The recent 135th anniversary celebration at First Baptist Church of Ashland, my hometown church, seemed like a taste of heaven to me.
The occasion also marked the 25th anniversary of moving into the current church building. Bruce Willis is pastor.
A good number of former staff members were present, including former pastors Eugene Hutchens (1956-1962), now in Tuscumbia; Kenneth Henson (1969-1974), Wagarville; Robert Brown (1975-1976), state director of missions for Indiana Baptists; and Jack Drinkwater (1977-1984), Clanton. Each expressed thanks for the support they received and for lasting friendships. Mrs. Frances Parker of Bunnell, Fla., widow of Pastor Webb Brooks (1951-1955), was also present and spoke warmly to the congregation.
Although all former staff members were welcomed at the celebration, the congregation’s strongest show of appreciation went to someone who never went away. Ashland native Sadie Thompson has long been involved with the church’s music program — directing choirs, singing in the choir, and playing the piano or organ. Sadie also taught in local schools. She is very considerate and has a great sense of humor.
Former interim minister of music Buster Taylor led the music for the special occasion. Baptists across the state now know him as director of Shocco Springs Conference Center.
It was great to see longtime members as well as descendants of those who have gone to be with the Lord.
Brother Hutchens said it was the first time he had attended a worship service in Ashland since he left in 1962. I sat in front of him and his wife, Betty, during the service and enjoyed hearing her lovely singing voice again.
The program was lengthy but well worth the time. The talking was interspersed with quite a bit of singing. Before the last part of the program, I had already been thinking the occasion was like a -little taste of heaven.
Then all former staff members were asked to sit on the first pew, and Messiah’s Messengers, a youth group from the church, gave a dramatic presentation. Dressed in white robes, they asked the former staff members to stand as the group dramatized for them the song “Thank You for Giving to the Lord.”
The dramatists represented people in heaven thanking the former staff members for their friendship and witness that influenced them to accept Jesus as their Savior, thus helping make it possible for them to be in heaven. Were there tears of joy? Yes, there were plenty of them.
A review of the church’s pictorial directory from 1990 reminded me of the many people — especially in my parents’ generation — who have gone on to heaven in the past 10 years. It is unlikely that any from that generation will be in attendance 15 years from now, when the next “big” date, the church’s 150th anniversary, is celebrated.
When you hear that a beloved former church is going to have a special anniversary celebration, be sure to go if you possibly can. Don’t just wait for the “big-number,” every-25-years kind of celebration.
If you missed a special occasion at a former church, do the next best thing: Take a day off from your current church duties to go visit and worship with that former congregation. You’ll be glad you did.
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