By David Hunter

Wow, time flies when you are having fun.

I am often blessed by going back and remembering my days growing up in Algood on Cedar Street.

Every Saturday was Bubble Gum Route day for Algood First Baptist Church, which was located on the corner of Washington Street and Second Avenue. It was a beautiful sandstone building. Today, it is home to a Hispanic church after Algood First Baptist moved near Highway 111 and became Church on the Hill.

Now, I am glad you asked, “What was the Bubble Gum Route?”

We ran two church buses on Sunday mornings. One served Algood and Cookeville, while the other traveled to Monterey.

On Saturdays, I would meet at the church with my mom and Onda Gibbons. Onda is the mother of radio personality Phillip Gibbons.

We would drive around the bus route, knock on doors and see whether people planned to come to church the next morning.

The best part was a handful of bubble gum.

Now, as I recall, I might have slipped myself a piece every now and then.

I enjoyed the Bubble Gum Route. It was fun, and getting to see so many friends always felt like an adventure.

Now, let us fast forward to the following day.

Sunday.

My dad drove the local church bus, so Mom, my brothers and I would load up and go pick up children and adults who were coming to church.

One of our stops was a large trailer park located where the Genco factory is today.

We loved driving through that place because it had speed bumps.

You know the kind. A raised strip of asphalt that made you slow down.

Dad would slowly ease the front tires of the church bus over the speed bump. Then, when the back tires reached it, he would give it some gas.

If you were sitting in the back of that church bus, you could bounce right out of your seat.

Once we arrived at church, we went to our Sunday School classes. After Sunday School, it was time for the worship service.

A typical church service began with traditional church music. Then our pastor, Tom Burgess, would preach the message.

After church, we loaded back onto the bus and began taking everyone home.

I always loved Homecoming at Algood First Baptist Church.

After the morning service, we gathered in the fellowship hall, where tables were lined with so much delicious food.

And let us not forget the desserts.

Those church ladies could cook.

Letha Florida, Jimmie Hunter, Onda Gibbons, my mom, Jean Hunter, Lois Easterly and Willene Flatt were just a few of the cooks I remember.

After a good meal and fellowship, we headed back into the sanctuary for an afternoon singing.

You might be thinking, “That sounds pretty good.”

Yes, it does.

But, as usual, there is a story to be told and a lesson that goes along with it.

A piece of bubble gum probably cost about a penny back then. But to the people we visited on the Bubble Gum Route, it was much more than just a piece of gum.

It was a way of showing that someone cared.

Someone had taken the time to knock on their door, check on them and invite them to church.

To someone passing by, our bus might have looked like just another church bus in town. But to the people who rode it, that bus was special.

Someone cared enough to get up early, give their time and come pick them up.

Of course, the speed bumps were a bonus.

The time we shared as a church family became another building block in the foundation of our lives.

Homecoming was especially meaningful because it gave us a chance to gather together, break bread and enjoy fellowship with one another.

What I would give to be able to go back and experience one of those homecomings again.

But then I am reminded of another homecoming that we, as Christians, look forward to as we await the return of Jesus.

You may ask, “Why is a church family so important?”

You need your church family when the good times come, and you need them when the difficult times come.

It is hard to do life by yourself.

Algood will always hold a very special place in my heart and in the stories I tell.

It is a special place where people raised their families, and many still proudly call Algood home.

My story began on Cedar Street in Algood.

Where did your story begin?

We all have special memories from growing up. Those memories helped build our futures, even though we may not have realized it at the time.

Until next time, say your prayers, love your neighbor and hold your family tight.