A Busy Day in Shelbyville

How many of you have heard of Colonel Sanders (no helping from our Kentucky friends)? How many of you have eaten at Kentucky Fried Chicken? KFC is the creation of Colonel Sanders. We had the unique pleasure of stuffing ourselves at dinner (lunch for the Hawaii folks), through the generosity of Dr. Don and Betty Jean Chatham, at Claudia Sanders’ Restaurant in Shelbyville. The restaurant was built by Colonel Sanders for his wife, Claudia. The home they lived in still sits on the property, in front of the restaurant. Yes Virginia, there is a Colonel Sanders – and what is more interesting for us is that Dr. Don Chatham was his personal physician (even before the Colonel became famous).


[Standing in front of the Colonel & Claudia Sanders' portrait - look at the top of the stairs. If you click on the photo - it will enlarge ... we are all enlarged from the huge lunch.]


[Delicious ... only our first plate!, Randy talking with Dr. Erwin & guests.]

We had “a finger lickin’ good” lunch with Dr. Ed Erwin, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Shelbyville and others from the church (including Martha Pryor – Don & Betty Jean’s daughter – she was also our guide for the day – so we didn’t get as lost as some days). The mayor and former mayor of Shelbyville were also dining there, so our group ended up doing an impromptu concert for everyone. You've heard the phrase, singing for your supper? Well, we danced for our dinner ;-) This was the one time that we needed to dance the Hukilau, in the hopes of working off some of that HUGE lunch.


[Dancing the Hukilau, do we look satisfied or what? - thanks Colonel!]

Then we were off to a private concert at the home of Dr. Don and Betty Jean Chatham. (see the story from the Sentinal News - in the" stories about this tour" - in the right column). Don was Dan Kong’s friend at Georgetown College in Kentucky. But the Hawaii connections continue to grow through the years and the Chathams were longtime members of MAC (the Mainland Advisory Council for Hawaii Baptist Academy). In fact, Don was president of the MAC! How they fit in support for Hawaii in their busy lives (Betty Jean is also an internationally known concert pianist) is quite remarkable! Betty Jean was one of the first people to respond when Danette sent word that Gay & Randy were going to be on tour in Kentucky. Due to his illness, Dr. Chatham was unable to attend any of our performances. However, this was one of our most meaningful presentations as it was an honor to dance for this great man of God.


[Dr. Don Chatham with our group. Betty Jean, Don, Danette & Martha Pryor.]

Then we were off for a concert at the First Baptist Church of Shelbyville. We arrived early at the church so that we could spend some time visiting with Rick Astle –who had been a fellow student of the Hongos and Danette at Southern. In fact Rick and his wife drove 11 hours from South Carolina, where Rick is Director of Resort Ministries at Myrtle Beach. In addition to the catching up about mutual friends, no one could sit still when Rick, Randy and Gay entertained Master’s Touch with their rendition of the Baptist Boogie Woogie!

[Danette, Rick Astle & wife, Gay & Randy; Rick entertaining the group]

On the way back to Louisville, we stopped at a medical facility where Dr. Don Chatham used to provide free medical care to indigents of the county. In honor of his service, the clinic was renamed the Don Chatham Medical Building.

[Martha & Danette in front of Dr. Donald Chatham Medical Building plaque.]

We are all so blessed to have such wonderful friends and such inspiring role models in our lives. Thank you Lord for allowing us to spend some time today ministering to such great men and women of God!