Kelvin Jones hired as director of ministries for Blue Water Development
Blue Water Development, a real estate developer specializing in commercial and hospitality properties, has hired the Rev. Kelvin F. Jones as director of ministries. He is the organization's first official chaplain.
Jones is responsible for planning and directing all aspects of faith-based objectives, initiatives, and programming for the entire Blue Water organization, including The Resort at Massey's Landing; Sunset Beach Resort in Chesapeake, Va.; Chincoteague Island KOA, Virginia; Bethany Beach Ocean Suites; The Commander Hotel, Ocean City, Md.; and Fairfield Inn & Suites. The campground sites will offer weekly services, and both the campground and hotel properties plan to host Christian retreats.
Each campground will offer Christian-based worship services on Sunday mornings, and Bible study and discussions on various nights. Local clergy will come and offer Sunday services that are open to the public and will take place outdoors near the water unless there is inclement weather. Christian movies, family Bible games, fellowship fish fries and faith-based musical performances also will be scheduled.
"Just because you're spending time away from your home doesn't mean you need to spend time away from your faith. As we organize and grow our faith-based services, we hope to build a place, a community, where people will want to come and make sure that their faith is being nurtured," said Jones.
Since 1989, Jones has served as pastor of First Baptist Church Capeville in Cape Charles, Va. He also currently serves as first chaplain for Northampton County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, where he spent several years earlier in his career as deputy sheriff.
Jones' pastoral accomplishments include a 75 percent increase in church membership and attendance, implementation of weekly Bible study classes and midweek services, and the organization of a variety of ministry areas including youth, audio/video and substance abuse. He dedicates time to numerous boards and organizations, speaks and preaches at summits and gatherings, and has led opening prayers for multiple government branches and organizations. Jones earned his master of divinity degree from Virginia Union University's Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.
"We're encouraging worship in a family environment for those who are interested, because camping is a family event," said Jack H. Burbage, founder and CEO of Blue Water Development. "Rev. Jones has a deep love for his faith, family, and community, and that passion comes through in all of this planning for these three camping destinations. We're looking to show that worship time is valuable family and friendship time, and can be done in any setting. The services and activities that Rev. Jones is bringing to these properties further our goal of offering high-end resort amenities while providing down-home customer service."
For more information, go to www.bluewaterdevelopmentcorp.com.
