Home Care In Fletcher, NC

Metadata:

Topic(s): EvangelismFormat(s): Text Articles

Share this post:

Print This Resource

Some had come to take that step themselves. Some came to see a spouse or child enter the water or to support a friend. Some traveled hundreds of miles to take part.

By the end of the afternoon, Biltmore Church baptized 458 people in what Lead Pastor Bruce Frank described as the largest single-day baptism total in the church’s 137-year history. Frank estimated nearly 4,000 people attended the service.

“What a privilege & joy to see 458 people professing faith in Jesus today thru baptism,” Frank wrote in a post on X on Sept. 13. “Grateful for a God who saves & a church who shares.”

The outdoor baptism service has become an annual tradition over the past two decades for the multisite church, which traces its roots to 1889 as Fern Hill Baptist Church. The church holds the outdoor baptism once a year in early September, bringing together members from its seven campuses. The event is held on private property owned by a friend of the church at a lake centrally located to several of Biltmore’s campuses.

Although the church baptizes people regularly during Sunday services throughout the year, the outdoor baptism has grown steadily over the years and has become a special emphasis as families return to regular routines after the summer.

“It’s part of the rhythm of our church,” Frank said.

Sunday’s total shattered the church’s previous record of 389 baptisms in a single day, set at last year’s outdoor baptism. Frank said church leaders went into the weekend with a little more than 400 people signed up to be baptized, but that number grew after more people responded during services that morning or even at the lake that afternoon.

“Somewhere between Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, there were 50 or 60 more people that either came to Christ and took that first step or said, ‘Man, I’ve never professed Christ through baptism,’” Frank said.

According to Frank, the actual number of baptisms may have been 460, with two reported baptisms taking place at one of the church’s campuses that morning, but the church’s social media post reported 458.

Yet for Frank, the significance of the day wasn’t in the numbers alone.

“Behind every one of those, there’s a person,” Frank said. “And behind every one of those people, there’s a story.”

One of those stories involved Nick Friederich, a local tattoo artist and lay leader at Biltmore’s Hendersonville campus. Frank said Friederich regularly shares the Gospel with people while he’s giving them a tattoo.

During one of those conversations, Friederich led a friend to faith in Christ. That friend later moved to New York, but he continued watching Biltmore’s services online. When he learned about the outdoor baptism, he decided to return to North Carolina to take part. So he rode his motorcycle from New York on Saturday and was baptized on Sunday.

Others baptized on Sunday included a man with a terminal illness, people in wheelchairs and families in which a child’s step of obedience encouraged a parent or other family member to take the same step.

Frank said Biltmore averages more than 10,000 people across its campuses each week, and he sees a direct link between recent growth at the church and the rising baptism numbers.

“We are not in the crowd business. We are in the disciple-making business,” Frank said. “Our people have really taken that seriously.”

Frank added that the majority of those being baptized at the church are adults, which he attributes to church members personally sharing their faith with neighbors, co-workers and friends.

“We’re seeing a lot of different people from all different walks of life embrace Christ,” Frank said.

Biltmore Church recorded 686 baptisms in 2025, the most in a single year. Following Sunday’s service, Frank said the church has recorded 636 baptisms so far this year and expects to finish 2026 with more than 700, with a goal of 1,000 baptisms in 2027.

“Baptism represents lives being changed and God being at work,” Frank said. “I am continually reminded that we do not invite God to be a part of our story. He invites us to be part of His story.”

Frank called Sunday’s service “very humbling,” adding that the baptisms were a “visible picture” of God at work.

He called it “one of the best days of the year.”

This article originally appeared in the Biblical Recorder.

FLETCHER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The N.C. Mountain State Fair is down to its final four days, and if you’re planning to make a trip to the fairgrounds this weekend, you might want to check the sky along with the schedule.

The fair runs through Sunday at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher, with rides, livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, food vendors and entertainment continuing through the final weekend.

And while summerlike temperatures are expected, so are afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Friday looks like the driest of the three days, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 88 degrees. The National Weather Service gives Asheville a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

The chances increase Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s forecast calls for a high near 85 and a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunday should reach about 87 degrees, with another 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, particularly during the afternoon and evening.

The National Weather Service says the region will remain in a summerlike pattern through Monday, with afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible. Forecasters also say slow-moving storms could produce locally heavy rainfall through the weekend.

So, no, the forecast doesn’t necessarily mean you should cancel your fair plans. It does mean an umbrella — and perhaps some flexibility — could be useful.

Friday is Senior Day, with free admission for people 65 and older. Seniors receive discounted admission on the other days of the fair.

The fair’s regular entertainment lineup continues through Sunday, including the Zerbini Circus, Extreme Illusions & Escapes, Red Trouser Show, Agricadabra Magic Show, Mooternity Ward and other performers.

Among this year’s new attractions is the Butterfly Experience, where visitors can walk through an enclosure and feed three varieties of butterflies.

This year also adds four new midway rides: The Dairy, a spinning ride featuring flying cow cars; The Horror Hotel, a walk-through spookhouse; Crazy Cars for younger riders; and the Aeromax, which lifts riders about 40 feet in the air.

For those more interested in what’s happening in the livestock barns than on the midway, the fair recently honored two people whose work has helped keep those shows running.

Mark Mills, of Peachland, and Cameron Greene, of Fletcher, were inducted Sept. 14 into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.

Mills has worked with the fair’s livestock shows since 1999. Greene retired in February after 30 years as assistant manager of the WNC Ag Center.

The fair also remains a showcase for young livestock exhibitors, local agriculture, arts and crafts and other competitions that can get overshadowed by the rides and food.

The ASAP Farm Tour is also taking place Saturday and Sunday at farms around Western North Carolina.

The farm tour is a separate event from the Mountain State Fair, but the timing gives people another opportunity to get a look at the region’s agricultural economy — this time on working farms rather than inside the fairgrounds.

Back at the fair, Sunday is the final day.

The fair opens at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday and closes at midnight. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the midway opening at 10 a.m.

For anyone heading out this weekend, the forecast may be worth checking before leaving home. The fair will still be there if the sun is shining — and if a summer thunderstorm rolls through, there are plenty of reasons to wait it out and try again.

FLETCHER, N.C. (WLOS) — A cellphone fell during a ride on the Mantis at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair and struck another guest, according to the state's Department of Labor (NCDOL).

In a statement to News 13, NCDOL spokesman John Wesley Waugh said a rider brought a phone onto the ride despite signs directing riders not to bring cellphones aboard. The department said the incident shows why unsecured items can become "dangerous projectiles."

The mother of the injured guest told News 13 that her daughter was the person hurt. She said the incident happened during the fair's opening weekend.

Fair officials previously told News 13 that they shut down the Mantis while their safety team investigated, recovered the phone and notified NCDOL. The fair says its internal investigation determined the phone caused the injury.

Previous coverage: GUEST INJURED ON NC MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR RIDE AFTER CELL PHONE FALLS, OFFICIAL SAYS

Waugh said NCDOL inspectors have logged more than 390 hours inspecting rides at the Mountain State Fair, with at least two ride-safety inspectors on site from opening to closing each day. The department did not say whether state inspectors examined the Mantis after the injury, opened a separate investigation or approved the ride to resume operating.

North Carolina law requires amusement-device owners to report qualifying injuries within 24 hours. Once the state determines a qualifying occurrence took place, the law requires an investigation and prohibits the ride from operating or being moved without approval from the labor commissioner.

NCDOL did not say whether it determined this incident met that reporting threshold. The department has received News 13’s public-records request and says it will process it in the order it was received.

News 13 has asked the department whether its Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau received a report, inspected the Mantis or cleared it to operate after the incident.

FLETCHER, N.C. — Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted two longtime N.C. Mountain State Fair employees into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame. Mark Mills of Peachland and Cameron Greene of Fletcher were inducted for their decades of support to the fair and the livestock industry in Western North Carolina.

“The N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame is a prestigious group of folks who have given so much of their time and energy to support the Mountain State Fair livestock shows. Both Cameron Greene and Mark Mills are deserving of this honor,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Both men have gone above and beyond the duties of what was required in their jobs. Their work reflected a true dedication to livestock programs at the fair. While much of their work was behind the scenes, countless youth and adult participants have benefitted from the results of their efforts.”

Mark Mills

Mark Mills has been a fixture at the N.C. Mountain State Fair since 1999. That year, he was responsible for checking in livestock coming to the fair. In 2000, he began his role as assistant superintendent of livestock shows. In this role he assists with everything from class set up, weigh ins, show set up, ribbons and more.

“A lot of what Mark does is behind-the-scenes work,” said Troxler. “But it is this work that ensures the livestock shows at the Mountain State Fair run smoothly. These shows are successful in large part because of his dedication and hard work. Giving youth great memories in the show ring leaves a lasting impact. The lessons they learn showing animals not only teaches them about our state’s No. 1 industry but can also help them be successful with any future career path they choose.”

Mills and his wife, Melissa, were both raised on cattle farms. They live in Peachland and have two sons, Clint and Mason. They also farm and have 150 cows and around 100 sheep.

Cameron Greene

Cameron Greene served as the assistant manager of the WNC Ag Center for 30 years, retiring this past February. When Greene first started, there was a single livestock arena. Now, the Ag Center has grown into one of the largest event venues in Western North Carolina.

“For nearly 30 years, Cameron was a big part of the growth of the Ag Center,” said Troxler, “and he dedicated himself to making it a great place to work, visit and host events. He’s been a big part of maintaining standards and making improvements whenever and wherever possible.”

Greene put in many 14- to 16-hour days going above and beyond the normal tasks of his job to ensure the fair was operating well and that people had what they needed. “Cameron has a passion for service and for the Mountain State Fair. In his three decades of service, his work made a difference for our fair attendees and to our livestock exhibitors” said Troxler.

Greene’s hometown is Fletcher. He’s the son of David and Millie Greene. He and his wife Desiree have three children, Devan, Dawson and Caden.

—North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services