The Executive Council of the Three Forks Baptist Association met March 11, 2019 at the Three Forks Baptist Association office.  This meeting marked the first meeting of the Association’s Executive Council under the operation of the new bylaws.  All church clusters were represented at the meeting. Garland Honeycutt, Executive Associational Missionary, welcomed those in attendance and gave a brief explanation of the new Executive Council structure.

 

Moderator Seth Norris opened the meeting with prayer and a scripture reading from Habakkuk  and encouraged those present to have a time of sharing of both praises and laments. 

 

Reports:

Each of the Associational teams were then called on to give reports.  Each report can be found as an addendum at the end of these meeting notes.

 

The Church Strengthening Team report was given by Church Strengthening Team chair David Cooper.

 

The Missions Team report was given by Missions Team chair Jackie Lawrence. Along with this report, Travis Burt reported on a people group study to be conducted by the Missions Team beginning this Spring. This study will expand the people group study completed in 2013 by looking at housing units in each of the church clusters and determining what type of people live in each of these housing units.  It will then be determined whether churches in these areas are reaching these people groups, and if not, how best to go about reaching them.

 

Nancy Williams also mentioned that the Deep Impact youth camp will be returning to Boone this summer, and they are currently seeking ministry opportunities for the youth to engage in while they are in the area.

 

In the absence of the Administrative Team chair, Garland Honeycutt gave the Administrative Team update.

 

In the absence of the Finance Team chair, Pat Dalton, treasurer, gave the finance update.

Garland also informed those gathered that the annual check to the Association from the North Carolina Missions offering had been received, and that it was in excess of $4,700.00.  This gift to the Association represents 10% of the money given by Association churches to the North Carolina Missions offering.

 

Travis Burt, Church Mobilization Catalyst gave the CMC report.

 

New Business:

The Church Strengthening Team made the recommendation that the contract position of Church Revitalization Catalyst be approved, and that Travis Tyler be appointed to fill this position. (See Church Strengthening Team Report). This position will be fully funded by a strategic partnership with the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina and therefore did not require budget approval. The recommendation came from a team, and needed no second. This recommendation was passed with a show of hands.  This contract position will begin on May 1, 2019.

 

The summer meeting of the Executive Council is was originally scheduled for June 10, 2019.  This date coincides with the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Birmingham, AL.  In order to accommodate those wishing to attend the SBC meeting, it was proposed that the summer Executive Council meeting be rescheduled for June 17, 2019.  A motion to make this change was proposed by Garland Honeycutt and seconded by Mike Grover.  This motion was passed by voice vote.

 

The meeting was adjourned in prayer by Phillip Woodring.

 

Three Forks Baptist Association

Church Strengthening Team Update

Spring 2019

 

2019 Spring Gathering

The Three Forks Baptist Association will have its 2019 Spring Gathering on Tuesday, April 16 at 6pm at Stony Fork Baptist Church in Deep Gap. The theme of the Spring Gathering will be "Revive Us Again!" and will feature a panel discussion by local pastors, who are currently leading their churches to experience revival and a fresh movement of God. The goal of our gathering is to inspire and encourage pastors and lay leaders to lead their churches into spiritual renewal and revitalization.

 

Church Revitalization Catalyst

Starting May 1, the churches of our association will be given the opportunity to be served by a Church Revitalization Catalyst (CRC). By God's grace, TFBA has received funding from the Baptist State Convention of NC to fund a 2-year contract for this specialized field worker. The CRC will build relationships with churches, provide coaching and consulting to congregational leaders, and establish learning communities for revitalization practitioners over the next 24 months. Travis Tyler will be contracting with us as the CRC. Travis Tyler, is serving as pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethton, TN. He recently received his doctorate degree in church revitalization from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Travis has a love for the local church, a gift for leading revitalization, and desire to equip and encourage pastors. We know that he will be an asset in advancing our mission of equipping churches to fulfill the Great Commission!

 

Strengthening Congregational Clusters

Following the Spring Gathering, the Church Strengthening Team will begin meeting with the Congregational Clusters. Working in conjunction with our Mobilization and Revitalization Catalysts, these meetings will initiate conversations for strengthening churches and engaging lostness in communities across the High Country.

Three Forks Baptist Association

Missions Team Update

Spring 2019

 

Scotland Church Planting Luncheon

Churches in the High Country are joining with churches in the Scottish Highlands to plant a new gospel expression! Our Scottish church-planting partners will be connecting with churches in the High Country this April. You’re invited to meet with our partners, learn more about the church plant in the Highlands, and discern opportunities for joining that work! A connection luncheon with will be held on Wednesday, April 10 at 11:30 at TFBA. Please RSVP with Jennifer at the TFBA office.

 

Collegiate Missions Luncheon

The many college campuses of the High Country are mission-fields in our own back yard! While several of our churches are engaging with these fields, there is still a need for more to join the work! The Collegiate Partnerships Team of the Baptist State Convention of NC is ready to assist your church in that effort. A connection luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 1 at 11:30 at TFBA. Please RSVP with Jennifer at the TFBA office.

 

High Country Impact

Is your church making a positive impact upon its community? We are encouraging churches to participate in a one day effort to impact communities across the High Country with the love of Christ on Saturday, September 21. This unified effort, #HighCountryImpact, will encourage every church to do one (or more) service projects to serve their local community, as a platform for sharing the gospel. A celebration will be held on Sunday, September 22 at 4pm at the Valle Crucis Community Park. Please contact Jennifer at the TFBA office to sign up your church!

 

Associational Hunger Ministry Initiatives

Did you know the counties of the High Country rank among some the highest in the state for food insecurity? What is your church doing to feed to hungry in your community? We want to encourage every church in our association to have or partner with a ministry that provides relief to the food insecure of the High Country. Please contact Jennifer at the TFBA office to share what your church is doing or learn how your church can get started!

 

Appalachian Christmas Outreach

Every year many of our churches partner with churches across North Carolina through NC Baptists on Mission to pack and deliver backpacks to Appalachian children in areas of need at Christmastime. This year’s collection goal is 500 backpacks and the collection date is Saturday, November 2. You can deliver your filled backpacks to the TFBA office or to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Zionville.

 

 

Three Forks Baptist Association

Administrative Team Update

Spring 2019

 

Approval of 2019 Spring Gathering

The Team approved the 2019 Spring Gathering for Tuesday, April 16 at 6pm at Stony Fork Baptist Church in Deep Gap. The theme of the gathering will be “Revive Us Again! Leading Your Church into Revitalization” and will feature a panel discussion by local practitioners on leading revival and spiritual renew in the local church.

 

Approval of Contracts for Services

The Team approved the following contracts for services for the upcoming year:

 

• Leita Councill, Bookkeeper – 12 month contract

• Amy Trivette, Custodian – 12 month contract

• Bob Waldorf, Maintenance Technician – 12 month contract

• Jeff Younce, Groundskeeper – 12 month contract

 

Approval of Personnel Alignment

The Team approved for aligning Jennifer Waldorf’s job function and job description as a “Communications Strategist” and “Special Projects Strategist.” Financial tasks were delegated to the Bookkeeper and reflected in the contract for service.

 

Approval of COC Asset Distribution

The Team approved the distribution of all assets belonging to the association’s Christian Outreach Center (COC) to any churches wishing to utilize them for hunger ministries. First choice of all assets goes to First Baptist Church Boone.

Three Forks Baptist Association

Associational Missionary Update

Spring 2019

Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions (AAEO)

During the month of March, churches are encouraged to collect the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions (AAEO). 100% of the gifts given to AAEO go to support the work of our 5,600 Southern Baptist missionaries serving through the North American Mission Board.

 

Baptist Children’s Homes Food Round-Up

During the month of April, our churches are encouraged to collect food cards for Baptist Children’s Homes annual food round-up.  Churches may collect gift cards from Ingles, Walmart, Dollar General, Lowes, etc. This allows BCH to purchase fresh vegetables and meat for their residents. Please forward your food cards to the associational office.

 

Christian Outreach Center (COC) Task Force and Transition

The COC Task Force has completed its assignment of charting a course forward for the future of its ministry. As of March 31 the association will no longer operate the weekly food distribution site at FBC Boone. In an effort to equip and mobilize churches to facilitate their own hunger ministries, the association is working through the Missions Team to encourage every church in our association to have or partner with a ministry that provides relief to the food insecure of the High Country.

 

“Who’s Your One?” Evangelism Emphasis

Imagine if every member of our family of churches could answer that question with the name of a person – a person for whom they’re prayer for and with whom they are sharing the gospel with. How would it change your church? How would it change the High Country? The “Who’s Your One” evangelism emphasis is designed to mobilize every Southern Baptist to identify one person in his or her relational network, to pray for, and share the gospel with in 2019.