Cornfield, new car inspired Reverend Carroll's career choice

+ Cornfield, new car inspired Reverend Carroll’s career choice
Longboat Island Chapel the Rev. Dr. Vince Carroll was the speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key’s Feb. 27 breakfast meeting. Carroll informed those in attendance about his experiences as a naval chaplain and how he made his way to Longboat Key. 

The story of how Carroll decided to become a preacher, though, received a round of applause and laughter from the audience. 

Carroll, who grew up on a farm in Iowa, said he was working in the cornfields when he saw a brand-new car driving up the road. Carroll approached the running car and was intrigued because it was driving in the middle of the summer heat with its windows up.

“It was the first air-conditioned car in Iowa, and our preacher stepped out of the car to greet us looking as refreshed as ever,” Carroll said. “I put my hands in the air and said, ‘Thank you, Jesus, I know what I want to be when I grow up now!’”