From the Summer 2024 edition of The Journey

Written by Maggie Watts, Caroline McCrorey and Ben Cox with the Church family

When Cline Church began planting Christmas trees through his Beaver Creek High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) program in Fleetwood during the 1970s, he never imagined that one day his farm would be growing the White House Christmas tree. But God had plans for Cline beyond what he could see.

Here’s how Cline tells how he got started: “My dad had some land on the farm that he let me start using and planting on. It was some of the roughest land on the farm. But of course, at that time, Christmas trees were such a new crop that a lot of farmers didn’t think it would ever become a lucrative industry.” The industry had really only begun in the 1950s nationally and there were still a lot of unknowns. 

At this time, the Christmas tree industry was young in North Carolina. Farm-grown Christmas trees were gaining popularity on the West Coast, but not yet in North Carolina. Cline said the North Carolina Forestry Service and North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension wanted to promote the Christmas tree industry in the state.

The FFA program partnered with the Forestry Service to promote Christmas tree farming throughout NC. The Forestry Service pledged that for every tree seedling the FFA students bought, they would give students another seedling for free. 

“We were beginning to see that there was a Christmas tree industry. There were already a few growers here,” Cline said.

Cline also met his future wife, Ellen, in high school. Ellen recalls spending her sixteenth birthday helping Cline plant Christmas trees on the family farmland. 

“Ellen and I started becoming friends, and even a little closer than friends, at a very early age. We were still in high school. I was driving the school bus route that she lived on. So she caught my eye. And next thing you know, I was pleading with her to go out with me,” Cline said. “I was fortunate enough a couple of years later to end up marrying her at a very young age.”

“I look back at those days and think, ‘God had to be in it,’” he said. “God is sovereign. He knew what he was doing because He knew what was ahead.”

Cline and Ellen chose to elope during their teenage years in the mid-1970s. While this decision might have garnered disapproval from some, the churches in their community welcomed them back from their honeymoon with unconditional love.

“We took off and we got married, and we didn’t have anything when we came back,” Ellen said. “Both churches where we went, and another church in the community, they all gave us showers. I’m still using pans and different things that I got then.” 

Cline shared, “Ellen’s father is probably the greatest man I’ve ever known,” and, “after we had gotten back, we were at church the following Sunday and he laid his hand on my shoulder, and he said ‘Everything will be alright.’ I’ll never forget that.”

When Cline and Ellen were married in the mid-1970s, the North Carolina Christmas tree industry was still in the preliminary stages of becoming what it is today. The couple faithfully planted Fraser Fir and White Pine seedlings. 

“We know that God had to be in it to give us the faith to plant little seedlings, and to think and believe that they were going to become something in seven or eight years that we could sell,” Cline said.

“All farmers are optimists,” Ellen added. “Christmas tree farmers are the ultimate optimists,” due to how long it takes the crop to become harvestable. 

Eleven years later, Cline and Ellen had their first child, Amber. Two years later, their son, Alex, was born. Amber and Alex were raised in the church, attending Vacation Bible School every summer and regularly participating in youth group events.

Amber recalls growing up in the church but having a personal encounter with Christ as a teenager. 

“I remember it vividly. I was in my bedroom by myself, and that conviction just came over me. I knew what to do”, she said. “I prayed. And I got up the next morning, and I felt different…I knew that I needed to be baptized. So, I was baptized when I was 17 in the river, down by the church I grew up at.”

God’s hand has remained over the Church family. The family has continued to faithfully follow Him and look to His guidance for running their Christmas tree farm over the decades. In the process, Cline Church served on the National Christmas Tree Association for 14 years and he met other Christian Christmas tree farmers from across the nation.

“I served on the board with several followers of Christ, like-minded people. I got to know a great Christian guy from Michigan and a great Christian family from Oregon,” Cline said. “A lot of Christmas tree growers don’t honor what the Christmas tree represents. But I was so fortunate to be able to get to know some of these other believers across the United States. And I’m so thankful they were there because they were an inspiration to us.”

The first Christmas tree can be traced to 16th-century German Protestant reformers. Many people believe Martin Luther decorated the first Christmas tree and passed the tradition on to other believers. The first Christmas trees were decorated as a way of celebrating Christ’s birth.

“It’s just so great to be part of an industry that represents such a great thing in the birth of Christ,” he said. The Christmas trees grown at Cline Church Nursery stand for the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ. 

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As Amber and Alex grew up, they became interested in Christmas tree farming as well. Cline, Ellen, Amber, and Alex now own and manage the Christmas tree farm together.

Amber said she feels like she and Alex are reaping the benefits of generational blessings.

“We're truly reaping the benefits of a generational blessing in being able to come in and take over a business that Mom and Dad have worked their whole lives for—harder than we are going to have to work because it's already off the ground. All we can do is to sustain and maybe grow, but they've paid a lot of the dues,” she said. “That generational blessing of faith and hard work is what I hope that we can carry out and instill in our children too.”

In 2022, Cline Church Nursery was awarded National Reserve Grand Champion, meaning they would provide the official tree for the Vice President’s residence, the Naval Observatory. The Churches met Vice President Kamala Harris and presented the champion tree to her – a 10 foot, North Carolina Fraser Fir. Nearly 30 of Cline Church Nursery’s trees along with garland and wreaths were purchased to round out decorating the Naval Observatory. 

Every other year, the National Christmas Tree Association hosts a national tree contest to elect the winners for the next two years. Winners are selected by industry officials and customers voting on the individual who will provide the White House Christmas tree. Cline Church Nursery was selected for the year 2023, and their tree sat in the Blue Room of the White House during the Christmas season. “We’ve competed in multiple competitions to achieve this accolade,” Amber said.

The tree that was selected was planted in 2004, when Amber and Alex were in high school.

“A tree that size in the White House is a symbol of perseverance. We have a lot of diseases that we combat with these trees. One that old and that big, that still looks good enough to where you can walk all the way around it and decorate all the way around and everything, is a big thing. You know, you have to persevere with whatever you're doing,” Ellen said.

“We were astonished when we actually went into the field and found six different trees that would actually meet the specifications. Often they only have two or maybe three to choose from,” Amber explained.

“I don't know how many times I've read Deuteronomy 31:8 in the last two months, but God literally went before us,” she said. “We didn't know what field we were going to. We were so shocked that we won. I don't know that we were prepared. But God's been preparing us and laying the way, and He completely went before us. That's exactly what Deuteronomy 31:8 teaches. He's just laid out a path, and we didn't even know it.”

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

God has plans for us beyond what we can see. He goes before and behind us, guiding our every step. Even though we do not know what the future holds, God holds it in the palm of His hand. 

Throughout their journey from planting small tree seedlings to presenting the White House Christmas tree, Cline Church Nursery has been amazed by the support from the High Country community.

Prior to sending the tree to Washington, D.C. Cline Church Nursery held a big, community cutting and send-off party on November 15th. This date is a big deal because it is not easy to dedicate time to one tree during this season. However, the party was more than just a celebration, it was a commissioning for the mission of the tree. Amber shared, “it may sound ridiculous, but you pray over a purpose right? We wanted it to have a purpose and a mission.” Joye Perry, pastor at New River Calvary Church, led the prayer for the tree.

“It’s been almost unbelievable. The support that we’ve had, basically all of our career, from the people around us and in the community. People that we’ve looked up to and the mentors that we’ve had,” Cline said. “We’ve been so fortunate to have that throughout the years.”

The Church’s opened this event to the public and were surprised by the turnout. They had between 200-250 people at their facility. Many were family, friends, neighbors, and church families, but there were also community members who the Churches did not know who wanted to support the business and pray over the tree. Likewise, the Churches felt like it was important to involve the community. Many community partners including the Ashe Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, and Ashe County Christmas Tree Association helped them throw this party. 

On Monday, November 20th, the Church family headed to Washington, D.C. to present the 18.5 ft Fraser Fir to the First Lady, Jill Biden. Along with the Church family was a representative from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, representatives from the National Christmas Tree Association, and Jennifer Greene with the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association. A week later, the First Lady announced the White House Holiday Theme: Magic, Wonder, and Joy. It was powerful for the Church family to see the tree they had faithfully watched grow stand tall in the Blue Room of the White House. For Amber and her brother, Alex, it was special to see three generations of Churches there.

On December 16th, 2023 the Church family was invited back to the White House to attend a holiday reception. During the reception they were able to freely circulate the first floor and take in the Christmas decorations. Amber shared that there were 98 Christmas trees throughout. She said,  “It excites me. It should excite us as Christians that they are decorating for [His] holiday. And it was beautiful. Plus, they’re supporting real Christmas tree farmers. They have an option; they could use artificial trees but because the industry has been diligent in keeping and supporting that relationship, we've been able to keep real Christmas trees in the White House since the 60s.”

Cline Church Nursery is continuing to provide High Country Christmas trees after 46 years in business. The Church family hopes to continue being good stewards of the resources that God has given them. “Rain, sunshine, and temperatures is 75% of what we do and it is completely out of our control,” Amber stated when sharing how this industry truly teaches one to depend on the Lord’s provision.

From the support of the local community to growing the White House Christmas tree, the Church family has seen God’s blessing upon their lives and business firsthand. Although they do not know what the future holds, they know God holds it in His hand.