Mother, Lucretia Worthington, was a public school teacher. Dad also taught school and worked in the tobacco warehouses. In later years, he was a dairyman, farmer, logger, bill collector and insurance agent. He met mother at Atlantic Christian College.  Dad had left Falkville, Alabama, at the age of 19.  He had completed the 7th grade.  He went to Wilson to enter the High School Academy at the College.  He operated the college dairy and later sent for Granddad to come to help him with the dairy.  When my parents graduated, Dad was President of the Class of 1924.

The First Christian Church in Elizabeth City called Dad in l934 as minister.  In l937 Dad and Raymond began City Dairy (Grade A Raw Milk). My two brothers and sister and I learned all the jobs in the dairy.  Dad ran the dairy and Mother was "co-pastor" and "program director" at church.  She filled the pulpit when Dad held revivals.

In 1947 we moved to Dad's hometown, Falkville, Alabama. The Unity Churches: Falkville, Piney Grove and Cedar Plains Christian Churches bought a parsonage.   Our Unity CYF met there each Monday Night. This group was the "core" of the work. After all, there were four of us PK's who got the use of their Dad's car for triple dating. Dad aroused my interest in missions when we used the church bus to take a load of home made canned goods to the Christian Church Orphanage Home in Atlanta, GA.

My older brother and I attended Transylvania College one year.  I worked for Transylvania Printing Company in the furniture department.  I waited tables at Jim Nix's Cafeteria.

My High School sweetheart, Mattie Ruth Sams was going to Johnson Bible along with two other students from the Unity Churches.  You could attend JBC for $100 a year and work 25 hours a week @25 cents/hr.  I worked with the carpenters the first year.  The second year, I was "Ma" Bell's yard man.  

The last year I was paid extra to fire the boiler.  Clint Thomas, later a missionary to Brazil, helped me fire the boiler.  I preached in Knox County Jail, street corners and at a mountain mission sponsored by the JBC students.  We would spend the summers with our parents taking advantage of the free meals and lodging.  I drove the church bus, four rounds each Sunday.

In 1953, Mattie, our two babies, Lucretia and Jimmy, and I moved to Fort Worth. My brothers got me a job delivering sandwiches.  I enrolled in Texas Christian University.  My sister, Ruth, and my older brother, Jay B., had finished TCU.  Dad and President M.E. Sadler had been classmates at Atlantic Christian College.  My younger brother, Pat, and I graduated in 1954.  In the summer of 1956, I was a carpenter helper when the second deck to TCU Stadium was built.   Mother kept our three children (Paul was born during the Texas years).  Mattie attended classes fulltime.  She graduated in 1958 when I completed my work at Brite Seminary.  I preached at Millersview, Woodson and Santa Anna.   Our churches gave support to TCU and the orphanage home in Dallas.  

Mattie and I returned to Falkville to serve The Unity Churches. Both of us taught in Morgan County Schools. I attended St. Bernard College to be certified to teach.  Being a member of the Lions Club, volunteer fire department, PTA, Woodmen of the World and Cub Scouts, I was blessed with many friends. We gave toys and food to needy families at Christmas. We sent supplies to the Hurricane Camellia victims , and later on to North Carolina victims.

Falkville and Piney Grove Christian Churches united in 1962.  Sunday School and Morning Worship Services were held at Piney Grove (three miles from Falkville).  Sunday night services were held in town.  In 1967 a sanctuary, nursery, office and inside restrooms were built at Piney Grove.  Four years later, God allowed us to get new pews, pulpit furniture, organ and song books.  John Teague and I drew the plans.  Earl Wilhite with the church members constructed the church.

Mattie shared her many talents with her school children and church family.  Sheworked with the youth, the Christian Women Fellowship and directed the Vacation Bible Schools.  God provided some great Christian friends who helped again with big hospital bills.  John and Rebecca completed our family.  Mattie and I have 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  In 1971, Mattie lost a 15 month battle with cancer. 

In 1973, Iris and I moved to Elizabeth City.  I became pastor of our home church in Elizabeth City.  I served on the Rambo Committee (Sight for the Curable Blind) in which I made two short trips to India.  I was treasurer for The Alton E. Meads Swimming Pool.  The CWF and I managed the local clothing depot for the Church World Service.  To lean more about Disciples of Christ missions, I studied at Christian Theological Seminary for a year.

The next year I bought the "old Jr. Department" from the church in Elizabeth City.  I made three apartments.  One was The Battered Women and Abused Children.  The apartment got more abuse than the children.

In 1981, we moved back to Alabama. I served First Christian Church at Valhermoso Springs for 3 years. I attended Alabama A & M for certification in order to teach again.  I pastored at Cedar Plains Christian Church for another 15 years. We added on the front and back of the church. The Cedar Plains mission program included support for the new church at Keithsburg, IL, which was destroyed in the l993 flood. Even with two building programs, Cedar Plains members gave 25% for missions.

In 1998, I was to have prostate cancer surgery. Iris and I moved to Hartselle.  We remodeled a home, and have a room for company.  I am an elder in the First Christian Church. Since we do not have Sunday Evening programs, I support other Christian Churches. Now, I am on the computer with many great Christian friends. I type a few poems and write letters to many hurting people. God is providing me an opportunity to use my time to let others know that God is alive. God cares for us all better than we care for ourselves.

I am not able to work on the farm, but my grandchildren do a great job. 

I am an "auction addict".  I have bought 12 pieces of property at public auctions.  I bought two large 24 X 40 buildings, which I moved and set up on RAAH Farm.  I purchased five houses at auctions.  I bought tractors, a jeep, 4 trailors, 2 mobile homes, furniture, lumber, scrap iron and even 400 hammer handles.  I have learned that you spend less money by staying in bed.  I am still addicted to buying poetry books.

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR 
RAAH-Ministry? 
We will have to wait and see. 
GOD WILL PROVIDE!

If you have a sermon, or a Christian poem to share, 
Send it to me, you may help someone a load to bare. 
   If a song you have sung, it may lift one in despair, 
    If you need a Word from God, or a simple prayer, 
     Many Prayer Warriors wait to hear your needs. 
      God will hear, some are "righteous" indeed.

This RAAH-Ministry in dedicated to God's Glory. 
Without His Blessings, there'll be no story.
  Ask - Seek - Find, you'll have peace of mind. 
  As your receive, you will find that God has 
      opened a door of blessings to You.

RAAH-Ministry covets your prayers and time. 
The Kingdom of God is not built on dimes. 
   Look what Christ did with 12 dedicated men, 
 Because of them, we get God's Grace 
again and again. 

May God richly bless you each one.    
As in this Christian life you run.

As you receive you will find,
God will send you one or two,
Who needs a blessing through you.

Thanks, Jim Henderson 
  aka James Herbert Henderson 
jmshbthn@bellsouth.net