October

October 1

1995 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Baptist Church of Beaufort in Beaufort, SC. Also preached twice there that morning. Thank you to then pastor Bob Cuttino not only for the invitation, but for our conversation that morning between services that included one of the highest compliments a person could receive (to say the least).

October 3

1978 - Sunday morning Art to Heart at Reedy Fork Baptist Church in Moonville/Piedmont, SC.

1982 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Also did some kind of presentation there Saturday night and preached Sunday morning.

October 4

1981 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday morning through Wednesday night revival services October 4-7 at Thomas Memorial Baptist Church in Bennettsville, SC. Thank you, Pastor Andy Bass. DIdn't know it at the time, but that's the home church of long-time Concoxions technical guru Ray Jackson. Besides the usual ministry there that week, also tried to do a little matchmaking between minister of youth/children Everett Douglas and Beth Culbertson, a really sharp singer-songwriter from Greenville who was a member at TMBC. I won't try to take full credit, but something worked. And still is.

1983 - Did Art to Heart as part of leading fall revival services and being Staley Lecture Series speaker at Gardner-Webb College (now University) October 3-7 in Boiling Springs, NC. I received this invitation over the phone, and after I accepted, the person inviting me said "We're also bringing in somebody to do music for the week. I don't know if you've heard of him, but his name is Ken Medema." My immediate response was "Are you kidding me? Ken Medema is one of my all-time favorite musicians. If you have Ken Medema coming, you don't need me."

Fortunately he didn't agree that they didn't need me, because we had an incredible week. I first heard Ken Medema as a college student when he was just beginning his incredible ministry and I have been a great admirer ever since of his songwriting, his singing, his piano playing, his concerts, and of him as person. We have incorporated a lot of his music into our ministry. For many years "Fork in the Road" was a powerful song in our Art to Heart "Crossroads" soundtrack. We sang "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying" as part of our Seesalt summer student conference guided prayer time every week, every year.

Our Crossroads chalk drawing soundtrack actually had two of Ken's songs in it at that point, and I went into this night with the great idea that Ken could do those two songs live and then we'd fade into the rest of the recorded soundtrack. He said he would love to do what I was suggesting, but it had been about ten years since he had done "Fork in the Road" and he didn't think he'd be able to do it the way I was used to hearing it, knowing that the drawing needed to sync to the music. As hard as it was to believe that the writer of such a great song didn't remember it, I did believe it because I knew he was constantly doing new music.

In fact, one of the things Ken was known for was writing songs on the spot in several different ways. In concert he would often have six people from the audience give him three words and three chords. People would come up with three crazy words and music majors would try to come up with three chords that they thought would never go together in a song. But Ken would always pull it together into nothing short of an incredible and clever song. Even more meaningfully, he would often come back after a speaker's message and do an amazing song based on the message he had just heard. (Full disclosure: we did sometimes talk about my messages in advance to give him a little bit of a head start, but it was still impressive.)

Hanging out with Ken for five days verified the high opinion I had of him as a person, but also included some fun memorable times as well. One night after the service, Ken, Kathy, our then four-month-old son Christopher, and I were eating a late dinner at the diner across from the campus, and an excited, very talkative college student came back to our table as we were waiting for our food. She was asking both of us one question after another and I could tell that Ken was probably not enjoying the conversation as much as she was. Christopher started to get a little fussy, and Kathy said he probably just needed to get out of his carrier and be walked a little. Ken immediately jumped up and said "I'll walk him!" We recognized his desire to escape, but also had a slight concern. Ken had been blind from birth. He was pretty amazing, but did we really want him to walk our new-born son in an unfamiliar crowded place? We knew Ken was an experienced dad, so we trusted him. He carefully shielded Christopher's head, gently bumped into a few stools on his first lap, but quickly learned a clear path back and forth through the diner. He and Christopher were soon both at peace.

1987 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Cooper River Baptist Church in North Charleston, SC. Also preached there that morning. Thank you, Dale Levan.

October 5

1986 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter, SC.

October 6

1983 - Did second Art to Heart of the week as part of leading Gardner-Webb College fall revival / Staley Lecture Series October 3- 7 in Boiling Springs, NC. Please see October 4 for much more about our experiences this week with Ken Medema, one of my all-time favorite musicians.

1991 - Maybe did Art to Heart at two-day associational youth rally at Southwestern Community College October 6-7 in Sylva NC. I think I spoke one night and on the other night did either Art to Heart or one of our three-screen nine-projector multi-image presentation. I think it was the latter, but since I'm not sure we'll stay open to the possibility that it was a chalk drawing presentation. Thank you, Scott Courtney and Ann Hall.

October 7

1984 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading revival services at Heritage Baptist Church in Dothan, AL Oct 7-10. Preached that morning, did a noon service each day, three-screen multi-media production Monday, puppets Tuesday, and another chalk drawing Wednesday.

1995 - Did a chalk drawing as part of leading a youth retreat for Dunwoody Baptist Church of Atlanta October 6-8 at Awanita Valley camp in Marietta, SC. Thank you, Scott Montgomery.

October 8

1989 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Oakland Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC. Thank you, Scott Simpson.

2000 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Tuesday ministry at Laurel Hill Baptist Church in Verona, Virginia October 8-10. (Mike Winters) Also preached Sunday morning, did "Homecoming three-screen multi-media presentation Tuesday, and did another Art to Heart Wednesday evening. Thank you, Mike Winters.

October 9

1983 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Lakeforest Baptist Church Jacksonville, FL.

October 10

1980 - Probably did an Art to Heart in Toccoa, GA as part of leading Single Adult Conference October 10-11 for Glenwood Hills Baptist Church of Lithonia, GA.

1984 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading revival services October 7-10 at Heritage Baptist Church in Dothan, AL.

1993 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday "Building Program" themed revival October 10-13 at First Baptist Church in Woodruff, SC. Built a set for our "Building Program" revivals in which the chalk drawing set up was built into a wall of 2x4 studs and brick veneer. Thank you, Dee Vaughn and Landon Horton.

2000 - Tuesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Tuesday ministry at Laurel Hill Baptist Church in Verona, Virginia October 8-10. Thank you, Mike Winters.

October 11

1987 - Sunday evening Art to Heart for Ridge Baptist associational meeting at Phillipi Baptist Church in Johnston, SC. Thank you, John Gambrell.

1998 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Thank you, Ken Lee.

October 12

1982 - Art to Heart at Augusta Road Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. Thank you, Marion Hare.

1984 - Did Art to Heart after football game as part of FCA event October 11-12 in Tallahassee, FL. Did "Homecoming" three-screen in-projector multi-media production the previous day.

1986 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. Thank you, Tony Crouch.

1988 - Wednesday morning Art to Heart for chapel program in Lightsey Auditorium at Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University) in Charleston, SC. Lightsey Auditorium is also where we did many years of Evangelympics regional youth conferences for the SC Baptist Convention.

2018 - Friday evening Art to Heart at Buck Creek Baptist Church in Longs, SC. If I remember correctly, this area had been badly flooded a few days prior, so we had to take several detours to get there. Thank you, Larry Allen. We had the privilege of serving with Larry for many summers when he was assistant director then director of White Oak Conference Center.

October 13

1993 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday "Building Program" themed revival services October 10-13 at First Baptist Church in Woodruff, SC. Also did a chalk drawing on Sunday night. Built a set for our "Building Program" revivals in which the chalk drawing set up was built into a wall of 2x4 studs and brick veneer. Thank you, Dee Vaughn and Landon Horton.

October 14

1977 - Did a chalk drawing on at least one of four days of leading a youth conference October 14-17 at Pendleton United Methodist Church (presumably in Pendleton, SC), but not sure which day(s).

1979 - Over the years, we've had at least six different major drawing boards. According to my calendar, this was the first of many days of working on a new chalk drawing board with Jim Osborn. Jim is a great friend from my Taylors First Baptist Church days and is an excellent woodworking craftsman. Jim did not help me build this board. I told him what I needed/wanted, made suggestions along the way, and mainly watched as he crafted a beautiful wood and plexiglass creation. (He probably had me make a few cuts and put in some screws.) This was the first chalk drawing board (maybe anywhere) that featured dimmable fluorescent lights. After many years of use, it was replaced by an aluminum and steel board. The board that I helped Jim build is sitting in our garage, and we're very much needing to get rid of it. I trying to think of a respectful way to say goodbye to a big part of our Art to Heart history. Thanks, Jim, for such a major contribution to our chalk drawing ministry.

1984 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Sanford, FL. Thank you, David Pepper.

October 15

2006 - Did Art to Heart as part of our one-day X:SPECTRUM student conference at Concoxions Cornerstone Theatre in Lyman, SC.

2023 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Sand Hill Baptist Church in Varnville, SC. Thank you pastor George Skinner and Patricia Terry.

October 16

1983 - Sunday evening "Crossroads" Art to Heart as part of leading revival services at First Baptist Church in Clewiston, FL October 16-20. Also did associational youth rally the Saturday before.

1988 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday revival services October 16-19 at Five Points Baptist Church in Northport (?), Alabama. Thank you, Dwayne Conner.

1999 - Did Art to Heart as a part of Saturday afternoon and evening youth rally. Don't remember where it was but was planned by former summer staff member David Haskell, who passed away several years ago. Also on the program were Tom Toombs, Mike Blackwood, and the band Shades of Red.

October 17

1982 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading "Encounter" Saturday through Wednesday October 16-20 at First Baptist Church in Richmond, KY.

1984 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Lutz FL. Then did Thursday through Saturday youth retreat at Tampa Bay Conference Center. I don't remember if I did another chalk drawing on the retreat, but do remember somebody getting a Frisbee stuck on a roof.

1998 - Art to Heart as part of ministry for NC Baptist Convention October 16- 18. Thank you, Gaylin Huff.

October 18

1980 - According to a not very detailed calendar post, I did an all-day youth rally somewhere in Cross Anchor, SC. Good chance I did a chalk drawing. Thank you, Paul Rogers.

1987 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday morning through Wednesday night revival services October 18-21 at Oceanview Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thank you, Kirk Lawton.

1983 - Monday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Honea Path, SC.

1998 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC. Thank you, Don Vigus.

October 19

1983 - Wednesday evening "This Little Child" Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Thursday revival services at First Baptist Church in Clewiston, FL October 16-20. Also did association youth rally the Saturday before.

1986 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading revival services October 19-22 at Midland Park Baptist Church in Charleston, SC. Thank you, Stafford Hebert.

1988 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday revival services October 16-19 at Five Points Baptist Church in Northport (?) Alabama. Thank you, Dwayne Conner.

2011 - Calendar said I did "chalk drawing at warehouse." After decades of drawing on paper attached to a plexiglass board, this is probably when I switched to drawing on "canvas" (confession - actually two cotton sheets) stretched on a wooden frame. Took some time experimenting in the Concoxions warehouse since the switch affected lighting, special effects, mounting the board, and the drawing itself.

October 20

1978 - At Emmanuel Baptist Church in North Augusta, SC October 20-22. Did Art to Heart during that time, but not sure which day.

1982 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Saturday through Wednesday "Encounter" October 16-20 at First Baptist Church in Richmond, KY.

1994 - Believe it or not, Art to Heart was the "featured" part of this youth rally at Franklin First Baptist Church just outside of Nashville, with huge stars Michael W. Smith and Kevin Max of DCTalk scheduled to "open" for us. MWS did indeed get the night off to a great start, but KM was nowhere to be found. Mike Blackwood was with me on the trip and singing/playing everywhere else we went, so it worked out great for Mike to pinch hit for Kevin Max, who eventually got there and closed out the night with a song after Art to Heart. Thank you, Tad Wilson for putting together a memorable night.

October 21

1984 - Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Temple Terrace, FL. Funny what you remember sometimes. I remember a very big nice fan shaped sanctuary (maybe with very blue carpet), but if you sat on the front rows on the extreme outside, you couldn't see the stage because of the organ and piano railings.

1987 - Wednesday evening A2H as part of leading Sunday morning through Wednesday night revival services at Oceanview Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach October 18-21. Thank you, Kirk Lawton.

1990 - Sunday morning Art to Heart at West Creek Baptist Church in Batesburg, SC. Thank you, Rick Rogers.

October 22

1986 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading revival services October 19-22 at Midland Park Baptist Church in Charleston, SC. Thank you, Stafford Hebert.

1988 - Did Art to Heart as part of leading two-day retreat October 21-22 at Camp Cheerio in Roaring Gap (Elkin), NC. Thank you, John Gwaltney.

1989 - Sunday evening "The Lighthouse" Art to Heart at Arcadia First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. Thank you, Al Phillips.

2023 - Sunday morning Art to Heart at Emerald Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC. Thank you, Craig McDaniels.

October 23

1981 - Friday through Sunday Associational Youth Conference in Salem, VA October 23-25. Did Art to Heart, but not sure which day. Also did a three-screen multi-media presentation.

1983 -"Crossroads" Art to Heart chalk drawing as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday revival services at FBC Statesboro, GA October 23-26.

1988 - Sunday evening "The Lighthouse" Art to Heart at Beaumont Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC.

October 24

1980 - Three-day retreat for Pickens, SC First Baptist Church October 24-26. Probably did a chalk drawing, but not sure which day. No matter what we did, thank you Bobby Haley.

October 25

1977 - Taylors First Baptist Church senior high fall retreat at Camp Greenville October 25-26. Good chance I did a chalk drawing, but not sure which day.

1987 - Sunday evening Art to Heart in Hermitage Hills TN. Calendar said we were there October 25-28, but there were also question marks on calendar, so I'm not sure if this actually happened. If it did, thank you Gene Johnson and Steve Crosby.

2015 - Sunday morning Art to Heart at Hillside Baptist Church in Fountain Inn, SC. This was one of at least three straight years that I had the privilege of ministering on Sunday morning at Hillside on Youth Sunday. Thank you, pastor Eddie Howard and others.

October 26

1980 - Concluded leading weekend retreat by doing Sunday evening service at First Baptist Church in Pickens, SC. Probably did a chalk drawing. Thank you, Bobby Haley.

1983 - Did "This Little Child" Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday revival services at First Baptist Church in Statesboro, GA October 23-26.

October 27

1984 - Saturday evening Art to Heart at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, SC. Thank you, Jerry Long.

1995 - Friday evening Art to Heart for Fifth Quarter at First Baptist Church in Inman, SC. Thank you, David Allen.

1996 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Williamston, SC. Thank you, Brad Bardin.

October 28

1990 - A Sunday morning Art to Heart at Dutch Fork Baptist Church in Irmo, SC was on the calendar, but there was also an "X" on calendar on this date, so not sure if we actually did it.

October 29

1986 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Calvary Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. The main thing I remember is that my Jenkins Junior High School principal James Brockman was there and had some very encouraging things to say about what we did. While at Jenkins, I remember Mr. Brockman as being a very kind and caring man that I greatly respected. Was good to see him again. Thank you, Ken Rainey.

2006 - Sunday morning Art to Heart at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Newport, TN as part of family festival followed by trunk or treat. Thank you, Scott Johnson.

2011 - Saturday evening Art to Heart at high school auditorium in Orangeburg, SC. Our daughter Shari and non-yet son-in-law Robin Hunt went with us and did a great job (as usual) leading music. Thank you, Ike Kittrell.

October 30

1974 - Did my first chalk drawing beyond the initial ten I did in Kentucky. Spoke and did a forerunner to Art to Heart for Baptist Student Union at the University of South Carolina in Columbia - the first of many chalk drawings at colleges and universities over these 50 years.

1983 - Did Sunday evening "Crossroads" Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday morning through Friday night revival services October 30 - November 4 at Calhoun Baptist Church in Calhoun, KY.

October 31

1983 - Did Sunday evening "Crossroads" Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday morning through Friday night revival services October 30 - November 4 at Calhoun Baptist Church in Calhoun, KY.