By: Scott Adkins, Sling ‘n Stone Ministry
Carter County Times
This week we honor the exemplary life of one simple Kentucky man, who gave his all to save just two orphans because he was: God’s Man From The Road Branch
Born deep in the blue hills of Kentucky during the Great Depression, this man’s life began in a nowhere holler called the Road Branch. While yet a lad, he met Jesus at a little country church, just round the way from the Road Branch. Little did the lad know, so long ago, Jesus would later use his life to save two orphans, far away from that nowhere holler we call the Road Branch.
Then, in 1968, a young mom came along, baby boy at hand; they had no one, and nobody cared. Wasn’t long ‘til they fell into despair. That’s when God stepped-in, and sent His man from the Road Branch.
Filled with love and compassion, God’s man relieved their despair. Loved that boy as his own; gave both mom and baby a loving home. Spent his life to raise that baby he called “Son Boy,” into a man. And that’s what happened when God stepped-in and sent His man from the Road Branch.
Not yet done, God would send His man to rescue another one.
In 1995, a baby girl came along, no mom at hand. Orphaned at eight days old; she had no one, and nobody cared. That’s when God stepped-in and sent His man from the Road Branch. Loved that girl as his own; joyfully gave her a godly home. When he grew old, it came to the girl he called his “Angel” to care for God’s simple Kentucky man, who came from a nowhere holler we call the Road Branch.
Not long ago, God summoned His man to heaven’s land, where he’ll live forevermore without a care. Now God’s man strolls streets of gold, in that bright city where he’ll never grow old. Now this man rejoices in a city without night because there, God’s Lamb is the light. Oh, so pleased was God with His man’s devotion to the Lamb, God now showers His rewards and crowns upon His man, who so long ago God sent to us from a placed called the Road Branch.
But who was this man? Henry Clay Adkins was his name. Henry gave 50+ years of his life to rescue two orphans from despair. Henry devotedly did so because Henry was God’s man from the Road Branch. Nothing greater can be said about this man, except “[e]very good and perfect gift… cometh down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17).
We miss our dad, and we yet rejoice. Dad finished his course, started in 1949, when dad first left that nowhere holler called the Road Branch. Today, our dad Henry Clay Adkins lives forevermore with the One he faithfully served and called Lord.
Thank you, Lord Jesus. You loved us, and You proved it, when You sent us our dad, your man Henry from the Road Branch.
