| September 2, 2026 | |
 | From the Desk of your DOMUpcoming 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 |
 Bended Knee Cowboy Church 08.27.2026 Every Thursday, the Goforths gather with a great group at Hillside Farms & Arena off Rich Road. This ministry is such a great ministry that strives to meet people where they are with the Good News! I (Michael) had the chance to visit with this great group on 08.27. Pictured is Doug Goforth who leads this ministry.  Visiting Wilkies Grove Baptist Church 08.30.2026 What a blessing to be in an association that spans about 45 minutes across! Amanda and I traveled to Wilkies Grove to celebrate the good work that’s happening there. What a great gathering of God’s people in worship. Pastor Thurman Roe preached on God’s sign of the rainbow in Gen. 9 and then led the church to observe communion. The room was filled with all ages – what a blessing to see God at work! 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 _____________ | From the Desk of your DOM Wednesday, September 2 Throughout the middle of this week, Amanda and I are attending the AMS Leadership Summit at the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga. This event focuses on inspiration, training, and fellowship, skillset improvement, leadership development, and relationship building among AMS leaders. It’s a great reminder that we always need to be open to growing and learning. What you reading/learning? While we are all busy with schedules and activities, there should never be a point where we stop learning. You’ve heard it – leader are readers. So, what are you reading? If you’re not much of a reader, you likely spend time in your car commuting. Have you discovered the abundance of podcasts available? While you commute, you can listen to great teaching/preaching/training. What have I been reading lately? Over the weekend, I was reading a book by a Christian music artist who suddenly found himself in a cancer battle. It’s like a personal journal of his struggle, raw emotions, and walking through the last 25 years – with victories and valleys along the way. I picked up The Language of Rivers and Stars from Truth for Life. It’s a book on how creation itself points to the glory of its Creator. I hope to spend a little more time in that book in my leisure time. As I mention below, I’m working through Experiencing God Everyday by Richard Blackaby and sons. That has been my quiet time reading lately and it’s challenging me deeply. In my Bible reading, I’ve been spending a lot of time in Jeremiah lately. I think those of us called to ministry can relate (at various times) to the struggles Jeremiah faced in his calling, the response of the people, and yet the hope that’s conveyed in the book. Why do I share all that? I share it to provide you an example of my own ongoing journey of growth and learning – both in the Word and in great resources. How are you learning and growing this week? We all have the same number of minutes and hours in the day and week. Let’s redeem those minutes and hours with time in the Word and growing through great resources! 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).  |
 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 is Thursday and we get to gather for our weekly lunch. Greg Klapp will lead this week’s session. He will also be providing more information about the upcoming Youth and Children’s Volunteer Training Event that is happening at Wilkies Grove. This is a CRBA event. |
 | On LifeWay & Blackaby Ministries Bookshelves… My life has been forever impacted by the truths from Experiencing God – in my early discipleship, ministry call, and mentoring others. Richard Blackaby and sons have released a new resource – “Experiencing God in Everyday Life.” This is a brand new sequel to Experiencing God. I am working through this resource in my personal, daily quiet time. This resource helps participants move from mountaintop experiences to daily, sustainable rhythms of faith through practical exercises and discussion. It features eight small group sessions, weekly personal study, group discussion questions, and material for spiritual growth and discipleship. You receive access to the video sessions when you purchase the book. Quote from Chapter 1: “Spiritual maturity is reflecting the characteristics of Christ, seeing things from God’s perspective, and responding in obedience as He leads.” |
| Discounted Rate at Blackaby Ministries Site. | NOTE: This resource is available for a discounted rate when ordering directly from Blackaby Ministries. The workbook is available for $16.49 directly from Blackaby Ministries by CLICKING THIS LINK. |
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| *This is the last week for this month to feature these deals. LifeWay will provide a new list of deals next month. We hope these resources are helpful for you – – at a great discount!* Through our Church Solutions Partner at LifeWay – we can offer these deals when purchased directly through contacting April Rousseau. The online links allow you to preview the material – but the purchase must be made through contacting April’s office. | |
| To Purchase an Item – Call…April Rousseau Church Solutions Partner NC/SC 336.468.7995 | |
| Resources for Pastors | Kingdom First: Starting Churches that Shape Movements. ByJeff Christopherson Org. $14.99. Available for 70% off Our Cry for Revival by Nick Harrison Org. 19.99. Available for 65% offPreaching in a Post-Truth World by Mike Glenn Org. 17.99. Available for 70% offGathered for Good by Jonathan Griffiths Org. 17.99. Available for 70% off*Click the Titles to see the full description on Lifeway.com. The discounted price is NOT reflected on the website. These deals are only available directly through our Church Solutions Partner (336.468.7995). |
| For Church Members: | Pour Out Your Heart by Jeremy LinnemanOrg. $17.99. Available for 70% offRead the Bible for Life by George H. Guthrie Org. 17.99. Available for 70% offCSB She Reads Truth Bible, Sand Cloth Over BoardOrg. $43. Available for 70% off 90 Days with the God Who SpeaksOrg. $12.99. Available for 75% offExperiencing God at Home Day by Day Org. $15.99. Available for 75%*Click the Titles to see the full description on Lifeway.com. The discounted price is NOT reflected on the website. These deals are only available directly through our Church Solutions Partner (336.468.7995). |
| 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 WeekPleasant Ridge Baptist Church (Pastor Bradley Johnson- bradleyjohnson2002@gmail.com) Pleasant View Baptist Church (Pastor Rex Shaver- shaverrex@gmail.com) River Of Life Baptist Church (Espanol) (Pastor Wilson Chun Ramos- wilsonchun5@gmail.com) Riverside Baptist Church (Pastor Steven Boyles- wsboyles315@gmail.com) Rutherford College First Baptist (Pastor Stanley Congers- congerstanley@gmail.com) Set Free Christian Fellowship (Pastor David Turbeville- dandlcandles@gmail.com) Smyrna Baptist Church (Pastor Scott Williams- cphtwilliams@yahoo.com)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. |
| More CRBA Calendar Events | ||
.jpg) | September Baptist Mission Offering Emphasis 10- 6:30pm Created for This- Pastor’s Wives Event at CRBA 13- Timothy Project 17- Pastor’s Breakfast at CRBA @ 8:00am. 15- Senior Adult Lunch @ 11am @ Bridge 42 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 generator 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. |
| Save The Date: October | ||
 Your CRBA is encouraging churches to collect gently used or new heavy coats for the Coats for the City Mission Trip to New York. Please visit this link to see what is accepted |   | |
 On Mission Together: Seated & Sent September 19, 2026 Women’s Evangelism and Discipleship Conference Lawndale Baptist Church, 3505 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408 Saturday, September 19th, 2026 RegisterCost: $30 Join us for On Mission Together: Seated & Sent ’26 to rediscover freedom and purpose in your relationship with Jesus.Our theme explores what it means to be “seated” with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6) and “sent” into the world (John 20:21). This secure identity in Him becomes the foundation for an authentic, rest-fueled mission.Hear from Heather Holleman and local women who live, lead and serve on mission across North Carolina. Experience powerful worship, deep Bible study on identity and commission, and breakout sessions that equip you to share your faith from a place of spiritual abundance, not burnout.We’re also continuing the High School Girls Track, a unique opportunity to foster multi-generational mentoring and invest in the next generation of disciple-makers. Gather your friends or a group from your church, and join us as we learn to live out our faith, on mission together. | |
| Click graphic for video |  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 |
Hopewell Baptist Church | Mull’s Grove Click 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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