Inspiration at The Cove

Families bond at the open house event

May 13, 2009 - On Saturday, nearly 1,000 people flocked to The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove for a triple open house event. Camp Cedar Cliff and 106.9 The Light, a radio ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, also participated in the event as open house destinations.

By Joy Allmond

Visitors had the opportunity to tour the facilities of the radio station and meet their favorite radio personalities. Families strolled around Camp Cedar Cliff and tried their hands at activities like archery and wall climbing.

Others, like Anne Harris, gained inspiration and learned history as they toured the grounds and buildings on The Cove’s property.

Harris and her daughter, Kimberly Chambers, both from Georgia, came to Asheville for a weekend trip. The Asheville getaway was the fourth trip they have taken together this year.

Following her third bout with cancer, Chambers had previously visited Asheville and saw signs for the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. Although she wanted to visit, she could not fit it into her schedule.

When the mother-daughter duo decided on an Asheville, NC getaway for this particular weekend, a visit to The Cove was a priority on their list of things to do. They were pleasantly surprised when they arrived and heard about the open house event underway.

“It is wonderful,” said Harris. “Everyone should come and see it.” They took mother-daughter pictures on the training center’s back deck and marveled at the majestic views. Both women enjoyed looking at all the memorabilia and photos of Billy and Ruth Graham on the first floor of the training center building.

“Thank God for real men and women of God,” said Chambers. “Mr. Graham never took any credit for himself, but always allowed God to get the credit.”

They enjoyed the bookstore and spent time perusing Dr. Graham’s writings. Harris used this time to rebuild her Billy Graham book collection she lost through a house fire several years ago.

Through life’s challenges they have endured, such as cancer and the devastation of a house fire, Harris and Chambers both have a solid foundation of faith, thanks in part to the ministry of Billy Graham.

“Growing up, there wasn’t a crusade that I didn’t see on TV,” said Harris, who passed the legacy of the Graham ministry down to her own daughter.

“We watched not just because of the person we saw but because we saw Jesus in Him,” said Chambers. “Billy Graham was an inspiration in our home.”

Harris and Chambers plan to continue this legacy: The Billy Graham Library is a likely destination for their next mother-daughter getaway.