I have done several in the series of church groups that I am thankful and I want to take it further with some people that I am thankful for. I really am thankful for Dr. Jerry Falwell. I will say right up front that I didn’t agree with everything the man ever said but I respected him a great deal. Further, I agreed with a lot of what he said and did.
When I was saved and the church wasn’t really helping me to grow, I started to listen to the radio and Dr. Falwell was one of the ones who held my attention. I would listen everytime I possibly could and through listening I came to love the Bible more and more. Through the inspiration of Jerry Falwell I started something called The Liberty Home Bible Institute (LHBI). I just assumed that was all the post highschool education I would ever receive. It was a two year Bbile Study course that probably took me 5 years to complete. I am the kind of person that procrastinates if there are no specific deadlines and there were none.
Several years later I found out that I could get some college credit for Life Learning Experiences and LHBI qualified. I found this information out through Wytheville Community College. I started Liberty University through their Distance Learning and in a few years I had earned my Bachelors Degree in Religion from Liberty University. I never reall thought that I would obtain a college degree.
I earned my bachelor’s while working as the Director of Joy Ranch Children’s Home and it was during that time that I first met Dr. Falwell. I was attending Super Conference at Liberty University with a display of information about JoyRanch. We were hoping to recruit staff as well as obtain supporters of the children’s ministry. Dr. Falwell came through the building and he shook my hand and talked about the fact of coming to Hillsville in the late 60 to early 70s and preaching for a youth revival held at Joy Ranch. I said to Dr. Falwell, we would love to have you come back and speak for us again and his response was, call my office any time.
I was still shocked when we called and asked him to come for the 40 year Anniversary and he accepted. I had dinner with him that evening along with my son Michael, he met most of my family and I have several pictures of him with me, Mike and Alex. he was such a gracious person. He loved to laugh and just have fellowship. I remember that he would slap people on the back and just laugh, he was a very stout gentleman. I still remember how I introduced him that evening at the banquet. I said one of my hero’s “Steve Brown” always says that our hero’s should all be dead so they can no longer make mistakes and mess up, however tonight I have two of my hero’s here in this room, my dad and Dr. Falwell.
It was a great night, he was a real person just like me and you and he didn’t ask for any special treatment. As a matter of fact he made the first donation of that evening and let the people know that he didn’t charge anything to come and speak for the ministry.
The last time I actually got to see and speak to him was at my graduation ceremony at Liberty University in 2004. I shook his hand as I received my diploma and then afterwards while walking through the parking lot a vehicle came speeding up behind me and it was Dr. Falwell, just having a little fun. One of the greatets inspirational books that I have ever read is “Strength for the Journey”. It is the life story of Dr. Falwell up to the 90s. There is a newer version out now and under a different name, I highly recommend it.
Regardless of what a person thought of Jerry Falwell, I believe he was a man who Loved God and worked as hard as anyone I have ever met to win people to Jesus Christ. I may have disagreed with his way of doing things at times and I certainly disagreed with some of the ways he said things, but he was a great man and I miss him. I really feel like a member of my family is mission since his death and I look forward to talking to him in Heaven some day.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit Lynchburg, you should tour the Liberty Campus and also Thomas Road Baptist Church. there is a vast history to explore.
Ronnie