The Facts, Ma'am, Just the Facts

Way back in the little town of Sodus, NY, smack dab in the heart of apple country, lived a tiny family. I was the wife and mother. Actually, I still am, but no sense of "tiny" exists any longer.

I don't know if we were typical or peculiar, but although Jim worked for the Establishment--we protested the Vietnam war and that Establishment on the weekends.

Chronologically, I may have the following details mixed up, but in retrospect they happened, and surely according to God's plan.

I remember sitting in our first little home, rocking our second baby, scanning our simple belongings but thinking, "I have everything I ever wanted--a husband I love and who loves me; an actual family of my own; our home in the country, even a second-hand pool--but what was this empty feeling inside?"

Jim went along with all my "ideas" as we became temporary vegetarians, attended childbirth classes, then LaLeche League meetings. It seems as though 3 things happened at once:

*one of my new friends from the classes excitedly loaned me her Bible;

* My LLL mentor began telling me that there really is a devil (I was surprised she still believed this) I mean, after all, I was educated now;

* And an old friend gave me a book to read called "The Cross and the Switchblade".

I had seen David Wilkerson on a talk show. When he said that the only hope was to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, I set my iron down, pulled up my hassock and waited for him to explain what that meant. My confusion was that I had been a pretty religious person, but had never heard that terminology.

In the midst of these incidents, Jim and I decided to visit every church in town. Maybe we'd find one that simply used the Bible, since we were getting back to the basics in every other area.  And so,we,a very hippie-looking couple began our search, as God Himself was "searching" for us.

After our second visit to a Baptist Church, the Pastor greeted us with a jovial, "You folks sure are hard to get a hold of. I've been to your place 3 times and you weren't home."

We were so impressed that he cared that much, that Jim asked me to call him and invite him and his wife over the following night. Being a Cross and the Switchblade "scholar", I quipped, "Maybe we'll even get saved." Of course, I was joking. I still couldn't comprehend it's meaning.

The next morning as I called the pastor, I had no idea that at that very moment, he and his wife were asking God if they should try to visit us again.

That night, April 12,1971, thanks to Pastor and Mrs. Bate, a borrowed Bible, some curiosity about this strange "saved" terminology, and a dawning on this young wife that,yes, Marilyn, there really is a devil...God brought peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, peace.

These are the facts, but what I can't convey to you is the love and gratitude to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for saving my soul, and changing the whole course of my life. That itself will take a lifetime.

--Marilyn Cunningham
Pastor Jim's wife

Sportsman's Wild Game Dinner

On a Friday evening in March, 290 men filled the First Baptist gym for the 3rd edition of the Sportsman’s Wild Game Dinner. They were greeted in the entry by quacking ducks, a camouflaged boat, and an ATV.  In the gym they were treated to several displays that included various game mounts--deer, antelope, fish, and a full-sized bear. The aroma of barbecued elk sausage provided a fitting atmosphere and raised the anticipation of what was to come.

Special guests included 12 first-responders, members of the business community, and a local radio personality. When all the men were seated, a team of high school students moved quickly through the room serving sausage, cheese and crackers which were followed by a full meal that included meat, salad, baked beans, and corn bread.  The meal was topped off with apple pie ala-mode. During the meal, a large variety of door prizes were handed out.  There was at least one gift for everyone present.  At the end of the meal, an oral auction was held that featured the dynamic Mark Hanke as auctioneer.  Auction items included a deep-sea fishing trip, beach house vacation, custom fishing pole, and a hunting rifle.

Mark Hoeffner, Executive Director at CB Northwest, was the speaker again this year. He shared pictures of some of his trips to Alaska, and related an exciting adventure when he explored the huge interior of a glacier.  During the exploration, he learned the danger associated with traveling into an enclosed area where there was an inadequate supply of air. One of his companions urged them to leave the glacier, and as they emerged into fresh air, they realized the peril they had avoided. He compared the importance of breathing to physical life and spiritual breathing that accompanies the new birth that comes from accepting Jesus Christ as savior. As a result of his talk, two men prayed to receive the Lord, one wanted to find out more about the Christian life, and eight others had life issues they wanted to discuss.

The success of the evening was supported by 11 full-time kitchen workers, two barbecue chefs, 19 young people servers (tips for the servers totaled about $ 900 for the high school spring retreat and an upcoming mission trip), and many volunteers.

The evening was a great time of camaraderie and fellowship.
--Clair Casterline

More Than Basketball

My friend Eric and I were at a large gathering a few weeks ago and he sought me out after the event to tell me a compelling story.  Eric works for the Salem Police Department and as he walked into the stadium, he met eyes with a familiar face that he couldn’t quite recognize.  The man glared at him and it quickly dawned on Eric how he knew this person.  Eric had been called to the man’s home the previous night on official police business!  His wife, a dancer at a local strip club, was standing next to him along with their 10-year-old son.  Even though Eric was a bit concerned about the icy stare of the father, wondering if he had intentions to start a conflict, he was deeply impacted by the emotions he felt toward the young son.

 Eric is a committed follower of Christ, and he shared with me how difficult it is for him to see children in homes that are ravaged by drugs, violence and instability.  Eric remembered seeing this child the night before, standing in the hallway with a look of fear on his face.  His heart broke for the little boy, knowing the challenges he was facing at home.  But this night, standing in a stadium with 2,000 other people, Eric had an altogether different response to seeing this young child.  He felt joy.  He felt hope and a sense of peace that physically affected him.  A smile came to his face, and he knew he needed to tell me his story as soon as the event was over.  What caused this drastic change in the way he felt toward this 10-year-old boy?  Eric was standing in the Salem Armory at the Upward Basketball Year-End Celebration, and this child was wearing an Upward jersey!

 Upward Basketball is so much more than a basketball league.  This vital ministry gives us an opportunity to come alongside young children (and their parents) and show them what it means to follow Christ.  We coach them in character development, we affirm them for their strengths, we help them address their growth areas and we teach them about what life looks like when it is built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.  Eric was instantly aware of the fact that this young boy had just spent 3 months in the Christ-centered, prayer-driven, Church-led, affirming atmosphere of Upward Basketball.  Over the past 12 years, we have enrolled 9,077 students in the Upward Ministry.  What an opportunity we have to transform our culture as we teach, motivate and inspire these children with a Biblical Worldview that will guide them long after their basketball playing days are over!
 --Pastor Jeff