I was contacted this week by some members of my home church, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary, they wanted to be sure we were invited. Now, it just so happens that I am preaching a revival somewhere else that Sunday and we cannot attend. However, it got me to thinking about the church and its legacy.
That church was where Mrs. Sunderland taught my Sunday School class as a young boy. In my mind's eye, I can still see the picture she used to tell the story of the crucifixion of Christ to a room full of wiggling youngsters. I can remember hearing the pastor, Brother Vic, preach the gospel, and how I was convicted of my sin and my need of a Savior. It was there I was saved, baptized, called to preach, later rebelled and learned about God's patience and longsuffering.
I have fond memories of men in that church who made an impact on me, and probably never knew it. Men like R. L. Hackworth. I recall his testimony; because of alcoholism earlier in life, he had been left with a stutter, and therefore couldn't join in singing the hymns.... so he whistled them. Brother Hack, a special, white-haired, gentle soul who knew how to love people. Other men like Benny, Lou, Leo, Lee, John, and Bob, who left an impression that helped to shape my life as a minister of the Gospel. Thank you, Brother Floyd Oldham, for you were the one who invited us to attend your church so long ago.
I will never forget a youth evangelist telling us to pray for our future spouse and wait for that special person. This teenage boy did just that, and one night in a dream God showed me a beautiful girl in a wedding dress, walking down a church aisle toward me. Five years later, in that church where I grew up, that same girl walked in! Three months later, we were married.
Sinclair Baptist Church has left me with a legacy. I am grateful that folks there shared Christ, showed love, and accepted a freckle-faced kid with a cowlick and a loud voice. They helped me become who I am. What kind of legacy are you and I leaving to others, through our life, our family, and through our church?
That church was where Mrs. Sunderland taught my Sunday School class as a young boy. In my mind's eye, I can still see the picture she used to tell the story of the crucifixion of Christ to a room full of wiggling youngsters. I can remember hearing the pastor, Brother Vic, preach the gospel, and how I was convicted of my sin and my need of a Savior. It was there I was saved, baptized, called to preach, later rebelled and learned about God's patience and longsuffering.
I have fond memories of men in that church who made an impact on me, and probably never knew it. Men like R. L. Hackworth. I recall his testimony; because of alcoholism earlier in life, he had been left with a stutter, and therefore couldn't join in singing the hymns.... so he whistled them. Brother Hack, a special, white-haired, gentle soul who knew how to love people. Other men like Benny, Lou, Leo, Lee, John, and Bob, who left an impression that helped to shape my life as a minister of the Gospel. Thank you, Brother Floyd Oldham, for you were the one who invited us to attend your church so long ago.
I will never forget a youth evangelist telling us to pray for our future spouse and wait for that special person. This teenage boy did just that, and one night in a dream God showed me a beautiful girl in a wedding dress, walking down a church aisle toward me. Five years later, in that church where I grew up, that same girl walked in! Three months later, we were married.
Sinclair Baptist Church has left me with a legacy. I am grateful that folks there shared Christ, showed love, and accepted a freckle-faced kid with a cowlick and a loud voice. They helped me become who I am. What kind of legacy are you and I leaving to others, through our life, our family, and through our church?
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