Wayne Atcheson - December 1, 2002

FAREWELL TO ALABAMA TO ACCEPT GOD’S CALL AND NEW ASSIGNMENT

Recognizing that “God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts,” God has made it clear that He has a new assignment for me and my wife Barbara. Therefore after 20 years at the University of Alabama athletic department, I will be departing on December 31, 2002 for my new assignment in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

On January 2, 2003 I will join Jerry Jenkins, writer of the LEFT BEHIND book series, as Registrar and Admissions Manager of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

Who is Jerry Jenkins? Jerry and I met at an FCA Conference at Henderson Harbor, NY in July, 1972. I was a 30-year old FCA national staff member from Kansas City and he was a 22-year old free lance writer. We have stayed in touch occasionally through the years. He has written many books on sports figures including Hank Aaron, Orel Hershiser and Nolan Ryan. He was also the ghost writer for half of Billy Graham’s recent biography, Just As I Am. For several years, he was editor of Moody Magazine in Chicago and vice president of publishing for Moody, an evangelical world wide ministry.

In 1995, he wrote the first LEFT BEHIND book with Biblical guidelines provided him by Dr. Tim LaHaye. Over the past seven years, 10 LEFT BEHIND books have been published by Tyndale House--exceeding 50 million copies. The premise of the fiction books is: God has decided that it’s time for the final reckoning. He draws millions of born-again Christians straight up to Heaven – leaving only their clothes, dental fillings, pacemakers, anything material – in what is called the Rapture. Millions of non-Christians remain on Earth. They are left behind. The tribulation lasts for seven years before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and Jerry writes fascinating material, using numerous story characters, on what takes place during this time.

The tenth book entitled The Remnant was the fourth straight LEFT BEHIND title to debut number one on the “big four” lists: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly. The book was released in September. This year, Jerry topped John Grisham as the nation’s top fiction writer. There will be four more LEFT BEHIND books to come with the next one appearing in April 2003. Jerry writes other books in between the highly successful LEFT BEHIND titles and has a full schedule of writing for years ahead.

What is the Christian Writers Guild? After becoming so successful with the LEFT BEHIND books, Jerry bought the 40-year existing Christian Writers Guild to give something back to Christian journalism. One year ago, he brought the Guild to Colorado Springs, where he lives, and re-launched it with a small staff. The Christian Writers Guild has a flagship course named “What’s Your Story.” It is a four-part, 50-lesson curriculum home study course that trains members to discover their possibilities in writing. Each student is assigned and personally tutored by seasoned professionals in Christian writing and publishing, chosen by Jerry. The writing course is the epitome of instructional writing.

What will be my role? I will lead in the development, implementation, and integration of the Guild’s membership strategy, which addresses recruitment and retention of members. I will assist Jerry in the fulfillment of the CWG’s vision: Recruit writers for the Kingdom of God; Train them to be the best they can be; and Teach them to stand for Biblical truth. Also, I will seek to implement its mission: Extend the Kingdom of God through a fellowship of member individuals, demonstrating the unity of the body of Christ by standing for Biblical truth, and serving the evangelical community through writing at the highest professionals levels.

I will oversee all aspects of the CWG membership programs. My responsibilities will involve identifying and cultivating membership from evangelical Christian churches, denominations, educational institutions and organizations. I will also supervise the coordination of CWG sponsored conferences and seminars. The first annual CWG Conference will be held at the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs on Feb. 7-9, 2003, bringing together the most beloved, best-selling and most challenging Christian writers. The headliner at this conference will be Bruce Wilkinson, author of The Prayer of Jabez and Secrets of the Vine. In August, 2003, a CWG conference will be held at The Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC. Both of these conferences will be annual events, in addition to others.

I will need to purchase new luggage since Jerry’s schedule across the country will involve a good deal of travel. My task will be to secure a place and host informal receptions for CWG members and potential members, have their books autographed, and inform them of the benefits of Guild membership. I will serve as an advance man for Jerry. My responsibility will be to gather the interested parties so Jerry can encourage them to use their writing opportunities for the glory of God, thus building a bigger base of Christian writers.

My major roles will include: public relations, handling publicity and the media, and being a good will ambassador for the Guild and Jerry. Two LEFT BEHIND publicists, employed by Tyndale House, work out of the Guild’s Colorado Springs office. I will work closely with their operation. My office mate will be Andy Scheer, past editor of Moody Magazine, who joined the staff July 1.

The offer and decision! It all began with a book that Jerry wrote entitled Hometown Legend. The book was set in a small south Alabama town and followed a football coach and team that saved the town from economic failure. Jerry, his wife Dianna, and son, Dallas, came to Alabama in October, 2001 promoting the book. They were here for the Alabama-Tennessee game. In January, 2002, Jerry financed the movie version of the book and it debuted in Mobile. My daughter Amy and I attended the fun filled premier. Jerry loves all sports but his favorite is probably baseball. His second son Chad wants to operate a baseball training facility. They accepted our invitation to spend a weekend in April in Tuscaloosa for the Alabama-Mississippi baseball series. They had a grand time and it was that weekend when Jerry first approached me about this position with him.

I could write a little book on how God began show me unequivocally that this was what He wanted me to do. Jerry wrote out a job description with me in mind it seemed. He knew what my gifts and abilities were. I turned to the scriptures and began to pray for the Holy Spirit’s direction. Never did I dream that at age 60 I would study everything I could put my hands on about ‘How to know and understand God’s will.’ I thought I had far surpassed that issue. Besides the scripture, I read my second most helpful spiritual book entitled, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, by Hannah Whitall Smith, published in 1870. It is a deep book on obedience, trust, faith, growth, guidance, doubts, service, life on wings and more. Then a pastor friend shared with me the book, Halftime, by Bob Buford, which gave me an entirely new outlook on where I was in my contribution to life. It’s halftime, a time of revitalization, for catching a new vision to use my God given resources in the second half of my life, for propelling it on to a fresh and invigorating new course. I am beyond the second half but those two books spoke deeply to my heart. I read them over and over again and God continued to just open my heart to this new venture.

Also, in knowing the will of God, I found in many references to look for circumstances, divine coincidences and witnesses from God for his nudging and guidance. Immediately, I began to get those witnesses, one after another. They came so frequently and so clearly that I was astounded. I began to log things as they occurred and over a period of time, I was up to 50 listings of unusual circumstances and witnesses. Some were like miracles. I heard one minister say that “God will move heaven and earth to reveal His will to anyone who is willing to be obedient to His call.” Every time I would ask God, “Are you sure?,” that day or the next something so unusual would occur that said, “This is what I want you to do.”

God has spoken to me through sermons, devotions, prayer, songs, reading the scripture, conversations with friends and even strangers that had no idea that God was using them in some way to direct and guide me. I felt most blessed that God cared and spoke to me so often.

It has been a dream of a lifetime for this Maplesville, Alabama boy to work 20 years in the inner circle of big time college football and athletics. I have only missed nine football games in my 20 years here and none in my two years as a grad student in sports information in 1964-66. Coach Ray Perkins hired me as Sports Information Director on May 30, 1983, four months after Coach Bryant died. I have been in TIDE PRIDE all but eight months of its 15-year existence. Many times I can’t believe God chose me for the honor and privilege of being here around these athletes, coaches and staff and meeting the people and having the experiences I’ve had. It’s been an incredible ride and journey with the Crimson Tide. I had a front row seat.

Whatever God wants me to do and wherever He leads, I am going to be obedient to God, regardless of the cost. I have a complete new appreciation for the word, “obedience.” I have studied that subject over and over. I’ve learned about ‘Holy Fear’ and I gained a new definition for what the fear of God is: If God leads you to do something and you don’t do it, your work where you are will not be as effective. I’ve learned that unspeakable joy and happiness is in store for those willing to follow God’s call. I want to know what Jesus meant when He said, “I delight to do thy will, O my God.”

As you know, being advisor of the FCA since 1985 has been a passion of ministry for me. During this span, I have put together some 550 FCA weekly programs on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. What an honor to serve hundreds of athletes at Alabama through FCA. Like so many things, God has taken care of that with the addition of Jeremiah Castille, who was brought on as our first full time FCA Director on August 1, 2002. I have played a big role in bringing Jeremiah here, and raising his support. He followed God’s call and his support has been a blessing to behold. He will keep the torch burning brightly. Colorado is a strong FCA state and I can see myself slipping into Air Force Academy FCA meetings and enjoying the fellowship with the young men and women who are training to defend and protect our country. I dearly love working with college age students.

In August, 1967, I made my first trip to Colorado for an FCA conference as a brand new staff member. The Rocky Mountains took my breath away. I traveled at night from Denver to Estes Park, where the conference was, and woke up the next morning to the awesome sight of the mountains. Four years later, Barbara and I met at that same site, discussed marriage that week and got married 11 months later, 30 years ago now. During my FCA travels as a young staffer, I decided that Colorado and North Carolina were my favorite states. Both are so beautiful. Before now, I had never entertained a thought of living in Colorado.

In the fall of 1997, my daughter Elizabeth attended the Focus On The Family Institute in Colorado Springs for the fall semester. She was the chosen intern to Dr. James Dobson that semester. Elizabeth said that being there was like “being a step from heaven.” She loved the area so much. What is also so enticing about Colorado Springs is that some 50 Christian ministries are headquartered there including Focus, the Navigators and so many other wonderful organizations. I’ve always loved John Denver’s songs and one says, “there’ll be many new friends to find.”

Jerry Jenkins and I have many things in common. We are both the third of four boys. We grew up in small towns, he in Michigan. My dad was a bi-vocational preacher and his dad a policeman. We both attended Christian colleges (Samford and Moody). Jerry is a huge sports fan and loves to play golf at every opportunity. He has a great sense of humor, a quick wit and is easy to be around. We both love BBQ! What is so meaningful to me is that he released his first LEFT BEHIND Bible Prophecy book in 1995 and that is the same year I began studying seriously and teaching Bible Prophecy myself, which I still do. We both started writing as teenagers. He has written 150 books to my four! He is well traveled and known in evangelical circles, so for him to choose me for this position presents to me another strong confirmation.

Family response: It is a major change for us, but Barbara has been most supportive. She will finish teaching her first grade class this school year and be available for the selling of our house. Colorado Springs is 400 miles from her hometown of Pratt, Kansas. Amy is undecided about her future home site, but thrilled for our new opportunity. Elizabeth, in Charlotte, is thrilled for her dad’s new work, and can’t wait to visit Colorado Springs often. Brothers, Gerald and Randy, also believed I was cut out for this job and their response was a blessing. The toughest part is leaving my mother in Clanton. She is a godly woman and while she won’t see me as often, she gave me her full blessing to serve the Lord and be obedient to His will. Her response of serving for eternal values has blessed my soul. Life here is like a vapor. “You must do what God tells you to do,” she told me. “Your daddy would be pleased also.”

This entire decision has led me to “total surrender” and “utter abandonment” from family members, home state, dearest friends, privileged work place, and special ministry…to give God absolute control of myself for His will and His new assignment. So personally, I am so excited about this new work in encouraging and inspiring people across America to write the gospel of Jesus Christ and use their gifts to enhance the Kingdom of God. I also sense a call to be a personal encourager and prayer warrior for Jerry. God has tapped him on the shoulder to warn and make millions of people aware of the Rapture of the Church and the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God has given him a vast platform. All of this excites me and covers any and all hardships in making this major move. I’ve never felt more intimate with the Lord as now.

The bottom line is Obedience and Trust and Obey. I did not seek this change, but cannot ignore nor resist God’s call and new assignment. I love the acronym…FAITH…Forsaking All I Trust Him. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”…Jeremiah 29:11. Also, a verse that showed up unexpectedly several times, “And God said, I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you. You shall serve God upon this mountain”...Exodus 3:12

I am grateful to God for 12 years on the national staff of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 20 years with the University of Alabama athletic department, and now this opportunity with Jerry Jenkins and the Christian Writers Guild. To each of you who receives this letter, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for every expression of love, kindness, support and encouragement along the way. You will always be a special part of my life. The memories will last a lifetime. The relationships will forever hold a dear place in my heart. Tuscaloosa will always be home as our daughters, Elizabeth and Amy, grew up here and were raised on the Crimson Tide. Barbara taught hundreds of little children in this community and I believe she can still remember their names when she sees them. I will miss this place dearly. My red coat will follow me to Colorado but you’ll see it again when I return for athletic events as often as possible.

I am a person who stays in touch with friends and I will cherish future communication with you. The Atcheson bed and breakfast place extends a warm welcome to you at any time. Please come.

My new office address will be: Christian Writers Guild, P.O. Box 88196, Black Forest, Colorado 80908.

Telephone: (719) 495-5177; E-Mail address: watcheson@christianwritersguild.com

I love you one and all and could never express how much I deeply appreciate every friendship and act of kindness shown to me and my family during my tenure here. It would take a book to express. May Jesus Christ be praised and To God Be The Glory! Roll Tide and God Bless!

Wayne and Barbara Atcheson, 2961 Azalea Lane, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405