BROOKHAVEN — He sat in a metal folding chair in front of with a baseball cap, blue jean shorts and a dark blue t-shirt. To his right, two cats relaxed in the morning sun at the Brookwood apartments at the corner of West Chippewa Street and South Railroad close to where The Dart landed Friday.

A cool breeze cooled Eugene Wilson off as he smiled and said hello. He is a native of Brookhaven and graduated from Brookhaven High School. Born in 1960, he has six sisters and five brothers and they are all still living.

Wilson spoke about his faith before anything else.

“I’m a man of God and I believe in Jesus Christ and I have been filled with the Holy Ghost. I love the Lord,” Wilson said. “He has been good to me and He has blessed me. He has been so good to me and He is worthy to be praised. We serve a good God and I thank Him for this day.”

His mornings start with sitting outside of his apartment where he reads God’s Word, reflects and prays. He might preach the Word to people who stop by.

Wilson said his relationship with God started when he was young and ever since he has learned more and more. God has delivered him from cancer in his legs.

He had his stomach cut open to keep the cancer from spreading. Wilson had some breathing ailments but was healed. The experiences have pulled him into a life of service.

“Sometimes I went away from church but I came back. He still loved me. I preach about the Lord and I teach Sunday school,” Wilson said. “The Lord has been using me to serve and I’m not ashamed to tell people about Him. I almost died but the Lord has delivered me from a lot of stuff.”

He has stayed in Brookhaven because the rest of his family still lives here. Wilson attends Living Word Faith Ministry located at 791 Ozark Lane Northeast.

While the entire Bible is good because it is God’s Word, Wilson said his favorite Bible story is that of Jonah. His favorite psalm is Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

“The Word is needed to help feed the inside of man. He needs the Word of God,” Wilson said. “You have to feed the spiritual man and the physical. He will dry up if you don’t feed him. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ makes your life filled with joy and peace. If you live right you can do anything with him. The Lord is good to us every day. You always have an opportunity to serve Him.”