Clarksdale, MS
According to a charter member Margie Shields this church has been blessed with great pastors. God sent J. E. (Chuck) Gray in May of 1960 to plant the seed and build the first church in Clarksdale. There have been nine pastors:
J. E. Gray, Royce Earl Odom, Moss, Billy Watkins, T.L. Tolbert, Cecil Walker, Richard Motes, H. Bracknel and presently since August 7, 1997 Fred Johnston Jr. has served as pastor.
Pastor Johnston stated, “We have worked hard and have seen a lot of good things happen at Clarksdale UPC, but still look for Jesus to give us a great revival.”
CLARKSDALE’S LIGHTHOUSE
The year was 1960 in the last part of May,
God sent Clarksdale a true prophet, Rev. J. E. (Chuck) Gray
We first met in an old store over on Riverside,
He really preached the truth, said the path to destruction is wide.
He taught the plan of salvation real narrow and straight,
He said the whole human race must obey Acts 2:38.
He only came to Clarksdale to do Home Mission work,
Before sunrise, till after sunset, his duty he wouldn’t’ shirk.
He said when he came, he could only stay one year,
We all loved him so, that his leaving caused many tears.
From Riverside to Ritch St., where we bought a lot in a field,
Held services under a tent till the church he could build.
The summer of 1960, the month of July, on day four,
Bro. Gray, James Shields, Leon Parker dug a footing to pour
Concrete for a foundation where the church would stand,
It is truly a Lighthouse in the midst of a dry land.
We never kept a real list of all the names and dates,
People who were born again here, now live in different states.
This church was built for a lighthouse and a place of birth,
All who abide by its teachings will soon leave this earth.
Some from this church will make up Christ’s Bride.
We’ll be caught up in the rapture ever to be at His side.
Should we go by the grave, we’ll be the first to rise.
Let us remain faithful and true and grow more wise.
Till He come or call us away to be forever with Him,
The light of that city will never grow dim.
A lighthouse is a tall tower with a real bright light,
To guide ships that must travel in the darkness of night.
The church is a lighthouse for the sin tossed and dreary,
It is a place of sweet refuge in this town when you grow weary.
God loves us all with the same amount of love,
He’s watching us every minute of our lives from Heaven above.
Pastors are still human, each leaving may bring some regrets,
The poorest of God’s children He never forgets.
God’s not like a person who sees on the outside,
God sees way down in each heart, there’s nothing we can hide.
No matter if you run to faraway lands,
He requires of us all a pure heart and clean hands.
This Lighthouse was started 60 years ago,
There’s been 9 different leaders as some of you know.
Until the rapture or God calls us all away,
Let’s keep this Lighthouse beacon shining brighter each day.
God’s younger children, who are healthy and strong,
Pray for us older folks when you think we’re all wrong.
Sixty years from now, if any of us are still here,
This church, Clarksdale’s Lighthouse, will be ever more blessed and dear.
By: Margie Shields