The greatest thing that can be said of anyone,
I believe, is that a Christian loves God, Christ, and the church.
Albert was that kind of person. I held several meetings during
the years that Albert was at New Freeport, PA., and I just wanted
to share this with you.
The times that Albert and I worked together in
meetings were really a source of encouragement to me as the "younger"
preacher. Albert and June were always very hospitable when I stayed
with them for the meeting. June would always go out of her way
to make me feel "at home."
Each time I would arrive for a meeting, Albert
would have prospects already in mind for us to visit. During the
meeting we would visit all the families in the community of New
Freeport. Of course, that didn't take very long in that little
village. We would usually just walk the distance or, maybe, take
the car a little ways, and then walk the rest. He always had a
meeting advertisement to hand to them with some literature for
them to read about the gospel story. Sharing time with individuals
was precious to Albert. When we would leave a home, he would have
an optimistic, upbeat attitude about having done his part in trying
to reach every soul that he could. Each day of the gospel meeting
would be the same, with time spent in trying to reach the lost
of the community. That is what it is all about.
My most vivid recollections of Albert were the
times we spent discussing the Scriptures. Either before a meal
or after a meal or after the sermon that I had preached, he would
raise some questions about something said during the day, something
studied by him personally, or about something that I had preached
that he had always wondered about. Those questions allowed me
to think further about what the Word of God was actually teaching.
He was a student of God's Word on a daily basis. You could tell
that when you were around him. And, he lived it.
I'm so thankful for having been a part of his
life. I pray that throughout my life I can be the same kind of
influence upon "younger" fellows, just as Albert was
a tremendous influence and encouragement for my life. I will miss
him. -1227 20th St., Parkersburg, WV 26101.