This is 1935 footage of my Great, Great, Grandfather - Hampton House Stratton. He was born in Obion County Tennessee on June 24, 1843. Hampton fought in the Civil War - originally for the south, but after being captured by the Union Army he agreed to fight for the North. After the war ended he became a Christ-follower and eventually was called into ministry. He planted over sixty churches in his life time. His brother, Uriah planted forty churches and the two of them, along with Uriah's Father-in-law established the General Baptist Organization in Missouri. On September 18, 1937 - After preaching a sermon about Heaven in the first church he had planted in Ellsinore, Missouri - Hampton House Stratton collapsed dead in the pulpit. They literally had to pry his hands from the podium.
I've just recently learned about Hampton. My father never mentioned him - I don't think he ever knew anything about him. It's so interesting that I would learn of this heritage after recently feeling God call me to begin planting churches across the country. This is no coincidence - This is confirmation! I can't let that old man plant more churches than me! We've got to get busy! I pray one day they'll have to pry my hands from a pulpit as well!
