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“...Rooted and Grounded in Love...”
From Eph. 3:17
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”- Col. 2:6, 7.
A young teen boy just turned 14 walked down a path at the Grand Mesa Baptist Youth Assembly July 1930. He was feeling very like a little boy all by himself. A man came walking down the path toward him with his hand outstretched in greeting. The man asked his name. The boy replied, “I am Billy Kastning.” The man replied, “Why I think I know your Grandmother in Colorado Springs, Mary Kastning.” The boy replied in amazement, “She is my grandmother!” The boy learned that the man was W. F. Ripley, Director of Christian Education for the Colorado Baptist Convention, Dean of Baptist Camping for both Eastern and Western Christian Camping for children and youth from age 12 - 28.
In this role he was the beloved “Daddy Ripley” for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of Colorado Baptist young people during the late 1920s, through 1931 up to 1941. This man became that boy's spiritual mentor all through those years and even during the World War Two years. That boy grew up observing a man who was the most Christ-like person he had ever known and is deeply thankful for the inspiration of “Daddy Ripley” in his life.
There are others who have followed in Daddy Ripley's footsteps but in deeper truth have learned to walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus our Lord and also have become “rooted and grounded in love.” The others include laymen and laywomen, ABC ministers and missionaries, and ABC leaders (e.g. Esther Christopher of FBC, Ft. Morgan; Carl Bennett of Calvary Baptist, Denver; Paul and Elaine Lewis, ABC missionaries to Thailand; and Ralph Adkins of FBC, Pueblo). These people came out of Christian Camping for Colorado Baptist youth during those pre World War Two days where these and a host of others following World War Two. More than can be mention by name. Let these be an inspiration to all who read to walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus our Lord, “rooted and grounded in Love” and “established in the faith...abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Prayer: Our Lord and our God, We give You thanks for each of the people who have inspired us to walk in “the Christ Way.” We pray that you work wonderfully in and through the lives of those who continue to serve in our ABCRM camps at Grand Mesa, Quaker Ridge, and Wyoba. We pray also for ABC pastors, ABCRM, and ABCUSA leadership. May these one and all inspire our family in Christ to “walk in Love.” In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Bill Kastning
Pastor Emeritus
First Baptist Church
Delta, CO
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