Many years ago, as a college student on a Kentucky mission trip, Bill Cox stepped up to fill some big shoes. One of the highlights of the trip every year was a special-effects chalk drawing, but when the minister of education was called away from the trip due to a death in the family, Cox couldn’t bear the thought of letting everyone down. He stayed up all night so that he could prepare to do the drawing himself. Things have never been the same.
Bill and Kathy Cox, who founded Concoxions 30 years ago, sing at a recent event. Thousands of young people – through Seesalt, Chillipepper and other gatherings – have been reached with the gospel message through their creative-arts ministry.Cox and his wife Kathy eventually formed a Spartanburg-based ministry they dubbed “Concoxions,” and are now celebrating their 30th anniversary. Traveling to do chalk drawings for churches and other Christian groups continues to be a big part of their ministry. These high-tech productions are part music, part message and part drama, with chalk drawings done with colored pastels and fluorescent chalk. Several types of black lights and special effects enhance the drawings and seems to bring them to life. Cox said there is so much technology involved that it takes four to five hours to set up for a show. He said one of the biggest changes over the years has been the evolution of technology used in the productions.
“With 30 years of ministry, we’ve been able to see the long-term effects of what God has allowed us to be a part of,” Cox said. “We see amazing things happen week after week at our conferences and as we minister at various places, but I’ve never been interested in just making a big splash so much as making a lasting difference.”
Another branch of the Concoxions ministry is training youth leaders and holding youth conferences. Seesalt summer conference is six weeks at Myrtle Beach, and Chillipepper is a weekend in Pigeon Forge. Cox said these conferences have life-changing effects for many young people.
“At Chillipepper this year, an adult leader handed me his cell phone to talk with one of his former youth, who had called to tell me that he had made a commitment to foreign missions six years ago at Chillipepper. He was calling from a very dangerous foreign country where he was just starting a new mission,” he said. “That meant just as much to me as seeing hundreds of students respond to the invitation later that night. I remember standing there on stage and privately praying that I might get phone calls from some of them in six years or so.”
Cox said these kinds of experiences remind him how thankful he is for the opportunity to impact so many lives.
Bill Cox“I hear from a lot of our current and past students through Facebook. It’s great to get quite a few messages along the lines of, ‘You probably don’t remember me, but you led me to Christ at your camp 15 years ago -‘ ” Cox said. “I’m not naive enough to think that everyone we’ve encountered over the years is doing great in their walk with the Lord, but it’s greatly encouraging to see and hear from so many who are. That helps keep us going.”
Concoxions had been running Cornerstone Theatre in Lyman for eight years, but recently had to discontinue the program for economy-related reasons. They hope one day to do theater productions again.
Concoxions has been a family affair since the early days. “Our first child, Christopher, was born just a couple of days before training camp began when we were doing Centrifuge youth camp at North Greenville College. We went straight from the hospital to Centrifuge, where he spent the first 11 weeks of his life before spending even a single night at home,” Cox said.
Christopher, now a Concoxions assistant director, and his wife are expecting their first child (a son) who is due right in the middle of Seesalt training. They plan to get to the training as soon as possible.
“History may be repeating itself,” Cox said. “I see a very strong possibility that (Christopher) may take it and continue to run with it for another 30 years.”
Not to be left out, daughter Shari, a junior at Furman University, is on Seesalt staff and plays an active role in many other areas of the ministry. Youngest son Taylor is now on staff at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, working in video production and graphic design.
“(Concoxions) is a very unique ministry. I feel this is what we were called to do,” Cox said. “I’m thankful that after 30 years we’re still excited about what we’re doing.”
For more information about Concoxions, visit www.concoxions.com.