ANDALUSIA, Ala. (BNC) by Curtis Thomasson — A 97-year-old man, a man who had been unfaithful for some 20 years, a faithful Christian lady, a husband and wife, and a man who had seen the advertisement out front as he passed the building and returned that evening responded to the invitation in the Cedar Grove congregation’s gospel meeting July 19-23.
The six requested prayers that they might become stronger Christians and more successful in teaching others.
Some said it was like meetings of years ago when there was good attendance with evident excitement and enjoyable fellowship. The services followed covered-dish dinners by the congregation’s various Care groups each evening, and the attendance was better than usual for such occasions.
Art Williams, assistant professor of music and head of the Fine Arts Department at Faulkner University, Montgomery, Ala., was the guest speaker. He is currently completing his dissertation for a PhD degree in music.
Art was born in Andalusia when his father, Douglas M. Williams, was the minister for the Cedar Grove church during the 1970s. Art and the entire Williams family are beloved by the congregation, and they have remained special friends since that time.
The local minister, Eddie Boggess, wrote the following in his column in the church’s bulletin the following Sunday:
“What a Gospel Meeting we had last week! It was truly a wonderful experience. Brother Art Williams did a fabulous job preaching the will of God. Many of you have raved about his ability, and now having heard him for the first time, I concur. We had excellent crowds at every service, which was a great blessing as well. We had lots of visitors from nearby congregations and several visitors from among our friends and family in the community. All in all, it was one of the best meetings with which I have been associated in 21 years of preaching!”
The series of sermons covering relevant topics for Christian living.
Among the guests on Thursday evening were Art’s parents, Douglas and Glenda Williams, two of his aunts, other relatives and members of the Geneva, Ala., congregation, where Douglas Williams is currently serving as minister. The final service of the meeting was a moving experience for everyone.
Curtis is an elder with the Cedar Grove congregation. Photo of Art Williams, thanks to Glenda Williams.
2015-07-30 at 9:42 am
Did Art Williams atteding Harding in the early 1960s? Is his wife Jackie?
2015-07-30 at 12:53 pm
Hi, Katheryn. Thanks for your comments. Art is single, but I wondered if by chance you could be thinking of my wife, Margie (Jacques) Thomasson, someimes called Jackie, who entered Harding as a freshman in 1962. She sang in the chorus and Belles and Beaus, and grad. in 1966. Curtis Thomasson, Andalusia, AL
2015-07-30 at 7:19 pm
I wish she were, but this Jackie was Jacquiline and sang the lead part in one of Harding’s annual operas around 1961 when she was a junior. Her intended, Art Williams, was very artistic. The last I heard from her was about thirty years ago. They had married and he had been commissioned to make a large statue for some organization.She was my roommate my senior year. But your Jackie sounds so much like her.
2015-07-30 at 9:51 am
This is what needs to be taking place all over the country. I grew up with gospel meetings and it was good. There are downsides to way back then at least in my neck of the woods but we must get out to the buildings and teach.