Elizabeth Sessions ministers to the world from Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Sessions, a Montgomery native and North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionary, serves as international ministries coordinator and special events ministries coordinator for Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries (SMRM). She focuses on ministering to college students who come from 16 countries in Africa, South America and eastern Europe to work in the resort community.
“The rich and poor from all over the world come here to work or vacation,” Sessions said. “We try to make connections with them and share the gospel.”
She first builds relationships with students by extending a hand of hospitality. She offers to transport them around Gatlinburg and the surrounding area and shares God’s love to comfort the homesick. Her ministry team even offers free cooking classes to help the students learn to make easy American meals.
“Their first question is why we do nice things for them,” Sessions said. “It opens the door to share the gospel and to show Jesus’ example of hospitality and love. We build relationships and God does the work.”
‘Random gifts from God’
A recent graduate of Auburn University Montgomery, she took the position in Gatlinburg after spending two summers working with the ministry during college. According to Sessions, her “random gifts from God” fit in perfectly in ministering to the variety of people from all over the world and all walks of life.
She leads two Bible studies a week to help students learn English and understand the Bible. Sessions said 99 percent of students who begin attending the Bible studies have never studied the Bible and most have never been exposed to religion that centers on a personal relationship with God. According to her, Muslim students seem the most interested in learning about Christianity.
“These students are not afraid to ask questions,” she said. “It’s been a growing experience for me to learn to share my story in relevant ways with the challenge of the language barrier. I have to earn the right to be heard and that takes patience. Some have been hardened by bad religion. But God uses His Word and He is faithful.”
The ministry team uses its annual Winter Dinner in January to share the gospel and give each student two Bibles — one in English and one in his or her native language. In many of the students’ home countries, it is very difficult to get a Bible.
The team also holds weekly worship services on the slopes at Ober Gatlinburg, a ski resort and amusement park, for the resort’s skiers, snowboarders and employees — many of whom are international students.
In addition, SMRM’s staff and volunteers work for free at Ober Gatlinburg, directing visitors, helping them with their ski equipment and sharing the gospel with them on the chairlift.
Sessions, who had never skied before taking part in the ski ministry, said it is a perfect example that ministry can be fun.
“It’s incredible to have fun and minister at the same time,” she said. “I’ve grown in lots of different ways through my experiences here.”
SMRM also reaches out to vacationers in Gatlinburg. The ministry’s summer staff hosts day camps for children and youth activities such as pool parties and coffeehouses.
The staff also holds 22 campground worship services spring through fall and reaches out through creative arts ministries in a shopping center.
For instance, a volunteer plays bluegrass music, draws scenes from the Bible with charcoal or sculpts statues until a small group of people gathers. He or she then uses the opportunity to share the gospel before moving on to another place to attract a new group.
“Tourists come here to get away, but God can reach them where they are and He uses willing hearts. I’ve seen God constantly working in the lives of the people we meet and it’s blown me away,” Sessions said.
She plans to continue serving in Gatlinburg until summer 2008, when she will move back to Montgomery to prepare for seminary.
Sessions is thankful for the support she has received from her home church — Eastern Hills Baptist, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association — and other churches throughout the Southern Baptist Convention through NAMB’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
“The gifts we receive help us in every way. I’m amazed at how wonderful churches have been in giving to offerings such as Annie Armstrong,” Sessions said.
“It allows me to be in Gatlinburg and follow God’s call on my life. Their giving allows us to get Bibles for the students, to provide transportation and to sponsor activities as a means of communicating the gospel. We would not be able to share with these people the way we do if it were not for generous churches.”
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