Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
Fifteen Miles From Heaven
Moses E. Lard, well known gospel preacher of the nineteenth century, kept a preaching appointment at Richmond, Missouri in 1853. As he was hitching his horse near the meeting house, a black man named Dick, a brother in Christ, approached him and introduced himself. Dick had once been a member of the church, but the congregtion in his small community had ceased to meet. His faith remained strong. He said, "I have come fifteen miles to hear you preach, and I have brought with me my young master Thomas. I think he would be a Christian if he knew how."
After being introduced to Thomas, Lard went into the house to begin his services. The audience was large, but not a Christian there had come fifteen miles, a considerable distance in that day. But here was a bondservant with his master in the audience.
Lard preached for an hour and one half, keeping young thomas in his mind for the full sermon. When the invitation was extended Thomas went forward and made the good confession. He was baptized that same evening.
Poor Dick was as near heaven then as he will ever be again till he reaches that blessed abode. He could not sit; he could not stand. He did not shout, but clapped his hands while tears ran over those toil worn cheeks.
A little more than two weeks later, at the request of Dick and Thomas, Lard went to the community near their home to preach for two days in the shade of some large trees. A modest stsand and some crude seats had been erected to accomodate the services. Resolved to make the most of the limited time, Lard preached for two and one half hours. The sermon made a favorable impression on most of those present. The next day the audience, undiminished in size, gathered again to hear another equally long sermon. At the close, four men came forward to confess Christ. Lard decided to stay on a few days, and before the meeting closed forty people had been baptized for the remission of sins.
On the Lord's Day, the brethren met at a convenient place a mile distant to organize a New Testament Church. They invoked the protection of God and resolved to be faithful in His service. The Lord's Supper was observed.
The church known as South Point was located in Ray County, Missouri. It came into existence primarily because a chattel slave, who was also a bondservant of Christ, loved both masters enought to travel fifteen miles to hear the gospel.
