The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSC) Board of Directors (BOD) approved a reduced Cooperative Program (CP) budget for 2015, took action on several properties, heard reports and approved proposals for changes in convention bylaws during its meeting Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell on Oak Island.
A CP budget of $29 million, $1 million less than the 2014 budget, was approved. The budget increases the percentage going to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to 37 percent, up from 36.5 percent in 2014. The budget will be presented for consideration by messengers during the convention’s annual meeting Nov. 10-11 in Greensboro.
Properties
The Business Services Special Committee presented three recommendations and several updates. Jimmy Adams, chair of the committee, brought recommendations to take action on properties owned by the BSC.
Two of the properties are buildings that have been used by the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM). A new collegiate partnership strategy launched in 2013. It mobilizes local churches to reach college students. The board also heard a report on campus ministry from Jonathan Yarboro, acting team leader for collegiate partnerships.
The board authorized the sale of the BCM building at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The 30-year-old facility is in poor condition. Bids were approved beginning Oct. 6, 2014, for a minimum of 45 days.
This action was precipitated by an unsolicited offer to purchase the property. Proceeds from the sale will go into a fund for collegiate partnerships. A BCM building near the University of North Carolina-Pembroke will be transferred at no cost to Burnt Swamp Baptist Association to use as a ministry center. This facility will continue to be used for BCM.
Adams said the land was originally owned by the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) and a provision was included with the transfer of property requiring BCH to have the first right of refusal if the convention gives up ownership. BCH declined the property and supports the transfer to Burnt Swamp Association.
The BOD authorized Fruitland Baptist Bible College to construct a four-unit student family housing building with a gift from Jim Jacumin, a lay member of East Valdese Baptist Church in Valdese. The building will be named the Nancy Nell Jacumin Family Apartments, in honor of his late wife. Jacumin received the 2014 Heritage Award from the BSC, in recognition of his generous support of Baptist causes. Another gift from Jacumin, the Jim and Nancy Nell Jacumin Retreat Lodge at Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro is now complete and will be dedicated Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.
Bylaw amendments
The BOD approved six amendments to the convention’s bylaws, which will be considered by messengers at the annual meeting.
The amendments proposed include:
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Changing the procedures and requirements for submitting resolutions for consideration at the annual meeting.
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Setting procedures for meetings of the BOD when weather or other factors cause meetings to be cancelled.
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Clarifying qualifications and limits on who can serve on the BOD.
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Updating wording related to the Christian Life & Public Affairs Committee.
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Updating names for Fruitland Baptist Bible College (from Institute) in BSC documents.
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Clarifying inconsistencies on the description of trustees for North Carolina Baptist Hospital.
Disciple-making
Chris Hawks, chairman of the evangelism and discipleship committee, said the BSC is on target to train 500 people in using “The Story” this year. (One is planned Oct. 28 at Green Pines Baptist Church in Knightdale.)
Milton Hollifield Jr., BSC executive director-treasurer, urged the board to pray for a spiritual awakening in North Carolina. “Let’s pray that, if we don’t see it in our lifetime, that others will,” he said.
Highlighting the convention’s nine-month-old strategy focused on impacting lostness through disciple making, he urged the board, “Just begin investing your life in others.”
A lack of disciple-making has resulted in declining baptism statistics, he said. “The baptism figures across the Southern Baptist Convention for 2013 match the figures when Harry Truman was president,” he added.
“My prayer is that churches and associations and agencies and all of our partners in ministry will fully embrace disciple-making and that each will develop a disciple-making culture within their organization. You can become a catalyst for disciple-making.”
Engaging people groups
Chuck Register, executive leader for church planting and mission partnerships, said a new research project has identified 78 clusters of lost people across Charlotte, the Triad and the Triangle.
“God is bringing to North Carolina people of the world who have not heard the Good News,” he said. Now that many of these have been identified, “We are calling for engagement.”
To speed up the engagement process, the BSC will launch a pilot project in January that places 10 individuals to work with churches to engage these groups
Collegiate partnerships
Jonathan Yarboro said the BSC’s new model of collegiate partnerships plans to reach students on 200 campuses across the state – approximately 591,000 students.
He said the convention is moving from a model that focused on nine campuses to one setting up partnerships with churches to engage the 591,000 college students in all colleges across N.C. This will include outreach on the state’s many community colleges for the first time.
Some 90,000 international students are studying at schools in the state. “God is bringing the nations to us as international students,” Yarboro said. There is an estimated 35,000 college faculty and staff who also need the gospel.
Baptists on Mission
Referring to the areas of New Jersey and New York hit by Super Storm Sandy, John Gore, president of Baptists on Mission or N.C. Baptist Men (NCBM), said, “There is still much to be done there.” Volunteers will continue to work in that area through August 2015. NCBM have rebuilt 104 homes in these areas since 2012.
Gore told of personally taking part in preparing 2,000+ meals a day in Piscataway, N.J., using NCBM’s new kitchen unit two.
He said cleanup work led to faith sharing, and people have come to faith in Christ through the work. One person they helped said seeing the volunteers was like seeing Jesus in his front yard. “That’s what it’s all about – being Jesus to the people of New Jersey,” Gore said.
Baptist Children’s Homes
North Carolina Baptists served 9,983 children in 2013 through the BCH, reported Brenda Gray, executive vice president for development and communication.
“Redeemed” will be the Thanksgiving offering theme this year. The week of prayer emphasis is Nov. 16-23. Gray also gave the report for the N.C. Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM), operated by BCH from its Thomasville campus.
She said NCBAM receives 350 calls a month requesting help for senior adults. To respond, NCBAM has enlisted more than 2,000 volunteers. A $15,000 grant from the N.C. Baptist Foundation will provide wheelchair ramps to prevent seniors from falling.
N.C. Baptist Hospital
FaithHealthNC is a partnership ministry between N.C. Baptist Hospital (also known as Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center) and faith groups; it includes training volunteers to work with patients before, during and after hospital stays in order to keep people healthier, said Wanda Dellinger, chairman of the Christian Social Services Special Committee.
She said Ashe, Brier Creek and Brushy Mountain Baptist associations have signed agreements to encourage church participation with FaithHealthNC.
Last year’s Mother’s Day Offering, used by N.C. Baptist Hospital to help needy patients, provided $579,000 in medical care to 59 patients. Also, CareNet counseling centers maintained by the hospital across the state provided $600,000 in free pastoral counseling last year.
Fruitland
Fruitland Baptist Bible College expects about 188 students to be enrolled this fall, reported President David Horton.
The school has satellite campuses in Monroe, Wilkesboro and Rocky Mount, plus Hispanic campuses in Sylva, Statesville, Charlotte and Wilmington.
Biblical Recorder
“People in Baptist pews need to know what’s going on,” said Allan Blume, Biblical Recorder (BR) editor, in the BR report.
He said the BR is one of the top three Baptist newspapers in the country in online readership. Web traffic increased by more than 100 percent this year. Print circulation continues to decline even as digital soars.
Universities
Gordon Benton gave highlights of the five Baptist universities which have partnership ties to the BSC as part of his report from the Christian Higher Education Special Committee.
Chowan University has the highest enrollment since 1971, and launched a new student chaplaincy ministry this year.
Campbell University has received a $1.5 million gift to establish a chair of evangelism and missions in the divinity school, plus another $1 million to implement it.
Christian Life and Public Affairs
Chairman Ray Barnhill introduced Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League (CAL), to talk about the work of CAL, a public policy group representing conservative evangelicals from 17 church groups in the state.
Creech said the organization is facing its most severe financial shortfall.
“We may be forced to suspend this ministry of seven decades,” he said.
A motion at the 2013 annual meeting regarding the financial needs of the CAL was referred to the BOD. The Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee was tasked to address the motion.
Barnhill said BSC cannot offer additional funding support for the CAL but worked with Creech to encourage churches and individuals to support CAL.
Barnhill said the convention sent out letters requesting support for CAL and encouraging churches to invite Creech to speak.
Creech indicated that the effort was making a difference.
“Thank you so much,” said Creech. “We consider the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina our mother. We were birthed by you.”
Communications Committee
Micheal Pardue, chairman of the Communications Committee, reported the committee is working with John Jones, the convention’s team leader for information technology and services, on a new approach to getting information from churches affiliated with the convention.
The Annual Church Profile (ACP), gathered for LifeWay Christian Resources, has been the traditional tool for this, but many churches do not return the reports.
Pardue said getting information from the churches is important, because even the size of the board of directors depends on ACP reports from the churches.
Pardue announced Kathryn Carson is the new team leader of the BSC communications team. She has served as a graphic designer on the convention staff since 2005.
In other matters the Board elected Ginger Brown as board secretary, replacing Pam Young, who was the temporary board secretary.
The board approved a recommendation from BSC president C.J. Bordeaux, pastor of Gorman Baptist Church in Durham, that board member Debbie Smith be named to fill the unexpired, at-large term of Bobby Lewis on the executive committee. Lewis moved out of state.
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