But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
July 2014
July 2014 University of Mount Olive Month This is a calendar of denominational events and regular holidays and special days/seasons of the Christian year.
Sunday
Monday 29
As times/dates may change, you can scan the QR code above for a more complete and up-to-date list.
Tuesday
30
Wednesday 1
2
Thursday
Friday
3
Saturday 4
5
Independence Day
Youth Frontier Conference @ Cragmont (June 30–July 5)
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
18
19
25
26
1
2
Pee Dee Youth Conference @ Cragmont (July 7–11)
13
14
15
16
17
General Youth II Conference @ Cragmont (July 14–19)
20
21
22
23
24
General Youth I Conference @ Cragmont (July 21–26)
27
28
29
30
31
Hope for Camp Vandemere Benefit Fundaraiser Young People’s Bible Conference @ Cragmont (July 28–August 1)
6 p.m. @ Antioch Church
Pray for Prodigals By Andrew Mozingo One of my favorite Christian bands is Tenth Avenue North. One of their best songs, and one of my personal favorites, is entitled “Losing.” The chorus belts out for the Father to forgive those who don’t know what they’ve been doing against Him. We can all agree that forgiveness from God is already waiting on us, all we have to do is accept it. However, humans are a poor example of God’s forgiveness. Most of the time we want a person to approach us first and then we will “think” about forgiving them as we also “think” about how they hurt us. It is called holding a grudge and we all do it. As I sat in my office the other day working and listening to music, “Losing” began to play. On any other day I would just blindly and mutedly sing along with the lyrics and tap my fingers on my desk. Unfortunately, the song gave me a different perspective on this particular day as it brought me to tears. Sometime during the previous hours of that day I had gotten into an argument with someone I love very dearly. The argument ended and quite frankly I was unaware if there was a winner or a loser, but by this point in the afternoon I was the one losing. The chorus Tenth Avenue North so beautifully belts out seems to wrap
the most important single point of the Bible—love. And with love comes forgiveness, redemption, grace, mercy, and so much more. As I proceeded to pray and let the song flood my mind and heart I began to think, this must have been what the father of the prodigal son must have been singing and praying as he watched his son walk away. I am now fairly confident the father was praying, “Lord forgive him, he does not know what he is doing.” “Lord keep him safe.” “Lord, Your word has promised me that You would give him back to me. I rest in that.” “Lord, watch over him today as I can’t. I know you will.” Maybe you are like me and have a few prodigal family members. We all have them. You know the type, the deadbeat, the wayward, the lost cause, the outcast, etc. I want to encourage you to pray for those who have become your prodigal. Pray for their safety. Pray for their protection. And most importantly pray for their salvation. Pray that God would reach down through the heavens and pick them up out of their broken desolation and shower His love and mercy upon them. Shouldn’t we be doing this? Praying our prodigals home? While the son was out making a mess of his life (and probably other people’s
lives as well) I guarantee you his father was doing nothing but praying. We are so quick to not only slap a label on someone who has thrown family and Christian values out the window, but we are also quick to worry about them. Please understand that you should have a concern for your lost ones, but God has strictly commanded us not to worry but to pray without ceasing. I love my prodigals. They are my family and my friends, but I am scared to death half the time that they will pass from this earth before they meet Christ as their Savior. However, I have to be reserved to pray for them. And so do you. When we don’t pray for our prodigals we are showing God that we do not have a desire for other’s to know Him. It is not enough to just preach the word, evangelism to foreigners, or live a seemingly sinless life; we have to be praying for lost people. We have to pray for our prodigals, even when we think they don’t deserve forgiveness. And let us remember: we didn’t deserve forgiveness either. “Father won’t You forgive them? They don’t know what they’ve been doing. Father, give me grace to forgive them, because I feel like the one losing.”
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.
2
1
July 2014 Managing Editor Darren Davenport
3
2
Volume 132 • Number 7
editor@fwbpress.com
jerry@fwbpress.com
Circulation, Accounts Receivable Amy Stokes amy@fwbpress.com
Web Administrator, Online Customer Service Andrew Mozingo
■ FEATURES & COLUMNS Reflections: A Guest Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Heavens Declare His Glory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
customer.service@fwbpress.com
Pondering the Past with Celia Hales. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Editorial Assistant Carlton Oakley
Caring for the Soul with David Morrow. . . . . . . . . . . 26
Graphic Designers Jerry Goff, Nathaniel Ingram
From a Woman’s Heart with Nora Koonce Avery. . . . . . 27
Production Team Ronnie Jones, Ted Johnston
Dr. Pepper’s Book Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Lesson Inner View with Adrian Grubbs . . . . . . . . . . . 36 A Sling and a Stone with Marc Boswell. . . . . . . . . . . 38 Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring. . . . . . . . . . . 40
■ DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES www.fwbpress.com President Jeff Daughtry
jeff@fwbpress.com
Vice President Darren Davenport darrend@fwbpress.com
Board of Directors
Frank Flowers (Chairman), Central Mike Scott (Vice Chairman), Eastern Royce Reynolds (Secretary), Albemarle Joe Ballance, Cape Fear • Kelley Smart, Central Nancy Hardee, Pee Dee • Mark Hobbs, Central 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.
University of Mount Olive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Home Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Cragmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Children’s Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
■ ANCILLARY MINISTRIES News & Views. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 NC Foundation for Christian Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . 32 Youth Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Camp Vandemere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
■ COMMUNITY CONNECTION . . ON THE COVER A Jasper Bald Eagle.
. . . . . . 39
Contents
Production Manager Jerry Goff
by The Reverend Frank R. Harrison
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)
The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures clearly affirm the writer’s words in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” In Hebrews 11:3 these words are written: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” And the Apostle Paul expresses this central truth in Colossians 1:16: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” The Apostle John begins his gospel by saying: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1–3). It was God’s command that brought time, space, atoms, and all material of all the worlds into existence. The universe, all material in creation, exploded into existence at God’s command (Big Bang?) and has been expanding ever since. The biblical writer is telling us that time, space, and material (atoms) did not exist until God called them into existence and He is the God of continuing 4
creation. Again John put it beautifully in Revelation 4:11: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” And what a great creation it is! Have you ever stepped outside on a clear cool night to behold God’s great wonders of creation in the heavens? How marvelous is the sky as you behold some six thousand stars and the great Milky Way, our home galaxy. With a pair of binoculars or a small telescope you can see thousands more stars, planets, and even other solar systems such as our twin galaxy, Andromeda which is two and a half million light years away and twice as large as the Milky Way. Of course, some planets such as Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can be seen with the natural eye. In 2009, NASA launched the Kepler Telescope in the search for other star systems with planets and so far have identified over 1200 possible planets that orbit sun-like stars, which raises the question of possible life elsewhere in the universe. Even with the fabulous Hubble Telescope, astronomers cannot see the edge of the known universe. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is 100,000 light-years wide and 10,000 light-years through its center. Currently, we are exploring the planets of our solar system such as Mars with probes on its surface such as Curiosity and Opportunity. The probe Dawn has sent back pictures in stunning detail of an asteroid (Vesta) in 2011–2012, orbiting the asteroid for several months.
The space probe Cassini was launched in 1997 and has enabled scientists to have a close-up look at the beautiful icy and rocky rings of Saturn as well as some of the many moons of Jupiter (65), and its giant red spot, a gaseous storm so large that the entire earth could be dropped into it with room to spare. Voyager I was launched in 1977 on missions to Jupiter and Saturn and left our solar system in 2013, making it the first man-made object to enter interstellar space. Voyager II visited the planet Neptune in 1989, revealing large storms on its surface with winds of 1300 miles per hour. The New Horizons spacecraft was launched in 2006 and will reach Pluto in 2015, exploring and pushing our knowledge of God’s great creation beyond our imaginations! The God that we serve and the God of the Bible is not a local tribal god who can be pinned down to some local mountain, or culture-bound or time-bound formula. Let us remember the words of the prophet Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Nobody can secondguess God, and we humans certainly cannot tell Him how He should have done creation! Today, scientists can only describe what God has done so far as they can understand what He has done. It is the task of science to explore how and why the universe is as it is and how
it works, whether it is the “Big Bang” at the beginning of creation or exploring the depths of life here on earth or the search for life elsewhere. It is God who created the universe, however it came into existence, and all things therein, and it is He who sustains this universe by His word as He gives life to all that is alive as is stated in Nehemiah 9:6: God is the one who “…hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein….” whether it be on earth or on some distant planet in the far reaches of time and space. All truth is of God, whether we agree with it or disagree with it. If it is truth, which sometimes does not fit our boxes, it is truth and God is the source of all truth and enlightenment of mind and spirit and heart. Too often in the past, the church has been on the opposite side of truth. The story of Galileo (1564–1642) and the telescope is a prime example of this when he was imprisoned and threatened with torture if he continued teaching the Copernican system that the earth moves around the sun, and bitterly opposed Galileo’s report on sunspots. In 1632 he published his masterpiece, A Dialogue on the Two Principle Systems of the World. He was called before the Inquisition and after a long trial, the Church officials forced him to recant. He was placed under house arrest and watched for the rest of his life. (At least he did not suffer the fate of Giordano Bruno in 1584 who was burned at the stake for heresy, believing that innumerable suns exists, innumerable earths revolve around these suns and that possibly living beings inhabit these worlds!) It would be well to remember the words of Alfred North Whitehead: “If you have had your attention directed to the novelties of thought in your own
lifetime, you will have observed that almost all really new ideas have a certain aspect of foolishness when they are first produced.” (1925). Two centuries ago the idea of stones (meteorites) falling from the sky was dismissed as folklore! Some months ago, the Roman Catholic Church released a statement saying that belief in the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the Christian faith are not incompatible. God is the Creator of all things and all life, wherever it may be found. Science and theology addressed two different sets of questions and it is our task to integrate those two disciplines into a rational sense of reality. Our galaxy contains possibly 400 billion stars and there are perhaps 200 billion galaxies, some far larger than our Milky Way, each with its billions of stars. With the aid of the Hubble Telescope, breathtaking images of the heavens can be brought into our homes by television as we marvel at God’s great creation. Other telescopes will be launched into space over the next few years such as the James Webb Space Telescope (2018) that will increase our knowledge of God’s great creation on an even greater scale as scientists continue to explore such anomalies as “black holes” where gravity is so great that even light cannot escape its pull, or “dark matter” which seems to compose so much of what we think of as empty space in the universe. Some scientists think that 68% of the universe is made up of “dark matter.” The SETI program is set up to search for evidence of life around distant stars and planets by listening for any patterned radio signals that might be directed toward planet Earth. A number of scientists and astronauts such as Dr. Edgar Mitchell, lunar module pilot for Apollo14 who became the sixth man to walk on the moon, and the late Gordon Cooper (Mercury-Atlas 9)
have been vocal about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, as well as Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 commander. If an “E.T.” is ever detected, whether by some radio signal or a possible visit, it would be one of the most important events in human history. If God created life on this planet (which is our affirmation as the Scriptures affirm), why would He not also perhaps create life elsewhere in this great universe which He has created? It is certainly an interesting possibility! Dr. Bernard Oliver, a long-time associate of the SETI program, has remarked on the possibility that an “interconnecting galactic community of advanced cultures may already exist” (Ian Ridpath, Message from the Stars, p. 243). At least it is interesting to think about the possibility that God may have already created advanced technological, cultural, and spiritual species somewhere in this magnificent universe who may be looking at our star, the sun, and wondering “Is anybody out there?” Indeed, the heavens and the earth declare the glory of God! The Bible is a book that addresses the question of who is God, what is our relationship to Him and to all the creation He has made. It calls us into relationship with the Creator who has come into our world in human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith and the Scriptures call us to follow Jesus Christ as Lord of all creation and to rest in that faith knowing that He holds all creation in His hands and He is the ultimate source of all truth, however new and strange it may seem to us as we seek to understand His great creation and think His thoughts after Him. Let us remember that all truth, wisdom, and knowledge if of God (Prov. 8:22). “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) and it all declares His eternal glory and His eternal wisdom! Amen.
The Reverend Harrison is a graduate of the University of Mount Olive, Barton College, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the North Carolina School of Pastoral Care, Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC. He has served on various boards and committees of the OFWB Convention. He retired as Chaplain of the University of Mount Olive in 2002. One of his favorite hobbies is the study of astronomy and following the NASA program of space exploration. 5
6
634 Henderson Street • Mount Olive, NC 28365 • 1 (800) 653.0854 • www.umo.edu
University of Mount Olive
UMO Ag Education Program Gets New Training Facility
The Ag education students at the University of Mount Olive will soon have a new place to learn, develop and test their ag mechanics skills. Thanks to a generous $400,000 gift from Mike Goodson of Goodson and Wells Farms, UMO is building an agricultural mechanics shop. The 8,400 square feet facility will contain 12 welding booths, a wood working shop, small engine repair and auto mechanics area, ventilation and HVAC testing area, classroom and office space. The building was completed in May with the first students taking advantage of the facility this coming fall. The University of Mount Olive will be the only private college or university to have this type of facility. “We are the only private university teaching Ag education,” said Dr. Sandy Maddox, director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at UMO. “This facility will be a tremendous advantage to us in preparing our students to gain the full experience that they need to become experienced teachers or to carry skills back to the farm or other careers.” Previously, UMO ag education students were traveling to a local high school to complete their required agricultural mechanics classes. Although the partnership was a good one, the convenience for students was not optimal, because they had to travel off-campus at night to complete the courses. “Having the facility on-site will not only improve the learning environment, but will also open the class to other students that might have an interest in learning these skills,” said Maddox. The space will be a dual use facility in that it will also house the University’s maintenance personnel and equipment.
“We will work closely with the talented staff in our UMO Maintenance Department and will develop intern and apprenticeship programs to further the hands-on experience for our students,” Maddox added. According to Maddox, the building will provide an area of about 1,100 square feet for welding training and will allow students the opportunity to learn the techniques of mig/tig and stick welding and learn these techniques in such a way that they will be able to instruct in the ag education classroom. There will be a comparable wood working area for learning these skills and also a small engine repair and auto maintenance area. Electrical, masonry, plumbing, HVAC and ventilation will also be addressed in the shop area and through classroom instruction. “Our agriculture education and agribusiness degree programs have grown considerably over the last few years,” said Maddox. “This growth has resulted from the experiential learning opportunities that are offered here at UMO. These hands-on experiences support our theoretical classroom instruction. To be successful in providing these real life-learning experiences facilities are needed. This need was recognized by a very generous donor and this family’s gift will allow our students the opportunity to take their educational experience to the next level of learning.” The Ag Education Department is also looking for additional funding to support the cost of equipment including welders. To find out more about the needs or about making a contribution, please contact Dr. Maddox at <smaddox@moc.edu> or call (919) 658-2502.
UMO Alumnus Transforms Lives around the Globe
Needham Wiley and Emma at the Hope Home Orphanage in Kenya For most people, charity means dropping a few coins into a collection box, or donating food and clothing to a local shelter. The benefits of the intended good will may never be known. But for a University of Mount Olive alumnus and his wife, a passive charitable effort wasn’t enough. Needham and Jennifer Wiley of Goldsboro found an opportunity to become personally involved through Volunteer HQ, an international organization. The couple traveled to Gathiga, Kenya, just outside of Nairobi, where they were assigned a host family. Most of the Wileys time was split between two orphanages, where they helped teach and play with the children. Children in Kenya must pay for their education past elementary school, so the orphans depend on sponsorship from well-wishers and extended family. With support from friends and family back home, the Wileys donated book bags and pencil cases filled with crayons, pencils, erasers and stationary to every child in the orphanages. They also donated 6000
pounds of food to the orphanages. The Wileys also visited several IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. The communities built within these camps are made up of Kenyan residents who have been forced from their homes during times of civil unrest. According to the Wileys, the people of the IDP camp live in horrific conditions, often living in hot and leaking tents for many years. The Wileys experienced one of their most touching and inspirational encounters at the camp. “The kids at the IDP have no way of getting a formal education,” Needham said. “We witnessed a woman who lived at the camp daily volunteer her time to provide instruction to the children. She meets them every day in a metal structure that previous volunteers built for her, and she engages them in different learning activities. She has no resources at all – no paper or pencils or anything. But she engages them in any activity she can put together so the children will get some sort of instruction. She is an amazing person and teacher.”
Touched by the woman’s dedication, the Wileys distributed the remainder of the pencil cases to the children in the camp. They also made a big difference by giving flip-flops to the children with no shoes. Jennifer and Needham also participated in a street outreach in the middle of Nairobi. The goal was to help feed the homeless children living in the city and explain about the opportunities of moving to an orphanage. Since it is illegal to feed the children in the streets, the Wileys and their group had to remain hidden while they sought out the homeless children. The Wileys left Kenya humbled by the strength of the people they had gone to support. “We will never forget the happy children,” Jennifer commented. “Despite their circumstances and conditions, they were happy people and the adults in these communities always gave visitors their very best no matter what. They are the kindest people we have ever met.” In fact, the Kenyan people left such an impression on the Wileys that they are returning this month to continue their work with the IDP camp. The Wileys are currently raising money to begin building houses at the camp, starting with the teacher who volunteers for the children. They are also collecting dental hygiene products to take back with them to provide everyone in the camp with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. If you would like to help in either of these efforts, please contact the Wileys at <professorjmwiley@gmail.com> or via phone at (919) 645-7621. Needham graduated from the University of Mount Olive in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice for professionals. He was transformed by his educational experience, and now he is taking the University’s motto of “Transforming Lives” around the globe to Kenya. 7
Getting to Know…
Cheryl Hinton Hooks T
his spring the University of Mount Olive featured an art exhibition by Cheryl Hinton Hooks that grew out of her recent sabbatical. The exhibition displayed works in response to Hooks’ investigation in four areas: social advocacy, creativity, spirituality and family. Hooks gave voice to these ideas through painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and writing. The exhibit included images of several interrelated themes. The Wounded of the World included images and writings in response to human trafficking and domestic abuse. Remember Who You Are dealt with her family stories and what she feels are pressing issues for women today. Seeking the Sacred Earth offered landscapes, photographs, and sculptures, which relate to spiritual practices and everyday awareness of the sacredness all around us. The Collaborative Project of paintings by Hooks and poems by Lenard Moore, also of the University of Mount Olive, was the outcome of an intimate look at the landscapes of our state. Hooks, professor of fine arts at UMO, received her associate of arts from Mount Olive College (University of Mount Olive) in 1978, her bachelor of arts in commercial design from Atlantic Christian College (Barton College) in 1982 and her master of fine arts in painting and drawing from East Carolina University in 1995. She began her teaching career at UMO in the fall of 1995. In 2003 she received the distinguished Dr. Thomas R. Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University. Hooks is described by her colleagues as a very creative and reflective professor who has a genuine concern to share her gift of creativity and lessons learned through reflection with her students and colleagues. Hooks is married to Gene Hooks. She has three daughters, a son and a stepdaughter. The Hooks are members of Fremont United Methodist Church. Rhonda Jessup interviewed Hooks to find out about the artist behind the art. Here are the questions and responses from that interview. 8
■ Talk a little bit about your creative process—from getting the idea to creating the finished “product.” For me, the creative process means staying open to the direction of the work, rather than forcing it to develop in a certain way. I begin with a concept, a plan, a design, an idea, but as I paint, I allow the work to direct me as to what it needs. Not expecting “perfection” from a work, I am able to allow it to grow and let go when the time is right. The process is similar to giving birth to a child. When the child arrives, one loves and appreciates the child as a gift of grace. I try to accept what is given me in a work of art and let it live on its own. In fact, when I finish a work, more often than not, the work feels as if it came from some place beyond me. I try to avoid the concept of “product” when I think of my work. If I am to stay true to myself, I feel I must create what comes to me regardless of whether or not someone will want to purchase the work. ■ How did you pour yourself into this recent project? If I do not create, I do not feel whole. Having said this, for me, the foundation is discipline. I learned years ago, that unless I discipline myself, I am not truly free. Having a vision for the work helped. Prayer, journal writings and the willingness not to force the work, held the process together. As I began to work, I would pause to light a candle and ask for God’s presence to be with me. Creating is the closest thing to worship I have experienced. Creating is worship; it is prayer; it is service. ■ How do you challenge yourself in your work? Fortunately, the more I work to create, the more ideas I have for the next project. The more I go to the well of creativity, the deeper the resources. Pain would be the great challenger. If I don’t create, I begin to feel the pain of wasting what I have been given. ■ Who do you consider your creative mentors? Which people or movements have most strongly influenced your work over the years? My artist hero has been Paul Hartley, my painting professor from East Carolina University. Besides being an amazing artist, he was a phenomenal teacher. What I respect most about him was his humility and patience. He never made a “big deal” about himself or tried to draw attention to himself. He was a
man of few words. But, when he spoke, everyone listened. My love for dramatic darks and lights in painting came from my undergraduate instructor, Chris Wilson, of Atlantic Christian College (Barton College). In fact, as I was a graphic design major, my desire to go to graduate school to study painting grew out of my courses in painting under his instruction. As far as other artists, I have been especially influenced by Marc Chagall. I love the work of George Inness, Diebenkorn, Kandinsky, Mary Cassatt, and Freda Khalo. Yet, the artist who inspires me the most is my daughter Megan Johnson. She is an amazing architect and painter. She has such passion for all she does. My students inspire me as well. I feel I am truly blessed to watch their creative process. ■ Do you ever find yourself in a creative dry-spell? If so, what do you do to find yourself again and create new work? Dry-spells rarely happen to me, because even if I do not have time to paint or draw, I always have time to write. I can be at a chess tournament or swim practice with our son and write. Ideas come to me often and are recorded in my journals. My journal writings during the time I worked on this art exhibition totaled almost 300 pages. Only a few were shared at the exhibition. ■ You can talk specifically about this show or your work in general, what do you feel are the recurring themes in your visual and written work? What is the world you are trying to create/magnify for your audience? What do you hope your images make people feel/think? Recurring themes in my visual and written works are God’s presence and grace and how these can be seen in our everyday lives. By living in God’s presence, we can grow to be all God created us to be—to be “fully human”. We are called to open our eyes and hearts to God and to the world. We are called to be Love for the world. Within this call to Love, we will want to acknowledge our “woundedness” and that of the world so as to become a part of the healing. I hope my work will nurture awakenings to the evidence of God’s presence, of our individual potential and of our obligations to each other. ■ The subject matter for your recent show at UMO dealt with some very harsh and real issues that may make you question the good of society. Looking beyond those things, what have you seen or experienced that has renewed your hope for humanity? All too often, we are not aware of the great need around us. The first task seems to be that of educating our communities and to encourage meaningful action. There are people in my family, community and church who are constant sources of hope for humanity. My own broken heart is a powerful personal hope for the future of the world. I have been awakened to the great need and am willing to be a part of the change. I see so many others doing the same. With today’s one world vision and
the spiritual awakening of people around the world, we are developing the potential for true world healing. Technology has helped to shine a bright light on our acts of inhumanity. News of these tragedies spreads rapidly. We have the means to fight these atrocities. I have hope! ■ If you had the chance to say anything to the world, what would it be? If I had a chance to say anything to the world, it would be to love each other and this amazing planet. Love can change us and protect the earth. ■ What does it mean to you to work at a Christian institution? Working at a Christian institution allows me to teach and share every aspect of my life, including my spiritual life. I am not afraid to discuss the difficult issues of our world today. Neither am I afraid to share the blessings. ■ What would you say is the most important lesson you have learned in life so far? The most important lesson I have learned in life is that I cannot control it. By trying to live fully in the present moment, I am learning to live in peace and with joy. The present moment does not allow time for my mind to worry or dwell on things that most likely will never happen or to re-visit things that have happened. ■ Having been a student at Mount Olive College, and now a professor at the University of Mount Olive, for so many years, answer the one question we always ask everyone: “How has your life been transformed at UMO?” The University of Mount Olive has transformed my life in countless ways. As a student, the College gave me the opportunity to develop the academic foundation I needed to move forward in my academic career; confidence in myself; and an enhanced love for learning. As a professor, the University has given me the opportunity to be a part of the amazing creative processes of our students and the development of life enriching friendships among my colleagues. May God continue to bless the University of Mount Olive. ■ Is there something specifically that you would like to say about being given the opportunity to create your show during the sabbatical? What did it mean to you personally and professionally? I am grateful to the University of Mount Olive for valuing professional development, for providing resources to her faculty and for my time of sabbatical. Sabbatical time is Sabbath time. The University of Mount Olive honors her founding principles through the gift of this Sabbath time. As I answer these questions, I feel as if this is the beginning of the second half of my life. I feel blessed! I am ready for what will come! 9
Cruising Into a Promising Future When Scotland native Steven Cruse finished high school, he knew he wanted to pursue a degree in journalism, but he felt the typical route was not for him. Although the university system in his home country met all of his general expectations, Cruse made the decision to cross the Atlantic to capitalize on his success as a volleyball player and find a college education that would allow him to grow academically, athletically, and culturally. Cruse took a year off to get his finances together and ready himself for his stateside venture. But, things did not work out as he had anticipated. “It was a really tough year,” Cruse recalls. “The scholarship seeking agency that I was working with had never dealt with a volleyball player before and they struggled to find schools for me. No one would hire me, because I needed to play volleyball on the weekends. Most of my friends were away enjoying their university experience, and I was left going crazy with boredom at home. I began to seriously doubt my decision to go abroad.” However, things finally turned around, and Cruse found himself bound for a little town in North Carolina called Mount Olive. “I knew almost nothing about the University of Mount Olive,” Cruse said. “I came because the UMO volleyball coach called and invited me to visit the campus. Before I knew it, I was in the sunshine of the South.” Cruse immediately knew he had made the right decision. The beautiful campus felt like home, and he began to excel academically and athletically. In the classroom Cruse’s development as a writer was strengthened by the dedicated support from the English Department. While at UMO he became involved in Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honors Society. He even had a short story selected for presentation at the national convention. “The English Department at UMO is unbelievably supportive,” Cruse said. “From day one in English composition, all the way to my senior thesis paper, professors like Dee Clere and Linda Holland-Toll guided me and instilled in me the passion and enthusiasm for literature that they embody. Dr. Clere even turns up at all my volleyball games!” On the court Cruse was accustomed to performing well. After all, in Scotland he had played in the volleyball 1st Division 10
and had stints on the national team. However, he quickly discovered that the level of volleyball in America was leaps and bounds ahead of what he had previously experienced. At UMO Cruse put his all into the sport and not only improved his skills, but also his confidence as a player. He spent his last season as a fulltime starter, racking up 258 kills and being one of the top ace scorers in the conference. The Trojans this year were playing for a place in the NCAA national finals in Chicago; the first time the conference ever had a bid for the tournament. Cruse and the team made it to the conference tournament, where he had one of the best games of his career in his last home game against Lees McRae, scoring 21 kills in just four sets. But unfortunately, even a strong performance from the team wasn’t enough, and they fell at the last hurdle, losing in the conference final to Erskine. Although the team did not advance, Cruse was named to the All-Tournament Team along with his teammate Angel Dache. “It was really tough losing that game. It would have been unbelievable to play in Chicago, but I guess it just wasn’t to be. I don’t have any regrets though. I left everything I had on the court, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come since first putting on a volleyball jersey.” Cruse has recently applied for his OPT (Optimal Practical Training), which allows him a year to work in the US without applying for a new visa. His preparation for this new chapter in his life has been helped by his work in the UMO Public Relations Office, where he interned with Director Rhonda Jessup. He also gained experience as a coach in the University’s Writing Center and as a volunteer commentator for online broadcasts of both soccer teams and the women’s volleyball team. In addition Cruse produced a promotional video for the Athletic Training Department. “I can’t thank people like Rhonda Jessup enough for offering me the opportunity to develop in a real work setting, and giving me the experience I need to move on with confidence.” Cruse has two months to find work after he graduates, and he’s hopeful that his time at UMO has qualified him to take his first steps into the professional world and be met with success. He’s a long way from home, but he is on the road to building a new place for himself across the pond.
Educational Opportunities It’s not too late at all. You just don’t yet know what you are capable of accomplishing at University of Mount Olive. Apply now to enroll for Fall semester. Space is available for new freshmen and college transfers to live in residence halls. Apply at <www.umo.edu> and click on admissions, then apply. Choose the type of student you want to be—new freshman, new transfer, adult and/or online, military. Need help? Call 1-844-UMO-GOAL or contact Admissions at <admissions@umo.edu>. Admitted Student Days at University of Mount Olive: Students who have been accepted and have paid their confirmation deposits are invited to attend Admitted Student Day, Friday, July 18, 2014. To register, visit the UMO website at <www.umo.edu> and click on the sign up link or type the following into your browser: <http://survey.moc.edu/TakeSurvey.aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=p2KM9l8&Preview=true>. Scholarships and financial aid available for Fall 2014: To apply for federal student aid, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When your FAFSA is submitted, you will automatically be considered for federal student aid. In addition, the University of Mount Olive will use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and nonfederal aid such as merit and need based institutional grants. Completing the FAFSA is an easy and free. We recommend that you submit your FAFSA online using FAFSA on the Web, as your application will process within 3–5 days. Our institutional number is 002149. Call us at 888-UMO-GOAL for help. Our financial aid counselors are waiting to provide assistance. The University of Mount Olive is the #1 Value in adult education! Our faculty and staff are experienced and ready to serve adults who want to get started or finish their college degrees. Offering associate, bachelor and graduate degrees, UMO is a comprehensive institution with many program options and class formats. With locations in Wilmington, Research Triangle Park (RTP), Mount Olive, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, New Bern, Washington, NC and online, there is a place for you at UMO. Check out the location nearest you to transform your life. University of Mount Olive Programs in accelerated format: • Associate degree • Bachelor degrees in early childhood, business management, accounting, human resource management, religion, teacher licensure and more • Criminal Justice online • RN to BSN online • Master in Business Administration (MBA) online Contact Admissions at <admissions@umo.edu> or visit us online at <www.umo.edu> for more information. 1-888-UMO-GOAL.
11
P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbsundayschool.org
Sunday School Ministry
Being People of Service in the Community The Annual Sunday School Banquet was held on Wednesday evening, May 21, 2014, at the Murphy Center at the University of Mount Olive. The diners was asked to contribute one suggestion concerning how their churches could “Be people of service in the community.” The following suggestions were offered in order to assist those churches that are searching for ways to help different people in the community. Maybe some of them will give you ideas that you can use to further God’s Kingdom in your community. Feeding the Hungry • Provide either money, manpower, or bring people to the event. • Have a dinner once a month for the homeless. • Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or provide one at your church. Campground Volunteer • Assist the campground in preparing for the camping season. • Provide organized recreation activities. • Provide a worship service or Bible study time for the campers. • Assist the campers in setting up and breaking down their campsite. Housekeeper or Maid • Help the elderly or disabled with housework. • Think about going grocery shopping or other errands for shut-ins. Mother’s Day • Have a special service for shut-in mothers in their homes or special can facilities. • Have a special mother’s day banquet. • Honor the mothers in a worship service.
12
Prison Ministry • Have volunteer prayer partners with the inmates. • Be a mentor to one of the inmates. Father’s Day • Share with the dad their importance to their families. • Allow the children to prepare some type of gift. • Honor them in a worship service. • Have a special father’s day banquet. Bicycle Rodeo • Be a sponsor for at least one of the riders. • Pass out bottles of water to the participants and the audience. • If your parking lot is big enough, provide space to host the event. • Be volunteers for the event. Waiter or Waitress • Encourage the restaurants to allow them time to attend their worship service. • Have a special service and honor those in service occupations.
Guide for Hiking • Volunteer to take your young people on a hike. • Pass out snacks and bottles of water to hikers. • Ask Home Missions about Pure Adventure activities. Roofers or Other Home Repair People • Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. • Fix a home for an elderly couple. • Build a ramp for a handicapped person. • Join the FWB Harvest Connection/Disaster Relief program.
• Provide a resource room for teachers with teacher supplies of all kinds. • Have a dinner to honor teachers and staff to show your appreciation. • Volunteer to take cafeteria duty so teachers can have a few minutes to themselves. • From time to time, provide breakfast for the teachers and staff members.
Newspaper In Education • Provide the newspapers to be used in the school.
Lawn Maintenance • Clean the yards of widows. • Keep the grass cut for those who cannot do it for themselves. • Plant some flowers for those who wish to have it done.
Cleaners • Volunteer to pick up and drop off articles for those who cannot drive.
Chimney Sweep • Loan the sweepers the brushes. • Pay the sweepers who work for the elderly or disabled.
Air Show • Pass out water to participants or audience. • Get permission to have a booth to provide information about your church. • Sell snacks at the show to benefit a particular program at the church.
Court System • Stick to your godly principles while serving on jury duty.
Bakery Workers • Have a bakery festival at the church in which the bakeries can bring their products and offer samples and recipes. Home Missions • Think about assisting with beginning a new mission. • Volunteer time to clean up mission properties. • Volunteer to hold services in a mission. • Provide Bibles for a mission. • Provide hymnals for a mission. Senior Citizens’ Center • Serve Meals on Wheels. • Provide your fellowship hall for a center if one is not available in your town. • Provide people to staff such a center. Local Schools • Volunteer to be proctors for end of grade testing, etc. • Participate with the Back Pack Buddies program. • Volunteer time to work with the children who need extra help.
Community Harvest Festival • Volunteer to host such an event. • Provide transportation for those who need it. • Provide help in planning and conducting entertainment. Law Enforcement • Have a special worship service to honor those who are in law enforcement. Foreign Missions • Provide monetary support for the work around the world. • Have a special church / community meal to samples foods from all over the world. • Have a missions fair in which people dress in costumes of other countries. Local Children’s Home • Check with the staff and determine what you can do to volunteer some time. • Provide supplies to the Home. • Send cards and letters to the children at the Home. • Sponsor a VBS for the children at the Home. Other Ministries • Check with the directors of the various ministries to determine what, if anything, you can do to be of help.
There are many other suggestions to be of service to the community. However space does not permit listing them. You might consider getting together with other churches and planning at least one event per month to work together to spread the Word of God. If you have other suggestions, please call the Sunday School office at the Headquarters at (252) 746-4963 or e-mail them to <director@ofwbsundayschool.org>. 13
P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbi.org
OFWB International
News from Liberia Mission We want to give God the glory for the wonderful things He has done. The Month of April was also a month of spiritual as well as numerical growth within our churches. After the sixth Annual Convocation held in Northeast Liberia at the Prince of Peace OFWB Mission Church, our churches went home with the zeal of the Lord, according to knowledge by practicing what they learnt at the conference. In so doing a mass evangelism was launched throughout the country within our churches. And we now see an increase in membership, and increase in church attendance, and we also experience spiritual growth, as many came to rededicate their lives to Christ, while some vow to serve the Lord and use their gifts and calling for the edification of the church and for the glorification of God. We are so overjoyed for what the Lord is doing.
Above: New church leaders at Habitation of Faith Left: New leaders anointined
• At the Hearing of Faith OFWB Mission Church, a new code of officers, mostly women, serving within the women ministry of the church were appointed and honored. • At the Habitation of Faith, also new codes of officers were appointed to serve the church for a period of two years. Positions include, Youth President, Women President, Men President, Usher Head, Choir President, Prayer Band Head, and etc. • Also for latest development, the first parsonage at the Habitation of Faith, OFWB Mission is almost ready for habitation. We are hoping that as the project is speeding up, it will be ready by the end of the month of May. Thanks to all who supported this project. • Also the Kingdom Kids Center, one of our OFWB Mission Schools, held its gala activities. In this program they invited several schools within the same city in games like quizzes, spelling bee, soccer for the boys, and kickball for the girls. The spelling bee and the kickball game were won by our girls, while the soccer game for the boys ended in a draw. It was a joyous moment for the kids, after the game they were all fed both the invited schools and the students of our schools.
Habitation of Faith Parsonage is almost ready!
We give God the glory for allowing us to be partakers of the Supper which was held in this Month of April. It was a blessing serving communion and having fellowship with one another.
To God be all the glory. Your Servant,
Rev. Gnininte OFWBI-Liberia
14
Above: Boys soccer team Left: Girls kickball team
Alicia FWB Church Anniversary Philippines BY THE REV. JOSE DEGAMO
The Original FWB Church of Alicia, Bohol held their sixth church anniversary on May 6, 2014. The theme was “Find Us Faithful.” The Rev. Jose Degamo was the speaker of the celebration. The Rev. Macheto Banol is the pastor of this church. After six years in ministry they are still faithful to their responsibilities. During their anniversary celebration, they had a leadership training program for adults. They also had a special graduation for the feeding program in their church. Every department of the church participated. Special music was rendered by the adults.
Church Anniversary Philippines BY THE REV. JOSE DEGAMO
The Original FWB Church in Ubay, Bohol celebrated their eighth Church Anniversary on April 27, 2014. Pastor Elpidio Samputon is the host pastor who invited the Rev. Josa Degamo as the guest speaker of their celebration. Their theme was “Prepare to Meet Thy God.” Everyone was challenged and encouraged to live a life that would glorify God and be ready for His soon return. Pastor Samputon has a unique way of preparing their food. Everyone has to cooked their own barbeque according to their style. You are free to choose your food, either pork or chicken. They ended their anniversary as they enjoyed food for their soul and body. To God Be The Glory.
Please pray for the two Short Term Mission Teams that will be ministering in Mexico July 12–19 and July 19–26. 15
Home Missions & Evangelism
2600 W. Vernon Avenue • Kinston, NC 28504 • (252) 526.9908
Dr. Edwin B. Cooper
Dr. Kathy McReynolds
A renowned orthopedic surgeon that has experienced first hand the power of faith in medicine. He will be the keynote speaker Friday evening with special guest Candace Ivey.
Director of Academic Studies for the Christian Institute on Disabilities. She will be the keynote speaker for Saturday.
Come learn how to reach people with disabilities in your community and GROW your church! • Variety of specialized workshops • Special Music • Testimony • Exhibitors including Cross and Crown and Joni & Friends Charlotte
Wheels on Fire for Christ Rev. Scott Broadway, Coordinator Erin Broadway, Education Coordinator (252) 268-9097 [mobile] (252) 526-9908 [office] erin@wheelsonfireforchrist.com scott@wheelsonfireforchrist.com www.wheelsonfireforchrist.com 16
November 7–8, 2014 Friday @ 7 p.m. Saturday @ 9 a.m.–4 p.m. W. Burkette and Rose M. Raper Hall Early Registration: $12 per person After October 1: $18 per person Group rates available upon request
Situation Report RESPONSE FOR: Washington & Belhaven, NC
NEED: Family in the Washington area living in an old 2-bedroom mobile home, and DSS has required them to either place their children in a foster home or improve their living quarters. A mobile home has been donated and needs painting on the inside as well as carpet in all the rooms or a covering that is suitable. We have some volunteers already who want to work but need more volunteers to move this project along. We have an urgent need for funding and estimate this project costing approximately $12,000. Any contribution you can give would be greatly appreciated. NEED: Harvest Connection is going to help rebuild a home that was totally destroyed in a tornado. Volunteers are needed! NEED: Our Emergency Response Kit supply is completely depleted. Please go to our website for a copy of the kit requirements.
You may make a donation on our website: <www.homemissionsandevangelism.com> Thank you in advance for your willingness to help us to TOUCH LIVES FOR A LIFETIME.
VERY IMPORTANT A. If you would like to assist in recovery efforts, please contact us. B. REMEMBER—It is necessary to follow proper protocol through your Harvest Connection Disaster Relief Ministry, whereby, we may properly serve people who have been affected by DISASTER.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Headquarters: (252) 526-9908 Harold Swinson, Coordinator: (252) 775-0878 Tim Heath, Interim Executive Director: (919) 809-0045 Website: www.theharvestconnection.com • e-mail: harvestconnection@embarqmail.com 17
The Gift of Sight Less than a year ago I had successful cataract surgery. Now I can see 20/20 without glasses or contact lenses for the first time since, oh, probably, the first grade, six years old. Though science explains the corrective lenses that were placed in my eyes, I still feel something miraculous about the whole experience. Little wonder that many times Jesus restored sight to the blind. Our vision is such a fundamental gift that he, of all people, would move to correct a disability so severe. Helen Keller, born with all her faculties but stripped of sight and hearing at the age of two by an infection, is one of our most inspiring Americans. She recounts the day that her teacher, Anne Sullivan,
got through to her the spelled out, in Sign language, word for “water.” This was the day that she learned that everything had a name. She writes, “Everything had a name, and each name gave birth to a new thought. As we returned to the house [from the well house] every object which I touched seemed to quiver with life. That was because I saw everything with the strange, new sight that had come to me. I learned a great many new words that day. It would have been difficult to find a happier child than I was as I lay in my crib at the close of that eventful day and lived over the joys it had brought me, and for the first time longed for a new day to come.”
Yes, sight matters. If we lack physical sight, we certainly can still have spiritual sight. And it is clear that Helen Keller had spiritual sight, for she has had a broad, positive and inspirational influence in our society. Jesus’s miracles continue today, often through science (as in my case of cataract surgery) and through the blessing of other people (as for Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan). Being grateful for a day of new sight is a good way to spend time, as Helen’s words make clear. Tonight I take Helen’s words to heart, and with my new eyes, I anticipate a good new day tomorrow.
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.
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
Full Service Bulk Printing and Mailing 18
Stay for the post-game FIREWORKS!
Please join us for the 11th Annual
Paper Products Drive Friday, July 11, at 7 p.m.
Carolina Mudcats vs. Winston-Salem Dash All Church groups registered in advance will receive $7 Box Seat Special (regular price—$11) **$1 from each $7-ticket purchased benefits the FWB Children’s Home** Discounted tickets must be ordered by July 7. Discount is not available at the gates. Tickets are mailed within 10 days prior to game. Donated items will be collected at the gates.
Seating is limited to specific sections.
_____ Tickets @ $7.00
= $_ _________
(Prices include all per ticket fees)
Shipping & Handling Fee
= $ ___3.00__
TOTAL Amount Enclosed
= $_ _________
Make check payable to: Carolina Mudcats Baseball Club
Credit Card (check one): VISA ___ MC ___ AMEX ___ DISC ___ Card #__________________________________ Exp. Date______________ Signature_______________________________ Sec. Code_ ____________
Order Early for the Best Seats! Order with check by mail or fax:
Carolina Mudcats Baseball Club:
Attn: Paper Product Drive PO Drawer 1218 Zebulon, NC 27597 Fax: (919) 269-4910
Deadline for orders: Monday, July 7, 2014
Name__________________________________ Phone #________________ Church Name_________________________________ e-mail__________________________________ Mailing Address_______________________________ City________________ State______ Zip_______________ Billing Address________________________________ City________________ State______ Zip_______________ Have any Questions? Please contact a Group Sales Associate at (919) 269-2287
D e DV h t r orde eive a Prerec elet and rm brac e. a as one c urch i l i p s n 27 upo 9.39 free 4 8 . 0 1.80 Call
Our Pr ice
.99)
Men’s Black T-shirt • Women’s Grey T-shirt • Black Ball Cap • Window Decal Movie Soundtrack • Dog Tag Keychain • Silicone Arm Bracelet • and more!
Also Available:
(MSRP $24
$19 75
e
Meet at the Table
Half-Way There
As you read this we are nearing the half-way mark for the summer youth camp weeks. That does not mean we are winding down but that we are getting our second breath and moving forward with excitement to the second half of our summer. So don’t forget your commitment at the beginning of the season to pray for each week and for the Cragmont staff. We need those prayers and your continuing concern more than ever to strengthen us each day.
A Backward Glance
Back in May between conventions Cragmont hosed another May wedding. Our wedding couple from last year came back to visit on their anniversary. Cragmont had the top layer of last year’s wedding cake waiting for their arrival. This year’s wedding cake layer is residing in the freezer waiting for it’s couples anniversary return in May 2015. Do you suppose Cragmont might become a wedding destination? We have decided that Cragmont wedding food must be “baked beans” since both the brides
Becky Jo Sumner, President Woman’s Auxiliary Convention of OFWB P.S. If you have the time write me a note letting me know abut your organizations “Meet at the Table” and how much you earned for the project. I’ll let the rest of OFWB-land know what you did.
requested them. (Is baked beans destined to become the “new “ wedding food?) “May flowers” were planted at the lodge and dining hall. Hopefully red blossoms with a sprinkling of yellow, white and purple are dominating the Cragmont scene when you read this. May was also filled with the sounds of “getting ready” for the summer. The days were filled with the roar of the pressure washer doing its best to rid tables and chairs of any collected stains. The washer and dryer went nonstop turning out clean mattress covers and blankets. The Cragmont staff was busy getting everything clean and neat for your weeks at camp. Hope you are enjoying your week. This brief look back is a perfect reminder of our daily lives. We are always in the process of preparing for tomorrow and that is Cragmont’s mission to ever be preparing for tomorrow and to ever be preparing your lives not just for today’s fun and labor but for tomorrow’s service to Christ.
Cragmont Assembly
The executive committee of the Woman’s Auxiliary believes this challenge to local auxiliaries is our correct
and proper response to this Cragmont project. So plan a “get together” where there is good food and fellowship at the tables at your church. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of your women. You might have: • An ice cream social • Lemonade and cookies • A bake sale • A spaghetti supper • BBQ plates • A Pot-luck supper • Pepsi and Moon-pies • A Ladies’ Tea • A fish fry • Hamburgers and hot dogs You can be plain and simple or grand and fancy. You can sell the plates or take up a free will offering. Remember no group is too small or too large or too mature or too young to participate. Just do something and send the money to Cragmont for Velma’s Hearth. • Cragmont has the room—Women let’s get the money for some new furniture. • Cragmont has the air conditioning—Women let’s get the money for some new kitchen equipment. How will your auxiliary meet this challenge? Only you can limit your commitment to this challenge.
1233 North Fork Road • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • (828) 669.7677 • www.cragmontassembly.com
Usually this article comes from my pen and mind as a Cragmont staff member but this month this section comes from my heart and pen as a member of the executive committee of the Woman’s Auxiliary. It is a challenge to local woman’s auxiliaries and women’s organizations throughout the OFWB denomination. Sometime before the end of this year the members of this committee challenge you to plan and sponsor a “Meet at the Table” event in local church or community. You may wisely ask, “What is a “meet at the Table” event?” It is what OFWB women have been doing successfully for years. Through the years we have fulfilled the quest to “meet and eat” for the goals of OFWB churches. Women have padded pews, carpeted sanctuaries, built fellowship buildings, paved parking lots, and so much more through food placed on a table. So, let’s do it again but this time for Cragmont Assembly! • Since our program book, Devotion, is entitled “Meet at the Table.” • Since the “Velma’s Hearth” renovation and expansion at Cragmont is named for one our best known and hardest working Woman’s Auxiliary women, Velma Morris. • Since Velma’s love and support of Cragmont as a Woman’s Auxiliary representative on the Cragmont Board is legendary.
23
P. O. Box 249 • Middlesex, NC 27557 • (252) 235.2161 • www.fwbchildrenshome.org
Children’s Home
Awards Day
2014
Our annual awards day was held on June 5. Residents, staff, board members, and others filed into Heritage Hall to congratulate our school children on a good job for the school year. Heritage Hall had been decorated with decorative paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and bamboo accents throughout the room. This year we have three seniors, one young man and two young ladies, who joined us in their cap and gowns. They were all anticipating their upcoming walk across the stage to accept their diplomas as graduation time draws nearer. Awards were presented to the campus residents for highest grade point average, best English, History and Math grade for the High School students, highest campus grade point average, and a host of certificates for most improved, best conduct award, and other areas of improvement. This school year the Home was proud to have campus residents participating in extra-curricular activities, such as Band, Theater Arts, Junior ROTC, Track, Soccer, and Basketball. These young adults were also recognized.
Board of Directors Meet The Board of Directors of the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home met for their quarterly meeting on June 5, 2014. They enjoyed lunch in State Cottage. Pretty apple green placemats with candy apple red napkins along with beautiful white china, new flatware, and acrylic glasses all donated by the Selma OFWB Woman’s Auxiliary were used to set the table. They also gave the acrylic pitcher to match and a couple of other nice items for the food preparation area. This was a project taken on by the Selma ladies to make sure our older students had something nice to use when learning some of their independent living skills, planning for college and/or their future endeavors, etc. during their senior year. Today
24
we tried all the new “stuff” out on the Board of Directors; eleven adults does make a pretty full table but they enjoyed the food and fellowship Following lunch, the board held their business meeting in the church.
After the business meeting, several members stayed for the annual end of school Awards Program for our children. We appreciate the dedication and service to the home by our Board of Directors.
A Family Affair While filing away reports and pictures from our recent 5K run, I noticed that we had a couple of family groups entering and participating in the run. This is a great way to spend quality time together. Ryan Gray of Stoney Creek OFWB and his family are making the FWB Children’s Home’s 5K race a tradition; Ryan has won in his age group each year; this year his daughter Ashley followed in her dad’s footsteps to win also. Wife Stephanie and son’s Sidney and Austyn walked the race. In addition to this set of Grays, Ryan’s Uncle Jeff Gray and daughter Marryanna joined in the fun. We hope there will be more family members to join next year to keep the tradition alive for the next four years due to Ryan having orders to Utah. Thanks guys for making this a Gray Family Tradition. By the way Ryan’s father is Cliff Gray also Jeff’s brother who has been the timekeeper for the last two years. It truly is a “family affair.” Hope this inspires other families to begin a family tradition next year.
Church Ministry May was a busy month for most Free Will Baptists, with all of the conventions that were held, but we still had time for activities and campus visitors. On the first Thursday in May, children and staff gathered in Memorial Chapel for a program in observance of National Day of Prayer. Pastor Richard Cuddington gave remarks on the history behind the day of prayer, and then offered opportunity for everyone to join him at the altar for prayer. Daly’s Chapel youth from Seven Springs brought a load of items from the needs list to the Home. The group toured the campus and met some of the children. They were talking up a basketball game for their next visit…their pastor Goerge Futrelle, and wife Renee, were with the group. Pastor Futrelle shared that this was where they received their pre-marriage counseling “a few” years ago. Thanks for visiting Daly’s Chapel.
New Roofs and New Sidewalks With more than 13 shingled roof tops on campus, there is always need for repairs. May and early June brought out the roofing teams and the concrete team. Three roofs were started and finished in a short time. While the roofers were hammering, the cement mixer was turning. New sidewalks were poured from the Administration Building to Memorial Chapel, while cracked sidewalks and driveways were taken up and replaced. There are always items that need to be repaired to keep the facilities on campus in good shape. The Lord continues to bless Free Will Baptist Children’s Home to be able to continue to provide a place to serve children in need on a beautiful campus. 25
with David Morrow
A Life or Death Experiment “I think we all need a pep talk.” These are the now famous words of Robby Novak. Robby, also known as “Kid President,” has a positive attitude that is a true inspiration. He is a 10-yearold young man who has osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, as it is commonly known. This is a struggle that he shares with his sister. Between the two of them, they have endured over 150 broken bones in their short lives. Brad Montegue, Robby’s brotherin-law, started making videos of Robby just playing and talking, and these videos were intended to be for family and friends. However, Robby’s “pep talk” has been viewed over 32,000,000 times on youtube.com. This led to him being interviewed by national news organizations, as well as earned him a trip to meet President Obama in the Oval Office. In his video titled, “Kid President’s Letter to a Person on Their First Day Here” Robby states, “We all have mess ups sometimes, and the greatest mess up is not forgiving other people’s mess ups.” The thing that is so amazing about Robby is his positive attitude and positive focus in all circumstances. One of the most common forms of therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Robby seems to naturally follow the guidelines of this form of therapy. The basic idea behind CBT is that a person
feels whatever she or he thinks most often. Feelings are based on thoughts. A person cannot feel something that the individual will not allow himself or herself to think. Robby certainly has reason to have a negative attitude, but he exudes confidence, self-affirmation, and his love of simple things like fresh air, laughter, and corn dogs. What about you? If another person could hear what you say to yourself about yourself, would that individual most likely say that you are your own greatest cheerleader, or would that individual understand your one way conversation as verbal abuse? “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” is the NASB translation of Proverbs 23:7. As an experiment, rate your own mood on a 1–10 scale, with 10 being “Awesome,” as Robby Novak would say. Then, pay attention to your own thoughts for an entire day. Take the time to analyze how much you are thinking and expecting negative things and how much you are thinking and expecting positive things. Finally, rate your own mood again on the 1–10 scale at the end of the day. If you generally think negatively, and you choose to think positively today, your rating will most likely increase. Your everyday thought process will to a large degree impact your mood. You must decide if the impact is positive or negative. Everyone has negative issues and
struggles. CBT does not suggest that you go into denial about your real life struggles. Dr. Viktor Frankl, who survived the concentration camps of World War II, stated, “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” The point is this: Where is your focus? Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) states, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will enjoy its fruit.” Of course, you must think something before you can ever say it. Are you focused on life (positive thoughts) or death (negative thoughts)? According to Robby, it is everyone’s “duty to give the world a reason to dance.” If you need a pep talk, search youtube.com for “Kid President.” He has a lot of videos, and every one has humor, encouragement, and wisdom. His bones may be brittle, but his spirit is very strong. Regardless of your struggles, you also can enjoy abundant life by following Jesus, managing your thoughts to remain positive, and viewing every circumstance as an opportunity for blessing.
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. 26
with Nora Koonce Avery
Divine Intervention The year was 1969, and I had just purchased my first car. It was a 1964 Ford Custom. It wasn’t anything to brag about, but it was mine. That car represented freedom—the freedom to go and come as I pleased, and the opportunity to pursue higher education. To do that, I needed transportation, since I was commuting back and forth to college. My dad had gone with me to check it out, and when we test drove it we put the car through its paces, accelerating on the curvy country roads to see how it handled. The car was a beautiful teal green, and I spent the next morning washing and waxing it. After I finished the detailing, I got into the car to drive it back into the driveway. When I put my foot on the brake I heard a loud “whoosh”. I called my dad over to check the brakes and he confirmed that the brake line had ruptured. Then I remembered when the day before we had traversed those back roads at high speed. What if the brakes had failed then instead of when the car was sitting idle in my parents’ yard? How close we had come to what could have been a tragic accident! When you are young it’s so easy to believe near misses like this are just coincidences. I believe, though, that this type of intercession is God looking out for
us. When you get older and look back over the years, a pattern seems to form showing God’s protection in all circumstances. Another incidence happened in my life in the spring of 1978. My father-inlaw, Ernest Avery, was the sole proprietor of a small country store about 12 miles from New Bern, NC. He sold just about everything from gasoline to washing powder. He spent long hours in the store, especially in the spring and summer months, in order to be available when his customers needed something. My husband and I lived in a mobile home behind the store, and to help his dad I would often take care of the store while Ernest took a short afternoon nap on our sofa. Sometimes during the entire time I wouldn’t see another soul. Then some days two or three people would show up. This particular day had been uneventful until a late model white car pulled up and its driver entered the store. The customer was a well-dressed black male who seemed rather serious-minded and didn’t say much as he purchased a sandwich. That’s strange, I thought. Most people would have bought a soft drink to go with the sandwich. He left to go to his car and then returned. I figured he had decided to get a drink after all. I was wrong. The next thing I saw was a .38 revolver pointed at me.
“This is a stick-up, move over,” the man said. He then proceeded to empty the cash register. He told me to stay in place until he left. I tried to get the license number of the car, but as it bounced away from the gravel parking lot I was unsuccessful. That case officially remains unsolved, but several days later a suspect in another robbery was apprehended that fit the description of the man that robbed me. In my heart I believe they are one and the same, but wasn’t confident enough to testify to that effect in a court of law. What made this extraordinary are the circumstances surrounding this criminal. Several years back he had been found guilty of murder and was serving his sentence when he escaped from prison, stole a car, and took off. His crime spree ended in Lenoir County where he was arrested. This man had a notorious past and he had nothing to lose by taking my life, but God prevented him from killing me that day. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11). Isn’t is a good feeling to know that the Lord is always working in our lives and sending his angels to go before us to overcome the evil that lurks there?
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.
27
28
Happenings and perspectives of denominational events
News & Views
A Brief Overview of the
2014 OFWB Convention BY JAKE MONROE, STAFF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER
The 102 session of the Convention of the Original Free Will Baptists kicked off at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday May 21, 2014 with a worship service. The Rev. Buddy Sasser opened up the Convention followed by a hymn and prayer. Attendees of the Convention were then treated to some special music by the Beaverdam Boys and the message was given by the Rev. Buddy Seay. Rev. Seay presented a powerful message about being people of service in the community, referencing from several scriptures including Matthew 25:34–46, Titus 3:3–7, and Hebrews 9:12–14. He spoke about how we as Christians must not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and that it is a great privilege and a responsibility for us to serve the Lord. He gave us reassurance that God is still there when he said, “The darker things get in the world the brighter God’s light shines.” He finished his sermon with a prayer and the Beaverdam Boys closed out the worship service with a final song. After a brief break, we continued the plenary session with the Rev. Barry Stallings leading the congregation in the hymn “Sweetest Name I Know” followed by Ms. Karen Stallings singing “Indescribable.” The Rev. Ray Wells made the call to order followed by the Rev. Jack Weathersby giving the scripture from of 2 Corinthians and a prayer. The Rev. Al Warrick gave the greetings as the President of the Convention followed by the report from the secretary of the Executive Committee the Rev. Ray Wells. The Rev. Kevin Jackson gave the treasurers report and the Rev. Leon Grubbs gave the Nominating Committee report. After being dismissed attendees made their way over to Raper Hall to attend several workshops. Rev. The Harold Jones hosted his workshop on Foreign Missions and spoke about the great work they are doing all over the world. He talked about their mission in Liberia and that there are now more than 30 churches in the country. Their new farming project is to help the locals in the countries they have missions in be able to grow their own food by supplying them with equipment. Caleb’s Dollar Ministry is in full swing and is feeding people all over the world. The Revs. Tim Heath, Harold Swinson, and Scott Broadway presented the workshop on Home Missions and Evangelism. They really put an emphasis on their new hygiene water bottle kit. The kit nd
contains various items to assist in helping anyone in need. When donations are made, half the bottles that have been assembled stay at the warehouse in case of a disaster and the other half will go to various organizations that assist those who need help. The vice president and a representative from Standard Publishing hosted a workshop to talk about their Sunday School curriculum and effective ways of using it in the classroom. University of Mount Olive President Dr. Phillip Kerstetter gave a workshop on the recent name change and what it means for the University as a whole. The workshops wrapped up about 4:40 and everyone was dismissed until the Sunday School Banquet hosted by the Sunday School Ministry. Stuart McMeeking, Vice President of Sales of Standard Publishing, was the main speaker. There was a brief break until the Mission Rally hosted by Foreign Missions at 7:30. The Rev. Dr. John Hill gave a brief welcome and prayer, the Rev. Tim Heath of Home Missions followed by giving the greetings. Ms. Jami Rhodes, choir director of Reedy Branch Church, provided special music. The Rev. Harold Jones gave a special presentation followed by the message delivered by the Rev. Wayne King. After Rev. King’s message, he and his wife were presented a piece of art for their dedication to spreading the word of God in the world. The Mission Rally concluded with the hymn “Freely, Freely” and a prayer. The final day of the Convention started out with the Minister’s IMPACT Breakfast hosted by the OFWB Headquarters and the OFWB Ministerial Association. Attendees of this breakfast were treated to some great food and messages from several ministers on various subjects concerning the Original Free Will Baptist Denomination. Immediately after the breakfast the convention worship service continued led by Rev. Barry Stallings. Special musical guests were the Revs. Doug Seymour, Roger Hill, and John Blackwell with the Rev. Josh Whitfield delivering the message. After a short break, the closing plenary session began and was very brief. Each ministry gave their final reports and recommendations. This was followed by elections, installations of new officers, and the convention was adjourned. The 103rd Convention of the Original Free Will Baptists will be May 20–21, 2015.
“BEING PEOPLE OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY”
2014 OFWB Convention
29
Book reviews in this column are not meant to reflect any theological or political positions.
Marcus J. Borg, Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power and How They Can Be Restored New York: Harper One, 2011. 248 pages. ISBN 978-0-06-197655-1.
Another Look at Christian Words The Christian Language As the Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon, Marcus J. Borg finds himself interested in studying the more ancient and perhaps more “authentic” (2) meanings of Christian words so that the Christian words in our vocabulary may be seen in “their ancient historical contexts” (27). Borg grew up in the Scandinavian Lutheran Church and was quite aware of Martin Luther’s use of Christian words and of the power of the metaphor in Christian language. Such a language has a history that is “perceptive, persuasive, and powerful” (19). This language reveals “insights about the human condition” in order to create an awakening in the way we “experience our lives” (19). Christian language points to a “way of life centered in God and God’s passion for a different kind of world” (20). Christian language “continues to be a sacrament of the sacred, a means of grace, a way the Spirit of God speaks to us, a vehicle whereby our lives are changed” (20). Among the Christian words of great interest to Borg are these: 1) Salvation, 2) God, 3) Jesus, 4) Sin, 5) Repentance, 6) Forgiveness, 7) Faith, 8) Born Again, 9) Mercy, and 10) Trinity.
Salvation According to Borg, the first biblical framework that shaped the meaning of salvation dates back to the “story of the exodus from Egypt” (39) in the Old Testament. The story is set “in the thirteenth century BCE” (39) and tells the narrative of the enslavement of the Israelites to Egypt’s Pharaoh and their liberation from bondage under the leadership of Moses. The words salvation, saved, and savior involve liberation from bondage and nothing about an afterlife. This liberation is threefold: liberation from economic, political, and religious bondage (40–41). Borg traces the Christian word salvation to the meaning of a return from exile, the Jews exiled in Babylonia for about 50 years until the Persian Cyrus conquered Babylon and allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. The return from exile makes God’s presence as a Savior whose love and assurance is with the exiles returning home. Salvation becomes liberation, deliverance, and rescue—all as a way to enter “a life covenanted with God” (45). Borg insists: “Salvation is about deliverance and transformation” (45). 30
The meaning of transformation in salvation appears in numerous images—from being blind to seeing again, from being dead to rising again in life, from overcoming fear and anxiety to trusting in God, from seeking peace and justice. These reflect the liberation of salvation within a Christian whose life is transformed. Salvation as liberation from bondage, as a return to home from exile, and as an inner transformation all point to a “reconnection to what matters, a center of meaning and purpose—to God” (52). Borg adds: “Salvation is liberation from the Pharaoh within as well as from the Pharaoh without” (52). In essence the meaning of salvation is twofold—transformation within our world outside and within our world inside.
God, Jesus, The Trinity God is central to Christianity and Christians have viewed God as Spirit, Creator, Father, Judge, and Redeemer. The word God also refers “to a sacred presence all around us—a reality that is more than the space-time world of matter and energy, even as it is also present everywhere and permeates everything in the space-time world” (65). In the language of Paul, God is seen in Acts 17:28 as “the one in whom we live and move and have our being” (69). Borg explains: “We are in God. We live within God. We move within God. We have our being within God” (69). Third-century Irenaeus wrote: “God contains everything and is contained by nothing” (70). Paul Tillich spoke of God as the Ground of Being. To Borg, God affirms that reality is “ultimately a sacred reality” (71). God is both transcendent and immanent which means to Borg that “God is more than the universe” and that “God is everywhere” (72). God as a presence is personal. When Moses asked the name of God, the response from the burning bush was, “I AM WHO I AM” (74). Mystics have declared that God is “beyond all language” (74). The Old Testament and New Testament present God as passionate “about personal behavior” (81), wishing for liberation from bondage, for a return to a relationship to His presence, for a world with justice, peace, and well being. Enter Jesus, the “decisive revelation of God” (86). Borg sees the “pre-Easter Jesus” (86) as an historical figure, “born around 4 BCE and crucified around 30 CE” (86). The Gospels combine “memory and testimony” (88) of the historical Jesus while the “post-Easter Jesus” (88) develops the
“abiding presence” (88) of Jesus, giving him titles such as “Messiah,” “Lord,” “Bread of Life,” “Son of God,” “Word of God,” “Light of the World” (89). Jesus becomes the “decisive revelation of God” (90). The word Messiah refers to the “one anointed by God for a special role” (94). The title Son of God refers to a Jewish holy man in an “intimate relationship with God” (95). The phrase “Jesus is Lord” refers in a Roman context as a title of the emperor but in the Jewish context as the one who is the “revelation of God” (95). Savior points to the liberation from bondage. The Trinity as a doctrine was formulated in the Nicene Creed in A.D. 325 when God was seen in three ways—God as creator, God as known in Jesus, and God as the Holy Spirit (203). In A.D. 1054, Christianity split over the way God is known. In the Western church, the Holy Spirit “proceeds” from the “Father and the Son.” In the Eastern church, the Holy Spirit “proceeds” from only “the Father” (214).
Sin, Repentance, Forgiveness Borg clarifies the difference between sin in the singular and sins in the plural. Sin in the singular is “a power that holds us in bondage” (147) and separates us from God, making us captives, prisoners, and trapped both in an external world and an internal world. Sin becomes pride, a centering of life upon the self rather than the liberation of centering a life upon God. Borg notes that sins or acts that keep us in bondage flow from sin in the singular. Only as man develops a deeper “centering on God” can he confront sin in the singular, which centers upon the self. Enter repentance, which means “to turn, to return” (158), that is to make a journey back to the Holy Land where God is, to turn around and return to God. Repentance is all about change, about turning around, about going beyond “the mind that we have” (159) and seeing “things in a new way” (159). God’s forgiveness exists and we “are forgiven, accepted by God” (155), because “God’s love, God’s grace, God’s forgiveness” (155) is given. We too can forgive and then participate in “God’s passion for transformation” (156) in liberating us from the bondage of our past, of our society, and of ourselves.
Faith, Born Again, Mercy The ancient meaning of faith goes back to the Latin words fidelitas and fiducia. The word fidelitas translates as “fidelity” or “faithfulness” (121). Borg suggests thinking of what faithfulness might mean in a human relationship. Would faithfulness not mean “commitment, loyalty, allegiance, and attentiveness” (121)? The word fiducia translates as “trust” (121). Faith in God means then trust in God,
making anxiety the opposite of faith. With a “deeper centering in God,” faith becomes commitment, allegiance, trust, attentiveness, and loyalty to God. The word “believe” is from the Old English be loef, which translates as “to hold dear” (118) or to belove. Belief then becomes the will “to belove Jesus” (119), loving with the heart. To be born again is what Borg calls “a powerful metaphor for the transformation at the center of the Christian life” (167). The phrase appears in the story of the Pharisee Nicodemus who comes to Jesus in the dark of the night who wants to know what it means to be born again (John 3:1–10). Jesus insists that to be born again or born from above or born anew means to be “born of the Spirit” (168), to be transformed from an old life not centered in God to a new life centered in God. This new life centered in God brings a new vision of the world where the Spirit of God is the center of existence. This inner transformation is translated into an outer transformation. To be born again, Borg insists, “describes our transformation and, ultimately, the transformation of the world, for those who are born of the Spirit of God as known in Jesus share God’s passion for a more just and peaceful world” (169). To Borg, the word mercy implies a position of power and a wrongdoing. The punitive possibility of power is turned into an act of mercy in forgiving the offender. There is a hardness in the word mercy which the word compassion does not have. Borg prefers the word compassion over the word mercy. Why? The Latin roots of the word compassion translate as “to feel with” (127). The Hebrew world for compassion points to the womb. Borg explains: “To be compassionate is to be womb-like: life-giving, nourishing, perhaps embracing and encompassing. To be compassionate is to feel for another the way a mother feels for the children of her womb; she loves them, wills their well-being, and sometimes becomes fierce when their well-being is threatened” (127). Borg prefers to translate the word mercy as compassion in Exodus 2:23–25 where the Jews groaned but God felt mercy. In the parable of the blind beggar in Mark 10:46–52, Borg prefers the translation— ”Have compassion on me” (129). In the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29–37, Borg prefers the translation of the one who did the right thing as the one who showed him compassion (129). Borg insists: “Mercy is a reactive virtue; we are called to be merciful on those occasions when we have been wronged. Compassion covers a much larger area of life, indeed, all of life; we are to be compassionate” (130). Borg adds: “God is not primarily a threatening judge to whom we appeal for mercy, but a life-giving and nourishing reality who wills our well-being and the well-being of the whole of creation, just as a mother wills the well-being of the children of her womb” (131).
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.
31
P. O. Box 210 • Mount Olive, NC 28365-0210 • (919) 6 58.5250 • admin@ncfcm.org • rwarren@ncfcm.org
NC Foundation for Christian Ministries 32
Helping Good Pastors Do Better Things Meet the 2013–2014 Ministerial Graduates Supported by Your Gifts to the Foundation Shepherd’s Scholarship Fund Susan Lackey is a member of Moseley’s Creek OFWB Church in Dover, NC. She received a Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.) on May 9, 2014.
Reflections from Susan Lackey: I felt God had called me for His service and prayed earnestly that He would teach me. He delivered me to Mount Olive College for a Bachelor of Science in Religion. I was fortunate to have been able to participate in the Modular program at the New Bern Campus as a member of MRM #11. We studied four hours every Thursday. This was a valuable time. I was exposed to so much there including Paul’s journeys, church history and spiritual formation. I then traveled to Campbell University Divinity School where I also have learned and grown spiritually. God made it very clear that I was supposed to be there. I learned there was a Preschool and Children’s Ministry Certificate program in addition to the Master’s program. This was very wonderful to me because I love preschoolers. During these classes I learned that ministry to and with preschoolers includes their parents who will train them in the way they should go and the congregation who need to support their spiritual growth and that preschoolers become youth. This means my ministry would be with the entire congregation. I learned so much about the Bible, preaching, theology, leadership, world religions, history and pastoral care while at Campbell. I have been nurtured by a knowledgeable, yet caring faculty. The focus is Christ-Centered, Bible-Based, and Ministry-Focused. In many classes, I was assigned to go into my community to interview and observe others
who were already doing ministry. These experiences helped my awareness of who was around me and some efforts underway. The training required high expectations. Many hours were spent in preparation for the 85 credit hours of classes. My family has offered many encouraging words along the way and been very patient. Going to school has far reaching effects to my children and my husband, their education and classmates as well as his workmates when I needed to be at school and he needed to be home. My children have helped me study for exams and listened to my ideas. The journey can be thought of like a pine tree with knots along the road. Each knot has a story to tell and influences the growth and journey from there. Moseley’s Creek Church has also been very supportive of my calling and education. Campbell requires a letter of reference from the home church of the student. This affirms the person but also that the church body will support that student in prayer and dialogue during the journey through theological education. I also could not have completed the requirements for the required class of Supervised Ministry without their participation. I plan to continue serving my church and the children there. I am truly grateful for The North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries. I felt so much affirmation when Dr. Raper said to me, “We want to help you.” I had heard Dr. Raper at an Eastern Conference Session of the
Retirement Income Comparison CD Rate 1
(June 5, 2014)
0.23%
Annuity Rate 2 (At age 70)
5.1%
Woman’s Auxiliary Convention explain what the Foundation was and the importance of estate planning so that after this world our money will be able to help our church in the future. His presentation had so impressed me. It is a grand honor to be a recipient of the Foundation’s work. I have met so many amazing people along the way. I treasure our conversations and study times. Thank you to all who have lifted me up in prayer and helped me along my journey. I had asked God to teach me and he has done so much more than I imagined was available. Glory Be to God. He is almighty and worthy of our praise.
1. National Average 12-month CD rate (Source: Bankrate.com) 2. Lifetime rate from the Foundation for a person age 70
The Foundation gratefully acknowledges these gifts given during April of 2014 in honor or memory of those listed.
• In Memory of • Mrs. Norma P. Reardon
By Mr. & Mrs. W. Dwayne Summerlin
Mr. Rad Rich
By Mrs. Nancy W. Yates
Mrs. Norma Powell Reardon By Ms. Dianne Brown Riley
Mrs. Norma Powell Reardon By Mr. and Mrs. Dan Wallace
Mrs. Norma Powell Reardon By Mr. Thomas L. Wallace
• In Honor of • The Reverend Justin Barnett By Bertie A. Sanders
The Reverend Dr. Neal Cox By Bertie A. Sanders
Mrs. Linda V. Lassiter By Bertie A. Sanders
The Reverend Greg Barnes By Bertie A. Sanders
Mrs. Linda V. Lassiter
By Ricky and Angela Warren
Mr. Gary F. Barefoot By Bertie A. Sanders
Ms. Dianne Brown Riley By Mrs. Nancy W. Yates
Mrs. Susan Lackey By Bertie A. Sanders
Carmen González-McKernie is a recent graduate of Duke Divinity School, where she received her Master of Divinity and certificate in Prison Studies. She is a licensed minister in the Eastern Conference and seeking ordination. She begins July 1st as co-pastor of Unidos Por Cristo, a Hispanic congregation in Grimesland, NC. She lives with her husband, Devin, and their dog, Fred, in Durham, NC. Reflections from Carmen González-McKernie: My time at Duke Divinity was a work made possible by a strong network that held me in the light and supported me physically, emotionally, and financially. I am forever grateful to those who gave me financial support, like the North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries, and will remember them wherever I go. I do not like to believe that this time at Duke would have been impossible without my husband, for we claim nothing is impossible for God, but I don’t want to know what it would have been like without Devo’s constant encouragement and willingness to journey with me. I cannot forget the support of my family as well— parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins—who saw within me a gift and nurtured it. Finally, I remember the family that God made out of many different peoples at Wintergreen OFWB, thanking them for instructing me in the way I should go, and supporting me when I chose Duke. After considering this web of connection and support, I stand in awe of our most gracious God who made it all possible. I applied to Duke after having been encouraged by my pastor; he knew I felt a call to ministry, but was unsure what it would look like. I thought I’d figure it out by three years, but instead it felt like the doors to the church and God were flung wide open, and my ideas about possibilities in ministry were expanded. That is, I’m still discerning my vocation in the church, whether it is in a parish setting, a classroom, or communal living. Some of my areas of passion are: ecumenism, or unity amongst different denominations; interreligious dialogue as a means of evangelism, or proclamation of the good news; working for justice in our current legal system and the abolition of the prison system as we know it; welcoming the sojourner in our midst and achieving immigration reform; living in community and supporting one another in life; and sustainable and alternative ways of being in the world so that all of God’s creation is honored. One of my favorite Fred Buechner quotations reads like this, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Thus I am exploring those deep gladnesses and passions within myself that are born of God, along with the world’s hungers and needs. Therein I trust to find my vocation, and to grow deeper in relationship with God and my sisters and brothers along the way. I hope that my gifts and graces will prove to be of use to this denomination and God’s church, God willing. 33
Youth Convention
Annual Youth Convention of Original Free Will Baptists Is Held
34
By Marci Rollins-Smart, Youth Commission Member Over 370 children, youth, and adults from 31 churches covered the campus of Mount Olive College on May 16–18 for the Annual Youth Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. With a theme of “Identity Crisis,” the weekend focused on teaching everyone how to find our “identity” changes when we accept Christ as our Savior. The theme verse for the weekend came from Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” The theme song for the weekend was “Identity” by Kutless. The weekend was filled with worship services featuring the band, Traditional City, and nationally known evangelist Kevin Davis. Saturday night’s worship service also featured dramas and music from youth groups from Blended Fellowship, Little Rock, and Juniper Chapel. Sunday’s worship service featured singing and dramas the different age groups learned throughout the weekend. A group from Union Chapel (Albemarle Conference) led the music in the worship service. On Saturday morning, each age group spent time packing 10,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now, an international relief organization driven by the vision of a world without hunger and a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and lifesaving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources. Stop Hunger Now’s meal packaging program is a volunteer-based program that coordinates the streamlined packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, flavoring, and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. The meals are easily transported to crisis-burdened areas or supplied to school feeding programs around the world. The meals cost only $0.25 per meal to create. Churches donated the $2,500 needed to pay for the 10,000 meals packaged at the Youth Convention. In addition to the money raised to make the Stop Hunger Now project possible, churches also contributed $1,011.60 to the Fountain of Youth Endowment. This Endowment was established with the NC Foundation for Christian Ministries in 2012, to benefit the Original Free Will Baptist Convention Ministries. Long after we have left this earth our giving will continue through this established fund. After the initial amount of $10,000 has been received, an annual distribution of the interest earnings
will be given to the ministries. To date, approximately $4,000 has been received toward this Youth Project. Children and youth also enjoyed various other activities throughout the weekend included woodworking, crafts, drama classes, creative hands classes, special speakers, games, inflatables, and water slides. The Saturday night worship service also featured the installation of the 2014–2015 officers and representatives and announcement of Bible Bowl winners and Elizabeth C. Hansley Outstanding Youth Program Award Recipients. This year’s officers are: President—Marshall Jenkins from Little Rock (Western Conference), Vice President—Peyton Overbee of Tee’s Chapel (Cape Fear Conference), Recording Secretary—Morgan Edmonds of Whaley’s Chapel (Eastern Conference), Corresponding Secretary—Jordan Cobb of Kings Cross Roads (Central Conference), and Program Coordinator—Tyler Britt of Union Chapel (Albemarle Conference). The representatives this year are: Coy Oliver of Union Chapel (Albemarle Conference), David Norris II of Yelverton Grove (Cape Fear Conference), Daniel Watson from Marlboro Church (Central Conference), Jacob Cottle of Juniper Chapel (Eastern Conference), Sarah Richards of Cypress Creek (Pee Dee Association), and Naomi Jenkins of Little Rock (Western Conference). Those awarded plaques for the Bible Bowl competition were: Beaverdam (Pee Dee Conference)—1st place in Cherubs, 2nd place in AFC, and 1st place in YFA; Jackson Heights (Eastern Conference)—1st place in AFC and 4th place in YFA; Yelverton Grove (Cape Fear Conference)— 3rd place in AFC and 5th place in YFA; Whaley’s Chapel (Eastern Conference)—4th place in AFC and 3rd place in YFA; and Ormondsville (Central Conference)—2nd place YFA. These competitions took place at the University of Mount Olive on Saturday, April 5. Little Rock Church (Western Conference), Powhatan Church (Cape Fear Conference), Robert’s Grove Church (Cape Fear Conference), and Sound Side Church (Albemarle Conference) were each awarded Gold Level Elizabeth C. Hansley Outstanding Youth Program Award Recipients. This award is named in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Hansley, affectionately known as “Ma Hansley,” who dedicated much of her life to working with the children & youth of our denomination. The main purpose of this award is to encourage youth group leaders and members to plan, implement, and evaluate activities
Above: Traditional City Band Left: Evangelist Kevin Davis
Stop Hunger Now
2014–2015 Officers
2014–2015 Representatives
that provide positive spiritual growth for youth in a variety of areas. The secondary purpose is to recognize those groups that reach a certain level of achievement in this process. Recipients
of the Award receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze level recognitions. Applicants completed an application documenting activities their Youth Program completed from May 2013–April 2014 in the following areas: Development of Individual Youth Members (Christian Leadership; Health & Well-being; Spiritual Growth); Development of the Total Youth Program (Recruitment; Financing; Denominational Leadership); Development of the Church (Cooperative Efforts; Facility Maintenance and/or Improvement; Congregational Ministry); and Development of the Community (Community Outreach; Physical Improvement; Citizenship). The Rev. Todd Sutton, pastor of Saratoga FWB Church, was recognized on Saturday night for his many years of dedication and work on the Youth Taskforce (which is now the Youth Commission). Mr. Sutton has served two terms on the Taskforce/Commission. The Youth Commission members for 2014-2015 are: Victor Jones (Eastern), chair; Heather McPherson (Pee Dee); Marci Rollins-Smart (Western); Alex McCarter (Central); and the Rev. Heath Connor (Pee Dee). There is no way we can possibly list all the volunteers who helped plan and carry out the Youth Convention! It takes MANY people from many different churches and districts all coming together and using their gifts and talents for God to make the weekend the success that it is! The individual age group portions of the Youth Convention were planned and organized by: Cherubs—Barbara Avery (Core Creek), Tammy Gardner (Kings Cross Roads), Donna George (Greenville First), Diane Hobgood (Marlboro), Janet Joyner (Free Union, Central Conference), and Susan Lackey (Mosely’s Creek); AFC— Faye Bryant (Cypress Creek), Teresa Harris (Kings Cross Roads), Lynn Watson (Marlboro), and Angie Toler (Juniper Chapel); and YFA—Wanda & Haley Benson (Powhatan), Wyatt and Tara Harvey (Union Chapel), Leigh Ann Norris (Tee’s Chapel). Others assisting with the weekend were Hope Fields (Beaverdam), Naomi Jenkins (Little Rock), and Jonathan Whitford (Free Union, Central Conference). The 2013—2014 representatives and officers helped plan the Youth Convention as well as carry out the events of the weekend. The outgoing officers were: President—Daniel Watson of Marlboro (Central Conference), Vice President—Jacob Cottle of Juniper Chapel (Eastern Conference), Session Secretary—Nicholas Richards of Cypress Creek (Pee Dee), and Program Prayer Chair—Coy Oliver of Union Chapel (Albemarle). Youth selected by their districts serve as representative for one year and then serve as officers the following year. Plans are already being made for next year’s Youth Convention. Mark your calendar for May 15–17, 2015 so you don’t miss it! The corporate worship services will feature Jeff Smith of Salt and Light Ministries. Jeff has performed throughout the world as a featured performer and master teacher at local, state, and national training conferences and seminars in drama, worship arts, music, ministry, teacher training, children’s ministry, and creative arts. You can learn more about Jeff Smith and Salt and Light Ministries at <saltandlightmin.org>. 35
A deeper look inside this month’s lessons from the OFWB Foundation Curriculum and commentaries based on the International Sunday School Lessons.
The five lessons in Unit 2, beginning with the last Sunday in June, come from 1 Corinthians. This is a long letter of sixteen chapters, but we will focus on five problems within God’s church in the city of Corinth: 1) unity vs. divisions, 2) sexual misconduct, 3) liberty and responsibility, 4) idols and temptation, and 5) speaking in tongues vs. orderly worship. First Corinthians is sometimes erroneously referred to as “Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth.” First Corinthians 5:9 speaks of a previous letter that we do not have, so 1 Corinthians would be Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Also, 2 Corinthians 2:1–5 refers to another letter written between First and Second Corinthians. So Paul wrote at least four letters to the Corinthian church. Corinth was an important east-west seaport city of over a half million residents. Merchants, sailors, soldiers, and all sorts of travelers passed through continuously. The city was infamous for its debauchery. On a hill top outside the city stood the Temple of Aphrodite which attracted numerous visitors, not so much for the panoramic view as for the many sacred prostitutes associated with the temple. With such a diversity of people in the city, it is not surprising that there was diversity in the church. However, in
the church at Corinth diversity led to division (lesson one). Each of us is an individual, but our faith in Christ unites us. We will not all agree on everything, but the Gospel of Christ raises us above our differences. Unity is in the center of community, which is the theme running through the lessons this quarter. The second Corinthian problem in our study is one we do not like to discuss in the church, even though it is openly exploited in movies, novels, and the language of subcultures. But that is the world’s view of sex; and in the church we should be teaching a different, wholesome view. This is nothing new. Some of the Christians in Corinth argued that since Christ has set them free “all things are lawful for me” (v. 12) there is no harm in engaging the services of temple prostitutes. But Paul reminded them that their bodies are temples of God; there is no such thing as casual sex (In other places, such as 1 Corinthians 3:16, the church is God’s temple; but here, the individual Christian is God’s temple). This idea of Christian liberty (“all things are lawful for me”) is continued in Lesson 3 as it applies to eating meat. Meat sold in Corinthian markets often came from animals slaughtered as sacrifices to pagan gods. The rationalization went like this: I do not believe in those false gods, so there
is nothing wrong for me to purchase and eat the meat. Paul was in agreement, but with one exception—1 Corinthians 8:9. Christian liberty comes with responsibility to others. Background for Lesson 4 on temptation is the previous section in chapter 10. Twice Paul references the Israelite wilderness wandering, and he cautions the Corinthians against four temptations: idolatry (v. 7), sexual immorality (v. 8), testing Christ (v. 9), and complaining (v. 10). To resist temptation we find strength in community; we share one cup and one bread; we are one body, the body of Christ. Lesson 5 deals with a problem we do not have since we do not teach or practice speaking in tongues. The basic principle applies in other ways: what we do as a church must be done to build up the community, the body of Christ; what we do must not cause confusion. The Corinthian church faced the same temptations as modern day churches— to allow the views and practices of the surrounding culture to creep into the church. Christian standards cannot be legislated; they must be taught in the church so that the members can live according to the teachings and example of Christ Jesus.
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. 36
to get our loan approved. Hopefully, at this time, there is construction going on at the camp! God has truly blessed us and Camp Vandemere. We will possibly be finishing construction sometime in the fall! We will have to wait and see how things go; but when the buildings are finished, we will have to furnish them. The kitchen equipment has to be in place and the bunks have to be in the dorms before we can operate. It is very important that everyone knows that our real work has just begun. We still have a short term financial goal to meet; there is about $60,000 worth of equipment to buy BEFORE we can operate. We do ask that everyone consider helping with these monies as soon as possible. We can’t open for business until the items are in place in each dorm and the kitchen/dining hall! On Saturday, September 20, we will have a fundraiser hosted by Sandy Plain Church. This will be an auction/ craft sale type event and the proceeds will go towards operation cost and furnishing our buildings. I would like to thank everyone that has in any way contributed to the rebuilding effort of our camp. It only takes one person coming to know Jesus to make it worth every financial or prayerful effort that has been rendered!
Camp Vandemere
Three years ago, on August 27, 2011, our camp was devastated by a hurricane. There’s no doubt that this has been an awakening call to many people, especially me as the current Director. As I was speaking to a fellow Christian at the Youth Convention; “You don’t know what the value of something is until, after being a part of for a while, it’s gone!” I think the old saying goes; “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” At the end of July this year, I will have been at the camp as the Director for six years. Three of which were, what I’d say normal; the other three were spent cleaning up and trying to make do with what we had! Well, all I can say at this point is that I’ve learned to be very patient. I have truly learned that we are all on God’s time! As I think back on the past three years especially, I know in my heart that God has been in control. There has been so much time spent on thinking, planning, changing and making hard decisions—decisions that will affect people for the entire future of Camp Vandemere! We’ve been in meeting after meeting with ten to fifteen Board members and Conference leaders, trying to make sure the right decisions are made and now, we’ll start to see the results of this work. No, everyone won’t agree with every decision we have made, but we have made every effort to be in prayer about all of them. This past October, the Conference met and the overwhelming majority voted to support our camp! That support has come through prayer and financial help. We, the Board of Directors of Camp Vandemere, Inc., are overwhelmed at that support. In only six months we have reached our financial goals! At the end of April, we were able to call our Board members together and tell them that; “we can go the loan company now!” Praise the Lord! Needlessly to say, everyone was excited! This article was written in May and you are reading it now, in the July issue of TFWB. When I wrote this, we were planning our meeting with Church Finance Association
215 N 3rd Street • Vandemere, NC 28587 • (252) 745-3171 • www.campvandemereinc.org
News from Camp Vandemere
God is good, all the time! CAMP VANDEMERE, INC.
Rick Price, Executive Director 215 N. Third St. • Vandemere, NC 28587 (252) 670-9755
37
“On Learning to Write” On Friday mornings, I work with some clients of a local non-profit who are preparing for their GED. Before my class begins, the room is used by another young man to teach creative writing. I’ve been fascinated by the idea of such a class for several months. I want to show up an hour early one morning and sit with them and learn. Even though I write this column and am attempting to write my dissertation, I don’t necessarily think of myself as “a writer.” Writers know what they’re doing. I’d be very hesitant to claim such a thing about my monthly attempt to pluck an idea out of the sky and to string words around it in hopes of producing something cogent. For most of my writings, I simply try not to be an embarrassment to my parents, especially as I am prone to voicing my own strong opinions. For these reasons, I don’t think of myself as a writer, and I’m increasingly fascinated by whatever it is that the creative writing class is doing when it meets. “They are writers,” I tell myself. “They know what they’re doing, or, at least, they’re learning what real writers do,”…or so goes the critical voice in my mind. I’m thinking on these things this month because, well, my deadline is here, and I can’t sit forever in front of
a blank screen. But I’ve also been more thoughtful about the practice of writing as I’ve watched, from a distance, my younger cousin explore her desire to write. I don’t know if she’s written much, which is because I’m awful at staying in touch with people, and I’m also aware that writers, whether real or not, can be rather sensitive when asked about their progress. I certainly am. Regardless, in seeing my cousin think more carefully about her identity as a writer, I also see myself. On a good day, I hope that our respective efforts at writing are in concert with other folks who also try to look meaningfully at their world and to look deeply within themselves. Though I don’t necessarily like what I see when I direct my gaze in an inward fashion, I’m learning that the desire to do so is a good and necessary thing on the long road of our spiritual journeys. I think my cousin senses that, too. Writing is just one particular method through which we can attempt to bring out from within ourselves that which animates us and gives us life. Engaging our spirit in such a way means that we find ways to celebrate the elements of beauty and creativity that is within every human being. It also means that we learn to acknowledge and make peace with those
demons and memories and losses and self-destructive tendencies that are also lurking about within the darker corners of every soul. Of course, there are many different ways people can engage the process of tending to their spiritual health. Not everyone enjoys the task of writing. (I’m not always sure if I do.) Some people paint, or walk around in the woods, or dig in their gardens. Still others cook delicious food, or pick a guitar, or type witty tweets in 140 characters. Some students in my classes do this through poetry or spoken word or other performance arts. Whatever it is that nourishes our souls and leads us to live in the world in a more thoughtful manner, these would seem to be good things. God, then, seems to be less like One who harshly stands alongside of us, critically judging our efforts, and more like One who is ever accepting of our work, even when it’s not very good or is less than inspired. The point is not to craft a perfect piece of writing, or a perfect garden, or a flawless culinary delight, but rather that we learn to journey alongside God and neighbor, engaging our interests and talents in such a way that we bring more light and peace into our world. Perhaps that is what it’s all about.
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.
38
A Tribute to Mothers After everyone dried their tears, the youth of the church presented a bookmark attached to a card to all mothers present. These bookmarks/cards were handmade by the Rock Springs Card Ministry.
Community Connection
On Mother’s Day Rock Springs Church remembered the nine loving mothers that went to be with the Lord this past year. Tanji Bass spoke about the meaning of the word “MOTHER” followed by several ways to know if you are a good mom. Some of which are: “your feet stick to the kitchen floor and you don’t care” or “when your kids fight you make them hug and kiss and say ‘I love you.’” Prominent mothers in the Bible are: Eve—the First Mother. She is the mother of all the living (Genesis 3:20); Jochebed—the Protective Mother; Hannah—the Supportive Mother (1 Samuel 1:24–28); Eunice—the Instructive Mother (2 Timothy 1:1–5); and Mary—the Loyal Mother (John 19:23–25). The families of the nine mothers who are now walking the streets of gold donated the flowers for Mother’s Day services. Sandra Stallings explained the special meaning of the flowers and colors: Green—everlasting, ever growing in Christ; Purple—royalty, queens in our lives; Yellow—bright spots to us; Light Pink—softness and tenderness; Dark Pink— vibrant lives; and White (the tallest in the bouquet)—purity in God’s eyes and stretching to reach God. Sandra Stallings also read her poem entitled “Mama’s First Mother’s Day in Heaven.”
New Pastor at Westside Church The Rev. Duane K. “Butch” Haddock began at Westside OFWB Church, Kinston, NC, on Sunday, June 1, 2014 as Interim Pastor. The Rev. Haddock was ordained in the Original Free Will Baptist Church in 2009 and was Pastor of Hillside OFWB Church in Grifton for three and a half years. He graduated from Liberty University Bible Institute in 1984. Additional ministries include music, author of Christian literature and Sunday School Teacher. The congregation is happy to welcome this energetic young man to our church.
It is such a joy to meet you all! Let me share a little with you about myself. I am Rev. Duane K. Haddock and most people that know me call by my nickname, which is “Butch.” I am originally from Pitt County and became a Christian at the age of 22 in Grifton, NC. From then until now I have been a youth director, taught Sunday School, been a Music Leader, writer of Gospel literature as well as served as a Pastor for some 3½ years. I graduated from the Liberty University Bible Institute in 1984. I am married (my wife’s name is Marilyn) with two grown children, one granddaughter and also some extended family. Let me say that it is truly an honor that you would ask me to serve Westside Church as your interim pastor. My prayer is that I can earn your confidence and support, and beginning today wherever the Lord takes us let us go TOGETHER in unity…we’re a team! “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1) Love to you all, Brother Butch Psalms 40:2 39
Psalms U%
for the
Soul with Linda Herring
The Bible speaks to us but the Psalms speak for us. Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the Bible with 176 verses, is a love song to God’s law. You will never understand the Psalmist’s enthusiasm about a moral code until you think about children playing near a cliff’s edge. Without a fence, they are always in danger, never able to relax. Because of the fence, they can play freely and without fear. God’s law is a safety fence that brings freedom. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your Word.” God’s law is also a mirror that shows us we cannot live up to His standards without His help. Only when we realize that the fence builder loves us and wants the best for us, are we happy to stay on the right side of the fence. The Christian life is not a question of rules but rules based on relationship. When you understand that, you will trust whatever God asks of you. 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.
White Oak Grove News
Retired Chief Petty Officer Malcolm Kennedy, standing guard at the wreath and representing our commitment to support, honor, and appreciate our military.
SUBMITTED BY OSCAR HERRING
Memorial Day at White Oak Grove OFWB Church in La Grange was a day members of the church expressed their appreciation to the men and women that have served in the military. Many expressive words were used to describe the men and the women of the military, such as commitment to the nation, the giving of their lives, family sacrifices, our nation protectors, security and service to others. As in the past, Dot Kennedy shared with the congregation the talents that God had given her and she prepared a display that depicted the roles that the military has played in our nation’s struggle for freedom. A prominent feature of the display was a memorial wreath. At the conclusion of morning worship service, the members were invited to assemble at the flagpole and to place a flower on the wreath.
John Foss, a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and member of White Oak Grove
Church & Ministry Positions Available • 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>.
40
Standard LESSON
Teacher’s Study Bible Availa
ble
The Standard Lesson Teacher Study Bible is designed specifically for teachers and serious students alike. Great for Sunday School, adult Bible fellowships, and small groups, this Bible contains a wealth of resources for virtually every Scripture passage on which a lesson would likely be based. Distinctive elements include: KJV text, study notes from the #1 selling Commentary in America, cross references, discussion questions, in-text maps, Bible book introductions, a comprehensive time line, a pronunciation guide, a Concordance, a daily Bible reading plan, and an easy to read 10 point font size.
Special Features
Now!
Study Notes: Compiled and selected from
60 years of the best selling Standard Lesson Commentary content. Contributing scholars include ministers, professors, and other experts in Bible exposition and Christian education.
Enhanced Biblical Content Introductions.
• What to review before you teach • Questions this book answers Questions for Discussion and Reflection Pronunciation Guide Concordance Easy to Read 10 point font.
By using the side-by-side text, Commentary to Bible notes, the Teacher’s Study Bible will expand, inspire, and strengthen your Christian growth in the Scriptures. ISBN: 9780784774786 • $49.99
Our Price: $39.97
ISBN: 9780784774779 • $59.99
Our Price: $47.97
Cross & Crown 3928 Lee Street Ayden, NC 28513 252.746.6128 1.800.849.3927
Cross & Crown
Vernon Park Mall (beside Belk) Kinston, NC 28504 252.527.2843
Cross & Crown
Glenburnie Plaza (behind Bojangles) New Bern, NC 28562 252.638.6193
Spreading the Word. For Life!
Celebrating our religious freedom
by passing it on to future generations. North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries
(919) 658-5250
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID 28513
USPS 2094-4000
42