Obedience. Despite its length at nine letters (the average word in English is five letters), it’s relatively easy to spell and even easier to understand. According to the Oxford Languages Dictionary, its definition is “compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another’s authority.” Even if we couldn’t say it exactly like that, we all know what obedience means.
And yet despite its simplicity, being obedient isn’t always easy. It’s even more difficult when displaying obedience becomes a nuisance. More times than not, obedience requires inconvenience and a whole lot more. I would wager that the “submission” aspect in the definition, whether required or implied, gives us the most problems.
If we can overcome the reservations we have with submitting to the authority of another person or entity and practicing obedience, amazing things can happen.
That is exactly where my mind went on the morning of Monday, May 6, 2024, as I sat in the county commission meeting room at the Coffee County Courthouse. The second real item on the agenda (after going through seven other largely administrative steps) was the recognition of Rev. Vernon and Angie Talkington for the work they have done over the last 26 years at Hope Center in the Oak Park community.
Commissioners presented the Talkingtons with a plaque and thanked them for their relentless work and advocacy for the people of Oak Park. “We appreciate your service. You’ve been instrumental in changing the whole community in those years. We thank you so much for what you’ve done. You’ve had great patience and worked with the commission and members of the community. You will be severely missed. Thank you for everything you do,” said commission chair Jimmy Kitchens.
Quoting the song “Thank You” by Ray Boltz, Commissioner Johnny Wayne Jowers, a member of the Hope Center Board of Directors, thanked the Talkingtons for making an impact not only in Oak Park but in eternity. “Sacrifices made unnoticed on the Earth, Heaven now proclaims,” said Commissioner Jowers, quoting the song.
After Jowers spoke, the commission presented Vernon and Angie with a plaque officially recognizing them for their contributions through Hope Center. All told, the recognition took a little over two minutes and was but one item on an agenda that included 19 matters of business.
The Talkingtons were humble and gracious during the recognition. And, as always, they deflected the attention and credit to the work of others.
As I sat in the meeting, several things ran through my mind. The first thing was, How can you sum up 26 years of the most difficult, heartbreaking, frustrating, yet at the same time rewarding, work in two minutes? The obvious answer is, you can’t. There is no way. If the county dedicated two hours, it wouldn’t be enough.
The second thought I had was the first word of this column: Obedience. I don’t think the Talkingtons set out to change Oak Park. They certainly didn’t set out to attract attention to themselves or build their own resume. They were simply being obedient to the purpose God had placed on their lives.
Their results weren’t guaranteed. There was no assurance that everything would go smoothly and easily. The only assurance they had was that God would walk with them. The results would be left up to Him.
I don’t know if the next thought is biblical. It seems to make sense from a biblical standpoint — and I do realize that is a dangerous statement to make. It stands to reason that when given a task, the the results of that task are directly related to the level of obedience we display as we work.
That is why I believe the Talkingtons experienced such an astounding level of success with Hope Center. They surrendered everything they had, up to and including their very lives, to people of Oak Park. They lived in Oak Park. They laughed, they cried, they celebrated, and they mourned with the families they served. The Talkingtons bore the burdens of the children and families at Oak Park as their own.
I believe that is how they connected with those they served. They were genuine and authentic in their service because their work was ordained by God. It’s one thing to talk about the sacrificial love of Christ; it’s another thing entirely to display that love to others.
With sacrifice comes a cost. The work Vernon and Angie did at Oak Park took a toll. It was not easy. There was little rest and great heartache. Yet they stayed the course and kept the faith by always staying focused on Christ. His sacrificial love inspired their sacrificial service.
June 1, 2024, Hope Center will close its doors. The Talkingtons’ work will continue through Hope Outreach Ministries. They will not retire. They will not quit. Even though Hope Center will close, the call on their lives remains.
There is no way to adequately thank the Talkingtons for what they have done. Two minutes at the county commission isn’t enough. The words I have struggled to pen here aren’t enough.
In conclusion, Vernon and Angie, our entire community owes you a debt of gratitude we can never repay. You have been a true and faithful example of what Christ has done for us. Coffee County is a better place because of your work and Heaven will be more populated because of your unwavering love and witness.
Thank you again and may God bless your continued endeavors.