Maybe it is wooden pews you sit on, maybe the sawdust covering the earthen floor, or the old hymns you sing, no matter how you look at the experience, there is nothing like worshipping at the Hartselle Tabernacle. Maybe the open-air feeling enables your worship to move more freely up to heaven. Or maybe the presence of God himself moves into the worship service more openly.

While attending the opening night of the 2016 Camp Meeting, I remember several folks mentioning how they were saved at the altar during a camp meeting. Now, since I was sitting on the front row, I kept looking at the altar thinking about how many lives had been changed in this very special place.

Thinking this morning about singing, “When We all Get to Heaven” that was sung Sunday evening, the thought crossed my mind that I might just want to look up all the folks who found salvation at that old wooden altar inside the Tabernacle. Since we will have all of eternity, I should have plenty of time. Who knows, there may even be a special section of heaven set aside for the Tabernacle. But regardless, this old wooden structure is special to many, where their lives were changed, and they grew in their walk and even for many renewed their relationship with God.

Another special experience that I have enjoyed for the past two years is listening to the sermons delivered by my friend, Bro. Junior Hill. I do not use that term loosely; I count him as a friend. While many times we think of a friend as someone whom we hang out with or visit with on numerous occasions, many times a friend is someone who we know has our best interest at heart and someone we know who prays for us.

Bro. Hill always impresses me with his sermons, mainly because he shows the simplicity of grace and salvation. While I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination, I do not think Jesus meant for our believing and accepting His grace and forgiveness to be something we cannot understand.

Sunday evening the scripture from John, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9 (KJV)

The way to the Father is through the Son and Jesus is the way. Even someone who has never heard scripture or the gospel would be able to understand this.

While there are many reasons to study scripture, including researching the text in its original form can be helpful. But just like if you are starving, you may need a seven-course meal, but only a piece of bread, if you are lost finding salvation is the most important task at hand.

There is no doubt this man of God found his calling many years ago. He has touched many lives, and just like the Tabernacle, he holds a special place in the hearts of many. I could say the same thing about Bro. Hill, it will probably take a long stretch of eternity for him to see all of the folks that are in heaven due to his preaching the saving grace in the gospel in a way that anyone can understand.

Yes, to repeat myself again, there is nothing like worshipping in the Tabernacle and nothing like hearing a Junior Hill sermon. May the Tabernacle stand until the time is no more and may Junior Hill have many more years to spread the gospel.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.