Gone But Never Forgotten

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Written by Chae Sheerin

"A Tribute to Priscilla Elaine McGruder"

I heard it as soon as I walked through the doors. It was such a beautiful sound—a very distinct sound; A mighty, powerful sound.  I didn't know what it was at first, but as I walked closer to it, I knew that I loved what I was hearing.
It was our first time to be at the First United Pentecostal Church of Kennett, Missouri. My husband and I were scheduled to preach and minister on this particular Sunday.  We were so excited! We were preaching for the McGruders! THE MCGRUDERS!  Up until this point, I had only had brief encounters with them.  My points of contact were usually at District Camp meeting, while sitting on the platform.  They were the special guests, and they would walk past me to get to the front. As she passed by me, Sis. McGruder would always touch my shoulder and say in her deep, distinguished voice, " Praise the Lord, Darlin' ".

Little did I know, God had the most awesome plan for us.  It would be His will for us to join Brother and Sister McGruder in pastoring.  Little did I know that the sound I had heard when I first walked in the church, would be a sound I would treasure forever.  It was the sound of the most anointed woman to grace this earth, worshipping and praising her God.
I had heard her sing about Him. Songs forever etched in my mind like " I Can Go to the Master,” "We Have a Saviour,” "Stand on His Word,” "Special,” " To Me He's Become Everything,” and many more wonderful songs, beautifully written by her husband, my Bishop.  But God gave me the distinct honor of watching this woman of faith live her life day by day, completely sold out to her Saviour.

She taught me so much in the eight years we worked together. She taught me that He truly cares about everything we care about. You should have heard how excited she would be to get a front row parking spot at Walmart. “It was a total GOD THING,” she would say. You should've seen her just sitting around the kitchen table, holding my sweet baby, when out of nowhere the Holy Ghost would come over her and she would begin to speak in tongues. You should have seen her teach our ladies on Tuesday mornings with such fire! You should have seen her honor her sweet husband (they were such love birds!). So many things, I cannot begin to write, that you should have just seen.  You should have seen her the day she was told that her life was rapidly coming to its end.  Her hands raised high, praising God with such excitement...so ready to see Him! You should have seen it.

Sister Priscilla McGruder not only taught me how to live, she taught me how to die. She taught me that truly this world is not my home. April 29, 2011, will mark one year since her passing.   She is daily missed by her loved ones and close friends.  Heaven definitely is a better place because she is there.  Sometimes when I walk through the church doors, I think I can still hear her. I am sure I do. She's just praising and worshipping her God in a different spot. She's seeing everything from "Heaven's Point of View.”

Chae Sheerin serves as the Missouri District Section 4 Ladies Leader.    Chae is the wife of Pastor Donnie Sheerin, of Kennett UPC in Kennett, Missouri.  They have been married for 15 years, and are the parents of 3 girls.   Chae serves as Music Director and Ladies Leader of their church.  She loves to bake and cook and does a "little catering"  in her spare time.   She considers herself to be "blessed beyond measure".