Advent: the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event

It is the season of Advent.  This is the first season of the Christian church year; the four weeks prior to and leading us into the Christmas celebration!  The air is fresh with new beginnings.  We eagerly anticipate celebrating the birth of Jesus with family and friends.  Our traditions are rich and significant- filled with foods... aromas... gifts... colors... music.

For many of us, we will travel to be with those we love to celebrate this season.  But there will be many others who will leave their family to travel around the world to find employment here in Smoky Mountain area.  Our staff and volunteers are eagerly awaiting the "advent" of students- to welcome them into our homes, to journey with them as they navigate life in the United States, and to share the hope and love that was sent by God at Christmastime.

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

An Olympic-sized Experience

For the first time at any Olympics, the thousands of visitors had an extra level of care and support, thanks to an initiative from the local churches.  It is not just the athletes who go higher, faster, and stronger at the Olympics; so do the emotions of the spectators as they attempt to navigate the mayhem and sometimes confusing events.  Helping visitors find the right coins to access the public lavatories or consoling a man who had recently lost his wife and child were all in a day's work me and the other 300 volunteers serving as Games Pastors.

Engaged in ministry conversation with staff at Kings Cross Station

Local kids eager to receive More Than Gold & Dollywood trading pins

The transportation hubs were full of harried, confused, and lost people, most of who were far from home.  With more than 100,000 travelers expected each day to pass through Kings Cross rail station in London, the station manager and Chaplain realized the need to be ready to offer support during the Olympic Games.  I was part of small team who worked at this particular station offering travellers support, compassion and a listening ear.

We did everything from help a man search for a lost contact lens- and direct him to a pharmacy, to help police calm a drunk and disorderly woman and talk, over a cup of coffee, with a man so consumed by guilt about his role in a fatal car crash that he was considering suicide.  When he left after an hour we knew all his problems weren’t solved, but he went away with some hope.

I was really HERE!

Standing in Olympic runner Usain Bolt's 100m stride

We developed a close friendship with the local volunteers

Another time I was able to help a Korean student who had caught the wrong train.  I talked for hours with a Christian from India who needed encouragement in his faith.  And I listened as Randolph unloaded a heap of anger and frustration about life and politics.  Randolph was my favorite conversation while I was working at Kings Cross.  He was angry when I first met him; this is how I knew we would become good friends.  I was up for the challenge.  His job was to stand outside the terminal and supervise the area; my job was to drink coffee and listen.  After two days of listening I stopped his ranting and interjected the notions of a God who is predicable, loving, and in control of the universe.  As I was preparing to leave London and return home, I made a point to see Randolph one last time.  He was no longer angry but rather excited about his life.  He expressed a confidence that God has blessed him and that he has begun to explore the reality of God’s goodness and presence.

Thank you to all who offered prayers and thoughts for me while I was on my trip.  I do not know what was most sensational.  Was it being in London?  Going to the Olympics?  Or knowing that I was doing good on a “mission trip”?  Of what I am certain is that God used me, in my place and time, to reveal His presence.  It is easy for our concerns to get stifled in the chaos of home and work.  Sometimes we just need to know someone cares.  Allow yourself to be that support, compassion, or listening ear for a friend.  Open yourself to the movement and rhythms of God; trust Him to lead you to be in the right place at the right time.

A Change in Focus

It is a time to celebrate our country's independence- but is there more?  What is our focus as we gather around a BBQ grill with our families to enjoy a hamburger?  Why do we eat homemade ice cream while watching the fireworks explode in brilliant colors overhead?  What is the purpose of standing with 90,000 other people in downtown Gatlinburg to watch a parade at 12:01 AM on the morning of July 4th?

We challenge our staff to consider the motivations behind the July 4th celebrations.  Asking questions such as how do we bring God into country?  What is the difference in civil religion and true faith?  Do we have a 'most favored nation' status with God?

For the past several years SMRM has partnered with the City of Gatlinburg to entertain and distract the guests while they eagerly await the first independence day parade in the nation.  It has been our tradition to run giant American flags down the street inciting excitement among the crowds.  All the while, others on our staff would work their way through the crowds making balloon animals or leading the singing of patriotic songs.

This year we decided to have a change in focus.  Instead of balloon animals and crowd singing, we decided to move through the mass of people distributing little American flags- encouraging a sense of national pride, but more so allowing for intentional conversations with the crowds.  Our staff distributed more than 9,000 American flags and with each flag we were able to introduce conversations about our motivations for celebrations.  We hosted a mission team from Missouri who presented a dynamic program, consisting of songs, drama, and multimedia on the steps the convention center.

But our focus really hasn't changed, it has always been to reveal the presence of God to those who live, work, and play in the resrot areas of Sevier County.  But it is our hope that we might be able to encourage those we visit with to consider their focus and motivations for this year's celebrations- bringing light to God's presence, even in the fun of a parade!

More Than We Imagined

More than we imagined

What was anticipated to be merely a replacement of kitchen counters surprisingly turned into a kitchen remodel.  A mission team from Mobberly Baptist Church of Longview, Texas, prepared to WOW! Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries with a more efficient and sanitary kitchen work space.  They had planned not just to install counter tops and shelving, but had also planned details such as color schemes, gifting us with custom art work for decorating the dorm, a new patio on the back lawn of the staff dorm, and 600 pounds (30 cases) of resources to supply the Welcome Bags for the International students.

More challenging than we imagined

Like most construction projects, the deeper they went into the walls of this 100 year old dorm, the more challenges they encountered.  Quickly, the stress of completing the project on time began to intensify!  They couldn’t even use the kitchen to prepare meals for our work team- another challenge.  Problems, hurdles, dilemmas, issues, uncertainties… challenges!  In the darkest moments of exhaustion, God is near; a creative God who gives wisdom and strength beyond measure.

More wonderful than we imagined

Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries is blessed with a newly renovated kitchen that will allow for safer, cleaner, and more efficient meal preparation for our summer staff.  The art decorations provide beauty of color with scripture as a daily reminder of God’s promises.  The patio in the back lawn is envisioned to provide space for our staff to find solitude in the early hours or maybe Christian fellowship in a gathered circle of singing and worship.

More to be imagined

Even upon completion of such a daunting project, the team continued to share ideas for next year.  This team demonstrated the reality of ministry work.  The work is never done, and by God’s grace alone are we able to be successful in any task He places before us.  There is always more to do, and this team moved in rhythm with our creative God who reveals our needs and the means to meet them.   Mobberly has given us more hope and more encouragement as we enter into this season of summer ministry.  As we begin with more than we imagined, we look towards the end knowing that greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done!  ...And all things more than we can imagine.

Ephesians 3:20

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Lindi Berkey, LeConte Lodge Chaplain

Lindi has served as Chaplain at LeConte Lodge for two seasons.   In the tradition of all of our chaplains, she is one of the best.  Her heart for the mountain, its guests, and its crew is large and generous.  Her heart for God is filled with desire to live in Him and to serve Him.  It is a great privilege to work with her and have her as part of our SMRM family.

The great news is that Lindi is moving onto Mt LeConte and will be working there as crew at the Lodge for the rest of the season!    We have always wanted to try a full time chaplain who works as crew.  Lindi is absolutely perfect to pioneer this assignment.

Here is what Lindi says about this move:

"I have been spending three days a week in a hospital as a nurse and every other weekend on Mt LeConte as chaplain. Yet every day I found myself yearning to be in the woods, on a mountain, and worshipping God in His creation. After months of praying for God's guidance in my life I have only felt myself being called more strongly to continue to lead worship on the mountain. In a God-led decision and a moment of strength/insanity I quit my job, moved my belongings into a storage locker, and took a job as LeConte crew!  Better yet I can now be full time chaplain. Scary? Yes! But I've found time and again when you give it all up and submit your life to God, then is He able to do great and amazing things!"

Joey is arranging a group of SMRM volunteers to work as sherpas and carry her belongings up the mountain (since she missed airlift in March)!    Let us know quickly if you want to volunteer in this project. 

Pray for Lindi as she accepts a new task from God: sharing blessings on Mt. LeConte!

Game Plan

Every good coach has a back-up plan if the game were to take an unexpected turn of events.  Sometimes there are circumstances that are beyond human control; this is when players and coaches display their true character.  This week we had to change our "game plan" when the weather forced us to cancel our annual International Soccer Match between a local team and the international students working at Ober-Gatlinburg Ski Resort.

The fields were too wet to play on but the weather was prime for a hike into the heart of the Smokies.  After a bit of discussion, half the group remained to play futbol/futebol in the parking lot while the others joined me on a historic stroll through Greenbriar on the Porter's Creek trail.  Near the end of trail we stopped to explore an old cemetery.  While discovering the stories written on the memorial stones the students asked many questions about our customs, traditions, and religious views of life and death.

God often has His way of changing our plans so that we can see His love and grace more clearly.  On our "plan B" hike, in an unexpected location, we were able to engage deep into a discussion about life, death, and where God fits in to our daily rhythms.  Our day finished back at Ober housing where we celebrated God's blessings and new friendships with pizzas.  Even though we will never know who would have won the Soccer Match, the day was still a win!

A Wonderful Dinner

Ober Gatlinburg International Employees Soup Dinner


Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries and Gatlinburg First Baptist Church hosted 80 students from 7 countries on January 8 for a dinner. Soups and rice and beans made up the heart of the menu. Desserts came from our friends in Swainsboro, Georgia First Baptist Church who delivered and served them with the added sweetness of God’s love. The heart of the dinner, however, was in the fellowship created with the students and in the love of Jesus Christ that was shared with them.

These students have come to work at Ober Gatlinburg for the winter season. Their international employer, Wojtek, came from Atlanta to attend –and brought more students who are working in Cherokee, North Carolina. It was an honor to have them there. Wojtek spoke to all of us about the value of this experience. Bill also spoke about making our world better through life connections and gifted responsibility. We have hosted about 10 of these January dinners and all agree this was our best ever! The students loved it and participated through constant music --rising to sing for each other. The volunteers managed it professionally and had time to engage with the students. Our Ober Gatlinburg management friends who came recognized how strong it was. It was a God-blessed night.

Many of the students are active Christians. Many of the students, however, are not Christians. After the meal and program, we walked into the sanctuary and had a holy time of discussion about hearing God’s whisper of love and saying “yes” to that love with your life. We then talked about baptism and Church traditions. Many students sat and simply prayed. It was a lovely experience in a quiet and holy place and moment. We then gave them Bibles in Spanish and Portugese and Polish and English with guides as to how to read the Bible.

Pray with us as we continue in relationship and friendship with these students.