White Vans from Spartanburg, S.C.

This weekend the mountains of southeastern Kentucky will be filled with a lot of white 15 passenger vans. There will be several unique characteristics if you see them driving in a single filed line. Maybe you will notice them in your subdivision, in a trailer park or one a one lane hollow road. I am very confident that you will see them up and down our roadways, packed into our local restaurants and you will see lots of smiles, arms open wide for hugs with a lot of laughter and friendship freely given. It began in 1969 when Dr. Alaster Walker, who had served as the Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Middlesboro, Kentucky moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina. He had just become the Pastor of the First Baptist Spartanburg and his love for Southeastern Kentucky would not end. He shared of about the people he met and of the needs that could be met if others would be willing to give and go. 43 years later this flagship event in the Student Ministry program has touched thousands of lives and this year the impact will continue as prepared teenagers, college students and adults come to share their love for people and their passion for Jesus Christ with us. They will be conducting Vacation Bible School events reaching over 5,000 children, teens and adults a day through this ministry. Their days and nights will include conducting services in jails and correctional facilities, building ramps to doors and porches, making much needed home repairs, conducting basketball camps just to mention a few of the things that First Baptist Spartanburg wraps into what they simply call “Kentucky Missions”. Seth Buckley is the Minister to Students and he leads this event each year, following in the steps of those who make the first time. My first experience began in a little place called Crocket in Fields Ky. There Bill Cox planted the first seeds in my life that there was a guy named Jesus and He loved and cared for me. There are many highlights in one’s summer experience but if you have a child, grandchild, nephew or niece this is a must attend and participate. If your neighbor has children or down the road you know kids that need to know that Jesus loves and cares for them this is your opportunity to join the ministry. See what happens in a single life when someone says “Jesus Christ loves you” and their words and actions match up. One week can make a real difference, one day can be all that is necessary or just a few hours or even just a couple of minutes a life can be eternally changed. This continuous ministry is a massive undertaking. The expense and cost for their lodging, travel, food, supplies, are over $100,000.00 for their week among us. In a time when folks are only talking politics and economic conditions because of an election season, we should applaud these Baptist for their reinvestment and economic stimulus in our communities. The real value cannot be calculated. It is impossible to put a price on one person and that one individual life that is changed forever because they prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into their heart. There is no way to figure the financial impact of asking “Do you know Jesus Christ”? The Christian impact is easy to figure. One life surrendered to Jesus who leads another to Jesus who in-turn leads another who commits their life to following Jesus and before you know it, the world is a different place and it all started because one came in His name. Thank you Frist Baptist Spartanburg for coming. Thanks for giving. Thanks for being a friend. Thanks for serving the churches and people of Bell, Knox & Whitley Counties. You have made a real difference and I am one! Until then