As many of you already know, Bishop Francis Asbury (1745-1816) is one of my heroes. He was called "The Prophet of the Long Road" because of his extensive travels in early America as a circuit rider. He came to the "new world" as a Methodist Missionary in October of 1771, and for the next 45 years until his death in March of 1816, his only address was "America," as he traveled over 250,000 miles by horseback.

Attached, see one of my favorite paintings of Bishop Asbury at Cumberland Gap, through which he passed at least 12 times during his long ministry.

This last weekend (June 24 and 25, Saturday - Sunday), it was a joy for Judy and me to be in the Casey County Cluster of our Corbin District. We traveled 195 miles together in those 2 days, and I shared with Judy on the way home Sunday afternoon, that I had 3 advantages over Bishop Asbury: No Horse, An Automobile, and a Beautiful Wife!

I love to "travel" as a District Superintendent. I love to be "on the road again," and spend good time with the good people of the Corbin District. God gives us such unique and varied opportunities for ministry.

We left home on Sat. at 9:30 am, and at 11:00 am, we were at Bethelridge UMC for the Funeral/Memorial Service of Mrs. Dollie Godbey. We have known this wonderful woman of God since the beginning of our ministry at Covenant UMC in La Grange, Ky. in June of 1991. Her son, Jerry Godbey, and his wife, Carolyn, and their 2 children, Allison and Matt were all active members of the church. During our wonderful 12 years (1991-2003) of ministry in La Grange, we watched Allison and Matt grow from teenagers into adults. Jerry was the Leader of our Building Team, and God greatly used him as we united the 2 churches, bought land, relocated, and built the new Covenant UMC, moving in on Easter Sunday (April 23) of 2000. Along the way, we also got to know and love Jerry's dear mother, Dollie Godbey. Jerry's late father, Rufus Godbey, who died/passed 18 years ago, and is buried in the Bethelridge UMC cemetery.

On Aug. 7, 2005, Jerry and Carolyn brought Dollie to our Casey County Summer Outdoor Cluster Gathering at Bethelridge UMC, and a visit at her husband's grave, where now she is also buried. Dollie's other grandson and 2 grandsons-in-law led the Funeral/Memorial Service in music, sharing, and preaching. What a wonderful family!

Three other familes (Neal & Kathy Deaves, Mike & Carol Marshall, Jack & Linda McGohon) were also there from Covenant UMC. What a joy to see people love one another and support one another in times of grief. After the service, it was a joy for Judy and me to treat these 3 wonderful couples to lunch at the "Bread of Life Restaurant" near Liberty, and share in a wonderful 2 hours of fellowship.

At 3:30 pm, Judy and I attended the 25th Wedding Anniversary for Gary and Norma Vest at the Poplar Springs Volunteer Fire Department in Liberty. Gary and Norma are active and serving members of the Willow Springs UMC in our Casey County Cluster, and they greatly love the Lord and His Church. A wonderful time to be with them and their families and all the folks from the Church, and a great visit with Pastor Creech Richardson, who just completed "The License to Preach School" back in May. Way to go, Creech! We are all so very proud of you!

At 5:00 pm, Judy and I arrived at the Southern Spirit Farm (I call it "The Ponderosa") the beautiful home and spread of Mrs. Nancy Larkin, and her daughter and son-in-law (Kathleen and Butch Walls). What a wonderful place to rest, as you can't even see any other houses. Nancy, Kathleen and Butch, have the gift of hospitality, and what a great gift of rest, food, prayer, laughter, and fellowship they gave to Judy and me as they fed us and put us up for the night.

Bishop Asbury had friends like this in his travels. He first came into Kentucky through Cumberland Gap in May of 1790, and on his way to Kentucky through Virginia (near Abingdon), he would always stay with the Stephen Keywood family. He writes in his journal on Thursday, April 22, 1790: "We had a lively prayer meeting at Keywood's. Come, Lord, like thunder, and break in upon these dear young people!"

Many of the Keywood descendants settled in Harlan County, Ky., and changed the name to "Cawood," and I know many of them. What a heritage, and what a heritage to have good friends like Nancy, Kathleen and Butch.

On Sunday morning, Judy and I attended the Liberty UMC with Nancy, Kathleen and Butch, as he sang some beautiful songs during the worship service. Pastor Bruce Lee preached the best sermon that I have ever heard on "Christian Baptism," and the joy of the Lord was in the sanctuary. After the service, there was a surprise birthday party for Brother Bruce (39 years old), and a joy to be with him and Gina, and Brandon and Trent and the Liberty UMC Family.

On the way home, we felt led to stop by and visit Pastor Steve Glenn and his family at Bethelridge UMC. His wife, Amanda, is in her 20th week of pregnancy and was resting. A joy for Judy and me to pray with Steve and little 3 and 1/2 year old Hannah. God led us there primarily to pray for Steve's dear Mom, who lives in Ohio and is battling cancer. I know God was in that, because at 9:30 pm on Sunday evening, Steve called and said that his Mom had died/passed at 8:00 pm. I'm sure glad that we stopped and prayed with Steve, and right now we all hold him and his family in our hearts and prayers.

The "long road" continues as I will be in Lynch (Harlan County Cluster) tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm for the "Tri-City" (Cumberland, Benham, Lynch) tent revival with Larry Nichols and Mike Coppersmith, from the Pulaski County Cluster of our Corbin District. On Thursday at 2:00 pm, I will be at our Cabinet Meeting in Crestwood, and on Saturday, back over in Casey County again for the Liberty UMC Picnic, staying overnight at "The Ponderosa", and preaching on Sunday morning at the Mintonville UMC Homecoming, and at 6:00 pm that evening, with Pastor Seth Denney and his precious people from the Mill Spring Circuit (Tuttles Chapel/Ellers Chapel/Meadow Creek UMC) in our Wayne County Cluster.

I love what I do! It is a joy to serve Christ and His people.

We love you all and our best days are ahead because of Jesus!

In Christ,
Terry and Judy Faris, Corbin District