ISSN 0362—0816


THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN


VOL. 45 NO. 3


Susan L. Tanner, Editor arpeditor@arpsynod.org


Shay O’Sheal, Assistant Editor sosheal@arpsynod.org


Kevin Owens, Graphic Designer


Advertising rates on request. Advertising competitive with any agency or institution of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is not accepted. Publication of advertisements does not necessarily con- stitute an endorsement by this magazine.


The Associate Reformed Presbyterian (Publication No. USPS 414770) is published bimonthly by the Board of The Associate Reformed Presbyterian, 918 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Greenville, SC 29607. Telephone 864-232-8441. Subscription rates: $20 one year, $38 two years, $54 three years. For churches in the Church Club Plan: $16.50 a year (90% participation). Periodicals Postage paid at Greenville, SC 29607, and additional mailing offices.


POSTMASTER: Send address correction notices to The Associate Reformed Presbyterian, 918 S. Pleas- antburg Dr., Greenville, SC 29607.


ARP News Update (www.ARPnews.org) 6


Contents FEATURES


4 stronger than before.—Leslie Holmes


Synod Emphasis - A Healthy Church in the Hinterland of the ARP


Serve the congregation where God has called you to serve.—Ray Cameron


22 Feature - Preparing for Camp and Conferences in a Pandemic The challenges of planning and preparing camps and conferences


during this time are great!—Trip McGill


23 Teen Testimony - Portable Safe Space An art project for school brought some joy during this stressful


time.—Mattie Felker


24 Feature - Day of Prayer We need to stand together in prayer.—Jeff Morrison


9


10 11 12


Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permis- sion. All rights reserved.


AGENCIES Bonclarken


Christian Education Ministries Erskine


Erskine Seminary


13 ARP Foundation 14 Outreach North America 15 World Witness 19 Women’s Ministries


EVERY MONTH 16


Family Pages 17 Prayer Calendar


21 ARPinterest 26 News In Brief 28


May/June 2020


Moderator’s Challenge - A Letter From the Moderator We will thrive again and when this pandemic is over, we will be


All in Our Family 29 Classified Ads ARPC Spotlight A A Community-Building Chili Cook-Off By Lucy Kirkpatrick, ARP Magazine Intern


s summer begins to wind up and schools close for the months to come, many find themselves in want of fellowship and good-hearted fun. Though this particular summer may look a little differ- ent in some areas due to the pressing global health concerns, we can always be in search of ideas


for fellowship opportunities. This past February, the members of Centennial ARP Church did just that and found a way to engage the entire church community. Members young and old came together to taste test as a panel of three judges determined the winning chili recipe at the annual Chili Cook-Off. After supper, the members enjoyed several rounds of Bingo—and some even played Bingo for the first time! Lynn Grimsley, a member of the church, explained to me that this isn’t a rare occurrence at Centen-


nial. The church gathers together on Wednesday nights during the school year for various Bible studies and choir practices. Every so often, the church will alter their traditional Wednesday night schedule for a time of church-wide fellowship. In a similar fashion to the Chili Cook-Off, the Super Bowl is celebrated with a soup cooking competition and the beginning of the school year is celebrated with a church picnic. There are even meals provided for and by just the men—an annual fish fry—and the women—an annual soup and sandwiches meal. As the members of this church gathered around the tables of the fellowship hall and enjoyed this


simple meal and the game night that followed, the whole community remembered the simple joys of being together. By occasionally breaking from the weekly schedule to enjoy fellowship meals like the Chili Cook-Off, Centennial ARP has had the opportunity to bring together the whole church for a time of relationship-building and memory-making.?


May/June 2020 3


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