I remember back when I was a little girl…

All the memories I have of the people within New Bethany Assembly of God Church!

My mother had great respect for this Church, for the people who establish and worshiped here, and for the foundation of it. My Mother used to tell me the story. You see, her Grandmother, Sister Rushing, was here as they laid the foundation: anointing, praying, and crying over each block that was placed, cooking and feeding the men and sweating along with those who labored with the love to make a “Sanctuary of God”. Back then these things as they did them was the best they had because it was not long after the depression. I mean, people carry their lunches to work in syrup can during the depression; it consisted of “greens and cornpone”. They were in need of financial help, yet they gave and gave to build a “Habitation for the Lord”.

It was here at New Bethany that I sang my first song in church. I remember so very clearly: Yes, I was very young. The song was one my mother had taught me, “Tramp on the Street”.

“He was Mary’s own darling... He was God‘s chosen son…
Once He was fair and once He was young…
Mary, she rocked Him… Her darling to sleep…
But they left Him to die like a tramp on the street.“

I remember looking out on the congregation, the encouraging smiles I saw were the ones I focused on. (My Mother, Aunt Dollie, Daddy). You see, I WAS ONLY 4-5 YEARS OLD! It was shortly after a revival and we went to see Sister Davis in New Hope (Do any of you remember her?) From that night on, there was no stopping my humming a tune, singing, and dancing before the Lord, no matter where I was or what time of day.

There was a group of people from New Bethany Assembly that would go from house to house singing gospel hymns and preaching the Word of God. Oh, how I remember the way it felt when we would join in harmony to the hymn “Amazing Grace”. I would always sit at daddy’s feet and join in…

Those memories are so special to me: Aunt Dollie Burke with one of her sons, Isaiah and Lois Jenkins (my parents), Reverend Cecil Perkins and Marie Marie (his wife), Maggie Rutledge, among others. I specifically remember when we would have these “Cottage Prayer Meetings” in homes of the shut-ins, or the families that did not attend church with us, but wanted to be a part. One special family I remember was the Armstrong family. They were like us. They didn’t have much materially, but the love they had as a family! We would know that later on when my mother died. This family would be the one to come in and tend our needs and LOVE us during the initial 3-day period after Mom’s death.

I remember when I was an early teen:

During my early teens, Brother Cecil Perkins was pastor of the church. He had a large family and they would come over to our house for Sunday dinner, often. Oh how we enjoyed their company! My mother’s spiritual gifts developed greatly under Pastor Perkin’s tutorage. I received my first lessons in tithing from my mother during this timeframe. Brother Perkins preach powerfully and for long periods of time! HA! I will always remember each of his children and his family. The song he and his wife always sang together was “He Will Set Your Fields On Fire”. What a powerful influence this family was in my life. When Brother Cecil prayed for you, you knew you were prayed for. My God, his voice was “Thunderous and with Authority” before God!

I remember when I was a real-life teenager:

As I grew to be in my middle to late teens, a very special man became Pastor: My Uncle Woodrow and Aunt Marie Dupree. This couple loved us. We knew it and never doubted it.

I had seen firsthand the work of God in this man’s life. You see, when we were children, one summer I got to go to Uncle Woodrow and Aunt Marie‘s for the summer in West Bay, Florida. Well, during my stay I noted, right off, that this family was different from ours. My uncle would come home so sick. Aunt Marie would be on her knees crying out to God for him. I would find me a place to myself and cry to God for my uncle, too, because I thought he was dying. I was looking through child’s eyes and did not comprehend the sickness that was in him, even though it would lead to an early death if he persisted (Uncle Woodrow was drunk). GOD HEARD OUR PRAYERS! He saved Uncle Woodrow and called him to preach. God placed him as OUR Pastor. It was during the time of Uncle Woodrow’s pastorage that I gave God my first $3.75 per week. I worked at the Tasty Burger in Bonifay and keeping 3 children through the week.

I have to say, next to my Mother and my Granny Jenkins, Aunt Marie is the third most powerful womanly influence in my life. I have gone to her so many times since Mama passed away and she has ALWAYS helped me in the right way. We need more Godly women for younger women to glean from.

Uncle Woodrow and Aunt Marie gave me my first musical instrument. They purchased it with “Green Stamps”. It was a BEAUTIFUL tambourine!!!

Oh yeah, my Sister Ellen, and I would sit under the oak trees in front of our house and sing and practice, while beating that tambourine as loudly as we could! Man, did we have fun! We got good enough to begin playing at church. The tambourine truly was a blessing for the church because many times there was no other musician to play. One thing for sure, we really had the BEAT! HA! I don’t think there’s been a time since when New Bethany has not had a tambourine present.

Because of the LOVE and caring of this special Pastor and wife team in answering the call of God upon their life, my sister was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost, even as a teenager

During Uncle Woodrow’s earlier pastorate, we had one of the most active youth groups of “Christ Ambassadors” that we had ever experienced in my years with New Bethany. Brother Plessy and Sister Juanita Cook purchased a van for us to use when we went to the monthly regional group fellowships for the youth. My sister and I would usually sing and the worship of God was so great in those meetings. At one period, Brother Jimmy Perkins was our youth leader. Brother Jimmy, bless his soul, really taught me a lot about God’s plan for my life.

Between 1971 - 1976 my presence at New Bethany was sporadic. I had gotten married as a teenager and was enticed and drawn away by my own lust for the things this world had to offer. However, in August 1976, God drew me into the right relationship with Him and life has never been the same since. This happened RIGHT HERE IN NEW BETHANY CHURCH. There was a revival going on with Reverend Spears. A few old-time Saints of God were present, along with my daddy. (Daddy, you always been there throughout different periods of my life.)

When I returned to New Bethany this time, Brother Jerome Lewis was pastor. He had such a fine family and his preaching was fiery. I think he had not been a pastor for long. In fact, New Bethany may have been his first pastorate. Money was not plentiful for this pastor and many of the congregation during that period of time. I would eat over at the Pastor’s. (I remember: egg gravy on toast) and I would invite them over for Sunday dinner of fish, greens, bread, and tea. I will always remember them in the youth group we had at that time. For you see, I was the youth leader and we did walk-a-thons, car washes, yard sales, candy sales, etc. to meet the pledge we had made for “Speed the Light” (money to missionaries). During our meetings, we did Bible drills, taught the scriptures, had plays, etc. My, my, did we ever experience the blisters, the laughter, and the tears of that time.

It was during Brother Jerome’s pastorate that a singlewide “Parsonage” was parked alongside the church, to house him and his family. I remember we did not have a piano player, so his oldest daughter learned chords and began playing for us. She was only 14 years old at the time.

1977. Jerry and I got married and moved away to Jacksonville, Florida. So my experiences with New Bethany are sparse since then.

I LOVE New Bethany. It is where I developed spiritual roots that have helped me survive my life as a Military wife, often away from family, often times with my husband out to sea and my children and I alone at home. The grounding of the teachings I learned there has helped me develop spiritually through the years, enduring hardships, becoming “More than a Conqueror” by the word of my testimony and the Blood of the Lamb. Because of the prayers of the people of this Church, I believe that God ALWAYS sent us a Godly older couple to nurture us at the various tours of duty, but further He ALWAYS helped us find a Church that loved us and a Church that we could worship freely in. His hand is upon us each and every day. I want to give Him THANKS.

Every now and then I come home to New Bethany – to sense and know God’s presence and acceptance, as only one can find in a Home Church. Many of the faces and persons who were an inspiration to me are now gone, but I know that God has sent new ones in their place to encourage others. His Word is not void, and He does not give it lightly. When He makes covenant with the people, He is certain to see it through to the end.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL on Homecoming Day!

“This is my Story and I’m Sticking to It!”
A sparse collection of memories spanning approximately 45 years of my life.