A recent chili dinner held at Westville Christian Church in Mathews not only satisfied the palates of those attending but made it possible for Rev. Tim Dice, the church minister, to attend "X-treme Faith Bold Action: A Gathering of Disciples Men 2012" to be held in July at Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia.

David Freeman, president of Westville Church Disciples Men and a member of the planning committee of the gathering, wanted to make sure Tim Dice could attend. He had to figure out how to raise some money. "As chairman, I decided to hold a chili dinner. And the members of the church truly responded. We had six different types of chili, eight gallons total, cornbread and many, many desserts, all homemade."

Those making the various pots of chili besides the chairman, including a vegetarian chili, were Fido Stephens, Sue Freeman, Bobby Todd, Barbara Nelson and daughter Karyn Austin, Spencer Hodges and Gary Edmondson.

Freeman’s idea proved quite successful. "We had 63 people to attend, netting us what we needed for his trip with a little pocket change left over."

When the evening was closing and all appetites had been sated, the Disciples Men had made arrangements for whatever was left over to be taken home, at no cost, and enjoyed later. Large plastic cups with covers were available for the chili lovers.

During this three-day gathering at Bethany College more than 400 men from across the United States and Canada will be working on improving and restoring an area leading to the Campbell Mansion. This was the home of Alexander Campbell, founder of the college, and a founder of the Disciples of Christ (Christian) denomination.

The home was built in four stages between 1795 and 1840 and its guests have included Jefferson Davis, James A. Garfield and Judge Jeremiah Black, U. S. attorney general under President James Buchanan.