The water rose, but He carried us.
Before we left, our children laid hands on their makeshift tent of stuffed animals and prayed God would protect it. That tent, sitting in the lowest part of the house, remained completely dry even as the rest of the house flooded. The lantern they left flickering was shining brighter than ever when the waters receded, standing as a sign to their little hearts that prayer matters and God hears.
Read MoreI’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the tragic events of September 27, 2024, this week. (It was fitting that it rained all week). We saw God move in powerful ways. People cried out to God in their desperation & people were saved. Countless needs were met. Our church swung open the doors & overnight we 1) became Walmart, 2) a Red Cross shelter & 3) the operation center for the best disaster relief agency in the world. You left your damage homes & worked around the clock to bring the love of Christ to the community. Samaritan’s Purse brought in 16,000 people through this room. Our church raised & distributed over a half million dollars. Can you believe we got to be part of that? All praise to the Lord! Make sure to share these stories. Give them voice & never forget what God did.
Read MoreOn Friday nights, the coaches and players may gather for a chapel service led by team Chaplain Reggie Hunt. “Again, the first Friday night it’s about 20 players, then the following is 30 players, and then it’s about 50 to 60 when it’s all said and done. We wanna give everyone the opportunity to lead your life in Christ. We can’t make that mandatory, but we always encourage it, and it’s important to be able to fulfill your life,” Clark said.
Read MoreCrossnore offers a phenomenal living situation. It is not a treatment center, but a children’s home, even though facets of a treatment center are in practice on campus. The campus covers 85 acres and has its own barn with rescue horses. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is available to all children. There are six licensed therapists on staff to deal with the complex trauma that most of the kids have experienced. Each cottage houses eight to ten kids, along with the Cottage Parents.
Read MoreJean describes the establishment of Ebenezer Children’s Home as leaps of faith, promises fulfilled, and lives being touched. She recalls one day in the early months of establishing Ebenezer’s when there were three potatoes to feed five kids. Jean did not resort to Facebook or the Internet, nor did she text anyone. She simply got down on her knees and prayed, “God, thank you for our supper tonight. We are going to be thankful for everything you give us and for whatever you send in.”
Read MoreMy fondest memories at the college are of the times when the students would show up on our doorstep because they wanted to talk, or just hang out. My wife and I always had our door open to anyone who wanted to converse, eat a meal, or simply throw football. I recall a time not so long ago that two young men knocked on our door. When Rosanne answered they said, “Can the Chancellor come out and play?” Rosanne happily responded with, “I’m sure he’d love to, but he’s not home yet.” When I came home that evening, I threw Frisbee with those gentlemen, and we had the best time. The kids will tell you that I bless them, but I can honestly say that these kids keep me energized and full of hope. They bring so much positivity into my life.
Read MoreEvangelism is so different from pastoring a church. Years ago, those who were known to have the ministry of an evangelist would go preach revivals at churches every weekend. In that time period, you didn’t have to go to another nation to be a missionary. You could preach 3540 times a year and all the churches would support it. But now the spiritual climate has changed and our culture has changed and it is not like it once was back in the day. Since churches are declining not many are doing revival services anymore.
Read MoreOne day, December 27, 1999 to be exact, my daughter Lindsay, who was thirteen at the time, asked me to go look at the computer. I said, “It’s not that site is it?” She kind of side-stepped the question, so I reluctantly went into the room and agreed to let my wife show me the pictures of the children they wanted me to see.
Read MoreThe first week of May 2000 was a life-changing time for Emma in her new American home. Andy and Cay Harkins of Boone had just returned from northern Vietnam, their daughter Emma’s place of birth, as they finalized their adoption journey. A few days later, on Friday, May 7, Emma turned one year-old, surrounded by her loving new community and three older sisters.
Read More‘Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.’ Grandparents at High Country Caregivers often tell their grandchildren this when they plan an activity with the agency. On Sept. 26, the creeks, rivers, and streams did indeed rise; the wind gusts reached up to 90 mph for 12 hours. Homes floated away, entire roads, bridges, and communities were wiped off the map and best-laid plans changed forever. Hurricane Helene had arrived in the mountains.
Read MoreI’m proud of them for following the calling the Lord placed on their life to bring our family to America. But the topic of immigration is a multi-faceted one that will only show you one thing: our nation’s immigration system is broken. It is hanging by a thread, and people who really want to be here, who want to contribute to the economy with all they have and all they are, are the ones most affected by its brokenness.
Read MoreMy mind needed to get wrapped around what my heart really wanted to believe. I had a similar experience to the late Billy Graham, when he said he just spread the Bible out at one point and told the Lord, “I’m going to believe it. Now you have to help me know why I believe it.”
Read MoreI believe that Faithfest serves as a powerful example to the Church in America of what can happen when God’s Church comes together in a spirit of unity and purpose. In order for you to know why I feel so strongly about this, you need to know a little of my personal background and history.
Read MoreI left my partying ways and spent a lot of time alone, writing poetry, trying to reach out to a God who I wasn’t sure was real. Once, in my desperation, I knelt beside my bed with a Bible and said to God, something like this: “Look, I don’t know if you’re real. I could just be talking into the air. But, if you are real, I need some sign of hope. Since I don’t believe that you’re going to talk to me in an audible voice, I’m going to randomly open this Bible and I’m going to ask you to speak to my situation.” The Bible was at my sister’s house and had belonged to my dad. I guess she had it because he had many others.
Read MoreIt is an early fall morning and I sit, sipping freshly brewed coffee, peering out my window, trying to get a glimpse of a new morning that God has given to me, yet again. But dense fog hugs the ground as if to prolong the season’s change to winter. I, for one, am in agreement with the fog this morning. I want to prolong the transition from fall to winter myself for winter is the season which challenges me from all sides—spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. However, in my life as a shepherdess, there are blessings to every season.
Read MoreMy life has been an unusual one: full of adventure, danger and excitement. It has also been a life filled with God’s unending love and grace. Psalm 68:20 is very special to me. “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” 1 John 4:8 says “...God is love.” 4:9 “…and God showed His love for us by sending His only Son into the world, so that we might have life through Him.” When I became saved on March 30, 1996, the Lord revealed these words to me. “Life is all about love, Tom, and God is love.” Truer words have never been spoken.
Read MoreI love how God works. Not only has He provided me with an amazing family, God has given me a huge network of support, the best friends anyone could ask for, terrific extended family members, an outstanding church family at Brushy Fork Baptist Church, and He’s blessed me with a wonderful occupation as Director of Blowing Rock Parks & Recreation.
Read MoreThe day my dad died, my ministry changed! Until Dad’s death, I had preached and sung with my wife Becky all over the US, starting 7 churches. I would stay with the churches as their pastor until they were strong enough to support a full-time preacher of their own, and then I would move on, preaching and singing with Becky until we were able to find another core group of Christians strong enough to build another church. But, I never felt I was “discharging all the duties of my ministry.” I felt like I had to keep entertaining them and telling them what their itching ears wanted to hear if I wanted them to stay and the church to continue to grow. I needed to “Preach the Word!” I needed to preach all of it, including the doctrinal commands no one wanted to hear!
Read MoreA friend of mine, to whom I am eternally thankful, asked me to go with her to her church after I left my husband, and I readily accepted her invitation. Since I was starting fresh with a new apartment, and a new job, in a town where I had few friends, I knew going to church might get me back on the right path.
Read MoreThe CMA has allowed me to go in to places, because of a motorcycle and a black leather vest, that otherwise I would not be able to enter. The CMA has done such a great work, not only in the United States, but internationally. Their ministry is incredible. I feel truly honored to be a part of it.
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