One of the most important methods for the spread of Christianity in North America was the work of "The Circuit Rider." The Methodist Church developed "circuits" for many of their itinerant preachers. The preacher ministered in a different church every week until he had completed his rounds, then he would start again. It sometimes meant weeks from home and family.
Most of the circuit riders rode horses, but many of them made their rounds on foot. During these rounds, their beds might be in the home of a frontier family, the church building or even the woods. They were, as you might expect, a hardy sort. It wasn't money or fame that kept them going, but a burning desire to preach the Word and see people come to the Lord. They pursued that desire with a passion.
Peter Cartwright, one of the circuit riders, was once thrown out of a saloon where he had gone to preach. He went to his horse, withdrew from his saddlebag two pistols, "loaded and primed" and re-entered the saloon. They allowed him to preach.
My grandfather, the Reverend J.R.V. "Bud" Hamilton, was not a circuit rider in the truest sense, because he was Baptist, but he traveled many miles on horseback to preach the gospel. He did not preach from an educated mind, but from a burning heart. He had stabbed a man almost to death as a young man, and had experienced first hand the grace of God. He preached Jesus to some of the roughest men in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. There is a monument dedicated to him not far from Tellico Plains, TN.
The monument reads, "Haw Knob Creek Baptist Church where Rev. Bud Hamilton preached a revival and many souls were saved." I am blessed to have the Bible that was presented to him at that time. On more than one occasion, his life was threatened. Men swore they would burn the church down with him in it. You see, my grandfather was taking away the market for moonshine. When men got right with God, they quit the "lightning." They also quit making liquor, stealing horses and burning the houses and fields of their neighbors.
Almost one hundred years later, I discovered a ministry known as "The Circuit Riders Christian Fellowship" which is a motorcycle ministry. Instead of horses, we ride motorcycles. Now, I have ridden motorcycles for more than forty-five years, but most of that time, I never thought of it as a tool for ministry. However, I have discovered it can be, and we are using it as such.
For the next few weeks, I would like to share with you some of our experiences, and some of the experiences of my grandfather, as well as other preachers of his time.
I thank God and this paper for giving me this opportunity. Hope to see you on the road!
Bill Hamilton, the Circuit Rider
No comments:
Post a Comment