Volume 114 September 2020 Issue 9

Baptist Children’s Homes of NC Food/Supply Roundup

Due to Covid-19 the Spring Food Round Up had to be postponed. We have come to the time now that the pantries and shelves at the Baptist Children’s Homes are bare. We are asking that your church promote collection of gift cards, food and supplies through the upcoming months. The collection dates : September 14 - 17, 2020, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (Contact Free Drop Offs will be available or a staff member can assist you with unloading.) A full list may be found on our website. For more information call Iris at 919.231.3995.

CHILDREN’S BOOK COLLECTION The Caring Connections Ministry is hosting a back to school book collection for elementary and middle

school children. This school year, libraries will not allow books to be checked out to reduce the spread of Covid 19, reducing the opportunity for many kids to read at home due to limited access to books. Reading strengthens a child’s language and writing skills, assists in cognitive development, fosters empathy and imagination, increases concentration and aids in a child’s overall academic performance. Partner with us by sharing the gift of reading with children in our community. Books will be distributed to children of families connected to the Caring Connections Ministry and in the communities where they live.

We are accepting NEW and very gently used books. No rips, tears, writing or stains.

Age range: books for Elementary – Middle School readers

Drop off at the RBA Monday - Thursday, September 14-17th, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Collection bins will be by the door for contact free drop off if you prefer or a staff member can assist you. To arrange a drop off outside of those hours or for a pick up of a church wide collection contact Cynthia to set up an appointment. Contact Cynthia Thelen at 919.231.3995 ext. 109 or

cynthia@caringconnectionsministry.com

List of Most Needed Items:

Gift Cards to Food Lion, Wal-Mart, Lowes Food and Sams Clubs are highly

recommended!

Paper Products

Household Cleaning Supplies

Canned Vegetables and Fruits

Dry Cereals

Fruit Juice

Pasta and/or Pasta Sauce

Canned Meats (tuna, chicken)

Rice

Mac & Cheese

Peanut Butter

Jelly

Page 2

Ministry Encouragement

Congregation Profile 2020 Congregational Profiles have been mailed to the Raleigh Baptist Association churches,

attention of the Church Clerk/Church Secretary. The deadline for submitting your

Congregation Profile is October 5, 2020.

Please note that as you calculate the numbers for the Statistical Profile that the information should be

based on physical attendance not web based. Take time to read the letter included in your packet for

guidelines on how best to report what is happening in your congregation.

If you have any questions please call Iris Woodard at 919.231.3995 or iris@raleighbaptists.org.

Want to Make a Difference? Forget What’s Popular and Work the Fringes

Karl Vaters (Edited for space limitations)

When it comes to impact, the more popular something is, the less likely you are to make a difference in it. No one has ever made a bigger impact on the world than Jesus. You don’t even need to be a Christian to see the obvious truth in that statement. Because of this, I’m convinced that it’s in the DNA of Jesus’ followers to want to make a difference, too. It’s also in the Great Commandment and Great Commission. But how do we do that? With so many competing voices, so many areas of need, so many ways to approach this, how do we clear away the clutter and find an area of need where we can truly make a difference? We need to go narrow, not wide. To the edges, not the center. Impact Is Not in the Mainstream If everything you love is in the mainstream of the culture around you, it’s very unlikely that you’ll have much im-pact upon it. We’re overwhelmed with church growth ideas. We don’t need any more personality tests. We need something else. Instead of trying to get in on the action of what’s hot right now, find something you love that’s on the fringes. Something important that no one else (or very few) are paying much attention to, then shine a big, bright light on it. This is where impact comes from. Find Impact on the Fringes Even within Christianity, if the believers around you all love one style of music or one type of church service, feel free to enjoy it and be blessed by it. Find a forgotten corner of need, of worship, of leadership, or of ministry, and fall in love with the people in it. Then learn as much as you can about them, work as hard as possible with them, make them the focus of your prayer life. From Your Healing to their Pain But here’s the key – you can’t do it just to take advantage of an overlooked market segment. It has to be some-thing that you truly have passion for. Something you love. People who matter to you. Something that breaks your heart. Find the hurting, the forgotten, the disenfranchised, the neglected. How? By looking into your own areas of hurt, betrayal and pain. If you’ve been hurt there, others have been hurt there. If you’ve found healing from it, others can find healing from it. You can be used by Jesus to make a real differ-ence. Your pain can help heal others. From Your Pain to their Healing When it comes to impact, the more popular something is, the less likely you are to make a difference in it. The more forgotten it is, the more likely you are to make a significant difference. The more something has hurt you, the more likely it is that Jesus will use it to help others through you. Go to the neglected, not the marketable. To the narrow, not the wide. To the deep, not the shallow. Lean into the painful, not the popular.

Training and Missions Opportunities

Leadership Training in Vital and Virtual in a Covid-19 Context

These learning experiences are available for your viewing and

downloading of resources at your convenience.

Conference Listings

The Deacon and Social Distancing Keith Dixon

Shifts in How Adults Learn Jerry Chiles

Now, What Will a Church Leader/Adult Teacher Look Like? Steve Zimmerman

Leaders Confronting Change for a New Day Steve Zimmerman

What to Do When Adult Small Groups Have Left the Building Jerry Helderman

Ready, Set, Go! Children's Ministry Cheryl Markland

The Challenge of Student Ministry Rebekah Gordon & Christian Davis

Taking Care of Yourself Alison Keene

Caring for the Least of These, Matthew 25 Ministry Cynthia Thelen

There are a host of webinars available through The Center for Healthy Churches and it’s partnership with The Church Network and other groups. They were previously recorded and are available for you to watch at your leisure.

Link to Training: http://www.raleighbaptists.org/training-extravaganza-2020-2/

NO

RT

H C

AR

OL

IN

A M

IS

SIO

NS O

FF

ER

IN

G

N

CM

IS

SIO

NS

OF

FE

RIN

G.O

RG

Page 3

RBA Calendar and Bulletin Board NOTE: Committee Members will be contacted regarding meeting times and format via email. September 2020 7 Labor Day—RBA Closed 10 Resource Commission 14-17 BCH Food Round Up 14-17 Book Collection 29 Missions & Ministry Council

WE ARE HERE! The RBA office is still open and operating Mondays—Thursdays. Iris, Roger, Cindy and Cynthia are still working with our churches to assist them in fulfilling their kingdom work. We are available via email, phone and in person. Feel free to let us know how we can assist you and your congregation.

CONNECTIONS, (USPS 020955) is published monthly free by Raleigh Baptist Association, 820 S. New Hope Rd., Raleigh, NC 27610. Mailing address (P.O. Box 46659, Raleigh, NC 27620--6659). Periodicals Postage Paid at Ra-leigh, NC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Raleigh Baptist Association, P.O. Box 46659, Raleigh, NC 27620-6659.

Page 4

Openings: Church Staff Job Descrip-tions and Other Ministry Openings are available on our website under “Ministry Placement”

Go To: www.raleighbaptists.org

Fall Senior Adult Rally Update

September 22 - Cancelled

It is with great sadness that the Missions & Ministry Council along with the staff of the Raleigh Baptist Association have decided that is in the best interest of everyone that we cancel the Fall Senior Adult Rally that was scheduled for September 22, 2020. We look forward to the future when it will be safe for us to gather together again. Please stay safe during these uncertain times and stay tuned for events in 2021.