Before campmeeting begins this Sunday at Lake Junaluska let me bring you up to date since my last post. I apologize that our web site has been experiencing difficulty in the last few weeks. Be assured we are working on it.

So many things have taken place I'm not sure where to start. We had a wonderful elders retreat at Nosoca Pines Ranch. Elder Jim Cress, General Conference Ministerial Secretary, was the featured speaker. He provided ongoing education for our elders and was greatly appreciated. We were happy to have one of the largest group of elders we have ever had.

In May the Conference Officers concluded the last of six town hall meetings that were held across the Carolinas. We were met with a wonderful spirit in each place and greatly enjoyed sharing the things that God is doing in the many ministries that are taking place across the conference. It provided opportunity for us to share but also to receive questions from those attending. It was a very special time. I hope you were able to attend.

Also, this past Sunday I was at Mount Pisgah Academy for the commencement service for graduation. What a great group of young people! I wish you could have heard the addresses and music that were presented by these seniors. As I listened to the class president tell of the desire of the class to be used by God and then challenge herself and her fellow graduates to always dedicate their lives to the Lord I can't tell you how moving it was. As I have often been with our students from MPA the past few years I have been so impressed and thankful for the desire they have to be Seventh-day Adventist Christian young people. As the seniors leave MPA I know you will join me in praying for them. Let's also pray for each academy age young person and their parents across the conference that they will choose Adventist education this coming school year.

I hope you are in the final process of planning for campmeeting beginning this Sunday. We are truly blessed this year with outstanding speakers. Each night Michael Hasel, professor at Southern Adventist University, will be the speaker. This is his second time to be with us at Lake Junaluska and he is back by popular demand. I know he will be a blessing. Ty Gibson and Dennis Ross are the speakers each morning. Ty Gibson is not only a sought after speaker but is also a prolific author. Dennis Ross, Southern Union Evangelism Coordinator, has spoken around the world and always provides inspiration and spiritual insight. Some of the seminar presenters include Ed Reid, stewardship director of the North American Division. Elder Reid is one of our most requested speakers and we are glad to have him returning to Lake Junaluska. Russell Burrill will also be presenting a seminar centered on church growth. He is considered to be one of the foremost experts within the Seventh-day Adventist church in the realm of church planting and church growth. He too is not only a talented speaker but the author of a number of popular books as well. Mark Finley, will be the featured weekend speaker. Elder Finley brings a wealth of spiritual insight and experience from around the world. Before becoming Vice-President of the General Conference he was the speaker and director of the It is Written television program. He will be presenting the messages on Friday evening, Sabbath morning and Saturday night. On Sabbath afternoon Michael Harris will be presenting the musical concert. Not only does Michael provide a rich blessing in song but you won't want to miss his personal testimony. It is one of the most powerful stories you will ever hear. I won't tell you more except to say you don't want to miss it! If you are unable to attend campmeeting each evenings and Sabbath morning services will be streamed here on this website. We hope you can attend but if you can't please join us here on the web.

As we as a conference wide church family prepare to spend the next week together I would ask that you would join me in a time of special prayer that God will make this a time of great spiritual renewal. I am sure that during these difficult times in America there will be those in attendance who have lost jobs, others may be experiencing family difficulties, others may have recently lost loved ones who have passed away. There will be many needs represented by all of the thousands of people who will be gathered. But there is no challenge, no difficulty too great for God. And so let us join together and make next week a time of special prayer for an outpouring of God's Spirit and grace greater than ever before.

Your friend,

Jim