Kenny Hodges' Spirit-filled life

by John Stossel Kenny Hodges’ Spirit-filled life by Daniel Gardner, Special to the Gazette

I attended a revival last week. Well actually it was a funeral for my long-time friend Kenny Hodges. I met Kenny at Mississippi State University in 1972. Kenny is five days older than me and we had a lot in common. He was a young “rocker” and played with the band “Royal American Showmen,” and I love live bands and good rock-and-roll music. We didn’t become close friends until the 1980s when Kenny and his family moved back to Starkville to serve as minister of music at Emmanuel Baptist Church. He was a master of all trades: musician, building contractor, and airplane pilot among many other skills and talents. Kenny could not only do everything, he did everything well. And yet, he was one of the most humble people I’ve ever known.

Everybody says that.

Most of all,

Kenny lived the Christian life many evangelicals talk and preach about.

Kenny lived the Life exuberantly in every thing he did, and those he worked with caught the same Spirit while working together and beyond.

During the service for over two hours his family and many, many friends paid tribute to Jesus Christ because Kenny was empowered and led by Jesus Christ Himself. Kenny’s life was a tribute to Jesus Christ. The vast majority of those who attended the visitation Thursday evening and the service Friday morning came to worship Jesus Christ. We all visited with friends some of which we had not seen in as many as 50 years. Both days overwhelmed attendees with evangelistic fervor and joy.

Music was the cornerstone of the service, of course. How could it not be when celebrating how God had worked through Kenny’s life?

He always brought the gospel into every conversation and every encounter. One of Kenny’s favorite songs was “It’s Free,” a lively rendition of the gospel written by one of Kenny’s “old rocker friends” named Hart Hogan.

It goes like this. “You’ve heard Jesus died for sinners and you’ve been to Sunday school. You’ve got ribbons for attendance and you’ve lived the golden rule. Now then what’s that got to do with you and me going to heaven free? “This salvation He has given’s one that never can be lost. But with all its freeness Jesus Christ He paid the final cost. We could never pay this debt of love we owe. Christ He paid it all. “It’s free and that’s what the Bible says, a gift that you receive the moment you believe, depend on what is done, the free gift from God’s Son.”

Try to imagine a few hundred people packed into the church auditorium singing their hearts out. We were all celebrating together including Kenny.

No one had any doubt Kenny was there with us playing his guitar and leading us all in praise to God Almighty!

No one can adequately summarize a person’s life in 500 words or fewer, much less scratch the surface of Kenny Hodge’s remarkable Spirit-filled life. Go to www.the2circles.org to see the larger scope of Kenny’s life and ministry. He would want to leave you with the chorus “It’s Free” to ponder. “It’s free and that’s what the Bible says, a gift that you receive the moment you believe, depend on what is done, the free gift from God’s Son.” Page A2 Thursday, March 20, 2025 MAGNOLIA GAZETTE