I Heard the Call to Preach

Throughout my life, it has always been my honor, my joy and my privilege to be the daughter of Bishop Frank Lewis Robertson, one of the contributors to this book (See Chapter VI). In the weeks and months after my father entered into immortality on December 19, 1992, my mother and I spent many hours sorting through his papers and his extensive library so that we could donate them to churches he had served, seminaries and the Arthur J. Moore Museum at St. Simons Island, Georgia. We knew that Daddy would want others to benefit from them. One day I was delighted to rediscover this book, I Heard The Call To Preach, 46 years after its publication! I was acquainted with all seven of the other men in the book; however, four of them were very close friends of my father's: Dr. Anthony Hearn, (the minister who originally compiled this book and who served as a Mentor to these eight ministers), Dr. Jason Shirah, Rev. Jim Webb and Dr. Tom Whiting. Their friendship with Daddy extended all the way back to college and seminary days, in some cases, and all four of them faithfully served the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church for many decades together. Please Note: At the time these words were written in 1946, women had not yet begun to enter the ministry in significant numbers. Consequently, because I am grateful that many women have heard the Call to Preach and because I believe that these stories will speak to women as well as men, I have edited some portions of the text which will appear in Italics. May these stories be a blessing to you and may God's richest blessings be upon you, your family and your ministry. In His Service, Jane Robertson Westerfield, D. Arts, CPC, FMC Editor, I Heard The Call To Preach www.drjanewesterfield.com www.drjanespeaks.com