From Him to You Through Me!

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This is the Truth Network Podcast. Now, the music you just heard was performed by the woman of God sitting next to me, and I am in a very interesting place, and I'm with a very fascinating person, actually a couple of people. Her name is Donna Jo Abernathy, and she is battling cancer. She is a church pianist, gifted musician. She has her own album, and she has her own music.

She has her own album, and she has a story you're going to hear, you're going to love. But Donna Jo, we're at a country club. Now, I don't consider myself a country club Christian, but I don't think I've ever done my show from a country club. Tell everyone where we are in North Carolina, God's favorite state, will you? Yes.

We are at the Maple Chase Golfing Country Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and for several years I played in the piano bar here before they moved my piano to the foyer, and then they moved it into the dining room. Well, now, every time I talk to you, I've learned something else, somewhere else you've played, and Dave Compton is a legendary multi-decade DJ, broadcaster, manager. We go way back.

Man of God loves Jesus. Dave, Donna Jo has a story. You showcased her on your program, heard recently on WPET, and this is an exciting moment, isn't it, Dave Compton?

Well, it is, Stu. Donna Jo and I, we did an interview for the Community Focus. It was the day we went through the ice storm, and we were worried that we might lose power, Donna, but we didn't during that interview. But I really enjoyed the conversation with her, and we really found out who Donna Jo is, and we're going to find that out today. Donna Jo, when you get that, I know you get that question a lot. You're one of the more fascinating people I've ever met.

Tell us, who is Donna Jo Abernathy? Oh, me. Well, that's probably a long story, but I do enjoy music and really enjoy Southern gospel and Christian music, but hey, I'm a girl of the 60s. I like Motown and Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley. But I love music, and as I have grown over the years from a little girl who learned to play by ear to the last few years when I made the CD, one of the things that's been unique has been how God has scripted my life as a little girl in music to, you know, I've been playing the piano now 71 years. And so God has opened opportunities that I would have never planned if it hadn't been for him. And when I was diagnosed, I will hone in the cancer.

I have leukemia, which is a blood cancer, not something that I will die from, but I will die with it. And I thought, you know, since I have that kind of prediction and who knows when our life will end, I thought, what can I leave my children and my family that's a part of my music? So the Lord's opened up all kinds of opportunities for you through music, and you just love gospel music, and there are some cool songs even from the secular charts on your album. Dave, we listen to her music, her CD, which I encourage everyone, we're looking and praying for ways to make this available to everyone.

But you put it on there, Dave, this takes you right to the throne of God. I mean, Oh Happy Day and these sacred songs, How Great Thou Art, all these songs about the Lord that, you know, you've played, and we're going to play some of these songs during this program today. So you're going to hear what we're talking about from the gifted one here, Donna Jo Abernathy. And I particularly have been thinking about, I love the song He Touched Me, but I think the Lord touched me in so many ways through my music as a little girl now that I would never have dreamed, but it has to be His touch.

I don't think anything else could have done it, but His touch. We discovered, I mean, from the show interview you do with David, it seems like, what was it, like four years old, you just started pecking on the piano key? Tell everyone kind of what happened. Just to remark, you found out that God had put some DNA in you that just doesn't land in anybody else, or not everybody else. Well, I grew up in this home across from the church in this little community in Clingman, and we were fortunate enough to have a piano. And nowadays, a lot of families don't have a piano, which I'm sad about. But anyway, I started picking it out, playing with the keys. And because we were in church all the time, I remembered some tunes of hymns, and I found that I could pick out a tune or two of a hymn because I recognized it, and I could play some simple chords. And that first song was The Nail Scarred Hand.

Oh my, wow. And that was something that had a real imprint on your life. And will you tell everyone maybe your journey of faith, you know, because you had some really cool pastors and some people of God that influenced you. You heard the gospel at a young age, and I guess your relationship with Christ and music, they all kind of are woven together a little bit, aren't they, in your journey?

Yes. Because we were always in church. My parents were faithful to the church in many ways, whether it be from missions to keeping the pastors who were there for revival for a week in our home, because it was just right across the road from the church. So I grew up with music, and I grew up with Christian music. And then when they recognized at four that I needed to be in lessons, well, it sort of took off, which I really appreciate. And then when I was in high school, or between junior high maybe, back then it was called, probably around 12 years old, I made Profession of Faith.

And we had some wonderful pastors at our church in Rojo Baptist. And I feel like that while I can't remember exactly a circumstance that made my heart just want to burst with, you know, getting saved and finding out what that meant, then I really started having more meaning revealed to me through the music because the stage was set. When God made me, He knew what my life was going to be. And that's such a different frame of reference when you grow up knowing that God made you and He's scripting my life.

I think it just kept growing and growing. We're going to play a song. This is not a music program, but this is truth talk, and it's talk, right? But we're going to play a song from your album so you can hear how God has inspired this woman of God to touch and lift many to the throne through her music. What song do you want to play from your album? What's a sacred song we can play right now as we go out of this break?

What would you recommend? Thinking that God has scripted my life, I certainly love He Touched Me. The words of that song says, shackled by a heavy burden, neath the load of guilt and shame, and then the hand of Jesus touched me, and now I'm no longer the same.

Isn't that powerful? Hard to say those words, hard to sing those words without getting emotional because of what Jesus has done for us. We'll listen to that right now as we go out of this break on Truth Talk. We'll come back and talk to Donna Jo right after this.

Hang on and listen and enjoy and think about how God touched you as you listen to this beautiful music. . . . That right there is the music by a woman of God who is, how young are you? And I'm going to ask you this question because this is a testimony of someone who is still serving Christ. Caleb said, I'm taking the mountain.

I'm taking the giants. He said, Joshua, give me the tough assignment. He didn't say, Joshua, give me a set of clubs and let's go hit the little white ball and keep doing that.

There's nothing wrong with hitting that little white ball. It leads someone to Christ on the golf course. But Donna Jo Abernathy, you are, you know, God's blessed you with many years of just service to Him. Well, if you put the mass together, I started playing it for and I've been playing 71 years. So I just turned 75 this year. And I am so grateful that I'm in my 13th year of remission from leukemia. And my doctor at the research lab told me, he said, Donna, if you had come in here in 2000, I would have sent you home to get your life in order. He is the doctor, Dr. Drucker from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, that created the oral chemo that I take every day.

So you're on chemo and it's something you're battling cancer. And, you know, I look at you, Donna Jo, you know, and I look at an amazing life and how God's used you so much. And I think, wow, Dave Compton, you've been a broadcaster. You know, you're still broadcasting. A lot of guys, Dave Compton, your age have retired. They're figuring out, you know, the next chapter. You're still playing gospel music and leading people to Christ on the radio.

You've been doing that for decades. You meet Donna Jo and, of course, you interviewed her for her show. But what are your thoughts? Maybe a question you might have for Donna Jo. Well, Donna Jo, when we talked, you know, on the Community Focus, we talked about a lot of things, but just navigating through your life and what you shared. And after we completed that program, I said this to you in a minute. I mentioned it to you too, Stu, that out of all the years I've been doing the Community Focus, looking back, that program is in my top five because she really made an indelible mark on me talking about her life and how all the pieces of the puzzle, you know, fit together.

And that's true with my life too. That is something. Wow. And Donna Jo, you have, and we're having pecan pie and hot coffee, Dave. And we're at the Maple Chase Country Club just on the north side of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Kind of tucked away here, kind of halfway between Walnut Cove, Stanleyville, Winston-Salem, Rural Hall, just in a beautiful area. And you're so gracious to host us here. This woman of God is blessed. Christian Radio blessed a lot of ministries. We're grateful for that.

So many people have been touched because of her and because of her music. You still show up every Sunday morning and you get behind that piano at Crestwood Baptist Church. And what happens? I just start playing. And if I know the focus or the scripture, I try to pick songs that support that. But, you know, sometimes that's hard to know because that's certainly within the providence of the ministering God.

But if I don't know what's happening, I always got to back up. But I just love playing. And I hope that every song I play, number one, gives thanks to the Lord, praises him and worships him and helps to lead the congregation in worship, if it be his will.

Wow. So she is not only leading worship, but she's one of the lead worshippers. You're also worshipping yourself and enjoining everyone into that. And all of us are going before his amazing throne, aren't we? And it's just a beautiful thing. Let me ask you this, Donna Jo.

What would you say to young people as you look back at your life and all this stuff? We haven't even talked about the famous train depot in rural hall North Carolina that you gave Dave and I a tour of. That's a whole other story of how God brought your family into contact to set up one of the most historic sites in America, really. That was amazing. Unique. Unique. And the tour, people see that.

I mean, in a couple sentences, how would you describe that? It's just part of your family's history and how you've been able to use that as a way to share the Lord too, right? Well, I believe that the Lord couldn't have picked any better man than my dad because he was a builder. He knew how to move huge projects. He had the resources to move them. And he happened to have owned the property between the railroad tracks.

Perfect. And I consider that a blessing that the Lord has given my family. And I pray each day that the Lord will guide us as we educate young people about the history of the railroad and how it built America. And as we offer time and a place for folks who are a little bit older to come and reminisce about riding the train in those days and what's going to happen to see rural hall was named. After the railroad came through, as many towns develop as the railroad came through. So as we think about what God would have us do in terms of passing on our legacy of the railroad to honor rural hall and to honor dad's legacy, but to honor that.

I believe God, God had this meant for my dad too. Amen. A lot of her music and a lot of music in general has been sung gospel train. You've got, you know, of course I was going to say soul train, but that might be, that might be, that's not the track we're going. But, but you know, the, the, the, the, the whole, the glory train or to ride that glory train, right?

That's right. And one of the songs to you on the album is this train is bound for glory. And we, we talked about this at the Depot about all the songs. This train is bound toward glory. This train and blow the whistle. This train is bound toward glory.

All onboard. It must be holy, right? Because he makes us holy, right? Because of his righteousness, we can go to glory.

Amen. That's exactly right. And that whole CD, by the way, from start to finish is just a story of Donna Joe's life through all of those songs.

That's my favorite song on that CD. She's shaking her head. You know, that might be, I don't know. You're at a loss for words.

That's a rare thing, Donna Joe. I don't know. That's a tough question because there are so many good ones on there. It's a tough question because so many of those are my favorites that represent different pieces of the glory.

And so it's hard for me to pick out one song that is, that I like better than all of them. We're going to play a song as we get out of here. But first, I want you to kind of talk to people out there that a lot of folks listen to this program. We've got a podcast, broadcast, all that stuff. Donna Joe Abernathy has been our awesome guest. I'm Stu Everson. To my right is Dave Compton, a legendary gospel host across the country and a WPET.

And worldwide on the Truth Talk, Truth Network app, you can listen to all these stations. But let me ask you, Donna Joe, looking back, you know, young people listening, other folks maybe searching. You know, trying, maybe struggling. You know, maybe that they're down and out and they don't know where to turn and all this COVID mess.

And maybe they're battling cancer, you know. What word of encouragement would you give, even if you're thinking about your awesome kids and grandkids too, you know, in terms of legacy? What kind of word of encouragement would you want to share out there from the words, the wisdom of Donna Joe Abernathy?

Well, I'm sure there are a lot of special words. But one of the things that I keep in my prayer every night for my grandchildren is that the Lord will keep them close to him. And I encourage my grandchildren to say their prayers. Prayer is so such a potent way to communicate with our Lord.

And, you know, sometimes we don't realize the importance of what the moment is. But God hears every prayer, even if we're saying, oh, God, thank you, that car didn't hit me, you know, or something like that. He hears it and he wants to take care of us if we will just let him. And so I'm a firm believer in prayer, and I always pray that my children will know that I want God to keep watch over them and to draw them close. And one of these days I'm not going to be here, but I want them to know that I loved my Lord. And, you know, sometimes in certain parts of the country Christianity is not as respected and widespread as it is maybe here in the East Coast or in the South. But that doesn't mean I don't want my grandchildren to know that there is a God and that he will take care of them and that he's scripting their life if they'll just trust him.

Thank you for that. And, Dave, just the fact of a saintly grandmother, the thought of her praying for those grandbabies. They may not have a clue about the Lord right now. I know their parents are probably trying to read the Word and pray with them. But the power of a praying mom and a praying grandmom, can you ever underestimate that power?

Well, it's very potent, and that's for sure, that communication with the Lord. And there's another song that says in times like these we need a savior. That's more revelant now than when that song was written. It's so true.

Amen. We're going to play some music right now as we close up this segment from Donna Jo's album. And, Donna Jo, tell everyone the name of your album. From Him to You Through Me. In all of my albums that phrase is in there somewhere.

From Him to You Through Me and the Music of the Sixties. God bless you, Donna Jo. Be encouraged as you listen to this going out and share this broadcast, podcast, show with everyone you can.

It's a blessing. And be a blessing to other people. And pray. Connect to God. Maybe you're stuck out there. You don't know where to go. Turn to God. It's a free call.

No Roman charges. And He says in the book of Jeremiah, Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which thou knowest not. God's phone number. That's right. God bless you, Donna Jo. Thank you so much for being on. Thank you. I appreciate it. And we're all here together to spread His Word. Thank you. Thank you. This is the Truth Network.