One of my absolute, very favorite moments of the year during my time in Murfreesboro happened every Easter Sunday at about 5:30 in the morning. Throughout Lent, a large cross stood on the lawn in front of the church, similar to the one we have out on Randolph Road. (Many thanks to Al Traver, Connie Carpenter, Sid Carpenter, and Rocky Cannon for making that happen this year!) For most of the season, the cross would be draped in purple. On Good Friday, the color changed to black, a somber sign to the world that Jesus was dead and buried, crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.
But then, early on Sunday—while it was still dark, no cars on Main Street, no lights on in any of the homes between my house and the church, everything so still and strangely quiet in that just-before-dawn sort of way—I got to go take the black drape off that cross and replace it with a white one. I always felt like I was the first person in town to find out that Jesus—who was dead and buried—had now been raised to new life by the power of God. Nobody else had heard the news yet because they were all still in bed. I was the only one who knew.
Man, I treasured those moments there before sunrise, standing in the cool, dewy grass, jacket zipped up against the early morning chill, alone with the good news that Jesus is alive. I always imagined this was—on a much smaller, less dramatic scale—something akin to what it must’ve felt like to be at the tomb before dawn, with those faithful women who’d come to honor Jesus, only to discover that the one they were looking for had been resurrected and was on his way to Galilee. In those frantic minutes between hearing this good news at the empty tomb and sharing this good news with the disciples back in town, these women were indeed the only people in the world who knew that Jesus was alive.
Chances are, you’ll run into people on Monday, April 17, who’ll have no idea that Jesus is alive. Maybe they’ll see our cross out on Randolph Road as they drive by going to work, but they’ll have no idea what that white drape signifies. They’ll have no idea what resurrection even means, much less how resurrection might possibly apply to their own lives. Hopefully, when these folks ask you what you did over the weekend, you’ll have something to say, because the good news
of resurrection really isn’t just for those of us who got there early.
About author
Dr. Christopher “Lee” Canipe was born in Winston-Salem, NC and attended Davidson College where he graduated with honors in History. After earning master’s degrees in History at the University of Virginia and Counseling at Wake Forest University, he felt a calling to the ministry. He pursued his theological education at Duke University where he graduated with his Master of Divinity, summa cum laude. At Duke, he earned the Interpretation Award for Excellence in Biblical and Theological Study.
While working on his degree he also served as youth minister at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham. After graduation, he worked as a pastoral assistant at First Baptist Church of Savannah, GA. From there he spent a year as a Global Service Corps missionary to Russia. Upon his return to the States, Lee continued his theological education at Baylor University where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies.
Most recently, Lee was awarded an Oxford Foundation Fellowship for independent postdoctoral study at Oxford University in Great Britain. Upon graduation, Lee and his wife Hilary, a primary care physician, were called to serve Murfreesboro Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC as senior pastor. Here he has faithfully served for the last 12 years. During his time in Murfreesboro, Lee has led his congregation in a strategic reflection process, two capital campaigns, greater community involvement through service partnerships and other events, and the development of an international missions relationship with a French-Canadian Baptist Church in Quebec.
Lee has also been an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Chowan University for the last 10 years. He has authored two books, “Loyal Dissenters; Reading Scripture and Talking Freedom with the Early English Baptists,” and “A Baptist Democracy: Separating God and Caesar in the Land of the Free,” as well as numerous journal articles and book reviews. He has also written Sunday School and Bible Study materials for Smyth & Helwys.
Lee has been an important part of the Baptist community and his local community. He has strong ties to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as he served on its Coordinating Council for several years. Lee has also served on the board of Ridgecroft School (Ahoskie, NC), and the Board of Ministers at Chowan University and Campbell University. Lee has been an active volunteer in his community through his involvement with Rotary International as well as coaching numerous athletic teams. His contributions to the community have been recognized through several different awards: Rotarian of the Year, the Chowan Athletics Service Award, and the Sammy Doughtie Community Service Award (given by the Chamber of Commerce).
Lee and Hilary have three children: Helen (14), Watson (12), and Peter (9). His interests include running, travel, reading (especially American history), and college basketball.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, History (Honors) – Davidson College
Master of Arts, History – University of Virginia
Master of Arts in Education, (Counseling) – Wake Forest University
Master of Divinity (summa cum laude) – Duke University
Doctor of Philosophy – Baylor University
