Devotions for Seniors: Based Upon Our Precious Old Hymns and Gospel Songs

When 13 years of age the writer traveled with a group from his home church in Falls Church, Virginia to Natural Bridge, Virginia to a Church Music Conference, not knowing then that he would spend his later years in Lexington, VA in the same county. It was there that he began a life-long interest in the stories behind the hymns and gospel songs we sing in our churches.

While at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he received his Bachelor of Church Music and Master of Church Music degrees, the amount of information available was wonderfully overwhelming. Dr. Hugh McElrath taught Hymnology there; a course that spurred him on in his search for stories. He began writing hymn stories for his Children’s Music Camps. At his current church he began taking his guitar to nursing and retirement facilities to assist two women who led Bible studies. He and his wife, Phyllis, have done this since their very first church following seminary. He would play hymns on the piano and lead the singing of many of the old, old songs, often with guitar accompaniment. A woman at one such facility ask concerning the source of a particular favorite old gospel song. He told her the story of the hymn writer with a spiritual turn. Others sitting nearby requested that he tell a different story each week. The writing of this book began through all these circumstances.

The final development leading to this book was forming the stories into devotional material for seniors. The result is this volume. It is his prayer that many seniors will be encouraged and uplifted spiritually by the devotions in this book. Please look up and read the Scripture references given at the conclusion of each devotion. David’s wife, Phyllis, a Bible teacher and missions leader for many years, has been of great assistance in the preparation of this book.