Westminster Presbyterian Church Centennial Books

Okay, here ’ s where I need to interrupt for a minute with a footnote of clarification. Some of you will know, that being involved on a Lay Renewal Team is a wonderful experience, but there ’ s a lot of faith involved. You go because you have a story to tell, a testimony of saving faith, but you have no guarantee that you will get to share your story. If you are selected by the team leader, you may be sharing in front of the large congregation, or in a small group, but generally, you don ’ t find any of that out until right before that meeting starts -- right before the meeting starts. Well, on our 1973 Lay Renewal team, there was one individual who had been invited to come, and she was assured that she would not be asked to share her story -- that this weekend in Bluefield was just for her, for her own personal growth. Well, right before the congregational gathering on this particular night, the team leader had either forgotten that deal, or felt the Holy Spirit was overriding that deal, and this lady was told that she would share her story to the entire gathering. Now, back to my story about Hazel Cauthen. It turns out that the lady sharing her story was someone that Hazel had gone to college with. What a surprise! She knew this person who was sharing her faith. And, it was powerful. This busy mother of four heard a message, not from an ordained minister, but a follower of Jesus, and Hazel says that even though she had been raised in the church, and even though their family regularly attended church, that this was truly the first time in her life she had heard the Gospel clearly presented. Her life would never be the same. Her husband, Charlie ’ s life would never be the same. As I talked to them this week, Charlie reflected that there was probably not a single church in Bluefield that somehow was not impacted by this Lay Renewal weekend. God was truly up to something.

Westminster has been a “ Blessing ” to Bluefield and the surrounding area for 100 years and I thank God He has allowed me and my family to be a small part of that.

Lucky Goforth

When I think of our church, my first thought was fellowship defined. That means a friendly feeling that exists in a group of people who share the same interest or purpose … The faces have changed some over the years but the fellowship has not. It is all about Jesus. Westminster has provided a place for this.

Buddy Parker recalls that his wife, Jean, was Al Bixler ’ s secretary, and that she felt obligated to attend the Lay Renewal. Well, at that time in his life, Buddy had no interest in going. In his own words, Buddy says that “ he needed to be saved -- bad. ” He reluctantly agreed to go to the evening meeting with Jean, and he had a strong drink before they left for church that night -- but he came. And he wasn ’ t quite ready for

what he experienced. Buddy says that he had no desire to be a Christian because he had never met a Christian who was happy or who had any fun. During the Lay Renewal, he met regular people who were sold out for their Savior, and the Lord was truly drawing Buddy to Himself, and as you know, Buddy has never been the same. What a powerful testimony of God ’ s saving grace. Part of Al ’ s broader vision was to bring speakers to Bluefield, so that Westminster ’ s congregation could dig deep in the Scriptures, and the speakers he brought weren ’ t small - town folk but well - known national speakers. They include such names as –

Linda S. Lynch

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