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Moments with Your Mission Strategist Dr. Dennis Love “Real Peace”
When we think of peace, most people picture something earthly. Things like peace in our workplaces. Peace in our homes. Peace in our community. Peace in our churches. Or even peace in our world, and peace between nations. We usually define peace as the absence of conflict or strife. But the Bible paints a much deeper picture of peace. True peace is not just the silence of arguments. It’s the settled assurance of being made right with God. SO, peace is much more than a feeling. It represents a confident state of inner certainty regarding one’s reconciliation with God. The great apostle Paul discovered this truth in his own life. Before meeting Jesus on the Damascus Road, Paul likely appeared peaceful. He no doubt got along with other people. He likely got along with friends and neighbors. He likely avoided conflict and slept well at night. But on the inside of Paul, his soul was restless. His heart was at war, because he had never been made right with God. When Paul had his encounter with Jesus, everything changed. In Romans 5:1 he writes these words. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This kind of peace is not just a feeling. It’s a standing! It’s knowing and standing on the assurance that our separation from God was caused by our sin, and through faith in Jesus Christ, we have now been made right with God. This peace does not mean that life will suddenly be free of troubles, conflict, or pain. What it does mean is that no matter what is happening around you, the storm inside of you has been calmed. The war being raged inside of us is now over and we are at peace with God. From that place of security in Christ, you can begin to bear the fruit of peace in your life. Real peace that flows into your relationships. Real peace that flows into your decisions. And even real peace when you are right in the middle of chaos. It is good to ask ourselves, “Do I have real peace?” Not just the peace of a quiet evening. Not just the peace of a good night’s sleep. Not just peace with friends and neighbors. BUT the peace that comes from knowing I am right with God. This kind of peace is not earned. It is simply received by faith in Jesus Christ.
If you have real peace, you have what the majority of people in our world do not have. Let us join our hearts together and pray that people in our county, country, and our world will experience real peace, while real peace is still being offered
God is Good Dennis
Eph. 3:20-21
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counselor at Hope In Christ Counseling. Her office is located at 130 Logan Street, Marion.
Encouragement is something that often can take such a small amount of time to do but so important. Zig Ziglar has said, “When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you are making a commitment and a difference in that person’s life. Encouragement really does make a difference.” Encouragement can be helpful to not only our mental health but spiritually as well. Encouragement of our pastors and spiritual leaders is particularly important within the church.
We all go through periods of discouragement. It can be even more difficult to overcome discouragement when we feel we have no one supporting us or no one who cares. It helps to feel like we have someone in our corner, rooting us on. The Bible commands us to encourage one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (KJV) The New Living Translation states it this way, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
I’m a pastor’s kid. My dad went into full time ministry when I was six years old but has pastored a church my entire life. There are a number of people in my extended family in ministry. I have personally seen and felt how difficult ministry can be at times. In my practice, I occasionally see Pastors, missionaries, or others in ministry and have walked through periods of discouragement with them. Even when attempting to do everything right or when a ministry is flourishing, it is easy to fall into discouragement or not feel you are doing enough, being enough, accomplishing enough or growing the church enough. While on the one hand, I work with these clients on valuing themselves and finding their identity in Christ and not in their accomplishments, successes or failures. On the other hand, there is a lot to be said about feeling supported and encouraged by those around you.
I was recently speaking with a pastor who has a growing ministry. He stated that despite seeing growth it would be nice to ‘hear someone say I was doing a good job’. Research shows that encouragement from others, helps improve a positive outlook on oneself, causes people to feel supported, and improves performance (Wong, Y.J., 2015). In fact, if you look at programs such as weight watchers, you can see how effective support (encouragement) can be on improved outcomes. Other areas where encouragement is important is within the context of marriage. Dennis and Barbara Rainey speak about this in their book, “Building up your spouse”.
I was honored to preach at Sugar Hill Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 6th. The people responded well to the message. I appreciate Pastor Michael Robinson for the opportunity to preach to his church while he was away on vacation.
I was blessed to worship with the good people at First Baptist Old Fort on Sunday morning, July 13th. Pastor Drew Dalton did a great job preaching from Mark 10:1-12 a sermon titled; “Committed to the Kingdom.” In these verses, Jesus is answering a question from the Pharisees concerning divorce. Pastor Drew made it clear that following Jesus is a life-long commitment come what may, and that Christian marriage is a life-long covenant. Thanks, Pastor Drew, for sharing a much needed word to the church today.
It was a blessing being with the good people at Ashworth Road Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 27th. Pastor Gary Webb preached from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 a message titled; “The Power of Paul’s Preaching.” Pastor Gary emphasized that Paul preached boldly, faithfully, powerfully, and he preached Christ and Him crucified. Pastor Gary also emphasized that it’s the Gospel empowered by the Holy Spirit that people need to be hearing in our churches and the world. Thanks, Pastor Gary, for reminding us of the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.
I was honored to preach a week-long revival at Nebo First Baptist Church beginning on Monday evening, July 28th through Friday evening, August 1st. We had a very good attendance for each service and the Holy Spirit showed up and people were revived in their hearts and spirits. A special thanks to Pastor Doug Worley for inviting me to preach each night. We had a wonderful time in the Lord!!
I was honored to preach at Vein Mountain Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 17th. The good people of the church responded extremely well to the message. Rev. Barry Gouge has now retired after many years at the church, and the church is currently seeking a pastor. Pray for Vein Mountain as they go through the process of seeking God’s man to lead them.
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Mission Team to Beckley, WV
UPDATES FROM BAPTISTS ON MISSION
Hurricane Helene
We are progressing on the renovations that will allow us to use the former Deyton Elementary School in Spruce Pine to house volunteers and are hoping that volunteers can begin using the facility next week. We have been at capacity at our rebuild centers this summer, but beginning the second week of August space is available. Volunteer numbers are good in August – October, but there is space so please encourage teams to register as soon as they know they want to serve. They should register as a team and not individually.
This registration link is:
https://baptistsonmission.org/helene-volunteer-rebuild
We hope to begin building new homes in August or September as funds are available.
Partnership Missions
We will have the 2026 list of National and International Partnership Mission Trips in a few weeks. We typically finalize that list after the summer in early fall. Please encourage churches to make plans now to build teams for the US, Armenia, Cuba, Guatemala, Hungary, Kenya, Ukraine, Moldova, and South Africa.
US Partnerships
https://baptistsonmission.org/Mission-Projects/United-States
International Partnerships
https://baptistsonmission.org/mission-projects/outside-us
Personally, I am planning on leading a Vision Team to Armenia in November to visit and encourage pastors, lead a pastor’s conference, learn how teams can assist in 2026 and beyond, and visit potential church plant sites. Some of the ways teams can serve are VBS, sports camps, conferences, construction, and teaching in the seminary.
I am also planning to lead a team to South Africa in February or March to visit and work with Door of Hope in Johannesburg where they have rescued nearly 2000 abandoned infants since 1999.
Contact me for either of these trips. If you need assistance in connecting with our other staff to learn more about the other partnerships I will be glad to help connect.
Donations and North Carolina Mission Offering (NCMO)
I have had a few questions this week about donations. Designated donations made to Baptists on Mission for Hurricane Helene or ERR wil be used for rebuilding homes in WNC. Donations made to Baptists on Mission and not designated may be used for any of the 19 ministries of BOM, but may largely be used for Helene. Gifts to the NC Missions Offering (NCMO) are divided between BOM, NC church planting, and local associations. Your association will get 10% to use as God leads you, BOM receives 62% and that provides our entire regular budget, and church planting receives 28%. Serve NC donations can be used across the state and are distributed by NC Baptists, not by BOM. Cooperative Program (CP) gifts provide the budget for the ministries of the NC Baptists, the IMB, and Send Relief. Baptists on Mission is an auxiliary of NC Baptists and as such is not funded through CP.
Our NCMO focus is coming up in September, but churches and individuals can donate at any time. Below is the link at which you can find many NCMO resources or donate to NCMO. A recurring donation can be set up at this link:
In Christian Sympathy
