Richard

Last week’s bulletin article contained information regarding Jacob Creath, Jr., a well-respected preacher of the Restoration Movement. In this article, I would like to share another story with you regarding brother Creath.

T.P. Haley, a man acquainted with Jacob Creath, wrote the following: “All who were acquainted with him will remember his prayers. While he was a great preacher, he was simply without a peer in his prayers. This was, no doubt, because he ‘prayed without ceasing.’ It is said that on one occasion, during the [Civil] war, a company of troops were hanging about the town of Palmyra, with a view to capture and destroy the town. On one occasion brother Creath had gone out to the grove in which he was accustomed to pray. While he was praying, the leader of the troop happened to be near and heard a voice as if pleading with some one, and approaching, he saw this venerable man, bowed to the earth, and heard him pleading with his God for his neighbors, his town, his country, and above all for peace. It is said the rough soldier was so impressed, that he withdrew his troops and retired from the country, without making the contemplated attack. The last prayer I ever heard him make was in my own house, and I shall never forget it. I have never heard any man pray as Jacob Creath could pray” (Historical and Biographical Sketches of the Early Churches and Pioneer Preachers of the Christian Church in Missouri. Christian Publishing Co., 1888, pgs 454-455). Let’s remember that there is power in prayer. We may not be as eloquent in prayer as Jacob Creath, yet we can still pray with sincerity of heart knowing that our loving God in heaven hears our prayers and answers them according to His will.

The following are the words that Jacob Creath, Jr. recorded in his personal journal on December 9, 1862: “How few of what may be called happy days does any person enjoy in this world unless they are spent in devotion, prayer and praise. After breakfast, I walk about one mile west of my house, to a woods, and there I spend fifteen to twenty minutes in private prayer where I have more real happiness in close communion with God than all this world can afford me” (Donan, P., Memoir of Jacob Creath, Jr. Cincinnati: R.W. Carroll & Company, 1872, pgs 188-189). We also need to be regular in our prayerfulness. It is wonderful to gather together as Christians and pray together. Yet, we

each need to be involved in private prayer to our Heavenly Father. We need to make it

a regular part of our daily lives. Perhaps we each need to find a place of solitude where we can privately bow our heads in personal prayer.

“There is always a blessing, a blessing in prayer!”