Retired Pastor and Missionary Celebration

Several years ago, God placed on my heart the importance of honoring those that have fought the good fight and finished their course regarding full-time vocational ministry. There are hundreds of pastors, staff, and missionaries that long to stay connected, but there has never been an organized effort to do so. I talked to my pastor at Temple Baptist Church, Keith Buttram, and Randy Harp at the BBFI Communication Office about what could be done. My burden was highlighted in the following passage from Ecclesiastes …

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 (KJV) 

Remember Those Who Have Given So Much

We put together a team to help organize a time to remember and honor retired pastors and missionaries. The team consisted of myself, Keith Buttram, Randy Harp, Jim Goodman, Keith Gillming, Mark Milioni, and Steve Bender. During the Annual Fellowship Meeting hosted at Park Crest Baptist Church, we had a panel discussion that was informative and helpful. The panel consisted of Mike Randall, Keith Gillming, Jim Goodman, and me.

Following the meeting at Park Crest, over 40 retired pastors and missionaries gathered for lunch in the Presidential Dining Hall inside the BBC Cafeteria. This was a gathering of men and women whom Paul classified as “those who turned the world upside down have come here.” The food was fit for a king. The respect and gratitude shown by all was humbling and encouraging. We enjoyed a time of singing and were challenged by a message from Keith Gillming. Everyone in attendance received some sort of door prize thanks to the many churches that donated to support this event. This was a great time of nostalgia as we met, ate, fellowshipped, and joined in on singing and preaching. I was reminded from Ecclesiastes 9:15 that we should never forget and always call to remembrance those who have given so much. 

Lessons Learned

I was reminded of a couple of different lessons during this event. First, there are no self-made men. Each of us is standing on someone else’s shoulders. I am often reminded of the turtle on top of a fence post. One thing you know about that turtle is that he didn’t get there on his own. We can all relate to that turtle. Not only are we standing on someone else’s shoulders, but we are all dependent on each other to do what we can’t do alone. Even in retirement, possibly even more so in retirement, we need each other. A final lesson I learned I learned while working with the team that helped organize this special event. You don’t lead leaders; you simply organize them, and they will do the rest. Leaders are made to lead, and pastors and missionaries are leaders. This may be something our Fellowship might have missed along the way.

Where to From Here

We enjoyed such fellowship, joy, laughter, giving of gifts, singing together, and food that we felt like we met a desperate need. As a result, we hope to repeat this event. We are still working through plans but hope to be able to announce something soon, possibly at BBC’s Fellowship Week in May 2023.

Thanks to our Lord and all who had a part in this most important task of remembering those on whose shoulders we stand.