January 2025

We are so excited about the new year and new opportunities we have to share the love and hope we have in Jesus. This is the heartbeat of the South Yadkin Baptist Association -- to serve and equip our churches to fulfill the Great Commission. 

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

We serve and equip our churches by:

Partnering in prayer. We have monthly pastor prayer gatherings in both Iredell and Davie counties. Pastors, come and be part of these groups and pray for and get to know your fellow pastors. I pray for each one of our pastors and churches; If you have a specific prayer request, please reach out to me.

Encouraging our pastors. I would love to take you pastors out to eat, have coffee, or just meet with you. I am here to be a resource and encouragement for you. We will be offering a pastor's training soon and have quarterly pastor's lunches scheduled where we learn, eat, and fellowship. In March, Paul Langston will be sharing with us about NC Baptist on Mission. A private SYBA Pastor's Facebook page is available, where pastors can share ideas, information, and advice with one another. Pastors, please reach out to me if you would like to be a part of this.

Do more together. We have opportunities to work together at the Iredell County fair workers ministry, the Appalachian backpack partnership, the food pantry, and Toys for Jesus. Please reach out to Jaime Tang, Ministry Coordinator jtang@sybaptist.org if you would like to find out more about becoming involved in any of these ministries. We are on mission together!

Help fulfill ministry needs. We are here to help churches who are facing the difficult challenge of finding a new pastor. We have a video series that can be accessed from our website under the resources tab that can help your church through this process. I am also available to meet personally with your pastor search teams. I have a list of qualified preachers to help you fill your pulpits for vacations, sicknesses, or any other reason. Please reach out to me if I can serve you.

The SYBA can share job openings on our website and in our newsletter. The SYBA office building is also available for churches to use for a staff retreat or if you want to do an off-site interview with a ministry candidate.

Mobilize churches to share the love of Jesus. We can run demographic reports to help you better understand your communities or meet with you to help with outreach ideas. One of my goals is to mobilize some of our stronger churches to help revitalize some of our struggling churches. If you would like to be a part of this or learn more about some opportunities, please contact me.

These are exciting times in God's Kingdom and at the South Yadkin Baptist Association. I look forward to seeing how God will move in the upcoming year and years to come.

If you would like someone to come to your church and share about the SYBA please reach out to Jaime Tang, Ministry Coordinator jtang@sybaptist.org or myself, Noel Williamson, Executive Director nwilliamson@sybaptist.org

If your church has an upcoming event to share, please reach out to Shelley Williamson, Financial/Administrative Assistant swilliamson@sybaptist.org

We are on Mission Together!

Noel Williamson, Executive Director

Thank you so much for your continued support of the Toys for Jesus ministry. We had another successful year with 15 salvations and 8 rededications! We are so thankful for all that you do to "pray, give, and go" for this ministry.

Since 1994, Toys for Jesus has served 46,864 children and more than 3,349 have made a decision to follow Jesus or rededicate their lives to Him.

Here are the final numbers for 2024:

"Souper" Bowl

of Giving 2025

If your church would like to participate in the "Souper" Bowl of Giving and would like to donate soup, ramen noodle packages, crackers, or other items such as canned meat, pasta and sauce/alfredo, condiments, cereal and breakfast items, baking items and packaged cookies, canned fruit, beans, and vegetables or hygiene items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, please contact Jaime at jtang@sybaptist.org to arrange a time to deliver the "souper" donation. Or better yet, stop by the Food Pantry Tuesday afternoons or Thursday mornings to see the ministry in action! Financial gifts always welcome and tax deductible.

Complete your church's Annual Church Profile (ACP) by Jan. 31 for a chance to win a gift!

Complete your church’s ACP by Jan. 31, 2025, to be entered into a drawing for a free weekend stay at Fort Caswell for your pastor. Simply click the button below to take the quick and easy church survey online! Your response helps track ministry data across our state.

Please note:

The submitted data reflects the 2024 ACP

reporting period from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.

The NC Baptist Convention is excited to offer church leaders access to RightNow Media — the world’s largest streaming library of Bible studies and discipleship content. In partnership with RightNow Media, NC Baptist church leaders can now access this amazing resource at no cost for personal use or for use with your family. 

This complimentary gift is also available to all staff members at your church. To enable access for additional church staff members, please reach out to Graham Smith at RightNow Media by emailing graham@rightnowmedia.org or calling (972) 560-4381.

Additionally, NC Baptist churches now qualify for a significantly discounted church-wide subscription. 

Job Openings in the SYBA

Trinity Baptist Church of Mooresville, NC is seeking a Youth Director to provide spiritual leadership and direction for the youth (typically ages 12-18), helping them grow in their relationship with Christ. This role includes teaching biblical truth, fostering a safe and welcoming environment, and creating opportunities for discipleship, outreach, and service in line with the beliefs of the Southern Baptist Convention as outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, and the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. This position requires a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and occasional overnight events such as camps, retreats, and or mission trips. The Youth Pastor is expected to maintain a visible presence in the church and community. Submit resumes to office@trinitybaptist.com

South River Baptist Church is searching for a full-time Worship Pastor. The Worship Pastor is responsible for leading members of all generations to be authentic and passionate worshippers of God. He must possess a passion for sharing Jesus Christ through music and the ability to plan/coordinate/lead choir, church musicians, technical crews and the congregation in a blended worship style that connects all ages and backgrounds. The worship pastor works with a full choir, praise teams, several quartets, and gifted instrumentalists. Interested men can send their resumes to chris@southriverbaptist.com or call 704-876-1520 for more information.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the standard mileage rates will be 70 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from 2024.

South Yadkin Baptist Association

Noel Williamson, Executive Director nwilliamson@sybaptist.org (704) 873-4372 x2

Jaime Tang, Ministry Coordinator jtang@sybaptist.org (704) 873-4372 x3

Shelley Williamson, Admin Assistant swilliamson@sybaptist.org (704) 873-4372 x5

Office address: 3009 Amity Hill Rd, Statesville, NC

Mailing address: PO Box 5249, Statesville, NC 28687

(704) 873-4372  www.sybaptist.org