One Man's Journey - Marker #2 - Revival at Stevens Grove Baptist Church - 1976

On the north side of US Highway 78 about five miles east of Lexington, Georgia, there is a wooden cross at the intersection of the highway and a small country road that now bears the name Stevens Grove Church Road (though when I lived there in my early years the road had no name). Hanging from the crossbars of that wooden cross, in an interesting display of unity, are two metal signs directing people to churches located down that small country road.

The first sign points 2 miles to the Pentecostal Holiness Church, a little brick church across a couple of cattle fields from and in sight of my parents house and the final resting place of my maternal grandparents, William Jasper Argo and Hassie Couch Argo. I had many friends in our little community of Flatwoods that attended that church.

The second sign points 3.5 miles to the Stevens Grove Baptist Church, the little church in the picture above and the final resting place of my parents, John Edwin Smith and Hannah Argo Smith, and my paternal grandparents, Oscar Lameontine Smith and Eva Mae Smith. This was the church that my family attended.

This church represents Marker #2 in my spiritual journey that I'm calling One Man's Journey. Of all of the places in my childhood, this little church easily ranks in the top ten of places where I have the most memories. One reason is that there was a huge overlap with my family in that, during the time that I lived there, most of the members were family members of mine.

It was here that the Lord grabbed my heart.

Several key things both as a part of my spiritual journey and my preparation for ministry occurred here. Through my family's involvement in this church, my parents taught me the importance of church attendance, church membership, community, fellowship, and the Bible.

Here was my first experience as a member of an evangelical church. I learned to worship here. I learned about the Bible here. I learned about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit here. I learned about church structure and was introduced to church polity. I learned about the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

The importance of community was strongly emphasized. I learned about age-graded Sunday School and special events such as VBS and revival meetings. I was introduced to the structure of weddings and funerals. I learned about the proper place of religion in patriotism.

I was introduced to missions, missionaries, and mission organizations such as the Home Mission Board and the Foreign Mission Board (now called the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board). I learned about denominations and denominational structure. I learned about how churches can accomplish more together than they can separately through things like the Cooperative Program and local associations of churches like the Sarepta Baptist Association.

But more importantly than anything, it was here that it was solidified in my heart and mind that Jesus loves me and that He wanted to have a personal relationship with me.

He tugged on my heart so many times at this church to accept His invitation of salvation. Then, one week-night in August of 1976 at an end-of-summer revival, I couldn't resist any more and I surrendered my life to Him and began that personal relationship.

I remember during the invitation at the end of the sermon that I walked down the aisle. Two of my friends also accepted Jesus' offer of salvation that night. I'm pretty sure it was Gary Watkins and John Sisk. I remember tears. I remember being presented to the church. I remember the church members coming forward to extend what was referred to as the right hand of fellowship. I remember seeing my dad's face beaming with pride.

So, while Stevens Grover Baptist Church the place represents a marker, it's actually that hot summer night in August of 1976 when I surrendered to Jesus that is the true Marker #2 in this man's journey...One Man's Journey.

What about you...anyone who might have read this far in this blog entry. Do you know Jesus? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Can you point to a marker in your life where you yielded to His love and His free offer of salvation?

If so, I'd love to hear all about it!!

If not, I'd love to introduce you to Him. I'd love to be a part of your journey when you establish that marker.

Note: One Man's Journey is, in essence, my testimony. It is my story of Jesus and me. The story continues.