Blessed in Birmingham

I feel overwhelmingly blessed to have been given the opportunity to preach the word of God in Birmingham, Alabama…specifically, the Avondale church of Christ.   This highly spirited, down to earth, family oriented congregation, led by the renown Elijah Bush Sr. is a great congregation.   I jokingly pride myself at times that I’m not the crying type being from Brooklyn, N.Y. and all.  However, sitting in worship service at the Avondale church just before getting up to preach I found that the levies of my tear ducts were broken and almost involuntarily the tears begin to roll down my cheeks as Brother Bush sung “Thank you Lord” and brother Rashawn Booker, aka “boopy” sang “Tis so Sweet to trust in Jesus”.   My New York pride was not successful in stop the flow of tears from my eyes.  It was a very moving experience.  

            The congregation showed sterling hospitality.   Because of other conflicting engagements, my wife Carole was unable to accompany me on this meeting.   However, that did not stop the Avondale church from showing hospitality to the two brethren who accompanied me… “Wood”, being one of them and Brian being the other one.   I was really encouraged by the hospitality shown to us by different members of that congregation who, because of work schedules, couldn’t take us out themselves, but sponsored our meals.  I must admit that I was a bit “star-struck” to spend time with Brother Elijah Bush who I had always heard about and watched from a distance along with brother Ivory who also preaches in that city.  It was overwhelming to sit with these brotherhood patriarchs, both upwards of 70 years age as they talked bout how things used to be .   Brother Bush and Brother Malone in Rogersville remind me of one another as far as their paternal positions in the congregation.  The Bush family is a large singing family and make up a large percentage of that church.   They were very accepting and it didn’t take long for us to feel like family as we’d go out every night after the meeting each night.   On one particular night I can recall going to a bowling alley with the Bush family… we also played dominoes.   Needless to say, they can now testify that this Dallas Preacher from New York has skills… and in the words of Forest Gump… “that’s all I have to say about that”.

I believe that the meeting was a success.   On the last night a young lady met Jesus in Baptism and from what I understand is still hanging in there.   I’d be remised if I failed to mention the comical, spirited, hilariously entertaining assistant minister to Brother Bush… Brother Pugh.  There was never a dull moment with him.   There was also never a moment when he wasn’t talking about the love he had for his preacher.   I will not forget the great experience that I had at the Avondale church in Birmingham.   Thank you Brother Bush for sharing history and for sharing yourself with this Young Preacher and his traveling companions.  We love you for that!