{"id":2749,"date":"2024-10-02T15:17:12","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T15:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/?p=2749"},"modified":"2024-10-02T15:17:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T15:17:14","slug":"jay-scribner-friend-of-core","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/2024\/10\/02\/jay-scribner-friend-of-core\/","title":{"rendered":"Jay Scribner: Friend of CORE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jay Scribner: Friend of CORE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since our inception, CORE has been fortunate to receive the invaluable support and guidance of many esteemed business and civic leaders from the Tri-Lakes area. While we typically refrain from name-dropping, when one of our most respected community leaders agrees to sit down for an interview, we can’t help but proudly share:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Meet Jay Scribner! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jay and his wife, Kay, have been integral members of the Branson community since 1977. For twenty-eight years, Jay faithfully served as a pastor of First Baptist Church, and his subsequent retirement hasn\u2019t slowed him down in the slightest. He has continued his ministry work with the same passion and dedication\u2014and that includes his significant contributions to CORE! We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jay to discuss his impactful role in our program and to hear his thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Illinois, Jay received his degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University<\/em> and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary<\/em>. His early work in Fort Worth\u2019s inner city equipped him with the skills and vision to grow Branson\u2019s First Baptist Church from a small congregation into one of Branson\u2019s largest churches. \u201cGod really gave us His favor, and we’re thankful for that<\/em>,\u201d Jay says. \u201cWe began to grow, minister to people, lead them to Christ, and watch them grow spiritually. Eventually, we outgrew our facilities and relocated to where we are now<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Jay officially retired from his duties at FBC more than a decade ago, his ministry is far from over. As he puts it, “My motivation is to help people. And especially to help them find Jesus Christ. It doesn\u2019t matter who they are or what their circumstances are<\/em>.” His passion drives him in remarkable ways. Beyond his guest appearances and preaching engagements, Jay\u2019s opportunities to share the Gospel arise just about everywhere, as if by divine appointment.  Even a chance encounter at the grocery store or a brief conversation at the gas station might evolve into a meaningful ministering opportunity for him that lasts for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without doubt, Jay\u2019s ministry is no longer confined to the walls of a single church\u2014his flock has expanded to encompass the entire Tri-Lakes area. Wherever he goes, whether in the community or on the road, Jay finds ways to teach, guide, and minister. His reach is as broad as his heart for serving others, and his impact on those around him is positive and meaningful.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jay\u2019s contact with CORE goes back almost to the beginning, when our organization was still just a startup mission.  His good nature, candor, and wit, inspire the confidence and trust of everyone he meets. Jay\u2019s reputation as a widely respected pastor also leads CORE clients to view him as a figure of moral authority.  They see him dispense wisdom and learning impartially and credibly. Thus, even now, when clients succeed by following his counsel, they actually go out of their way to let him know, seeking validation and approval from him as a mentor and spiritual leader.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a “normie” who volunteers without obligation, Jay’s presence alone at CORE shows genuine care.  Whether preaching at our church services, teaching our spirituality classes, or simply attending one of our calendared events, over the course of three decades Jay has been a dear and trusted friend of our organization.  We at CORE are humbled and grateful for his interest in our well-being.  And curious, too!  So we asked Jay why he freely devotes so much of his time and effort on us.  His response was both insightful and heartfelt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, Jay is deeply moved by CORE\u2019s track record of success in helping people recover from substance abuse. He states, \u201cAnywhere you slice this program, CORE is faith-based 100%, unapologetically. I see the success of it. You\u2019re genuinely helping people. You meet them at the point of their need. And you’re not giving them a handout; you’re giving them a hand up<\/em>.\u201d His belief in the transformative power of faith is central to why he remains committed. He sees firsthand how lives are changed, not just temporarily, but in ways that offer lasting recovery and hope. For Jay, this makes CORE stand out\u2014it\u2019s not just about addressing addiction but also about helping our clients reclaim their spiritual bearings and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Second, Jay recognizes that the unique qualities of our clients create an environment ripe for mentoring and teaching. \u201cThe crowd from CORE isn’t necessarily your normal church crowd<\/em>,\u201d he explains. \u201cThey are not pretentious. They don\u2019t pretend. What you see is what you get. They know who they are, where they are, and why they\u2019re here. And I just love that about CORE. There’s no pretense. I can get right down to the nitty gritty pretty quickly<\/em>.\u201d Jay appreciates the authenticity of people who come through our program, recognizing that their openness and self-awareness allow for deeper, more meaningful engagement. This level of raw honesty and self-recognition fuels his passion for clients who are sincerely seeking help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, Jay\u2019s connection with CORE extends to the staff, which, as he puts it, thrills him just as much as it does us. He\u2019s built a strong rapport with our CEO Cary McKee and the rest of the leadership team, and his appreciation is evident. \u201cI became acquainted with Cary and really appreciated his leadership, his administrative abilities, and especially his vision. The more I\u2019m around the leadership, the more I\u2019m phenomenally impressed that everyone on your staff has been through the program. Those who serve in CORE are those who have been served. It gives the leadership a leg up that is astounding, in my opinion<\/em>.\u201d This element of shared experience, where leaders have personally walked the path to recovery, resonates deeply with Jay. It\u2019s this sense of empathy and lived experience that he believes gives CORE its unique strength and effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also asked Jay how he sees CORE evolving going forward.  He indicated that changes might be made when they are indicated, but that the most important thing is for CORE to remain true to our values as a faith-based recovery program and to stay on task.  By way of illustration, Jay cited the Christian church today and told us a parable about he and his wife taking a jon boat out on Table Rock Lake.  One hundred yards out from the dock, his wife asks \u201cDid you remember to put the plug in the boat<\/em>?\u201d  To which Jay answers, \u201cI wish you would have asked me that about one-hundred yards back<\/em>.\u201d  The practical lesson is evident: boat in the water is okay; water in the boat is not.  The spiritual lesson is profound: \u201cThe church in the world is fine; the world in the church is not<\/em>.\u201d  CORE, likewise, must remain true to our faith-based values.  We should avoid any outside pressures to change what we already know works and have confidence in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As our interview concluded, Jay shared a Bible verse that he feels encapsulates the essence of our program: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here<\/em>.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. We think his choice of scripture beautifully reflects CORE’s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jay\u2019s long-standing commitment to CORE and his unwavering dedication to our community are truly inspiring. His passion for helping others, his authenticity, and his profound faith continue to leave a lasting impact on everyone he encounters. We at CORE are deeply grateful for his wisdom, guidance, and friendship, and we are fortunate to count him as one of our most trusted supporters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jay Scribner: Friend of CORE Since our inception, CORE has been fortunate to receive the invaluable support and guidance of many esteemed business and civic leaders from the Tri-Lakes area. While we typically refrain from name-dropping, when one of our most respected community leaders agrees to sit down for an interview, we can’t help but…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2749\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/core-usa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}