For immediate release: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
BISCOE, N.C. – Ministry is hard, especially when churches run short of prayer, people, time or money, the Rev. Mike Greene told fellow Montgomery County pastors on Monday night, June 3. But he said barriers to outreach can be overcome when congregations work together.
Pastors and deacon chairmen from nearly a dozen churches gathered at Cornerstone Baptist in Biscoe to learn more about ServeNC, the N.C. Baptist initiative to have congregations be on mission together from Aug. 3-10, to make an impact in communities across the state. Greene, who pastors at Cornerstone, is the ServeNC coordinator for Montgomery County for the Stanly-Montgomery Baptist Association. He challenged church leaders to lay aside territorial inclinations and partner with one another to address shortfalls, assuring them that resources are available for outreach that will benefit not only the recipients of ServeNC projects but also congregation members who take part in service evangelism.
“Until our people see us moving, they won’t move,” he warned church leaders. “But what we’re doing together is removing all the resource shortfalls, so we can team up and go forward for our community for the glory of God.”
Dr. Andy Prince, associational mission strategist, echoed Greene’s message at the dinner meeting, and explained how churches can apply for SMBA Mission Opportunity Grants, to overcome potential funding shortfalls.
He said that while only God can bring the harvest, churches must do their part by planting and watering – reaching out to their communities to meet needs and spread the Gospel.
The words of encouragement were followed by a brainstorming session as pastors shared perceived needs in their church neighborhoods and how they might be addressed. Ideas included cutting firewood or cleaning gutters for the elderly, holding community cookouts or grocery give-aways, blessing teachers with care packages and offering drive-through prayer and free Bibles. Already a team has been established to address a need for a handicapped accessible ramps.
Many pastors stayed after the program to chat with potential project partners and officially commit to ServeNC by signing up on the N.C. Baptist website.
So far, 41 SMBA churches have agreed to take part in ServeNC.