In 1890, the Rev. O.V. Oswaldt organized a young men’s prayer meeting. Monday night of each week they met. This was observed without a break until 1920 (30 years).
The Rev. Siceloff reported in 1942 that there was an on-going community prayer service that had been reorganized in 1935. This group met alternately at the Methodist and Baptist churches each Monday night.
Thus it is recorded how those early pioneers, recognizing the power and necessity of prayer, initiated, planted, and nurtured those regular community meetings over the years.
One of those devoted pioneer men was Dr. T.P. Weaver who moved his Methodist family from Mississippi to DeLeon in the 1890s. He practiced medicine and established one of the first drug stores.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Charles McClure (1976), a group of Methodist men organized a men’s prayer group who met for breakfast on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the church. That initial group of men included (among others) I.C. Donegan, Woodley Sadberry, Richard Bond, Jim Wilkerson, and Sam Weaver (3rd generation owner of Weaver Drug). Sam had retired, and had time to assume the responsibility for the arrangements, such as buying the food, appointing rotating committees of cooks, and scheduling long range leaders for prayers and devotionals for the breakfasts. He also called every man to remind them to come to the meetings.
The excellent hearty meals, the inspiring programs, and the exuberant fellowship quickly excited the men of the church to regular attendance. Each was urged to invite a guest, and before long, the church’s fellowship hall was overflowing with men of all denominations from the community.
This over-crowded activity, along with other church activity needs, motivated the church’s addition of the new fellowship hall, named Heritage Hall in 1988. Attendance continued to grow and enjoyed plenty of room in the new facility.
The First Baptist Church completed a new Gym-Family-Life facility addition to their church in 1997, and asked to take turns with the Methodist in hosting the Men’s Prayer Breakfast program. It has evolved into a truly interdenominational service, not only for the men attending, but also the pastors and men of all DeLeon’s denominations who lead the devotionals.
Donations are taken each month, and the amount received always exceeds the cost. The Methodist Church sends its excess funds to the Aldersgate Project in Brownwood, a project of the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Church.
Sam Weaver died in 1994, but his legacy lives on. His son, Bodie Weaver continues the drug store and also his leadership in the Prayer Breakfast. Judge James Morgan, Mike Hare, and Deral Brown (Sam’s son-in-law) are the mainstays.
The monthly gatherings honor the memory of Sam Weaver, as well as continuing the tradition of interdenominational prayer groups in DeLeon. |
