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The
Man in the White Suit
In
the hill country of East Central Mississippi things can get pretty
hot during the dog days of summer. It was not uncommon for
the temperatures to hover at the 100 degree mark. This was
back in the days when the term "Heat Index" was unknown.
She
noticed that even on the muggiest and hottest of days, he would
not even break a sweat as he preached the Word of God to his parishioners.
It was this preacher in the white suit and cane hat that impacted
the life of that seventeen -year-old Mississippi girl. Under
his preaching she made a renewed commitment to serve the Lord,
signifying to the community her love for Christ. This was significant
because even at this early age she showed characteristics of being
a very private person.
For
years afterwards she followed this man's ministry - his years
as pastor of several local churches, followed by his time as Professor
of Old Testament and Hebrew and later as vice president for academic
affairs at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans,
Louisiana. She spent much time in prayer and decided
that if the Lord gave her the financial means, she would help
those who were preparing for full-time Christian ministry at New
Orleans Seminary.
In
the coming years of her life, the Lord did bless her and enabled
her to begin a scholarship fund at New Orleans Seminary to honor
this former pastor who had meant so much to her spiritual development.
Her goal was to see the fund grow to at least $500,000.
This was a challenge, but she believed in this cause and set her
sights in that direction.
During
the years she would often help other ministerial students at the
seminary and say, "Don't you tell them where this money came
from. This is between me and the Lord!" She did
not want public recognition. It gave her great joy to see
the wok of the Lord being done.
This
pastor in the white suite and cane hat is Dr. J. Hardee Kennedy,
retired (but still ministering in churches) and residing in Mississippi.
Not too many months ago he once again preached for this young
girl, now in her 70s - he preached her going-home message.
It was the message that talked her great reunion with the choirs
of heaven ringing forth praise as another saint enters the presence
of the Lord.
She
wanted to remain anonymous and we will abide by her wishes.
She has passed from this life of sickness, suffering, and hardships
to her eternal abode. Her dream of training men and women
for full-time Christian ministry has come to fruition with the
endowed scholarship fund she established in honor of Dr. Kennedy.
What
a legacy! And, it all started with the man in the white
suit and cane hat sharing from the Word of God.
All
over this beautiful tree covered campus, stories like these abound
by those who have given to honor someone special or to memorialize
a loved one. These gifts have eternal impact as New Orleans
Seminary prepares God-called men and women for full-time Christian
ministry.
To
discuss making a gift in honor of or in memory of someone special
to your life, contact the Seminary at 1-800-662-8701, ext. 3252
or e-mail us at Office
of Development.
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