Summer 2012 Caring Place Magazine

CARINGPLACE

Vacation Bible SchoolTeaching children is a blessing

page 9

Remembering our veterans and their sacrifice in service to our country

page 5

Someone You Should Know

Volume 47, Issue 2 Summer 2012

Meet Kristy Benefield, teacher at Mill Creek Elementary in Madison

page 3

MEMORIAL DAY

WhitesburgBaptist.org

Whitesburg Baptist Church

High School CampJuly 9-13, 2012

Set in a gorgeous splash of Alabama countryside about 16 miles south of Montgomery just off Highway 331, Fort Faith at Brigadoon offers modern, comfortable accommodations and endless acres of non-stop fun! Enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities, incredible small group lessons, evening worship and Bible Study led by Camp Speaker Jonathan Spencer and Worship Leader Joshua Price. And don’t forget about the awesome late nights and talent show!

Find out more at WhitesburgBaptist.org/hsevents

But I will see Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your presence. Psalm 17:15

2012 Middle School Camp Registration is over, BUT... there’s always next year!

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP 2013JUNE 3 - 7

Camp Speaker Jonathan Spencer

Worship LeaderJoshua Price

COST$210 May 21 - June 17

$240 June 18 - 27

Register by June 27

Parent MeetingSunday, July 1

Summer 2012 | 1Volume 47, Issue 2

Caring Place magazine exists to open a window into the multifaceted ministries of Whitesburg Baptist Church whose purpose is to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known. We desire to know Jesus Christ through the Word and Worship, to exalt the Savior through education and evangelism and to mature all believers to minister and to be on mission.Caring Place magazine is a bimonthly publication by Whitesburg Baptist Church, 6806 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, AL 35802-2299. (Permit No. 446) To get your copy call (256) 704-5678, ext. 210 and leave your mailing address. Subscription Rate: $12.00 donation a year anywhere in the U.S.

Publisher: Whitesburg Baptist ChurchEditor: Dr. Greg CorbinPublishing & Graphics: Melissa Schuster, Ron SnyderEditorial Assistants: Karen Tidwell, Beverly DishmanDistribution Team: Jennifer Baggett, Billy Davis, Larry Hardy, Marylin Johnson, Bob Raines, Walter Tharpe, Paul LanierBundling Team: Claire Byrd, Martha Cain, Jimmy Campbell, Debbie Canida, Betty D. Cloud, Mabel Evans, Nina & Tim Hopper, Marsha Quick, Linda Robertson, Barbara Saunders, Phyllis Smith, Dee Tolomei, Cynthia Williams.

CARINGPLACEInside

Volume 47, Issue 2 Summer 2012

Contents

2 WinShape Camps Best. Week. Ever.

3 Someone You Should Know Kristy Benefield, 6th Grade Teacher

5 Memorial Day Remembering our veterans

9 Vacation Bible School Teaching Children is a Blessing

WHITESBURGthe caring place

BAPTIST CHURCH

Someone You Should Knowpage 3

Veterans talk about their service to our country

page 5

WHITESBURGthe caring place

BAPTIST CHURCH

2 | CARINGPLACE WhitesburgBaptist.org

Winshape Day Camp is “thebestcampever”asmykidswouldsay.Iwasveryimpressedathowactiveandbusytheykeptthemtheentireday. Ihave toadmit that Iwasworriedaboutthekidsstayingbusy and having a lot of downtime,butthekidsneverquitgoingor having fun. Even when theywereintheworshiptimetheywerehavingablast! Thekidsgettochoosethreeofnineteenactivitiesoffered,andmykidshavesomuchtroubledecidingwhich ones to choose since theywant to do all of them. One ofmy favorites from last year wasthe Fast Food track in which thekidsgottomakethingsthemselveswithaveragestufffromaroundthehouse. Then on the last day theparentsgottocomeandwatchthekids create their own recipe andmake it for the class. It was so

muchfun. The other activity I helpedwith last year was Photography.I was really impressed with howthe teacher taught the propertechniques for taking differentkinds of pictures and why theywere doing it that way. I evenlearned some things in the class.Theleadertoldmehedidresearchwithdifferentpicturetakingstylesand taught the kids those stylesso they did not just walk aroundtaking snapshots all day. Theywere taughthow to takeacertaintype of picture each day andthen they worked on that for theday. After having experiencewith these classes, I was reallyimpressed.Mydaughter,Emmilee,has gone for 2 years now and isvery sad that thiswill be her lastyear;shehasreallyenjoyedit! The thing that I was mostimpressedbywashowtheysharedGod’s Word with the kids all

ByMichelleQualls

July 16 - 20, 20128 am - 5 pm

For kids Grades 1 - 6(completed)

day long, not just inWorship. Ineverything they did, they broughtGod into it. God is the centerofour livesandalwaysshouldbe ineverythingwedo.Iencourageyouto tell your friends andneighborsabout our camp and bring themalong to have a fun filled week,with God as the center of it all!I would say that Winshape DayCamp is thebestcampyoucouldsendyourkidstothissummer!


Continued on page 4

Where did you grow up, graduate from high school, college, etc.? I grew up inMorgan CountyjustsouthofHuntsville.IattendedA. P. Brewer High School, andgraduated in 1991. After highschool, I attended CalhounCommunityCollegefortwoyears,and then transferred to AthensState where I received a B.S. inEarly Childhood Education andElementaryEducation.

Tell us about your family. My husband, Brent, and Iweremarried in 1999. We datedforfiveyears,andactuallystarted

attending Whitesburg together aswe enjoyedWhitesburg’s SinglesMinistry. I have two children,Josh who is 22 and Ellie whois 10. Josh is graduating fromAuburn this springwith a degreein International Business, andEllieisin5thgradeatMillCreekElementary. They are bothwonderful! I am very proud ofthem!

Tell us about your relationship with Christ and your church home. My real relationship withChrist did not start until I was23 years old. I was a child that

grewupwithawonderful family,but we only went to church offandon throughout theyears. Mygrandparents on both sides wereexcellent examples of devoutChristians. I remember going tochurch with them a lot. I knewfrom a young age that I shouldaccept Jesus into my heart, butnever did. Through the guidanceof Brent,mywonderful husband,family, and Whitesburg BaptistChurch,Iturnedoverallmyfearsand pains and took Jesus’ hand.What a wonderful morning thatwas! Iwasactuallybaptized thatnightwithmy entire family there

SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW

KRISTY BENEFIELD6th Grade Language Arts Teacher, Mil l Creek Elementary

Interview by Dr. Greg Corbin


tosupportme.Iwon’teverforgethowhappymygreat-grandmotherwas that evening. The look ofprideandhappinessinhereyesisunforgettable.

How long have you been an educator? What made you want to become an educator? I have been teaching for 12years. I have taught EnglishLanguage Learners, kindergarten,4thgrade,5thgrade,and6thgrade.Itaughtkindergartenfortwoyears,anditREALLYhelpedmebecomea better teacher. My job is veryhard at times as a teacher, but Itrulyloveit! I always had a feeling that Iwould love tobea teacher,butatfirstIwentdownadifferentpath,workingtowardabusinessdegree.Ihatetosayit,butIreallydidnotenjoyanyofthebusinessclasses!Finally, I decided to change mymajor to education. I alwaysenjoyed being around children,andIdidhavewonderfulteachersasrolemodelsinmylifetoo.

Tell us about your present position and school. I teach 6th grade LanguageArts atMill CreekElementary inMadison,AL. MillCreek isonlythreeyearsold,andwasoneofthefirst Green Schools in the state.

Someone You Should KnowContinued from page 3

MadisonCitySchoolsequipstheirteacherswithwonderfultechnologyandresources. Myschoolsystemisveryblessed! I alsowork in awonderful environment, and haveexcellent co-workers. We are afamily!

What do you enjoy most about teaching? EVERYTHING! I enjoy theinteraction with the students andteaching reading, language, andwriting. I feel happy at school-- I know it is where God wantsme. I love teachingmy studentsnewthings,orreadingnewbookswiththem.Seeingstudentsrelateastorywehavereadtotheirhistorylessonorreallifeisthebest.Ialsolovetoseethemgetexcitedabouta project or writing assignmentweareworkingon,andWANTtolearnMORE!

How has God used you as a public school teacher? I think God wants me to bea respectable role-model for mystudents.MystudentsknowthatIloveGod,gotochurch,andteachSundayschool.Everyoneknowsthatpublicschoolteachersarenotallowed to teach/talk about God,but I feel like my students knowmeandknowI loveGod. IpraythateventhoughIcan’tsharemy

relationship with God with mystudents that they see it in myactionsandattitude.

How can we be praying for you as a public school teacher? How can we be praying for our local schools in general? Pray that all the children thatgo to schoolwakeup to a lovingand caring family. So manystudents have to grow up so fastthattheydonotgettohavearealchildhood.Ithinkthatthestudentsneed our prayers more than theteachers.Teachershavegreatdayswhen students have great days.Local school systems need us topray for continued funding sincethestudentteacherratiocontinuestoclimb.Alsoprayforourschoolstoknowhowtoattendtoindividualstudent needs. Every child isuniqueandschoolsystemsneedtotouch the lifeof every child. Nochildshouldbemissed!

Tell us about any hobbies you have or anything else you would like for our church family to know. Ienjoyspendingtimewithmyfamily.WeenjoyvisitingAuburnseveral times a year and goingto football games. Recently, wehave found interest in Auburn’sequestrianeventssincemydaughter,Ellie, loves horses - War Eagle!Relaxing at home by our pool isanotherfavoritehobbyofmineand(ofcourse)shopping&reading!


Remembering our veterans and their sacrifice in service to our country

05-28-12MEMORIAL DAY

By Donna McIntosh

When asked to write an article with a focus on veterans, I jumped at the chance. Mydadwas in theAir Forceduring the Korean War and themention of any veteran and thesacrifice they made in service toour country would bring a tearto his eye. SinceHuntsville is amilitarycity,wehavemanystoriesthatcouldbetold.Unfortunately,the article could only contain acouple of the stories from thefollowing threemen: BillMayes,HarveyStewart,andPaulFreeman.TheirservicetotheU.S.Navyandthe U.S. Army represents actiononthesea,inthesky,andonland.I wanted to know an essentialquestionfromeachveteran:Howdid you see God working in themidst of the horrors of war andwhatlessonswerelearned?

beforetheorderwasgiventofire.“Hewillneverknowhowclosehecame!”saidBillMayes.SomeoneonwatchwithBillsaidifheheardavoiceinthedarksaying“ThisisJehovah,”hedidnotknowwhathewoulddo,either! The USS Fechteler was oneof20destroyersasapartofTaskForce77.Theirjobwastoencirclethe three aircraft carriers, threecruisers,uptoadozensupplyships,andonebattleship as aprotectivering and, if necessary, put theirownshipinharm’swaytosavetheinnerships.Ifanythingintheair,onorunderthesurfaceoftheseawasperceivedasathreat,thenthe

destroyers would aim at thetarget with an “umbrellaof fire.” Destroyers areappropriately named,whethertheyarelockedonatargetorsacrificing

Continued on page 6

On Target Bill MayesU.S. Navy 1951-54 Korea

“Unidentified Contact, thisis Jehovah.” There was only asteady sound of static over theradio frequency. “UnidentifiedContact, this is Jehovah!” Thecallsweremoreurgentasthelackof acknowledgement continued.The approaching plane did nothave the IFF (Identify Friend orFoe) switched on and the orderfor sailors to return to their postshadbeengiven.Severalthousandsailors were now locked andloaded on the unsuspectingtarget.Atthelastpossiblemoment, it was laterreported that the pilotrealized his mistake andswitched on the IFF just


themselvestoprotect.Mr.Mayesheld several jobs including deckforce, radar gang, and a right-side gunnery mount. While onthe radarganghewaspartof theCombatInformationCenter(CIC)andhisshiftconsistedofwatchingthe radar and keeping the targetinformation on the plexiglasscurrent and accurate. This jobrequired him to hear informationand transfer it backwards and inreverse order so it can bewrittenonthebacksidetolooknormaltothoseonthefrontsideoftheglass.Theplexiglasshad lines radiatingoutandonagridsothathecouldplotthecoordinates.Onemistakecould be very costly in terms ofsailors’ lives and battle strategy.Healsohad tousecoordinatesasa gunnymount. The fire controldirectorfromabovewouldcalloutthe coordinates and the gunnies

wouldhavetosettheirgunsatthatlocation.Onetime,twomenwereseen on the beach from the ship,onemaninfrontwithhisarmsupandtheotherbehindhimholdingagun.Lookingthroughbinoculars,the fire control director saw thattheprisonerwasaMarineandthegunman was a Communist. ThedirectorwantedtogivetheMarinea chance to escape and called forastarbursttobeshotabovethem.The shot exploded above the twomenandtheybothdoveinaholeon the beach. After the smokecleared, the men were observedgetting up in the same order asbefore. As Mr. Mayes was talking,I thought of several ways thesestories can apply to our dailylives. Our God, Jehovah, triestodirectourpath andkeepusontarget. He plots the coordinates

for us to follow ifwewould justreadourBibledaily.Heprovidesa protective umbrella over us todeflectSatan’sfierydartsandhasHis own Fire Control Director,the Holy Spirit, pointing out thedirection we should go. He alsoprovidesawayoutwhenwe findourselves down the wrong path.WeneedtoheedthewarningshotsHesendsourwayorwemayfindourselves back in the same orderagain. And if I hear Jehovahcallingforme,doIreallyneedtohave my frequency turned off orignorehiswarning?Hopefully,wewillknowwhattodo!

Rice Field to Mission FieldHarvey StewartU.S. Army World War II KoreaVietnam (2 tours)

The helicopter was crashingandhe couldnot do anythingbuthang on and pray. After landingon its side, the helicopter flippedand finally rested upside downnext to a stink pit in a rice field.HarveyStewartfoundhimselffacedownsurroundedinmudunderthehelicopter.Hisbootwascaught on somethingand no matter howhestruggled,hejustcouldnotbreakfree.He was drowningin the mud. The

MEMORIAL DAYContinued from page 5

USS Fechteler circa 1954 http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/870.htm


stink pit was approximately 30”deep and dug to hold all forms ofwaste,animalandhuman.Thepitprovided the fertilizer when thewater flooded into it and coveredthericefields.“Idon’tknowhowit happened, but suddenly I justpoppedupandstartedpraisingtheLord!” He lookedaroundandnoonewasstandingnearhimandhisbootwasmissing.Herealizedatthat moment God had a purposeforhislifewhileafull-blownwarwasragingaroundhim. Mr. Stewart was a Pilot ofthe 118th Assault HelicopterCompanyinVietnamduringatourfrom1964-65.TheyhadsuppliedsupportfortheRangersandSpecialForcesasapre-servicebefore thewar. Hewaswelcomed home in’65tolotsofpublicity.Thesecondtourin’70wasquitedifferent.“Iworkedinthejunglefor10monthsand I aged 10 years.” He wasnot welcomed home and found achanged America. Mr. Stewartbegan his career in 1945 as a 17year old private inWorldWar IIbut remained stateside. In 1950,he found himself in the middle

of Korea andin the 60sand early 70sc o m p l e t e dtwo tours ofVietnam. I askedMr. Stewartabout God’splan for his

lifeafterthecrash.“Isawthatthemilitarywas the greatestmissionfieldIcouldever imagine.” Hewanted to be inGod’sArmyandusedthe opportunitiesaround him forChristian service.He implemented thefollowingministries:1. Hi s c ompany

supported anorphanage. Up to sixchildrenwould die per day and withsupplies and medicines fromsomepeopleinHuntsville,thatrate changed to one child perweek.

2. Theysponsoredalepercolony.3. T h e y mad e e s c a p e a n d

evacuation plans for themissionariesandpracticedwiththem.

4. The Army had a 24-hourrule between the “Bottle andThrottle.” Mr. Stewart hadhis pilots fly everyday so theywouldhave to stay away fromalcohol.

The helicopter crash was adefiningmomentofhis lifewhenherealizedthatGodwastheoneincontrolandnothim. Mr.Stewartgot the opportunity to return toKorea in 1992 and marveledat the difference. “In ’52, theKoreans didn’t have a word forJesusChrist.”Hesawtheamazingtransformationofacountryonfirefor Jesus. He alsomarveled that

anAlmighty God pulled him outofthericefieldtomakehisjobhismissionfield.

BattlegroundPaul FreemanU.S. Army Korea Vietnam (2 tours)

There was no combat orenemy aggression in the vicinity,soPaulFreemanthoughthewouldprovidethesoldierswithatreat:abarbervisitingthefrontlines.Themenlinedupinchairsoutsidethearea tochatandwait their turn toa much needed haircut. All thatwasmissingwas the barber pole.Mr. Freeman was to be the lastof the soldiers togethis turnandwaslookingforwardtoitwhenthesoldierinfrontofhimstooduptovacatethechair.Suddenly,ashotrang out and the standing soldierfell dead from a direct hit to his

118th Assault Helicopter Company 1965http://www.118ahc.org/118thAML.htm

Harvey Stewart Continued on page 8


head.Itwaslaterdiscoveredthatasoldier,cleaninghisrifle,didnotrealizethataroundwasstillinthechamber.Eventhoughtheenemywas not close, the hazards fromfriendly fire could happen at anytime.Thiswasonlyoneofmany“close shaves” Mr. Freeman hadwhileservingonthefront. Mr. Freeman was part of theinfantry, “where they throw handgrenades.” He was awarded theCombat Infantry Badge (CIB)given to those in the Infantry orSpecialForceswhoservedon thefront lines. During a seven yearperiod, his family was withouttheirdad for threeyears. Havingayoungfamilyatthetime,Iaskedhowheandhisfamilyenduredthetimeofseparation.Hesaidthathiswife,Martha,andtheirsonandtwodaughterswouldgetontheirkneesinprayeratnightforhim.Hedidthe same thing for them from theothersideoftheworld.Thatbondofprayerwastheonlyweaponheand his family had to empowerthem to protect loved ones. Hesaidthatonehad“betterbeprayedupbeforegoingintocombat.Theactionwas too fast and you onlyhad time to react the way youweretrained.Itwaswhenyouhadtime to reflect onwhat happenedthatyouwouldbreakoutinacoldsweat.”Itwasduringthetimesofreflection thatMr.FreemancouldseethehandofGodworking.“Heactsinall,butnotallareHis.”WecanbeoneofHis,allwehave todoisbelievethatJesusistheSonofGod.Thechoiceisours. When Mr. Freeman returned

MEMORIAL DAYContinued from page 7

to the States, he experienced anewbattleground. Therewasnota name for it at the timebut it isnow known as Post TraumaticStressSyndrome.Herealizedforhimself itwasmoreof a spiritualnature than a physical, mentalor emotional one. He started tobelieve in and rely on himselfinstead of God for a period oftwoyears.Godworkedinhislifethroughconviction,andwhenMr.Freeman asked for forgiveness ofself-reliance, God took over inrestoration. “It doesn’t happenovernight,ittakestime.”ItwasaslowprocessbuthecameoutofitwitharenewedfocusontheLord.Ourownbattlegroundsmaynotbemilitarycombat,butweeachfaceconflicts and battles each day. IfweareabelieverinJesus,wehavea very powerful weapon in theformofprayer.WeneedtoallowGod to teach us how to pray andto use thisweapon forHisGloryandtoovercomethebattlesinourlives.

In talking with these men, I asked how God changed them as a result of being in combat. BillMayeswasgivenaBiblebyhisfuturemother-in-lawwhichhe started to read on a dailybasis. That Bible is a cherishedpossession of his today. HarveyStewartnotonlyconsideredhisjobtobeamissionfieldbutfrequentlygoesonmissiontripsabroad. HerecentlyreturnedfromJamaicaonamissiontrip.PaulFreemanbroughthisfocusonprayertoWhitesburgBaptistandhelpedstarttheprayerministry at the church. Iwant tothank these men for talking withmeand for themanyveteranswehaveatWhitesburg. Yourserviceto our Lord and our country is adebt of gratitude that we cannotbegintopay.YouhavelivedyourlifeaccordingtoGod’sprinciples.YouaffirmthatJesusisinyourlifeandbelievethatHecanwork.Youalso have committed your life toHisWord.Thankyouforleadingthewayintobattle,physicallyandspiritually.

Combat Infantry Badge http://www.vhpamuseum.org/awards/badges/badges.shtml


Serving the Lord andfollowingtheGreatCommissioniswhatdrivesAllisonNuckolls.TheWhitesburg Baptist Church thirdgradeSundayschoolandVacationBible School teacher believesthat God gave her the gift ofteachingchildren.“Ihavethegiftof teaching and believe I shouldusethisgiftfortheLord,”Allisonsaid.“IloveteachingtheBibletochildrenandthinkitisaprivilegetoworkwiththem.” AllisonholdsaSeminaryandMastersDegree inMissions fromSouthern Baptist TheologicalSeminary in Louisville, KY. SheandherhusbandDavid,acomputerprogrammer,moved toHuntsvilleseveralyearsago.Aftersearchingfor a strong, biblically basedchurch, the couple discoveredWhitesburg Baptist Church andsoon became members. “AfterjoiningWhitesburg,Irealizedhowmuch I missed teaching children,andGodopeneddoors.Iwassoonserving as an assistant SundaySchoolteacher,whichledtoaleadpositionatWhitesburg.”AllisonisnowteachingthirdgradersatThePlaceonPulaskiPike. Allison feels she ismaking adifference for the children atThePlace and it thrills her to see the

BusMinistryKidsgrowandlearneachweek.“Itisalwaysthesamegroup of children and they givetheir undivided attention to everyBible lesson,” Allison noted. “IfeellikeIammakingadifferencein their lives and because of thedynamicsofthisparticularclass,IfeelIambeingalightintheworldandnotjustinaChristianbubble.” Allison is getting excitedabout the upcoming VacationBible School program, AmazingWonders–Aviation(whichwillbeheldJune11-15),andbeingabletoonceagainworkwiththirdgraders,whoshesaysareagreatagegrouptoworkwith.“Theyareallatsucha fun age and are so cooperativeandfun,”Allisonsaid.Accordingto Allison, most people make adecision forChrist as a child andshebelievesitisaChristian’sdutytoshare thegospel.“It issuchanhonortoseesomeonecometotheLordandknowthatGodusedyoutodoso.” At last year’s Vacation BibleSchool,Allisonhadtheopportunityto lead a young girl to the Lord.Destiny stayed after class oneeveningandwaseagertotalkaboutwhatshewasthinkingandfeeling.“Throughtheconversation,itwasclear that shewas ready tomake

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 11 - 15, 20129 am - Noon

For kids age 4(by 9/1/11) through

Grade 5 (completed).

For more information visitWhitesburgBaptist.org/

kidsevents

Teaching Children Is a Blessing!

ByMichelleM.Smith

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:17-20

a decision for the Lord,”Allisonsaid. “By thequestions sheaskedandtheresponsesshemadetomyquestions, I knew she understoodwhat salvation was. She prayedand asked the Lord in her heartandlifeandIhavebeenblessedtowatchhergrowasaChristianoverthe past year.” Today, Destinycontinues to attend classes all thetimeandAllisonknowsitprovidesstructure and consistency in herlife. “As a teacher my goal is tomakelearningabouttheBibleandGodfunandteachchildrenlessonsthat are applicable to their lives,”shesaid.

Whitesburg Baptist Church6806 Whitesburg DriveHuntsville, AL 35802

Non-Profit OrganizationUS Postage

PAIDHuntsville, AL Permit 446

Whitesburg Baptist Church6806 Whitesburg DriveHuntsville, AL 35802

Worship 9:30 & 11:00 amBible Study 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am

The PLACE3911 Pulaski PikeHuntsville, AL 35810

Worship 9:30 amBible Study 11:15 am

LOCATIONS & SUNDAY SERVICES

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Pictured above: Whitesburg’s High School Choir Mission Tour Homecoming Concert

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Summer 2012 Caring Place Magazine