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 February 2015 Volume 25 Issue 2 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 I want to thank the Association for all you have done to prepare the way for my ministry and service to the TBA. Everyone has been overwhelmingly kind and servant hearted to Jan and me. During my first week, Jan and I visited 3 churches and I have visited and talked with several pastors and church leaders. In praying daily for the pastors and churches I am asking the Lord to show me the felt needs and challenges being faced by the churches so that I can practically and most effectively be used of God to serve and assist with those needs. I am praying daily for Biblical revival in the TBA. I am praying daily for the pastors of TBA. I am praying about training and equipping events that will serve the needs of the churches in Kingdom Work. I am your servant in Christ. Bro. Mike In an effort to reduce expenses, the Association has discontinued use of a post office box. For all mail to the Baptist Center, please use our street address: 675 Hendersonville Highway Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Men Matter Luncheon Tuesday, February 10 11:55 am - 12:55 pm Pisgah Forest 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 828-877-4223 or email davidspray@pfbaptist.org by Monday, February 9.
Love Is Jan and I want to thank everyone for the kind and loving way you have welcomed us to the Transylvania Baptist Association. We thank God daily for the privilege and joy to serve the wonderful churches and pastors of the TBA. Please feel free to text or email any specific prayer needs. We start every day praying for the pastors and churches of the TBA. February is the month we think about love. I Corinthians 13 is the love chapter of the Bible. It gives us insight into the way God loves and helps us to surrender to the Holy Spirit seeking to build that type of love into our lives. I Corinthians 13 teaches us the following about God s Love. 1. God s Love Is Incarnational. God entered into our world and demonstrated love in a way we could visualize and understand. Loving people God s way means we must go where people are and where they live out their lives. This in itself will demonstrate to our people our love for them. 2. God s Love Is Patient. Loving people God s way means we must not make impatient demands but allow people to grow at their own pace. 3. God s Love Is Kind. Loving people God s way means we must be gentle and sensitive to the needs and hurts of people. 4. God s Love Is Not Jealous. Our supreme concern must be for people s growth and not that they just attend church events or be involved in church activities. 5. God s Love Does Not Brag and Is Not Arrogant. Loving people God s way means we must not spend our energies building up ourselves, but remember that servanthood is making the other person successful. 6. God s Love Does Not Act Unbecomingly. Loving people God s way shows maturity and seeks to model a good example in word and deed. 7. God s Love Does Not Seek Its Own. Our desire must be to put others first. 8. God s Love Is Not Provoked. At times this becomes a great difficulty, but we must learn as the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 2. He stated that in every disappointment he learned to use that situation to reaffirm love for the person who disappoints him. 9. God s Love Does Not Take Into Account a Wrong Suffered. Jesus suffered much wrong and rejection and we, too, must be willing to experience that same suffering. Loving people God s way does refuses to focus on the negative in people. 10. God s Love Rejoices With the Truth. Loving people God s way celebrates the truth and affirms people for the truth. 11. God s Love Bears and Believes All Things. Loving people God s way moves us to expect the best and see people as God sees people for the potential they can become with Christ s help. 12. God s Love Hopes All Things. We need to memorize Philippians 4:8 and recite it daily to ourselves. Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. God s Love Endures All Things. Many heartaches will come our way, and the desire to give up and quit will often pass through our minds. But God s love for us endures even our shortcomings. How can we do any less? Jan and I love you with the love of the Lord. Your servant in Christ, Bro. Mike
The Discipleship MULTIPLY Team desires to serve the churches of Transylvania Baptist Association by offering ideas, resources, experience, and encouragement in the area of discipleship. We can assist churches in the development of a new members class, provide help with discipleship ideas for children, youth, and adults, and even give support in training church leaders to train others in effective discipleship ministries. Our passion is to see spiritual transformation in the members of our churches as they learn to be true followers of Jesus. In turn, they will be equipped and motivated to multiply their discipleship by personally discipling others. If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us through the Baptist Center, or call me at 884-4474. Shane Duncan Team Leader Our Baptist Men have been requested to assist in the addition of four decks at new housing construction at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. A team of 12-15 men is needed, and the project should take about 3 days. A workday will be announced as soon as they are ready for us to begin. Please call the Baptist Center to let us know how many from your church will be available to help. Jim Felty Team Leader
675 Hendersonville Highway Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Phone: 828-877-3203 Web: tbanc.org / Email: tba@tbanc.org Dr. Michael Miller - Associational Missionary Mrs. Nancy Kilpatrick-Assoc. Ministry Assistant Dr. David Spray-Moderator Enabling Empowering Equipping Energizing 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 828-553-8047. Zion Baptist Church is seeking a youth minister. Contact Mark Willis at 828-506-3232 for more information. Please continue to be much in prayer for our churches without pastors: Calvary, Carson s Creek, Dunn s Creek, Morningside, Mount Moriah-Calvert, Oak Grove, Temple Week of Prayer - March 1-8 Support the efforts of the North American Mission Board s Send North America strategy, as missionaries and church planters push back lostness in the United States and Canada. Find out more at anniearmstrong.com.
Church News Boylston: Young-at-Heart will have Valentines Dinner at Bay Breeze in Hendersonville on Feb. 12. Women s Sharing Ourselves Group will gather for Bible study & fellowship on Feb. 19 at 6:30pm. Collected $3305 for Lottie Moon. Calvary: Will have a Valentine lunch following the morning service on Feb. 15. Choir is preparing an Easter musical. Brotherhood plans to help with decks at Fruitland s new housing project, and is assisting an elderly gentleman in the community with transportation. The Transition Team continues to work on church health study, and will provide a report to the church soon. Exceeded goal for Lottie Moon. Carr s Hill: Baptist Men s Day was spirit-filled - had one baptism, the men did the music and gave testimonies, and one was saved. Shelley Marcy was guest speaker for Sanctity of Life Sunday. Collected $4,000 for Lottie Moon. Enon: Has called Rev. Michael Skinner as Pastor. Welcomes Michael & Sarah Skinner, and sons Ben and Matthew, to Enon. Rev. Allen Thompson is now available for supply and/or interim, please call 885-2782 or 553-9273 for scheduling. New Hope: Provided over 100 meals on Christmas Day for needy in the community. Shoal Creek: Has called Patrick Owen as Interim Pastor.
Transylvania Baptist Association February 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Prayer Emphasis: Enon & Michael Skinner Faith & Kyle Reese 2 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am Pisgah Forest Reese Anniversary Faith 3 4 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am Mike Miller B/D TBA 5 6 7 Susan Plotts B/D Church at Sapphire & La Primera Mission 8 Prayer Emphasis: Glady Branch & Johnny Hughes Grace & Shane Duncan 9 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am Pisgah Forest 10 Men Matter Luncheon 11:55 am Pisgah Forest 11 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am 12 Mike & Jan Miller Anniversary TBA 13 14 Valentines Day Debbie Dellinger B/D Zion Shuler Anniversary New Hope 15 Prayer Emphasis: Lake Toxaway & Harold Sitton Little River & Chris Farmer 16 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am Pisgah Forest 17 Baptist Men Region 9 Missions Rally 18 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am 19 20 Carolyn Eubanks B/D TBA Retired 21 Operation Christmas Child Celebration 1:00 pm Pisgah Forest 22 Prayer Emphasis: Middle Fork & Chester Chappell Morningside & Sidney Calhoun 23 Pastors Fellowship 10:30 am Pisgah Forest 24 25 Senior Adult Bible Study 10:00 am 26 Chris Farmer B/D Little River 27 28 Dan Dellinger B/DZion
Transylvania Baptist Association Financial Summary for January - December, 2014 Total Receipts from Churches $108,963.96 Budget Needs for Period $117,809.00 Actual Expenses for Period $84,364.68 Spent Less Than Budget $33,444.32 Spent Less Than Received $24,599.28 Needed Monthly to Meet 2014 Budget $9,817.42
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 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...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. Oak Grove Tommy Madden Pisgah Forest David Spray Rocky Hill Leland Holland Shoal Creek Patrick Owen Temple The Church at Sapphire Rick Plotts Turkey Creek Jason Kittrell Zion Dan Dellinger