2007 Camp Evangelists

2008 Camp Evangelists

Rev. Ron Ball	Rev. Ronald T. Ball was born in Dothan, Alabama. He graduated from High School in Headland, Alabama. He and his wife, Charlotte Trawick, from Abbeville, Alabama, have been married since 1965. They have 3 married daughters and 7 grandchildren. Brother Ron, as people call him, graduated from Troy State University (magna cum laude) and earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was privileged to be a Dixon Fellow at Candler. He has served churches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma over the 33 years of tenure as a United Methodist pastor. One of the unique opportunities has been to be the founding pastor of a congregation, Heritage UMC, in Enterprise, Alabama, where he served for 11 years before coming to Woodlawn. He served Woodlawn UMC in Panama City Beach, Florida, for 12 years. The Church relocated during his tenure there. Because he loves people, evangelism has always been an important part of Brother Ron's ministry. Four times he has received District Harry Denman Awards for evangelism, he is a certified trainer for Evangelism Explosion, a Growth Plus Consultant, a preacher for Camp Meetings and revivals, and has been active in both the Big Bend and Blue Lake Walk to Emmaus movements. One of his great loves is Missions. He has helped lead Mission trips to Haiti, Mexico, Central and South America, as well as trips within the U.S. The "watchword" for Ron’s ministry is based on John 5:19, where Jesus said, "The things I do I do not do on my own initiative. I only do what I see the Father doing, and in like manner." Ron was appointed to be the District Superintendent of the Montgomery-Opelika District at the 2007 Annual Conference. He is readily available to serve people as a pastor, counselor, and friend.
Dr. John Oswalt	Dr. Oswalt, a native of Mansfield, Ohio, is Research Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He began his term of service at Wesley in July, 1999. Prior to that he was Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky from 1989-1999. This was his second term on that faculty, having first served from 1970 through 1982. In the interim he was president of Asbury College (1983-1986) and a member of the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois (1986-1989). He is married to the former Karen Kennedy, and they have three children. Dr. Oswalt holds degrees from Taylor University, Upland, Indiana; Asbury Theological Seminary; and Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. From Brandeis he received the Ph.D. in Mediterranean Studies. His particular interest is in Old Testament studies with special attention to the Hebrew language and to the formation of Hebrew religion against the background of the ancient Near East. Dr. Oswalt’s writings have appeared in Bible encyclopedias, scholarly journals, and popular religious periodicals. Many of these articles have dealt with the application of Biblical teachings to modern ethical questions. He has written six books, including a two-volume commentary on Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series. This work was completed in 1998. His most recent book is another commentary on Isaiah in the New International Version Application Commentary series (Zondervan, 2003). He was the Old Testament editor of the Wesley Bible, a study Bible from the Wesleyan perspective published by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1990, and also served as consulting editor for the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (Zondervan, 1997). He was a member of the New International Version translation team, and is currently one of a six-member editorial team which has revised the Living Bible (New Living Translation, 1996) and is continuing the revision process with Tyndale House Publishers. Dr. Oswalt is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, with membership in the Kentucky Annual Conference of that denomination. He has served as part-time pastor to congregations in New England and Kentucky, and is a frequent speaker in conferences, camps and local churches.
Rev. Duke Underwood	Rev. Duke Underwood has been involved in multi-age level ministry for 20 years and has conducted camps, youth choirs, praise bands, discipleship programs, college ministries and training events, worship planning and preaching. He has enjoyed ministry in both large and small churches in urban and rural settings. He believes that “any place is the right place for God to do His thing!” Duke endeavors, with a vivacious energetic, exuberance, to compel people to a one-on-one personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and strives to help them understand that they are eligible to meet the challenges of making other disciples of Christ...right now!! Duke is the founder and evangelist of R.E.A.C.H. Up U.S.A. (Raising Eternal and Community Hope) as well as, The R.O.K. (Reaching Our Kids) a youth outreach center based in Lubbock, TX. Duke and his wife, Karla, share a passion and hunger to bring the message of Jesus Christ to others. They have three beautiful children and live in Lubbock, TX.

Mrs. Judy Rupard	Mrs. Judy Rupard will be welcomed as Camp Pianist. Judy has become an integral part of the music program at our summer encampments. Her ability to interpret musical selections continues to bless all who hear her. She and her husband Bob live in Monroe, GA.