By Rex Bell
Yes, I have learned some new words this last month, and, in the interest of full disclosure, I already knew the words but never applied them to myself. I used to be referred to as “senior.” I received my discounts at Village Inn, received AARP Magazine, and generally behaved myself. But now I understand I am “chronologically disadvantaged,” how about that! Interesting! Perhaps the most damaging to my ego is the term: “aging out.” Life is fun, laughter is certainly good medicine, and God is abundant in His blessings.
You might think this little essay is about me having a pity party. It is not. It reflects an older pastor looking over his shoulder, praising God profoundly for His blessings and attempting to share his thoughts with those who he has served and loved and invite others to enjoy a life of service as well.
Dreams and prayers do become reality. Ginger Oster and I shared, prayed, and planned together at Campion Academy way back in 1964. Our plans and prayers were answered as we married in 1966 and began ministry in 1970 after returning from the seminary to our beloved Colorado. Oh, how we cherish the memory of our first district, Holyoke, Julesburg, and Wray. For a while Yuma also became a part of our lives.
Our Conference President, Elder and Mrs. Reed spent a Sabbath with us much to our joy. I will always remember his cherished letters and his comment: “You are so far away from the office that bad news is old news by the time it reaches us.” There is much wisdom in allowing young in ministry to begin their careers a long way from the “office.” I sometimes find the graves of our dear members out there and shed tears and prayers of memories and praise. They loved and trained us, and we will always hold these dear saints in our hearts.
We spent too short of a time at our next district, Fruita and Palisade. There was a great youth group in that district.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, Ginger became “Angel” to those who she ministered to, especially me. It was in Little Rock that we became a team in pastoring. One day, someone called and asked, “What time is prayer meeting?” It is the same time as it has been for years, but to elevate the question to its importance, I simply asked Ginger, “Angel, what time is prayer meeting?” The person calling said, “Wow, he has an angel working in his office!” The name “Angel” stuck and, to so many of us, that is who she is. Life is so good and fun in serving God and His people.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, became our next home and great beloved place. We built the church and school there. The beauty of the mesa, the sunsets, and who will ever forget the balloon festivals! The New Mexico culture is truly captivating. We really enjoyed our service in New Mexico; the warmth and hospitality are forever cherished!
We had a lot of fun in New Mexico and west Texas. After pastoring the church, I was asked to visit every member in the conference and raise funds to get Sandie View Academy in Corrales, New Mexico, out of debt. Oh, what a joy! So many stories could be shared. I would leave our home on Thursday and return Sunday night carrying treasurers such as gold teeth (really), doll collections, land deeds, and lots of “stuff.”
God, as always, is and was good. Ed Stacey, our conference treasurer, was and is such a God-led man. We rejoiced together at the next constituency meeting as God’s people sang “To God be the Glory.”
Keene, Texas, was our next destination of service. How very much we enjoyed being a part of our son and daughter’s lives in academy and early college. Our son Randy and I raised and sold bird dogs in Keene. Ginger worked as the executive secretary and accountant at the Adventist Book Center. Again, by God’s blessings, we were able to get the children through school. Good memories.
God has many lessons for His servants and pastors are surely one of his servants. At a stormy constituency meeting, all three officers were released. Since I was the vice-president for administration, I was one of the three released. For a while (a short time of prayer and soul searching) after turning down several calls, we asked God for a church to love and grow and Brighton, Colorado, became our place of service for 23 years!
Wow, that is a long time to inflict yourself on God’s people! We truly are grateful for the Brighton Church and the Rocky Mountain Conference for such a long-term ministry. We loved Brighton so much that we still live there! The elders and school board chairman, how we worked together with the God-led principals and teachers. I wish I could list all these dear ones, but due to time and space, to say nothing about my probability to forget one or two, let me just simply say again that God is so good, all the time and in all places.
Just a note to Dennis and Stephanie Reed when we moved into our home in Brighton, thank you for not calling the realtor when you discovered your new neighbor was the new pastor. Your family is family to us; may it be so in Heaven.
Ginger worked in the Brighton Church office for 22 of the 23 years. During this time, she was asked by the Conference to serve as Women’s Ministries Director and did so for 11 years. What a fun and spiritually rewarding experiences she had! Retreats, events, and meetings—all filled her life with God’s people. We both praise God for using her in His work.
I became a part of the Brighton community, serving two terms on City Council. The church and school became a center in the city. Many members of the church became main influences in the community, and, finally, upon my term limit and “aging out” (there is that new word again), our congressman read into the Congressional Record a Recognition of Service. Is God good? Yes! What joy Ginger and I have shared in serving God and His people.
The story continues! In 2012, after 42 years, we “retired.” Are you kidding! We still are having fun, working, praying, and loving God’s people. Thank you, thank you to the Rocky Mountain Conference for allowing us to remain in service to the people and churches we love so very much.
We currently have the privilege to pastor the Estes Park-Eden Valley district. Can you imagine the joy of going to Estes Park, Colorado, every other Sabbath? The animals grazing on the church lawn in front of the church sign and the motorists stopping to watch them being reminded that the seventh day is Sabbath as well!
I am reminded of that young couple, too young, dreaming and praying as well as planning for a life of service. Graduating from Campion, going to Union College (now Union Adventist University!), on to the Seminary and then returning to their home conference.
Yes, they were afraid, nervous, and not at all self-assured yet they knew God was beside them. Sometimes they, Ginger and I, live in the past, remembering when, wishing that we could run as fast (or at all) again. We check the calendar to see when our next doctor’s appointment is before we commit to a church appointment or request. We laugh at ourselves and quite honestly sometimes we do live in the past. However, we do pray now that we don’t live in the has-been but, even now, plan for the future.
Dear ones, let this young couple who are aged out and disadvantaged, carrying the recent issue of AARP, assure you that God is good. He is beside you. He still answers your prayers and knows your hearts. God is not only good, but He is also Great!
We love God and our church and would do it all over again—join us, will you? There is a place and room for you.
—Rex Bell is head pastor of the Estes Park and Eden Valley Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Photo by Liz Kirkland via Adobe Firefly.
