Rural Missouri - June 2020 - 5

Missouri
RURAL

RM | PERSPECTIVES

A new calling

Volume 73 | JUNE 2020 | Number 6
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Jim McCarty, editor
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Heather Berry, associate editor
hberry@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Zach Smith, field editor
zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, co-op page designer
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P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-659-3423
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Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS 473000) is published monthly by the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, 2722 E.
McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, Caleb
Jones, CEO/executive vice president. Individual
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by Caleb Jones
cjones@amec.coop

f you really think
about it, the people
who live in rural America are a pretty interesting bunch. Throughout
history, people have gravitated toward big cities.
Yet, there's always been
folks like us who value
that clear night where
you can see every star or
Johnie Hendrix preaches during a pre-COVID-19 service.
waking up at dawn and
dilemma when the full force of the
listening to the turkeys gobble, birds
shutdown was felt. We all felt the
sing and roosters crow. Like anything,
strain of dealing with the crisis. Yet,
there's a cost to being able to live and
due to the need to limit the number
work where you want. Things change
of people in one place, we were denied
and we all have to change to continue
the comfort of worshiping together.
our way of life.
So Johnie used the same technoloI'd like to tell you about one of my
gy he is using to conduct online safety
co-workers who has been an inspimeetings and applied it to Sunday
ration to all thanks to his ability to
services. When the weather is nice, he
adapt to these life changes. His name
holds drive-in services for those who
is Johnie Hendrix, and he came to
need to get out of the house.
us from Barry Electric Co-op in his
Now more than ever, all of the
hometown of Cassville. Whenever we
world is facing new challenges and
have a group gathering, I know I can
we are going to have to make some
turn to Johnie for a heartfelt prayer.
changes. If I could have a dime for
Johnie served in the U.S. Army
every time I heard, "I'm just ready
Reserves and was deployed to Iraq.
to get back to normal," I'd be sitting
His duty didn't stop there. He went on
pretty good. The thing is, there have
to serve rural Missourians at his local
always been obstacles to living in
co-op where Sgt. Hendrix became linerural America - whether it's trying to
man Hendrix.
get an internet connection or driving
But Johnie had a new calling and
30 minutes to get to the grocery store.
left the cooperative to serve as a trainWhat I'm most proud of is that no
ing instructor. In his current role
matter what us "country folk" have
he works closely with lineworkers to
had to face, we always adapt. It's
ensure they go home safe and sound
not because we are better at making
at the end of the day. He is effective at
changes, it's just something we've
his job because he takes time to visit
always done.
with anyone who has a concern.
We are all going to get through this
Electric co-ops promote the coopersituation we are in. Along the way, we
ative principles with their employees,
all have to make some changes. That's
especially the seventh principle which
OK. We've done it before and we will
is "Concern for Community." It wasn't
do it again. If you need a little inspiralong after Johnie moved north that he
tion along the way, log in or drive in to
put that principle into practice as pasMount Pleasant Baptist Church and
tor for Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
know you are not alone.
near Ashland. He's one of the reasons
those who worship at the little church
Jones is the executive vice president
say they feel "welcomed like family."
and CEO of the Association of Missouri
Pastor Hendrix, like others who
Electric Cooperatives.
also preach the Good News, faced a
JUNE 2020 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP

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Rural Missouri - June 2020

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