Church Bench

My daddy started Tennile First Church of the Nazarene in 1950 after finishing a two year program in Bible classes at Trevecca Nazarene College (now University). He described himself, "a poor, country boy who God saved and called to preach." 

He often told the story of hearing his name called out in prayer from the Youth Prayer Room. He was saved on a Wednesday and called to preach a week later while hoeing cotton. He said, I stood that hoe up in the dirt and went and told Mama that God had called me to preach and I had to go."  

Daddy had only the clothes on his back. He had to borrow the money from an uncle to buy a suit of clothes and a suitcase to put them in. He hitch-hiked his way to Nashville, TN from Scott, Ga. He worked to pay his way to college by digging ditches and being a night watchman. He lived on peanut butter and crackers and pork and beans.

He and two friends held a tent meeting the following summer and as they say the rest is history.

Daddy served the same church until his death. He was Sr. Pastor from 1950 until his retirement in 1997. He was appointed Pastor Emeritus and served as visitation pastor until his death in 2011. 

You can understand why this church pew is so special to me. These benches were added to the new church that was built in the late 60's.

It sat on my front porch back home. I had  painted it black. Its temporary dwelling has been my sister's home. My brother in law gave it a make-over. The boards were weather damaged. He glued and sanded and painted it.

Seating has been an issue when the kids come over. We only needed seating for two back home and now we need seating for at least six adults.

The bench will stay. Maybe a farmhouse table is in the future to seat everyone including the grandchildren. It's my favorite spot in our new home.

As the grandchildren gather, each one will hear the story of their great Grandaddy's legacy and where the church bench came from.