Phyllis and I had the opportunity to visit with a former pastor and mentor yesterday. Ben and Ginger Hatfield will always have a special place in my heart and life. He was Phyllis' pastor growing up, the pastor who performed our wedding and my mentor in the early days of our ministry. Rev.Hatfield was pastor of Alpharetta's First Baptist Church on two different occasions encompassing around 30 years.
They are well up in age now, but still sharp and look good. We had a chance to talk about old times and good friends. He was to have surgery in a few days and we had the chance to pray with them.
I will never forget the evening when I went by to tell "preacher" that God was calling me into the ministry. Phyllis was at a ladies meeting at the church along with Mrs. Hatfield. I remember that he was watching "Gunsmoke" on tv. Probably the only show he watched other than the news.
When I told him that God had called me to preach he chuckled and said, "I'm not surprised." Having grown up in a small church FBC Alpharetta was like a mega church to me. Although attendance in those days was probably around 500 God was at work like I had never experienced before. Revivals were more than just meetings scheduled on a calendar. God showed up, people were saved and lives were transformed.
It was during one of those meetings that God gave me a second chance. He had spoken to me once before about the call, but I turned a deaf ear. Imagine the stupidity of that. Following one of the services I left to go play in a basketball tournament. I remember riding around that night never finding the gym and ended up going home never playing at all. However, I also remember God speaking to me as I rode. What a transforming night that was.
