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| September 9, 2026 | |
 | From the Desk of your DOM Upcoming Opportunities: September Timothy Project- Sept. 13 Senior Adult Lunch- Sept. 15 Pastor’s Breakfast- Sept. 17 Golf Tournament- Sept. 19 Women’s Breakfast- Sept. 19 From Our Seats to the Streets Conference- Sept. 22 See You at the Pole Youth Rally- Sept. 23 Youth and Children’s Volunteer Training- Sept. 26 Pray for our CRBA Pastors of the Week More CRBA Calendar Events Resource of the Week Save the Date: October Church & Ministry Partner News |
 At the AMS Summit 09.01 – 09.03 NAMB invited AMS leaders from across the nation to attend a training and encouragement summit in Alpharetta, Ga. We were encouraged to grow in our association strategies, church equipping and encouraging, and more. We are grateful for our partnership across the SBC, supporting the work of our local associations.  Lake James Community Church 09.06.2026 Pastor Billy Bollinger and the team of leaders and volunteers at Lake James are watching God at work, doing so many wonderful things in this church. Amanda and I (Michael) attended the morning Bible Study and Worship Service. Following the service, the students had a Hot Dog fundraiser for their Fall Retreat. Praise God for the good work that’s happening here! _____________ Annual Meeting is Soon!! We are excited to join together on October 18 at Mount Home for our Annual Meeting. Now is the time to elect your messengers who will represent your church at the Annual Meeting. Be sure to include that in your upcoming business meetings. _____________ Great quote from the AMS Summit… “The man who decided to change on the 12th hour died at the 11th.” What are we putting off until tomorrow what we know needs to happen today? Navigating change is difficult and must be done in love and wisdom, but delaying what we know needs to happen doesn’t help us move forward. | From the Desk of your DOM Wednesday, September 9 Sitting through conferences is often like drinking from a fire hose as keynote speakers and hosts pack as much beneficial info into the packed schedule as they can. My notes from the AMS Excellence Summit reflect that – typing as fast as I could! Two words were shared to capture what we encourage across our association – convening collaboration. It describes churches and staff working together and multiplying impact. The priority is building relationships, connecting ministry partnerships, and supporting one another in the shared calling of ministry. All across our association are incredible examples of God using unique gifts and methods to glorify God! Through the association, we get to build bridges of relationships where you hear about and learn more from those efforts. Your obedience encourages my ministry! How can we convene and collaborate more? That is the challenge that I face in trying to help you. So many of you are working a full time job alongside full time ministry. We want to provide resources and tools to help your ministry – regardless of whether you’re bivocational or full-time ministry leaders. We are committed to learning and growing with you, expanding our “convening collaboration” in ways that equip and encourage you as we strive to engage the lost of Burke County and beyond. Video Update Did you see the CRBA video update this morning – Sept. 9? It’s a brand new way for you to hear about all the great things happening in our CRBA! It’s focused on those serving in leadership in our CRBA but anyone will benefit from the quick promo of what’s upcoming! Here is the link for the first video in the series…https://youtu.be/qbIss4J0MFQ Michael R. Hodge Director of Missions What are we working on at the CRBA?Timothy Project  What is our “Timothy Project”? It is a mentoring program for students called to vocational ministry. It’s a ministry of our Student Ministry Team of the CRBA. Leaders of the Timothy Project met recently to begin praying for and preparing for resuming these gatherings. The Timothy Project is for high school (grades 9-12) and college students called to vocational ministry. Participants must be active SBC church members with a pastor/youth pastor recommendation. Pastors – Do you have a student YOU would recommend to the Timothy Project. Have that conversation with your student(s) and let’s get them plugged into this incredible mentoring opportunity. Contact the CRBA Office to get more details (828.437.0137). _____________________________ From the Seats to the Streets CRBA Event Every year, our Church Strengthening Team selects a theme to EQUIP the churches of the CRBA. This is a team of pastors and lay leaders who have a heart for all our CRBA churches. Last year’s theme was “Becoming a Welcoming Church.” For Sept. 2026, the theme is From the Seats to the Streets. How effective is your church in engaging the lost? Is there room for growth in your obedience to the Great Commission? I believe we all have room for growth in this area – as God’s instruments for making Him known across Burke County and beyond. This event is for every leader and member wanting to grow in obedience to the Great Commission! We need to know you’re coming! RSVP to the CRBA Office by 09.15.26. 828.437.0137 |
 Our ministries at Catawba River Baptist Association are guided by this summary statement capturing our three categories: We exist to Equip and Encourage pastors and churches to Engage communities with the Gospel. | |
 | PASTORS — Tomorrow (09.10) is Thursday and we get to gather for our weekly lunch. Michael Hodge will lead this week’s session. We will once again allow Scripture to guide our conversation and response in prayer. Note: Our Association Council will meet at 1:15pm. We will discuss the application of one of our nearby churches wishing to join the association. Additionally, we will review the upcoming work of the Nominating Team in filling the minstry team roles with vacancies. |
| Upcoming Opportunities: September | ||
RSVP By Tomorrow!!!  |  Register by Sept 15 | |
 |  RSVP by Sept 15  | |
RSVP by Sept. 16  | ||
| Praying for our CRBA Pastors | |
 Churches Without Senior Pastors Bethlehem FBC Connelly Springs FBC Morganton Catawba Valley Silver Creek First Hmong – Pastor Installation Service – Sept. 26. | Each week, we feature several of our Pastors who faithfully serve in our CRBA churches. We are providing a contact email for encouragement purposes. Please pray for these pastors — and send a much deserved word of encouragement as well! Featured Pastors for this WeekSolid Rock Baptist Church (Pastor Stacey Layne-staceylayne@ymail.com) South Mountain Baptist Church (Pastor Richard Lowery-richardlowery15@gmail.com) Summit Community Church (Pastor Mike Shillinglaw-mikes@sccmorganton.com) Table Rock Baptist Church (Pastor Walter Vinson-vinsonautogroup@hotmail.com) Trinity Baptist Church (Pastor Tim Hodge-Timothyhodge70@gmail.com) United Baptist Church (Pastor Steve Matthews- stevehmathews@gmail.com) Valdese First Baptist Church (Pastor Josh Lail – revjoshlail@gmail.com) Walker Road Baptist Church (Pastor Mark Ball – markaball@bellsouth.net) Wilkies Grove Baptist Church (Pastor Thurman Roe – roethurman@yahoo.com ) Zion Baptist Church (Pastor Keith Rose – pastorkeith71@gmail.com) CRBA Churches Seeking Staff Please be in prayer for our churches seeking to fill staff positions. When we have a new position posted it will appear in this newsletter for a few weeks, but all our positions are always available to view on our website. Enon Baptist Church is seeking a part-time music director. Please send resume to Enon Baptist Church 2059 Enon Rd. Morganton, NC 28655 C/O Personnel Committee. Enon Baptist Church is seeking a part-time youth director. Please send resume to Enon Baptist Church 2059 Enon Rd. Morganton, NC 28655 C/O Personnel Committee. |
| More CRBA Calendar Events | ||
.jpg?__nocache__=1) | September Baptist Mission Offering Emphasis 10- 6:30pm Created for This- Pastor’s Wives Event at CRBA 13- Timothy Project 15- Senior Adult Lunch @ 11am @ Bridge 42 17- Pastor’s Breakfast at CRBA @ 8:00am. 19- Golf Tournament 19- Women’s Breakfast 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 Coats for the City Collection 5&6- Toy Store Registration 8- Timothy Project 9- Baking for Babies- Baked Goods Due 10- Pregnancy Care Center Day for Life – Baking For Babies Booth 18- Fall Meeting @ Mt. Home 18- Coats for the City Donations due at Fall Meeting 18- Momentum Youth Rally @ Burkemont 19-20- CRBA Youth Fall Mission Trip- Helene Rebuild 27- Gospel Legacy Training for Sr. Adults @ 10am November 8- Timothy Project 9- Men’s Rally @ Grace 21- NC Baptist Marriage Conference with Gary Chapman @ Burkemont December 3-6- Coats for City Trip to NYC 7-10- Toy Store | |
| CRBA Resource of the Week | |
 | Your CRBA has a library of books available for you to check out. Checking out any resource is free of charge to all our CRBA churches. If you would like to reserve any CRBA resource, just call (828) 437-0137. |
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 On Mission Together: Seated & Sent September 19, 2026Women’s Evangelism and Discipleship ConferenceLawndale Baptist Church, 3505 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408Saturday, September 19th, 2026RegisterCost: $30 |  |
 |  The entire Baptist On Mission budget comes from the North Carolina Mission Offering. |
 | Samaritan’s Purse has some Seasonal Jobs available – help spread the word. |
 | Lakeview Baptist Church Grace  |
Hopewell Baptist Church | Mull’s GroveClick the image to see the full size promo on Mull’s Grove Facebook page. |
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 | 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). Note: Michael Hodge is registered and can take several of you with him! Others of you may want to carpool as well. |
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