The Lighthouse

October 2020

Issue 10 Volume 43

Dr. Frank White ....... Interim Pastor Shelley Snapp ......... Minister of Music Terri Blanc ............... Office Manager/Administrative Assistant

Phone: 919.779.8778 www.highlandbaptistchurch.org

Our Mission: To glorify God as we walk with one another and equip obedient Christ followers to intentionally share the gospel and show God’s love in our homes, church, community and the world.

Amy Rackley ........... Child Enrichment Center Director Kim Payne .............. Child Enrichment Center Assistant Director

Hello Highlanders!

It’s been great being back inside for Sunday School and worship! I am so glad we also have the op on for virtual Bible study and parking lot worship for those with age and health concerns. We will be adding a live streaming service in the future for those who would like to join us that way.

As we begin to stabilize and grow again, one ques on we need to ask ourselves is: “How do we reach new people for Christ?” How do we fulfill the Great Commission through HBC? And what are we willing to do to achieve that? Here are a few thoughts on that ma er.

We must be people of passionate prayer. What are we praying regarding HBC? Who are we praying for? Are we praying more to keep people out of heaven (comfort and healing!?) or to get people out of hell?

We must be living as “li le Christs” in a very troubled and divided world. If “outsiders” see no difference in our lives from theirs, why would they want what we say we have and believe? When we live like Jesus and demonstrate His love to our “neighbors,” then we will have

plenty of opportuni es to share His story and ours.

We must be inten onal and bold about invi ng others to Christ, and, secondarily, to join us for Bible study and worship. We must be proud of HBC and willing to invite others to join us here.

We must be ac ve and inten onal about serving our community. We can do this as we serve alongside our local mission partners, like Community of Hope, and as we serve our neighbors directly. Our crea vity is our primary limit as to what we do.

We must be willing to take the gospel to our state, na on, and the world. We can do this by sending teams in an Acts 1:8 fashion to our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth. And we can support missionaries and na onal evangelists and church planters who are reaching the Unreached People Groups around the world.

I firmly believe these are but a few ways we can engage our community and our world with the gospel and see God’s blessings unfold before our eyes! Will you join me in this great adventure as we pursue God’s preferred future for Highland?!

Frank

Regular Church Conference

Wednesday, October 28 7:00 p.m.

All recommendations and items for discussion must be received in the church office no later October 15 to be included on the agenda. Agendas and recommendations will be available October 18 in the church and by email upon request to Terri Blanc at tblanc@highlandbaptistchurch.org.

For many people, the coronavirus pandemic has been a test of patience — or worse. Medically vulnerable people face an anxious time of hypervigilance. Furloughed workers wait on hold or in lines for assistance. Special events have been canceled or rescheduled. Those not impacted directly deal with assorted frustrations and inconveniences. Many people are learning the benefit of slowing down, being present (even virtually) to others and practicing patient attention. Interestingly, scientist Isaac Newton did some of his best work when the plague forced Cambridge University to close. At home, the inquisitive student invented calculus and developed groundbreaking theories of gravity and optics. Later Newton called 1666 his annus mirabilis (“year of wonders”) and reportedly said, “If I have made any valuable discoveries, it [owes] more to patient attention than to any other talent.” What have you discovered during the Covid-19 crisis? What appreciations have you developed for aspects of life you may have previously taken for granted? What has social distancing taught you about the value of neighbors, church, community volunteering? During the pandemic, what have you learned about persistence and God’s presence? What empathy do you now feel for writers of words such as “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5, NIV)?

Patient attention, valuable discoveries

Please tune to TV station WRAL for closing information due to

inclement weather. Notices will also be placed on the church website and Facebook page.

It’s Hurricane Season

Dear Highland Family: We cannot thank you enough for building the ramp onto our house. We had reached the point of doing our doctors’ appointments by computer. Highland answered our

prayers by building this ramp so we could get out of the house. You have enabled us to get to the doctor and other appointments as needed. Thank you for making that possible!

Gordon Mann and Patsy Scott

Highland Baptist Church

H D for the 2020-2021 church year are:

Term expiring August 31, 2021 Hugh Clark Margaret Penny Lydia Whitehurst (Secretary)

Term expiring August 31, 2022

Ellen Anderson Josh Inscore Wayne Stocks

Term expiring August 31, 2023

Mark Cochran (Vice Chair) Joe Garceau Tim Inscore (Chair)

The Young at Heart are sponsoring the Food Roundup for the Baptist Children’s Home.

The Roundup will be done differently this year to engage in safe practices for all. Details will be provided soon. If you have any questions, please contact Gloria Fish.