Talking Rock's Beginning
The bible study group that enjoyed meeting together continued to do so every Sabbath, now at the cabin in Talking Rock. Publishing a series of Theos magazines, ultimately five, was started by ordering 2000 copies of each from a printer in Boston. A website was created and we started senting copies throughout the the country. We soon realized the need of obtaining our own printer. We installed it in the basement of Carolyn's parents' duplex.
But the main focus was on rescuing the church school and conducting it as it should be. One of the teachers left the Jasper school and began teaching in her apartment. We ultimately named the school "Talking Rock Christian School" - TRCS.
The second year (2012) we finished construction on a two story and walk-out basement building that was designed to be a house-church meeting in the center ground level, with a large kitchen, dining area, seating in the main worship area for 30 and a side room for overflow, a balcony and upstairs bedrooms for resident and guests. The lower level was designed for the school with separate bathrooms for girls and boys, a large classroom, white board, projector and screen, library with computers, and small kitchen eating area. Outside was a large playground, and combination swings, slides, ladder to a fort, and climbing wall.
By 2014 it became evident that we needed a larger facility for the every enlarging camp meetings. We rented the Jasper Community Center in the spring and Amicolola again in the summer in 2013, then the Community College in 2014, finally construction on our own 90 x 50 foot metal building was finally completed that fall. That same year we produced the 12 Theos videos to complement the Theos magazine.
During these years a steady progression of emphasis migrated from the begotten Son, to an interest in the appointed times, and finally the non-violent loving character of God. Each new issue brought more isolation and criticism among the growing number of what was being called either "Fountarian" or "Father-Son" or "One True God" groups. It was and continues to be disconcerting, disappointing, and discouraging to see such fragmentation. When we had hoped that advancing understanding would have led to enhanced love, joy, and peace--just the opposite was in fact the sad result.