Showing posts with label Bill Solesbee. Show all posts

As I introduced this series last week, I introduced my ultimate hero—Jesus Christ. As I prepare to close this Passion Week study of heroes, I’d like to introduce you to two gentlemen, two mentors, two friends, who were examples, colleagues, and friends all rolled into one.

C. T. Perkins was a retired preacher when I met him. He came to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church as Interim Pastor shortly after I became the music director there. C.T. was one of those old-time preachers who believed that the Bible was the place to find the answers to all our questions. He believed in education—as evident in the fact that he met his wife, Mary, when they were both students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He loved the church—evident in his active participation in his own local church whenever he was not serving as a supply preacher, revivalist, or interim pastor during his 30-something years of retirement (following a lengthy career as a local church pastor). He loved people—exemplified in his down-home humor that found its way into sermons and conversations alike. He loved Jesus. I recall the last visit I had with C.T. before he died. He wore a belt around his chest keeping one arm tied to his side. He told me that it helped keep him from raising that arm and causing problems with the pacemaker that kept his heart going. Then he said, “You know, I did something the other day that I’ve never done before.” In answer when I asked what that was, C.T. replied, “I preached on my 84th birthday!”

W.A. “Bill” Solesbee was the pastor with whom I worked during my seminary days. I have often lamented that Bill was not the finest of orators. His sermon delivery style was more of a stroll down the garden path with many stops and side trips along the way. At the same time, he was one of the most Christian believer I think I have ever had the privilege of encountering—and I got to work closely with him for two years. Bill loved people, he loved the Bible, he loved the Lord, and he loved being the pastor of Edgemont Park Baptist Church. Bro. Bill (as he was affectionately known) had spent many years on the mission field in the Philippines, and then returned to the USA where he spent 20 years in the pulpit of EPBC. Of all the witnesses I know, none has been so natural at sharing Jesus and the Gospel message in a simple conversation as Bill. He saw the world through the eyes of Jesus. He constantly, genuinely opened his faith to a world that needed Jesus in a way that could never be described as pushy or preachy, but presented in sincere love.

These are heroes that I would love to emulate. Who are yours? Share your story.

There is a fascinating new show on TV that has just finished its first season. The show is called Heroes and is about people who seem ordinary but have extraordinary abilities. In life we need heroes. Not the superhero types that abound in comic books (excuse me, graphic novels), but the real life, everyday, simple people who do things way beyond the normal.

Looking through the Bible we have heroes of our faith--men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; prophets such as Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Elijah; and faithful leaders we remember as Paul, Peter, and John.

One of my heroes died this week. W.A. "Bill" Solesbee died on Tuesday, but his legacy is sure. This simple preacher and former missionary was a man whose influence will be felt for years, and throughout the world. Bro. Bill (as he was affectionately known) was one of the first pastors that I had the privelege of serving with. He was a man of faith and little more. He lived what he said, and was concerned for every person he encountered.

I recall being with him as he stopped in to the convenience store for a gallon of milk. He shared his smile and his faith with the attendant without distracting her from her job or allowing her to misuse her boss' time. Once I visited Bill in his home long after our ministries took us in separate directions. He had been "retired" for several years. his ailing wife was at Death's doorstep. He shared with me that he had been concerned that he was no longer of any use to the Kingdom any more. Those who knew Bill will know how wrong he had been. He had even prayed that unless God had more work for him, he could go ahead and die to cease to be a burden to his loved ones. In the next two weeks, the Lord opened Bill's eyes to no fewer than eleven people with whom he had been able to share his faith, with several accepting Christ as their personal savior and others rededicating their lives to God. "I guess," he told me, "that God is still working through me."

I pray that everyone has a mentor like Bill Solesbee. I pray that I may be such an influence on some who walk and work alongside of me.

Do you have heroes? What makes them heroes? For me, Bill Solesbee is a hero because of the extraordinary way he lived his ordinary life.