Amanda is Still Singing. I Can Hear Her Now.

A Story in the West Side Church Series

Amanda is Still Singing. I Can Hear Her Now.

Amanda died about a decade or so ago, but her singing continues.

Almost five decades ago I was pastor of West Side Church in Louisville, KY and attending seminary. I often had seminary students ask if they could get some ministry experience as a volunteer with our inner-city congregation.

David came to visit me one day. Physically he looked like a folk singer. Every time I looked at him I thought of Peter, Paul, and Mary. I liked him. We had a great dialogue about what he would do in our congregation.

Towards the end of the conversation, he indicated he was Methodist and not Baptist. Was that a problem? Of course not.

He also indicated that his wife would not be present with him much because she was a paid soloist at another church in town. She was also an opera-style singer. Was that a problem? Of course not.

Finally, he indicated that while he was an Anglo-American his wife, Amanda, was an African-American. Was that a problem? I hesitated slightly. I at least had to let that spin through my mind a moment or two. This was my first opportunity to experience an inter-racial ministry couple.

“Of course not,” was my delayed response. At least for me personally it was not an issue, but an opportunity. As the thought spun through my mind, however, I began to think about the inner-city lay leadership of my congregation.

They were not always the most open people. It was the 1970s. Racial relationships were getting better, but not for everyone.

How would they respond? This is not an issue we had ever discussed. I had no idea. It was my hope they would respond very positive to this opportunity to see ministry modeled by an inter-racial couple.

In the spirit of good process I asked David for a couple of days to check this out. He was not offended and understood.

What Was the Church’s Response?

It turns out I should not have hesitated. I was very proud of my lay leadership. Within a couple of days, I called David to say our church would be delighted to welcome them in a volunteer ministry role in our congregation.

Periodically Amanda was able to come for worship. Every time she came we asked her to sing. From the first time she opened her mouth to sing of the glory of God, our congregation experienced not only the beauty of her personality, but the beauty of her singing.

They always wanted to hear Amanda sing. I am not sure if the congregation appreciated the ministry of Amanda or David more.

As with many seminary volunteers, David and Amanda were with us for a while, and then on to the next season of ministry preparation. I did not maintain contact with David and Amanda over the years.

Had the Singing Stopped?

One evening—again a decade or so ago—I received a Facebook message from the wife of the former music director at this Louisville church. She wanted to know if I had seen the Facebook posts about the death of Amanda.

I had not.

I looked around the Internet and ultimately found some details, and a way to contact David. I sent him an e-mail. I heard back shortly. We both saw this as a true blast from the past.

David's report was that Amanda died of pancreatic cancer with which she had been suffering for two years. Her father had died 25 years earlier of pancreatic cancer.

Amanda was the music director for a large Catholic Church where she was a member. She continued her opera career as a singer and performed throughout the United States. She also taught vocal performance in universities and privately in their home.

David said, "She was a wonderful wife and mother, and touched many people's lives."

David was in ministry serving as a pastoral counselor, while also pastor of two small United Methodist congregations.

His words to me were, "It has been tough for the last two years, but the Lord has been good to us, and continues to sustain us through this struggle. I rejoice that Amanda is at home with the Lord, and is enjoying glad heavenly reunions. The words that kept coming up repeatedly during the past few days were, 'She was an angel'. 'She was a saint.' That she was! She was a much better person than I could ever hope to be."

I rejoice I was able to experience this couple during the early days of their ministry. I knew with spiritual intuition they were real and genuine.

The fact that they were an inter-racial ministry couple was not a barrier. It was an opportunity to observe God at work in and through their lives. I am glad I had an opportunity after almost four decades to learn the rest of the story.

Oh, and I am sure Amanda is still singing. In fact, I hear her now.