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1954 1955 1981 1981 - 1991 1991

Mrs. Thomas (Elsie) Miss Grace Garthwaite was ―Miss Grace‖ David & Kathy Johnson moved to Barry & Susan
Blue, a believer sent by CBM in Raleigh, NC was well-known Robeson County and worked with Belles moved to
among the Lumbee to teach Bible lessons to the and loved and local officials to make it possible
Indians, asked CBM public school children in had an effective to teach Bible classes under the Robeson County to
to send someone to Robeson County. Children ministry for 26 ―Released Time‖ law using the continue Released
teach Bible to the attended summer camp after years until her ―Rolling Chapel‖. They took Time classes and
children of her race. memorizing 300 Bible verses. death in 1981. children to New Life Camp. taking children to
New Life Camp.
―Miss Grace‖

The History of Children’s Bible Ministries of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc.

BM came to Robeson County, North Carolina, because a believer among the Lumbee Indians, Mrs. Thomas Blue, had a bur-
den for the lost boys and girls of her race. Mrs. Blue communicated with the CBM General Director and after much prayer,
C CBM of Raleigh, North Carolina sent Miss Grace Garthwaite to begin teaching Released Time Bible classes in the area. ―Miss
Grace‖ was well-known and loved and had an effective ministry in Robeson County for 26 years, teaching over 12,000 children per
month in the public schools.
David and Kathy Johnson came from CBM in Raleigh, North Carolina, and continued the ministry until 1991. Since it was no
longer legal to teach inside the public schools, they diligently worked with local officials to make it possible to teach the Bible
classes under the Released Time law using the ―Rolling Chapel,‖ a fifth-wheel trailer that was converted into a mobile classroom.
The Johnsons were followed by Barry and Susan Belles who served until 2001. In 1997, 240 acres of land was received as a gift to be
developed into a new CBM camp; the work in this area became incorporated; and 3 weeks of summer day camp were held using lo-
cal church facilities. The full time staff continued to teach Released Time classes.
Since 2001 Bobby and Karen Williams have been giving leadership to the ministry. The construction of Camp Grace began in 2001,
summer day camps continued, and the first weeks of overnight camp were in 2003. Today, the full time staff and local volunteers
work together to teach Released Time classes at 36 schools teaching over 3,500 students each month.

This is an exciting place of ministry and there is much evidence that it is God‘s work! The board and staff desire that CBM of the
Mid-Atlantic, its staff and programs, will be used to teach the necessity of a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus
Christ, and the responsibility and joy that is ours to love Him and serve Him until He returns.

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