For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.      Isaiah 9:6-7

The Pilot
A newsletter of the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association       
December 2016
A word from Walker,

December is a very busy month for most of us. This should not be a shock to anyone. We know that every year it will be this way, and often try to do some adequate planning to make it less hectic. But in reality, things always come up unexpectedly that can bring frustration and stress. Here are just a few examples of these kinds of potential stressors:
  •  Someone forgets to inform us about an important meeting or event we are supposed to attend.
  • Someone forgets to inform us about an important meeting or event we are supposed to attend.  
  • We accidentally miss buying a gift for a family member and have to rush around in the last minute to cover this faux pau.
  • We get sick or a family member becomes ill and we have to make changes on the fly to our schedules.
  • A friend lets us know that they will be dropping by for a visit when our house is a total wreck.
  • After unraveling the Gordian knot of our Christmas lights, we find that most of them don't work and we have to buy some new ones.
  • A bill comes due and puts a huge pinch on our financial plans
 
These types of "interruptions" can cause us to be very self-absorbed. We get so fixated on solving our problems (or perhaps even complaining about them) that we miss out on what is most important. There are several ways we could explain what this missing out looks like, but let me boil them down to two big categories:
 
The first way we miss out is that we don't make the time to serve people less fortunate. Christmas is the season when we remember how Jesus became one of us so that we might be reconciled to our Creator. Jesus came as a helpless, poor baby to initiate the rescue operation of our lives from the domain of darkness and the curse of sin. When Mary believed in this message she proclaimed, "He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave." Mary the ordinary girl would give birth to her Savior. Mary understood that because of her need the Savior sought to literally get involved in her life. Jesus took the first step by leaving the glories of heaven and taking on the form of the lowliest of servants. 
 
In the same spirit, we should go to ones who are struggling in their darkness and defeat and share the Good News that God is with us in Jesus. In your church and through other ministries like the PMBA you will have multiple opportunities to share that message through acts of compassion. It requires that we leave our places of security and safety and venture forth into a broken world. Make it a priority for you and your family to do at least one project whereby you manifest the love of the Savior to people less fortunate.
 
The second way we miss out is that we truly don't enjoy the real blessing of God's undeserved favor. When the angels came to the lowly shepherds to announce Jesus advent, they completed their message by exclaiming  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" This statement should grab us by the heart. Only through Jesus' invasion can God bring peace and favor to those who are estranged from Him due to their own rebellion. In other words, we are given peace and favor as a completely undeserved gift. We had nothing to do with it.
 
Too often Christmas becomes an unending effort at trying to look our best and even do our best in order to achieve some semblance of well-being. Think about it. Are you more refreshed or more tired at the end of the holiday season? If most of us were honest, we would admit that we look forward to going back to our normal routines in order to get out from under the Christmas stress and Holiday blues. How ironic! The reason Jesus came was to reconcile us to God and give us the gift of abundant life, and we treat the Christmas season as a supreme contest for obtaining or displaying worth. 
 
Let me encourage you to spend some time simply resting and marinating in the glorious news that you do not have to strive for significance any longer. If you do this I promise you will enjoy the season a lot more and you will be a contagion of God's peace to others. May God empower us to enjoy His wondrous grace and extend it to others.
 
For His glory,
 
Walker Armstrong
Interim Director of Missions

When you volunteer, you are not paid in money or recognition, you are paid in LOVE!!  People may forget what you said, or what you did, but they never forget how you made them feel!

Thank you Georgie Kitchen
for your 30 plus years of service to the PMBA. Thank you for giving of yourself by teaching new leaders through Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Thank you for your leadership with WMU and the Belarussian Children's Program.  Most of all, thank you for 30+ years serving as a receptionist for the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association!

Because of your kindness and generosity so many hearts are filled with God's love.  As you start another chapter on your journey of life, know that all of us at the PMBA are forever blessed to have worked with you.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.   1 Corinthians 15:58

LET US HEAR THE CALL OF MISSIONS

 Baptist Toy Stores:
  • Saturday, December 3
     East Forsyth Toy Store at Kernersville Library. [FULL]
  • Saturday, December 3West Forsyth/East Davie Toy Store at Clemmons First Baptist [4 openings]
  • Friday, December 9Central Toy Store at Bethany Baptist Church. [Can take a few more applications by next Monday, December 5]
  • Saturday, December 10West Stokes Toy Store at King First Baptist Church [Can take 12 more applications by next Monday, December 5. Call Alison Lusk at 336-847-2143]
  • Saturday, December 17 -  
    East Stokes Toy Store at Walnut Cove First Baptist Church [Can take 12-16 more applications. Call Donna Craig at 336-591-7493.]
Please note :  We can still use more toys at each location.  Or, you can give an end-of-the year donation. Make your checks payable to PMBA, for the Baptist Toy Stores. Mail to PMBA, PO Box 11843, Winston-Salem, NC 27116.


Please contact West Stokes  (Alison Lusk 336-847-2143) and East Stokes Toy Stores (Donna Craig 336-591-7493as well as Pilot Mountain Outreach Center if you can volunteer at any of these locations.


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WMU Prison Party - Thursday, December 15 at 6 PM at Forsyth Jail & Prison, Cherry Street.  Call PMBA by December 12 if you plan to attend. We must have your driver's license and social security number. You must be on the list in order to participate! Call PMBA at 336-830-8189 and give your information to the receptionist.

Items needed:  chips and sala, cheese cubes, dill pickles (large jars), minature candy bars, veggie trays and dip.  Can also use monetary donations to cover the cost of the cake squares and the punch. Contact Alison Lusk (336-847-2143) if you have more questions.

Hygiene kits still needed.  We need at least another 150 hygiene kits for the Prison Party.  Each inmate receives a hygiene kit for Christmas. For some, this is the only Christmas present they will receive!


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Bread of Life Food Pantry --  Need donations of food (i.e., canned vegetables, rice, stuffing mix, canned fruit, hot chocolate mix, cereal, crackers, peanut butter, jelly,  tooth paste, tooth brushes.  If you can provide any of the above items, please contact Karen Taylor at 336-830-8189 or 336-414-0812.  We plan to pack our Christmas boxes by December 12.


PMBA SENIOR ADULT CANDLE TEA - CANCELED!!

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Due to health concerns of a couple of our team members and the death in the family of one of our team members, we decided to cancel the Senior Adult Candle Tea this year.  This service is a highlight of the Christmas Season and we regret that we had to cancel for this year.

The Senior Adult Candle Tea was started by Pastor Levy Goodrich, Robinhood Road Baptist Church in 1998.  It has been a highlight of the Christmas Season for many of our senior adults. It is a time we can focus on Christmases past and remember those who have been such a blessing to us over the years.  This year we especially give thanks for Levy Goodrich, a wonderful pastor and friend to many. Levy celebrates this wonderful Holy Season with our Lord, yet his enduring qualities of love and friendship lives on the hearts of those who knew him!

Please make plans to attend next year's Senior Adult Candle Tea. We will begin advertising for it at the May Senior Adult Luncheon in 2017.


PMBA CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLOSING

The Pilot Mountain Baptist Association will be closed Monday, December 26 through Monday, January 2 for the Christmas Holidays.  As we have for the past 10 years, we take the week of Christmas to close down and spend time with family.

May God richly bless each and every one of you.  We thank God for our times together in serving our Lord through so many avenues of ministry.  Our prayer is that you may experience the love and joy in Christ Jesus during this Holy Season and build memories with your loved ones.  -- your PMBA Staff
Welcome

Ken Kerns - Pastor of Union Cross Baptist Church

Luke Pettyjohn - Music/Worship Leader-Advance First Baptist
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Openings Among PMBA Churches

  • Union Hill Baptist Church is seeking a part-time Youth Minister and a part-time Pianist.  For further information, please contact:  Pastor Christopher Burcham email: burchpastor@triad.rr.com phone: 336-724-9305.
  • Iglesia Bautista de Union Cross is seeking a Bivocational Pastor for a local PMBA Hispanic congregation. Please call Miguel Alvarez @336-722-3257
  • Griffith Baptist Church is seeking a part-time Minister of Music and a part time Youth Minister. Please send resumes to: Search Committee, Griffith Baptist Church, 1987 Old Salisbury Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27127
  • Crestwood Baptist Church is seeking a full time Pastor. Send resumes to Search Committee, Crestwood Baptist, 530 Motor Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.
  • Macedonia Baptist Church is seeking a part-time Youth Director. Submit resumes to  Angela Wilson at  wilson04@roadrunner.com.
  • Ardmore Baptist Church is seeking a part-time Administrative Assistant to provide support to the minister to children and families and the minister with students. Email or mail resumes to Mike  Nuckolls   mnuckolls@ardmorebaptist.org; 501 Miller Street, W-S, NC 27103.
Neighboring Churches
  •  Zoar Baptist Church in Shelby, NC is seeking a full time Pastor. Please send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, Zoar Baptist Church, 1740 S Lafayette St., Shelby, NC  28152.
Please help us pray for:


The DJ Redding Family  - in the passing of D.J. before Thanksgiving. His funeral was on Monday, November 28, at Revo Church.  

Kathy Hughes  - member of King Cowboy Church wife of Pastor Rick Hughes, with serious health concerns. 

CF & Martha McDowell & Family - members of Ardmore Baptist Church -upon the death of their son Luke.

Sandra Pollard - member of Ardmore Baptist Church - hospice has been called.

Cliff Willis   - Pastor of Willow Oaks Baptist Church - health concerns.

Sandra West  - member of Oaklawn and PMBA Baptists on Mission team member -  health concerns.

Giles Smith - member of Lewisville Baptist Church and served on the PMBA Senior Adult Ministry Response Team for many years.  - cancer 


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 home address.

Please share this information with others in your congregations.
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