Inspire, Fall 2001

(The Abundant Life Singers) A Sweet,SweetSound Jim Barnhill, a retired newspaper publisher, is a member ofa hiking club in Yakima, Washington. The group, which is currently unnamed, is made up primarily ofretirees between the ages of68 to 80. On July 1, 2001,a group including three retired medical doctors, a retired schoolprincipal, a retired social worker(along with his wife and two grandchildren visitingfrom Arizona), and a seniors pastor and his wife headed up Mt. Rainier. Jim relates(in a letter sent to Cedarville University)that this particular hike was certainly one ofthe mostprecious as they meta group ofstudentsfrom a place unfamiliar to them—Cedarville University. / havejust returned from a day hike at Mount Rainier (Washington State) National Park. When you are up close and near Mount Rainier, you know that you're viewing God's work. Monday,on our return hike from the Fremont Lookout,we encountered some very enthusiastic and well-behaved young people. We learned the group was from Cedarville University. Boy,did they do your Cedarville University proud! After visiting with our group,one of our hikers asked them if they would sing for us. Standing there,lined up on the trail, looking out towards Mount Rainier,the Abundant Life Singers presented two songs to our group of 11 hikers. I couldn't believe the incredible harmony and professional poise of the young singers. What an inspiration! Our hiking group was lined upjust a few feet away across the trail as they responded to our request for a very special mini-concert. What a great group and what a wonderful day. Young hikers from a Baptist university in Ohio,sharing God's praise to a mixed group ofPresbyterians and Methodists. Our new pastor for seniors and his wife were with us. It was their first time to hike with our group and the first time they had been up close to Mount Rainier. They moved to central Washington just five months ago. We wanted to thank you and the Abundant Life Singers for providing the icing on the cake for Jim and Betsy Erixson's official welcome to God's country. Thanks,Cedarville University. Cedarville University's Abundant Life Singers certainly lived up to their name Monday while singing on a snow-covered trail at Mount Rainier National Park. Come to think of it, I may propose borrowing the name Abundant Life for our group! 16 Fall 2001