Deep Roots and Tall Crown

by Roger Johnson

If you could imagine the church elders as representing a stand of mature growth redwood trees, acting as a shield against the elements above for the benefit of the congregation living below, well the tree with the deepest roots and the tallest crown would most certainly have to be Dr. Fred Grogan. Beginning with his father, who was a church elder himself and his mother, who was involved with the ladies ministry, when Central lived downtown at Linden and Dudley, Fred has spent more years than any other elder, either sitting in Central’s pews learning about his real Father or pacing back and forth in one of its classrooms extolling the glorious virtues of the faith he holds so dear to his heart,.

Born in Memphis in 1930, to very devout Christian parents, Fred grew up as one of two children, a younger sister being his only sibling. He attended High School at the ONLY high school in town at the time, Central, lettered in football (In his junior year he helped them to win the state championship) and graduated in 1948. Heading off to UT Knoxville for a BS degree in Chemistry after high school, Fred came back to Memphis about three years later to attend medical school.

Since loyalty and consistency seem to be innate in his sprit, after his 2nd year or so of medical school, Fred married his longtime sweetheart, Nancy, a woman he had known since before he could remember, seriously; their parent’s had been friends since before they were born and after birth, though they were too young to remember, Fred and Nancy went to church together…pretty much gurgling at each other.

Fred graduated from medical school in 1954 and then began his residency in pediatrics. Halfway through his residency, he joined the Army whereupon he went to Atlanta and worked in the 3rd Army’s Headquarters’ Hospital as a Pediatric doctor. After his Army commitment was up he went back to Memphis and finished his residency, specializing in allergies. Remaining consistent, as he has to everything else in his spiritual, personal or professional life, Fred stayed true to his original medical training and to this day, 53 years after graduating from medical school, he is still a practicing allergist.

While Fred attended medical school, Nancy embarked upon a teaching career that lasted 30 years and which took her through the labyrinth of both the public and private sector school systems of Shelby County.  She finished her career on a high note retiring as a 2nd grade teacher at Central Day School in the 1980s.  Nancy though was not just content to be a teacher.  She and Fred were fruitful and multiplied, in accordance with the Lord’s command, and were blessed to have three daughters, Janet, Ellen and Alise; all three of whom are devout Christians and one of whom, Ellen, is the head of the Women’s Ministry at Central Church.  

Fred’s consistency of service in just about every aspect of his life is probably the most evident in his faith. Almost literally he was raised in the shadows and shelter of Central church and its immediate environs. As it moved eastwards so did he and as its foundations grew in size, so did Fred’s faith and commitment to God. Fred and Nancy have been involved in just about every aspect of Central’s offerings with regards to music, ministry, teaching or groups; you name it they have done it. In addition, he was brought in as a Deacon when he was in this 30’s, made an Elder in his 40’s, and has seen eight pastors progress through Central’s history. His service and commitment to his church is legendary, though in talking to him you wouldn’t get the feeling that he thinks he’s anything special.

Getting even more personal, Fred is a man of great faith. He believes unquestionably in the word of God, the Bible, and though he may believe that God speaks through men, pastors for example, he does not believe any pastor or person is above the law of the Bible.  Like a knight on a crusade he is more than prepared to defend the congregation, indeed the whole of the church, against anything or anyone that attacks what he feels is God’s own creation. Finally, when Fred speaks it is for the express purpose of communicating an important thought, fact or idea; he is not frivolous with his words.
We should all feel blessed to have him as one of the eldest of the elders and may he remain so for many years to come.

J P Gradone: Executive Pastor Material

Though he was born and raised a second generation Italian in New Jersey, unlike many he was not raised Catholic. His grandmother, a devout Catholic who became a devout Protestant when she got saved, changed his whole heritage and so he was raised in a Protestant Christian home. His parents were active in church and he was too. He was the church organist from age 11 through college.

But he was not living for the Lord. It wasn’t until revival touched his church and a guy from his school got radically saved and yelled out to him at church, “Hey, John Paul, I didn’t know you were a Christian – why didn’t you tell me about Jesus?” in front of everybody, that he was broken by God and gave his life to Christ at age 19.

He met his wife Cheryl (pronounce the ch like the ch in cherry) during his sophomore year in college and was married 17 months later in her hometown of Pensacola, FL. They celebrated their first anniversary 8 months pregnant (“It’s the Italian way!”). He graduated with a bachelors in Business Administration from the University of West Florida, spent a couple of years in the computer industry and then got involved in his father-in-law’s cemetery and funeral home business. He continued through several acquisitions and spent a total of 22 years in the industry, growing from a location manager to regional president.

Over the course of his career he had three children in Pensacola and two more in Sarasota, FL. He and his family spent five more years in Beckley, WV. In a lot of ways, moving was instrumental to his family becoming interdependent. They carried many of their family traditions wherever they went, most from his Italian heritage and built around food and family.

But in February 2003, God called J. P. to full time ministry to serve as Executive Pastor and School Administrator for The Tabernacle, a church in Sarasota, FL. He served the last 28 months assisting his former pastor in his church in Birmingham in that same capacity. He was primarily involved in organizing and aligning their financial and operational areas before going part-time earlier this year (2010).

“We’re entering the ‘empty nest’ season of our lives,” he says, “as our younest, Gina, will be graduating high school this spring and heading to Auburn University in the fall.” His other children are:

• Eleanor, age 19, who will be completing her second year of community college before entering the University of Alabama Birmingham in the fall.
• Pierce, 24, who is married, a graduate with his wife of Florida State and currently residing in Austin, TX where he is completing his masters in Music Composition while his wife is a nurse there in Austin. He will pursue his doctorate in the fall.
• John Paul, Jr., 28, who is single and a professional musician in Nashville, a graduate of Lee University.
• Carmen, 30, who has been married for 10 years and resides in Birmingham with her husband, who is a manager for Wells Fargo, and their three children, Adeline, Will and Emily.

“Cheryl and I are very excited about being a long-term part of the Central family,” he says. They are looking forward to building relationships with the staff, members and community to expand the kingdom of God for His glory.

Find Shelter in this Author’s Book

Signposts are everywhere. It’s hard to imagine getting through the day without them showing the way.

Author Billie Cash believes in documenting what God has accomplished in your life. “When you write it down, it becomes a signpost to those who are behind you,” she says, describing her style of writing as “poetic journalism.” Her way of developing a single concept leaves the reader saying, “Oh yes, I see what I need.”

Billie firmly believes all six of her books are signposts that have been inspired by God through an event or experience in her own life. Her latest book, “The Shelter: Finding Strength to Keep Watch” is no different. Of all her books, this one is her favorite because it speaks to our nation in these uncertain times.

Her desire to write the book came when friend Norma Seifert invited her to co-host a Concerned Women for America booth at the University of Mississippi campus. CWFA is a U.S. organization of conservative women which promotes Biblical values, family traditions and the Constitution.

Billie’s spirit broke that day as she talked with people about our Constitution and the family. “I knew God was leading me there for a reason,” she says, “to look at the specifics of where we�ve pulled away from Him as a nation. That day forever changed my watch.”

For the next year, Billie studied and read in preparation to write the Shelter. She examined God�s strength and how He develops it within His children. Billie concludes, “The shelter of His presence is found through prayer and living in God’s Word. It is living your life knowing that you know God.”

Shelter along with Billie’s other books are available for purchase through the Central Church bookstore, Barnes and Nobles at the Crossings, Davis Kidd and at her web site www.billiecash.com. She travels as a retreat conference speaker for women. Her other books include Windows of Assurance, Light Breaking Through, Autumn Rain, PRAYERSURGE and A Pillow on the Highway. One reader comments on her latest work, “You will find the strength to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and idleness by resting in the stability of His presence.”

Imagine this.

You open your sleepy eyes expecting to get a head-start on the day. Only, there’s light peeking through the window.
Wait a minute. . .sunshine at 5 a.m.?

You know the scene. You’ve accidentally set your alarm for p.m.

“I guess there’s no quiet time this morning, Lord”, you whisper. “I’ll do it tonight.”

The air-conditioning repair man is scheduled for 8 a.m. and Rover has an appointment with Dr. Bark at 3:30 p.m. You glance at your “to do” list – grocery, laundry, clean house, call the insurance company. . . oh yeah, start that exercise program.

“When is this head cold ever going away,” you sigh.

Now. Imagine this PLUS homeschooling your children – lessons, projects, extracurricular activities.
And having dinner on the table for your family.

Sound impossible?

Like most of us, Dee Dee Wike knows what it’s like to wear many hats. In fact, the decision to homeschool her two children inspired Dee Dee to write about these everyday struggles.

“I’ve been writing and journaling for the last 35 years,” she explains. “So when I needed an outlet for the stress and financial strain during the time I was teaching my children at home, I found blogging to be quick and convenient.”

Putting her thoughts into a “cyberspace” blog helped Dee Dee keep life in perspective. Through her blog, she could stay creative, funny, honest, and real.

After 3 months of blogging, Dee Dee discovered many of her readers found comfort in the way she applied Scripture to the “stuff” of everyday life.

“You should put this in a book,” they raved.

Dee Dee’s desire to make writing a “full time” job became a reality as she found support through her family and other writers she met at Central Church. Her personal blog entries were rewritten into a collection of 120 articles and devotionals.

In December 2009, Tate Publishing released Good to the Last Drop: Refreshing Inspiration for Homeschool Moms and Other Busy Women. Dee Dee’s manuscript was one of 400 chosen from approximately 10,000 submitted to the publisher.
“It’s a pick-up, put-down book – great to put in your car for carpool,” she laughs.

But it’s not only moms who will find inspiration in this easy-read. Anyone can benefit from this reminder that “God can be found if we only look for Him” (a comment made by a happy reader).

When asked what her advice would be to others struggling in the “trenches” of everyday life, Dee Dee shares these words of wisdom:

• What you think you need is NOT always what you need
• Don’t use a credit card if you can’t pay!
• Let God handle your needs one day at a time
• Delight yourself in the Lord daily

Dee Dee and her husband, Steve Wike, reside in Collierville with their two children. Visit Dee Dee’s website (www.DeeDeeWike.com) for links to her blogs, upcoming book-signings, or to schedule her at your next speaking event.

Spiritual Ears to Hear

Meet Barbara and Bubba Beloate, husband and wife, who are both vital members of our staff here at Central Church. Barbara’s parents were Ethel and John McMahon. They met in Bowling Green, Kentucky which was Ethel’s hometown. Mr. McMahon, who was from Crenshaw, Mississippi, was there attending college on the GI Bill. They married in 1948 and moved to Memphis. They had two daughters. First, Kathy was born in October, 1950, and then Barbara was born on November 19, 1956. Barbara says they were a close loving family, and she and Kathy were blessed to have had very special parents.

Their Dad worked for Dean’s Milk Company near Overton Square. He loved his job and worked there for 52 years. He did not retire until he was 80 years old, and only then because he fell and broke his hip. Their Mom worked for the Easter Seals Organization for about 25 years.

When Barbara’s mom was pregnant with her second baby (Barbara), she was exposed to a sick child. She asked what was wrong and was told that the child had German measles. Barbara says, “My Mother just freaked out! She went to the doctor and was told that if she caught the disease, then something could be wrong with her baby, so she was upset and afraid.” Her mom did come down with the measles and was very sick. When Barbara was born, everything seemed fine, but as she grew, her family realized she did not respond to sounds. Doctors made an official diagnosis that Barbara was deaf when she was about 18 months old.

Barbara remembers, “When I was four, Mom took me to a new school called the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. It was in Mid-town near our home. I learned to read lips and listen with my hearing aid. I didn’t learn to sign. The teachers in that school didn’t teach signing. I went there for eight years, graduating in 1968. Then I went to Evangelical Christian School and graduated in 1977.” Her school memories include some classmates our readers might recognize – Patty (Cole) Robbins, Anne (Ringer) Clay, Tim Clay, Bill Heinz, and Ellen (Grogan) Olford. Her 5th Grade teacher is another person you will recognize – our PRIME TIME feature writer, Joanne Fite. It is a small world.

Barbara continued her education at Draughon’s Business College. She worked part time at the B & M Printing Company. After graduation she worked for the IRS for about one year, then took a job in data entry with the Kroger Company. Then in January, 1980, a mutual friend introduced her to a young man named Bubba Beloate. A week later he asked her out on a date, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Bubba Beloate, a native Memphian, was born August 6, 1956 to Wooten and Lena Beloate. He has three sisters, Frances (Crisler) and Barbara (Spann) who live in Memphis, and Charlene (Williams), who lives in Diamond Head, Mississippi. Some of Bubba’s favorite childhood memories center on fishing. He recalls, “When I was a child, my next door neighbor, Joe, started taking me fishing with him. My dad would go along sometimes too, when he wasn�t working. Joe and I spent many Saturdays fishing together at Arkabutla Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Herb Parson Lake, and even Audubon Park Lake before they closed it to fishing. Joe taught me how to recognize and fish for different species; he taught me patience, and how to respect others. He also gave me a very small Bible that fit in my tackle box. I still have that Bible in my tackle box, but I just can’t read the small print now!” He enjoys fishing just as much now, but Barbara says only when it is warm. Bubba admits he is not a fan of cold weather. He also liked to bowl when he was younger and enjoyed that for many years.

Bubba graduated from Overton High School in 1974. He then went on to the University of Memphis and worked for Coca Cola Company.

Then in January of 1980, he met Barbara McMahon and we pick up again on their story. Barbara remembers riding in Bubba’s 1970 Mustang and that they went bowling on their first date. Bowling turned out to be something they both enjoyed and they spent many years bowling in leagues together. They dated for a little more than two years and were married on June 12, 1982. Barbara says that she walked down the aisle to stand in front of the pastor with Bubba and then she froze. She remembers, “I couldn’t say my vows because I couldn’t understand him very well; I spoke so quietly that even my mom couldn’t hear me.”

After their marriage, Bubba took a job with FedEx and worked there in Customer Service for 16 years. Then he was offered a job at Central Church as a school age coordinator for Children’s Ministries. He has continued in Children’s Ministry leading Shock Wave for grade school age children on Wednesday evenings, and 3rd & 4th grade Sunday School classes. Four years ago, Bubba took on the position of Operations Manager for the whole church. His years in Customer Service certainly show through in his dedication to helping all of us on staff to work with excellence. Barbara has worked for Central for several years in child care. She worked for the nursery and has been with the Learning Center for 14 years, and is much loved by many, many children.

And how did these two come to know the LORD? Barbara grew up attending First Baptist Church on Poplar. She asked Jesus to be her Savior when she was 12. Bubba was raised in the Catholic Church and as a child he attended St. Anne’s on Highland. He was saved when he was 25 years old, about six months before he and Barbara were married. In January of that year, his father took his own life. Bubba says it was a very hard day. His best friend came to talk with him and offer support. He shared the love and comfort we can find in Jesus and lead Bubba to the LORD. Bubba says that the help he received is testimony of how Jesus will help us to go through any circumstances no matter how hard they are.

The Beloates have been married almost 27 years and have two children, a son, Shawn, and a daughter, Kristen. Barbara says that one Sunday when Shawn was six years old and Kristen was 2 months old, Bubba woke her up and said they were going to Central Church. She says they went, met people in a small group and fell in love with the church. “This church helped us learn a lot about GOD. Our children were happy going to church every Sunday and Wednesday. Bubba has been a good husband and father. He made a good decision for us,” she stated.

Over the 17 years since they joined Central, the whole family has been involved with Children’s Ministry, Camp Tsungani, family trips, Jr./ Sr. High trips and others. Bubba has held the title of Chief Fishing Hawk at Camp Tsungani for 8 years. Their children have literally grown up in Central Church. Shawn is now 23. He graduated from Chrichton College majoring in Biblical Studies. He has been employed with the church since he was a young teenager first as a counselor in training with summer camp, and now in the Learning Center in before and after school programs for school age children. He also teaches a Bible study for College age students on Tuesday nights. He has been on two mission trips outside the U.S. and is studying and praying about his life calling. Kristen, now age 17, is a junior at Collierville High School. She is active in the church youth ministry and volunteers in with KidzCentral in Children�s Ministry. This summer she will go to Guatemala with a church team on her first mission trip.

Bubba has very little spare time but he likes to do yard work and work on cars – at least a little – but fishing is his passion – at least according to his wife. Barbara says her spare time is spent with her family, chatting with her best friend and hanging out with good friends from Central. She likes to play on the computer and relax with some quiet time. Her goal is to travel to the beach, Disney World, and SeaWorld and visit relatives.

Barbara had a remarkable experience that she shared with us. Years ago, her good friend Pam died a week after childbirth. While Barbara was holding Pam’s little son, she saw a vision of Pam watching her and smiling. Barbara says that she was wearing a white gown and looked beautiful – like an angel. It brought Barbara peace. Another experience was hearing GODs vo’ice telling her to go to Camp Tsungani – that must have been an amazing experience, especially for a deaf person. She says that GOD has blessed her and has been good to her and her whole family and she thanks HIM every day.

Bubba and Barbara, what a joy it is to get to know you better. The LORD has blessed our church with you and your family. You are living examples of what it means to have a servant’s heart and you have brought your children up in the same path. Thank you for your many years of love and service to the children and the congregation of Central Church.

Shaped by God

By Roger Johnson

As you drive west on I-40 in Arizona, you will begin to see the top of Mt Humphrey, the state’s highest peak, rise above the western landscape just as you pass through the town of Winslow. Though you are more than 60 miles away, its prominence takes center stage in the visual arena being offered. It seems to take forever to reach it, though its beauty is so staggering you don’t mind watching the slow rise of its summit; with green wraps of pine upon its flanks, a small snow capped top and a sharply chiseled profile, it’s one of the most beautiful mountains in the west, as it stands sentinel over the area.

But it wasn’t always pretty; millions of years ago it was molten rock far below the Earth’s surface. As God shaped our planet, this magma burst forth from the depths in steady streams piling upon itself, growing taller with each convulsion. Eventually the eruptions ceased, the mountain cooled, and the basic elements of earth, wind, water and sand, all collaborated to redefine what was once a hellish mound of rock into the beautiful crown it now is.

Elder Bill Berry is a person who could probably identify with Mt Humphrey. Born in 1943 in Lebanon, Indiana, he would eventually be the oldest of two children, having a younger sister, Barbie, for company as he matured.

To the casual observer Bill could have been regarded as an exemplary child and young adult. He graduated 5th in his high school class, lettered in football, basketball and golf, and was an Eagle Scout. In 1962 he entered Wabash College, in Indiana, and majored in psychology. Leaving the mundane scenery of the cornfields, Bill spiced up his life a bit and went to Hawaii to pursue a Masters degree in speech pathology. After two years there he continued with his speech pathology education, working now for his Doctorate at Purdue University, in Indiana, missing the corn I guess. He received his Doctorate in Speech Pathology in 1971.

During those years of educating himself he also managed to court and marry his Dutch born and raised wife, Elly, and have the first of their two girls. Bill met Elly when he was a sophomore in High school and she a foreign exchange student. They dated for the last three months of her stay in the USA. Evidently Bill’s mojo was in full swing when he met Elly as she was smitten with him and they became faithful pen pals after she returned to the Netherlands. Once back home Elly worked on her career in office management. After two years she eventually returned to the States, Indiana in particular, whereupon the two picked up where they left off. They eventually married in 1966 while Bill was a senior in college. To round out the dream, the first of Bill’s two girls, Erin, was born when he was working on his PhD at Purdue. She would eventually be joined by Robin, who arrived shortly after Bill finished his schooling and began to work for the Veterans Administration in the early 70′s.

Upon receiving his PhD, Bill decided that the VA was to be his employer. An earthquake in Sepulveda, California leveled his first choice of locations so by default he moved to Memphis, his second choice, in 1971.

At first blush you might think Bill’s life was charmed, but actually, he held a deep secret that he didn’t reveal to the world, specifically his wife, until 1977. When he was 12 years old, during a scout camping trip, an adult introduced him and some other scouts to pornography. Because Bill’s mother was unaffectionate and disassociated with her children, the pornography infiltrated a psyche longing for love and attention. For the next 22 years the addiction caused Bill to live two lives, one public, and one very darkly, secret.

Because Elly was so strong, but not a Christian at this point, she made a decision to stay with Bill but was very frank in her assessment that this was his problem. Bill too, though not a Christian either, wanted to make the marriage work but his problem was this: though the counselors he saw could help him understand why he had his addiction, he craved for strength from a “supernatural” power to help him stop. He searched everywhere, rejecting Christ as the answer many times, in the hope for a quicker and seemingly easier fix. None came.

On April 13, 1983, as he drove to work, Bill listened to an inspirational tape about the trials and tribulations of a college football player who was paralyzed after an injury. Also, as fate would have it, on that same morning his secretary left a pamphlet on his desk that referenced Philippians 4:13. Finally, when he looked at the digital clock on his desk it indicated 4/13 (for the month and day it was). All of this was too overwhelming-God’s elements had really started their shaping. Bill began to weep, and on that day he received Christ. He had finally found the supernatural power he had been looking for. In short order, following Bill’s lead, the entire family came to Christ and in 1984 they joined Central Church.

Though Bill fully kicked his addiction and became deeply involved in the Church, eventually becoming an elder in 1998, he wasn’t finished there. He had seen the “dark side” and now that he was in the light he was determined to help others leave the shadows. In the early 90′s, while doing research on the new and quickly evolving internet, he began to minister to others online about sexual addictions, and how he was able, through the power of Christ, to break the cycle. Still not content, Bill and his wife began giving their testimony in person at church dinners and meetings.

But God wasn’t finished with him yet! Bill’s desire to further reach out to others led him to start a church ministry, both online and in the physical realm, in May of 2000, for those with sexual addictions, and to cap it off, he became a fully ordained minister in December of 2003.

Bill has come a long way since he was 12; like Mt Humphrey he came from the depths of hell and through the splendor of our Lord he had risen to shine like a beacon in the night guiding wayward souls to the straight and narrow gates.

Branch Between the Trees

By Roger Johnson

When you think about the personality and persona of the Elders, you may think of them as I do: spiritually devout men of unshakable faith with impeccable integrity and character, and a strong sense of responsibility towards their church. However, while these are great qualities to have, one could also imagine that as they rose to the position of Elder the very qualities it took to get them there could also cause them to become aloof from the rest of us and possibly separated from the other Elders due to differences in opinions, ideas and ideologies. But fear not! The providence and the hand of God are upon our Elders and church. In His perfect wisdom, God gave us certain nuances of personality that, like different parts of the body, cannot function individually on their own, but once assembled create a beautiful and wonderfully functioning “being”, in this case, the body of Christ at Central Church.

With that long and necessary introduction complete I want to introduce you to Mr. Russell McGoff. If our Elders could be described as giant redwood trees standing shepherd over the land below, Russ sees himself as designed by God to help the trees connect with one another. God made Russ with branches that extend from one tree to another. You see, Russ is a facilitator of communication and human emotion and acts as a translator for the various differences that can occur in interpersonal communications, particularly in a room occupied with strong personalities. In a manner of speaking you might say he speaks and listens in tongues when it comes to understanding the various Elders and their “language”. People, all of us, have different backgrounds and life experiences that have shaped and molded us into what we are and how we are perceived. Because of this, we have certain biases and filters that either help, or in most cases hinder, effective communication. Russ understands, intrinsically, what people’s motivations are and is able to find ways to tie these various groups and people together.

Russ’s gift of communication is no doubt God given, but, given his family dynamics while growing up, came in a hard way. But as the Lord has told us in Romans 8:28: “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

Born the oldest of three brothers in Memphis in 1941, Russ lettered in three sports while attending Treadwell High School – football, basketball and baseball. After graduating in 1959 he began classes at then Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) with the intention of becoming a doctor, a profession chosen for him by his dad. But God intervened and during his first year he quit school and joined the United States Air Force. Getting stationed in Japan, Russ specialized in accounting and finance. While his “day” job in the USAF gave him an education in military life, his aspirations of furthering his career included finishing what he had originally started before the military and he started attending night school while in the service. After 3 and a half years of working for Uncle Sam Russ came back to Memphis and finished his degree in Business where he had originally started, the University of Memphis.

After his education was completed, Russ worked for various businesses in the Memphis area. It was in this time frame that God was particularly working on Russ. He was not cemented with a conviction of faith nor purpose in life, but God was “cooking” him until the time was right to pull him out of the oven.

On a blind date Russ met Gail and they married in 1968, eventually having a wonderful son whom they named Tim and then later adopting an equally wonderful daughter, Brittney.

Gail, herself a graduate of the University of Memphis, and after traveling the country as a flight attendant, grew roots after marrying Russ and started a second career as a school teacher.

But while both were dealing with a life of quiet desperation, one borne from a life apart from God, the Lord finally pulled a now simmering Russ out of the oven, and, in 1972, after Russ and Gail attended their first service at Central Church, he, Russ, professed his love and belief in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and became one of the flock. As a side note, the preacher’s sermon on Russ’s first visit to Central that day was on the “Prodigal Son.” This started Russ’s spiritual and professional life rolling.

Russ and Gail quickly joined Central Church and Russ eventually became an adult Sunday school teacher. In 1980, eight years after professing his faith, he became an Elder and obviously has remained so ever since.

What is very interesting in all of this is how the Lord worked in Russ’s professional life after he became saved and then involved with the church community at Central. By his own admission Russ worked in uninspiring positions on the operations side of the companies for whom he worked. But after joining Central and teaching Sunday school, he realized he much more enjoyed the human element of businesses, the very people themselves: their desires, motivations and psyche.

So with that God-revealed epiphany, he embarked on a total career change that in 1982 caused him to start his own, very successful, consulting firm that specializes in interpersonal skills, planning, negotiating and finally strategic planning.

At 66 years old, Russ is still running his company and it, like his faith, is thriving and growing.

The Gregarious Elder

By Roger Johnson

As an odd thought, if the word gregarious could be personified it would surely be in the form of Jay Robinson. At 76 his age certainly qualifies him for the respect of being called an elder. However, on the more important and spiritual aspect of the term “Elder”, as defined in 1 Timothy 3:1, Jay more than qualifies for the title.

Born in November 1930 in Rochester, NY, Jay was the second of two sons born to his church going mother and father. At 9 he moved to Scotia, NY, near Albany.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations (nowadays its called Human Resources) in 1952 from Cornell University. While attending Cornell he was enrolled in ROTC and so, after leaving college, he fulfilled his military obligation by going into the USAF (United States Air Force) as an officer.

His first year was spent as an “adjutant” at a now closed Olmstead Air Force base in Pennsylvania and then in 1953 he was whisked away to the wilds of a DEW line radar site at Cape Romanzof, Alaska, where he spent his time trying to keep warm! In addition to staving off hypothermia from himself, Jay had the obligation of tending to the needs , again as ‘adjutant’, of over 100 enlisted men under his charge as it was their responsibility to keep the DEW line site functioning and alert for the ever present activities of the Soviet Air Force.

Helping to keep Jay warm, as he waited the sun’s rays to pierce the southern horizon in the winter months, were letters from his new bride, Joyce, whom he’d married in April of 1953, shortly before being shipped off to the “Cold (both figuratively and realistically!) War’s” electronic front. Jay and Joyce met in March of 1952 at a youth church dinner, when he was a senior in college, and married a year later.

Joyce, born in Hudson, NY, graduated from NY State College for Teachers in 1951 with a major in Math. So, while waiting for Jay to return and tell of his tales from the wild, she worked for GE in Schenectady, NY, assisting the engineers there with their math and doing some very early computer programming.

Upon leaving the USAF in 1954, Jay kinda took a detour on the way back to New York and stopped to see his brother, a teacher, in Southern California. After the visit, and like the Clampett’s of “The Beverly Hillbillies” fame, Jay thought that this was the place he and his bride ought’a be, so they loaded up their goods and moved to Redondo Beach, where Jay began working at North American, an aircraft manufacturer, as a Safety Engineer.

Now, suffice it to say, after taking this position at North American and entering the public domain, Jay endeavored to move more than the military would have moved him had he stayed in. Between 1954 and when Joyce put her foot down and said she wanted roots in 1970, Jay worked for no less than 4 other companies, rising up the corporate ladder with each position change, and moved 5 times! Finally, as if his professional life wasn’t busy enough, he earned his law degree in 1959 and passed the bar exam, in Missouri, that same year.

As much as they moved about the country, and Jay enjoyed being with various companies, their spiritual life remained active. Jay had always been involved in church. His parents were faithful members, and Jay continued in their denominational tradition. Even though he counts his actual salvation at a later date, Jay and Joyce were always active in church, no matter where they were attending services. Jay was singing in the college choir when he met Joyce, and as the last decibels of his voice died away when he left for his tour in Alaska, the lovely melodies of her organ playing resounded anew as her pining gave way to inspired music.

And when they were reunited upon his return from the military they continued in church dedication. To list all of their adventures within the church would fill volumes but suffice it to say Jay has spent almost as much time in the church community, as he has in his own career.

Along the road of spiritual growth, Jay accepted Jesus as his savior when he was 33, at the time he left his denominational roots, rededicating himself to God, and knowing full well what his commitment to Christ meant for him and his family.

After moving to Memphis in 1970, Jay and Joyce joined Central Church in 1978. At Central he and Joyce began teaching and working in Sunday school classes and they both sang in the choir. When Evangelism Explosion training exploded, Jay was there, in the thick of battle, at one point taking charge of classes teaching adults how to share their faith with non-believers. Also during that time frame Jay was selected as an elder. (Prior to joining Central he had been a deacon and board member at a couple of other churches). After retiring from private law practice in 1995, Jay became Director of Missions for four years and still�is a member of�the Mission Committee. He is now deeply involved as Board Chairman with the Calvary Rescue Mission, a wonderful organization that endeavors to help homeless men get back on their feet.

And last, but certainly not least, to carry on the family torch, Jay and Joyce have one daughter, Jaqueline Rose Waller, a stay at home mom (like her mom was) and mother of 3. Jaqueline, like her parents, is a Christian and lives, where else! in Churchville, MD.

Passion for Jesus…Passion for Life

By Leah Stanley

It’s so obvious God put them together because they compliment each other so perfectly. Dr. Wesley Dykes, sports medicine physician, is full of life and laughter, while Dr. Pamela Dykes, with a PhD in Organizational Communication, is a gentle, dedicated woman serving her Lord with dignity and grace. Together they are passionate about Jesus, and a blessing to both the ministry and membership of Central Church.

Born in Chester, Pennsylvania, Wesley earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Ohio University. During his second year in med school he met Pam, who was hard at work on her Master’s Degree. “I wasn’t really looking for anything serious,” Wesley said, smiling at Pam. “Just before I met her I had prayed that the next woman I dated would be the woman I could marry.”

Pam, who up to that time had been working for Allstate Insurance as a territorial sales manager, was focused on her education and was committed to receiving all that God had for her.

“I was really hesitant to start dating Wesley because I wanted to be sure that I was following the Lord’s lead,” Pam said.

The relationship took off, however, and nine months after they began dating, Wesley and Pam were married on June 10, 1995.

The Dykes established their home as Wesley completed medical school, graduating in 1997. Their first son, Braelen, was born in 1999, followed two years later by his brother Brysen. Pam’s third pregnancy, however, brought devastating news to the Dykes about their unborn daughter.

“The doctor told us she had cystic hygroma, which was basically a tumor at the base of her brain,” Wesley said.

“It was heartbreaking at first,” Pam said, “because there were no good outcomes based on what the doctors were telling us.”

Pam and Wesley were shocked to learn that doctors believed their baby, if she survived for the full term of the pregnancy, would have sever birth defects.

“I cried for days,” Pam said, “and then I began to see people with special needs children, and I noticed how God gave them the grace to parent those children.”

Wesley agreed emphatically.

“Doctors were urging us to have an abortion,” he said, “but we considered that an unacceptable alternative, especially for someone who has a spiritual relationship with God.”

Wesley said that he and Pam began to pray that if this was what God had for them they knew He would give them the grace to raise this child for God’s glory. In the end, Pam carried Belicia to full term, and when she was born there was no tumor; she was completely healthy in every way.

“The only way we knew there’d been a tumor was because she had a little bit of fat on the back of her neck,” Pam said. “Other than that, she was perfect!”

Shortly after Belicia’s birth in May 2003, Wesley accepted a job with Mechanix Sports and Occupational Medicine in Memphis. Pam began to research the Memphis area for a place to live. They settled on the apartment complex right next door to Central Church.

“Central had one spot left in the Parents’ Day Out program,” Pam said, “and we got Braelen in it.”

Today Pam is a stay-at-home mom who is very involved in the counseling ministry at Central. Wesley, who serves in the Air National Guard one weekend a month, continues to practice sports medicine. He and Pam recently traveled to Kona, Hawaii, where Wesley served as one of the physicians for the Iron Man Triathlon.

The Dykes were still in their hotel room at 7:07 a.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2006, when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Big Island. From their sixth-floor room at the top of the Royal Kona Resort, they both felt the building sway.

“The epicenter was 10 miles away from us,” Wesley said, “so we felt everything shaking. And I’m telling you, Pam got down those stairs without her feet ever touching the floor! I was at the top of the stairs just laughing at how fast she got down those six floors!”

Pam joked about the relaxed attitude of her husband. “He acted like being in an earthquake was just another experience to check off his ‘to do’ list!” she said.

Wesley said that even as he and Pam made their way out of the hotel they were never really afraid.

“I just had the sense that God wasn’t finished with me,” he said. “The earthquake added flavor to our trip; it didn’t detract from our experience of being in Hawaii.”

Meet A. J. and Martha Walton (aka Mr. Donut and Gommie-Gommie)

If you get involved in the life of Central Church, you are sure to meet A.J. and Martha Walton. They have been members of Central for 30 years and are very active in church ministry.

A.J. was born in the small town of Nutbush, Tennessee. He declares that the two little churches in the town were so close together that when one congregation sang, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?” the other congregation would answer, “No, Not One!”

A. J’s parents, Roy Lee Walton and Eller Norine Walton, were farmers, and A.J. spent a number of his baby days on a blanket out in the fields. Their farmhouse was built upon concrete foundation blocks. Years after he was grown, he went back to visit and found that the house was gone, but some of the blocks were still there. “I saved one and brought it home and put it on our property. I tell people that it was under my old home,” says A.J.

WW II brought changes to the Waltons, as it did for many people. With his daddy in the service overseas, the family, which now included a little sister, moved to Memphis. They lived near other family members (grandparents and aunts) in a cluster of small apartments so they would all be close enough to help each other. During those years it was difficult to find a place to live. Eventually, because they were soldier’s dependants, they were able to rent an apartment at Lamar Terrace. A. J. was saved when he was nine at the Lamar Terrace Community Center. Child Evangelism Fellowship leaders who were teaching Bible stories to the children, led him to the Lord. A. J. remembers they used flannel boards and pictures to illustrate the stories. Later at home, he had a case of hiccups. He prayed, “Lord, if you’re real, take my hiccups from me,” and the Lord answered that little boy’s prayer. “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Walton family’s next move was to Wells Station where the whole family joined Wells Station Baptist Church. A.J. is the big brother of three sisters: June Walton, Sandra Walton Bryan, and Rosamary Walton Posey.

A.J. attended high school at Treadwell High School. He enlisted in and was an officer in the ROTC. After graduation, he enrolled in Memphis State where he joined Lambda Chi Alpha, a fraternity based on Christian principles. Through the years, A. J. maintained his connections with the fraternity and in 1988 he received the prestigious Order of Merit Award. This honor is awarded every two years to only ten men out of all the alumni in all the chapters in the United States. At the time A.J. received his award, only 233 men out of more that 250,000 alumni were considered worthy of that honor.

It was at Memphis State that A.J. made another important connection. At a Lambda Chi Alpha function he met another Memphis State student, a young lady that he immediately wanted to get to know better – her name? Martha Jackson. They liked each other right away. Martha says she went home and told her mom, “I just met the neatest guy.” And he thought she was pretty neat too. A.J. asked Martha out on a date; they continued dating others for a while, but it wasn’t long until they knew they could stop looking – they had found the right person. Any doubts were settled by A.J.’s six months in the Army Reserves. They missed each other so much, that they did not want to be apart anymore. A.J. proposed and Martha accepted. Martha graduated in May, and they were married on July 25, 1964. That was 42 years ago.

Martha Jackson Walton was born at Baptist Hospital in downtown Memphis to William Hiram Jackson and Martha Andrews Jackson. Her mother had prayed, “Lord if we can only have one child, please send us a girl. If I can have more – a boy.” “When I came,” says Martha, “she knew I would be the only one.”

Martha began her school days at Messick; she continued at Messick through high school graduation. Then she was on to Memphis State where she prepared for a career in teaching. Her first job was teaching Home Economics at Colonial Junior High. One of her projects was for her students to take a box and decorate and furnish it to look like a room in a house. Then she and the students took the boxes to St. Peter’s Orphanage to give to the children there to use as dollhouses. In Martha’s clothing unit, the students made clothes, then modeled their creations in a fashion show for their families and friends. They even had judges and prizes.

When Martha and A.J. were married, they wanted children, but for a while, no little ones arrived to complete their family. They prayed and were blessed to adopt Adell who was just five weeks old. They call her their special adopted love. They continued to pray, and 2 � years later, Martha gave birth to Becky, who they call their prayer baby.

When the girls were four and two, Martha went through a period of depression that was the greatest challenge of her life. A.J., family, and church friends were praying for her. She went to her physician, then to a psychiatrist, but neither was able to help her. Later, a psychologist entered the picture and things changed dramatically for the better. He taught Martha how to express herself and learn to “talk it out.” She says, “I had tried to get well by being a better Christian, reading my Bible, etc. But ultimately, it was the Lord Who healed me in His timing – and in His way.” Martha had spent all of her life going to church, but in 1975, there was a difference. While participating in Bible Study Fellowship, she experienced a change in her heart and life. “I know that’s when He became my Lord and Savior,” Martha declares with gratitude. “The deepest desire of my heart is to be in the center of God’s will and a witness for His glory, and to be a Godly role model for our grandchildren,” says Martha.

The Lord used this experience to enable her to help others who are experiencing depression. She is currently training in the Lay Counseling Ministry. Upon completion of the course, she will have a certificate from the American Association of Christian Counselors. Her advice to young people is, “In life we have good times and bad times. When you have bad times, seek counsel from someone who has Godly wisdom and who cares about you.”

Martha was a stay-at-home mom when their girls were little. Now they are all grown up. Adell makes her home in Atlanta where she is the office manager and assistant for a chiropractor. Becky and her husband, John Thomas, live in Arlington, Tennessee with their four children. They have three daughters: Ainsley, 6, Abby, 4, and Emma, 2. Last but surely not least is their son, Will, 8 months. It was Ainsley who gave Martha the name Gommie-Gommie. When she was just learning to talk, she tried to say Grandmommie and Gommie-Gommie is what came out. And it was so cute that, of course, the name stuck.

Martha eventually reentered the world of teaching at Evangelical Christian School where she taught Home Ec. Then in 1994, she joined the Bartlett High School faculty teaching Family and Consumer Science. That course includes: Family, Parenting, Housing and Interiors, and Textiles and Clothing. That covers a lot of territory!

Martha has been at Bartlett High for twelve years and is looking forward to another new school year. It probably helps that she and A.J. work in the same school at least part of the time. These days, A.J. is retired from his insurance business, but stays busy as a substitute teacher for Bartlett and Arlington schools. They have been such a witness of loving, Christian marriage that the student newspaper staff at Bartlett High School chose the Waltons as their “Valentine Couple of the Year!” There was an article with pictures in the school newspaper and that led to an interview and article in the Commercial Appeal, and a proclamation in their honor from the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Martha is active in the Women’s Ministry serving as Chairman in 1986-87. She is on the Advisory Board, a member of the Church Staff Circle, and serves as a hostess for dinners and special events. In 2005, she went on Central’s mission trip to Ecuador. Martha says, “It changed my life. It gave me a new boldness to witness to others. It increased my awareness of those who don’t know Christ and my desire to share with them. When I came back, I considered my school my Ecuador.” And she shares her life with her husband of 42 years, Mr. Donut.

A.J. is on the Men’s Breakfast Committee and is chairman of Evangelism for the Men’s Ministry. Last year he was diagnosed with cancer, but he reports that he is doing well. “Central Church, our family, and our friends were very encouraging at that time. They supported us with their prayers and ministered to us,” say A.J. and Martha.

Awhile back, he felt led into another special activity. Some may not realize it is a ministry – but for A.J. it is, and it’s the source of his nickname – Mr. Donut. He sells donuts in the chapel mall at the Cluster Fellowship. He has many opportunities to share the love of Jesus – like singing Happy Birthday to the children on their birthdays. Also, he has chances to witness and even led one person to the Lord. Last year when A.J. was on chemo, someone wrote him a note that said, “You’re changing the world, one donut at a time.” Volunteers, Myrna Colon and Bob Jones work with him; Lumi Colon and Annalee Smith are his youth helpers. Steve Murray and “Mrs. Donut” help out during rush times, but A.J. says, “We’re always looking for more volunteers.”

In addition, these two are small group shepherds, are active in the Emmaus Community and attend Rev. Sam Wiley’s Sunday School class. WOW!