A Beautiful But Brief Beach Trip

/in ,

Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2025-26

This past Sunday, we traveled to Sunset Beach, NC, for a relaxing afternoon and a welcome reprieve from the past week. While a trip to the beach is quite dependent on the weather, and ours was cut short because of the unwelcome rain, we enjoyed it nonetheless and got our fair share of the sun.

Around 8 am, we packed up the vans and headed off on the road, full of anticipation for what lay ahead. At about 12.30 am, we arrived at the beach, and thankfully, there was little trouble in finding a close parking space that made our walk to the sand a whole lot shorter. Once on the beach, students and faculty set about putting up the gazebos and setting up the camping chairs. Scarcely were we there for more than a few minutes before students eagerly dashed towards the beckoning blue expanse in front of them. Others, a little famished, stayed back and dived into the prepared pasta salad bowls for lunch. The sun was at its full height as it shone strongly on all the beachgoers. Some of the students took the opportunity to rest under the gazebos on the warm sands, but most eventually made it into the waves and enjoyed rolling and jumping into them. As expected, some got to experience the taste of the delightfully briny water a little too much. As the afternoon rolled on, the ominous grey clouds in the distance and the echoes of thunder drew closer and closer. Students and faculty prepared themselves, repacking our belongings as we closely watched the droplets of precipitation getting ever closer. The downpour eventually hit our location, and we all made a mad dash for the vans. 

While the beach trip may have been cut short due to the gloomy weather, the time we did enjoy on the coast made memories and allowed us to appreciate God’s creation. For some, it was their first time they were able to go so far out into the water to jump waves, and for others, it reminded them why the beach is such a beautiful place.

Widow’s Bingo Brunch

/in

Author: Lexi Mitchell| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2023-24

This past Sunday, the LE students hosted the annual ‘Widow’s Bingo Brunch’ for the local widows in the Charlotte Congregation. The LE students not only served the widows a delicious meal but also had the opportunity to play Bingo and enjoy their fellowship. 

Preparation for the event began on Saturday night when all of the students decorated the women’s dorm and assembled the food. The men removed the furniture from the sitting room and replaced it with tables and chairs while the ladies cut up fruit to place on skewers and sliced quiches for the next day. 

Starting the following morning, the LE students began heating up the various food items, setting them out, and decorating the tables. The kitchen was a hive of activity as banana chocolate chip muffins, bacon and waffles, cheesy potatoes, and quiche were popped in the oven. The tables were dressed with tablecloths and various colored flowers. 

At 10 am, the guests arrived, and the event officially commenced. The widows perused the food table with delight at the delicious treats available before finding their way to the tables. The students joined the widows, and all dug into the refreshments. Following this, Mr. McNair announced that the Bingo games would begin. Each table was a team, and the teams that earned the most “Bingo” won the round; earning their prize, some Living Education merchandise. Students and widows eagerly watched their Bingo cards, filled with excitement as they waited for the numbers to be called. Both the teams, the “Coffee Beaners” and the “Bingo Amigos” did quite well. The hour of Bingo seemed to whiz by, and before everyone knew it, the games were over. Following the end of Bingo, many of the students took the opportunity to fellowship and get to know the widows better. 

The annual “Widow’s Brunch,” hosted by Living Education, offered an opportunity to share a meal, have fun, and forge stronger connections with these women in the body of Christ. 

_DSC9224
IMG_2536

Snow Trip

/in
Read more

Fast and Furious

/in ,

This past Sunday, 15 students and five faculty members visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte. When it comes to North Carolina culture, NASCAR racing is definitely in the fast lane! During our visit, we viewed the exhibits, including a variety of winning race-cars, learned about the history of the sport and even had some good-hearted competition. 

Since most of group had little or no knowledge of auto racing, it was a surprise to learn that the origins of the sport dated back to the days of “running moonshine” in the Appalachian hills. Stock car racing took off in Daytona, Florida, in 1936, and that NASCAR was officially formed at the Streamline Hotel on Daytona Beach in 1948. Our group wandered around the displays, listening to the stories of famous drivers and learning about the development of the engines, car bodies, and the safety technology that has been a big part of the sport.

20241208_110039 (2)

When we found our way to the “pit stop” area, we were directed to form three-person teams and compete in head to head competition. In a side by side competition on two stock-car mock-ups, two teams were coached in the skill of jacking up the “half-car”, quick-changing the tire, and putting a replica gas nozzle into the car’s tank. With a “ready, set, go”, both teams raced to the mock cars, trying to clock the best time.

But the highlight of the day was the chance to drive a race-car simulator – experiencing what it is like behind the wheel in a race. Seated in replica cars decked with the necessary electronics, students and faculty had a blast competing for that sought-after trophy. Time and time again, we raced with the goal that we might come in first this time.

The drive home somehow felt sluggish after the high-pace racing, but we students were going back revamped and ready to take on the finals that appeared ever so daunting.

IMG_2103

Men’s Training Camp – Delavan, Wisconsin

/in

51 men, ranging in age from 16 to 91, from congregations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, assembled June 11–13 for the Upper Midwest Men’s Training Camp in Delavan, Wisconsin. Presentations, workshops, interactive breakout sessions and split sermons addressed the societal challenges facing adult and young men, fulfilling our Creators’ intent, making a contribution to the Body, defending the truth, organization and time management, building a strong marriage, understanding the challenges our children are being exposed to, and mentoring the next generation. Meals and free time provided plenty of opportunities for the men to mix, build bonds, support and encourage each other. The men left reinforced in their roles, armed and ready to apply what they learned, and to be the kind of men, husbands, fathers and Christians God wants them to be.—Bob Rodzaj

Israel Dig and Tour Cancelled

/in

Due to the travel restrictions and an ongoing quarantine policy in Israel, we regret to announce that our Israel Dig and Tour is cancelled for the 2020 summer. We look forward to resuming the program again in the summer of 2021

Young Singles Virtual Weekend

/in , ,

Living Education is sponsoring a “Young Singles Virtual Weekend” involving a number of online get-togethers on April 10th and 11th. Register now!

Read more