Looking up...

Last week we had a great group of guys from Roebuck (SC) Baptist that came and got started on a new ceiling in the gym. The original plan was to just patch, but as you can see from the picture, the new plan is to cover the entire ceiling. They got one section finished and it looks great! Thanks guys! Now who wants to do the other 5 sections...? :-)

Mountain Heritage

As you may know, the first couple of years we were here, we hosted a Fall Festival here on Campus. Last year the team that was coming to help us do that (Ivy Creek Baptist - Buford, GA) could only come on the same weekend that the town of Whitesburg was having their Mountain Heritage Festival. Not wanting to try to compete with that, we decided to try having a booth at Mountain Heritage instead. We gave away popcorn and bottled water and had spin art and bead bracelets for the kids. We had a great time and said that we wanted to try it again.

Careful what you ask for! :-)

This year's booth was a HUGE success. Yes, we gave away bottled water and popcorn (about 4 times as much as last year), but we also had coloring books and crayons, free Bibles, spin art and... ta da! CRAZY HAIR! Yes, CRAZY HAIR! Now if you are like I was, and don't know what that is, I'll include a picture below. Basically it amounts to a crazy hairdoo made with everything from colored ribbons to hair-sprayed color to glitter to baloons to tiki umbrellas to... well, you get the idea. This was a huge success. The ladies from Ivy Creek were swamped from the moment they opened for hairdoo's each day until the festival closed that night. Folks were lined up and waited patiently so that they could sport their own personally and uniquely created "doo".

One of the ladies that works on the committe to organize the festival said she had never seen anything like it and begged Ivy Creek to come back next year! She said the Festival had the best atmsophere she had ever seen and said she felt it was because of the spirit and attitude of the folks in the Calvary Campus booth! I think we have a long running egagement in the works.

All of this was wonderful, but it was not the primary purpose we had the booth. All the give-away stuff was intended to help everyone have a good time - yes, but also to help get the word out about all the things that are going on at Calvary Campus and all the different ministry opportunities. We also took prayer requests and even had the opportunity to pray with folks right then and there. What a great weekend this was. Thanks so much to the folks from Ivy Creek and everyone else who helped make the Calvary Campus booth a success. Pray with us that the seeds that were planted through the Bibles given away, the coloring books, the prayer times, words of encouragement spoken and many other ways will reap a bountiful harvest in people's lives.

View from our front porch

Yes, Fall has arrived. The leaves are turning, the air is crisp (at the moment-43 degrees), and we've only had to cut the grass once in the last 2 1/2 weeks. Every time the seasons change I have a new favorite, it seems (although Spring really is my personal #1). I love this time of the year, when a campfire is about the best thing you can do with your leisure time, a fleece pullover feels really good and stew or chili "hits the spot" better than anything. We hope you are enjoying this time of year and remembering the Creator who made it all and made it possible for us to enjoy it. Have a great day!

Really?!?!

It's hard to belive, but it has been 17 1/2 years since we brought a 4lb baby boy home from the hospital. Austin is a Senior this year and the task is upon us (mostly him) to decide where he will be going to college next year. This last week we drove over to The University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY and got "the tour". We all really enjoyed it and were duly impressed. We have 2-3 other schools that are in the initial consideration phase, so pray with us that the Lord's leading will be clear to Austin and us and that He will make a way.

New Friends

One of the greatest joys that we have experienced since moving to KY has been how the Lord has brought so many new and wonderful friends into our lives. Back in July we were introduced to a couple from SC, Gil and Debbie Thomas. They have been sensing for some time that the Lord may be moving them into doing some kind of ministry, but just have not been sure of where that would be or what that would look like. Gil's background is in construction and operating heavy equipment and both of them have been very involved in missions and missions leadership for some time. Last week they came and spent a week with us here at the Campus, praying and seeking God's will.

Praise the Lord, they will be back Monday or Tuesday of next week and at this point in time, we are not sure how long they will stay. We do know that it looks like they will be spending a lot of time at the Campus in the next few months, helping out with construction and renovation and different ministry activities and events. Pray with us and them as we all seek God's will for our lives and the ministry here.

The Greater Work

Many years ago, the author of "My Utmost for His Highest", Oswald Chambers, wrote these words:

"Prayer does not prepare us for the greater works. Prayer is the greater work."

We subscribe to this wholeheartedly. We often remind folks that while they may not be intimately acquainted with our daily needs, challenges and issues, the great God that they lift us up to is. He alone is aware of all these things (even better than we are ourselves), and He alone is able to meet those needs, conquer those challenges and deal with those issues.

We thank you for lifting us up to the Father. We pray for you as well. Thanks also to the ladies of Sandy Springs Baptist for prayer-walking the Campus while you were here. May we all be engaged daily in The Greater Work.

Kentucky Elk

You may know that the state of Kentucky has been repopulating the mountain areas with elk for the past several years. The herd is healthy and doing very well and is estimated to be around 6,000 in number. This past Thursday night, our good friend and neighbor and Lieutenant with Kentucky Game and Fish, Frank Campbell, took us and the team from Walton, KY up to an elk viewing area in Knott County, about 35 minutes from the Campus. Homer Pigman with Kentucky Game and Fish also came and drove several folks in the group.

We drove around the area for a few minutes and saw a couple of elk from a great distance and then Frank took us to another spot where we saw at least 58 elk! It was so awesome to be able to watch these gorgeous animals in this wild habitat. There was a great mix of bulls, cows and loads of calves and even Frank commented on how great this particular herd was looking. We sat and watched them until almost dark, enjoying the cool mountaintop breeze and the beautiful sunset. It was an evening we won’t soon forget. Come visit us and we’ll be glad to take you up and try to find some elk.