New Associational Missionary Dr. Michael Mike Miller

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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 January 2015 Volume 25 Issue 1 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 Rocky Hill Shoal Creek Temple The Church at Sapphire Turkey Creek Zion New Associational Missionary Dr. Michael Mike Miller The passion of my heart is evangelism, missions, and discipleship/mentoring. Each ministry God has privileged me to serve, I have sought to train soul winners, equip God s people in personal soul winning, and deepen the evangelistic and mission temperature of the Church. Winter Executive Board Dinner Meeting Tuesday, January 20-6:30 pm Lake Toxaway Baptist Church (Associational Council Early Meeting at 5:30pm) All Pastors, Leaders, & Church Representatives Are Encouraged to Attend Visitors Are Always Welcome Men Matter Luncheon Tuesday, January 13 11:55 am - 12:55 pm Baptist Church Cost: $5 Simply put, Men Matter! They matter to God, to their families, to their churches, to their country, to their employers, to their employees, to society as a whole. This gathering is designed to strengthen and encourage men in those areas of life as they spend time with other men who share the same desire to impact their world. Reservations are required - please call or davidspray@pfbaptist.org by Monday, January 12.

2 One of my favorite passages to read at the beginning of a new year is Philippians 3:8-14, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The following are great scriptural principles to help a Christian press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus in 2015: Walking by Faith - Hebrews 11:6 Becoming more passionate and Biblical in Prayer Isaiah 56:7 Becoming more focused in sharing the Gospel and winning people to faith in Christ Proverbs 11:30 Becoming hungry to grow spiritually toward Christ-likeness. Romans 8:29 Becoming absolute in obedience to the Word of God. - II Timothy 3:16-17 Jan and I are so grateful to God for opening the door to serve the pastors and churches of the Transylvania Baptist Association. Thanks for all your prayers and loving support. I wish to share the following about our plans for moving to the mission field of Transylvania County: The Lord has opened the doors for us to rent a house until our house sells here. The address is 1994 Whitmire Road, Brevard, NC We anticipate moving in Monday, January 12. I anticipate being in the office beginning Tuesday, January 13. My present cell number is The best to use is dommike@me.com My office is mike@tbanc.org. I hope each pastor and staff member has been able to fill out a Getting To Know You form. This tool is designed to help me serve and pray for the pastors and churches with focus. If you did not get a Getting To Know You form, please contact the office and Nancy will get one to you. Your servant in Christ, Bro. Mike

3 What s in your hand? In December 1977, the Arkansas Razorbacks, coached by Lou Holtz, were preparing to play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl. Because of recent suspensions on the Razorback team (and the resulting dissension among players) Arkansas had become a 24 point underdog. The negative press took its effect on the players as they prepared for the game; it was evident in the way they practiced. They were listless and unfocused, completely lacking confidence. Holtz called the team together for a meeting. As the players sat slumped in the chairs, staring at the floor he told them: Just because the press is writing our obituary doesn t mean that we have to die. We ve read all the reasons why we can t win; I want to hear why we can. The players sat silent. Nobody offered an opinion. Holtz told them plainly, We re not leaving this meeting until I get some answers. Slowly the players began speaking up: Even though they had lost some key offensive players, the defense was still intact; they still had the best place-kicker in the country; had a great quarterback; and on and on. The more the players talked about why they could win, the more their confidence soared, and the more their outlook changed. If you re a football fan, you know what happened a few days later. The Razorbacks pulled off one of the greatest upsets in bowl history, beating Oklahoma Holtz said, We won that game the moment our players focused on what we had instead of what we lacked. (One Minute Messages by Steve May, Aldersgate Press) Moses faced a similar situation when God called him to lead the people of Israel out of slavery. Moses response was: What if they don t listen to me? God s response was: What do you have? Specifically, the Lord asked: What is that in your hand? (Exodus 4:2) What Moses had was a rod. But it was more than a rod; it symbolized the power of God, and it was all Moses needed. That rod taught Moses not to look at what he lacked, but to look at what he had, which was the power of God in his life. What do you have? God has given each of us gifts and talents to be used for His glory, but chief among the list of our assets is the power of God. Whatever challenges you are facing whatever seemingly insurmountable odds remember that the key to victory is focusing on what you have, not on what you lack. This coming year will bring many joys and opportunities as well as sorrows and hardships. Let s face each of these with gratitude remembering that God s call to a task includes His provisions to meet the challenge. So, let s learn the lesson that the Arkansas players learned: focus on what you have instead of what you lack. In Second Corinthians 4:7 Paul wrote:... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (NKJ). What s in your hand? Blessings for the Journey, Pastor David

4 675 Hendersonville Hwy. / PO Box 670, NC Phone: Web: tbanc.org / tba@tbanc.org Dr. Michael Miller - Associational Missionary Mrs. Nancy Kilpatrick-Assoc. Ministry Assistant Dr. David Spray-Moderator Enabling Empowering Equipping Energizing During recent weeks, many mission teams worked with ministry sites in carrying out Christmas events. The reports have been absolutely wonderful. God has provided, protected, and led each one to do what He wanted them to do. We just love working with volunteers! At Brevard First Baptist, 23 hard-working, faithful volunteers processed 701 filled backpacks for delivery. These backpacks came from 15 Transylvania churches, as well as two other churches in nearby associations. With the help of NC Baptist Men Aviation Ministry, 500 of the backpacks were flown to Summersville and Belington, WV. The remainder were delivered to Williamsburg, KY. Around 200 volunteers gathered from several churches to work with the outreach at Cedaridge Ministries. Pray that those who heard the Gospel will receive the best Christmas Gift they could ever receive. We desire God alone to be glorified through it all. Thank you for your prayerful support. We love and appreciate you! Dewey & Kathie Aiken In 2014, 824 women came to the center seeking help. Thirty babies were given life as a result of the compassionate care and support of the dedicated volunteers at the center. As the year comes to a close, we celebrate the Savior, we celebrate the gift of life, we celebrate another year of God s goodness, and we celebrate our adoptive family - all of you! Wendy Kicklighter, Director The Center for Women Ministry Positions Available Cherryfield Baptist Church is seeking a minister of music to lead blended worship. For more information, please contact Susan Reid by calling Zion Baptist Church is seeking a youth minister. Contact Mark Willis at for more information. Please continue to be much in prayer for our churches without pastors: Calvary, Carson s Creek, Dunn s Creek, Enon, Morningside, Mount Moriah-Calvert, Oak Grove, Shoal Creek, Temple 2015 IRS Standard Mileage Rates The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2015 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving expenses. Beginning on January 1, 2015, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) will be: 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven (up from 56 cents per mile in 2014) 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes (down.5 cents per mile in 2014) 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations Over 2100 Shoeboxes Collected in Transylvania County! Anyone who packed a shoebox had the opportunity to impact 10 people through one shoebox for the Glory of God. These shoeboxes are not just toys with some toiletry items. They are hope and the knowing that someone loves and cares for them. These children not only get a shoebox with toys but they participate in The Greatest Journey which is a twelve-week discipleship program with their very own graduation. At the end of their graduation, they receive their very own Bible. Anyone who volunteered with Operation Christ Child lived out the Scripture of Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV) Our team loves each and every one of you, and will be praying for you all! Andrea Sechrist, Church Relations Team Member Denise Gravely, Patricia Galloway, Carolyn Robinson, Area & Relay Coordinators

5 Church News Boylston: Women s Sharing Ourselves Group will gather for Bible study & fellowship on Jan. 15 at 6:30pm. Brotherhood will have a Men s Breakfast on Jan. 24 at 8am. Enon: Had 2 baptisms in December. Thank You Lord for giving me The brand new year ahead. Help me live the way I should As each new day I tread. Give me gentle wisdom That I might help a friend, Give me strength and courage So a shoulder I might lend. The year ahead is empty, Help me fill it with good things, Each new day filled with joy And happiness it brings. Amen.

6 Transylvania Baptist Association January 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year s Day TBA Closed 2 James Burress B/D Boylston 3 4 Prayer Emphasis: Carr s Hill & Shane Hardesty Carson s Creek & Roger Smith 5 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am 6 Tommy Madden B/D Oak Grove 7 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am Prayer Emphasis: Cathey s Creek & Tony Lambert Cedar Mountain & Steve Cooke Katina Farmer B/D Little River 12 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am 13 Men Matter Luncheon 11:55 am 14 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am Ron Nelson B/D Blantyre Prayer Emphasis: Cherryfield & Tommy Preslar Dunn s Creek Sanctity of Human Life Sunday 19 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am 20 Executive Board Meeting 6:30pm Lake Toxaway 21 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am Randy Shuler B/D New Hope Prayer Emphasis: Dunn s Rock & Dean West East Fork & Doug Tankersley 26 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am Baptist Men Day

7 Transylvania Baptist Association Financial Summary for January - November, 2014 Total Receipts from Churches $99, Budget Needs for Period $107, Actual Expenses for Period $64, Spent Less Than Budget $43, Spent Less Than Received $35, Needed Monthly to Meet 2014 Budget $9,817.42

8 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 Dunn s Rock Dean West East Fork Doug Tankersley Enon Allen Thompson 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...God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23 Brethren, pray for us. 1 Thess. 5:25 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. North Toxaway Tommy Mullis Oak Grove Tommy Madden David Spray Rocky Hill Leland Holland Shoal Creek Temple The Church at Sapphire Rick Plotts Turkey Creek Jason Kittrell Zion Dan Dellinger