DEC 18
Showing Hospitality
by Ben Bragg

Around 1999, I occasionally played trombone for various groups around town, but I was looking to do a little more; however, the outlets were few. Occasionally I would perform with a new guy in town, Billy Orton, at one of these gigs. I’m sure one time I probably told him that I wish I could play more, and Billy, without a moment’s hesitation, replied, “You should come play at First Baptist!” Then every time I would see him, he would tell me the same thing (you know how persistent he can be). But there were more pressing issues at hand.

In the fall of 2000, my fiancé, Wendy, came to my door sobbing. Yet another church had turned us down. We had planned for a Saturday, December 16 th wedding to avoid football season, naturally. Neither of us had a church home in Huntsville, and every church we called told us that they would not allow a December wedding due to Christmas activities. I told her, “Let me contact Syble Noblin at First Baptist Church.” Though I hadn’t spoken to Mrs. Noblin in several years, her daughter and I had been in the band in high school, and we graduated the same year. I called Mrs. Noblin, and she was very sympathetic. “Of course,” Mrs. Noblin said.

However, there were a couple of conditions. Because the Living Christmas Tree was taking place that day, we had to get married in the chapel, and we had to be done by two o’clock. So our plans for an evening wedding went out the door, but it was a small price to pay because we now had a church! So we got married on our chosen day in a beautiful ceremony in the FBC Chapel, amid tornado warnings everywhere in North Alabama.

Wendy wanted us to attend a church, and since FBC had opened itself up to us and because I knew and respected Billy, we chose First Baptist. Wendy became a member by transfer of letter, but since I wasn’t baptized and wasn’t prepared to be, I did not. Later, Billy repeated his invitation to the orchestra. This time I accepted. I began attending the weekly orchestra rehearsals sometime in 2001, participated in Sunday morning services, and performed in my first LCT that year and have done so every year since. And every year, Wendy and I plan our anniversary around a Living Christmas Tree rehearsal or performance.

Our family grew in 2002 with the addition of Mary Elizabeth. She performed in her first LCT last year, and Wendy joined in by helping out with the children. And after years of prayer from Wendy and others, I was finally baptized in June of this year.

Will you open your heart and mind to those around you this year, listening intently to their requests? Will you let a little inconvenience stop you from showing compassion to someone in need?

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:13