Ceremony honors Cornerstone Ministry Center leader
John H. Humble left behind a far-reaching legacy that touched the lives of members of both his church and his community. His list of accomplishments during his life of 81 years is as astonishingly lengthy as it is varied.
As chair for the Capital Funds for the Cornerstone Ministry Center in Jefferson, he helped raise $350,000 for the center’s camp and managed to obtain a $35,000 grant to renovate the camp gymnasium.
While serving with the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1957, he was stationed at the White House with the White House Signal Corps and was later Chief Communication Operator at Camp David in Maryland.
Active in the Lions Club of Waynesburg, he was named Lion of the Year in 1986, had 20 plus years of perfect attendance at the Lions’ meetings and served as president three times. In 1991, he was honored with the title “Citizen of the Year” by the East Franklin Grange #1749 and by the Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce in 2004 with a Distinguished Citizen Award.
To honor his years of service following his death on Nov. 13, 2013, the Cornerstone Ministry Center dedicated a roadway leading to the center in his honor. Eighteen family members attended the April 26 ceremony that named the road John Humble Drive. Board president Lloyd Lohr spoke and executive Director Judy Virgili added personal comments. Eighty people attended the appreciation banquet that followed in the center cafeteria.
“Everyone was both sad about his passing but proud of what John had done both for the center and the community,” Virgili said. “Rather than just name a room at the center in his honor, we thought that naming a road for him was best because he was always on the go. I remember him driving up the road two to three times a week on his visits to the camp. He had a way of encouraging everyone and taught us how to think big.”
After the dedication, Humble’s son, Johnny Bill (Weaser) Humble said he’d take up the slack, follow in his father’s footsteps and help the center.
“Every time we see his name on the road sign it encourages us here at the center to keep reaching for the stars,” Virgili said.
The center’s programs focus on three Cs. The first are released time Bible program classes that transport children from 22 schools in two counties during the school day to a local church for religious instruction. Eighty volunteers from many different churches help to teach the religion classes and do a variety of other volunteer work. For the classes, children are bussed to and from school for one hour a week of religious instruction, although some of the classes are held only once a month.
“We’re non-denominational and serve about 600 children each week from late September to May,” Virgili said.
The second C is camp, which includes both overnight and day options. The overnight camp is a series of three weeks of five-day stays and two weeks of day stays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Usually 50 to 60 children enroll in the overnight camp weekly. This year, Teen Week for students in grades 7 to 12 is scheduled for June 22-27 and Elementary Week for students in grades 2 to 6 is from July 6 to 11 and from July 20 to 25. Day camp is offered to children from kindergarten to grade 6.
The camp includes Bible speakers, music, crafts and electives like biking, fishing, hiking, archery, air rifle, volleyball, basketball and swimming. Cost of the camp, which includes room, board, speakers and activities is $180 a week.
There is no charge for day camp, although donations are accepted, and transportation is available from some areas.
“Many people have given camp scholarships for low income students,” Virgili said. “John (Humble) always said you have to give people the opportunity to give.”
The camp has three new additions this year. They include Frisbee golf, zip lines and a new rope course that teaches teamwork. Overnight campers will also be able to take two hours of archery and life skills lessons from Rich Pekar and his team.
Camp is usually staffed by 20 adults, and Virgili said this year’s speakers are exceptional and tie in with this year’s theme “The Great Adventure – Follow Jesus.”
The final C stands for correspondence and features a Mail Box Club – Bible correspondence lessons for all ages from 4 years to seniors.
Participants receive Bible lessons based on their age which take about 20 minutes to complete. After reading the text, participants take a multiple choice test, then mail the answers back.
“Everything is now done by mail, but we’re working to put it online,” Virgili said.
“Students who complete 12 lessons become eligible for camp.”
Over the Labor Day holiday, center staff will attend a national conference in Fort Pazewell, North Carolina. The conference is usually attended by 200 missionaries, which includes their families, and the event includes reports, workshops and speakers.
At the moment, the staff at the center is preparing for the released time classes, set to begin again this fall, and is also busy writing the fundraising letter, which is sent out in October. Staff is also making plans for this year’s Fall Fest at the center on Oct. 11, which features music, activities for children, craft and food vendors and making homemade apple butter in a kettle over an outdoor fire.
In November, staff gets the gym ready for a four-month rental by 90 students from the Jefferson-Morgan Elementary School and the January-February rental by the girls volleyball team from Calvary Chapel in Fredericktown.
For more information, call 724-966-9157.