It gives me a personal delight to share with you the fantastic story of a high school classmate of mine. We were in the now historic graduating class of 1950 at Hewitt High School in Trussville, AL.
Both of us were transfers from other high schools in Alabama. Lloyd Blackwell had gone to high school in Oneonta, Alabama, and I had attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham. The movie, Woodlawn, was the high school I had attended and Woodlawn looks today just like it looked when I was a student.
Today, the City of Trussville has spent millions to build a new campus and it looks like a large university with the latest of modern buildings and learning equipment for the students. I am happy to report that many of my classmates are born again Christians and are living for the Lord. Lloyd Blackwell is one of them. I am grateful that I have been able to keep up with the members of our graduating class and to learn how God has directed their lives. Growing up in the '30s and '40s was a great time in American history.
Lloyd Blackwell was interviewed on 100 Huntley Street. Click Here to see this exciting interview of my classmate from Hewitt High School.
The following is his story:
How many counties has Lloyd been too?
"174 countries, I guess that is the final count at age 84" says Lloyd.
Lloyd's health right now is keeping him from travelling to more countries. Lloyd was introduced to so many of these nations because of missions. The good news of Jesus Christ was central to Lloyd's heart. The first cross cultural experience that he had that allowed for him to share the Gospel of Jesus was to Guatemala City, where the Lord baptized him with the Holy Spirit. Lloyd was there with the missionaries praying with them. There was an escape plan to go back to Mexico City if they had to leave due to unsafety. Lloyd and his team eventually ended up in Mexico City where they continued to do the job they were there to do in the first place. His team helped with the reconstruction of a church and was able to complete the mission without any problem whatsoever.
"1970 was my first trip to Brazil, while I was there my intent was to do two things, set up an expedition to the Amazon Jungle and visit among the Indians" explains Lloyd. However, Lloyd was unable to go the jungle do to safely issues. The next thing Lloyd wanted to do was go to a seminary in Brazil. He got on the bus, went to the end of the line and he made there. Two missionaries there showed him around and convinced him that he was to be a lay missionary.
Lloyd's spirit of adventure came from reading a National Geographic magazine, and that instilled the adventure spirit in him and to really go for it.
One thing that always stood out for Lloyd was his four expeditions to the Amazon Jungle to work with the Indian people there.
Both of us were transfers from other high schools in Alabama. Lloyd Blackwell had gone to high school in Oneonta, Alabama, and I had attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham. The movie, Woodlawn, was the high school I had attended and Woodlawn looks today just like it looked when I was a student.
Today, the City of Trussville has spent millions to build a new campus and it looks like a large university with the latest of modern buildings and learning equipment for the students. I am happy to report that many of my classmates are born again Christians and are living for the Lord. Lloyd Blackwell is one of them. I am grateful that I have been able to keep up with the members of our graduating class and to learn how God has directed their lives. Growing up in the '30s and '40s was a great time in American history.
Lloyd Blackwell was interviewed on 100 Huntley Street. Click Here to see this exciting interview of my classmate from Hewitt High School.
The following is his story:
How many counties has Lloyd been too?
"174 countries, I guess that is the final count at age 84" says Lloyd.
Lloyd's health right now is keeping him from travelling to more countries. Lloyd was introduced to so many of these nations because of missions. The good news of Jesus Christ was central to Lloyd's heart. The first cross cultural experience that he had that allowed for him to share the Gospel of Jesus was to Guatemala City, where the Lord baptized him with the Holy Spirit. Lloyd was there with the missionaries praying with them. There was an escape plan to go back to Mexico City if they had to leave due to unsafety. Lloyd and his team eventually ended up in Mexico City where they continued to do the job they were there to do in the first place. His team helped with the reconstruction of a church and was able to complete the mission without any problem whatsoever.
"1970 was my first trip to Brazil, while I was there my intent was to do two things, set up an expedition to the Amazon Jungle and visit among the Indians" explains Lloyd. However, Lloyd was unable to go the jungle do to safely issues. The next thing Lloyd wanted to do was go to a seminary in Brazil. He got on the bus, went to the end of the line and he made there. Two missionaries there showed him around and convinced him that he was to be a lay missionary.
Lloyd's spirit of adventure came from reading a National Geographic magazine, and that instilled the adventure spirit in him and to really go for it.
One thing that always stood out for Lloyd was his four expeditions to the Amazon Jungle to work with the Indian people there.