I hope all who may read will be touched by these words and may we all join our hearts in prayer that God would once again rend the heavens and send to our land a measure of renewal and revival. May His mighty power revive the saints and His church which He has purchased with His own blood.

10

My How the People would Shout

I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything in this world and the memories of going to the old country church. I grew up in a small Baptist church and when I was little the old church was a one room structure and had a single Sunday School room addition to the right side of the building. It was sufficient because only a few folks attended. There was a wood heater for cold weather and some of the men of the church would arrive early and build a fire to warm the building. Later gas heaters were installed.

As a boy I remember the old saints would "get happy" and shout the building down. As a kid I didn’t understand this part of their worship experience but as I recall it was almost every Sunday some sister would come off her pew with her hands raised and just "Praise the Lord." In these modern times, I fear most church members would find this too dogmatic and a public display of emotion on which to be frowned. As I grew older and began to understand some of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible and what these dear old saints were doing, it took on an altogether different meaning for me. I was not afraid of the shouts and praises of the precious folks who were simply overjoyed and unashamed to show praise to the Lord.