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As one lives life they become molded and shaped by the circumstances and the people they come into contact with. The end result of any individual life is the culmination of the impact that those circumstances and people have made upon them. One of the greatest privileges of my life was to have been influenced by Bro. Oggs early in my walk with God and my ministry.
When I went to JCM in 1981 it was his first year as Executive VP. It only took 5 minutes on campus to realize he had brought a drastic change to the school. Whether it was all good or bad will be left to the opinion of those who were there before, during and after. For me, who had only been in the church a little over a year, the man was an incredible influence from my freshman year all the way through my senior year.
From the classroom to cafeteria, from U.M.A. engagements to chapel services, from personal interaction to overseeing the entire student body, the man was constantly teaching. His lessons began long before he stepped onto the campus and will endure for years to come.
Like every instructor I had, some of his classes I enjoyed and others I did not. But I owe a debt of gratitude to Bro. Oggs for the classroom influence he made while teaching Homiletics. A Master orator and pulpiteer, in spite of handicap, was instructing novices in the fine art of preaching. There are countless preachers some 20 years removed from that class that owe a good bit of their success in the pulpit to his taking the time with us. Some things are taught and others are caught. He taught the principles and many caught his passion for the pulpit.
I could spend a good portion of time sharing the humorous stories: The day he had his finger broken by a student while playing Roman Knuckles with him; a major faux pas in Acts class that left us rolling on the floor; making T. Newstrand his personal assistant as punishment for some infraction; eating a meal with him and being scared to death he was going to put out his eye with his fork; the memorable time that W. Goodine went to the organ during a rather lengthy Music Conference message to try and speed it's close to abruptly be told by Bro Oggs "Get away from there! I didn't call for you yet"; knwoing you were in deep trouble if you recevied a letter that started with "Greeting In Jesus Name..."; the times catch guys going into chapel and send them away because their hair was too long; the time he was at a special dinner in the cafeteria and kept wiping a film off of his glasses all the while not realizing he was sitting right beneath the automated air freshener; and countless others, some which could be shared here and some which should never be shared here, but will always be fond memories for those who knew him.
It was sad to hear of his passing. Sadder still was to see him over the last few years as time began to really take it's toll. Perhaps it is the arrival at middle age that causes nostalgia to set in and make one introspective, especially when one who has been a part of their life goes onto their reward.
Tim, your thoughts were so well written and so on the mark that I hesitated to post. In fact, I have contemplated over the last few days whether to post anything or not. Words can ring hollow and thoughts seem so shallow. But the longer I live and the more folks that pass on the more I think needs to be said.
Life is indeed a vapor that is here and then it is gone. But if the substance that created that vapor is seasoned with the things of God then the aroma and essence live long after the human life ceases. The vapor that was Allan Oggs is passed on by Pastors, teachers, preacher's wives, missionaries and all types of ministers who had the privilege of soaking in the substance and now passing it on to the next generation.
May the reflections of those whom he touched, both individuals and the organization, always find a place of deep respect and gratitude for Allan Oggs.
Bro. Oggs, thank you for sharing your heart and your hurt, your joys and your sorrows, your resolve and your passion with me. You will never know the impact you had on me. My only regret is that I never took the time to really express that gratitude to you as I reached the age and maturity to really understand what all you did for this preacher. Even in death you are teaching me once again. I have few letters that need to be written and calls that need to be made before the vapors fade...
Godspeed, until then.
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