Carol Mason coordinator for Area 3, resides in Blacksburg, VA and is a member of Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren with her ordination in the Virlina District. She received seminary training at the Institute of Theological Study, (part of Seattle University) finishing her studies through the TRIM program at the Brethren Academy. As moderator of Oregon/Washington District she facilitated the training of the board and delegates in Formal Consensus, a decision-making process practiced by On Earth Peace. Carol and her husband Ralph Mason built the EYN, (Mason) Technical School in Garkida, Nigeria serving a decade there with Global Missions. Carol has a Master’s degree in curriculum development and is a veteran teacher. She serves as the editor of The Seed Packet, a Church of the Brethren resource for Christian Education and is on the committee for Gather ‘Round.

Carol L. Yeazell ordained in the Church of the Brethren has served as an interim pastor, a minister of visitation and as a Stephen Minister (trained in this caregiving ministry). She was administrator for a not-for-profit mission that served the needs of migrant farm workers and their families. She has had additional training in evangelism, church planting, stewardship and mission. Owning a business for 25 years adds to her breadth of experience. Carol is bilingual in Spanish and works with groups in the US and Puerto Rico in a variety of contexts. She is the founder of a bilingual church plant in Hendersonville, NC. Carol’s home base is Arden, NC.

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Area 3 Schedule

Carol Yeazell is currently acting as Interim Executive Director of the Congregational Life Team until a new Director is chosen. The program has just undergone its first assessment and the results will help the Director know how to lead us into the future for increased service to our congregations. We thank all the congregations, DE’s, pastors and lay people who responded to the assessment and look forward to serving you even more fully in the years ahead.

Both Carols will be attending Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio from June 29th setup (come see our booth!!) through July 4th at which time they will return to their respective offices in Christiansburg, VA and Arden N.C.

Between the two of them, they will be attending all five of Area 3’s District Conferences this summer and into the fall, as well as the Island Assembly in Puerto Rico held now in June.

Carol M. will again be leading the West Marva Women’s Retreat, “Fill Me Up Lord,” at Camp Galilee August 9th and 10th with activities to nurture the caregivers. Then she will be preaching on stewardship at the Bridgewater COB August 12th with a forum discussion between the two services on the Biblical aspects of what this means for us as Brethren committed to “Another Way of Living.”

The new Hispanic ministries in Virlina District have held their first services already, and Carol Y continues to consult with these as well as those in Southeastern to encourage this bilingual growth in our denomination.

Carol M. continues to work with individual congregations in Natural Church Development which explores ways to unleash the natural growth mechanisms of churches. NCD emphasizes the “8 quality characteristics of growing churches”: Passionate Spirituality, Empowered Leadership, Gift-oriented Ministry, Functional Structures, Inspiring Worship Services, Holistic Small Groups, Need Oriented Evangelism, Loving Relationships.

–and no quality characteristic can be missing or growth of the church will be stunted in much the same way that spring gardens, soil, flowers, need all the necessary nutrients for their maximum growth! If you wish to experience this type of growth, call Carol M today at 1-800 244 5896 and begin this natural process in your own church.

Carol M. is also the editor of Seed Packet, a magazine for Christian Education leaders and on the music team for the Gather ‘Round CDs that accompany each years’ lessons. Anyone wishing to write a Seed Packet column for our Children, Jr Hi’s, Youth, Adults, Family, Devotions or Resources for teachers, or have music they would recommend to the committee for the Gather ‘Round sound should contact Carol at 1-800 244 5896.

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Congregations have varied needs at different times in their history. Here is a partial list of topics of some ways we can be of assistance. Please click on the topic below for more information. If there is another need that you do not see please contact us at 1-800-244-5896, or 1-828-687-1155.

• Christian Education
• Conflict Resolution
• Congregational Structure Issues
• Consensus Decision Making
• Contemporary Worship and liturgy styles
• Demographics and Ministry Discovery
• Multiple Intelligences
• Natural Church Development
• New Church Plants
• Prayer and Fasting
• Relating to non-Anglo ethnicities
• Spiritual Gifts Training
• Understanding the Culture in Your Neighborhood and Community

Christian Education
Teacher training workshops, use of the new curriculum Gather ‘Round, effective Sunday school in Post Modern America, Christian Education resources—if these are your needs, contact us. Set a date for annual training of your Christian Education volunteers.

Conflict Resolution
One sign of a “healthy congregation” is our ability to let go of old wounds and move forward freed by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to face new challenges. Conflict management styles, barriers to inclusion, healing rituals all help our resolve to “choose life” and speak words of peace.

Congregational Structure Issues
If you have difficulty reaching a quorum at meetings we can show you another way of operating the church. If you need assistance in working with leadership issues or determining a mission and vision for the church contact us.

Consensus Decision Making
Tired of church business being decided by majority vote? Using OEP’s Formal Consensus process, learn how to make the paradigm shift from voting to creative collaboration in your board and commission work with forums for discussion and a sense of “yes-ness” to your decisions.

Contemporary Worship and liturgy styles
All things are available to us, but not all things are good for us. If you are having trouble finding your worship style let us help you discern this and offer ideas drawn from worldwide worshipping Christians.

Demographics and Ministry Discovery
If you are unsure who lives around your church and how to find, out contact us for information that will enable you to gain that knowledge. This discovery can help you plan ministry that is relevant to your needs.

Multiple Intelligences
The new curriculum Gather ‘Round provides eight different potential pathways to learning. If a teacher/pastor is having difficulty leading a student/congregant in the more traditional linguistic or logical way of instruction, multiple intelligences suggests several other ways in which the material might be presented to facilitate effective learning/nurture our faith journeys. Let us share this knowledge with you.

Natural Church Development
CLT staff continue to work with individual congregations in Natural Church Development which explores ways to unleash the natural growth mechanisms of churches. NCD emphasizes the “8 quality characteristics of growing churches”: Passionate Spirituality, Empowered Leadership, Gift-oriented Ministry, Functional Structures, Inspiring Worship Services, Holistic Small Groups, Need Oriented Evangelism, Loving Relationships, - and no quality characteristic can be missing or growth of the church will be stunted in much the same way that spring gardens, soil, flowers, need all the necessary nutrients for their maximum growth! If you wish to experience this type of growth, give us a call and let us start this process with you.

New Church Plants
If you are thinking about starting a new church plant we can provide various options and get you connected with the type of training that will support your efforts.

Prayer and Fasting
There are many facets to prayer all of which provide a “hot line” to the God who created us and sustains us. Specific praying brings specific results. To learn more, contact us. Fasting is an often neglected discipline of the Christian. It too, will bring amazing results when used in concert with prayer.

Relating to non-Anglo ethnicities
We have had experiences living and working in other cultures and will eagerly share tools that will strengthen your witness for Christ as you reach out to those whose race, language, gender and social strata is different than your own.

Spiritual Gifts Training
A great tool being reclaimed by Christians around the world is the understanding of the Spiritual Gifts as listed in the New Testament. If you do not know how the use of the gifts can strengthen your personal spiritual walk, or you have no clue how this can benefit the church, invite us to come do a training session.

Understanding the Culture in Your Neighborhood and Community
In this context you might see a neighborhood with an influx of another ethnic group; the neighborhood may have shifted from young families to those in the senior years of their lives, or visa-versa; there may be a shift in the economic status of those living nearby. Do you need help to work with this new paradigm? We can help.