MY DADDY WAS AN OLDTIME PREACHERMAN
My Daddy Was A Oldtime Baptist Preacher
I grew up in small Baptist country churches. I remember them
being filled to overflowing as the people gathered to hear a
word from the Lord from the God-called preachers. My Daddy
preached at this small church where over 150 attended..Sunday
School and church..how we fit into that small, but adequate
building, I don't know. Over 40 years later, the same church has
the same number attending but the buildings are 10 times as
big...hmmm..are we placing more emphasis on the buildings than
on the people? Anyway, I wrote this in my Daddy's memory...Thank
you, Jesus, for giving me a spirit filled oldtime preacher man
for my daddy.
This story was written December 21, 1994 and appears in my book
Luke 2.10 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people."
When we think of Christmas, we picture presents under the tree,
the Christmas play at the church, Christmas lights and the
hustle and bustle of that time of the year.
As I look back over the 42 years the good Lord has allowed me to
live, Christmas of 1966 stands forever etched in my mind. I was
14 years old, an only son with four sisters.
I really had a close relationship with my daddy, the late Rev.
A.J. Rozier, The week before Christmas, daddy and the late Rev.
Jody Thigpen performed the wedding ceremony for my oldest
sister, Shirley, and her husband, Joe.
The simple ceremony at our old home place brought a sense of joy
in the air. We eagerly anticipated the excitement of Christmas
day.
On December 22, 1966, I was helping daddy deliver furniture
(back then, country preachers didn't receive a large enough
salary to support their families and had to work other jobs) for
Gibson McDonald furniture company. My first cousin, the late
Clyde Douberly, and I went with daddy to Hazelhurst to deliver a
refrigerator.
Afterwards, I remember daddy sitting down and saying, "Boys,
I've got to rest a minute." He felt better and we drove the 50
miles back to Blackshear and mama's good supper.
Our Christmas tree was up and the presents were wrapped. Only
two days and a night until Christmas! That night, my 40 year old
preacher daddy dropped dead of a heart attack.
I remember all the people coming, the Christmas tree and
presents being removed, and my daddy's casket taking that spot.
On that cold, cloudy, Christmas day, we buried my daddy.
Suddenly, presents and trees didn't mean that much. The Lord
answered daddy's Christmas prayer-he longed to be with Jesus.
>From that Christmas on, I truly realized what the true meaning
of Christmas is. Yes, it's a time of celebration...For unto us
this day is born a Savior...Without His birth, we would have no
hope of being reunited with our loved ones.
I will see my Daddy again. You see, almost eight years ago,
another one of daddy's prayers was answered. I, too, am a child
of the King.
This Christmas of 1994, let us rejoice in the birth and death of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we can live, also.
Luke 2.11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Footnote...Both my brother-in-law, Joe, and I are preachers.
Clyde was 26 when the Lord called him home. Clyde and my Daddy
were both born on August the 18..both died on December 22, and
both were buried on Christmas day (10 years apart)
Irvin L. Rozier, aka walkin2e