Earlier this summer four men from our church accepted an invitation to go fishing for walleye at Port Clinton and later for white bass at Fremont on the way back to Columbus. Elder Luther Henley, Deacons Leveland Taylor and John Wilson, and I participated in the fishing competition among the Men’s Fellowship, the Men of Adullam, who were amassing fish for a church-wi.jpg)
de fish fry.
As circumstances unfolded, this fishing trip seemed to have greater spiritual significance than any of us may have realized. As we returned to Columbus and reflected upon our journey, we quickly recognized that the trip was not “about fishing,” but it had far-reaching Kingdom implications for the four of us.
Initially the fishing trip to Port Clinton did not seem particularly profitable. As we departed, we looked forward to going to Fremont where the white bass had been running recently. Located on the Sandusky River, Fremont is a place of special significance to me because it was the home of my late Uncle Prince Albert Crosby, an avid fisherman with whom I had planned to go fishing for many years since moving to Ohio. Although I had tried to arrange a time for us to go fishing together a year ago, it did not come to pass, and he died within two weeks following that last attempt. I told the brethren that this fishing trip would be in tribute to Uncle Prince, who died almost a year to the date at age 85.
After a short time, we came realize that the white bass may have run their course. Although no one seemed to be catching anything, but we recognized once again that our trip had wider Kingdom implications. Elder Henley, the first to catch a fish, quickly gained the attention of all those around us, including a family of three generations: the grandfather in his 60s or 70s, the son who may have been in his 40s, and the grandson, not yet a teenager.
In the course of their conversation Elder Henley mentioned that he was from Columbus, and the son remarked that he had spent some time in Columbus, not by choice, as he explained that he had spent time in the prison at Orient. Shortly afterward, the grandfather mentioned that he too had spent time in Orient forty years ago. Elder Henley spoke with the grandson who gravitated toward him and asked a barrage of questions, typical of a young inquiring mind. Quietly Elder Henley began to pray for the young man, that the generational curse would be broken and that he would not suffer the same fate as his father and grandfather. When Elder Henley caught the fish, the grandfather asked him what kind of lure he was using and told his grandson, “Listen to this man and do what he does and do what he tells you to do.” The grandfather did not realize the impact of those words on the course of his grandson’s life. Because of that encounter, the curse was broken over that young man’s life. Upon further reflection, I believe that what transpired with those three generations of African American men represents what has happened to past generations of African American fathers and grandfathers who had fallen short in their efforts to provide Godly examples of strength for their offspring.
Other events of significance also occurred to solidify this tribute to our forefathers. Later Elder Henley snagged a gigantic 10-12 pound buffalo fish, and as Deacon Wilson helped to pull the whopper on to the rocks, I recalled that buffalo was my father’s favorite kind of fish. In addition, on Friday I heard from Neil Edward Demas, my “adopted spiritual son” in Capetown, South Africa. When we met in 2003 God knit our hearts together in an amazing father-son relationship, similar to that of Paul and Timothy. We have been in correspondence since that time, and when his wife Sharon became pregnant with their third child, they were hoping for a daughter, but if they had a son, they wanted to name him after me. When Neil announced that “Lonnell Edward Johnson Demas” had been born, I was deeply touched and honored.
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As our fishing expedition concluded, we had learned many valuable lessons. Indeed, Saturday, May 23, 2009 was an unforgettable learning experience where four fathers, all of whom had sons, paid tribute to our forefathers, as we fished and reflected and celebrated the goodness of God on the banks of the Sandusky River in Fremont, Ohio.
Lonnell Edward Johnson Demas
Born May 22, 2009
Capetown, South Africa
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