I have
visited Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
many times. There are three pioneer churches remaining in the
Cove,
and
I have visited them several times.
On
a recent visit I noticed several bibles lying on the pulpit in the
Missionary
Baptist Church. Upon investigation, I found that these were
bibles
left there by visitors to the church, usually in memory of a loved
one
who had died and who loved the mountains, and particularly Cades Cove,
in
life. Some of the bibles ask for prayer for loved ones, and
invite
anyone
who has a need for prayer to write their request in the bible, so
that
other visitors can pray for them.
I
went to the other two churches, and found bibles there also.
I
was touched by the love and faith demonstrated by these bibles. I have
created
this website so that those who may never visit Cades Cove
can
share
in this unusual form of worship and caring for others.
It
should be noted that the Park Service does not have any policy against
leaving
bibles in the churches at this time, but they
do not encourage it.
If
too many bibles are left, it will become a problem and they may have to
be
taken out, and regulations passed to stop the practice.
The
pictures on this website were made in the Missionary Baptist Church, the
Primitive
Baptist Church, and the Methodist Church on March 9, 2007. If the
bibles
are removed from the churches, this website will preserve the prayers
and
thoughts that have been recorded there.
