Calvary Campus, the blog

AWESOME NEWS FLASH!

2010-10-25T11:48:00.003-04:00

After almost 7 years of praying for an equestrian ministry director for Calvary Campus, the LORD has opened up the floodgates of blessing! As I type this blog entry, the Pardo Family from Banner Elk, NC is packing up their household, tools, horses, hay, tack and "the whole nine yards" to move to Calvary Campus and start laying the groundwork for what will be "Revelation Ranch Equestrian Ministry". (By the way, the name and ministry philosophy is based on Eph 1:17).

Ricardo, his wife Peri, and their children will begin moving in THIS WEEK and we can't tell you how excited we are about that. The LORD has really bonded our hearts together in ways only the Holy Spirit could do! Look forward to hearing more about the ministry and ways you can be involved in the coming days! In the meantime, rejoice with us as we proclaim; "To God be the glory, great things He has done!!"

Mountain Heritage Festival 2010

2010-10-02T08:36:00.006-04:00

What a great weekend we had with friends from Ivy Creek Baptist from Buford, GA, and 4 other churches helping us with our booth at Mountain Heritage Festival in Whitesburg!

We gave away 300 Bibles, 1,300 bags of popcorn, 1,450 bottles of cold water, 500 "God Loves Me" coloring books, recorded and prayed for over 300 individual prayer requests, and did over 400 "crazy hair" hair-doo's - all in the saving name of Jesus!

Family Life Center

2010-09-06T10:17:00.002-04:00

Just wanted you to know that guys from the Greenville (SC) Baptist Association came up last week and sanded and put two coats on the gym floor. It looks awesome! P\These same pictures are also posted on the Calvary Campus FaceBook page.

Now we'll need to sand and paint the 'out-of-bounds' areas, get the court area striped, and then more coat(s) to finish. It's so great to see this floor (along with the rest of the Family Life Center) restored to its original beauty! To God be the glory, great things He has done!

WOW, what a summer it has been!

2010-07-16T16:18:00.002-04:00

Things have been pretty hectic around here, with mission teams back to back. We'll begin posting here again soon, just wanted to drop a note to let you know we are still around, just staying busy with what the Lord is doing. Details to follow...

1st Baptist Church - Duncanville, TX

2010-03-22T12:17:00.004-04:00

This past week we had the pleasure of the the Acteens (teen ladies) mission team from 1st Baptist Church in Duncanville, TX. These you ladies were a joy and an inspiration to have serving here with us.

In the mornings, most of the group went to the Blackey Senior Adult Center where they conducted something similar to a VBS for seniors. They played games, did crafts together, sang songs of praise and heard Bible stories each morning, then ate lunch with their new friends. Some of the girls have been here before, so they were actually renewing friendships from trips in the past.

A portion of the group spent their mornings at Letcher Elementary School where they worked on several bulletin boards, assisted with a Headstart reading program and put together a prayer room for the teachers and staff.

In the afternoons, they hosted an after-school Kid's Club here on the Campus. Games, crafts, food (snacks), and fun were on the agenda as nearly 40 kids came each day to learn about how big God is and how He can do anything, forgive anything, use anybody, and save anybody!

It was a wonderful week and we are so thankful to these Christ-like ladies for their service and hard work, but especially for their sweet spirits and great attitudes!

Winter is back

2010-01-26T15:16:00.002-05:00

Yes, after a two week reprieve (highs in the 40's and 50's) from the the bitterly cold temps and constant snow and ice, we are now headed back into the throws of winter. It is snowing as I type this blog entry, the low tonight is 21, and it will be back down in the single digits by this weekend. Well, into each life some... well, you know the rest. It will just help us appreciate Spring that much more when it comes.

The last few weeks have been "quietly busy" around the Campus, with some visitors, CAPS class last week, and making final plans for the mission teams this summer. If you are thinking of coming this summer, we still have some time left in July and August, but NOW would be the time to call and make your reservations.

We will be visiting with some of you in your churches soon, and we are looking forward to seeing you and sharing with you all that the Lord has been doing here. If you would like for us to come and share at your church about Calvary Campus, or if you are looking for an Annie Armstrong Easter Offering speaker, please give us a call or email us. We will be glad to come to as many churches as we can. We love to tell His Story!

Stay warm and dry and we hope to see you soon!!

.

The latest Calvary Compass!!

2009-12-04T17:48:00.001-05:00

The most recent version of The Calvary Compass, our ministry newsletter, is now posted and available to read online at www.CalvaryCampus.org. The paper version should be back from the printer and mailed out sometime next week.

Voices of Appalachia Christmas Concert

2009-12-01T08:35:00.003-05:00

Alice Lloyd College's "Voices of Appalachia" Concert Choir will present an evening of Christmas music on Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00 PM in the Calvary Campus Main Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served following the concert. We would love for you to jon us.

Windows/Doors in the Nehemiah Dorm

2009-11-25T12:16:00.005-05:00

Well, I guess we'll just have to start where we are and go backwards to catch everybody up on all that has been going on for the last several months. Our latest team, a combined team made up of men from Roebuck Baptist in Roebuck, SC, Southside Baptist in Spartanburg, SC, and Ivy Creek Baptist in Buford, GA was here this past weekend and installed windows and doors in the Nehemiah Dorm.

These men did a great job and many thanks to them, as well as many thanks to all who contributed toward the purchase of windows! With the generous amount you gave, combined with a great discount from Magnolia Window and Door in Baldwin, GA and TRIM-CO in Winder, GA selling us those windows at their cost, we were also able to purchase and install the front and back doors as well!

Our cup overflows, thanks to everyone who had a part, and all praise and glory to the giver of every good and perfect gift, our Heavenly Father!

The Campus blog is back!

2009-09-19T12:21:00.003-04:00

After a four month lack of posting, we are now officially back "on-line" with the blog here. It has been a hectic, yet very productive summer and we'll be posting pictures here soon of some of the work and ministry that has been going on. We also are working on the final draft of the next newsletter that will be mailed out and also posted on the website. Thanks for keeping up with what God is doing here. Many blessings to you and yours!

Southside Baptist Men's Ministry - April 3-4

2009-05-11T19:37:00.020-04:00

Our next team was from Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. These guys came to paint the room they started working on in February. The Son Room will be utilized as a recreation room and quiet room for the mission teams. We also managed to squeeze in a side trip to Knott County to look at the elk herd. Thanks guys!

FBC Duncanville, TX Acteens - March 15-20

2009-04-07T14:29:00.023-04:00

Our next mission team was a fantastic group of ladies and young ladies known as Acteens from First Baptist Church in Duncanville, TX. These ladies drove nearly 1,000 miles over two days to get here and STILL had great attitudes and servants hearts once they arrived. This was their 2nd trip to Calvary Campus and we were glad to have them back.

During the week they hosted a VBS for senior adults at the Blackey Senior Adult Center in the mornings, hosted an after-school Kid's Club in the afternoons on Campus, and still found time to paint fence, build two new picnic tables, and do lots of clean-up around the Campus. On Wednesday of that week, 3 kids prayed to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! What a great week it was, and we are looking forward to many more like it, as they have committed to come back again next year!

UAB - BCM ~~ March 8-12

2009-04-04T23:09:00.018-04:00

Hurray for the home team! This week we had a team of college students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham come and work and minister with us. They did everything from digging (and I do mean DIGGING) out the basement/crawl space of the Nehemiah Dorm, to doing a VBS type program with the senior adults at the Cowan Senior Adult Center, to painting fence and picking up around the Campus, to leading services at the Hindman Student Center, to helping with the after-school program at Letcher Elementary School. Their attitudes were amazing, their physical labor demanding and the ministry was sweet and Christ-honoring. They developed relationships with 8 year olds and 80 year olds and had a great time doing it. Go Blazers!

Spring is coming!

2009-02-28T15:56:00.004-05:00

This morning after changing out the sign, feeding the horses and doing some work up by the gym, I was walking back down toward the apartment building when I was stopped in my tracks. Even amidst the cold rain of the day, predictions of 1-3 inches of snow for tomorrow and temps in the low teens for next week, God sent us a reminder that Spring is on the way! On the end of the football field nearest the Nehemiah Dorm, up on the bank where all the junipers were planted last Fall, there was a burst of color from God's paintbrush. He says "See, I make all things new."

Facebook

2009-02-26T09:04:00.002-05:00

Jamie Reynolds is on Facebook now, so if you're a FB'er and you'd like to keep up with what's new with the Reynolds, then let us know.

Also, while your team is here, be sure to check my Mobile Photo Album for picture updates of what is going on that week.

Southside Baptist Church Men's Ministry- Spartanburg, SC

2009-02-07T19:19:00.010-05:00

February 5-7 brought the Men's Ministry Mission Team from Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. They came to clean out and gut out one of the large classrooms in the Admin Building and then framed up stud walls, pulled new electric and sheetrocked. After the sheetrock has been taped, mudded and sanded, they will be back to piant and put down new carpet. This room, soon to be called the "Son Room", will be utilized as a multi-purpose room for recreation and relaxation. Mission teams and other groups will be able to play ping-pong and foosball, read, sit and talk, have group devotions and group meetings and many other things. Thanks Southside men! Great job!

Gym door hardware

2009-02-03T16:39:00.007-05:00

Over the weekend of January 23-25, Scott Sims and Lamar Bullock from Ivy Creek Baptist in Buford, GA were here. Not only did they help us purchase the push bar type of hardware for the gym doors, but they also came all the way up to install it. The home-made front doors even ahd to be cut down and rebuilt so that the doors would work properly and meet code. We are now one step closer to having the gym open. Many thanks to Scott and Lamar and all the folks at Ivy Creek.

Stalls Enclosed

2009-02-03T12:06:00.004-05:00

Thanks to the hard work of Richard Bowers, Gil Thomas and the Reynolds family, the 6 new horse stalls are now completely enclosed with the exception of where the doors will go. This has already helped tremendously in knocking off the wind and weather from the inside of the stalls. Many thanks to all the groups that helped and contributed to this project. Now does anyone know of an Equestrian Ministry Director looking for a place to serve...?

A new and glorious morn!

2008-12-27T00:54:00.004-05:00

Early Christmas morning, before Rachael and the kids got up, I went up to the barn to feed Rolex. After he was fed and I put him and some hay out in the pasture, I was walking out of the barn and turned to close the door and it hit me. It was just like this, 2000 years ago. Born on a cold night in a stable, with animals and hay and straw and dirt floors, Jesus set aside the glory of Heaven, humbled Himself into the body of a human, and came into this world to save us from our sins.

I had my iPod in my pocket playing Christmas music and at just that moment I heard the song that was playing..."O Holy Night". All of a sudden, it hit me... the barn, the smells, the crisp, cold air and the realization/reminder that He did all that for you and me. Wow. I just stood there for a minute, taking it all in, and just as I turned to go, the song got to the part... "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!"

As I turned, I looked up and the sun was just breaking through the early morning clouds and fog over the mountain top. I have to tell you... I was overwhelmed. God sent His Son because He loves us. What a new and glorious morn this was! May we all be filled afresh! His mercies are new every morning! Merry Christmas!

Snow Day

2008-11-21T11:41:00.007-05:00

The Lord has covered the mountains with a light dusting of snow. What a beautiful showing of His glory!

The Calvary Compass

2008-11-13T13:40:00.003-05:00

The latest edition of the Calvary Compass, our ministry newsletter, will be delivered to the Post Office this afternoon and it should be in your mailbox by Saturday or Monday. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive the Compass, please email me at jamie.reynolds@CalvaryCampus.org and we will send you one and put you on the list for the future. You can also read issues of the Compass online at www.CalvaryCampus.org. This edition should be online by this evening. Thanks for your interest and support for what God is doing through the ministry of Calvary Campus!

Kentucky Baptist Convention

2008-11-13T13:10:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday of this week I was able to attend the Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, held in Lexington this year. It was a great day of meetings, worship, preaching and networking. David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in B'ham, AL delivered the keynote address. If you get a chance, go to http://www.kybaptist.org/ and listen to this message. Very powerful.

Camp Meeting Time at Calvary

2008-11-02T01:10:00.006-04:00

It is our privilege to partner with many different ministries and churches. One partnership that grew out of a friendship is our with our dear friends, Richard and BethAnn Bowers and Rural Church Development Alliance. On Saturday, Nov. 1st, RCDA held an old-fashioned "camp meeting" at Calvary Campus with preaching, singing fellowship, great food and special music. Four churches came together to make this event happen: Ivis Bible Church, Rockfork Bible Church, LittCarr Bible Church and Cody Bible Church.

The preaching was straight out of the Word and right on target and it was a great day all around. Still Waters, a local Christian bluegrass group, came out of a 2 year long semi-retirement to make an appearance and everyone was encouraged and rejuvenated. There was also a pastor/lay leader meeting in which those in attendance were encouraged and challenged to implement church-based theological training for their members. Many thanks to all who took part in making the RCDA Calvary Camp Meeting a success and we look forward to making this an annual event.

1st Baptist - Dothan, AL - October 26-31

2008-10-31T10:18:00.005-04:00

A great group of guys from 1st Baptist Church in Dothan, AL was here this week and pulled out early this morning, headed home. This week they were able to getting one section of ceiling in the gm finished, removed 4 old (non-functional) heaters hanging in the gym, hung two closet doors and did a lot of cleanup work. Not only did they tackle the hardest section of ceiling (over the bleachers), but they did it with a great attitude. Thanks guys! Travel safe on your way home and keep your spiritual eyes and ears open as God continues to invite you to join Him in His kingdom work. Many blessings to you and yours!

A blog for Calvary Campus

2008-10-31T09:22:00.000-04:00

Over the past 5 years, we have tried to keep all of our friends and supporters updated about what all was going on with the ministry of Calvary Campus. At times we have done a fair job of it, and at other times (usually when it's quite hectic) we have not done so well. This blog will hopefully be one more tool in the toolbox of "getting the word out". We hope you enjoy it as we will try to post here on a regular basis. Let us know what you think.