It was arranged for them to meet at the Sandhills Baptist Association Center in Carthage for worship, training, prayer meeting, youth meetings. They met here for over a year until a place was secured with Educare, Pinehurst.

Ives Memorial Baptist Church of Pinebluff, NC, agreed to become the "mother church," the sponsoring church to help the mission in her development toward organizing into a church. Members from the mother church and the mission, the two congregations' missions committees, met quarterly for progress reports and to discuss the ministry and development of the mission. Rev. Don Ballenger, pastor, Ives Mem. church and his committee were a big help and encouragement.

The association provided the facility and some resources and helped the mission apply for pastoral care support from the Baptist State Convention. The plan was for support for 3 years, decreasing by a third of the financial support each year. The plan was based on the premise that the mission would be strong enough to provide support for the pastor after 3 years. The Baptist Sunday School Board (Lifeway Resources, Inc.) gave hymnals and literature for the first quarter.

Demographics were provided for possible locations in areas in Moore County. There were four possible areas. The area in the Gun Club section of Pinehurst was selected by the mission.

The mission was encouraged to develop Bible studies in two, three, or four locations and to bring these groups together in one central place for worship, discipleship, and fellowship, and to sponsor some seminars and to do some other ministry events for the larger community. A plan of evangelism, missions, training, and worship was discussed for the mission.

The mission is to be commended in that it contributed systematically and generously to cooperative ministries through the Baptist State Convention and the association, sponsored events for the youth, conducted mission projects.

Here are events listed in progress reports to the association:

Pastor provided counseling; conducted Vacation Bible School, started a men's group; Ray Bolb concert; started Wed. night suppers; men sponsored valentine banquet; conducted new evangelism study; helped one person with study on anger; Backyard Bible club; youth events; large group went to Ft. Caswell for week; participated in Promise Keepers project; skating party for youth; taught Winter Bible study (SBC annual Bible study during Winter season); prepared a brochure on the 5 purposes of the church for use in distribution; prepared a tentative draft for a constitution; participated in the home and foreign mission prayer emphases and offerings to support the mission work; marriage enrichment seminar; some youth go on mission trip to Brazil; a benevolence offering of $515 was received for a needy family; youth go to the youth day at Carowinds Super Summer sponsored by the state convention; mission trip to Florida to help with relief project 1996); youth carolling in Gun Club area, 1996; 1996 Lottie Moon offering, $562; Pastor, "full-time," Dec. 1995; North Korea Hunger Fund, gave food, through BSC, 1996; plans for a women's group; plans for an Easter Sunrise, 1996; first women's group, 1996; Annie armstrong offering for Home Missions, $590, in 1996; homecoming, May, 1996, with 44 persons in worship; camping trip to mountains, 1996.

Plans have been discussed about a vision for purchase of several acres of land for a future new church home. The association and state convention are available to assist in helping with the completion of a constitution & by-laws, the organization into a church, information on some possible buildings, and there may be some builders groups who could assist in the construciton of a first unit building when the congregation is ready to build.