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Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7, ESV).
The One Way House (that became Fellowship Church in Springfield, Ohio) began in January 1972, and soon dozens of Jesus Freaks were attending the meetings. During that year, the One Way House began an association with the Jesus House (more Jesus Freaks) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The leaders would speak at both places; the Springfield Jesus Freaks would visit the Cincy Jesus Freaks and the Cincy Jesus Freaks would visit us, and at some point, someone suggested having a retreat together. We rented Camp Evergreen (a YMCA® camp) and invited Dr. Lewis Foster (a Jesus Freak sympathetic professor from Cincinnati Christian Seminary) to speak.
While planning the retreat, someone came up with the idea of giving everyone attending a black-painted rock. When conference attendees (sanitized name for Jesus Freaks) arrived, they would be given a black rock and asked to read 1 Peter 5:7 about casting our anxieties upon the Lord. Throughout the weekend, during teachings, worship, devotions, and just hanging out, everyone was encouraged to ask themselves one question…
What anxiety, concern, problem, or sin is holding me back from radically following Jesus? This is my black rock.
It was my first retreat getting away with friends (a first for most of them also), talking constantly about Jesus, focusing on our spiritual walk, and having fun. It was an amazing time punctuated by Dr. Foster, having a Master of Divinity degree from Yale and a Ph.D. in Greek from Harvard, getting intellectual with us about our faith that could be justified by evidence.
Dr. Foster showed emotion when he taught and shared honest stories about personal struggles. His example of humility created an atmosphere of vulnerability for everyone. We were Jesus Freaks fresh from drugs, free love, rebellion, many without any church background, being together, worshipping, and getting real with God. And Dr. Foster encouraged an intense focus in each of us as we looked at our black rocks during the weekend… considering…
What anxiety, concern, problem, or sin is holding me back from radically following Jesus? This is my black rock.
It culminated on Sunday morning, our last gathering, after we worshipped, listened to Dr. Foster, and celebrated the Lord’s Supper together.
(Below is a photo that someone [lots of someones in this blog post] took before our Sunday assembly. Another someone glued it in a notebook on a blue page, sending it to me years ago.)
Dr. Foster speaking that morning…
At the end of the assembly, having finished the Lord’s Supper, someone stood up and said, “I’m tired of carrying this black rock around. I no longer want the burden it has come to mean to me. I’m throwing it into the lake.” Notice in the photo that behind Dr. Foster was a lake, and this someone threw his rock into the lake. A moment of silence by everyone — then all the other Jesus Freaks stood up and began throwing their rocks into the lake.
As we were casting our anxieties upon the Lord, I’ve wondered if Dr. Foster had to duck a few times, but I wasn’t paying attention as I was throwing my rock in the lake, experiencing with a bunch of Jesus Freaks a black rock soul cleansing.
Perhaps the most memorable worship time that I’ve experienced in 55 years as a believer.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.