Stained Glass Windows or Sinners?

Balancing academics and life is no small feat, but my college journey was a tapestry woven with unique roles and unexpected opportunities. I juggled athletic and academic scholarships, kept order on a dormitory floor of unruly athletes, and preached sermons for small congregations to keep my educational dreams afloat. Each responsibility was a stepping stone, not just to financial stability, but to personal growth and community engagement. Listen as I share tales filled with humor and insight from these formative years, including the ingenious ways free pizza became the currency of peace.

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

Here for the memories thought-provoking audio memoir shorts filled with stories , humor , anecdotes and commentary on social , cultural , business and religious issues . Whatever Lyndon remembers and thinks will entertain , challenge and inform is a possible subject . The collection of memories about one's life allows for the development and refinement of a sense of self , including who one is , how one has changed and what one might be like in the future .

Speaker 2 0:35

Greetings and salutations . This is Lyndon Wolfe and you have found here for the Memories , my audio memoir . I remind you , this is not a podcast . It is my story , a legacy for those that love me , for those that don't , and to leave something behind when I depart this planet .

Speaker 2 0:57

Having to finance my undergraduate studies and I'm glad that was the case , by the way I had several ways beyond summer employment to fund my academic ineptitude . I had two partial scholarships , one academic and one athletic . I also received compensation as an RA , a resident assistant , due to being an athlete . I was placed on a dormitory floor filled with athletes and I quite honestly let them run amok unless there was some kind of complaint , and then I would beg their compliance and bribe them with free pizza . Another income stream was preaching . Carson-numan College , where I attended . Now Carson-Numan University had a ministerial association which I joined due to my pursuit of a minor in religion . They would often send students to small churches to be guest speakers and the congregation would reimburse the speaker through a love offering . My reputation as a speaker and the positive reports from churches where I spoke led to a consistent flow of opportunities and some small income . I had some amazingly wonderful and surprisingly unusual experiences on these Sunday journeys , but I could usually count on an after-church meal at one of the parishioners' homes . A home-cooked meal was a treasure and a real gastrobray . From the 21 times a week cafeteria food . One church had me a total of three times and it has a story that is worth telling . It was the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro , tennessee , the oldest city in the state and it's not too far from where I currently live .

Speaker 2 2:37

Here's some history on the church . The Baptists were the first to have a meeting house in Washington County . First Baptist Church Jonesboro originated with the organizing of the Buffalo Ridge Church in 1779 . However , it would be 1843 before the first permanent building was erected , a one-story building on the north side of Spring Street at South Lincoln Avenue . The congregation quickly outgrew the first building and in 1952 , excuse me , in 1852 , the existing church was built , built in the Greek revival style of architecture .

Speaker 2 3:16

The sanctuary was remodeled in the 1890s and the original slave gallery was reworked . Yes , a slave gallery Located in the back of the sanctuary . A curtain shielded the congregants from viewing the slaves . When I spoke there , that section actually remained , but it was empty , of course , and without drapes . But that isn't the best part of the story , at least the most interesting part of the story . The church contained six unique stained glass windows crafted by an Italian artisan whose technique and style were admired worldwide . By an Italian artisan whose technique and style were admired worldwide . His methods , however , were a well-kept secret , a secret that he carried to his grave and that made the windows unquantifiably valuable . They , to this day , are insured for millions of dollars and are worth significantly more than the property and building itself .

Speaker 2 4:11

Over the years , the little church had revivals , break out , increases in attendance and a shortage of room to accommodate the attendees . The rule of thumb is that if attendance exceeds 80 to 85 percent of capacity , attendance begins to decline , and that held true here . So every time the congregation flourished , the church faced a unique problem . The people are the windows . You see , insurance required the windows to remain unmoved , to in any way jeopardize their well-being , voided coverage . So on multiple occasions the church was brought to a place where someone someone you know the one crying in the wilderness , I guess would suggest the church vote on expansion to accommodate the crowds . But the property size didn't allow for it , without demolishing the existing facility and rebuilding , finding another property to build on while keeping the mother church in place wasn't financially feasible . So there there was the conflict the windows or the growth , stained glass or people ? A few times the issue was escalated to a church vote . Division and polarization ensued in every case , and in every case the windows won the vote and the church's growth stalled . Today it probably doesn't look much different than it did 100 years ago , and the size of the congregation over time has diminished Sidebar .

Speaker 2 5:43

I can do that , it's my memoir . This reminds me of the time some family members fundamentalist Baptist church was seeking to raise funds by having sponsors of the stained glass windows in the church . Members and businesses were solicited , much like you would , to help fund and support your kid's little league baseball team . Humored by the project , I called in and identified myself as the owner of the closest liquor store to the church . I said I wanted to sponsor all of the windows . Sadly , shockingly , my offer was politely declined . Okay , back to First Baptist Church of Jonesboro and the windows . What do you think about all that ? Windows or growth , stained glass or people Insurance coverage or faith in moving the windows ? What do you think they should have done ? What would you have done ? I'm Lyndon Wolfe and this is here for the Memories , so glad you joined . Come back and visit , and visit often , and please leave me a message and tell me what I could do differently or better . I might not necessarily follow your direction , but at least you will have spoken your mind .

Speaker 1 6:48

God bless . Hello friends , If you appreciate the content and what it takes to create and deliver it , please consider a small contribution . Just go to buymeacoffeecom slash here for the memories . That's buymeacoffeecom slash here for the memories Much appreciated .