Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove



Cove ¹  (kōv) n.

1. A small sheltered bay in the shoreline of a sea, river, or lake.

2.

     a. A recess or small valley in the side of a mountain.

     b. A cave or cavern.

3. A narrow gap or pass between hills or woods.

4. Architecture

     a. A concave molding.

     b. A concave surface forming a junction between a ceiling and a wall.

The month of May finds us serving at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove located near Asheville, North Carolina, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The Center exists to train Christ followers on how to share the Gospel or "Good News" of Jesus to an ever changing culture.  One of the dictionary definitions of  "Cove" is a recess or small valley in the side of a mountain.  This place is definitely a beautiful hideaway in the side of a lovely mountain. In architecture it is a concave surface forming a junction between a ceiling and a wall. The Cove is also a junction between the truths of God's Word and it's practical application to a desperate world around us.  

They have four RV sites for volunteers that were built by Sowers.  Each site has full hookups and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.  There are laundry facilities and a pavilion that we can use for group times.

Ruth Graham wanted the Cove to have the same feel as the Blue Ridge Parkway that passes nearby.

There are plenty of hiking trails across the 1,200 acres.

There are several groups of  wild Turkeys wandering the Cove

The Chapel and Visitor's Center

Two of us spent the first week power washing the decks and scrubbing the railings that surround the Chapel.  There are about 800 feet of railings.  We had great weather with highs in the 80's and no humidity.  This week we applied a sealer on the decks.  These simple tasks are a huge help to the maintenance staff.  One guy helped with some carpentry and one is a mechanic and spends his time repairing the vehicles and machinery used by the ministry.

Jane is back in her favorite place, the laundry.  She also helps out with housekeeping as well.

We climbed Mt. Mitchell (in the truck of course)

When I behold the beauty of Your Grandeur, who am I that the King would bleed and die for?

6,684 Feet.  Didn't know eastern mountains were that far up.  We can see for miles and miles!

Fireplace in Training Center Lobby

Our team mates.  Millie and Russ and Gloria and Homer are from the Poconos in PA.  Tony and Amy are from the twin cities in Minnesota.  Amy was away the first week and joined us on Thursday.  We were about to have dinner in the lovely dining room.

Asheville is just a few miles across Interstate 40

This street mime had an amazing act.  Not sure exactly how he did it.  Must be an apparatus that allows him to sit back this far. 

Street musicians on lots of corners

This hay loader is from the farm that Billy Graham grew up on.  It reminds me that the work of evangelism consists of sowing seed, cultivating, fertilizing, and reaping.  God is at work at the Cove training workers for His harvest.

The Cross of Christ on the Chapel rising high above the tree line.  So it is in the world we live in.  Often hidden in the leaves of life.  Our God is at work in the hearts of many, revealing Himself, rising above the distractions, opening the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, the mouths of the dumb.  Bringing to His throne worshippers for His Glory.

It was and is the heart's desire of Billy and Ruth Graham that the Cove would be used by God to train up workers for the harvest.  Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send workers into His harvest.  It is our pleasure and privilege to serve the Lord of the Universe as He works in the lives of disciples at the Cove. 

Your prayers are appreciated for us as we wrap up our work here the end of next week.  We will return to Summerville for the arrival of Wren, our sixth grandchild and fourth granddaughter.  Pray for Maribeth for a safe delivery.

Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane

Lake Placid Florida

We arrived at Lake Placid Conference Center on Friday the 7th and the first two weeks have flown by.  We are here with 7 other Sower couples and around 20 couples from a ministry connected to the Nazarines called Roamers ( R Ver's on a mission).  We have devotions together each morning before setting out on our projects. 



The wagons are circled in. 

The Conference Center is located on the grounds of an estate originally built in the 1920's by Melvil Dewey the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System.  The lodge is an original structure and houses the dining rooms as well as some lodging upstairs.

The architecture is magnificent and has a Spanish flair with many arches and wrought iron railings and window frames.

The first weekend we were here there were middle schoolers everywhere.  They have a large auditorium and the kids were having a great time.  As the groups were arriving Friday night, it was good to hear them talking, clowning around, and getting acquainted.  The Gospel is going forth and lives are being changed as a result!

Our team comes from Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Canada, Rome Georgia, Florida, and of course, South Carolina

Jane has been painting mostly.  In this picture they are putting the finishing touches on an office for the Chef that was remodeled by the January Sower team.  The men on our team have been remodeling a large bathroom in one of the dormitories.  There are eight shower stalls and all of the flooring was removed and the toilet, sink, and shower dressing areas are being fitted with ceramic tile.

The Conference Center hosts various groups from Ladies Retreats to large youth groups. They have a ropes course, zip line, soccer/football fields, basketball courts, and pictured here, a water slide and of course, the lake.

This past weekend there was a group of married couples here from Miami for a retreat . 

Anyone for Frisbee golf or basketball?

There was also a group here last weekend from Latin American countries, sponsored by a ministry in Fort Myers.  These children were enjoying the playground.

The lake is beautiful and usually very placid.  The lake originally had a different name, but the town renamed it Lake Placid due to the influence of Mr. Dewey who was from Lake Placid, New York.

The boats are ready for an influx of folks this weekend.

There is usually a gentle breeze coming off the lake.  We have had marvelous weather since being here.  It appears the cold wave we had last month is not affecting us as much as the rest of the country.

The cross on top of the bell tower can be seen from across the campus.  It is exciting to see the ministry vision the staff has.  Folks are brought face to face with the good news that Jesus Christ is the answer to all of life's issues.

We will be here for one more week and will be heading back to Summerville.  We will be home for March and, Lord willing, will be heading back to Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East Maryland for April.  Jane's Dad will turn 91 at the end of April and we will be able to be there for Easter as well.

We appreciate your continued prayer for us.  Safety is always on the forefront as we work.  We are so thankful for the opportunity to serve our Lord with Sowers.

Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane

Movin on ...

 

The Happy Campers have finished our project at Pioneer Village in Wauchula Florida.  We had a great experience and made some special friends.  Our work was rewarding as both Jane and I were able to get a deeper understanding of God's calling on this ministry and how the three spokes of Sherry White Ministries work together.  Lydia's House, Mercies of David, and Pioneer Village. 

The first two serve as group homes for women and men coming out of destructive lifestyles while Pioneer Village provides life skills through interaction with the animals and working the soil, as well as a place of restoration for the families.  We saw the process in action and were very impressed and moved by the dedication of simple folks responding to God's call to reach the "down and out" with a hand up, not a handout.

Our sower partners, Vernon and Reta Esch were great team mates. Jane and Reta worked at the Mustard Seed, the thrift store located in town.  Vernon and I did a number of tasks at the farm.  In one of the outbuildings we built shelving and rewired some electrical outlets and lights in the workshop area. 



We installed windows in the cabin as well as insulation and T111 paneling in the ceiling.

We had the privilege of working with Bud Bowling, a master carpenter and volunteer.  Bud and his wife Gariann are from Oregon and have come to Pioneer Village for a number of winters.  Gariann works in the office and Bud has built many of the structures and is putting the finishing touches on the first cabin.

Dedication of "Heaven's Cabin" on family day.  The cabin is named in honor of  Heaven, the daughter of one of the graduates of the Lydia's House program.  Heaven and her mother will be the first to stay in the cabin later this month.  A dream come true for both Heaven and her mom, but equally important, a milestone of hope for the future ministry to people in bondage. 

Vernon and I finishing the repairs from a plumbing leak at Lydia's House

Lydia's House entry foyer.  The house is uniquely appointed for serving up to 20 ladies.

Reta, Jennifer, and Jane at the Mustard Seed thrift store.

We will miss the Chickens foraging around our yard.  Won't miss watching where you step :)

Will also miss the fresh eggs and vegetables but most importantly the fellowship we enjoyed here.

And so we hitched up and moved on to Bonita Springs arriving just in time to welcome

Bowen Kole Eckert

He was born on Saturday, February 1st weighing 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 1/4 inches long.

His first name, Bowen, is Jane's family name and his middle name, Kole, was Mark's great, great, Grandfather's name, George Conrad Kole Sample.  Mark revisited the family Bible on Sunday to see the entry of his birth and found that he was also born on February 1st, 1854

Mark's Grandparents

Four Generations of guys

Bill and Lillian are Mark's Mom's Parents

We will camp out here at Rachel's for the next week.  We report on Friday, February 7th, to the Lake Placid Conference Center in central Florida.  Not sure what that project holds in store for us but we are confident that as we go with a servant's heart we will enjoy whatever God has in store. 

In the mean time we are enjoying the birth of our fifth grandchild.  We will be able to visit him on the weekends from Lake Placid, which is about two hours from Rachel's. 

And the hits just keep on coming as we learned at Christmas that our daughter, Maribeth, will have our sixth grandchild and fourth granddaughter in late May or early June.

We are truly blessed!
Thanks again for joining us in the Journey...

Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane

Pioneer Village

With the arrival of 2014 we have reconvened our Journey with Sowers Ministry.  We arrived at Pioneer Village, located in central Florida just outside of the town of Wauchula, on Saturday January 11th.

 

The village is a 25 acre farm that serves as an oasis of God's creation for families who's lives have been broken by destructive lifestyles.  www.pioneervillagewauchula.com

The farm is an integral part of recovery for men and women who commit to a one year program aimed at breaking the bondage of past sin and equipping them to resume life in the victory of Christ.

The farm is an extension of Lydia's House  http://lydias-house.com/ and The Mercies of David  http://www.merciesofdavid.com which are the group homes for the ladies and men.  These homes and the farm are the vision of Sherry White and her husband Mark. 

Sherry envisioned a late 1800's village for weekly family visits to begin the process of rebuilding relationships.  A safe and fun place that would have a general store and farm animals that moms, dads, and children could interact with.  Chickens, rabbits, goats, buggy rides and a Family Center for fellowship dinners and events.  It would have some cabins for overnight stays and a fishing pond.

Well the vision is coming together.  The animals are here, the Family Center is built, the first cabin is almost complete, and the pond is ready for fishin.

The farm is also used to grow produce for consumption by the folks in the recovery program.  The ladies are canning many varieties of vegetables as they ripen.  There are shelves loaded with jars of pickles, corn, tomatoes, beans, okra, peppers.  This is Florida and the growing season continues on.  Mark was tilling new beds today getting ready for a new crop of produce.

Our Sower partners on this project are Reta and Vernon Esch from Lancaster PA.  They have been sowers for eleven years and do 4 to 6 projects each year.  They served at Sandy Cove a few years ago and have also served with Doris and Frank Hutchison, the couple we were with at Sandy Cove in September.  This is their second time serving at Pioneer Village.

Jane and Reta are working in the Thrift Store the ministry operates in the town of Wachula, which is about 5 miles from the farm.  Today, Monday the 13th, is our first day of work.  Vernon and I are building some racks for storing rakes and shovels, etc. in one of the outbuildings.  Mark has a laundry list of projects for us to do over the next three weeks.  They sure appreciate the help the Sower teams provide.

We enjoyed attending the Worship service held in the Family Center on Sunday.  The ladies shared praise music and one of the staff, Rita, shared about her own journey over the past year, as Sunday was the first anniversary of her stepping out by faith to serve the ministry full time.  Her story was a fresh reminder of God's faithfulness.

We appreciate your continued prayers for safety as we work here.  Also my lower back has been acting up for several months and I covet your prayers for God's sustaining power.

We are a little under two hours from Rachel and Mark in Bonita Springs.  We plan on visiting them on the weekends.  Rachel is due to deliver our second grandson on January 21st.  Your prayers for her are appreciated as well.

Thanks again for joining us in the Journey.

Godspeed,  Glenn and Jane

PS  

At our last project our Sower partner Doris was hospitalized with pancreatitis.  We are glad to report that she is fully recovered.  We had dinner with Doris and Frank, along with other Sower couples that are serving at projects that are near ours around Lake Wales.