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Table of Contents page
2 Spiritual Contributor
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3 Modeling Faith page
4 eChapel Series page
5 Living it Out page
7 Christ Alone
CONTACT US
bcm@ucumberlands.edu
FIND US
Edna Taylor House
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Being a Spiritual Contributor Growing up as a pastor’s daughter, Cailee (Henderson) Owens, ‘21, learned how to love without measure and serve with gratitude. At Cumberlands, she’s become a leader in ministry. She has led several life groups and has evangelized around campus in various ways. During Cailee’s junior year of high school, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and two of Cailee’s friends passed away unexpectedly. These traumatic events led her even closer to God and formed an unbreakable bond between her and the Lord. It solidified her faith. “I felt God strongly and talked to Him all the time,” Cailee said. “I was saved at a young age, but that season was when I really solidified the fact that God is all I need, and He will give me joy and hope and contentment, no matter what I’m going through.” After that experience, she knew she wanted to go to a Christian college. During her first week at Cumberlands, she visited the Activities Fair and got plugged into Campus Ministries. She also joined a local congregation, Immanuel Baptist Church. Immanuel focuses on teaching the Gospel and emphasizes the importance of contributing to other people’s spiritual lives. “We talk about how we can reach out to other life group leaders, help get people to come to church, and how can we get them involved,” said Cailee. “A ‘spiritual consumer’ is someone who is always taking in all of the sermons, taking away good things from the life groups, but never planting their own contributions or having intentional conversations with others. We strive to be spiritual contributors instead of spiritual consumers. We focus a lot on that.” Cailee and her husband have become definite spiritual contributors. They are involved in local ministries and college ministries, and they recently began hosting a co-ed life group with another married couple. In addition, Cailee tries to meet new people and talk about Jesus with them, when she can. “God is enough. He’s all you need to be happy, joyful and content. No matter what season you’re in or what you’re going through, He’s big enough to get you through things and to love you,” Cailee said. Her goal after graduation is to pursue her master’s degree. Eventually, she wants to work with a local ministry as their accountant or financial advisor. Until then, she and her husband will be at Cumberlands pouring into whomever the Lord brings their way, contributing to their spiritual lives the best they can.
I ACT because. . . I want to follow Jesus’ example to love and live sacrificially. Cailee (Henderson) Owens, ’21
I ACT because. . .
...of the work Christ has done in me. It’s just who I am; I don’t think I can help it. Preston Miller, ’23
When Preston Miller, ’23, was just a kid, he accompanied his mother in her volunteer work at church. Soon, the children’s pastor, nicknamed “PT,” took Preston under his wing. PT let Preston lead prayer, conduct shows for younger participants, and work backstage as well. Preston’s passion for ministries and leadership blossomed. He said, “People have poured into me, shown me Christ, and modeled faith for me. I really appreciate that. Looking back on it, I see the value in those things.” Preston is majoring in Elementary education and minoring in both communication arts and youth & family ministry. He currently serves in Appalachia Ministries (AM) working with children and enriching their lives.
Modeling Faith to the
Next Generation
He got involved with AM after hearing about the need for men to get involved. He felt that this was where he was needed most and where God wanted him to be. AM has allowed for Preston to invest in children of all ages and pour into them as people. He hopes to be a consistent, impactful role
model for children while teaching them the love and peace Christ offers. “Being involved with AM has shown me how passionate I am for helping children. This is a low-income area. A lot of these children are coming from broken homes, they don’t have a good community and don’t have a lot of people loving them,” Preston states. “These kids need someone, so I’m going to try to fill that gap in their lives. That’s the difference between just showing up and actually being impactful. The mindset has to be, ‘It’s not about me.’” Preston plans to continue leading in AM the remainder of his Cumberlands career. After college, he wants to continue working with children as a schoolteacher but is open to other plans such as children’s ministries or daycare service. “Working with kids, I think, is my passion. I don’t really care where that takes me,” said Preston. “That’s why I have my major and my minors. I want to keep doors open. That’s where my mind is right now.”
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Identity in Christ Campus Ministries brought the Gospel to campus via YouTube this fall, to accomodate for COVID precautions. The weekly “eChapels” walked through the book of Ephesians and focused living “In Christ” – how Christians, after salvation, have a new identity in Christ, what that identity is, and how to live it out.
Sermons
- Greetings in Christ - Spiritual blessings in Christ - Demonstrating a life in Christ - Made alive in Christ - Reconciled to God & others through Christ - The mystery revealed in Christ - Spiritual strength in Christ - Maturity in Christ - New life in Christ - Relationships in Christ - Family relationships in Christ
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Living it Out “In my opinion, the best way to show God’s love to people is to serve them. God is love. Through showing care to other people, we can let them know what God is like.”
Ben said, “Knowing that I could pay something back to the community that has given me so much, that’s a big memory for me. Knowing we could help that gentleman was huge. I’ll never forget the people I’ve To Benjamin Nichols, ’24, connecting with met through MO or the experiences I’ve others comes naturally. One of his goals had.” before graduating is to meet as many new people on campus as possible. He enjoys Many in the community think of MO as walking up to a total stranger, smiling, being the ministry that builds a home for and striking up conversation. His business a family during summertime. While that is administration major suits him. true, it’s been eye-opening for Ben to see all the other projects MO does, since he’s Though loving others comes easily to Ben, working for the ministry behind the scenes. he recognizes that it also takes hard work to make a real difference in someone’s life. And the construction skills he is learning have already come in handy at home; “You have to have a plan of action,” he said. his mom has enlisted him to make new “You can’t just say you love someone and window shutters and do paint jobs around have a desire to help them, you need to the house. Even more important, Ben is act on it. And it takes more than just you; watching the Godly examples set by the it takes people coming together to make a men he works under. difference.” “It’s very humbling,” he said. “They’re good Ben is a presidential work-study student in people. They have so much experience, Mountain Outreach (MO). Though COVID and they want to teach, they want to help, precautions have forced outreach to look they want to show Christ to as many people different (e.g. fewer in-person events), MO as possible. I’m just here to learn and love has figured out ways to continue serving on people. The more of their example I can the area. For instance, earlier this year, the get, the better.” MO team built a deck and wheelchair ramp for an elderly gentleman who had been Observing the Godly people around you, falling down his front stairs when he tried learning all you can, and doing your best to to leave the house. Fearing injury, the man use what you glean to show God’s love to secluded himself, shut out from the rest of others – really, that’s the picture of ministry. the world. Thanks to the work MO did, he Ben is happy he gets to live it out. has real freedom again.
I ACT because. . .
I want to do anything I can to help somebody out. Benjamin Nichols, ’24
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NEW RECORD! Cumberlands’ Annual Food Drive 6
30,557 5 4
POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED WEEKS LOCAL PANTRIES SERVED
I ACT
because. . .
When Caitlyn began her Master of Arts in Christian Studies in January, she and her dad had long talks about her classes. Caitlyn looks back fondly on those months. They did make her question the Lord after her father’s passing, though.
I want to point people back to Christ, who alone is the source of all hope and all joy.
“I was angry at God at first,” Caitlyn admitted. “I was like, ‘Why would you give me this deeper connection with my dad just to strip it away?’ But the Lord is faithful and has been revealing to me how He truly does bring beauty from ashes. While it’s painful and hard, suffering is never for nothing. God is teaching me a lot.” Some things she’s learned have been more practical, like how to research and purchase a new car. Other lessons have been more spiritual. She’s seen how important it is to place confidence in God rather than yourself, since we’re all only human. It’s also helped her accept imperfection in people. As she says, “Christians aren’t perfect, but we serve a perfect God.” And she has seen how important it is for fellow believers to support each other, like how her church family has encouraged her and her sister, Brooke, MSHHP ’20, during this difficult season.
Caitlyn Howell, ’19
Caitlyn’s biggest lesson, however, is in having her own faith that is not reliant on anyone except Christ. Her dad had been an anchor of her faith. Now, it’s only between her and God. That was scary, but it’s turned into something sweet.
Christ Alone Some days, putting faith into action just means smiling, because, some days, that in itself is a monumental task.
one of those days. His family found out later, and they came together in a way they’d never had to before.
Caitlyn Howell, ’19, faced days like that in spring 2020, and not because of COVID-19. On March 5th, her father – Billy Howell, a longtime pastor and beloved husband, father, and friend – committed suicide.
Mr. Howell genuinely loved the Lord, knew Scripture, and served others well. He had an authentic faith and a powerful ministry; the 500+ people who attended his funeral were a testament to that.
He had battled depression and anxiety for decades, riding the waves through many highs and lows over the years. His loving wife and family rode the waves with him. But, some days, the lows are unexpectedly low, and the yearning for life in heaven is unexpectedly strong. He had
The pastor for the funeral, who had been brought to Christ by Mr. Howell several years prior, said, “It’s not surprising that, in a moment of weakness, Billy did what he did. What’s surprising is that, for 56 years, he conquered through what he did.”
She said, “Dad always reminded us that we aren’t eternal, but Christ’s work is. He was always most proud of our ‘faith walk.’ My steadfast hope is in the Lord alone. Christ alone is my anchor.”
Caitlyn, Billy, and Brooke Howell April 2018
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HOW CAN YOU ACT? PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION.
MOUNTAIN OUTREACH
CAMPUS MINISTRIES
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES
APPALACHIAN MINISTRIES
CONTACT: Rocky Brown 606.539.4346
CONTACT: Chad Everhart 606.539.3565
CONTACT: Devon Goings 606.539.4605
CONTACT: Caitlyn Howell 606.539.4173
