Sarah Barry visits Virginia

There are a few people in my life who have had more influence the Mother Sarah Barry. I can't say how thankful I was to have her visit us here in Charlottesville and Richmond last week (April 22-25, 2010).

She said a few things to me. The main direction she offered was: "Shepherd Chris, teach your children the Bible", and, "Stay in Charlottesville for a good while. This is a good place."

I was so humbled to hear her message on Genesis 1,2. The beginning of Genesis is one of my most favorite passages in all the Bible, probably because I have studied it with so many students over the years. I am thankful to have her message available for further study. I plan to use it as the basis for my first live open-air sermon at UVa this week. Today, in fact.

Life has been good to me. But I am at a singular crossroad in my life. I must either seek to further my high-tech career, or live as a tentmaker. I know this decision is not easy, since it will affect the lifestyle and comfort of my family. I don't intend to give up anything as a sacrifice to God, because I know he doesn't need it and it isn't worthy compared to the sacrifice of His Son. But I do want to obey my Lord and preach and teach His word on the campus, even if it means having no steady job.

Still it was comforting that Mother Barry prayed for me to have a steady job in Charlottesville. I am deeply thankful for this prayer, and am convinced the Lord will answer it soon.

Perhaps the moment that was so true to form, was when before her beautiful message, she took me aside and said she felt her message was too long and "weird". I told her I love long messages that are non-conventional, and try to preach such messages whenever I have the chance. She asked me to pray for her. Wow! It's like Jesus asking to be baptized by John.

She preached a beautiful message on Genesis 1-2, and read "The Creation" a poem by James Weldon Johnson, so beautifully, so tenderly. This man does a comparable job reading it:
I was ashamed to admit I had never heard this poem, though I grew up in the town where Johnson was born, Jacksonville, Florida, and went to a school named for him. I can say I am properly educated because I have known and learned under Sarah Barry.

But that is the soul of Mother Sarah Barry, like Jesus. I thank the Lord who raised up such a humble woman for our times, not to be in the papers and appearing with the President and such, but serving everyone around her, even at 80. (She was born 1/22/1930).

The Lord bless you, Mother Barry. May he answer your prayers for Virginia and save many souls here through one-t0-one Bible study.