A Brief History
(autobiography)
I have been asked to give
a history lesson on myself to go along with writings I have done and do.
This was originally written in 2001, then updated in December of 2004, so of
course some of the notations may now be history as they have come and
gone.
My name is Beverly
Rainwater, I am married to Phillip , who is a preacher of the gospel, (and let
me mention he is the 13th of 14 children, all single births!). People
have been known to ask me if I thought I was marring into a tribe with my
husband having that many siblings. The answer is, "YES!"
We did not try to break the record we have a son and a daughter and now we are
grandparents as well. God is good!
I was born to John and
Dorothy on August 4, 1950. Whew! 1950! Does that make me old or what! I was
born in Pittsfield, Illinois and my folks moved to the "city" soon
after. Dad worked for Owens Illinois Glass Plant in Alton, Illinois after the
move from the country to the city for several years. Later, they (my parents)
bought a house in Wood River, Illinois (I was 5 at that time maybe 6), and
they lived there from then on. Dad said when he bought the house that he was
tired of moving and was staying there until he died.......he is STILL THERE,
although we lost my Mom in May of 2000 to cancer. I went to grade school, Jr.
High, and High School all in the same district with the same kids! I was
baptized into the Lord in 1963 and went to the same congregation all the time
I was growing up. We had, at that time, a good leadership and the church
flourished. Our elders taught us to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and
soul and my parents never gave us the option of not attending church services,
it was a given that we were all present at services. My parents were great
examples for me and taught me to put God first and to always walk with Him
just as the elders of the church did. I consider myself blessed to have had
godly parents who brought their children up in the nurture of the Lord.
I went to college in July
of 1969 for 1 year at Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould, Arkansas.
Crowley's Ridge College, at least at that time, was on an accelerated schedule
where you did 1 year's worth of work in 6 months time. I did my one year and
at the end of that year had met and was engaged to the man who would be my
husband. We married in May of 1970 at the tender age of 19, that makes us
having celebrated a 34th anniversary on May 30th of 2004, however, it kind of
came and went as we gave our daughter in marriage on May 29, 2004! Did I
mention we also had a wedding in Pidgeon Forge, TN (complete with cowboy
boots, hats, horses, ranch, etc) on April 10, 2004! We have been
busy this year!
In 1973 we finally got our
first full-time preaching position in Missouri. I say WE because anyone that
thinks they hire only the PREACHER is NUTS!!! We have lived in 9 different
places in the 27 years we have been in the ministry, so I guess that is not
too bad a record, since some have moved more than that in their walk as
minister and family. In between all that moving we had our son, Jeremy
John in 1977, and in 1982, we had our daughter, Brooke Elizabeth. God blessed
us with these two children, and now has blessed us with 2 grandsons, a
wonderful, sweet and loving daughter in law and a sweet, loving son in law.
I have, since being online
(9 years), started doing something I had only dreamed of up until now. I am a
writer and a published author! Never thought that would happen but I happened
to connect with the right people who helped me along and I have published 2
gospel tracts: "Why We Don't Have Women Leaders In the Lord's
Church" (meaning public leaders in the worship) and "Dancing: Is It
Acceptable? or Is It Sin ?" and one book, titled, "To Soar On
Wings With Eagles" which is a Fireside Devotions and Poetry book.
These are something I am very proud to have accomplished and I hope to do more
in the future. I own a mailing list online called SistersOnline that is for
sisters of the church of Christ, a place where they can fellowship, study, ask
questions and just have fun together through email. I am also moderator
on the SaintsOnline and one of its charter members. I enjoy Bible Study
with others and writing. I am also a crafter, a lover of books(about
anything will do...EXCEPT romance novels, they are totally taboo on my list of
enjoyment to read!) and old movies (you know the old sappy, get a towel out to
cry on, type with happy endings!) and good music (of which my very favorite is
that of a Christian man, who is a concert pianist, Larry Gissendanner).
I have had the privilege of speaking in 4 Ladies Day's and enjoyed every one,
even with my knees KNOCKING so hard that I was sure all would hear it! I have
led the singing for Ladies Day's as we. All have been great experiences
that I thank the Lord for helping me to do and allowing me to do them. Singing
for the Lord is a blessing indeed and I have helped send several brothers and
sisters home to the Lord by giving them their final request of song even
though at times it was through tears and with broken heart to do so.
One thing I have learned
along the way while being a minister's wife and watching us have to uproot our
children and move on so many times, is something I read in a magazine one
time, the idea was to learn to bloom where you are planted! Nothing more true
has ever been spoken! God gives us the opportunities and we must make them
bloom to the best of our abilities!
©2001, Beverly Rainwater
