Column by Mary Lee Talbot
The one person the Rev. Robert Henderson gives credit to for forming his faith journey is his grandfather. His grandfather lived with his family, in a bedroom across the hall. “He had a pocket Bible that he would read with a magnifying glass. At night, he would finish his reading and come across the hall and say, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven,’” Henderson said.
Henderson shared parts of his faith journey at the 9:15 a.m. Thursday morning worship service in the Hall of Philosophy. The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, senior pastor for Chautauqua, presided. The Motet Consort, Barbara Hois on the flute, Maura Giannini on the violin and Willie La Favor on the piano, played “Serenade” and “Pastorale” by Mel Bonis. Sonya Subbayya Sutton, interim director of Sacred Music, provided music for the congregational singing which included music from Taizé and spirituals. Linda Cushman-Baugh read the scripture, Zephaniah 3: 14–20.
When Henderson was in college at Furman University, he would drive his grandfather to church at Winston Salem First Presbyterian. When Henderson interviewed for a field education placement in seminary, he talked with Garden City Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. He called to tell his parents about the interview and they remarked, “That’s interesting, you were baptized there.” It was the church his grandfather belonged to. Henderson said, “My spiritual journey began at my baptism in his church.”
Henderson had experience in college with evangelical ministries but found they did not meet his spiritual needs. He went to seminary looking for meaning. “People ask when I was called to ministry — I tell them about five years after I became a minister,” he said.
For about 10 years, Henderson intentionally prayed every morning and evening. Asked what prayer means to him, he said, “It is about being alert to God in the midst who loves and saves us. In talking with someone who is struggling with faith, I would tell them to immerse themselves in beauty, read sacred writings and serve the poor.”
As he has grown older, Henderson said his understanding of scripture had changed. It is inspiring but is also highly contextual. “I have learned the value of community, that God’s faithfulness is worked out over time with grace and that a word of grace, love and forgiveness is needed in the world,” he said.
When asked to say what Christianity is all about, Henderson answered, “We have a book called the New Testament and a man called Jesus, and when he was asked that question, he said, ‘Love God, love your neighbor.’”
