(From John Keddie)
Travelled to Atlanta on Thursday 16 October. We were grateful for the kindness of the Rev Warren Gardner and his wife Valerie for putting us up for the duration of our visit at his home in Winder, a bit to the north-east of Atlanta.
Friday, 17 October: Christian Runners
It rained ‘cats and dogs’ all day in Atlanta and was still falling in the evening when I went with my wife, Jean, to Heiskell School to meet with Richard Hopkins and the Christian Runners group meeting in the School that evening. Their customised vests had ‘Christian Runners’ unashamedly blazoned over them and displayed the text from Hebrews 12:1-2. This gave a good spring board for a talk on ‘Running the Race’ and an introduction to the book. A gathering of about 50 or 60 listened attentively and quite a few took the book.Saturday, 18 October: Fall Five Miler, Marietta
The ‘Big Peach Running Company’ (four stores in Georgia) held a sort of serious ‘fun-run’ on the Saturday morning (the weather had brightened and was dry!). The idea was that all sorts of people could run or walk, as they pleased, the money collected being donated this year to Muscular Dystrophy. $13,000 was raised. There were about 900 runners, including my wife Jean who walked the course very briskly.
In manning a book stall where the race finished there was good interest in Running the Race and many copies were distributed and signed. One lady who approached the stall told me that her late husband had been in the Weihsien Internment camp as a young boy and had been taught by Eric Liddell and had been part of his Boy Scout group there.
Lord’s day, 19 October: Church Services
On the Sunday I preached both services for Warren Gardner in the Free Church (Continuing) congregation in Atlanta. This congregation is part of the same Church of which I am a minister in Scotland! The services were at 11am and 2pm, with a congregational fellowship meal in between.
Monday, 20 October: Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Travelled to South Carolina in the morning for addresses at the Greenville Seminary. This is a Presbyterian Seminary associated with the Presbyterian Church in America. We met up with our other Free Church (continuing) minister in Georgia/South Carolina area, Rob McCurley, a graduate of Greenville Seminary who ministers in the city. We were warmly welcomed by staff and students. At noon I gave a talk on the 19th century Scottish theologian, George Smeaton. This served as a useful introduction to my book on Smeaton recently published by Evangelical Press (George Smeaton. Learned Theologian and New Testament Scholar). In the evening at a public meeting in the auditorium of the Christian Arts Centre among the Seminary buildings I gave a PowerPoint presentation on the story of Eric Liddell. Again it was good to have the opportunity to introduce an American public to the inspirational story of Running the Race.
Tuesday, 21 October: Berry College, Rome
Warren Gardner and I had a lovely drive from NE Atlanta to NW Atlanta and on to Rome (Georgia!). Berry College is a Christian Liberal-Arts College set in a 28-acre site. Apparently it is the largest University/College Campus in the world. There are around 2,000 students associated with the College. We were welcomed by Bob Pearson, a staff member closely involved with a wide range of students’ interests, mainly sporting, over many years. The visit involved a presentation of the Eric Liddell PowerPoint to a group of students at a ‘cultural events.’ About 80 or so gathered, including some parents/staff. Apparently this counted as a first-rate attendance. The presentation was well received by a fairly young sporty audience and quite a few books were sold.
Wednesday, 22 October: 2nd Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Atlanta
Our last stop of the tour was at the 2nd La Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in down town Atlanta. This comprised a huge complex of buildings. We duly met the pastor, Dr David Sapp and were treated to a congregational lunch before giving the Running the Race presentation. There were 100 or so folks present and a good interest in both the presentation and the book. There was a couple there who had often been to Scotland, and even to the Isle of Skye!
The meetings were varied, with all sorts of situations and audiences. We praise the Lord for help with the schedule of engagements. I was thankful to have my wife, Jean, with me, and the help of Warren Gardner was invaluable. We thank Warren and Valerie for their kind hospitality in putting us up in Winder. It was good to have opportunity of sharing a message about a great Christian athlete and felt well received wherever we went.
