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1943-1971 1953-1959

Mrs. A. C. Mackey joined in 1937 as a Florida worker, then Later Miss Reba Miller
was sent to Georgia to organize and develop the work was moved from
Tennessee to assist in
this expansion followed
Mrs. Mackey is also the author of the book, Nevertheless by Miss Lorraine
Afterwards, revealing God's dealings with her as a CBM Burkhalter
missionary in the early days. She and Marie Jensen co-
authored the book, Of such is the Kingdom, the first 25
years of CBM‘s history.

Agnes Mackey Reciting Bible verses Early Georgia Bible Club Georgia camp in the early years
wrote the four
years of Bible
Correspondence
lessons, that are
still being used
by CBM and
several other
ministries

Georgia Branch of CBM

The CBM workers realized that music was an important part of children‘s schools. The workers also conducted Bible clubs and classes. To many boys
work and they sought the Lord to fill this need. He answered prayer through and girls, in the public schools of Georgia, Mrs. Mackey was affectionately
known as ―The Bible Lady‖, or ―The John 3:16 Lady.‖
Mr. Field, who brought Mrs. Agnes C. Mackey to meet the workers and observe Camps were held in the summer for both white and black children at places
the work. Mrs. Mackey's husband had suddenly gone to be with the Lord and
she had come to Florida with her two young daughters to recover from the such as the YWCA camp in Athens, Rutledge, and Crawfordville, GA. ―Good
shock. morning boys and girls,‖ was the greeting from Mrs. Mackey every morning at
camp and ―Good morning, Mrs. Mackey,‖ the campers replied. Mrs. Mackey
Mrs. Mackey had written to the Sunday School Times asking about children's said ―Good night‖ here on earth on March 12, 1991. Then she said ―Good
work and they sent a list with the Children's Bible Mission at the top. However,
she had not heard of the organization and was not particularly interested in any morning‖ in Heaven. What a glorious ―homecoming‖ it was for her.
of the others, so the letter was laid aside. Some weeks later Mr. Field showed
pictures of CBM ministry in the church she attended and she suddenly realized
it was the same organization referred to in the letter. CBM’s ministry in Cordele, Georgia was carried
A few days after her visit to the CBM office, Mrs. Mackey was established in on by Samson and Ruth Whisnant from 1964-93.
Lakeland. Soon she was busy directing music, and singing, and playing the
piano. Besides her work in the schools, Bible clubs, and directing camps in In October 1964, Samson and Ruth Whisnant found out
several states, she compiled and mimeographed the lessons for four correspon- about the need for workers in Cordele, GA. They agreed on
dence courses. the way home that they would go to Cordele if God would
Although Georgia was the first state to enter the Bible Memory Program after provide. They told no one else. The following Sunday the
Florida, it was not organized as a branch until 1943. The CBM work in Athens, national director called and asked Samson and Ruth to pray
GA was originally started under the leadership of Mr. Charles Rowland. about going to Cordele. They told the director they had al-
Brother Rowland was still giving his service in ministering the Word through ready settled the issue. So, with less than $200 missionary
CBM. In order to expand this work, the National Office arranged, after much support they moved to Cordele in December 1966.
prayer, to send Mrs. Agnes Mackey to Athens. In January 1967, Samson started visiting the public schools in the area. He
In 1943, after serving for seven years with CBM in Florida, Mrs. Mackey left visited 24 schools and did 44 assemblies per month. Ruth was a homemaker
for Georgia to organize a committee to administer the branch. and helped with the office work, and Samson worked from daylight till dark for
Georgia CBM was reaching as high as 30,000 children monthly in the public $10 a day to keep the work going.
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