If you have ever visited Montreat, NC, I think you will agree that this little spot, nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, is a feast for the senses. While walking around the conference center’s campus, it’s not uncommon to see lush, green rhododendrons growing by the creek, hear voices, joined together in song, resonating from Anderson Auditorium, taste cool refreshing Cheerwine, or feel raindrops hit your skin as an afternoon rain shower rolls in. I’m sure, for many of you, I’m describing a scene that you have experienced yourself while enjoying a summer in Montreat.
In these ways and more, Montreat is a magical place. Here, people come seeking rest, renewal, growth, friendship, faith, recreation, and so much more. We often use the phrase “a place set apart,” but that only begins to capture the intense meaning that this place has for so many people. Young lovers get married here. Pastors receive their call to ministry or take steps to sustain it here. Youth group members cry as their week at youth conference comes to a close, and they find it’s time to return home. Montreat is full of stories, emotions, and meaning. So, as a member of Montreat’s marketing team, I’m always looking at how we can share those stories in impactful and meaningful ways.
Last summer, we answered we achieved this by encouraging our summer marketing assistant to share a series of weekly articles based on her experience shadowing other summer staff members. This summer, we plan to take a similar approach:
Over the next eight weeks, Olivia Abela, a senior media and communications major at Lander University, will document her summer in Montreat while working as one of Montreat Conference Center’s summer marketing assistants. To inform her experience, she will shadow staff from various summer staff departments, getting a behind the scenes look at some of Montreat’s most iconic programs and events. Olivia will then take the information she has gathered and turn it into a short article, sharing her experience with the rest of the Montreat community. You will be able to read articles by Olivia, touching on topics like conference support, the Montreat Wilderness, Summer Worship Series, and Clubs, beginning next Friday, June 19.
In addition to Olivia’s work, this summer we also hope to share insights and writings from Lizzy Sober, a Clubs program participant, who is excited to give us an inside look at the Clubs experience and the ways that she sees Montreat’s ministry at work through that program.
We hope that through Olivia and Lizzy’s writings, you might come to experience Montreat – either through the stories that are shared or because you are inspired to make a visit here – more fully. Be sure to tune in each week to see what they have to share!
Celeste Abney-Crowe is a creative services manager at Montreat Conference Center. She lives in Auburn, AL, with her husband Peter. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and painting scenes from life.