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On Sunday evening, June 8, 65 students and adults returned from an incredible week of ministry in the Charleston, West Virginia, community. These talented students spent six days leading children in after-school Vacation Bible School; performing and ministering to juveniles in three separate detention centers; sharing our testimonies through song and word at a retirement complex, a downtown outdoor community area, a minor league baseball game, and a church neighborhood cookout; and leading in worship at First Baptist Knoxville. Our students have been stretched outside their comfort zones as they shared the love of Christ with hurting individuals. We thank you for your prayers during our journey and hope many of you joined us on Sunday evening, June 8, as we shared our week of ministry with our home church.
The drive from Nashville to Charleston was blessedly uneventful. We made only two stops en route - a quick one for lunch at a mall in Lexington, Kentucky, and an even briefer one at a rest stop not far from the West Virginia state line. When the buses pulled up at the University of Charleston around 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), our two luggage crews immediately got to work unloading.
The students checked into their rooms at Brotherton Hall, immediately changed into their orange t-shirts, and promptly reloaded the buses. This dorm is a great place for our group to stay - two students to a room, every two rooms share a bathroom, and guys and girls are on separate floors. Students who participated in last year’s Choir Tour/Mission Trip realize that these dorm rooms are rather luxurious compared to our spartan (but sufficient) accommodations last year in New Orleans.
As we headed for the Jenna Landing Apartments for our cookout and concert, we had a scenic view of downtown Charleston, which, like Nashville, is situated on the banks of a river. As our buses pulled up at the rural apartment complex at 6:30 p.m., residents were waiting to meet us, and the hot dogs were already on the grill. We were immediately greeted by Danny Pennington, who is a multi-housing church planter for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This cookout/concert event was planned as a way to jump-start Danny’s efforts to plant a church in the area, giving him an opportunity to get to know the families who live in this complex. Norm and Debbie Cannada, the NAMB missionaries with whom we are working this week, were hard at work grilling hot dogs and serving up snow cones. Several years ago, a group of women from First Baptist Nashville came to Charleston on a mission trip, so many FBC folks are already fans of the Cannadas.
Our students had practiced staging their concert, but they had not had experienced doing set-up in a field. However, in a surprisingly short time everything was in place and we had power (thanks to a long trail of extension cords running to the lone outlet). Our students have ever performed a concert in a setting like this - standing in the grass sandwiched between the interstate, a rural highway, a rowdy kickball game, and a playground. Perhaps because our teenagers are so adept at multi-tasking, they had no trouble rising to occasion. Although our home concert will be fabulous, it will be hard to beat listening to our students sing in the midst of lush, green hills under a pale, blue sky.
Afterwards, Danny and the Cannadas were ecstatic about the community’s response to the concert. The audience enjoyed every aspect of the concert - Chapel Choir, Chapel Ringers, Visual fX, and Rhythm fX. Many folks made glowing comments about Hannah Rogers’ personal testimony, in which she spoke of finding fulfillment through Christ. “It was the exact right block party testimony,” one person observed.
After loading the cargo van and the buses as darkness fell, we drove to West Charleston Baptist Church, where Norm Cannada serves as pastor. Debbie provided our students with an in-depth orientation, helping them to understand the people they will be ministering to in this community. The students then enjoyed a late night snack before we reloaded the busses to return to the University of Charleston.
Back at our home away from home, we continued the tradition of the juniors leading evening devotions. After Rachel Freeny shared and prayed, Josh told the students how proud he was of them. We certainly had a remarkable first day!
James Tealy helped us get moving this morning with some music after we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the University of Charleston cafeteria - it really was tasty! (At least most of us were up on time to eat breakfast - the rest hopefully have learned a valuable lesson: “You snooze, you lose.”) Vicki Wright led the students in a rehearsal of our national anthem before we boarded the buses and made the short drive to Appalachian Power Park for the game between the West Virginia Power and the visiting Lexington Legends. Because this game was a Grand Slam School Day, the parking lot was filled with yellow school buses and the stands were packed with 8,000 students and teachers. The opening pitch was scheduled for 10:35 a.m. Our group filed onto the field and congregated behind home plate to sing the national anthem. Collin Brown and Danika Schlosser were our featured soloists, and the whole group sang well and represented First Baptist Nashville with dignity.
The weather at the game was comfortable and overcast. The students were given sack lunches during the game (hot dogs - the sequel). The souvenir of choice at the ballpark was an oversized plastic horn for which hundreds of school children shelled out $3 a piece. If you’d like to hear the deafening sound of this horn back in Nashville, check with Matthew Smith. At the beginning of the seventh inning, the public address announcer informed the crowd that heavy rain would be moving in at 1:00 p.m. We counted heads and left the ballpark at 12:45 p.m., arriving at our buses just as the rain began. We later learned that the Legends defeated the Power 6-3.
The students had a little down time back at the dorm before we made the 80-mile drive north through heavy rain on I-77 to Parkersburg for our concert at the Lorrie Yeager Jr. Juvenile Detention Center. This was to be the first of three visits to juvenile detention centers during our mission trip. Time to move out of our comfort zone! Despite any apprehension that some students and parents felt about this venue, we had an incredibly positive and moving experience - the highlight of our trip thus far. David Jones serves as the director of this facility, which has a capacity of 27 residents, and he also pastors a Baptist church in the area.
After we set up for our concert in the center’s gymnasium, thirteen residents filed in carrying plastic chairs - eight guys and four girls, all under the age of 21. Two of the young women had been in lockdown - a disciplinary period of isolation in which a resident spends 23 hours a day in his/her room - but they were allowed to attend the concert. They were not, however, allowed to visit with us after the concert.
It was difficult to tell from the residents’ expressions during the concert whether or not they were engaged, but from their feedback after the concert we realized that we had indeed struck a chord. They were particularly moved by Visual fX’s performance of “Everything,” and when you see it at the home concert on Sunday night you will understand why. Caroline Sloan shared her personal testimony during the concert, making a powerful evening even more memorable.
Our group was able to visit with the residents after we took a tour of the facility, and several of our students led the way by initiating conversations with them. Stuart Miller, Caleb Rankin, Victoria Buckner, Caroline Sloan, and Emily Simpson were outstanding leaders in this regard. One teenage girl told our students that she could have gone to college on a basketball scholarship, but she blew her future with her unwise choices. Another teenage girl shared that she had dreamed of being a vet but felt like that goal was unattainable now because of the things she had done. One young man told us that he was a songwriter. Several of the residents identified themselves as Christians. I think our students were struck by the fact that they shared so much in common with the residents. The teenage girls were blunt with our students, advising them to obey their parents. “This is not fun,” one girl said emphatically.
Parents, you would have been extraordinarily proud of your sons and daughters - their leaders certainly were! Mr. Jones was so pleased that he told us he was going to call the directors of the other two facilities where we will hold concerts later in the week to tell them what they can look forward to when we visit them.
We had a very late dinner on the way back to Charleston, and students were allowed to choose between Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Arby’s. When we arrived back at the dorm, each student and leader received a note from someone back at First Baptist. (Thanks to everyone who wrote these encouraging notes!) Bryan Hartzell shared our evening devotion from Psalm 100, then James Tealy led us in a closing worship song. We had much to thank God for after a long but satisfying day of worship and service. God had clearly gone before us to prepare the way, and we can’t wait to see what He does next. Thank you for your ongoing prayers.
This morning the students broke into two teams for service projects. The first group began their day by distributing coffee and donuts at the Transit Mall in downtown Charleston and invited people in the local businesses to attend our lunchtime concert. (The Transit Mall is an open air plaza adjacent to the central bus stops.) Meanwhile, the second group read to students at Glenwood Elementary School (where Debbie Cannada is a teacher), prepared hygiene kits for distribution to the students, and assisted with other projects.
Late in the morning the second group joined the students who were already at the Transit Mall to set up for the concert and cookout (return of the hot dogs). As with our first outdoor concert on this trip, finding a working power source to run our sound system and instruments proved to be a challenge. While a city employee worked diligently to remedy the situation, the handbells played their songs (no electricity required). Finally, the power was flowing and the Chapel Choir and Visual fX were able to perform. During the concert, Sam Bowker, Lorinne Tomas, Will Powell, and Caroline Sloan graciously served hot dogs and drinks to passersby.
We broke down the concert equipment rapidly because the sky looked ominous, and students ate sack lunches on their buses. Next we headed back to West Charleston Baptist Church to prepare for an afternoon of service. Some of our students conducted a modified VBS in the church; another group worked across the street in a storefront where they laid tile; and a third group passed out popsicles at a trailer park and invited children to come to VBS. Debbie was thrilled at the VBS turnout, and our students were able to “love on” 46 children (as Josh would say).
Originally, Norm and Debbie had planned for us to do a cookout and a concert in the parking lot across the street from the church as a part of their “Taking It to the Streets” summer emphasis; however, stormy weather prompted us to move the events indoors. In the church’s multipurpose room (which serves as the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and gymnasium), the students set up tables and chairs for supper (revenge of the hot dogs with a burger bonus). They quickly hauled in the concert equipment from the cargo van and busses when there was a brief break in the rain. Sam, Lorinne, Will, and Caroline helped serve dinner, and then we began our fourth concert of the week. Garrett Schlosser shared an eloquent testimony. The most humorous moment of the concert came when the Chapel Ringers gathered around the bell tables and Rachel O’Rear was startled to discover that a child was hiding underneath her table. As the Chapel Ringers played, the boy laid on his back and pretended to ring imaginary bells. When the song was over, he crawled out briefly before retreating once again to his hiding place.
After we reloaded our equipment and cleaned up the church, we headed to the Grand Prix Family Fun Center for a couple hours of go-cart racing, laser tag, arcade games, and pizza. Several students accumulated enough tickets to acquire stuffed snakes, plastic rings, and furry hats.
Back at the dorm, Josh gave the students a chance to debrief about the day’s events. Adults who have worked with our youth group before know that it usually takes some work to get a serious spiritual discussion going with the students, but tonight they quickly jumped in. Even students who usually don’t speak up were eager to share their reflections from the day. Clearly God has been at work in our midst. Anne Grace Robertson did a fantastic job of leading our evening devotion as she reflected on how God has been teaching her to see all people as His children. James Tealy picked up on Anne Grace’s train of thought and sang us a song that he had been inspired to write last week while ministering to children in a refugee camp in China who had survived the devastating earthquake.
Our students have received compliments from many people for their outstanding behavior this week. Josh’s three interns - Scott Claybrook, Josh, and John Hellams - have been incredible role models for our students. Our students have been flexible, cooperative, and enthusiastic servants of Christ this week. You should be proud of them.
Something was missing today. We experienced our first hot dog-free day of the trip.
In the morning one bus headed to the welfare office, where the students passed out coffee and donuts to the people who were waiting to be served. The other group returned to Glenwood Elementary School, where Debbie Cannada put them to work organizing the school’s library. Debbie had been thrilled to learn that many of our students had worked in the library at KIPP Academy during our service project at our DNow Weekend in January, so she jumped at the chance to utilize their expertise to sort and shelf hundreds of books.
After returning to the University of Charleston for lunch in the cafeteria, we geared up for our afternoon ministries. One group returned to the trailer park to distribute popsicles and pass out VBS flyers, the second group continued to work on the tiling project at the storefront across the street from the church, and the third group conducted the second day of VBS.
We made it to day five of the trip before anyone had to make a visit to the emergency room. Bobby Bunn is bringing home three staples in his head as a souvenir from Charleston. But Bobby is a trooper, and he handled the situation remarkably well.
After wrapping up our afternoon projects, we made a beautiful drive to the Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Diagnostic and Detention Center, which is located in Julian, about twenty miles southwest of Charleston. This is the first stop for juvenile offenders - the place where they are evaluated to determine where they need to be placed next. The security at this facility was tighter than the first one we visited, and each student and leader had to be patted down as we entered.
When were instructed that we could not have contact with the residents after the concert, James Tealy advised the students to make an extra effort to communicate through eye contact. There were thirty-three residents who attended the concert, five of whom were young women. The residents initially seemed resentful that they were being forced to attend this concert, but they became more attentive on the first song accompanied by the band. Once again, Visual fX’s presentation of “Everything” struck a chord with the audience, and at the moment when Jesus (Stephen Hall) overcomes the demons who are tormenting Celeste Foust, several people burst into spontaneous applause. Caroline Sloan reprised her testimony, which clearly touched not only the residents but also the center’s employees. After the concert, Michael Hale, the superintendent of this center, expressed his deep appreciation for our visit and invited us to come back.
After a long day of ministry, we arrived at the Town Center Mall in downtown Charleston for a late dinner about 8:15 p.m. When we gathered back at the dorm, James Tealy led the group in a rousing, animated sing-along of “Lean on Me.” Josh Crosby once again gave the students the opportunity to discuss the day’s experiences, and they eagerly shared their thoughts. Caleb Rankin affirmed the younger students for exercising leadership on this trip. Craig Wilcox led our evening devotion about Psalm 100:4, reminding us that we enter God’s gates each time we pray. James then led us in song as we concluded our time of worship.
As Josh dismissed the group to head to their rooms to get some sleep, Jennifer Rutter asked the students to remain seated for an announcement. She reminded them of a story that Debbie Cannada shared with us during our orientation on Monday night. Debbie explained how generous the people of West Charleston Baptist Church are, even though they don’t have a lot of financial resources. She mentioned that some people who had committed to donate $100 to the building fund faithfully fulfilled that pledge by bringing in $2 a week. Jennifer urged our students to pool their resources so that they could make a donation to the church’s building fund, and Craig passed the hat (literally - it was an Uncle Sam-style hat that had been acquired at the Grand Prix Family Fun Center). The adults marveled at the initiative and generosity displayed by these students.
The mission statement of our Student Ministry is “Building up Christ-followers who know God’s Word and share His love.” During this trip, the adults have observed firsthand how God is raising up a new generation of Christ-followers within our youth group. This week the students have had countless opportunities to apply the things they have learned from studying God’s Word at First Baptist, and they have eagerly seized every chance to share His love with the precious people they have encountered here in West Virginia. Thank you, First Baptist Nashville, for providing our students with this life-changing experience.
This morning began much like Thursday, with one group heading to the welfare office to pass out coffee and donuts and the other group returning to Glenwood Elementary School to continue organizing the library. By the end of the morning, all of the books had been shelved, and Debbie Cannada was amazed at how much the students had accomplished in such a short time.
After eating lunch in the cafeteria at the University of Charleston, we made the short drive to the Tiger Morton Juvenile Center in Dunbar. The residents of this facility have charges ranging from assault to murder. Caroline Sloan captured the residents’ attention with her testimony. Once again, at the point in “Everything” when Jesus defeated the powers of darkness, spontaneous applause broke out, led by Marshall Berger, the facility director. It was obvious from Mr. Berger’s comments after the concert that he is a Christ-follower, and he was very grateful for our visit. Just like last night in Julian, we were not permitted to interact with the residents after the concert, but it seemed evident that our visit had been well received.
Our action-packed afternoon continued as we returned to West Charleston Baptist Church for our final afternoon of service. Jennifer Rutter presented the Cannadas with the offering that our students had collected for West Charleston Baptist Church’s building fund - a grand total of $285. The tiling crew completed their work across the street (and now have a marketable skill). The VBS crew capped off a wonderful three days with a modern-day skit about the Good Samaritan that required audience participation. The skit featured the following students: Billy Latimer (boy who got hurt); Bryan Hartzell, Gregory Lewis, and Shelby Smith (robbers); Craig (principal/priest); Rachel Leachman (teacher/Levite); Rachel Freeny (Good Samaritan); Collin Brown (doctor); Emma (audience prompter); and Lauren Lewis (narrator). Hats off to our wonderful VBS leaders this week: Abby Bronaugh (Kindergarten/1st Grade), Hannah Rogers (2nd/3rd Grade), Emily Simpson (4th/5th Grade), Bryan Hartzell and Stephen Hall (recreation), Danika Schlosser (music), and Lauren Lewis (crafts).
While VBS was underway, the Chapel Ringers and several other students went to Lee Terrace Apartments, where Danny Pennington (the multi-housing church planter we worked with on Monday) has launched a 3:00 p.m. Sunday worship service. This mini-concert was coupled with a cookout featuring - you guessed it - hot dogs (see above photo). After the Chapel Ringers played their two numbers, James Tealy led the audience in singing, which they did enthusiastically. He wrapped up our time together with a rousing rendition of “Lean on Me,” during which our students sang and swayed arm-in-arm with the residents. What a sweet time of fellowship!
After eating dinner at the cafeteria, the students and sponsors gathered at the University of Charleston sign on the bank of the Kanawha River for a group photo with the picturesque West Virginia State Capitol in the background. Next, the group took in an opening night showing of “Kung Fu Panda.” Based on Jill Faughn’s frequent bursts of laughter, it’s a very funny movie.
Back at the dorm, Josh Crosby gave the students some time to reflect on the week before Nathan Foust shared the evening devotion and James Tealy led us in song. Students were instructed to pack their belongings, get some sleep, and be ready to board the buses at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday morning.
The buses rolled out of the parking lot at the University of Charleston this morning bound for Dollywood. We stopped at a truck stop to refuel and eat lunch, and then made two more brief stops en route to Pigeon Forge. The students (and sponsors) packed as much fun as they could into their five hours at Dollywood. The park’s rollercoasters (Thunderhead, Tennessee Tornado, Mystery Mine, and Blazing Fury) were predictably the most popular rides among our students and sponsors.
After we checked into the Best Western Strawberry Inn & Suites just east of Knoxville and cleaned up, we gathered in the breakfast room. Chaney Swiney, assisted by Stuart Miller, led our evening devotion before we switched gears for the traditional paper plate awards ceremony. The juniors, pictured above (Anne Grace Robertson, Rachel Freeny, Stuart Miller, Chaney Swiney, Craig Wilcox, Nathan Foust, and Bryan Hartzell), gave each student and sponsor an award inscribed on a paper plate. (When you see students or sponsors in the coming days, be sure and ask them what award they received.) James Tealy then premiered his original composition, “Hot Dog” - a humorous recap of the week’s events - before we all headed off to our rooms to get some much needed sleep.
When Vicki Wright was a student at the University of Tennessee, First Baptist Knoxville was her church home, and it was here that Vicki was inspired to become an organist by Mary Eleanor Pickle. This morning we had the privilege of meeting Ms. Pickle, who has served as organist for FBC Knoxville for over 40 years. The Chapel Choir sang “Rejoice and Sing” as the call to worship, “God is Our Refuge and Strength” as the choral anthem, and “In Christ Alone” as the choral offertory. Taylor Latimer signed the last part of “In Christ Alone,” which was very moving. At the close of the service, Vicki Hancock Wright had the privilege of playing the organ dismissal, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” as Ms. Pickle looked on approvingly. The worship service was televised, and when the telecast ended at noon as the service was still wrapping up, some students in the choir loft watched the first few minutes of an exercise show on the TV monitor that was strategically placed in front of the platform.
After changing out of our dress uniforms, we chatted with the former Chapel Choir members who had come to church to show their support. Next, we boarded the buses and took a brief driving tour of the University of Tennessee campus before heading to West Town Mall for a 45-minute lunch. We made one final stop at the rest area just west of Cookeville en route to Nashville. The highlight of the final leg of the trip back on the 7th-9th grade bus was when Billy Latimer pulled his tooth.
As soon as the buses pulled up in front of First Baptist Nashville, the students and sponsors immediately unloaded all of the luggage and equipment and began setting up for our home concert. After a snack supper in Fellowship Hall (special thanks to Lorinne Tomas’ mom for the delicious baklava), we changed back into our dress uniforms and gathered on the sanctuary steps for our group photo.
We closed out a memorable choir tour and mission trip with our home concert by worshiping the Lord with gladness. Near the end of the concert, the seniors presented the sponsors and SMART leaders with gifts in appreciation for their service. After the concert, the congregation headed downstairs to Fellowship Hall for the Summer Sundae night Fellowship. As we watched a slideshow of the trip (prepared by Chaney Swiney on the bus ride between Knoxville and Nashville), James Tealy reprised his new hit song, “Hot Dog.”
A tired bunch of students and sponsors were at last ready to head to their respective homes. We made some noise this week as we sang and served, and we will never be the same. The Lord is good, His love endures forever, and His faithfulness continues through all generations. Make some noise!
On Sunday evening, June 8, 65 students and adults returned from an incredible week of ministry in the Charleston, West Virginia, community. These talented students spent six days leading children in after-school Vacation Bible School; performing and ministering to juveniles in three separate detention centers; sharing our testimonies through song and word at a retirement complex, a downtown outdoor community area, a minor league baseball game, and a church neighborhood cookout; and leading in worship at First Baptist Knoxville. Our students have been stretched outside their comfort zones as they shared the love of Christ with hurting individuals.
