Fall Retreat 2009

We had a great weekend at Camp Willow Run studying through the Letter of James. Here are a few pics that recap the weekend.

Youth Fest

We took the youth to an all day Youth Fest a couple of weeks back. We had all intentions of getting there at noon and staying until things wrapped up, which was supposed to be 7 p.m. We were there for about an hour when it started pouring...really pouring! We waited in the van for an hour or so, the rain wasn't letting up. The youth decided they wanted to go eat at the mall instead of waiting for the rain to stop. This was probably a good choice because it rained off and on all day long! We did get a couple of pictures before the rains came!

Jessica and Ava

Brittney and Chelsie

Ava with Brittney and Chelsie

Hanging Out

End of Summer Pool Party

The Faircloths are always so generous to let us use their pool. They hosted our end of summer pool party for the youth. We had a great time playing games, swimming and of course eating! Thanks John and Valerie for making your home open and available to us!

Hanging Out

Jon, Emet, Corey and Sam

Ava loves the pool!

Some of the guys

Jon and Emet

Money Mike tossing Aaron into the pool!

Ryan knows how to pose for the camera!

Logan playing the rubber duck relay!

The kids had to lay on a raft and pull themselves across the pool...fun, fun!

Manning the Ropes

Natalie and the watermelon relay...

Sam...more watermelon relay!

Brotherly Love...Trey and Corey

Jason...one more watermelon shot!

Gospel Journey Begins This Wednesday

What is the Gospel Journey?

Gospel Journey is a reality series that includes seven strangers (from all different religious backgrounds) together for a week in the Rocky Mountains asking questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible. The seven strangers are an atheist, a minister's kid, a Christian, an Episcopalian, an agnostic, a Wiccan, and a city girl. No matther where you are spiritually, please come and join us on this journey as we watch their journey and pursue a journey of our own to better understand the gospel. Each Wednesday night we will first watch the reality series and then we as a group will discuss different aspects of the video. Here is their own description of the journey:

What happens when you bring together seven unlikely strangers, throw them right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and take them on a journey through the gospel message as it unfolds throughout the story of the Bible? Raw, real and riveting discussions, an emotional breakdown or two and a few shocking surprises! This unscripted reality series unleashes seven very different students on one unforgettable quest, to understand the gospel message straight from the pages of Scripture. Youth evangelist Greg Stier uses extreme challenges like white water rafting and rock climbing along with powerful illustrations from nature and life to lead these students on a journey toward Jesus in an edgy and relevant way.

When does Gospel Journey begin?

It begins THIS Wednesday, August 26 @ 6:30pm at Gorman Baptist Church. We will meet in the Youth Room on the 3rd floor. If you don't know where to go, just ask someone at our church to show you where to go and they will gladly help you.

Camping Trip Pictures

Here are a view pics from our "tretchin" camping trip. You can also see video of the trip by clicking on the "YouTube" logo to the right.

Our group hiking to Linville Falls

Our group at Linville Falls

John, Ryan, and Aaron Faircloth at Linville Falls

Daniel and Collin posing beside a rock face at Linville Falls

Chandler, Wesley, Dylan, and Chris in the Linville Gorge on the Linville River

Chris and Chandler in a waterfall at Harper Creek Falls

Our group at Harper Creek Falls

Our group at Wiseman's View looking out over the Linville Gorge

Daniel pushing Collin, Chelsie, and Brittney off the dock

Two happy (tretchin) campers: Brittney and Chelsie

Camping Trip Videos

We had a blast this past weekend camping along the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking in the Linville Gorge and in the Wilson Creek Wilderness Area. You can see some of the video from the weekend by clicking here or by clicking on the "YouTube" image to the right which will take you to our YouTube Channel. Here is one of the group sliding down Harper Creek Falls.

Camping Trip Details

We will be leaving tomorrow, July 9, @ 12pm from Gorman. We will eat supper on the road and then hopefully arrive at Bear-Den Campground in Spruce Pine, NC, by around 5:30pm. Cell phone service is not great in the mountains so if you can't get Pastor Jon (919) 201-9962 or your student you can call the campground at (828) 765-2888 and they can contact us. We will be hiking, swimming, and seeking God together till Monday. There isn't internet service readily available so I won't be posting updates until we get back on Monday. We hope to return sometime Monday early afternoon (hopefully by 2pm or so).

Mission Trip - Wednesday

This is just a quick Wednesday update. We have had a great but long day. This morning we served at the local school and made their entrance look amazing (cutting grass, planting flowers, etc.). We then ate lunch at a local park called "Purgatory Chasm." Then we headed back to the church to promote, set up and run the "Block Party." We didn't finish and get back to our lodge until 10:30pm. Well, I'll post more pictures tomorrow but below is a short video clip from the "Block Party."

Mission Trip - Tuesday

Today was another great day in Worcester, Ma. We were able to finish painting the dining room and kitchen at the church. We then went to a local school and cut some grass and picked up trash around their campus. We will be returning back their tomorrow to do some more work. We want show them the love of Christ in a practical way. After working at the school, we prepared for their Tuesday night Bible Study (Praise and Worship, "Slow Fade" skit, Children's Bible Study, Nursery, and Preaching). Continue to pray for our witness at the school where we will be serving at again tomorrow. Also, our big "Block Party" is tomorrow night and we will be giving away over 700 hotdogs along with balloon animals, drinks, and doing face painting. It will be a great opportunity to meet people in the community and share our faith with them. All of the students are doing a great job and everyone is staying healthy.

Hanging out waiting on lunch

In line for lunch

Chris and Daniel cutting grass at the school

Collin, Chelsie, and Brittney picking up trash at the school

The freshly painted dining room

Our amazing cooks: Cindy and Rhonda

Daniel, Chandler, and Jon leading in Praise and Worship

"Slow Fade" skit

Chris and Chandler playing with the kids in the nursery
Some of the kids in the "Children in Action" Bible Study

A funny video of Wesley in the recycling - he threw his trash in the wrong container

Mission Trip - Monday

We were able to accomplish a number of tasks today. We sorted and folded clothes for the Baby Boutique, we started the process of painting their dining room and kitchen, we made balloon animals for kids in the park and promoted the "Block Party" that we are throwing on Wednesday night. God has kept us all healthy and safe. We carried on many conversations with people in the park today and hopefully many will come to the "Block Party" on Wednesday night. Here are a few prayer requests: Tuesday night activities (Bible Study and Children in Action), Wednesday night Block Party, and boldness for our students in sharing their faith.

Painting the Dining Room

More of Painting the Dining Room

Sorting and Folding Clothes

Trey - He was a Champ with the Paint Bruth Today

Painting the Kitchen

In the Park