You've seen the bumper sticker that says Practice Random Acts of Kindness . I get a kick out of reading what people put on their car, especially the ones with bumper stickers all over the backside. They tell a lot about the driver. For instance when you see a vehicle with “My Other Car Is A Broom” stuck to it, it's probably not the Avon lady. And “Trim the Bushes” doesn't mean the operator loves yard work. Remember the stories about honking at a “Honk If You Love Jesus” car? Pardon the pun, but I'm changing gears now. That was way too much about bumper stickers, which this is not even about.
This is about going the extra mile. Southern Gospel is rife with artists who regularly practice acts of kindness. One of the nicest, to me, is an artist's willingness to work a benefit concert into their heavy touring schedule. Most of these incidents aren't publicized, as it should be. But I'll break the silence on this one, since it's about my good friend Reggie Saddler, a Southern Gospel gem if there ever was one.
In truth, many Christian artists go beyond the call and sing at charitable events, drastically reducing or waiving completely the amount of money needed to keep their ministry going and the family fed. One example that left quite an impression on many happened last year.
I belong to Calvary Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. In June my Sunday school class was discussing what we could do to raise funds for someone in the church who was having a kidney transplant at Duke University in July. Bake sales, car washes, and barbeque dinners were all bantered about. Finally I spoke up and said, “A few weeks ago I mentioned to the pastor the possibility of us having a Gospel concert here. What do you think about doing that to raise money for the family?” Some people nodded and a few chorused, “That sounds great!” So we went to work planning the event.
Not long before, while talking on the phone with Reggie Saddler I brought up the subject of he and his family coming to our church. Calvary Baptist has never had a well-known artist like the Saddler's in for a concert, at least not in the eight years I've been there. I knew the Saddler Family would be a wonderful blessing and secondly, would expose the people there to the tremendous talent traveling the Southern Gospel circuit.
So on Monday following the class discussion, I called Reggie. He checked his calendar and came up with a date prior to the gentleman's surgery when he and his three lovely ladies could come. It was the second Friday in July, a few days after the Fourth.
In that initial conversation and later in a subsequent one, Reggie Saddler never mentioned money. Not a peep was said about a fee, honorarium, or even travel expenses—he didn't bring up dollars and cents at all. Finally I said, “Reggie, you'll have to help me out here. I've never “booked” a group and I have no idea what to tell the church to expect.”
It turned out Reggie Saddler expected nothing. He wasn't asking for a penny. Man, that was a surprise. No, we didn't let the Saddler family come for free, but the point is—they were willing to. In his comments about that aspect of it Reggie said something to the effect of, “I was coming to help out my friend,” which certainly meant a lot to me personally. But he also told me how the Lord had blessed them, and that He would continue to provide, and that some dates of this type were part of his family's overall ministry outreach.
Reggie's stock was already high with me and that sent it through the roof!
Another impressive thing about the Saddler family's willingness to come on the night they did was the fact they were leaving at 6 AM the next morning to fly to Seattle for a Charles Stanley cruise. Yet they were more than willing to drive two hours each way to pour their hearts into a 7 PM Benefit Concert for a family they didn't know, only that they were in need. Brothers and sisters, that's just like Jesus!
The evening was amazing. Seeing the family this whole thing was put together for was a touching, inspirational sight. The man in need of the operation, a gentleman in his late thirties, sat with his lovely wife pressed close to him. Beside her was one of the couple's pre-teen daughters. It was the young wife and mother who was donating the kidney doctors would soon place in him. What a beautiful, real-life example of genuine love between a man and a woman.
Everyone in attendance was challenged and charged-up by the Reggie Saddler Family's spirited brand of Southern Gospel music. Anybody who has ever witnessed them knows they have the God-given ability to convey the love and spirit of Jesus. Reggie is also a great communicator when he speaks. His tender, always compassionate, and at times comical statements evoke emotions that bring laughter and tears—all at the appropriate times.
Our donation buckets ended up holding a sizeable amount of money that night, with all of it going to the man headed for Duke University Medical Center just two weeks later. I deeply appreciate and commend my church and pastor for this act. Calvary Baptist, led by Dr. Buddy Corbin, is a very loving and generous body.
Pastor Corbin was so impressed with the ministry of the Reggie Saddler Family, he immediately invited them to come back and conduct the combined Sunday morning services on Homecoming Day the following month. Buddy told them they could have the whole two hours and the entire collection! Unfortunately, the Saddlers were booked that Sunday and couldn't accept. But they now have a brand new ministry contact and a host of new friends, and I'm sure they'll be back at Calvary Baptist Church sometime in the future.
On that warm night last summer, while Reggie, Bridgette, Shivonne and Ingra Saddler were blessing souls and making new friends and fans at Calvary Baptist, I'm sure the same thing occurred at other churches, in other towns, with other dedicated Southern Gospel artists.
It's appropriate to end this by stating that full-time artists can only do a limited number of benefit concerts. But isn't it wonderful that many choose to give to the Lord and his people in that manner?
Those moments will last for Eternity.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 01/31/2005
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Category: Monthly ArticlesCrossroads Chronicles
Comments: 3
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Jim, I am deeply touched to hear how loving and benevolent Reggie Sadler and his family responded to a family in need. We hear the expression these days, "What would Jesus do?" Well, there's an example.
If you ever have a similar need, don't hesitate to call my group. We are the "Sons of Thunder Quartet" from Clemmons, NC. I work in a hospital and see people in crisis situations. I often wish there was more I could do. You've pointed out to me today that I actually can.
Thanks for illustrating a great example of faith in action.
Mitch Camp
Sons of Thunder Quartet
Clemmons, NC
I love enlighten34 we haven't had a southern gospel radio station here since I've lived here which is 10 years and when I found out the xmradio had well I have to sign up and its all I listen to thank you and my GOD keep blessing yall
Cal Barritt
We've had this family twice at our church in the past and would love to have them again. Great music praising God; people praising God through wonderful music; God is truly blessed. They will be coming to this area again and I hope to go see them. Love this group, no I love the family period.
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