“I graduated from high school in the spring of 1947. When I told my friends I was going to David Lipscomb College, they all laughed and said I was going there to find a preacher. My reply was, “Not me!” But I did and will be thankful for the rest of my life.

Sewell has always wanted to go where he was needed. We first went to Montgomery Bible School, a small and very poor college, but one willing to accept all students whether they could pay or not! Our pay was $100 per month until the money ran out—usually the third or fourth month.

When we heard of a small church in New Jersey that was looking for a preacher, we decided to go. We were going to make a real sacrifice for the Lord. But we learned a lesson confirmed throughout the years. When you go to preach there are so many
blessings that you forget sacrifice. There are problems of one kind or another, but always you are thankful for the experience.

We have been blessed to live in foreign lands: four years in Nigeria, two in England and one in New York City. Since the Iron Curtain came down we have been invited to Eastern Europe to visit churches in Moscow, Prague, Budapest, Brno, Bratislava, Bucharest and Constantia, Romania. Before these opportunities, we visited Norway and Germany. Sewell also spent three months in Australia and some weeks in South Africa and Brazil. I have often laughed and said, “If you don’t want him, don’t ask him.”

When we decided to go to Nigeria the first time, the response from both our parents was, “You go if you feel you must, but leave Cherry and Gardner with us!” Through the years, our parents were blessed and gained much satisfaction from our work. We feel that our children also benefited from their experiences.

One special day at the Kentish Town church in London a few years ago, I noticed a Nigerian woman and after service I started a conversation with her. She turned out to be the daughter of a fine man Sewell had taught and baptized 40 years earlier. She remembered us and our children. Two years in the bush was worth it! Our sadness has come from those who at first obeyed, then fell away. It is difficult for us in this land to understand the tremendous problems those in other cultures face.

So I would encourage any who can to go. Jesus told us to! But if you cannot go, help those who can. Eastside church in Athens, Alabama, Embry Hills in Atlanta and several individuals have stood with us in these journeys. Encourage those you know to go into all the world.

For years we have had a standard joke when trying to make some decision: “Well, maybe we should just go to Afghanistan.” And just a few days ago Sewell had an email from a young soldier who has been there and hopes to return to preach the gospel when the Lord
opens the door. The Lord does open doors. Maybe we can go after all. That would be wonderful.”