February 2015
February 2015 Sunday School Month This is a calendar of denominational events and regular holidays and special days/seasons of the Christian year.
Sunday
Monday
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National Freedom Day
As times/dates may change, you can scan the QR code above for a more complete and up-to-date list.
Tuesday 2
Wednesday 3
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Thursday 5
Friday
Saturday 6
Groundhog Day
7 UMO Basketball Church Night 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
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14
Valentine’s Day
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President’s Day
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Ash Wednesday
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LIFE Conference
@ University of Mount Olive February 6–7
Valentines Thoughts and Wishes By The Reverend Mark S. Hobbs Candy, Cupid, and cuddling, seem to be the main ingredients in the compilation of the perfect Valentine’s Day. February 14 will soon be here. Once again we will be reminded to say nice things to our sweethearts. Candy manufacturers continually remind us to tickle the tongues of those we love with an assortment of their confectionery creations. Yet while we tickle their tongues, the calories mount quickly. Many women spend the entire year keeping fit. No “Death by Chocolate” dessert from Bennigan’s Restaurants ever touches their lips. Working out and staying fit dominates their days, until February 14. On that day, many husbands and boyfriends show their love. Huge boxes of candies are given. Most guys give their ladies enough candy calories to fatten the most anemic cow. Watchful eyes are riveted to the females as they unwrap the candy. Words like, “Oh, this is my favorite,” gush out. The men do not blink until several pieces of candy are eaten. If only one piece (about 100 calories) is consumed the giver knows he is not loved much at all. Fellows know love can be measured by the quantity of candy consumed.
Of course most males have a back up plan. Roses (about one dozen) will be given to the special lady. Roses are like candy—they look and smell good. Both have drawbacks. The candy is packed with calories; the roses have thorns. Most of us never forget the piercing sensation of being stuck with a thorny rose. We show our love to each other in funny ways: fattening candy and thorny flowers. Perhaps this is the way of true love. Lovers often speak of Cupid and his arrows. Yet, many of us have grown to realize it takes more than a few arrows from Cupid to make a relationship endure. It takes more than a box of candy and a bunch of flowers to sustain a loving relationship. Lasting, loving relationships require hard work, honest communications, determination, a co-operative spirit and commitment. Hopefully, you will be happy and healthy this Valentine’s day. You may give candy and flowers to someone special or you may be the recipient of these tokens of love. Or, you might find yourself unhappy and not so healthy in your loving relationship. Whatever your situation, please let this Valentine’s Day be a time for you to evaluate the condition of the
relationship you share with the special person in your life. If you need to make changes in the way you relate to your sweetheart, be honest with yourself and with him or her. May this Valentine’s Day serve to remind us of love; its joys and pains. Remember, the candy makes you fat if it is all you eat. The roses can bruise if you do not handle them correctly, and love can cripple if you depend solely upon Cupid. Trusting in God, living a disciplined life and seeking to understand one’s self and one’s mate are all helpful ingredients in a loving relationship. If you need help to improve your relationship, seek help! Speak to your pastor, schedule an appointment with a counselor, petition the Lord for guidance, confer with your mate, or enroll in a marriage retreat. Search for help! Chocolate candy melts in a hot car, roses wilt after they have been clipped from the bush. Left unattended and uncared for, the relationships we say we value the most quite often melt and wilt away. Seek help from the resources the Lord has made available to you.
Mark S. Hobbs, born to Shelton and Jane Hobbs of Smithfield NC, was nurtured in the Christian faith at Hopewell Church where he and Gracelyn married in 1980 and was ordained in November 1980 by the Cape Fear Conference. He graduated from Mount Olive College, Barton College, and Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest. After a five year pastorate at First Church, Rocky Mount, he served as an Air Force Chaplain for 20 years until retirement in 2006. He serves as pastor at Snow Hill Church and taught AFJROTC from August 2006 until June 2013 at North Johnston High School. He serves on the Central Conference Ordaining Board, Chaplaincy Commission, and Free Will Baptist Press Board. His three children and two grandchildren are gifts from God.
Spreading the Word. For Life! 2
Managing Editor Darren Davenport editor@fwbpress.com
jerry@fwbpress.com
Volume 133 • Number 2 ■ FEATURES & COLUMNS
Circulation, Customer Service Amy Stokes
Reflections: A Guest Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Web Administrator, Online Customer Service Andrew Mozingo
Announcing: Your New Original Free Will Baptist Bookstore: mycrossandcrown.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
amy@fwbpress.com
customer.service@fwbpress.com
Editorial Assistant Carlton Oakley Graphic Designers Jerry Goff, Nathaniel Ingram Production Team Ronnie Jones, Ted Johnston
Pondering the Past with Celia Hales. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Sanctified with Andrew Mozingo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 From a Woman’s Heart with Nora Koonce Avery. . . . . . 22 Caring for the Soul with David Morrow. . . . . . . . . . . 23 Lesson Inner View with Adrian Grubbs . . . . . . . . . . . 26 A Sling and a Stone with Marc Boswell. . . . . . . . . . . 29 Dr. Pepper’s Book Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring. . . . . . . . . . . 39
www.fwbpress.com President Jeff Daughtry
jeff@fwbpress.com
Vice President Darren Davenport darrend@fwbpress.com
Board of Directors Mike Scott (Chairman), Eastern Mark Hobbs (Vice Chairman), Central Kelley Smart (Secretary), Central Joe Ballance, Cape Fear • David Pooser, Albemarle Nancy Hardee, Pee Dee • Richard Cuddington, Western Linda Weathersby, Central • MeLinda Edwards, Western The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each article is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.
■ DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Children’s Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 University of Mount Olive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Cragmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Home Missions & Evangelism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Convention News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
■ ANCILLARY MINISTRIES NC Foundation for Christian Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . 34 Youth Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
■ COMMUNITY CONNECTOR . .
For information on subscription rates, submission and photo guidelines, advertising rates and guidelines, and more, visit <fwbpress.com>. © 2015 The Free Will Baptist • All Rights Reserved. The Free Will Baptist is edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, 3928 Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden, North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, Ayden, NC 28513-0159.
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ON THE COVER: Valentine’s day is Saturday, February 14.
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Contents
Production Manager Jerry Goff
February 2015
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Announcing
Your New Original Free Will Baptist Bookstore:
mycrossandcrown.com hat’s right! Our newest bookstore is open; in fact, it never closes. You can shop at your convenience and almost always find the items you are looking. Go directly to <www.mycrossandcrown.com> or you can access our online bookstore through the Free Will Baptist Press’ website at <www. fwbpress.com> and clicking on “My Cross & Crown” tab. You will see our current specials and promotions. You can save up to 40% on some bestsellers and 20% on some new releases. You may also search for a specific item or shop by category, such as Bibles, books, gifts, church supplies, music, and youth. Your selections will be shipped directly to your home and you will receive them, usually within days (depending on the shipping method you
choose). Many items qualify for free shipping. It is not always convenient for many readers of The Free Will Baptist to shop at one of our store locations in Ayden, Kinston, and New Bern, but <www.mycrossandcrown.com> is convenient for everyone. Browse and shop today and let us know what you think. You will be supporting the Free Will Baptist Press. The Press, <mycrossandcrown.com>, The Free Will Baptist online edition (at no cost), and the other ministries of The Press will be able to continue and improve because of your gifts and prayers. We invite you to financially support this ministry by sending your gift to: Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, Ayden, NC 28513 or giving securely on our website at <www. fwbpress.com>.
*The Free Will Baptist Press is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian charitable organization. All contributions to The Press are tax deductible.
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Mount Olive College / Raper Hall • Mount Olive, North Carolina
Strengthening Our Church Schedule of Activities Friday Night, March 6, 2015 • 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Sunday School Ministry
Friday night, March 6–Saturday, March 7, 2015
P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbsundayschool.org
(Formerly the 74th OFWB Sunday School Institute)
Talent Gallery
The Reverend Barry Stallings and Family will be highlighting the night’s activities. There will also be other groups and different kinds of talent performing during the night. Come and participate in worship of a different kind.
Saturday, March 7, 2015 • 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. • 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. • 9:50 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon • 12:00 noon – 1:15 p.m. • 1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. • 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. • 3:30 p.m.
Registration, Mix, Mingle, View Displays, and be Refreshed Opening Assembly, Directions for the Day, and Awards in the Auditorium of Raper Hall Workshop Session # 1 Workshop Session # 2 LUNCH—Murphy Center, Dedicated Exhibit time, and Conversations with workshop leaders and vendors Workshop Session # 3 Workshop Session # 4 Good-bye until 2016!
REMEMBER to turn in all evaluations and suggestions for next year. 5
Workshops This year we will be focusing on different ways to strengthen our churches. There will be several tracts of study or different forms of ministry during the day that will cover 1–4 different sessions. The tracts will be described here and the standalone workshops will be covered later. There should truly be something for everyone during the day.
Tract 1—Help for Hurting Families (led by Dr. Eddie Moody)
Session 1 — Help for Displaced Families Session 2 — Help for Families with Divorce Session 3 — Help for Families with a Child’s Death Session 4 — Help with Depression
Tract 2—What is Worship? (led by the Reverend John Williams, Sessions 1–4) In these sessions, the leader will explore the various aspects of worship such as types, what is to be accomplished, types of music to accompany the services and many others.
Tract 3—Leadership (led by Dr. Ron Hunter) Session 1 — 3 Traps and 5 Catapults: Learn from three pitfalls that leaders fall prey to regularly and the five new habits that can catapult you and the organization forward in a more healthy culture. Session 2 — Biblical Profiles of Leadership: Get a brief glimpse at the top traits of four biblical leaders (Moses, Nehemiah, David, and Paul) and what they can teach us today. Session 3 — Leadership—How a View From the Top is an Incorrect View: What do slavery, servanthood, and leadership all have in common? Trace how God redeemed an incorrect view of servants in the Bible to create the most powerful leadership approach one can take. Session 4 — How to Lead a Diverse Group: Does he or she get on your last nerve? We will explore and show how to turn tension into health with those you lead, how to value differences, and how not to kill each other while doing so.
Tract 4—Children’s Ministry (led by Ms. Angel Lorton) Session 1 — Preview of Standard VBS: Bible Blast to the Past will cover five daily topics that include: 1) God’s love is Incredible, 2) God’s love is Faithful, 3) God’s love is Invincible, 4) God’s love is Unconditional, and 5) God’s love is Real. Session 2 — Dynamic Children’s Church: The leader will explore the components of Children’s Church and how to design and implement a dynamic children’s church that will be remembered once the children leave the church. Session 3 — Building Relationships Through Play: The leader will discuss the different forms of play and how to design a strong program including play. Session 4 — The Art of Storytelling: The leader will talk about various methods of storytelling in such a way that anyone could tell a memorable story. 6
Tract 5—Christian Education (led by Mr. Phil Brown) Session 1 — The Call to Christian Education: A hammer can be used to build or to destroy depending upon the thinking and training of the user. We must never forget that that the philosophy of Christian Education is not to just give facts and tell true accounts for students to memorize. The call of Christian Education is to intentionally establish a pattern of biblically based thinking in every student. Session 2 — The Role of a Sunday Bible School Director: Most God-called directors want to make the most difference possible. This session will point out a list that requires little time per task weekly, training others to do will take some away. Some things will be done monthly. Let me encourage you to begin slowly and add to your routine. Session 3 — How to Grow a Sunday Bible School Ministry: What does sheep herding, lunch at Bojangles, texting, and the Great Commission have to do with growing a Sunday Bible School ministry? One important thing we seem to have “missed” in Christ’s example of ministry will be examined.
Tract 6—This We Believe and Follow (led by the Reverend Rudy Owens) Diversity can be good, as personality adds flavor to practice, but in the work of the Church, a cohesive adherence to the beliefs of the Original Free Will Baptists is essential for a biblical foundation. These workshops will investigate our Rules of Church Government as published in the Articles of Faith and Principles of Church Government. • Session 1 — Here we’ll examine our beliefs and rules concerning the Local Congregation. • Session 2 — Here we’ll examine our beliefs and rules concerning the Ministry. • Session 3 — Here we’ll examine our beliefs and rules concerning the Annual Conference. • Session 4 — Here we’ll examine our beliefs and rules concerning the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists.
Tract 7—Bible Study
• Session 1 — Introduction to the book of Mark (led by Dr. David Hines) Parts of this book will be used during the year in the Uniform Sunday School Lessons. • Session 2 — Introduction to the book of John (led by Dr. Chris Skinner) Parts of this book will be used during the year in the Uniform Sunday School Lessons. • Session 3 — Introduction to the book of Acts (led by Dr. Neal Cox) Parts of this book will be used during the year in the Uniform Sunday School Lessons. • Session 4 — Introduction to the books of First and Second Corinthians (led by Dr. Brad Williamson) Parts of these books will be used during the year in the Uniform Sunday School Lessons.
Tract 8—Praise and Paint (led by Cathy and Sarah Crumpler Sessions 1–3) This class is for the creative and visual learner. Students will attend all three sessions to paint a faith-based painting on canvas to take home at the end of the day. All students will be painting the same painting with various changes due to ability and expression. This activity allows the participants to express their faith in God through art and fellowship with other participants. Supplies will be provided for this class. The class is limited to 10 people.
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Stand-alone Workshops Session 1—Autopsy of a Deceased Church (led by the Reverend Frank Harrison): In this workshop, the leader will use
the book of the same title by Mr. Thom S. Rainer as a springboard for discussion. “Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, this book will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.”
Session 1—The Role of a Deacon: Part 1 (led by the Reverend David C. Hansley): In this workshop, the leader will help the participants to look seriously at the biblical foundation and the implications for our church today.
Session 1—Preview of Group VBS (led by Ms. Lisa Burney): In this workshop, the leader will help the participants take
a good look at Everest: Conquering Challenges With God’s Mighty Power. The daily lesson topics focus on 1) God provides for Elijah, 2) God speaks to Elijah, 3) God heals Naaman, 4) Jesus dies on a cross to take away our sins, then comes back to life, and 5) Jesus promises us an eternal home. There will also be a brief introduction to two other options which are the Holyland Adventure and Outback Rock.
Session 1—Better Than We Found It: Part 1 (led by Miss Becky Jo Sumner—Women’s Ministry): In this workshop,
the leader will endeavor to share: 1) ideas on ways to enhance the program material found in the Devotion, 2) service projects that relate to the ministries of the OFWB and to community outreach, and 3) a brief overview of the duties of the officers within a women’s group with special attention on the offices of president, recording secretary, and treasurer.
Session 1—55 and Cruising (led by the Reverend Chuck Hardesty): In this workshop the participants will take a look at the needs of those more mature members of our churches and discuss different activities designed to meet those needs.
Session 2—Building a Spiritual Formation (led by Dr. Tyanna Yonkers and the Reverend Carla Williamson): What does being a new creature in Christ Jesus really mean?
Session 2—The Role of a Deacon: Part 2 (led by The Reverend David C. Hansley): This workshop is a continuation of the workshop held in Session 1 in which the participants will look at the biblical foundations for the role of a deacon.
Session 2—Preview of Group VBS (led by Ms. Lisa Burney): In this workshop, the leader will help the participants
take a good look at a second offering from Group which is Thailand Trek: A Look at a Cross Culture. The daily lesson topics focus on 1) Only God could create the world, 2) Jesus is born to show God’s love, 3) Jesus dies to forgive our sins, 4) Jesus promises us an eternal home. There will also be a brief introduction to two other options which are the Holyland Adventure and Outback Rock.
Session 2—Better than We Found It: Part 2 (led by Miss Becky Jo Sumner): In this workshop, the leader will focus
on: 1) Responses to the questions, “Why does the OFWB Church need women’s groups?”, “What do women have to offer the church and the OFWB Denomination?”, “Has our women’s groups outlived their usefulness and relevancy?”, 2) Ideas for increasing participation among all age groups, 3) A time for sharing ideas and discussion of questions from those in attendance.
Session 2—Effective Teaching for Nursery and Toddler Age Children (led by Ms. Marci Rollins-Smart): In this workshop, the leader will share the chronological needs of children ages Birth–2. She will also share teaching methods to meet those needs. Each participant will receive a copy of the Nursery Procedures Manual that the leader has written.
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Session 3—Building a Spiritual Formation (led by Dr. Tyanna Yonkers and the Reverend Carla Williamson): This is a continuation from Session 2 in which the leaders discuss the implications of being a new creature in Christ Jesus.
Session 3—The Role of Ushers and Greeters (led by the Reverend Buddy Sasser): In this workshop the leader will
focus on the duties, responsibilities, and differences between ushers and greeters. Being a greeter is more than just passing out bulletins and being an usher is more than just receiving the offerings.
Session 3—Engaging Adults in Learning (led by Ms. Lisa Burney): In this workshop, the leader will focus on some very innovative and engaging resources for adults and will highlight along with teaching how to use REAL learning philosophy to engage adults.
Session 3—Strengthening Your Faith: Part 1 (led by Dr. John Blackwell): In this workshop, the leader will focus on a
biblical look at how we can strengthen our faith by prayer, study, and building relationships with others. During the session, you will discover his passion for the Lord.
Session 3—Engaging Preschoolers (led by Ms. Marci Rollins-Smart): In this workshop the leader will focus on the chronological needs of preschoolers and the different teaching methods that should be used to make learning happen at such a young age.
Session 4—Christian Action League (led by Mr. Mark Smith): In this workshop, the leader will focus on the purpose of the Christian Action League and the implication for our church today.
Session 4—The Role of Ushers and Greeters: Part 2 (led by the Reverend Buddy Sasser): This workshop is a continuation from Session 3 in which the leader will focus on the duties and responsibilities of greeters and ushers.
Session 4—Engaging Middle Schoolers (led by Ms. Lisa Burney): In this workshop, the leader will focus on the needs of this age group. She will also share some different teaching strategies. During the session, you will feel the passion she has for this age group.
Session 4—Strengthening Your Faith: Part 2 (led by Dr. John Blackwell): This workshop is a continuation from
Session 3 in which the leader takes a biblical look at how we can strengthen our faith through prayer, study, and building relationships with others.
Session 4—Creativity in Ministry (led by the Reverend Tim Heath): In this workshop, the participants will be introduced to different means of creativity in ministry. You will also discover some of the many ways by which the church can be creative in getting outside the box and minister to others.
The children, ages 4–12, will gather in the Hennessee Conference Room in Murphy Center when they arrive where they will have a small breakfast followed by study sessions, games, and good arts and crafts focused on God’s Word. They will have different opportunities to discover God’s love through discovery. They will have a day of fun and learning. Bring your children and let them form new friendships with children from all over the denomination. Their day will run from 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The leader is dedicated to young people and will be working with others who can volunteer their time. If parents are needed by the children during the day, the instructors will contact Mrs. Dudley and she will get the parents.
Come and Have a Great Day in the Lord! 9
Alubijid OFWB Church Dedication Service Misamis Oriental, Philippines
P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbi.org
OFWB International
BY THE REV. DARIO BASINGIL
The Alubijid Free Will Baptist Church held a special Dedication Service on October 5, 2014. I was invited to be the speaker for this event. The Scripture was taken from 2 Chronicles 7:1–10. Dedication means “setting apart of a place, an object, or a person for an exclusive purpose.” The purpose was to set apart the temple or church building as a place of worship, a place of prayer, a place of teaching the Word of God, a place of preaching, and to carry our God’s special purpose. Pastor Diosdado Solomon led a prayer of dedication, with all members touching the walls of the church. This was followed by various presentations by the children, youth, and adults. The church family is very grateful to our brethren in the U.S. for having such a generous heart. Please pray for this church and it’s pastor.
Anniversary Celebration Cagayan City, Philippines BY THE REV. DARIO BASINGIL
The Evangelical Christian Fellowship FWB Church, located at Carmen, Cagayan City celebrated their 28th Church Anniversary on October 12, 2014. I shared from Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” The Book of Psalms reminds us that we need to remember God’s goodness, and worship Him with thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving is a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness. We give thanks for all that God has done for us. We need to recognize that God is the owner of everything. We give Him all the praise and glory for everything!
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P. O. Box 249 • Middlesex, NC 27557 • (252) 235.2161 • www.fwbchildrenshome.org
Children’s Home
From the Office of Church Ministry As I begin to write the article for The Free Will Baptist, I’m thinking that when you, our FWB Friends, read this it will be February and your thoughts will be turned toward love, flowers, and candy because it will soon be Valentine’s Day. However, today I’m writing Thank-You notes and looking at lists of all the folks who showed “God’s Love” to us at the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home during the month of December, as well as reminiscing over the past year of 2014. We received different kinds of flowers: some in vases, some on wreaths, and some plants, as well as lots of candy, goodies, gift cards, and gifts (I guess we are just
blessed to have “Valentine’s Day” all year long). I cannot begin to share all the love that our children and staff have felt from you this past year. After our Christmas Dinner and Party one of the boys upon opening his Christmas bag said, “This is more than I have ever had for Christmas.” On Christmas morning one of our teenage girls said, “This has been the best Christmas ever.” This would not have happened without you. As Paul wrote, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3) and I do. You are such a blessing.
Celebrating Christmas at The Home All of our cottages had a part in this worship service. Memorial Chapel is really beautiful during this time of the year. Worship during the month of December included Advent readings and the lighting of the Advent wreath each week. On the third Sunday evening in Advent after lighting our Advent candle and being reminded of the season, our Children’s Home family adorned the pageant costumes (made by Deep Run Woman’s Auxiliary last year) and acted out the Christmas Story as it was read from the Scriptures by Lettie Best of the Pleasant Plain OFWB Church. Traditional Christmas songs were enjoyed throughout the reading. What a special Nativity Scene we had!
On a Not-So-Happy Note One of our residents lost his Grandpa on Christmas Eve. This was a sad time for him. The family was not going to have a service of any kind and we felt our young man needed closure. Therefore, we planned a Memorial Service for his Grandpa on the first Sunday of the New Year. Several family members and friends came. Many of our residents attended to support their friend. After the service five Bibles were given to family members. Thank you, Beaverdam, for sending those Bibles. I knew you would not mind that we shared them with others who did not have one. This is just another way that your Children’s Home ministers not only to our children, but also to their families. You never know who you are reaching with God’s love. 12
Cottages have daily devotions in their cottages but come together one Wednesday night a month for a campus-wide devotion led by one cottage, December’s monthly devotion in Heritage Hall was presented by Smith Cottage.
A Few of the December Love Gifts by our OFWB Churches • Daniel’s Chapel (JWE Woman’s Auxiliary) sent various items for December and all through the 2014 year remembered us each month with needed items. • Bethel sweaters and shirts for Christmas morning (gift card to help with breakfast). • Hopewell sent fruit bags used in Christmas bags, paper products, gift cards, and a nice gift for helping to purchase new dining room chairs for each cottage. • Gum Swamp delivered stockings filled with goodies for Christmas bags. • Tim Webber and the Biker’s Ministry sent gift cards to help with Christmas. • Lanwood Chapel sent gift cards. • Milbournie Men’s League: sent gift cards. • Free Union (Walstonburg) packed deep bags with lots of goodies for our kids for their Christmas bags. • Mosley’s Creek made ear warmers for residents and staff; looks like they had as much fun making them as we did receiving them—beautiful colors. Some of our kids had never had any and had to be taught how to wear them. • Smyrna sent their pastor, Chuck Owens, with jewelry, body lotion, watches, throws, table games, gift cards, canned goods, etc. to help with Christmas. • Friendship Youth of Farmville painted some picnic tables and chairs Carolina Blue and brought to the Children’s Home;
they thought we needed a little color. Matthew and Joey from Friendship, along with our own Mr. B, are smiling because they love UNC; however, some of the “royal blue” and “red” campus fans were not smiling.Thank you Friendship! They are really nice. • Jean Bell from Hopewell and friends Ruth Sullivan and Elaine Mozingo knitted hats and scarves and Jean added yarn scarves, ruffle scarves and 12 beaded bracelets for Christmas Bags and some for Christmas morning • Sara Lewis from Daniel’s Chapel crocheted a box of little hats and brought to us for our Foster Children. I must confess that she had so many a few of the “grandmothers” on campus took one home for their little ones. I knew she would not mind. • Smithfield Church member Daniela Avina (pictured here with her aunt from Mexico) shares with President Gary Lee the small lap blankets she made for the foster children for Christmas. Daniela is an honor student; this was a project for one of her classes. You will notice there is not a needs list in this month’s article. You blessed us so much recently with things we need that we just want to say Thank You. However, gifts from you at any time are most welcome and appreciated.
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ooking back over the year reminds us of other blessings that you have helped to make possible. We now have a teaching/learning center with an educational director and more consistent tutoring services. We will soon be using a new Recreation Center. We have new signs on all buildings and when you arrive on campus, there is a new look. Several cottages received new roofs this year, two cottages had bathrooms updated and Central Cottage is proud of a new kitchen. Our campus trees were thinned as high winds came through one evening; thank goodness no one was hurt. The landscaping around Memorial Chapel got a face-lift and our Meditation Garden was completed. We have had five children in college during the year and several will graduate from high school in June. Our campus and foster care programs have been at capacity most of the year.
We had seven children to be baptized this year and we have begun the New Year looking for the right person to take over as campus pastor. We enjoyed visiting with churches who come each year; however, we made many new friends of all ages from our sponsoring church as well as churches in our area. As we are now well into 2015, please remember in your prayers the campus and foster children along with all the staff. It is your Children’s Home and without you some of these children would not have a chance in our world today. Thank you for caring and sharing.
Dianne B. Riley, Director Campus Ministry
— By the way, hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day! —
Annual Christmas Breakfast Jannai, Hope, and Mainer (our “For Girls Only” ladies) came with their families in tow. They cooked and served the huge breakfast, which had been purchased by Hickory Chapel, Bethel, and the Biker’s Ministry under the direction of Tim Webber. Nancy Boykin from Marsh Swamp and Cliff Gray from Stoney Creek washed dishes and cleaned up. Everyone played games and Santa had left gifts for all the children and staff who were on campus for Christmas morning.
Because of their support of church activities, involvement with the Praise Team for church and their making crafts and reaching out to nursing homes, Rodgers Cottage was awarded the opportunity to attend the “Dress Rehearsal” performance of “The Christmas Carol” at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. This was an awesome experience for these girls and their staff. Thanks to Wanda Crocker from St. Mary’s Grove Church and Children’s Home Board member for making this possible. The tree was twinkling, the tables were set, gifts had been bought, the lights were low, and wonderful “smells” from the kitchen permeated the air as our children walked into Heritage Hall for Christmas Dinner. Marsh Swamp treated us royally with all the tastes and smells of Christmas. They also joined us for games and singing. We had a fun night. 14
Following a Path with Heart As I write this column, it is early December, and I am eagerly awaiting Christmas. I think of a Christmas Eve at least 20 years ago when my husband Paul and I sat in the cozy family room of his parents, then in their eighties and enjoying good health. The four of us got along well, and this night we were anticipating a late church service on television, featuring a minister I had known in college. The evening wore on. We enjoyed the Christmas tree, so pretty, lighted, and decorated with ornaments handmade by my mother-in-law years earlier. We talked in peace, telling family stories, glad to be together. Paul’s parents had 10 years earlier welcomed me like another daughter into their family. I felt happy and filled with the peace that can only come when love abounds. My mood was upbeat, I think, because I was following a path with a heart. I felt love given and received; I also felt protected and safe. The evening concluded with a moving church service, spectacular music and truly inspiring sermon. This was a Christmas Eve to remember. Fast forward to Christmas morning, the next morning after such a wonderful evening. I was lying in bed while Paul took a shower. My quiet of the night before began to vanish, for I started thinking of my work. My stomach tied up in knots, for I had started worrying about my job. I was the project leader for a day-long workshop for graduate students coming up in mid-January. All plans were not yet in place. My mind went into full gear, obsessing over details of the workshop that had yet to be finalized. Soon I was tossing and turning, very uncomfortably dreading the return to a stressful environment and new work challenges. My ego got involved.
What is I failed to coordinate this workshop in a good way? What if I just plain failed to do a good job? You see, I had left a path with a heart, the path that I was on, on the previous night, a Christmas Eve to remember. I had let my mind try to take over and run my life. My heart wasn’t much involved any longer. What does this reminiscence say about the path of the heart vs. the path of the mind? I think we need the mind, but we need our mind to be in the service of the heart, the way of love. If we let the mind proceed on its own, the ego will raise its ugly head, and all peace will dissipate. This is what I found that Christmas morning. Just being idle, waiting to get up, triggered my being threatened by work yet to be done, work for which I could do nothing while in Mississippi on holiday. I do remember that the anguish died down when I got up and began interacting with Paul and Paul’s family again. My heart came back in the picture, for I truly loved this new family of mine. I remember one more thing about this strange juxtaposition of calm vs. anguish. I remember that the specific trigger of my discontent fell by the wayside when I got back on the job in January. I had obsessed about how many chairs I would need to provide in a particular room, for a particular class. This seems an overwhelming problem on holiday, when there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it. But when I got on the job, and there was actually
something that could be done about it, the obsession had faded, and I actually didn’t approach this part of my work until it fell into place by its own course, as the planning process developed organically. I think that my mind had decided that I had been too calm on Christmas Eve, that I had let my guard down, and my ego spoke up and decided that all of this was just “too much.” I was used to being keyed up to handle all phases of my work in a diligent way. I wasn’t used to relaxing. Christmas Eve provided much needed relaxation that year. Now, years later, safely in retirement, I shake my head at all the stress that I put myself under throughout my work life. I realize that I am not alone. Many of us do this to ourselves when we let the mind rule the heart. Try letting the heart take over your life today. Try letting God’s love, available in our hearts, motivate when and if to obsess about work issues. We don’t need to let the ego rule. We would be so much better if we allowed the heart to subdue the ego in the service of a full and complete, heartfelt, love for God, and the others with whom we come in contact. Our world, the world we inhabit, and the world we seek to change, will be ever so much the better for letting the heart rule. Drop the ego. It doesn’t have to be there to organize our personality. If you have lost, now, the spirit of Christmas, know that it can be a 365-day thing for us. It isn’t usually, but let us see if we can make it that in 2015.
A former religion librarian at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Celia now lives with her husband Paul in Oxford, Mississippi. She was previously employed at both the Free Will Baptist Press and Mount Olive College (now known as the University of Mout Olive). 15
Do You Belong to a Church or a Club? While reading this column you will come across the words “club” and “church” multiple times. A “club” is any organization in which you actively participate that is inwardly focused. A “church” is a group of sinners who have been saved by God’s grace who are outwardly focused and God-focused. The problem with the church today is not a lack of doing, for she does quite a lot for herself, but a lack of doing for others. I feel the outside world does not really see the church as the church anymore, but as a club. So, is your local church an actual church or a club? 1) Fees & Dues vs. Tithes & Offering: Fees and dues are due at a certain point throughout any given time frame. Tithes and offerings are not due; they are given freely as the giver is inspired to give them. Fees and dues within a club give people certain access and power, such as a hunting club fee would grant access to land where a hunter can hunt freely. Within the church, there is no such thing as power bestowed upon any individual based upon the money they give the church. In short, the money you give your church does not qualify you for special treatment. Regardless of whether you gave the money that built the entirety of the church structure or you gave the last dollar you had, your money is no longer your money and you have no power to control the church. Acts 20:28 tells us to guard the church, for Christ purchased her with His blood. The church’s owner is Christ—not you. 2) True Worship: Who does your church truly worship? Paul tells the church of Corinth that they ought to imitate the way he lives as he lives for and imitates the life of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul does not want worship; if he did he would not have mentioned Christ. As a church you should not worship your pastor or leaders. Nor should you think so highly of them that you disregard the Word and God’s teachings.
How does your church worship? I dare say that if your worship time is dry and cold, you aren’t really worshipping properly. You know the feeling, you walk into a church and no one greets you or welcomes you in, the music is dry and sounds like zombies moaning, the highlight of the hour is the tithes and offering, you get funny looks from singing too loud or raising your hands in praise, and so on. Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is active and alive; do any of the above experiences seem alive to you? I know we put to death our flesh and are born again in Christ, but we aren’t the walking dead! “Worship” literally means “to hold in high respect” in the Greek language. True worship is a church-thing, not a clubthing. Worship God openly and freely. 3) Purpose: The purpose of the church is to lead people to Christ (Matthew 28:19). You cannot do that if you do not support foreign or domestic missions, you know the phrase “go and make.” A club has no interest in leading others to Christ—a church does. Hand-in-hand with that is the concept of exclusion. A church does not exclude people—period. Nehemiah 6:21 speaks of the Jews’ return to Jerusalem where they worshiped with people of different backgrounds. To me, this speaks of worship where people, black and white and everyone in between, can come together to praise God. On the same note, homosexuals, drunks, drug abusers, thieves, prostitutes, fornicators, etc. are welcomed into a real church because here they might find Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9–11). No one feels welcome in a club where they are not wanted. Everyone should feel welcome in a church where God wants them.
Be set apart to be a church, not a club.
Andrew Mozingo resides in Winterville, North Carolina and is employed with the Free Will Baptist Press. He is studying religion with a concentration on Christian Ministries as a student of Liberty University Online in Lynchburg, Virginia. After finishing his bachelor’s degree with LUO, he plans to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for further training. His aspirations are to become a youth pastor and eventually hold a full-time pastoral position. Andrew is engaged to Michaela Dixon of Kinston, North Carolina with a wedding date set for fall 2015.
Spreading the Word. For Life! 16
started as a student. Chris has matured holistically over these past four years and I am going to miss him a great deal.” The Voices of Praise is comprised of 16 UMO students, who all share the same passion. Recently, the group performed at a benefit concert for a Brain Trauma Awareness Campaign. All the proceeds went to the ReNu Life Rehab Center in Goldsboro, NC. “It was awesome to be able to use our talent to help raise money and awareness for a great cause,” noted Dunn. Dunn expressed that he is thankful for the opportunities that UMO and the Voices of Praise have given him. “The Voices of Praise continually influences me to become a better Christian and a better person not just in my public life, but also in my private and academic life,” said Dunn. “Also, double majoring in English and math while participating in the music group has taught me to work to my full potential and to seek new challenges.” In the future, Dunn plans on receiving a master’s degree in teaching so he can spread his enthusiasm for English and history. Dunn also plans on becoming a licensed minister in the Church of God of Prophecy, so he can continue his purpose of spreading faith.
University of Mount Olive
Every Tuesday, the University of Mount Olive (UMO) allots time for the community of students, faculty, and staff to gather at Rodgers Chapel to join in praise. On many occasions the student worship group, The Voices of Praise, provide a beautiful blend of music and ministry with their voices and instruments. Christopher Dunn, an English and history major from Siler City, who graduated in December, has led the group with his powerful performances and contagious energy. His dedication to Christianity and singing started at Destiny Church of God of Prophecy in Goldston, North Carolina. Dunn lives by the scripture, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Dunn believes that he has been called to worship and spread his faith through music. Dunn therefore decided to attend UMO because of the institution’s Christian values. “The passion for religion is evident throughout the campus, which was a huge deciding factor,” said Dunn. Not long after his admission to UMO, Dunn started attending worship services at Rodgers Chapel and participating in musical events. “The FWB church welcomed me fully and allows me to express my love for Christ and broadens my knowledge of Christianity,” said Dunn. “It is a blessing to have The Voices of Praise on campus,” said Campus Chaplain Carla Williamson. “Chris has been a leader and has helped keep The Voices of Praise together. I began as Chaplain for the University the same year Chris
634 Henderson Street • Mount Olive, NC 28365 • 1 (800) 653.0854 • www.umo.edu
UMO Student Shares His Love of Music and Ministry
“The Voices of Praise continually influences me to become a better Christian and a better person not just in my public life, but also in my private and academic life.” — Christopher Dunn — 17
Fall Graduation at UMO Nearly 300 students received their diplomas on Saturday, December 13. Of those graduating there were a dozen MBA graduates, the first for the University. University of Mount Olive alumnus John Gainey was the commencement speaker. Gainey grew up in Craven County where his father worked in the education system, which influenced Gainey at a young age the importance and necessity of receiving the best education available. Gainey was a 1983 Graduate of Havelock High School, and in August of that year, he enrolled at Mount Olive College (now The University of Mount Olive). He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Mount Olive College in May 1987. In January of 2000, Gainey began a new career in education. He started as a substitute teacher for Pitt
County Schools, and shortly afterwards he accepted a position at Pamlico County High School where he operated as well as taught in the Alternative Program. Gainey resides in Winterville with his wife of 14 years, Sandra, and their
Pictured is Jonathan Whitford with his family, Jonathan, a licensed FWB Minister, serves at Free Union Church in Greene County as youth pastor.
Pictured is Nicole Puckett, from Smithfield First Free Will Baptist Church, with her family. Nicole is the granddaughter of our Baccalaureate speaker this year, Dr. Sam Weeks, pictured on the left with his wife Connie. 18
daughter, Sydney. He is a member of The Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville, where he serves as an usher and will begin a four year term on the Congregational Care Committee in January 2015. Dr. Sam Weeks, pastor of Smithfield First OFWB Church, was the baccalaureate speaker. Throughout his career, in addition to pastoring, Dr. Weeks worked as the executive director of FWB Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home in Middlesex, and taught at West Carteret High School in Morehead City. Weeks earned his B.A. degree from Eastern Carolina University in 1977 and his M.â&#x20AC;&#x2030;A. degree from North Carolina State University in 1992. Weeks also received his doctorate in theology from Covington Theological Seminary in 1997. He is married to Connie Weeks, and they have six children.
Educational Opportunities The 2015 version of the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) is available. All students planning to attend college in 2015â&#x20AC;&#x201C;16 need to complete the FAFSA in order to get free and low interest loan options to help pay for college expenses. In order to receive NC need-based grants, students must also have a completed FAFSA. Visit the UMO website at <http://www.umo.edu/admissions/incoming-freshmen/financial-aid> to learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and what you need to do to be eligible for federal, state, and UMO scholarships, grants, and loans. Financial aid counselors are available to assist with your questions. Call 1-844-MOC-GOAL and ask for a financial aid counselor. Church Night is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2015. The Trojans will take on North Greenville, so it promises to be a very competitive game. Last year there were over 50 churches in attendance, and this event won an award from the NCAA Division II for creativity. Contact Tim Woodard at <twoodard@umo.edu> or Chris Bitzenhofer at <cbitzenhofer@umo.edu> to schedule your church group for attendance. 800-UMO-GOAL. Admitted Student Days are already on the calendar for April 11, June 19, and July 17, 2015. These events are for new freshmen who have been accepted and are ready to register for fall 2015 classes. New freshmen planning to attend UMO should be consulting their calendars to set one of these dates aside for attendance. Programs for Adults at UMO locations: The University of Mount Olive locations in Wilmington, Research Triangle Park (RTP), Mount Olive, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, New Bern, Smithfield, and Washington, NC, and online, offer accelerated programs in general studies, accounting (online), human resources (online), MIS (online), early childhood education, criminal justice (online), business management, healthcare management, religion, RN to BSN (online), teacher licensure, and MBA (online). The University of Mount Olive locations are full service offices, with admissions and academic advisors waiting to help students get enrolled. Classrooms and computer stations are on site. There is a place for you at UMO. Call 1-844-UMO-GOAL or contact Admissions at <admissions@umo.edu>. The new Leadership Major is a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree program for adult students who already have work skills but need leadership theory and practice exposure to help them get promoted in the workplace. The curriculum also has flexibility for many kinds of transfer courses. If you have accumulated courses at multiple colleges, this might be the program for you. To learn more visit <www.umo.edu> and click on academic programs. Call 1-844-UMO-GOAL or contact Admissions at <admissions@umo.edu>.
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New Assignment for John Blackwell and Appointment of Jimmy Williams The Rev. Dr. John Blackwell came to Mount Olive from Kansas Wesleyan University originally to serve as a special assistant to President Kerstetter. Due to other pressing matters, however, he was asked by Dr. Kerstetter to provide leadership to the Office of Institutional Advancement as its Vice President. Although he has done an excellent job in that capacity, the President determined that it was now time for him to focus on those activities that are more integral to his training and interests. Accordingly, Dr. Blackwell has been appointed to serve in a new capacity as the Dean of the Chapel, and his new office will be in the Chapel. In this new position, he will be responsible for outreach and service to the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists and for fundraising for the expansion of the chapel complex. In those matters of outreach and service to the denomination, he will report to the President; in those matters related to fundraising, he will continue as part of the Institutional Advancement operation. As University Chaplain, the Rev. Carla Williamson will continue to serve the spiritual needs
of the campus community, and she will continue to report directly to the President. It is expected that John and Carla will work collaboratively on projects of mutual interest. The President also announced that Jimmy Williams has agreed to come back to Mount Olive out of retirement to serve as Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Jimmy is a life-long resident of Wayne County and has a long history of service to this community and institution as an educator, coach, and administrator. He has been a teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of the Wayne County Public Schools; and he served for 10 years as the head of Institutional Advancement at Mount Olive College. He led the efforts to secure the funds for several of the buildings on our campus. Jimmy brings with him a wealth of knowledge of advancement and of the friends and supporters of the University. We all look forward to working with him as we continue with the University’s capital campaign.
Students Give Back We are so proud of our students and their commitment to giving back to the community. Here are a few examples of what our students did during the 2014 Christmas season. Our Advisement and Fund of Student Success (ADV) classes sponsored a canned food drive. They far exceeded their goal of 2,500 cans by collecting more than 6,700 total. Dan Sullivan, Vice President for Student Affairs stated, “Our University made a strong showing to help share our love and compassion with fellow Wayne County citizens that may have otherwise done without during this holiday season.” For the ninth consecutive year, our Collegiate FFA at the University of Mount Olive has provided coats, hats, and gloves to needy children at Carver Elementary School. This year the Collegiate FFA extended their outreach efforts to also include Brogden Primary School. They began working on this project in August, and gave away more than 300 coats, 20
doubling last year’s efforts. As a special surprise, Santa and his elves assisted with the distribution of the new coats and accessories. Pictured are some of the students preparing for the coat giveaway.
The Henderson Science Club set up an angel tree, with ornaments with information on needy children. All of the requests were met and the club wrapped and sent out the gifts.
University of Mount Olive’s 32nd Annual
Basketball Church Night Saturday, February 7, 2015 UMO Women vs. North Greenville, 5 p.m., Kornegay Arena UMO Men vs. North Greenville, 7 p.m., Kornegay Arena ● Special Admission: $1.00 ● Special Recognition to the Church with largest attendance ● Halftime Competitions include Youth and Youth Pastor Shoot-outs
Please RSVP by Monday, January 27, 2014 To reserve your tickets, call or e-mail Tim Woodard (919) 658-7793 or <twoodard@moc.edu>
Dinner will be served in the Cafeteria from 4–6 p.m. Price is $6.50 per person and does not include game admission. Proceeds go to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please RSVP for dinner when you reserve your tickets.
with Nora Koonce Avery
See It and Believe It My sister Evelyn found a picture of the car she had been looking for in a magazine. She didn’t need or want anything fancy, just a means to get back and forth to work. She had a 30-mile commute one way late at night, so she needed something dependable and good on gas, too. The little Ford Tempo fit the bill nicely. She cut the black and white picture out of the magazine and put it in her “need” album. This is where she tangibly brought all her requests to God. By having a picture to look at, she had a mental image of the prayer she needed God to answer. Like my sister, I firmly believe in positive thinking and imaging—not only thinking about something you have prayed about, but actually seeing it coming into fruition in your mind’s eye. Many years ago my husband, Eddie, and I decided to buy some land on which we could eventually build a house. We heard about a tract of land a couple of miles from his parents’ house that was being subdivided, but before we could get enough money together to purchase a lot, all the parcels had been sold. From that point on whenever we thought about retiring, that tract of land came to mind. I don’t know why. It wasn’t as if I was coveting the land, it just seemed that a
picture image of a house on one of those lots was always in my subconscious mind. I am a visual person, and I hold a picture in my mind of whatever is going on around me. Ten years later when Eddie retired from the Navy and we started looking for real estate, one of the houses built on those lots came on the market and we bought it. My vision had come true! Another incident happened a few years back. Eddie was hoping for a substantial raise. This money would make a much needed impact in our finances if it came through. We prayed about it and then I started visualizing the amount as if it were already in our bank account, putting faith to work. It took a while, but Eddie got the raise. During that time I kept a positive mental image and never gave up. Does this mean that you can get whatever you want just by visualizing it to be true? Absolutely not. Prayers should always be offered with the phrase “if it’s your will, God” included, but a prayer without faith behind it is just words. Visual imaging is the act of applying faith to your life. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Before Sara became pregnant with Isaac I feel sure she visualized herself as a mother, and her faith was rewarded when
she bore her son. “Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11). What about negative imaging? The same concept is true. Have you ever known someone that seemed to attract misfortune? I had a friend a few years ago that was a “glass is half empty” type of person. Her philosophy was “If I always expect the worse to happen, then I won’t get disappointed.” There again, though, I believe that carrying around in your head a picture image of something bad happening all the time creates a life of unhappiness at the very least, and who is to say it doesn’t put into motion the negative thing on which one is dwelling. My friend died destitute at a young age. When my sister finally got her new Tempo she was happy with everything except the color. It was a plain gray. Then she remembered the image she had put in her album. The car was the same color as the one in the black and white picture. Lesson learned: Always positive image everything in color!
Nora grew up in Trenton, NC and now resides with her husband, Eddie, in Cove City, NC. They are members of Wintergreen OFWB Church, and she serves as the Woman’s Auxiliary Vice President. She and Eddie have two sons and three grandchildren. Nora enjoys photography and reading.
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with David Morrow
Love: What is it? In last month’s article, this author addressed the issue of your spouse being like a fruitful vine as recorded in Psalms 128. As a spouse, you are to do everything in your power to provide the environment in which your spouse can grow and become all that God created that person to become. So, the question surfaces: How does one do that? In the Greek language of the New Testament, there are four words that are simply translated “love” into the English language. However, there is power in separating these words so that the meaning and understanding of each word is clear. Most people are familiar with the word agape. It means unconditional love and God is the ultimate source of agape love. The second word, which is translated love, is philos. This is the word from which the English word “Philadelphia” originates. It means brotherly or friendship type of love. Both of these words
are used in the New Testament. Although the final two words do not appear in the New Testament, their focus is important. Eros is erotic love or physically intimate love. Storge’ is family love. Take a moment to notice that the marital relationship is the only relationship in which all four types of love are appropriately expressed. When it comes to loving your spouse with your own power, it will never be enough. The only way to ensure that you love your spouse in a way that lasts a lifetime is for that love to be connected to the Source of lasting love. If you allow God’s unconditional love to flow through you, then your “Mustard Seed Love” is tapped into the ultimate source of strength. As we approach Valentines Day, can you focus on being a servant to your spouse? Love your spouse with all four types of love, and allow God’s love for your spouse to flow through you.
In the early 1990s, this author wrote a poem that seems fitting to share.
Mustard Seed Love I ask the question, “What is Love?” There are different answers each day. Some say it’s emotions, or a phrase that people just say. I am constantly reminded: It’s not a feeling that is found or lost. It’s a commitment and gift of God, which must be preserved at all cost. I feel like a man with a message, who must share his heart or bust. Our society lost its morals, and stuck a label of love on lust. We must change our attitude, or our hearts will continue to bleed. Without Godly unconditional love, we will always have unmet needs. The world keeps searching for answers to the question in mind: What is love? I dare say we can’t understand, until we reach for the principals from above. God, continue to help us, as we struggle to fill our own needs. Plant in our hearts the love of Jesus, so the harvest will yield mustard seed. It’s faith in Christ that’s the key to open the doors of life. God will embrace you through joy or pain unconditionally at the cross of Christ. So, take God’s love and share with the world, without a heart that’s full of boast. Express the pure example of love is Jesus, In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
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. 23
1233 North Fork Road • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • (828) 669.7677 • www.cragmontassembly.com
Cragmont Assembly
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What’s Happening at Cragmont? Raindrops
It was gray and overcast with intermittent showers. I was watching the raindrops fall instead of snowflakes on a winter day. As I observed brown leaves twirl on their branches I realized the symphony outside my window was being played by individual raindrops. A drop would tap a leaf much like a musician striking a piano key and one leaf on a branch filled with winter leaves would dance and twirl in response to the feather touch of rain. It was amazing to watch the affect of one drop of rain on a winter dead leaf. It was a touch that was totally ignored by all the other leaves on that branch. It was then that my perception expanded to realize that scattered through the woodland a leaf would twirl on this branch, then another would dance on yet another tree. There was no connection for the intricate pattern of movement but the random fall of raindrops. During 2015 may the raindrops of Cragmont’s message of Christ’s love fall again and again on weary lives that have been deadened by life’s journey; lives that will move again at the Master’s touch.
Stuff, Stuff and More Stuff
We never knew we had so much stuff. As the renovation of the dining room continues, cabinets are being emptied to cut a door here and another door there. Another cabinet has to be emptied and moved to work on new interior walls. At the conclusion of the renovation there will be new storage spaces and the “old” cabinets will find new places to serve; but until then we have stuff and more stuff to store somewhere. What an exciting problem to have! A minor headache now will develop into a grand solution when all is finished.
Thinking Springtime!
February still stretches out before us. Spring doesn’t officially come until March. But start thinking warmer weather, green buds, buttercups, tulips and dogwood blossoms. With your mind in “warm gear” plan a trip to see spring come to the mountains. Cragmont hospitality is waiting for your visit.
2015 Cragmont Summer Schedule Morning Star
Pee Dee Youth Conference
April 10–12, 2015 Joan Little • 7063 Stantonburg Road Farmville, NC 27828 • (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com
July 6–11, 2015 Heath Connor • 727 Mount Olive Road Bladenboro, NC 28320 • (910) 740-4454 heathkellieconner@yahoo.com
Ministerial Association of OFWB
General Youth II Conference
Dayspring Retreat
General Youth I Conference
Christian Cadet Conference
Young People’s Bible Conference
Cragmont Youth Conference
Cornerstone Woman’s Conference
May 31–June 4, 2015 Josh Whitfield • 1079 Beaver Creek Road Deep Run, NC 28525 • (252) 286-3014 deeprunpastor@gmail.com June 10–13, 2015 Joan Little • 7063 Stantonburg Road Farmville, NC 27828 • (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com June 15–20, 2015 Joey Williams • 139 Windyfield Drive Goldsboro, NC 27534 • (919) 734-9080 jwilliams@stoneycreekchurch.net
July 13–18, 2015 Brad Williamson—Director: (252) 244-0207 Wilma Parker—Registrar: (252) 522-0967 P. O. Box 6423 • Kinston, NC 28501 • wilmaparker@embarqmail.com July 22–25, 2015 John Hill, David Currie, Todd Sutton—Directors Todd Sutton—Registrar: (252) 747-7567 6801 NC Hwy 222 E • Stantonsburg, NC 27883 • toddsutton1@gmail.com July 27–31, 2015 Chuck Owens • 218 Wildwood Road Havelock, NC 28532 • (252) 733-9031 copo22@nc.rr.com
June 22–27, 2015 Angela Mattox • 1469 Wintergreen Road Cove City, NC 28523 • (252) 671-7176 cragmontyouthconference@gmail.com
August 2–7, 2015 Joan Little • 7063 Stantonburg Road Farmville, NC 27828 • (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com
Youth Frontier Conference (YFA/AFC)
Emmanuel Woman’s Mini-Conference
June 29–July 3, 2015 Frankie Baggett • 5403 Weyerhaeuser Road Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746-7850 frankiebaggett@embarqmail.com
September 11–13, 2015 Joan Little • 7063 Stantonburg Road Farmville, NC 27828 • (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com
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A deeper look inside this month’s lessons from the OFWB Foundation Curriculum and commentaries based on the International Sunday School Lessons.
The theme for our Sunday School lessons this quarter, which began in December, is “Acts of Worship.” In Unit 1 we saw that “worship” is how we respond to the awesome power and presence of God, our Creator and Redeemer. In Unit 2 we explored the part that prayer plays in private and corporate worship. This month we study the connection of formal worship with daily living. The topic for this unit is “Stewardship for Life.” To repeat an important point, worship is not about how you and I feel; worship is about God. God is honored when His people come together to worship Him, to praise Him for His powerful Presence, and to thank Him for His many p-r-e-s-e-n-t-s. God is also honored when His character is reflected in the daily lives of His people. In fact, the prophets declared that without the righteous living, acts of worship are empty and meaningless (Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21–24; Micah 6:6-8; Isaiah 1). That is the aspect of worship that we study this month—being good stewards of our lives for the glory of God. The first lesson has to do with diet, “Feasting and Fasting.” Many of us tend to overdo the feasting and pay little
attention to the fasting. We Protestants have neglected to teach the spiritual discipline of fasting and the importance of a healthy diet. The passage from Daniel has to do with diet as a spiritual exercise. The fact that this book is an apocalypse is not germane to this particular lesson, so let us stay focused on our topic and the story of Daniel and his three companions. The text from Matthew speaks more directly to the subject of fasting. In New Testament times fasting two days a week was a mark of piety, at least for the Pharisees (Luke 18:12). In Lesson 2 we turn to Luke 10 which begins with two Old Testament quotes about loving God with our total being and loving neighbor as ourselves; that is followed by Jesus’ parable of The Good Samaritan. Love is not just a feeling; genuine love requires action. Jesus taught in many different ways that His disciples are to be servants. When we serve others (our neighbor) we are serving Christ. This is carried through in Lesson 3, Jesus’ fourth parable on the Second Coming in Matthew 25. In our time so much emphasis has been put on salvation-byfaith-alone that we have nearly forgotten
with Adrian Grubbs
the importance of works-of-faith. It is true that salvation comes only through faith in Christ Jesus; but salvation is followed by living out what we believe. In other words, salvation produces righteous living; faithworks is the result of faith-salvation. We serve Christ when we minister to the needs of others. In verse 37 those who serve others are called “the righteous” because of their merciful deeds. Likewise, in Lesson 2 the true neighbor is the one who showed mercy to the one in need. For the final lesson in this unit we will read about the “whole armor of God” in Ephesians 6. The purpose of this armor is not to equip us to take the battle to the enemy, but to enable us to withstand the assault of the enemy. That concept is a major shift from the ordinary human response; but isn’t that true of Jesus’ teachings? He has called us to serve, not to rule; to pursue peace rather than stirring contention; to forgive instead of casting judgment; to be kind to those who disrespect us; and to love others as ourselves (emphasis added). It would seem that we still have a lot of work to do!
H. Adrian Grubbs, Jr., was born in Dade City, Florida, to the Rev. Herman A. and Lillian Kinard Grubbs. The family moved to Mount Olive, NC, in 1959. Adrian was ordained in the Eastern Conference in 1963 and has served eight churches. After a 30-year pastorate at Deep Run OFWB Church he retired in 2007 because of vocal problems. Grubbs has served the denomination as President of the Sunday School Convention, Moderator of the Eastern Conference, member of the Eastern Conference Ministerial Examining Board, and is currently on the Mount Olive College Board of Trustees. Adrian and Jo Ann have one son, two daughters, and six grandchildren.
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Home Missions & Evangelism
2600 W. Vernon Avenue • Kinston, NC 28504 • (252) 526.9908
As the landscape of Original Free Will Baptists continues to be examined and we look forward to forging a stronger denomination. We, at Home Missions and Evangelism recognize the importance and gladly accept the challenge to plant new churches. In recognizing this, we also reaffirm the need to maintain the call of Christ to be witnesses. To call the lost that are living in darkness into THE LIGHT— JESUS, THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD! Over the next six years we will embark on an endeavor to PREPARE, SOW, NURTURE, HARVEST, DISCIPLE, and CELEBRATE as we corporately call people out of the darkness into the light. As Jesus mingled among the sinners in His day, He didn’t do it to show tolerance or acceptance but to call them to repentance. We, too, are called to be the light of the world showing people THE WAY out of the darkness. There are some important announcements coming very soon. Our web site <www.homemissionsandevangelism.com> will be updated regularly and we will also utilize the Convention’s email database to keep everyone up to speed. If you wish to be on our email and contact list please contact us at (252) 526-9908 or sign up at our web site.
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Join us for the
New Life! New You! Woman’s Day of Renewal March 28, 2015
Message & Music by Beverly Weeks 9:00 a.m.—Breakfast 9:30 a.m.—Program Begins 12:30 p.m.—Lunch
Marlboro Original Free Will Baptist Church 8031 Hwy 264 Alternate • Farmville, NC 27828 Sponsored by the Central District Woman’s Auxiliary Registration: $15 for each auxiliary attending Contact May Pittman at (252) 756-3517 for more information 28
Christianity: A Serious Affair Many Christian folk in our neck of the woods are serious Christian folk. We carefully watch those who break the religious rules set forth by the Bible—particularly those who break the rules with which we do not struggle, or perhaps only struggle with behind closed doors. We take seriously Christ’s return, monitoring newspapers and current events for signs and omens that would indicate the nearness of this very serious occasion. With the regularity of an annual car inspection, many of us march down church aisles to recommit our lives to the business of taking seriously the things that God wants us to take seriously. When others do not take seriously the values and beliefs that we take seriously, then we seriously contemplate and make known the serious nature of their lack of seriousness. Of course, we all want to be taken seriously. Because we are convinced of the correctness of our doctrines and ways of being it may be insulting or maddening when they’re not. Because they are correct, it is counterintuitive, perhaps contradictory, and most certainly illogical to suggest that these things not be taken seriously. Such an audacious claim, however, is made by the monk, poet, and author, Thomas Merton, who once said: What is serious to [humans] is often very trivial in the sight of God...and if we could let go of our own obsession with what we think
is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear [God’s] call and follow…in [God’s] mysterious, cosmic dance. Merton, writing ironically, wants to challenge his readers to take seriously the fact that many of us often take our very selves, our beliefs, our political affiliations, our drama, etc., too seriously! Perhaps what Merton means is not that these things are unimportant. They are. All too often, though, an attendant grasping or insatiable desire seems to accompany this seriousness. This grasping manifests itself as a desire to control these matters or to force upon others a similar way of life—sometimes with deadly results. What becomes a most serious matter, in these instances, is that we create others and our culture in our preferred image. Somehow the beloved source (i.e., God) of those values fades into the background, having been replaced by our own historically conditioned ways of being and self-understanding. The situation thus becomes tragically comic, as the thing that we purport to take seriously actually becomes merely another justification of our grasping, sinful tendency, our own felt desire and demand to be respected and, yes, taken seriously. Merton has more to say about these things: [Mercy] liberates us from the tragic seriousness of the obsessive world which
we have ‘made up’ for ourselves by yielding to our obsessions…. This of course is the ultimate temptation of Christianity! To say that Christ has locked all the doors… settled everything and departed, leaving all life enclosed in the frightful consistency of a system outside of which there is seriousness and damnation…while nowhere is there any place left for the mystery of the freedom of divine mercy which alone is truly serious, and worthy of being taken seriously. Merton claims, then, that there is something to be taken seriously in this world, and that is God’s mercy. It is God’s mercy that reminds us that our best efforts to tame God can only result in folly. A life spent demanding that others take seriously what we take seriously is not a life that reflects the mercy of God. The way of Christ is not one that obsesses in controlling the direction of history, but one that trusts that God has been, is, and will be at work in God’s creation at all times. The way of Christ is full of mercy, a mercy which should be taken seriously—leading us, therefore, to take seriously any ideas, commitments, or practices that, in the end, deny or obstruct God’s loving movement among all of the people with whom we share God’s good creation. May we all be about this merciful way of Christ.
Marc Boswell is from Saratoga, NC, where he grew up as a member of Spring Branch OFWB Church. He is ordained in the Central Conference and currently lives in Richmond, VA, where he is working toward the completion of a Ph.D. in the fields of Theology and American Religious History at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
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THE 103RD ANNUAL SESSION of the
ORIGINAL FREE WILL BAPTIST CONVENTION
“STRENGTHENING THE CHURCH” P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwb.org
Convention News
Wednesday–Thursday, May 20–21, 2015 ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE Constantly Improving Our Service to You • More Worship • More Workshops Youth and Experience Working Together • Ministries Answer Your Question Worship Speakers: The Reverend Greg Barnes & Dr. Don Riberio Music Provided by: The Reverends Duane Casey & Eddie Carter, Barry Stallings, Mr. James Kirby, & others
Keys to “Strengthening the Church” include prayer, worship, fellowship, and community service. Workshops for 2015 will explore all of these areas and more. Some workshops include: Small Group Studies—Led by Dr. Brad Williamson, you will learn how to create, develop, and sustain these great learning avenues within your local church. Share the joy of corporate worship with the spiritual intimacy of small group learning. Developing a Youth Activities Center—Ronnie and Josh Hobgood have done this with great success. Let them show you how to provide a place and an atmosphere that will bring young leaders to your church. How to Create and Maintain a Food Bank—Several OFWB Churches are utilizing this area of ministry. Reverend Roger Haithcock and the Rose Hill Original Free Will Baptist Church share their keys to success. A Room for Prayer—No workshop or discussion, no PowerPoints or computers…just you and God alone with your hearts. Joe Crumpler will facilitate this quiet place of reflection and prayer for our churches, our denomination, our ministries, and our world.
Many other learning opportunities in the areas of church and community involvement will be offered. Look for their description in future issues of the OFWB Magazine or online at <www.ofwb.org>.
JOIN US for the 2015 Original Free Will Baptist Convention
Original Free Will Baptist Convention Nomination Form
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The following positions are to be filled at the 2015 Convention: • Convention Officers—2 (Secretary, Treasurer) • Executive Committee—3 (Conference Representatives) Albemarle, Paul Palmer, Piedmont, Western • Children’s Home Board—1 • Foreign Missions Board—1 • Home Missions and Evan.—1 • Sunday School Board—3 • Minister’s Program—1 • Retirement Homes—1 • Convention Board of Trustees • Cragmont Board—3 • University of Mount Olive Board of Trustees—5 • Layman’s League—3
I/We would like to nominate ____________________________________ to fill a position on the ____________________________________
The following Commissions each have 1 position available: • Historical Commission, Chaplain’s Commission, • Commission on Education for Christian Ministry • Commission on Youth Ministry and Student Ministry Leadership
Mail your nominations to: Mrs. Carolyn Jernigan, 1895 Easy St. Dunn, North Carolina 28334
Nominations will also be called for from the floor of the Convention.
All Nominations must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2015.
(Name of Board, Commission or Representative)
Each nomination must include a biographical sketch of the person being nominated and why you feel they would be an asset to that ministry, commission, association or foundation.
MICHAEL ENGLISH and the fabulous Wilmington Celebration Choir
Friday Night
July 10, 2015 • 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Kornegay Arena University of Mount Olive
Tickets will be available March 1, 2015 at <www.eventbrite.com> or by phone at (252) 560-2845. Visa/MasterCard/Discovery/American Express accepted Limited Artist Circle Seating—$20 • General Admission—$15 Sponsorships are also available. Call (252) 746-4963 for details. 31
Book reviews in this column are not meant to reflect any theological or political positions.
Max Lucado, Cast of Characters Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012. 230 pages. ISBN 978-0-8499-4673-8.
Christian Lessons from Biblical Characters Max Lucado Max Lucado serves as the minister to Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He and his wife Denalyn have three daughters: 8-year-old Jenna, 6-year-old Andrea, and 3-year-old Sara. He has spent a lifetime preaching, teaching, and writing, giving to readers inspirational books, children’s books, and gift books. His newest book, Cast of Characters, is an in-depth look at some of the common characters in the biblical stories—Jarius, Nicodemus, Jesus’s brothers, Mephibosheth, Josiah, Job, the thief on the cross, and others. Lucado takes these stories and adds his own modern twist, linking our common lives to the cast of characters in the biblical stories. Some 23 chapters present characters, begin with a biblical reference, and end with questions for reflection and discussion. This book may serve as a helpful resource in sermons, lessons, and meditations.
Among Some of the Women in the Cast of Characters Max Lucado develops the stories of the unnamed women caught in adultery, Simon and Mary loving Jesus in Bethany, and the woman with the issue of blood. Each of these three women appear as sources for spiritual guidance to questioning followers of Jesus Christ. Take the unnamed woman caught in adultery. Lucado stresses the power of shame to destroy the human spirit. He recalls the story of 18-year-old Rebecca Thompson who with her 11-yearold sister Amy were kidnapped and thrown from the Fremont Canyon Bridge some 40 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming. Rebecca had been raped but had protected her younger sister Amy. However, in the push from the 112-foot bridge, Amy died while Rebecca lived. For 19 years Rebecca felt shame and guilt: she had survived while her sister had died. Then later Rebecca jumped from the Fremont Canyon Bridge—her suicide an act of “shame” and “never-ending guilt” (82). Lucado takes this story and links it to the deep shame the woman, who was caught in adultery by the Pharisees (the “appointed custodians of conduct”), felt (83). The trap had been set for her; she had been caught while the man escaped. The Pharisees hoped to corner Jesus with the Mosaic Law that 32
commanded stoning a woman to death for adultery. But Jesus writes in the sand and turns the law around. In John 8:7, Jesus states, “Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her” (85). The Pharisees drop their rocks and shuffle out. Jesus tells the woman in John 8:10–11: “I also don’t judge you guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore” (86). What message is Jesus leaving? Do not feel shame. You are loved and found not guilty. His message comes not from writing in the sand but from God’s love soon to be seen even on a cross. The story of Simon and Mary loving Jesus in Bethany reflects the courage of Simon and Mary at a time when the Pharisees were after Jesus. Simon had been healed of leprosy and did not forget Jesus. Mary had once been perhaps a prostitute and knew what it meant to be without friends, misunderstood, and cast aside. Risking danger, they both love Jesus in Simon’s home in Bethany. Simon feeds Jesus while Mary brings a “large vial of perfume from her house to Simon’s” (16). The perfume “was worth a year’s wages” (16), but Mary in a risky, extravagant act of love pours the fragrance over Jesus’s head, shoulders, and back, creating reprimand from the disciples present but praise from Jesus. What was his message? Lucado claims: “There is a time for risky love. There is a time for “extravagant gestures. There is a time to pour out your affections on one you love. And when the time comes—seize it, don’t miss it” (17). The story of the woman with the issue of blood is the story of a woman who merely wanted to touch the clothes of Jesus to be healed of her excessive bleeding. What Lucado sees in this story is the fact that the woman did something to find a cure—she took a step of faith, which she risked, for her need. And what did Jesus do? In Mark 5:34, Jesus speaks: “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole…” (43). Lucado believes this woman as Veronica, “the woman who walked the road to the cross with him,” wiping his forehead along the way “when the sweat and blood were stinging his eyes” (44).
Among Some of the Men in the Cast of Characters Max Lucado presents new ways of seeing Jacob wrestle with his past; Cornelius as a man labeled; Philip as a member “of the continued on next page
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1.800.849.3927 Book Corner continued from previous page
bigotry-demolition team” (52) in Samaria and Gaza; Noah as the one bringing a “leaf of hope” (71); Peter and others as “highoctane” (95) witnesses after they had been with the resurrected Jesus; Nicodemus the high-court Pharisee who learned the limits of the law in the light of grace” (102); Ananias as the soul who would not give up on Saul (115); Nathan as the soul pushing David to confront sin in order to “put it away” (125) and allow God to begin anew in his life; Jesus’s four brothers, James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, as his physical family but not his larger spiritual family; the leper who was healed first by faith and its pronouncement only to be followed by the touch of Jesus (175); crippled Mephibosheth who sat at the table of King David; Josiah who “leapfrogged” (193) back in time to find his dream of faith; Job who both heard and saw God (205); and the thief on the cross whom Jesus saw, valued, and loved (225).
Images in Lucado’s Writing Max Lucado has a way with words that creates a poignant interest, a new perspective, and a memory device. He speaks of Jacob wrestling with God on the banks of Jabbok as Jacob “rolled in the mud of his mistakes” (24). He describes the paralyzed man where his feet “hung like ornaments on the ends of his legs” (61) and his “hands dangled like empty sleeves from his sides” (61). He defines a “divine love burst” (63) as leapfrogging the physical in order to deal with the spiritual (63). He describes Christians who bring hope to others as members of “the dove brigade” (75). He discusses “canyons of shame” (82) that run deep and “gorges of never-ending guilt” (82). He describes Annas and Caiaphas
as “the power brokers of Jerusalem” (95). He describes a farmer who plants “a seed of grace” (106). Before Paul’s conversion, he sees Saul’s possibility of becoming a Christian “as soon as a turtle learns to two-step” (111). Before Nathan got to King David, Lucado describes David’s soul as resembling “a Canadian elm in winter. Barren. Fruitless. Gray-shrouded” (122). He describes a drifter “wearing alcohol like a cheap perfume” (141). He claims that “Satan is to God what a mosquito is to an atomic bomb” (162). He speaks of leprosy as “death by inches” (171). He speaks of Mephibosheth “dropped like a cantaloupe from a torn paper sack” (185). He speaks of Peter being “awash in a whirlpool of sorrow” (211).
Lines Worth Remembering Certain lines in Max Lucado’s new book, Cast of Characters, are worth remembering. Among some of these loaded lines are these: (1) “Faith is the belief that God is real and that God is good” (41). (2) “Conformity is not fun, but it’s safe” (104). (3) “There is something fundamentally good about taking time to see a person” (142). (4) “God’s holiness commands headline attention” (153). (5) “Heaven gives the boat, but you have to row it if you ever want to see the other shore” (183). (6) “As grace sinks in, earthly labels fade” (184). (7) “Reach for God’s goblet of grace and drink. Grace defines who you are” (186). (8) “All of us are signing on Jesus’s credit card, not ours” (225). (9) “Courage comes as we live with Jesus” (96). (10) “Hope is an olive leaf—evidence of dry land after a flood” (70).
Pepper Worthington was born in Kinston, NC, and married an OFWB retired minister, Michael Gauker Warning, in 1996. The Rev. Warning served as pastor to Free Union OFWB at Sea Level, NC. She received her B.A. degree cum laude at Meredith College in 1965, her M.L.A. degree at Johns Hopkins University in 1969, and her Ph.D. with Phi Kappa Phi honors at the University of Maryland at College Park in 1976. She has been a professor of English at Mount Olive College since 1979. She is also currently the director of the Mount Olive College Press.
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P. O. Box 210 • Mount Olive, NC 28365-0210 • (919) 658.5250 • admin@ncfcm.org • rwarren@ncfcm.org
NC Foundation for Christian Ministries
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Ministerial Education Partnership Update “Through the partnership agreement between the University of Mount Olive and Campbell University Divinity School, Original Free Will Baptist students preparing for ministry receive benefits that others cannot.”
Humans are social beings and have historically proven to be more productive when and if they learn to work together in cooperative partnerships. This is true for athletic teams, businesses, marriages, etc. We as Christians can even learn a lesson about partnerships by considering the mystery of the trinity and the intended function of the Church, the unified body of Christ in the world today. Partnerships, when used properly, can be a great benefit to everyone, including those who are served by the partnership. This is certainly true of the partnership agreement between the University of Mount Olive and Campbell University Divinity School.
History of the Partnership
In 2004, the Ministerial Association of OFWB requested that the Convention of OFWB and the Board of Trustees of the University of Mount Olive jointly appoint a task force to explore ways to more adequately prepare pastors and others ministers and to explore the feasibility of providing graduate level study leading to a Master’s Degree in divinity. From this, the Committee for Post-baccalaureate Study was formed and it was the work of this committee, chaired by Dr. Michael Pelt that led to the partnership between Campbell University Divinity School and the University of Mount Olive (TFWB, March 2010, p. 19). The partnership led to Original Free Will Baptist students being enrolled in graduate level courses taught by Campbell faculty at the University of Mount Olive. These courses would be applied to a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Campbell University Divinity School. The first class, taught by Dr. Michael Cogdill, was offered in the Fall Semester of 2006. Additional benefits were added in April 2010 when a new agreement was signed between the two schools. The 2010 addition to the partnership agreement established a means for ministerial students to apply for dual admission in both the University of Mount Olive and Campbell Divinity School. This dual admission program gives students special status and access to additional educational opportunities.
University of Mount Olive President, Dr. Philip Kerstetter (left) and Campbell University President, Dr. Jerry Wallace (right) shake hands at the signing of a partnership agreement to provide greater opportunities of students preparing for the ministry (April 16, 2010).
Benefits of the Partnership
The partnership continues to benefit students in several ways. The educational and theological benefits are: • Access to a divinity school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the highest accrediting body for divinity schools and seminaries • Powerful mission statement to provide graduate theological education that is “Christ-centered, Biblebased, and Ministry-focused” • Opportunity to learn in a classroom setting, among a community of fellow ministers • Community that strives to be a model for what the body of Christ looks like • Flexible block schedule that allows students to hold a job while taking classes • Location within close proximity to many OFWB ministers and churches (eastern NC), which enables relatively easy commuting • Curriculum designed with practical ministry in mind • Professors who teach students how to think, not what to think
In addition, there are substantial financial benefits of the partnership: • Original Free Will Baptist students, who take six hours or more in a semester, are eligible to receive a special partnership grant of $75 per hour. • OFWB students, who take five or more hours in a semester and are residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia, are eligible to apply for an educational grant from the Keesee Fund. These grants offer up to $5,500 per year. • OFWB students who meet eligibility requirements will be considered for scholarship assistance available through the Divinity School’s Endowed Scholarship Program. • OFWB students may apply for scholarship assistance available through the NC Foundation for Christian Ministries to help cover remaining tuition costs.
Conclusion
Through the partnership agreement between the University of Mount Olive and Campbell University Divinity School, Original Free Will Baptist students preparing for ministry receive benefits that others cannot. The benefits are varied, but like all good partnerships, the benefits are also wide reaching. When one considers the countless people in the current and subsequent generations who will be inspired and taught by ministers served by this partnership, its true value is incalculable and may never be fully known. Call today for more information about this partnership, supporting scholarships, or receiving scholarships, or the broader work of The Foundation.
J. Bradley Creed Named Campbell University’s Fifth President According to the Campbell University website (Accessed January 5, 2015) J. Bradley Creed was elected as the fifth president of Campbell University on Friday morning, January 2, 2015. Creed, an accomplished leader of mission-driven institutions and a nationally recognized historian of religion, was unanimously approved by the Campbell University Board of Trustees during a special session Friday. Creed is currently Provost and Executive Vice President and Professor of Religion at Samford University. Before his appointment at Samford, he served as dean of The George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University. We look forward to a continuing strong partnership for the preparation of our ministers.
Tenth Annual Meeting The Foundation’s Tenth Annual Meeting Banquet will be held at the University of Mount Olive on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2014. Join us as we celebrate together with food, entertainment, and special recognitions. Contact The Foundation Office to reserve your seat today.
Retirement Income Comparison CD Rates are at historical lows, effecting your living and your giving. Let the Foundation help.
First Partnership Class and Supporters Front row (left to right): W. Burkette Raper of The Foundation, Calvin Heath, David Vesper, Ralph Johnson. Back row: Michael R. Pelt of the Committee for Postbaccalaureate Study, K. David Hines of the University of Mount Olive, Fred Baker (unknown), Joshua Whitfield, Todd Sutton, Michael Cogdill of Campbell University Divinity School.
Getting the most from retirement investments involves close consideration of the rate of return, tax benefits or liabilities, and one’s personal fulfillment. A Charitable Gift Annuity provides lifetime annuity payments while doing something good for others and reducing income tax liability. An annuity rate is based on several factors including the donor’s age. Contact The Foundation for more information.
CD Rate 1 (Feb. 4, 2014) Annuity Rate 2 (at age 70)
0.27% 5.1%
1. National Average 12-month CD rate (Source: Bankrate.com) 2. Lifetime rate from The Foundation for a person age 70
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Bible Bowl Study Guide 2015
Children of the Bible
Youth Convention
• Genesis 4:1–16, 25–26 . . . . • Genesis 21:1–21 . . . . . . . . • Genesis 22:1–14 . . . . . . . . • Genesis 25:20–34 . . . . . . . • Genesis 37:1–36 . . . . . . . . • Genesis 48:8–22 . . . . . . . . • Exodus 1:22–2:10 . . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 1:1–28 . . . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 2:12–36 . . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 3:1–21 . . . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 16:1–13 . . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 16:14–23 . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 17:1–58 . . . . . . . • 1 Samuel 18:1–14 . . . . . . . • 1 Kings 17:8–24 . . . . . . . . • 2 Kings 4:8-37 . . . . . . . . . • 2 Kings 5:1–27 . . . . . . . . • 2 Kings 11:1–21, 12:1–2 . . . • 2 Kings 22:1–20 . . . . . . . . • Jeremiah 1:1–19 . . . . . . . . • Daniel 1:1–21 . . . . . . . . . • Matthew 2:13–23 . . . . . . . • Luke 2:21–35 . . . . . . . . . • Luke 2:41–52 . . . . . . . . . • John 6:1–13 . . . . . . . . . . • Mark 5:21–24, 35–43 . . . . . • Acts 12:1–17 . . . . . . . . . • Acts 23:12–22 . . . . . . . . .
Adam’s Children Ishmael and Isaac Sacrifice of Isaac Jacob and Esau Joseph Joseph’s boys Moses Samuel’s Birth The Sons of Eli Lord Calls Samuel David Anointed King David and His Harp David and Goliath Saul’s Jealousy of David The Widow’s Son The Shunammite’s Son Naaman’s Servant Girl Jehoash: 7-year-old King Josiah: 8-year-old King Jeremiah, a Young Prophet Young Daniel and his Friends Escape to Egypt Jesus Presented in the Temple Jesus’ Childhood Young Boy with Fish and Loaves Jarius’ Daughter Young Rhoda—God’s Servant Paul’s Nephew
Bible Bowl
2015
Friday, April 24* Saturday, April 25 at the University of Mount Olive Times will depend on how many teams sign up! *Friday is reserved depending on how many teams sign up!
Deadline to sign up a team:
March 1
________________ To sign up a team from your church, or for more information on Bible Bowl, please contact:
Gracie Jones (252) 559-3814 Angie Toler (252) 671-1548 Faye Bryant (910) 625-0216 Competitions for Cherubs, AFC, and YFA teams!
Memory Verses
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Cherub
AFC and YFA
YFA only
Genesis 21:18 Genesis 37:3 Matthew 18:3 Mark 10:15 1 Samuel 1:27 Luke 2:32 Luke 2:40
Isaiah 9:6 Genesis 4:8 Genesis 21:18 Genesis 37:3 Matthew 18:3 Mark 10:15, 16 Exodus 2:10 1 Samuel 1:27, 28 Luke 2:30, 31, 32 Luke 2:40
1 Samuel 16:7 1 Samuel 17:37 Luke 2:46, 47 Daniel 1:8, 9
Keynote Speaker:
Jeff Smith
of Salt and Light Ministries
2015 YOUTH CONVENTION OF ORIGINAL FREE WILL BAPTISTS MAY 15–17, 2015
UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE Enjoy great music, a dynamic speaker, fun-filled workshops, activities, service projects, and fellowship with other Christian kids and teens! For all ages pre-school–18 years old!
Jeff Smith has performed throughout the world as a featured performer and master teacher at training conferences and seminars in drama, worship arts, music, ministry, teacher training, children’s ministry and creative arts. Learn more about Jeff’s ministry at <www. saltandlightmin.org>.
Music By:
New Born City
2015 Service Project: 400 for $4,000 Participants in the convention will each contribute to walking a total of 400 miles to raise $4,000 for the Fountain of Youth, our endowment to benefit Original Free Will Baptist Denominational Ministries. A sponsorship form will be included with registration materials. Registration packets will be available at the UMO Church Night Basketball Games and the LIFE Conference. 37
Community Connector
Our Community Thanksgiving Service BY DEBBIE BOWEN
It is not uncommon for families to get together and share a meal with one another, but how often do you hear of churches doing the same thing unless it is Homecoming? We are proud to say that our neighboring churches have joined together for more than 15 years now. On November 21, St. Delight Church had the honor to host this year’s event. Joining our home church was Bethany, Grimsley, Little Creek, and Ormondsville. There was special music from each church and the message was delivered by our pastor, the Rev. Dr. James Owens, entitled, “Why We Should Be Thankful,” taken from Phillipians 4:6 and Psalm 95:2. The offering received this year was given to the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home. Refreshment were served in the fellowship hall following the service. Jesus wants us to work together for His cause, and we know what that is: winning souls. Let us make that our New Year’s resolution and see how many lost souls we can reach. We welcome you to St. Delight anytime and please bring a friend. We would love to have you. 38
The Bible speaks to us but the Psalms speak for us. Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life will I satisfy him….” How do we grow old gracefully? If you are over 50, let your age be measured by your spiritual progress instead of a date on the calendar. How would you like to have these words engraved on your headstone: “He or she live many, many years and walked with God and God took them away with Him.” Like an old oak tree, a mature Christian’s roots have weathered life’s storms. But do not take your wisdom to the grave with you, share it with people who will listen. And those who are wise will listen, because they recognize the foolishness of paying twice for the same information. As we grow older we must discipline ourselves to continue expanding, broadening, learning, and keeping our minds active and open. Be teachable no matter how old we get. God loves you and so do I. Have a blessed week. 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.
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White Oak Grove News Pastor Bob Smith presided at the installation ceremony for the 2015 Officers for the Woman’s Auxiliary at White Oak Grove Church at La Grange, NC. Pictured left to right are: Brenda Sasser (President), Sylvia Bryant (Vice President), Evelyn Herring (Secretary), Margaret Wood (Treasurer), Janet Brown (Program Prayer Chair), Ruth Ellen Varnell (Benevolence Chair), Brenda Lancaster (Missions Chair), and Renee Gordon (Youth Director). 39
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are reasons why churches die and there are reasons T here why they can be vitally alive and growing. This book
addresses some of the major reasons why churches die, and gives some suggestions as to how to assess a local church in regard to its life-death cycle. Dr. Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world, and author of over twenty books that address the areas of church growth and church health. He addresses such conditions as slow erosion, where decline is very slow and members have no sense of urgency to change with many members simply refusing to see the trend in their church. He addresses the issue of wanting to return to the “good old days” of years past, and in essence seeking to live in the past. Sometimes the community changes and a local church either does not see the change or simply ignores the change or withdraws to focus its resources inwardly, thus losing its sense of mission to the community and world. Then the “Great Commission Becomes the Great Omission” (Ch. 6). Rainer addresses other issues that become involved in a “deceased” church such as pastoral tenure decrease, failing to pray together, having no clear purpose (this chapter is excellent!), and becoming obsessed over the facilities. Dr. Rainer suggests most churches will fall into one of four categories: ♥ Healthy: 10%
♥ Symptoms of sickness: 40%
♥ Very sick: 40%
♥ Dying: 10%
This book is a “must read” for both ministers and lay leaders who are interested in future survival and having a healthy, growing church in the years ahead. This review is written by the Rev. Frank R. Harrison, retired chaplain, University of Mount Olive.
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