wfn.org | British visitor seeks out small Illinois church

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Sept. 6, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.     10-33-71B{374}

NOTE:  A photo is available for use with this story. 

A UMNS feature
by Stephen J. Hustedt*

Sometimes people are surprised when they learn just how far they can spread
God's love and how important their day-to-day actions can be to others.  In
a small rural church located at an Illinois crossroads surrounded only by
cornfields this was exactly what happened.

Recently Cottonwood United Methodist Church in rural Toledo, Ill., with a
membership of only 35 people, accepted a new member as part of their church
family. Santokh Singh Bassi, known as Sam Bassi, flew over 5,000 miles from
England to attend the church Aug. 11.

Bassi, a British citizen who's parents were natives of Punjab in North
India, first learned of Cottonwood from Bertha Glosser Euell five years ago.
Euell a third generation member of the church founded in 1853, met Bassi
while collaborating on a book project at her home in Florida. Although she
was far away from Illinois, she felt very fondly about her first church
home.  During their time together working on the book project Euell shared
stories of the simple beauty and rustic charm the small church in Illinois.
She told Bassi stories of her happy childhood there.  But mostly, Bassi
recalls, she explained the feeling of God's love that has always flowed
through the church and the members of the congregation.

Bassi treasured the idea of the church and told Euell that some day he would
attend.  This year he kept  his promise but unfortunately she would not be
able to attend with him as she died in 1999 at the age of 98.  

On a warm August morning, with little warning, Bassi walked in the doors of
Cottonwood. "The beauty and warmth of this small church went beyond even my
highest expectations," he recalls. "I've been to older, much larger
cathedrals in England and around the world but something about this church
was simply awe inspiring."

Bassi said the small congregation warmly welcomed him and he immediately
felt at home. "It was then I realized this was not just about fulfilling a
promise to my friend," he said. "This was the most important pilgrimage I'll
ever make."

The church's stained glass windows caught Bassi's eyes as he sat on one of
the original pews in the 99-year-old church building.  "I could see Gods
love in those beautiful windows," he explained,  "the love my friend Bertha
told me about."

When the Rev. Tim Pearce invited individuals to join the church, Bassi
stepped forward, realizing he was fulfilling a promise to himself and to
God, as well as his friend Bertha.  He expressed gratitude to the
congregation and their forbearers who established the church nearly a
century earlier.

"This was his decision," said Pearce.  "Although this is a unique
circumstance, like any other member of the church we will help Sam grow in
his faith and help him use his gifts for the Lord.  We'll  use letters and
phone calls when there is no other way, but he also plans to attend our
services as often as possible which really makes the United Methodist
worldwide mission more real to us."  

The people of Cottonwood were as awe inspired by Bassi and his action as he
was by them and the simple little church which stands at a virtually empty
crossroads.  Members were impressed that their kindness and love of  God
could have extended to Florida and across the Atlantic. 

"I think Bertha would be very proud," Bassi said. "Although this is a very
old church it was able to reach me this far away in this century. I hope it
will always be preserved so others can have the same experience I did."
#  #  #

*Hustedt is writer/assistant editor for Current, newspaper of  the Illinois
Great Rivers Conference.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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