Witnessing the kindling of a great gospel spirit
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GREENSBORO, ALA.
Until a few months ago, missionary and member activity in the Greensboro Branch in the Bessemer Alabama Stake was withering. President Jim Tate of the Alabama Birmingham Mission had withdrawn full-time missionaries from the area, while President Lanny Smartt of the Bessemer Alabama Stake felt compelled to close the branch but, for unexplainable reasons, was constrained to wait.
When a new senior couple arrived in the mission, they were promptly assigned to aid the fledgling branch. Members responded to their leadership and zeal.
The tempo of activity quickly began to change.
Elder Jack Tait and Sister Kristine Tait, the new senior missionaries, visited with long-time members who were no longer active in the Church. Some accepted their invitation to attend meetings. Prayers of faith brought investigators to the little branch. By the time Elder and Sister Tait were reassigned, attendance had doubled.
A new senior couple, Elder David Bass and Sister Jolene Bass, were called to serve in the Alabama Birmingham Mission and were assigned to replace Elder and Sister Tait in the Greensboro Branch.
Three members of the Reginald Garrett family, who had been investigating the Church, were soon baptized. On that same day, Sister Faye Spencer was also baptized.
The Garretts' initial contact with the Church was a result of a media request for a Bible. Nearly one year after his initial contact with the Church, Brother Garrett and his two sons, Reginald Jr. and Kendrick, were baptized. A week prior to his baptism, Brother Garrett was viewing the April 2009 general conference when he heard counsel that resonated with him: "You are never lost when you can see the temple."
In the case of Sister Spencer, she had recently moved into a house located only a few doors from Elder and Sister Tait, the first missionary couple to serve in Greensboro. The Taits assisted her with the move-in and continued to be friends. They shared the gospel with her. When the missionary transfer occurred, and Elder and Sister Bass were called to replace the Taits, Sister Spencer noticed how both sets of senior couples had the same radiance and effervescence for life.
After viewing the Saturday afternoon session of April 2009 general conference with Elder and Sister Bass in her home, Sister Spencer felt to exclaim: "Y'all don't preach, y'all teach."
Elder and Sister Bass now anticipate the baptism of other investigators. Still in the early stages of their mission, Elder and Sister Bass have witnessed the kindling of a great spirit for the gospel in the Greensboro Branch. They have witnessed the blessings of the Lord for their family that include the birth of a grandchild and a son who is serving a mission in Peoria, Ill. The sum of their experience is that the Lord blesses those who serve.
— Shaun Stahle
