Fall Foliage Weekend

October 12, 2009


We had a fantastic weekend at the Fall Foliage Conference at Word of Life in Schroon Lake, New York. The weather could not have been more perfect, and the fall colors were at their peak.

With Doctors Gabriel and Bose Toma and their children Mercy, Grace and Deborah. The Tomas are from Jos, Nigeria.

Yesterday I happened to meet Drs. Gabriel and Bose Toma, physicians from Jos, Nigeria. When I mentioned that we had visited the ECWA Hospital in Jos and that we knew Greg and Carolyn Kirschner, they were so excited. Our dear friends Greg and Carolyn served several terms as medical missionaries at the hospital in Jos. It turns out that Greg trained Gabriel in Family Practice. Gabriel and Bose are studying medicine in the States and hope to return to Nigeria in a few years. 

The leaders for the weekend. Second row: Jordan, Joyce and Robert Hayes. Front row: Mike Bush, Ray Pritchard, Wayne Lewis.
Robert, Jordan and Joyce Hayes gave us some Southern gospel with a Northern accent.
With Harry and Millie Bollback. Harry and Jack Wyrtzen co-founded Word of Life in the1940s.

This weekend I spoke on Psalm 103, one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible. We were blessed to have Robert, Joyce and Jordan Hayes as our guest musicians this week. Marlene and I met them at America’s Keswick in New Jersey last May. They serve on staff there and also sing and play at conferences like this throughout the Northeast.

These friends from North Syracuse Baptist Church asked if I would join them for their group picture.

It’s always fun coming to Word of Life because we get to see so many good friends. Mike Bush and Wayne Lewis made everyone feel right at home. Last night I ate supper with Harry and Millie Bollback and with Larry and Cindi Bollback. Harry has been with Word of Life since the 1940s when he joined Jack Wyrzten as his piano player in the great rallies in New York City. Harry and Millie later went to Brazil as missionaries and then returned to the States to serve with Word of Life here. If anyone wants to understand they heartbeat of this worldwide movement, just spend some time with Harry and Millie Bollback. 

This tree is near the boat dock on Schroon Lake.
A panoply of colors.
I found this tree bedecked in red and purple next to the conference center.

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