I wanted to rehearse this story with all of the Bethea’s but did not do so,

as not to interfere with the good news of today for two of us.

I want us to always remember and recall the foundations of our family.

As we grow, I would encourage us to be able to know and tell stories about where we can from and what gave the structure to the Spiritual Structure and the Love and Unity
we are blest to share.

I was going to share the story about
Daddy surrendering his life to
the full time Ministry.

At 36 years of age.
with a wife and family of three boys.

He knew The Lord had been calling him since he was 19/20 years old.

He retreated from it.
Ran from it for many years.

When I was three…The Lord sent us to Miami for Mother’s skin health….
and it was there we went to
Flagami Baptist Church and met Pastor John J Buell.

“Brother Buell”, as he was called,
told Daddy there was a call on his life and he would not be a settled man until he answered that call.

Daddy resisted even then.

Brother Buell moved to Atlanta

After different things occurred and about two years later, Daddy was transferred to Atlanta.

As he was looking for a house for us… he had gone about five miles from the house and came to the intersection of Candler Road and Memorial Drive in East Atlanta.

There sat White Oak Hills Baptist Church.
On the sign it said….
“Pastor John J. Buell.”

Daddy said at that moment he knew The Lord had not removed The Call
and with a sense of resignation, Daddy essentially began the process of surrender.

After a few months of counseling …
and not telling many people for a while,
as young wives are with new pregnancies,
he waited and then informed everyone after that time.

One Sunday in the Spring of 1965,
he stood for the invitational hymn,
looked across the aisles at me
as I was sitting in another section
to his left,
he slowly nodded his head “Yes”…
because I was looking at him to see if and when he was going to walk the aisle.

He did.

He made the announcement,
made the move into his new life…
and became a great Man…
the Man he was intended to be.

That, I believe, is the beginning of our spiritual strength as a family. It was there before then…
but that’s when it grew into a
Pillar of Committed Strength.

Our individual lives as believers were made stronger and more devoted because of Daddys’ decision that day.

May we never forget this story.

And may we begin to share more of and hand down our Heritage with our growing family.

God bless you

I love you.