There is no doubt about it. God prepared Melvine to be my bride, and He had prepared me to be her groom. It really took a miracle for the two of us to meet. The road to that meeting in 1957 took me to Holmes Bible College and Furman University.
I had planned to stay in Mobile, Alabama and work in the Toulminville Pentecostal Holiness Church as an assistant to the Rev. Mr. R. D. Hodges, the pastor. I had enrolled at Spring Hill College, a Jesuit college, to study psychology. I lived in the basement apartment owned by Lee and Rachel McCrory who were members of the church.
Meanwhile, through circumstances that presented themselves and the working of the Holy Spirit in my life, I felt a call to go to Holmes Bible College. That was a big step for me. I was late for the opening of school and wondered if Dr. Paul F. Beacham, the president, would accept me as a student. I had surrendered my will to do the will of God, and low and behold Dr. Beacham accepted me as a student.
I adjusted to the life of Holmes and was assigned to the work crew. We worked hard, and came in tired and hungry. I always took a shower. I met some of the finest young men whom God had called to ministry as well as me.
In the meantime, I was given an opportunity to sing in a quartet with Roland Harrell, Eddie Wood, and Willard Wagner. They needed a bass singer to complete the quartet. I was their last hope.
Daneel le Roux was filling in as a pastor of the Appomattox Pentecostal Holiness Church in Virginia. He was a school teacher. He was endeavoring to help the conference superintendent fill a pulpit. Well, Daneel requested a quartet to come for a weekend revival, and we were the quartet selected.
We had a snow storm on Saturday, but the church was full that evening as I recall. As a part of the program that evening, I played my trombone. While playing "How Great Thou Art" I saw the most beautiful young woman I had ever seen in the congregation. She had dark brown curly hair and dark brown eyes. She was gorgeous in her dress. I thought in my mind as I played my trombone, I am going to marry that woman.
That is when love hit me like a ton of bricks. I was hooked for life. From that night, I pursued a courtship with Melvine Stewart who lived in Draper, NC. Her next door neighbor was Betty Von Moore. They both were members of the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church. Betty was dating Daneel, and Betty's father and mother brought them to the revival that Saturday night. Betty's parents were Melvin and Callie Moore. Melvine's parents were Russell and Frances Stewart.
Melvin Moore liked our quartet and he got his pastor to invite us for a two-week revival associated with a 10-day Vacation Bible School. That is when I got to see and be with Melvine each evening at church. I had opportunity to meet and talk with her parents whom I dearly loved.
After one full year at Holmes Bible College, with the approval of Dr. Paul F. Beacham, I transferred to Furman University, while living in the Men's Dormitory, and teaching Speech in the college and English literature in the high school, as well as helping Dr. Beacham in the church. I commuted to Furman for my classes, while finishing three years of Bible education at Holmes.
I had planned to stay in Mobile, Alabama and work in the Toulminville Pentecostal Holiness Church as an assistant to the Rev. Mr. R. D. Hodges, the pastor. I had enrolled at Spring Hill College, a Jesuit college, to study psychology. I lived in the basement apartment owned by Lee and Rachel McCrory who were members of the church.
Meanwhile, through circumstances that presented themselves and the working of the Holy Spirit in my life, I felt a call to go to Holmes Bible College. That was a big step for me. I was late for the opening of school and wondered if Dr. Paul F. Beacham, the president, would accept me as a student. I had surrendered my will to do the will of God, and low and behold Dr. Beacham accepted me as a student.
I adjusted to the life of Holmes and was assigned to the work crew. We worked hard, and came in tired and hungry. I always took a shower. I met some of the finest young men whom God had called to ministry as well as me.
In the meantime, I was given an opportunity to sing in a quartet with Roland Harrell, Eddie Wood, and Willard Wagner. They needed a bass singer to complete the quartet. I was their last hope.
Daneel le Roux was filling in as a pastor of the Appomattox Pentecostal Holiness Church in Virginia. He was a school teacher. He was endeavoring to help the conference superintendent fill a pulpit. Well, Daneel requested a quartet to come for a weekend revival, and we were the quartet selected.
We had a snow storm on Saturday, but the church was full that evening as I recall. As a part of the program that evening, I played my trombone. While playing "How Great Thou Art" I saw the most beautiful young woman I had ever seen in the congregation. She had dark brown curly hair and dark brown eyes. She was gorgeous in her dress. I thought in my mind as I played my trombone, I am going to marry that woman.
That is when love hit me like a ton of bricks. I was hooked for life. From that night, I pursued a courtship with Melvine Stewart who lived in Draper, NC. Her next door neighbor was Betty Von Moore. They both were members of the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church. Betty was dating Daneel, and Betty's father and mother brought them to the revival that Saturday night. Betty's parents were Melvin and Callie Moore. Melvine's parents were Russell and Frances Stewart.
Melvin Moore liked our quartet and he got his pastor to invite us for a two-week revival associated with a 10-day Vacation Bible School. That is when I got to see and be with Melvine each evening at church. I had opportunity to meet and talk with her parents whom I dearly loved.
After one full year at Holmes Bible College, with the approval of Dr. Paul F. Beacham, I transferred to Furman University, while living in the Men's Dormitory, and teaching Speech in the college and English literature in the high school, as well as helping Dr. Beacham in the church. I commuted to Furman for my classes, while finishing three years of Bible education at Holmes.
Every weekend that I could I would drive to Eden to be with Melvine and attend her church. I stayed in a bedroom of her parents home. Well, I graduated from Furman in May of 1960, was ordained as a minister of the Gospel by the Rev. Dr. Robert L. Rex at the Alabama Conference held at the River Springs Camp Grounds, and married Melvine on Saturday evening, August 13, 1960.
I had been accepted as a graduate student at Asbury Theological Seminary, and following our honeymoon, we drove to Wilmore, KY.
Mind you, we had no money to speak of, no scholarships, no place to live, and no jobs. We went on sheer faith and the call of God to prepare for the military chaplaincy as well as a pastor. God had gone before us. We slept the first night in the Guest Quarters of the Seminary. The next day, Melvine got a teaching position in Versailles, about 16 or 17 miles from Wilmore teaching 3rd grade. We were able to acquire a furnished basement apartment. When I went to register I needed $200 and God miraculously supplied that. To my surprise and utter joy I discovered that a Methodist lady in Sebring, Florida wanted to invest in a Pentecostal Preacher Boy, and I happened to be that boy. She paid one half of my tuition for all three years during seminary. Melvine often encouraged me to hang in there with the studies. Several times I thought of quitting. Melvine is a fighter and helped me to get over my discouragement. I made it and graduated without ever taking out a student loan, and when we left Wilmore we owned no man any thing except love. I am grateful to the president, faculty and staff of Asbury Theological Seminary for blessing me with a wonderful seminary experience. Then, I was blessed to meet some fine men who were my classmates. I learned from them, and I have enjoyed lasting friendships with a few of them.
My last year of seminary I was privileged to be the minister of music at the Wilmore Presbyterian Church. I led the singing and directed the choir. Melvine directed the children's choir. On a few occasions when the pastor needed to be away, he called me to preach. I am thankful for that opportunity to minister and learn more about people.
I must close this article. Melvine is much better. The cough has gone, and Melvine had a wonderful day.
I am encouraged that God is healing her.
She will have chemotherapy on Friday. It is my joy and privilege to care for my bride. And she continues
to care for me. God and I are working on my patience. Melvine helps too. I have not arrived.
Melvine and I are so grateful for all of you and the many friends God has given us. It is an honor to
serve my denomination, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and the varied ministries of my church, as well as to serve the body of Christ worldwide. Only God could do what He has done to help me publish Hugh's News.
This daily newsletter is our gift to you.
I will have a birthday on Saturday, December 15. I will be 86 years old.
Melvine will have a birthday on Sunday, December 16. She will be 84.
We are growing older together.
May God be praised and glorified.
I had been accepted as a graduate student at Asbury Theological Seminary, and following our honeymoon, we drove to Wilmore, KY.
Mind you, we had no money to speak of, no scholarships, no place to live, and no jobs. We went on sheer faith and the call of God to prepare for the military chaplaincy as well as a pastor. God had gone before us. We slept the first night in the Guest Quarters of the Seminary. The next day, Melvine got a teaching position in Versailles, about 16 or 17 miles from Wilmore teaching 3rd grade. We were able to acquire a furnished basement apartment. When I went to register I needed $200 and God miraculously supplied that. To my surprise and utter joy I discovered that a Methodist lady in Sebring, Florida wanted to invest in a Pentecostal Preacher Boy, and I happened to be that boy. She paid one half of my tuition for all three years during seminary. Melvine often encouraged me to hang in there with the studies. Several times I thought of quitting. Melvine is a fighter and helped me to get over my discouragement. I made it and graduated without ever taking out a student loan, and when we left Wilmore we owned no man any thing except love. I am grateful to the president, faculty and staff of Asbury Theological Seminary for blessing me with a wonderful seminary experience. Then, I was blessed to meet some fine men who were my classmates. I learned from them, and I have enjoyed lasting friendships with a few of them.
My last year of seminary I was privileged to be the minister of music at the Wilmore Presbyterian Church. I led the singing and directed the choir. Melvine directed the children's choir. On a few occasions when the pastor needed to be away, he called me to preach. I am thankful for that opportunity to minister and learn more about people.
I must close this article. Melvine is much better. The cough has gone, and Melvine had a wonderful day.
I am encouraged that God is healing her.
She will have chemotherapy on Friday. It is my joy and privilege to care for my bride. And she continues
to care for me. God and I are working on my patience. Melvine helps too. I have not arrived.
Melvine and I are so grateful for all of you and the many friends God has given us. It is an honor to
serve my denomination, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and the varied ministries of my church, as well as to serve the body of Christ worldwide. Only God could do what He has done to help me publish Hugh's News.
This daily newsletter is our gift to you.
I will have a birthday on Saturday, December 15. I will be 86 years old.
Melvine will have a birthday on Sunday, December 16. She will be 84.
We are growing older together.
May God be praised and glorified.