Blessings on your 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Celebration. I’m very thankful for your church presence in the Grand Valley and I cherish many childhood memories growing up with the Bookcliff Church family.
The Cavitt family moved to Grand Junction in 1958, and First Southern Baptist Church became our church family. Starting in the church nursery at 2 years old, memories are spotty at best but my most vivid memory is rushing outside, after purposely sitting quiet in church, to reap the reward offered by the ‘bubble gum man.’ He always made it outside before we did, his suit pockets bulging with pink squares of Dubble Bubble.
The building at 12th and Patterson was like a second home. If the doors were open, we were there. Ten years doesn’t sound like a lot of time to rack up as many memories as I have, but I could fill several journals with pivotal moments from age 10 until I got married and moved away. A few highlights of those childhood years float to the top; Training Union Bible drills, two-week Bible Schools, G.A. coronations, and junior choir. Every Sunday and Wednesday was packed with activities. The youth ministry significantly shaped my teenage years with creatively challenging Sunday School lessons (Dave Rogers and Doug McClaskey), Valentine Banquets, trips to Glorietta (Dave and Carol Rogers), back packing with Pastor Otis Testerman, and most of all singing in youth choir (Bob Watts). Touring the state with the contemporary musical, Tell It Like It Is, was life changing.
On a personal note, my husband pastored churches in three different states before we moved back to Grand Junction in 1998. Our two daughters and 5 grandchildren live here as well. I wouldn’t have special church memories without parents, pastors, and youth sponsors that invested themselves to provide a strong Biblical base for my life. Philippians 1:7 says, “It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart.”
God bless you as you continue His ministry.
Janice Cavitt Newman
