TFWB March 2014 by Free Will Baptist Press

March 2014

March 2014 Foreign Missions Month

This is a calendar of denominational events and regular holidays and special days/seasons of the Christian year.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

As times/dates may change, you can scan the QR code above for a more complete and up-to-date list.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Ash Wednesday

Daylight Saving Time Begins

Grass Cats Bluegrass Band

Vivian B. Harrison Memorial Lecture @ Rodgers Chapel, UMO

@ UMO, 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Women’s Conference Pilgrim Church @ 10:00 a.m.

The Physical Implications of the Crucifixion of Christ @ 6:00 p.m. (see ad on pg. 13)

Stop Human Trafficking: A Day of Awareness

New Life, New You Women’s Conf.

@ UMO, 3:00 p.m.

A Night of Worship with WCC

Kings Cross Roads

@ 9:00 a.m.

(see ad on pg. 22)

The Physical Implications of…Christ

(see ad on pg. 13)

The Physical Implications of…Christ

(see ad on pg. 13)

“I See What He Saw” By The Reverend Mark S. Hobbs It is 1:30 on a Monday afternoon. I sit in the middle of the choir loft on the top row. I sit in the spot where J. W. sat. At 11:00 this morning under the tent at the graveyard, I placed my hand on the coffin of my friend J. W. Words were spoken, prayers were pronounced, and hugs and words of hope were exchanged. After the burial, we proceeded to the church where a group of giving folks had gathered with expressions of love. Home cooked delicacies of all sorts covered several tables. Family and friends gathered for a meal, for some love and some hope. It is 1:30 now. The Fellowship Hall has been reconfigured and cleaned. Everything is back to normal. Everyone has gone. It’s quiet. I go into the sanctuary and sit. I sit where J.W. sat. I see what he saw. He had the best seat in the house. Sunday after Sunday, he could see everything. The baptism pool was directly behind him, the pulpit directly in front of him; he could see the clock, the sound techs, people coming and going, the back of my head and he could see the expressions on the faces of those in attendance. He could see people laughing or praying or sleeping.

J. W. liked to sing. He liked to practice. He devoted himself to his family and church. He loved God and trusted Jesus. I see now what he saw. In these still quiet moments I cry. Less than two weeks ago Bernice died. She sat near the front of the sanctuary. A Sunday or two before illness claimed her, she pushed Chloe, her two-year-old great granddaughter into the sanctuary on the seat to Bernice’s walker. Chloe was laughing and Bernice was triumphant. She defied the walker as often and as long as she could. She did not want to use it. Chloe laughed as her great grandmother transported her to a place where God’s love is taught and shared. A few weeks before, beautiful flowers were placed in the sanctuary in loving memory of Floyd. He died the Wednesday before at Kitty Askins. I loved hearing him pray. His prayers were elegantly simple and always on target. He closed his prayers with, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.” J. W. could see all this from his vantage point in the choir loft. I am privileged to

serve as a pastor; I see lots and hear lots. Oftentimes the stuff I see and hear is not fun. Losing friends like Floyd, Bernice, and J. W. is not easy. My heart aches. I have to be still and listen for, and to, God. I sit still in the choir loft. I remember, I give thanks and I pray. Ash Wednesday will soon come. On that occasion we will gather in this sanctuary and be reminded, that “we are dust and to dust we shall return.” We will begin our six week journey into Lent after which we will remember the events of the week of Jesus’ passion and then we will celebrate the resurrection of Christ, our Lord. I hear Jesus’ words to His friends when He told them not to be troubled at His going away. He was going to prepare a place for them and He was going to return for them. I hear Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross, “You will be with me in paradise today.” I sit in the spot where J. W. sat. I see what he saw, but I cannot see what he, Floyd, and Bernice now see. I will wait until my name is called, and then I shall see what God has in store.

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 has served 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.

We are saddened by the loss of Ms. Nina Grace Register on January 30, 2014. We are planning a memorial for the April issue and welcome your thoughts and memories. You may submit these to <editor@fwbpress.com> by March 5, 2014 for inclusion in this memorial. 2

March 2014 Managing Editor Darren Davenport

Volume 132 • Number 3

editor@fwbpress.com

jerry@fwbpress.com

Circulation, Accounts Receivable Amy Stokes amy@fwbpress.com

Accounts Payable Wallie Hargrove Editorial Assistants Dixie McLawhorn, Carlton Oakley Graphic Designers Jerry Goff, Nathaniel Ingram, Dixie McLawhorn Production Team Ronnie Jones, Ted Johnston, Joshua Roundtree

■ FEATURES & COLUMNS Reflections: A Guest Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 CareNet: Its Heritage, Its History, Its Hope for the Future. . . 4 Pondering the Past with Celia Hales. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 From a Woman’s Heart with Nora Koonce Avery. . . . . . 17 Lesson Inner View with Adrian Grubbs . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Women in Ministry with Vicki Parker Medlin. . . . . . . . 28 A Sling and a Stone with Marc Boswell. . . . . . . . . . . 29 Dr. Pepper’s Book Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring. . . . . . . . . . . 39

■ DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES www.fwbpress.com President Jeff Daughtry

jeff@fwbpress.com

Vice President Darren Davenport darrend@fwbpress.com

Board of Directors

Frank Flowers (Chairman), Central Mike Scott (Vice Chairman), Eastern Royce Reynolds (Secretary), Albemarle Joe Ballance, Cape Fear • Kelley Smart, Central Nancy Hardee, Pee Dee • Mark Hobbs, Central Linda Weathersby, Central • MeLinda Edwards, Western The purpose of this paper is to promote the cause of Christ among Original Free Will Baptists, and we reserve the right to refuse any article or news that is inconsistent with our purpose, programs, or policies, and that does not reflect a spirit of harmony and cooperation with the Free Will Baptist Press Foundation and the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. The contents herein do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and policies of the editor or of The Free Will Baptist. The responsibility for each article is given the person whose name appears under the title or to the person submitting said article.

For information on subscription rates, submission and photo guidelines, advertising rates and guidelines, and more, visit <fwbpress.com/tfwb>. © 2014 The Free Will Baptist • All Rights Reserved. The Free Will Baptist is edited and published monthly by the Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, 3928 Lee Street, Ayden, North Carolina 28513-0159. Second-class postage paid at Ayden, North Carolina (USPS 2094-4000). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Free Will Baptist Press, P. O. Box 159, Ayden, NC 28513-0159.

Foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 University of Mount Olive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Convention News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Home Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Cragmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Children’s Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

■ ANCILLARY MINISTRIES NC Foundation for Christian Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . 30 Camp Vandemere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Youth Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

■ COMMUNITY CONNECTION . .

. . . . . . 38

ON THE COVER A scenic view in Balchik, Bulgaria. Photo by Sandra Jones.

contents

Production Manager Jerry Goff

CareNet

By David Morrow

Its Heritage, Its History, and Its Hope for the Future Today, the nine pastoral counseling centers which make up the CareNet system in North Carolina have offices from one side of the State to the other. In order to grasp an understanding of its work, one must first review some historical data, for without this context the significance of the care provided by those in the network might go unrecognized.

The Heritage

In 1902, Wake Forest College, which was located in the town of Wake Forest NC, established a two-year medical school. Twenty-one years later, the North Carolina Baptist Convention was instrumental in developing an 88-bed hospital in Winston Salem, NC. The medical school at Wake Forest College received a large sum of money in 1941; however the money did not come without restrictions: the condition was that the medical school be moved to Winston-Salem so that it could be affiliated with the NC Baptist Hospital. Charles Parker became the first chaplain for the hospital; this was a part-time position. In 1945, Dr. W. K. McGee was the Director of the Department of Religion and Denominational Activities for the college. He spent time visiting patients and families who desired religious counsel and also acted as a liaison with the NC Baptist State Convention. During those days, the length of hospitalizations was much longer than they are today. Therefore, opportunities for significant pastoral care and counseling developed as the patients and their family members were frequently in crisis. Oftentimes these conversations moved into an area that required the minister to have an understanding of interpersonal psychology, not just the ability to minister to one’s spiritual needs. Even before this, in 1885, Sigmund Freud began the process that developed into psychoanalysis. This was the first method that was well accepted by the medical community for treating an individual’s psychological struggles through conversation. Freud was born into a Jewish family and was taught the Jewish faith; however, he rejected the idea of all religion based on his assumption that religion was the expression of a childlike need for a supernatural parent. Freud had a very successful practice and he developed a tremendous influence with individuals who attempted to learn and utilize his methods. The beginnings of psychotherapy thus included a belief that religious faith is a delusion and anyone with this delusion was becoming more ill. There was a distinctive divide between the professionals in the medical or psychological community, and the proponents of faith-based counseling which is what many individuals preferred from their religious leaders. The medical community did not accept faith-based pastoral care and counseling as being scientifically sound. 4

In 1947, Wayne Oates graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having earned a Ph.D. in Psychology of Religion, he was invited to teach theological students at the seminary. He also taught a six-week workshop at the state mental hospital in Danville, Kentucky, followed by a ten-week workshop at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. These workshops were very influential in assisting the attendees to move toward providing pastoral care that focused more on the interpersonal relationships rather than theological exercises. The Rev. Melvin Bradshaw attended both of these seminars. Mr. Bradshaw is now 89 years of age, but still recalls these two workshops as “one of the most significant educational experiences of my whole life.” I was fortunate enough to be allowed to participate in both of these workshops and they became for me one of the defining experiences of my education and a turning point in my life. They taught me to examine my motives, which sometimes was a painful experience, but became a freeing one as I took an honest look at my faith and my religion, my beliefs, and my practice. The emphasis was not so much on learning techniques of pastoral work and counseling but to learn more about oneself so that one might be more able to cope effectively with one’s problems and deal more effectively with others in interpersonal relationships. They changed the focus of theological study from mere intellectual concerns to more personal and interpersonal concerns. Since most of the problems pastors have to deal with are not so much theological as interpersonal, I have always been glad that my interests began to turn more in this direction. Although Dr. Oates was not the only person that was integrating the fields of psychology and theology between 1947 and his death in 1999, he was certainly one of the most respected individuals in that endeavor. Over the course of his career, He wrote 57 books that addressed the relationship between theology and psychology. He is credited with coining the phrase “workaholic” which was the first time that someone suggested that a person can be addicted to something other than a substance. He also understood the counseling process to be a “trialogue” rather than a dialogue. A trialogue is a conversation between two individuals that also seeks the insights and presence of God in that conversation. Dr. Oates viewed himself as a pastor, and his clients were the members of a congregation that never meets. Through the efforts of Dr. Oates, Howard Clinebell, and others, a new professional discipline was created. Pastoral counseling or faith-integrated counseling, as the discipline is called, seeks to integrate the scientific insights of psychology with an understanding of who we are as part of God’s creation, and as followers of Jesus Christ.

The History

In the early 1970s, Wake Forest University developed a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling, and Dr. Perry Crouch, of the NC Baptist State Convention, requested that outpatientcounseling centers be established across the State. This request came because many patients had established relationships with the chaplains during their hospitalizations. Once released from the healthcare facilities, these patients desired the ability to maintain relationships with the chaplains; they desired the ability to address their psychological issues and concerns with individuals who could also attend to their spiritual needs. The name of these outpatient-counseling centers is CareNet. The first center was established in 1972, and was located in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Oates was contacted again, and he consulted with the staff of CareNet to ensure that the disciplines of theology and psychology were each represented with competency. With this history and heritage, CareNet began to grow. Today, there are more than 20 CareNet Counseling Centers across North Carolina. In 2012, CareNet provided approximately 38,500 hours of care to individuals, couples, families, and groups from 88 different North Carolina counties, and from five adjoining states. The misson of CareNet is to provide high quality, faith-integrated counseling and behavioral health services to clients and be a resource to the community that enhances mental/spiritual life. Each CareNet center is governed by a local board of directors, and beyond governance, the board of directors assist in raising monies that can be used to provide services to individuals who have needs without the ability to pay. Each CareNet center is also accredited by the Samaritan Institute. This national organization is dedicated to ensuring that pastoral counseling centers maintain professional accountability in all areas. Even though CareNet continues to be affiliated with North Carolina Baptist Hospital, which is now called Wake Forest Baptist Health, CareNet seeks to assist individuals of all faiths (and does not refuse services to individuals who do not have any faith). Likewise, CareNet staff members come from a variety of Christian denominational backgrounds. Professionals who work for CareNet represent a variety of disciplines including clinical psychology, professional counselors, marriage and family therapy, clinical social workers, and substance abuse counselors. Clinical staff members are licensed in their respective disciplines and many are also ordained ministers (For a list of the CareNet Counseling Centers, visit <www.wakehealth.edu/carenet>).

CareNet Counseling East

CareNet counseling centers are divided into nine regions: Fayetteville Family Life Center, CareNet Counseling East, CareNet Counseling, Robeson Family Counseling Center, CareNet Mt. Airey, CareNet of Wilkes, Inc., CareNet Counseling of Statesville, Wilmington CareNet Counseling Center, and Harnett Family Life Center. As noted earlier, one of those regions is CareNet Counseling East (CNCE). CNCE is located in Greenville, North Carolina. This office opened

in May of 2000, and there are now satellite offices in Rocky Mount (2002), and Kinston (2008). The Rocky Mount office is located at Lakeside Baptist Church, and the Kinston location is at Kennedy Home. The Rocky Mount work also includes work with homeless individuals through a partnership with United Community Ministries. From 2008 until January of 2014, the Kinston location was specifically for the residents of Kennedy Home and their families. Now, counseling services are open to the public in this location. As is true of CareNet centers, the clinicians at CNCE are from various disciplines. There are two licensed marriage and family therapists, two licensed professional counselors, two licensed clinical social workers, a provisionally licensed clinical social work resident who is a student of the spirituality and psychotherapy program of Wake Forest Baptist Health, as well as an intern of the masters-level Marriage and Family Therapy program at East Carolina University. CNCE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Through the generosity of churches, businesses, and community members, these offices provided approximately $40,000 in free and reduced care in 2013.

The Hope for the Future

Sometimes walking the Christian life does not feel abundant. Stress from in or outside of one’s home, or inside one’s own mind can make life extremely difficult. CareNet staff and clinicians are prepared to assist children, adults, couples, families, and groups with issues like mood and anxiety problems, trauma, anger management, parent-child issues, premarital and marital counseling needs, blended- and step-family issues, substance abuse issues, and many other struggles. Following the example of Dr. Oates and other pioneers in faith-integrated counseling, CareNet will always identify and utilize the values of each client coupled with solid psychological insights to help that individual find peace. While the history of the CareNet system was blazed by individuals of faith who offered quality care to patients, the future of the system will rest upon the foundation which the early pioneers of faith-integrated care laid. The care CareNet clinicians offer are a means whereby hurting people find hope and healing. 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. 5

P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbi.org

OFWB International

Talaingod Church Dedication — Philippines — BY DARIO BASINGIL

On September 25, 2013 the Talaingod, celebrated a day of thanksgiving and church dedication. The theme was: “Paghalad, Pagdayeg, ug Pagpasalamat” in the Visayan language and English it means “Offering, Praise, and Thanksgiving.” The Rev. Dario S. Basingil was their guest speaker. His text was taken from 2 Chronicles 7:1–10. We cannot imagine how happy they were having a very nice church building with chairs. The young people rendered special music and others gave testimonies. The Chieftain of ATA Tribe testified of how God had changed their lives. We saw how much respect they have for the church building and the sacredness of the pulpit. The congregation of Talaingod extends their heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this tremendous blessing possible. All honor and glory belongs to God! Hallelujah! (Typhoon Pablao destroyed the original church building on December 3, 2012.) 6

Coastal Clean-Up Palawan, Philippines BY LEANDRO J. SEGAY

Recently, the Boy and Girl Scouts of the First Free Will Baptist Christian School participated in cleaning up the coastal area near the school. It is the area of the former Vietnamese Refugees Camp that is less than a mile from the school. This activity was in connection with the campaign of the National Government for the conservation of natural resources. I led the Boy Scouts group and Jenevieve Estacion led the Girl Scouts. The children were so excited as Sir Jay-Ar Garcia, teacher in charge, instructed them. Everyone made their best efforts in showing love and care for nature. The First Free Will Baptist Christian School in Puerto Princesa City is innovating children for social and spiritual concern. The main purpose of the school is not only for the social development of the children, but also more importantly for spiritual molding. We believe that the school can reach them with the Word of God, so that they will know the true saving faith through Christ. We are committed also to the mandate of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 19:14, “…Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Boy Scouts in action of cooperation.

The Girl Scouts in action of clean-up

Relief Efforts After Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Cebu, Philippines Thank you for your response to Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013. This typhoon left mass destruction over a large area in the middle section of the country. The relief effort is an ongoing project. We are approaching this in phases and transferring funds from the relief we received each month. We will continue to do this until all the funds

have been used. These funds have provided food, water, medicine, clothing, and building materials. Families have been helped in many areas, but in the town of Medellin alone, we have helped 24 families (the church in this area pastored by Rev. Mil Pestaño). The pictures with this article show some of the devastation and the recovery effort. 7

Believe That Ye Receive Them “…What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24 kjv). There is a great secret in this passage from Mark. Notice first what it doesn’t say: that we will always receive what we pray for. We know from personal experience that sometimes the answer to our prayer is “no.” And we often rue these times. But I believe that God protects us from our own insufficiencies. He knows best. He knows when what we are asking for is not in our best interests. Yet we are encouraged in this passage to ask for the things that we desire. And so we ought to do so. It would be good to ask first if the thing we want is a good thing, to seek from God some inner reassurance that we are on the right track. And we are encouraged to pray for those things that we desire. If the prayer is amiss, God will find a way to get through to us. The crucial part that I want to consider is the title of this column: “Believe that ye receive them.” If we cannot, in our heart of hearts, believe that we receive what we are seeking

in prayer, then this is our clue that we ask amiss. And when we turn inward, we will know if God affirms our desire. Of course, we can fool ourselves, but not for long. My own indication, if I am asking amiss, is a great deal of turmoil. I simply cannot be at peace. Years ago, I believed that God was asking something specific for me to do. He was asking me to make a move to another city. I, like Jonah, did not want to go, though I had earlier told God that I would go. I sought to change my mind. Then I had a minor health problem, and I had minor surgery, before which I was given potent pills. I had a bad reaction a day or two later on. I lay down on my couch, and felt myself engulfed in misery and anxieties. I felt very vulnerable to my feelings. I prayed. I felt that God was trying to tell me something, that I was missing something. So I prayed, “Dear God, what in my life do You want changed?” Immediately, I “heard,” completely internally, without any kind of “voice,” “You promised me to move to another city.”

I recognized truth. I responded, right away, to God, “I will go.” At this internal exchange, my fears left me right away. Suddenly and inexplicably. I was at peace in moments. And I did move to that other city. I carried out the “mission” that I thought had been asked of me. And the journey ended some five years later on. I had stayed true to what I believed God had asked of me. So, I believed, in prayer. And what I had sought became the first step on the outpouring of love from God that has given me a very, very good life. All of this happened more than 35 years ago. But I cannot imagine what misery I might have brought upon myself if I had deflected from the course that God, I believe, had set forth for me. I think that I helped others by my move to that city. And then, once my “mission” was completed, I was free to move back to places more desirable to myself. The world is too much with us. We can’t hear the still, small voice that is God speaking to us. But listen today.

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.

Cheryl Hooks Art Exhibition 634 Henderson Street • Mount Olive, NC 28365 • 1 (800) 653.0854 • www.moc.edu

University of Mount Olive

March 15

University of Mount Olive Professor Cheryl Hooks recently met with a group of church women and talked about receiving an invitation to meet a woman by the name of Somaly Mam. Somaly tells stories of human trafficking and claims: “Every day around the world, women and children are sold into prostitution. It is a modern version of slavery, and it is as ugly as slavery has always been.” Cheryl Hooks is both a professor of art and a conscientious Christian, and she recently devoted her professional sabbatical to an exploration of the evils of human trafficking and domestic violence. When Professor Hooks began her research, she learned that the U.S. State Department estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. Eighty percent are women and girls who are abused for sexual exploitation. According to the FBI, the average age range of a child first forced into prostitution is eleven to fourteen, with some as young as nine years of age. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, over 100,000 children are trafficked in the United States each year. Professor Hooks, along with others at the University of Mount Olive, recognizes human trafficking as 21st century Egyptian slavery as embodied in the book of Exodus. We are honored that Professor Hooks has undertaken the Christian educational artistic exploration of this atrocity. The result of her work will unfold in a major art exhibition on March 15 in the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery in Laughinghouse

Fear by Cheryl Hooks

Hall on the campus of the University of Mount Olive. The University hopes that members of our founding church will come and witness this extraordinary exhibition. There will be a reception March 15 from 3–6 p.m. in the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Fine Arts Gallery at the University of Mount Olive. The exhibition will be on display from March 15–April 4. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call Ms. Hooks at (919) 658-7182.

Visitation Day at the University of Mount Olive On January 20, 2014, our admissions department invited high school juniors and seniors to come and visit our campus. We had over 250 visitors that day. Pictured are three Free Will Baptist Students who attended. Pictured are (from left to right): Josh Medlin, of Snow Hill Church, Duplin County; Jenna Williams, Pine Level Church, Johnston County; T. J. Edwards, Free Union Church, Greene County. 10

High school seniors make plans now to attend Admitted Student Day, April 12, 2014: High school seniors who have been accepted and have paid their confirmation fee are invited to attend Admitted Student Day to learn more about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, academic programs, and campus life. They will also complete their fall 2014 class schedule. Contact <admissions@moc.edu> or call (800) 653-0854. In conjunction with Admitted Student Day, there will be a campus-wide Springfest with games, food, and rides. Prospective and current students will have a chance to meet each other and relax in the afternoon of April 12, 2014. Games and rides will be located near the Pope Wellness Center. Planning List for High School Seniors: If you are planning to start college in Fall 2014, here’s a check list of things you need to do to be prepared for college: • Visit <www.moc.edu> and click on admissions to see the admissions requirements. • Click on “apply now” to complete the free online application. College transfers and new freshmen are welcome. • Complete the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA). Go to <www.fafsa.aed.gov> to find the online form. Call UMO at (800) 653-0854 for assistance. It is best to complete your taxes for the calendar year 2014 before completing the FAFSA. The UMO institutional number is 002949. • Have high school transcripts sent to Admissions Office, University of Mount Olive, 634 Henderson Street, Mount Olive, NC 28365. • If you have not had a campus tour, complete the “visit request form” or call (800) 653-0854 to arrange for a campus tour and admissions information session. Parents are welcome. • Upon acceptance for admissions, pay confirmation fee. • If already accepted, make plans to attend Admitted Student Day on Saturday, April 12, 2014. • Spend your summer relaxing so you will be fresh and ready for orientation in August 2014. Adult Students make plans now to start your college degree program at University of Mount Olive. The University of Mount Olive is the Number #1 value for adult education with experienced staff and faculty at all locations. One-night-a-week seated classes and online options that fit your work and family schedule are available. Contact us at <admissions@moc.edu> for more information. • The next enrollment option is for summer session, which begins in April 2014. • Contact an admissions representative at the location that works best for you: Evening College at Mount Olive, Research Triangle Park in Durham, and in Wilmington, Jacksonville, New Bern, and Washington, NC. The University of Mount Olive is also located in Goldsboro on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Many programs are available for adults who need the convenience of accelerated classes that are offered either seated or online. Students who have little or no college experience can complete their associate degree and then proceed to a four year degree option. UMO offers business management, MIS (online), accounting (online), human resources (online), healthcare administration, criminal justice (online), early childhood, religion, and RN to BSN (online). Classes are available seated (except where specified online) one-night-a-week, from 6–10 p.m., for five weeks per session. Financial aid is available. • The online MBA program admissions requirements can be reviewed at <www.moc.edu/programs-of-study/online/ mba>. Contact Lesley Seibel, online admissions counselor, anytime at (919) 346-7046 or by e-mail at <lseibel@ moc.edu>.

Church Night Basketball Game On Saturday, February 1, the Admissions Office of the University of Mount Olive held its 31st annual Church Night Basketball Game. There were over 1,000 people in attendance and 48 churches represented. The night began with the Women’s Game against North Greenville, followed by the Men’s game, also against North Greenville. UMO was victorious in both games. At half-time of the Men’s game, youth and youth pastors participated in basketball shoot-outs. Jackson Heights OFWB was recognized as the church with the largest attendance. UMO is grateful to all church groups who attended this event.

48 Church Groups fill the bleachers at Church Night Basketball Game

Youth who participated in the half-time shoot out

COMING EVENTS at the UNIVERSITY of MOUNT OLIVE • Vivian B. Harrison Memorial Lecture

March 10–11, 2014 • Rodgers Chapel • Free Admission Dr. Michael J. Gorman will be the guest speaker for the 24th Annual Vivian B. Harrison Memorial Lecture. A specialist in the writings of Paul and John, Gorman is the author of nine books on the New Testament and currently serves as the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University (Baltimore, Maryland). He will be lecturing on the topic, “Reading the Book of Revelation Responsibly.” The first lecture will be held on March 10 at 7 p.m. On March 11, there will be a 9 a.m. lecture, and an 11 a.m. worship service. The purpose of the event is to provide a medium for continuing education for the ministers and laypersons of North Carolina.

• The Grass Cats Bluegrass Band

March 15, 2014, 7:30 p.m. • Mount Olive Assembly Hall (207 Wooten St.) • Free admission The Grass Cats continue to entertain audiences with their exciting, live performances and critically acclaimed recordings. Their shows feature foot-stomping fiddle and banjo music, bluegrass classics, tight vocal harmonies, a cappella gospel quartets, and chart-topping original songs. Though careful never to lose their traditional bluegrass footing, the Cats also perform cleverly arranged “covers” of songs from artists as diverse as Eric Clapton, Duke Ellington, and Johnny Cash.

• Stop Human Trafficking—A Day of Awareness

March 18, 2014, 3:00 p.m. • Southern Bank Auditorium The University of Mount Olive Campus Ministry is joining the effort to educate and stop human trafficking. The day will begin at 11 a.m. with a meditative walk through a “Sabbatical Exhibition” by Cheryl Hooks which features among other themes, stark images of human trafficking. At 3 p.m., RestoreOne, a non-profit group out of Greenville North Carolina, will present the documentary, Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, in Southern Bank Auditorium.

The University of Mount Olive Presents

The Physical Implications of the Crucifixion of Christ Presented by

Dr. Mickael Cariveau

Associate Professor of Biology, University of Mount Olive

This is our gift to you this Easter. Choose from the following locations.

Sunday, April 6, 7PM

Sunday, March 16, 6PM

St. Mary’s OFWB, New Bern, NC

Spring Hill OFWB, Goldsboro, NC

Sunday, March 23, 6PM

Tuesday, April 8, 7PM

Sunday, March 30, 6PM

Sunday, April 13, 6:30PM

Daniels Chapel OFWB, Black Creek, NC

Beaverdam OFWB, Whiteville, NC First OFWB, Greenville, NC

Lee’s Chapel OFWB, Dunn, NC

Everyone is invited! If you have any questions feel free to contact: Jean F. Ackiss • (919) 658-7744 • jfackiss@moc.edu

Sharlene Howell • (919) • 658-7786 showell@moc.edu

Original Free Will Baptist Convention Nomination Form P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwb.org

Convention News

The following positions are to be filled at the 2013 Convention Convention Officers:

2 positions

• President • Vice President

Executive Committee: • Conference Representatives for: Cape Fear, Central, Eastern, and Pee Dee

3 positions

Children’s Home Board:

3 positions

Foreign Mission Board:

1 position

Home Missions & Evangelism:

1 position

Minister’s Program Board:

1 position

Mount Olive College Board of Trustees:

5 positions

Retirement Homes Board:

2 positions

Sunday School Board:

3 positions

Cragmont Board:

3 positions

Laymen’s League Board:

4 positions

FWB Press Foundation Representative:

1 position

Church Finance Association Representative:

1 position

OFWB Board of Trustees:

1 position

The following commissions have 1 position each available • Historical Commission • Chaplain’s Commission

• Commission on Education for Christian Ministry • Commission on Youth Ministry and Student Ministry Leadership

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I/We would like to nominate_ _________________________________________________ to fill a position on the_ ______________________________________________________

(Name of Board, Commission, or Representative)

Signature of person or ministry making the nomination:_ _______________________________ 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 or foundation. Mail your nominations to: Leon Grubbs, 2633 Plantation Circle, Kinston, NC 28504

All nominatons must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2014 (Nominations will also be called for from the floor of the Convention)

Guest Ministers:

Reverends Buddy Seay and Josh Whitfield _____ More than 40 Workshop Opportunities _____ Mission Rally hosted by OFWBI Foreign Missions _____

THE ORIGINAL FREE WILL BAPTIST CONVENTION MAY 21–22, 2014

“BEING PEOPLE OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY” Learn how to maximize the laity within your church to best serve the people and places where you live, work, and worship. Full Details, including Workshop Listing, will appear in the April issue of TFWB.

Thursday Morning Minister’s I.M.P.A.C.T. Breakfast (New Time) _____ Motivational Music KORNEGAY ARENA ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE www.ofwb.org 15

with Nora Koonce Avery

GOD WILL PROVIDE One of the first things I noticed about our new home was the yard. It was a “postage stamp-sized” plot in the middle of a subdivision near Gulfport, Mississippi. My Navy husband, Eddie, had gotten orders to the Seabee Base there and had left earlier to find a place for us to live. One nice thing, though, was a row of chrysanthemums growing on the south side of the house. I could just imagine the profusion of blossoms these bushes would produce in the fall! This was our first real house, having lived in a small mobile home for six years, and I was excited. I couldn’t wait for the movers to deliver our furniture so I could make this into our home. When I called the moving company, though, I was in for a shock: Our belongings were in the front of a moving van headed to California! There would be several days’ delay before they would get back to Gulfport. What were we going to do? Our new neighbors, many of whom were or had been in the military, came over to meet us and discovered our plight. They convinced me all was not lost. One found an extra mattress for us to sleep on, another had an electric skillet that we could use, and one couple even brought over some extra chairs and a table. We knew we were in the right place when we saw this outpouring of compassion. We visited several churches in the area, and we soon found our fit. I joined a Sunday school class where several other military wives were members, and we

commiserated with each other when our husbands were away on eight-month deployments. One time, in particular, I really appreciated my new friends. It was a week before payday and I had to make an emergency visit to the dentist. I didn’t have enough money for the bill, and one of my classmates found out about my plight and offered a loan. Homeports were filled with family activities. I’ll never forget the birthday cake Eddie and the boys made me when I was 28. They had two candles, one in the shape of a “2” and one an “8”, but when they put them on the cake they reversed the “2” and when the cake was turned around it read “82.” We ended up living in Gulfport over seven years. For the most part, they were happy years of watching our kids grow up with the neighbors’ kids, attending little league games, and taking part in church functions. Money was always tight, so we found things to do that didn’t cost much, like spending a Sunday afternoon at the beach. With a 28-mile stretch of white sand, it was easy to find a spot with plenty of room for the kids to play undisturbed, and my little Pinto

didn’t use much gas for the short 6-mile drive. Many of the friendships we formed during that time remain to this day, and my feelings were bittersweet when we left Gulfport. Our last duty station was Virginia Beach, Virginia. Eddie was nearing the end of his naval career, and before the year was out we decided to buy a house that had recently become available a short distance from our family. We had shared in the decision to leave the military, and we hoped and prayed it was the right one. As I looked back, I could see God’s hand in our lives every step of the way, from providing for us when we didn’t have any household goods to helping us get through tough financial times. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:13. I knew He would also provide for us during this transition to civilian life. We moved into our new house in September, 1986. One of the first things I saw was a row of white chrysanthemums bursting into bloom on the south side of the house, and I knew we were home!

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.

2600 W. Vernon Avenue • Kinston, NC 28504 • (252) 526.9908

home missions & evangelism

Registration begins April 7! When: Friday, November 7, 2014 @ 7 p.m. • Saturday, November 8, 2014 @ 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Where: La Grange First Free Will Baptist Church, La Grange, North Carolina Cost: Early Registration: $12 per person • After October 1: $18 per person • Group rates available

Introducing:

Dr. Kathy McReynolds, Keynote Speaker

Dr. McReynolds is the Director of Academic Studies for the Christian Institute on Disabilities located at the Joni and Friends International Disability Center. She has been instrumental in the development and success of the Beyond Suffering curriculum, which will be featured at the summit. Dr. McReynolds is also an adjunct professor of Biblical Studies and Apologetics at Biola University.

Learn how to reach people with disabilities in your community and GROW your church through experienced speakers and a variety of specialized workshops!

Wheels on Fire for Christ Join us for SPIRIT NIGHT at Chick-fil-a of Kinston on April 8 from 5–8 p.m. and help support Wheels on Fire for Christ and the L-14 Summit. ®

(15% of the profit from the three hours will benefit WOFFC and be used for summit expenses.) 18

Rev. Scott Broadway, Coordinator Erin Broadway, Education Coordinator (252) 268-9097 [mobile] • (252) 526-9908 [office] erin@wheelsonfireforchrist.com scott@wheelsonfireforchrist.com www.wheelsonfireforchrist.com

Standard LESSON

Teacher’s Study Bible A

The Standard Lesson Teacher Study Bible is designed specifically for teachers and serious students alike. Great for Sunday School, adult Bible fellowships, and small groups, this Bible contains a wealth of resources for virtually every Scripture passage on which a lesson would likely be based. Distinctive elements include: KJV text, study notes from the #1 selling Commentary in America, cross references, discussion questions, in-text maps, Bible book introductions, a comprehensive time line, a pronunciation guide, a Concordance, a daily Bible reading plan, and an easy to read 10 point font size.

Special Features

vaila May 1 ble , 2014

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By using the side-by-side text, Commentary to Bible notes, the Teacher’s Study Bible will expand, inspire, and strengthen your Christian growth in the Scriptures. ISBN: 9780784774786 • $49.99

Our Price: $39.97

ISBN: 9780784774779 • $59.99

Our Price: $47.97

Cross & Crown 3928 Lee Street Ayden, NC 28513 252.746.6128 1.800.849.3927

Cross & Crown

Vernon Park Mall (beside Belk) Kinston, NC 28504 252.527.2843

Cross & Crown

Glenburnie Plaza (behind Bojangles) New Bern, NC 28562 252.638.6193

Spreading the Word. For Life!

Ve-loc-ity, (noun); 1. Rapid motion; swiftness; speed. 2. The time or rate of change of a body in a specific direction. IN OTHER WORDS…CHASING AFTER GOD WITH ALL THAT WE ARE!

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! VELOCITY IS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE OFWB! IT IS TIME FOR THIS GENERATION TO BE TOTALLY SOLD OUT TO JESUS CHRIST! When: April 13, 2014 Where: Christian Life Center at Union Grove OFWB Church, 1283 Union Grove Church Rd., Fremont, NC 27830 Time: 5:00–7:30 p.m. (concessions will be on sale from 5:00–5:30 p.m.) Featuring: Speaker: Troy Lee and Bethel Church Band of Goldsboro, NC

More Information: www.velocityevents.org

Winter Watch

Winter Woes

Winter has delivered its share of woes to Cragmont. The extremely cold weather has brought us a resulting amount of frozen pipes that burst. In the midst of this massive headache of soaked carpet and sagging ceiling titles we had icicles hanging from the floor of the front porch and the option to ice skate on the cement floor outside the basement. Keep us in your prayers and in your giving as we endeavor to make the needed repairs.

CRAGMONT ASSEMBLY

Winter Wonder

I have been amazed by the view from my window this winter. I have witnessed winter mountains many times but this year at sunrise the mountains and sky across the way have been an awesome display of the Creator’s hand. Some mornings the mountain has been a glass encrusted spiral that looked as if it would crack in the brilliance of the rising sun and the sky above merely a misty gray backdrop to the mountain’s splendor. Other daybreaks the sky of an indescribable shade of blue has outshone the drab shadows of the mountain. But one day the mountain seemed to possess a blinding white light that seem to come from within its mass and the sky above can only be described as gold. The sky that morning was not it pastel shading of beginning day but the entire sky was a solid rich gold color. It has been an unbelievable painting each morning by the hand of the Master Artist, God. Cragmont invites you to come see God’s artistry. You may have missed His winter sunrises but spring awaits your viewing.

1233 North Fork Road • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • (828) 669.7677 • www.cragmontassembly.com

This has been a winter of watching with exciting anticipation as we have kept a careful eye on the continuing work on the dining room expansion. We have walls and a roof in place. At the end of each workday we can see Cragmont one day closer to a new dining area for our campers and visitors. Watching a dream become a reality is a wonderful blessing. Your gifts help build this vision into brick and mortar, floor and rafters, tables and chairs, and camper’s laughter and fellowship. Please continue to remember Cragmont in your giving as we dream of renovations to the kitchen area and bathrooms.

Pastor/Deacon Retreat April 10–12, 2014

This year’s Pastor/Deacon Retreat will be led by the Rev. Gary Bailey. His focus will be on Church Administration and related subjects. The cost of the retreat is $100 per person. We will begin on Thursday night April 10, 2014 with a worship service at 7:30 p.m. and end the retreat on Saturday, April 12, around 11 a.m. We are currently taking registrations by phone at (877) 669-7677. Please give us the number in your group planning to attend along with your room preference. 23

A deeper look inside this month’s lessons from the OFWB Foundation Curriculum and commentaries based on the International Sunday School Lessons. The Sunday School lessons this quarter are on the theme “Jesus’ Fulfillment of Scripture.” These thirteen lessons include Scripture readings from fourteen books of the Bible. If we include the background Scriptures, two more books are included; then our lessons draw from all major divisions of the Bible—Torah (or Law), Prophets, Writings, Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. The books in the Hebrew (or Jewish) Bible are arranged differently than in our Old Testament. The first division in the Hebrew Bible is the Torah, which is the first five books in our Old Testament. The second division, the Prophets, is further divided into the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and The Twelve). The rest of the books of our Old Testament are in the Writings in the Hebrew Bible, including the book of Daniel. As you can see, we will not be doing in-depth study of any particular book of the Bible. If the promises and prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus, why do we bother studying the Old Testament? In the mid second century a.d. a man named Marcion excluded the Old Testament from the Bible and all Old Testament quotations in the NT. The Church

declared that his teachings were heretical. Jesus said that he did not come to take down [destroy, abolish] the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17; also see Romans 3:31). Furthermore, the Scriptures for the apostles and the early church was the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures), for the New Testament had not been written. Also, we know that Jesus reinterpreted many of the laws of the Jews, but He did not abolish them (for example, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7). Jesus summarized all the requirements of the law and the prophets in two commandments (found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18), to love God with all your being and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:34– 40). Instead of measuring ourselves by the Ten Commandments, we are to use the two laws of love, which are more comprehensive and more demanding. When we are baptized into Christ Jesus the Old Testament becomes part of our heritage, and we can say that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our ancestors. So what does it mean when we say that the Scriptures are fulfilled in Jesus? Matthew, more so than the other Gospels, repeatedly makes the claim that prophecy was being fulfilled in Jesus. The

with Adrian Grubbs

International Lesson Annual (published by Abington Press and available through our Cross and Crown Christian Stores) has an excellent introduction to this study written by the Reverend David Kalas. He uses the illustration of “connecting the dots.” The Old Testament contains many “dots” (prophecies about the coming Christ, or Messiah). Then the New Testament writers connect the dots and color in the picture revealing Jesus as the Christ. Our study this quarter is an exercise in “connecting the dots.” The first lesson in Unit One is about the promise of a permanent Davidic Dynasty. Lesson two connects the dots placing Jesus firmly in the House of David. Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, lesson three, cites the Resurrection as proof that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Then in the last book of the Bible, lesson four, every voice in heaven and earth, both living and dead, declare that the reign of Jesus is forever. The last Sunday this month has the first lesson in Unit Two, “What the Prophets Foretold.” Jesus, in fulfilling the Scriptures, did not abolish the Old Testament but brought us into the fold as recipients of its promises and prophecies. The Old Testament and the New Testament are intricately connected.

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. 24

Sunday School Ministry

P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbsundayschool.org

DO YOU RECOGNIZE ANY OF THESE LADIES? COME AND JOIN US NEXT YEAR!

Ministers’ Wives and Widows Retreat

Cinderella Sisters

The Retreat was held at Cragmont Assembly on January 23–26, 2014. Although there were only a few snow showers that did not last very long and although the weather was very cold, we had a heart-warming good time. Our theme for the week was “The Cozy Mountain Lodge” and its focus was building strong relationships with each other and with God. The story of Ruth and Naomi provided the foundation for the weekend. Ms. Linda Herring from White Oak Grove OFWB Church was a leader speaker. She added vitality and humor to the story as well as solid spiritual understanding. We had Bible study, discussion groups, prayer time, game time, shopping time, fantastic food, and great fellowship.

We all agreed that we wished more of our Sisters could join us for a time away from home to fellowship with each other and with God. We would like to thank the First OFWB Church of Greenville, NC for allowing us to use their church bus and a superb driver in Mr. Stearle Pittman. He had his hands full driving all those women around, but he did it without a single flinch. God bless him and Miss May. Next year, the Retreat will be January 22–25, 2015 at Cragmont Assembly. The theme will be “Café Chocolat.” We are looking forward to a weekend with ‘chocolate.’ Please enjoy the pictures of just a few of the activities at the ‘Cozy Mountain Lodge’ this year. 25

P. O. Box 249 • Middlesex, NC 27557 • (252) 235.2161 • www.fwbchildrenshome.org

Children’s Home

Snow Days at The Home The campus was blanketed with snow, and made for lots of fun. The kids enjoyed the snow, and the campus was beautiful.

Toboggans—Just in Time! If you ever needed a hat, you have needed one in the past several weeks. It has been very cold, especially if you were outside playing in the snow. Mrs. Ruth Sullivan hand-made toboggans for the guys at the Children’s Home. They were all different sizes and colors. The young men enjoyed picking out and trying on which one was the right one for them. Ms. Ruth grew up in a Free Will Baptist Church and remembers our children throughout the year. 26

Branch Chapel Pro-teens Sharing God’s Word The Pro-teen group of Branch Chapel Church, along with their leaders, came to visit the children at the Home. They brought great games to play and shared a wonderful devotional service with music and a message by their pastor, followed by a delicious meal of hot dogs and burgers with all the trimmings, grilled out front of the Whitley Center. Then there was the traditional basketball game to finish out the evening. Everyone had a wonderful time. This has become somewhat of a tradition. Special thanks goes to Tammy Hicks for setting this up. Can’t wait till next time.

• • • Needs List • • • • Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaners (HD)

• Microwave Ovens (Large High Wattage)

• Vinyl Shower Curtains

• Dish Detergent

• Vinyl Mattress Covers, Waterproof (Twin Size)

• Trash Bags (13 Gallon or Larger)

• Personal Hygiene Items (Antiperspirant for Girls and Boys, Bar Soap, Toothpaste, Body Lotion)

• Zip Lock Bags (Gallon and Quart)

• Cleaning Supplies (Pine-Sol, Fabuloso, Bathroom Cleaners, Kitchen Cleaners)

• Plastic Shoe Boxes with Lids

• Summer Trip Sponsor (Call for Details)

If you have questions about the Needs List, please contact us at (252) 235-2161.

Change For Children Campaign 2014 It’s almost time for our annual Change for Children Campaign. Those blue bags will be headed your way. An introductory letter will be mailed to your church later this month. The kick off will be May 1, 2014. I can hardly wait to hear about the ingenious ways churches and groups come up with to challenge their members to participate in this campaign. If you need to update contact information please call the Development office at (252) 235-6507 or contact via e-mail at: <cbatten@fwbch.org>.

2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk for registration information, go to <www.fwbchildrenshome.org>. 27

Women Ministry in

with Vicki Parker Medlin

God is Calling In the book, Hearing God’s Call, the author, Ben Campbell Johnson writes, “God has always called human beings to share in the divine mission in the world—and he still does. God calls women and men to ordained ministry in the church, and he calls other followers of Christ to special ministries both in the church and outside it.” (Preface ix) During a recent lecture the professor informed the classroom of Divinity School Students that most churches today do not present an opportunity to respond to God’s calling to their congregations. Instead most churches go from the sermon, to an “invitational hymn”, to benediction forgoing the invitational call to service. There is not a time given for an individual to respond to the call they are experiencing. Of course you are thinking the invitation to respond to such a call is implied as an understood part of the end of worship activity. For many of us this is the case, but what about the person who has not been a part of a church and who has not experienced the church’s altar call. Yet, this person is hearing God’s voice calling out to them. Read Psalm 29:3–4, 9. In George Barna’s book, Grow Your Church from the Outside In, he writes, “the unchurched population varies in size from year to year, but it generally encompasses about one-third of the

adult population and slightly less among young people. That is roughly 100 million people.” It is this group that the church must be prepared to respond to, be prepared to address their questions and be prepared to help with their discerning of God’s call upon their lives. Barna reminds us that: “A minority of people in America are born-again— meaning that they have an ongoing, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, that they have confessed their sins to God and that they believe they will live with God for eternity solely because of the grace extended to them through that relationship with Christ. The number of people in the United States who are not born-again Christians is about 180–190 million people. If that group were a nation unto itself, it would be the fourth most populated nation on the planet, behind only China, India and Indonesia.” As churches we must be aware of this unchurched population who it is our duty to reach out to and share God’s Good News. We must understand this same group may have never been involved in corporate worship and therefore are not familiar with the “language” of the church. This group may not understand the Order of Worship that we outline in our weekly bulletins let alone understand words such as

“commitment,” “membership,” “Lord’s Supper,” “testimony,” “invitation,” and “call” as it relates to the church. It is important to remember that churches have a lingo that is basically unknown to the individual we may witness to outside the church or to the individuals who may come through our front doors for the first time. It is therefore our duty as ministers and lay persons alike to be ready to respond in a compassionate and understanding manner to inquiries concerning these and other aspects of our corporate worship services and event. We need to address this from our pulpits and take a good look at our Order of Worship and even be willing to teach what it all means. As we stand in our pulpits on Sunday and deliver our messages followed by the invitation or alter call, let us not rush through this important part of our service and instead allow the time for an individual to discern God’s voice calling out to them. After all if our churches are built upon the model of Acts 2, we understand that the churches’ purpose involves discipleship, worship, ministry, community, and evangelism. We therefore must be eager to share with the world the power and majesty that is found when an individual responds to God’s call and to remember that indeed, God is still in the business of calling individual’s to serve Him.

Vicki Parker Medlin is a Johnston County native from Clayton. She is married to Preston Medlin, Jr. and is the mother of two daughters, Ami, who is married to Jason Modlin and Keri, who is married to Phil Heath; and they have three granddaughters. She is an alumna of NC Wesleyan College and Mount Olive College and is currently enrolled at Campbell Divinity School pursuing a Master in Divinity. Ordained in 2012, Vicki is currently a teaching minister at Smithfield First FWB Church and continues to work with the NCDHHS in Raleigh. Along with serving as a teaching minister at Smithfield First Free Will Baptist Church, Vicki is the pastor of Covenant Original Free Will Baptist Church in Hope Mills, NC. 28

with Marc Boswell

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday I must confess that I greatly enjoy pancakes. It’s true. There’s a local diner in Richmond that has mouthwatering chocolate chip pancakes. I understand that they’re directed, most likely, toward the children who eat at the restaurant. Still, I often can’t keep myself from ordering them. I suppose that such things are on my mind because the church I attend has recently announced its upcoming Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner. At a Shrove Tuesday dinner, pancakes traditionally are served in a celebratory spirit, marking with frivolity and mirth the last day of the Christian calendar before the onset of the Lenten season. Others may know the day as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday; the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The idea behind the day is to create a worshipful space in which to celebrate all things good in life before embarking upon a Lenten journey with Jesus, the time in which he turns toward Jerusalem and Golgotha. The celebration, of course, has been thoroughly commercialized in the United States and mostly associated with wild parties on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. However, as with my congregation and others throughout the world, Shrove Tuesday can also be a time for more tempered or restrained

celebrations of life, good friends, and good food. At first glance, the pairing of these two days (Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday) may seem a bit odd. Ash Wednesday, after all, is a day in which we remember our mortality, our finitude, our frailties, and our limitations as human creatures born with bodies that are subject to decay, disease, and death. We are reminded, on Ash Wednesday, that from dust we were created, and to dust we shall return. One can see, then, that the somber and serious nature of Ash Wednesday contrasts more than a little with a joyful, pancake filled party the evening before. Personally, I look forward to this time in the Christian calendar precisely because of this contrast, as I think it conveys something important to us about the life of God and the ministry of Jesus. Our God is a God who takes seriously the celebratory, festive events in our lives. Jesus is one who turned water into wine and celebrated marriages, friendships, new life, good food, and the lilies of the field. But our God is also a God who took on the brokenness of humanity, our frailties, our mortality, our finitude. Jesus walked through the valley of the shadow of death, just as

we will and just as other loved ones or acquaintances have already done. Pairing Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday so closely together, therefore, wonderfully captures the tension that’s ever present in our lives. We have much to celebrate. There is great beauty and abundance and deliciousness in our lives and throughout our world, including those delightful chocolate chip pancakes. Likewise, there is much strife, death, and darkness in our world. There are far too many reasons to lament and grieve. Suffering and anxiety are all too present and real. Thankfully, we worship a God who knows all of these dimensions of human life—the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows. Thankfully, this One we worship has taken all of the complexity of human life into God’s very heart where it is honored and deemed worthwhile. May we all learn to let our hair down a little on Shrove Tuesday and, perhaps, enjoy a pancake and all that is beautiful in our lives. And, on Ash Wednesday, may we all be mindful of the fleeting nature of life and our attachments, our frailty and finitude, and to make good use of the precious time afforded to us while we are yet still alive.

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.

Time to Sharpen the Ax

P. O. Box 210 • Mount Olive, NC 28365-0210 • (919) 658.5250 • admin@ncfcm.org • rwarren@ncfcm.org

NC Foundation for Christian Ministries

By Ricky Warren

A dull axe never loves grindstones, but a keen workman does; and he puts his tool on them in order that it may be sharp. And men do not like grinding; but they are dull for the purposes which God designs to work out with them, and therefore He is grinding them. —Henry Ward Beecher

Slow Spring

Our Need Today

Spring is almost here, but there will likely still be some vestiges of “Old Man Winter” for several weeks. Churches will not be celebrating Easter until late April this year so there is time to spend doing “something,” but what should we be doing? I suggest, as Christians, we take some time to sharpen our axes.

What can we learn from their example? Don’t we find ourselves in a similar circumstance today? We have so much going on that we feel like we don’t have the luxury of rest, planning, and worship, but those are the very things that preserve and sustain us. Those are the very things that make our work more fruitful and our lives more enjoyable. I believe that we would find that sharpening the axe is a principle that can make a positive difference in lives, churches, and ministries.

The Lumberjacks The story is told of a contest between two lumberjacks to see who could cut the most trees in a day. Both men worked hard and seemed to be evenly matched. When the whistle for the first break blew the first lumberjack stopped working while the second man worked on with enthusiasm seeing a chance to get ahead. When lunch came, the first lumberjack stopped again while the other, not feeling especially tired, kept working. At the afternoon break the same thing happened and everyone could see that the prospect of winning was giving the second lumberjack energy to keep going when he should have felt tired. At the end of the day, the cut trees were counted and to everyone’s surprise the first lumberjack had won, he actually cut more trees. When asked how he did it, he replied, “It is simple, while I was on my breaks, I sharpened my axe.”

A Much Needed Time of Peace In Acts 9 we read that the church was frail and untested when it started. Then this man named Saul, a known persecutor of the church, came around using the name “Paul,” saying that he was a changed man and that the church could trust him. They gave him a chance and, by preaching the good news without fear, Paul won their confidence. In fact, Paul was so persuasive that he even unintentionally persuaded others who were persecuting the church that they should next try to kill him. Paul’s new friends saved his life by putting him on a boat to Tarsus and things settled down. According to Acts 9:31, the church then enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. The church had a time to sharpen its axe, and because of the wise and principled use of that time, the results were impressive.

A Method We Can Follow The method scripture suggests is that we first seek peace. Peace is something that we all seem to want but rarely seem to be working for. The peace described in Acts 9:31 certainly means peace with God, but peace with God requires peace with ourselves and others. Begin by establishing peace. Second, we have to allow ourselves to be built up. We are unintentionally dulled every day by the constant wear and everyday hard knocks of this world. God has provided the church in part so that we can be built up rather than constantly torn down. By reading our Bibles, doing our daily prayer, engaging in our Sunday School class, and by close association with Christian friends, we can begin to sharpen up our lives. Third, we have to get up and go in the fear of the Lord. Time spent sharpening the axe is not time spent being useless. God has a purpose and a mission for us to complete and we are actually not happy unless we are working for that purpose. We can never “If I only had an hour to lose sight of the fact that chop down a tree, I would a church that becomes spend the first forty five content to do nothing minutes sharpening my axe.” is just waiting around (Abraham Lincoln) to die. The Lord never

church did grow in areas that are difficult to measure like love, knowledge, and devotion to God and, yes, the early church did grow in the number of those being saved. And, yes, we are expected to do the same. We are expected to grow in every way you can think of that glorifies God. means for us to sit idle and die a spiritual death. The Promised Land lies ahead of us, not here and not back where we came from! Get up and go in the fear of the Lord. There is work to be done. Fourth, we must realize that we can never hope to do this without the Holy Spirit. When we live and labor from our own power, bolstered by our own will and determination we are not working for our Lord and the work we do will not last. It will leave us tired, empty, and angry at ourselves, each other, and ultimately, at God. We have to do God’s work with the Spirit’s power. The Spirit’s power can be found when we humbly repent of the sins that hinder our lives and so easily beset us. The Spirit’s power can be found when we diligently seek to know, understand, and do the will of God. The Spirit’s power can be found when we order our lives with a balanced rhythm of work, play, and worship. The Spirit’s power can be found when we bring ourselves under the authority of a loving church where we can experience and see the evidence of the Spirit’s power at work. If we want to experience the power of God’s Holy Spirit then make room for Him and then invite Him in. It is a simple method and it is the only way. Finally, if we want to sharpen our axes to do the work God intends for us, then we must continue to increase. Now the immediate question that comes to mind is what kind of increase is the scripture meaning here? Should our increase be in things like love, knowledge, and devotion to God? Or should our increase be in numbers, literally more people in the church? The answer to both questions is “yes.” Yes, the early

The Foundation Can Help During this slow spring, when everyone is anxious to get started doing “something,” spend some time sharpening the axe that God has given you to use. Maybe some extra time in prayer and Bible reading is called for. Maybe learning a new skill to use in teaching or witnessing about Christ is what is needed. Or maybe God has given you plenty and you want to leave something for the workmen who will follow you at your church or in your favorite ministry. Contact the Foundation today and let us help. Are all of your axes sharp and ready to go? If not, then it is a well-known fact that your work will be less productive and there is a biblical method to follow that works. Let’s sharpen our axe. There is work to be done.

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. (Ecclesiastes 10:10 kjv)

Please Save the Date All are invited to the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Foundation to be held at the University of Mount Olive on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.

The Foundation gratefully acknowledges gifts given during January of 2013 in memory of those listed here. Walter O. Whitehead

By Mrs. Dianne Brown Riley

Mrs. Betty H. Harrison

By Mrs. Dianne Brown Riley

Mrs. Frances Phillips

By Mrs. Dianne Brown Riley

Mrs. Kathleen Sasser

By Mrs. Dianne Brown Riley

Mr. Grant Taylor

By Mrs. Dianne Brown Riley

(February 5, 2014)

Annuity Rate 2

Retirement Income Comparison

CD Rate 1

0.22%

5.1%

1. National Average 12-month CD rate (Source: Bankrate.com) 2. Lifetime rate from the Foundation for a person age 70

(At age 70)

215 N 3rd Street • Vandemere, NC 28587 • (252) 745-3171 • www.campvandemereinc.org

Camp Vandemere 32

Progress Report On behalf of the Board of Directors of Camp Vandemere, Inc., we would like to share information about the progress of your camp ministry. As all of you know, we started our capital campaign after the Eastern Conference met on Thursday, October 24 of last year. We are making every effort to keep each supporter and interested party informed of our progress. We will continuously send out updates in an effort to not leave anyone out. We have mailed this information to each church clerk already! Just to remind everyone of the details surrounding our campaign, we are securing a construction loan from Church Finance Association in the amount of $550,000. Two of the requirements we have to meet before we begin construction are: 1) We must possess $150,000 in a cash account with Church Finance Association. 2) We must have pledges from churches, individuals, or others totaling $250,000 over a period of five years. Understand completely, construction cannot begin until BOTH requirements are met. I am happy to report, as of January 31, 2014, we have $103,832.15 in the cash donations and $197,200 in church and other pledges! God is good all the time. When we began our campaign, we set a tentative start date of February 1, 2014. As of now, we have had to move that date to March 1, 2014. We encourage everyone to continue your fundraising efforts. We are extremely close to the time we can begin construction. We do want to encourage you to make plans to return next year or maybe even the latter part of this year for a retreat or mini-camp. We will continue to update our emails and web page (campvandemere.com) every week! God has richly blessed this ministry and will continue to do so if we keep Him first in all things. We are so near our construction goal set before us through those who have already stepped up to the challenge to rebuild God’s ministry in Vandemere. All we need is that one last thrust of energy and financing to enable us to begin building. Please continue to pray that we, as His servants, make the right choices and go in His direction this upcoming year. Again, we know that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” We are reminded of a statement that was made in a church service just recently: “we cannot rely on last year’s accomplishments to carry us through the coming year. Many things were accomplished last year, but now is the time to make the next step toward the overall vision for Camp Vandemere. We are well

underway to being able to operate! The existing vision from years past when the property at Vandemere was purchased is quickly becoming a reality. Please be reminded that the overall vision includes four more buildings (18 room lodge, conference center, chapel that seats 300, kitchen/ dining hall that seats 300), along with outside gazebos and shelters. We do trust that everyone understands why we haven’t begun construction with the monies we already have. Before we can start construction, we have to have the loan from Church Finance Association. To acquire this loan, ALL of the loan requirements MUST be met. It is ESSENTIAL that we have the two listed above before we can get this loan. Please understand how important it is for us to meet this financial goal quickly! We don’t need to go another summer without having as many camps as possible! We have been blessed with an offer from the Wilmington Celebration Choir to hold a concert as a fundraiser for the camp. This is scheduled for April 12, 2014 at Jackson Heights OFWB Church in Kinston. The concert will be combined with a meal. The meal (BBQ Pork and BBQ Chicken, with all the trimmings and homemade desserts) will be served from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. that afternoon and the concert begins at 7:00 p.m. The meal cost will be $10 and the concert will be $15. Advanced combination tickets will be $20; the cost at the door will be $25. Also, we will hold a silent auction during the dinner hours. We have several items that have been donated for sale. Some of the items will be unique to Camp Vandemere. I’m sure everyone will enjoy this! We would also like to say thanks to all that have already contributed to either of these loan requirements and to ask for your continued prayer support!

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Camp Vandemere, we say thank you and God bless you. Victor Jones, Chairman of the Board (252) 559-3876 • nonakent@hotmail.com

Rick Price, Executive Director (252) 670-9775 • rickeprice@gmail.com

● ● ●

Dinner & Concert ● ● ●

Saturday, April 12 Jackson Heights OFWB Church, Kinston Dinner: 4:30–6:30 p.m.

Concert: 7:00 p.m.

●

● ● Pricing ● ● ●

$15 . . . . . . . . . . . Concert $10 . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner $20 . . . . . . Combo Package

(for advance tickets)

$25 at the door

Combination plate of BBQ Chicken and Pork. Served with String Beans, Potato Salad, Slaw, Rolls, Tea, & Homemade Desserts.

Yum! Yum! Yum! Like them on Facebook

For more information: Victor Jones Angie Toler Janet Jones Rick Price

(252) (252) (910) (252)

559-3876 671-1548 375-0297 670-9775

There will also be a silent auction during dinner.

All proceeds will benefit the Camp Vandemere Building Fund 33

youth convention 34

Help Support the Fountain of Youth Endowment and Stop Hunger Now at the 2014 Youth Convention Each year, each church is asked to send in “project money” to the Annual Youth Convention in May. In year’s past, this money was designated to a certain “project” for a designated denominational ministry. The ministries were on a rotating schedule, so each one benefited once every 10 years or so. In 2012, the Commission on Youth & Student Ministry Leadership and The Original Free Will Baptist Youth Convention established an endowment with the NC Foundation for Christian Ministries to benefit the Original Free Will Baptist Convention Ministries. They named this endowment “The Fountain of Youth.” Long after we have left this earth our giving will continue through this established fund. After the initial amount of $10,000 has been received, an annual distribution of the interest earnings will be given to the ministries. To date, approximately $3,000 has been received toward this Youth Project. For the past few years, our children and youth have also engaged in service projects at the Annual Youth Convention. This year’s officers and representatives decided for the 2014 service project to be the packaging of at least 10,000 meals for the Stop Hunger Now ministry. Stop Hunger Now is an international relief organization driven by the vision of a world without hunger and a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and lifesaving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary

resources. Stop Hunger Now’s meal packaging program is a volunteer-based program that coordinates the streamlined packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, flavoring and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. The meals are easily transported to crisis-burdened areas or supplied to school feeding programs around the world. The meals cost only .25¢ per meal to create. More information on Stop Hunger Now can be found at www.stophungernow.org. To accomplish the goal of packaging at least 10,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now AND working towards the $10,000 needed for the Fountain of Youth Endowment to start benefiting our denominational ministries, the Youth Convention is asking each church to send in at least $150 prior to the Annual Youth Convention. Approximately half of the money sent in will be used to pay for the 10,000 meals we will be packaging for Stop Hunger Now and the other half will go to the Fountain of Youth Project. For more information on the Stop Hunger Now project and the Fountain of Youth Endowment, please contact any member of the Commission on Youth & Student Ministry Leadership. Youth groups, auxiliaries, individuals, or other church groups may send in their contributions for these projects at any time. Please mail them to: OFWB Youth Convention, c/o Victor Jones, 264 Kirby Thigpen Rd, Pink Hill, 28572.

EACH CHURCH IS ASKED TO SEND AN OFFERING OF AT LEAST $150 TO GO TOWARDS THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH PROJECT AND TO FUND THE PACKING OF AT LEAST 10,000 STOP HUNGER NOW MEALS

2014 YOUTH CONVENTION Of Original Free Will Baptists May 16–18, 2014 University of Mount Olive ENJOY GREAT MUSIC, A DYNAMIC SPEAKER, FUN-FILLED WORKSHOPS, INFLATABLES, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIAN KIDS AND TEENS! FOR ALL AGES PRE-SCHOOL—18 YEARS OLD! Keynote Speaker: Kevin Davis, Minister of Youth, Antioch Baptist Church, Lumberton, NC. Founder of Kevin Davis Creations Ministry. Graduate of Campbell University and Southeastern Baptist Seminary. Find out more about Kevin Davis at: http://kevindaviscreation.com Band: Traditional City (formerly The Noise) www.TraditionalCity.com

Keep an eye out in future issues of The Free Will Baptist for more details! 35

Book reviews in this column are not meant to reflect any theological or political positions.

Paul Tillich, The Eternal Now New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1963 (originally 1956). 185 pages.

The Search for the Infinite In A Finite World Paul Tillich During his time at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Paul Tillich (1886–1962) delivered sermons in university and college chapels, his collection of 16 of them in his book, The Eternal Now. Leaving Germany in 1933 at the request of Hitler, Tillich left behind his philosophical and theological teaching roots at the universities of Marburg, Dresden, Leipzig, and Frankfurt, but he transferred his search for the meaning of life to Union Theological Seminary in New York, later to Harvard, and finally to the University of Chicago Divinity School. His 16 sermons are grouped in three topics: 1) the human predicament, 2) the divine reality, 3) the challenge to man. In all of these three categories Tillich emphasizes the importance of what he calls the eternal now—a state of consciousness of divine presence in temporal time which cuts into time to give us a glimpse of time that lies beyond time—the eternal (130–131). The moment divine presence cuts into our consciousness we are reminded of “the eternal rest which stops the flux of time” (131) and gives us “the divine rest” (131) through “the blessing of the present” (131). When the eternal breaks into consciousness, the power of God’s eternal presence brings “forgiveness for what has passed,” (132) “courage for what is to come” (132), and “rest in His eternal Presence” (132).

The Human Predicament What issues does Paul Tillich deal with in his six sermons discussing the human predicament? His focus is upon loneliness, being forgotten, and inequality in the world, the choice of doing what is not good, and our sickness within. Loneliness is a state of awareness of our “ultimate isolation” (19) that comes through “the loneliness of guilt and the loneliness of death” (20). Through solitude Tillich believes “the presence of the eternal” (24) may cut through “the crowded roads of the temporal” (24) and enter our consciousness, bringing to us a sense of “our soul” (24), of the “center of our being, the innermost self” (24) grounded in the presence of God. Tillich raises the question of being forgotten as a human predicament. Remembrance to Tillich “preserves the identity of a human being with himself” (29), just as the seed of a tree determines the form of the tree, the instincts of an animal 36

preserve the animal, and the sources of civilization in Jerusalem and Athens (30) protect history. The role of forgiveness is crucial in man’s “anxiety of being eternally forgotten” (33), because through forgiveness we “can live only because our guilt is forgiven and thus eternally forgotten” (32). What is left for man is not eradication and nothingness but instead a “true being” which is “eternally known and eternally remembered” (34). Tillich insists: “We are together with everything real in the divine life” (35). What about the issue of inequality in the world? Tillich observes inequality of “talents in body and mind” (41), the inequality of justice and destiny (41), and the riddle of God’s role in allowing such inequalities to exist. Tillich turns to his faith in the “ultimate unity of all beings, rooted in the divine life from which they emerge and to which they return” (45). Awareness of this unity shifts our focus, because the reality that “others do not have changes the character of our having” (45). Tillich adds: “The certainty of divine participation gives us the courage to endure the riddle of inequality” (46). The choice to do that which is not good is linked in Tillich’s sermon to “making ourselves the center of our world,” an “act of turning away from participation in the divine Ground from which we come and to which we go” (56). The sickness within is from separation of the “human spirit with the divine spirit” (63).

The Divine Reality In the five sermons of the Divine Reality, Tillich’s Christianity points to God and “His Spiritual Presence in our spirit” (83). The Spirit’s aim is to bring “the reunion with the divine Ground of our being” (86). Spiritual Presence breaks into our consciousness and when absent, we cry for that empty space within us to be filled by God’s Presence (88). Man may try to flee from God, but God’s Presence is within us as “the unknown force in us that makes us restless” (103). In man’s flight from God, the importance of work or a social life or abundant pleasures may usurp God’s space within us, but the “ultimate dimension of our being” (109) remains empty, anxious, sad, and meaningless. Once Divine Presence “has arrested” (111) man, he is “opened to the ultimate dimension of being” (11). Faith in God’s Presence, shown in Jesus Christ, allows the eternal to cut

— Woman’s Auxiliary Spring Meetings — Eastern Central Cape Fear Pee Dee Western Albemarle

March 15, 2014 • 10:00 a.m. @ Pilgrim OFWB Church March 22, 2014 • 9:00 a.m. @ Kings Cross Roads OFWB Church April 5, 2014 • 9:30 a.m. @ Covenant OFWB Church April 5, 2014 • 10:00 a.m. @ White Oak OFWB Church April 5, 2014 • 9:30 a.m. @ Little Rock OFWB Church April 12, 2014 • 9:30 a.m. @ Trinity OFWB Church

into the temporal. Tillich writes: “Eternal life is beyond past, present, and future: we come from it, we live in its presence, we return to it. It is never absent—it is the divine life in which we are rooted and in which we are destined to participate in freedom—for God alone has eternity” (114). Tillich adds: “And if we call Jesus, the Christ, our saviour, then we mean that in him we see the power which heals us by accepting us and which liberates us by showing us in his being a new being—a being in which there is reconciliation with ourselves, with our world, and with the divine Ground of our world and ourselves” (121). The ground of all life is rooted in the eternal ground of Divine Presence. Tillich proclaims: “The atom that moves in an immeasurable path today and the atom that moved in an immeasurable path billions of years ago are rooted in the eternal ground…. We are together with everything real in the divine life” (35). Our last judgment will be the separation of the transitory from our “true and final being” which “cannot be lost in eternity” (35).

The Challenges for Mankind Tillich’s five sermons that point to the challenges for mankind focus upon issues of conformity, weakness, wisdom, and thankfulness. Conformity to a group or nation may not transform the world. Only as lives are transformed will mankind take risks, seek good decisions, resist the idolatry of the world, and seek a “renewal of the spirit” (137). How can a man become strong? Tillich observes: “We can ask of anything or anyone only to bring forth what he has, to become what he is” (146). He adds: “There is a non-Christian in every Christian. There is a weak being in every strong one. There is cowardice in every courage, unbelief in every faith, and hostility in every love” (149). How then can man gain

strength? Tillich stresses watchfulness, discipline, acceptance, courage, and love. How can a man gain wisdom? What exactly is wisdom? To Tillich wisdom is a mystery, its two forces of creativity and destruction hidden. The first step in acquiring wisdom is “the fear of God and the awareness of the holy” (167). An encounter “with the holy” (168) may create “awe” (168) which “shakes the ordinary way of life and thought” (168). Wisdom brings the experience of “limits” (168), of “finitude in face of the infinite” (168). Man’s “acceptance of one’s limits is the decisive step towards wisdom” (168). Thus, Tillich sees wisdom as an “acknowledgment of limits” (168). Once shaken “by an encounter with the mystery of life” (169), a man may be “able to see the unity of creation and destruction in the working of the divine wisdom” (169). Thanksgiving may become an “elevation without words” (178) or “with words” (178) in recognizing the presence of God who seeks us wherever we are. Through giving thanks silently or openly, man “transfers something that belongs to the secular world into the sphere of the holy” (179). The secular has been “elevated to represent the divine” (179). The secular “has become a bearer of grace” (179). The voice of thanksgiving has “one consolation: we are not separated from the ever active presence of God, and we can become aware of it in every moment” (182). Nothing is ours but what God has given us (183). In gratefulness we are aware of Divine Presence (178). In gratefulness we “experience an elevation of life” (178). In gratefulness we are aware of our acceptance by God as shown in Jesus Christ. In a world of “disintegration and despair” there still exists even on “the dark road” (184) the presence of God, the power of the Ground of being which is in us, love uniting us, our separation over.

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.

community connection 38

125 Anniversary Celebration th

Rev. Tony Parrish and Free Union Church, Pinetown, NC celebrated the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 125th anniversary on September 29, 2013. The church is blessed to have four sons of the church family ordained into the ministry since 1988. These ministers began the celebration by speaking at the Fall Revival on September 26â&#x20AC;&#x201C;28. They are: Rev. Leroy Cutler, Rev. Luther Burns, and Rev. Jonathan Best. Rev. Joe Ratcliffe, Jr. concluded the Revival services Sunday morning September 29 at the 11 a.m. worship hour. The anniversary program was held Sunday, September 29 at the 10 a.m. Sunday School hour and included recognizing our revival speakers, special music, and reminiscing. The church was honored to have two former pastors join them in the celebration: Rev. Francis Garner and Rev. Harold Swinson. They both did some reminiscing of their own, The celebration concluded with a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship. The Lord has blessed Free Union Church for 125 years. We pray that each of us will strive even harder to be a better disciple of Christ.

Back row from left to right: Rev. Leroy Cutler, Rev. Joe Ratcliffe, Jr., and Rev. Jonathan Best. Front row from left to right: Rev. Tony Parrish, Rev. Francis Garner, Rev. Harold Swinson, and Rev. Luther Burns.

Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring

The Bible speaks to us but the Psalms speak for us. How well do you know the Lord? Dr. Alexander Maclaren, the great Scottish preacher, attributed everything he knew about God to one habit: spending an hour each day alone with God. Sometimes he allowed others into his study, but they were never allowed to speak. Maclaren would sit in a well-worn armchair with his Bible lying across his knees. Sometimes he would read the Bible as a student, or study it for sermons. One of his assistants noted, “He read it as a child would read a letter from an absent father, or your heart would drink in the words of a loved one from far away.” We may not be able to do what Dr. Alexander did but we need to find what works for us. The important thing is to set aside time to be alone with God to study his Word or just be quiet and listen. How well do you know the Lord? How well do you want to know Him? The answer is not in what you say but in what you do. What you truly desire, you pursue. The Psalmist said, “When you said, Seek my face, my heart said to you, Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Are you seeking the Lord and His will for your life? That is an exciting place to be. 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.

Sunday School at White Oak Grove White Oak Grove Church observed February as Sunday School month. A prayer tree was erected in the sanctuary with white lights that represented the life of Jesus Christ, red hearts that represented the blood of Jesus Christ, and white paper with Bible verses. Members and visitors were given a heart and encouraged to enter the name of a person they wanted to be included in prayer. These hearts were attached to the tree and at the end of February the hearts were given to attendees as they left the service. The recipients of the hearts were encouraged to pray for the person whose name was on the heart they had received.

Cherry blossoms covered in snow Flinch with Spring at hand Sparrows’ song melts the heart and wakes the sleeping band Nesting in the tree where cherries grow. Blossoms and snow and the moon aglow The rising sun will pierce the snow and warm the frigid land. — Scotty McCoy —

Church & Ministry Positions Available • Ordained Minister (38 years experience) is seeking opportunities to serve. Will fill in for vacations, sickness, interim, or pastoral. Available after May 1. Please contact: Braxton Carter (919) 553-7246 [H] or (919) 868-5923 [M] or at <preacherbrack@aol.com>. 39

• Youth Pastor Search • Lee’s Chapel Church is located in the rural Plain View community of northern Sampson County. Our church is situated approximately 25 miles from the county seat of Clinton, North Carolina and approximately five miles from the nearby town of Dunn, North Carolina in Harnett County. Public schools serving the Plain View community include Plain View Elementary School, Midway Middle School, and Midway High School. The position is a part-time ministry position where the Youth Pastor will work with young people to help them build their faith, begin a relationship with Christ, and equip them for Christian living and Church life. This should involve creating and maintaining youth groups that enjoy worship, Bible study, and other spiritual, as well as, recreational activities. Youth are normally defined as 6th–12th grade students, which should be his focus. However, the Youth Pastor will be responsible for maintaining faith building programs and activities for all school age children. To help accomplish these tasks he should recruit, train, and lead a team of volunteer youth workers. The ideal candidate must be a Christian with evidence of personal integrity, and good moral and ethical behavior. He must have a sense of call and passion for ministry with youth that is grounded in a willingness to support and teach Original Free Will Baptist doctrine. He should have a college degree or is currently pursuing one. The ideal candidate will have an interest in long-term service that does not view the position as a “stepping stone” employment opportunity. Interested individuals may contact the Reverend Brad Williamson, Pastor, at (910) 892-7855 or via e-mail at <pastor@ leeschapelchurch.org> for instructions in submitting an résumé and obtaining a job description. Deadline for submission is March 20, 2014.

Reedy Branch Church of Winterville (Pitt County) is searching for a full-time Youth Minister. Interested ministers may contact Lisa Smith, Youth Council Chairwoman, at (252) 412-0103 or Arnold Price, Pastor, at (252) 7563416. Résumés may be sent to: Reedy Branch OFWB Church, Attention: Youth Council, 4457 Reedy Branch Road, Winterville, NC 28590

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Second Annual

Sisters Faithful & True Woman’s Conference Pine Level OFWB Church 101 N. Peedin Ave, Pine Level NC Saturday April 12, 2014 Registration Begins 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Guest Speaker; Beck Jo Summer Topic: Come to the Mount Scripture: Isaiah 49:11 No Cost For more information or to register e-mail: <pthompson0424@gmail.com> Registration deadline March 31

Woman’s Auxiliary Convention of Original Free Will Baptists The State Woman’s Auxiliary Convention will meet May 8, 2014 at The University of Mount Olive in the Burkette and Rose Raper. Hall. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. This year’s Convention is hosted by the Executive Board of the Woman’s Auxiliary Convention. The registration fee is $25 and should be sent by April 25 to the State Treasurer. In order for your local auxiliary to be registered, you must send your money to: Mrs. Nadine Crocker, 568 House Rd., Kenly, NC 27542, Phone: (919) 284-3341 Even if you cannot attend, please send your registration anyway as the Convention needs your support. We hope, however, to see you there. Thank you.

Per Capita Dues Now is the time for you to collect your per capita dues, if you have not already done so. These dues should be collected during the first months of the year in time to be sent to your District Treasurer before, or in time for, your District Convention. The dues are $1 per member per year. Send these dues to your District Treasurer; she will keep 50 cents and send 50 cents to your State Treasurer. It is necessary that you cooperate in this as these dues provide a part of the funds for the operational expenses of your Convention. Thank you for your past support. We know that we can continue to count on you. Yours in Christ, Nadine Crocker, State Treasurer

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Connect Kids to Kids Around the World… Four true stories take you on a journey to foreign places and extreme struggles. Through their challenges, you can see the hand of the great Storyweaver—our Defender God—shielding and defending the defenseless in the amazing ways only he can.

Follow four real stories as they take you on a journey to faraway lands and unknown faces. Travel through their challenges and see the hand of the great Storyweaver writing endings you’d never imagine.

ISBN 978-0-7847-3697-5 Retail Price $8.99 Help kids understand and respond to the difficult issues facing children living in poverty and as orphans around the world. Interactive CD includes 6 sessions, fully editable and customizable. With creative take-home resources to guide family conversations and additional activities for Christian schools, family participation, and service projects, kids of all ages can connect their lives with the stories of children around the world!

Use with the Super Simple Mission Kit. Call today and save when you purchase additional copies for your leaders and kids! ISBN 978-0-7847-3528-2 Retail Price $8.99 Leader’s Guide ISBN 978-0-7847-3527-5 Retail Price $7.99

ISBN 978-0-7847-3698-2 Retail Price $7.99

…and Cultivate a Missions-Focused Life. See the world and its people through the eyes of Christ. Learn how to prepare for a short-term mission trip, serve while there, and debrief once you’re home. Live a mission-focused life all year with the help of weekly devotions. ISBN 978-0-7847-3571-8 Retail Price $14.99

Cross & Crown 3928 Lee Street Ayden, NC 28513 252.746.6128 1.800.849.3927

Great as a…

• Curriculum for your church missions conference • Follow-up to VBS • Mission experience during summer, spring, or winter break • Midweek or Sunday School program • Family ministry event

Mission Kit

ISBN 978-0-7847-7479-3 Retail Price $49.99

Cross & Crown

Vernon Park Mall (beside Belk) Kinston, NC 28504 252.527.2843

Cross & Crown

Glenburnie Plaza (behind Bojangles) New Bern, NC 28562 252.638.6193

Spreading the Word. For Life!

Grammy and Dove Award Nominee Singer, Songwriter, Comedian Member of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Doors Open at 6 p.m. Show Starts at 7 p.m. All Seats $10 General Admission Kids 10 & under admitted free An evening of Family, Fun, and Entertainment No Reserved Seats

Tickets Available

May 1, 2014

Call (252) 746-4963 for more information

Friday, June 27, 2014

Tim Lovelace and the fabulous

Wilmington Celebration Choir Kornegay Arena on the campus of the University of Mount Olive, Mount Olive, NC Brought to you by area Businesses, Churches, and HQ Promotions.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID 28513

USPS 2094-4000