| In this issue: Hurricane Helene Recovery- 5 Ways you can help! Relief Donations- help sorting Coats for NC Mountains October Opportunities Lunch and Learn Joint Worship Service This Sunday Momentum Youth Rally This Sunday Upcoming Opportunities Bo’s Youth Event Toy Store Volunteers Needed Resource of the Week Inflatable Screen Local Mission Needs Church News |
3 practical ways to encourage your pastor.jpg?__nocache__=1) From: https://ncbaptist.org/article/3-practical-ways-to-encourage-your-pastor/Pastors are quitting today for many reasons. Pastors, as a whole, can be a troubled lot. Unfortunately it comes with the territory. But much of the remedy would come if somebody would simply offer them some genuine encouragement. To encourage means “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope, or to spur on” — a very powerful antidote to an increasingly troubled world.Smartphone technology has created a self-absorbed world, one where we have a hard time seeing beyond the end of our arms. Even if we did ask people to encourage someone they would say, “When would I have the time?” But that’s a weak excuse. You have all the time you need. The Apostle Paul was so serious about encouraging people that his letters usually focused on encouraging someone or trying to get others to encourage someone. For example, he writes, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). He knew encouragement builds up. Way up. Pastors need this more than anyone I know. Most pastors give and give and give until they are exhausted, stressed and burned out. It’s not hard to see why we have so many dropouts and failures in the ministry. And COVID-19 has only added to the stress.The Apostle Paul was so serious about encouraging people that his letters usually focused on encouraging someone or trying to get others to encourage someone.The church I served the longest did things that encouraged me, often just when I felt like quitting — but they never knew that. Here are some things that really encouraged me. Consider one or more of these suggestions to encourage your pastor. Write your pastor a personal note. Not type a personal note, or email a personal note, but write a personal note. Writing letters and personal notes is a lost art. But it’s far more powerful than anything electronic. Honestly, of all the things people have done to encourage me, this has been the greatest. I’ve kept many of these notes and read and reread them. Recently, after leading a funeral for an elderly man, the family wrote me a note and said, “Even though it’s been a long time since you served at our church, you’ll always be our pastor.” How powerful was that! I read it all the time. Give your pastor a break. Every pastor needs regular breaks from his responsibilities to rest, relax and recover. Find out his favorite place, like the beach or mountains, and send him there, all expenses paid. October is Pastor Appreciation Month, so you have a great built-in opportunity. And if your church is struggling financially, ask a few other couples to go in with you and pick up the tab. He and his wife will be shocked, and they will never forget your kindness. And if you own a cabin or beach house, loan it to him for the week. One family did this for us many times. It was a lifesaver. Give your pastor a gift. This should be a real gift — a gift that he would want — not the one you would like to give him. But you’ve got to know him to know what it is. Listen to him speak, and you will get some clues. I was speaking at a conference once and made a joke about my golf bag that had a hole in it. At the end of the two-day event, one of the attendees came up and presented me with a brand new golf bag. I had just met them the day before. Are you kidding me? Greatest retreat ever! Consider your pastor. Pray for him and follow his leadership, but go a step further and really encourage him. It will build him up. Way up.Hurricane Helene RecoveryHurricane Helene Relief Efforts – 5 Ways You Can Help Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage in our area, and many are wondering how they can assist. 1. Baptists on Mission are actively responding with large feeding units in Boone, Marion, and Arden, and recovery sites in Boone, Spruce Pine, Hendersonville, and more. They are committed to providing long-term support. If you’re interested in volunteering or taking a team to volunteer, please visit their website to sign up and be contacted when needed. Donations are also accepted, and homeowners affected by the storm can apply for assistance. 2- In-Kind Donations If you would like to contribute in-kind donations, please use this form. 3- – If you or someone you know still need hurricane relief assistance, please use this link.CURRENT NEEDS4- As far as needs currently, we could use volunteers at Maynard Electric to help organize all the donated supplies coming in. They are located very close to the CRBA office at 117 Dugout Circle in Morganton.5- If you have folks who want to help with chainsaw work, shockwave, or mud outs locally please let our office know (828)437-0137Visit: Baptists on Mission – Get Involved Hurricane Helene Relief Donations  Thank you, South Yadkin Baptist Associations, for partnering with us by providing supplies for WNC. God has blessed us greatly with many partners including Maynard Electric who is housing surplus relief supplies. We are truly grateful for all these great organizations for their support. To God Be the Glory!!! Churches, if you need supplies to minister locally or outside our communities please call our CRBA office. Supplies are plentiful and need to be used. If you would like to volunteer to help process and organize these supplies housed at Maynard Electric, your help will be greatly appreciated. Coats for the NC Mountains As temperatures drop in the hurricane-affected areas of Western North Carolina, there is a significant need for warm coats, sweatshirts, hoodies, and blankets. If you would like to donate to this cause, please bring your items to the fall joint meeting on Oct. 20th. We will also be collecting donations at the CRBA office through Oct. 31st. Your generosity will make a difference for those in need! October Opportunities Lunch and Learn next Thursday! RSVP today! Join us for a special Lunch and Learn with financial expert Davis Blount on October 24 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the CRBA. Davis will provide valuable financial advice tailored specifically for church bookkeepers and ministers. If you have any financial questions or concerns, this is the perfect opportunity to learn from an excellent resource!Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by October 17. Don’t miss out on this informative session! Joint Worship for all CRBA Churches Sunday Evening 6pm  Join us this Sunday for a special time of joint worship at Walker Road, as all 68 CRBA churches come together for an incredible service! Our guest speaker will be Chuck Lawless, Dean of Doctoral Studies and Vice-President of Spiritual Formation and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Dr. Lawless also serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions. Additionally, we will have a powerful joint choir leading us in worship. Don’t miss this inspiring time of worship and fellowship! We will also be collecting Coats for the NC Mountains at this joint worship service, so bring your donations with you. Momentum Youth Rally This Sunday  Make your plans now to attend the Momentum Youth Rally on Oct. 20th. All 68 CRBA churches plus some from our surrounding area will be attending a joint worship service at Burkemont Baptist Church. The evening will begin at 5pm Upcoming Opportunities .jpg?__nocache__=1)  We need your help at our 30th Annual Toy Store! Please call to sign up (828) 437-0137 Resource of the Week  Your CRBA has an inflatable screen available for your ministry needs. To view our resources check out our website here. If you would like to reserve the inflatable screen for your church, please call 828-437-0137 or email admin@crbanc.org. Local Mission Opportunities Support for Burke County DSS We have a local member collecting essential supplies for Burke County DSS, and your contributions are greatly appreciated! The following items are needed:Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, new towels, and washcloths (no razors, please).Queen sheet sets and blankets.New underwear (all sizes for both genders) and new bras (all sizes).If you’d like to donate, please drop off your items by Oct. 31st to the CRBA office. News from our CRBA Churches Amherst Baptist Church invites all Youth to The Commission Youth Rally on November 17 from 4:30-8:00.  Burkemont Baptist Church will reschedule Judgement House due to the circumstances with the Hurricane clean up. Stay Tuned for new dates.  Wilkies Grove Baptist Church invites all men to a Men’s Breakfast on Oct. 19th at 8:30am.  |
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