Pastor Dr. Tim Elmore
Dr. Tim Elmore assumed the pastorate at Central Baptist Church on April 1, 2011. He was raised in upper Cleveland County and earned his B.A. degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 1979, his M.B.A. degree from Queens University in 1994, his Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University in 2004 and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Gardner-Webb University in 2009.
Tim responded to God's call to full-time ministry after a twenty year career at Duke Energy in Charlotte. He served as pastor of two churches in Cleveland County before coming to Central.
Tim and his wife, Susan, were married in 1983. Susan is a retired educator.
Tim's favorite Favorite scripture passage is 1 John 4:10:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (NIV).
Pastor's Message for MAY, 2012
Quesions we church people often ask each other:
- How many do you have on Sunday morning?
- How's your giving?
- How big is your worship center?
We measure these because they are easy to measure and because our world considers it important to attract large numbers of people, have lots of money, and build big buildings. Although we need people, money, and buildings – is there something more important we need to be focused on?
In 2 Cor. 3:18 Paul writes, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." "Being transformed" is alarming, for it means "radical change." So what Paul is saying is that for believers in Jesus Christ, we are being radically changed! It is human nature to struggle with change, to resist change. Yet Paul clearly asserts the expectation for us. But Paul was not the first to emphasize change. In Matt 4:17 Jesus asserts, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is near." Repent is to change – one's direction, focus, and priorities. Repenting, in fact, consists of a radical change – from loving oneself to loving God with all of one's heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving one's neighbor and one's enemy; from loving sin to hating sin; from seeking the ways of the world to seeking the ways of God.
Paul's writing in 2 Cor. 3:18 is simply an extension of Jesus' preaching – that we are to be in a constant state of changing to be more like Jesus – to love like Jesus, to be concerned about others like Jesus, to be willing to deny ourselves and sacrifice ourselves like Jesus.
In the book, Transformational Church, the authors assert "Transformational Churches make disciples whose lives are transformed by the gospel, so that the culture around them is ultimately being transformed. Transformational Churches are deeply committed to the essential foundation of discipleship: worship, community, and mission. They practice and make disciples through vibrant leadership, prayer dependence, and relational intentionality – in their context with a missionary mindset. Simply put, Transformational Churches know, understand, and are deeply in love with their cities, communities, and people."
We, the congregation of Central Baptist Church, need people, money, and buildings. But most importantly, we need to be a place of transformation – facilitating our metamorphosis to be more and more like Christ and taking the transforming message of Christ into our community and our world. Please be in prayer as we seek God's will and direction on this exciting adventure to ensure we are a transformational church.
- Grace and peace, tim