During this time of leadership transition at our school, I have been relocating my library and other materials to my home, where I will establish my office. In this process, I have gone through several filing cabinets of materials determining what to relocate, what to discard, and what needs to stay on campus. In these files are materials from 14 years of teaching on campus, 24 years of pastoral ministry, and seven years of work as editor of the Baptist Bible Tribune. Needless to say, this process has awakened a multitude of memories.

Materials from the pastor who led me to Christ
I reviewed some correspondence from my home pastor, Ken Bowen, and his wife, Olive, from back in the early 1960s. Pastor Bowen led me to Christ when I was 18 years of age. He was a Kansas native and pastored several churches in that state before becoming pastor of Bible Baptist Church in my hometown of Vallejo, California. After I accepted Christ, he actively discipled me and taught me Biblical doctrine. I surrendered to preach the gospel under his ministry. He is the one who directed me to attend Baptist Bible College. Among the files, I also found notes from the message I preached at his funeral in 1980. From 2 Timothy 4:7-8, I said he "fought his conflicts, finished his course, followed his convictions, and found his crown."

Pastor Bowen's instructions on leadership
I took a step back in time when I read a letter he wrote me during my second year at BBC. I became a young Timothy again as Pastor Bowen shared some ideas on leadership.

A shepherd must learn to lead. He does not drive. The Eastern shepherds always lead their sheep. One day a man was seen driving sheep. They asked him, "Are these your sheep?" He said, "Yes, they are my sheep." They said, "Why do you drive your sheep when all the other shepherds lead theirs?" "Shepherd! I'm not a shepherd," he said, "I'm the butcher." People don't go as fast when they are being led, but if the shepherd has led them right, they keep on going in the way when the shepherd is not there. You and I must always remember that people are more important than projects. We must remember that it was not the distance covered by the shepherd, not how much fine grass the sheep went through, but what was the condition of the sheep. If you ever have a project and the people you are directing begin to bicker and rebel, this is a sign they are either hungry or sick. Stop the project and feed them with love and honest appreciation. Make them lie down by the still water of intercessory prayer (not objective prayer). Show them the abundant table of promises God has set before them. Tell them of heaven where we shall dwell with the Lord. Don't drive them, but let them follow in the right paths. Let them know they are more important than your project. If you will remember all this, the sheep God has given you will not be afraid even though death's dark shadow hangs over them. Don't be too disappointed if your sheep do not keep up — if they do not meet your goals. Remember, first they are the Great Shepherd's sheep, not yours. Second, He will look at his sheep, not your goals. He said to Peter, "Feed my sheep."

Continuing a blessed heritage
What a blessed heritage I have in a godly pastor like Ken Bowen who helped direct my early Christian life, along with his godly wife. His words are still good advice for every pastor, parent, and Christian leader. I am grateful to him and to all who influenced me to serve the Lord. I am also grateful for those who allowed me the privilege to serve in various positions in New Testament Baptist churches, our school, and Fellowship. As I move away from leadership of Baptist Bible College and Graduate School, I look forward to new opportunities to serve. It's part of our duty to make a blessed heritage for the next generation.