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About the Preacher
Here goes. I was born an unremarkable person to parents of moderate means who loved me more than anyone else did for years. Somewhere (Blacksburg to be exact), around the age of 19, I began to attend the Baptist Student Union. There, I attended devotionals and Bible studies and met a lot of friendly people who didn't seem to delve too deeply into their Bible studies (sorry guys, no offense intended), but they were kind and together we shared a love for singing praises to the Lord. One person stood out for the concern that he showed me and the interest that he had in discovering the intentions of the Bible passages that we read and how we could apply the Bible's teachings to our lives. I was looking for answers, so I was glad to meet a fellow searcher. Berndt (who was called "Ben") gave me rides and shared Christian music with me, though our developing relationship was cut short when I traveled to the D.C. area for a 6-month stint with the CIA for a co-op job as an analyst (I said that I was born unremarkable, not that I stayed that way ;-). In D.C., I was set up with 3 roommates from all over the country. One of them, Bob Blons (by the way, Bob, if you are still in the CIA and undercover or something, sorry about that), quickly caught on with a local congregation and began attending Bible studies religiously, every week. He was a northerner, but respectable and kind nonetheless (a Minnesotan, I might add, not really a true northerner for those who might judge him unkindly). Well, anyway, Bob was instrumental in my spiritual development by being the person who invited my roommate to join his Bible Study group. (Thanks for not inviting me, Bob!) So, one week I invited myself (by asking the other roommate if I could tag along). Bob's story is that I was more intimidating than Greg, because I regularly read my Bible. (Earth to Bob: that's a clue, sometimes, when a guy reads the Bible a lot; he may be looking for answers). Well, I survived Bob's inattention, and Bob was pleased that I came along. It was his concern for me that led me to some capable teachers of the Bible who helped guide me into an understanding of the Bible and God that was solid enough to build my life on. I was baptized and became a member of the University Church of Christ, a church that has left its imprint upon me to this day for its passionate singing, complete involvement in each others' lives, dedication to prayer, unity, and solid teaching. The world opened up for me there and became a welcoming place. It was there that I met the bride of my life, Anita. When I returned to Blacksburg for another school session, it was natural that I would attend the Blacksburg Church of Christ. The campus group there was second to none at that time. I still have the greatest respect for the abilities and love of Bob Kolodner, Danny Dixon, Roy Buchanan, and a host of students who served and worshiped God and cared for one another with great enthusiasm. I showed up out of nowhere, and it felt like home. As I walked in, there was a familiar, friendly face--Berndt Eisenschmidt. The Blacksburg Church of Christ was his home, but he endeavored to reach out to students at the Baptist Student Union. Somewhere during my time in Blacksburg, I became convicted that I needed to preach. A message begged from my heart to be released, and I began to pester Danny Dixon to teach me some of the skills of his trade. He did what he could with the material I provided, and I preached my first message. It was an effort that would not get one invited back for the lack of promising skill, but none could deny my enthusiasm. Being a timid man of small confidence (believe it or not, I was a very shy man at the time; Anita almost gave up trying to talk to me), I knew that I needed more formal training. The Computer Science degree that Virginia Tech awarded me in 1987 was useful, but it was unlikely to aid my long-term goal. I studied at Harding Graduate School of Religion, twenty-four hours per day, between 1987 and 1990 (it was a challenging 3 years). While at school, I was blessed with the support of the McKellar Avenue Church of Christ in Memphis, a mostly black congregation who graciously allowed me to serve as their youth minister for all 3+ years. They suffered through some of the worst initial preaching attempts ever known to man; however, it was often said that it was inevitable that I would improve. Be assured that the McKellar congregation is still alive and well today, and they understand grace better than the above-average church. Charlie Shead, the preacher, was a devoted man who was working full-time as well as preaching. Charlie liked to say that having an "outside job" meant that he could just preach the truth without worrying about his job as a preacher. Those were years of growth for me, working as a security guard, becoming a father of two beautiful girls (Aislynn and April), and learning to preach. After obtaining my Master of Divinity degree, I found an article that indicated a search for a preacher in my wife's hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. The Fort Avenue Church of Christ hired me in 1991. In Lynchburg, I gave birth to a son, Seth (with help from Anita). I now work during the weekdays at Central Virginia Community Services; there I am the Health Information Manager for Child and Family Services. I can occasionally be found coaching soccer, ferrying my offspring to various events, and writing articles about myself so that people will know why God made me. It's very reassuring. Contact Lee: Lee@fortavenue.com |
Hey, if it were up to me, there probably wouldn't be an "About the
Preacher" page, and that's not because I'm too humble to talk about
myself. I just don't like people to look at me too closely (I
prefer not to frighten small children or the elderly). But, some
people in the church said that I represent the church in many people's
eyes (well, doesn't everybody?!), so here I am, writing about me.
The question is, "What does that say about them?"