We became friends with Essie and Leon McGraw and their family when Tim was the assistant to pastor Rex Hensley at Addyston Baptist Church back in 1983. We had moved to Cleves, OH in June before Elisabeth was born in September. Even though Essie had 5 children of her own, she immediately "adopted" our children, too! The kids LOVED sitting with Essie up in the balcony where her husband, Leon, ran the audio visual equipment to record the sermons. I wonder if the candy they received from her had anything to do with their wanting to sit with her? I'm sure it did, but they all loved her besides that! Essie is one of those people that everyone loves! I am so glad to have had the opportunity to serve the Lord with her and her family from 1983 - 1988. In 1988 Tim accepted the pastorate at Grace in Milan, Indiana and we were there for 5 years before returning to ABC as members in 1993. While we were in Milan, Essie and her family left ABC and we lost track of them. Then in 1997 we moved to WV to serve the Lord at Buffalo Baptist Church. In 2008 when Tim resigned from BBC, we began the search of where the Lord would have us serve next. During the next 3 months we traveled as Tim preached in different churches who were looking for a pastor. One of those churches was Morris Fork Baptist Church near Dawson, WV. While there, Sister Glenna Daniels invited us to her house for lunch. During our conversations we discovered she was Essie's sister. WOW! What a small world we live in! In 2010 the pastor of ABC, David Pitman, a long-time mentor and friend of Tim's, invited Tim back to ABC to preach at the annual homecoming service in September. After being gone for 13 years, it was so nice to see those faithful members who were still there from our time at ABC. It was especially refreshing to see Essie and her children and their families. Essie and Leon had come back to ABC a few years prior.
It is amazing to think about the wonderful people God has brought into our lives over the years. These verses say it best: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;" Philippians :3-4
Here's a picture of Essie and I from our visit with her yesterday.
2 comments:
Thanks for checking on our girl! Linda and I were in the nursery together last night and she was surprised that I knew about your visit. It really is a small world!
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
With prayers for the meeting,
K.
I am amazed that so many people we know have a connection to WV! Also, I don't remember much about those early years at Addyston except Perry Wright and his huge hugs.
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