There is a modern idea today in many people’s minds that church is supposed to ‘offer’ something to them. “What’s in it for me & my family? What programs do you have for my kids?” etc… & we disagree with this idea entirely. Church should be about learning more from the Bible, growing disciples, & finding what YOU can do for God!
Here at Mt. Nebo, you should never have to ask yourself, “What can I do for God here?” There are plenty of opportunities to serve at the church level.
Here are just some of the ways you can serve alongside others at our church:
Crisis Center Collection
Every Sunday, food donations are collected in the main church building. Once a month, these items are loaded up and taken to the local Christian Crisis Center in Taylorsville, NC where they provide services to the whole county. We especially like to keep them stocked as much as we can with cereal, as that is a big item that is needed. These items are taken to the Crisis Center once a month.
Hiddenite Food Pantry Assistance
Several times a month, we have sign-up slots for assisting with our closest food assistance program in proximity to the church – the Hiddenite Helpers Food Pantry. They always need help lifting, sorting, & packing and we are happy to help! Our members usually go in small teams & always have fun serving in this way.
Bluegrass Circles
We host local bluegrass circles a few times a year as a ministry extension. If you are not familiar with what this is, it is a circle of various musicians that gather together to play gospel music. Whether you are world class, already fluent in an instrument, or just learning, there is always an opportunity to hear & learn something new. We don’t just play hymns either – sometimes we play other gospel tunes! We’ve had double basses, pianos, dulcimers, violins, mandolins, banjos, guitars, and even an autoharp once or twice! Any and all instruments & ALL skill levels are welcome.
Vacation Bible School
VBS has been a gamechanger in our service as a church to our community. Each year, the first week that both Iredell and Alexander counties are out of school for the summer, we have our bible school. We have ranged anywhere from 250 – 400 for attendance over the years. We provide truth-filled bible lessons, fun crafts, full meals, & lasting memories for all ages. We have classes starting at infants all the way up to seniors, so please bring the whole family! There is ALWAYS a BIG opportunity to serve at our VBS each year. We need cleanup crews, craft helpers, mascot assistance, traffic directors, security, kitchen help, teachers, & more!
Blessing Meals Catering Ministry
Led by Tina Wilson, this is a catering team we have that prepares meals & delivers them to households within our church that may be in need of some extra encouragement. This team also feeds bereaved families following funeral services, & feeds our church during VBS & movie night events; as well as helps prepare & serve for homecoming, etc. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts come in the form of a pie pan & a smile!
The Choir / Solo Singing / Playing Instruments
We don’t care if you are a professional singer or not – If you have a heart to sing for the Lord, we want you to do it! Joining the choir is a good way to start. Anyone is also free to sing solos, play instruments, etc. We strongly encourage anyone to develop their gifts in these areas & be willing to use their talents to the glory of God. No matter your skill level, there are no judgements. We do not care if a song is old, new, contemporary, or what it is – as long as it speaks truth & glorifies the Lord, sing it! We feel man-made preferences shouldn’t matter.
Youth
Many years ago, our church went through a baby boom when we had over 100 children from birth to age 18. The need was high for more focus there; so over the years, we added both a youth pastor position, and Nebo Nights for our Pre-K to High Schoolers.
Nebo (K)Nights is a youth focused evening service that operates much like a mini bible school, and it happens twice a month starting in September & ending in March. While the parents attend the normal evening services, their kids have Nebo Nights in other areas of the building, so everyone gets what they need! Our youth have been going to Camp Caswell for a short retreat every summer for a few years now. They take trips to local concerts, & work on specialized missions, hold an annual Praise at the Pond, etc.
When the church saw the need for a youth pastor, unknown to us at the time, God already had that arranged. Behind the scenes, God was calling a man, a long-time member of the church, to preach. After surrendering to the call of God on his life, well… you can figure out the rest! Once ordained, Rev. Derek Stevenson (pictured at bottom) became our youth pastor. Derek is a perfect fit for his position & is dedicated to ministering to this age group & definitely has the energy to keep up with these kids.
Sisterhood Visitation
The Sisterhood is a monthly meeting of women in the church who get together to go visit the elderly, or those just down on their luck. They carpool to several homes & have a good time to bring encouragement & a word of prayer. They always have a lot of laughs & great conversation.
Mens Visitation
There is always something to do at Mt. Nebo! One of the most encouraging things we do is our visitation groups. A team of men meet with the Pastor and also visit homes once a month! We believe in having strong fellowship groups, as they help ‘iron sharpen iron,’ over time – and this is a great way to build that.
Lemonade Ladies
You know how they say, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?” Well, none of us ever really feel like doing that. It’s hard to make ‘lemonade’ out of something so sour in our lives sometimes…
But when Hilda Johnson of Statesville became a widow after caring for her husband James for over 20 years, she decided to do just that. She felt led to start a widows encouragement group that meets monthly at our church. It currently has 80 enrolled & 60 regularly attend the meeting each month. There is food, prizes, entertainment, & most importantly – encouragement!
Even though God caused Mary and Martha to grieve by taking the life of Lazarus, Jesus’ power was displayed through that loss, and sometimes, that’s why things happen to us in our lives. If you need help finding joy in your new normal, come participate in the meeting. It’s for any widow, young or old. They meet on the 3rd Monday of every month at 11 AM in our fellowship hall. There are also many opportunities to serve at this meeting, as they are always looking for singers, servers, & more!
Israel Tours
Ever dream of seeing the Holy Land for yourself, but not sure how to even get started? Our Pastor has been to Israel 6 times since 2007, & since then, has taken several groups back & helped take the complicated & overwhelming planning out of it. Walk literally in the footsteps of Jesus, picture the Bible like never before, & meet other believers from all over the world in a like-minded group as we embark on incredible journeys through our faith together.
“That trip changed my faith entirely. I haven’t been the same Christian since. My faith is more real than ever now, & when I read the Bible, I see the places in my mind from my own perspective. I had no idea a trip like that would produce a change that was that profound in my heart, but it did. I know faith comes by hearing & not by seeing, but it just made a change in me that I cannot explain. It was one of the most life-changing things I have ever done, & it was worth every single penny I paid.”
Operation Christmas Child
Not only do we participate in putting together shoebox gifts for this ministry, but every year we have 2 bus groups go to the packing center in Charlotte, NC to help with the busy process of inspecting & packing shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse! We spend 5-6 hours on our shifts & we love every minute of it, & there is debate over whether who gets blessed more by participating in this task – the recipients afar off, or us! It is amazing to see the thoughtfulness that goes into this process & the LEVEL OF CARE.
Christmas Play
Each year we hold a Christmas program of some type on the 2nd Sunday night in December. These range year-to-year from cantatas and simple nativity scenes, to more complex plays with dialogue. We frequently encourage our youth to use their talents for the Lord’s service, no matter how far into the development of the talent they are. Our plays serve as a sweet reminder of the goodness of God on our church & of course, the true reason for the season.
Christmas Caroling
For 34 years, we have Christmas Caroled to our shut-ins, elderly, & those that may just have had a difficult year due to loss, crisis, or medical issues. We load up in a small bus & other vehicles & carpool between Alexander & Iredell counties to visit those in the church. We have braved bitter cold, rain, & even snow to bring this extra element of cheer to those that need it. We have also visited local nursing facilities in years past. Many tears & smiles have been shared & its one of our most treasured things we do together as a church.
Old Fashioned Day
Every 4 years or so, the church hosts an ‘old fashioned day’ for our homecoming – a day at church when everyone does their best to dress in period clothing from many years ago. The goal is 1907 attire; however, because we realize how difficult this can be to replicate in today’s time (& expensive!), we allow for other past eras also. Many women dress in bonnetts, very full skirts, & aprons; and many of the men dress in long suit coats & hats – some even wearing overalls. We have a potluck meal after service & sometimes even bluegrass music. It’s a fun time of fellowship together & the pictures are always both precious & amusing.
Taylorsville Baptist Campmeeting
Every year for 2 weeks during the summer, we move our Wednesday night services to the local Taylorsville Baptist Campmeeting. All that’s missing from this campmeeting is the tent! The floors are shavings & the bathrooms are outdoor buildings, giving more of that old-time church feel. Despite the fact that this is a Baptist meeting, all kinds of denominations attend. Whether you sit quietly in your seat, or shout it from the rooftops, everyone is invited to come & worship freely – and that they do!
Marriage Retreat
In early spring, we go on a marriage retreat to Pigeon Forge, TN. We stay in a very large cabin, have food, & have daily discussions led by the pastor. Topics from previous years have been: Going through things together — The Seasons of Marriage — Compatibility challenges, commitment, contentment, children, etc — Starting, Sustaining, & Staying Together — Preparing for your Future – dealing with older teens, parents health declining, wills, retirement, etc — Time Management — Cellphones – the good & the bad — Concerns in our Christianity, etc!
Fall Festival
Our annual fall festival is always a fun time of fellowship with fellow believers. We have food, bouncy houses, a hay ride, bonfire, games, & a cake-walk that always becomes intense.
Movie Nights
Once a month on a Wednesday night, we have a ‘movie night’ with a meal, when we all gather to watch a bible-based film, have prayer, & sometimes a brief discussion of the film (accuracies vs inaccuracies, subject matter discussion, etc). We are currently going through all the seasons of The Chosen. In the past we have watched Israel fly-overs, participated in an Andy Griffith Bible study, watched The Encounter, The Bible, Jesus of Nazareth, & more. There are many GOOD Christian media sources out there that deserve a watch.
Communion
At Mt. Nebo, we observe communion 3 times a year. Our communions are open to anyone who is born again, whether they are a member of our church or not.
We make Communion around Christmastime even more special with live Christmas music by candlelight. For many, this is a very special service. The candlelight sets a good tone for deep thought as we recognize that in order for Christ to have been born to the world, we had to first have fallen into sin; but in spite of that, gained for us so great a Redeemer.
Baptism
We do what Baptist’s do best any time there is a chance – Baptism by immersion. If you have been saved (born-again), & have never been baptised, whether you are young or old – we encourage you to follow the footsteps of Jesus & have your inner faith become outwardly shown!
Abroad Mission Support
- Kids Alive International – Support children’s orphanages around the world
- Danny & Ruby Reeves – Missionaries to Mexico
- Tri-City Children’s Home (TN)
- Steve & Ruby Revis – Missionaries to Haiti
- George Bandana – Missionary in India
- Bible.is – A phone app that has the bible translated into over 600 languages, audio bible, etc.
- Gideons International – Making bibles accessible all across the globe
- Mike & Kelly Sutphin – Providing itinerant missionary services to the Pacific Northwest
- Sean & Krissy Heath – Missionaries to Peru
- KLove (94.1 FM)
- Joy FM (88.1 FM)
- The Light (106.9 FM) WMIT Black Mountain
- Samaritan’s Purse
Mission Trips
Our church has taken several trips to Lander, Wyoming to do construction & finishing work on a missionary house there & help provide services for the tribal communities there. Any time there is an opportunity for our members to go serve, we will consider it. 🙂
Sunday School
We encourage you to witness the difference that Sunday School can make as far as expanding your knowledge about the Bible. We believe Sunday School is a great place to be be spiritually strengthened. Every Sunday, people of all ages gather to explore God’s Word in a welcoming, and very interactive environment. Have a question? Ask it. There are no judgements. Have some input or thoughts about a topic? Go for it! Whether you’re just beginning your faith journey or you’ve been walking with Christ for years, Sunday School helps you go deeper.
We have classes for ALL ages. YES – ALL!
