Focus. Forerunner. We wish you a very, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! Transylvania Baptist Association. December 2015 Volume 25 Issue 12

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1 Forerunner Focus R E A C H I N G T H E W O R L D F O R J E S U S B Y L I N K I N G H E A R T S & H A N D S December 2015 Volume 25 Issue 12 Encouraging Our Churches: Blantyre Blue Ridge Boylston Brevard Community Brevard First Calvary Carr s Hill Carson s Creek Cathey s Creek Cedar Mountain Cherryfield Dunn s Creek Dunn s Rock East Fork Enon Faith Glady Branch Grace La Primera Miśion Lake Toxaway Light & Hope Ministry Little River Middle Fork Morningside Mount Moriah-Calvert New Hope North Toxaway Oak Grove Pisgah Forest Rocky Hill Shoal Creek Temple The Church at Sapphire Turkey Creek Zion We wish you a very, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! Transylvania Baptist Association

2 A View from the Center December is a month everyone thinks about giving. The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive. I encourage you to be a channel to give to and support the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This offering goes to support Southern Baptist Missionaries around the world. Please understand that this annual mission offering is not merely about money; it is about our calling and our commitment. Will you share Jesus with the world this Christmas season? Supporting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is about one person telling another person about Jesus. As followers of Christ, we must give our all so people can know the love of Jesus. Because of Who He Is, we have the privilege of pouring ourselves out completely to be His heart, hands and voice - individually, as a church, and as Southern Baptists working cooperatively to reach all the nations. We are all part of the task to fulfill the Great Commission. And although Southern Baptists have been praying, giving and going for more than 160 years, the task is far from finished. Looking to 2016 the Lord is stirring my heart to serve Him and you in proving the following: HOW TO SEE GOD BUILD A PEACEMAKING ATMOSPHERE IN YOUR CHURCH. The number one tool of the devil is to work through church conflict to distract the people from the Great Commission and to divide the people to create stagnation and decline in the Church. While conflict in a church cannot be avoided, the Lord wishes to lead His people to process conflict in a biblical and Christ-honoring way that will allow Him to work mightily in the church and keep the church focused on reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What I share in this seminar (for pastors and all church leaders) is a biblical process to help God create a peace-making atmosphere in the Church. HOW TO INCREASE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN A CHURCH. This will help churches to evaluate how they are seeking to communicate and find more productive and efficient ways to enhance church communication. I share just one insight regarding . If a church relies upon as a primary tool of communication, realize that recent research shows that 70% of s are never read. HOW TO BUILD COOPERATION AND WORKING TOGETHER IN YOUR CHURCH. God desires every church to grow in serving Him together (Psalm 133). HOW TO INVOLVE THE WHOLE CHURCH IN A BIBLICALLY BASED PRAYER MINISTRY. Most churches have prayer meetings and people who pray. Few churches have everyone involved in a comprehensive church prayer ministry. God greatly blessed through Wade Steelman in the TBA Sunday School Seminar at Pisgah Forest Baptist on November 12. Approximately 10 churches were represented to hear the biblical principles of growing a great Sunday School that reaches people for Christ. We appreciate Dr. David Spray and the wonderful people at Pisgah Forest for their Christ-honoring hospitality. Thank you for your prayer and provision support of the TBA. Serving together we are seeing God do great things for His Glory. Remember to pray daily for the lost. Remember to ask God daily to use your church and your life to help people hear the Good News of Jesus Christ! I am your servant in Christ. Jan and I love you with the love of the Lord. Jan and I pray for you daily. Bro. Mike

3 Twas the Night Before Jesus Came 'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed. Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap. When out of the East there arose such a clatter. I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash! When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY! The light of His face made me cover my head It was Jesus! returning just like He had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. In the Book of Life which He held in His hand Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame. The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound. While all the rest were left standing around. I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There's only one life and when comes the last call We'll find that the Bible was true after all! -Author Unknown

4 675 Hendersonville Highway Pisgah Forest, NC Phone: Web: tbanc.org / tba@tbanc.org Ministry Positions Available Carr s Hill Baptist Church is seeking a youth leader. The position will be bi-vocational, up to 20 hours per week. Please send resumes to Youth Search Committee, 2719 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC Zion Baptist Church is seeking a youth minister. Contact Mark Willis at for more information. First Baptist Church Maggie Valley is seeking a choir/worship leader. For more information, please contact Sarah Shuford at Resumes may be faxed to or mailed to PO Box 309, Maggie Valley, NC, Please continue to be much in prayer for our churches without pastors: Calvary, Mount Moriah-Calvert New Transportation Ministry Can you spare half a day once a week or once a month? Would you be willing to drive to Hendersonville or Asheville? There are people in our county who need someone to drive them to doctor appointments and treatments, such as dialysis, chemo, or radiation. Do you or someone you know need this kind of service? If so, please call Nancy Porter at Let us serve others. My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19 Pastors & Wives Christmas Banquet Monday, December 7-6:30 pm Little River Baptist Church Each person please bring an inexpensive gift to exchange. Please RSVP by December 2 Mark & Jenny former members of Morningside will be guest speakers at Carr s Hill Baptist Church Wednesday, December 2-6:30 pm Everyone is invited to come hear about the Lottie Moon Emphasis & hear about their 18 years of service is Asia. For more information, please call the church office at Dr. Michael Miller - Associational Missionary Mrs. Nancy Kilpatrick-Assoc. Ministry Assistant Mr. Bill Britt -Moderator Enabling Empowering Equipping Energizing October 14, 2015 It has been one month since we were on the fairgrounds interacting with fair workers and those attending the fair. Thank you for your faithfulness to serve. If you were a team leader for a church or an associational team, please express thanks to your team from the Mountain State Fair Leadership Team. Also, we are grateful for the many who contributed supplies for the ministry. The ministry at the Fair is an incredible opportunity to touch lives in Jesus name! It is special that God works through people in so many different ways at the Fair. We are aware of thirty decisions made for Christ. There were thirty five medical visits and a total of fifty nine dental and dental hygiene visits made by fair workers at the NC Baptist Men s Medical/Dental Bus. Volunteers gave forty five haircuts. And, thousands of individual meals were served to fair workers. In February of 2016 the Mountain State Fair Leadership Team will begin plans for the twenty seventh year of ministry. Please pray for God s leadership as we look forward to seeing our fair family again in September of To God be the glory for the ministry accomplished in His name at the Fair! Norma Melton, Director WMMU Prayer Meetings 1st Tuesday of Each Month Baptist Center Conference Room All women of the association are invited to attend for a special monthly time of prayer, testimonies, devotion, fellowship, fun, laughs, and encouragement. Tuesday, December 1-11:45 am Focus on Lottie Moon Foreign Missions Tuesday, January 5-5:30 pm Focus on Sanctity of Human Life

5 The Jesse Tree Jesse Trees are a very old Christmas tradition and first started in medieval times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. The name comes from Jesse who was the Father of the great Jewish King David. One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says: 1. A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 3. and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4. but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. Isaiah 11:1-4 (NIV) A branch is a sign of new life and new beginnings. Jesus was a decedent of King David and Christians believe that Jesus is this new branch. The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries, or even stained glass windows put in churches that helped illiterate people (people who can't read or write) to learn about the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. But now Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. You can use a normal Christmas tree or a banner in the shape of a tree. Each day through advent (or sometimes just on the four Sundays of advent) a special decoration or ornament (similar to a Chrismon), that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree. See examples of story symbols on the following page. Courtesy

6 The Jesse Tree Symbols (these are only a few examples) Bible Story Scripture Symbol Creation Genesis 1 The earth Adam & Eve in the Garden Genesis 2:4-3:24 Tree with fruit Noah & the Flood Genesis 6:9-9:17 Rainbow God s Promise to Abraham Genesis 12:1-7 & 15:1-6 Tent Isaac Genesis 22:1-18 Ram Jacob s Ladder Genesis 28:10-19 Ladder Joseph s Coat Genesis 37 & 50 Multicolored Coat or Robe Moses Exodus 2:1-4:20 Burning Bush Israelites & the Passover Exodus 12:1-42 Lamb The Ten Commandments Exodus 19:1-20:20 Two Stone Tablets Joshua & the Fall of Jericho Joshua 6:1-20 Ram s Horn or Trumpet Ruth Ruth (entire book) Sheaf of Corn King David 1 Samuel 16:1-3 Six-Pointed Star of David Solomon s Temple 1 Kings 6 Temple Elijah & Baal s Priests 1 Kings 18:16-39 Bonfire Isaiah s Jesse Prophecy Isaiah 11:1-11 Tree Stump with Branch Jonah & the Whale Jonah (entire book) Whale John the Baptist Matthew 3:13-17 Scallop Shell Mary Luke 1:26-38 White Lilly Elizabeth Luke 1:39-56 Mother & Child Zechariah Luke 1:57-80 Pencil & Tablet Joseph Matthew 1:19-25 Carpenter s Hammer The Shepherds Luke 2:8-20 Fluffy Sheep The Wisemen Matthew 2:1-12 Three Gifts or Crowns Jesus Luke 2:1-8 Baby in a Manger

7 Church News Boylston: Young-at-Heart will have a Christmas Supper on Dec. 12 at 6pm. Christmas Caroling in the community will be held Dec. 19. The Choir will present Bethlehem s Child on Dec. 20 at 11am. The Children will present a Christmas Program on Dec. 20 at 7pm. Carr s Hill: Mark & Jenny, former missionaries & members of Morningside, will be the guest speakers on Dec. 2 at 6:30pm, sharing about their work & highlighting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Middle Fork: WMU will have a Christmas Party on Dec. 3 at 6:30pm at the home of Pastor Chester & Edith Chappell. The Children will present Home for Christmas: on Dec. 15 at 7pm. The Adult Choir will present Breath of Heaven: on Dec. 20 at 11am. New Hope: Is raising funds for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Will present Come, Sing With Us on Dec. 22 at 6pm. Will be delivering meals on Christmas Day in the community 11am to 2pm - for information or to schedule a delivery please call Pisgah Forest: Will have a Lottie Moon Mission Study led by Gene Parker on Dec. 2. BYB will travel to The Cove for the Salt Christmas Carol Program on Dec. 8. Will present All I Want for Christmas...Is Jesus on Dec. 12 at 6:30pm and Dec. 13 at 10:30am. Red Cross training will be held in the fellowship hall on Dec. 15 at 5-9pm - call the church office for information and to sign up for the training at A Christmas Eve Service with the Lord s Supper will be held on Dec. 24 at 5pm.

8 Transylvania Baptist Association Financial Summary January - October, 2015 Total Receipts from Churches $86, Budget Needs for Period $98, Actual Expenses for Period $98, Spent More Than Budget $ Spent More Than Received $12, Needed Monthly to Meet 2014 Budget $9, Budget Needs Received for Period 87%

9 Transylvania Baptist Association December 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Murray Anniv. Oak Grove Evangelism at Twilight on Main Festival Week of Prayer - Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - November 29 - December 6, Pastors Christmas Banquet Little River 6:30 pm 8 Angela Cooke B/D Cedar Mountain Hope Murray B/D Oak Grove Kyle Reese B/D Faith Mullis Anniv. North Toxaway 19 Jami Reese B/D Faith Skinner Anniv. Enon TBA Closed 24 Christmas Eve TBA Closed 25 Christmas Day 26 Sarah Skinner B/D Enon Christine Duncan B/D Grace Penny West B/D Dunn s Rock 31

10 B r e t h r e n, p r a y f o r u s. 1 T h e s s. 5 : 2 5 For the Association to remain strong and united, the churches must first be strong and united. This begins with prayer. Please take time daily to pray for all of our churches and pastors. Blantyre Ron Nelson Blue Ridge Allen Martin Boylston Jimmy Burress Brevard Community Todd Alewine Brevard First Tommy Crocker Calvary Gordon Benton Carr s Hill Shane Hardesty Carson s Creek Roger Smith Cathey s Creek Tony Lambert Cedar Mountain Stephen Cooke Cherryfield Tommy Preslar Dunn s Creek Hank Moffitt Dunn s Rock Dean West East Fork Doug Tankersley Enon Michael Skinner Faith Kyle Reese Glady Branch Johnny Hughes Grace Shane Duncan Lake Toxaway Harold Sitton Little River Chris Farmer Middle Fork Chester Chappell Morningside Sidney Calhoun Mount Moriah Wallace McCall New Hope Randy Shuler North Toxaway Tommy Mullis Oak Grove Allen Murray Pisgah Forest David Spray Rocky Hill Leland Holland Shoal Creek Patrick Owen Temple Lee Nichols The Church at Sapphire Rick Plotts Turkey Creek Jason Kittrell Zion Dan Dellinger...God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23

11 Mission Trip Opportunities Kentucky December Cost: $75 Distributing ARM Backpacks Lebanon May 13-21, 2016 Cost: $2500 Ministering to Syrian Refugees Additional Opportunities Pending West Africa - Southeast Asia Lebanon - Mexico Ireland - Montreal New York City For more information about these and other mission trip opportunities, please contact Alan Perry by calling or ing alan@brevardcommunity.org.

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