Moments with Your Mission Strategist

 Dr. Dennis Love

“LEAVING FOOTPRINTS BEHIND YOU”
 
 

Have you ever stopped to think about all the footprints you leave behind?  A footprint is simply a mark or impression made by a foot.  It is evidence that someone has passed that way.  Everywhere we go, we leave footprints.  Some are visible, but many are not.  We leave them through the words we speak, the attitudes we display, the kindness we show, and the way we treat people.  Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly leaving impressions on the lives of others. 

In Matthew 8, we read about a man suffering from leprosy.  His disease affected him far more than his body.  Since leprosy was considered contagious and unclean, he would have been separated from his family, excluded from his community, and avoided by almost everyone he encountered.  But when this man came to Jesus and asked to be healed, Jesus did something remarkable.  Matthew 8:3 says, “He put forth His hand, and touched him. . .”  Jesus could have healed this man with only a spoken word, but He chose to touch him.  What a footprint Jesus left upon that man’s life! 

We leave footprints in people’s lives too.  Sometimes the impression is brief—a smile, an encouraging word, a small act of kindness.  Other times the impression is much deeper.  The things we say and do may remain with someone long after we have forgotten the moment every happened.  Unfortunately, not every footprint is a good one.  Harsh words, broken promises, cruelty, neglect, and rejection can leave marks that become scars.  But compassion, encouragement, patience, generosity, and love can leave footprints that help guide someone for the rest of their life. 

Take a moment and think about the people who have left footprints in your life.

Perhaps someone encouraged you when you were ready to give up, or believed in you before you believed in yourself. It may have been a parent, teacher, pastor, friend, coworker, church member, or even a stranger whose words or actions changed the course of your life. Thank God for that person, and when you have the opportunity, thank them as well.

Someone may have left a painful footprint in your life. Ask God to help you forgive them and heal the hurt they caused. Then determine not to leave that same kind of mark on anyone else.

Jesus left footprints of compassion, healing, hope, and love everywhere He went.  As His followers, we should desire to do the same. 

So be careful where you walk.  Be careful how you walk.  Someone may be following your path, an

God is Good

Dennis
Eph. 3:20-21

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Mrs. Amy Conner                                    7/5    Cherry Springs Baptist Church

Rev. and Mrs. Danny White                   7/4    Hankins Baptist Church

Rev. and Mrs. Drew Dalton                    7/12  Old Fort First Baptist Church

Rev. and Mrs. Michael Chambers        7/29  Cross Memorial Baptist Church

 

Dr. Jonathan Tipper                                 8/4    Greenlee Baptist Church

Rev. Jonathon Watson                            8/5    Chapel Hill Baptist Church

Rev. and Mrs. Michael Robinson         8/18  Sugar Hill Baptist Church

I had the opportunity to preach for the good people at North Cove Baptist Church on Father’s Day, Sunday morning, June 21st.  I preached a sermon titled, “The Man Who Missed God” from Matthew 19:16-22.  The text is clear that this man missed God because of three things.  (1) He Misunderstood Salvation.  He Misinterpreted the Commandments.  (3) He had Misplaced his Priorities.   The church listened and responded well to God’s Word.  I also went back to North Cove on Wednesday evening, June 24th and led them in a Bible Study.         

N.C. Baptist Pastors’ Conference: November 15-16 at Koury Convention Center  Greensboro, NC

Registration is open for the 2026 N.C. Baptist Pastors’ Conference! This year’s conference is focused on the pastor’s sacred calling to guard personal holiness and faithfully advance the Great Commission. You can register through Baptist State Convention of NC.

Other Bear Closet Needs:

New Baby Equipment

Pack ‘n Play Travel Cribs for Babies

Infant Car Seats

Baby/Children Hygiene Products

Any In-Date Baby Formula
 

Service Projects and Celebration Service

Our churches will be doing service projects in their community and around our county from now until August 29th.  On Sunday, August 30th, at 6:00 pm, we will gather at Cross Memorial Baptist Church for a fellowship meal and then we will enter the sanctuary to hear and see what God has done through our churches over the past two months.  It will be a wonderful time of celebrating together.  The following is a list of service projects that are needed at the men and women’s shelters.  Please put together a group or two and take on one or two of these projects.  Your pastor will have this list plus a general list of projects you could do in your community.  BE SURE TO TAKE PLENTY OF PICTURES OF THE PROJECTS AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP AND THE PEOPLE YOU ARE DOING THE PROJECT FOR.  THEN SEND YOUR PICTURES TO:  Mcdowellserve@gmail.com

Friendship Home:

  1. A wall built in the office space where Anna, Crystal, and Jordan’s office are
  2. The door on the boiler room fixed so that it can be locked (door lock and keys)
  3. The bathroom in the commons area. The toilet cannot be put back because the flange is rusted out and we need to make it a storage room
  4. Clean the gutters and the roof where standing water is at
  5. Cut down the bushes that are in front of the HVAC systems and trim back the others
  6. Pressure wash the building
  7. Fix light fixture in room 5

 

John Thompson Center

  1. Light fixtures that need attention
  2. A toilet that needs a seal replaced
  3. A door that needs some work done on it
  4. Some sheetrock fixed in the laundry room
  5. Some painting
  6. Flowerbeds that need flowers planted in them

 

If you have questions or concerns about materials, please reach out to Jordan Laney at:

Jordan.laney@m3life.org

Service Projects and Celebration Service

Our churches will be doing service projects in their community and around our county from now until August 29th.  On Sunday, August 30th, at 6:00 pm, we will gather at Cross Memorial Baptist Church for a fellowship meal and then we will enter the sanctuary to hear and see what God has done through our churches over the past two months.  It will be a wonderful time of celebrating together.  The following is a list of service projects that are needed at the men and women’s shelters.  Please put together a group or two and take on one or two of these projects.  Your pastor will have this list plus a general list of projects you could do in your community.  BE SURE TO TAKE PLENTY OF PICTURES OF THE PROJECTS AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP AND THE PEOPLE YOU ARE DOING THE PROJECT FOR.  THEN SEND YOUR PICTURES TO:  Mcdowellserve@gmail.com

Friendship Home:

  1. A wall built in the office space where Anna, Crystal, and Jordan’s office are
  2. The door on the boiler room fixed so that it can be locked (door lock and keys)
  3. The bathroom in the commons area. The toilet cannot be put back because the flange is rusted out and we need to make it a storage room
  4. Clean the gutters and the roof where standing water is at
  5. Cut down the bushes that are in front of the HVAC systems and trim back the others
  6. Pressure wash the building
  7. Fix light fixture in room 5

 

John Thompson Center

  1. Light fixtures that need attention
  2. A toilet that needs a seal replaced
  3. A door that needs some work done on it
  4. Some sheetrock fixed in the laundry room
  5. Some painting
  6. Flowerbeds that need flowers planted in them

 

If you have questions or concerns about materials, please reach out to Jordan Laney at:

Jordan.laney@m3life.org

 
We had a pretty good turnout for the National Day of Prayer on the Courthouse Lawn on Thursday, May 7th.  I appreciate all of our pastors for offering special prayers during our prayer time.  I also appreciate Paul Boyd for playing and singing a few special songs during our time together.  The Bible says in James 5:16, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Your association was set up at the Livermush Festival on Saturday, June 6th from 5-9 pm.  We were there to promote all of our churches, pray with people, and to give away some very nice practical items when people stopped at our table under the canopy.  Thanks to David and Pam Bradshaw, Paul Boyd and Vicki Love for helping out.  We reached out to a lot of people. 
 
 

To Our Churches,

 

Please prayerfully consider giving to the North Carolina State Missions Offering in September if you’re not already giving.  This offering is used to fund the entire NC Baptist on Mission Budget.  This includes Disaster Relief, Medical and Dental Units used throughout our state, and all of our Baptist Camps throughout our state.  On top of all of this, Baptist on Mission gives back to our association 10% of what our churches give in this offering to help us do more ministry together as churches.
 
 

I had the opportunity to preach for the good people at Hankins Baptist Church on Sunday, March 31st.  Pastor Danny White was away, and I was honored to be with his people.  We had a wonderful service, and the people responded well to the message and the invitation.  Hankins is attracting new people, and we thank the Lord for the growth they are experiencing. 

 

Our association had its first ever Youth Kickball Tournament on Sunday, May 17th at the Glenwood Ball Fields.  Youth and Parents came and a Free meal was provided by JD’s BBQ. It was a beautiful day and the youth seemed to have a blast and so did the adults.  A special thanks to our associational youth team for putting this tournament together.  Way to go gang!!
 
 
 
 
 

I had the opportunity to preach at Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 26th.  Pastor Jimmy Reese reached out to me that morning and was not feeling well, so I gladly filled in for him.  Please keep Pastor Jimmy, his wife Wendy, and the good people at Calvary in prayers as they seek the face of God for what He has in store for their future. 

I had the opportunity to encourage the good people at Bethel Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 20th.  I was asked to share with them how to transition from an Interim Pastor to a full-time Pastor.  I shared 6 Truths to Encourage you During Pastoral Transition.  (1) God Will Be with this Church at ALL Times. (Hebrews 13:5)  (2) God is in Control. (Ephesians 1:11)  (3) God Plans Good out of this Transition.  (Romans 8:28)  (4) It’s Okay to Weep. (Acts 20:36-38)  (5) Ministry Must God On. (Ephesians 4:11-12)  (6) The Church Must Not Scatter. (Matthew 26:31)

 
 
 
I was honored to be at Bethel Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 7th to present to Pastor Shane Duncan and the church an excellence award for leading the Blue Ridge Baptist Association in giving to the State Missions Offering.  The offering is received each September throughout our state and is the annual budget of Baptist on Mission, and 10% of what our churches give comes back to our association to help us do missions together.  Congratulations Bethel.  Our association welcomes Pastor Shane Duncan and his family as he begins leading them as their new pastor.    

 Bethel recognized Elementary, High School and College Graduates, they also presented 11 scholarships for students going to college.  Following this special time, Pastor Shane preached a sermon titled “Coping With Change” from Proverbs 3:5-7.  It was a very timely message for graduates and believers.  He talked about things that will change and things that should not change.   Thanks, Pastor Shane, for delivering a challenging word to graduates and the church.

I was honored to be at Nebo 1st Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 14th to present to Pastor Doug Worley and the church an excellence award for being the 2nd largest giving church to the 2025 NC Missions Offering in our association.  Congratulations Nebo 1st.

Pastor Doug preached a sermon from Romans 8:28 titled, “Relying on God’s Assurances.”   He reminded us that we can be assured of the following: (1) Our Salvation is Eternal.  (2) God Works All Things for our Good.  (3) God has a Purpose for our Life.  Thanks, Pastor Doug, for delivering a good word from the Lord.
 

McDowell Pregnancy Care Center’s 15th annual Walk for Life event is right around the corner.  This event is a family-friendly celebration of God’s most precious gift… the gift of LIFE.  Simply “saying” we are pro-life won’t save babies, but “being” pro-life will.  We are called to be a voice for the voiceless and to take a stand for the innocent.  Please join us for this very important event.  Why?  Because actions speak louder than words.  So let’s all plan to sign up, show up, and step up for babies!  For more information, visit the McDowell Pregnancy Care Center NC Facebook page.  

I was honored to be at Cherry Springs Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 28th to present to Pastor Marty and the entire church an excellence award certificate for being the 3rd largest giving church to the 2025 NC Missions Offering in our association.  This offering funds the budget for Baptist on Mission.  Congratulations Cherry Springs. 

 

One night each week throughout the month of June, Cherry Springs had Kids Camp.  They held their Kids Camp Commencement service on the Sunday morning that I was there.   It was a wonderful time to hear and see the kids in action, and to hear what they had learned.  Pastor Marty asked the kids what they had studied during the month, and they quickly answered all the lessons they had studied and learned.  Pastor Marty then encouraged them to take what they had learned and share it with others.     

I had the opportunity to preach at Ashworth Road Baptist Church on Mother’s Day, May 10th.  I preached a message titled; “What Every Mom Needs.”  (1) Every Mom Needs A Savior.  (2) Every Mom Needs A Church.  (3) Every Mom Needs A Task.  Please keep Ashworth Road in your prayers as they seek the man God has in place for them to come and be their next pastor.

I had the opportunity to preach for the good people of Macedonia Baptist Church on Sunday, March 24th for their annual Homecoming service. The church had a good crowd and the people responded to the message well. Many people were very thankful for the message. Thanks, Pastor BRian, for the invitation to come and be with you!  Keep Brother Brian in your prayers as he leads the good people at Macedonia.