Cumberland Presbyterian Magazine

11/17/2025

Camp Ground CPC

Camp Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Covenant Presbytery) in Anna, Illinois, will celebrate its 175th anniversary on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

The day of celebration begins with coffee and fellowship at 9:15 a.m., followed by Bible study for all ages at 9:30. Morning worship is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with a potluck meal afterward. The church is located at 1000 Camp Ground Road/50 Tunnel Lane, east of Anna.

The historic church sits on a site long used as a rest stop and gathering place even before Union County was settled. The location served as a camping area along a trail connecting the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and near another trail leading north from Fort Massac. The elevated ground and proximity to multiple springs made it a natural meeting point for families, travelers and early religious gatherings held under brush arbors.

In the early 1830s, George Hileman and others settled in the area. During the winter of 1838–39, the east-west route passing the property was used by Cherokee families during the Trail of Tears. Harsh weather and ice on the Mississippi River forced thousands to remain in southern Illinois, with one of three documented encampments located at the current church site. Many Cherokee are believed to have died there and were buried nearby.

After the Trail of Tears period, the site continued to be used for multi-denominational worship until 1850, when Hileman and his wife deeded the property to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Early structures included a small shed that also served as a school and later a one-story log building used for more than two decades. A two-story frame church built in 1876 stood until it was destroyed by fire in 1905; only the pump organ was saved.

The present sanctuary was completed and dedicated debt-free on Aug. 11, 1906. Improvements through the years included generators in the 1930s, electricity in 1942, hand-dug basement work in 1952, oak floors in 1959, a furnace in 1967, indoor plumbing in 1972, classroom space in 1980, central air in 1981 and a sound system in 1992. The 1980 addition was removed in 2001 to make room for a new fellowship and educational building, dedicated debt-free in 2002.

Church leaders note that throughout its 175 years — including times when the building had no doors — worship and ministry have never ceased.

Camp Ground Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 2017, and recognized as an Illinois Sesquicentennial House of Worship on Sept. 2, 2023.

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

11/06/2025

11/05/2025

Nashville Presbytery Endorses Rev. Kim Moore for Moderator

Meeting on October 28, 2025, at Brush Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville Presbytery nominated the Reverend Kim Moore for moderator of the 194th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Kim Moore has been a nurse in critical care for 36 years and always felt nursing was a ministry, but twenty years ago when her pastor needed a knee replacement and called on her as an elder to fill the pulpit, it was the beginning of the recognition of a calling to the ministry of word and sacrament. The medical and ministerial callings intertwined when Kim felt the Holy Spirit leading her to use all her gifts and experience to become a missionary in Haiti. She became a partner to the six pastors and churches for 16 months and helped to start Hanamel Clinic - a ministry that has touched 20,000 lives thus far. Whether in the extreme challenges of the ICU or the violence and hardship of Haiti, Kim learned to trust in God to hold her, to help her, and to guide her.

Kim has filled many roles in the church including musician, music director, children's music director, Sunday school teacher, elder, pastor, and missionary—first in Guatemala then in Haiti. She speaks four languages though her Spanish está un poco oxidado. She remains a faithful servant through the Nashville Presbytery—serving on the Missions Committee before her deployment and now on the Committee of Preparation for Ministry. Currently she continues to feel a calling to minister in Haiti and does so by traveling every weekend to speak about our brothers and sisters there and to raise awareness and support. She translated the Confession of Faith into French and Creole for our churches in Haiti and continues to be a liaison in the mission. During the work week she is back in the nursing ministry—managing the Medical Cardiovascular ICU at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Kim has two beautiful adult children who have released her to missionary service knowing it is her joy in life to serve others. She is blessed to enjoy a home in close proximity to her parents - the ones who introduced her to Jesus and provided an incredible testimony to serving Him throughout their lives.

Kim hopes to bring her experience and gifts in ministry and leadership—and especially in healing—to the role of moderator. “For such a time as this” are the words that resonated with her as she prayerfully considered being nominated. She says the people of Haiti have a saying, Si Dye vle, if God wants it. And she will gladly and fervently serve, as they say in the South, “Lord willing,” knowing God will hold, help and guide her.

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

11/04/2025

Dr. Robert Howard Allen

Dr. Robert Howard Allen, 76, of Madisonville, Tennessee, a poet, scholar, and longtime college professor whose remarkable journey of faith and perseverance inspired countless students, died November 3, 2025.

Born in Huntingdon, Tennessee, on February 7, 1949, Robert’s early life was marked by hardship, but it became a story of grace, endurance, and devotion to God. Raised by his grandfather and blind great-aunt, Ida, after being abandoned as a child, Robert found his anchor in faith and Scripture. Each evening, he read the Bible aloud to Aunt Ida—five chapters a night—instilling in him a lifelong reverence for both language and the Word.

Denied formal schooling in his youth, Robert educated himself through Scripture, a dictionary left by his mother, and stacks of borrowed books. He taught himself to read using comic books, then turned to the classics and Shakespeare. His love of language led him to write poetry, which was soon published in respected literary journals.

In his late twenties, Robert earned a near-perfect score on the GED and excelled on college entrance exams. In 1981, at age 32, he enrolled at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee—now Bethel University—where he graduated summa cm laude in 1984. That same year, his story of perseverance drew national attention through newspaper features, television coverage, and a documentary.

Robert went on to earn both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English from Vanderbilt University on a full six-year Presidential Scholarship. His doctoral work examined the mythic background of W.B. Yeats’s early poetry.

Following his studies, Dr. Allen returned to Bethel as a professor, later teaching at Murray State University, the University of Tennessee–Martin, and finally Hiwassee College, a United Methodist institution in Madisonville, Tennessee, where he also served as college archivist. His students remembered him as a gentle, insightful mentor who loved literature and believed deeply in the transforming power of education.

Robert’s unpublished manuscripts, including his autobiography, resided in the Hiwassee College archive and are now presumably in the possession of the Holston Conference Commission on Archives and History.

A faithful church member and an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Robert lived out a quiet, enduring ministry of faith through scholarship, compassion, and service. He remained active in his later years at First Presbyterian Church of Sweetwater and supported community ministries such as the Good Shepherd Center in Madisonville.

Robert’s writing and teaching reflected the steadfast hope that had carried him through life’s hardships. “Forgiveness isn’t a theory to him—it’s his life,” wrote one friend. His ministry was found not in the pulpit but in the classroom, in his care for others, and in his unshakable belief that truth and love endure.

Robert Howard Allen was featured in “Our Stories” in the April 2023 issue of the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine.

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

10/31/2025

Destruction in Haiti

Kensington Lundy: For the past ten days, a cyclone has been ravaging the country. We are still being cautious, and my family is currently under pressure, facing food insecurity. I ask all of you, my friends, to pray for Haiti, where the situation seems complicated and difficult for the people of my community. Livestock have disappeared, crops are devastated, and the roads are currently impassable.

Although Hurricane Melissa did not make direct landfall in Haiti. The storm caused catastrophic damage and at least 30 deaths in Haiti due to extensive flooding and landslides from its outer bands and heavy rainfall over several days.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm in Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, and later in eastern Cuba on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, as a Category 3 hurricane.

Haiti was heavily impacted by the slow-moving storm’s periphery, which resulted in a major humanitarian crisis, particularly in the southern coastal town of Petit-Goâve where an overflowing river caused widespread destruction.

The Missions Ministry Team has made a first response gift to the Haitian CP churches of $10,000. If you or your church feel led to give to the Haitian Relief effort, thanks in part to Our United Outreach, 100% of your gift goes to the churches. You may give online at www.cpcmc.org, call into the office with a credit card or send a check to:

Missions Ministry Team
Haitian Relief
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

10/30/2025

Dezi Reginald Fletcher, Jr.

Dezi Reginald Fletcher, Jr., 27, of Madison, Alabama, died tragically on Monday, October 27, 2025, as the result of an automobile accident near Meridianville, Alabama. Dezi Jr. was born on December 8, 1997, to the Reverend Dezi Fletcher, Sr. and Mrs. Nancy Fletcher of Madison. From his earliest years, Dezi demonstrated a bright mind, a tender heart, and a steadfast commitment to his family, his church, and his community. Growing up in Madison, he was known for his warm smile, his curious spirit, and a love for life that seemed to draw others toward him.

He attended East Limestone High School (Athens, Alabama), where teachers and classmates will remember him not only for his scholastic ability but for his leadership and his willingness to serve. After high school, Dezi attended Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. He was a founding member of the Black Student Union, and served as its first Secretary. In that role, he advocated for inclusion, representation, and community-building among his fellow students. His tenure there reflected a young man who took seriously his calling to lead, to uplift, and to make space for others.

Dezi was a member of New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (CPCA) in Madison, Alabama. Within his congregation he was known for his joyful participation, his respect for elders, and his enthusiastic support of youth ministry. Dezi’s involvement extended far beyond Sunday worship. For many years he was actively engaged in the church’s youth outreach, and he served with distinction on the Youth Ministry Planning Council for the Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference. In addition, he served as an intern for youth and young adult ministry for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he helped organize events, mentor younger participants, and bring energy and fresh ideas into the ministry.

In every role—student leader, church youth minister, son and brother—Dezi exemplified a servant-heart. Friends say that when you asked him to help, he didn’t hesitate; when you needed encouragement, he was the first to offer a kind word. He carried a contagious optimism and deep faith that the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives. The values instilled in him by his family and church—integrity, compassion, perseverance—came through in all he did.

His commitment to youth ministry was particularly noteworthy. He believed strongly that the next generation needed not only programs but mentoring, affirmation, and authentic relationships. In an age when many young people fall through the cracks, Dezi worked to ensure they felt seen, valued, and loved. He inspired through his example that ministry is not simply about organizing events or running programs but about being present, building relationships, and letting the light of Christ shine through one’s life.

C P news: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/

We apologize for the error in an earlier draft of this post.

10/28/2025

10/28/2025

10/27/2025

The Reverend Dr. Carroll R. Richards

The Reverend Dr. Carroll R. Richards, 82, of Lincoln, Illinois, an honorably retired minister and devoted servant of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, died October 23, 2025. Born in Mattoon, Illinois, in 1943, Carroll graduated from Mattoon High School in 1961 and from Eastern Illinois University in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in mathematics, physics, and French. After graduation, he taught in the Rock Island, Illinois, school system before following the lifelong call that had stirred in him since childhood—to preach and serve Christ’s church.

Carroll came under the care of Illinois’ Foster Presbytery in 1967 and was ordained June 6, 1968. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary in 1970 and completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1979. His dissertation, Reformed Ministry: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Roles, reflected both his academic depth and his desire to link faith to modern life.

Carroll’s pastoral ministry spanned nearly four decades and many states. His first call was to Vaughn’s Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Mayfield Presbytery) in Calvert City, Kentucky, where he helped begin a lakes ministry offering worship for campers and emergency on-call service. In 1973, he accepted a call to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Evansville (Indiana Presbytery), Indiana, first as associate pastor and later, beginning in 1980, as pastor. There he strengthened outreach ministries—emergency food and clothing assistance, neighborhood Bible studies, and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous—and guided the congregation in Christian education and community witness.

Subsequent pastorates included Raytown Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Platte-Lexington Presbytery) in Missouri; Brandon Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Florida Presbytery) in Valrico, Florida; and the yoked congregations of New Ebenezer and Protemus Cumberland Presbyterian Churches (West Tennessee Presbytery) in Troy, Tennessee. In 1994, he was called to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lincoln (North Central Presbytery), Illinois, where he served until his retirement in 2006. Throughout his ministry, Carroll emphasized pastoral care, Christian education, and denominational connection. He often said that evangelism was “nothing more or less than the sharing of the Good News through a Christian life lived to its fullest.”

Dr. Richards was active at every level of Cumberland Presbyterian life. He served on the Board of Christian Education, was a trustee of Memphis Theological Seminary, and held the offices of stated clerk for both Indiana Presbytery and North Central Presbytery as well as for the Synod of the Midwest. In 2009, he was elected Vice Moderator of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Earlier, he had been nominated by to serve as denominational stated clerk following the tenure of Rev. Robert Prosser.

Carroll gave countless hours to the education and preparation of ministers through the Program of Alternate Studies (PAS), teaching pastoral care and counseling courses for more than a decade. In 1998, Carroll wrote May I Help You With That? A Primer of Pastoral Care and Counseling (Morris Publishing) which he used in his PAS classes. He also wrote It Happened One February, a drama in modern language and with modern sensibilities about the formation of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He frequently contributed lessons to Encounter, the adult Sunday school quarterly, and wrote for the Cumberland Presbyterian, the Missionary Messenger, These Days, and other denominational and devotional publications. For a number of years, he assisted the editor of the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine.

Besides his congregational leadership, Dr. Richards served as a hospital and hospice chaplain for nearly two decades, including at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln and Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. His clinical pastoral education training and compassion made him a trusted presence in moments of crisis and comfort.

Following his retirement, Carroll continued ministry in what he called his “Third Age of Ministry.” He volunteered with the Postville Courthouse historic site and the Meals on Wheels program in Lincoln, remaining active in the life of the community he loved. He also played trombone with the Lincoln Area Music Society, serving as its president for many years, and was a faithful usher at Sangamon Auditorium.

Those who knew Carroll remember his low-key, thoughtful pastoral style—gentle but firm leadership marked by compassion, intellect, and humor. He spoke often of the church’s prophetic responsibility to address social justice, peace, and equality, and he encouraged Christians to recognize their “distinct voice in our world.”

Dr. Richards viewed the pulpit as a place not only for proclamation but for dialogue with God’s ongoing revelation. “I do not believe the book has been closed on God,” he once wrote. “God continues today to reveal himself and to interact with creation.”

Carroll was deeply influenced by his family’s example of humble service. From his grandfather, remembered in Mattoon as “the grave digger,” he learned quiet faithfulness; from his mother, the admonition to “go make yourself useful.” Those lessons guided a life spent in usefulness to God’s people.

C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/