BEAUTIFUL FOOTED MESSENGER! 9/11/10

LAST WEEKEND my Morning Glory honored the Lawndale Christian Church's 90th birthday. It is only fitting that today I talk about Lertis Ellett, a preacher; a pastor and a shepherd of the first order. "5/3/1906 = 9/11/78" As the five of us Knauss kids walked up the street we could see a man opening the front door of the church we were headed for. Janice was the oldest at 13 and Joyce was the youngest at 6. Layton, Lynn and I were in the middle. As we walked up the small incline at the front of the building, Mr. Ellett came quickly with his hands outstretched towards us.

HIS GREETING set the tone for our first adventure into Christianity. He introduced us kids at the SS opening exercises; again, at the beginning of the church service and then at the end, he invited us 5 little Knauss' to their scheduled Friday night pot luck. Can you believe that? Inviting 5 kids to attend a pot luck without their parents! Mom let us go, but she fed us at home first.

THIS PASTOR and this congregation loved us kids. They were openly loving, each one of us, to the point that the journey we began in 1947, is till moving in the lives of the whole family who followed for one reason or another. One of the things about Mr. Ellett was that he was organized and even created a card system of keeping track of his congregation. However, his desk left a lot to be desired. Anyone looking at it would shake their heads and all the while their hands were aching to straighten it up. No signs said it, but it was understood; 'hands off!'

MR. ELLETT would plan and arrange every year for a two week evangelistic meeting. One year we had the Evangelist, Reggie Thomas and a gospel Quartet called 'The Gospel Four' on the docket. Every year was outstanding but that year I fell in love with the idea of an Evangelistic centered program. I was lifted higher than I could ever remember. This was my very first mountaintop experience.

EVERY YEAR the youth put on a youth banquet that was centered around a missionary who would be visiting Lawndale. The youth banquets didn't start out that way, but Mr. Ellett's mind was mission oriented and couldn't help himself when he could combine a function to encompass more than one purpose. Our banquets were exceptional! Pearl Watkins could feed an army and she did it very well when it came to the youth banquet. My favorite was Swiss Steak! It was smothered in brown gravy which was also poured over mash potatoes. Did I mention the green beans, salads and dessert? Oh my!

MR. ELLETT'S dream was to become a professor or administrator of a Bible College. He worked for years on his doctorate but never fulfilled his dream or even became a Doctor. However, he Shepherded a congregation full of young people who later went on to have families who continued in the faith. Without realizing it Mr. Ellett was obedient to God's great commission when Jesus said; "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:19-20
That is the mission he achieved during his life time!

MR. ELLETT had a physical deformity! His left side dropped ever so slightly, but enough to be noticed. Some might have thought his suit jacket didn't fit him well. The problem was he carried his bible in a shoulder holster that he had made specially for his bible and he was never seen without it. Without ever saying it, his motto was; "Have Bible will travel!" His theme was; "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 God set me on a path that led directly to Lawndale Church and Mr. Ellett! Hallelujah! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/8/10