First Gospel Celebration draws 1,200 senior adults

Like the majority of the 1,200 in attendance at the first Senior Adult Southern Gospel Celebration, Lee Barham and his wife, Jean, were hoping to hear some inspirational music and messages. They were not disappointed.

The Barhams, of Youngsville, N.C., had attended several senior events throughout the Southeast. But this event on May 13-14, the first of its kind held at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center, was one of the best, they said, because of the message delivered by former New York Yankees’ second baseman Bobby Richardson and evangelist Junior Hill, the comedy of Dennis Swanberg, and the music of Southern Gospel groups Greater Vision, The Greenes, The Hoppers, Triumphant Quartet and Dino.

“Seniors tend to go to things like this,” said Jean Barham, who’s been married to Lee for 46 years. “We were looking to get away and spend time together. This was outstanding. I really enjoyed it.”

The conference, which was put together by LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center and Williams Evangelistic Ministries, drew people from as far away as Texas and Colorado. Tim Williams, the president of WEM, started doing senior adult conferences about 10 years ago as a way to encourage seniors to keep serving in the church.

“We do revivals that involve children, youth, singles, college students, young married couples and we forget about senior adults,” Williams said. “I think this (event) has been great. They’ve really enjoyed it.

“And it’s not uncommon to see professions of faith,” he added. “We don’t see a lot like at a big revival or a crusade, but seldom do we have a senior conference where we don’t see several professions of faith. Sometimes you have so-and-so who brings her husband who doesn’t go to church and he hears the Gospel and comes to faith.”

At the end of the opening night, Williams invited people to accept Christ as Savior. Six people did just that.

“It just doesn’t get any better than that,” said LifeWay National Event Planner Ron Pratt. “For our first event, I think it was a huge success.”

Those who came forward had just listened to the inspirational message from Richardson, 72, the 1960 World Series Most Valuable Player, seven-time American League all-star second baseman and five-time Gold Glove Award winner who still lives in his hometown of Sumter, S.C. Richardson, who was saved when he was 14, spoke about the difficulties he shared with his close friend, Mickey Mantle.

Mantle, who battled alcohol addiction, listened to Richardson’s testimony and heard about the road to salvation numerous times, including during Mantle’s chemotherapy treatments before he died of cancer in 1995. Mantle spoke with Richardson at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and told him he had accepted Christ.

“I walked into his room and he had a smile on his face and said, ‘I can’t wait to tell you this,’” Richardson said. “I told him I wanted to go over it with him to make sure he got it straight. I went over God’s plan of salvation with him. He said, ‘That’s what I’ve done.’

“(Richardson’s wife) Betsy went back and shared her testimony with him. She asked, ‘If a holy God appeared today and asked you this question: why should I let you in my heaven? – what would you say?’ Mickey then quoted John 3:16. He had real peace and died three days later.”

The crowd was silent as Richardson spoke about saying the eulogy at Mantle’s funeral on Aug. 15, 1995, as he had also done at Roger Maris’ funeral nearly 10 years before. And as passionate as Richardson was about his relationship with Mantle, he is more so passionate about being a Christian and what it takes to stay true to God.

“What is a man’s man,” Richardson asked. “You have to dare to stand for your principles when the world around you doesn’t. We need men like that. It doesn’t matter what is in the head. It’s the heart that matters.”

The music, at times, brought the seniors to their feet. The incredible vocals, along with traditional hymns like “Love Lifted Me,” “Standing on the Promises of God,” and “Down at the Cross,” gave the group renewed vigor.

Next year, LifeWay will hold the event at both Ridgecrest (April 20-22, 2009) and Glorieta Conference Center (May 12-15, 2009), located near Santa Fe, N.M. For Pat and Lowell Socolofsky of Colorado Springs, Colo., that’s good news.

“I assumed this would be like an event we went to six years ago in Fort Worth, Texas,” said Lowell, who retired from the Air Force. “There were a lot of large groups here. If you like gospel music, seniors will not find a better event.”

For up-to-date news and information regarding LifeWay Christian Resources, visit www.lifeway.com/news.