I was in my first pastorate after seminary. Emmanuel Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi, was struggling to find its identity. Made up primarily, I was told, of people who had joined from other churches, and thus a weak fellowship unsure of themselves and of their purpose for existing.
In time this was to become the sweetest of any of the six churches I pastored. And it all happened because two teenage girls were faithful.
Debbie and Becky. Two champions for the Lord.
Debbie is married to Charlie and they’ve lived in Vicksburg, MS for all their adult lives. Serving God faithfully.
Becky is married to Larry, a pastor, and they’ve served churches in Texas all their adult lives.
They are something special.
The time was the late 1960’s. I pastored Emmanuel from November 1967 through December 1970. Only three years and two months. But a lot can happen in three years. Ask our Lord and His disciples.
There was no unity or cohesion in the church. The Sunday I preached “in view of a call” (that is the term we Baptists employ) I told a joke. Consequently, twenty-five people voted against me. The chairman of the search committee gently rebuked me for such foolishness from the pulpit. And next Sunday, when he called me in Louisiana to announce the vote, I turned it down. I said, “Well, I think that’s too many people against me.”
Mr. Bryant said, “Preacher, ask the Lord. Then do whatever He tells you to do.” It was good advice. When I asked, within five minutes of praying, I knew we were going to Greenville.
Gossip raged throughout the congregation. People were unhappy with themselves, with God, with me. So, sometime in my first year there, I felt we should have a revival meeting.
That day a flyer came in the mail from Evangelist Don Womack of Memphis. I’d never heard of the fellow but decided the Lord must mean for us to invite him for a revival. I would have to learn the hard way not to be presumptuous.
He came in with a motor home which they plugged up at the church. We did the revival Sunday through Sunday. The attendance grew less and less all week. We had one kid saved Wednesday night. I complained to Mr. Bryant, now the chairman of deacons.
“Where are our people? They’re not supporting the revival.”
He said, “Preacher, the man can’t preach!”
I said, “I know that. But other than that, where are the people?” I smile, but that is the exact conversation.