Sunday, March 17 marked the end of the Ober Gatlinburg 50th Anniversary Ski Season!   The day was planned to be a fun one with many public race and jump competitions, Ski School versus Ski Patrol competitions, and a pond skimming competition.   A great time was had by all.

Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries was involved in assisting all the above actions to be fun and easy.
We also did our regular ministry by meeting all employees with a breakfast donut from The Donut Friar and a devotional sheet.  One lift attendant said, “This is the only way I get to go to church.  This is where I get to hold onto God.”   At 12:30 we also had our regular worship service on the slopes.   Twelve of us gathered in an expression of Church to announce “Amen. Hallelujah” (Revelation 19:4) as a ending of the season.

The above pictures reveal the OTHER powerful event at Ober Gatlinburg yesterday.  Just after the slopes opened and before all the fun activities began, we celebrated two baptisms in the pond skimming pool!   30 people gathered to read Scripture, pray, hear the testimonies of these two ski /  snowboard instructors, and to witness their commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.   Bill was honored and excited to wade into the icy water with them as our friends stood on the snow and to baptize them.   Thanks be to God for a HOLY and REFRESHING ending to the ski season!