I pray I have been and will continue to be anointed by the Holy Spirit to "help somebody as I pass along; if I can help somebody with a word or song.....then my living shall not be in vain."
I have been honored to serve with you and others, Dr. Morgan on the World Missions Board (now World Ministries Division) and to serve with you and others, Dr. Tunstall, on the General Board of Administration (now Council of Bishops). I am gratefully thankful to God, our Father, for the wisdom and grace of the leaders with whom I have been privileged to serve with and learn from.
[Editor's comment: Brother T. Elwood Long is a treasured and trusted friend. We served together for some eight years on the World Missions Board. He was always an inspiration to me. He had clear thinking, ability to articulate his views and beliefs in a convincing and persuasive manner.
In almost every board meeting I have served on I will draw head and facial features of various members of a given board of men. I enjoyed drawing a sketch of Elwood Long. With his distinctive face and bald head it was fun for me to try to reproduce him in a head shot by my drawing. I did that, all the while listening and participating in the board meeting. I love world missions and enjoy promoting giving to fund the budgets of our IPHC missionaries.
Over the twenty years I have produced Hugh's News, Elwood has written often to encourage me and has given generously in support financially of this electronic journalistic ministry.
I wish I could be present at Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church on Sunday to honor you as your officially retire
May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door--written by Billy Graham.]