One Incredible Journey: The Life of a Fearless Country Preacher

By Thomas A. Tenney Sr.

This is a touching life story of how an extraordinary Methodist preacher and his wife raised a family of eleven children in rural West Virginia. The things they accomplished for other people; plus, the depth and magnitude of their amazing experiences are most unusual because they comprise a lifetime of adventure and hardship, of happiness and heartache. Their response to these experiences is bold, humorous, powerfully creative, and deeply moving. It is an astonishing journey. Many of the life experiences shared are genuinely humorous and absolutely amazing in terms of being a positive influence on one's life. The experiences include both successes and failure, which seem to be equally remarkable. They are largely fluid situations that could go either way. They could have a rewarding ending or a very unfortunate ending. It is fair to say they are all exceptionally meaningful. One of the reasons for this relates to the constant theme that runs throughout. That theme is to fulfill a higher calling on one's life. Both pastor and wife have a command for life, which affords the sensitivity to enjoy the moment and the passion to persuade others to make the journey with them. Hopefully, the pages that follow afford all of us the opportunity to make the journey with them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644621349

Book preview

View from the Hillside

The afternoon sun was shining brightly in early August 1978 in Buckhannon, West Virginia, as three smartly dressed men in their early and midforties walked with an older lady over well-trimmed grass. They were on a completely level plateau nestled against a gently rolling hillside. The roll of the hillside was so completely perfect one would ordinarily comment on the beauty of the setting. But no one would even notice that today. From their parked cars, they proceeded past the hearse; now they approached the grave site, where moments earlier ten grandsons compassionately placed a solid oak casket. Close behind were their wives, and a little farther back their eight sisters walked, escorted by their husbands, as other grandchildren, relatives, and friends completed the group. Each of the eight sisters seemed to feel it appropriate for the boys to walk with Mother now.

To anyone knowing the story, it may seem like only yesterday these three men were small boys. Actually, it was nearly thirty-eight years earlier and once again on a warm, summer afternoon. This time all three were stark naked in a number 2 wash tub filled with water. Yes, Albert, Paul, and Tommy had a ball there on the lawn in front of the Methodist parsonage at Renick, West Virginia, when very unexpectedly, a neighbor lady came walking up over the road bank, which ran in front of the house.

Quite suddenly she appeared there, only a few feet from where the boys frolicked in the tub. Of course, she didn’t know the boys were naked because they were well protected by the tub. But the boys didn’t think of that; after all, this was no time for reason. It was a time for panic. The impulse to run for cover became too great, and they did just that. Suddenly Albert jumped out of the tub and ran, followed by Paul and Tommy.

But whereas Albert ran, Paul and Tommy crawled away, apparently thinking they would be less seen than if they ran.

This embarrassing moment was only one of many touching, enriching, and hilarious experiences, which are a part of this family and a part of the amazing man whose body was laid to rest on this August afternoon in Buckhannon. I believe he was a great man as this story will reveal and as those fortunate persons whose lives he influenced can testify.

Daddy was pleasant, outgoing, easy to get along with, but a deeply serious man. The warmth of his smile could fill a room. His light-blue eyes were always aglow with kindness and compassion. Being the epitome of a Christian, he was generous, loving, forgiving, caring, and all the things a true Christian ought to be. He was very patient and slow to anger. However, he always took a stand for what he believed was right. If he felt something was wrong, he was totally opposed to it. When a situation like this arose, he wouldn’t back down for anyone.

As I contemplate some instances when this happened, I get a lump in my throat as my inner being is filled with pride. One could spend a lot of time searching for superlatives to describe him. For now, just let me say, God must have been very proud of him.

Mother had all the fine qualities I enumerated in describing Daddy. She also had a sense of humor, which was quite remarkable, and always has loved to tease and pull jokes on her children or others whom she knew well. When she teased one of us, she always kept a straight face, but those eyes always had an unmistakable sparkle, which she couldn’t hide. In terms of earthly strength, Mother was the real strength behind the man. She was Daddy’s greatest supporter, and was she ever strong! Her strength and support were always there. In addition to this, she was the greatest mother any family of eleven children could ever have. I am sure the Lord chose her to be Dad’s lifetime partner. Though he was a tremendous man, he could not have begun to accomplish the things he did had it not been for her. He would be the first person to tell you so, as he constantly sang Mother’s praises. He called her the Angel Mother, and he was right. She really was an angel.

It is my privilege as the youngest son to relate the incredible story of how Daddy preached the gospel and how he and Mother raised eleven children in a Methodist parsonage in rural West Virginia. Each of the eleven children was and is his or her own character. Talk about a lively household, wow! To say there was never a dull moment seems only a cliché and so inadequate. I’m sure there were many dull moments, but for some reason, I cannot think of any. As one of my sisters said not long ago, We lived in poverty, but we didn’t know we lived in poverty. Well, here I am with grown children of my own, and I still don’t know it. I think she must have been kidding. We were so happy. We always had everything we needed: plenty of food and a home filled with the love of Jesus, love of parents, and a love of brothers and sisters. Oh, we had our share of spats like any other family, but any disagreements were soon forgotten.

The two most important things were living the Christian life and higher education. Having to have money was very unimportant. This was a good thing because country preachers were not among the most financially wealthy people you met in those days. I sometimes wonder if we children ever fully realized how Mom and Dad sacrificed so that we could have the things we needed in life. One of the first things we needed was a good knowledge of the Holy Bible, which was read aloud every night and every morning in family devotions. I sure am glad we needed it because we got it whether we wanted it or not, and thank God for it. This was followed with prayer. Mom usually led the prayer in the morning, and Dad led the prayer at night. Each of their prayers was followed by everyone praying the Lord’s Prayer in unison. It never seemed to matter how great the trials of the ministry may have been; the family devotions were always approached with a spirit of trust. Many times Mom and Dad prayed about things that were really heartbreaking, but they always approached God with confidence. No doubt this is one of the reasons our family devotions were always uplifting and one of the reasons we children always knew that contact with God was the source of tremendous strength, which was very much a part of Mom and Dad.

As Jesus said, Do not light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick that it giveth light to all that are in the house. A story such as this one is too good to be kept by the family and a few close friends. It must be shared with many.

The Great Decision

On January 17,1918, Viola C. Gooden and Albert Law Tenney became engaged. At Easter that same year, he told her he felt the call to preach in February and would have to become a minister She promptly told him the engagement was off because she would never marry a minister. She told him emphatically, Because they have nothing.

Well, who in their right mind could say otherwise? In those days, a minister could work hard all his life, enjoy none of the creature comforts along the way, and still have nothing material to show for his efforts.

Viola had bright-red hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin. She was the most beautiful woman Albert ever saw, and he was not about to let her get away from him. While considering possible career alternatives, he convinced her to marry him. On June 30, 1918, in the home of Squire Silas Gooden, with better than thirty invited guests looking on, the Reverend John E. Hanifan read the marriage ceremony. The fact that she could trace her ancestry to the signing of The Declaration of Independence by John Hart, or that his great-great-grandfather, James Tenney, had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War was to seem unimportant on that day. They were just two young, beautiful, and talented people from good homes beginning their life together.

Albert began working in the mines for the French Creek Fuel Company. One night he dreamed he saw his beautiful wife catch a train and ride it into the mines. It was probably in response to this dream that his dad told him, Albert, if you love your young wife, you’ll quit working in the mines.

So the next day, only two weeks after he and Viola were married, Albert quit his job in the mines and started working at a lumberyard in the little village of Elamore . He found that coming home every day was not an option. So for eighteen dollars a month, he boarded at a hotel and came home on the weekends. He did that until September, at which time they set up housekeeping at Ellamore.

During that first summer, Albert was asked to speak at a Sunday school convention at the Mt. Harmony Methodist Church. He made a very moving talk, which was well received.

In it he made the remark If you want to know more theology, you’re going to have to practice more kneeology.

Though many were impressed with his eloquence, his brother, Dewey, was totally unimpressed.

He said, Albert, if you’re going to be a preacher, you’re never going to get anywhere if you don’t quit using such big words. Albert enjoyed a good laugh.

For the next two years, he taught school, receiving forty dollars per month with a second-grade teaching certificate. He also continued to farm a fifty-four-acre farm. For the entire two years, he fought the call to preach. During this time, God blessed them with a darling baby girl named Alma Lee and another on the way.

One day, Albert and his dad, George W. Tenney, worked in the woods cutting firewood. While they were there, Albert informed his dad that he was called to preach and that he was going to answer the call. Granddad George Tenney rejoiced. In fact, he had a shouting good time right there in the woods. This was cause for major celebration. He had such tremendous respect for the ministry. From that day on, he was always proud to have a son in the ministry.

When they returned from the woods, Dad repeated to Mom that he was going to preach. Then with great compassion and kindness, he said to her, I will not ask you to leave your home. I will travel to my church on weekends to preach and then return.

Without hesitation, Mom replied, If you go, I’m going with you.

And she, too, had such kindness and caring in her voice. This was the most supportive thing she could possibly have said. Now he knew she was with him 100 percent all the way. Dad shared with her the depth of the struggle he went through. He told her how he resisted the call and how God insisted, and then finally God told him, I’ll take away that darling, little baby girl or your beautiful, red-haired wife, or even both.

Dad said, No, I’ll preach, Lord, if you just will not let me fail.

When he said this, the scripture came to him, very clear and positive, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.

He knew then, if he held onto God, he would not fail.

Having counted the cost, Dad now made the great decision. All the agonizing was gone. The future was the focal point now, as plans were made to move forward. Being a deeply religious man at only twenty-two years of age, he had the insight of a man