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First Baptist Church of Kenova celebrates 100 years
Michael W. Smith talks with Leola Frazier of Huntington after the 100-year celebration of First Baptist Church of Kenova on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008.
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KENOVA -- It's hard to tell, when you're going about your business for the church, when you might say or do something that could change someone's life, Sarah Denman told her fellow members of First Baptist Church of Kenova on Sunday.
And during the church's 100th anniversary worship service Sunday morning, she challenged them to make a commitment to the Lord's work and more of those life-changing moments, to create memories for the church and the people it serves.
"We have to take the rich history of our past and greatness of our present to build our future," she said.
And if that's the case, the church has a busy future ahead.
It's impossible to say how many lives have been touched by the thousands of faithful members of First Baptist Church of Kenova since its first 13 members worshipped on a street corner in 1908. But one former member who ventured out, and has written and performed music that has touched the lives of millions, was invited back over the weekend to celebrate the church's anniversary.
Contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith was a guest speaker during Sunday morning worship and talked about his love of Kenova and some of the phases he's passed through in his journey of life -- and how the Lord has set him straight now and then.
Smith, the son of Paul and Barbara Smith of Kenova, moved to Nashville in the late 1970s to pursue a career in music, but said he always tells folks the good things about Kenova, W.Va., from Evaroni's Pizza to the old marching band at Ceredo-Kenova High School.
With his mom a secretary at the church for several years, he spent a lot of time there, not only during worship but after hours. He played there, crawling under the pews. His grandmother was an organist with the church for many years, and Smith picked up her love of the keyboard. At the age of 15, he didn't make the All Stars baseball team for the first time, because he had been "banging away" too much on the piano, he said.
But starting a career in music was a rough road, he said. He said the Lord rescued him in 1979, when he had a nervous breakdown on the kitchen floor. He was low on money in the early days, and came home every few months not only to visit family but pick up some extra cash.
"Eating bologna sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner was no fun," Smith said of those cash-strapped days in Nashville.
At that time, he was only interested in writing songs -- that was until he spotted his wife, Debbie, to whom he was engaged three weeks later and married four months later. He said that today, when he talks to young people, he doesn't really recommend that. But he and Debbie just knew, he said, and it's worked out.
Michael and Debbie Smith celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary last week and have five children, one granddaughter and a grandson on the way.
"I don't really feel like I'm old enough to be a grandfather, but I am," Smith said.
He described his wife as a "rock," and said one way that he's "survived fame" is the Lord's grace and having good people around him.
As an artist with platinum and gold albums, and a winner of Grammys, American Music Awards and Dove Awards, which are given out by the Gospel Music Association, Smith has had moments when it was hard to remember that his work is not his alone, but God working through him.
But he tries, and said "I would rather humble myself than have God do it."
He remembers at one point trying too hard and being overly worried about doing the right things for the Lord. Then he remembers a moment that helped him put things in perspective -- the first time he realized that God not only loves him, but actually likes him and is fond of him. It's a discovery he described as "absolutely life-changing."
At that point, you can ask the Lord, "OK, what's the plan?" he said.
God pointed him to Isaiah 58, Smith said, so he 's tried to use his platform to help those in need. It's been difficult, he said, because there's so much need.
"I don't do enough," Smith said. "I could give more money away, build more houses for (Habitat for Humanity)."
We all have our part, and he urged the members of the church to take each day and grab opportunities where they can. Then he prayed for them.
"Bless you," he said. "I love Kenova, W.Va. It's good to be back."
And it was great to have Smith back for such a momentous day, said church member Jim Hamer.
"He has all these projects and probably has 50 places to be this morning, but he's here," Hamer said. "I think that speaks a lot."
Several past and present members of the church were recognized Sunday for their service over the years -- pastors, musicians, secretaries and others who helped with missionary work, cared for the children of the congregation and fed the poor.
Hamer and his wife, Gladys, have stayed involved with the church in many ways over the years. Both have been members since they were children.
"I've been a member for 55 years, and (the church) has been such a blessing to me and our family. We have three children," said Gladys Hamer, chairwoman of the 100th anniversary celebration. "It's been a very rich heritage. It's impacted the community, and it's been fun."
She and Jim are two of many who have cleaned the church, locked its doors at night, taught Sunday school to its members and served on boards, among other works.
"But it's always given us more than we've given it," Gladys Hamer said. "That's how it is with the Lord, isn't it?"
