YBOR 70 Page 15 P: Was this before you had actually come to the meeting that they had already voted? L: They had a special meeting to determine and I said to them that I accept your call with these provisos here. These are the things. they had nothing to do, really, with money. there were some things that I should have said in terms of the fringe benefits, such as retirement, insurance, etc. Which I did not, and I regret that I did not, however, I will be able to manage anyway after retirement. In that particular time, I saw a situation, I saw potential. I did not see this where we are now, it was in the back of my mind. P: You hope for something like this. L: Yes, I had a dream that something like this would happen and it did. P: It sure did. L: And many other things occurred. P: When you were down here in Tampa for that meeting, did you speak before the congregation,as well? L: Yes, I did. P: So you had that meeting with the deacons, there was a little bit of tension. L: There was a little hiatus. P: The you went and spoke before the congregation and they voted that they wanted you. L: Yes, that is right. That was during the week. I remained over until Sunday and preached at the congregation. Then I went back to Augusta and I had to resign from I still had time, however, to decide whether I wanted to make to move or not and during the interim, prior to my actual moving here, a number of Florida ministers and some people in Augusta talked with me and they felt that it was a good move. Reverend Graham who had done the recommending... P: The fellow from Miami who knew your dad. L: Yes, said that it is an opportunity of your life, take it. P: And it was. L: It was. You are exactly right. I have to say today that it was providential. Being a religious person, I would have to say that God directed me, even though there