Most Friday nights I check Vision TV to see who the Gaither Gospel Hour is featuring. The program highlights many artists of southern gospel renown. I’m often comforted with the homecoming events, a gathering of many artists singing hymns and praise songs collectively. I feel at home and sing along.
This past week the program was a repeat, honouring George Beverly Shea, a well loved powerful soloist. He sang for many years at the Billy Graham crusades. Billy Graham, George, and Cliff Barrows as a team led us to know the Lord.
As a child I remember that many times our family invaded our neighbours' living room to watch a crusade on their black and white television. We didn’t have one until much later.
I can still picture that room, a round oak table and a hutch full of antique china at one end, easing into a living space. There were low windows all around the room with that special rural light spilling in.
I recall a stiff, horsehair covered divan, as uncomfortable as a church pew. We usually chose to sprawl on the floor close to the black and white cat that sometimes accepted our affection. I’m thinking his name was Charlie but perhaps not; I’ve known a lot of cats in my lifetime.
Many things seemed unusual and interesting to me at that house. It was a log house, an original long before the style became popular again. Wooden sidewalks; we had muddy paths. An animal in the house was forbidden at our place. Then there was the television. Obviously there were some wholesome things to watch.
I remember listening to the music, the choir and Billy Graham’s simple, open messages, inviting us to Christ.
The program this time showed many of the old photos, taken at the crusades. It felt like I was revisiting old friends. My grandparents had a record from one of the crusades, an LP vinyl record, protected in its paper sleeve and the cardboard container. Many photos graced the back with a list of songs, all familiar hymns.
George sang many of them: The Old Rugged Cross, Amazing Grace, Just As I Am. When I thought of that record, I was once again standing in Grandma’s kitchen, beside the record player. It was housed in a large wooden cabinet, stained dark brown and sat on the kitchen counter. I hear "then sings my soul,” loud and clear, echoing back through the years.
I have a full shelf of DVDs of the Gaither Homecoming events. One has George and Cliff participating at a concert in a huge tent, reminiscent of the Billy Graham crusades. The two sang a duet and Cliff led the crowd in singing a rousing verse of Blessed Assurance.
I often played the DVDs for mom at my house. She enjoyed the warm familiar glow as much as I did. George passed away in 2013 at the age of 104, after a brief illness. Cliff followed three years later at age 93. Billy Graham died last year at age 99.
The good work of these three fine Christians has touched many.
- Joyce Hoey is a longtime Gazette columnist
