May 2014
Standard LESSON
Teacher’s Study Bible A
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Spreading the Word. For Life!
May 2014
Children’s Home 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
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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3
8
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National Day of Prayer
May 1, 2014
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National Teacher Appreciation Day
Woman’s Auxiliary Convention of OFWB @ UMO
National Nurses Day
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Mother’s Day
Armed Forces Day Youth Convention of OFWB @ UMO (16–18)
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Convention of OFWB @ UMO
Youth Conv. of OFWB
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Sunday School Leadership Banquet
Minister’s I.M.P.A.C.T. Breakfast
5:45 p.m. @ UMO
7:45 a.m. @ UMO
Missions Rally
7:30 p.m. @ UMO
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Memorial Day
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Message for Memorial Day, 2013 By Dr. Thomas R. Morris
(A totally blind 100% disabled service connected veteran, eight around the world trips, passport stamped in 157 countries)
My English guide and I were at the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Other than that flag, there was nothing pertaining to veterans or Cemetery, North London. We had become friends and he the military at this grave service. Like so many WWII veterans, wanted to help me find the grave of Francis Thompson, one of he had probably met this woman in London after the war, and he my favorite poets. He was best known for his famous line, “[love] had stayed with her. But, he probably wanted his casket covered is a many-splendored thing,” from his poem The Kingdom of with the American flag. It still meant something to him—and God. At that time, I had a shadow of vision in my left eye. to her. He said to me, “You will not believe what I see coming down On this Memorial Day, we think of the 126,000 buried the walk.” A cemetery employee was pulling a small threeon foreign soil (not in a casket, just wrapped in an American wheeled cart, on which was a coffin, flag), and of the thousands buried covered with a tattered American flag. in Arlington and other national A Catholic priest was walking behind cemeteries. They believed America and The tumult and the shouting dies— the cart, along with a very frail woman would be dumbfounded to see what The Captains and the Kings depart— in a wheelchair. She was being pushed has happened to their country. Until Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, by the driver of the vehicle that had Korea, most of the fallen were buried on An humble and a contrite heart. brought them there. This was the extent foreign soil. I stood at the great national Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, of the funeral cortege. cemetery in Manila where 18,000 are Lest we forget—lest we forget! Earlier, we nearly walked into a buried, and on the 25thanniversary of Recessional—Rudyard Kipling (1897) freshly dug grave, and I spoke of the D-Day, I stood at Normandy at that danger of such for a blind person. They great cemetery there. What a waste! stopped at the same open grave and two What a expenditure of life—50,000 in other cemetery workers put the casket Korea, frozen bodies stacked like cord in the ground and began shoveling dirt into the grave. The priest wood; 58,000 killed in Vietnam. was saying some words as we walked up. He then turned to us I was still in the hospital from the Korean era, when the and said, “She is not cognitive, but will appreciate your being Vietnam tragedy was going on, I still remember the screams of here.” She looked at me and reached out a gloved hand, which the woman across the street from me when her son’s casket was I squeezed. I told her that I was American. She handed me the brought into her home on his “return” from Vietnam. We have folded American flag. a tendency to forget the civilian tragedy of war, on both sides. The priest said they were in separate nursing homes, but had Even today, while several wars are going on—drones overhead been married 50 years, that he was an American veteran. You dropping bombs, missiles being fired from oceans as well as from should note that I said, “I am American.” This is like saying, “I “the enemy’s” homeland—do not forget the children who will believe God.” Many say, “I am an American,” like those who say, never recover from the sights and sounds of warfare, children on “I believe in God.” All sorts of people believe in God, even the both sides, in the clutches of man’s inhumanity to man. devil; many American citizens, traitors, say “I am an American,” Never forget that many prosper from the greed of war, but when you say “I am American,” you believe this country, just fortunes have been made from war. The veteran caught in the as you believe God. When you believe this country, you believe dilemma of warfare, the one who survives, blind, crippled, sown all the history, all the patriots who made this country. back together, is the blessed survivor; those in the soil are the I sold that old, tattered flag many years ago, along with several heroes. Many of us worked very hard, while others were having other 48-star flags I owned. I do remember that on the hoist a good time, to get the schooling necessary to sufficiently serve edge of the flag was written these words, “Battle Flag, December our country—doctors, engineers, weapons/utilities experts. 1944.” Perhaps this flag was flown during the Battle of the Bulge. Disabled, we give up everything, accept the patriot’s zeal. 2
May 2014 Managing Editor Darren Davenport
Volume 132 • Number 5
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 Experiences of a New Mother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Give Thanks in Your Circumstances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Pondering the Past with Celia Hales. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Caring for the Soul with David Morrow. . . . . . . . . . . 24 From a Woman’s Heart with Nora Koonce Avery. . . . . . 25 Lesson Inner View with Adrian Grubbs . . . . . . . . . . . 31 A Sling and a Stone with Marc Boswell. . . . . . . . . . . 37 Dr. Pepper’s Book Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring. . . . . . . . . . . 42
www.fwbpress.com President Jeff Daughtry
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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
■ DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES Children’s Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 University of Mount Olive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Convention News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Home Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
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© 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.
Cragmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
NC Foundation for Christian Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . 32 Youth Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 . . . . . . 40
ON THE COVER Kelley and Marci Rollins-Smart with newborn child, Kelsie Olivia Smart.
contents
Production Manager Jerry Goff
Experiences of a New Mother By Marci Rollins-Smart
I thought I was well prepared for becoming a mother. I had checked list after list of items that I needed for the baby, the nursery was in order, and my suitcase was packed. I had been around babies for almost 18 years since the time my oldest nephew was born. Furthermore, I am a children and youth minister—working with children is my LIFE! The teenagers at church tease me by calling me “Mom” from timeto-time—and I do take on many of the responsibilities of a parent while they are under my supervision and in my care. I’ve changed diapers, cleaned up throw-up, doctored nosebleeds, scraped knees, and bee stings. Some of the adult volunteers at church have told me for several years that I would make a great mom because I already could just give kids “the look” and they would straighten up! But I don’t think anything could have really prepared me for the change that took place in my life on February 4, 2014, when I gave birth to my first child, Kelsie Olivia Smart. At the time of this writing, she is two months old. The past eight weeks have seemingly flown by in some aspects, but been the longest eight weeks of my life in other aspects. My life has gone from basically revolving around my responsibilities at 4
church to revolving around Kelsie. She taught us very quickly who was going to be in charge from now on! I went into labor nine days early. Despite everyone telling me that your first child never comes early, I had been frantically preparing for an early arrival. I knew the “due date” was just a guestimate, and I like to be prepared for the unexpected. I had just told a friend the night before, however, that as miserable feeling as I was, I really hoped Kelsie would wait to be born the next week. I had three meetings that week and just had some other things I really wanted to get accomplished at church and at home before Kelsie arrived. But a few hours later at 12:30 a.m., my water broke. The first night home we didn’t get any sleep at all. At that first doctor’s appointment, they were concerned that she was jaundice, so they sent us back to the hospital to get another bilirubin test done. I wasn’t prepared for what was about to take place. The
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first one had been done without me being present. I knew they would draw blood from Kelsie’s heel, but I didn’t know how much. I thought it would be like getting my finger pricked when I go to the doctor. For what felt like hours (really was less than 30 minutes I guess), Kelley (my husband) and I stood and watched as the phlebotomist drew vail after vail of blood from Kelsie’s heel. Kelsie screamed at the top of her lungs the entire time. The phlebotomist assured me that Kelsie was only screaming because she was holding her leg still and not because she was in pain. But I cried nonetheless. I could not bear to see my child so upset. I had to feed Kelsie every two to three hours the first few weeks. At night, Kelley would get up and change her diaper. I would then feed her, which took at least 45 minutes. Then I would try to get her back to sleep, but sometimes she would just cry and cry. I would rock and sing every children’s
While we have been given a wonderful blessing, we have also been given a huge responsibility. I have plans and dreams for Kelsie’s life, but I know God has even greater plans for her.
Bible song or hymn I could think of. Sometimes I ended up just crying myself. There were many nights when I only got two or three hours of sleep. I was in a lot of pain in the early weeks and it was a struggle to take care of myself while at the same time taking care of Kelsie. I felt like all I did was feed Kelsie and then rush to the bathroom before I had an accident. By the time I doctored myself, I at best had an hour to spare before it was time to start all over again. I heard people say, “Sleep when she sleeps” so many times that I wanted to scream! How could I sleep when she slept when that was the only time I had to do things like pump milk, pay bills, respond to emails, and stay on hold with the insurance company trying to get her added to my policy?! (I literally spent hours on the phone trying to just add her to my insurance—who knew it would be such a difficult process?) Returning to work hasn’t been easy, but I am trying to take it one day at a time. Even during my pregnancy I was anxious about how a baby was going to fit into our hectic schedules. My husband is the senior pastor of Free Union Church in Greene County and I’m the Children & Youth Minister at Little Rock Church in Wilson County. There are many weeks when we are only home one or two nights. There are times when we both have meetings or events going on at our churches. And there’s things that you just can’t “plan” for—like the five funerals Kelley has had to do since she has been born, the first being the day after she was born! We now have a calendar on our refrigerator so that we can mark on it what each parent has going on each day or night as well as which grandparent will be keeping Kelsie each day. It is challenging adding a baby to our crazy work schedules—
but thankfully we have grandparents who can help out! We have already had to resort to “Plan B” a time or two when something has happened to prevent the original babysitter from being available. Sometimes Kelsie has more than one babysitter in one day. She will have to learn to “go with the flow” very early in life! Having our parents available and willing to help us so much has been one of the greatest blessings these past two months. I’m not sure what we would have done without them! They brought us food, cleaned our house, and helped us as we adjusted to lack of sleep and a new routine. I’m pretty certain my house has never been so clean since we first moved in! I am so glad Kelsie has such fine, Christian people for her grandparents. Kelsie not only has all four of her grandparents still alive, but three great-grandparents, too! This is not a blessing I take for granted since I grew up only knowing two of my grandparents. I hope Kelsie is surrounded by all these wonderful grandparents and great-grandparents for many, many years to come!
While serving in two different churches certainly presents its challenges at times—and will continue to do so as we continue on this journey of parenthood—it has also been a blessing. Kelsie already has been spoiled by both church families! We were given showers by each church and in addition to the ones given by our family and friends—we had everything we could possibly need or want for Kelsie. Some of the people at Free Union had hoped we would have twins—so we could take one baby to each church every week. When we assured them we were only having one baby, then they started joking that they wanted joint-custody with Little Rock! We are planning baby dedications at both churches since both church families will have a role in Kelsie’s spiritual development. She will have lots of fine examples of what it means to be a Christian at both churches. Aside from all the pain, fears, frustrations, and anxiety I have experienced, having become a mother has been the greatest blessing in my life! Nothing compares to cuddling her in my arms as I feed her or rock her. Nothing compares to the joy I feel when she smiles or coos at me. My heart feels as if it could explode with the love I feel for her. I know I’m a bit prejudiced, but she’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen! I thank God every day for our beautiful, healthy baby girl! While we have been given a wonderful blessing, we have also been given a huge responsibility. I have plans and dreams for Kelsie’s life, but I know God has even greater plans for her. I pray that God will lead us and guide us as we seek to teach her right from wrong and help her grow into the person God wants her to be.
Marci Rollins-Smart is a licensed minister in the Central Conference and serves as Children & Youth Minister at Little Rock OFWB Church in Lucama. She is married to the Rev. Kelley Smart who is the senior pastor at Free Union OFWB Church in Greene County. They became parents to a daughter, Kelsie Olivia Smart, on February 4, 2014. The family resides in Goldsboro. 5
Give Thanks in Your Circumstances By Joy Hill I grew up hearing the phrase “follow God and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When we found out we were going to have a baby back in 2008, I thought everything in my life was great. I followed God: I went to church every time the doors were open, gave money to good causes, and directed VBS. I was married, had a job that I liked, and lived a good Christian life. I wanted to be a mother and God was granting my desire, so I must be following God. However, five months into the pregnancy Emily was stillborn. Amidst the “Why, God?” and the “Is this your will, God?” questions, I thought, “Am I truly following God”? He didn’t give me the desire of my heart and I sat in church with empty arms on my first Mother’s Day as a mother. I began to try harder to follow God. I listened to His call to work with children; I accepted a job with the public school system and started doing more with the youth at church. John and I started the process for international adoption about a year after Emily was born. A process that
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was supposed to take one year dragged into two and then three years. Still I was asking “Why, God?,” “Is this your will, God?” and “Are we truly following God, because He is not giving us our desire?” Especially when the calendar turned to May and I celebrated each Mother’s day with empty arms. In March 2013 we received an official letter from Brazil stating that we had been approved to adopt three boys. We were ecstatic! We praised God! We would be in Brazil in time for Mother’s Day and my arms would be empty no longer. However, before we could get our visas and book plane tickets, we received word that the Brazilian government suspended all international adoptions from the state in which our boys lived. We were devastated once again. No one could tell us how long this suspension would last. Were we talking weeks, months, or years? And again I asked “Why, God?,” “Is this your will, God?” and “Are we truly following God?” I was the mother of four children, but on Mother’s Day 2013, my arms were still empty.
The unknowing was unbearable. The proverbial door was never firmly shut, but it wasn’t swinging open. I was home for the summer with no plans. My children were stuck in an orphanage in Brazil and we were stuck in America. We could not make any plans for anything more than a couple months ahead. My life was in limbo and I felt I had no purpose. I read my Bible and I prayed constantly that God would answer my questions and show us what to do. However, there were no answers to my continuous questions of “Why, God?,” “Is this your will, God?” and “Are we truly following God?” I am an avid reader and I especially love to read Christian fiction novels. As I was passing what I thought was purposeless time that summer, God used a character in the book In This Mountain, by Jan Karon, to speak to me. This character was in a completely different era of his life, but he was asking God my questions. When I thought there would be no answers from God, He opened my eyes to 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The character in the book prayed the following prayer: Father, I don’t know why You’re causing, or allowing, this hard thing to happen, but I’m going to give thanks in it because You ask me to. I’m going to trust You to have a purpose for it that I can’t know and may never know. Bottom line, You’re God—and that’s good enough for me (312–313). Going to church, working for God, and seeking His will are all wonderful and necessary things for a Christian to do. God does know the desires of our heart, but He is not a granter of desires,
His will is for us to be thankful in our circumstances. I did not have a thankful heart in my circumstance. I had not thanked God for the blessing of Emily and her impact on my life, for without that experience, I am sure I would not have had the courage to step out of my comfort zone and into the public school system. I had not thanked God for the family and friends who had done so much to help us prepare for our boys. I had not thanked God for the three boys in Brazil waiting for us or their caregivers. I had especially not thanked God for the time of rest and peace that he was giving me before my family multiplied. I immediately began praying that prayer of thankfulness. Instead of asking, “Why?,” I trusted that God did have a purpose. Instead of asking, “Is this your will, God?” I believed that God would firmly close the door if we were to do something else. I began following God by doing what He asks of me. I gave thanks in my circumstances. About three months after I initially prayed that prayer of thanksgiving, we received a phone call to get everything in order and fly to Brazil as soon as possible. We were ecstatic all over again. We were also very nervous. I praised God and most importantly I thanked Him for His plan and the days to come. Living in Brazil for 49 days with children who did not speak our language and were not used to living in a family was not a walk in the park, although, we did spend many hours in the beautiful parks in Curitiba, Brazil. We witnessed fear, rage, meltdowns, confusion, and tantrums from our children. We also witnessed smiles, hugs, laughter, and love. One of the first times my middle son said in English, “I love you, Mãe.” I answered, “I love you, too.” He misunderstood and said, “I love you, three.” I was a mãe (mom). This
The blue, yellow, and green candles (the colors of the Brazilian flag) represent Luiz, Erinaldo, Alex, their birth country, and all the people in Brazil who helped them on their life journey thus far. The blue and red candles (the colors of the United States flag) represent John and Joy, their families, and all who helped them on the adoption journey. The center white candle (the unity candle from John and Joy’s wedding) represents God’s love. We depend on Him to blend our two cultures and five lives together to form one family. (From the Dedication Service on March 30 at Winterville FWB Church.)
precious boy who has caused us many sleepless nights is my son. Every day we were in Brazil, I thanked God for the circumstances we were in. Blending five separate lives from two cultures with two languages continues to be challenging. We have many misunderstandings and meltdowns. I thank God for these precious children in the trying times. We also have much laughter and excitement. It is fun to watch them experience so many new things like bathtubs, beaches, and bubbles. I thank God for these precious children
in the exciting times. My youngest son was getting ready to take a bath the other evening when he looked up at me with the sweetest smile and said, “Me happy, Mama!” With tears in my eyes I thanked God in my circumstance! My arms will be full on Mother’s Day 2014 with three of my four children. I anticipate lots of joy, or as my boys would say, “ALEGRIA.” I also anticipate a little sadness for the one in Heaven that I cannot hold, but I will give thanks because God is God and that is good enough for me.
Joy Daughtry Hill is the media coordinator at Ayden Middle School. She is married to Dr. John Hill, pastor of Winterville Free Will Baptist Church. They have a daughter in Heaven, three sons, Luiz, Erinaldo, and Alex, two dogs, and a turtle.
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Children’s Home
P. O. Box 249 • Middlesex, NC 27557 • (252) 235.2161 • www.fwbchildrenshome.org
Another Year of Ministering to Children May is Children’s Home Month within the denomination. Does it seem hard to believe that your Christian childcare ministry is going to be 94 years old? It’s even harder to realize how many lives have been positively impacted through the ministry of the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home. In 2013 there were more than 12,000 children in North Carolina who resided in the state’s foster care system. According to statistics, the state received over 100,000 reports of child abuse that same year. We serve those same children—children from all across North Carolina who are lugging emotional baggage that has been burdening them since early childhood. While it’s true we can’t fix all of their problems—we can offer love, support, and a safe place to call home while we minister to each individual. Since 1920, you have helped us become the best
Christian Child Care Agency we can be. National accreditation is just one way we are practicing the best standards for childcare. Staff are constantly being trained on topics that will help them continue to better serve the children on campus. As an agency, we are blessed beyond measure by the opportunities we are given to work with and witness to children who are hungry not only for physical needs, but also love and acceptance. The reality is we not only provide a home for children but we strive to make a positive difference in each life by helping each child become equipped to face the challenges of this world, equipped with armor that allows them to be in this world but not of this world. Thank you for keeping the vision of our 1915 founding forefathers alive.
Change for Children 2014 is underway! If your church or group had an interesting challenge during your change collection, be sure to take pictures and share them with us. Thanks! 8
Church Ministry News Church ministry has been busy with several exciting events this past month. Early in the month, there was a baptism service in Memorial Chapel. Two young ladies made professions of faith, and were baptized. They were presented with baptism certificates and silver cross pins to wear that had been given by Dr. Thomas Morris. Juniper Chapel recently visited our campus bringing pizza and all types of homemade desserts. They played volleyball and different fun games with our kids and also made bracelets out of colored cord. The group joined us for worship and their youth shared several songs with us. It was a first visit for most of them. We had a great time. Thank you Angie Toler for making this happen. Just recently five of our resident young men were presented with certificates signifying the completion of a First Aid course. Mr. Dick Brown from Little Rock OFWB Church presented the certificates during the worship service. Mr. Brown is a certified CPR/ First Aid instructor, and he had taught a class during Retreat weekend. Lenten Lunch Services were held every Wednesday during the period of Lent. Staff were given devotional books. Each Wednesday the group would meet and have a short devotion, led by different staff volunteers. We were all reminded of the ultimate sacrifice that was given for all by our Lord and Savior. It is great to know we not only serve a risen, living God, but also that we can study and worship together freely, even at work!
Planning for College When you are a teenager and you are getting close to graduation or have just graduated from high school, many things start going through your mind like: “Will I be able to find a job?” and “Do I need to go to college?” This is exactly what is on the mind of several of the residents at the Home. There are many things to take into consideration before you enroll into any institution of higher learning. Mr. Tim Woodard, Director of Admissions at the University of Mount Olive came to campus to meet with the older residents on campus who are pondering their future. This college preparation session was right on time to help the residents understand some of the requirements for college and the benefits that come from attending college. Also discussed were independent living skills and real world preparation expectations and strategies. 9
More than Just a Mountain-Top Experience by dianne riley
When did you see a mountain for the first time? Hard to remember isn’t it? I was almost 13 riding on a Rouse Bus heading to Cragmont. Little did I know how that mountain, many people that I had never seen before and the Lord would change my life. That was all in my head as I started planning the Religious Life Retreat for the Children and staff of the Children’s Home. As Director of Campus Ministry, I had been given the opportunity to put the weekend together by Mr. Lee. I chose, What on Earth Am I Here For as our theme from a book by Rick Warren. With devotions like “It All Starts with God,” “You are Not an Accident,” “What Drives Your Life,” “Seeing Life from God’s View” we couldn’t go wrong. Many of our children had never seen the mountains, and, oh, if you could have heard them when they looked down the mountain while riding on the Parkway for the first time. One child told Mr. Batchelor when he returned that he was scared. We made this journey with the help of lots of people; thanks to Greenville First and Rose of Sharron Churches who shared buses and drivers (Bryant Hines and Rink and Faye Allen) with us for the entire weekend of March 21–23. We also had volunteers who taught workshops such as Dick and Kay Brown of Little Rock, Wallace Simmons 4-H agent out of Wayne County and others from the Home. Our retreat began with devotions in Memorial Chapel with our campus pastor Richard Cuddington. We were loading the buses and hitting the road a little after 10 a.m. on that Friday. After rest stops and a lunch break we arrived at Cragmont about 4:30 p.m.; just in time to unload, make our beds, rock on the front porch and get ready for “John’s famous pig pick’n.” This was another first for many of our folks. Following dinner we had games, devotions and a campfire with guitar music, singing, and the making of s’mores—more firsts for our group. We also had sessions on team building, leadership, CPR, talk just for girls, quilling, etc. While traveling on the Parkway we saw the movie at the Visitor’s Center to learn more about the cultural part of the mountains. We also came off the parkway and visited the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace (one of our NC Governors) near Weaverville. Our children could associate him with the naming of Zebulon where they go to Wal-Mart! I think seeing a big Valley was just as big as seeing the mountains, one asked me as she looked up, “were we up there” and I said “yes.” Her eyes were very big.
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We also visited the Black Mountain Children’s Home to share a meal and fellowship, which our kids enjoyed greatly. We made more new friends; friends that were just like us. At the end of the evening, we were all ready to get back to Cragmont for a good night’s rest. At Sunday morning breakfast some of us taught the “Cragmont Song” to the group and John shared a wonderful message “The Reason for Everything” to bring together our weekend. The Cragmont staff were wonderful to us and we thank them for all they did. We boarded our buses and headed down the mountain and east. My goals had been that we have an educational, cultural, and spiritual weekend and we did. I’m sure there were memories made that weekend that can never be erased from the minds of our children. There was someone who helped with funds to make this retreat weekend possible and for this we are so thankful. We appreciate our “Friends” of the children who help make so many opportunities available; things that could not be done without caring and loving people who are good stewards of the blessings God has given to them.
March Madness Bethlehem Church from Fountaintown came for the second annual March Madness Basketball game with the Children’s Home. There were almost 60 from the church. The team and their “cheering squad” brought in all sorts of concessions items, Tacos in a Bag (a big hit), Nachos and cheese, chips, homemade cookies, candy, and drinks. The first game was played by the younger children from Bethlehem, their co-ed JV team. We cheered them on and they played a great game. The second game was the big event. The “Varsity” co-ed team from Bethlehem and the Children’s Home tipped off a little around 3 p.m. It was a tough game
for both teams. The gym floor was slippery from the rainy weather and all the moisture, but the players adjusted and kept playing. This has become a big highlight for the Children’s Home. The children and staff enjoy seeing the cars and vans roll in from Duplin and Onslow counties. We know they’re coming for a great basketball exhibition, definitely great fellowship, and we can’t forget the great concessions. Thanks Bethlehem for caring enough to share with the Children and staff at the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home. We hope to see you next year.
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“A Night for the Youth”
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P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbi.org
OFWB International
Palawan, Philippines
BY ARVIEFAITH W. MANZANO
It was Sunday Afternoon of February 16, 2014 at around 3 p.m. when the memorable event in the life of the young people of Canigaran FWB Church began. The excitement and happiness in the faces of the participants, visitors, and parents of the young people could be seen with their sweetest smile as they greet each other saying “Hi!” and “Hello!” Visitors from other churches were welcomed by the youth adviser, Sister Joanne Mae L. Samones and followed by opening prayer led by the Rev. Armando R. Manzano, our church Pastor. The Singspiration was led by Clark Manzano and Company, together with the Canigaran Girls Band who played the instruments. Each church that came to join and celebrate was also recognized. Introduction of the guest speaker was given by Sister Joanne Mae L. Samones. And the most important part of the night was delivering the Word of God that was rendered by Sister Esmie Dalumpines. The theme was “Rendering Your Heart to Jesus” and since it was February she gave a message regarding love, of how Jesus defines love, and how He shows His love upon us. Everyone was blessed and inspired with the message and challenge given by the guest speaker. She gave a challenge and reminder as well to always remember who is worthy to receive unconditional love. She emphasized that love should be given first and foremost to our God, second is you—as it signifies ourselves, third was family and friends, fourth is future husband/wife and the last is future children. After a few minutes of listening to the Word of God, the Canigaran Youth shared their talents through various presentations. The young people from the main church rendered special music. We were so blessed by them. When it was time to eat, the blessing of the food was led by Sister Helen Joy Lauronilla and followed by an offering. We enjoyed our snacks and fellowship with each other. The program was formally closed by the Vice President, Brother Bobby Saneo, by giving his closing remarks to everyone who came and enjoyed the night. The purpose of this activity, first, is to share the Word of God to any unbeliever who joined us at youth night and to every young person as well. Second is to promote unity among all our young people, especially those who are within the city proper of our churches. Thirdly, is to show and to develop their talents for the glory of God! Please pray for our young people.
Drama: Canigaran Church
Our Guest Speaker: Ma’am Esmie Dalumpines
Special Music: Main Church FFWBC
Rev. Wayne King, Speaker Wayne and Deborah have moved to Louisiana to be near Kelly, Sam, and the grandchildren. This Rally will honor Wayne and Deborah, who served as missionaries in the Philippines from 1975—1980. Since returning to the United States, Wayne served as pastor of Westside FWB Church and the First FWB Church of Wilson. He served on the Board of Foreign Missions from 1982—2013. This couple has touched the lives of many people in our denomination and around the world. We encourage you to attend the Rally and share your love and appreciation for them as they enter this new and exciting phase of their lives.
Special Music: Jami Rhodes
Jami is from Sandy Plain FWB Church, which was Wayne’s first pastorate in North Carolina. She is currently the Choir Director at Reedy Branch FWB Church. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and is Assistant Professor of Voice at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where she teaches voice and pedagogy, and conducts the ECU Women’s Chorale. Contact us: OFWB International, Inc. PO Box 39 Ayden, NC 28513 252.746.4963 director@ofwbi.org
SPECIAL OFFERING: An offering will be received at the Rally for Home and Foreign Missions. This offering is vital to meet the financial needs of these ministries. REMEMBER: Your gifts must be earmarked or placed in the special envelopes provided at the Rally. 13
634 Henderson Street • Mount Olive, NC 28365 • 1 (800) 653.0854 • www.moc.edu
University of Mount Olive 14
President Dr. Philip P. Kerstetter addresses the crowd of over 500 and talks about the new University logos
University of Mount Olive Unveils New Logos With a new name comes a new look. The University of Mount Olive unveiled its new institutional and athletics logos at a celebration event at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, in the Lois K. Murphy Regional Center Alumni Dining Room. The new logos coincide with the institution’s recent name change back in January when it transitioned from a college to a university. For the institutional logo, the University engaged with TWG Plus, an experienced marketing agency noted for its ability to deliver unique, enduring, and compelling brand identities for its clients. “We had several goals for our new logo design,” stated Rhonda Jessup, director of Public Relations. “We wanted a design that would be versatile. We asked for a logo that could be easily altered to fit into spaces of various shapes and sizes, making our design stand out as well crafted. We also wanted a logo that would incorporate our ideologies into one single graphic—maintaining our heritage yet having a modern flair that would transcend time.” The logo most recently used by the institution was originally designed and approved by the Board of Trustees back in 1992. Two of the symbols, the lamp and the cross, used in that logo were carried over into the new design. The lamp of learning symbolizes the purpose of the institution is to facilitate learning and the cross symbolizes the University’s Christian faith. The new logo is a three-color design using green, gold, and gray. The change of font from Times New Roman to Goudy Book Letter and Garamond, have given movement to the logo, showcasing the institution as active, fluid and ever-changing.
“I am very pleased with the new logo,” said President Philip P. Kerstetter. “As we moved from college to university status, we wanted a new look that represented the continuing growth and development of Mount Olive, but we also wanted to preserve those symbols that our founders felt represented our mission, vision, and values. This new logo captures that spirit and will serve the University of Mount Olive well now and in the future.” The Department of Athletics also unveiled its new logo. The most recent version of the logo was created in 2006 by Jordan Sain with Hoke Signs & Graphic Designs and article continued on next page
We wanted a logo that would incorporate our ideologies into one single graphic— maintaining our heritage yet having a modern flair that would transcend time. — Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations —
First Graduates to Have the University of Mount Olive Diploma The University of Mount Olive will graduate approximately 320 students at the 60th Spring commencement service on Saturday, May 3. The graduation service is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. in the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena. These will be the first graduates to have their diploma from the University. The commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony will be Congressman G. K. Butterfield, who is the representative for the 1st district of North Carolina. Congressman G. K. Butterfield is a lifelong resident of eastern North Carolina. He graduated from college and law school at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. After earning his law degree, Congressman Butterfield founded a law practice in Wilson and served the community in that capacity for 14 years. He is best known for his successful litigation of voting rights cases that resulted in the election of AfricanAmerican elected officials. In 1988, Congressman Butterfield was elected as Resident Superior Court
judge. In this role, he presided over civil and criminal court in 46 counties of North Carolina. For two years, he served on the North Carolina Supreme Court by appointment of the governor. Butterfield retired from the judiciary after 15 years of service and successfully ran for Congress. He was elected to serve the First District of North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on July 20, 2004, where he continues to serve today. Congressman Butterfield is a lifelong member of Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a proud father and grandfather. Serving as the baccalaureate speaker is the Reverend Aubrey Baxter Williamson. Williamson is a Wayne County native, and the husband of Campus Chaplain Carla Williamson. The two have been married for 35 years and have three adult sons. Williamson attended Southern Wayne Senior High School, before his
college career at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the University of Mount Olive (formerly Mount Olive College), and Campbell University Divinity School. Williamson has been an ordained Original Free Will Baptist Minister for 31 years, and has served as pastor for six different OFWB churches. As well as his pastoral work, he has served on several ordaining boards including that of the Albemarle Conference and, currently, the Cape Fear Conference Ordaining Board. He also spent two years working as a church planter in Georgia and Florida, and as a director pastor of a mission church in Florida. As well as his work with the church, Williamson has also held the position of president in the Johnston County ARC, and worked as a Special Olympics coach for golf and bowling. Williamson currently serves as the Pastor of Kenly Original Free Will Baptist Church in Kenly, NC.
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was so well received that the institution went back to the same designer to update the logo with the new university name. According to Athletics Director Jeff Eisen, they asked the designer to keep the helmet as the main brand, but to finetune the look. They also wanted a logo that would be versatile and that would retain the green, white, and black colors. “We are excited about the new athletics logo,” Eisen said. “It conveys our pride in our athletics program through a strong, attractive, and flexible design.” Now that the University has a new name and new logos, every aspect of operations from business cards, to signage, to letterhead, to institutional marketing, etc. will begin to be changed over the next several months. “This is an exciting time in the life of the University of Mount Olive, and all of us who are connected with this institution look forward to the future. We will continue to transform this institution, and we will continue to serve our students, our founding church, and our communities,” said President Philip P. Kerstetter.
Students show off their new University of Mount Olive shirts 15
Spiritual Formation Retreat Each year, Dr. Tyanna Yonkers, Associate Professor of Religion, takes a group of students to a Spiritual Formation Retreat. This year, Anna Strickland (second row, fifth from the left in the picture below), a Junior from Walnut Creek Church in Wayne County, attended. This article is her response to the retreat. During the weekend of March 21–23, I was privileged to attend the Spiritual Formation Retreat. I cannot begin to describe the effect this retreat has had on my life, my relationship with everyone who was on the retreat, and my relationship with God. I was extremely skeptical prior to going on the retreat. I had heard so many good things about it, yet I felt like our class did not have a strong bond before the retreat. This led me to be skeptical of how it would turn out. But it was life changing and an experience that I will never forget. The best part of the retreat was Friday night during our community activities. These activities helped me get to know not only my classmates better, but also myself. During our first activity, we had to pick an animal to describe us and our spirituality, I chose a mouse. I chose a mouse because I’ve always thought of myself as tiny and weak, and when I would try and go do something I would become afraid and run away like a mouse does. It was amazing to see which animals people picked for themselves, and it was very eye-opening to see that we often see ourselves differently than others see us. Then we did an activity called two truths and lie where we told three things about ourselves, two being true, and one being false, and then people have to guess which one is false. During this game people really began opening up about deeply personal things. It brought me to tears knowing that barriers had been broken and people were being completely open by being honest with each other. I was so proud of everyone for opening themselves up to each other, yet in the back of my mind I was a little sad because I knew I could have said more. Instead of being open, I continued to act like a mouse and did not have to courage to speak up. But then came our final activity of the night that changed 16
everything for me. This activity was called affirmation, which is where we got a slip of paper, and wrote something nice about everyone on the retreat. Being able to affirm others and receive affirmation from others was very emotional for me. I loved being able to tell the people that I care about how special they are and how much they mean to me, but the most shocking part was what my classmates thoughts of me. Everyone’s thoughts did not reflect what I thought of myself. I had accepted the fact that I was the timid and shy girl that sat in the background quietly, so it was very shocking hearing others say things like: “You are a mouse with a roar louder than a lion;” “You may be shy but you have a strong and vivid spirit;” and “I am woman, hear me roar.” As I was thinking about all the activities
we did on Friday and reflecting on them, a realization hit me all of a sudden. I realized that I don’t have to be a scared little mouse anymore. I am surrounded by people who see the good in me, believe in me, and like me for who I am. Therefore, this experience helped free me of the fear I had been experiencing. Another statement that really struck me was when one of my classmates said, “Sometimes I think you sell yourself short.” Honestly when he said this, he was confirming what I already knew in my heart. I had let fear hold me back from doing things, sayings things, and believing in myself. After hearing him say what I already knew, it was like I was free from my fear. So, on the first day of the retreat I learned that it is okay to be article continued on next page
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who I am because God loves me and other people do as well. This was when I really felt that our class was becoming a close knit community and not just some people who saw each other in class every day. We had become something more. I finally felt connected with these people. After the community activities, we went to bed in silence. We were not supposed to talk, text, or any other type of verbal communication. Going to bed and waking up in silence was a challenge, not so much because of the silence, but because we were not allowed to use our phones or electronics. I am so used to having my phone everywhere with me and using it all the time that it felt odd to not be able to use it during that time. However, during that silent time I was able to be quiet and reflect on myself and my relationship with God. Being in silence helped me put away all distractions, stress, and annoyances. This allowed me to listen for God’s voice. It seemed that when we were in silence I could feel the presence of God with me. I was able to think about Him more and reflect on our activities. I was able to feel a great sense of joy and peace during the silence. On Saturday we created mandalas. A mandala is a piece of paper with a circle in the middle. On the mandala we drew a picture of whatever we wanted to on the paper. The picture that we ended up with was supposed to represent where we are in our spiritual journey. My mandala was a tree that had deep, thick roots, but all of its branches were tangled and going in different directions. There was one, single green leaf blooming from the tree. When I first drew the tree, I had no idea how it could represent me or where I am at in my spiritual journey, but the more I looked at it, the more I realized that it does. When I first started drawing the tree I used harsh, dark sketching which represented all the struggles and hardships that have brought me to where I am today. The branches being
tangled and going in all different directions represented the fact that I don’t know exactly where I am going in life. Then there was one little blooming leaf in the picture that showed that I am growing. I am growing spiritually, and I feel as if I have a stronger connection with God than I have ever had before. By drawing my mandala, I realized that I may not know where I am going in life, but I know that I have a calling. Through this calling I know that God is with me and that is what matters most, the rest will fall into place in due time. This retreat meant so much to me, and I can honestly say that I would not trade this experience for anything in the world. I was able to learn that it is okay to be whom I am and there is no need to be afraid. I can release my fear because God loves me and I have a community of friends who love me as well. I was also able to be filled with God’s love and peace during our time of silence. Last of all, though I may not know the direction that my life is heading, I can be confident in God because He is always with me. With this peace of mind, I know one day my future plans will be known. On Sunday, I felt a true sense of community with my classmates on the retreat. It was an incredible feeling to look at the person next to me in the eye and tell them with sincerity, “The Christ in me sees the Christ in you,” while we partook in communion. Each person who went on this retreat holds a special place in my heart. Whether I talked to them a lot or barely at all, they were all a part of an experience that has changed my life for the better. After leaving the retreat, I am ready to love people and be in a community with them. I am ready to be open about my weaknesses because I know there are people there to support me. Now I am ready to support others, and most of all I am ready to love God and let Him lead me where I need to be in my life.
Vivian B. Harrison Memorial Lecture The annual Vivian B. Harrison Memorial Lecture was held March 10–11, 2014 at the University of Mount Olive. The speaker was Dr. Michael J. Gorman (front row, third from left). His topic was “Reading the Book of Revelation Responsibly.” Also pictured are Reverend Frank Harrison, his wife Barbara Lancaster, Vivian Harrison’s sister, Judy Craft, worship leaders, faculty and students in the religion department. 17
Dr. Thomas R. Morris Honored at University of Mount Olive Pictured unveiling the portrait of Dr. Morris are: Willis Brown, photographer and associate professor of biology emeritus at UMO; and Dwayne McKay, director of external affairs for Athletics. Seated to the right of McKay is Dr. Thomas R. Morris.
Longtime friend and benefactor of the University of Mount Olive, Dr. Thomas R. Morris, was recently recognized by the University for his generosity, encouraging spirit and Christian heritage. A retired Goldsboro Optometrist, Morris was born and reared in Wayne County with strong Free Will Baptist roots. He graduated from high school in Nahunta and financed his way through UNC-Chapel Hill and the School of Optometry in Memphis by working at night and selling books door-to-door during the summers. After college, Morris returned to Wayne County and became not only a successful optometrist but also a noted speaker. Commissioned a medical officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, Morris retired as a Lt. Colonel. Diagnosed with glaucoma, he decided to travel and enjoy seeing things while he could and has toured in more than 150 countries and has been on eight around-the-world trips. Totally blind for nearly 40 years and unable to follow his chosen profession, Morris has turned to real estate and other investments. In reflecting over these investments, Morris feels that “God has blessed me abundantly.” In response, Morris contributes generously to Christian causes associated with the Free Will Baptist denomination, including the University of Mount Olive. Through his generosity he has funded various awards at UMO designed to encourage and reward excellence for student academic achievement, faculty teaching, pastoral work and lay services to the FWB church. Knowing the hardship of financing a college education, he has also established an endowed scholarship fund in memory of his parents, Joseph T. and Sallie Pittman Morris. 18
Morris has contributed $100,000 to the University for a ministerial loan fund. Additionally he has given $100,000 for the Free Will Baptist Heritage Room located in the University’s library. The Heritage Room houses the largest collection of historical resources and memorabilia of Original Free Will Baptists in the United States. For all of his gifts to the University and in recognition of his unwavering support of the OFWB denomination, the University recently held an event to honor Morris. Present at the event was the leadership for every ministry of the OFWB denomination. In a special ceremony, which included a litany of dedication, a portrait of Morris was unveiled and now currently hangs at the entrance to the Heritage Room. Dr. John Blackwell, vice president for Institutional Advancement at UMO, said, “Dr. Morris is a true friend of the University of Mount Olive. He understands the University’s roots in the Free Will Baptist Church and its humble beginnings, and he appreciates its Christian mission. His generosity has provided scholarships and awarded excellence to many students and faculty, and we are pleased today to honor him in this most special way.” Gary Barefoot, curator of the FWB Historical Collection said, “I have no doubt that the gift that Dr. Morris made for the housing of this Collection of FWB materials was and will continue to be one of the most significant gifts to the library of the University and to the denomination that could ever be received, because the gift supports an element unique to this place—the Free Will Baptist Historical Collection, a gem for posterity. Thank you Dr. Morris, our mutual friend.”
Educational Opportunities Openings for new students: It’s not too late to apply for Fall 2014 at University of Mount Olive. Residence hall space is available, and there are many academic programs to choose from at UMO. Apply at <www.umo.edu>. Admissions representatives are waiting to help you at <admissions@umo.edu> or at 844-UMO-GOAL. Admitted Student Days at University of Mount Olive: Students who have been accepted and have paid their confirmation deposits are invited to attend one of the coming Admitted Student Days. Two dates are scheduled for incoming new freshmen: Friday, June 10 and Friday, July 18, 2014. To register, visit the UMO website at <www. umo.edu> and click on the sign up link or type the following into your browser: <http://survey.moc.edu/TakeSurvey. aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=p2KM9l8&Preview=true>. Financial Aid and scholarships are available. Academic, athletic, art, and music awards are available for students with merit and/or talent. Original Free Will Baptist students are eligible for $3,000 annually. Just contact us at <admissions@umo.edu> to find out more. What is FAFSA? Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most important document students need to file after their application to college. The FAFSA applies to all ages of students attending college and is located at <www.fafsa.gov>. Students planning to attend college in the academic year 2014–15 should complete the FAFSA using their tax information for the calendar year 2013. Be sure to include the UMO school code: 002949. If you have not completed your taxes for 2013, you can estimate using your 2012 tax information. For assistance contact the Office of Financial Aid at UMO by calling 844-UMO-GOAL. Ask for the Financial Aid Office. The University of Mount Olive is the Number #1 value for adult education with experienced staff and faculty at all locations. Accelerated, one night a week seated and online options that fit your schedule are available. Contact us at 844-UMO-GOAL. • The online MBA program admissions requirements can be reviewed at <http://www.moc.edu/programs-ofstudy/online/mba>. Contact Lesley Seibel, online admissions counselor, anytime at (919) 346-7046 or by email at <lseibel@moc.edu>. • Registration for Fall 2014 is underway, so contact an admissions representative at the location nearest your home or work: 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 <admissions@moc.edu>. • Students who have little or no college experience can complete their associate degree and then proceed to a fouryear 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 new look of the University of Mount Olive is now on the website at <www.umo.edu>. Visit today to learn what’s new at the university.
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P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwb.org
Convention News 20
The Call to Serve is a Call to Prepare BY DR. MICHAEL PELT It is the task of the Commission on Education for Christian Ministry to encourage all who are called to some form of Christian ministry to use every opportunity to prepare themselves for effective service. This includes not only those who are called to vocational ministry in the life of the church but also lay persons who live out their faith in a secular context while seriously engaging in the life and mission of the church. In twenty-first century America this preparation ought to include some college work and preferably a four year college degree. The opportunities to achieve that educational goal are available now as never before. As early as 1950 at least one conference in our convention required two years of college for ordination to vocational ministry. At that time our Convention had no college but there were many other church colleges in this state where one could receive such preparation and some who felt called to serve as pastors were determined to graduate from college. The availablility of higher education has increased dramatically since those days. The establishment of Mount Olive College (now University of Mount Olive) is part of the rapid development of institutions of higher education in North Carolina in the last sixty years. Still, not one of our conferences has taken the necessary action to make graduation from college an absolute requirement for ordination to vocational ministry. The Cape Fear Conference has come closest to that goal. In its 2010 session it approved the report of its ordaining council which included the following: “Motion was moved, seconded and passed to strongly encourage all future Licensed Ministry candidates to seek a four year degree or program.” We wonder why the ordaining councils are so hesitant to embrace this idea of requiring candidates for vocational ministry to complete a four year college degree, which will enable them to develop better communication skills - reading, writing, and speaking. Pastors today need more knowledge and skills than was expected of them two or more generations ago since most of them are now serving full-time churches rather than the part-time churches of an earlier generation. Churches today expect more of their pastors and the level of education of the laity in our churches has certainly increased during the last sixty years. One way by which to increase the level of education among our pastors is for the churches to
insist upon it. Another way is for those who are called to vocational ministry to examine themselves as to whether or not they are fully prepared to do the work of ministry in our time and place that the Great Shepherd expects of them. We now have a fully accredited program of study for those preparing for vocational ministry at our college in Mount Olive with similar programs at New Bern and Washington, North Carolina. The Commission has also discussed with the chair of the department of religion the possibility of offering a certificate program in Christian Education for laypersons serving the churches in some capacity. In addition, our college has an agreement with Campbell University Divinity School whereby OFWB students are eligible to receive a special partnership grant of $75 per semester hour and may be considered for scholarship assistance available through the Divinity School’s Scholarship Program. They can also apply for scholarship assistance through the NC Foundation for Christian Ministries. The Commission works closely with the NC Foundation to encourage OFWBs to take full advantage of opportunities to prepare themselves for effective ministry. Figures obtained from the office of the Foundation reveal that a total of 38 students have received financial aid. Six of these were undergraduate students at UMO and one at Barton College. The others were enrolled at graduate seminaries and divinity schools, a majority at Campbell Divinity School. The total amount of funds for scholarships provided by the Foundation since 2006 is $178,074.88. We are very pleased that in recent years many who are called have seized the opportunity to continue their education in graduate seminaries and divinity schools. During the past year the Commission has invited representatives of two of our denominational ministries to meet with us to discuss their programs and to ask how we might assist them in their work. They are the Free Will Baptist Press and the Sunday School Ministry. It is our hope that the personnel of all of our ministries will recognize the important contribution that higher education can make toward the achievement of their objectives. The Commission members include: Dr. Michael Pelt, Chair; Dr. Tommy Benson, Secretary; Rev. Dr. John Hill; Rev. Stephen Prescott; Ms. Marci Rollins-Smart; Rev Josh Whitfield.
WELCOME
Ministers, Delegates, Visitors and Friends
Guest Ministers:
Reverends Buddy Seay and Josh Whitfield _____ More than 40 Workshop Opportunities _____ Mission Rally hosted by OFWBI Foreign Missions Special Guests: Wayne & Debra King
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THE 102nd ORIGINAL FREE WILL BAPTIST CONVENTION
Minister’s I.M.P.A.C.T. Breakfast Thursday @ 7:45 a.m. Ministers & Spouses Eat FREE! All others Dutch Treat
MAY 21–22, 2014
KORNEGAY ARENA
“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.
ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE
Programs, Worship and Workshop Listings appear in the April TFWB Magazine and will be available in the Convention Registration Area
www.ofwb.org 21
P. O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513 • (252) 746.4963 • www.ofwbsundayschool.org
Sunday School Ministry
ANNOUNCING!
Original Free Will Baptist Sunday School Ministry Leadership Banquet Greetings on behalf of the OFWB Sunday School Board! The Annual Convention is upon us once again and we need to set aside a block of time to gather together for the Annual Sunday School Leadership Banquet. The Banquet will be held on Wednesday night, May 21, 2014 at 5:45 p.m. in the main Dining Room in Murphy Center. We will have ample time to get to the Mission Rally, which will convene at 7:30 p.m. The cost of the meal will be $10 per person. The cost of the meal is payable before, at the Convention, or at the Banquet. To get an accurate count of attendees, please do register ahead of time. We will have a special surprise program planned, which I know will be appreciated by everyone. We welcome our Ministers, Sunday School Superintendents, Associate Ministers, Youth Ministers, Directors, Licensed Ministers, and other persons who might be assuming a leadership role in the near future. Please pass this information to folks in your churches. To make your reservations, complete the form on the bottom of this letter, detach it and return it to Mary Dudley by May 14, 2014. Walk-ins are very welcome. Registration fees may be sent to:
Mary Dudley OFWB Sunday School Ministry P.O. Box 39 • Ayden, NC 28513
We also ask that checks be made payable to: OFWB Sunday School Board. We solicit your prayers and concerns for the work of the Sunday School Board and thank you for all your support during the past years. Yours in Christ, Mary Dudley 22
Name:_________________________________ Church:________________________________ Number Attending the Banquet: _______ Money Enclosed:_______________________
Come One! Come All! For Food, Fellowship, and Fun!
Witnessing I used to be ashamed of my faith. I grew up that way, and I have only just recently grown out of it. I was four years old when I first rejected witnessing. Of course, not everyone would call it that, but I would. I remember being at a professional photographer’s studio, dressed in my best sky blue dress, the one with embroidery of roses on the ample scalloped collar. The woman photographer had sent my mother out of the room, thinking, I now suppose, that I would listen better to her instruction for posing. She bent down on her knees, right in front of me, and she placed her hands under her chin, palms together and fingers pointed upward, as though praying. She nodded, “Now you do this.”
I remember recognizing that she wanted me to look as though I were praying. And I didn’t want to. So I tucked my chin down to the side, pretending not to understand. That is the pose that she captured. Only I have known what transpired to bring about a picture of a very coy little girl. Until now I have never told this story, though I have several copies of that favorite childhood portrait in my possession. Even my mother, who died recently, never knew how the photographer couched me to be a pious little girl. And I refused, not wanting the image of a pious little girl. Why do we hesitate to witness for God? Why are we ashamed of our faith? Happening at such a young age for me, the impulse to stifle my religion must have been instinctive.
I think we hesitate to witness because God is so intimate to ourselves. We hesitate to put our piety on parade, even if we are four years old. Maybe this is not such a bad thing. To witness means that we must wear our heart on our sleeve. Most of us don’t feel comfortable with such transparency until we are quite along in years. We let our preachers speak for us. And we hang back; embarrassed by a show of emotion, especially one that speaks of God. Let’s ask ourselves if we can share a bit more of our faith this day. The courage it takes to share actually opens up hearts—our own as well as other people whom we encounter. Would we want God to be ashamed of us? Then let’s us not be ashamed of Him.
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.
Church & Ministry Positions Available • Pleasant Grove Church in Dunn, NC is in need of a pastor due to the recent passing of their pastor. If interested, please send a letter of interest, statement of purpose/mission, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference to Mr. Scott Lucas, 290 Red Hill Church Road, Dunn, NC 28334. • Ordained Minister (38 years experience) is seeking opportunities to serve. Will fill in for vacations, sickness, interim, or pastoral. Available now. Please contact: Braxton Carter at (919) 553-7246 [H] or (919) 868-5923 [M] or by e-mail at <preacherbrack@aol.com>. 23
with David Morrow
Depression: An Illness, Weakness, or Lack of Faith? Just for a moment, imagine yourself at a local shopping center. A friend of yours walks up to you and has a stressed look on his face. He is sweating even though the temperature in the shopping center is quite cool. You ask him if he is ok. He states “I don’t think so. My chest is tight and hurts; I have a weird pain in my left arm, and I am having trouble catching my breath.” Hopefully, you recognize these as the primary symptoms associated with a heart attack, and would quickly call 911. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated one in ten adults suffers from some form of depression. This type of depression is not just a “down” mood. It is an illness that has symptoms just like a heart attack has symptoms. Depression can also be fatal, if it continues without treatment. Some people do not see depression as an illness. In fact, some Christians assert that seeking counseling or taking medications to treat a real depressive disorder is unnecessary, evidence of a lack of faith, or even sinful. The healthiest approach to a depressive disorder involves a balance of faith in God’s presence and guidance, faithintegrated counseling, and medical intervention when necessary. God can heal depression just like God can heal cancer. However, sometimes God uses medical interventions, like faith-integrated counseling and medications, in that process. First, recognize that an individual’s depressed mood may or may not be connected to a difficult experience. Certainly, when an individual has a loss or unexpected negative experience, it is healthy for that person to experience and express emotions associated with that loss or experience. In that situation, the first course of action might be to talk with a trusted friend, a close family member, or a pastor. Even if there is not an easily identifiable loss or experience that one can connect with the “down” mood, talking to one of these persons is still a positive first step. Depression, like heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses, tends to run in families. If those conversations do not create significant relief, it is important to clearly look at a list of symptoms and determine if medical attention is the best course of action. Here is a list of the primary symptoms for a depressive illness:
• Depressed mood nearly every day for 2 weeks or more; • Diminished interest in most activities that were previously enjoyed. (note: not a change in interests); • Weight loss or weight gain that represents more than 5% of body weight without dieting or attempting to gain weight for a healthy purpose; • Sleeping very little or sleeping more than 10 hours per day nearly every day; • Observations by others that the impacted person is physically moving slow or shaking; • Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day; • Feeling worthless or feeling excessive guilt without clear causal connection; • Diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions nearly every day; and • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Five or more of these symptoms indicates that the depressed mood may have become an illness. The reasons why are beyond the scope of this short article. The important factor is to know when to ask for help. The first step is to be evaluated by a licensed mental health professional. Most Christians prefer an individual who integrates the faith values of the individual into the conversations. If needed, that professional can refer to a physician who can evaluate for possible medications. Medication is not always needed. Many Christians based their experience of their relationship with God on their feelings of connection with God. All Christians have periods where it feels like their prayers are hitting the ceiling and bouncing back. This is particularly true with individuals who are depressed. Feelings do not indicate God’s faithfulness. One’s understanding of God’s faithfulness should come from God’s Word and not one’s feelings. Likewise, one’s feelings about a particular illness or group of illnesses should not prohibit them from seeking medical treatment when it is needed. Depression, and some other mental illnesses, can be as serious as a heart attack.
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. 24
with Nora Koonce Avery
God Cares About the Details “You should ask God’s guidance in everything you do, even choosing the clothes you wear every day.” What a strange thing to pray about, I thought, as the minister continued with his sermon. After all, God has any number of catastrophes that need His attention on any given day, I surmised. Surely He didn’t want to be bothered with such a mundane task as showing me what to wear! Through the coming days, though, I took the message to heart and began carefully choosing my attire as I got ready for work each morning, pausing first in front of one outfit, then another, until I sensed a nudge toward a certain ensemble. I can’t exactly say what I felt, just that certain choices felt “right.” Soon it became a normal part of my morning routine, and I started to pray for help in other areas of my life. While visiting a friend in the hospital with little time to spare, I prayed for God to open up a parking space near the front of the hospital. When I pulled into the parking lot, a car had just exited a spot on the first row. I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, and I pictured my Heavenly Father smiling down at me with delight in my gratitude.
I still had a lot to learn, though. Sometime later, I lost the diamond that my husband had given to me when we got engaged, and I was heartbroken. I looked for it in every nook and cranny, and then I prayed. Why didn’t I pray first? I thought that calling upon God to find a trinket was being vain. After all, there are people starving in the world, and I felt guilty asking for help with jewelry. I shouldn’t have worried about that. I told God that I knew it was just a superficial piece of adornment, but it had a lot of sentimental value to me, and if He could find it in His will, to help me recover it. Not long after I prayed that prayer I glimpsed the diamond in a bag of watches on a shelf. How it got there I’ll never know, but I know Who helped me find it. Would I have found it if I hadn’t prayed for guidance? Maybe eventually, but I could have spent days, weeks, or months looking for it first. Turning everything over to God makes perfect sense, and life goes by so much smoother. When we ask for help with the fine details of our lives, it creates a daily dialog with God. He wants us to spend time with Him, and He delights in
helping us on a day-to-day basis with the challenges of life. Nothing is too small or too big for God to handle. He is always available. How many times do we fret and worry over minor details when help is just a prayer away? “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11). Skeptics would explain away all of these occurrences as coincidences. But those that experience similar happenstances every day would beg to differ. When they occur on a regular basis, a pattern emerges that defies any explanation other than God working in the lives of His children. Not long after I started praying for help in choosing my clothes, an incident happened that brought everything into perspective. As I got out of my car at work one morning, my coffee mug tipped over and spilled the brown liquid all over my pants. It was no big deal, though, because the coffee stain didn’t show on the navy blue pants God had chosen for me that day.
Nora grew up in Trenton, NC and now resides with her husband, Eddie, in Cove City, NC. They are members of Wintergreen OFWB Church, and she serves as the Woman’s Auxiliary Vice President. She and Eddie have two sons and three grandchildren. Nora enjoys photography and reading.
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2600 W. Vernon Avenue • Kinston, NC 28504 • (252) 526.9908
home missions & evangelism
Congratulations!
Mr. Paul Lo, LEC President
Mr. Paul Lo of the Loa Evangelical Church (Associate Members of the Original Free Will Baptist) has been appointed as a Superior Court Judge for Merced County, California. Mr. Lo will be the first H’MongAmerican in the United States to serve such an appointment, and at the age of 45 he will also be the youngest judge to serve that appointment in California. Mr. Lo as a young teen began working in the LEC Church and throughout the last 25 plus years has served to build a place that his people can worship and learn about God. The Original Free Will Baptists has played a significant role in his development and love for God and His church. We celebrate with him and his family in achieving this level of excellence in his field.
Missions Rally on Wednesday Evening of our Convention Foreign Missions will be hosting this year’s rally. Home Missions and Evangelism would like to thank you in advance for your financial support. Without that support we could not reach lives for a lifetime!
“Our Christ calls us to be vocal, but our fears cause us to be silent”
Grand Opening Hispanic Mission Church Plymouth, NC
Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church Plymouth, NC.
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FREE (252) 526-9908
Raper Hall on the campus of University of Mount Olive Tuesday, May 20, 2014 • 6:30 p.m. For more information visit www.homemissionsandevangelism.com
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1233 North Fork Road • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • (828) 669.7677 • www.cragmontassembly.com
CRAGMONT ASSEMBLY
Simply Sensational Spring Cragmont is experiencing a “simply sensational spring.” Several groups have dropped in to make our spring extra special. Toward the end of March the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home invaded our mountainside. They had a sensational blend of personal growth time, mountain parkway scenery and a sampling of history at Zebulon Vance’s mountain birthplace. Their weekend included “s’mores” at the campfire and a visit with the Black Mountain Home for Children. The Cragmont staff is looking forward to a return visit sometime in the future from this special group of young people. For our next spring splash we welcomed some guests from an overflow group at Camp Dorothy Walls just a hop, skip and jump up the road from Cragmont. It is always a
pleasure when we can open our doors and hospitality to a group of Christians from another denomination. After all when we “all get to heaven” we will all be there! Thursday—Saturday of Palm Sunday weekend brought us the yearly spring sensation of the Pastor/Deacon’s Retreat. Fast on its spring scene came Morning Star Woman’s Retreat the weekend following Easter. Mixed in with our spring visitors were a few light snows. But by the time you read this, preparing for the busy days of summer youth retreats will be claiming our attention. Soon snowflakes will be traded in for sunshine and the shouts of excited young people arriving for a week of fun and spiritual renewal at Cragmont.
Spring Time Thank You Cragmont wants to send a very special “thank you” to churches, organizations, and individuals who are continuing to give to “Velma’s Hearth”, the dining/ kitchen renovations. The Cragmont staff is especially looking forward to air-conditioning in the kitchen/dining area during the summer youth weeks and we think the young people will enjoy eating in the “cool air,” too. Please continue to remember our desire to purchase several items of new equipment for the kitchen, which is a part of our long-term plans for the renovation. The “master” Cragmont shopper has been at work again finding some bargains for us. A Cragmont “thank you” to Lorraine Hines for finding the best quality, at the best price to replenish our supply of towels before the summer camps begins. She also found someone to pay the bill; so thanks to the First Free Will Baptist Church of Greenville for purchasing our new towels and bath cloths. Maybe you have the patience and “know how” and would like to offer your shopping talent to Cragmont.
If this description fits you here are some things you need to remember: 1. Our “laundry lady” is picky so call before you shop. Contact the Cragmont Laundry Lady (Becky Jo) at (252) 209-6202 for information and suggestions before you purchase items for Cragmont. New items are nice but only if we can use them! 2. Any gift of this type should be over and above what you are already giving, because we are counting on those funds to pay our monthly bills. Which reminds me, Cragmont could not continue to serve our Lord and Original Free Will Baptist if it were not for those of you who consistently give year in and year out by making us a part of your financial budget; those who remember Cragmont when God blesses you with that something extra. Thank you for every gift. Also thank you for every prayer and for every time you speak with joy about happy times spent at Cragmont.
2014 Cragmont Summer Schedule • Ministerial Association of OFWB June 1–4, 2014 Josh Whitfield 1079 Beaver Creek Rd. Deep Run, NC 28525 (252) 286-3014 deeprunpastor@gmail.com
• General Youth II Conference July 14–19, 2014 Brad Williamson, Director: (252)-244-0207 Wilma Parker, Registrar: (252)-522-0967 P. O. Box 6423 Kinston, NC 28501 wilmaparker@embarqmail.com
• Dayspring Retreat June 4–7, 2014 Joan Little 7063 Stantonburg Rd. Farmville, NC 27828 (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com
• General Youth I Conference July 21–26, 2014 John Hill & David Currie, Directors Todd Sutton, Registrar: (252) 747-7567 6801 NC Hwy 222 E Stantonsburg, NC 27883 toddsutton1@gmail.com
• Christian Cadet Conference June 16–21, 2014 Joey Williams 139 Windyfield Dr. Goldsboro, NC 27534 (919) 734-9080 jwilliams@stoneycreekchurch.net
• Young People’s Bible Conference July 28–August 1, 2014 Chuck Owens 218 Wildwood Rd. Havelock, NC 28532 (252) 733-9031 copo22@nc.rr.com
• Cragmont Youth Conference June 23–28, 2014 Angela Mattox 1469 Wintergreen Rd. Cove City, NC 28523 (252) 671-7176 cragmontyouthconference@gmail.com
• Cornerstone Woman’s Retreat August 3–8, 2014 Joan Little 7063 Stantonburg Rd. Farmville, NC 27828 (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com
• Youth Frontier Conference (YFA/AFC) June 30–July 5, 2014 Frankie Baggett 5403 Weyerhaeuser Rd. Ayden, NC 28513 (252) 746-7850 frankiebaggett@embarqmail.com
• Emmanuel Woman’s Retreat September 12–14, 2014 Joan Little 7063 Stantonburg Rd. Farmville, NC 27828 (252) 753-3217 jlittle@nc.rr.com
• Pee Dee Youth Conference July 7–11, 2014 Heath Conner 727 Mount Olive Rd. Bladenboro, NC 28320 (910) 740-4454 heathkellieconner@yahoo.com
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Check out the Newest Retreat for Women of the Original Free Will Baptists
Bread of Life Retreat
“Come to the Table” Thursday, May 8, 2014 University of Mount Olive W. Burkette and Rose M. Raper Hall Hosted by the Executive Board of the Woman’s Auxiliary Convention
■ Registration and Refreshments begin at 8:00 a.m. ■ Opening Session begins 8:30 a.m. Note Change in traditional schedule • Something for women of any age Choose your Menu (WA Business • Variety of Options*) [Bible Study, Music, New Devotional Ideas, Ministry Information and Partnerships, Conversations with God, Media Ideas]
■ Worship—Rodgers Chapel @ 10:55 a.m. Retreat/Convention Choir Sings • Devotions • Woman of the Year Presentation Special Music (including Hand Bells) • Fellowship through Communion Presentation of Humility • A Special “Take-Out” Box for Everyone
■ Lunch—Lois K. Murphy Regional Center @ 1:00 p.m. Buffet lunch ($6 including beverage)
Come join us for a wonderful day “At the Table” with Christian Friends. — Dianne B. Riley, Program Prayer Chair — 30
A deeper look inside this month’s lessons from the OFWB Foundation Curriculum and commentaries based on the International Sunday School Lessons. This quarter we have been examining numerous Bible passages related to “Jesus’ Fulfillment of Scripture.” In Unit 1 we saw that Jesus fulfilled Israel’s expectation that the Messiah would be a direct descendant of King David. In Unit 2 we connected the dots from the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Christ to the person of Jesus. In this final unit we study how Jesus used the Hebrew Scriptures (1) when faced with temptation, (2) to define His mission, (3) to interpret the law, and (4) to identify the Great Commandment. Jesus is our example for how to use the Bible (1) in times of temptation, (2) to understand our mission in this world as Jesus’ disciples, (3) in applying God’s commandments in our lives, and (4) to form an ethical basis for our relationship to others and to God. These lessons examine and challenge our views and uses of the Bible. We Christians place a very high premium on the Bible, but we must not make it an idol of worship. The Bible is God’s revealed word to humanity, but it is not a talisman. The Bible is to be read for enlightenment, studied for comprehension, and absorbed for transformation. As we read the Scriptures we find conviction for our sins, correction for our errors, and challenge to a higher level of living and deeper commitment to Christ.
As you study the first lesson from Deuteronomy and Matthew, note the types of temptations Jesus faced: bread corresponds to basic human needs; to jump from the highest point in Jerusalem represents self-glorification; and to seek the kingdoms of the world is to trust Satan that he can and will do what he promises and to stake all on perishable wealth. Note also that when “the devil left him” it was temporary (Luke 4:13). Lesson two takes us to the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4). It was customary to invite a visiting rabbi to speak, but this was a special occasion because Jesus grew up there. It may seem strange to us that he stood to read and sat to preach. But what is important are the scripture he read (Isaiah 61) and his sermon. That scripture defined his mission, his purpose. Why were the people amazed when he began to preach? Why did they become enraged as he continued to speak and to answer questions? Read the rest of the story in verses 22–30. The challenge in lesson three is to understand what was meant by “the tradition of the elders.” The law, or Torah, was of the highest importance to the Jews. The heart of the Torah was the Decalogue, which was placed in the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy
with Adrian Grubbs
Place in the Temple, which only the High Priest had access once a year. The Temple was in Jerusalem where all Jews, who were able, made pilgrimage for the holy festivals. Over a thousand years the Ten Commandments were interpreted for each succeeding generation by wise scribes and rabbis. For example, the tenth commandment included a statement about not coveting a neighbor’s donkey. The commandments were given when Israel was wandering in the wilderness. Much later, when a family lived in the city, would that commandment include a neighbor’s dog? Those hundreds of years of addendums came to be known as the tradition of the elders, which was regarded as sacred. Do we need to re-examine some of our traditions? In the fourth lesson Jesus was challenged by a scribe to name the greatest commandment. Keep in mind that the scribes and Pharisees had identified 613 laws (not “traditions”), and Jesus was asked to pick the most important. Jesus recited two laws from Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19 that he considered inseparable; from those two laws of love hang all the laws of the Torah. Jesus went a step further in John 6:13 when he said we should love others as He has loved us.
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. 31
Foundation at Work in the Community
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P. O. Box 210 • Mount Olive, NC 28365-0210 • (919) 658.5250 • admin@ncfcm.org • rwarren@ncfcm.org
NC Foundation for Christian Ministries
The New Hope Ruritan D.W. Kneeshaw Endowment Fund The North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries recently received a generous donation creating the New Hope Ruritan D.W. Kneeshaw Endowment Fund. Each year the fund will produce a distribution of money to support a scholarship program in memory of Mr. D.W. Kneeshaw, who played an instrumental role in shaping the New Hope Community (Wayne County) as a high school agriculture teacher and as a charter member of the New Hope Ruritan Club. According to club President Kevin Reeves, the club has earned the funds for the endowment over many years through various fundraising efforts. The establishment of the fund was the long awaited fulfillment of a dream first held by members who wanted to honor the memory of Mr. Kneeshaw. Over the years, the club’s fund raising program increased the available funds to an amount sufficient to provide the scholarship the club had originally intended. However, the club ran into many obstacles and it seemed there was no organization willing to help establish the scholarship because the amount of the available funds was fairly small. This development was very disappointing to the club and caused delays in getting the scholarship established. The club formed a committee to explore possible solutions to the problem. One member of that committee, Mr. David Trivette, was a member of Goldsboro First FWB Church and recalled that his church had established an endowment with the Foundation. Mr. Trivett contacted the Foundation and set up an initial meeting in June of 2013 to determine if the Foundation and the New Hope Ruritan Club could partner together in creating the scholarship. Foundation Executive Director,
Pictured from left to right are Mr. Kevin Reeves, President of the New Hope Ruritan Club; Mrs. Sue Ellen Kneeshaw Yagel, daughter of Mr. D.W. Kneeshaw; and the Rev. Ricky Warren, Executive Director of the Foundation presenting a framed certification of endowment’s establishment.
Ricky Warren, meet several times with the committee and the entire club to ensure that the scholarship program could be set up and administered as a permanent benefit to students in memory of Mr. Kneeshaw. The official establishment of the Fund was announced at a meeting of the New Hope Ruritan Club on February 6, 2014 at Wilber’s Barbeque in Goldsboro. The use of the distributions from the Fund is restricted to scholarships benefiting deserving students from Wayne County, North Carolina who are pursuing a two or four year course of study in an accredited college or university with preferences given to students pursuing an agricultural course of study and to students who are the children or grandchildren of a member of a Ruritan Club. Scholarship recipients will be selected
through a fair and equitable process administered by the Donor. The Foundation’s primary mission is to serve the charitable needs of the churches and people of our denomination, Original Free Will Baptists. However, the broader mission of the Foundation calls for being a resource available to the community to lasting good in line with our Christian and educational purposes. There are many church and secular organizations that can benefit from the services provided by the Foundation. Many of these organizations are small and would not have options were it not for the Foundation. For more information on how the Foundation can assist your organization accomplish its charitable goals, please contact the Foundation office to set up an appointment.
The Foundation gratefully acknowledges these gifts given during March of 2014 in honor or memory of those listed.
• In Memory of •
Retirement Income Comparison CD Rate 1 (April 7, 2014)
0.23%
Mr. Sonny Hughes
Annuity Rate 2 (At age 70)
Mr. Phillippa B. Darush
5.1%
By Mrs. Dianne B. Riley By First FWB Church of Goldsboro By Snow Hill FWB Church
Mrs. Mabel Bishop
1. National Average 12-month CD rate (Source: Bankrate.com)
Mr. Phillippa B. Darush
2. Lifetime rate from the Foundation for a person age 70
By First FWB Church of Goldsboro
• In Honor of •
The Foundation Legacy Society
For those with a plan to leave a lasting legacy for good.
Miss Pamela Wood
By Mrs. Dianne B. Riley
Mrs. Annie Albertson By Mrs. Dianne B. Riley
Mr. Donnie E. Lassiter By Mrs. Dianne B. Riley
Mrs. Betty E. Pelt
By Mrs. Dianne B. Riley
Mrs. Rhonda Jessup By Bertie A. Sanders
Mr. Donnie E. Lassiter By Bertie A. Sanders
Mrs. Rhonda Jessup
By Angela and Ricky J. Warren
Mr. Donnie E. Lassiter
By Angela and Ricky J. Warren
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Smith
By Mr. and Mrs. Raeford Daughtry
Mr. Eugene Jernigan
By Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jernigan
Mrs. Delores Jernigan
By Mr. and Mrs. Gene Jernigan
Ways The Foundation Can Help You Do Something Good Endowments: Funds that are permanently invested and never spent. Each year, the growth of the fund is used to provide support for the qualified charity named by the donor. There is no minimum amount required to initiate an endowment and gifts can be made by anyone, at any time, and in any amount. Distributions begin on year after the fund reaches $10,000. The Shepherd’s Fund: Provides scholarships to help overcome the financial barrier that prevents many from seeking education for the ministry. Recipients of scholarships from this fund must be Original Free Will Baptists attending accredited colleges, divinity schools, or seminaries. Funding for these scholarships comes from a combination of direct gifts from donors and from established endowments. Scholarship for other needs may be funded by other endowments. Planned Giving: Enables donors to make larger gifts than they could normally make from their income. While some planned gifts provide a lifelong income to the donor, others use estate and tax planning to provide for charities and other heirs in ways that maximize the gift and minimize its impact on the donor’s estate. A planned gift is any major gift, made in one’s lifetime or at one’s death as part of a donor’s overall financial and estate planning. Gifts in One’s Honor or Memory: Designated or undesignated gifts of any size may be given to the Foundation in honor of someone on a special occasion or to remember someone following their passing. A permanent record will be made for public display and a tasteful acknowledgement will be made in the Free Will Baptist and also sent by mail on behalf of the donor.
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youth convention
Bible Bowl Competition The Commission on Youth & Student Ministry Leadership and the OFWB Youth Convention sponsored the Bible Bowl competitions for the Cherubs, AFC, and YFA on Saturday, April 5 on the campus of the University of Mount Olive. Five churches representing four districts competed. The Bible Bowl committee consisted of Wanda Benson (Powhatan, Cape Fear), Gracie Jones (Whaley’s Chapel, Eastern), Angie Toler (Juniper Chapel, Eastern), Faye Bryant (Cypress Creek, Pee Dee), and Jonathan Whitford (Free Union, Central). Judges for the Cherubs and AFC competitions were Faye Bryant, Teresa Harris (King’s Cross Roads, Central), and Jonathan Whitford. Judges for the YFA competition were Faye Bryant, Jonathan Whitford, and Angie Toler. David Letchworth (First Church, La Grange) was the moderator for the competitions. Time keeper was Jane Hardy (Powhatan, Cape Fear). Scorekeepers were Courtney Thornton (Powhatan, Cape Fear) and Gracie Jones. A special thanks to everyone who helped with this competition! Listed below are the results of each competition:
Cherubs: 1st Place: Beaverdam, Pee Dee Conference (Nathan Godwin, Kaylee Cartrette, Kenley McPherson, Riley Garrell, Brissa Garrell, Jennings Buffkin, Lilly Duncan, and Anna Fowler) AFC: 1st Place: Jackson Heights, Eastern Conference (Camden Herring, Carissa Winn, Colby Tucker, Arielle Winn, and James Kephart). 2nd Place: Beaverdam, Pee Dee Conference (Gracie Garrell, Kelsey Hilbourn, Kaitlin McPherson, Luke Duncan, D. J. Godwin, and Dalton Thompson). 3rd Place: Yelverton Grove, Cape Fear Conference (Dawson Norris, Kristina Sanders, and Daisy Brown). 4th Place: Whaley’s Chapel, Eastern Conference (Charity Jarman, Jasmine Hogan, Ashlyn Stokes) YFA: 1st Place: Beaverdam, Pee Dee Conference (Cassie Dawson, Matthew Garrell, Louis Godwin, Katie Larrimore, Brian Long, Savanna Seay). 2nd Place: Ormondsville, Central Conference (Daniell Jarman, Dayva Phillips, Elizabeth Head, Caleb Deaver, Josh Deaver, and Mary Carson Head). 3rd Place: Whaley’s Chapel, Eastern Conference (Hannah Moody, Morgan Edmonds, Hunter Weston). 4th Place: Jackson Heights, Eastern Conference (Camryn Goff, Josh Kephart, Daniel Kephart, and Chasity Smith). 5th Place: Yelverton Grove, Cape Fear Conference (David Norris, Brady Philyaw, Jordan Hill, and Silas Hill)
Beaverdam Cherubs
Whaley’s Chapel AFC
Yelverton Grove AFC
Jackson Heights AFC
Beaverdam AFC
Whaley’s Chapel YFA
Yelverton Grove YFA
Jackson Heights YFA
Beaverdam YFA 34
Congratulations to these teams on their hard work!
Ormondsville YFA
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¢ each 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.
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! 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
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 For more information or a registration packet, contact Victor Jones at (252) 559-3876 or <nonakent@hotmail.com>. 35
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Spreading the Word. For Life!
with Marc Boswell
“To Everything” Yesterday, I went outside and cut my grass for the first time this year. I would almost say that I enjoyed the experience of getting back outdoors after a long winter and doing some yardwork. Almost. Perhaps it was the cool sixtyfive degree weather, or perhaps it was the sense of satisfaction of seeing the yard shorn of its overgrown grass and weeds. The nostalagia, I’m sure, will quickly fade as humidity levels and temperatures increase over the summer. This cool, spring season of grasscutting shall pass, just as the sweltering days of summer shall surely pass into the cooler days of fall. So goes the cyclical nature of life - another season comes and goes; grass grows and withers; another year is already veering toward the midway point of the calendar. I’m not entirely sure why I’m in such an “Ecclesiastes” type of mood—“to everything there is a season” (of course, I can only write this line while sofly humming the tune of the song by The Byrds). I think it’s because the anniversary of my grandmother’s death is a week away. This year will mark the seventh since her passing in the spring of 2007. It seems unfair that the rhythms of life (including mundane patterns like grasscutting) continue to march along without her. But, at the same time, the new birth of
spring provides some measure of solace. I’m able to temporarily find some peace in this period of new growth, in addition to many other activities that come along with finishing a semester, the beginning of summer, and the general lifting of the spirit that occurs after the end of a long winter. Time has a funny way of taking away those things we love and, simultaneously, providing ever new opportunities to engage the things in the world that generate meaning and beauty in our lives. And it is to these things which my mind turns when I think of my grandmother. She had a way of finding joy and humor—a lighthearted air—that I often wish I was able to find when I feel the weight of my own shortcomings a bit too much to bear. She didn’t seem to have a lot of time for the excessive feelings of guilt and shame that often come with the package of many religious expressions. She also didn’t have much patience with the sense of moral superiority or haughtiness that also tends to come with the package of those same religious expressions. As I continue along my own journey, I can’t help but feel that she had tapped into some wisdom that perhaps is made available only with age—wisdom that comes through a healthy appreciation for the fleeting
nature of time and the cyclical, repetitive dynamic of the seasons of our lives, just as the writer of Ecclesiastes figured out so long ago. Over the past year as I’ve taught young adults at Virginia Commonwealth University, I’ve noticed that they (and I) often express a longing for some type of spiritual practice that provides this deeper sense of peace in a life that is overly technologized, hectic, and further removed from tight-knit communities of support. Many of them are becoming more aware of the broken places in our world—and they long for ways to fix them—and they also are becoming more aware of the way life can drain our energy, our vitality, or our spiritual reserves—even when they don’t have or care for the traditional religious language to name that sense of emptiness. While I’m not sure how this all overlaps, I can’t help but think of my grandmother and of the writer of Ecclesiastes. They, too, yearned for peace and found it, even in the midst of ever changing (and ‘always staying the same’) nature of the world. They found it in God, albeit perhaps in unconventional ways. I pray the same for my students. For myself. For my family. And for all those who yearn for solace in a busy, hectic, but ever beautiful world.
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. 37
Book reviews in this column are not meant to reflect any theological or political positions.
Harvey Cox, The Future of Faith New York: Harper One, 2009. 245 pages. ISBN 978-0-06-175552-1.
Historical Periods of Faith, Belief, and Spirit Harvey Cox Harvey Cox is the Hollis Professor of Divinity emeritus at Harvard. His name became known internationally as the author of The Secular City published in 1965. Cox grew up a Baptist and was baptized at fourteen. In high school he was a saxophone player in the “eighty-piece marching band” (142), became “president of the senior class” (141), and in college joined the Penn Christian Fellowship (143). His new book, The Future of Faith, gives us a new look at the development of Christianity from what he calls the Age of Faith to the Age of Belief to the Age of Spirit.
Age of Faith The first 300 years of Christianity is the period Harvey Cox calls the Age of Faith. This period “began with Jesus and his immediate disciples” (5) where “the living Spirit of Christ united Christians with each other” (5). The first-century Christians saw a “new era of freedom” (5) where “healing and compassion” (5) dominated. Cox is interested in the early Christian church, how it operated, what its vision was, and through its development he believes that we might grasp the spiritual evolution of Christianity. Cox writes: “Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” or “the development of an individual repeats the evolution of the species as a whole” (15). The early Christian church believed in the inward element of the Kingdom of God where emphasis is upon a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26 states: “A new heart also will I give you” (44). In Matthew 5:8 we read about the “pure in heart” (44). God happens to Christians as if they lived in a reign of God, with God reigning in them (45). The early Christians were attracted to Jesus for numerous reasons: his “courage,” his “compassion for the disinherited,” his “willingness to stand up to corrupt political and religious authorities,” his “emphasis on the possibility of another kind of world,” his concern for the “shalom that God” promised, and his promise of the “new world” that God promised (48). The first 300 years of the early Christian church was “multifaceted” (59) without a “standardized theory” (59), without a “pattern of governance” (59), and without a “liturgy” or “accepted scripture” (59). What held the early Christian church together was “the common enterprise of following Jesus and making his message about the coming of God’s Reign of shalom known to the world” (60). Basically, the early church was “anti-imperial” (62). The word heresy 38
did not exist in the earliest churches because different geographical areas had different letters and texts to read. In 1946 in a cave near Nag Hammadi in Egypt, a young boy found the documents known as the Gospel of Thomas. At the time of the early Christian church other religious thoughts competed—the worship of Zeus, Juno, Apollo, Dionysius and the Olympians, the worship of the Roman emperor (81), the worship of both Isis and Osiris, and the worship of Mithra (174). Multiple points of view thrived in the Age of Faith. Women played an important leadership role in the early church and the churches themselves were a “loose network of local congregations” (55) where they read letters, had meals together, and served to help others.
Age of Belief On February 17, 280 C.E. the baby Flavius Valerius Constantinus (Constantine) was born in Naissus in Macedonia (99). He was the eldest son of Constantius I and Helena, grew up in the royal court of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, saw the brutal 303 C.E. persecution of Christians, and defeated in his adulthood the Roman Maxentius who competed with him for the position of emperor. At the famous Battle at Milvian Bridge, Constantine defeated Maxentius, using his vision of a cross in the sky as a sign from God that he would win the battle. The cross became a political sign with its “triumphal laurel garland” as the “imperial standard” (199). Christianity became merged with empire and as such entered its second stage for fifteen hundred years—the Age of Belief. As Christianity was tied to the Roman Empire, certain realities began to appear which shifted the Christian church from the Age of Faith to the Age of Belief. What realities evolved? Cox notes the development of creeds, hierarchical church powers, conversions as by-products of political power, and great debates over theological issues. The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE was a gathering of 220 bishops who were the administrators of the church. They faced the Arian controversy that claimed Jesus was not equal to God (103). The idea of the Trinity emerged at the Council of Nicaea with Arius exiled to remote Illyricum. In the Age of Belief, the leader Charlemagne added what is called the filoque (and the Son) into the Apostles’s Creed, making the source of the Holy Spirit not only from God but also from the Son. Outraged was the Eastern Orthodox Church, because the Western
church “had subordinated the Spirit to Christ, and this threatened the equality of the three lessons of the Trinity” (110–111). Cox sees the development of the Roman Catholic Church with its history of “apostolic authority” (90) and the Inquisition as an example of the external power of the church at the possible expense of the internal power of faith. Apostolic authority goes back to the First Epistle of Clement in 96 C.E. where Clement supported the hierarchy in the church with the “displaced leaders in Corinth” who were “the authentic successors of the apostles” and thereby had “the right to rule” (89–90) in the church. The Corinthians early on did not “adhere to this concept of authority at the time” (90). Clement himself “was said to have been the fourth pope, the direct successor of Peter” (90). In 1950, Pope Pius XII “enunciated a dogma, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary” (74) that became a creed all Catholics were to follow. During the Age of Belief many theological issues arose between group organization and spiritual freedom, administrative order and mysticism, the solidification of creeds and its resistance. The group of fundamentalists had its doctrine: (1) the total inerrancy of the Bible, (2) the Virgin Birth of Christ was a sign of his divinity, (3) Christ as a substitute for mankind on the cross, (4) Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead, and (5) the imminent second coming (148). These fundamental creeds have been supported by J. Gresham Machen (1881–1937) of Princeton, the late Reverend Jerry Falwell of Liberty University, and Pat Robertson of Regent University of Virginia Beach.
Age of Spirit Cox sees a new wave of Christian spirit entering the twenty-first century as a reaction against hardened creeds, a “top-down” image of power, and an effort for control (71). What is emerging now is a greater variety of people in church communities, an egalitarian governing order, and a stronger sense of the Spirit of God in life. Creed softens into poetry, dance, and music while rationalism softens before the emotional ecstatic swings of the Pentecostals. Cox observes Rick Warren’s evangelical church, the Saddleback Church in Orange County, California (76), as a church that emphasizes “deeds not creeds” (76) or a way of life, not a hardened doctrine (77). The new wave of the Spirit reveals an enjoyment in “the sharing of prayer, bread, and wine; a lively hope for the coming of God’s shalom on earth; and putting the example of Jesus into concrete practice, especially his concern for outcasts” (78). With an emphasis upon the Spirit, an evolutionary movement in the Christian church has developed from the late fifteenth-century printing of the Bible
with later translations so that the masses read the Bible, from the “historical-critical method” (167) of study to an “advent of the fundamentalist view of the Bible” (167), to an emerging liberation theology which sees the life of Jesus as a barometer pointing to a new life of shalom, justice, compassion, and love. The new Age of Spirit is becoming global in Cox’s point of view. Today there are more “organizations, conferences, and seminars” (130) devoted to Christianity and a dialogue with people around the globe. In 2003 in Hong Kong, Cox attended the annual meeting of the Christian Conference of Asia that brought people together from Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Korea, and Japan (136). Cox notes that the Christian passion among these people “was how best to work together with their non-Christian neighbors on issues of women’s rights, ecology, and peace” (136). The theological emphasis is becoming a “social theology” for “peacemaking, striving for racial justice, and combating poverty” (138). What becomes central is one’s “personal inner experience with Christ” (145). Earlier Calvinists “who believed salvation was a once-and-for-all gift of God” (145) have become Wesleyans who assert “that an emphasis on doctrinal correctness is useless without a deep personal encounter with God” (145). In 1910, Charles Eliot (1834–1926), a professor at Harvard, advocated a Christianity that would reflect “the love of God expressed in service to others” (147). Dwight Moody (1837–1899) sought to get as many people in the lifeboat of Christ that he could (149). Translations of the Bible have given birth to rendering “the text into modern street argot” (161) as with Baptist John Henson’s translation called Good as News (161). The global printing of the Good News has seen Bible magazines, translations of the Bible, and even comic books of the Bible appear. Some of the Apocrypha are available. What does this mean? It means that the stories of the Bible are becoming “the wellspring of our intellectual heritage” (169). The Christian faith tradition is part of our “corpuscles” (169). The Biblical narratives make “demands” on “our values and world views” (169). These worldviews are now global with Christianity spreading across Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Martin Luther believed “everyone needs to have faith in something” (182). The people of the globe appear receptive for the Holy Spirit in modern life. Cox claims: “The wind of the Spirit is blowing…Faith…is once again becoming its defining quality, and this reclaims what faith meant during its earliest years…a newly global Christianity, enlivened by a multiplicity of cultures and yearning for the realization of God’s reign of shalom, is finding its soul again. All the signs suggest we are poised to enter a new Age of the Spirit and that the future will be a future of faith” (224)
Pepper Worthington was born in Kinston, NC, and married an OFWB retired minister, Michael Gauker Warning, in 1996. The Rev. Warning served as pastor to Free Union OFWB at Sea Level, NC. She received her B.A. degree cum laude at Meredith College in 1965, her M.L.A. degree at Johns Hopkins University in 1969, and her Ph.D. with Phi Kappa Phi honors at the University of Maryland at College Park in 1976. She has been a professor of English at Mount Olive College since 1979. She is also currently the director of the Mount Olive College Press.
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community connection
Woman of the Year At the Eastern District Meeting in March, we announced our woman of the year and gave her a Certificate of Life Membership from the Woman’s Auxiliary as a reward for her faithful and loyal service. The recipient was Linda Herring from White Oak Grove Church in LaGrange. She has been married to Vernon Herring for 45 years and have two children, Amy Hobbs and Vernon Herring III, and three grandchildren, Jenna, Jared, and Noah. She worked first for Carolina Telephone Company and Guardian Corporation in Rocky Mount. After her husband’s tour of duty in the Air Force in Texas, they located in Rocky Mount, NC. There they started their Dental Business. About 12 years later, they moved back to LaGrange where they live today. Linda has been an active member of White Oak Grove Church of LaGrange for many years. She has served as a
Woman’s Auxiliary Life Membership Award Little Creek OFWB Woman’s Auxiliary recognized Sue Skinner for her dedication to the work God has given her on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Wanda Forrest, president of the Auxiliary, shared the following with the congregation: “Today we would like to recognize one of our special auxiliary members—Sue Skinner. Sue is the daughter of the late John and Alberta Oliver. She had one sisterYvonne. Sue has been married to Donnie Skinner for 40 years and they reside in Ayden. She was a member of the Ayden First Baptist Church prior to becoming a member of Little Creek approximately 15 years ago. She was appointed treasurer of our auxiliary, an office she held for 15 years. She also compiled a memory book on deceased members of our church and she has certainly done a wonderful job, as you can see if you have seen the book. She is always ready to assist Donnie at church with his duties as church clerk and treasurer. She is a wonderful person and friend and willing to do anything she can to assist in any church activities. Sue worked in the Photography business with a firm in Ayden for at least 30 years. She now works part-time for a firm in Greenville. She loves to cook and has been teaching Donnie to cook since and during her sickness. She enjoys making cakes for everyone.
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teacher for the adult class, teenage class, and the Disciple Class. She has been the director for the youth groups and loves the children. She sings in the choir and is the program-prayer director for her local Woman’s Auxiliary. She also serves as the Secretary for the Eastern District Convention. She is an approved resource speaker for the Original Free Will Baptist Woman’s Auxiliary. She has written two drama’s They Called His Name Jesus, and The Kinsman Redeemer taken from the Book of Ruth. She organized the Bible study group “The Circle of Friends” which meet monthly. She coordinates many spiritual outings for this group of ladies such as visits to the Cove, the Billy Graham Library, and spiritual retreats to Myrtle Beach. She writes a monthly article for The Free Baptist, has a daily radio broadcast entitled “Psalms for the Soul” which airs on WAGO (88.7fm) at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Writes devotional articles for The LaGrange Gazette and The Simpson Chronicle. She has a book that was published by the University of Mount Olive called “Psalms for the Soul.” Her ministry, “The Word” can be contacted by e-mail at: <herring.theword@hotmail.com>.
Sue Skinner was presented The Life Membership Award from the Woman’s Auxiliary of Little Creek OFWB. Pictured left to right are: Lou Smith, Sue Skinner, and Wanda Forrest.
She also has two cats, which she is particularly fond of which you can tell if you are around her very long. Today the Little Creek Woman’s Auxiliary members want to recognize Sue with a Life Membership Award for all the duties you have fulfilled during your service to our auxiliary and we thank you for all you have done. May God continue to Bless You.”
Blended Fellowship—BLENDED WHO? Recently, we at Blended Fellowship, hosted an annual event designed especially for Deaf students. We call this event: “BLENDED WHO?” We were so excited to have over 50 students present this year! Most of them were from the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf in Wilson. Biblical concepts were shared through exciting dramatic presentations and interactive games. Each Deaf student received special gifts made for them by the Cape Fear Conference Youth during workshops at their March Youth Rally. Thank you Cape Fear Youth! It is estimated that 300,000 people in North Carolina alone are deaf and use American Sign Language as their primary language. These people need to be given the opportunity to know Jesus! Here are some ways you can help: • Pray for this ministry • Become a B. I. P. (Blended Investment Partner), a monthly financial supporter • Volunteer as a short term missionary To learn more, contact Blended Fellowship at (919) 7367676, visit our website <www.blendedfellowship.com> or write us at 2091 Big Daddys Road, Pikeville, NC 27863.
Silent Sundays at Blended Fellowship Every second Sunday of the month, our Deaf are in charge of the entire service, with a voice interpreter for the hearing. You are all invited to come be a part of this wonderful, unique worship experience!
The Board of Directors of the Free Will Baptist Press will be available during the Wednesday afternoon workshops at the 2014 Convention of Original Free Will Baptists to listen to you. Please bring your suggestions, questions, complaints, and compliments.
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Psalms for the Soul with Linda Herring
The Bible speaks to us but the Psalms speak for us. One day Jesus went into a Samaritan village and was not well received. So the disciples said, “‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but save them’” (Luke 9:54–56). The Psalmist says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Let’s be clear: never has it been more important to know the truth of God’s Word and stand for it. But if you have the right doctrine, but the wrong spirit, you will drive more people away from Christ than you will draw to Him. If Satan has his way, he will drive holiness out of our hearts and into our fists. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That also means non-Christians. So how are you doing? 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.
Shady Grove Youth Pastor Position Available Interested candidates should contact the pastor, Dr. Benton at <drbsgc@gmail.com>. • Job Title: Youth Pastor • Reports to: Church Pastor • Education Required: a minimum of an appropriate four year degree. • General Job Summary: The position is a full time ministry position where the Youth Pastor will work with the young people to provide specific leadership of the General Youth Program through careful and involved participation, positive approaches to conducting the program, and commitment to assisting the youth to come to recognize and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Likes being with and working with the youth—helping them develop in the Lord and as they mature. Attend and participate, as indicated, in all church services, Sunday School, and church events. • Specific Job Duties: 1. Evidence of being a believer in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost through a positive expressed attitude, demonstrated support of the Church’s programs and plans, and showing a willingness to support and manage change and modifications to programs and coming transformations. 2. Work closely with the Sunday School Superintendent, the YMCA program, and special programs that are organized for church youth. 3. Encourage youth, youth leaders and volunteers in developing their leadership skills. 4. Is an advocate for youth and for the programs developed for youth with the congregation, other departmental leaders, and the deacons. 5. Preschedule, plan, and assist, as indicated, all youth programs and events. 6. Provide training and development as indicated. 7. Assist in the preparing of written and verbal presentations as requested or assigned. 8. Recruit and train leaders for specific church assignments with the youth programs. 9. Attend scheduled and required staff meetings and any meetings necessary to the accomplishment of the job of Youth Pastor. 10. May perform other tasks as assigned in the accomplishment of the Church’s stated mission and plan.
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FREEDOM WEEK 2014 Summer Camp at Camp Dixie July 11–14
Campers and Parents, Summer is quickly approaching, which means camp time is drawing near. Freedom Week at Camp Dixie will be held Friday, July 11 through Monday, July 14. This is a new camp for us this year as Camp Vandemere is not ready for use at this time. You will see many familiar faces including Mr. Ronnie, Ms. Wanda, Mr. Vic, Ms. Gracie, Mr. Greg, and many others. We have many fun things planned. Our theme for the week will be “Our Best for Jesus.” In order to provide for the best possible camp, we need you to fill out an application. The camp fee will be $151.50. Cash will be accepted or a check made payable to Ronnie Taylor and mailed to him at 2378 Kinston Hwy, Richlands, NC 28574-6271. The cost of our camp will be a little higher than if we were able to go to Camp Vandemere but there are more activities available. For more information and applications, please contact Ronnie Taylor: (910) 330-3818 or Wanda Taylor: (910) 3303819. Applications are due by June 4, 2014. Please remember our camp week in your prayers. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you. In Christ, Ronnie and Wanda Taylor
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HeartShaper Resources ®
Help children of all ages discover God’s love and interact with the Bible!
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Early Childhood Resources
Bible Songs & Action Rhymes (Ages 3–6)
Bible Stories to Color & Tell (Ages 3–6)
Bible stories found in this book are set to familiar tunes or in simple action rhymes make learning the Bible fun and interactive. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1781-3 24190 $16.99 $12.75
Puppet Scripts for Preschool Worship (Ages 3–6)
Little hands will enjoy coloring these simple art pictures and then retelling the Bible Stories. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1779-0 02493 $16.99 $12.75
These easy-to-prepare puppet scripts feature Scout and Scamper from HeartShaper, but these flexible scripts can also be used with any two puppets and included guides for discussion. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1782-0 42301 $16.99 $12.75
Thru-the-Bible Coloring Pages (Ages 3–6) Kids will learn and apply Bible stories as they color pictures from both the Old and New Testaments. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1783-7 02272 $16.99 $12.75
God Loves Me Coloring Pages (Ages 1–2) These pages are filled with simple pictures that little ones recognize from their world. Children can scribble, color or add textures and stickers to pictures. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1796-7 02446 $16.99 $12.75
Elementary Resources
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 6–8)
Bible Crafts & More contains more than 100 craft projects to help elementary kids review Bible stories and apply lessons to their lives. Includes seasonal crafts. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1768-8 02275 $16.99 $12.75
Bible Puzzles for Kids (Ages 6–8)
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Age-appropriate coloring pages and activities help kids retell Bible stories to family and friends. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1348-8 02492 $16.99 $12.75
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Bible Puzzles for Kids (Ages 8–10)
Bible Puzzles for Kids contains word codes, mazes, crosswords, and word searches that help older elementary kids enjoy learning God’s word. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1788-2 02267 $16.99 $12.75
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Basic Bible Skills (Ages 8–12)
Basic Bible Skills is full of active Bible skill builders, journaling, puzzles, mazes, and study tools for helping older elementary kids learn and apply God’s Word. ISBN: 978-0-7847-1605-2 42020 $16.99 $12.75
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Spreading the Word. For Life!
The North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries
“Helping Good People Do Good Things”
At the Original Free Will Baptist Convention May 21–22, 2014 Visit our display for information that could change your life and the life of others “for good.”
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID 28513
USPS 2094-4000