CRBA Update June 24, 2026

From the Desk of your AMS 
(Associational Mission Strategist)

June 24
Association at its Best
As we visit each of our churches, Amanda and I continue to be encouraged by the unique way each congregation is positioned to reach its community with the Gospel. Many of our CRBA churches have a long and faithful history of sharing the Good News where God has placed them. What a blessing it is to hear stories of past victories while also seeing how God is still using your churches to impact lives today.

That is one of the great joys of an association. We are not walking alone. We are linking arms together for the sake of the Gospel — encouraging one another, equipping one another, and helping one another stay faithful to the mission God has given us. At the Catawba River Baptist Association, our desire is to serve and support our churches as you engage the lost, strengthen disciples, and show the love of Christ in your communities.

What a blessing it is to have so many of you faithfully supporting our collective work. Already in 2026, 47 of our churches have given financially to support our shared work. Thank you! Your giving helps the work of the association continue to thrive, and it allows us to better serve the churches, pastors, leaders, and ministries across our region.

This is your association. We are here to serve you, encourage you, and help equip you for the work God has called you to do. Whatever helps your church more faithfully accomplish that mission, we want to come alongside you in that work.

If your church has not yet given this year, go ahead and take that step of supporting this partnership. Together, we can continue strengthening churches and reaching communities with the hope of the Gospel.

Associations are at their best when churches are encouraged, leaders are equipped, and we serve together for the sake of Christ and His mission. So together, let’s keep our hands to the plow! 

Michael R. Hodge
ams@crbanc.org

Scripture Focus – Deut. 29
“Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations.” Deut. 29:18. 

As I read this text this morning in my Bible reading, it led me to pray for those in our churches and families who are doing just that – wandering. Today, we are praying for those in your churches and families who have turned away from their first love. We pray they will once again faithfully serve the Lord. Michael H.

 Let’s do lunch! Thursdays at 12noon.
For ALL pastors – you are invited to join us. 

Casey Norkett is a NC Baptist Mission Catalyst. Casey will share a Scripture passage and then help us discover the role NC Baptists play in encouraging/equipping us for missions.

See you on Thursday. 

Prayer
Opportunities 
Please be in prayer for these CRBA Churches of the Week:

North Morganton Baptist Church
(Pastor JC Bradley)

Oak Grove Baptist Church
(Pastor Kenneth Mashburn)

Oak Ridge Baptist Church
(Pastor Nicholas Wilson)

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
(Pastor Jack Hodges)

Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church
(Pastor Bradley Johnson)

Churches Without
Senior Pastors
Bethlehem 
FBC ConnellySprings
FBC Morganton
Catawba Valley
Silver Creek

CRBA Churches Seeking Staff
If you would like to see a list of the staff openings in our CRBA churches, please visit our website here.  

Please be in prayer for our churches seeking to fill staff positions.

Thank You for Your Generous Support in 2026
Thank You, Churches!
We are grateful for the churches that have faithfully supported the ministry of the CRBA through their financial gifts during the first half of 2026. Your generosity helps us partner together in advancing the Gospel, strengthening churches, and serving our communities. Thank you for investing in Kingdom work through the CRBA. We praise God for your faithful partnership!Antioch
Asheville Street
Bended Knee Cowboy Church
Bridge 42
Brookwood
Brown Mountain
Burkemont
Community of Drexel
Congregation Beth Shiloh
Cornerstone
Drexel Memorial
East Valdese
El Bethel
Enon
Faith Missionary
First Baptist Glen Alpine
First Baptist Icard
First Baptist Morganton
First Baptist Rutherford College
First Baptist Valdese
First Hmong
Friendship
Grace
High Peak
  Hopewell
Icard’s Grove
Lake James Community
Lakeview
Missionary Ridge
Mount Calvary
Mount Home
Mount Olive
Mountain View #2
Mull’s Grove
North Morganton
Oak Grove
Oak Ridge
Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Ridge
Pleasant View
Set Free Christian Fellowship
Silver Creek
Summit
Trinity
United
Walker Road
Wilkies Grove
Zion

Church News
 
Bridge 42 has about 50 chairs available for a donation of any amount.  If interested please contact Rev. Andrew Whisenant at 828-584-2876 or 828-433-1208

Underwear and Sock Collection for June and July

First Baptist Morganton- June 22-25

El Bethel- June 22-25

Mount Home- June 22-26

Summit Community- August 3-6

 Upcoming Calendar Events: June
Underwear and Sock Collection all month

July
Underwear and Sock Collection all month
2- CRBA Office Closed

August
Christmas in August Toy Drive all month
7-8- Women and girls mission trip to Ducktown TN
10- Men’s Rally @ Burkemont 6PM
16- Praise and Prayer on the Square

September
13- Timothy Project
15- Senior Adult Lunch
19- Golf Tournament
19- Women’s Breakfast

September (continued)
22- From Our Seats to the Streets 
23- SYATP Youth Rally
26- Youth and Children’s Volunteer Training
30- Oct. 8- Armenia Mission Trip

October
2- Tractor Show
5&6- Toy Store Registration 
8- Timothy Project
18- Fall Meeting @ Mt. Home
18- Momentum Youth Rally @ Burkemont

November
8- Timothy Project
9- Men’s Rally @ Grace
21- Marriage Conference with Gary Chapman

December
3-6- Coats for City Trip to NYC
7-10- Toy Store

Missionary Care Training
Calvary West, 136 Medical Dr, Advance, NC 27006
Thursday, August 27, 2026     Cost: $10/person
Click image for registration. Registration is open now.
 N.C. Baptist churches currently have over 500 adults serving as missionaries around the world. Join us for a one-day training as we learn best practices for caring for those we send. You will have the opportunity to hear from both church leaders and missionaries.

EQUIPPING EVERY PASTOR IN WESTERN N.C.
Biltmore Church – Arden Campus, 35 Clayton Rd, Arden, NC 28704
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
Click the image above for registration information (opens on June 17).