My first post while “on the road.” Saturday, we packed the car, took one last look around the house, double checked our checklists one more time and left Ruckersville. As I noted in my previous post, we stopped off in Richmond and then headed for the Jamestown Ferry.

Our passage on the Surry was without incident, thankfully we were not challenged with a freezing snowstorm as Mr. Asbury had experienced in January 1791.

Arriving at our accommodations on Craney Island, we were positioned to begin Asbury’s circuit of 1791 in the morning.

August 31: In the first week of 1791, Asbury visited Jolliff’s meeting house and preached on Romans 8:11.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11 (NIV)

We arrived at Jolliff UMC about 15 minutes before their worship service on Sunday morning. We were greeted by Doug, who was kind enough to show us around briefly. In the sanctuary, we met John, the Lay Leader who was preaching that day (Pastor Paul Oh was on vacation). John’s text for Sunday was Hebrews 13:1-8 …do not forget to show hospitality to strangers... I reflected on the hospitality JoAnne and I had just experienced. Following the service the church historian (sorry, I failed to note her name) gave us a short tour. We said our goodbyes and headed for Currituck, NC.

At Currituck, Asbury preached from the courthouse steps. I’ve preached from a Seminary classroom, I’ve preached in the parking lot behind Dr. Ho’s Pizza during the days my churches were closed due to the pandemic… I’ve never preached from the steps of a courthouse.

From Currituck, we stopped by City Road UMC and First UMC at Elizabeth City and visited the Camden County Courthouse, where Asbury had, again, preached from the steps. Tired, but not exhausted, we checked into our accommodations for the night.

September 1: Following breakfast, we left for a long drive (135 miles) to Trenton, NC. Thirteen days passed in Asbury’s journal during this time. I call it the “black hole” of North Carolina… Asbury was doing real ministry for those 13 days, visiting, preaching, teaching. But despite hours and hours upon research, I have never been able to resolve where he was to place pushpins on my Google map.

Bonus Stop: those who know me, know of my fascination with abandoned, decaying churches. This church is in Trenton, NC. There is no connection with Asbury or his circuit of 1791. On the left is how it looked for 20 years, or so. On the right is how it looks today, after the Historical Society of Trenton, NC purchased it and began a two year restoration project. A resurrection.

The most meaningful stop for me… The White Oak River near Maysville, NC. This may have been the very spot that Francis Asbury first baptized folks on his 1791 circuit. From his journal, January 26, 1791:

Wednesday, 26. Preached to a large congregation at brother D——’s, on White Oak River. I baptized and administered the sacrament. After dinner I rode twelve miles to L——’s, and found the people waiting: about six we began exhortation and prayer, and about midnight laid ourselves down to rest.

We also visited several churches (who have sadly, disaffiliated from the UMC) that were historically significant to the Methodist Episcopal Church and Asbury’s circuit.

JoAnne and I laid ourselves to rest, well before midnight, in Jacksonville, NC.

Peace
-Pastor Tim