Rand Hummel

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Dr. James Rand Hummel (born September 18, 1956) is an American author, preacher, and camp administrator. He has worked for many years at The Wilds Christian Camp/Conference Center in Brevard, North Carolina.

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[edit] Biography

Rand Hummel was raised in Orangeville, Pennsylvania and became a Christian at the age of 6. He came from a broken family and for many years lived with his Grandparents. Despite growing up with a lot of anger problems, Rand continued to attend church. Although not a fundamentalist at first, he became unimpressed with what he perceived as a casual attitude toward God among many Christians. This led him to fundamentalism, and eventually, Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

Rand received his B.A. from Bob Jones in 1978. Immediately after graduation, he went to work at The Wilds, a Christian camp in Brevard, North Carolina specializing in teen ministry. He was the Program Director there for 25 years. Describing his work, he said "a lot of my job is simply the teens. I preach to them, counsel them, hang out with them, run the games... We actually have the best job on the campsite." Every summer Rand speaks to around 15,000 teenagers who come to the Wilds. He later became the Assistant Director, and in 2007 was appointed Director of The Wilds of New England.

Maintaining a busy itinerary throughout the year, Rand preaches about 350 times annually. He has also written several books and Bible study guides. Much of his speaking and writing focuses on evangelism, the knowledge of God through personal daily devotions, and moral purity.

He has also been part of the BJU Seminary's adjunct faculty since 1999. He received an honorary doctorate from the school in 2004.

Rand and his wife Amber have had two miscarriages and one stillborn. He said that these experiences drew them closer to God. The Hummels also have two grown children. Their son is currently a music pastor at Farmington Avenue Baptist Church in West Hartford, Connecticut.

[edit] Quotes

  • "Why do we throw a pair of Levi’s on Christ and bring Him down to our level? He’s a holy God."
  • "People say, 'What’s the difference – 25 years ago and now?' Easy – sin is not sinful any more. And nothing is that bad. So we need to help them to understand the seriousness and the wickedness of our sin, and see it through the eyes of God."
  • "God wants the best for my life." (Common sermon theme, often having the audience repeat it with him)
  • "When you put your stick in the fire, you don’t get a big ‘S’ on your shirt or your blouse and you’re a super-Christian and never sin again because you will sin again. This just simply means that I’ve committed my life to the Lord, and it’s a testimony of what God has already done in my heart.” (Said at the Friday campfire service during the summer camp program; in lieu of testimonies, campers are encouraged to throw a stick into the campfire to symbolize submission to God.)

[edit] Books

  • Five Smooth Stones (Volume 1). The Wilds. (1997)
  • James: A Guidebook to Spiritual Maturity. The Wilds. (2000)
  • In Their Sandals. Positive Action for Christ. (2001). ISBN 1929784570
  • Joseph: A Man with Character. The Wilds. (2003)
  • Jonah's Magnificent God. The Wilds. (2004)
  • The Dark Side of the Internet. BJU Press. (2004). ISBN 1591663059
  • Colossians, Jesus Christ: The Visible Icon of the Invisible God. The Wilds. (2005)
  • Lest You Fall: Meditations to Fight Moral Impurity. BJU Press. (2005). ISBN 1591664659
  • God & I Time Treasures (Volume 2). The Wilds. (2006).
  • Titus: Living a God-Centered Life in a Self-Centered World. The Wilds.
  • Turn Away Wrath: Meditations to Control Anger & Bitterness. ISBN 1591667348

[edit] External links

[edit] References