Post by pannt51 on Oct 10, 2011 12:57:21 GMT -5
REVERENT EARL
By: Patricia A. Turner
I can clearly remember the first day that the Reverent Earl came to our fair little community located along the banks of a creek in this old, rundown coal camp which had seen its better days. Long gone were the coal mines which at one time had brought much prosperity to this corner of our county.
Slowly, as the mines had played out and the tipple had been torn down, the people had started moving away to seek work and a better life in other places until all that was left of this once booming little town was a skeleton of its once thriving self.
Among those who had elected to stay put in that coal camp had been my own family, although why papa chose to stay was well beyond me at the tender age of twelve. But stay he did, along with a few other families scattered about the hillsides and the actual camp which were separated by the creek.
Also gone was the company store where everyone in the camp bought what they needed, whether it be with cash money or on store credit, leaving everyone to have to travel to the next town down the road to shop. But the one thing that never left the camp was the little white Community Church where the residents would gather on Sundays to worship and share fellowship.
Over the years that little white church had seen pastors come and pastors go as the Lord lead them. But I can recall one particular time when the little church had gone without a pastor for many months, leaving a lot of the folks to suggest that we just shut the doors of the church and join the one just down the road where there was a larger congregation.
However, being the stubborn man papa was, he steadfastly refused to close the doors of the church and stood fast on his belief that the Lord would provide us with a much needed pastor in His own time. As time marched on and no pastor stepped forward I was beginning to wonder if papa was right in holding out with what seemed a hopeless situation.
Then, on a dreary damp Autumn day the Reverent T.L. Earl arrived. Going to meet the new pastor since he had been corresponding with the minister by mail for at least two weeks, papa was certain that his prayers had been answered. However, that had quickly been called into question just as soon as the church board learned the Rev. Earl was a lady preacher.
“Why who had ever heard of such a ridiculous thing as woman pasturing a church” most of the board members grumbled, quite against having someone of the female gender to be head of the church.
However, my papa being the man of persuasion that he was, he finally talked everyone into giving the woman a chance. “After all, no man had applied for the job so maybe the Good Lord was telling them it was time for a chance” he had argued.
After much grumbling and complaining the others had finally given in and the Reverent Tomi Earl was formally accepted as Pastor of that little white church. So when Sunday arrived, my family and I eagerly got ready and headed out to the meeting place to see what kind of Pastor the Lord had saw fit to send to us.
“Sure hope that she’s good at preachin’” papa declared as we crowded into our old rattle trap of a car. “If’n she’s not then I reckon I’m up the creek without a paddle” I had overheard him telling mama.
“Now Eli” mama had scolded in that gentle voice that could persuade papa to do about anything mama desired. After all, pleasing mama and me seemed to be papa’s mission in life. “If’n she can preach or if’n she can’t ain’t your problem. You are only doing what the Good Lord directed you to do.”
“I reckon you be right about that, Molley” papa agreed with a sigh. “Just the same, them there folks are goin’ to blame me no matter what.”
Poor papa! To be caught between a rock and a hard place just wasn’t a good state to be in.
Heading off to church not knowing what to expect we arrived to find the church house packed. “Look papa” I had cried with childish enthusiasm. “Everybodys come. Ain’t it wonderful.”
“Child, I’m a’feared that it’s not so wonderful” papa had replied with a frown. “Most of them there folks are here for the same reason they go to the circus. They just be curious as to what’s goin’ on.”
Sadly papa’s prediction proved to be right. As the dear woman of God preached a hell-fire and brimstone message so hot that most folks were squirming in their seats, a ripple went through out the church house. While some liked her style, others deemed it to harsh to fall on such delicate ears as those of the young ones in the crowd.
Just as soon as services was over everyone, except mama, papa, and me rushed outside without benefit of saying a single word to Pastor Earl. Embarrassed for the woman, papa was also angry. What had gotten into the good folks who had always been so open and friendly with new arrivals?
So the stage had been set for what was to follow for weeks to come as most of the folks in our little camp scattered about, attending church in other places. Then one night, months after she had came to the camp, a devastating flood struck our little community, shattering lives and peace of mind.
Despite the harsh treatment she had received at the hands of the people, Pastor Earl had been the first to step forward to help. With mop and broom in hand she had gone from home to home to lend a helping hand while spending her own money to buy food so that the folks could eat.
Working for days on end without complaint even though she was exhausted and to the point of collapse, Pastor Earl said not a word of criticism about the way she had been treated since her arrival in the camp. Instead, she had treated all with compassion and love while quietly showing all what a true Christian and Pastor was truly like. Showing by example a life guided by the Almighty, it didn’t take long for the woman pastor to set consciences ablaze with guilt.
Needless to say, it wasn’t long afterwards that people started showing up for church in the camp again. One by one each of them went to the Pastor to apologize for their part in the mutiny of spiritual leadership. Setting things right with both, her and the Almighty, the people rallied around Pastor Earl as she blazed a trail for other women to follow the calling of God as our little church there in the coal camp became a lighthouse for all seeking direction in their lives.
Direction which was gently guided by Pastor Earl at the dictate of the Lord, who had truly proved that the Lord does indeed move in mysterious ways.
By: Patricia A. Turner
I can clearly remember the first day that the Reverent Earl came to our fair little community located along the banks of a creek in this old, rundown coal camp which had seen its better days. Long gone were the coal mines which at one time had brought much prosperity to this corner of our county.
Slowly, as the mines had played out and the tipple had been torn down, the people had started moving away to seek work and a better life in other places until all that was left of this once booming little town was a skeleton of its once thriving self.
Among those who had elected to stay put in that coal camp had been my own family, although why papa chose to stay was well beyond me at the tender age of twelve. But stay he did, along with a few other families scattered about the hillsides and the actual camp which were separated by the creek.
Also gone was the company store where everyone in the camp bought what they needed, whether it be with cash money or on store credit, leaving everyone to have to travel to the next town down the road to shop. But the one thing that never left the camp was the little white Community Church where the residents would gather on Sundays to worship and share fellowship.
Over the years that little white church had seen pastors come and pastors go as the Lord lead them. But I can recall one particular time when the little church had gone without a pastor for many months, leaving a lot of the folks to suggest that we just shut the doors of the church and join the one just down the road where there was a larger congregation.
However, being the stubborn man papa was, he steadfastly refused to close the doors of the church and stood fast on his belief that the Lord would provide us with a much needed pastor in His own time. As time marched on and no pastor stepped forward I was beginning to wonder if papa was right in holding out with what seemed a hopeless situation.
Then, on a dreary damp Autumn day the Reverent T.L. Earl arrived. Going to meet the new pastor since he had been corresponding with the minister by mail for at least two weeks, papa was certain that his prayers had been answered. However, that had quickly been called into question just as soon as the church board learned the Rev. Earl was a lady preacher.
“Why who had ever heard of such a ridiculous thing as woman pasturing a church” most of the board members grumbled, quite against having someone of the female gender to be head of the church.
However, my papa being the man of persuasion that he was, he finally talked everyone into giving the woman a chance. “After all, no man had applied for the job so maybe the Good Lord was telling them it was time for a chance” he had argued.
After much grumbling and complaining the others had finally given in and the Reverent Tomi Earl was formally accepted as Pastor of that little white church. So when Sunday arrived, my family and I eagerly got ready and headed out to the meeting place to see what kind of Pastor the Lord had saw fit to send to us.
“Sure hope that she’s good at preachin’” papa declared as we crowded into our old rattle trap of a car. “If’n she’s not then I reckon I’m up the creek without a paddle” I had overheard him telling mama.
“Now Eli” mama had scolded in that gentle voice that could persuade papa to do about anything mama desired. After all, pleasing mama and me seemed to be papa’s mission in life. “If’n she can preach or if’n she can’t ain’t your problem. You are only doing what the Good Lord directed you to do.”
“I reckon you be right about that, Molley” papa agreed with a sigh. “Just the same, them there folks are goin’ to blame me no matter what.”
Poor papa! To be caught between a rock and a hard place just wasn’t a good state to be in.
Heading off to church not knowing what to expect we arrived to find the church house packed. “Look papa” I had cried with childish enthusiasm. “Everybodys come. Ain’t it wonderful.”
“Child, I’m a’feared that it’s not so wonderful” papa had replied with a frown. “Most of them there folks are here for the same reason they go to the circus. They just be curious as to what’s goin’ on.”
Sadly papa’s prediction proved to be right. As the dear woman of God preached a hell-fire and brimstone message so hot that most folks were squirming in their seats, a ripple went through out the church house. While some liked her style, others deemed it to harsh to fall on such delicate ears as those of the young ones in the crowd.
Just as soon as services was over everyone, except mama, papa, and me rushed outside without benefit of saying a single word to Pastor Earl. Embarrassed for the woman, papa was also angry. What had gotten into the good folks who had always been so open and friendly with new arrivals?
So the stage had been set for what was to follow for weeks to come as most of the folks in our little camp scattered about, attending church in other places. Then one night, months after she had came to the camp, a devastating flood struck our little community, shattering lives and peace of mind.
Despite the harsh treatment she had received at the hands of the people, Pastor Earl had been the first to step forward to help. With mop and broom in hand she had gone from home to home to lend a helping hand while spending her own money to buy food so that the folks could eat.
Working for days on end without complaint even though she was exhausted and to the point of collapse, Pastor Earl said not a word of criticism about the way she had been treated since her arrival in the camp. Instead, she had treated all with compassion and love while quietly showing all what a true Christian and Pastor was truly like. Showing by example a life guided by the Almighty, it didn’t take long for the woman pastor to set consciences ablaze with guilt.
Needless to say, it wasn’t long afterwards that people started showing up for church in the camp again. One by one each of them went to the Pastor to apologize for their part in the mutiny of spiritual leadership. Setting things right with both, her and the Almighty, the people rallied around Pastor Earl as she blazed a trail for other women to follow the calling of God as our little church there in the coal camp became a lighthouse for all seeking direction in their lives.
Direction which was gently guided by Pastor Earl at the dictate of the Lord, who had truly proved that the Lord does indeed move in mysterious ways.