Iheard Lee McBride for the first time in February when he spoke at Franklin Baptist Church in Salisbury. Lee travels the country as a comedian, storyteller, evangelist and preacher. He was born in Columbus, Ga., but now lives in Alabaster, Ala. He is a large man with a large heart for ministering to the needs of others.
Joe Thomas, the pastor of Franklin Baptist Church, has been a friend of Leeís since college days. They studied for the ministry together at Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, Fla. Even then Lee was a comedian, as evidenced by a prank he pulled on campus. He and a few of his buddies let a piglet loose in the library. It wasnít clear who was more frightened by the event, the poor librarian or the pig. This prankster side of Lee would eventually be used in a positive way to minister to hurting people through laughter, which is the ministry he feels God intended for him all along. Lee is a lot like Jerry Clower and doesnít mind telling a few jokes in the pulpit. He uses fun and jokes to explain a point or tell a story through what he calls parables.
Lee held a revival at Franklin Baptist Church during homecoming services in September. He used Wrigley Field in Chicago as one of his parables for the last service on Sunday night. He said Chicago is known as the windy city and the way the wind blows determines where the ball will go when hit. If the wind is blowing out, players who have never hit a home run often do. If the wind is blowing in, those who generally make a home run wonít. When a visiting team hits a home run, the ball is thrown back onto the field because no one wants to keep the opposing teamís ball for a souvenir. Lee used this story to explain we should be steadfast in what we believe and not change due to outside pressure or metaphorically because of the way the wind blows. He also made the point that we should not keep anything the world has to offer as a souvenir.
Although there were places in the sermon that were serious and prompted a closer look at life, Lee often would change in mid-sentence with a funny quip. Everyone was in stitches when he started singing love songs to make the point that young people donít have love songs these days. He said he doesnít know what the current love songs are talking about, but he knows it doesnít have anything to do with love. During his youth, if he broke up with his girlfriend, he wouldnít listen to the radio for a month because it would remind him of her. Lee made up a song just for fun about breaking up and called it the ěBuffet Lullaby.î It was about a boy finding comfort in a Big Mac, chocolate shake and fries.
Lee shared with the church that he has rheumatoid arthritis, and there are days when he can hardly get out of bed or do a simple task like button his shirt. Not too long ago this disease just about destroyed everything good in his life, including his marriage. This was because he felt sorry for himself. Although heís a comedian and has a ministry of making others laugh, he wasnít laughing then. It took a friend literally shaking him and saying, ěStop feeling sorry for yourself. Donít you see youíre going to lose everything?î Lee realized he couldnít afford to waste one more day in self-pity. Even though the arthritis hasnít gone away, he knows in his weakness, through Jesus Christ, he is strong.
Lee believes when God gives a gift He wants the person receiving the gift to think big. Lee definitely is thinking big because one of the places he wants to preach is Wrigley Field. Someday, hopefully, that dream will come true for him. In the meantime, he travels across the country preaching the gospel in his own unique way. You can find more info about Lee McBride and his ministry on his website at LeeMcBride.com.

Dicy McCullough is a childrenís author who lives in Rowan County. Contact her at 704-278-4377 or dicymcculloughbooks.com.