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This photo published in The Nashville Graphic on Sept. 20, 1977. The executive committee for the fall stewardship crusade at the Nashville United Methodist Church were pictured as they reviewed final plans for the crusade.

Years ago, I stumbled across a book entitled "Questioning Evangelism". It provides a practical framework for winning souls to Christ.
What actually is the "Great Commission"? In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus instructs Christians to go forth into all the world, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and teach obedience to his commands. The Lord challenges us to do this so others can understand what words like joy, peace, grace, and mercy really mean!
The author of the book, Randy Newman, points out the skeptic in the world today is not very different from the skeptic that watched and listened to Jesus.

In Psalm 51, we see several lessons about choices and the fact that our choices matter.
David is at the end of himself and yet he remembers who he can turn to. He knows his mistakes and he pleads with God to give him mercy and grace. He knows he has sinned against others, but he also knows he has rebelled and sinned against God. He asks for forgiveness and also admits that God is just in His judgment. When we sin, we deserve God's judgment, but everyday we should praying for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

We concluded last time by analyzing the popular "COEXIST" bumper sticker. According to this bumper sticker, "c" is the symbol of Islam, "o" is the symbol of the peace movement, "e" is the symbol of transgenderism, "x" is the Jewish star of David, the dot on the "i" is the witch worshiping Wiccan symbol, the "s" is the Taoist yin/yang symbol, and the "t" is the Christian Cross of Christ. One big happy family, they say. But that cannot be true because each one makes an exclusionary truth claim and claims to be the ultimate and exclusive moral truth.

The children and chaperones had a great time at Camp Caraway last week. There were 23 children with nine chaperones who attended the missions camp. Activities included missionary, Bible study, music, recreation, and more.
Red Oak Baptist Church will have a Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, August 2 at 8:30 a.m. Backpacks will be filled with school supplies.
Merry Christmas in August! Christmas in August is a missions project of Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) in partnership with the North American Mission Board.

Kenneth R. Reynolds Jr. and Danielle M. Reynolds to One to One Enterprises, LLC; 340 West Raleigh Boulevard, Rocky Mount; $21,000
Ethen Mae Davis Mayfield and Tiara S. Davis to Tiara S. Davis; 1308 West Mount Drive, Rocky Mount
Conly D. Belk and Candice L. Belk to Mark Christopher Fulford and Linda Stark Fulford; 5268 Tuscany Road, Rocky Mount; $585,000
B&V Associates, LLC to Thomas C. Wilder Jr.; .528 acres in South Whitakers Township

Financial transaction card fraud reported at 131 Nashville Commons Dr., Nashville on 6/16/25
Larceny, misdemeanor reported at 711 S. First St., Nashville on 6/17/25
Larceny, misdemeanor reported at 131 Nashville Commons Dr., Nashville on 6/20/25
Sell/deliver heroin reported at 217 Aviation Ave., Nashville on 6/25/25

Assault with deadly weapon with inflicting serious injury reported at 1089 Bloomery Rd., Bailey on 7/19/25
Larceny of a firearm reported at 13001 Edwards Rd., Spring Hope on 7/16/25
Larceny by employee reported at 1765 Red Oak Rd., Nashville on 7/18/25
Fail to report change of address-sex offender; fail to return verification form reported at 1921 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount on 7/17/25

NASH COUNTY -- Here are the schedules for Nash Central and Southern Nash for the upcoming high school volleyball season, with home matches listed in CAPS (Northern Nash's complete worksheet was not finalized at press time):

RED OAK -- When writing the book on Northern Nash High School Athletics, one would be remiss if they didn't include a rather-prolific chapter on the Knights' Cross Country program.
Under the direction of longtime head coach Jeff Dodrill, both the Boys and Girls Cross Country squads at Northern have achieved unparalleled success -- highlighted by a whopping 13 straight Big East Conference championships won by the boys team.

NASHVILLE -- The Nash Central Lady Bulldogs have pieced together an impressive stretch of seasons on the volleyball court, highlighted by four straight trips to the state playoffs.
Despite undergoing a coaching change during that four-year run, Central has maintained a steady pace that most recently saw the Lady Bulldogs post a 12-11 mark in 2024, highlighted by another playoff appearance and a regular season win over Southern Nash, who went on to win the conference crown.

STANHOPE -- Just because he's stepping away from his boys basketball head coaching position doesn't mean that Robbie Kennedy is stepping away from Southern Nash High School.
Not a chance. Kennedy, who has spent the past 23 years in charge of SN's boys hoops program, has resigned his position and will be replaced by former assistant (and player) Sterling Leonard.

Brian Drake and Linda Mardin to Clarisse Muenyi and Christian Muenyi; Section 1, Waterford Subdivision, Block A, Lot 18
Gordon Scott Tharrington, Rhonda Tharrington, Elbert Daniel Tharrington, Joyce Brown Tharrington, Virginia Tharrington Wester, Tracy Turner Tharrington and Matthew Tharrington to Jakob Daniel Tharrington; 6.428 acres
Flossie Harris Terrell and Willie Lee Terrell to Flossie Harris Terrell and Willie Lee Terrell; .92 acres in Bailey

CloudWyze, an internet service provider out of Wilmington, has announced the shutdown of its wireless network as of July 25, leaving some Nash County residents scrambling to find a new provider.
As of February 2025, Cloudwyze reportedly had about 280 fixed wireless customers throughout the county.
Questions are being asked about what help will be available from the state (through North Carolina Information of Technology, or NCDIT) and if any will be forthcoming from Nash County, which invested heavily in CloudWyze from 2018 to 2023.

The filing period has ended for upcoming October and November municipal elections, with Spring Hope and Whitakers topping the list for having the most candidates to compete for town council spots.
All town elections will be held in November, while the city of Rocky Mount holds its elections in October.
In Nashville, Kate Burns and Larry Taylor, incumbent town council members, are both running for re-election, but will face a challenge from newcomer Jeffrey Dodson for a council seat.

ROCKY MOUNT - A sudden drop in water levels at the Tar River Reservoir has left more than fishermen high and dry- it has reportedly left small fish trapped in coves, leaving those and other fish at risk of death for low oxygen count from warm water temperatures.
The reason for the drop, according to Grant Roberson, Director of Communications for the City of Rocky Mount, is to allow work on the dam, but the city gave a different reason to NCDEQ.

NASHVILLE - Two new crosswalks are due to be added on N. Alston Street and Hilliard street, after two successful requests were approved at the town council's July 16 meeting.
Both Nash County and Nashville Methodist Church asked for crosswalks, the county for protection of its employees, who are crossing South Alston at Elm Street from the county's gravel employee parking lot to the administrative building; and the church for protection of its parishioners, who are crossing mid-block
on S. Hilliard from the church parking lot.

SPRING HOPE - Three new town beautification projects have been identified by members of the Downtown Development Board at their July 21 meeting.
Wayfaring signs, adding benches and new trash receptacles, and adding public seating on the platform areas outside town hall doors are new goals.
Also planned is creation of a mini-park with passive open space adjacent to the historic Ice House, with benches and a "dog station" to provide baggies for doggie doo pickup.

ROCKY MOUNT- A multi-organizational effort to give back to a local veteran resulted in a completed project to replace hand rails on a front and back porch, in addition to a flag presentation, flag raising, food and fellowship.
Bill Shaw of Rocky Mount, a former Navy A6 Intruder pilot, along with wife Brenda, hosted the large group at their home July 18th. Seegars Fence Company workers, along with the American Fence Association and Carolina Fence Association, put their skills to work with the help of VFW Post 2057, Operation Angel Wing, and youth from Nashville Methodist Church and Faith Christian School.

NASHVILLE- In order to keep economic development moving forward at the Middlesex Corporate Centre, Nash County leaders have approved construction there of a third shell building for $3.1 million dollars, with work to be done by Jackson Builders Inc. of Goldsboro.
Nash commissioners approved a contract award to Jackson Builders at their July 7 meeting, with Jonathan Boone, deputy county manager, reporting that seven bids had been received on June 17.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Communications Department of Nash County Public Schools was recognized at the national level for two awards July 20, in the category of 2025 Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards.
These are the highest-level awards the district has ever earned in this national competition.
The highest honor in the category, the "Award of Excellence," was given for a Branding/Image Package for the "Rebranding of Nash County Public Schools" initiative.