THE MOUNTAIN, THE MAN AND THE DREAM: THE STORY OF THE RIDGECREST CONFERENCE CENTER

'The Mountain, The Man andthe Dream' is the story of a very special place in the mountains of NorthCarolina.¿ It was envisioned as a meetingplace for the Southern Baptists.¿ Overthe years, it became a meeting place for all Christians.The Ridgecrest Conference Centeris located 18 miles East of Asheville, North Carolina.¿ It is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains onthe continental divide, but Ridgecrest is not just a place.¿ It is more of an experience, a fellowshipwith God.¿ It is God's mountain.¿ Those who visit Ridgecrest with an open heartwill experience God's presence, commune with other Christians and feel His handin their lives.History is a visible account ofpeople and buildings.¿ Church historyhowever, shows how God works with people to accomplish His will.¿ This book show's God's active role in thedevelopment and growth in the place called "Ridgecrest.'The year 2007 marks the onehundredth anniversary of the Ridgecrest Conference Center.This is a fascinating story withmany different people working to overcome innumerable obstacles to make a dreamcome true.¿ This book is for everyone wholoves an interesting story about a real place and real people overcoming obstaclesto make something happen.

Kent Barnes who is originallyfrom Kewanee, Illinois, has made his home in Black Mountain, North Carolinasince the mid 80's.¿ Born and raised infarm country, the mountains have been a special place for him.He served some time in the PeaceCorps and then four years in the US Coast Guard.¿ His travels took him from Oklahoma to Alabamaand finally to Falmouth, Massachusetts, where he settled for 20 years.¿ He served as a full time firefighter and startedhis own alarm business.After 12 years he sold his businessand entered the corporate world as a corporate executive.¿ After three years of flying to various citiesand many flights to Miami, he decided it was time for a change and moved toHickory, North Carolina.¿ After threeyears in Hickory, he moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina.¿ He worked various management jobs whileliving there and became a volunteer firefighter with the Black Mountain FireDepartment.Eventually, he became acquaintedwith the Ridgecrest Conference Center and went to work there in charge ofSafety and Security.¿ Always a historybuff he soon became intrigued with the rich history of Ridgecrest.¿ As he learned more and delved more into thehistory, he began to collect pictures and stories.There had been several historieswritten about Ridgecrest usually marking an anniversary.¿ Since no one had stepped forward and the100th anniversary of Ridgecrest was approaching, he decided to put hismaterials together into a photo rich, up to date history of Ridgecrest.¿ After more than three years of work¿ 'TheMountain, The Man and the Dream', 'The story of the Ridgecrest ConferenceCenter' is the result.