Welcome Home!

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. 

There's within my heart a melody. Jesus whispers sweet and low; "Fear not, I am with thee; peace, be still," in all of life's ebb and flow. 

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife; discord filled my heart with pain. Jesus swept across the broken strings, stirred the slumb'ring chords again.

Feasting on the riches of His grace, resting 'neath His shelt'ring wing, always looking on His smiling face - that is why I shout and sing.

Tho' sometimes He leads thro' waters deep, trials fall across the way, tho' sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see His footprints all the way.

Soon He's coming back to welcome me far beyond the starry sky. I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown; I shall reign with Him on high.

CHORUS

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus - sweetest name I know, fills my ev'ry longing, keeps me singing as I go.

Luther Burgess Bridgers was born on February 14, 1884, in Margarettesville, NC, to Rev. James and Georgina Bridgers. Rev. James held revival meetings frequently and often Luther would assist, usually leading the congregation in singing. In 1902, Luther attended Asbury College where he met Sarah “Sallie” Jane Vetach, who was to become his wife. They had 3 sons: Allen (lived 6 years), Luther Hughes (lived 4 years), and James (lived 6 months). Luther became an ordained minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His first congregation was in Perry, FL, and he stayed there for 1 year. Luther resigned and became an itinerant evangelist throughout the southeastern states. As a gifted singer, Rev. Bridgers liked to write hymns, one of which was “He Keeps me Singing,” which was published in the 1910 edition of The Revival Hymnal.  Mrs. Bridgers and their 3 boys went to visit her parents in Harrodsburg, KY, while Luther was preaching at a revival in Middlesboro, KY.  Tragically, on March 26, 1911, Sallie, Allen, Luther Hughes, and James died in a housefire. It was reported that the house, which was 3 miles from Louisville, caught fire shortly after midnight. The cause of fire was not known, but a train carrying passengers saw the house in flames. The conductor blew the whistle until someone came out of the house. Luther’s father-in-law heard the whistle and began waking his house. He was able to get his youngest children, and wife out of the house safely, he quickly grabbed a ladder to take to Sallie’s upstairs window, unfortunately, he was too late. Luther returned immediately when he heard the news.  In 1914, Rev. Bridgers was named as General Evangelist of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and married Aline Winburn, and they had a son, Luther Burgess, Jr. Following WW1, Rev. Bridgers felt called to evangelize to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Russia. He returned to America a few years later. In 1921, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity for his successful evangelistic work. From 1932 – 1944, Rev. Bridgers pastored several churches in Atlanta, GA, and one in Morehead, NC. After moving to Morehead, NC, his health began to decline, and he decided to relocate to Gainesville, GA, and died on May 27, 1948, at the age of 64.