March 4, 2016

Written by: Minister Bobbie Jordan: Douglas, Georgia

In the year of 1996, the Lord laid upon my heart to host a special day for senior citizens which was called, The Senior Supper Banquet. I shared my thoughts with my pastor, Ruling Elder H. N. Turner and he granted me permission to proceed. The first banquet was held on March 1, 1996 at the Sears Street Church of God by Faith Annex. After a few years, the Annex was too small to host the increasing number of attendees. Therefore, the event was moved to Western Sizzling in Douglas, Georgia.

After the first two years of it being held there, the number of attendees increased and the venue became too small. Therefore, the event was moved again to Wong’s Palace for several years until it was decided that it will be held at Sears Street Youth Center where it is currently held.

The Senior Banquet has had guests who traveled from: New York, Alabama, Florida, and North and South Georgia. Special honor goes out to those who have supported the Senior Banquet for the last twenty years. Thank you for your money, your time and most of all your presence.  I also would like to thank my Pastor for his support. He has stood by me for over twenty years. There were a few times when he couldn’t be there but I knew he still had my back.

I’ll never forget the first banquet. We were almost toward the end of the banquet and time was allotted for anyone who desired to make remarks. Mr. Jack Owens stood up with tears in his eyes and tried to talk, but all he could say was, “No one has ever done anything like this before” he cried and sat down. Pastor looked at me and said, “Bobbie, we can’t stop this.”  At that moment, the decision was made to continue with the Senior Banquet.

As I stood their looking at all of those loving faces fighting back the tears I gave thanks to God for all of his goodness. I thought about the ones that have passed away. Sickness and other problems prevented some of the seniors from attending throughout the year. Every year it is my desire to make it more special than the year before. My desire is to do the best that I can do for each and every one who is in attendance. Love doesn’t cost us anything accept a little of our time.  

The supper is free to any senior citizen that’s fifty or older. Whosoever will let him come is my moto.  I’ve had people to just walk up and give me money because they just want to help pay for the supper. There was one person in particular I want to recognize and his name was Quincey McMillian. Quincey was one of my main supporters.

I remember when he was in the hospital getting ready to have a heart transplant. He made a call to one of his factories and asked them to write me a check. That’s something he didn’t have to do. The next day Quincey died. It was like a family member had died. The viewing was held at a funeral home. I walked toward his son praying for words to say that would comfort his heart. We greeted one another with a hug and I told him what a blessing his father had been to our church in feeding the seniors.  Quincey’s son in turn told me that whatever his father started he was going to continue. He told me that if I needed anything just call him. I didn’t go for that purpose but I thank God for favor. While at the funeral home Quincey’s mother looked at me not recognizing me at first. When I told her who I was she was overjoyed.  Looking at his mother brought back to my mind the days when I worked in the fields on their farm. There were so many things I wanted to say but I didn’t want to cry. I love them so much; words cannot explain the joy it brings to my heart to serve them.

Twenty years seems only a few years when you’re doing what you love. There is so much I could say about my seniors but time will not permit. Let’s keep the elderly in our prayers and in our hearts. They are our past and we are their future. If we ignore or disown the elderly, how are we to get through the rough times in our lives?  They’ve been through what we are facing or will face.

When the Lord puts something on your heart, you’re not really sure how it will turn out but you move without fear and let the Lord have his way. God has truly blessed this banquet over the years.  Although many people have passed away, yet many have joined our banquet.

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To the attendees that we continue to assist, I thank God for allowing me to serve you.  I am thankful for the twenty years and looking forward to twenty more. 

Today my heart is made glad to have served you these twenty years.  Thank you so much.

God Bless you is my prayer.  

 

Minister Bobbie Jordan