I had the privilege in June of 2020 to travel to the place of my parent's salvation and my Dad's call to preach in Cedar Junction, Kansas. My attempt to take pictures and interview some of the members of his former church were slightly disappointed when I discovered that not only was the church no longer in existence, but that the little building had been burned to ashes sometime in the early 70's. All that remained was a bell that had hung in it's modest steeple. The bell had been preserved and now rang each Sunday from another Baptist church just miles away in Desoto, Kansas. The bell is emblematic of the life of my father and his ministry in the Gospel. He has weathered life's storms these 53 years since the days of his soul being saved and his being called to preach. He continues to ring the Bell of the Gospel beckoning others to come to Jesus. I wrote this poem on my journey back to Florida from Kansas City and presented it to my Dad on the 34th year of his pastorate at Calvary Baptist Church in Middleburg, Florida.
