Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509110004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Soon after the Civil War, the officer returned to Christiansburg and on one of its highest hills founded The Memorial Baptist Church - now Schaeffer Memorial - and erected the original building of the Christiansburg Industrial Institute. It was for many years the only school open to black students in the area.
After starting the school for freed blacks and establishing the church as a layman, Schaeffer became ordained as a Baptist minister. He lived from 1830 to 1899.
The history is there in the wide floor boards in the second-floor worship center, in the bearded captain's portrait and plaque that flank the pulpit, and in the stained-glass windows in the fellowship annex where honored past members of the congregation are remembered.
But the 19th century brick church on the hill is far more than a shrine. In last Sunday's rain I sojourned there to be greeted as a white worshiper in an almost all-black congregation. The greeting was warm and genuine, the sermon by the Rev. L.E. Suggs Sr. soul-stirring, and the music in the best gospel tradition.
In the congregation of about 50 were folk of all ages with some three-generation families. People like Hattie Hairston, who has been active in Schaeffer Memorial since 1954 and honored for her work as a volunteer at the next-door Christiansburg Community Center, are happy to tell a visitor of the distinguished history of the parish.
Hairston points out that the church leases the old school property to the community center and uses it as a tutoring place for more than 80 pupils of elementary through high-school age. Retired from Radford Arsenal for more than a decade, Hairston stays busy with the center and in the church kitchen. She tries to encourage younger women to involve themselves in the church community.
One of these women is Letechia Rose, who, with her two small children, experienced a happy moment last Sunday. Her husband, Bryian, came forward during the closing gospel hymn and made his profession of faith in Christ with intention to be baptized soon. That Bryian is white and his family black mattered not at all to Suggs and the congregation, which voted him into membership and gave him "the right hand of fellowship" and a round of applause.
Suggs' wife, Juanita, told me after the service that white visitors come to Schaeffer from time to time, but she isn't sure if Bryian Rose is the first white member. The minister himself, 43 and completing his third year at the church, said anyone is welcome.
If you visit the old church on the hill, you'll be asked to stand and introduce yourself. I was one of two guests last week.
If you happen to be in a wheel chair and otherwise unable to mount the daunting flights of stairs that, in a strange architectural style, greet you on opening the front door, a stair lift will take you up to the worship center. On the lower level, easily reached from the paved parking lot, is a cheery fellowship area with kitchen and education space.
Schaeffer Memorial is emotional in style yet conservative in theology. Suggs preached for 35 minutes starting at noon. A number of lay men and women had sung, prayed and read Scripture since 11 a.m. A female choir member - the choir had six women and one man - read the announcements. They included a request for tutors from Virginia Western Community College, an appeal for funds from Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg, an NAACP community meeting on affirmative action and a possible trip to Washington in the fall to celebrate a church anniversary.
At offering time, four women took up the collection.
Congregation members clap during all the music at Schaeffer Memorial and applaud freely, too. During sermon and prayers, people in the pews call out encouragement to the speaker.
Suggs preached on faithfulness. "If you give up, you won't hear Jesus say `well done,' and it'll be a lot worse for you elsewhere!'' the pastor told his congregation with his arms waving and fists pounding the pulpit.
But despite his pessimism about the state of the world - divorces and suicides were specifically mentioned - Suggs held out the hope of joy for those who choose a relationship with God. No use hiding your sins, he said, for the Lord knows them anyway and stands at a door eager to help.
Sojourner is a monthly feature of New River Current. Its purpose is not to promote a particular point of view but to describe a variety of worship styles.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***