Jewells of Thought

Writing Prompt:

Both sides of my family were faithful to church families. They had loving and strong communities at Bethel and Pleasantville Methodist Church when I was born. I have literally spent a lifetime in the Methodist Church because of my ties to the Pleasantville Church. Yet it never crossed my mind ever to make it my church because as a teenager I learned the staples of Baptist Life.

It was reinforced during my college years when I was a Freshman at Oakland City University and got to listen to Dr. Barber. He was the Professor I had for Baptist Life, a general education class and I enjoyed hum. Later on I would work in his office of the Presidential Suite my junior and senior years. We have the same birthday and got to have two celebrations that day, but I got a Happy Birthday from my College President and his staff. Moments I still cherish.

Then in the years after my Grandpa Leo’s death a new preacher was sought after at Pleasantville. It was a bit of a gamble for them because he ended up being a Baptist. Between Reverend Gould and for a brief time another Baptist preacher would fill in Reverend Adams. Now twenty years later another minister is preaching, he’s a younger Baptist that I have a few things in common with.

We share Great-Grandparents, my Great Aunt was his Grandma and his Great Uncle was my family’s Patriarch, and my Grandpa. Our Great Grandma Mary Harbin Bishop came to this church usually without her husband, Bill. Yet generations later here we are Abram and I both heard a calling to come to our family church all these years later after his Grandma’s death and my Grandpa’s. So I guess we are part Fellowship Baptist and part Pleasantville Community. I had never seen this happening to me until Aunt Carol’s death. The church that has always been in my life is now where I attend on Sunday mornings officially for the past 2 years.

Funny how God opens your eyes at different seasons of life.