"It Means So Much"

Hayes Barton Baptist Church “means so much.” In some ways, I don’t need to write much more than that today as the phrase was repeated numerous times in the conversation I had with the people in today’s story.  “It means so much.”  Said with such sincerity and love.  “It means so much.”  These folks have a view of the church and feelings for the church that reside deep in the heart, deep in the soul.  In the short time I’ve known them, I know they’ve been through “so much.”  It is not surprising that Hayes Barton Baptist Church “means so much” to them.  The people are Ches and Faye Crow.

My intention was to interview Ches Crow, so I was pleasantly surprised when his wife Faye joined our conversation.  “Ekron Cheslun Crow, III Esq.” is what Ches’s business card says, but I think it is important to note that there have been times in his life that he has been better known as “Miss Faye’s husband.”

Ches has been attending Hayes Barton Baptist Church for about 34 years; Faye, much longer, since she was ten years old.  In fact, Faye’s story has such an interesting chapter that I am going to write this posting about Ches and save Faye’s for another.

Ches is, among the many talents listed on his business card, a speaker so is an easy interview.  He met Faye and starting attending Hayes Barton Baptist Church.  He had grown up a Methodist and didn’t have a church in Raleigh.  He remembers the first contact he had with the church after completing a visitor’s card.  “Luther Hughes called me up and asked if he could come by and talk for a while,” recalls Ches.  “I no sooner put the phone down, and there was a knock at the door.  It was Luther…ready to talk for a while.”

Ches and Faye were married in the church in 1979. They raised their son Cheslun in the church, and Cheslun  is one of the reasons why Hayes Barton Baptist Church “means so much” to them.  “We had a dire time last year with him,” shares Ches.  “When he got sick, we had EMS take him to the hospital.  The doctor really and truly thought he was not going to make it.  I called David Hailey and David With, and they arrived almost immediately at the hospital.  From that point, there was a constant barrage of friends and folks from the church.  At one time, there were even six ministers present.”

Hence, why the church “means so much.”  Through surgery and snowstorm, people from the church held vigil with them.  “The people were so sweet,” says Faye.  “We could feel all the prayers.”

Cheslun’s illness represents one “dire time” among several for the Crows.  An accident, illnesses, and a house fire are others that the Crows, including Ches’s mother, Mrs. Helen Crow, have experienced in recent years.  Hence, why the church “means so much.”

At one point during one of the vigils, David With said to Ches and Faye, “You all are like Job.”  Ches said he readily agreed with David. At which point David then said, “Remember, Job won in the end.”  Hence, why the church “means so much.”

Ches is such an interesting man given all of his talents. In addition to being a speaker, he is an artist, writer, illustrator, and consultant.  He is a member of “The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem,” which dates back some 900 years, is a Royal Order of Chivalry Under the Crown and an international charitable organization that, according to the St. John’s website, “derives its inspiration … [from]– Pro Fide Pro Utilitate Hominum,  'For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity.’”  Ches is also a Fellow in the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 

With his many talents, it is not surprising that Ches’s career was in cultural resources. After studying art at East Carolina University, Ches worked in the commercial art and advertising field for a time and  then worked for the State Department of Cultural Resources, designing exhibits, managing grounds, and carrying out “all other duties as assigned” at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex in Fayetteville.  After retiring, he also worked on designing and setting up the Lundy-Fetterman Museum and Exhibit Hall at Campbell University and recently has been a exhibit designer for the new Wake Forest Historical Museum.

While retired, he is not “retired” by any stretch of the imagination. Ches continues to do all the things listed on his business card with writing children’s books and painting wildlife just two examples of the activities we discussed. 

We also discussed his singing in the Hayes Barton Baptist Church choir.  In fact, some fame has come is way because he sings in the choir.  “I had a woman come up to me and say, ‘I know you,’” says Ches.  “We went through the various possibilities as to from where, and then we hit upon it.  It was from the TV ministry and singing in the choir.”

Given all he is involved with, you might be surprised to learn that one of his favorite Scripture verses comes from Psalm 46: “Be still and know.”  In fact, it is on his business card as part of the arms he was granted by the Crown two years ago.  “I figure I still need to be quiet and listen,” says Ches.  “Listen to God.”

Ches may not know all but the story he and Faye shared conveys that they know a lot about Hayes Barton Baptist Church and what it means.  “We love this church,” says Ches, “or we wouldn’t be here.  It means so much, so very much. Many, many, many people from the church have been a blessing to us.  It means so much.”