Yesterday in our chapel service at LifeWay, our president and CEO Dr. Thom Rainer played a video for employees that highlights a particular employee ministry effort called "LifeWay Community Fund Campaign."

This campaign is designed to raise funds, specifically employee donations, to support local charitable organizations in the Nashville area. The mission statement captures the vision and intent: The mission of LifeWay Community Fund is to provide financial assistance to faith-based and humanitarian charities that align with LifeWay's vision and values.

Each year LifeWay partners with 10 charities to support them in their ministry efforts. Here are the organizations and charities for 2009:

• Maury Chaplain Ministries, Inc.
• Graceworks Ministries, Inc.
• Siloam Family Health Center
• Pregnancy Care Center of TN
• Madison Computer Learning Center
• Youth for Christ
• Cottage Cove Urban Ministries
• Ultimate Goal Ministries
• Community Outreach Ministries
• Operation Andrew Group

Each of these ministries is impacting our community -- Nashville and surrounding areas -- with services, helps, assistance, training, and evangelism for the kingdom of Christ. Here, in a brief video, is a presentation of these ministries that the LifeWay Community Fund Campaign supports.

Entry by Micah Carter

Take a minute to enjoy this multimedia presentation from Kent Harville, LifeWay's corporate visuals coordinator and photographer. Kent takes us "behind the scenes" as he explains the process and results of finding a photo opportunity when there doesn't seem to be one.

The photos are excellent, and they were taken at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, NC.

Jennifer Tramel reflects on learning to shoot a handgun. And for the record, she favors a .45 caliber! Enjoy!

A recent tweet from Byron Hill, director of LifeWay conference centers and camps, summed up a lot of what I'm feeling right now: "@ByronHill: Still can't believe all the Nashville landmarks under water. Not to mention all the homes. It's like a movie, but it's not. It's real."
 
I went to Jefferson City (TN) this past weekend to visit friends and spend time doing different activities with them, including hiking and watching a theatrical production. Unbeknownst to me, Nashville was flooding.
 
My youngest brother was scheduled to have his high school baccalaureate Sunday afternoon, but in the middle of my journey home early Sunday morning, I learned it was cancelled because the high school was flooded. I had a difficult time believing how dire the situation was at home. East Tennessee received no rain, and the entire drive home was clear until I reached Lebanon (TN).  
 
I couldn't believe my eyes as I scanned the watery horizons of my hometown. Homes, schools, farms, churches and businesses were under water. I then reached home to find my house  unaffected (thankfully!) and my family glued to the television as news stations reported on the historic flood of May 2010.  
 
This incredible occurrence has displaced thousands and will eventually cost billions, I'm sure. The Grand Ole Opry, LP Field (Titan's stadium), The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and the Gaylord Opry Land Hotel are just a few of the great Nashville landmarks affected.
 
LifeWay's corporate photographer, Kent Harville, and I took the opportunity to video/photograph the flooding of downtown Nashville (Kent's slideshow of his still photos will be posted later this week). Below is the 3 minute video I compiled from the footage.  

 
Please be in prayer for the waters to recede, and for God to lead us in the days ahead. LifeWay has many employees that have been affected in this disaster, including three in our own department. There are accounts of many individuals with destroyed homes who are without flood insurance. No doubt, the recovery effort will last for years to come.
 
Yes indeed, Bryon perfectly summed up the feeling that we all have: "It's like a movie, but it's not. It's real."
 
By Jennifer Tramel