Published: April 28, 2008 09:18 am            

A century of faith

Church members share stories of salvation during Level Green’s 100th anniversary

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

“This might sound kind of odd to you, I got started going to church here through a fifty dollar bill,” said Bobby Jackson, deacon and song leader at Level Green Missionary Baptist Church.

Jackson is one of many Level Green members who will celebrate the Keavy church’s 100 anniversary this Sunday. Jackson, who is an avid singer, started casually coming to Level Green with a friend to sing. Jackson continued to attend on occasion and eventually got married and had a couple of kids.

And then he hit hard times.

“I lost my job and didn’t have any money to feed my kids. One day one of the church deacons knocked on the door and said, ‘I brought you a little bit of money, we feel like you need this,’ and he handed me a fifty dollar check,” Jackson said.

In the early 1970s, Jackson said the $50 helped out enormously. At the time, Jackson wasn’t a member of the church and the $50 gesture shocked him.

“You know that was a huge help. They cared enough about somebody that wasn’t even a member. It made me think, so I starting going more and more,” Jackson said.

Under Pastor Cecil Warren, Jackson was ordained a deacon in 1990.

Church member Stella Martin said the offering given to Jackson was what they call a “love offering.” Besides reaching out to the community with love offerings, the church is also involved with community charity orginizations.

Martin said the church helps feed children at a children’s home in Barbourville every Thanksgiving.

“Every Thanksgiving we bring the kids here and have a meal, and get to sing and have a service,” Martin said.

Church members also sing and preform services for patients at the Christian Health Center.

Martin is the church’s longest attending member — but as she points out, not the oldest. She has attended Level Green since 1974 and also serves as the primary Sunday school teacher and youth director.

“When I first started to come to church here, they were having singings and I loved the music. At the time I was not a Christian, but I still loved the music. That’s how I got started,” Martin said.

Martin said she was saved at home while recovering from a long hospitalization. During this recovery time, one of Martin’s sisters had been saved. News of her sister’s experience and her own brush with death made Martin re-think her faith.

“Things just got to bearing down on my mind and it’s hard to explain. I had been in the hospital, but I was at home, and the Lord just spoke. I asked for forgiveness of my sins and I’ve been a Christian ever since,” Martin said.

For Martin, being saved didn’t mean “seeing lights and bells and all that stuff.” It was more of a feeling of a burden being lifted. After being saved and beginning to regularly attend Level Green, it was clear to her where she was going after she died.

“You just gotta have faith. We don’t always get what we ask for, but we get what we need,” Martin said.

Lois Calder, another Level Green member, had a similar, subliminal experience in 1994.

“When I got saved, it just — I felt like someone had just poured something over me from head to my toes,” Calder said.

Calder said she started attending Level Green after a close friend suggested the church to her. She began to casually attend Level Green, but after a family friend died, Calder began questioning her faith and attending every Sunday. She brought along her sons, and eventually both Calder and her sons were saved.

“My husband got to asking me about what happened at church, so I could see he was interested. I didn’t push him, but eventually he started to come,” Calder said.

Calder prayed for her husband to be saved. Eventually her prayers were answered, and 1994 turned out to be monumental year for Calder.

“No matter what happens in my life, I will always say there will never be a year like 1994, because my whole family got saved that year,” Calder said.

And 1994 was also a big year for the church. Several large improvements expanded the church considerably. Two aisles were added to the main worship area, and several classrooms were remodeled in the upstairs area.

“The works were done thanks to God’s blessing. We couldn’t have done any of it without the Lord,” said Faye Godsey, church member and secretary.

Godsey said Sunday’s attendance lately has hovered around 55-65 people. She expects with good weather some older members will be able to once again make the sometimes difficult trip to church. Godsey and the other members of Level Green are excited about this weekend’s celebration of the church’s centennial.

“Everyone is invited to the services. There’ll be singing and dinner. It will be very enjoyable,” Godsey said.

Level Green Missionary Baptist Church’s festivities will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday. Memorbilia will be on display and lunch will be served. For more information, call 528-8522.

        

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