The geographic region of the Beacon District has been a part of my life for 60 years. My parents are from Tyrrell County; my mother is from the Gum Neck community, and my father is from the Soundside in Columbia. I spent my childhood visiting relatives in surrounding areas such as Hertford, Creswell, and Plymouth. Granddaddy had an egg route, and I would sometimes tag along because it took me to fun places such as Manteo and Nags Head.
Growing up near the border of Moyock in Chesapeake, VA, there were so many trips to North Carolina that once as a little girl, I asked my daddy, “Does the car know its way to Gum Neck?” Daddy laughed and replied, “It ought to!”
It was at Gum Neck Free Will Baptist Church that I was first introduced to Jesus, and then my faith was strengthened at my home church, Centerville Baptist. A United Methodist pastor once told me, “I like Baptists—they make good Methodists!”
After my husband, Bruce, and I got married, we lived on our sailboat at the docks in Manteo and eventually bought a house downtown. It was there that God led me to Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church. It was the first time I had ever heard of God’s grace—prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace. It changed my life forever. Our two children were baptized at Mt. Olivet, and it has such a special place in my heart.
In 1996, Bruce and I moved to Harbinger in Currituck County and raised our children there. Our beloved home church was Kitty Hawk UMC and we still have dear friends there. We stayed in Currituck for sixteen years until after a Walk to Emmaus Weekend, God called me into the ministry. This led me to Duke Divinity where we lived in Granville County for four years. When we packed to move, Bruce sold all his water “toys” (boat, sunfish, kayak, and canoe) except for two surfboards which he tied to the roof of the car. I commented, “You know there are no waves in Durham.” He replied, “The Lord might bring us back to the ocean!” Of course, this is what God did, and we have been serving at St. John UMC in Avon on Hatteras Island for eight years. I can’t help but wonder if The Good Lord did that for, “…such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)
So, for thirty-one out of the thirty-five years of our married life, Bruce and I have called the Beacon District “home.” As a girl named Dorothy from Kansas once said, “There’s no place like home!”
I share all this with you so that you may get a feel for the love I have for Eastern North Carolina. It is my heritage, roots, and home. You all are my people, salt of the earth folks who know the meaning of hard work, are living in a shared community where helping your neighbor comes naturally, and more importantly, you know the salvation found in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I am so excited to be on this journey with you, as we continue to do Kingdom work together. “…I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” (John 4:35b) Jesus isn’t talking about the corn, soybeans, and sweet potatoes around us, friends, but people who need to hear of God’s amazing grace, love, forgiveness, mercy, and salvation! What an exciting time to be in ministry, and it is my honor and privilege to serve side by side with such faithful disciples of Christ!
In His grip,
Gina
photo: Gum Neck Free Will Baptist Church – used by permission – Rev. Gina Miller