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Nurture Ministry and Evangelism

 

The Nurture ministry at Black Mountain Presbyterian can be compared to a very large umbrella.   It encompasses all activities that are carried on in the everyday life of the church with respect to making members feel that they are being cared for by their church in their daily lives.  The various parts of Nurture are like the ribs of the umbrella.  At least two Elders work with the various parts of the ministry to make sure all parts are functioning.  Not counting the Presbyterian women and the bus and other drivers, there are about 35 members of the Nurture Committee groups.

          various components of the Evangelism/Assimilation part of the committee that include planning for and
              conducting
Inquirers' Classes for prospective members; maintaining the weekly Welcome Table on
              Sunday mornings;  and in general working to help new members become assimilated into the life of
              the church.

          the Church Bus Ministry for Highland Farms and the Transportation Ministry for blind members
 
       the Tape Ministry  
 
      
the Presbyterian Women
 
       Thursday Night Live dinners and programs
 
       the Bereavement/Compassion Ministry
  
      the Stephen Ministry
  
      annual church-wide picnics
  
      annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the community
  
      periodic Special Dinners for 85+ Members
  
      
soup suppers for Christmas carolers

 

 

Evangelism/Assimilation

            The purpose and goal of the Evangelism part of Nurture is to reach out to new families in the community as well as to our visitors.  We do this by encouraging and facilitating an active outreach program through visitation.  We staff the hospitality desk on Sunday mornings.  We also conduct new member classes and assist new members in becoming active in the life of the church.

             Evangelism/Assimilation is very excited about the Acts 16:5
initiative
that the session has just voted to take part in along with other churches in our presbytery.  Read about this in the column to the right.      

 

The Acts 16:5 Initiative 

In early March, six people from this congregation (elders Gene Schimpf, Carey Jo Elam, and Mike Begley; Evangelism team members, Denise Geiger and Virginia Buchanan; and Karen Haak) spent two days at a presbytery workshop with the Rev. Dr. Stan Ott of the Vital Churches Institute.  Along with 200 other pastors and church members from the presbytery, they were inspired to think of ways that churches can become revitalized so that the words of Acts 16:5 can be true for them: the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.

 The Acts 16:5 Initiative seeks to honor the work of present and past members and at the same time be filled with the expectation that God is at work with a new vision and a transformational future for the church.  Isaiah 43:19 says, See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Becoming part of a partnership of churches in this presbytery, which will offer mutual support and encouragement to one another, seems like the answer to prayer as this congregation seeks to move into the next phase of its witness in Black Mountain and beyond.  The session has agreed. 

The first step will be forming a Vision Team of people with initiative and imagination who are willing to help guide the process over the next two or three years.  There will be more gatherings of the participating churches.  As time passes you will be hearing more about this but for now know that the session is listening to you as you have indicated that there are areas of church life that need new energy.  God is doing a new thing and we are listening as best we can to hear God’s call to this congregation and its members.

 

Church Bus Ministry                    

The Church Bus Ministry schedules drivers for the bus to Highland Farms to provide transportation to the 11 o’clock worship service.  In general bus drivers have monthly assignments, arranged by a volunteer contact person. 
 

Transportation for Blind Members 

Four volunteers (plus several subs) are responsible for transporting our two blind members from the McCune Center for the 11 o’clock service each Sunday.      

 

Bus Driver for January:
Scottie and Tom Cannon

Drivers to McCune Center:
1st Sunday:  Mike Duckworth
2nd Sunday:  Open for volunteer!
3rd Sunday:  Ruthmary Williamson
4th Sunday:  John & Cathy Moore
 

CD Sunday Service Recording Ministry 

This is a ministry with 4 branches of operation and responsibility. 

1.  Recording the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning service  and other special services such as seasonal music or
       memorial services.

2.  Duplicating the master CD and preparing them for delivery.

3.  Delivery of CDs to shut-in members or Highland Farms members unable to attend services, which
       means a visit by the delivery persons.

4.  Pick-up and return of used CDs to church for recycling.

 

Presbyterian Women           

Our Presbyterian Women’s organization is composed of over one hundred fifty women who are led by a Coordinating Team of officers.  The women are divided into nine circles who meet in homes or at Highland Farms on the first Tuesday of the month in the morning, afternoon, or evening.  Bible study in each circle is led by members of the circle.  Circles participate in service opportunities throughout the year including:  visiting homebound women, greeting at church on Sunday mornings, writing monthly letters to the church’s missionaries, setting up the fellowship hall for Thursday Night Live suppers and programs and Gatherings, providing meals for bereaved families, and furnishing refreshments for various church receptions or other functions. 

Three special Luncheon Gatherings are held during the year:  The Thank Offering Program in October, the Missions Emphasis Program in February, and the PW Birthday Program in May.  Special offerings go for grants that help disadvantaged women and children worldwide. 

The Presbyterian women are committed to: 

·         nurturing their faith through prayer and Bible study

·         supporting the mission of the church worldwide

·         working for justice and peace

·         building an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian  Church and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom

 

  

 




 

 

Thursday Night Live 

     This is a monthly activity, usually on the second Thursday of each month, that strives to present interesting educational, informational, entertaining programs of all kinds that will appeal to a large and diverse segment of the congregation.  The program is preceded by a meal, either catered or pot-luck, with time for visiting with each other, celebrating birthdays or other important events, and in general enjoying each other’s company. 

     This is a good time to invite visitors and new members to get to know church members in a smaller group.

                                  

The January 14th TNL will be a program
presented by Dr. Barbara Nagy, our Medical Missionary at Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi, and Dr. Olson Huff, who has recently travelled to Malawi, telling us about the work and mission
in Nkhoma. 

A Love Offering will also be collected to help
Jessi Stitt with her expenses as she volunteers
this year as a teacher at the Ebenezer School
in Nkhoma.  Donations to help Jessi may be given
through the church at any time.  Just make
your check out to Black Mountain Presbyterian
Church with Jessi Stitt on the memo line.

Call the church office by Tuesday, Jan. 12, for
dinner reservations.  Dinner is at 5:30; program
will begin at 6:15.


 

 

 

Bereavement/Compassion Committee 

This committee of three volunteers, with the help of designated PW circles and the nurture committee, arranges for either receptions or dinners for the family after funerals or memorial services, depending upon the wishes of the family members. 

 

Stephen Ministry 

Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who receive special training to provide one-to-one Christian care to people in our congregation and community who are experiencing grief, loneliness, divorce, hospitalization, disability, job loss, and many other life difficulties.  Stephen ministers are trained to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. 

The care you receive is confidential, free, and very helpful.