He created a godly heritage that has already affected four generations of my family!

Impact for Generations

by Richard Atwood

My grandfather’s grandfather fought in the Civil War. He returned to North Carolina after the war, married, and had a son named Richard Atwood—my great-grandfather. I am glad my great-great grandfather made it through the war alive, or I wouldn’t be writing this article.

Recently, however, I discovered another heritage that has become quite important to me. Without this heritage, I wouldn’t be writing this article. The picture above isn’t my family. It’s a picture of William Sturgill and his family. I found it in a book of history about Alleghany County, North Carolina. My family lived there when I was a kid, and it is the area where my father’s family is from.

After I saw the picture, I quickly ordered the book from an online dealer. The reason I like the picture is the caption below it: Rev. Sturgill started the New Home Free Will Baptist Church in Piney Creek. He was the pastor there until he died in 1948.

Someone where my mother worked invited her to revival services at New Home FWB Church. She was saved at one of those services. Shortly after she was saved, we moved to Maryland and began attending Mt. Calvary FWB Church where I was saved, along with my two brothers. We were the second generation of family members whose lives were impacted by Rev. Sturgill’s church in North Carolina.

My two brothers and I have a total of nine children. The oldest is a missionary in Spain, and the youngest is on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. All nine children accepted Christ as their Savior. That makes generation number three that was impacted by the New Home Church.

Now, my nieces and nephews are having children, raising them in church, and teaching them about God. That is four generations impacted for Christ because of one church that started years before my mother went there, by a man who has been in Heaven for some time.

William Sturgill and the others who partnered together to plant a church created a godly heritage that has already affected four generations of my family alone! I think all of us want to be a part of something that truly matters and really lasts. That is one reason that I want to have a hand in starting new churches.

About the Writer: Richard Atwood is director of missionary assistance for Free Will Baptist Home Missions. To learn more about becoming a church planter, visit www.homemissions.net.