Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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..and.a young man Shall lead them | naan i te Nate $M ae BOR NORE aes my mene NNER RO |

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A fountain of faiths MARANATHA members say they live for one thing: to serve Jesus. Donna Clark raises her hand in praise during: one of the Maranatha meetings. Bere PERS anny — Scott Robinson

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Photos and story by David Frank The voice rolls through the little brick church, filling 30 pairs of ears, bouncing off the wood- en floors and pews. The voice is soft yet force- ful. It sounds like a big man’s voice, a practiced preacher’s voice. But follow the voice to its source and one finds Brother Jimmy Gentry, 22, hands in flight, his train of thought at full throttle. He is telling his congregation that when he was 12 years old his father died, and God called him. Kids on the front row sit quietly, their eyes never leaving his. They’re hearing preaching like they have never heard it before. Then a baby cries and Brother Jimmy pauses for several seconds, silent. There was a time at Emmanuel Baptist Chapel when babies always cried during his sermons. But now the congregation knows what he thinks about it, and the mother scoops the child up and carries him out. The congregation scarcely fills the 20 pews, and the little building almost seems empty. But the congregation is growing as the Sunday School attendance sign hanging behind the pul- pit testifies: attendance a year ago, 21; atten- dance last Sunday, 43; attendance today, 54. Jimmy Gentry has made a difference in Em- manuel Baptist Chapel, 901 W. Main St., since his arrival two years ago. The Cadiz senior says BRO. JIMMY GENTRY baptizes Dale Kessinger, who was one of three children baptized at Emmanuel Baptist Church that fall day. he is performing a lifelong desire. Gentry was reared in a ‘‘very beautiful Christian home”’ in Cadiz, and while most chil- dren his age were playing hopscotch, house, red rover or cowboys and Indians, he was playing church. “As a child I can remember, being by myself back in my bedroom, that I pretended we were in church and would have the songs and the prayers. And I can remember literally preach- ing sermons,” Gentry said. But by high school he had gotten away from preaching because he was ‘‘wanting to have a good time. | think that was what it was all about.” He played in the high school band and be- came a disc jockey at the local radio station, and since Cadiz isn’t very big, it wasn’t long before his name was well known. “They know you even though they don’t know you,” he said. Gentry’s uncle, a Trigg County pastor, even asked him to come and lead his church’s ser- vice. “T just talked about faith. I didn’t preach. After it was over I thought I would be slick and offer an invitation for all those who wanted to become Christians to come forward,” Gentry said. “IT wasn’t expecting anything to happen,” he said. “I just did it as a formality, and five BEFORE being baptized, Penny Lake professes her faith to Gentry while music minister Tommy Katzman leads the congregation in song. Dale Kessinger waits his turn. Be tttt eee ree people came walking down the aisle. It really bothered me a lot; I didn’t know how to inter- pret it.” His radio job and his membership in the high school band reflect Gentry’s musical inclina- tion. He was asked to lead the choir in his own church, and as a result, he got back in contact with the ministry. It was also a trying time, for he was a senior in high school and was going to continued on page 29 USING HIS HANDS expressively, Gentry delivers an- other sermon to the congregation. Gentry prepares two sermons a week — for Sunday morning and evening. 27 Bro. Jimmy Gentry