Daryl Stubblefield

I happened to be on a drunk binge one day in August of 1991, and I said it was about time for me to stop drinking. I was walking around that corner right there: 33rd, 34th. And on my way around this corner I ran into Pastor Barnes. We had a nice discussion for about thirty, forty minutes. He asked me, did I know the Lord? And if I was to die tonight, where would I spend eternal life?
And I went to Highland hospital and joined the drug program. That Wednesday I was right here in Bible class. I’ve been a part and parcel of Abyssinian ever since.

I just recently came home from an unwanted vacation—because I wasn’t really ready to take heed to what I was supposed to be taking heed to. So God put me in a place where I didn’t have nothing but time to just revamp on everything that was taught to me by my pastor. And he hasn’t gave up on me yet. Regardless of what my problems may be, with whoever they may be, he’s there for me. There’s a lot of people he does that for.

We kept in touch by phone, collect calls. He would send papers to me to keep me updated on Bible study and stuff like that. It was like I was away, but I was still here. Everybody knew of my situation. There was nothing to hide. I did the wrong, and I did the time. Now I’m back, and by the grace of God I’m still in the Word.

We have a bond. My pastor is like my beneficiary, so if something happens to me they have to call him. Not call my sister, not call my brother, but call my pastor. That's the person that knows everything about me. There's nothing that I hide from him. I can't lie to him. It's not because he's a clergyman. Why should I lie to him? He's helping me in every which way. Keeping me straight. Regardless of what drugs, alcohol, you name it, living, housing, whatever my problems was, if he could see some way to assist me then he did so, out of the kindness of his heart, not because of him being who he is.

I used to be a very violent person. I mean you’re talking to a person that used to be really, really, really bad. I mean in every sense of the word. I used to be a bad motorscooter. You name it, I was into it. But by the grace of God, I’m still under His ministry. It’s done wonders for me. And his teachings let you know how to go about things, instead of being angry and frustrated--to have joy and respect for yourself and others. By the grace of God and that man up there, I’ve changed. I’m not perfect. I’m not Jesus. But I am working toward the right things.

You want to go through my Thursdays? We start out from 9 o’clock in the morning, start cooking, put the mats out, start cooking, slicing the bread, getting the tables and all the chairs set up. We play our music. We got to have our gospel going just to keep your day afloat, just keeps the spirit going. Ten minutes to twelve we pray, bless the food. From 12 to 2:00 we serve whoever comes in. Doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, or why you are. As long as you come to eat we have no problems in feeding you. We’ve been doing that for a long time now, eight years. From there, after 2:00, we start cleaning up. By the time you leave out of here it’s about 5 o’clock. Then you got two hours before it’s choir rehearsal. So from choir rehearsal all the way on up until everybody’s gone, then my day ends. Other than that, I’m here for the duration.

At one point I had a basic major, major problem. I didn’t want nobody to even think I had HIV. When I came across this virus. I felt like I was being overcome. It took control of me and I didn’t have any control over it, like it was ruling me. I was just totally destroyed by this. I was like a hermit. At one point I was 170 pounds, you know. I didn’t have no T-cells, didn’t have anything. And this pastor is like: It doesn’t matter what your problem is, I’m with you.

And he’s been there ever since. He see to it that everything gets taken care of. You got your meds, whatever you need, let me know, and we’re going to keep you afloat. prayer changes things. I had to learn that you got to pray just to make it today. When my wife died I went down into a frenzy again. She died four years ago, cancer. By the grace of God, he stuck with me. And by the grace of God I’m healthy. I’m healthy as all outdoors.

I haven’t done no more time. Everything is falling in place, slowly but surely. I ventured off, back and forth, but by the grace of God I’m still right here. Because for some reason or another God has something He wants me to do, and He wants me to do it through this man. I can’t say what it is. I don’t know yet. But I got the best pastor on this side of heaven. I got the best church on this side of heaven. The people are great. You couldn’t ask for better people, that’s understanding, that’s open to you. They don’t knock you for being who you are or what you are. They try to help you instead of hurt you. Now, that’s what I call love.

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Daryl Stubblefield