By LANCE COLKMIRE
C
AN YOU NAME a retired Ridgecrest Conference Center near Ashe- said, “I am a 74-year-old retired minister
Church of God minister who ville, North Carolina. This retreat is free whom Brother Rice asked to help with
made a significant impact to all retired ministers and their spouses, this conference. My burden is to help
on your life? Maybe it was a including widows and widowers. It is spon- make this the largest and greatest recog-
pastor who cried with your sored by SpiritCare, the Division of Care nition of retired ministers for providing
family during a time of tragedy, an evan- Ministries, and the Lazarus Foundation. a legacy. We are spending $350,000 on
gelist who helped you receive the baptism “We want the church to be proud this event. This might be the last great
in the Spirit, or a minister who mentored that we have not forgotten the retired celebration for some of them. Those who
you in the faith. ministers—this is the reason we want to come will realize, ‘This is for us!’ We are
The first person who jumps to my promote this event in the Evangel,” Direc- investing in the heroes of our church.”
mind is Jack Reynolds and his wife, Wah- tor Rice said. “This extravaganza was born
neta. Now retired in Hamilton, Ohio,
The Schedule
Brother and Sister Reynolds began pas-
WHEN
The conference kicks off on Tuesday
toring the Dade City, Florida, Church of evening, May 11, with a worship service
May 11-13, 2010
God when I was 16. Under their leader- in which General Overseer Raymond F.
ship, I got started in children’s ministry
WHERE
Culpepper will be speaking. The other
(which became a lifelong passion), wrote members of the Church of God Executive
Lifeway Ridgecrest
and directed a church drama (foreshad- Committee will also be there. Rice said,
Conference Center,
owing my future career); won a Teen “When you go to a conference, there is
Blue Ridge Mountains,
Talent writing contest (using Pastor Reyn- often a fruit basket placed in the room of
Near Asheville, North Carolina
olds’ typewriter); spoke to the church on the VIPs. We’re going to invest in the VIPs
youth Sunday (my first time behind the
COST
of our church—our retired ministers—by
pulpit); and learned to love Dorito pie (a putting a fruit basket in every room.”
Free to all Reg415 red Ministers,
favorite recipe of Sister Reynolds). On Wednesday morning, from 7:30
Spouses and Widows
until noon, participants will be taken
A Costly Event Provided for Free
via charter buses to the famous Biltmore
Since 1992, the Church of God has in the heart of John Gregory (chairman of House—America’s largest house, with
been honoring retired ministers and their the Lazarus Foundation), who was led to more than 250 rooms on 8,000 acres—for
spouses with a biennial retreat held at the the Lord by a Church of God pastor when a free tour. After lunch on Wednesday,
North Cleveland Church of God and Lee he was on the verge of taking his own there will be a celebration of music and
University. Gene Rice, director of SpiritCare, life. I accepted the challenge of raising testimonies from 2:00 until 4:00. That
said, “We are indebted to North Cleveland $175,000 in matching funds in response evening’s worship service will be coordi-
and Lee for hosting this event eight times.” to the Lazarus Foundation’s gift.” nated by Donnie Smith, director of the
The 2010 event is designed to be the Serving as conference coordinator is Division of Care Ministries. Afterglows
best yet—it is being called Extravaganza. It O. Wayne Chambers, former chairman offering food, fun, and fellowship will fol-
will take place May 11-13 at the Lifeway of the Church of God Benefits Board. He low both evening services.
20 EVANGEL • MAR 2010
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