CHURCH OF GOD
CHRONICLE
S
CARL M. PADGETT:
Lifting Up Jesus in the Bahamas
BY DAVID G. ROEBUCK
year later he reflected on the experience: In November 1910, Padgett returned
“The year has had its attendant trials, but home to Miami for a short while. The
W
E BOARD the schooner . . . it has been the best year of my life. next January he joined the Pentecostal
Fearless for Nassau,” How near the Lord has been to me. . . . Worldwide Mission Band, made up of
penned Carl M. Padgett And now I want to live for the glory of Church of God ministers using Bibles and
in his journal entry dated my Lord. Do I think that I will be good, musical instruments to spread the gospel.
December 31, 1909. The 27-year-old do I think that I will live holy? No. I In February the band journeyed to the
Padgett was embarking with Robert M. have tried it and proved a failure. In my Bahamas. Going from town to town they
and Ida Evans on their missionary voy- nature was vileness, but the Lord took it played their instruments to draw a con-
age to the Bahamas. Having stopped in out, and by His grace and power I do live gregation to hear them preach. Already
Miami after the long journey by wagon holy; by His power I can overcome.” familiar with the islands, Padgett was a
from their home in Durant, natural leader when the band divided into
Florida, the couple welcomed the smaller ministry teams. He also practiced
younger Padgett as part of their
Carl M. Padgett
diligently to learn to play the coronet.
married Eva Brawner
team. The Evanses had already sent
on March 28, 1912.
Returning to Miami in April, Padgett
Edmond and Rebecca Barr ahead to ministered throughout south Florida. He
begin ministry in the Barrs’ home- organized the Church of God Evangelistic
land. Together these five became Band “for the purpose of traveling from
the first members of the Church of place to place to lift up Jesus.” He also
God to take the gospel outside the stayed in touch with events in the Baha-
United States. mas through correspondence with R.M.
Carl Padgett’s journal records Evans and Edmond Barr. On August 14
the life of a hard-working, faithful he recorded, “Wrote to Brother Barr and
minister. Prior to traveling to the sent one dollar to help him.”
Bahamas he lived in Miami, where When R.M. Evans became ill in
his father, Milton, was a pastor. 1913, the Church of God appointed Carl
Carl’s journal describes summer Padgett overseer of the Bahamas for a
work plowing and planting on year. For most of the next four decades
their farm and winter laboring as a he served as pastor of congregations in
janitor. The return of Christ was a Florida and Georgia. Yet, his early expe-
frequent theme in his preaching. rience as a pioneer missionary to the
No doubt ministering in a Bahamas frequently drew him back to
foreign country was an exciting ministry in the islands as he endeavored
adventure for the young Padgett. to lift up Jesus.
Once in Nassau, tents, the sponge
exchange, and private homes
David G. Roebuck serves
served as preaching stations in the
as director of the Pentecostal
towns and villages they visited.
Research Center in Cleveland,
In March 1910, Padgett received
Tennessee.
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. A
EVANGEL • JAN 2010 19
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