MINE HAS BEEN A JOURNEY OF 50 YEARS (1971-2021). IT BEGAN WITH A LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN, LIVING CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE AT HERNANDO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN MARCH OF '71. MY LIFE WITHIN AND WITHOUT BEGAN TO CHANGE, ALTERING THE WAY I PERCEIVED MY CAREER AT UNION PLANTERS BANK IN MEMPHIS AND THE WAY I THOUGHT/SPOKE AND RESPONDED TO PEOPLE AROUND ME.
BY THE SPRING OF 1973, I WAS PRETTY SURE THAT GOD WAS CALLING ME TO LEAVE THE BANK AND PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AS A PASTOR. AT THAT POINT THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE AREA CONTACTED ME AND ASKED ME TO BE A WEEKEND PASTOR TO FOUR SMALL CHURCHES OUT FROM SENATOBIA/COMO. THAT YEAR WOULD PROVIDE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER CONFIRM GOD'S PLAN FOR MY LIFE, SO I ACCEPTED THE APPOINTMENT TO THE COMO PARISH AND CONTINUED MY CAREER AT THE BANK FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
THAT BEGAN 32 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, INVOLVING 7 APPOINTMENTS AND INCLUDING 15 DIFFERENT CHURCH CONGREGATIONS. FOLLOWING ARE PICTURES OF MOST OF THE CHURCH BUILDINGS AND PARSONAGES. GOOGLE EARTH HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF MOST PICS, BUT I COULD NOT LOCATE DUNDEE OF THE LULA/DUNDEE/FRIARS POINT CHARGE. THE SHOTS OF PROSPECT, FREE SPRINGS AND FAITH ARE FROM THE AIR.
EVERY SINGLE PICTURE PROVIDES MEMORIES THAT BRING A SMILE TO MY FACE AND/OR TEARS TO MY EYES BECAUSE EVERY COMMUNITY/CHURCH WAS SPECIAL... POPULATED WITH SOME OF GOD'S VERY BEST FOLKS.
BUT, MOST ESPECIALLY, THESE PICS HELP ME REMEMBER SEASONS IN THE LIVES OF MY SONS WHO HAD THE CHALLENGE OF GROWING UP 'PREACHER'S KIDS'. |
