"Pentecostal Girl"
by, Cheryl Harwell Bailey
by, Cheryl Harwell Bailey
When I was 14, it was 1967, in Southern California.
I was somewhere between a woman and a girl,
I was somewhere between a woman and a girl,
as "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," boomed in the background.
It's a good thing I had 2 praying "Methodist," grandma's,
but I didn't go to church, or think about "God!"
I just wanted to have fun. I did no real damage to myself, (praying grandma's.)
On the very rare occasions, I did go to church,
I was bored, felt nothing, and couldn't wait to leave.
It's a good thing I had 2 praying "Methodist," grandma's,
but I didn't go to church, or think about "God!"
I just wanted to have fun. I did no real damage to myself, (praying grandma's.)
On the very rare occasions, I did go to church,
I was bored, felt nothing, and couldn't wait to leave.
Of course not being allowed to "date," doesn't stop a teenager,
but the boy's were terrified of my Dad.
I had lots of friends, to party with.
We went to drive-in movies, dances, and crusin'
every week-end.
We thought little about our futures.
I suppose I thought I would marry a "hard working guy,"
have children, and live out my life in "Bakersfield."
This would be my life.
But it wasn't!
I do know what it feels like to have no desire for "God!"
That was me the night I came home from our high school dance,
in my red mini dress, having had a "blast!"
My wild "Daddy" asked me to sit down with he & mom, they wanted to talk.
They had been "Born Again!"
They wanted me to know how great they felt and would I go to church with them?
"But Dad you two never go to church!" "Just go with us." he asked.
"Okay, I'll go to the boring, holier than thou, blah, blah, blah church,
but I"m wearing my mini!"
"January 1968," I went to "Church," with my parents.
It was packed as we sat on the very back pew.
They started to sing some very cool music. I couldn't believe "electric guitars," in church!
As the choir began to sing in powerful perfect harmony, it was anything but dead.
The whole place "moving" to the beat of the music, clapping, shouting, crying.
It gave me goose bumps.
Then like a fast moving "Bible" blast,
the "Preacher" had every person on the edge of their seats, including me.
When he invited those to come forward, who wanted to ask "Jesus" into their hearts,
I held on to the pew in front of me, till my knuckles turned white.
It was packed as we sat on the very back pew.
They started to sing some very cool music. I couldn't believe "electric guitars," in church!
As the choir began to sing in powerful perfect harmony, it was anything but dead.
The whole place "moving" to the beat of the music, clapping, shouting, crying.
It gave me goose bumps.
Then like a fast moving "Bible" blast,
the "Preacher" had every person on the edge of their seats, including me.
When he invited those to come forward, who wanted to ask "Jesus" into their hearts,
I held on to the pew in front of me, till my knuckles turned white.
The next church service, I wanted to go. The next, and the next, and the next!
I was wrong! Totally! "Church" was not boring, cold, or dead!
They were far from "holier than thou."
In fact, they were the opposite.
They were far from "holier than thou."
In fact, they were the opposite.
Finally on that January night, when the "altar call" was given, I let go of the pew!
I walked down the aisle to publicly tell the whole world,
I wanted to give my heart and life to "Jesus Christ!"
I"m 60 years old now, and I have never, felt what I experienced that split second.
I died that night.
I was "Born Again!"
It was "Jesus!"
I walked down the aisle to publicly tell the whole world,
I wanted to give my heart and life to "Jesus Christ!"
I"m 60 years old now, and I have never, felt what I experienced that split second.
I died that night.
I was "Born Again!"
It was "Jesus!"
I was never, or ever will be, the same.
I will never be able to explain it.
I know, that I know, that I know!
I will never be able to explain it.
I know, that I know, that I know!
I have often thought about the impact of the "Church Service" itself, in my own experience.
If it had been, "The First Church of the Frigidaire" would I be saved?
No!
For me it had to be a red hot church.
If it had been, "The First Church of the Frigidaire" would I be saved?
No!
For me it had to be a red hot church.
In the atmosphere of the bright glow of passionate worship.
It's the difference between "having church," and "playing church."
I was "born" in the fire, and I can't live in the smoke!
I was "born" in the fire, and I can't live in the smoke!
0
by, Cheryl Harwell Bailey
When I was 14, it was 1967, in Southern California.
I was somewhere between a woman and a girl,
I was somewhere between a woman and a girl,
as "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," boomed in the background.
It's a good thing I had 2 praying "Methodist," grandma's,
but I didn't go to church, or think about "God!"
I just wanted to have fun. I did no real damage to myself, (praying grandma's.)
On the very rare occasions, I did go to church,
I was bored, felt nothing, and couldn't wait to leave.
It's a good thing I had 2 praying "Methodist," grandma's,
but I didn't go to church, or think about "God!"
I just wanted to have fun. I did no real damage to myself, (praying grandma's.)
On the very rare occasions, I did go to church,
I was bored, felt nothing, and couldn't wait to leave.
Of course not being allowed to "date," doesn't stop a teenager,
but the boy's were terrified of my Dad.
I had lots of friends, to party with.
We went to drive-in movies, dances, and crusin'
every week-end.
We thought little about our futures.
I suppose I thought I would marry a "hard working guy,"
have children, and live out my life in "Bakersfield."
This would be my life.
But it wasn't!
I do know what it feels like to have no desire for "God!"
That was me the night I came home from our high school dance,
in my red mini dress, having had a "blast!"
My wild "Daddy" asked me to sit down with he & mom, they wanted to talk.
They had been "Born Again!"
They wanted me to know how great they felt and would I go to church with them?
"But Dad you two never go to church!" "Just go with us." he asked.
"Okay, I'll go to the boring, holier than thou, blah, blah, blah church,
but I"m wearing my mini!"
"January 1968," I went to "Church," with my parents.
It was packed as we sat on the very back pew.
They started to sing some very cool music. I couldn't believe "electric guitars," in church!
As the choir began to sing in powerful perfect harmony, it was anything but dead.
The whole place "moving" to the beat of the music, clapping, shouting, crying.
It gave me goose bumps.
Then like a fast moving "Bible" blast,
the "Preacher" had every person on the edge of their seats, including me.
When he invited those to come forward, who wanted to ask "Jesus" into their hearts,
I held on to the pew in front of me, till my knuckles turned white.
It was packed as we sat on the very back pew.
They started to sing some very cool music. I couldn't believe "electric guitars," in church!
As the choir began to sing in powerful perfect harmony, it was anything but dead.
The whole place "moving" to the beat of the music, clapping, shouting, crying.
It gave me goose bumps.
Then like a fast moving "Bible" blast,
the "Preacher" had every person on the edge of their seats, including me.
When he invited those to come forward, who wanted to ask "Jesus" into their hearts,
I held on to the pew in front of me, till my knuckles turned white.
The next church service, I wanted to go. The next, and the next, and the next!
I was wrong! Totally! "Church" was not boring, cold, or dead!
They were far from "holier than thou."
In fact, they were the opposite.
They were far from "holier than thou."
In fact, they were the opposite.
Finally on that January night, when the "altar call" was given, I let go of the pew!
I walked down the aisle to publicly tell the whole world,
I wanted to give my heart and life to "Jesus Christ!"
I"m 60 years old now, and I have never, felt what I experienced that split second.
I died that night.
I was "Born Again!"
It was "Jesus!"
I walked down the aisle to publicly tell the whole world,
I wanted to give my heart and life to "Jesus Christ!"
I"m 60 years old now, and I have never, felt what I experienced that split second.
I died that night.
I was "Born Again!"
It was "Jesus!"
I was never, or ever will be, the same.
I will never be able to explain it.
I know, that I know, that I know!
I will never be able to explain it.
I know, that I know, that I know!
I have often thought about the impact of the "Church Service" itself, in my own experience.
If it had been, "The First Church of the Frigidaire" would I be saved?
No!
For me it had to be a red hot church.
If it had been, "The First Church of the Frigidaire" would I be saved?
No!
For me it had to be a red hot church.
In the atmosphere of the bright glow of passionate worship.
It's the difference between "having church," and "playing church."
I was "born" in the fire, and I can't live in the smoke!
I was "born" in the fire, and I can't live in the smoke!
0
