Preachers/Pastors I have known/loved and why.

[Titus2woman]

OK... I hear that a lot of threads on this board turn into 'pastor bashing'... so... let's do something different. Name a preacher/pastor in your life who has taught you a valuable life lesson or changed your views in a good way or helped you in a time of need or anything else positive. Name them or keep it anonymous and just share the story.

As much as I dislike the line... Let's give honor where honor is due!

I'll even start.

Bro. Rick,

Many years ago Br0. Rick met us as a young couple who had not been raised in church and were pretty wild, when we showed up at the church where he was the assistant pastor trying to find God after the death of a good friend. He did not shy away from the rock band member and his wild bartender girlfriend even inviting them out to eat after service.

I am sure he had no idea how far out of his comfort zone that one little meal might take him. After all we did not know that everyone in the world did not cuss or that cigarette smoke bothered anybody and asked to be seated in the smoking section of the restaurant but Bro. Rick never looked askance.

Through the vapor cloud of our many Marlboros Bro. Rick talked about God, about the plan of salvation, about how to have a better life. His sweet wife by his side had to have been horrified by the girl with the 10 tattoos and facial jewelry back when you never saw that on anybody but the strangest kind. They invited us back the next week and then to their home to meet their kids and play games. Never saying a word about the low cut blouse and jeans I came to church in. A few days after that Sis Mary showed up at my house with a bunch of nice clothes. She said she was cleaning out her closet and I looked about the right size if I wanted them. There were pretty dresses for church with matching shoes. Not something she didn't want anymore but things that she loved. I now realize they had little and parting with some of her nicest things must have been hard but she did it with a smile.

We came back to church a few more times and Bro. Rick preached Jesus, the real Jesus, by living out an example. When the time came he married us and dedicated our sons to the Lord. He made sure we had bibles and that we knew how important it was to read them. He taught us to pray. Although I had a Catholic background and my husband Baptist no one had ever prayed with us before or taught us that we could talk to God for ourselves.

We moved away without fully understanding all God had for us but we ended our time with Bro. Rick much better than we started it. We forever more had a soft spot for the church, the ministry and the God that would one day reach for us again, in large part because of Bro. Rick. He planted, someone else watered and God gave the increase.

We found Bro. Rick three years ago on our 25th anniversary. He is an old man now but we visited and it was just like old times. We wrote him a generous check for the marriage ceremony plus interest and told him how much he changed our lives. He was beyond grateful, not so much for the money although I know it was a blessing to him but that he was remembered.

[Falla39]

What a beautiful, heartwarming testimony!

Falla39

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Falla39

What a beautiful, heartwarming testimony!

Falla39

No story of your own Falla39?

[Scott Hutchinson]

My first pastor Brother Glenn Akridge taught me that one must know what they believe and why they believe.He taught me the importance of being able to defend one's doctrinal views with the word of God. He also taught me to love the people and they will love you.
He also was the one who ,baptized me in The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ,He also was the one who taught me to read the bible all the way through.
I also learned alot about playing music from him.

[Amanah]

Brother Joel Velie used to preach at the Pentecostal Lighthouse in Melbourne FL. He preached the Acts 2:38 one God message to me when I was 15 yrs old, and baptized me in Jesus name. (I received the HG at an AoG church when I was 11 prior to this) Bro Velie has gone on to be with the Lord, but his Wife is still with us working for the Lord, and his Son Kevin, who is like a Son to me, is a talented musician serving the Lord.

Pastor McClure taught me what it means to live a Christian life, to pray and fast and seek God, and have a burden for souls. My Mother,Sister, and Son were baptised and filled with the HG under his ministry.

Both these men made a significant impact of my life, I would not be the person I am today if I had not met them.

[Titus2woman]

Funny... not even 24 hours and this thread is almost solidly at the bottom of page one with only 2.5 responses... LOL.

All who cry 'pastor-bashing' when someone tells of a negative experience with pastors have nothing good to say about anyone when given the chance? Really?

Wide open and waiting for your comments!

Last chance to revive this thread and see if anyone will openly give honor.

I will tell you another story... years later...

My husband had just lost his older brother unexpectedly. Since they were hunting/fishing buddies and very close it was a huge blow. After some time when he still could not leave his grief behind we began praying for a friend for him, someone godly with a good heart and some common interests.

A few days later we were out building a patio and along came Bro. Jim riding a horse. He stopped to say hi and we got to talking about horses. At the time our horses were boarded so when he stopped it was not for that reason particularly but really because the Lord had sent him by. You see we found out years later that Bro. Jim had been praying that he be led to someone hungry for God.

We made plans to ride the next weekend and the weekend after. On our rides Bro. Jim talked about the Lord in a way that was more real than anything we'd ever heard, like he was talking about a close friend. When one of us had a problem and mentioned it Bro. Jim asked if we wanted prayer... well to a Baptist that means that at some time later that person, when in prayer, will pray for you too... Not to Bro. Jim... uh-uh... he got down off his horse and on his knees right then and there and began beseeching the Lord for us and encouraged us to do the same. We were shocked and overjoyed!

After a ride one day Bro. Jim suggested that maybe I might like to meet his wife and the wife of another fellow who was riding with us. We all decided to meet at Cracker Barrel. Of course we had talked about where we went to church... us at the local Baptist, Jim at the local Pentecostal, in fact while he was not the pastor there, he was a preacher. They had this thing where they called each other brother all the time, a term we reserved for our pastor. And then there was that praying out loud thing...

Well in walked the denim skirted, bun wearing wives in their Pentecostal uniforms (hehehe) and it was like a light bulb went on. I blurted out loud "OH, You are THAT kind of Pentecostal" (they have never let me live it down to this day, LOL!). And they smiled and then laughed and then sat down to a great time of fun and fellowship. We met their kids and they met ours. They introduced us to the kids as brother and sister and we we felt loved and accepted.

Many months of friendship and fun and dinners and horseback rides and late nights around the campfire singing to the Lord followed. We shared our lives and our stories and Bro. Jim talked with us about Jesus name baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, living separated from the world... and we knew that these sweet Pentecostal people knew God in a way that we did not. In spirit and in truth...

We owe much to Bro. Jim and to all of those who loved us while we were so different then them in our ways. That they were willing to see deep down we loved God but had no idea how to worship him in a way that was pleasing to Him. That they reached for us in love, stepping outside of lives that were complete and comfortable to bring someone else into the safety and rest that is the church.

[Cindy]

I always think about my childhood Pastor, Paul Hosch. Loving, kind, and humble man. And he could be firm, without being hurtful, or unkind. The kind of person you never wanted to displease, or hurt. Because you knew he loved you so much, he always wanted the best for you.

More later......

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Cindy

I always think about my childhood Pastor, Paul Hosch. Loving, kind, and humble man. And he could be firm, without being hurtful, or unkind. The kind of person you never wanted to displease, or hurt. Because you knew he loved you so much, he always wanted the best for you.

More later......

Can't wait to hear it. Just those few sentences to me epitomize a great person, pastor, parent, grandparent, mentor, teacher, boss. And those people are rare among us but I have met one or two and can think I will like your story.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Cindy

I always think about my childhood Pastor, Paul Hosch. Loving, kind, and humble man. And he could be firm, without being hurtful, or unkind. The kind of person you never wanted to displease, or hurt. Because you knew he loved you so much, he always wanted the best for you.

More later......

Cindy,

You brought back sweet memories of Bro. Paul Hosch. Dad had just began a work in our small town. Didn't have license yet, and so we asked Bro. Hosch if he would marry us. He came out to Garland,Tx and married us in my cousin's back yard. We had a lovely garden wedding, flowers blooming, etc. etc. Simple, yet sweet! July 11, 1959. 52 1/2 yrs ago.

Bro. Paul Hosch and my late father were close friends for many yrs. A dear, precious man of God!

Falla39

[RandyWayne]

One of the nicest ministers I have ever known was our old Catholic priest.