Twenty-Two Years Of Service
Twenty-two years ago, I began my work with the Oneonta Church, by directing the singing in an October meeting in which E. H. Ijams did the preaching. I have preached once a month, and for many, many years two Lord's days a month there since that meeting. Also I have made as many as six to seven visits every month from my home, 45 miles distant, to teach Bible classes, deliver regular talks to the high school and elementary student bodies, preach funerals, etc.
During those twenty-two years we have lived in our own home in Jefferson County, 23 miles from Birmingham, Highway 78 West. I have preached for four other congregations during this time, but several years ago reduced to two churches, Oneonta and Sayre (where we live). All these congregations had old, inadequate housing 22 years ago. Now they all have good buildings; all brick but one. Wife and I have taught from 2 to 4 Bible classes weekly all this time in these church houses, school houses, and borrowed denominational buildings.
Now I have resigned from Oneonta work, and will, if God wills, give full time to the work with, and in the area, the Sayre Church. As we give all of our time to the work of Christ in this place, we ask for your prayers. Brother Raymond Shackleford will begin work with Oneonta the first of December, and I start my twenty-third year at Sayre. I shall continue to accept the many invitations to speak to the nearby school chapel assemblies. After so long in one place, I recommend to preachers that they find a place that needs them and stay there. Seeing and working with fathers and mothers who were boys and girls when you first knew them, and rejoicing with them in their service and happiness as Christians, will be ample compensation.