NAOBC For Life Spotlight – Jennie Harchfield
When you are a member at NAOBC, no matter where God takes you, the love for NAOBC remains. It’s part of your DNA. Periodically we’ll spotlight women who were former members – see where they are today and what NAOBC means to them. Today we’re meeting Jennie Harchfield.
Q: Tell a little about yourself – family, occupation (if applicable), etc.
A: Shane and I were married at NAOBC about twenty years ago. Our first two kiddos were born during our time there. Carlie is now 18, Anna Grace is 16, Clara Beth is 14, and Seth is 12. After our time there, our family served in East Asia for 10 years. Upon our return to the states, Shane began pastoring at Beaver Baptist Church in Brighton, TN, and has served as pastor there for almost seven years now. I am actively involved in the music ministry and women’s ministry of our church, and we find great joy in, as Shane often says, “arm in arm, hand in hand,” living life and serving the Lord together with our church family. I work part-time as a counselor at a local crisis pregnancy center.
Q: When did you attend NAOBC? What brought you to NAOBC?
A: What brought you to NAOBC? It depends on who you ask 😂 . Shane likes to tell folks
that I chased him there. But actually…I was taking a New Testament class my first semester at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with Dr. Cook and when he informed us that he was going to start pastoring at NAOBC, I knew I wanted to visit there. I don’t remember visiting anywhere else after our visit there. We were quickly introduced and invited into the hearts and lives of the core families there, and decided to plant our lives there as well.
Q: Where did you serve while at NAOBC?
A: We started out as singles in the single ministry, and then after we were married, Shane led one of the singles’ Sunday school classes and we served together in this ministry.
Q: What memory from your time at NAOBC means the most to you still today?
A: Our singles’ group often came over to our house for meals together, and we have so many memories of sweet fellowship with this group. When Carlie was born, she had lots of aunts and uncles to love on her. We had the joy of living our lives together with this group, and not only this group, but with so many of the families of NAOBC. On a funny note, I remember Shane asking Jaylynn to ask all of the ladies in our Bible study to give me their chicken and dumplin’ recipe. To this day, I still use Mrs. Vivian Christmas’ dumplin’ recipe and make meringue according to Mrs. Vickie Lane’s baking lesson that she gave me at her house.
Q: What is one thing you loved about NAOBC?
A: We loved sitting under the Biblical teaching of Dr. Cook and the other pastor’s who preached on Sunday nights, and loved the people of NAOBC. We were married and had our first two babies in Louisville, but my family lived 7 hours away. The families of NAOBC church became family to us. These precious folks often welcomed us into their homes for meals around their tables. They mentored us and demonstrated for us what a godly marriage and parenting looked like. They loved on and delighted in our babies as if they were part of their own family. We experienced losses and victories together, wept with one another, and rejoiced with one another. The church being the church- this is what we will always cherish about our time at NAOBC.
