MISSIONS

    A major strength of Lakeside Church is its commitment to missions in our local community and the involvement of many of our members in numerous service activities.

    In light of the recent changes in the Southern Baptist Convention, the church voted years ago to no longer send our mission money to that organization.  On December 31, 2000, Lakeside voted to withdraw from the SBC, and in 2006, we voted to withdraw from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the North Roanoke Baptist Association.  For the past several years we have supported world missions through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists.  In addition, we send funds for theological education to the Baptist Seminary at Richmond, Campbell University Divinity School, Wake Forest University Divinity School, and to the Baptist House at Duke Divinity School.  We also support various Baptist and ecumenical missions agencies across North Carolina.

    Community outreach has been considered synonymous with Lakeside Church over the years.  The church has been a leader in the ecumenical community both in innovative outreach efforts and in support of existing organizations.

Meals on Wheels is a community ministry that serves over 100 meals daily.  For many years meals were distributed from our kitchen.  Currently they are distributed from First Presbyterian Church.  Lakeside provides office space and utilities for the Director and Associate Director of Meals on Wheels.

Habitat for Humanity was begun in Rocky Mount in 1990 through Lakeside impetus and in 1996 we became the first church in eastern North Carolina to underwrite the total cost of a Habitat house.  The $35,000 cost was paid through budgeted funds and designated gifts.  The church built a second in 2005 in partnership with West Haven and First Presbyterian Churches.

Gatekeepers Workcamp, our summer youth program to rehabilitate homes owned by elderly citizens, was instituted by Lakeside in 1992.  Although now an ecumenical summer program, it continues to be a Lakeside-directed ministry.

Crisis Ministry Center was formed in the 1980s to assist persons in time of financial emergency.  Lakeside was one of the founding churches for CMC and provided positive direction through members serving on its board of directors.   The Crisis Center was later merged with the Soup Kitchen and Shelter for the Homeless into the United Community Ministries.  We participated in the Interfaith Hospitality Network and supported the renovation of a former school building to establish the Bassett Center, a resource and housing unit for families.  Currently, we participate with a coalition of churches in the FIGS program (Filling In the GapS) to assist local families with emergency needs. Lakeside contributes over $20,000 annually to these ministries.

 Baptist Women: Lakeside has five Baptist Women’s groups which meet monthly for mission study and community mission activity.

Shared Facilities: Lakeside makes its facilities available to various non-profit groups who use our buildings for their meetings: Meals on Wheels, West Haven Community meetings, the Department of Social Services Foster Care program, American Cancer Society seminars, Communities in Schools meetings, Community Christmas Chorus rehearsals, local service organizations, and Suzuki violin lessons.

CareNet Counseling East of Rocky Mount is an interdenominational pastoral counseling ministry partnership that provides counseling services to individuals and families.  It is affiliated with CareNet Counseling of Greenville and is part of the larger CareNet Counseling Service operated by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.  A counseling office is located on the second floor of our administrative building.

State Recognition: In 1994 the North Carolina Human Relations Commission recognized Lakeside’s involvement in both the spiritual and physical dimensions of life by presenting a special award “For the church’s untiring dedication to work for the betterment of disadvantaged, that at-risk, and for the uplifting of human kind throughout the community.”

DENOMINATIONAL MISSIONS

We support the following ministries in the Baptist family:

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) national

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

The Alliance of Baptists

North Carolina WMU

North Carolina Baptist Men

Theological Education –Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Baptist House at Duke Divinity School, Wake Forest University Divinity School, Campbell University Divinity School and CBF scholarships to out-of-state divinity schools.

Higher Education – Campbell University, Chowan University, Meredith College, Wake Forest University

Social Ministries – Baptist Children's Homes, Baptist Children's Home for the Developmentally Disabled, Baptist Retirement Homes, and Pastoral Care at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N. C.

Identity Partners – Baptist World Alliance, Baptist Joint Committee for Public Affairs, Baptist Women in Ministry, Baptist Today, and The Associated Baptist Press.

LOCAL MISSIONS

CARENET is an interdenominational pastoral counseling ministry which offers confidential, faith-based individual, couple, family and group counseling to the people of Eastern North Carolina . Faith-based, or pastoral counseling, seeks to intentionally integrate the client's values and faith resources into the healing process. The counselors are academically trained, certified and state licensed . CareNet is located on the 2nd floor of the Administration Building at Lakeside church. Contact numbers are toll-free (866)355-2801 or locally 355-2801.

FIGS Program (Filling In the GapS) is supported by a coalition of churches in the community who desire to help local families and individuals with emergency needs.  Through an innovative partnership with the Departments of Social Services in both Nash and Edgecombe Counties, clients are referred by partner churches and interviewed by intake workers at DSS.  DSS programs and funds are considered as a first source of assistance and then FIGS funds are made available to meet additional needs.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP HOME is a half-way house for men who have received treatment and are recovering from alcohol or drug abuse. Telephone:252-977-1273.

FOUNTAIN CORRECTIONAL CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM supports the chaplains who provide a range of interdenominational services for the women who are in Fountain Correctional Center .

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY helps with aid and volunteer assistance to a family in building a home. A church or an organization will underwrite the cost and will provide volunteers. The prospective home owner must give a designated number of hours to the building of his/her house. A Habitat RESALE STORE is located on Raleigh Road .

LAKESIDE INVOLVED is held the 1st Saturday in November. Members of the church gather for breakfast and receive their assigned tasks. Then they gather their tools and go into the community to do odd jobs for others in need. They may be found painting, doing yard work, making and delivering soup for homebound members, baking and delivering cookies to firefighters, police officers and EMS workers, or donating blood to the American Red Cross. Each year a committee scouts the community and selects the projects to be done. After working all morning, the members return to church for a lunch of soup and sandwiches. This is a time of fellowship and sharing of experiences.

MEALS ON WHEELS has an office in our facilities but currently delivers meals from First Presbyterian Church. Five days a week volunteers from churches and organizations deliver hot meals to those in the community who are unable to prepare food for themselves. Phone: 252-446-4336.

MY SISTER'S HOUSE provides a safe place for women and children who have been abused. They are given room and board until they are able to find a place where they will be safe and secure, and are able to get a fresh start. It's office is located in Nashville, N. C. The office phone number is: 252-462-0366.

MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL BENEVOLENCE is a fund at the church which is used for emergency assistance. This is a very limited amount of money and is used when a person cannot receive help from anywhere else.

TAR RIVER PRISON MINISTRY provides interdenominational ministry for men who are in prison. Volunteers counsel inmates, conduct worship and Bible study sessions, and minister in other ways.

UNITED COMMUNITY MINISTRIES includes A Men's and Women's Shelter and the Bassett Center which houses homeless families. These facilities provide food, lodging, and numerous programs for homeless members of our community. The Shelter is located on McDonald Street (phone: 252-977-9768) and the Bassett Center is located on Branch Street (phone: 252-985-1650).