the grieving process. The people left in a disaster’s wake do not always have words to express their gratitude and their grief in a neat and orderly way. That is how trauma works. When we help, we do so without expecting an “in-the-moment” reward.
They do not need us to be their savior. They need someone to walk with them through this valley filled with the unknown. We can do that. Thanks be to God.
FAMILY MEALS FOR THE MOUNTAINS
Food will be scarce for many families in the mountains this summer. To help with this, CBFNC is coordinating a food and snack distribution effort. We have 10 sites that will distribute food to people from Spruce Pine to Canton and Hendersonville. Each site will research through schools, the Department of Social Services (DSS) or neighborhood ministries to identify 10 families with children who are expected to experience food insecurity this summer. In addition to the food, there will be backpacks for each of the children, which will include snacks, reading material and Bible school worksheets.
How You Can Help:
• Pray for those helping with this initiative and for the people in WNC.
• Small teams who are able to travel to Mars Hill Baptist in Mars Hill in July are needed to help load boxes.
• Snacks for the backpacks each week. We will supply a list and instructions.
If you or your church would like to help in either way, please contact Wanda Kidd, Helene disaster response director at DR@cbfnc.org or 828-507-5723.
Thanks to those who contributed to the Annual Gathering offering and a generous grant from CBF Global for helping to make this endeavor possible.
Faith in Action: How Morning Light Church Is Uplifting the Latino Community
2025 arrived with an icy grip, quite literally. At Morning Light Church, we rejoiced when the snow covered our parking lot, turning it into a winter wonderland. But that excitement faded when we had to cancel Sunday services due to the dangerously slick conditions. What seemed like a frustrating inconvenience at first turned out to be a divine pause; one that allowed us to focus on a deeper crisis unfolding in our community.
A new government directive had been issued: ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents could now enter places of worship to detain undocumented immigrants. Suddenly, what had always been a place of refuge, healing and hope became a place of uncertainty and fear.
As a Latina pastor leading a church and a nonprofit, I felt the weight of this reality deeply. Morning Light Church was never just about preaching sermons on Sunday. It has always been about community, justice and the sacred act of survival. This new reality forced us to reimagine safety and sanctuary for our people.
Faith, Fear and Finding Strength in Stories
Rather than gathering in our sanctuary, we found ourselves sitting around dinner tables in our congregants’ homes. Over plates of warm food, families opened their hearts, sharing their worries, dreams and unwavering faith:
• A mother from Venezuela explained how her children had no future in her home country; no path to college, no job prospects and no hope.
• A father who had lived in the U.S. for over a decade without even a traffic ticket expressed his fear of being deported and separated from his family despite his years of hard work, tax payments and community contributions.
• One woman simply said, “We risked everything to be here because we believed in a better future for our children.”
These were not stories of lawbreakers. These were testimonies of resilience, of families who built their lives with integrity, only to have the narrative twisted against them.
Faith in Action: Creating a Community of Trust
We knew that our response needed to be more than prayers and encouragement. It needed to be active resistance and empowerment. So, we hosted legal rights workshops after church, bringing in resources from CBF North Carolina to
By Rebeca Segebre
ensure that families knew their protections under the law.
But this was not a legal conversation; it was a space for faith and trust. We ate together, shared testimonies and reminded one another that while governments and policies change, God’s love and justice remain steadfast.
Through this, our church became more than a place of worship. It became a sanctuary of knowledge, empowerment and hope.
Faith and Economic Justice: The Work of Expand University Business Initiative
While Morning Light Church addresses spiritual and social issues, another arm of our ministry is economic empowerment. Our Expand University Business Initiative was created to ensure that Latino entrepreneurs are given the tools, support and visibility they need.
In January, we faced a major test: would the Latino business community continue to engage after the uncertainty surrounding the presidential administration change? Some of our partners feared that attendance would drop, that Latino entrepreneurs would pull away from public spaces and opportunities.
But we believed in our community’s resilience.
At our first 2025 Conexión Empresarial (Business Connection) monthly gathering on January 28, over 30 Latino business owners gathered at the Central Library in Winston-Salem for an evening of learning and networking. It was a declaration of faith and commitment to growth. This moment restored our partners’ trust and reaffirmed the importance of offering business education in Spanish.
Aparicio Co-Pastor of Iglesia Morning Light Church, Clemmons
Victor and Rebeca Segebre Aparicio, pastors of Morning Light Church in Clemmons.
By February, our momentum grew. Our Conexión Empresarial meeting that month doubled in size with over 65 Latino business owners in attendance!
This meeting was groundbreaking because it provided access to city contracts and government opportunities, which are areas where Latinos have historically been excluded. The City of Winston-Salem shared practical steps for Latino entrepreneurs to do business with the city, challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers.
Additionally, I had the privilege of interviewing last year’s winner of the Minority Business Grant, who, with our help wrote the winning proposal and is also a graduate of
JOIN THE NEXT COHORT
June 1-July 19
Application Period
cbfnc.org/helpingchurchesthrive
Embark on a nine-month journey alongside fellow CBFNC congregations. The most comprehensive HCT initiative, cohorts are designed to identify, celebrate and cultivate the attributes of thriving churches. Cohorts feature an opening retreat, monthly calls with notable authors and practitioners, church-wide workshops, a creative ministry endeavor funded by a grant, and a closing celebration retreat.
our Expand University program. This success story ignited hope in the room, proving that financial empowerment is possible when communities are given the right tools and support.
Faith and Business: A God-Given Mission
What happened between January and February was not just about business; it was about faith. For a moment, we worried about the future. Would we be able to continue these programs? Would partners lose faith in our vision? The uncertainty was real.
But God provided direction every step of the way.
Proverbs 16:3 reminds us: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
Through faith, dedication and trust in God’s provision, we are creating economic justice helping the Latino community support their families with dignity.
At Morning Light Church, we are called to preach the Gospel, in words but also in action. Whether it’s standing with immigrants against unjust policies or creating spaces for economic empowerment, our mission is clear:
To be a beacon of hope, faith and justice for our community.
Morning Light Church is one the 10 churches that was selected for the first Shared Learning Cohort of CBFNC’s Helping Churches Thrives Initiative. Applications for the next cohort will be open from June 1–July 19. Learn more at cbfnc.org/helpingchurchesthrive.
THRIVE HELPING CHURCHES
Young people help lead worship at Morning Light Church, Clemmons.
Recommended Reading Church Resource Corner Compiled by the CBFNC
Spiritual Formation Team
LOVE’S BRAIDED DANCE: HOPE IN A TIME OF CRISIS
In a world too often marked by isolation and anxiety, Norman Wirzba offers a series of reflections that demonstrate hope-filled ways to approach this life. He believes that hope grows when “love goes to work in the world.” This binding together of hope and love is demonstrated using both scripture and diverse stories in a way that draws the reader to think of how they too might love their way toward hope. This book would be great for small groups and reading groups in churches as folks seek to live our lives of hope and love in a challenging time.
– Recommended by Lydia Hoyle, associate professor Emeritas at Campbell University Divinity School
LISTENER’S DARE: HEARING GOD IN THE SERMON
Those in vocational ministry hear, or deliver, a sermon every week. Will Willimon invites readers to consider such an experience from the listener’s perspective. Whether in vocational ministry or a worship participant in the pew/chair, there is relevance for both in Willimon’s considerations.
Willimon focuses on active listening to remember preaching is conversational. He says a person preaches with the approach: “having wrestled with the text, here is what I am hearing from God.” Preaching is conversational when the preacher and listener communicate together listening to God and one another together. Willimon offers what to listen for in preaching, considering it is one of the “peculiar ways God communicates with God’s people.”
– Recommended by Matt Riggsbee, senior minister at First Baptist, Southern Pines
CATCHING FIRE, BECOMING FLAME: A GUIDE FOR SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
(Revised and Expanded Tenth Edition)
In 38 brief chapters, Albert Haase articulates how a believer may renew and refresh their relationship with God. There are five new chapters in this edition, and the whole of the book has been updated. Haase includes supplemental reading recommendations and reflective questions, which make it useful for both the individuals and discussions in small groups. One of the challenges of the spiritual journey is the tendency to lose motivation or experience a cooling of the heart. When one is experiencing a yearning for the rekindling of our passion, Haase’s book can be a helpful companion.
– Recommended by Jeff Hensley, pastor of Hester Baptist, Oxford
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN: DAILY WISDOM FOR TWENTYFIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS
N.T. Wright’s book is structured around the liturgical year, beginning and ending with Easter. He states in his preface that he hopes readers are “encouraged to reflect more deeply on what God’s kingdom coming on earth as in heaven might look like—when seen through the lens of Easter itself.” In addition to the liturgical seasons, sections include “Beauty,” “Power,” “Justice,” “Truth,” “Freedom,” and “Love.” It is a great way to introduce or encounter choice writings of scholar N.T. Wright without having to read all his books.
– Recommended by Paul Raybon, co-pastor at Hominy Baptist, Candler
OUR UNFORMING: DE-WESTERNIZING SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Many of the spiritual formation resources we use in our churches come from a western perspective, so Cindy Lee’s approach to formation within more diverse communities is refreshing. She highlights how western values such as individuality, dualism, and linear thinking have shaped and even hindered our spiritual growth. In response, she introduces practices that can be helpful in a variety of contexts and includes questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. This book is recommended for clergy that are looking to push the boundaries of their experience of spiritual formation and church small groups that are willing to challenge their thinking on traditional practices.
– Recommended by Sarah Blackwell, teacher in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Wingate University.
SACRED SELF-CARE: DAILY PRACTICES FOR NURTURING OUR WHOLE SELVES
Chanequa Walker-Barnes’s book is a seven-week devotional. Each day has a scripture passage, a short reading, and a self-care practice for the day. These practices are based on understanding that we are made in the image of God and that our spiritual lives are not separated from our embodied existence. This resource works well as a Lenten guide for individuals are groups looking for ways to nurture lives of wholeness.
– Recommended by Derek Hogan, associate dean and associate professor of New Testament at Campbell University Divinity School.
CBFNC HONORARY & MEMORIAL GIFTS
November 2024 – January 2025
Helen and Jack Baker in honor of Roger Dale Phillips III
Gwen and John Bell in honor of Jim and Mary Maddrey
Ana Bennett in honor of Judy and Jeneal
Nancy and Steve Brown in honor of Larry Hovis
Deborah and Darrell Bumgarner in honor of Tommy and Pat Hardin
Carol Clark in honor of Michelle Anderson & Family
Marcia and Steve Hampton in honor of Landry Fletcher, Noah Fletcher and Peyton Hampton
Weston Henderson in honor of Wanda Kidd
Erin Hetrick in honor of Patrick and Bernadette Hetrick
Lisa Williams Hood in honor of FBC Marion
Christopher Lamps in honor of Dr. Daniel Driscoll
Leslie and Greg Rogers in honor of Kim and Larry Hovis
Jordan Sitinas in honor of Judy and Jeneal Teander
Deborah Taylor in honor of David Hawes
Ann Wall in honor of Judy Johnson
Linda Yellen in honor of Bob and Bambi Setzer
Jeanne Hollifield Baucom and Roger Baucom in memory of Rev. and Mrs. Morris S. Hollifield
Ed, Shannon and Meghan Beddingfield in memory of Sarah Beddingfield
Deborah and Donald Cherry in memory of William Thomas Cherry, Jr.
Rachel and Paul Dover in memory of Jason Dover
Susan and James Foushee in memory of Jack and Mary Lib Causey
Mary and Mike Langley in memory of Cindy Vestal
Deborah O’Neil in memory of Fred O’Neil
Claude Sigmon in memory of Roger Williams
Priscilla and John Singletary in memory of Rev. Ben Broadway
Jamie and Brad Smith in memory of Sarah Beddingfield
John Vestal in memory of Cindy Vestal
MINISTERS ON THE MOVE
Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved:
Naomi Black-Bass to Knollwood Baptist, Winston-Salem as Minister to Youth and Families
Mekenna Boswell to First Baptist, Lincolnton as Director of Student Ministry
Justin Cox to Emerywood Baptist, High Point as Senior Pastor
Paul Gilliam to Trinity Baptist, Newton as Senior Pastor
Dave Hawes to First Baptist, Bryson City as Pastor
True Head to First Baptist, West Jefferson as Associate Pastor
Mark Hopper to Oxford Baptist, Oxford as Minister of Music and Organist
John Miller to Pritchard at South End, Charlotte as Youth & Groups Minister
Daniel Sibrian to Pritchard at South End, Charlotte as Creative Arts Pastor
Shirley Womble to Winter Park Baptist, Wilmington as Minister to Children & Families
When you make a move or know someone who has changed places of ministry, please email transitions@cbfnc.org. For
IN THE FUTURE OF CBFNC THROUGH YOUR WILL OR ESTATE PLANS. Contact Jim Hylton for more information at finance@cbfnc.org or 336.759.3456.
Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry www.cbfnc.org
2640 Reynolda Road Winston-Salem, NC 27106
JUNE
HELPING CHURCHES THRIVE SHARED LEARNING COHORT APPLICATION OPENS
— Se inaugura la cohorte de aprendizaje compartido Ayudando a las iglesias a prosperar
June 1
CBF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
— CBF Asamblea en General Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, St. Louis, MO
June 24–26
NC GATHERING AT CBF GENERAL ASSEMBLY — Reunión de Carolina del Norte en la Asamblea General de la CBF
June 24
JULY
ALL STATE YOUTH CHOIR TOUR
— Gira del coro juvenil de todo el estado
July 17–20
HCT SHARED LEARNING COHORT APPLICATION CLOSES
— Se cierra la solicitud de cohorte de aprendizaje compartido de HCT
July 19
AUGUST
RED LATINA MEN’S RETREAT
— Retiro de hombres latinos rojos
Quaker Lake Camp, Climax
August 22–23, 2025
NO. 162
SEPTEMBER
CBFNC REGIONAL GATHERING–WESTERN — Reunión regional del CBFNC-Oeste
Hominy Baptist, Candler
September 18
CBFNC COLLEGIATE MINISTRY RETREAT
— Retiro del Ministerio Universitario de CBFNC
Quaker Lake Camp, Climax, NC September 26–28
OCTOBER
REGIONAL GATHERING–SANDHILLS
— Encuentro Regional–Sandhills
First Baptist, Southern Pines
October 9
PILGRIMAGE TO IONA
— Peregrinación a Iona October 18–24
REGIONAL GATHERING–TRIAD
— Encuentro Regional–tríada United Baptist, Winston-Salem October 23
CBFNC YOUTH BEACH RETREAT
— Retiro de playa para jóvenes de CBFNC Fort Caswell, Oak Island October 24–26