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are reasons why churches die and there are reasons T here why they can be vitally alive and growing. This book
addresses some of the major reasons why churches die, and gives some suggestions as to how to assess a local church in regard to its life-death cycle. Dr. Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world, and author of over twenty books that address the areas of church growth and church health. He addresses such conditions as slow erosion, where decline is very slow and members have no sense of urgency to change with many members simply refusing to see the trend in their church. He addresses the issue of wanting to return to the “good old days” of years past, and in essence seeking to live in the past. Sometimes the community changes and a local church either does not see the change or simply ignores the change or
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withdraws to focus its resources inwardly, thus losing its sense of mission to the community and world. Then the “Great Commission Becomes the Great Omission” (Ch. 6). Rainer addresses other issues that become involved in a “deceased” church such as pastoral tenure decrease, failing to pray together, having no clear purpose (this chapter is excellent!), and becoming obsessed over the facilities. Dr. Rainer suggests most churches will fall into one of four categories: ♥ Healthy: 10%
♥ Symptoms of sickness: 40%
♥ Very sick: 40%
♥ Dying: 10%
This book is a “must read” for both ministers and lay leaders who are interested in future survival and having a healthy, growing church in the years ahead.
This review is written by the Rev. Frank R. Harrison, retired chaplain, University of Mount Olive.
January 2015 Retirement Homes Month This is a calendar of denominational events and regular holidays and special days/seasons of the Christian year.
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A Change of Perspective By The Reverend Richard E. Cuddington Jr. Blessings to you as we begin 2015! Each time the calendar turns to January and a new year there is the opportunity to both reflect upon the past and look forward to what the year ahead will bring. Sure we all have expectations for the coming year and maybe even some leftover Christmas bills that will come due in a few weeks, but overwhelmingly our mood should be positive. The fact is we have the choice to see our glass as half-full or half-empty. One’s perspective really does matter! Let me give you a couple of examples, one from the word of God and the other personal. Back in the fall our church studied Philippians. It is one of Paul’s most personal letters. For Paul, despite circumstances that included confinement and the possibility of death, he found reasons to rejoice. He rejoiced both in the successful spreading of the gospel message and the transforming presence of Christ in the lives of those at Philippi. Something else really stands out though—contentment. Paul shared his heart and the true contentment found in simple things and in serving Jesus. He wrote of this contentment in Philippians 4:11–12. Paul’s words speak to me of the satisfaction that can be found in the often overlooked pleasures of relationships, life, and the joy and peace which only come from the hand of God and knowing Jesus Christ.
Today, so many people delight themselves in the complexities of life, technology or the latest “App,” but fail to recognize the greatest and most joyful experiences can come from the simplest of origins. Now, I am not against technology. I like my gadgets and the latest tech stuff that can make our lives more productive and effective. Yet, technical advances should never rob us of the enjoyment of simple pleasures such as God’s creation and the close relationships we have with others. Not too long ago I was looking through my prayer journal from 2010 and ran across an entry from July 3. On that day my family had the opportunity to do something we had never done before. We went with our closest friends on a daylong canoe trip down the Little River in Johnston County. We were all excited, yet somewhat apprehensive, as well. I had never piloted a canoe before and my wife did not swim, this is not to even mention our complete dislike of anything that might involve a snake! Snakes in a canoe on a river don’t go together! So, after lugging the canoes to the river bank and strategically placing our vehicles at a bridge crossing downstream we finally got underway. Thirty minutes into this new excursion, our apprehension turned to absolute joy and contentment. We paddled slowly down the river enjoying God’s creation and quality time
with the most important people in the world to us. Thinking back now, it was one of the best days I was ever blessed to experience. We didn’t take a watch. We turned off the cell phones. There were no video game, iPad, or television distractions. I had no concern for e-mail, finances, or whatever problems tomorrow held. The simplest things God had to offer in the river, wildlife, intimate friendships, and time with family were of more interest and depth than anything this modern world could ever offer. That was a gift that changed my perspective! At the time my family was going through some major challenges and the simple pleasures of that day made me realize even more, we don’t need the nicest things, plan an extravagant trip, or have the latest techno-cool devices to experience true contentment and joy. Sharing in the glory of God’s creation, the irreplaceable bonds of family and friends, and reveling in the joy of the Lord are enough sometimes… simple pleasures. On that day almost five years ago I believe I found out what Paul meant by true contentment, if only for a day. We’ve been on the river a few times since then, but nothing compares to that day when the Lord taught me a great lesson, a lesson on perspective. So, step back and get a different perspective in 2015, maybe even from a canoe.
Richard E. Cuddington Jr. serves as Senior Pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church of Wilson. He and his wife of 20 years, Dana, and their two children Jacob and Anna, reside in Kenly, NC. He has a background in banking and agri-business and has been a full-time minister since 2010. Rev. Cuddington graduated from Barton College in 1993 with a B.S. in Business Administration and will graduate from Oral Roberts University with a Master of Divinity degree in 2015. He previously served at Northeast Free Will Baptist Church in Mount Olive, NC and as Campus Pastor of the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home in Middlesex, NC. 2
Managing Editor Darren Davenport editor@fwbpress.com
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Circulation, Customer Service Amy Stokes amy@fwbpress.com
Web Administrator, Online Customer Service Andrew Mozingo customer.service@fwbpress.com
Editorial Assistant Carlton Oakley Graphic Designers Jerry Goff, Nathaniel Ingram Production Team Ronnie Jones, Ted Johnston
Volume 133 • Number 1 ■ FEATURES & COLUMNS Reflections: A Guest Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Welcome to www.fwbpress.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Pondering the Past with Celia Hales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sanctified with Andrew Mozingo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 From a Woman’s Heart with Nora Koonce Avery. . . . . . 16 Caring for the Soul with David Morrow. . . . . . . . . . . 18 Lesson Inner View with Adrian Grubbs . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A Sling and a Stone with Marc Boswell. . . . . . . . . . . 23 Dr. Pepper’s Book Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring. . . . . . . . . . . 27
www.fwbpress.com President Jeff Daughtry
■ DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES Retirement Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
jeff@fwbpress.com
Foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Vice President Darren Davenport
Children’s Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
darrend@fwbpress.com
Board of Directors Mike Scott (Chairman), Eastern Mark Hobbs (Vice Chairman), Central Kelley Smart (Secretary), Central Joe Ballance, Cape Fear • David Pooser, Albemarle Nancy Hardee, Pee Dee • Richard Cuddington, Western Linda Weathersby, Central • MeLinda Edwards, Western The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each article is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.
For information on subscription rates, submission and photo guidelines, advertising rates and guidelines, and more, visit <fwbpress.com>. © 2014 The Free Will Baptist • All Rights Reserved. The Free Will Baptist is edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, 3928 Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden, North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, Ayden, NC 28513-0159.
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University of Mount Olive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Cragmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Home Missions & Evangelism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Convention News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
■ ANCILLARY MINISTRIES NC Foundation for Christian Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . 28 Camp Vandemere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Woman’s Auxiliary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
■ COMMUNITY CONNECTION . .
. . . . . . 32
ON THE COVER: The staff of the Free Will Baptist Press wishes everyone a Happy New Year! May God’s love shine upon us and guide us in all we do!
Contents
Production Manager Jerry Goff
January 2015
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Welcome to
www.fwbpress.com ince 1873, the Free Will Baptist Press has been publishing the news for and about Free Will Baptists. It has been a weekly and a monthly publication. Today, we publish the news daily, and sometimes several times a day. Over the past several months the Free Will Baptist Press has been working diligently to improve its website. Tremendous work and time has been involved to achieve the website that we enjoy today and it will be constantly changing to keep up with the demands. Please allow me to share with you some of the key improvements and some of the ways The Press is serving you, the OFWB Church and readers of The Free Will Baptist (TFWB). As you arrive at www.fwbpress.com, you see the opportunity to share your email with us. In return, we will email you notification of breaking news and special promotions at our bookstores. We hope that you will become a part of this group that will be the most informed; but, it is not required. You may simply go to the Home page. The Home page consists of news of interest to Original Free Will Baptists. News about OFWB individuals, ministries, and churches. This page is where you find up-to-date information concerning our denomination. You do not have to wait until the next issue of TFWB to arrive at your home, it is now available as soon as it happens or as soon as The Press is aware. 4
The next page includes religious news from around the world. Reports and articles are added to this page daily. TFWB is the next tab across the top of the webpage. This page will be discussed in a future issue of this magazine. But, the monthly magazine is available to you in full color and at no cost. My Cross & Crown is the next tab and it gives information about our stores, including our newest store located at <www. mycrossandcrown.com>. This store is always open and you may shop this location at your convenience. It never closes. More information to follow in a future issue. Under the OFWB Community tab you will find blogs written by Original Free Will Baptists and space for you to respond, as well as other ways to connect with OFWBs. Visit <www.fwbpress.com> and see the improvements. Read this magazine in color and shop at <www.mycrossandcrown. com>. Let us know what you think and how we can improve our service to you. Remember, we can only improve as you financially support this ministry. Invest in the future of The Press. All gifts are considered charitable contributions on your annual income tax returns. You may send your gift to Free Will Baptist Press, P.â&#x20AC;&#x2030;O. Box 159, Ayden, NCâ&#x20AC;&#x201E;28513 or you may give securely on our website.
So what does that mean? Simply stated it means the Convention has determined that this ministry is doing the work that it intended when it was established in 1975. With that thought in mind, the next question is am I and my church doing their part to keep this ministry alive and vibrant? The year 2014 has been a challenging but rewarding year. The challenge has been trying to maintain the budget that was approved by the Convention with receipts not coming in as hoped. With the addition of new clients, sticking to our budget can be a real balancing act sometimes. The rewarding part is the number of people we have been able to help. We have ended 2014 with 26 clients in this ministry. If everything goes according to plan, another client will be added at the beginning of this year. We had one client go to be with the Lord and we added three new clients during 2014. As we began looking at our budget for 2015, the first thing that really jumped out at us was just how great our God is in supplying our needs. Even with the economy the way it is, our contributions have been pretty steady. The contributions are down a little but we are managing with God’s continued blessings. We have just been notified by one Layman’s League that they are now going to be sending a monthly contribution to this ministry. We say praise God. The amount that this Layman’s League has pledged will make it possible to fund another client in the months ahead. This is not a small thing and we are continuing to praise God for His people who realize the needs of our senior members. We earnestly request your continued prayers for this ministry and our clients, and for your continued financial support. Any one of us could find ourselves in need at any
time and it would be a real shame if the help needed was not available because giving had not been sustained, or begun. God has continued to bless the Disability Equipment Availability Program. We have a variety of pieces of equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs (electric and manual), beside commodes, bath chairs to name a few, and of course we have other items that some of our folks may need. So if you know of a need, please contact us.
Retirement Homes Ministry
Retirement Homes Month
P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963
January Is
SPECIAL NOTICE: If there is a group or any groups within our churches who are looking for a project, we have one. The building used for storing our disability equipment and other things is in need of a face lift. There is painting that needs to be done and possibly some carpentry work on the facial areas. This is a need that has been neglected for a few years due to budget restraints and needed repairs to the duplex. This repair is critical to maintain the appearance in the neighborhood in which it is located. If you can help, please contact me. The Board of Directors and staff of your Retirement Homes Ministry pray you and your church family have a prosperous year ahead. Retirement Homes Sunday is January 18, 2015. We request that our churches receive a special offering on this Sunday for Retirement Homes and make this in addition to your budgeted support. Thank you for your prayers and support and may God richly bless each and every one of you in 2015.
Ronnie Taylor, Executive Director Office phone (252) 746-4963 Cell Phone (910) 330-3818
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P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbi.org
OFWB International 6
Children’s Ministry in Mexico By the Rev. Everardo Martinez
Summer is over and the kids have returned to school and normal activities, but we could not leave summer break without enjoying Bible Schools. Each year children await the summer to participate in these Christian events. Although many children are not believers and their parents do not allow them to attend an evangelical church, we see that many of them are looking forward next summer to participate in Bible schools. This month the churches have worked hard to bring the gospel to children through summer Bible schools. The responses have been varied depending on the area evangelized. The attendance of children was around 20 at the Lily of the Valley FWB Church, and 130 at the Jordan FWB Church. Whatever the situation, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is still preached. We know that the Word
of God says it will not return void, but in His time will give its’ fruit. Both Christian and non-Christian children live and learn together the Word of God through various activities, such as worship, Bible teaching, crafts, and other things. God is touching the hearts of children. We, as workers of the Lord, are fulfilling our calling by sowing the seeds of the Word. We are empowered and motivated by the Spirit to work harder, to see the response of His children. God grant that we will continue to work without fainting. We ask you to continue to pray for the different ministries, churches, and pastors of the Free Will Baptist Church of Mexico. God bless you all. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
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Heaven on Earth All of us want to get to Heaven when we die. But none of us wants to go right away (unless we are very sick or very depressed). Why don’t we try to make our spot on earth right now a little more like Heaven? What would it take? I know what it would take for me—more patience, a more even keel to my days, less self-manufactured stress. Of course, I need to also feel love for God, for others, and for myself, because if I can’t feel any love for myself, I can’t feel nearly enough for others, nor even for God Himself. I think of what I could do or say that would make “Heaven on Earth” for my husband Paul. He and I spend the vast majority of time alone together, just the two of us, and so I make a real difference in his experience of his days (as he does in mine). I know many of his needs and wants, for we have known each for 30 years, and we have been married for 28. Couldn’t I meet more of his needs and wants? I think of that morning, a while back, when I started worrying, aloud, about a very minor and inconsequential health problem. (As I write this, two months later, I cannot even recall what the problem was, so minor was it.) But I polluted the air by complaining. Paul doesn’t like to hear me complain. (Who does like to hear complaints?) Couldn’t I have handled my worry differently? Couldn’t my own choice have put my life more on an even keel? Wouldn’t I have minimized the stress if I had had half a mind to do so? At noon that day I attended a prayer meeting, a habit of mine of some months’ duration. Eleven of us—many of us strangers, for this was a big turnout— sat in a friend’s living room and quietly 8
prayed and meditated. Then the hostess, our leader, read an inspirational piece, not once, but several times, to get the words in our minds. We talked together, sharing. My health worry evaporated. The morning I had rued was over. After my prayer meeting, the day went smoothly, and is that any wonder? In the evening, I cooked a good meal for Paul—recipes I had made up, cooking in the Mediterranean style, olive oil and garlic. Paul and I chatted over dinner. We enjoyed talking about last Saturday’s college football game. Paul remarked, gently and with humor in his voice, “I had a bad morning because I made the mistake of warning you about your health.” I responded, “I’m sorry I complained so much.” “It’s OK,” Paul concluded. We grinned at each other. All was well. Is this not a little Heaven on Earth? A usual day in my world, though not all days have mornings that I spend in a low mood. All of us influence each other so tremendously in our daily run. It behooves us to try not to influence each other badly. Of course, venting a bad mood is therapeutic from time to time, and this day in my life was certainly not typical. I didn’t need to make an issue out of something that was so minor I would
forget the topic in a couple of months. What helps rather than venting? My day does illustrate what helped me: prayer. Being with others also was a good thing, being with even strangers in the prayer group. I also recommend writing when stressed and out of sorts. I keep a daily journal, but then I like to write. Others might want to turn to a journal to dislodge bad feelings only occasionally. The means are many, and certainly talking to our nearest and dearest can work wonders. But not if we give that person a bad morning. I learned from my experience two months ago. I haven’t had a bad morning like that since, and I wish the same for all of us. We need to treat ourselves gently, not getting into a low mood just because it is easy to dip low. God is always there to listen to us in our minds. He is our best outlet in bad times. And when we turn to Him, it doesn’t give Him a bad morning. He has heard it all, and He remains serenely untouched by our fussing. He loves us with an allencompassing love that is unlike anything on Earth—even what we experience from our nearest and dearest. He will be there if we drop into a low mood today. He wants Heaven on Earth for us all. Why not seek His counsel when we are troubled? There is no better way.
A former religion librarian at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Celia now lives with her husband Paul in Oxford, Mississippi. She was previously employed at both the Free Will Baptist Press and Mount Olive College (now known as the University of Mout Olive).
A New Year Resolution for a New Life in Christ According to Jesus in Matthew 5:29–30 we are called to perform self-mutilation if we fall into sin. Now, going along with Romans 3:23 we can conclude that we all need to be self-mutilating because we are all sinners, right? Not quite. Genesis 1:27 tell us that we are perfectly made the way God wants us to be made; with two eyes, two hands, two legs, one nose, etc. So why would Jesus, the God-Man, try to convince us to cut out our eye or cut off our hand? Simple, He is not really calling us to self-mutilate our bodies. He is using a metaphor. God’s desire is not for you to cut apart your body in order to avoid sin. God uses the reference to the eye because the eye is the way we are tempted with most sins and the reference to the hand because the hand is the way we act out those temptations that become sin. The message we should be taking away from this passage is that we need to guard ourselves through our spirits and with the Holy Spirit because our flesh is weak and will fail us. Did you know that 51% of pastors say pornography is a real temptation to them? What about 56% of all marriage-turneddivorce cases were due to pornographic addiction by either the husband or wife? Or this one: nearly 60% of all teenagers
have sent or posted sexual or nude photos via the Internet or text messages? And here is another: two-thirds of all pornographic website visits are from males while the remaining one-third is made up of females (All data is obtained from <www. XXXchurch.com>, a resource online to fight porn addiction. Their slogan is, “We prevail through awareness, prevention, and recovery”). These statistics are scary folks. The enemy is real and he is attacking our country, our society, our churches, our families, our children, and everything and everyone you can think of. Now, before you go demanding your pastor’s Internet search activity or start accusing your spouse of pornography addictions consider this, sin is sin and no sin is greater than another (James 2:10). And remember; make sure you have taken care of your own sins before you attack someone over theirs (Matthew 7:3). In my mere 22 years on this Earth I have seen too many people attack others when they still struggle with the same sin they want another person to confront. And though this passage in Matthew is directly related to the sins of adultery and lust, can we not also use these verses as a standard of living when facing all
temptations and all sins? Absolutely. With every new year comes the old concept of a new year ‘resolution,’ where we vow to lose 30 pounds, be nicer, eat healthier, act more Christ-like, and so on and so forth. What about a completely new resolution this year to go hand-in-hand with the day we accepted salvation? What about a resolution to cut out your eye and cut off your right hand? Now, of course, I mean this figuratively. But, what if we made a resolution not just for the New Year, but for the new lives we were given in Christ? What if we actually lived like the followers, disciples, and apostles of Christ lived in their day? What if we cut out the sin in our lives to the best of our ability, and when the day comes that we fall short, we sincerely ask for forgiveness and more forward? What if we made the concept of missions and evangelism into a something real? Support and go on mission trips, both domestic and abroad. Support and build new churches and build up the old. Support and give to the ministries that are striving so hard to minister to the lost souls around us. Be set apart to cut out the sin in your life and replace it with obedience to God, His commandments, and His commission.
Andrew Mozingo resides in Winterville, North Carolina and is employed with the Free Will Baptist Press. He is studying religion with a concentration on Christian Ministries as a student of Liberty University Online in Lynchburg, Virginia. After finishing his bachelor’s degree with LUO, he plans to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for further training. His aspirations are to become a youth pastor and eventually hold a full-time pastoral position. Andrew is engaged to Michaela Dixon of Kinston, North Carolina with a wedding date set for fall 2015.
Spreading the Word. For Life! 9
P. O. Box 249 • Middlesex, NC 27557 • (252) 235.2161 • www.fwbchildrenshome.org
Children’s Home 10
FRIENDS OF CHILDREN’S DAY
2014
O
n November 22 we celebrated Friends of Children’s Day on campus. This celebration has been taking place for 29 years. This is the day set aside for us to share a meal with our friends and say thank you. The theme for the day was “Life Changing Gifts.” More than 270 people came to the celebration. The gym had been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with banks of snow lined with glittering royal blue trees. Each table held snow and decorations, including decorative gift boxes with blue ribbons and royal blue Christmas ornaments that had been hand monogrammed. The decorations set a festive mood for the music and message to come.
Pam Kennedy, pianist, presented music throughout the program. Songs of praise were presented by soloist Kristie Woolard and the newly formed group Common Threads. There were many Free Will Baptists who participated in the program. The Rev. Donald Ribeiro, pastor of Ormondsville OFWB Church, was the keynote speaker and directed his message to the residents of The Home. He spoke of his childhood where he was faced with some difficulties and had to be displaced from his home at the young age of seven. At this young age, he felt like his life was over. He talked about receiving many gifts as a child, and kept expecting someone to ask for something in return. But no one did. Ribeiro then spoke of the greatest life changing gift—the gift of salvation. He went on to say that he soon realized it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive. Reverend Ribeiro left a gift for each of our children and encouraged everyone to “pay it forward” and experience the blessings of giving. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Vester shared with us why they are Friends of Children. Also, Kristie Woolard spoke briefly on the joys of being a foster parent. The program came to a close after remarks from President Gary Lee. Mr. Lee gave a brief speech on the importance of our Friends of Children program and our loyal supporters. He then thanked everyone for their continued gifts and support. Many of our friends took this opportunity to visit the cottages and tour the campus. We always enjoy this special day.
A Thanksgiving Feast The kids and cottage staff enjoyed a scrumptious thanksgiving meal, thanks to Greenville First FWB Church. When we walked into Heritage Hall, we knew immediately that the “good cooks” from Greenville First had arrived. The smells were so enticing: the turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese, lima beans, green beans, pineapple casserole…and the list goes on. It was wonderful. One of our staff commented on how she could just close her eyes and let the smells take her back years ago to family celebrations. This was our annual Thanksgiving Dinner, which this group has made possible for four years. The cottages gathered together; Mr. Gary welcomed everyone and gave some brief thoughts on Thanksgiving. He was followed by some of our teens who read scripture, rendered a solo, and offered the blessing. After the program we enjoyed all the wonderful food. As we were stuffing ourselves, delicious slices of cake were served (carrot, red velvet, and chocolate) by our wonderful friends. All of the kids (and adults) went back for seconds. One of our young ladies had several servings of green beans and told everyone they were the best she had ever eaten. She and our other kids were very appreciative of this nice meal and they made sure to let the cooks and servers know it. Thank you Greenville First for making this Thanksgiving extra special.
Hanging of the Greens The residents and staff participated in the Hanging of the Greens on the first Sunday of Advent. Each cottage had been assigned an area to decorate, while reading was shared explaining the reason for the wreaths, candles, the tree, advent candle, and the nativity. Several songs, along with responsive readings and scripture, were also shared. It was a wonderful worship service. We had guests from a community church to join with us. They shared goodie bags with our kids after the service. When the decorating was finished, everyone was in awe of the enhanced beauty of the sanctuary from the decorations. It was a great way to open the Advent season as we prepare for Christmas.
We have had many visits during the holiday season; many from people sharing food, gifts and supplies. We thank each of you for sharing with the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home. The New Year 2015 is here and we look forward to a great year with you by our side as we minister to children and families.
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634 Henderson Street • Mount Olive, NC 28365 • 1 (800) 653.0854 • www.umo.edu
University of Mount Olive
Anna Strickland Furthers Her Faith at UMO Anna Strickland, a Wayne County native and a devoted member of Walnut Creek OFWB Church, and daughter of Rebecca Strickland, is a senior religion major at the University of Mount Olive. Locally born and raised, Strickland has always been familiar with the programs that UMO has to offer. Strickland earned her associate’s degree from Wayne Early Middle College High School and was ready to further her faith and pursue an education focused on religion. “Originally, I did not plan to attend UMO,” said Strickland. “My oldest sister, Sara Strickland McLamb, attended UMO and I did not want it to seem as though I was following in her footsteps.” However, as fate would have it, last minute difficulties with another university led Strickland directly to the Religion Department at UMO. After her initial hesitation, Strickland trusted that her faith led her to the caring and supportive staff and faculty at UMO. “The Religion Department at UMO has changed my life,” Strickland expressed. “I can honestly say the
Religion Department professors are hands down the most caring, genuine, and overall the best teachers I have ever had. They made me feel so welcomed and continue to encourage me and help me.” As Strickland furthered her journey at UMO, she noted that her classes and peers helped her mature into a more confident student. “Because of the Religion Department I feel that I have not only grown in my faith, but also as a person. By being in the Religion Department, I have learned so much about myself. I have always been a shy, timid person, but I’ve learned to be more confident in myself and what I believe.” Throughout the past two years, Strickland has opened up spiritually and personally and contributed much of her time and faith to her church. She has taught the middle school Sunday school, led Youth Devotions and meetings, and preached for the youth Sunday services. “UMO has definitely transformed my life,” says Strickland as she reflects on her journey and growth with the Religion Department at UMO.
George H. Harrison: the sound of His voice George H. Harrison served as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds at Mount Olive College, during the 1970s. His wife, Betty, served as Bookstore Manager. Mr. Harrison had a beautiful singing voice. With his natural ability and his training he would develop a beautiful, rich and expressive voice that blessed many people over the years. He sang solos for Sunday services, weddings, funerals, revivals and OFWB evangelism conferences, and was asked to sing solos for various services at Rodger’s Chapel on campus. In the 1960s, before the Mount Olive days, when reelto-reel tape recorders became available for home use and later the smaller cassette recorders, George purchased these 12
to primarily record himself during practice sessions so he could make improvements before he sang for services. Sometime in the mid 1990s when he no longer sang publicly the reels and cassettes were boxed up and placed in a closet. George passed away in 2003 and around the time of Betty’s passing in 2014 their children discovered this treasure of recordings. These recordings have been remastered by the best company the family could find in NC. In addition to the recordings, a CD cover was designed along with a biography insert. A very limited number of these CDs titled “the sound of His voice” are available through a specific donation to the University of Mount Olive or Hull Road Original Free Will Baptist Church. For details on obtaining this CD contact Rhonda Harrison Hughes at <rhughes49@embarqmail.com> or (252) 747-5559.
UMO Celebrates Founding The University of Mount Olive celebrated 63 years of providing Christian higher education at the University’s annual Founders Day Worship Service on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. The Reverend Almond (Al) Warrick delivered the keynote address. Warrick, a Johnston County native, has a long history with the University. He attained his A.S. degree from Mount Olive Junior College (now the University of Mount Olive) in 1969. He then finished his undergraduate studies at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) with a B.S. in education and then finished his M.A. in education at East Carolina University. Warwick returned to Mount Olive in the early 80s to coach the Trojan basketball and softball teams, during which time he was named NJCAA Region 10 Coach of the year in 1983 and 1984. After serving a year in the Resource Development Office, Warrick became dean of students, a post that he held for four years.
In his remarks during the Founders Day service, Warrick talked about the institution as a place for transformations, sighting his own transformation as an example. He referenced Romans 12:2 which states, “Do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Each year during the Founders Day celebration, the University awards one student with the Founders Leadership Award, a scholarship awarded in memory of the late Dr. W. Burkette Raper, president of Mount Olive College 1954–1995. The scholarship is presented to a senior in the traditional program who has distinguished him/herself as an individual of character and initiative and who has demonstrated strong leadership qualities. The recipient is selected by a committee of faculty, student and staff representatives. This year’s Founders Leadership Award was presented to Zarana Adial, a senior biology major from Mount Olive. During her time at UMO, Adial has been involved as a CAB president, an Ambassador, and a Resident Assistant (RA) while earning a position as a Head RA this year. Furthermore, as a biology major, she is a leader in the classroom with multiple projects that have involved overseeing various experiments during nights and weekend hours.
UMO RN to BSN Degree Program Receives National Accreditation The University of Mount Olive has recently received a letter from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) informing the institution that the Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program is now nationally accredited. The official accreditation is exciting news for UMO as it demonstrates that the curriculum meets certain standards and objectives set by the CCNE. The RN to BSN nursing program began in January of 2012 with a cohort of 20 UMO students. Now, there are 90 students enrolled in the program and the Nursing Department is anticipating over 30 additional students to register for the upcoming spring semester. As on August 2014, the program has graduated 55 students. According to Dr. Joy Kieffer, the division chair and assistant professor of nursing, the accreditation process has been long, but rewarding for the UMO nursing program. The CCNE accreditation process began in 2012, and the
department proceeded to collect two semesters worth of program assessment data and created a self-study document that reported every aspect of the degree program. Then, the CCNE Board evaluated the reports and made the final decision to approve the RN to BSN accreditation for five years. The total accreditation process took nine semesters to complete. “The accreditation demonstrates to the nursing students that their program meets specific high standards, and adequately prepares them for practice at the baccalaureate degree level,” said Kieffer. “For nurses who are evaluating prospective programs, our CCNE accredited status tells them that that the education they receive with us will provide them with the knowledge to practice at the next level in their nursing career. It’s also very significant for students who may want to continue on to graduate nursing education.”
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Educational Opportunities VISITATION DAY for new freshman entering The University in fall 2015 is scheduled for January 19, 2015. Register at <www.umo.edu/visitationday>. Parents are invited to attend this important information day, which is filled with admissions and scholarship take-aways, academic and athletic updates, and financial aid tips. Contact <admissions@umo.edu> or call 1-844-UMO-GOAL for information. Church Night is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2015. The Trojans will take on North Greenville, so it promises to be a very competitive game. Last year there were over 50 churches in attendance, and this event won an award from the NCAA Division II for creativity. Contact Tim Woodard at <twoodard@umo.edu> or Chris Bitzenhofer at <cbitzenhofer@umo.edu> to schedule your church group for attendance. 800-UMO-GOAL. Admitted Student Days are already on the calendar for April 11, June 19, and July 17, 2015. These events are for new freshmen who have been accepted and are ready to register for fall 2015 classes. New freshmen planning to attend UMO should be consulting their calendars to set one of these dates aside for attendance. The 2015 version of the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) will be available in early January. Visit the UMO website at <http://www.umo.edu/admissions/incoming-freshmen/financial-aid> to learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and what you need to do to be eligible for federal, state, and UMO scholarships, grants, and loans. Financial aid counselors are available to assist with your questions. Call 1-844-MOCGOAL and ask for a financial aid counselor. One-Night-a-Week Seated and Online Classes 24/7 make it possible for adult students to enroll in degree programs and accommodate their work and family life schedules. With locations in Wilmington, Research Triangle Park (RTP), Mount Olive, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, New Bern, and Washington, NC, and online, there is a place for you at UMO. We also offer some programs at Johnston Community College in Smithfield. Call 1-844-UMOGOAL or contact Admissions at <admissions@umo.edu>. The new Leadership Major begins in January 2015. This bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree program accommodates adults who already have work skills but need leadership theory and practice exposure to help them get promoted in the work place. The curriculum also has flexibility for many kinds of transfer courses. To learn more, visit <www.umo.edu> and click on academic programs, call 1-844-UMO-GOAL, or contact Admissions at <admissions@umo.edu>. University of Mount Olive locations offer accelerated programs in general studies, accounting (online), human resources (online), MIS (online), early childhood education, criminal justice (online), business management, healthcare management, religion, RN to BSN (online), teacher licensure, and MBA (online). The University of Mount Olive locations are full service offices, with admissions and academic advisors waiting to help students get enrolled. Classrooms and computer stations are on site.
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with Nora Koonce Avery
What Do You Say When You Don’t Know What To Say? My heart broke when I read the obituary. A young woman had tragically lost her life. I felt I needed to do something for her family, but was not sure what to do. What would I say? I have lost family members to death, but nothing compares to the loss of a child. I couldn’t think of anything appropriate. Actually, I didn’t know what would be appropriate. It is so easy to say the wrong thing, and the last thing I wanted to do was make this horrendous heartbreak worse for the family. I did some research and discovered that there are some things that you should—and should not—say to a grieving family. A hug is usually appreciated, and you can tell the family that you love them and are praying for them; then do not forget to do that, especially in the weeks and months following the loss. It is OK to tell them you are sorry, and that your heart is breaking, too. One grieving grandmother told me that when she went to her family doctor for a checkup he told her that there were just no words to describe what he was feeling. In doing this, he conveyed his sympathy without diminishing the enormity of the loss. You can also take your cues from the person who is grieving. They may want
to talk about their family member, or reminisce about a certain time in their loved one’s life. The best way to show your sympathy is just to be there to listen and support them. In our Southern culture, bringing food is a big part of showing how much we care. If you don’t like to cook, though, don’t despair. Grab a stack of disposable plates, cups, napkins, and utensils to bring to the family. I must admit I had never thought to do this until my sister-in-law passed away. A couple of dear souls did just that, and it kept us from having to wash dishes during that trying time. Two years later, when we lost my husband’s mother, a relative offered to stay at our house during the visitation and funeral service. This is a good and practical thing to do. The service times are published in the newspaper, and it is a prime opportunity for a thief to break in an unoccupied house. There are some things that should not be voiced to a family that is suffering through grief. Don’t tell them that Heaven has gained another angel. I do not believe that we become angels when we die. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of
salvation?” I also do not believe that our loved ones who have gone on before us are watching over us. A while back I watched a TV show about a mother whose son had died, and she actually prayed to him for help and guidance every day! Another cliché that is often used is telling the grieving family that their loved one is in a better place. This may be true, but it does not diminish the grief they are feeling right now. The same is true for “Everything happens for a reason”. What they need right now is comfort and support. If God chooses to enlighten them sometime in the future about their loved one’s passing that is wonderful, but saying this when their pain is fresh will not comfort grief-stricken parents who are trying to come to grips with the loss of their child. Also, do not say, “I know just how you feel” unless you have walked in their shoes. When all is said and done, the best thing to do is to rely on your common sense. As best you can, think how you would feel in a similar situation, and refrain from saying anything that you think would make your hurt worse. By all means, though, be there to offer Christ-like love. Many times, that is enough.
Nora grew up in Trenton, NC and now resides with her husband, Eddie, in Cove City, NC. They are members of Wintergreen OFWB Church, and she serves as the Woman’s Auxiliary Vice President. She and Eddie have two sons and three grandchildren. Nora enjoys photography and reading.
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After a December without a Cragmont Christmas last year, December 4–7, 2014 witnessed its return “better than ever.” The Cragmont staff with old friends and new celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with “A Cragmont Christmas on Main Street.” It was a “main street” affair as we visited Black Mountain’s main street for their Holly Jolly Christmas on Cherry Street. We spent a day on an “Our State Main Street” Christmas. The Christmas crew traveled to the main road in Bostic, North Carolina. Really this is the only road in Bostic, but what fun we had as we discovered where Abraham Lincoln was really born. The day’s adventures continued with other locations sited in the North Carolina state magazine, Our State. We visited Washburn’s General Store that was established in 1831 and had lunch in Forest City’s Smith’s Drugs known for its amazing pimento cheese. The weekend took us from “jolly” to history to music and food as we dined and were entertained at Crest Mountain. “Christmas on Main Street” included more, but this is enough to assure you we
had a main line time at Cragmont. So make plans to join us in about twelve months in December 2015 at a “Sugar Plum Cragmont Christmas.”
Old into New
The Velma’s Hearth renovation project has entered Phase Two. The work began in November with upgrading the storage shed at the back door of the kitchen. It quickly moved into the enclosed portion of the porch located in front of the kitchen. This area is becoming our new panwashing/storage area. The health inspector made a visit to make sure all renovations will meet the county/state codes. Next the builder will start on a major facelift to the ‘old’ dining area so it will match the new dining area completed last winter. The last but not least we are still hoping for enough funds left in the renovation account to purchase some new kitchen equipment. It is with great anticipation and excitement that Cragmont staff and supporters await the completion of the Velma’s Hearth Project. Join us in turning “the old into new.”
Cragmont Assembly
Cragmont Christmas Returns
1233 North Fork Road • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • (828) 669.7677 • www.cragmontassembly.com
What’s Happening at Cragmont?
Cragmont’s New Year’s Wish List Lots and lots and lots of visitors throughout 2015 Lot and lots of summer campers • Lots of prayers And, of course, your gifts for the support of Cragmont. 17
with David Morrow
God’s Blessings Will Be Well with You At the beginning of each New Year, most individuals select specific behaviors that they want to change. However, new habits do not usually translate into long-term behavioral change, unless a person is able to identify why he or she had the unwanted behavior, and what new behavior will replace the old behavior with an understanding of why it is more appropriate. Anne Wilson Schaef wrote a book in 1988 called When Society Becomes an Addict. This book details how the world culture of the twentieth century is pathologically focused on the ways in which we hope to find self-worth. As individuals make these inappropriate substitutions, the relationships in their lives become empty, lonely, and full of despair. The appreciation for developing quality familial relationships around the dinner table has significantly diminished in our society. Focusing on other things, such as work, school, sex, alcohol, drugs, and even church activities, can hamper couples and families from experiencing the intimate connection that Psalms 128 declares will “be well with you.” The following is this author’s own translation of this beautiful passage: 1 Song of Ascents: Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways. 2 You will eat the product of your hands; your blessedness will be well with you. 3 Your wife is like a fruitful vine by the sides of your house; your sons are like
slips of olive shoots around your table. 4 Surely will be blessed the man who fears Yahweh. 5 Yahweh will bless you from Zion and you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 And you will see sons of your sons: Peace upon Israel. Imagine yourself for a moment as a farmer who is listening to these words for the first time. You have been taught all of your life about the ways of God. You have heard the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Moses, Joshua, and others. You recognize that walking in the ways of Yahweh is in your own best interest. You have enjoyed some times where your crops have been plentiful. All of that seems great. Then, you hear that your wife is like a fruitful vine by the sides of the house. You know that a fruitful vine growing there is a tremendous resource. As a farmer, you also know that you must provide that fruitful vine the environment that it needs. You can’t (or shouldn’t) just treat that vine like any other vine. You have to investigate and specifically know the needs of your vine, which may be different from another vine. You must provide the right amount of water, fertilizer, and ensure that it has good sunlight. Otherwise, it will stop producing fruit. It then occurs to you that if your wife (or husband) is like that,
then you must do what you can to provide the right environment for her or him to become all God created him or her to be. You can be assured that if you do your part in providing that environment, then most likely your vine will continue to produce fruit. By providing the environment that your spouse needs, she or he will most likely produce the environment that meets your needs. You also know that olive trees will live about 500 years and then the tree above ground will die, but the root system will not. Around the base of the trunk, olive shoots begin to sprout. Once the dead part of the tree has been cut down, these olive shoots will become the new branches. Therefore your olive shoots that are around your table will help your family live forever. As you focus on the behaviors you want to change, remember the “ways of the LORD” brings peace. Family is where the sense of self and happiness begins. Be satisfied with what you can do with your hands. Don’t look outside yourself for the sense of who you are. Providing that your family is not abusive, recognize the peace that comes from family being together, and let it “be well with you.” Otherwise you may be destined to join those who are a part of the society that has become addicted to things or activities that ultimately will not foster peace.
David Morrow is a graduate of Campbell University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Master’s of Divinity in pastoral counseling. His is a licensed marriage and family therapist and also an ordained minister. He has 23 years of experience in the mental health field and works for CareNet Counseling East. His offices are located in Greenville, and Kinston, North Carolina. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music, spending time with his family, and playing golf. 18
God’s people seeking His favor! Home Missions & Evangelism
2600 W. Vernon Avenue • Kinston, NC 28504 • (252) 526.9908
For the lost, families, people, pastors, churches, and our nation
A call to all Original Free Will Baptists Friday, January 23, 2015 • 6 p.m.–12 Midnight Sponsored by: Home Missions and Evangelism Hosted by: Kinston First OFWB Church RSVP by January 20, 2015 (252) 526-9908 or online at <www.homemissionsandevangelism.com>
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THE 103RD ANNUAL SESSION of the
ORIGINAL FREE WILL BAPTIST CONVENTION
“STRENGTHENING THE CHURCH” P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwb.org
Convention News
Wednesday–Thursday, May 20–21, 2015 ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE Constantly Improving Our Service to You • More Worship • More Workshops Youth and Experience Working Together • Ministries Answer Your Question Worship Speakers: The Reverend Greg Barnes & Dr. Don Riberio Music Provided by: The Reverends Duane Casey & Eddie Carter, Barry Stallings, Mr. James Kirby, & others
Keys to “Strengthening the Church” include prayer, worship, fellowship, and community service. Workshops for 2015 will explore all of these areas and more. Some workshops include: Small Group Studies—Led by Dr. Brad Williamson, you will learn how to create, develop, and sustain these great learning avenues within your local church. Share the joy of corporate worship with the spiritual intimacy of small group learning. Developing a Youth Activities Center—Ronnie and Josh Hobgood have done this with great success. Let them show you how to provide a place and an atmosphere that will bring young leaders to your church. How to Create and Maintain a Food Bank—Several OFWB Churches are utilizing this area of ministry. Reverend Roger Haithcock and the Rose Hill Original Free Will Baptist Church share their keys to success. A Room for Prayer—No workshop or discussion, no PowerPoints or computers…just you and God alone with your hearts. Joe Crumpler will facilitate this quiet place of reflection and prayer for our churches, our denomination, our ministries, and our world.
Many other learning opportunities in the areas of church and community involvement will be offered. Look for their description in future issues of the OFWB Magazine or online at <www.ofwb.org>.
JOIN US for the 2015 Original Free Will Baptist Convention
Original Free Will Baptist Convention Nomination Form
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The following positions are to be filled at the 2015 Convention: • Convention Officers—2 (Secretary, Treasurer) • Executive Committee—3 (Conference Representatives) Albemarle, Paul Palmer, Piedmont, Western • Children’s Home Board—1 • Foreign Missions Board—1 • Home Missions and Evan.—1 • Sunday School Board—3 • Minister’s Program—1 • Retirement Homes—1 • Convention Board of Trustees • Cragmont Board—3 • University of Mount Olive Board of Trustees—5 • Layman’s League—3
I/We would like to nominate ____________________________________ to fill a position on the ____________________________________
The following Commissions each have 1 position available: • Historical Commission, Chaplain’s Commission, • Commission on Education for Christian Ministry • Commission on Youth Ministry and Student Ministry Leadership
Mail your nominations to: Mrs. Carolyn Jernigan, 1895 Easy St. Dunn, North Carolina 28334
Nominations will also be called for from the floor of the Convention.
All Nominations must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2015.
(Name of Board, Commission or Representative)
Each nomination must include a biographical sketch of the person being nominated and why you feel they would be an asset to that ministry, commission, association or foundation.
MICHAEL ENGLISH and the fabulous Wilmington Celebration Choir
Friday Night
July 10, 2015 • 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Kornegay Arena University of Mount Olive
Tickets will be available March 1, 2015 at <www.ofwb.org> or you may reserve your ticket now by calling (252) 560-2845. Visa/MasterCard/Discovery/American Express accepted Limited Artist Circle Seating—$20 • General Admission—$15 Sponsorships are also available. Call (252) 746-4963 for details. 21
A deeper look inside this month’s lessons from the OFWB Foundation Curriculum and commentaries based on the International Sunday School Lessons.
As we continue to study “Acts of Worship,” we turn in Unit 2 to prayer as an essential part of worship, both public and private. “Learning to Pray” is the topic this month; indeed, prayer is a life-long learning experience for every disciple of Christ Jesus. The title for the first lesson (Luke 11:1–13) is “A Model Prayer.” The second lesson, “Jesus Prays for the Disciples,” comes from John 17, which could also serve as a model prayer for us. In lesson three from Hebrews 4 and 5 we learn that, as our High Priest, “Jesus Intercedes for Us.” Our study concludes in lesson four (“We Pray for One Another”) as we learn from James 5 that prayer for others is not only a command but a privilege—prayer is faith in action. The request of the disciples in lesson one gets us started in the right direction— “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). It may seem strange that Jesus’ disciples, of all people, would need to ask to be taught to pray. But do you really know how to pray? Do we fully understand that we can pray to God directly, and that it is our privilege and responsibility to pray for others? How do we learn to pray? The disciples had seen Jesus at prayer many times, but this time they ask him to teach them. One of the ways we learn
to pray is by listening to others. But those who seem to be the most pious are probably not our best examples. As Jesus said, they tend to have long prayers filled with colorful but empty phrases (Matthew 5:5, 7). I remember as a child standing in church after the last hymn with a prayer in my heart, “Please don’t call on Mr. So-andso for the benediction!” There are many different types of prayers: invocation, benediction, offertory, thanksgiving, intercessory, etc. Some people have the same prayer regardless of the occasion (at least in public; I do hope their private prayers are different, although it’s doubtful). The disciples had a good example to follow, but Jesus also gave them a model prayer, which we generally refer to as The Lord’s Prayer. Did Jesus intend for them to memorize and recite this prayer, or did he mean for them to use it as a model for their own prayers – or maybe both? One way we learn is by reciting a memorized prayer or reading a written one. A few people are very good with impromptu prayers; the rest of us need to give it some forethought or even to write down some prayers. That is the way we learn. I read about a minister who was once given a document by a member of the congregation. For some
with Adrian Grubbs
time she had been recording his prayers in shorthand. After awhile she transcribed them and gave him a copy. He learned a lot about prayer that week. Do our prayers resemble the model that Jesus gave us? What about position? Is there a proper position for praying? Must you kneel, bow your head, and close your eyes? I have a friend who has meaningful prayer time while driving a long stretch of interstate every day; he certainly should not close his eyes while praying. What about language? Are there magical words, phrases, or formulas to assure that our prayers reach their intended destination, or guarantee that when used correctly God is bound to grant our requests? The answer to all the above is, “No.” After teaching the disciples the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus gave a couple of illustrations that are easily misinterpreted. A quick reading of the first (Luke 11:7–10) may leave us with the impression that if we pester God enough, He will likely give us what we ask. But the point Jesus was making is that God is more responsive than our dearest friend. The second (11–13) is similar: God is far better at responding to our needs than even a good human parent.
H. Adrian Grubbs, Jr., was born in Dade City, Florida, to the Rev. Herman A. and Lillian Kinard Grubbs. The family moved to Mount Olive, NC, in 1959. Adrian was ordained in the Eastern Conference in 1963 and has served eight churches. After a 30-year pastorate at Deep Run OFWB Church he retired in 2007 because of vocal problems. Grubbs has served the denomination as President of the Sunday School Convention, Moderator of the Eastern Conference, member of the Eastern Conference Ministerial Examining Board, and is currently on the Mount Olive College Board of Trustees. Adrian and Jo Ann have one son, two daughters, and six grandchildren.
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“On Lying in the Street” “What’s the purpose of lying in the street?” Someone posed this question to me, recently, after I posted pictures of a protest in which I participated in Richmond. The person asking was referring to a manner in which a group of individuals would lie down on their backs, as if they were dead, in municipal buildings, university campuses, city streets, and other venues. This has come to be referred to as a “die-in,” a term which echoes the civil rights movement’s “sit-in” method of demonstration. I don’t know if the question was sincere, or if it was prodding. I’m not sure if the person genuinely wanted to know, or if he was asking scornfully, mocking the significance of such a symbolic gesture. The bodies in question at the protest in Richmond belonged to black, white, Middle Eastern, Latina/o, and Asian young adults. We gathered on the evening of December 3, 2014, to voice our lamentations and frustrations with the recent grand jury decisions surrounding the deaths of Mike Brown and, on that day in particular, Eric Garner. Garner was choked to death by a police officer on a city street, in broad daylight, on camera, while crying out eleven times that he was unable to breathe.
When a friend and I joined the protest that evening, we were unsure what the leaders, who were all young adults from a local university, had in store. Following their lead, I joined roughly 50 to 75 others on the cold black asphalt, lying down on the street, in cooperation with the police, looking up at a stoplight on one of Richmond’s major thoroughfares at roughly 10:30 p.m. I admit that I, too, asked myself the above mentioned question after assuming this position with a group of strangers whom I didn’t know. Obviously, I knew why we had gathered. I had seen images from other protests in which groups had done the same thing. But in the actual moment of taking a seat and lying down on the street, I began examining my motivations and considering the wider symbolic meaning behind this public display. So, why did I lie down? The simplest answer, at the risk of sounding trite, is because I’m a Christian. Following the Gospel narratives, Jesus proclaimed the in-breaking of God’s reign into human history, and he called this good news. Following the tradition of the prophets, who had also been arrested, mistreated, and oppressed, Jesus held to a faith rooted in the belief that God was bringing release
to the captives, sight to the blind, and liberty to the oppressed. Those were reasons enough for me to lie down and gaze up at the sky for eleven minutes, remembering the eleven times Eric Garner begged to be released from the suffocating chokehold. But I participated for other reasons, too. Of the roughly 300 people who gathered, the overwhelming majority were under the age of 30. For this particular swath of young adults, this is where they sensed the movement of what I take the liberty to call the Holy Spirit. (Different individuals certainly would use other cultural or religious language.) Since this column space is dedicated to the faith of young adults, it would be unfortunate to ignore the movements taking place across the nation, as in Richmond, in which young people from all backgrounds are naming out loud the places in our communities where God’s reign has yet to fully breakin. These young adults are longing for justice to roll down like a mighty stream, boldly claiming the sacred nature of all human life, and working to prepare the way for every life to flourish. This is a vision worthy of being called good news. This is why I chose to lie in the street.
Marc Boswell is from Saratoga, NC, where he grew up as a member of Spring Branch OFWB Church. He is ordained in the Central Conference and currently lives in Richmond, VA, where he is working toward the completion of a Ph.D. in the fields of Theology and American Religious History at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
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P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbsundayschool.org
Sunday School Ministry
Ideas for Marketing the Church “Focus on Christian Education” 1. Prepare a mission statement for the church/Sunday School program. • Everyone in membership should help. • Should be completed within a 6-month time frame from the beginning of the assessment. • The denominational mission statement would be a good model or you can use some or all of it. 2. Publish the mission statement in bulletins and newsletters. 3. Prepare a copy of the mission statement suitable for framing for each family to carry home. 4. Prepare a copy of the mission statement suitable for framing and place it in each classroom. 5. Prepare a large poster size of the mission statement, frame it and place it in a prominent place in the church so that everyone and guests can see it. 6. Place a copy of the mission statement in any handbooks you prepare for visitation/outreach. 7. Use bulletins for Sunday attendees and carry on home visits. 8. Publish newsletters and send to church members, Sunday School members, any interested people, businesses, doctor’s offices, beauty shops/barber shops, etc. 9. Place advertisements of special events and/or regular services in newspapers, community bulletin boards on TV and radio. 10. Prepare a guest package to be given to all guests and to be used when visiting. 11. Design and use a church website. 12. Videotape all activities of the church within a year for presentation at some time during the year. 13. Invite people in the community to VBS. 14. Have T-shirts printed for the members of the church/ Sunday School and wear them to Youth Conventions, community festivals, and/or whenever you can. 15. Participate with organizations such as “Meals on Wheels” to serve community members. 16. Consider an After-School Program to mentor children. 17. Consider a one-day-a-week program for senior citizens in the community. It might take the form of an adult daycare program. 18. Prepare business cards for every member of the church to give to anyone they meet to let them know where they go to church. This would be good for teens as well as adults. 19. Consider using a billboard as your community permits.
20. Take a phone survey of the community to see who goes to church and who doesn’t. 21. Carry a plate of goodies or a meal coupon to people moving into the community. 22. See if a local grocery store would let children decorate paper grocery bags to advertise your church. Some of them still use paper if you ask. 23. Use the “Jesus” Video project and follow up on places where the videos were passed out. 24. Advertise and have a prayer walk around your neighborhood or community. Get as many people involved as you can. 25. Plan and have socials for people in the community. 26. Prepare a package about your church and from time to time walk to every house in the community and hang the package on the door knobs.
Ideas for Recruitment of Church Workers 1. Establish a recruitment committee whose job would be to come up with ideas. 2. Have a church ministry fair and focus on different activities of the ministries and roles of different workers. (Similar to a Job Fair) 3. Implement written surveys identifying people and their abilities. 4. Have church wide classes on church growth and leadership. 5. Interview potential workers. 6. Get referrals from other people in the church. 7. Post general notices in the bulletin and on posters that can be sent to each home. 8. Have a recruitment day. 9. Establish a “shadowing” program in which potential workers “shadow” the present workers to learn what their job really is. 10. Encourage your teenagers to get involved with Sunday School teachers as helpers. 11. Establish job descriptions for workers. 12. Prepare a policies and procedures handbook for the church workers. 13. Consider service contracts for the church workers.
Eleventh Annual
Ministers’ Wives and Widows Retreat Plus Women in Ministry Cragmont Assembly Black Mountain, North Carolina The Original Free Will Baptist Sunday School Ministry is sponsoring the Eleventh Annual Ministers’ Wives and Widows Retreat at Cragmont Assembly, Black Mountain, North Carolina, beginning Thursday, January 22 and ending with Sunday morning worship on January 25, 2015. This year we will be focusing on a Bible study which will bring us closer to God by understanding His grace. Our theme will be “Cafe Chocolat.” Through these sessions, it is hoped that one might come to understand God’s active nature and realize He is always active and engaged in our lives. Even when we can’t see Him, we know He is constantly on the move and working. During the weekend you may choose to shop, hike, sleep, sing, or just relax in front of the fire. We feel that this is truly going to be an uplifting weekend for the minister’s wife or widow and even other women in ministry. We will have several special surprises available during the spare time as well to help us relax and reflect. Registration is simple. Complete the following information and mail it to Mary Dudley at P. O. Box 39, Ayden, NC 28513. The information could also be emailed to <director@ofwbsundayschool.org>. The cost of the weekend is $150 inclusive. The registration should be received by January 17, 2015. If you need it, transportation will be arranged for you. We are hoping to have a comfortable bus for travel. If you are not already a member, we invite you to come and become a member of the Cinderella Sisters Support Group. (You can also register online by going to our website: www.ofwbsundayschool.org)
Name:_ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________________________ State:_________ Zip:___________________ Telephone:____________________________________________ E-mail:_______________________________________________ Any Special Diet Needs You Might Have:___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28–30) 25
Book reviews in this column are not meant to reflect any theological or political positions.
Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1981. Second Edition, 1984. 286 pages. “Moral Disagreement Today and the Claims of Emotivism” (6–22); “Emotivism: Social Content and Social Context (23–35); “The Predecessor Culture” (36–50). ISBN 0-268-0061103.
Modern society lacks moral agreement on numerous issues: 1) the waging of war, 2) the decision of abortion, and 3) the rules of taxation. People have conflicting points of view which create a moral dilemma: 1) “justice and innocence are at odds with premises which invoke success and survival,” 2) “rights are at odds with those which invoke universality,” and 3) “the claim of liberty” is “against that of liberty” (8). Arguments of morality have an “assertion and counter-assertion” (8), no common ground to link the two into a thread of wholeness. In short, MacIntyre believes that “contemporary moral disagreements of a certain kind cannot be resolved” (11). Such a moral confusion leads to the theory of emotivism, namely, “the doctrine that all evaluative judgments and more specifically all moral judgments are nothing but expressions of preference, expressions of attitude or feeling, insofar as they are moral or evaluative in character” (11–12). The experience of Jesus with the presence of the Father influenced his moral judgments.
What is the Standard for Morality? G. E. Moore’s Principle Ethica (1903) carries an announcement of a standard for ethics: 1) What is good can be determined by a person’s intuitions, 2) An action is right if it produces the most good, and 3) The greatest good for humanity is a combination of friendship and contemplation of the beautiful. What does MacIntyre make of Moore’s standard for morality? What is good or right relates not to an objective moral standard but to a person’s “feelings and attitudes, disguising the expression of preference and whim by an interpretation of their own utterance and behavior which confers upon it an objectivity that it does not in fact possess” (17). In other words, the objective and so-called impersonal criteria of rightness, goodness, friendship, or beauty are an expression not of universality but of personal preference. Are objective and impersonal standards of morality possible? MacIntyre believes not for three reasons: First, what appears objective is a “rational justification for particular policies, actions and judgments” (19). Second, principles of what is good or what is beautiful are a “mask for expressions of personal preference” (19). Third, moral standards are accepted through practice rather than through objectivity.
What then is left in our modern culture? Emotivism? MacIntyre believes so. Emotivism reduces morality to personal preference. What was morality in the past “has to some large degree disappeared” and MacIntyre believes emotivism “marks a degeneration, a grave cultural loss” (22).
Manipulative and Non-Manipulative Social Relations What is the foundation of morality? MacIntyre believes there is one hallmark standard: “the difference between a human relationship uninformed by morality and one so informed is precisely the difference between one in which each person treats the other primarily as a means to his or her ends and one in which each treats the other as an end” (23). Martin Buber called this distinction in relationship the I-It relationship (person as an object and the means to an end) versus the I-THOU relationship (person as a valued subject and an end in the self ).
The Emotivist Self as the Modern Dilemma What is the emotivist self? MacIntyre sees this as the dilemma of modern individuality, because the individual is free to think, act, feel, and judge without the social boundaries once a part of culture. MacIntyre sees the politics of modern society as an oscillation “between a freedom which is nothing but a lack of regulation of individual behavior” versus “forms of collectivist control designed only to limit the anarchy of self-interest” (35). Likewise, the language of morality has no tradition, no ultimate principles as issues move back and forth in conflict.
Conclusion Can we find a set of principles that ought to be agreed upon by all people? Can reason give us such a morality? What about each individual, each class, each conflict of desires? What about “the rival claims of rival desires” (48)? Are there any “general and unconditional rules” (49) of morality? Is morality the work of reason (Kant’s view) or the work of passions (Hume’s view)? Has the modern world failed to provide “a shared, public rational justification for morality” (50)? continued on next page
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The Bible speaks to us but the Psalms speak for us. The Lord wants us to be people with desires and expectations that are motivating and enriching. But in this fallen world, the disappointment of some hopes are inevitable. How can we determine where to place our hope and the way to respond if it’s not fulfilled? Hope is secure when it is aligned with God’s desires, which are revealed in the Bible. Psalm 42:1–2 says, “As the [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Disappointment with God has the potential to occur whenever our expectations do not coincide with His plans. The key to contentment and joy lies in placing our hopes under the umbrella of our ultimate hope in the Lord. Keep in mind that God is sovereign and good and He always wants what is best for us and never makes a mistake. Rest in His goodness. Do not let the stresses of the day steal your Psalm. Linda Herring is married to Vernon Herring. They have two children, Amy and Vernon and three grandchildren, Jenna, Jared, and Noah. Linda is an active member of the White Oak Grove OFWB Church in LaGrange, NC. Linda leads a Bible study group, Circle of Friends. She has been a drama director of two dramas that she wrote, They Called His Name Jesus and The Book of Ruth. She is a resource for the OFWB Woman’s Auxiliary. Her outreach ministry includes this column in TFWB, a radio broadcast by the same name (aired on WAGO 88.7 FM), and a weekly devotional article for the La Grange Weekly Gazette and The Sampson Weekly. She also has a devotion book printed by the Mount Olive College Press.
Printing is our Passion!
Bookmarks • Brochures • Newsletters Stationery • Business Cards • Business Forms Tracts • Pew Cards • Offering Envelopes Church & Wedding Programs • and More!
1.800.849.3927 Book Corner continued from previous page
In short, MacIntyre calls us out of the complacency of our emotivism and invites us to examine in more detail the thread of morality that is missing in modern culture. Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us of the importance of ethics as described by Jesus and his persistent I-Thou relationship to humanity. Jesus reminds us of an ethical life in the Beatitudes, which are sayings. Beatitude comes from the Latin beatitudo, which translates as supremely blessed or happy. Among the Beatitudes as translated in the Contemporary English Version (CEV) and the King James Version are these
eight: 1) God blesses all who are humble, who do not boast and brag. The earth will belong to them. 2) God blesses all who want to do right more than they want to eat or drink. 3) God blesses all who show compassion and forgive. They will be treated with mercy. 4) God blesses all who make peace. 5) God blesses all who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. 6) God blesses all whose hearts are pure. 7) God blesses all who depend only on Him. 8) God blesses all who feel sadness. They will find comfort.
Pepper Worthington was born in Kinston, NC, and married an OFWB retired minister, Michael Gauker Warning, in 1996. The Rev. Warning served as pastor to Free Union OFWB at Sea Level, NC. She received her B.A. degree cum laude at Meredith College in 1965, her M.L.A. degree at Johns Hopkins University in 1969, and her Ph.D. with Phi Kappa Phi honors at the University of Maryland at College Park in 1976. She has been a professor of English at Mount Olive College since 1979. She is also currently the director of the Mount Olive College Press.
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P. O. Box 210 • Mount Olive, NC 28365-0210 • (919) 658.5250 • admin@ncfcm.org • rwarren@ncfcm.org
NC Foundation for Christian Ministries
If it takes another year or two to get back to where we were before the recession, you’re basically at eight years; not a complete decade but pretty close. 1
A Lost Decade for Giving Introduction
If the reader has attended the meetings of his or her local congregation over the last several years he or she is probably aware that giving is not as strong as it was before 2008. While this is not true for all churches, statistical data shows that giving has been generally lower during this period across the nation and it seems to be true for many Original Free Will Baptist Churches as well. The result is that many of our churches are having a difficult time financially and the same is true of our denominational ministries. The causes of this are many and complex but the “Great Recession” certainly had a large effect on giving. The question then is, with the economy seeing improvement, when can we expect to see giving return to previous levels?
Signs of Hope “A return to pre-recession levels for charitable giving might come sooner than originally projected after last year’s estimated 4.4% growth in overall giving, led as usual by individual giving,” writes Mark Hrywna in the July 2014 issue of The Non Profit Times. Projections last year anticipated a return to pre-recession giving could 28
be as many as six or seven years away. The new data, however, show that if giving continues at its current 4.2% pace over the past two years, prerecession levels could be reached as early as 2015. If it takes another year or two to get back to where we were before the recession, you’re basically at eight years; not a complete decade but pretty close. 1
be an encouragement to churches and ministries because it shows our people are more generous than most and therefore we should not suffer the effects of economic down turns as much as other charities. It was also noted that religious giving continues to be the largest category of charitable giving, accounting for 31% of all charitable giving.
Signs of Commonality
Signs of Warning
In the same article, it was noted that there is a strong correlation between giving in general and attendance at houses of worship. People who actively practice faith generally exceed others in generosity. That should
There are signs of a common hope, but in the case of religious charities like churches and ministries, a warning should also be sounded. While religious giving represents the largest portion of charitable giving,
religious giving continued to be flat or down for the fifth consecutive year. Going back to 2000, the total giving to religion, in inflation-adjusted dollars, has remained relatively unchanged, up just 1.3% during those 14 years.
Short Term Strategies While churches and ministries must be responsible stewards and pay their bills, the immediate response of cutting ministries to balance budgets is not the Christian response. Like the children of Israel who complained to Moses that they would rather die slaves in Egypt than liberated children of God in the desert, we can be too quick to abandon our Christian mission to know Christ and make Him known. The way to the promised land is before us, not behind us.
Long Term Strategies A more faithful approach would be to cut waste and reinvent methods of ministry where needed but then also work to increase giving by returning the church to the vibrant spiritual body of Christ it once was. Giving to educational institutions,
Giving to Religious Organizations Versus Other Nonprofits. Households that contribute to religious organizations tend to give more, both in dollars per donation and in percentage of income donated. In both cases, households that give to religious organizations donate about twice as much as households that give to secular organizations.
Type of Charity • All* • Religious • Secular
Average donation if giving $1,872 $1,703 $863
% of income if giving 2.2% 1.8% 0.9%
Source: The Nonprofit Almanac. Note: The “All” row contains donation statistics for everyone who contributed to an organization of any type.
humanities, and the environment has increased in recent years because those institutions have made themselves relevant and known. Churches and ministries must do the same.
Foundation Strategies The Foundation can help churches and ministries prepare for future periods of giving shortfalls. We believe that every church and ministry should establish an
Retirement Income Comparison 1. National Average 12-month CD rate (Source: Bankrate.com)
endowment then encourage ministry supporters to add to the fund with direct giving, memorial gifts, bequests from their estates, or any combination of these and other options The Foundation has at its disposal. For more information, call our office today at (919) 658-5250 or email us at <admin@ncfcm.org>. 1. Source: http://www.thenonprofittimes.com Accessed December 4, 2014
CD Rate 1 (Oct. 5, 2014) Annuity Rate 2 (at age 70)
0.26% 5.1%
2. Lifetime rate from the Foundation for a person age 70
The Foundation gratefully acknowledges these gifts given during September of 2014 in honor or memory of those listed. • r • In Memory of • q • Mr. Shelton Rhodes
By First FWB Church Goldsboro
Mr. Willie Eason
• r • In Honor of • q • Mrs. Mary Moore Dudley By Ms. Bertie A. Sanders
Mr. Connie Weeks
By Mr. and Mrs. Gene T. Jernigan
By Ms. Bertie A. Sanders
Mrs. Beth Hawley
The Reverend Frank R. Harrison
By Mr. and Mrs. Gene T. Jernigan
Mrs. Karen Moore Medlin
By Mr. and Mrs. Gene T. Jernigan
By Ricky and Angela Warren
Ms. Nancy Westfall
By Ricky and Angela Warren
Miss Becky Jo Sumner
By Ms. Dianne Brown Riley
Mrs. Miriam Lamm
By Ms. Dianne Brown Riley
Mrs. Kathy Cahoon
By Ms. Dianne Brown Riley
Mr. Charles L. (Sonny)
By Ms. Dianne Brown Riley
Mr. Charles L. (Sonny)
By Mrs. Brenda W. Cockrell
The Reverend Ray Wells
By Hull Road OFWB Church 29
Camp Vandemere
215 N 3rd Street • Vandemere, NC 28587 • (252) 670-9775 • www.campvandemereinc.org
H
ere we are in 2015! Can you believe how quickly time goes by? The Camp Vandemere Board of Directors has spent many hours in meetings this past year! We have come a long way and made lots of progress, although it seems like it has taken forever! Construction is going on at The Camp and we’ve sent out pictures over email and other media to keep everyone informed. Our buildings are under way and things are changing daily. We have nearly met our goal on our bunk beds and mattresses. Thank you for your contributions towards this project. We are still raising funds to supply the kitchen appliances and other items needed to operate, like pots, pans, utensils, sheet pans, and other things that are generally needed in the kitchen. We are very close to
being able to set an opening date. When we open, we will need all this equipment in place, so let me encourage you to push forward once more to raise monies to fund these items. We are getting excited about operating once more. I’d also remind everyone that we still have operating costs along with building the new buildings. Please continue your monthly or quarterly financial support for The Camp. We surely want to start operations as soon as our buildings are complete! Our pledge monies continue to come in, and for that we are truly grateful! We will continue to distribute pictures and information about the progress here at the camp as we move forward with the construction process! Please continue to pray for the camp ministry! We truly want God to be pleased with our efforts in rebuilding The Camp and the future of Camp Vandemere. Along with this article are pictures of our ground breaking ceremony on September 21, 2014. We had nearly 150 people at The Camp for this event. There are also pictures of the construction that had been going on in December. We will be having work days twice monthly until we can open! These work days will be the second and fourth Saturdays in the months of January, February, March, and April. We are setting these days now so that if you or a group from your area or church gets a chance to come and help one of these days, we can get things accomplished that need to be done. We’ll be building ramps and decks along with other items that will have to be completed before we open for business! If you plan on coming on one of these workdays, please call Rick Price at (252) 670-9775 so we can schedule our work and also our food for the day!
Thank you, and may God bless you! Camp Vandemere Director and Board of Directors 30
2015 Cragmont Woman’s Retreat (s) Registration Form
Name:_ _______________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ Phone:___________________________ Church:_ _____________________________________________ Emergency Contact:___________________________________ Phone #:___________________________
Woman’s Auxiliary
Please complete ONE form per person (make copies as needed) and mail with $25 nonrefundable registration fee to: Joan H. Little, 7063 Stantonsburg Road, Farmville, NC 27828 (make check payable to Cragmont Woman’s Retreat).
Rooms assigned when registration fee & form received. _____ I need a downstairs room due to medical reasons (Limited Availability). Roommates desired:______________________________________________________________________ Lodging request:
_____ Main Bldg. (2–4 per room) _____ Upstairs _____ Downstairs
_____ Lodge (3–4 per room)
_____ Motel (2–4 per room) _____ Hollifield House (6–8 per room)
_____ Girls Dorm _____ Boys Dorm _____ Floyd House (8)
CHECK Retreat and all related information which relates to that retreat. _____ Morning Star Retreat (April 10–12) • Speaker: Kathy Hayes _____ $25 registration fee enclosed ($80 [meals/lodging] due to Cragmont upon arrival). _____ Dayspring Retreat (June 10–13) • Speaker: Miriam Lamm/Jane Gainey _____ $25 registration fee enclosed ($90 [meals/lodging] due to Cragmont upon arrival). _____ Dayspring Retreat also welcomes couples/families. _____ Cornerstone Retreat (August 2–7) • Speaker: Kristie Bailey _____ $25 registration fee enclosed ($125 [meals/lodging] due to Cragmont upon arrival). _____ I plan to ride the bus at a cost of $55 (Travel Day—Sunday) The side trip will be to see Unto These Hills in Cherokee. Total Cost for side trip is $50 (Includes bus, meal, and performance) _____ $50 is enclosed for side trip. (MUST be received by July 1, 2015) _____ Emmanuel Retreat (September 11–13) • Speaker: Sharlene Howell $25 registration fee enclosed ($80 [meals/lodging] due to Cragmont upon arrival). 31
Community Connector
New Sandy Hill Church News December held many exciting things for New Sandy Hill Church. The first Sunday in advent was carried out by the youth of the church. They taught the Sunday School classes, led the worship service, sang songs, recited verses, and lighted the Advent wreath. On the second Sunday of Advent evening the woman’s auxiliary and the adult choir hosted a Christmas caroling event. There were solos presented, choir specials, and Christmas blessings from the auxiliary. Everyone had the opportunity to request their favorite Christmas song for all to sing together. It was a great evening of worship. The adult choir wore there new choir robes. They worked together earlier in the year to gather the funds to purchase the robes. Staff from Cross and Crown Christian Store of the Free Will Baptist Press in Ayden, NC came out and took measurements and placed the order for our beautiful robes. We were excited to wear them on the second Sunday of Advent, as we presented O Come, O Come Emmanuel as special music. On December 7 our youth had participated in the town of Bailey Christmas parade. Their float was a boat owned by New Sandy Hill church member, Tim Wilson. It was decorated with garland, and signs with the church name and the youth group name JOY (Jesus Others You). Pastor Anderson Barnes and several of the youth and leaders rode on the float. They won the first place blue ribbon for their efforts.
Church & Ministry Positions Available • Oak Grove Church in Newton Grove, NC is seeking a part-time pastor. For more information, contact Anthony Thornton at (910) 590-6329 or mail resumes to Oak Grove Church, P. O. Box 389, Newton Grove, NC 28366. • Hull Road OFWB Church is looking for a full-time associate/youth pastor. We are located in Greene County near Snow Hill, NC. We are seeking someone who has a passion for serving the Lord and has a desire to work with the youth and the church. For more information, call Jacob Turnage at (252) 559-9808 or e-mail résumés to <jaimeharrisonmoore@gmail.com>. You may also mail résumés to: Hull Road OFWB Church, c/o Jacob Turnage, 3984 Hull Road, Snow Hill, NC 28580. • Ordained Minister (38 years experience) is seeking opportunities to serve. Will fill in for vacations, sickness, interim, or pastoral. Available now. Please contact: Braxton Carter at (919) 553-7246 [H] or (919) 868-5923 [M] or by e-mail at <preacherbrack@aol.com>. • Hickory Chapel Church in Ahoskie, NC, is seeking a full-time pastor. For more information, contact Sandy White by phone at (252) 395-1025 or by e-mail at <bands1@centurylink.net>. You may send résumés to: Hickory Chapel Church, Attn: Sandy White, 531 NC 561 W, Ahoskie, NC 27910. 32
January Promotions available in-store or online at www.mycrossandcrown.com Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life Rick Warren, Daniel Amen, Mark Hyman
Retail $24.99 • On Sale $14.99
Daniel Plan Cookbook: Healthy Eating for Life Retail $29.99 • On Sale $17.99
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
God Will Carry You Through
Sarah Young
Max Lucado
Retail $15.99
Retail $15.99
On Sale $9.59
Fear Not Promise Book
Hope for Each Day Signature Edition
Maker’s Diet Meals
Max Lucado
Billy Graham
Jordan S. Rubin
Retail $16.99 On Sale $13.59
Retail $19.99 On Sale $15.99
Retail $29.99 On Sale $24.97
On Sale $9.59
Save the Date!
V B S
Workshop
2015
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID 28513
USPS 2094-4000
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Saturday, January 31, 2015 @ 10 a.m. Free Will Baptist Press 3928 Lee Street • Ayden, NC This day only: 10% off purchases/orders of VBS kits or products (excludes outlet items). Representatives will be on hand from Standard and Group Publishing to present the new and exciting themes for the coming season.
Refreshments will be available.