In honor of National Clergy Appreciation Month, dozens of readers wrote us letters of appreciation for their pastors. We selected a few to share today.
The Rev. Bobby Joe Eaton
Poplar Grove Baptist Church, Corbin
Our chaplain, Bobby Joe Eaton, is not only the full-time chaplain for the hospital, but also serves as pastor for Poplar Grove Baptist Church, with a congregation of 300 plus. This is really just a small country church. Bobby Joe is the most spiritual man I've ever known and the most humorous! He has a very quick wit and keeps the patients, visitors and staff entertained while sharing the word of God.
Before being called to serve, he was a car dealer and a butcher in the family grocery business. He knows everyone or is related to them. He is part of a group at the hospital who help employees in time of financial stress due to illness, death in the family or fire. He often is called out in the middle of the night to come tend to the spiritual needs of patients in their last moments on earth and has "saved" many of them. Every morning, he shares a moment of prayer with staff, visitors and patients over the PA system. We call it our "spiritual breakfast." He touches so many lives every day, visiting each patient on the floors to share prayer or a good joke.
He truly gives meaning to "laughter is the best medicine"! He is a wonderful person and worthy of any mention and honor due him.
Rose Brooks
Williamsburg