ROWESVILLE BAPTIST Church is off the beaten path, tucked in the woods where a creek runs under the bridge that leads to the parking lot. The white walls of the building shine in the sunlight, and a kind-hearted gentleman smiles and waves.
Bro. Donald Gregory, 87, has a divine peace about him. His eyes sparkle as he talks of growing up there, across a few fields where his father’s farm used to be, “as the crow flies,” according to Gregory. This place was home, and he grew up in this church.
“My grandaddy came here from Beech Grove on a horse and buggy and built that church. It just had four corners at the time,” Gregory said. Gregory added a wing and other areas to the church.
Gregory remembers that before electricity was invented, the church building used lamps for light.
“They had little shelves around the wall, and they put kerosene lamps on the shelves,” Gregory said. He said the paved road was just a dirt road back then.
Gregory never thought he would end up in full-time ministry. At just 17 years old, a moment alone huddled under a small bluff changed everything for him. He had gone there to pray to God for direction, and in that moment, Gregory knew the Lord was calling him to preach. He had resisted in the past, but now he ran headfirst up the ravine to the little church. At the end of the service, he stood and announced that God was calling him to preach.
After this revelation, he started preaching. He pastored several churches and became an evangelist, someone who goes from place to place preaching. He met his wife, Lorene, at a church he visited. They married when he was 21 and have been together for 67 years. He came back to pastor at Rowesville Baptist Church 10 years ago with his son, Phillip, as a deacon. Gregory faced a life-altering challenge when a bulldozer turned over on him, and he lost one of his legs.
“I built about 200 houses in my life and two churches,” Gregory said. He did additions to buildings and other projects. Even after his accident, he continued to work in construction.
“Losing my leg didn’t slow me down much,” Gregory said. “But when it happened, the nurses told me, ‘Mr. Gregory, you are in bad shape.’” He was in and out of consciousness when they carried him to the emergency room. He nearly died during surgery, losing 13 pints of blood, and he lost his leg. It took a couple of days for the reality to sink in, and when it did, he fell into depression. Gregory began praying and listening to old cassette tapes of the Gaithers singing hymns, and he felt the spirit of God fill the room. After that, his depression was gone.
Gregory has spoken at many revivals and has dedicated his life to ministry. For 38 years, he preached at revival events, some lasting as long as 119 days, and he spoke every single night. His messages, such as “What Must I Do to be Saved?” encouraged many to give their lives to God. “Being saved is a true experience with God,” Gregory said. GN
