Baptism by Fire

Though the photograph is worn, my fathers suit was really not mottled! though many at FIRST Methodist Lake City bristled when he said he got his clothes from Goodwill. My father reluctantly accepted the position in Lake City after turning down Quincy. He had spent ten wonderful years at Williston and he was weary of being sent to dead churches in need of reviving.
My dad was never a good fit at the Lake City FIRST United Methodist, rampant with entrenched families of means, wealth and power.
He clashed with the music directors, who insisted on high church music only, never the Cokesbury revival hymns and spiritual songs of Fanny Crosby and Stebbens.
Through much acrimony, my father's final pastoral ship in Lake City came to a conclusion in 1979. His text was Matthew 16:24, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. He concluded by reading the entire chapter 5 from FIRST Peter, June 2, 1979 at 7PM.
In this photograph are Allison, Paula and Frank Powers first child. Rev Carl Schaeffer, who followed my father at FIRST church holds Allison. When the time in the service came for us to go up front for her baptism, Rev Shaeffer had to stall. Frankie, as usual, was late. Finally he arrived, and the christening service could proceed! I capitalized FIRST for I remember well the first service, when Mr Clements introduced my father. The inflection in Mr Clements voice would rise when he repeatedly said FIRST church. It was amusing to us country bumpkins in awe of the grandeur of FIRST church.
Though the church held many high church members, the majority were salt of the earth, humble, loving souls and my father connected with them, as he had over the years in so many humble homes and hamlets throughout his ministry.
In 1983 my father formed the Luther R Stokes Evangelistic Association with the majority of his support coming from the members of FIRST church. He went on to preach in many of the small churches he said could not afford an evangelist to come to their church.
From get thee behind me Satan in Matthew 16:23 to the glorious "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" of I Peter 5! But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
He that is FIRST shall be last.