September

September 1

2015 - Tuesday evening Art to Heart for senior adult conference at Bon Clarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC. A bonus beyond the ministry itself was that all the senior adult ministers who helped set up and tear down were former youth ministers. Did a lot of reminiscing about Christian rock music in the 80's and 90's. Thank you, Bill Parnell.

September 2

 2008 - Tuesday morning Art to Heart for a couple of thousand students at Gardner-Webb University's Paul Porter Arena. Thank you, Tracy Craig Jessup.

September 6

1986 - Saturday evening Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Camden, SC. Thank you, Louie McDonald.

September 7

2001 - First show at Concoxions Cornerstone Theatre. So what does that have to do with 50 years of Art to Heart? Actually quite a bit. When I was going through my calendars compiling the info about all the chalk drawings we've been doing over these 50 years, there was an amazing drop off when I got to the year 2001. We went from doing Art to Heart on a regular basis to doing very few. The reason was obvious as I looked through my calendar. For many months (more than a year) before our show opening on this date, we were going day and night doing the massive amount of work it took to turn an old National Guard armory into a theater, doing promotional work, auditioning cast, months of almost daily rehearsals, and so much more related to the theater ministry. This was in addition to the year around work of doing Chillipepper and Seesalt student conferences (which always remained the priority) and, as I was reminded by the calendar, a lot of family events especially with two very active sons and a very busy daughter. Art to Heart got pushed to a back burner and nearly off the stove altogether. It has never regained its former prominence in our ministry - until this year. A main reason we are having this 50th year celebration is to put this part of our ministry back on a front burner. God has consistently used Art to Heart in powerful and exciting ways and we are thankful that it is once again filling a lot of dates on the calendar and being used in wonderful ways.

At the same time, we are thankful for the eight years of ministry at Concoxions Cornerstone Theatre that started on this date. We loved doing productions such as "A Peace of 72," "The Journey," and "Cornerstone Christmas Dinner Theatre." Our Christmas dinner theatre show even included a Christmas chalk drawing with cast members doing live music during the drawing, so Art to Heart at least got to visit the front burner throughout December during these years.

September 8

1984 - Did a chalk drawing as part of doing the program for the Associational Youth Retreat at Summit Lake Conference Center September 7- 9 in Summit Lake, MD. Thank you, Tom Keisler of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. Given that Maryland is not that close to South Carolina, we did a surprisingly large number of weekends at Summit Lake over the years.

September 9

1976 - Art to Heart at Salvation Army, I think in Greenville, SC.

1995 - Saturday evening Art to Heart for associational youth rally in Forrest City, NC. Thank you, Susan Harris.

September 11

1988 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Providence Baptist Church in Auburn, AL. Also preached there that morning and led youth Sunday School and Church Training. Thank you Melinda Gunn Poole, who served with us on Centrifuge staff.

1994 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Sardis Baptist Church in Swansea, SC. Also preached that morning at Swansea Baptist Church, so short commute that afternoon.

September 14

1978 - Art to Heart at Mars Hill College (now University).

1985 - Did Art to Heart as part of leading Mt Vernon Baptist Association youth retreat September 13-15 at Summit Lake Conference Center in Summit Lake, Maryland. Thank you, Jim Dawkins. One of my big non-ministry memories of this weekend at Summit Lake was finding out that Furman's football team had lost 24-21 to Newberry, presumably the weakest team on our schedule that year. At that point I figured it was going to be a rough season. Wrong! The only other game the Paladins lost that year was the Division I-AA Championship Game in Tocoma, Washington. We not only breezed through the Southern Conference undefeated, but also blew away NC State 42-20 en route to a 12-2 record and the national championship runner-up finish.

September 15

1985 - Sunday evening Art to Heart service as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday revival September 15-18 at Redland Baptist Church in Derwood (Rockville), Maryland. Thank you, Roger Rich.

September 16

1984 - Did Art to Heart for Sunday evening service at North Newton Baptist Church in Newton, NC.

2013 - Art to Heart for Monday morning chapel service at North Greenville University. Thank you, Steve Crouse. Have done more chalk drawings in NGU's Turner Auditorium/Chapel than any other facility with the possible exception of Concoxions Cornerstone Theatre (did a chalk drawing as part of each Cornerstone Christmas Dinner Theatre show). Did 30 chalk drawings at then North Greenville College over three summers of Centrifuge and have done many others over the years for various NGC/NGU ministries and other conferences meeting there. Also have done quite a few other chalk drawings at the invitation of Steve Crouse in places he served prior to NGU.

September 17

1989 - Did Art to Heart for Sunday morning service at First United Methodist Church in Lexington, NC. Did three-screen multi-image presentation "Homecoming" for evening service. Thank you, Rhonda Lytle.

2000 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Sardis Baptist Church in Hartwell, GA. Random trivia: This was the first time I used the abbreviation "A2H" (for Art to Heart) on my calendar (instead of "CD" for chalk drawing). Don't know exactly when I came up with and started using the name "Art to Heart," but it must have been around this time.

2006 - Art to Heart for Sunday morning service at Hope Valley Baptist Church in Durham, NC. A Sunday morning service usually means setting up on Saturday afternoon or evening, so when I accepted this invitation I confess that I quickly wondered what Furman football game we'd be missing. For the record, we have never not accepted an invitation because of a sporting event. As I thought through who we were playing that season, I suddenly got my hopes up. Could we be that fortunate? I checked Furman's football schedule and sure enough that Saturday we were playing at UNC. The stadium was only 5.6 miles from Hope Valley Baptist Church. We set up Saturday afternoon, and that night got to see the Paladins play an incredible game against the Tar Heels in a 45-42 loss. Thank you, Tim Williford.

September 18

1985 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Sunday through Wednesday revival September 15-18 at Redland Baptist Church in Derwood (Rockville), MD. Thank you, Roger Rich.

September 19

1992 - Did Art to Heart as part of Georgia Baptist Convention regional youth conference in Calhoun, GA. Thank you, Doug Couch and Steve Skates. Can't remember if one big memory (and lesson learned) happened at this event or another similar conference we did for the GBC. There was a nationally known recording artist who was singing prior to our part of the program, and after Kathy and I got a sound check, he was very complimentary of how good my guitar sounded. He said that lately he hadn't been very pleased with his guitar's sound, and asked if I would mind if he used my guitar for his set. I'll admit I'm a little picky about loaning guitars, but this guy knew how to handle a guitar, so I was glad to help out. Since he was on the program, Kathy and I weren't doing any music before the monologues and chalk drawing, but just one song after the drawing. The song was "Seen It Now" by Pat Terry, which begins with a slow beautiful finger picking intro, which I loved to play. As I started, I hit a really wrong note, which was embarrassing and puzzling. I'd played that intro enough not to hit bad notes, but it was quickly followed by another not even close sound. What was happening? It's funny how much can run through our minds in a split second. I suddenly remembered loaning my guitar and realized that the borrower must have re-tuned it to an alternative tuning. Creative guitar players (not me) sometimes do that to get a very different sound, which I was definitely unintentionally getting. I couldn't believe he didn't tune it back to standard tuning, knowing that we were taking the stage right after him. Actually I did believe it. Strongly. I'm not a good enough guitar player to figure out on the spot what he changed and automatically make the proper adjustments - especially in front of a couple of thousand people during a meaningful time of commitment. I don't remember exactly how it played out, but I think I just avoided playing certain strings. Maybe I've blocked it from my mind. I have selectively loaned my guitar since then, but when I won't have a chance to check it, to this day it includes the request "Please don't retune it."

September 20

1981 -Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading Friday through Sunday weekend revival September 18-20 in Warren, Arkansas. Thank you, Mike Davis

1984 - Art to Heart at Furman University Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

1989 - Did "Crossroads" Art to Heart for Wednesday morning convocation/chapel at Baptist College of Charleston (now Charleston Southern University).

2022 - Did Art to Heart for senior adult banquet at First Baptist Church in Columbia, SC. Thank you, Richard Humphries and Wes Church.

September 21

1980 -Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of leading revival services September 20-24 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Union, SC. Thank you, Keith Mims.

1986 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Harbison Baptist Church in Columbia SC. Thank you, Bob Shearer.

September 22

1981 - Did a program at the University of Central Arkansas, but don't remember if it was Art to Heart or one of our 3-screen, 9-projector multi-image productions. I do remember being surprised at how good a crowd we had given that Hall & Oates were also on campus doing a concert at the same time.

September 23

1980 -Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of leading revival services September 20-24 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Union, SC. Thank you, Keith Mims

1981 - Probably did Art to Heart at First Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas. (Or may have done three-screen, nine-projector presentation.)

1990 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Olanta Baptist Church in Olanta, SC. Senior adults at the church brought us in to do Art to Heart for the community three times over a period of a year or so. Thank you, Lazelle Hancock

September 24

2017 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Rabun Creek Baptist Church in Gray Court, SC. Have since enjoyed going back to also do "Peter: Once a Fisherman..." and "Christmas Chronicles." Thank you, Jayson Payne.

September 25

1994 - Sunday evening Art to Heart at Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Ronald Wells was minister of music there before coming to Spartanburg First Baptist Church, where he had an incredible ministry throughout my high school and college years. Ronald had a profound affect on my life and ministry to say the least. I had the privilege of singing and performing in Ronald K. Wells productions (especially "I Wonder!") all over the country, including at Walnut Street Baptist. Thank you Steve Branch for bringing us back to this place of great history and memories.

2019 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart at Antioch Baptist Church in Lumberton, NC. We've hardly ever had to cancel an Art to Heart because of sickness (postponing one a couple of weeks ago might have been first), but we almost missed this one. Was very sick for a week and half before a day in the ER receiving a lot of fluids got me going again just in time. Thank you, Kevin Davis, not only for inviting us to Lumberton, but also for inviting us to do Art to Heart in (trusting my memory here) New Bern, NC, WInder, GA, and Apex, NC.

September 26

1986 - Did Art to Heart as part of leading Maryland/Delaware Baptist Convention youth retreat September 26-27 at Skycroft Conference Center in Middletown, MD (near Frederick). Thank you, Charles Clark.

1992 - Art to Heart at Georgia Baptist Convention regional youth conference at Columbus College in Columbus, GA. Thank you Doug Couch, David Randol, and Craig Stone.

1997 - Friday evening Art to Heart for 5th Quarter rally hosted by Pine Grove BC after the Northwestern vs Dorman game. Thanks, Keith Campbell and Richard Alexander.

September 27

1989 - Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of Fall Festival in Olanta, SC. Olanta Baptist Church was very resourceful in bringing us in several times over the course of a year or so to do Art to Heart. On this occasion, they arranged for a local bank to underwrite the entire cost for that night. The bank's sponsorship was acknowledged in a printed program for the evening, and the bank president was introduced, thanked, and maybe even had an opening prayer. Rather than quickly decide that they can't do something, I like it when churches/groups/people figure out a way to do it.

September 28

2023 - Thursday evening Art to Heart at Bethea Retirement Community in Darlington. This was originally scheduled for September 14, but a few days before that, Kathy and I finally came down with COVID for the first time after carefully avoiding it for 2.5 years. This may have been the first time in nearly 50 years that we had to reschedule a chalk drawing because of illness. Bethea is a very impressive facility with an even more impressive administration and staff. Had a great group from the community and beyond for Art to Heart. We greatly appreciate Annie Eveleigh, Ben Spurling, Heather Ward and their staff for their flexibility and for taking such good care of us. Retirement is not in our plans, but if it was….

September 29

2013 - Sunday evening Art to Heart as part of two-day ministry September 29-30 at Sawney's Creek Baptist Church in Ridgeway, SC. Thank you, Dean Reynolds.

September 30

1983 - Did Art to Heart for 5th Quarter program sponsored by First Baptist Church in Harlan, KY. Did our three-screen, nine-projector production "One More Chance" at the high school during the day. Thank you, Pat Carlton.

1986 - This was maybe the craziest chalk drawing we've done in our nearly 50-year history. Indian Field Campground near St. George, SC was built in 1848 and consists of an open air wooden structure called the "tabernacle" surrounded by 99 two-story cabins called "tents." The annual Methodist campground meeting lasts at last a week and is also a social highlight of the year in the area. Each night dozens of people gather in each rustic tent for an elaborate meal as part of the festivities.

We received the invitation to do a chalk drawing for the service one night thanks to Eddie Fogle of Memorial Baptist church. A month or so prior to the meetings we were in the area and Kim Miller, who was working with us at the time, offered to take us out and show us the campground. It was nighttime, the grass and weeds were over our heads, and we had been warned that the place was crawling (literally) with rattlesnakes, so we explored a few tents with flashlights but never got close to the tabernacle.

The night we did Art to Heart, the tabernacle was packed with over 1000 people on wooden benches plus others sitting outside on their own chairs. When all the tabernacle lights were turned off for the drawing, the only lights anywhere around were the lights directly over my drawing board, which quickly attracted every bug in Dorchester County. As bugs dive-bombed the drawing surface, I had little choice but to draw over them. I'm sure nobody but me could hear the constant crunching sound, but on the positive side, it did give the chalk drawing a nice unique texture.

The bigger problem was that the bugs swarming all around me were constantly invading every opening on me they could find, which included eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. I tried to keep my mouth closed as much as possible, but because of trying to blow bugs out of my nose, I often needed to open my mouth. That left me with two not so great options. I could do a lot of spitting - or a lot of swallowing. Spitting throughout a service didn't seem very conducive to meaningful worship, so I got a lot of unplanned protein that night. A whole lot.

1987 - Did Wednesday evening Art to Heart as part of two nights of ministry (maybe at the high school?) sponsored by First Baptist Church in Union, SC. Did "Homecoming" three-screen multi-image production the night before. Thank you, Harry Tokunaga.