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A newsletter of the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association
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As we continue to examine the different kinds of ministry that we embrace in order to help our churches build life-long followers of Jesus Christ, it becomes evident some are not healthy. To try to make disciples in such an environment would be like putting relatively healthy folks into a house of people with the flu. Once someone catches wind that they are surrounded by sick people, they embrace a strategy of avoidance. I have family members that are germ-a-
phobes
. They hear a sniffle and run for the hills, or at the very least keep their distance. The same thing happens when people encounter sick churches. What causes such heart-breaking situations?
I think a lot of factors contribute to this scenario, but two really stick out for me. For instance, when churches become self-absorbed they develop habits that create a vicious
cycle where they continually stay sick. When my daughter was five we found ourselves in the doctor's office every month for almost a year. She kept "getting" strep throat. I finally took her to an ENT and he said that her tonsils were so impacted with infection that the antibiotics we were feeding were making the infection stronger not weaker. She needed something more aggressive to solve her problem.
When churches are self-absorbed they keep doing the same thing and hope for different results. In this case they become obsessed with keeping the traditions, preferences and sometimes prejudices in place simply because it is the way "things have always been done around here." There are tons of examples of this. A frequent symptom I have seen a lot over the last thirty-six years is where people who think that if you don't have a worship service at 11:00 am on Sundays then you are being unbiblical. That's utter foolishness, but try to be
the person who seeks to change that and you will find yourself metaphorically or literally shown the door.
What's really behind this institutional view of the church is the unbending obsession of protecting the static identity of the church at all costs. In this situation our view of church ends up replacing God's view of the church. The consequence of this self-absorption is that eventually the church will be on a unavoidable state of decline, eventually ending in death.
Just like the situation with my daughter, what is needed to break the cycle is
to do radical surgery. This means that anything that keeps us from being a healthy church should be cut out, not ignored or appeased.
A second symptom of sick churches is where you constantly run into folks who are tired and burned out. In most of these situations the reason for this is that a small number of people are stressed-out because
they are doing everything in the church. You've probably heard from doctors that constant stress can over time really tear down our immune system. When churches try to make disciples by continually increasing new activities they burn through people like a V8
5.0 liter engine gulps down gas when you mash the accelerator. When this happens we often think that people these days lack commitment when in reality they feel used and under-appreciated.
The problem is not that they are doing bad things, but that instead of focusing on the Gospel, they are obsessed with promoting the church and try to get people to come to services and special events. A lot of people call this the attractional model of doing church. It is all about getting more backsides into seats. A somewhat funny example of this happened years ago when I was starting a church down in Georgia. I read about a new work in Maryland where they sent out a bunch
of invitations to their first worship service along with a five dollar bill. I am assuming that they thought these people would come to their first service and maybe re-invest that "gift" back into the offering plate. The article went on to say that they got less that a desirable attendance and an even more pitiful offering.
The unavoidable reality about the attractional model is that the more programs you create the more workers and leaders you will need. That is fine as long you have a long bench of players ready to support these ministries. However, too often the majority of people that belong to fellowships like this become consumers rather than people who are personally involved in Kingdom work. These are the "church hoppers" who hit the road when the preacher says something they don't like or when the church stops offering a program or ministry in which they got what they wanted. One way we can address this problem of addiction to busyness is with a call to simplification of ministry. The goal of simplification is to focus on how the church is loving God, loving one another and loving the lost and broken of their community. The emphasis shifts from "come here" to "go there." The more we do this the more we appreciate and share the Gospel, and as a result don't have to chase after the ever-evasive goal of being "relevant."
No church is perfect because it is made up of saved sinners. But we can become healthier by repenting of our institutional ways and attractional compulsions. We are seeing example of churches in the PMBA who are doing this. Please feel free to call or email us if you are ready to get out of the four walls of a building or off the never-ending treadmill of new techniques.
Your Servant in Christ.
Walker Armstrong Interim Director of Missions
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PMBA ANNUAL MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT
STANLEYVILLE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, beginning at 6 PM
Join us for the PMBA Annual Meeting at Stanleyville First Baptist Church Tuesday, October 18 beginning with a meal at 6 pm. Tickets are now on sale for $6.00 per person.
This will definitely be an historical Annual Meeting, with the unveiling of the 2017 Budget that your PMBA Leadership Network has been working on for the past several months under the leadership of Interim Director of Missions, Walker Armstrong. The 2017 Budget has a new format, easy to understand and implement -- one that gives power back to our associational churches, revealing strategies for revitalizing struggling churches and supporting new churches starts. This budget will encourage more cooperation and partnerships among PMBA churches in all areas of ministries, giving opportunities to assist churches in developing new leaders, promoting and focusing on church health and vitality, helping with the birthing of new church starts, and working directly with congregations in mission involvement -- both locally and beyond our borders.
Churches are encouraged to
elect/appoint their messengers. If you are in doubt as to how many messengers your church can have, please call the PMBA office at (336) 830-8189. Everyone is invited!
Stanleyville is preparing a scrumptious meal of pork loin, rice, green beans and a desert.
All this for $6.00 per person. You can go online at www.pmba.org to purchase your tickets for the Annual Meeting meal or you can mail a check to PMBA for the number of tickets you need. Call ahead and reserve your tickets soon. We will mail you the tickets and you can mail us a check.
We look forward to seeing you at the PMBA Annual Meeting. This year, we are focusing on involving our younger families by providing childcare: birth -- fifth grade. Please let us know the number of children who will need childcare, so we can adequately plan for workers and meals for the children.
Going His Way,
Karen Taylor, Community Missionary
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PMBA FAIR MINISTRY WEEK - SEPTEMBER 26--29
A few good men are needed to help set up the Fair Ministry Site on Saturday, September 24. If you can help, call Harold Cox at (336) 978-3407. It should not take longer than 1 to 1 1/2 hours. We usually get started at 10 AM.
CANTEEN NEEDS:
- Volunteers to work: 8-12; 12--4; or 4--8 in the Canteen, Tuesday - Thursday. [Need morning and afternoon shifts especially.]
- 100 Bag meals for Monday night (Community Night).
- Water, water, water!! [If it stays as hot as it has been in past years, we need over 100 cases of water. Right now, SAMS has them on sale for $2.99 for 40 bottles.]
- Lemonade Mix [Can purchase large cans of the mix at SAM's for about $6.00 per can]
- Individually bagged chips. [Need for every day at the Canteen.]
- Cookies. [Consider purchasing large packs of cookies and put 4-5 in each baggie. Great way to save money.] Also, snack cakes.
- Coffee, creamer, sweetness, sugar packets
- Hot Dog Buns, coleslaw,onion, chili and paper products for the Hot Dog Supper on Thursday night. Also 350 individual bags of plain potato chips for that night.
OTHER NEEDS:
- Hygiene kits (trying to get 450; what is left over will be used for the annual WMU Prison Party).
- New or gently used CLEAN blankets
- Golf Shirts (especially large, extra large, and 2X sizes)
If you can help
Wilma Rogers with the Medical Registration Desk, please call her at
336-985-0644.
If you need to see a dentist on the Community Day, which is Monday, September 26, please call Wilma or Karen Taylor (336-414-0812 or 336-830-8189). A few appointment time slots are still available. Call ASAP!
Most important, please pray for our PMBA Fair Ministry Week. Pray that hearts will be turned toward our Savior and lives will be changed for His Glory! Pray for many to serve as chaplains and other volunteers. Pray that we will have the necessary funds to fill the prescriptions of the fair workers as well as pay for the lodging of our bus driver and spouse and the expense for each persons using the Dental Van during that week.
We look forward to another week. See you at the Fair Grounds, September 26 - 29!!
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Begin Collecting for
the Baptist Toy Stores
We will have 6 Baptist Toy Stores this year:
- East Forsyth Toy Store at the Kernersville Library, Saturday, December 3. Pam Mitchell of Glenn View Baptist, coordinator,
(336) 577-2656.
- West Forsyth/East Davie Toy Store at Clemmons First Baptist Church on Saturday, December 3. Joyce Love of Clemmons First Baptist, coordinator, (336) 765-2542.
- Central Toy Store at Bethany Baptist Church on Friday, December 9. Ruby Webster of Bethany Baptist, coordinator, (336) 767-1418.
- East Stokes Toy Store at Walnut Cove First Baptist Church on Saturday, December 10. Donna Craig of Walnut Cove FBC, coordinator, (336) 591-7493.
- West Stokes Toy Store at King First Baptist Church on Saturday, December 10. Perry Norman of King FBC, (336) 983-5252 and Alison Lusk of Olive Grove co-coordinators, (336) 847-2143
- Northern Stokes/Southern Surry Toy Store at Pilot Mountain Outreach Center, December 16 & 17. [This is a partnership between PMOC and PMBA.] Karen Caparolie, coordinator, (336) 368-4907
Teams for each Toy Store are being formed now. If you are interested in helping through your church, contact Karen Taylor at 336-830-8189 or 336-414-0812. Toys need to be new and range in value between $10 - $30. Look for those great sales now! Take advantage of closeouts, discounts and two-for-one deals! Check with local businesses about possible donations or if they will allow you to place a box at their location to collect toys for the PMBA Toy Stores.Take your toys to one of the above locations or drop them off at the PMBA office, 407 Petree Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.
Remember, we help families across the PMBA -- in Forsyth and Stokes Counties and parts of Davey and Surry and beyond. Every child will receive new toys, a special Bible Story Book, with hygiene items, food boxes, and other items offered to the families with additional needs. Support the Baptist Toy Store in your area.
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Please continue to collect coats for New York City and Beyond through October.
For the last several years we have collected new and gently used, clean coats to take to New York City and Beyond. Pastors in these areas will deliver coats to those in need. We especially need children coats of all sizes, along with adult men and women coats.
You can drop off your collections during the months of September and October at the PMBA Office, 407 Petree Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. If you have questions or concerns, call Karen Taylor at 336-830-8189 or 336-414-0812. IF you collect a large load and need us to pick up, please contact us ASAP.
Last year we collected over 2500 coats. Let's break the record this year!!
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AMONG OUR CHURCHES
Christa Warise
has been called as the pastor
of West Side Baptist Church located at 595 S Peacehaven Rd, W-S
Union Cross Baptist Church
is seeking a full time pastor. Resumes can be sent to the attention of the Search Committee, Union Cross
Baptist Church,
Lewisville Baptist Church
is seeking an Associate Pastor for Children and Youth. Interested persons may submit resumes and references to the church by mail: Lewisville Baptist Church, 125 Lewisville Clemmons Road, Lewisville,
NC 27023 or by email to: George@lewisvillebaptist.com
Friendship Baptist Church is seeking a full time pastor. Send resumes to: Friendship Baptist, Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 213, Germanton. NC 27019. Griffith Baptist Church is seeking a part time minister of music. Please send resumes to: Search Committee, Griffith Baptist Church, 1987 Old Salisbury Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 Advance First Baptist Church seeks a part-time music/worship leader and/or pianist. A musical background is required. Email resumes to afbcppt@aol.com. Mt. Calvary Baptist Church is seeking a missions minded part-time youth minister. Send resumes to PO Box 563, Walkertown, NC 27051 or email
Crestwood Baptist Church is seeking a full time pastor. Send resumes to Search Commitee, Crestwood Baptist, 530 Motor Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Brim's Grove Baptist Church
is looking for an energetic
part-time youth minister. This position requires a passion for discipling young people. Send resumes to Pastor Gerald Jones at
Macedonia Baptist Church seeks a part-time youth director. Submit resumes to Angela Wilson at wilson04@roadrunner.com Mount Olive Baptist Church is accepting resumes for an interim pastor. Please send your resume to the attention of the Search Committee, Mt. Olive Baptist Church,
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Joyce Love
PMBA leader and
member of Clemmons FBC, as
she recovers from knee
replacement surgery.
Sandra West
member of
Oaklawn and
PMBA Baptists on
Mission
team member, who has
some health concerns.
Robert Mabe,
husband of
Brenda Mabe.
who has been
hospitalized
with serious health
problems..
Bob is now in a
rehab center. Brenda serves
on our
Personnel Committee
and
is a member of Willow Oak
Baptist Church.
Giles Smith,
member of
Lewisville Baptist Church and
served on the PMBA Senior
Adult Ministry Response Team
for many years.
Giles is battling
cancer
Cards of encouragement may
be sent to: 7335 Crenata Dr.
Lewisville, NC 27023
Joanne Huddleston,
member
of United Baptist Church and a
PMBA office volunteer. She is
recovering
from a broken
shoulder.
We offer sympathy to the
family of Sandra Sewell,
who recently passed away after
a long illness. Sandra once
served as a PMBA WMU leader.
Please keep these people in
your prayers this month. If you
would like to send a note of
encouragement, please contact
the PMBA office at 336-830-
8189 for their address.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
FOR WEST VIRGINIA
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church is collecting items for West Virginia flood victims through the month of September. For a complete list, please contact Dawn Cloer at 336-595-1877
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Volunteer Opportunities
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The Mobile Dental Ministry of NC Baptist Men
- is in need of CDL drivers for our Bluebird Bus and International truck. These volunteers need to become familiar with the vehicles, the hydraulic leveling systems, and generators. The drivers are responsible for set up of these mobile units and assisting with the dental clinics. All knowledge of the dental aspects can be learned through training sessions and experience. The schedule is flexible; drivers volunteer for dates and locations that are convenient for them. All trips begin from the BSC in Cary.
PMBA
- is in need of volunteer receptionists. Hours are 9:00 am-12:30 pm or 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Monday-Thursday. Volunteers may work once a week, bi monthly or once a month. Light phone duties. Interested persons must belong to a PMBA affiliated church. If you are interested in helping, please
contact Shelley Vestal, shelley@pmba.org or (336) 830-8189.
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