"But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another..  
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
 

The Pilot
A newsletter of the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association       
June 2017 
A word from Walker,

Over the last few newsletters I have addressed the large and looming issue of change. There are many personal and organizational challenges associated with change that make it difficult. But to refuse to change is akin to saying you refuse to learn and grow. This article is focused on why our churches need to change.
 
In NC, over 80% of our Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or in some stage of decline. Let that sink in for a moment. This is a huge issue we cannot afford to ignore. It is estimated that somewhere between 4-10,000 churches of all denominations close their doors every year in America. Based on the most recent statistics I looked from a couple of years ago from the SBC, we planted just a few hundred churches more than were closed. Several researchers believe that this trend will accelerate over the next ten years if something drastic does not happen. I would not be surprised to see more churches close that get planted.
 
Not only that, we live in a culture where the church has been discarded as a trusted advisor. More and more people claim no religious affiliation or belief when it comes to espousing a worldview. Traditional, orthodox beliefs are under constant attack. Without a doubt, we live in a secularized, postmodern society that has jettisoned a biblical approach to life. This means that we have to diversify our strategies beyond just the "brick and mortar" approach to starting churches.
 
Because of these realities, many organizations within our denomination are pouring vast resources into the goal of revitalizing existing churches. But the problems that have contributed to this precipitous slide will not be solved with a few minor adjustments. Radical change needs to occur for churches to reverse the movement of rapid decline. This will require prayer-infused, fact-based, biblically-rooted, Spirit-inspired work. The changes that this shift represents will not happen overnight. In most cases, this transformation will take years not months.
 
Revitalization has been on my heart and mind for a long time. Over the last several months I have been dedicated to creating training for coaches who can come alongside congregations to facilitate this needed transformation. On June 2nd and June 9th, I will be equipping approximately 12 leaders in our revitalization process. I am asking you as church leaders to prayerfully consider if your church is ready and willing to initiate this process in your fellowship.
 
Here is where you come in: We are looking for several churches that we can begin the Revitalization Journey starting this Fall. If you believe your church is in need of this kind of help, please contact our office and we can arrange an initial meeting. Even if you don't feel that this is for you at this time, please pray for me and others as we seek to help their church reclaim their mission of being disciple-making centers of Kingdom activity.
 
Your fellow servant in Christ,
 
Walker Armstrong  
Executive Director, PMBA

In an effort to be good stewards of the money our churches provide, we will no longer be able to mail The Pilot newsletter.  If you have an email and would like us to email you the newsletter, please send your request to Shelley at [email protected].  Starting in July we will send one copy of the newsletter to each church so that copies may be made for those of you with no email.   Thank You
Summer Interns are here!

Our Summer Interns have arrived and are very busy already with PMBA congregations.  We have booked all of June for the 4 summer interns; however, we do have some spots available in July.  Remember, our interns work from June 1 - July 31.

Summer Interns are:  Abigail Hackworth, student at Gardner Webb; Lee Kimball, student at Piedmont International University; Kaylie Fox, student at Piedmont International University; and Kiera Sterken, student at Johnson Bible College, Tennessee.

Next week the interns will be work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 AM - 3 PM with our Student Life Teams that come from all over the United States.  Even so, several of them will be doing VBS for local churches in the evening.

If you need a summer intern to help with VBS/Backyard Bible Club, Youth/Church Mission Trips, Community Outreach Projects, etc., during the weeks of July 2, 9, 16, and 23, we have at least two interns that we are still filling their calendars. Contact them at:  336-830-8189 or:
  1. Abigail Hackworth: [email protected]
  2. Kaylie Fox:  [email protected]
  3. Kiera Sterken: [email protected]
  4. Lee Kimball:  [email protected]
If you can't get in touch with them, please call Karen Taylor at 336-830-8189 or shoot me an email at [email protected].  We look forward to helping you!  We fill up really fast, so don't delay in contacting us!

Going His way,
Karen


Tom Southern,  Pastor
Forsyth Park Baptist Church


Jeremy Parker, Pastor
New Vision Fellowship




Thank You - Baptist Men of NC for spearheading relief for the tornado victims in                       Stokes County.

Thank You -  Olive Grove Baptist Church for providing meals for the volunteers.

Thank You  Mt. Olive Baptist Church for being a staging area for damage  
                     assessment and recovery planning.

The Jim Brady Trio

Where:    Beck's Baptist Church
When:      Friday, June 9, 2017 
Time:       7pm  
Cost:        Love Offering


For more information call  336.924.2178

FAITH AT HOME NETWORK FALL CONFERENCE 


Are the families in your church making disciples in their homes? Join four of the country's top family ministry leaders to help you and your ministry team implement a biblically-based family ministry in your church. Take the next step in family ministry and learn how to equip parents and grandparents in your church to be the primary disciple-makers of their families.
"Why" Family Ministry is a Vital Part of Disciple-Making
Sept. 12, 2017 
Calvary West Baptist Church
Advance, N.C.
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Rob Rienow

Leak Memorial is looking for a large passenger van for their church.   If you or anyone you know has one for sale or donation please call: Craig Richards, Pastor @ 336.655.4888
Baptist On Missions

June 26- July 1 FBC Walnut Cove will be hosting the Stokes/Forsyth Deep Impact Camp. Deep Impact is a missions camp for middle school and high school students. If you know of any projects that they could work on, please contact me and let me know. 
Openings Among 
PMBA Churches

  • Union Cross Baptist Church - is looking for a a part time minister of youth and children. If you sense God could use you in this part time position, please send your resume, including relevant experience/skills to [email protected].  Hiring August 2017
  • Iglesia Bautista de Union Cross is seeking a Bivocational Pastor for a local PMBA Hispanic congregation. Please call: Miguel Alvarez @336-772-3257
  • Walkertown First Baptist Church is seeking a part-tiime Minister of Music. Please send resumes to:  Personnel Committee, Walkertown First Baptist Church, PO Box 310, NC 27051
  • Union Hill Baptist Church is seeking a part-time Pianist.  For further information, please contact:  Pastor Christopher Burcham email: [email protected] phone: 336-575-1870.
Openings Among
             Neighboring Churches

Lower Creek Baptist Church - i s 
seeking a Director of Music and Media.  Located in the beautiful foothills of NC, Lower Creek was founded in 1826. Vocal and/or instrumental music training would be helpful. 
Interested applicants may send a resume to: Lower Creek Baptist Church. 
S earch Committee, P.O. Box 306, Lenoir, NC 28645 or Or email it to:  [email protected]  We will be accepting resumes until June 30, 2017. 

Maplewood Baptist Church  is prayerfully seeking a person who possesses a definite call to ministry & a passion for spiritual growth to serve as our full-time Associate of Worship and Family Ministries.  This person will lead the Worship Ministry, Family Ministry and assist our Pastor as needed.  Should posses Biblical training with a degree from a college or seminary in music with emphasis on youth and children or equivalent experience.  To apply, please submit cover letter & resume to Personnel Committee, PO Box 576, Yadkinville, NC 27055 or email [email protected] 
for more detailed job description. 

Please note: 
Check out our website:  www.pmba.org  for job openings from local businesses. 
Please help us pray for:



David & Kathy Parsons' family  - member of Calvary upon the death of their granddaughter Kathryn Grace on Sunday, May 21st . 

Jeff Jeffers - Pastor of Friendship Baptist - mother has had a stroke.

Barbara Benge - member of Bethany Baptist Church & PMBA volunteer, - suffered several strokes and is in rehabilitation. 

Please keep these people in your prayers this month.  If you would like to have someone added to our list or if you would like to send a note of encouragement, please contact the PMBA office at 336-830- 8189 for their address.
If you know of someone who would like to receive The  Pilot Newsletter, please call the PMBA office at 336-830-8189 and give us their email address.  Or, email their contact information to [email protected].

Please share this information with others in your congregations. [In July, due to the cost of postage, we can no longer mail newsletters individually, but we will mail each church a copy that they can reproduce for you. Please ask your church secretary about this or call Shelley at 336-830-8189.]