Home Local News Rockingham police chief, pastor both testify to power of prayer

Rockingham police chief, pastor both testify to power of prayer

Rockingham Police Chief Billy Kelly tells a crowd gathered for the National Day of Prayer how prayer saved his son 17 years ago.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer

ROCKINGHAM — Police Chief Billy Kelly believes in the power of prayer.

Although he was supposed to give comments during Thursday’s National Day of Prayer celebration in front of the old courthouse, he put his speech away because he said he felt led to share his personal testimony.

About 17 years ago, his mother had come over on a Sunday to spend time with his two sons when she noticed the youngest had swelling on his neck around his lymph nodes.

He told his wife it probably wasn’t anything to worry about and he’d take their son to the pediatrician the following day.

While there, Kelly said the doctor came in and examined the boy, then walked out without saying a word. Then another doctor walked in for an examination and also left without saying anything.

Then, he said, both doctors came in and were talking to him but “really wouldn’t tell me anything.”

“I finally told them, “Just give it to me straight,’” he said. “And he told me, ‘I think your son has cancer.’”

Kelly said the doctors asked how soon he could get to Chapel Hill, “and I told them I could be there in three hours.”

He went back home to tell his wife about the situation and pack.

“I didn’t know a grown man could cry that much between Laurinburg and Rockingham,” he said.

Once at the hospital, Kelly said he felt safe because there were three to five pediatricians taking care of his son. While filling out consent forms for testing, he said he received word that people back home were praying.

“That’s when I realized that I was talking to the wrong people,” he said. “So my wife and I began to pray.”

Several days later, they left with no sign of cancer and no explanation as to why his son was even there.

“They couldn’t tell me why the swelling was there or even why it went away,” Kelly said.

His son, now a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, still has small, barely noticeable, scar on his neck.

“When we see it … it’s not a reminder of what we went through,” he said. “It’s a reminder of what prayer did to change our lives and save him.”

Scott Waters, Hamlet’s former police chief, also went off script.

He was slated to just offer a prayer, “but when you give me a microphone, as a DJ … I’m gonna talk a little bit.”

Waters held up a cross given to him by J.J. Jackson years ago that’s been in his pocket throughout his law enforcement career, and a small U.S. flag given to him by someone who had shared his testimony.

Prior to his prayer, he also mentioned the recent shooting at UNC-Charlotte, adding that his five years as a school resource officer were some of the most rewarding of his career.

The Rev. Billy Dennis, of Roberdel Baptist Church, credits prayer for allowing him to come back home to Richmond County to preach after being away for more than 30 years.

As an only child, he felt like he needed to be closer to his parents.

“Serving as a pastor, I was five and half hours from here,” he said. “It was really tough to get home.”

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He prayed about it and eventually heard from a church in Rockingham, which he didn’t think was possible because “they knew me when I was a mean youngin’.”

“But God answered prayer and brought me right back to my hometown and I get to be right here with my family,” he said. “What a blessing. We take so many things for granted that when God answers our prayers, he does it in a way where only he can get the glory.”

Also giving testimony was Greg Williams, an assistant football coach at Richmond Senior High School.

His accomplishments, both in the classroom and on the field, he said are because “I’ve been blessed by the Lord.”

“I gave my life to Jesus at a very young age and I think, in return, he gave me a gift to work with, communicate with young people,” he said.

Williams said former head coach Paul Hoggard used to call him “the miracle worker” because he was able to get through to some of the difficult students and players.

“All that was was the Lord shining his favor on me,” Williams said. “He has blessed me in a lot of ways.”

The ceremony was full of prayer.

In addition to the opening and closing prayers, given by Pastor Gary Richardson of New Life Church and Place of Grace Rescue Mission and Evangelist Brenda Lawson, respectively, there were several prayers throughout from Rachel Lampley, the Rev. Charles Bethea of Philadelphia United Methodist Church and Waters.

The event, broadcast by G-104, also featured several songs — performed by Cory Wilson, Albert Everett and Jeff, Jenny and Jenna Greene and Ronnie Williamson — and the pledges to the U.S. and Christian flags and the Bible by the children of Mount Olive Christian Child Care.

 



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Managing Editor William R. Toler is an award-winning writer and photographer with experience in print, television and online media.