Sheffey (1977) | Full Movie | Dwight Anderson | Harold Kilpatrick | Beneth Jones

[Music] [Music] aurelius here's another letter from eddie begging me to come live with him well it's only natural he wants his father near him but you wouldn't be happy in the city and we couldn't do without you anyhow bless you that's the sweet lord shining through brother cheffy there's no way i could pay you back for what you've done for folks all over these mountains including me and my own ken [Music] yes is does robert sheffy live here yes he does indeed come in that's brother jeffy sit down my eyes have faded and i recognize you what's on your heart my young brother oh uh well i better tend to some chores outside i'm sorry to run you out oh it happens about twice a week folks come from all over to get help from brother cheffy i want you to forgive me for something what do you want me to forgive you for you will hate me hate you hate me and despise me oh god forgive me and save my wretched soul son whatever it is telling me doesn't count for much but telling jesus will take away the sin no matter how big i can't tell him not until i that's why i've come here i've got to tell you that they can't a peace that's made with god doesn't need the forgiveness of man but there was a time i i'll admit when i didn't think this way i was about your age when i found the lord and i guess i was just about as worthless a sinner as there could be [Music] robert where are you going out please come in here where i can hear you now then i asked you where are you going i was going to meet some friends it isn't necessary to be vague robert i know very well who your friends are but i was speaking of your purpose perhaps you've considered returning to college i don't think college suits me what does suit you robert it was your late uncle's wish that you would be provided with a fine business opportunity but you haven't shown the slightest initiative your life is worthless robert uncle james was just about the richest man in this part of the county but now he's dead and what good did his money do him it's taking care of you in fine style for which you don't even seem to have common gratitude i'm sorry on elizabeth it's just that there must be more to life than making money it seems like everybody's running around like a headless chicken trying to get things and do things that a real purpose my head's like a bumblebee's nest i don't know what i'm looking for whatever it is i'm sure i haven't found it yet well you'd better find it soon and in the meantime i will thank you not to bite the hand that feeds you do try to join the family for the evening meal [Music] i said it's doing my sins they've been laying heavy on my heart lately i think i'll be there hey robert come on in you're enjoying some time here clefus me and sham here we're all going up to the revival meeting come on we need to do something fun oh look at robert there he's so somber he could sour milk but he needs to be tea totally sick and my mama's arsenal there's nothing more fun than a revival me especially when you got some corn cobs you can kind of liven the place up a bit now you're talking come on let's go pelt the old sin soccer [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] and holy [Music] [Applause] [Music] we see it our service is almost over but god's plan is so simple it doesn't need a long sermon to explain it our scripture deals with the prophet elijah by the hand of god elijah was taken into heaven in a fiery chariot you reckon my mules will catch fire on the way home be not deceived god is not mocked some of you come here tonight without knowing why you're here there may be those in this room who have been searching for something without knowing what they were looking for this bible teaches us that we're all sinners it also says that sinners can have no fellowship with god maybe that's what you've been looking for the comforting hand of ah well this book teaches us how we can have that comfort come on robert you cannot let him alone go god so loved the world he sent his son jesus down from heaven to be a sacrifice for our sins all we have to do is all we have to do is accept accept god's offer it's a free gift [Music] what's wrong with you i got to hear him out wasn't hurting nothing robert we was just having some fun i'm alright [Music] the commotion seems to be about over friends just be seated and we'll finish the service now look here look at this bible god's offering us a free gift and all we have to do is ask him for it i'm going to ask god to give courage to anyone who feels god's holy spirit urging him to come forward and see from the bible how to be saved well the service is over for tonight folks thank you and good night i'm sorry for what they what we did they're really not so bad most of the crying anguish in hell surely come from people who don't think themselves bad now son is that why you came up here to apologize to me in god's sight all men without christ are equally bad preacher what you said about searching i'm the one you were talking preacher is it as easy as you say it is it is say you sound educated can you read yes then read this for whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved what's your name son robert robert shiffy sir well robert sheffy do you believe this book yes then all you have to do is ask god's forgiveness and be saved can i do it now you can do it now robert's late again [Music] you're late robert i'm sorry on elizabeth i apologize well come on in and have your supper on elizabeth there's something i want to tell you yes robert hundle is with everybody there's something i've got to say you've already told us that robert yes well i i accepted the lord tonight you what where have you been at a revival meeting robert i should like to speak to you in the other room does our family church not suit your liking i never heard there what i heard tonight we are not sheep of itinerants on elizabeth i didn't mean to hurt you is that what you want to shame us to tear down the good name of your dead uncle on elizabeth i have tried to bring you and your brother up as my own sons with dignity with proper religious instruction if you had to make some sort of commitment why couldn't you have done it in a more gentlemanly manner and in your own church i didn't make some sort of commitment i was saved and i didn't do it in our church because no one ever asked me it would be hard to forgive you robert if you insist on continuing to humiliate me i'm not trying to humiliate you i thought you'd be happy i thought you'd be glad i became a christian robert you were born a christian and reared a christian we are not weeping breastfeeding repentant sinners like farmers at a campground meeting religion is a good thing no one believed that more strongly than your uncle and i but religion like anything else has its proper place i have tried to give you a good start in life but you will never amount to anything unless you learn to to control your emotions i'll give you a day or two to think this over robert after you have calmed down you will come to me and apologize for your rash behavior i'll apologize for nothing i've done the right thing the only thing i've been wrong about has been the misplaced values of this family i'll not humiliate you anymore [Music] oh boy [Music] let's go come on [Music] foreign [Music] oh [Music] and let him return unto the lord and he will have mercy and to our god and he will burn the party people have been coming to jesus for almost 2 000 years and no one has ever been cast out god says to all those that will come unto him he will in no wise cast out won't you come and accept jesus no doubt there are those yeah who have been putting off this final decision for years and you know you ought to be saved but you keep telling god no not yet but one day god's mercy will come to an end perhaps there are those in this room who have loved ones a mother a wife a husband who spent hours on their knees praying for you to come to christ come on what are you waiting for if god's spirit is speaking to you why don't you give in it would be a terrible thing to hear the gospel and you know that christ died your sins you know you ought to be saved and you leave this room tonight unsaved you may never have another opportunity you may never come this close again just think of the rejoicing in heaven over one soul that god does when he quits fighting and comes to him and there will be a special blessing for god's servant who points that soul to christ and urges him to overcome that final barrier lord we thank thee for this soul that has come to thee will thou dismiss us with thy love and mercy in jesus name amen may the lord bless you my dear brother do we have a business circuit rider in our midst oh no i'm not a preacher i just spoke a word of encouragement to a man that needed it well then god's hand is on the charter as well as the preaching do you consider this work you're calling i don't know you said i was a servant a servant of god and so you are you have done god's service already i'm cass wilkerson i'm robert sheffy well i'm proud to meet you robert say i wonder you sound like you might have some education i went to college for a while well listen i've got a proposition for you we've been looking for a teacher for our children we can't pay much i'll take it it's only thirty dollars take it my present situation doesn't suit me very well and and i'll take it fine by the way i noticed what you did here we don't have a regular preacher or circuit rider at the forge maybe you could double as our passenger stop qualifying do that well i saw you speaking but i could never speak in front of a group well it doesn't matter i don't know a thing about you robert chevy but i've got a feeling that you're gonna make a fine teacher for our children is it a bargain yes sir howdy cass howdy brother yes this must be the new school teacher just like i promised bertha i'd like for you to meet robert sheffield how do you do this is mrs king can't howdy we were hoping you'd still make that extra room available sure can robert will want to see his room and get washed up for supper good day mrs kenken come along robert the room suits your liking it'll be ten dollars a month including meals washing will be extra though well what do you think do you think i can teach children mrs concannon apparently mr wilkerson thought so he doesn't know anything about me i promised him i'd get a letter of reference from college but that won't prove i can teach or do anything else what makes you think you can't teach i've never been able to speak in front of a group any group i just can't say anything maybe it's because you never had anything really important to say i mean something you really believed in mrs concannon i feel like like god has something for me to do but i don't know what it is he wouldn't ask me to do something i couldn't do woody no he wouldn't but he might want something you just don't know you can do yet [Music] god is our friend to love and talk to as we talk to our mothers and fathers lord we thank you that you're so near to us constantly and i pray lord that you will be with these children and help them to see your beauty in jesus name amen i did fine well school's out for spring planning and summer what you gonna do with yourself i don't know for sure teaching has helped me but my calling's in another direction i heard there's a revival going on over at salt hill maybe i can ride over there and lend a hand i want you to take a little time for yourself maybe make a visit back to see your aunt i said i'd never go back and i won't she shamed me without mercy and it's hard to forgive her besides she probably wishes to see me even less than i wish to see her [Music] hello there hello yourself lady have you traveled far i've been traveling two days now i spent the night back alongside the road i found out these spring nights are still cold all right that's the ireland i was hoping you might have room for a lodger i have money to pay of course hello let's have a look at you you're you're not a drummer as you have no wares no i'm not a peddler i'm a teacher when school's in session right now i'm i'm just a servant of the lord i'm robert sheffy well now i'm shed mccomb and you're in luck lad we got ham and black-eyed peas and there's only me and my good wife you're welcome to stay lad come on inside haley so you're headed to a revival at saltville how long will you be preaching oh i'm not the preacher i'm just going to try to be of some help how's that lack sometimes a word of encouragement or testimony spoken at the right time can make the difference it's all a man needs to decide to accept the lord while we're on the subject i hope you won't take it a minute oh lord i know what you'll be asking and we don't take it a miss at all but the fact is that ellie and i well we're both trusting the lord shed what about the church what about it oh mr chevy here could do it of course he could i should have thought of it what church our church i helped build it but we don't have a preacher yet not a regular one at least we're in need of a good sermoner you could do it i could no more preach than rise and fly now lad an empty church house tis the devil's delight now suppose we suppose we just disappoint him a bit with a sermon but i can't preach we don't need a fancy sermon lad just tell us what the lord has laid on your heart surely that's why he sent you to us i'll try i'm not promising anything but i'll try i'll be back through here soon maybe i can do it then [Applause] it's time everyone's here the place is full dear dearly beloved i'd like to speak today from the book of genesis the message from the scripture today is the message is the messages let me go i'm gonna get out of here i keep quick in here easy now lad i'll not let you feel brother shifty you're god's man i'm sure of that now hell i failed i made a fool of myself no no so you're afraid so what are that that shows you of a proper respect for your responsibilities tis a fearful thing to preach the word of god but i'll not let you quit but if i have to carry you back in there myself what would i say just tell us tell us anything tell us your testimony how you will come to the lord and that's how i came to accept the lord i went to the revival for the worst reason but god and his mercy overruled just as he overruled here today lord don't let us forget that when you give us your commands you give us the strength we need but not more than we need because then we proud critters want to take the credit ourselves we ask this in the name of jesus our savior amen i knew it i knew you were sent a purpose to preach the word of god to us i'm thinking the devil is more than a little unhappy today thank you brother you're wonderful thank you [Music] well friend that wasn't so bad all right i admit it was a little tough at first but you know friend the lord was helping me i could feel it maybe i could be a preacher it is if that's what the lord wanted me to be and it's beginning to look as if he does i'm afraid mr uh cheffy that the presiding elder does not find your request for license to preach to be in order you simply cannot expect the examining committee to place its stamp of approval on a person of your uh irregular background irregular very little college training and uh no seminary or theological training but many of the circuit riders are hardly educated at all mr cheffy we have done some checking into your background and we found that you were a man of some ambition sincere perhaps but that you are a bit peculiar in your actions peculiar look i don't know what you've heard i'll speak quite frankly we've heard for example but when you're supposed to be teaching school you instead take the children out in the woods and tell them stories well yes but there's more there's you're praying it's abnormal you've been observed praying for hours by the side of the road and your prayers in your classroom are unnatural too one boy reported that you sound as if you're talking right to god that may be so but tell me to whom do you talk when you pray well be that as it may mr cheffy we do not want our licensed preachers acting in peculiar ways but the bible says anyone who preaches the word of god will be considered peculiar by the rest of the world i doubt if you're wandering all over the mountains can be considered preaching at least not from what i've heard i do the best i can with the talents god has given me no doubt mr cheffy why don't you uh reconsider your calling perhaps you could do some good among the simpler classes i will i certainly will thank you very much for your advice and you may be assured that i will pursue whatever god calls me to do or without your official sanction of course no one can keep you from going about as an unlicensed itinerant good day mr cheffy here's some side meat dried beans now what you're going to cook them in i don't know so far most folks have been pretty gracious to take me in be sure you don't wear your welcome out mrs kinkanon i never accept a family's hospitality unless i'm sure god's laid it on their hearts to help me robert you're like a child i never saw anybody so sure what god wanted him to do i'm as sure as if i got one of those newfangled telegraph messages [Music] maybe in a way i have jesus simply went about doing good and preaching everywhere he went and i want to better my ministry after his i don't need man's approval as long as the sweet lord can lead me by his word and spirit i'll be back in a few months goodbye bertha where are you headed first up toward tasman but that's nothing but mountains that's 10 miles between cabins nothing but trappers and moonshiners but they need the gospel too besides i'm following some theological advice bye robert be careful well gideon god has given us a beautiful day whoa boy you know gideon i hope brother tortoise was going in that direction [Music] whoa boy probably somebody's shooting a squirrel all right preacher man now get on out there horse your and make some tracks next time i kick you around here preaching the plan i'm gonna aim just a little lord you had are you here you get out of here i said yeah wait come trade some pets another folks business minister what's this man done to you i don't suppose in your business first of all he's trespassing on my property just like you are this man's unarmed well i only aim to scare him a little bit but but i'm getting to wish i'd say my bullet for you i'm a little nervous and kindly careless is your gun how you get your friend get is this your steal well now who else you think it is and how much liquor can you run in this still well if everything's going good i'd run my near 50 gallon a day what do you do with all that i sell it what do you think yeah he sells it to broken down old men shut your mouth i got the liquor for sale and they don't have to buy it and they ain't no law get it neither i suppose you want them preachers too i guess i am you start your preaching praying around here dear lord you've told us in your word that strong drink is wicked that you despise drunkenness lord we know it's not your will for this man to be the means of turning other men into wife beaters and child abusers and worthless drunken idlers lord destroy this still make a mighty oak tree to fall on it and to break it to pieces and destroy it forever amen that's plumbing funny prayer mister they had oak tree in 200 yards this whole place don't underestimate god's power for only the fool says in his heart there is no god concerned mister you've had time for your preaching friend now now get your friend get on out here let this be fair warning tillians next time i catch you on my property of preaching to the praying i'm gonna shoot both of you now get out of here that scum why does god let people like that live why doesn't just kill him when they get so rough excuse me brother i don't even know your name frazier tyler fraser you were doing god's work back there don't let bitterness in your heart rob you of your blessing brother frazier you must find forgiveness in your heart for that moonshiner why because god's word commands it god doesn't tell us to forgive what that man's doing is it the liquor you're angry with right now that man's the meanest liquor maker in virginia look what he did to me but i say unto you which here love your enemies do good to them which hate you bless them that curse you and and pray for them that despitefully use you but that man's hindering god's work yes and that we must pray and work against but not the man himself you must forgive him hatred and bitterness in your heart will ruin your own effectiveness for god you will come to me and apologize for your rash behavior i've got to go can you ride on alone it's only a mile to my cabin we can spend the night no i can't stay but the weather it's going to storm tonight no matter i've waited too long now goodbye looks like a bad storm coming let's make haste old friend [Music] [Music] [Music] so on elizabeth is anybody home on elizabeth on elizabeth annie what mr robert i declare what happened where's on elizabeth miss white's gone to glory she's white dead buried two days two days annie i didn't know they tried to reach you i've been in the wilderness preaching i wanted to see her did she ever mention me she mentioned you often and she left something for you you and miss white was so much alike both of you proud folks for she died she said when you came back here i was to give you this dear robert the sheep is honored by god for its meekness right upon the sheepskin robert pray upon it and remember the humility of the sheep you were right my values were misplaced god has shown me that the only thing of true value in this world is salvation through his son jesus christ i have accepted him as my savior may you continue to follow the lord and serve him faithfully all your life kind regards on elizabeth she's forgiven me she knew i'd conquer my own pride she died trusting the lord it wasn't too late [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] so gideon a day like this makes me want to shout for joy [Music] i feel like a new creature scrub clean [Music] you gotta be robert jeffy i'm a servant of the lord do i know you no but most everybody around here knows about you when i hear there was somebody up here praying alone side of the mountain figured it had to be you so come up a purpose to meet you how long have you been here oh about two hours of course that don't count the time it took me to get here after the trapper who saw you up here came by and told us i'm james stafford pleased to meet you mr stafford i thank the lord for sending you by the encouragement oh taint nothing to all the folks you've encouraged all these years fact is i come up a purpose to ask you to take your meal with us my wife and family be right proud if you would we'll get in i don't think we'll turn down this invitation will we always talk to your horse that way well gideon's pretty good company never disagrees with anything i say at least hardly ever [Music] i guess kenny will be as glad as i am to get to the camp trail he'll have a long time in the clover with nothing to do but get fat jimmy jimmy take care of preacher chef he's horse yes sir thank you son listen you be good to him be sure to give him a drink of cool spring water fresh mind you in 12 years of corn yes sir i will allow you could use a cool drink of water yourself come on inside thank you that looks good now that we've met i should tell you that your name and work are not unfamiliar to this house we've offered prayers for your work more than once i'm obliged to you that's the most precious favor we can give to each other would you offer thanks for us i will as soon as our dear sister here is finished well i'm finished now mr cheffy uh haven't you forgotten the dumplings i don't always fix dumplings with stewed chicken oh dear lord we thank thee for this dear family and for their kind hospitality to thy servant and we're grateful for these material provisions but even thou knowest lord the chicken would be better with dumplings amen mr chef how to clay [Laughter] now i know you're robert jeffy everything i've heard must be true mr sheffy we heard that you were a man of prayer a man who felt so close to god he could just talk to him about anything and i think that's wonderful i do too i want you to consider this your home as you travel anytime you pass this way we can do that for the lord the next time we'll have dumplings [Laughter] would you speak at our little mountain church tell us about your missionary work oh what about the indians do you preach for them oh yes i have but there are very few indians left now in this part of the country oh what about the blacks or is that a dangerous question in these times oh no i find the dear black families are as glad to have them in their homes as white folks and they usually serve me dumplings no doubt your wife serves you dumplings too i had a wife but she died about 10 years ago oh we're right sorry to hear that are you expecting a good crowd at the camp meeting i don't rightly know the attendance has been off the last few years times are changing i reckon times are but men and women aren't we still need the gospel preached i'd be right sorry to see the end of the camp meeting it's about any time all year we get to see anybody much i doubt mr sheffield would count that a real good reason eliza why count the fellowship of god's people one of the main blessings of the meeting it's a blessed sight to see the preaching shed packed with thousands of folks singing and happy together and i praise the sweet lord for hundreds of souls i've seen trust christ education can't do that no i reckon it can't well brother cheffy i expect we'll be there i thank you for that and i'd appreciate it if you'd invite your neighbors we want to have a good crowd [Music] hey mister hey did you pass on a woman on the trail who have you seen on sis the midwife no i haven't seen anybody on the trail she's supposed to be working around the mountain today i gotta get her somebody in your family's sick it's my sister she's in bad labor real bad you point me towards your house i'll go there and do what i can it's backyarder the way i come i'll go this way [Music] can i go get her husband has he been sent for she ain't got no husband what we ought to do is call for all the girls in the county seat maybe if they saw a little agony side of it they'd do some different thinking perhaps so but our dear jesus is very near to us all when we're in agony of mind and body let's just make her as comfortable as we can it won't be long now child that's this isn't coming howdy brother cheffy bunch this well i'd better get busy you men folk be gone oh brother cheffy you better say a little prayer they ain't coming so easy today i've lost one already so you're pretty chevy i heard of you and you knew my paw what was the name again archie tilton i don't remember him you ought to i heard him talk to you plenty of times he was a moonshiner and he said you prayed against us still and after you prayed a big tree as big around as a wagon wheel come dancing down the mountain and landed smack dab on his still and squashed it like a stepped on chicken egg the lord be praised if your father changed his ways paul never made another drop of liquor after that he's in heaven now anyway son would you go get my sheepskin off my saddle i see the sun beams coming through that tree under like the very gates of heaven were open and i want to pray is the girl all right oh course she is those young ones make a lot of noise but they're as tough as pine nuts mr cheffy mr cheffy mr cheffy i know i've sinned but will god forgive me and use my son and not curse him god's always merciful and life's always a new beginning let's pray this young sister has confessed her sin to me already thou canst take human mistakes and glorify thy name though we must always bear the scars of our sins lord we ask of thee a mighty thing today take this little infant boy and make of him thine advocate who'll stand in a hundred pulpits across this land and bring a thousand souls into thy kingdom and lord thy servant shepherd would like to know before i join thee in heaven thy plan for this little life amen [Music] not a bad crowd tonight even it's been a good week god has blessed our efforts what do you think robert how does it compare it's up some over last year but we've much work to be done i can remember when we had as many people standing outside the shed as inside we haven't done badly though no praise god we've seen many souls trust the lord well somebody must think we're success we're having special visitors tonight two conference officials just came in well now we must let neither the praise nor the censor of man divert our attention from god's word there's still much work to be done here tonight are you one of the preachers tonight brother sheffield no i feel a great burden i believe i'll spend some time with the lord during the preaching but brother jeffy you should be on the platform where the folks can see you i'm going to pray that men and women will turn their eyes from the platform so they can look into their own hearts surprised hey wait up [Music] hello see how much he's grown there you are brother jeffy you see we're all here well praise the lord for that four other families from our church are here too that's half our congregation well thank you dear friends for your help hello mr chef hello eliza god has blessed you meeting and i'm thankful for you will there be another meeting next year looks like there will be and will you still be traveling around eliza make haste the service is starting i'll still be traveling brothers and sisters let us open the service this evening with how firm a [Music] foundation [Music] [Music] he has [Music] [Applause] [Music] this evening my text is found in the gospel of john chapter 3 verses 14 through 16 and as moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son but have everlasting life here are three glorious and grand foods of the word of god i call for your attention oh my dear you seen beloved our lord's terms of salvation of our siblings are just as the people of israel looked in faith upon the serpent of brass so must we look upon our lord jesus christ the prophet isaiah cried look unto me all ye ends of the earth and be saved for i am god and there is none else there are many here tonight who are anxious about their soul delay no longer but arise now and come to this altar and receive christ as your savior come now i beg you [Music] sir [Music] stands to save your beauty [Music] he will embrace thee in his arms [Music] though your sins see a scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and i will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn of me for i am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls welcome sister wait please our fellowship would be richly blessed if you would join us i'd hardly fit in there is there anything on your heart of course not i was just curious i just came to see those people making fools of themselves you can satisfy your curiosity better inside in there i'd be the laughing stock of the whole town will you come back again i don't know i'll be praying for you save your prayers for them jesus died for your sins as well as theirs died i'm not ready for death [Music] death to self is the first step to eternal life here i give this to you it's red and alive like i am you'll have to get the faded white flower of death from somebody else [Music] so behold now is the day of salvation now is the accepted time if the spirit of god has made your soul anxious tonight come now to this altar and receive christ as your savior time and again the spirit of god has spoken to your heart and maybe never again he'll call maybe tonight this is the last hour come now i beg you come now young men has the lord spoken to your heart tonight i can't go down there everybody see me let's sleep outside then god will meet you any place no i couldn't right here right in your seat then no don't tell me about it i don't want to hear it [Music] as you will the lord said behold i stand at the door and knock but you'll have to open the door and let him come in next year i promise next year not now brother shifty i need to be safe hey man amen [Music] you see what the bible says and you know what god has promised what you have believed take my bible hide god's word in your heart well thank you brother jeffy thank you mr sheppy might i have a word with you certainly something on your heart no i had something quite different to say to you do you know me no i well i believe i do i thought you would i'll come right to the point some years ago i was compelled to turn down your request for a license it was not my decision i merely relate it to you but i agreed with it at the time it appeared that you did in short mr cheffy i've come to tell you that it was a wrong decision your subsequent activities have indicated that you do indeed have an aptitude for your work i have little natural aptitude only god's calling from what i've heard you're largely responsible for the success of this camp meeting mr cheffy i've come to offer you our official sanction i heard you are the one that wanted to do away with these revival meetings not entirely not quite correct my concern since my recent election as the presiding elder of this district has been that time and money god's money of course not be wasted but now that we have a big crowd you want to get in on it the world is changing now that the war between the states is over the whole country is opening up to new ideas with better schools and education i believe the camp meeting will diminish you may be right but i believe it'll grieve the lord it's progress it's progress but in the wrong direction i'll continue to support the camp meetings but i won't need your help to do so you must realize that by refusing our support you may actually be hastening the end of the very thing you sought to save is that your choice choice it's no choice at all as far as i can tell you don't even believe the gospel i preach but you tell me that by your support i can have bigger crowds and keep the camp meetings open longer you want me to do something i believe is contrary to what the bible commands it's against the scriptures and against my conscience i will not do it very well mr cheffy i complimented your influence but don't overestimate it robert i was looking for you did you hear that yes i heard you were right dead right tyler we've got to work harder than ever that's all you already cover more miles in a year than any three regular circuit riding preachers i know i mean we've got to pray harder that reminds me i had the strangest experience tonight i met a young woman hiding behind this tree listening to the preaching well to do she was dressed right fancy you know her heard of her i don't know her name though from some wealthy family preacher maiden yes brother bob talked with our mysterious visitor tonight that poor girl i i feel sorry for her she comes to the services quite often but she never comes inside she needs to be saved and she knows it but she's afraid she'll have to give up her social standing a rich young woman coming secretly by night reminds me of nicodemus in the book of john lady nicodemus [Laughter] well i hope it didn't scare lady nick away for good i doubt that there aren't many can get away when you pray for [Music] foreign [Music] where are you headed on such a day brother hunting for a job heading down to the sawmill if and they don't hire me guess plumb starve to death this winter you ought to be out in this weathering clothes like that he's gotten wutherings no socks at all sides that weren't this bad when i started from here sawmill's just as close as home hold on a minute what are you doing taking off my socks what fur for you of course my toes might well be frozen's yarn yeah my boots are better than yours besides god will take care of my needs i'll be praying that you get your job but you're blind [Music] what's that noise outside papa hello who's there is that you brother sheffy jimmy quick jimmy take care of preacher sheffield's horse [Music] oh mr schiffer what happened he must have got caught in a snowstorm up in the mountain oh must your ride and set your weapons your face is all cut to pieces by the slate they weren't expecting you this time of year brother jeffy i was wondering how to get you the socks i knitted for you last week here they are i hope you like indigo yes anti-coal be fine i think a fair exchange is in order merry christmas eliza [Applause] oh the scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne wherever did you get it thank you robert i often think that this home means to me what the home of lazarus mayor and martha meant to jesus that's a great compliment i meant it to be eliza how long have i known you and your family well let's see one summer you stopped by on your way to preach to a convict camp and the next year you were off to convert all of west virginia only the southern half and then after that you were off to the cumberland gap and then with a good many stops coming and going at my favorite place do you feel at home here i feel at home with you eliza i would be honored if robert i can't pretend this is a surprise we both knew where our hearts have been leading us the possibility has been discussed in this house and my parents are afraid that your constant travel would be a hardship for me eliza what are your feelings i'll come to that first i wanted you to know how my family feels they still believe in you and your work now robert what were you saying a minute ago oh when oh what what were you going to ask me i said i would be honored if if robert are you asking me to marry you i was but then i accept what i accept you do oh yes i'll marry you well you sure went around the couch yet about it private we're too old to fool ourselves i love you and i want to be with you but i believe in you too and i want to help you in your work god is good i want you to continue your ministry just like before i'll travel less eliza i'll make a home for you know robert you follow god's calling and i'll be content i do love you god is so good [Music] robert [Music] does mrs cheffy live here indeed she does we're not so sure about that mr chevy though it's good to be home eliza oh you've been gone so long darling i miss you where's eddie eddie where are you where are you hello hello andy good to see you have you been a good boy if you've been fishing lately you want to go i'd like to go yeah i've got something for you [Music] and for your mother too okay come around here idiot let's see the big one is for your mother oh thank you and the best one is for you thank you good and how can we just be oh we had a wonderful river these are all prayer requests now there are so many there's more papa i'll make a list so you can remember them all i'll put these aside i'll get to them when i can it'll soon be time for me to ride the circuit to persuade people to come to the campground you can't persuade everybody all by yourself eliza if you don't support me i don't know what i'll do whatever god wants you to do i'll stand with you i know you will you're a pearl of precious worth do we know anybody named beamer oh that one she sounds like she's in bad trouble she's in a homemade map she lives someplace called bear wall in west virginia it's too far it's dangerous robert you're not listening to me yes i am you're telling me you don't want me to go because it's too far and because it's dangerous you don't know what kind of people are up there they're people in need they sit for me everybody sends for you they think you're some kind of miracle worker well if they do i must go and disappoint them besides i can introduce them to someone who can work a miracle in their lives all right but please darling be careful i will eliza who is it are you mrs beamer yeah i'm robert chevy i had a letter oh brother cheffy i know you'd come mama said if i ever needed anybody for anything you'd come no matter can't what it no more he's gonna kill me and maybe the babies too your husband put those cuts and bruises all over you yes but he's not such a bad man when he's not drinking honest he's not and what do you want me to do i don't know where is he now i don't know for sure out drink it you can't talk to him when he's drinking he'll kill you if he catches you here hear me [Music] you'll be a husband now or i'll whoop you again he's out cold he'll be like that for four or five hours and then he'll wake up and then he's sober and he starts drinking again that's when he starts beating me if i take his liquor he'll kill me we can't talk to him we'll try something else so [Music] all right brother shaffy why are you taking his clothes off there's no closing hell nothing to hide behind ah inhale what do you mean you're not gonna we're gonna give your man a taste of hell for one night only oh please don't hurt him you bring some fire from the stove uh oh that liquor will sting him let's take him home he'll do better i know he will stand back child huh oh [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] he's all right i'd better be on my way now i'll ride through the clearing get shed of the evidence of our deeds what if he remembers he'll never mention it to you a man returning from hell won't care to talk about the experience i think you're gonna have a sober husband for a while i'll stop back later mrs beamer the only thing that'll cure him permanently is the gospel of jesus christ if i can talk to him maybe i can win him to the lord thank you mr cheffy surely my singing's not that bad what's this what happened don't rightly know my horse just dropped down like he was shot i feared he's a goner well now we're not far from a town you can buy another horse there ain't got but four dollars do you know of any four dollar horses for sale don't lose faith now god will provide if we trust him let me talk to the lord about it [Music] dear lord would you require so much [Music] there's no use praying go get your harness what did you say you'll need your harness to put on gideon here we ain't beggars i told you i ain't got no money you need no money the lord's laid it on my heart to do this for you take him for jesus sake we'll pay you back somehow oh no god will supply my needs only leave me alone with him a minute old friend it's not what i want it's what i must do i won't forget how you serve me through the snow and across the miles you've been a good friend [Music] we kind of like to know who we're obliged to i'm robert sheffy so your brother jeffy folks say what you pray for always comes to pass sometimes praying can be an excuse the horse was already provided there was nothing to pray for god bless you [Music] be kind to him and he'll give you good service feed him only good grain and give him fresh limestone water [Music] [Applause] [Music] goodbye old friend [Music] so [Music] why brother sheffield is that you it's me sweet angels are not out today how come you're walking preacher i gave gideon away to a needy family can you loan me a horse to get home aurelius you know i will brother jeffy hold on now i'll pay for you a new gideon just happens there's a horse auction tomorrow now ain't that a coincidence 50 once 50 twice sold to the man in the brown hat for fifty dollars bring on the next horse hey tata dandy boys look at those feet look at the confirmation anyone would be proud on this horse that's the horse we need to buy for the preacher who starts a bit 65 65 i got now 70. you got [Music] now 80 65.75 82.000 last time around 90 once 90 dollars twice 91.91 in 91 once twice so hard dollars right over here there's your new horse creature i won't waste any time or effort i'll call you gideon bring me my settlement bride just a minute preacher these horses are fresh from the west they've never been broken yet we'll get along just fine so you let him go move along get him thank you friends you've been kind to god's servant [Laughter] [Music] come on [Music] [Applause] [Music] um robert robert it's eliza darling i'm here brother sheffie can you hear me i remember the stream [Music] what happened as far as we can tell your horse saved your life aurelius found jen brought you home that was several days ago i gotta get back on the trail no the doctor says you won't be riding anywhere for a long time you must rest now darling toby i appreciate you driving me all over creation while i've been sick it's been a blessing to help you in your work brother sheffield i'll be able to ride get in again soon robert eliza did you have a good trip darling a wonderful trip eliza oh but look here we stand leaving poor toby good day miss cheffy toby thank you we'll see you again next week have you taken care of yourself robert sheffy i stayed with the beamers they took good care of me did you see eddie this trip yes and look at the new suit he gave me that boy he's gonna spend all his money on us hello zeke oh darling eliza had a wonderful trip that bug is not as good as gideon but it was a great blessing to be able to visit the sick and help bear their burdens well just remember when you get gideon back no more than 10 miles at a stretch you haven't been on a horse for almost three years when i get to heaven i'm going to ask the lord why he made a woman's head so hard and he'll tell you it's to make up for your soft one hello brother bob at home that sounds like tyler frasier but what would bring him now hello brother bob hello brother tyler eliza tyler come on in and warm yourself with a fire tyler you're here so soon i wasn't looking for you until spring i'm not ready to leave for the campground circuits yet i'm afraid there won't be any need for that this year bob the camp meeting's been closed closed oh robert why what happened same old excuse not enough interest a new age tyler they can't do this we've got to do something we'll open the meeting on our own it's not that easy lots of problems very little public support no official church sanction that campground was built by people like us people who believed in it surely they can't keep us from using it some would like to but at any rate there'll be no meeting this year it may take a few years but we'll bring it back we can do it we must [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] it isn't going to be the biggest crowd we've ever had but it's not bad for a new beginning from what i hear the only reason there's a meeting at all is because of you and brother i wonder if everything i've heard about him is true likely it is i've never known his equal he's like one of the mighty warriors of the faith in the book of hebrews closer to god than most of us can even imagine when will brother sheffield be arriving excuse me what's going on there what are you boys doing put those pipes out we ain't hurt nothing you're endangering a thousand people think what could happen if one of these wooden buildings caught fire the whole place would be gone in a minute yeah you might at that now take those pipes off the premises here brothers [Music] oh [Music] oh brother bob so glad to see you i want you to meet ed bailey here he's from the conference well mr bailey i hope the conference hasn't sent you here to hinder our work the chef is i'm here on my own because i love the camp meetings and i've heard what you've done for this then we're glad to have you we need all the help we can get mr cheffy mr checkman yes it's me mr sheffield bailey what is it it's what you said about the conference i apologize if i was a bro no i'm well you were but you were writing what you said i feel it myself i guess that's why i'm here you see the new attitudes creeping in among your leaders it's so hard to understand they pick the bible apart they criticize everything i believe and they do it so smoothly i i don't know what to think look what are they trying to do they want to call themselves christians because it's respectable but they try to tear down everything that christianity has ever been based upon they say that christ is not the son of god but they try to support a religion that's based on this very fact they claim that the bible is only a human book but everything they know about their religion is based on it they claim to follow christianity and then deny everything that christianity has ever taught but on the other hand there's so many others good men who still believe everything i believe there are a good many but they seem to have less and less influence it's always the liberal attitudes that are attractive you think i must make a choice it will not be an easy choice what about you my choice is easy or rather it's already made years ago when i was denied a preaching license it was a great sorrow to me but i determined to follow the leading of the lord anyway in these latter years i have come more and more to rejoice that i am not obligated i do not have to choose between my loyalty to some organization and the word of god when you put it like that it's not really much of a choice doesn't seem so to me it's more a matter of courage brother sheffy will you pray for me we didn't have as big a crowd as we'd hoped but it's a start we'll do better next year oh i almost forgot here's your souvenir what's that it's from a friend of roberts lady nick did you talk to her nobody did this year but she hasn't forgotten you what's this all about lady nick is a woman who lives nearby from one of the finest families she's been coming to the camp meetings off and on as long as i can remember but she can't quite overcome this world for the sake of the next one that rose she sends it to robert every year as a symbol of her defiance i still believe god's going to save her and then she will send a white rose of surrender see you brother tyler god bless you see you mr frazier we'll see you next year brother where is that letter [Applause] how i do miss philly since she grew up a little bit ah yeah it is dear rev cheffy i finally got your address from a peddler throughout my lifetime i've been told that many years ago you stood at my unmarried mother's bed and prayed for god to make a preacher of me and stand me in many pulpits across the land until i had brought a thousand souls into the kingdom it is my joy to inform you that i have served churches from tennessee to texas and up to the sixth of this month the total that i have led to the lord came to one thousand converts and it sound archibald the sweet lord manifest himself in so many wonderful ways robert hasn't the time come now when you can be a rocking chair preacher you have no business riding all over creation i have all the business in the world my sweet lord's business you're not getting younger doll i don't feel any older though i feel like i'm as strong as ever it was reopening the campground eliza it gave me new life it didn't give you a new body they thought they could close it down and now that it started again we'll keep it going but we can't do it sitting around you can't go like you used to it's coming on winter soon now you don't know how many times i've pictured you lying somewhere in a snow drift nobody fun done yet until spring my dear eliza all right all right for your sake i'll take it slower this winter [Applause] brother brother cheffy the campground it's burning burning the campground yes sir i just came from there the whole thing's on fire no it can't be yes sir it is you can see the smoke from the top of the hill [Music] go on tommy go to the top of the hill see if you can see the fire now you've been sick [Music] it's all the fire brothers [Music] um look at the smoke [Music] let me take your horse you bring mine tell us not to worry about me michelle michelle [Music] oh oh ah [Music] [Music] i'm afraid it wasn't an accident no one knows who somebody did it deliberately tyler looks like we have our work cut out for us again no robert not again it can't be done it can i'll do it myself alone if i have to [Music] the doctor eliza eliza eliza you better speak to her she's sick and fast elijah slicer i always thought i'd put you to rest first or everything was all right eliza i love you [Music] what word how can it be how have i failed you what have i done wrong everything i've loved is gold have i been wrong is the world right [Music] oh lord all gone everything my dear lies lord forgive these feet of clay forgive my pride forgive my trusting in my own strength forgive me [Music] brother cheffy brother sheffy brother sheffy that's what i've got to tell you it was me that burned the campground oh mercy oh mercy i thought it would help if i but after all you told me i ruined everything for you you could never forgive me i forgave you long ago my dear sweet lord convicted my heart of pride and bitterness only then i didn't know who should receive my forgiveness and now my joy and blessing are complete blessing but the campground will never be rebuilt will it no i used to think that it would be rebuilt fact i thought i would do it but that was only my own pride my own pride the campground is gone forever god never forces his will on men he calls them unto himself but if they will not follow him then they have to go their own way the campground is gone not because you burned it but because god's people didn't want it and god let them have their own way every time we give up a part of our faith to try to fit into the ways of the world we lose it forever we lose a precious part of god's promise sacrifice to the and the world will never give it back and someday when the world tells us we can no longer have our religion except where they say and god is driven from our schools and our government and our homes then god's people can look back and know that our religion was not taken from us it was given up handed over bit by bit until there was nothing left [Music] ye are the light of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven [Music] [Music] beloved chef we bid thee not farewell but only for a little while good night thou shalt rise soon at the first dawn of the resurrection day of the redeemed it is we who linger in the darkness thou art in god's own light our night too shall soon be past and with it all our weeping then with thine our songs shall greet the morning of a day that knows no night then at his voice thou shalt spring from thy couch of earth fashioned like unto his glorious body until then beloved sleep we praise god for thee and expect to praise god with thee amen [Music] you

Channel: Christian Movies

Views: 230,185

Keywords: Christian Movies, Movies, TV Shows, TV Series, Sheffey Movie, Sheffey Full Movie, Sheffey, Dwight Anderson, Harold Kilpatrick, Beneth Jones, Tim Rogers, Katherine Stenholm, Robert S. Sheffey, Christian evangelist, circuit riding preacher, preacher, born again christian, based on novel

Id: kN1R1GFSiTg

Length: 137min 10sec (8230 seconds)

Published: Fri Mar 26 2021