Today's BP Ledger includes items from:

University of Mobile

World on Campus

Bluefield College

Campbellsville University

Charleston Southern University

Compass Direct News

'Pray Gulf Coast' Unites Individuals, Churches, Ministries

in Prayer for Community

MOBILE, Ala. (University of Mobile)--More than 40 churches and ministries and almost 500 individuals have united to pray daily for Mobile and Baldwin counties through Pray Gulf Coast, a 50-day prayer initiative launched by the University of Mobile Center for Leadership.

The initiative, which lasts from Easter to Pentecost, calls for residents of the areas to unite in daily prayer for specific needs in the churches, schools, businesses, families, government, and individuals of the community.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack said, "Pray Gulf Coast provides all of us who are Christians the opportunity to unite in prayer for our area. Every day, we are reminded of God's blessings through the beautiful Gulf Coast that He created. While we are blessed, we still face serious issues in our area. Through prayer, we have hope, encouragement, and guidance in dealing with these issues."

The Center for Leadership distributes daily prayer guides via email and a Facebook page. Participating churches have adopted their own day to pray, resulting in 50 days of perpetual prayer for Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Prayer topics include reductions in the divorce rate, crime rate, single parent families, and domestic violence, among others. Participants are praying for legislators, education officials, and law enforcement members by name, when possible.

Fred Wolfe, pastor of Luke 4:18 Fellowship in Mobile, Ala., said, "There is great power in united prayer. As I read the prayer request each day and join in praying with others all across the GulfCoast there is a confident assurance in my heart that God is moving and will answer our corporate prayer in a powerful way."

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Continuing the call to do hard things

Hannah Taplin/World on Campus

PURCELLVILLE, Va. (World on Campus)--When they were just 19, twins Alex and Brett Harris released their bestselling book "Do Hard Things" four years ago. They encouraged teens to rebel against the low expectations of today's culture by stepping out of their comfort zones and taking on such challenges as fighting against abortion, learning an activity like public speaking, refusing to watch bad movies or simply performing unassigned household chores -- all for the glory of God.

The Harris twins, now seniors at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., are ready to carry that message into adulthood.

As he reflects on his time in school, Alex Harris has one main piece of advice for next year's freshmen -- beware the freedom that college offers and embrace the new responsibilities as challenges and opportunities to shine.

When Do Hard Things came out in 2008, the twins became mini-celebrities in the nationwide Christian homeschool community. But before that, they were just normal teenagers -- with a passion for great things. They first got the idea behind the book in 2005 when their dad set a huge stack of books on the kitchen counter and announced that he was putting them on an intense reading program for the summer.

With topics spanning history, philosophy, theology, science, business and journalism, the pile looked a bit intimidating. But as they read, they become more and more concerned about their generation and the misconceptions about the challenges teens were capable of taking on. In an effort to share their thoughts, the brothers started a blog, founded The Rebelution, a movement to encourage teens to disprove the world's low expectations for them, and later wrote Do Hard Things.

The book's publication brought opportunities for speaking engagements, traveling and more writing. And after all the attention the Harris brothers got while still teenagers, one of the best parts about college was being able to be a normal student, Alex Harris said. The twins came to Patrick Henry College with a desire to build relationships and earn respect based on their actual interaction with other students, and not on things others had heard or read about them.

"Thankfully, we were able to come in with a terrific group of classmates who embraced us as 'Alex and Brett, normal guys' and not 'Alex and Brett, authors and speakers' … so that was really good and healthy and what we wanted," Harris said.

Frank Guliuzza, a government professor at the college and pre-law adviser for Harris, said the brothers conducted themselves in a way that would never lead anyone to believe they once rode on private jets, spoke on tours with Chuck Norris or were involved in presidential politics.

"I think everyone was pretty amazed by how genuine they were in their willingness to blend in with other students," Guliuzza said.

Although Harris was an impressive student -- seemingly successful at anything he put his mind to -- he impressed Guliuzza most by the way he handled defeat. Guliuzza recalled one basketball game in which Harris and his team started ahead, but ended up losing by a huge margin. Harris didn't let it discourage him but continued to play with enthusiasm and energy, Guliuzza said, noting, "I got to see this guy when he was supremely successful I also got to see him when he and his team were anything but, and he seemed to carry himself the same way."

Graduating in May with a degree in government, Harris plans to attend law school in the fall. He was accepted at the nation's top three -- Harvard, Yale and Stanford -- and has chosen Harvard.

"aw intersects with numerous fields, including government," Harris said. "Legislation, regulation and judicial decisions are all about making and interpreting the law -- so there's a very strong connection."

While his plans are far from settled, Harris said he believes God is calling him to use his law degree to make a difference in the arenas of public policy and government. "That could include arguing cases in court as an appellate lawyer, ruling on cases as a judge, influencing the public policy conversation at a think tank, or running for political office-or more than one of those!" He still urges his generation, now young adults, to realize the importance of becoming involved politically by being engaged and informed.

Although the dismal job market and the rising cost of higher education has caused some to question the value of a college degree, Harris believes the investment was worth it, even for someone who already had accomplished more than the average teenager by the time he started submitting his college applications: " opportunity to grow, not just in knowledge, but in maturity and responsibility." College also gave Harris the opportunity to pursue his passion for politics. Unlike many students, who change their major multiple times, Harris planned to major in government from the beginning and stuck with it all the way through.

Harris encourages students considering college to embrace their responsibility, as well as their freedom. Next year's freshmen will discover they have a lot more freedom than they've ever had before, as well as a lot more responsibility, Harris said. Those who focus on the freedom will self-destruct, while those who focus on the responsibility will not only excel, but thrive, he said.

Even though Harris values the time he spent in college, he cautions others to think through their reasons for going before sending in their applications. Many teens feel pressured to go to college because it's the next step, Harris said. Even though a college degree can be important, going to college aimlessly just wastes time and money, he said: "If you decide to go to college, have a sense of direction, because that will really ground you and make your time more productive."

Reprinted by permission of World on Campus, a website of World magazine.

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Campbellsville University partners with Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union to host Exalt 2012, a Christian weekend retreat for teen girls

By Christina L. Kern

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (Campbellsville University)--Campbellsville University recently converged with the Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) to host Exalt 2012, a Christian weekend retreat for teenage girls. Exalt is a described in the program as, "…a fun filled weekend that will challenge you to grow as a Christian."

Exalt is sponsored by WMU and made possible by Kentucky Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Eliza Broadus Offering for State Missions.

"I hope that through holding events at our Baptist colleges, that Kentucky WMU can affirm the importance of our Kentucky Baptist colleges and universities," Joy Bolton, executive director of Kentucky WMU, said. "We appreciate the Christian education that our schools provide and recognize the important role of our schools in training the leaders of the future, both for our communities and for our churches, including WMU.

"I also hope that by holding events on the campuses, that students who help us will see the work of WMU," Bolton said.

The theme "Blank Canvas" was chosen for Exalt 2012 because when a person comes to know Jesus, they become blank, clean and new in Him, according to WMU.

"Young women and their leaders from all across our state come together for a celebration, to make friends, renew acquaintances, study God's word, sing praises to His name and hear a gifted and challenging speaker," said WMU President Linda Cooper. "It was a great weekend and our prayer is that young girls' lives were truly changed."

The featured speaker over the weekend was Kristi McCartney, a native of Louisville. She used the scripture to show Exalt 2012 attendees how God gives Christians a new Heart, a new Identity and a new Mission (HIM).

Exalt 2012 worship over the weekend was led by Bo Warren, of Lexington. Warren travels all over the country leading worship and sharing the message of Jesus Christ. This was his third year leading worship at Exalt.

A total of 13 seminars focusing on missions and spreading the Gospel were offered at Exalt 2012 on the campus of Campbellsville University.

Exalt is held each year, rotating in different parts of the state. Bolton said, "For events for youth, we feel that it is an advantage for the college or university to host us as we are bringing potential students to the campus. It is our hope that some who attend the event will decide to attend college at the school."

Exalt 2012 was held in conjunction with a similar weekend event for teenage boys, "4-Go" at Campbellsville Baptist Church. The young men did construction work building a handicapped ramp for a home in the local Campbellsville community, and served at the local food pantry.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.

Christina L. Kern is an office assistant and Matthew Schmuck is a student news writer at Campbellsville University.

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Bluefield College Dedicates Century-old Easley Quilt

BLUEFIELD, Va. (Bluefield College)--While the hand-made quilt was a necessary commodity for warmth in every remote house in Appalachia in the early 1900s, it also served a decorative piece or an expression of love or remembrance of a person, time or place.

Bluefield College dedicated a century-old Appalachian quilt during a ceremony on campus, Friday, April 20, that will hang as a decorative piece inside Easley Library and serve as an expression of love and remembrance of the late Eva Vest Easley, who donated the family throw to BC some 44 years ago.

Crafted in 1901 by Manerva Boyd Pack Easley, mother to Frank Smoot Easley, one of the founding fathers of Bluefield College, the quilt was a mainstay in the Easley family until 1968. At that time, Eva, one of many in the family who continued to support the college, donated the piece to the school.

"This quilt was made as an expression of love by Manerva for her son, Frank, and it was given to Bluefield College as an expression of love by Eva," said BC's Ruth Blankenship, vice president for advancement. "And today, all of you are here as an expression of your love for Eva to help us dedicate the quilt in her memory."

More than 50 friends and family members, from as far as North and South Carolina and as near as Bluefield, attended the dedication ceremony, which included a prayer of dedication by Rev. Michael E. Snider of Christ Episcopal Church and remarks by Blankenship and BC President David Olive.

"We're so thankful to those of you who have come to join us. This is a great day to see friends of Bluefield College celebrating the Easley legacy," said Dr. Olive. "This college would not be the same without the Easley family and without Eva Easley."

Since its founding in 1922, members of the Easley family have played significant roles in the development and growth of Bluefield College. In fact, a member of the Easley family has served on the school's Board of Trustees since its formation, including Eva's husband, trustee emeritus Tyler Easley, and their daughter, Becky Easley Beckett, who serves as a trustee today.

Before her death in August 2008, Eva had been a longtime member of the Board, where she served on a variety of committees to further campus facility improvements, fundraising, and student development. Her love for BC students was most evident in her contributions to the areas of athletics, fine arts, scholarships, and the missionary-in-residence program. As a result of her faithful service to the college, she was named an honorary alumna in 1988. She also received the school's Mildred Sullivan Award for service to the community in 1995.

"Eva was an amazing lady," said Blankenship. "She impacted so many lives and has been referred to as the 'hostess with the mostest' for the ways in which she entertained a parade of Baptist ministers, missionaries, and denominational leaders who visited Bluefield and Bluefield College."

Using gifts to BC in memory of Eva, the college constructed a display case to preserve and permanently exhibit the quilt inside Easley Library. The throw, said Beckett, who spoke on behalf of the family during the dedication ceremony, had survived more than a century "because of the strength of the Appalachian woman who created it." It will continue to survive, she added, and serve as a reminder of the legacy of love and support of the Easley family.

The quilt dedication was just one of many activities in Bluefield College's yearlong "Celebration of Appalachia" symposium, featuring lectures, concerts, exhibits, discussions, movies, theatre, tours and other educational and entertaining events designed to honor the Appalachian heritage.

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