Page 49 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017 - Online Magazine

for the emotional backwash that overwhelmed me at the experienced. Somehow Fred sees beyond what they are at
onset of this article. that moment - to the person they are becoming in the Lord.
If memory serves, I first met Fred singing at a Daughters Few things excite him more than giving them a hand up.
of Light Conference led by our dear Pauline Dunn. Can’t Fred has great love for brothers in white. Many of those
recall if he was the only man there, but he certainly was the fellows behind the razor wire listened to Fred on KJAK.
only black man there. With eyes twinkling, Fred reminds They wrote him letters that he read on the air. Their voices
me, “You sang I Know the Mas-ter of the Wind. I never were heard and their concerns became petitions of prayer.
have forgotten that.” Fred shares a quiet, loving word of One young man incarcerated at Preston Smith Unit in
affirma-tion for those who share the stage with him. Lamesa told his cousin, “I’ve never met Fred Goldsmith,
It was Fred who set up the Denim Festival Gospel but you know, I feel like I know the man.” Fred is like
Singing in Littlefield, Texas in 1995. Johnny Ray Watson that, approachable, personable, welcom-ing.
was star of the show. I was one of the ‘others’. I had no He is very kind, very sweet and generous to a fault.
idea what an impact Fred’s planning would have our lives. He is a man apart, totally selfless. No one knows how
Ted Wilson was pastor of the Methodist Church in many olive trees Fred has planted in Jerusalem in honor
Amherst at the time and a friend of Johnny Ray’s. His of family members. He proudly presents them with
congregation had helped Johnny Ray buy his first motor certificates stating the exact location of their olive tree.
home so his family could do evangelism with him. All Who can total the number of Bibles for Girls and Boys he
of them were eager to hear Johnny Ray sing again, so the has purchased with names embossed on the cover? He
Sunday evening service was dismissed in favor of the has a heart for little children and he prays for them, every
Denim Festival Gos-pel Singing. single day.
Ted reminds me that when he walked in I was on Fred has the rare ability to reach out to everyone, even
stage, wearing a white dress, telling funny stories about if they hold different religious views. He has hosted Bible
my dad. He watched to see where I was seated when I studies in his home for Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and
left the stage. He realized that he knew Ricky Lee, the many others.
guy who was sitting beside me. (He and Ricky had been He is well read, well educated and possesses a wealth
on a Walk to Emmaus together.) Rick introduced us. That of knowledge. Fred’s life proves that if you can read, you
evening, thanks to Fred, was the beginning of our love can teach yourself. That is exactly what he has done. He
story. could preach his own sermons all day long but he prefers
In May 2000 right before Ted and I were married, to give his place to others. He makes room for them, turns
we were on the Boundless Love Hour with Fred. After the spotlight on them. He is there - for them.
playing his theme song and praying his prayer from He raised money for Major Burke’s Halfway House
Ephesians, Fred played a song that made my hair stand on in Austin, gave audience to Crys-tal River and so many
end. It was the Bridal Chorus. Talk about freaking me out! other talented groups to bless us all. He exposed us to
I had been single 24 years. That music scared me silly. rich, vibrant ministries we would have missed. Thank
Fred could not stop laughing. Slapping his leg he said, you, Fred.
“Jody, in all these years I have never seen you at a loss for We are overwhelmed as we total up a few of the
words….till now!” Fred loved that. He has a singular gift blessings of knowing Fred Goldsmith. We have been in
for mak-ing precious memories. the presence of greatness, and never once suspected it till
Fred was encouraged by Woody Van Dyke to focus on now. This man has touched us deeply. We love you, Fred,
local talent and ministries. Year after year we watched this more than words can say. What a gift we, the body of
noble, godly man open doors for all types of ministry. He Christ, have in you!
prepared the platform for special events to be advertised.
He shared airtime for vi-gnettes of talent to be introduced.
He was a solid friend to ministries that were not par- Respectfully submitted by:
ticularly popular. He welcomed women in ministry. (He
was beside himself with joy when Stephanie Bundick Jody Boudreaux Wilson
Bolton was ordained!) Ted Wilson
He swung wide the door to youth who carried great Stephanie Bolton
anointing but lacked opportunity and validation from the
church world. Fred valued their revelation but never felt
he had to make that his own.
He treasures those younger than himself, those less

Lubbock Senior Link 49