| In April of 1973 I packed all my material possessions into the back of my jeep wagon and headed for the hills of Southern Appalachia. I rented a house in a county seat and set out each morning "in search of the hollow." After only a week I was introduced to a teacher who said he knew of a young Holiness-Pentecostal minister who served as the pastor of a church up in one of the hollows. I met Frank Harper, the young minister, a few days later, and he invited me to visit his church the following Saturday night. So, within ten days of my arrival in the Southern Appalachian mountains, I was among the Holiness-Pentecostals of Coal Creek. |
| I was scared beyond belief as I pulled up to the Coal Creek Holiness-Pentecostal Church that first Saturday evening. The primary thing I remember about that night was that, after the service, the pastor, Frank Harper, introduced me to Josh Armstrong, a highly respected man in the congregation. Frank explained that I wanted to collect people's testimonies and learn about their beliefs; Frank was sympathetic to my situation and especially supportive in his description. Josh quickly answered, "Well, I love the Lord, and that's about all that's important" and abruptly turned and walked away. |
| Although disappointed at this first encounter, I continued to go out to the hollow church services. Frank Harper eventually introduced me to T. Timothy Alexander, the pastor of the largest Holiness-Pentecostal church in the county. He invited me to visit his church in McClaskey; and since they had their evening services on Sunday night, I could attend both churches. |
| After two months of living in town, I moved into the hollow. Josh Armstrong, who by this time had become a good friend, helped me find a place. The five-room house we found was one of several in a coal camp. The mine had been closed for years, but the houses surrounding it were still occupied. Since the coal camp houses were in relatively poor condition and none had running water, my monthly rent was $10. |
| It was in the coal camp that I began to know people. They brought over medicine when I was sick; we helped each other fix |
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WACO, TEXAS