Susan Edwards / Times-News The Rev. Greg Mathis in the pulpit.
Who: The Rev. Greg T. Mathis Where: Mud Creek Baptist Church Mini-Profile: Hewas born Dec. 19, 1954, in North Wilkesboro. He is a graduate of Gardner- Webb College, where he received his bachelor of arts degree; and received his master of divinity' degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest. He was ordained Feb. 21, 1976, by the congregation of First Baptist Church of Chesnee, S.C. He served as pastor of Doe Run Baptist Church, Ararat, Va., and Pine Grove Bap- tist Church, Dugspur, Va., before he came to Hen. dersonville in August 1979 as pastor at Mud Creek. He and his wife, the former Deborah Hiatt, have two children, Alison, 4, and Jared, 18 months. His hobbies are fishing, hunting and golf. Favorite Bible Passage: "Whereunto I also la- bor, striving according to his working, which wor- keth in me mightily .." - Colossians 1:29 (KJV) Would you like for your pastor to be featured in our "Meet your pastor" column? Fine! We'd like to feature him. Here's how it's done: Call John Dills at 692-0505 any Monday through Friday between 3 and 5p.m. and he'll tell you how. REV. GREG MATHIS SulPhur springs revival planned Sulphur Springs Baptist Church will hold revival services Sunday, August 18,through Thursday, August 22, beginning at 7:30 each evening: . Rev. Greg Mathis, pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church in Henderson- ville, N.C., will be the visiting evangelist. Rev. Mathis is professor of evangelism, head of the Mission Dept., and director of Student Recruitment at Fruitland Baptist In- stitute. He is a graduate of Gardner Webb College and Southeastern Bap- tist Theological Seminary. He is the son of former pastor, Rev. Bud
' .)' CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 (!;/ TEL. (919) 833-2079
DAU..Y STAR &1fB.8Y,N.e.
men, women and minorities. I aptist~ hope to find a way to serve q\ 1::? From page 1A them all," Mathis said. church's freedom of belief Conservatives have not been should hot be compromised. in control of the "leadershtp of the Baptist State Convention leader: "I believe that local chur- since 1979, when they also ches, like my church, should took power of the Southern 'continue to be able to choose Baptist Convention. their own positions on issues 'Unity' based on where the Lord leads . Mathis defeated the Rev. De- them," Mathis said. wey Hobbs from Winston- Mathis who said he has been Salem by 96 votes. A total of New president on the convention's governing 4,800 votes were cast in the board for the last four years, election. plans to emphasize evangelism eager for calm within the convention's mem- While any member of a ber churches. Otherwise, he Southern Baptist church in North Carolina can attend. the By Jim Sparks said he sees no drastic changes in the next year. annual meeting, the only peo- Star Staff Writer ple who can vote are delegates, "We have a very diverse For the conservative Rev. called "messenger's" chosen by membership within the conven- Gregory Mathis .. the newly each individual church. tion, moderates, conservatives, el'ected president of the N.C. Baptist State Convention, find- ing common ground on which to unite moderate and conser- vative camps will be at the top of his agenda. "I hope the next year brings a monumental coming .together," Mathis said of the 1.2 million member convention. "I don't want to be a troublemaker. 1 want to be a peacemaker," Mathis said. Mathis is a 1977 graduate of Gardner-Webb College, where he majored in religion. He later attended Southeastern Theo- logical Seminary and is now the pastor of the 1,300-member Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville. Mathis said he plans to push the issue of unity within a con- vention that is largely divided along the lines of how to inter- pret the Bible. -~~~thi&'Said the definition of' what a conservative is probably differs with each person asked, bu t generally conservatives be- lieve in a more literal interpre- tation of the Bible. The differences between moderates and conservatives have shown up regularly in de- bates over evangelism, mis- sions and the choice of Sunday school literature within North Carolina's largest denomination. And while the convention has no political control over in- dividual congregations it can dictate the type and scope of emphasis in those areas. Some moderate churches in North Carolina have stopped sending yearly contributions previously earmarked for the conservative-controlled South- ern Baptist Convention. And while these differences become highly visible in de- bates such as whether women should be ordained into the mi- nistry, Mathis follows the his- torically held Southern Baptist conviction that an indiv~~ g 1::? See BA~l\ST pa "" (:;:/.-f_" _
CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO /J. RALEIGH. NC 27603 \~ Ties tI/ TEL. (919) 833-2079 Continued from page lA
the way for Baptists in North Carolina Many members of the Mathis family live locally including two sisters, his mother and grandfather. Mathis himself lived in Surry County NOV J9 9S for a while before settling in Hender- sonville where he, his wife and three children now live. This Sunday, Mathis' church, New Leader Also Has Surry County Ties Mud Creek Baptist Church, was scheduled to open a new $2 million By JEFF LINVILLE sanctuary with the first sermon of the . .. I;. Staff Writer new president. 'The North Carolina Southern Baptists elected a ne~ president Mathis's grandfather, Clate last week and for the second straight time, a man With Surry Brown, has been a pastor for 50 County ties takes command. . , years. The 80-year-Old Brown still For the past two years, Mount Ai~ s own Rev. Alfred T. preaches at Pinnacle View Baptist Ayscue led the state Baptist convention. Now, Rev. Gregory'll I d Church in Pilot Mountain and lives Mathis, who has family members 1iv~Urry County, WI ea on Freeman Street in Dobson. "All of my family are active in the SeeTIES,~ church," Brown said. He began the tradition by taking his children to church every Sunday. "Kept them in church," he replied, "without exception." Brown preached in several loca- tions over the years including spend- ing 15 years at Fancy Gap Church in Mount Airy. Ten years ago at the age of 70, Brown decided to retire. "That was the only Sunday in the last 50 years that 1wasn't pastor of a church," remarked Brown. He then took over the pastorage of Pinnacle View and by the following Sunday had a new congregation. His daughter Kaye married Buddy T. Mathis and moved south when her husband landed a pastor's position in South Carolina. "Greg's dad took a church down there," explained Brown. Even though his daughter moved far away, Brown still found time to travel down to see his grandkids. Brown said he could remember clearly traveling down to South Carolina to see Greg play football and his sister, Kayron, play basketball. "Neither one could play worth a nickel," laughed Brown. Mathis grew up a big sports fan, said his mother, Kaye. He not only played football, but would watch several different sports on television. "I played golf with him," said Mathis' grandfather, "until he got , good enough to beat me. You have to draw the line somewhere." Kaye Mathis stated, "Greg's grandfather has a wonderful sense of humor and Greg has inherited his trait. It has helped him through some difficult times." Those difficult times include his parents' divorce. The 40-year-old • pastor was only 15 when his parents • split up. Brown said that was when his daughter moved back home with him, although Kaye now jokes that it is Brown who is living with her. "We fmished raising the child- _ ren," said Brown, speaking of Mathis , and his two sisters, Beth and Su- sanne, "and put them through college." " Kaye's oldest child, Kayron, was out of high school and married and did not move back to Surry County with the rest of the family. She still lives in South Carolina, west of Spartanburg. Susanne Mathis Garrison is now a decorator and salesperson for Rumple Furniture in Elkin, while Beth Mathis White is a librarian at Dobson Middle School. Mother Kaye has been a social case worker for the Surry County Social Services for 21 years.
After high school, Greg attended Southeastern College of the As- semblies of God in Florida. He later married a Mount Airy woman, De- borah Hiatt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hiatt. He took over the congregation of Mud Creek Baptist 15 years ago at a time when the attendance was 145 people. said Kaye. Since then, the congregation has grown to an aver- age Sunday group of 1,300 people.
. K~ye Mathis said the congrega- tion IS one of the largest in western North Carolina and that Greg could possibly be the youngest convention president this state has ever had. "I am very, very proud of him," said Kaye. Until Greg won the election, the most newsworthy event in the family was when Beth won the Surry Community College beauty pageant about 15 years ago, laughed Kaye. "He will do a fantastic job," Mathis' mother said. "He is a great communicator and will strive to be a great president." Some have questioned Mathis' conservative religious views, but Brown feels that won't be a problem. "Sure, he's conservative," he said, "but so am I." He said he did not feel his grandson' s conservative views would cause harm to the N.C. Baptist Convention. "I think he'll be a good guy," said the grandfather. "By nature, he's a kind, considerate person." Kaye said much of the support for Mathis according to the votes came from the rural areas, the mountains and the coast. She added that many along the coastal regions know her son through his sermons at revivals in that area. "I hope and pray that this all works out real good," his grandfather said. "I'll have to stay on his case. Grandfathers have a way of doing that." - CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 (!;/ TEL. (919) 833-2079
o(cWS & RALEIGH, N. C. THE NEWS & OBsERVER ? (\u0',(,\-, 16A FROM PAGE ONE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1995 NOV 1995 Dewey Hobbs, 70, who had held several MATHIS convention offices. He says he got into the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A race to fight Patterson's influence in the 'I WILL BE PRESIDENT OF ALL THE BAPTISTS' state. modeling good behavior, tithing, reaching A month before the convention, Owens out for lost souls. He strongly believes in and other conservatives had a "pre-con- missions and evangelization. vention rally" at Corts' church where they His faith makes him socially conserva- again urged congregations to elect as tive as well - he does not, for example, many "messengers" as they could for the favor the ordination of women. convention. A lot of those churches had When the Mathis family moved to Ches- never sent a representative to the gather- nee, S.C., outside Spartanburg, Greg made ingbefore. the football team, playing guard and tack- le. He dreamed of playing in college. He 'fuesday, election day, hundreds and hun- made a lot of friends. He drove an old dreds of messengers streamed into the col- Chevy. He listened to the Supremes and iseum. At 10:30 a.m., thousands of orange the King. He says he never smoked or punch-card ballots were handed to ushers. drank - "I never inhaled, either!" One first-time messenger was Jack In the summer of 1973, Greg graduated Faulkner; for 32 years a tobacco company from high school but felt a little rootless. He worker. He had been sent by Dexter Bap- started and quit three jobs in three weeks. tist Church in eastern Granville County. "I just couldn't get a piece of my heart," He was a Mathis man, and he was delight- he says. "I was missing a sense of direction. ed at the work he had done. I didn't know what to do with myself." "Yeah, I voted for him," Faulkner said. He wondered if he should go into the min- Then, with a big smile, he added, "I'm a istry. He consulted the family experts, who redneck." said: You have to make up your own mind. We'll support you. But you have to decide if At noon, Ayscue took the microphone to God is calling you. announce the results: Hobbs, 2,392; Math- That fall, Greg enrolled at Gardner-Webb is, 2,488. Later Tuesday; the convention also University, a Baptist school in Boiling elected a conservative as second vice pres- Springs. He majored in religion. ident. Moderates were plainly stunned. Con- Battle of the Baptists vention spokesman Bill Boatwright could only say, "Pretty amazing, isn't it?" Through the 1970s, the Rev. Paige Pat- terson was a man on a mission. A furious Ayscue accused Patterson of The blustery Patterson and Paul packing the house: "This was an unprece- Pressler, a Texas judge, led a noisy cam- dented move by the Southern Baptist Con- • paign to elect a conservative as president vention to interject itself into the state con- Mrs. Harry Parker, a member of the First Baptist Church in Winston-Solem, congratulates Mathis on his victory. of the Southern Baptist Convention, the vention." nation's largest Protestant denomination. STAFF PHOTO BY CHUCK LIDDY Patterson snorts at the suggestion. Patterson and Pressler charged that "lib- "Conservatives were so discouraged that erals" had usurped control of the 15 mil- Fla. "I said, 'Hey, I'm your dad!' He's a man church. Among them was was Greg Math- they weren't going to the conventions any- lion-member denomination, seeding it with of his word, though; he fulfills his obliga- is. more. It was like going to a whipping," he teachers and missionaries and pastors who Th$.,~.v. G.fegQfYMathis tions." The subject: finding a consensus candi- says. "I didn't have tell them vote for did not believe that the Bible was literally With a big congregation and a full travel date. Ideally, it would be someone whose to to Greg. They were ready to." The Mathis family prays at the close of the convention. From left, Gregory, Bret, Alison, Jared and Deborah. true. The theological softness, the Patter- BortH Det. 19;1954, 'North schedule, Mathis says, he never consid- church was successful and who had stayed ered going into politics. out of the political pits - in other words, STAFF PHOTO BY CHUCK LIDDY son forces said, was driving souls from the WHkesbor.Q. Mathis immediately started making pews. EdvcQti e1'LodT fllOT MOUNTAIN, N. NOV 22 95 hernBaptist President Rev. Mathis/Has Local TiesPT I \.._ , ' . County. Athird sister, Kayron, re- leadership role with N.C. Southern Mathis is that voice. Greg loves all ' sides in South Carolina. Baptists. He has served as a mem- fellow Baptists and plans to work Carolina Southern Mathis is married to the former ber of the convention Board of Di- . with all facets of the denomination. Baptist vention held its annual Deborah Hiatt, daughter of Alvin rectors, the decision-making body He is embarrassed by the feuding election last week and for the third Hiatt of Mount Airy. The couple between conferences. and would like to see it stop. We consecutive year a man with local have three children, Alison, age 16, Mathis' narrow, 96-vote victory need to take a stand on social is- ties was chosen as president<::_;:;,,;.:.: Jared;' 13, and Brett,lO.. , was a shock for moderate members. sues.Heis God's manforthe South- Southern Baptists selected the Mathis is the pastor of Mud Creek of the Southern Baptist Associa- ern Baptists and will be a fair, warm- Rev. Gregory T. Mathis to succeed Baptist Church in Hendersonville, tion. He is the first conservative to hearted president." Alfred Ayscue of Mount Airy who a position he has held for the last 15 be elected since 1985. Conserva- Greg Mathis was born forty years completed his second one-year years. He came to the church when tives hold to a more literal interpre- ago in Wilkes County on a Sunday term. ithadanaverage attendance of 145. tation of the Bible and take a con- moming. According to his mother, Mathis' grandfather is the Rev. Ithas since grown to over 1,300 and servative stance on social issues. ClateBrownimmediatelypredicted Clate Brown, Pastor of Pinnacle now holds two services each Sun- He defeated moderate Rev. J. that his son would become a South- View Baptist' Church in Shoals. day morning. Last Sunday saw the Dewey Hobbs, Jr. of Winston-Sa- ern Baptist minister. Mathis' mother, Kaye Mathis, re- church hold services in a beautiful lern. Greg Mathis' father, Buddy sides with Brown in Dobson and new $2 and-a-half million fan- "North Carolina Southern Bap- Mathis, pastored in Wilkes County two sisters, Susanne Garrison and shaped sanctuary. tist conservatives were looking for / Beth White, a}\. ~~v~ in Surry Rev. Gregory T; Mathis Mathis' ministry led him into .a a voice," Kaye Mathis said. "Greg See MATHIS, Page 2(' e- _,_ ... 1', , . [" . '~ .:»: ',:,.':},~~{-i7{..I,f:~f;.}r-f~;::I~;·4: Mathis from Page 1 and today continues his ministry in . "He was raised in church," Florida, . Brown remembers. "By associa- Greg Mathis graduated from tion, he learned to appreciate God's Gardner-Webb then earned a Mas- work and God's people. I'm quite ters Degree at Southeastern Semi- proud of him. Any grandfather i nary at Wake Forest. While there he would be." I began his ministry as pastor of Doe Brown, 81, also has quite a his- Run Baptist Church in Ararat, Vir- tory as a Southern Baptist minister. ginia. He went on to pastor at He spent 15 years as pastor of Fancy Dougspur Baptist Church in Gap Baptist Church in Mount Airy. Hillsville before going to Mud Creek. After retiring 10 years ago, Brown ! His decision to join.the ministry spent one Sunday out of the pulpit came naturally, according to grand- before becoming pastor of Pinnacle father Clate Brown. View. , . Flell Ion Thursday, November23,1995 ,Conservati~~,::p~sio~r~;~~~e~·peace'~'a.rn~ng:,l!aptists It "ByAJmeSaker ,<'<\.'(nation:s aarg~st"Protestant call came at the 1994state conven- >< 10:30a.m'J'tho_ds~·ot orange was an unprecedented' move by president is more than justa bully , TbeN ..... Obe.-9wolRUelah . "\ denominatio n~tPatterson and tion, which voted to allow punch-card ballots were handed to the SouthemBaptist Convention to pulpit. He must oversee a $29mil- '," RALEIGH';_ Aa far' as 8ome.'~",Pressler charg~ that ,"llberals" . churches to give money to the Co-. ushers. One first-time messenger interject itself into the state con- lion operation that employs 125 ;, people were concerned, a certain 'had usurped co~trol of the 15mil- ¥operative Baptist' Fellowship 'was Jack Faulkner, for 32years a vention." i . . .full-time workers. He appoints :1 event in Winston-Salem last week~'qJlion.membel/'idenom~naUon, a'~" ughthestateconvention.~;; 'tobacco company worker. He had, ,Patterson snorts at the'sugge&- committees that control the con- , . : was a .miracle!' A--conservative ~- seedin~ it with teachers andmis- .an onservatives law the move ~ 'be~n sent' by Dexter Baptist 'tion.· "Conservatives were so vention's schools, publications, t',' t" was elected president of the BaP- .....,s1onanes.and pastors who did not )}a)! ange~ous' break'jfrom :t~e. Church in eastem ~ranvi1le Coun-dlscouraged that they weren't missions and church growth. The ;' tist State Convention of North ,believe that ~ B,iblew_asliteraI?' fSouth~rn r ~aptist ~~nvent1o.n., ty. He ,!as a Mathis man, and he going to the conventions anymore. j?b also requires a s~nse of the pe- , .' i Carolina.' ... , _..- ., ., _''; ~.;.._true. ~ .'... ,",-or. 'Y" • meant ~~.strength~n rebellious was delighted at the work he had. It was like going to • whipping," litical, because politics -. even J' , , t', The Rev.Grego~ Mathis, 40, The theological. softness,. ~hetIBaptis~~ They eet about'~encUpg ~done.. ;"Ye~,; I voted, f?r himt·· he says. ,"I didn't have to teli them '. politics among Bible-believing .. ' .b.has a ot of the qualities many Patterson forces saId, was drivmg 'fi,.f-m.eeaa~ong the~ves,. and in Faulkiler saId. "Then, With a bIg \ to vote for Greg. They were ready.· Baptists.,... can be a contact sport ~ '.'.Baptlsts want in a shepherd. His . souls from the.~ws{.The targets'. J~uary, a~ut 50 ~atives. smile.he,"dded:~"l'maredneek." ;·to.". ".. '~ .~" •. _.':k.'.,. where sometimes nice, guys do· , •. father and grandfather are, • of t!te a~cusatlo!W - who pref~- ~met. Among them was.~as Gr ,. ,At poon Ayscue ~ook the I, 1N'M J • ~dft'TI ~~ fmishlast. ',_, ....: ~l . , I tht"'l e i "t'd . "pastors Hispreachingealendar is."·'red'tlte~ter~)I,lmoderates" '- . Mathis. ''':'' b'l' ~mlcrophorieto ,announce' the ""I' kai 8,;mme Wah y, AS ar e .' .... Som'e of M''a~t.:;!''supr""po~t:;''''iare'' ~.. • . " ¥. re to~';'..1 th t ,"fIIMament8lists" . 'Id all •th greed their c ... t, hi ma ng peace. en yscue ,r UUD ners I l' bookedyearsahead.' ': . ' ... '\,"t """"', at r.:--;- ,~,,, e y, era , , 1 -., resti1ts:~Hobbsc2,392;,:Mat s, 'handedhlmtheg've1ofhisofflce, .• "little concerned that he is too .:i.' Ev~, hi~~San~-like physiqu!....q wen: be~t on creat~ an un~Bap-....,:didate,-.woulli be, .someone 'w~qse 2,488.Later Tuesday; the conven- '. 'Mathis told the convention: "'I'm nice. __, . • -~ . comes right outof central casting. tist C!t!nt ra Ut ed Mer a rc hy. church -we successful .Bnd~'la"-tiolt also eleeted ...,eonservativeas ~... . h lmed aDd honor8d'~aDd(-; -.• ~w;:~;;.~~~~~~~r:;;t"";'1 He is the man a slim majority of ,,<, Besides, the moderates said, Bap- had stayed out of the political pits second vice president. Moderates .overw e '; !~ (Ma Ii . . the convention icked to lead a . tists believe in the ability of any "-, in other words,. someone who were pWnly stunned. Convention promise you. that I will practice., .~ :matter some ~onsideration. · ou Ion ull~ between con- ,'. Baptist to read and interpret the was well-known' to the right peG- spokesman Bill BoatWrIght could ,{~hat I preach. I will be,president " He s a little worried, .~l' i \'"1 !II~. , e-' · :n,~tives~ :ho believe the Bible ~ Bible, and they don't n~ anyone - pie; There we~'bonus points ~or only say,,"Pretty .amazing~, isn't ,ofI I all the, Bap\iSts. W~~~t ,as t.."My, wife: and I have"ta~ed is literally true, and moderates, from headquarters telling the]D working wellWlth moderates. " -It?" ".'. Q '~.'U ~ ~.. .1 But whUe some' consider the < son-Presliler forces succeeded in I,'worked with moderates on the - ·election a day of glory Mathis' - electing a like-minded IIliIW!teras '. General Board, 80 they know n;'~, opponents see it as prettY close to ' president, beginning in earnest the too," he ~ys. "Those folks who the end of the world. . "conseryativeresurgence." " know me don't find me intoler:' To them the Hendersonville' • North qarolina was one of the ant." " pastor is what other Baptists fear: '\; ~few states to ~ist, and did so for Moderates, however, painted . "He professes love and loyalty to ,.'years. But in tpe mld-I980s, the Mathis as Patterson's "stealth" the Southern Baptist Convention, . resurgence washed i?to Wake," candidate and ,aimed to defeat the national denomination led by ~.'County. Conservatives had him. - , · conservatives. . ~, . solidified their hold on the denom-. 'The 165thannual meeting of the . '. His two-year term as president : inational· ~urea~cracy ~n~ no~ Bap~t State Convention of North ' could mean.closer ties between :1.1 aimed for.the coqvention s Slx . Carolina"convened at 6:30 p.m. · the state and national :bodles; seminaries across, the, country,,. Nov. 13at the Lawrence Joel Vet-. which would be ~ major change :", including' Southeaster!1 Bal!!ist. er.ans Memorial Coliseum in for the historically' moderate . Theological SemInary in. ~e Wmston-Salem. , ·North Carolina convention. '\ Forest. . ';". < < .:;" The R~v. Alfred A.yscue of " Everyone involved in the strug;"·; In 1987, after a long, draining. Mount Airy, the outgomg presi- gle uses the Bible asaweaponantf"; battle, seminary President W.~, dent, delivered a biting address · a shield. Onto thil battlefield', Randall Lolley was forced out for 1. that concluded with a verse from · comel Mathil, an •• footba . ..~hiring too many "liberal" teach-, Galatians: "Remember that it is . •player who loves Elvis 'and says' .ers. Hund.reds"ohtudents 'left-and: ~foifreedom Christ has Set us free; . he's hardly ever met a stranger. . t"-.the faculty was demoralized. '. 'standJast, therefore, and do not · Greg Mathis' youth was spread, .: Five years later; Patterso~ was- submit again to I yoke of allV" out across the Carolinas .. ~ fa- .. Installed as seminarY"presldent, ; ery."" ~;''''!\ - . ';,', ',':" ·ther, Buddy, was pastor of five . Because 'of, his z:ole in the "con~"-,~. The moderate earidldatewas the North Carolina churches before servative resurgence," Wake Rev. Dewey Hobbs, 70, who had Greg reached high sehool. . . Forest Baptist Chur~h ~ef~ to•.. held several convention offices. · "I look back on the things that grant hJm membership. ;.' ~ He says he -got into the race to seemed to be so tough at the time, . Greg Mathis didn't realize it yet,· fight Patterson's. influence in ,the all that moving, and llmow it has but Patterson was going to ~ .':8, state. . . made my character," Mathis important force in his life. ~' .. A month before the convention says. "It molded me. God used it . Mathis graduated from Gard- ,conservatives had a "pre-conven: · to make me a people person." :ner-Webb in 1977,and enrolled. a~ .'' tion rally" where they again urged · This yea~, the Rev. Cia te Southeastern.., , congregations to elect as many Brown, Greg s grandfather, eele- Mathis' got his master s of· "messengers". as they could for brated 50years in the ministry. He divinity degree in 1980 and was the convention ...A lot of, those has' been pastor for 25 years at· called to Mud Creek Baptist;, churches had never sent a repre- .- Pinnacle View Baptist Church Church in Hendersonville, which ' sentative to the gathering before . . near Pilot Mountain. Buddy, .on I good Sunday summoned 50 Tuesday, election day, hundreds i. Ma~ has been ~ching for'36 people. His''Wife"Deborah, whom •. and h",ndreds of messengers' years. ' .' '.. '. " ' he had married while an under- streamed into the coliseum. 'At From father and grandfather, graduate, played the church organ .~.,:,"., . . Mathis inherited not only a line of andtaughtSundaysehool. i """ work but a view on life. He says he .1 Mathis also taught at Fruitiand' . knows every word of the Bible is Baptist Bible Institute a few miles true and he tries to live it - mod- away, and its students started at- , eling good behavior, tithing, tending Mud Creek. The church' reaching out for lost souls. He. grew and just opened' a new $3 strongly be~eves in.missi~~, and, million church that seats 1,500. evangelization.· , . The Rev. Coy Privette, a con- His faith makes him socially'" servatlve and longtime convention · conservative as well - he does activist, calls Mathis "an ex- not~for example, favor. the ordl- cellent pulpiteer" whose com-" · nationofwomen. mand of the Bible and gentle' When the Mathis famUy moved humor get the message across. to Chesnee, S.C., outside Spar'UlIl- ,'In 1991,Mathis was named to a burg, Greg made the football < , four-year term on the General team, playing guo$rd and tackle. Board, the state convention's chief He dreamed of playing in college. decision-making body. He says He made a lot of friends. He drove . he's not sure who nominated him, an old Chevy. He listened to the' and he didn't seek the job. Supremea and the King. He says' l' Getting conservatives on de- be never smoked or drank - "I . nominational boards was one never inhaled, either!" thing. Getting a conservative In the fall of 1973,Greg enrolled elected president was another. at G~-Webb University, a '. The faction was divided, chiefly Baptist schoollii'Boillng Springs. between the lions - older He majored in religion. .preachers - and the cubs, the, Through the 1970s, the Rev. 1 young ministers around the state, Paige Pat~n was a man on a many of whom were graduates of , mission. The blustery Patterson .,Fruit1an4 Baptist Bible Institute. and Paul Pressler, a Texas judge," Every election, the conser- led a noisy campaign to elect a vatives wound up with two or three co~ative as president of, the . competing candidates. Every Southern Baptist Convention, the election, they lost. The wake-up . .Mud Creek has grown tremen- dously during Mathis' 15-year ten- ure, expanding from 145 members ... in 1979 to 1,300. The church's new .. Continued from page 17,000-square-foot, $2.5 million wor- lA ship center will host its first service By John Boyle people who vote are elected messen- Sunday. While Mathis takes little HENDERSONVILLE BUREAU gers from churches. Colleges and credit for the growth or spectacular FLAT ROCK - The Rev. Greg- seminaries don't send messengers; new addition to the church, his con- ory ¥athis says the time has come the churches send messengers." gregation feels otherwise. for conservative Baptists to be duly North Carolina has about 3,600 "His leadership is number one represented in the 1.2-million mem- Southern Baptist congregations. - it couldn't be better," said Harold ber N.C. Southern Baptist Conven- Mathis said there is no breakdown Blythe, a church deacon and build- tion. of the numbers of conservative and ing committee chairman. "He's built "People thought that there moderate churches, but about 300 of this church from small to large." were not that many conservative the moderate congregations have "Greg is a humble person who Baptists out there," said Mathis, stopped sending funds to the South- does not take credit. But for 15 pastor of Mud Creek Baptist ern Baptist Conference - the na- years here, Greg has demonstrated Church in Flat RoCKfor the past 15 tional organization. They are opting tremendous leadership," said years. "But I know there are a lot instead to fund the Cooperative George Cagle, chairman of deacons. out there, and I'm glad we're get- Baptist Fellowship, a more moder- He foresees Mathis' abilities ting some representation. Mter two ate breakaway organization. translating well to the state stage. decades it's time for that." Mathis acknowledges a rift ex- Traditionally, the state president is At the state convention Tues- ists between the groups but says as re-elected for another one year day, Mathis narrowly defeated the president he will work for unity, not term when the first term expires, Rev.' Dewey Hobbs, 2,488 to 2,392. ERNST/CITIZEN· TIMES further separation. Conservatives meaning Mathis likely will serve Mathis garnered 50.9 percent of the Rev. Greg Mathis have held leadership positions in the two years. vote to put a conservative in the national organization since 1979, "He is not afraid to speak up state's top spot for the first time in ates simply are "sore losers" who but moderates retained power at for what's right. He goes by the 20 years. "just won't accept the facts." the state. word," Cagle said. In the wake of the election, "The idea of stuff'mg ballots is Generally speaking, conserva- For his part, Mathis says he moderates claimed conservatives ridiculous, and it really is an insult tive Southern Baptists take a more never aspired to be state president. used seminary students to stuff the to churches," said Mathis, 40. "The literal view of the Bible than moder- "My only ambition was to ballot box. Matl}j.i ;,ESl" CITY1 N. C~ AUGJ696 ~t- PAGE 12 Mathis to be guest speaker GREEN HILL - Rev. Greg Math- is of Flat Rock, president of the N.C. Baptist State Convention, will be the guest speaker for revival services at Green Hill Baptist Church, August 25- . 27. A native of North Wilkesboro, Rev. Mathis is a 1977 graduate of Gardner- Webb University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree. He is a 1980 graduate of Southeastern Baptist The- ological Seminary with a master of divinity degree. He has served as pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church, Hendersonville, since 1980. The church has a mem- o bership of 1,500. Since 1981, he has taught evangelism at Fruitland Bible Institute, Hendersonville, and conducts revivals, Bible conferences, and semi- nars, throughout the Baptist Conven- tion. Rev. Mathis has also served on the General Board of the State Baptist Convention, served on the executive committee of the General Board, as chairman of the evangelism commit- tee, and as president of the 1994 Pas- tors' Conference. The services will begin at 7 nightly. Special music will be presented at each service, featuring Monica Johnson of Fayetteville, on Monday night; The Hightsmen of Weaverville, on Tues- day; and Vision of Rutherfordton, Wednesday. A nursery will be provid- ed. The church is located on U.S. 64/74, in Green Hill. Terry Brooks, pastor of the church, said the public is invited. (B:aPiist~91~. ~ . " ,'. . . ,,6 ( '" members". -,f' • . .;' ! fear.shlft, I'" -, '1" c :> I . ~. .,.... . ! to..·.··:~I·g:;"h·it , 1 f',; ..... ~. ' . • ,.,. . •. ; . ! '. .' ~. . 1 '.. ~. · "r . '~,1';' ,-I ',.) .. '.~-..<. :.:.~: ~• ..;'~'.-.~o:' J',~ •.••• J ) .:. • Fri~~~sr 6f 'rMis~i6n;s.plan ,"".:~. to support Lexingtonpastor as 'president of convention " ':'.: -~\ '. I ';,1 "'1 '...-ri_ ~~ . l • By btY Andrews · JOURNAL REPORTER : . ' :..;:.;;.c;;.:..;::":,,:,:::,,,::,;;,:,,=,,--_~_~ 'e. . ;,-.~ . ". ;:0. . . .IDGHPOINT Though the Baptist State Convention's annual' '". meeting is more than two months away; the pOliticiU wrangling between moderates 'and conseiVatives~al~ ;~-;-':~'I-: ·readyhas begun, ....' ;.'.~'~ ."; .. ,/.~',: ,._ '.' :.r;,'!' The. Friep,dsof Missions;' tmOd~"group'; an-" .~.T: y' nOWlct;d y«:sterdaY!;ha~ .it will ~~po~ ~~)lev. Ray·;.;~.,'i. ' N.. HowellIll, the seniorpastor of.,First l,Japtist. I. ·~~~h inLexington,' :~~r::~e,~~o~venti:~: i>r.~~~e~-' :~""l:.: . He,will'i~ce the Rev: (ireg SEP 06 96 '''I' 'JJ:" ,'iuo.l}o __ '''0. \. ...", in. ,H' ~I\"":': , , ;PAGE B~ WINSTON-SALEM JOtlRNAL , , ..STATE a.LOCAL. , . '\ 1 ' • • J " 'more conservative direction. "Greg, dce has begun to change as the' believe, say they want to make cer- Mathis, I,lnderthelordship'ofJesus" political·struggles have become' tain that.all Baptist churches and " BAPTISTS ". ..Christ, is the only one that's con~ ':'stronger within the convention. ',groups remain free to believe as' ContinuedFrom Paie Bl: trolling 'me," he said.' The Rev. Alfred T. Ayscue, a· God dictates and to act according- He said he' has listened to and· moderate who flrst won election in ly. Conservativ:es, who generally him who threaten to bring in the appointed to boards and commit- 1993, defeated two opponents in' hold a more literal interpretation of conservative, fundamentalist men- .tees both moderates .and conserva- 1994 for a second term. The two' the Bible, say they want to preserve tality" to the state convention,' ·tives. .' presidents before him, E.Glen Holt the state convention's ties to the Howell said. "I have tried to be president of all and Gene Watterson, were re-elect- Southern Baptist Convention. He said that the Friends of Mis- N.C. Baptists," he said, adding that edrwithout opposition. Also representing the Friends of sions wants to continue the tradi- . he believes ~in the' autonomy of the Moderate and conservative Bap-. Missions will 'be: Ann Smith of tional direction of the state conven~ local church and the priesthood of tists struggled for power for years' Greensboro, the current flrst vice- tion, which supports freedom .. each believer, '. t· at the national level. president; the Rev. Clay Warf of "We want to clearly delineate our Mathis questioned the motiva~ . Conservatives took over the Roxboro, seeking his flrst term as dream of freedom - freedom of tion of the Friends of Missions. Southern Baptist Convention in second-vice president; Larry Cole- the individual, freedom of the local "Is this, is Greg Mathis, a part of 1979 and its associated agencies man of Laurinburg, the current re- church, and freedom of Biblical in- some takeover, and if so where is after that, and they have a strong-, cording secretary; and Evelyn Ben- terpretation - as opposed to an the evidence, or could it be that· hold on the 'convention now that fleld of Winston-Salem, the current alien view of uniformity and confor- they're a part of a hold-on mentality,' moderates mostly have stopped try-' assistant recording secretary. , mity," Howell said. and I've simply broadened the ing to break. . . 'Howell said that the election, Mathis and the Rev. Kenneth Rid- ' tent?" he said. The struggle in recent years has although just one part of the state ings, a conservative who is the sec- "Maybe they've sensed that flltered down to the ~tate conven- convention meeting, that will be ond vice-president, will seek reo, they're losing some of their 'con- tions,., which. -. like all Baptist. held Nov., 11-13 in Greensboro, is election. trol." , ' [." churches and associations - areJ' . "a choice betWeen two different un- "Mathis refuted moderates' , Traditionally, 'presidents have' autonomous. .. '. .' derstandings of what it means to be charge that someone might be con- been re-elected to second ternis ' ' Moderates, who'say that conser-I Baptist and two different visions trolling him' and pushing him in a' without opposition, but that prac-' 'vatives -qtetate what people shoul4, for the· future.~' r" . _' I I • I " _-- CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH, NC 27603 e;/ TEL, (919) 833-2079 crnZEN TIMES ASHEVILLE, N. C. NOV 1.1 96 &9{ Local pastor seeks re-election as leader of state's Baptists Hendersonville's Rev. Greg Mathis seeks post THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tives from the state's largest reli- year ago by 96 GREENSBORO - The Baptist gious denomination were expected votes out of State Convention, which begins to attend the Baptist State Conven- more than Rev. Greg Mathis Monday, was expected to expose tion's 166th annual meeting at the 4,800 cast, the -- the continuing rift between conser- Greensboro Coliseum's Special narrowest margin since 1983. vative and moderate factions of the Events Center. He is challenged by the Rev. denomination, Aside from electing officers; Ray N. Howell III, the pastor of In 1995, conservatives took two the delegates, called messengers, First Baptist Church of Lexington. of the top three positions, president must approve a $29.9 million budget Political battles between mod- and second vice president, in the for 1997. And they will consider erates and conservatives could be as state denomination. changes in the way people are cho- much on some delegates' minds as sen to serve on the convention's worship and mission work. It was the first time that had 104-member General Board. happened since conservatives took Conservatives believe the Bible control of the Southern Baptist As is customary, the Rev. Greg is the literal, error-free word of Convention, the national denomina- Mathis, the pastor of Mud Creek God, tion, in 1979. Now, moderates are Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Moderates believe some parts trying to retake those positions, will seek a second one-year term as of the Bible may be open to individ- More than 5,000 representa- president. Mathis won election a ual interpretation. CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 TEL. (919) 833-2079 TIMES ~.!t ffENDERSONVJ .,,!r: SEP 25·97 • Hendersonville ~q \ Faircloth will honor Mathis on Sunday u.s. Sen. Lauch Faircloth will be in Hen- derson County on Sunday to honor a local minister. Faircloth will make a presentation to Mud Creek Baptist Church ministe\GrM Mathis during a service at the churc ,0 - crals in Faircloth's office said, The presentation will be made shortly af- ter 10 a.m. Mathis is serving his second term as president of the N.C. Baptist State Convention. SEP 29 ..97 swords come back with Senate approval ByAMYB. MCCRAW Times-News Staff Writer FLAT ROCK - The inspiring words that Mud Creek Baptist Church's minister Greg Mathis de- livered to the U.S. Senate this spring came back to him Sunday. Sen. Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C., who heard Mathis deliver a prayer while serving as the Senate chap- Greg Mathi!? left. pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church, receives JOURNAL W1N11ON sMIt4 N. NOV 11-97 ~q.J "They laid their differences aside and put the cause of Jesus first." .. The Rev. Greg Mathis 1he Rev. Greg Mathis opened the 167th Baptist State Convention last night at Joel Coliseum. Baptists are urged to smooth over divisions By John Railey throughout the state will elect a president, notice when things go wrong." He based his JOURNAL RELIGION REPORTER first vice president and second vice president. speech on the Biblical Book of Acts, saying The outgoing president of the Baptist State Because Mathis has served two one-year that convention members should put aside Convention of North Carolina last night called terms, he is not eligible for re-election. their differences as the disciples John and on members of his organization to continue The Rev. Mac Brunson of Green Street Bap- Peter did. their efforts at reconciliation. tist Church in High Point and the Rev. Jack "At some point, they carne together," Ma- "People are beginning to come together, Causey of First Baptist Church in Statesville this said. "They laid their differences 'aside and people are saying we've got to put these are running to succeed Mathis, a conserva- and put the cause of Jesus first. If this state differences aside," said the Rev. Greg Mathis tive. Brunson is considered a conservative; convention is to move forward, we've got to of Mud Creek Baptist Church in Henderson- Causey is more of a moderate. corne to that place. ville. His speech began the 167th annual meet- Last night, Mathis urged conservatives and "Today's church is often known for its wars ing of the convention, being held at Joel moderates to corne together. and for its splits," Mathis said. ''I'm convinced Coliseum. The media might not notice good acts, but Today, representatives of Baptist churches "they notice when we fight," he said. "They ,. .------ --- ~.. ---~ .... STATE I METRO Forward Together." Brunson and Blume of Boone complete Brun- Causey met several months ago to son's ticket. Cummings is the can- BAPTISTS establish a conciliatory tone. They didate for first vice president, and Continued From Page B1 have run quiet campaigns free of Blume is the candidate for second personal attacks. vice president. it's got to get back to the basics. The convention is "healthier Charlotte Cook of Lexington and We've got to tum back to the Bible than ever... ," Mathis said, and David Crocker of Fayetteville com- and let the Bible instruct us in times has set records for giving. The or- plete Causey's slate. Cook is the such as these." ganization needs to be strong, he candidate for first vice president, Members of the state convention said, because there is much for and Crocker is the candidate for are already cooperating, he said. Baptists to accomplish. second vice president. The general board of the conven- By 7 last night, convention tion unanimously elected the Rev. "Literally, the state that we live workers had registered 1,942 mes- James Royston of Kingsport, Tenn., in has become a mission field," he sengers. Convention officials are as its nominee for executive direc- said, adding that more than 50 per- expecting as many as 5,000 mes- tor-treasurer, Mathis noted. To- cent of state residents have no sengers to attend, with most arriv- night, convention delegates, called church. "They're all around us, and ing today. messengers, will vote on Royston, they're right outside the church The convention continues who is unopposed. door." through Wednesday morning, The theme of this year's confer- The Rev. Mike Cummings of when participants will vote on the ence is "Living the Faith: Going Robeson County and the Rev. Allan budget. THE DAILY COURIER, FOREST CITY, N.C., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11,1997 PAGE3 @ NORTH CAROLINA WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP)- olina Baptists," said Mathis, the local congregations and almost 1.2 of 20" was expanded and more than with the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, the world and say, 'In the name of The outgoing president of the North group's president since 1995. "If we million members. 80 people met on July 28. and 1want to do that together." Jesus, rise up and walk?' The opportu- Carolina Baptist State Convention choose to fight, everyone notices. We The two sides disagree on how to "I believe a joint, cooperative effort The convention runs through nity of this convention is the lame stressed unity and spiritual renewal in are drawing attention to the wrong get their message out Theological con- is the best," Mathis said. "I believe in Wednesday. About 6,000 messengers, humanity that awaits us," Mathis said. a speech on the first night of the things." servatives believe in a more literal the last few months there has been or delegates, will elect a new president, "Let us give the state something to group's annual meeting. view of the scripture, while moderates more of that. As one minister observed, first vice president and second vice look at, and let us give to each other "I wonder if we've been •••fighting Mathis spoke at Lawrence Joel Vet- say the Bible is subject to more inter- 'I am not sure if our heads are closer, president. something with which we can live." against one another and what God erans Memorial Coliseum during the pretation. but our hearts are. ' But Mathis said the group also wants us to do in leading a spiritual opening session of the 167th annual This summer, 10 conservatives and "I will tell you again what I said at needs to work on its image this week. The Rev. Mac Brunson of High awakening in North Carolina;" said the meeting of the N.C. Baptist State Con- 10 moderates met at Mathis' urging to last year's convention. I am tired of the "The real question facing us tonight Point, a conservative, and the Rev. Jack Rev. Greg Mathis of Hendersonville, vention, the state's largest religious start ironing out their differences. After fighting, the negative spirit and the is, do we have enough cooperation, Causey of Statesville, a moderate, are w osesuccesso-rls to be elected today. organization with more than 3,600 two other meetings, the "Committee divis~onamon~ us. It is time we get on compassion and courage go out to running to succeed Mathis. "When I get to Heaven, I don't want to look back and see what might have happened if we had put our differences aside." Mathis, a conservative, said Mon- day night that the well-documented rifts between Baptist conservatives and moderates have drawn more attention than the group's accomplishments. "It's a shame that we would get more attention for these kinds of things than we get for our message and our ministries we carry out as North Car- WINSTON-SALEM Head of N.C. Baptists stresses harmony The departing president of the . North Carolina Southern Baptists stressed unity and harmony in a speech on the first night of the group's annual meeting. The Rev. Greg Mathis, a conserva- tiVe,sau1the wetl-docmnented rifts between Baptist conservatives and moderates have drawn more atten- tion than the group's accomplishments. "It's a shame that we would get more attention for these kinds of things than we get for our message and our ministries we carry out as North Carolina Baptists," said Mathis, the group's president since 1995. "If we choose to fight, everyone notices. Weare drawing attention to the wrong things." The convention runs through Wednesday. About 6,000messengers, or delegates, will elect a new presi- dent, first vice president and second vice president. ~ CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 TEL (919) 1133-2079 --. QItIIID.. - ...... NOV 1297 tJ.9/ B~ptists, 'again' elect consel1'ative p~~Sldent Messengers cinhe Baptist State Convention choose the Rev.Mac Brunson of High Point, heightening fears . among moderate members. By YONAT SHIMRON STAFF WRITER WINSTON.SALEM - Conservatives. consolidated their hold on the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina on Thesday by electing one of their own as president for the third year in a row. . The Rev. Mac Brunson, pastor of Green Street Baptist Church in High Point, rec.e!ved 53 percent of the ballots cast :::a::~~~~;l~; lenger. The -convention' also elected a conservative as first vice president, but elected a mod- erate - by a narrow margin The Rev. Mac, _ to the sec- Brunson-won ,;. ond vice presi- 5Y percent of dent's post. the ballots ccist~ Brunson's Victory deep- ened fears among moderates that they will eventuaIly be marginalized in a convention they once dominat- ed. But in an interview immediate- . ly following the vote, Brunson pledged to be fair and inclusive _ following in the tradition of his pre- decessor, the Rev. Greg Mathi§"of Hendersonville. • "People are saying, 'We want a balance,''' said Brunson, a jocular 40-year-old preacher who pledges to reach out to younger congrs- gants. "They said 'a,conservative president worked well in the last two years. We want to give it anoth- er shot." • ' . .r With nearly 1'.:1 million members in 3,638 churches, the Baptist State 1,,"11 r fI ',1: , SEE BAPTISTS, PAGE 16A I, t " THENEWS&OO:Rvrn 16A FROM PAGE ONE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1997 there's a real willingness for cooper- State conventions are now fighting BAPTISTS ation." the same battle. The VIrginia Baptist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A Conservatives said the only way Convention split in two, and Texas has they could guarantee a measure of taken steps to disengage from the power was to hold on to the presi- Convention is North Carolina's Southern Baptist Convention. dency. The General Board, a 120- largest denomination. Although the The inerrancy of the Bible was still member governing arm of the con- president's role is largely ceremoni- an issue in Tuesday's vote at the vention, conservatives insist, is al, it influences appointments to key Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial dominated by moderates. Coliseum. committees within the denomination, "The moderates were very careful Conservative messengers said it as well as the appointment of trustees to put other moderates in charge," to the convention's five colleges, was important to them that the pres- said Joe Lennon, a conservative del- ident of the denomination believe the retirement homes, hospital and week- egate, or messenger, from Faith ly newspaper. Bible is literally true. Baptist Church in Wake Forest. "The rock from which we're hewn Last year, Meredith College in "That's the way they ran it It was a Raleigh broke off from the state con- is the Bible," said Clarence Johnson, real blow to them when Greg Mathis a messenger from Hickory Grove vention and decided to elect its own was elected. They haven't quite got- trustees, mostly to protect its acade- Baptist Church in Charlotte, one of ten over it. This will nail it down the convention's largest. "If I can't mic freedom from the political tur- today." moil within the convention. trust the Bible to tell me the truth, In winning the convention presi- how in the world can Ibelieve in my ~au;r, pastor of Mud Creek Baptist dency, Brunson outpolled his moder- own salvation? To me, it's all or noth- CH rc ill Hendersonville, was wide- ate challenger, the Rev. Jack Causey ing. It's either real or it's not We want lycredited with bringing dueling mod- of Statesville, 2,624 to 2,296votes. The erates and conservatives together to someone to preach the word of God." Rev. Michael Cummings ofPembroke, negotiate a truce to their power strug- But Brunson, who pastors a 3,300- a conservative, won as first vice pres- gle. The camps were able to agree member church, and has declared his two The Rev. Mac Brunson of High ident by a 2,133to 1,950vote. The Rev. on recommending a new executive belief in the literal truth of the Bible, Point vows to be fair and David Crocker of Fayetteville, a mod- director treasurer to oversee the con- said the denomination's most press- inclusive as he begins his term erate, won the second vice president vention's $31 million budget and its ing concern was reaching what he as president. slot by a 2,051 to 2,018 vote. everyday affairs. That position will be called "Generation X" - many of Baptists in the state convention say held by the Rev. James Royston - of whom are alienated by denomina- Church of Raleigh, said talk of fair- there were never any distinctions Colonial HeigJifS BaptIst Church in tional politics. . ness was only a strategy. In the end, between the moderates and the con- Kingsport, Tenn. - who was elected "We need to focus on new, fresh, cre- conservatives sent out a letter rally- servatives until 1979. That year, nearly unanimously Tuesday night. ative, cutting edge kind of ministries," ing supporters while moderates, for staunch conservatives won control of Beneath the veneer of peace and Brunson said. "That's what people the most part, didn't mount a serious the national body, the Southern cooperation, many Baptists said the want us to do. We need to get the focus campaign. Baptist Convention, and insisted that divisions between the two groups run off ourselves. We've got to refocus our "They're after North Carolina," said the Bible was the literal word of God. An usher collects ballots at the Baptist State Convention deep and the distrust even deeper. energies on reaching young people." Harper, spealdng of the conservatives. Moderates eventually fell away and of North Carolina in Winston-Salem. Moderates, such as the Rev. Larry "With the machinery they put in place stopped attending denomination Yona' Shlmron can be reached STAFF PHOTOS BY GARY AlLEN Harper, pastor of Forest Hills Baptist for this election I don't know that meetings. at 829-4891 Of [email protected] CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH. NC 27603 TEL (919) 833-2079 6rQ DAILY RECORD DUNN, N.C. f lJy1l~ ,\I\.I1~lll FEB 20 98 e~ntralBaptist Revival Starts Sundai' Central Baptist Church, church's average attendance is located on U.S. 421 south of over 2000. His ministry has lit- Dunn in Plain View will lead a erally touched the lives of revival meeting beginning, thousands. Old and young alike Sunday st 6:30 p.m. have been inspired by his pow- pastor~_Mathis from the erful messages. . Mud Creek Baptist""'ehurch in T-he Hayes Family from Hendersonville will preach in Boone will be guests at Central the services. Meetings will De Baptist Church on Sunday at also be held 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday and They will sing at 10 a.m. for Thesday at 7 the entire Sunday school hour. p.m. More than concert artists, p'asto,r The Hayes Family leads con- Mathis gregations to worship the served as the Lord. Their close, smooth har- president of mony coupled with their gen- the North uine, heartfelt music is openly Carolina received by all ages. Baptist State The pastor is Tom Wagoner. Convention. Rev. Mathis If you would like more infor- He has pas- mation about this revival To Play At Central Baptist - The Hayes Family of Boone will tored in Hendersonville for meeting, contact the church be featured in the Sunday morning and evening services at Cen- '-..._Elorethan 19 years and the office at 892-7914. tral Baptist in Dunn. I { Wilkes native will 9--q\ be crusade speaker Wilkes County native Greg T. Baptist Bible Institute in Mathis will be featured speaker Hendersonville since 1981. at the Greater Northwestern Area He preaches in revivals, Bible Crusade at the John A. Walker conferences and seminars Community Center in Wilkesboro throughout the Baptist Aug. 16-20. Convention. Mathis and his wife, Mathis is past president of the Mount Airy native Deborah Hiatt North Carolina Baptist State Mathis, have one daughter and Convention and remains on the two sons. executive committee of the gener- The Greater Northwestern Area al board of the convention. He Crusade is supported by church- has held numerous other posi- es of the Brushy Mountain tions in the convention. Baptist Association. It begins at He has been pastor at Mud 7 p.m. each day. Creek Baptist Church in Special music will be provided Hendersonville since 1980, a each night by the Associational church with a membership of Choir. A nursery will be provided. THE REV. GREG T. MATHIS about 2,000 people. Mathis has "Reaching A Harvest Of Souls For taught evangelism at Fruitland Christ" is the theme. For more information, call 838-4407. aO RNAL 01 tORTH WILKESBORO. ~ b:~T~j) .., -e-, ~9T Greater Northwestern reviv .. ' Aug. 16-20 at Walker Center ~WilkesCounty native, the Rev. tions in the convention. Hiatt Mathis, have one daughter q_regT. Mathis will be featured He has been pastor of Mud and two sons. speaker at the Greater Creek JiaPi:lst Church in The Greater Northwestern Northwestern Area Crusade at Hendersonville since 1980, a Area Crusade is supported by the John A. Walker Community church with a membership of churches of the Brushy Center in Wilkesboro Aug. 16- about 2,000 people. Mathis has Mountain Baptist Association. 29. taught evangelism at Fruitland It begins at 7 p.m. each night. • Baptist Bible Institute in Special music will be provided : Mathis is Prfii;tpresident of the Hendersonville since 1981. each night by the Associational North Caro ina Baptist State He preaches in revivals, Bible Choir. A nursery will be pro- q~_ntion and remains on the conferences and, seminars vided. "Reaching A Harvest Of executive committee of the gen- throughout the Baptist Souls For Christ" is the theme. eral board of the convention. He Convention. Mathis and his wife, For more information, call 838- 4407