This Saturday, September 11, Marie and I will take a trip to central MO and visit the Hickory Hill Baptist Church which is celebrating her 150th birthday. Marie was "born and reared" in the church. She is the youngest of six children born to Herbert and Ruth Hahn, who lived about a mile from the church. Earl, Marie's brother, still lives near the area as do her sister, Bertha Busch, and sister, Ruth Jane "Janie" Morrow. Earl and Curt Busch are still active deacons in the congregation.
My father, Charles Cox, served as pastor from appropoximately 1962 to 1966. It was during those years that I first met Marie Hahn. I "robbed the cradle." She was almost 18 and I was 23 when we were married. Our friend, Ortrie Smith, has always said she was "40" when she was born! Reared in GAs (Girl's Auxiliary and playing the piano) Marie felt God's call on her life at a young age. We started dating in 1969 and married in 1971. We were married in the church and my father, Charles Cox, performed the ceremony.
While a student at Southwest Baptist University I began to feel God's nudging to serve as a pastor. It was at Hickory Hill Baptist Church that I preached my first sermon. With several type written pages in hand, I finished the sermon in about 10 minutes and went home with aches like the flu. I told my Dad I might never do that again. But the people were patient and the Lord was gracious. Hickory Hill Baptist Church licensed me to preach.
Marie and I will be buried in the Hickory Hill Cemetary which is "out back" of the church facilities. We would already have a stone up but Marie thinks she is too young to think about those things! Looking forward to seeing friends and sharing some thoughts about the past and future. Also looking forward to a delicous meal. Regardless of how fancy the restaurant or expensive the fare, some of the best food I have ever eaten has been in the basement of Baptist Churches. (We can out do the Methodists any old day).
Where would we be without roots? Thank God for them.
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