Figure Eight Island Church
Figure Eight Island Church invites residents and guests to join its services each Sunday morning at 8:30 am in the Yacht Club. Weekly services are held each Sunday and continue through the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Once again this year our managing minister will be Rev. Bob Haywood, who has been with us since 1996.
2022 Summer Schedule
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May 29, Rev. John R. Ragsdale
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June 5, Dr. Gary Chapman
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June 12, Rev. Bob Haywood
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June 19, Kristi Overton Johnson
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June 26, Rev. Bob Haywood
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July 3, Rt. Rev. Henry Nutt Parsley
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July 10, Rev. Bob Haywood
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July 17, Rev. Bob Haywood
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July 24, Dr. Alexander Sasha Tsutserov
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July 31, Rev. Dr. Christopher Edmonston
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August 7, Rev. Paul Johansson
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August 14, Rev. Steve Hein
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August 21, Rev. Bob Haywood
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August 28, The Very Rev. Milton C. Williams
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September 4, Rev. Bob Haywood
Read more about this season's guest speakers below.
All services will be a time for refreshments and fellowship afterward in the Lobby Lounge.
Rev. Robert W. Haywood III
Bob is a retired Presbyterian minister who has served Figure 8 Island Church since 1996. He has spent his career as Campus Minister at universities in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania. Most recently, he served as Campus Minister twenty-eight years at UNCW Wilmington. A lifelong sailor, he and wife Deborah love to travel. They have lived in Wilmington since 1980 and are blessed to have two of their four children, and two grandchildren living nearby.
Duke Ladd
Duke has provided music for Figure Eight Island Church for over 20 years. He is Wilmington's "go to" guy for solo piano music, jazz band entertainment, or ballroom dancing music for weddings, receptions, corporate or private events in the area. Duke has over 25 years of experience playing piano for wedding parties, festivals, corporate functions, birthday or anniversary parties, theatrical shows, major fundraising events, and just about every special occasion. http://dukeladdmusic.com/DukeBio.htm
Introducing our 2022 Guest Speakers
Rev. John R. Ragsdale, Guest Speaker
May 29, 2022
John Ragsdale grew up in Jamestown, North Carolina, and graduated from Woodberry Forest School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Business Administration. He worked in banking and business for fifteen years, then, responding to the call to ministry, he attended Columbia Theological Seminary for his master’s and earned his doctorate from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He served as pastor of several churches in northeast Florida and on the staff of the Presbytery of St. Augustine, retiring from full-time ministry in 2012. John and his wife, Sally, have two sons and live in Jacksonville, Florida.
Dr. Gary Chapman, Guest Speaker
June 5, 2022
Dr. Chapman is an American author, speaker, counselor and radio talk show host on over 400 stations. The 5 Love Languages is one of Chapman’s most popular titles, topping various bestseller charts for years, selling over twenty million copies and has been on the New York Times bestsellers list since 2007. He has recently retired from a position he held for fifty years as senior associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
Kristi Overton Johnson, Guest Speaker
June 19, 2022
In her thirty-five-year water ski career, Kristi Overton Johnson fell every day. Yet in the midst of her falls and failures, she became one of the most decorated women water skiers of all times, holding the world record in women’s slalom from 1992-2010 and accumulating over 80 professional world titles.
Her experiences as a professional athlete and her relationship with Jesus Christ taught Kristi the valuable truth that falls don’t prevent victory - on the water or in life. Instead, it’s how one respond to the falls and which power source one connects to that determine the outcome.
It is this message of perseverance, truth, and hope that Kristi has dedicated her life to sharing. Her message of second chances has been especially impacting within the prison system.
In 2013, God used a simple visit with an incarcerated friend to open Kristi’s eyes to the hopelessness of life behind bars and the need for imprisoned men and women to know the God of second chances.
Since them, Kristi and her ministry team have been committed to being a voice of hope to inmates across the United States through its Victorious Living magazine, Prison Correspondence Outreach, and on-site prison events.
Kristi married her best friend, Tim Johnson, in 1994. They have three children: Ty, Dalton, and Ivy. Tim and Kristi reside in Central Florida, home base to Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries and In His Wakes, both nonprofit ministries Kristi founded. Her family, Parker and Becky Overton, and brother Michael live in Greenville and enjoy their summers on Figure 8.
Kristi is the published author of Running the Course and Hit It! and is the publisher of Victorious Living magazine.
Rt. Rev. Henry Nutt Parsley, Guest Speaker
July 3, 2022
Henry served as Bishop of Alabama from 1996-2012 and previously as Rector of Christ Church in Charlotte for a decade. He was Chancellor of the University of the South, Sewanee from 2003-2009 and recently served as Bishop Provisional on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for two years.
With deep roots in the Wilmington community, Henry and his wife Becky are enjoying their retirement on Masonboro Sound with fishing, copious reading, and traveling. Their married son works with the Broadway show Hamilton.
Dr. Alexander Sasha Tsutserov, Guest Speaker
July 24, 2022
Before he was the president of Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary in Russia, Alexander “Sasha” Tsutserov was a KGB agent within the Soviet Union. The KGB was responsible for the destruction of thousands of church buildings and the deaths of even more Christian ministers and pastors. Sasha is now on a mission to replenish what was lost by raising up disciples and church-planters across Russia.
Join us on this very special morning and hear Sasha share his powerful testimony of how he came to know Christ, the impact it had on his family, his escape from the KGB and the subsequent planting of churches and a seminary in Russia. Read more about Sasha here.
There will be expanded fellowship time after the service to speak with Sasha personally.
Rev. Dr. Christopher Edmonston, Guest Speaker
July 31, 2022
Christopher began ministry at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in September of 2011. His primary responsibilities are preaching, teaching, pastoral care, membership development, staff development, and long term planning. Christopher has moderated Presbytery Committees, serves on the Montreat Retreat Association Board, and has served as the President of the Board of the Presbyterian Outlook. He is a contributor to Feasting on the Gospels and is a former member of the national strategy team and current member of the national advisory team for NEXT Church, a renewal movement within the Presbyterian Church (USA). He was recognized as a William Friday Fellow (2011-13). Christopher is a graduate of Davidson College, Union Presbyterian Seminary (Master of Divinity), and Columbia Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). A semi-frequent contributor to blogs and publications such as the Presbyterian Outlook and Duke Divinity School’s Faith and Leadership Blog, he has preached and taught all over the southeast, frequently leading church retreats and lending his voice to conferences.
Rev. Paul Johansson, Guest Speaker
August 7, 2022
Paul is a Lutheran Pastor and the son-in-law of Van and Kay Weatherspoon, long-time homeowners on the island. Paul and his wife Martha are blessed with two sons, a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. Paul grew up in East Africa as part of a missionary family and has served as a Pastor in Charlotte, NC, Hartford, CT, St. Cloud, MN and Elk River, MN.
Rev. Steve Hein, Guest Speaker
August 14, 2022
Steve, a retired Presbyterian minister, returns to lead this week's service. He most recently served at St. Andrew’s-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington.
Steve graduated from Pittsburgh theological seminary in 1975; served four churches in 40 years, last serving at St. Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church for 18 years retiring at the end of 2015. He received an honorary D. D. From the University of Malawi, Africa in June 2014.H He recently started a foundation to fund schools, farming, wells and health ministries in Zomba Malawi. His wife is Katherine and they have 3 children and 9 grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, and travel (especially with family).
The Very Rev. Milton C. Williams, Jr., Guest Speaker
August 28, 2022
The Very Rev. Milton C. Williams, Jr. is the rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Greensboro, NC. A native of Suffolk, Virginia, Father Williams earned a B.S. degree from Virginia State University in 1983, and his M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1996. He has served as a missionary in South Brazil and Fairbanks, Alaska. From 1988 to 1990 he taught at the University of South East Asia and Pui Ching Middle School in Macau, South East Asia.
Father Williams served as Associate Rector at the Historic Pohick Episcopal Church, one of the parishes of President George Washington, in Fairfax County, Virginia, from 1996 to 1999, and as Priest Associate for Pastoral Care and Outreach Ministries at Trinity Church, Wall Street, NY, from 1999 until 2006. From Trinity he headed south and served two parishes in Washington, D.C., St. Timothy's from 2006 to 2008 and as Rector of St. Monica and St. James, Capitol Hill, from 2008 to 2012. Following Washington, D.C., he served as Interim Rector at Church of the Ascension, Chicago and was later appointed by the Bishop of Chicago as the Interim Dean at St. James Cathedral, Chicago, from 2014 to 2015.
Currently, he serves on the board of directors of Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, Canterbury School, Greensboro, Bel Canto Company-Choral Society, Greensboro, and as a mentor for African-American boys at Page High School, Greensboro. Father Williams is the Dean of the Convocation of Episcopal churches in Greensboro and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Diocese of North Carolina. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Father Williams enjoys travel, the beach, hiking and music.
About Your Church
Our island church was founded in 1986 by residents in order to enjoy worship services during the summer while away from their home churches. Services are held each Sunday at 8:30 AM indoors at the Yacht Club. There is a time after each service for fellowship and refreshments. Services are interdenominational, brief and family-friendly. The dress is casual and all residents, guests and visitors are welcome.
This summer, services will begin on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and will continue through the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
Church Committee Members
Cliff Benson • Frannie DeWitt Browne • Jim Douglas • Leigh Edwards
Beth Howard • David Kellam • Yvonne Rayburn • Mike Smith • Jim Stone
Rev. Bob Haywood
Worship with us
Service: 8:30 - 9:15 am
Fellowship immediately following.