Preacher David's Corner

“Overcoming Helene Disaster” 

All things work together for good: WE are preparing for the 139th Annual Meeting of the Ashe Baptist Association. In the cool Blue Ridge Mountain Air of Ashe County, North Carolina, the steeples of 44 churches stand as steadfast reminders of faith, endurance and community. As the calendar turned toward August, the Ashe Baptist Association prepares once more to gather for one of it’s longest running traditions, the Annual Meeting. This year marks the 139th session, a testament to generations of prayer, perseverance and purpose. 

This year something felt different. Just months earlier, the region had been rocked by the Helene Disaster, a storm that tore through the mountains with unexpected fury. Trees were uprooted, homes flooded, churches damaged and roads washed away. Among the wreckage were not only buildings but hearts—shaken, tested, and grieving. Yet from the very beginning, the Association’s leaders held fast to a promise found in Romans 8:28:“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 

As August 15th and 16th approaches, preparations begin with a new kind of urgency. The theme, “Overcoming Helene Disaster", is more than a title; it is a shared testimony. Association Mission Strategist David Blackburn, committees of the Association and many individuals are planning meetings filled with prayer and quiet resolve. Host churches, Beaver Creek Baptist Church on Friday afternoon and Orion Baptist Church on Saturday morning, go to work organizing meals and music. They also allow time for attendees to tell their stories, offer comfort and praise God for what He is still doing in their midst. 

From the valley of West Jefferson to the mountains of Crumpler, choir’s hymns of hope can be heard. Preachers are preparing messages rooted in healing and restoration. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina have confirmed their representatives ready to share updates from their agencies and remind the people of Ashe County that they are not forgotten. 

On August 15, the host churches Beaver Creek Baptist and Orion Baptist Church will open their doors wide for messengers and visitors alike. The sanctuary will be filled with prayers, coupled with the sound of old gospel melodies and new songs of praise as the scent of home-cooked meals begin to fill the church as members and friends wait in fellowship halls to serve the people. Friends meet with hugs and stories. The preaching will be powerful and words will stir the soul and point hearts to a God who works even in the storm’s wake. There will be tears, especially during the moments when stories of loss gives way to testimonies of God’s provision. There will be laughter and joy as well, as folks sing and elders testify that the Church, though tested, stands stronger than ever.

The 139th Annual Meeting will become more than an event. It will be a celebration of survival, a declaration of purpose, and a living example of Romans 8:28. Through Helene’s disaster, the churches of Ashe have not only endured, they have overcome. Together in song, prayers, sermons, and shared meals, churches remind one another of this enduring truth: God’s purpose always prevails and He is still working all things for good. Be praying and come to the Annual Meeting!

Your Servant, David