Current Events |
Methodist Conference Recognizes Erasing the Lines Program
On December 9, 2007, the Jack and Kay Crum Prophetic Ministry Award, given by the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, was presented to Sammy Hudson alongwith a $500 scholarship to Queen Street UMC for the ongoing work accomplished through the “Erasing The Lines” summer mission project.
“ETL” has, for four years, chipped away at the barriers of ethnicity, culture, economics, and class by harnessing the enthusiasm of youth seeking to improve their own communities. From June 23-27, 2008, 140 youth and 40 adults from 15 or more churches, representing multiple ethnic and cultural groups, gathered for a week of service, worship, and prayer in hopes that Christ will be glorified and we will see each other as God sees us. “Erasing The Lines” is sponsored and directed by Son Set Ministries and represents what Son Set Ministries is all about.
We are humbled by this recognition from the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and grateful for the scholarship that Queen Street UMC intends to use to bring additional kids to camp.
If your church would like more information about “Erasing The Lines” or would like to become involved, please contact Sammy Hudson.
Garner UMC Teams Contribute Mightily to The Refuge
Each year, church groups from around the country organize teams of youth and adult workers to travel to locations in the four state region of North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia as part of the Appalachian Service Project. The willingness to participate in this program is so great, that not every team is able to receive an assignment each year. Such was the case with the Garner UMC team; a team that had participated in five previous ASP projects. Rather than lamenting their situation and storing their equipment away, this team of approximately 30 persons decided to use their planned week serving The Refuge.
The provisions for the team were almost exactly what they would have been on an ASP mission. The team was housed at the fellowship hall of the Ormondsville Baptist Church. Meals were served by various churches in the area as coordinated by Terry Barnes, showers were available through the use of the Baptist Men’s Emergency service trailer, and projects at The Refuge were coordinated by the Son Set Ministries staff.
As with ASP, the team raised all the necessary funds required to pay for their expenses as well as the materials necessary to complete their projects. In the end, over $10,000 was provided by the Garner team—awesome job!
Arriving on June 15th, the team was divided into four project groups as follows: (1) construction of boat dock and platform on the front lake, (2) Repairs and renovations on the farm house at the entrance, (3) construction of a raised nature walkway as part of the trail system, and (4) trail improvement and clearing. Work began in earnest on Monday, June 16th and the teams worked diligently through the heat and humidity without complaint. Some of the teams took advantage of the location by going on short canoe trips and gained an appreciation for what The Refuge had to offer.
On Thursday evening, the team was joined by other members of their church for an evening picnic and a chance to show off their accomplishments. Each evening, song and worship punctuated the teams service to God as they were joined by members of the Son Set Ministries’ staff for food, fun, fellowship and faith- building.
As the week came to a close, the team made an heroic push to complete their projects and leave the sites ready for those who would come in behind them—namely, the Erasing the Lines groups. So much was accomplished and though each project could not be completed in the time available, many of the Garner UMC team have vowed to return to complete their projects in the weeks and months to come.
We hope that other churches will realize, as Garner UMC did, that you don’t have to travel hundreds of miles away to perform mission work. We have serious needs in eastern North Carolina—needs that The Refuge hopes to address. We welcome and encourage the participation of churches, youth groups, and other organizations in developing The Refuge to its full potential as a regionally focused retreat center and youth camp. Thanks to Garner UMC for your hard work, dedication, perseverance and willingness to serve! We hope that you’ll get your ASP assignment next year, but if you don’t—you know where you’ll be welcome!
Men's May Canoe Trip
On May 17, 2008 a hearty group of sixteen men embarked on the first guided canoe trip of the year. This trip began at The Refuge and ended at the Neuse River on Sunday afternoon. By all accounts, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the adventure, though there were a few sore muscles by the end. These canoe trips cover approximately 22 miles, with an overnight stop in the Grifton area. A women's trip is planned for the weekend of May 24-25. If your interested in having your youth group, men's or women's group, or just want to join in on the adventure, contact Sammy Hudson by going to the "Contact Us" page on this site.
Swansboro Men Construct Creek Side Shelter
Under the leadership of Tom Scholl, volunteers, largely from Swansboro, have spent one day each weekend from January through April building a creekside shelter / rest site on the banks of the Little Contentnea Creek. This is the first significant "ground up" construction at The Refuge and will directly support the activities-based development planned for 2008. Use of the facility began in May with the first of the 2008 canoe trips. Numerous additional projects are planned for this year. If your church or organization would like to take on a construction project let us know. Our thanks to all the guys who have worked on this project.
