Chapel Progress Update

Here's the progress on the WBC Manley Chapel. As you can see, the roof decking is in place and the tar paper is applied. Keep praying for this project and its impact on eternity.

Christmas in the Cove

The slide show currently running is snapshots of Christmas in the Cove, or at least the Norvells' part of that. We are the S'mores house. Many of the homes in the faculty housing area are opened for students. They come and visit. Each home has a different snack. It is always a great time. Since ours is outside, weather is always an issue but this year was only cold; no gale force winds like previous years. The cold made the fire all that much more enjoyable. Anyway, we had a wonderful evening with students and friends. This is just one example of the many things that make Williams such a great institution.

A few more Caleb Photos

Caleb is home and doing excellent. Lydia is recovering well. She and Jon are adjusting well to their new roles as parents.

This is the Caleb with his mom and dad.

Introducing Mr. Caleb Alan Norvell

Grandparents Mary and Walter with Caleb.


Caleb has arrived!


Caleb Alan Norvell arrived at 9:32 pm, Nov. 27 at Fort Worth, TX. He was 6 lbs. and 14 oz. and was 21 inches long. Caleb, mom and dad are all in great shape. Here are a few pictures. I'll add more in the slide show to the right later.

Reflections on Waiting for Caleb

Caleb was due November 21. He’s late. But as Caleb delays I remember the New Testament’s illustration of waiting for Jesus’ return (John 16:21; Romans 8:22). Like the expectant mother, the evidence of Jesus’ return is clear. Something is about to change. Something is about to be birthed. Someone is coming. Lydia is experiencing all the symptoms of impending birth: stretch marks, swollen ankles, little feet and elbows pushing and jabbing on every vital organ in reach. Jonathan is experiencing impending birth, too, but his experience is different. His experience is attentive waiting. He is sure a birth is coming but he must wait expectantly.

Jesus’ return is sure. The whole realm of nature awaits His coming. It groans in the birth pains of the moment. But, the birth pains point to the advancing reality—Jesus is coming back.

Hurry, Caleb. We are expecting you. We are anxious to see you. We want to stand in amazement and gaze without interruption on you. We can’t wait to stand in your presence and give you our love.

Hurry, Jesus. We are expecting You. We are anxious to see You. We want to stand in amazement and gaze eternally on You. We can’t wait to stand in Your presence and give You our love.

Caleb Predictions

Here are the predictions:

XMommy the Human Napkin 11/16 1:50 PM
XTricia 11/18 4:31 PM
XLydia 11/21 4:30 PM
XKarenD 11/21 7:30 PM
XCarolyn 11/22 3:00 AM
XLeanna 11/22 4:45 PM
XMargie 11/23 7:30 AM
XTeresa 11/23 1:44 PM
XKaren N 11/24 3:15 AM
XJonathan 11/24 6:45 AM
XWalter 11/25 6:15 PM
XMary 11/26 12:15 AM
Sunshine 11/27 9:30 PM ***THE WINNER!*** Only missed by 2 minutes!

The tension is mounting!

All Arches in Place

All the arches for the new Manley Chapel here at WBC are in place. Today was a very windy, blustry day but the crews wrestled the last two arches into place inspite of the wind. I wish you had a way to see the perspective of the size of this chapel. If I were standing next to one of the concrete base columns, they are about twice my height. Keep praying for this project: workmen, donors, and all the future students who will worship here and catch a glimpse of the great God we serve. -W

Today I had the privilege of preaching the ordination sermon for Wade Drury. Wade is a WBC graduate and worked in our Admissions Dept. for two years. He has just begun work at NOBTS. He pastored Old Walnut Ridge Baptist Church for several years and they ordained him today. We are very proud of this young man and his commitment to the Lord. The first picture shows Wade with Mary and me along with Dr. and Mrs. Bob Magee. The second picture is Wade and me. My text was 1 Tmothy 6:11-16.

Here are pictures our chapel construction process. Six trusses are up in place with seven more to go. The building is becoming more impressive with each passing day. Please help us pray for this project: for the work and safety of the construction crews, for donors, for the services which will be taking place there in less than a year, and for students, that their lives will be changed so that no matter the area of their studies, they will embody our campus slogan, "Disciple all nations."

The First Arch is in Place!

Today the construction crew raised the first arch of the new Manley Chapel into place. It's a wonderful sight to see such progress. The pictures don't really give you a sense of the scale. The Chapel will be the tallest building on the Williams Baptist College campus. We are very thankful to the Lord for this blessing. Please join us in prayer for the building process and for the many students who will worship here over the coming years. Our college motto (translated from the Greek) is "Disciple All Nations." Pray that our students, regardless of their majors or future careers will become part of that motto. Look to the right on this page to see more photos taken today of the chapel progress. --Walter

Field of Faith

Tonight was the third annual Field of Faith event in our community. Field of Faith is an FCA-sponsored event, allowing Christian athletes to bring the gospel to other athletes and students. We alternate the observance yearly between our two local high schools, using their football fields. Our college baseball coach, John Katrosh, has fostered this event, but now our college FCA group has grown to the point that students from our college take the lead. Two students shared their personal testimonies and several other students led with Scripture readings and prayer. It was a wonderful evening with testimonies that pointed clearly to God’s redeeming grace. The Lord was truly glorified with this service.

A couple of things really came to mind as I watched this unfold tonight. The first was what terrible personal pain many of our students experience. This generation, while in many ways so favored with material blessings and other advantages, but yet they hurt so deeply. Many are victims of abuse, neglect, and systematic abandonment by all the significant adults in their lives. Many suffer the negative effects of broken vital relationships. As two precious students told their life stories, my heart broke for them and many of their generation—a generation with so much stuff and yet so little substance. I heard stories of neglect, suicide, hopelessness, self-mutilation, and immorality, all trying to put some meaning in their empty lives and stop the hurting they felt. I also heard the stories of God’s powerful grace of hope and healing springing up to redeem and restore. So sad, so inspiring, so victorious!

Second, I thought about the many people who are giving so much to reach and aid this generation: parents, teachers, coaches, school administrators, youth ministers, Sunday school teachers, caring neighbors, grandparents. I realized again how important it is to give ourselves to this upcoming generation. I also remembered that we must be praying and helping those generational “first responders” who are on the frontlines in this battle for a generation.

So, let’s pray for teens and students we know. Even the most grounded and most committed students face enormous challenges trying to negotiate their way through our deceptive postmodern culture. Secondly, encourage and pray for those adults who are waging spiritual warfare for the very lives of kids. When recent storms left devastation, we have heard people say things like how the area looks like a war zone. This generation looks like a war zone. And no wonder—it is a war zone. Pray for salvation and peace.

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6 NIV) --Walter

Pick a Day and Time for Caleb

When will Caleb come? Who knows! So, take your best guess. Add a comment and make your guess public for all to see. Give the date and time you think Caleb will make his appearance. But, remember, he's a first baby who usually come late. The full moon will be November 13. The doctor says the due date is November 21. November 27 is Thanksgiving (if cranberries and turkey has anything to do with it). Let's see who has the closest guess.

After you make your date and time guess, being thinking about length and weight. We'll call for those predictions in a couple of weeks.

Foray into blogging

This is our first attempt in blogging. It's a new world (technologically-speaking) so there is much to learn.

Mary has just returned from Texas, visiting our daughters-in-law. Karen (on the right) hosted a baby shower for Lydia (on the left). Baby Caleb is due Nov. 21.