Means and Ends — Part 2 The “End” of Your Church: A Parable
by Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator
Pastor Chris was excited about the upcoming meeting of the Diaconate at First Baptist Church. Usually these meetings were anything but exciting, but the pastor had an idea for the agenda that would be both productive and interesting. Beth Hopkins, the chair, presided over the routine matters that FBC’s deacons always covered: reports on families and prayer concerns; a financial report from the church treasurer; reminders of key events coming up in the next month; and the inevitable discussion of a better way to handle distribution of the Lord’s Supper (it never ceased to amaze Chris that relatively intelligent church leaders who had received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands could mess up and then obsess over how to line up to pass out trays of crackers and grape juice!).
“I’d like to turn over the remainder of our meeting to the pastor, who has an important issue to discuss with us,” Beth explained. She had long ago gotten bored with the discussion of Communion logistics.
“Thank you, Beth,” said Chris. “Tonight, I’d like for us to discuss a topic I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. I guess if I had to give it a title, I’d call it ‘The End of Our Church.’”
In times of great transition and anxiety ... it’s important to be clear on the Ends.
Bob Carothers immediately jumped in, “No offense, Pastor, but if this is another one of those hand-wringing talks about the decline and death of traditional churches, I’m not interested. We’ve all read the articles and we even had that consultant who came in last year and showed us all those alarming statistics. I’m not in denial, but neither do I think we need any more of that kind of shock therapy.”
“Bob, I couldn’t agree with you more,” Chris replied. “I’m tired of those conversations as well. I admit that I was captivated by them for a while, but I’m not sure focusing our attention there will move us forward. I’ve come to believe that focusing on the End in a different way could be just what we need to renew our congregation.”
Jane Evans then spoke up. “What do you mean by End? If not death, then what?”
“I’m thinking of Ends as opposed to Means,” Chris continued. “End refers to goal, purpose, destination, fulfillment or outcome. Means are the pathways or tools that enable us to reach the End.
“End comes from the Greek word, telos. It appears forty times in the New Testament. An example is Romans 8:28 where Paul says, ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (telos).’ Another example is 1Timothy: ‘The end (telos) of this command is love, which comes from a pure conscience, a good conscience and a sincere faith.’
“It seems to me that we spend an awful lot of time in this body, and throughout our congregational leadership structure,
struggling with Means issues, and very little time clarifying Ends. That’s probably OK when everyone has a common, clear understanding of why we exist and what we are called to do. But in times of great transition and anxiety, like the times in which we now live and minister, it’s important to be clear on the Ends. Otherwise, we are at risk for confusion of purpose, competition for resources and conflict over direction.”
“Kind of like the way church feels much of the time to me,” said Greg Pickens, a newer member who had married into First Baptist five years ago, but who had become very involved in the church and earned the respect of the older families. “I hate to say it, but it seems like we spend a lot of time spinning our wheels and majoring on minors. I feel like we’ve lost sight of the big picture.”
“I agree with Greg,” commented Sue Ferguson, a member of the Young Adult Sunday Class along with Greg. “What you are saying reminds me of two things. First, several years ago I read a book by Stephen Covey who said that it is important for people and organizations to ‘begin with the end in mind.’ I think that’s the same understanding of End you are using.
“Second, I serve on the board of directors of a non-profit agency that was struggling in just about every way: with programs, fundraising, high staff turnover, and a poor reputation in the community. We brought in a consultant who told us that the problem with the organization was that it had lost sight of its core purpose, and that our job as the board was not to manage the staff or the programs, but to make as our first priority discerning the mission of the organization. The reason it had encountered so many problems, he said, is that we had lost sight of why we exist. And the word he used over and over was this word: End.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m confused,” confessed Sarah Barker. Sarah was the teacher of the Fidelis Class, the church’s oldest women’s Sunday School class, and also director of the WMU. “I think I know the purpose of the church and I can’t imagine that there would be any confusion about that.”
“Thanks, Sarah, for speaking up,” responded the pastor. “I’m sure you speak for many others in this room and in the congregation. That’s why I think the next step in this conversation is for us to share our various understandings of the End of the church as we see it. I think we might be surprised at how many different ideas we have of this important subject.”
Beth Hopkins jumped in at this point. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Unfortunately, we’re running out of time. So, we will continue this conversation at next month’s meeting and make it the top agenda item. Your homework assignment is to think about how you would complete this sentence: The End of our church is_________. Please be prepared to discuss it.”
Wally Myers, who didn’t have a serious bone in his body, then piped up with a big grin on his face, “Just one more thing, Beth. Could you remind me of where I’m supposed to stand this Sunday for the Lord’s Supper?”
Next Edition – Means and Ends – Part 3: “Making it Personal”
How Can Music Ministry Serve Community?
by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator, and Linda Denny, Minister through Music, First, Mount Airy
Rick: Linda, tell us about your latest attempt to reach into the community through the music ministry.
Linda: Our church was asked to recruit volunteers for an excellent after-school enrichment program at J. J. Jones Intermediate School in Mount Airy (third-fifth grades). Several of our members now volunteer, either assisting teachers in the program or as teachers on a topic on which they have expertise.
In the fall of 2011 associate minister Steve Ayers, Jr., and I, aided by a couple of church volunteers, loaded up Orff instruments (glockenspiels, metallophones, xylophones and percussion) and spent several days with fourth graders. In the spring we did the same for fifth graders. We did not use church music, but involved the children in singing and playing. Teachers in the program were amazed at the level of participation, especially from some very shy or fearful students. At the end of each series, invitations were sent home with students to participate in our choir program at FBC.
In the spring of 2012, nine children from various race/ethnic groups participated in our church choir programs. They rode the school bus to church for choir and dinner, and were picked up by parents. An older men’s Sunday School class donated money to pay for meals.
In 2012-2013, only two students participate, though when we have been back at the school and see students from last year, they all talk about how “awesome” it was. We are discussing options to get the children home after dinner to see if that helps participation.
Rick: What resistance or barriers, if any, did you need to overcome?
Linda: While children may attend choir regularly, they and their families seem to attend worship only when the children sing. Some of them have their own churches and some do not. A barrier for us may be the image of us as the big church where rich people go — how wrong! We work hard to overcome that image in our soup kitchen, which feeds weekly about 150 people from the community. All are made welcome.
Rick: What fruit have you seen produced from this ministry?
Young Ministers Series: Hope Beyond Fears
by Danny Russell, Pastor, Chadbourn, Chadbourn
Linda: Children feel loved. They can feel competent at something very special when they don’t feel so competent at other areas of school.
continued on page 10
While people seek to find hope beyond their fears, many times the difference between the two is a fine line. Still, there is great hope for the Church and in particular the Baptist church. When we have lost our own hope, our brothers and sisters in Christ share their hope with us. This sharing happens in a local church context and allows people to find their hope again. Our hope is found in Christ as we partner together with so many people faithfully following Christ. Living in the hope of Christ can be compared to the edge of a quarter. In Changing Signs of Truth: A Christian Introduction to Semiotics, Crystal Downing describes a life lived on the edge through the metaphor of the quarter. She states, “One side [of the quarter] therefore represents tradition while the other side represents change.” 1 Downing develops this perspective through the image of President George Washington on one side representing tradition, while new images of the different states and territories on the other side represent change. She continues, “[Therefore], a position on the edge looks to both past and future, to tradition and change.”2 As Baptists follow Christ, we live on the edge looking to the past and future,
continued on page 4
A Teaching-Learning Congregation
by Nathan Parrish, Pastor, Peace Haven, Winston-Salem
Hope Beyond Fears
embracing both tradition and change. When living on this edge the hope of Christ is realized and expressed through our lives.
My internship at Peace Haven Baptist Church had a profound impact on who I am as a person, minister and student. I was loved, welcomed and encouraged and I will be grateful for the invaluable experience for the rest of my life. Jonathan Redding, Ph.D. student, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Peace Haven, Winston-Salem, began a process in 2009 that is changing our congregational life and ministry. Peace Haven chose to convert a traditional associate pastor staff position into parttime ministry roles to be filled by Wake Forest University School of Divinity students. Peace Haven decided to invest in the ministry formation of future leaders and become what some call a “teaching-learning” congregation. What we are discovering is that formation is a two-way street. Peace Haven Baptist is changing and being changed by the presence, leadership, and gifts of divinity student ministers. Peace Haven is realizing that we have as much to learn as teach, that we have as much to receive as offer, that sharing ministry leadership with divinity students strengthens our ministries, and that there is every reason to be hopeful about the future.
When I interned at Peace Haven Baptist Church, I quickly learned that I was walking in a community of learning and grace. The church created a space for me to discover my gifts and my growing edges without pressuring me to be perfect.
Kim Sturgill, Minister with Children, First Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
The vision of Peace Haven is to invite student leadership into the life of our church and to provide a context for divinity students to learn about congregational ministry while receiving relational support during their journey. We have embraced this path as a ministry of our church for the formation of divinity students who we believe will continue to live, lead, and serve in contexts beyond our congregation.
The process for identifying new student ministers has been organic, growing out of relationships with and among divinity students, as well as formal, working with Divinity School Staff and Faculty to determine students of interest. The result of the presence and participation of divinity students has been a stretching experience for our congregation and an opportunity to serve and lead for the divinity students.
I really believe that Peace Haven Baptist Church is modeling how to call and support divinity students in ministry. The church balances flexibility and expectation; they genuinely care for students and the congregation sets an example for healthy and diverse church life.
John Carroll, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Danville, VA
As we have called students into staff ministry roles, other divinity students have found ways to connect with our church, fulfill various aspects of their academic journey, and lead within the church without serving in paid ministry roles. Divinity students participate in Sunday morning worship in a variety of ways every week. Other divinity students join us on Wednesday nights for meals, attend/participate in Sunday worship, and participate in a bi-weekly discipleship group for young adults meeting at Peace Haven.
invest connect support hope
As a congregation, we are investing in the formation of future leaders by inviting them into our life as a church. Along the way, we are gaining life as these students serve with and among us. We are blessed with the gift of proximity to divinity schools and we are seeking to be good stewards of that gift. But all of us, regardless of our location, have the opportunity to explore new ways to share leadership and invite those God is calling into roles of ministry. I am confident that the blessings we are experiencing are transferable and translatable.
I am hopeful because many churches are faithfully living on this edge as they follow Christ, but I am also fearful because some churches are content to follow Christ by staying on one side of the edge. The only way to live on one side is to do so at the exclusion of the other side. People either look to the past and embrace tradition or look to the future and embrace change. Faithfully following Christ is living in the mystery between these two perspectives. Life on the edge is messy and difficult, and it is the very place we experience Christ in our world and lives.
Finding life on this edge is discovering a renewed sense of the hope that Christ offers. When people idolize the past and hold tight to tradition, they may discover a fear of the future. When people mystify the future and loosely accept change, they can discover a fear of the present. The hope of Christ is the mystery holding the past and future together through an embrace of tradition and change. Hope is found on the edge because life in the twenty-first century requires it. Hope is found on the edge because this is where Christ is.
I am hopeful because many churches are following Christ on this edge in their own communities. Some have become hopeless in the labeling of limiting our lives to one side or the other, but others are energized and empowered to live in the paradox of living between two perspectives. Christ is found through this both/and approach, which welcomes all to Christ’s table. Being Baptist is being faithful to this approach.
As a current intern at Peace Haven Baptist Church, I am thankful for the opportunity to develop as a minister with a congregation that is welcoming, grace-giving and motivating to divinity students. The church nurtures my growth as a minister with compassion, energy and knowledge. Abigail Pratt, M.Div. student, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
I am hopeful because the Baptist church equips people to faithfully follow Christ on this edge. Within the Baptist church, people express their faith on both sides of the edge, and we come together to the edge to partner in ministry and service. I find hope in this act of coming together as churches collaborate in their local contexts and in ministries throughout the world. I am hopeful for the Church today as so many are following Christ into the future through Christ’s work in the present.
1 Crystal Downing, Changing Signs of Truth: A Christian Introduction to Semiotics (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012), Kindle Location 513.
2 Ibid, Kindle Location 522.
Giving Children a Hope and a Future
by Hilary Canipe, member, Mufreesboro Baptist Church, Murfreesboro
Riverview Elementary School in Murfreesboro was struggling. There were multiple reasons for this, most related to the overwhelming poverty so pervasive in northeastern North Carolina. End-of-grade testing scores were poor and morale was low. For those in the community, the issues at Riverview seemed so large that most did not even try to help. The inclination was to do nothing because the problems seemed insurmountable. As a result, the school became gradually more and more isolated from community.
Murfreesboro Baptist Church began to look for ways to engage with the Riverview Elementary community. Afterschool tutoring, school supply drives, a yearly back-toschool luncheon for teachers during teacher workdays, and apples for teachers during the school year were some of the tools used to express caring concern. Other churches, including First Baptist of Murfreesboro and Murfreesboro United Methodist, were also working independently to support the school.
Eventually the three churches began working together with others in Hertford
County in an effort to form a local affiliate of Communities in Schools (CIS), a national non-profit that seeks “to surround students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.”
As part of the development of CIS in Hertford County, Susan Pennock, a consultant with CIS of North Carolina (CISNC), led a poverty workshop at Murfreesboro Baptist Church in January of 2012. More than 70 people from four counties representing various churches, agencies, and schools gathered for training in understanding generational poverty, and beginning to consider where we might become involved to make a difference.
Susan’s work with CISNC has now led her to focus more of her attention on forming church-school partnerships. She challenges Christians to realize they can be the presence of Christ to those who are struggling with poverty by working through the local school.
For those who are a part of the developing church-school partnership in Murfreesboro, this new opportunity has been a blessing as God uses us to help give these children a hope and a future.
partnership church school
“Riverview Elementary School is hopeless –I would never send my child there.”
“I don’t know any of the kids there –those folks can manage their own affairs.”
“They got so many problems at that school, it’s hard to know what difference I could make.”
“Maybe the state will take it over and then we’ll get somewhere.”
Summary of Individual Contributors January 2012-December 2012
While the bulk of financial support for CBFnC ministries comes from church budgets, individual gifts are an important and growing source of mission and ministry funding. During the past twelve months, we have encouraged individual giving through an effort called the “20/20 Campaign,” in celebration of our first twenty years and in anticipation of our next twenty years.
CBFnC is grateful for all gifts, regardless of size, donor, or designation. May God continue to entrust to us God’s mission and provide the support necessary to carry it out.
Would you like to give to CBFnC as an individual, honoring/in memory of someone important in your life or in support of a particular ministry or project? You will find information on our website, www.cbfnc.org
Name City/State
Clarence and Bonnie adams
Name
Charlotte
rennie and sandy adcock pfafftown
seth and Jennifer asbill..............Knightdale
Kesler and ramona askew enfield
alfred and hazel ayscue rocky Mount
Betty Babyak raleigh
J. D. and Margaret Baldree............... shelby
Laura Barclay and ryan eller Winston-salem
Wayne and anita Bare ...................... Garner
Cos Barnes southern pines
emory Bass huntersville
Cecelia Beck ..................................... shelby
Bill and Leigh Bigger Durham
David and Mavis Bissette Winston-salem
Donna and steve Bissette ........... Clemmons
eunice Bland ................................... raleigh
erskine and peggy Blankenship Beaufort
Ken and Gail Boaz Winston-salem
Brad and sarah Boberg ............ red springs
tom and Betty Bodkin raleigh
Cline and Doris Borders shelby
Dorothy Bowers .................................. eden
Melanie Boyer Greenville
Mary Boyles Winston-salem
Joshua and Jessica Breazeale ......Greenville
Dustin M. Brown asheboro
Martha and tom Bryson Charlotte
Charles and Grace Bullard ........... asheboro
Dean Bumgardner.................. McLeansville
Warner and roberta Bumgardner .............................................. Wadesboro
Linden and alice Burch Lake Junaluska
hugh and Vickie Burlington Cary
Morgan Burnett ........................ Waynesville
City/State
Karen Burnette.................................... sylva
Don and Mary Byrd Mount airy
robert and Cindy Canoy shelby
tony Cartledge .................................... apex
Jack and Mary Lib Causey .......... statesville
Kenny and trishia Chapman sylva
Ka’thy and russ Chappell Winston-salem
James and elizabeth Clark .. hendersonville
Marie Clontz horse shoe
edward and nelda Cockman West end
Beth Cockman-Wood and richard Wood sanford
austin and Betty Connors ............... raleigh
holland and Gail Coulter .... hendersonville
Jim Cross Oxford
Carol and Danny Dalton swannanoa
Louise and Carl Dawson ................. raleigh
Barbara Doster Winston-salem
Carol Dunning Mount airy
Jennie and edward easterly ..... pickens, sC
Charles and Julia edwards Winston-salem
Wallace and Martha edwards spring hope
Jerry ellington ............................ henderson
susan and Matt ellington Zebulon
Jane and richard eskew Winston-salem
Johnnie evans ........................... Morrisville
patsy and robert everhart .......... Clemmons
steven and Barbara everhart Wilmington
Judy Farrow Wilmington
sue Fitzgerald ......................Winston-salem
Woodrow Freeze Bullock
hubert and Marguerite Garner sanford
Kelley and Greg Garris ............... smithfield
Jack and ruby Gentry Clemmons
roger and Deidra Gilbert Mount airy
Jack and Barbara Glasgow ............. Zebulon
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
Jan 2012 - March 2013
in honor of LaCount and anna anderson
By Christine and allen harker in honor of Jack Causey
By Bill and Leigh Biggers in honor of Jack and Mary Lib Causey
By Kim and robbie ray in honor of Marguerite Garner By hubert Garner in honor of terry hamrick By emory Bass
in honor of Jim Justice
By Janice sharpe
in honor of aileen Mitchell Lawrimore By harold Mitchell
in honor of Mr. and Mrs. robert Lee By Lisa and Kenneth rust in honor of randall Lolley
By Fred Kelly
By John and anne Lawrence in honor of allen and Velvyn shirley By Matt and Michelle norman in honor of ethel smith
By amanda smith in honor of Betty stillwell By Wanda and Dan Kidd
in memory of rob Blankenship By erskine and peggy Blankenship in memory of Marie Deal By Lucy and Wayne rash in memory of Bill Dunning By Carol Dunning
in memory of J.J. Griffin By Virginia Griffin in memory of Kay huggins
By Barbara huggins
in memory of arthur insko
By Jim and Marion summerville in memory of harlee Joiner
By Kim and Larry hovis
in memory of Caroline rogers By paul rogers in memory of ed Vick By rick and susan Jordan
Honorary and Memorial Gifts will be acknowledged in each bi-monthly newsletter.
Summary of Individual Contributors January 2012-December 2012
Name City/State
Virginia Griffin Monroe
irvin and ruth anne Grigg ....... Kernersville
Mike and Kim Grizzard Winterville
shannon and David hall Mebane
Joyce hamby ............................. Yadkinville
Christine and allen harker Winterville
rosalind and ralph harrell Cedar Grove
Cathy and Bill hartsell ..................Charlotte
pat and asad hashemi ..................... raleigh
James and Doris helvey Winston-salem
rena and Bill henderson ........... ridgecrest
James and Linda henson .............albemarle
Jerry and Carole hepler supply
Brenda hipp thomasville
Donald and Jo ann horton............. Zebulon
Marion and Donald horton Knightdale
Larry and Kim hovis pfafftown
Barbara huggins .............................. raleigh
Jane hunnicutt Weaverville
John hunnicutt thomasville
Jesse and Lindsay hunt ................. Ft. Drum
John hunt Boiling springs
Joshua and sacha hunt anderson, sC
Louis hunter ............................ tobaccoville
rebecca husband Maynard and Mark Maynard elkin
Jerry and peggy isley ............... Kernersville
nancy amd Franklin ivey statesville
Bob and elaine Jeffcoat Durham
Brenda and Mike Johnson ............. rowland
Jont Gilmer and Frances Johnson asheville
paul and Vera Johnson Buies Creek
Linda and Joseph Jones .............. Clemmons
Van and June Jones .......................... raleigh
rick and susan Jordan Lewisville
Larry Kallam elkin
Fred Kelly ................................. Wilmington
Dan and Wanda Kidd Cullowhee
Luther and Carolyn Kimrey Laurinburg
elissa Kincaid ................................. hickory
Lou Kline raleigh
shirley and Dean Kool sylva
Bob and rhea Lamb ........................ shelby
Mable Laney ............................... Burlington
John and anne Lawrence raleigh
aileen and Jay Lawrimore ........... asheville
Name City/State
Bill and Crystal Leathers Winston-salem
Dianne and Van Lewis.................. Farmville
Melissa and Damon Long hamptonville
Dan Lunsford Mars hill
rick Matthews .....................Winston-salem
shirley and aubrey McLellan high point
Marcia McQueen eden
Geneva Metzger ........................ Greensboro
sarah Mitchell .....................Winston-salem
Mark Munday raleigh
Doug and Candace Murray .............. Wilson russell and nancy Myers............albemarle
Matt and Michelle norman Leland
Dee Dee Oakey Gates
Daniel Odom .............................. high point
stacy and sam pardue raleigh
esther and tim parker raleigh
Margie and Carl parker ........................ Cary
Dan phipps surfside Beach, sC
Betty and Carson pittman state road
Jack and Dixie porter ...................... raleigh
Claire and Billy presley Gates
Clara privott rocky Mount
Michael and Bobbie Queen ....... Greensboro
Mary Lou ragan ................... Fuquay Varina
David and pattie ramsaur Lumberton
Kim and robbie ray Charlotte
paul and anne raybon .................... Candler
phillip and Betsy reynolds hickory
Jan and Larry rhodes asheville
Jerry and eileen richards .................... apex
Kennon and peggie roberson ........................................Winston-salem
paul rogers ................................. tabor City
Lisa and Kenneth rust Lumberton
sandi schneider raleigh
Martha and Fred senter ................ hallsboro
Milton sewell Mount airy
Janice sharpe hiddenite
shirley shelburne ....................... Lillington
Martha and Wilbert simmons Chapel hill
John and priscilla singletary pittsboro
amanda smith .............................. Low Gap
Bobbye smith ............................ Yadkinville
Charlotte and roy smith Winston-salem
Christine smith ................................ Clayton
Name
City/State
sharon and paul smith Gastonia
sylvia smith ....................................... Gates
William and June smith Winston-salem
Jo ann and ed stancil raleigh
sandy stillman-alvin ...................... raleigh
Doris stocks high point
teresa and Chuck stratton Youngsville
Jim and Marion summerville .... Chapel hill
Charles and ellen tabor ......Winston-salem
susan and Michael taylor Chapel hill
Jean and theodore thompson ......Charlotte
Jerry and audrey thompson ..... Greensboro
susan Ulrich Fayetteville
angela and David Vess Cary
Jeffrey and tonya Vickery.......... Cullowhee
Betty and Bob Wainwright Oxford
Olivia and andy Wakefield Lillington
ann Wall .......................................... raleigh
Johnnie Wallace Charlotte
Mitch and Donna ann Watson Fayetteville
Kimsey and renae Welch ....... trent Woods
Mary and James Williams Durham
Candace and Dick Wilson tryon
David and ann Wilson ......... Maryville, tn
Wanda Wilson ........................... Weaverville
Linda Winslow Jamestown
Lisa Wolfe Whiteville
Marshall Woodall ........................ Lillington
richard and Betty Wynne raleigh
Doris Yates Winston-salem
tyanna Yonkers .............................. Calypso
Bert and tiffany Young Bladenboro
Wagner agape Ministries McLeansville
Western nC Baptist network ......... ashville estate of harold t southern Greer, sC
NC Baptist Foundation Endowment Fund:
Blanche Wall and William a. Brown
Mary W. Brown
hannah and Frank D. hills
h.Manly hocutt
Lynn Camp Odom
elizabeth simmons
by Steve DeVane
Sacred Rhythms
Cooperative Baptists heard a straightforward challenge for spiritual transformation from one of their own at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina’s 2013 General Assembly.
About 900 people worshipped, found out about numerous ministry opportunities, started a new annual offering and learned about preparations for CBFNC’s 20th anniversary celebration next year during the meeting March 15-16 at First Baptist Church in Lumberton. The theme was “Sacred Rhythms of Jesus Followers: Come. Abide. Go.”
Greg Rogers, pastor of Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, preached during the evening worship March 15. Rogers served on CBFNC’s Coordinating Council for six years, including two years as moderator.
Preaching from Ephesians 3, Rogers delivered a heartfelt call for the leaders of CBFNC congregations to consider what they have “deep down inside.” Rogers recounted his journey as a minister, saying he became an expert at “planning and
praying,” rather than “praying and planning.” Rogers said he came to realize that he was “running on spiritual fumes.” He said he was reading the Bible for information rather than formation.
The transformation of two congregations was highlighted during a “sermon in dialogue” at the morning worship service March 16. Kasey Jones, pastor of National Baptist Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., and Tommy Justus, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist Church in Mars Hill, talked about the partnership of their churches.
Justus talked about the importance of working together in ministry. Missions should be in partnership, he said. Jones talked about how she was called to National in 2006 by a remnant in the once thriving church. The people were discouraged but wanted to be the presence of Christ in their community, she said.
Much of National’s large building was rented to tenants, but church members decided to take risks and start using the space for ministry, Jones said. She started
getting calls from CBFNC churches that wanted to help.
“You became a manifestation of God’s faithfulness,” Jones said. Members of National started “co-laboring” with people from Mars Hill and other churches, she said. “It’s deeper than just the labor,” she said. “It’s given our folks the courage to go themselves.”
Justus said Mars Hill’s members learned resilience from the people at National. The CBFNC church also learned the importance of feeding its community, where 80 percent of school children eat free or reduced cost lunches at school. “Finally, we learned how to ask for help,” Justus said.
Jones encouraged Fellowship Baptists to minister. “If you’re scared, I encourage you to go afraid,” she said. “Understand you will make mistakes. When you make mistakes, go again.”
Jones said people shouldn’t give up when they confront a problem. “There are going to be challenges, but God’s grace is sufficient,” she said. “I’m not talking Come.
We Need All Our Voices
by Steve DeVane
Workshops during the CBFNC General Assembly March 15-16 covered a variety of ministry opportunities.
Darlene Jacobs, executive director of the Robeson County Church and Community Center, led a workshop on ministering to Native Americans. She talked about demographics, cultural diversity and spirituality.
Churches that want to minister to Native Americans should understand their culture, Jacobs said. “It’s not a cookie cutter type of thing,” she said. “When you think about Native American people, be mindful of the history of the tribe.”
Susie Reeder, minister of missions and education at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, and Richard Wood, associate pastor of family ministry at Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church in Sanford, led a workshop on partnering with public schools. Several members of Jonesboro Heights also participated.
try, led a workshop called “Her Place at the Table: Creating a Culture in which Women are Welcomed as Ministers and Leaders.” She said seeing women ministers is important, especially for young girls.
The church currently puts together about 132 bags of food to go in backpacks, she said. Reeder said the cost of a filling a bag every week for one student is about $160 a year. Church members sponsor children, she said. The church also buys backpacks filled with school supplies each year from a website that works with non-profit groups, Reeder said. A member of the church can buy a backpack for a student for $12. “When you make it small, something people can do, they’ll do it,” she said.
Alan Jenkins, who works part-time with Equal Exchange, said the group promotes fair trade by helping small farmers form cooperatives that give them direct access to buyers and markets. By cutting out middlemen, Equal Exchange can provide high-quality foods at a fair price to consumers while paying small farmers more than they would otherwise get, according to the organization’s website.
Equal Exchange provides prices that aren’t subject to market fluctuations, Jenkins said. The organization also provides money to small farmers before they harvest their crops, he said. The organization also encourages the farmers to diversify, Jenkins said. “So they don’t have all their eggs in one basket.”
Pam Durso, executive director of Baptist Women in Minis-
Hands and Feet of God from pg 8
about anything I don’t know from experience. God can transform.”
CBFNC also heard encouraging words from Suzii Paynter, new executive coordinator of CBF. She spoke briefly during the evening worship March 15 and talked with people at a reception following the service.
Paynter said she knows about missions and ministry work done by Fellowship Baptists from North Carolina.
“Over and over again, I met you in the far flung places of the world, being the hands and feet of Christ, being the presence of Christ,” she said. Paynter said God
Leaders in churches need to be advocates for women ministers, Durso said. “We need to speak up,” she said. “Do it in kind, loving ways, but speak up.” Male pastors who support women in ministry can talk to their colleagues about the issue. “It doesn’t just take women’s voices to get women to the table,” she said. “We need all our voices.”
Divinity school students talked with church and denominational leaders during a panel discussion that covered each group’s expectations of the other. Members of the panel talked about how to make sure divinity students are involved in dialogue in churches.
A divinity student asked about how to deal with potential differences with a church during an interview for a staff position.
Irma Duke, director of church relations at Campbell University Divinity School, said the student should realize that if the differences are major, they are not going to change the church and the church isn’t going to change them. “If there are major differences, you’ve got to decide if you can live with them,” she said.
Jack Causey, CBFNC’s ministerial resources coordinator, summed it up, saying, “Decide what’s ultimately important to you,” he said.
has great plans for CBF. “It is my pleasure to join with you,” she said.
CBFNC celebrated its ministries and handled business matters the morning of March 16. Outgoing moderator Donna Bissette highlighted CBFNC’s missions and ministry efforts. She said the staff works hard to make sure events became experiences for those attending. Bissette also talked about resources available on the CBFNC website and the organization’s partnerships and collaborations with other groups.
Guy Sayles, chairman of the 20th Anniversary Vision Team, said the effort will include a time of discernment about
CBFNC’s future. “Our early sense is that we will be answering the why questions more than the how questions,” he said.
About $4,750 was collected at the General Assembly for CBFNC’s Mission and Ministry Offering. The money will be part of the new offering, “Done in Love,” which will be launched this fall. The offering will support CBFNC ministries and provide educational resources to strengthen CBFNC’s identity with churches and people.
You can find these articles in their entirety on our website, www.cbfnc.org/Congregations/ 2013GeneralAssembly.aspx.
Rick: What are principles from this ministry that other churches could use to begin a similar ministry?
Linda: This is an effort to reach out and show Christ’s love, not an effort to gain new members. Families are always invited and warmly welcomed, but we are grateful to work with the children however we can get them. It is helpful to have other staff involved, as well as lay volunteers.
This takes a lot of time and an already slammed schedule gets a little crazier. Yet, every time we go to the school, I come away thinking that this was where I should be today, and it was probably more important than anything else I needed to accomplish in my office.
Your gifts to a CBFNC endowment fund can plant seeds of blessing, of hope, and of help.
Designate a gift for scholarships, new church starts, or where it is most needed.
Contact Jim Hylton at jhylton@cbfnc.org or (336) 759-3456 for more information.
Ministers on the Move
Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator
Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved:
Graham Culbertson has been called as Minister of Youth for First Baptist Church of Lincolnton.
Chadbourn Baptist Church in Chadbourn has called Danny Russell to be Pastor.
Mount Carmel Baptist Church of Chapel Hill has called Doug Thompson as Minister of Music.
Amanda Atkin has been called to serve Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh as Minister of Spiritual Formation.
When you make a move or know of someone who has changed places of ministry, let us know at jcausey@ cbfnc.org. For assistance to search committees and ministers seeking vocational discernment, visit our reference and referral page on our website at www. cbfnc.org or call 336-759-3456 or 888-822-1944.
It’s not the leaves of fall or the scenic view, It’s not the basketball or the barbecue, It’s you!
At this year’s CBF National General Assembly in Greensboro, we need volunteers to be the presence of Christ and the face of North Carolina for all in attendance.
In other words, we need you!
For more information about how you can help and to register as a volunteer, please visit www.cbfnc.org/ Events/UpcomingEvents/CBFNationalGAVolunteer.aspx.
New Contributing CBFNC Partner Churches
(As of March 22, 2013)
Enfield, Enfield (1st MRP* Contribution) Grace, Asheville (1st MRP* Contribution) *Mission Resource Plan - visit www.cbfnc.org
Coordinator Visits
February 2013 - March 2013
Baptist University of the Americas
Calvary, Mount Airy
Duke University Baptist House of Studies
First, Albermarle
First, Burlington
First, Greensboro
First, Lumberton
First, Madison
First, Mebane
First, Morganton
First, Raleigh
First, Valdese
First, Winston-Salem
Forest Hills, Raleigh
Memorial, Buies Creek
Gardner-Webb Divinity School
Meredith College
Piney Grove, Mount Airy
Tabernacle, Raleigh
Via Faith Community, Winston-Salem
Wake Forest University
Baptist Student Center
Wingate University
Yates, Durham
Zebulon Baptist, Zebulon
CBFNC ministry coordinators are available to visit your church to speak, preach, teach, consult, lead and minister in ways appropriate to your context. Contact the CBFNC office for more information.
The Gathering
of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
phone: 336.759.3456 • phone: 888.822.1944 • fax: 336.759.3459 • cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org
Larry Hovis Executive Coordinator LHovis@cbfnc.org
Ka’thy Gore Chappell Leadership Development Coordinator. KChappell@cbfnc.org
Rick Jordan Church Resources Coordinator RJordan@cbfnc.org
Linda Jones ............ Missions Coordinator ..................... LJones@cbfnc.org
Jim Hylton ............. Business Administration Coordinator ... JHylton@cbfnc.org
Jack Causey Ministerial Resources Coordinator JCausey@cbfnc.org
Laura Barclay Social Ministries Coordinator LBarclay@cbfnc.org
Regional Coordinators
Region 1 – Western: Gail Coulter .............. coulterig@bellsouth.net
Region 2 – Foothills: David Smith ............ davsmith@charter.net
Region 3 – Triad: Bill Leathers wleathers@triad.com
Region 4 – South Central: Drag Kimrey dragkimrey@roadrunner.com
CBFNC College Ministers
Ashley Mangrum ............ UNC Chapel Hill ............... amangrum@cbfnc.org
Aileen Lawrimore Western Carolina alawrimore@cbfnc.org
Lawrence Powers East Carolina lpowers@cbfnc.org
Coordinating Council
Ray Ammons, Gastonia, Moderator
Lisa Rust, Lumberton, Moderator-Elect
Donna Bissette, Winston-Salem, Past Moderator
Marion Horton, Knightdale, Recorder
Mike Eddinger, Cary, Treasurer
Kathy Driver, Raleigh
Heather Folliard, Durham
David Hailey, Raleigh
Jeff Matthis, Sylva
Rick Matthews, Winston-Salem
Doug Murray, Wilson
Mike Queen, Greensboro
Susan Taylor, Chapel Hill
Endowment Management Board
Ron Cava, Henderson
Byrns Coleman, Wingate
Scott Hudgins, Winston-Salem
Anissa Nixon, Mocksville
Gene Puckett, Raleigh
Wanda Kidd College Ministry Coordinator WKidd@cbfnc.org
Eddie Hammett ... Church and Clergy Coach EHammett@cbfnc.org
Javier Benitez Hispanic Network Leader Coach Rocafuerte90@hotmail.com
Nancy Parks ....... Programs Manager .................. NParks@cbfnc.org
Sarah Mitchell .... Communications Manager ........ SMitchell@cbfnc.org
Gail McAlister Financial Manager GMcalister@cbfnc.org
Derek Wilhelm .. Administrative Assistant DWilhelm@cbfnc.org
Region 5 – North Central: Tom Jackson pastortj@aol.com
Region 6 – Capital: Mack Thompson mackthompson1@att.net
Region 7 – Southeast: Mike Johnson mikejohn303@earthlink.net
Region 8 – Northeast: Jesse Croom jmacroom@hotmail.com
Jeanne Cross Duke University jcross@cbfnc.org
Chris Towles Wake Forest towlescj@wfu.edu
Faith Formation Ministry Council
Stella Perrin, Taylorsville, Chair
Katie Fam Roscoe, Southern Pines, Chair-Elect
Giles Blankenship, Fayetteville
Beth Cockman-Wood, Sanford
Brian Harrington, Liberty
Kerrie Clayton Jordan, Smithfield
Barbara Glasgow, Zebulon
Tyler Roach, Morganton
Sophia Steibel, Boiling Springs
Scott Thrailkill, Goldsboro
Leadership Development Ministry Council
Layne Rogerson, Greenville, Chair
Shane Nixon, Mocksville, Chair-Elect
Ed Beddingfield, Fayetteville
Sarah Boberg, Red Springs
Jerry Chiles, Raleigh
John Daniels, Waynesville
Kheresa Harmon, Shelby
Matt Johnson, Belhaven
Mark Reece, Mount Airy
Nathan Rice, Southern Pines
Missions Ministry Council
Linda Winslow, Jamestown, Chair
Blake Dempsey, Nashville, Chair-Elect
Elba Benitez, Pittsboro
Everette Clark, Enka
Allison Gallimore, Oxford
Brandon Hudson, Winston-Salem
Michael Lea, West Jefferson
Nate Leonard, Morehead City
Paula McCosh, Fayetteville
Mike Womble, Wilmington
Financial Report:
February 2013 Contributions Undesignated - $105,926 Designated - $205,139
April 2012 - March 2013
Monthly Undesignated Goal: $128,837
Global Missions Field Personnel Off-Field Assignments in Our Area
Keith holmes and Mary Van Rheenen (The Netherlands) Raleigh: January-June 2013 holmes@thefellowship.info Friday, May 31, 2013 CBFnC offices in Winston-salem Visit our website, www.cbfnc.org, for more information.
888-822-1944
Suzii Paynter Visit
April 30, 2013
First, Asheville
Peace Haven, Winston-Salem
May 1, 2013
The Memorial, Greenville
May 2, 2013
First, Raleigh
St. John’s, Charlotte
Fashioning a Deacon Ministry that Works for Your Church
May 4, 2013
Hominy, Chandler
Encuentro de Varones (Men’s Retreat)
May 17-18, 2013
Camp Mundo Vista, Sophia
Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship (502 Class)
May 20-21, 2013
CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem
Christian Education - The Issues and Possible Solutions for 2013-2015
May 31, 2013
CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem
Familias Transformadas (Family Retreat)
June 7-8, 2013
Primera Iglesia Baptista de Sanford
CBF National General Assembly
June 26-28 2013
Greensboro
OASIS 2013
July 15-17, 2013
Campbell University
Campamento Ninos (Children’s Retreat)
July 27-28, 2013
Camp Caraway, Sophia
Family Day at Emerald Pointe
July 30, 2013
Greensboro
SELAHvie
August 5-7, 2013
Clayton, GA
Fresh Expressions Vision Day
August 16, 2013
Forest Hills, Raleigh
Campamento de Mujeres (Women’s Retreat)
August 16-18, 2013
Fort Caswell Retreat and Conference Center
Campamento de Jovenes (Youth Retreat)
August 23-25, 2013
Camp Caraway, Sophia
Youth Whitewater Retreat
August 31-September 2, 2013
Asheville
Youth Beach Retreat
September 13-15, 2013
Myrtle Beach, SC
2013 Elevating Preaching Conference
September 23, 2013
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem
Servant-Leadership in a Secular Age: Deacon Ministry that Models
Missional Living
September 28, 2013
Lowes Grove, Durham