Just Around the Corner

May is here, a time when school’s getting out and summer fun is just around the corner. Remember, Cragmont Youth Conference is June 13-18, 2011. We hope to see you there for lots of great times as we learn more about the crazy love God wants us to have for Him and each other.

The camp counselors recently met to finalize the lessons and talent areas that will be offered this week, and things are off to a great start. More updates will be available soon on that matter. If you haven’t sent your applications in yet, please return them ASAP.

During the recent tornadoes that blew through eastern North Carolina, many have reached out to help others, sometimes even complete strangers. Jesus once said, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you,” (Matthew 5:42-44). That’s showing the kind of crazy love that means a real difference to people. The Christian band Hawk Nelson has a song that carries this theme:

Wherever you are, we hope you learn to experience God’s crazy love for yourself.

PS: remember that the OFWB State Youth Convention is May 21.

“March”-ing Onward

Happy March 1 everyone. If the old saying holds true, I think this month will go out much smoother than it began: most of us in eastern North Carolina had rough, lion-sized winds last night.

In other news, today is the anniversary of the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park. The original law was signed by President Grover and mandates that the land be

. . . reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. . . .

PBS recently aired a beautiful series on the National Parks prominently featuring Yellowstone, which you can watch here.

The goals of early conservationists was to preserve nature for the benefit and enjoyment of future citizens of the United States. That’s similar to what happened in 1945 when our denomination purchased campgrounds in Black Mountain, NC. Rather than just a beautiful vista, though, Cragmont’s purpose is to serve a higher calling:

To operate, maintain and expand a conference center and place of retreat for all Original Free Will Baptists and seekers after Christ, who will come to Cragmont to experience Inspiration, receive Instruction and participate in Recreation directed towards spiritual growth.

Come join us this summer at Cragmont Youth Conference and experience God’s inspiring creation for yourself.

Sunday School Institute

Cragmont is just one of the ministries of the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. Another one is Sunday School, which February is set aside to honor. How did your church celebrate this ministry over the past month?

Also, heads up: the Sunday School Institute is next weekend, March 4-5, at Mount Olive College. Here’s the description from the Sunday School Ministry’s website:


Sunday School Institute: Celebrating 70 years
Theme: “Teaching and Learning for All with Expectation” Celebrating Uniqueness)

Activities begin on Friday night March 4 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm in the Southern Bank Auditorium in Raper Hall with the President of Mount Olive College Dr. Phil Kerstetter leading a seminar on “Celebrating Our Uniqueness”.  He will be helping us understand the need for rethinking the manner in which we view different people and their abilities.

Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Activities for all ages. Children ages 4-12 will assemble in Murphy Center as soon as they arrive. All adults and teenagers will assemble in Raper Hall. A continental breakfast will be served. The program will be a little different this year and be sure to plan and stay for the special service at the end. Registrations have been sent to all pastor and superintendents which includes a schedule of workshops and the program.

Please complete the registration and return by March 2, 2011. Cost of this year’s institution is $5.00 ages 4-11 /$20.00 for individuals ages 13 and up with a maximum of $70.00 for entire church. This cost covers all food and material for the day.

Dove Awards Nominations

In some slightly off-topic news, the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be on April 20, 2011 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA. The Dove Awards are handed out by the Gospel Music Association to recognize excellence in Christian music for the past year. Nominations were announced last week and can be found at the award’s website.

One nomination for song of the year is “Hold my Heart” by the band Tenth Avenue North, which has definitely enjoyed popularity on the contemporary Christian stations near me. When I went to the band’s YouTube page I found a clip where they explained their rationale behind the song, and it made me think of our camp theme, Crazy Love. As lead vocalist Mike Donehey explained,

… we’re on this earth, and we don’t have what we really want. Because what we should really want, if we’re lovers of Christ, what we should really want is to see Him face to face.

You can preview “Hold my Heart” as well as other Tenth Avenue North songs at the band’s website. Best wishes to this band and all the others heading for the Doves!

Here are the lyrics to “Hold my Heart:”

How long must I pray
Must I pray to You?
How long must I wait
Must I wait for You?
How long till I see Your face
See You shining through

I’m on my knees
Begging You to notice me
I’m on my knees
Father, will You turn to me

One tear in the driving rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart
One life, that’s all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You’re everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart

I’ve been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye
But if there’s no other way
I’m done asking why

So many questions without answers
Your promises remain
I can’t see but I’ll take my chances
To hear you call my name
To hear you call my name

2008 Essential Tunes / West Main Music / Formerly Music (SESAC) All rights admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC (SESAC). / Peertunes, Ltd. (SESAC) / Grange Hill Music (SESAC) / Windsor Way Music (SESAC). Grange Hill Music and Windsor Way Music administered by Peertunes, Ltd. / Phillip LaRue Publishing Designee (ASCAP)

What is “Crazy Love?”

Since its publication in 2008, this New York Times bestseller from pastor Francis Chan continues to challenge Christians to move beyond their comfort zone and become wildly, crazily in love with their Savior.

From the Crazy Love website:

Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy if you think about it. The God of the universe — the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and e-minor — loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not . . . we all know something’s wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts — it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Camp Theme

Welcome prospective campers. Mark your calendars for Cragmont Youth Conference (CYC), which will be June 13-18 this year. Our theme will be “Crazy Love,” based on the book by Francis Chan. Check out his ministry’s website for more information.