Mission Moment 3.13.24

Alicia and Jeff Lee

CBF field personnel, North Macedonia

Just over a year into our marriage and well into our graduate programs, we were ecstatic to learn we were expecting our first child. That joy turned quickly to concern as Alicia was very sick, in and out of the hospital. We desperately hoped to make it through the second trimester. When that hope was crushed and our world devastated, the Logsdon Seminary faculty enveloped us with love.  

Each one of the Logsdon professors spent time with us in our hospital room, praying over us. They entered the worst moment in our lives and stepped into our grief. In a generous act of compassion, they organized a beautiful memorial service for our son—for us, really. However, it was more than that. They created space for our grief, honored our grief and shared in our grief. 

We had no idea how our grief would break us, how the loss of our son would nearly destroy our faith and our marriage. While we know God saved our faith and marriage, we can testify that it was God through Logsdon Seminary professors. Their faith provided the scaffolding for our own while we examined the holes our experience had created in our faith. Rather than crumbling altogether, we were sustained by their faith while we reconstructed our own. They acted as our spiritual guides, showing us who God is when we were not sure anymore. They spoke truth into our lives and marriage when we could not see a way forward. They offered us a safe place to question, doubt, reconnect and rebuild. 

Now, 17 years after the loss of our son and nearly 11 years in overseas missions, STILL Logsdon professors minister to our hearts, encourage us in our faith and marriage, walk with us through our grief, and partner with us and champion God’s work in North Macedonia. As our spiritual guides, they taught us how to minister to people in their grief through their ministry to us all those years ago. They taught us what it is to embody a ministry of long-term presence because of their faithful ministry to us. And we are forever grateful.

Pray. . .Give. . .Go.

Please Join Dining for Jackson and Support Equinox Ranch

Tuesday, April 2 at 11:30 at the Mission & Fellowship Center

Margo Capparelli had four college degrees in Sociology and Counseling Psychology including a Ph.D.  but more than that she had a vision and a heart for the men and women who had served our country in terrible situations that had left them wounded and suffering – veterans who had invisible war wounds – veterans who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or military sexual trauma – a place that provided suicide prevention – a place that would allow the veterans to get help outside the confines of a hospital and immerse them in a positive environment surrounded by nature.

Margo had taught Sociology on military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Djibouti. She had served as a responder on the National Veterans Crisis Line. She had done many things in an effort to help our veterans but it never felt like it was enough. And then her parents passed and left her with enough money to begin to fulfill her dream – to have a place where wounded veterans could come and find peace, comfort, and healing. She wanted a place removed from the sights and sounds of our busy, noisy civilian world. She searched several states until she found just what she was looking for in Cullowhee. Twenty-three acres that the Tuckasegee River wrapped around on three sides. A place where wounded warriors could fish, go tubing or rafting, hike, experience the music of the mountains, or sit around campfires and just be. This peaceful tranquil place is called Equinox Ranch. The name comes from the two seasonal markers to help bring veterans from the dark to the light. For many the ranch is a mission of urgency.

The program focuses on building the skills that help veterans readjust to the civilian world and their work, relationships and communities. For many returning combat veterans their homecoming was not the celebration that they or their loved ones dreamed about while they were deployed. These veterans often cope with invisible wounds that lead to emotional numbness, anger, depression, anxiety, isolation and hypervigilance. Attempting to distance themselves from their pain and its effects, they try to repress the intrusive thoughts, flashbacks and nightmares. Their military training, fear of psychiatric labels, lack of trust makes it difficult to ask for help. If they do summon the courage to ask, the treatment is often cursory, capricious, involves long waiting periods and sometimes confinement to a hospital. Locked in the past, feeling alone and in agony, some veterans seek the antidote in suicide. The conservative estimate calculated by the Veterans Administration report, is that at least 20 veterans end their lives every day and many more attempt suicide.” But Margo’s plan is to help alleviate such suffering.

What is so special is that the veterans who come for a week can return again. When they leave, the ranch will aid the veterans in connecting to the Veterans Administration or civilian follow up care to ensure they have the social support to continue their recovery when they return home. And the best part is that this program is free to combat veterans.

Many of us have a dream of helping others. Too many only dream but Margo Capparelli made her dream a reality. Please join us on April 2 at 11:30 at the Mission & Fellowship Center of Sylva First Baptist and let’s support Equinox Ranch and the many veterans who have served our county and now need our help – veterans who have put their lives on the line in protecting our American way of life.

Sunday School and Childcare is Available!

First Baptist Family-Care Program

We have initiated the Family-Care program.  Your Family-Care person will connect with you and work in close liaison with you and your family.  You can contact this person in a time of crisis, in a time of joy, when church concerns or questions arise, or just to talk.

If you have not been contacted by someone and would like to be, please alert Jennie Hunter (828 399-0623 jnnhunter@aol.com) or Ann Melton (828 421-7689 meltonann@att.net).

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of  pasta sauce, Ramen, pancake syrup, applesauce (6-pack individual cups), and laundry detergent. To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!

Bible Study

Please join us this Wednesday, March 13 in the MFC at 6:00 p.m. for Bible study, and choir practice will follow at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Yelton will lead us in Bible study. No meal.

Chocolate Cobbler

Remember that great dessert Ginger Fullbright brought to the dessert buffet for vespers at
Waterrock Knob last summer?  Here it is!

Ingredients
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups boiling water (use coffee instead)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Melt butter in an 8”x8” baking dish while the oven preheats.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa.  Stir in milk and vanilla until smooth.  Spoon this batter over the melted butter in the baking dish.

Stir together the remaining cup of sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder.  Sprinkle over the batter.  Slowly pour boiling (or coffee) over the top of the mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until set.  Serve slightly warm with icecream.

–Provided by Ginger Fullbright

Chocolate Cobbler

Click here to download a printable version.

-Provided by Ginger Fullbright

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

Dr. Seuss Week was a hit last week!  On Monday, Michelle came from the Jackson County Public Library and did a lovely reading of Fox in Sox.  On Tuesday, staffer Donnie made green eggs and ham for everyone to enjoy and the pen pal project kicked off with all the children writing letters.

On Wednesday, RAs learned about germs and hand washing while GAs learned about a ministry in Boston that helps refugees.  Spring play practice began on Thursday with Marina Hunley-Graham.  

The week ended with a drawing contest led by Andrew Beck.  Everyone teamed up with their assigned buddies and created a Dr. Seuss character and had a little story to go along with it.  At the conclusion of the contest, the children enjoyed watching the Lorax.  They are looking forward to St. Patrick's Week next week!

Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!

Thank you Heather and Jeremy Ellenburg for taking care of the nursery last Sunday. 
Thank you to Zoey and Abby for assisting their parents.  We really appreciate you all!

On March 17th, child care will be provided from Sunday School time until
the luncheon meeting in the MFC is over.

There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings.  It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.

A Holiday Afternoon at the Library

The Children's Library at FBC, that is! On Monday, March 18, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., preschoolers, kindergarteners, and 1st and 2nd graders are invited to the library for an Easter story, a craft, fun snack, a game, and practice for the upcoming Palm Sunday processional. Please let Cheryl Beck know if your child is coming!