A Rich Heritage and a Strong Future

Waxing Nostalgic & Still Dreaming Dreams

I went to a college that had this slogan: A Rich Heritage and a Strong Future. I used to think it was kind of corny, but it was a lot better than the other slogan they had for a while...UMHB: A great place to Live & Learn.
So in all consideration a rich heritage and a strong future really was a lot better. But you could not have convinced me of that fact THEN.

I am coming up on my 20 year high school reunion. How can that be? When I close my eyes I am still 15 years old! I am sure that could be psycho-analyzed to death but please spare me your gifted interpretations of what that may mean! LOL!

Of course, I have NO INTENTIONS of setting foot in my high school reunion!! I am the tragic tale of the cheerleader who got fat. No way I'm gonna go!! Besides, I dont want to run into "Kim S" who told me that I was too fat and ugly to ever make cheerleader. Even though I made the squad and she didn't, it is amazing what sticks with your after all those years. My fragile ego could not take proving her right....ahhhh VANITY, VANITY, all is vanity.

So let's fast forward to a MUCH HAPPIER PLACE!!!!

As I have been thinking on my heritage and my future, I realize it is those people who made the Spiritual deposits into my life that have strengthened me in Christ and made me into who I am today.

As I remember back to my day of SALVATION (March 20, 1988) I thank God for the family that he spiritually birthed me into at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. I don't know that there could have been a more perfect "spiritual family of origin". These people were my anchor in a storm!! So I must share them with you!


Seated on the far left is John Molina. He was the pastor of the Spanish Mission outreach of our church. He was my first introduction to missions!

Seated center is Pastor Jack Burton. I got saved and baptized on the same day. I'm sure pastor Jack thought he better get me baptized and discipled quick before I got away! And I'm not so sure that if the church had not embraced me the way they did, that I would still be living a vibrant Christian life. This church was an IV Infusion of LIFE to me. I remember when I first felt called to ministry that I called Pastor Jack to tell him God was calling me to ministry and I needed to know what a seminary was because I thought I was supposed to go! I remember his chuckle as he explained a seminary was a graduate school after college. And it was THAT conversation that led me into pursuing a college education! I was saved in March and attending Austin community college in August!

To the far right is Tom Gillespie. He was my choir director. He was willing to take a "wide-eyed with wonder" 18 year old girl and let her sing in the adult choir. I had no idea that 18 year olds were not supposed to be "into" such activities as the adult choir...but this was my first introduction to WORSHIP...and I was hooked!

Top row left is Bryan Hall. He was my first crush as a Christian girl. He was the youth & college pastor, and much credit to his integrity, he never embarrassed me after I sent him a dozen red and yellow roses...anonymously...but I think he knew. Maybe it was because the following Sunday when he did an object lesson in the college dept. , he had the table covered with red and yellow paper....coincidence? Byran's major influence in my life was this very SIMPLE life lesson. After he heard my testimony he said this very profound thing, "Dawn, if a man HITS you, that means he does NOT like you!" Now that may sound like a no-brainer to most folks, but having just gotten out of a very abusive relationship...that was a profound and NEW thought to me! (And for the record, Bryan was single. I did not send roses to a married man! I just wanted to clarify!)

Then there was Janet Burton, pastor Jack's wife. She was the minister of Education...she was my first introduction to a woman in ministry, under authority, and able to teach.

Then the far right...Donna McCrary, Children's minister. God bless her! She gave me a job in the Child Development center when I had left my state job with the Board of Pardons and Parole so I could go to college and pursue ministry. She took a real chance with me! She trusted me, having no experience with children, with 11 two year olds. I dont know what I was thinking when I thought to do that nice little craft with the children's hand prints in tempera paint for their mothers! All 11 of them...all at once. Who knew two year olds would want to paint each other? But she loved me anyway and showed me a true example of mercy and grace! (and how to get tempera paint out of hair and clothes!)

Oooooohhhhh how I loved my first church family!! They gave me DEEP roots of faith and heritage, and then certified me for ministry and sent me off to Bible College.

While in college Brad and I settled into Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. Unfortunately I dont have their photos. But Pastor David & Petie Newsome loved us and pastored us as a young married couple. Pastor David did Joshua's baby dedication...a very special time in our life.

From Belton, we came to where we are now...The Vine Fellowship. There is such a sense of destiny and the call of God on this church...of course, you'll have to excuse my biased opinion! There are times I am certain I can hear the heartbeat of this church in my dreams.


Pastor David Kerr is a man of vision and integrity. And he will shoot straight with you! (whether you like it or not...you know, the truth hurts, but someone aught to love you enough to tell you! He has a gift because you still KNOW he loves you even after he tells you the truth!) He has baptized all three of my children and my husband. And he has been known to sing duets with Brad. His musical repotoire consists of such songs as the great 50's sound of "Wonderful" and the recent Rapping Pastor in the song "Best Days" soon to be released.
And though I first was introduced to missions at WBC, Pastor David has fanned into flame a passion for missions and it has spread through my whole family.


This is Rob Hurt (also known as the "blog police" he leaves "warnings" if my blog is not posted in a timely manner.) And much like my experience with getting saved and wanting to know what a "seminary" was, when I really felt God calling me to start writing again, I went to Rob and asked what a BLOG was...I had no clue. So it is Rob who gave me the courage to write again. I have been writing a blog now for almost a year due to Rob's encouragement. Had it not been for Rob's prodding, coaxing and harrassment...(did I say that with my outside voice??).... ahem.....I mean encouragment, I dont know that I would have started writing again. In retrospect, I can see how God has used this whole blogging experience, and being willing to write again, to launch the next chapter of my life as I have begun work with the Lyme and Chronically Ill community through the Texas Public Health Alert. The journey of starting to write begins with getting the thoughts from the brain to the paper. And blogging gave me the courage to step out when the time was right for me to begin the newspaper.


And always saving the best for last...as I journey through my spiritual heritage and embrace a strong future of hope, I owe it all to my favorite pastor of all. My husband, our family shepherd, my fearless leader, my hero. I was introduced to worship at WBC, but I have learned to LIVE a LIFE of worship by watching the example of my husband as he leads our family and an entire congregation of worshippers. I remember when we were planning our wedding, he shared with me a Keith Green song that laid a good foundation in our marriage, and it was something we both took to heart. This song said, "I pledge my head to Heaven for the Gospel. I ask no man on earth to fill my needs. As I told her when we wed, I'd truly rather be found dead, than to love her more than the One Who saved my soul."

Brad has truly been a servant leader in our home. He reminds me that Jesus LAUGHS and enjoys the simplicity of living. I look forward to a strong future that will eventually become the "rich heritage" for my children.

Love, Dawn