Richard Hall*

For several years now, a group of 10 or 12 men have met on Tuesday mornings to discuss a book that we are working through as a group. The current one is “The Life God Blesses,” by Gordon MacDonald. Richard has been a faithful member of this group, never missing a meeting. The book we read just before this one was “The Measure of a Man,” by Gene Getz. It was a study of the Biblical pattern of a godly man, focusing on passages such as Titus, chapter 2, where Paul says that the aged men in the church ought to be “sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” (Titus 2:2)

As most of you know, Richard was by nature a quiet person. So, in our group discussions on Tuesday mornings, he would seldom chime in with an opinion or an observation. He was alert and plugged in to our discussion; but it was obvious that there were times when he just did not feel well. But, though I would never have done such a thing, I would dare to say that if I had asked the men to write on a piece of paper the name of the man in our group who most exemplified those character qualities listed by Paul in Titus 2 (sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, charity, patience) Richard Hall’s name would have appeared on not a few of the responses. He lived out the Titus 2 man. He showed us in this 21^st century what the man Paul had in mind looks like today.

Sober: of a sound mind. Richard submitted himself to the systematic teaching of God’s Word, week in and week out. He seldom missed an opportunity to attend a service at Thompson Road Baptist Church after the day he confessed Christ publicly in baptism—joining the church one week after Easter, April 6, 1975, at the age of 35, having accepted Christ on March 5, 1975. For most of the past 49 years, I have had the opportunity of serving the Halls, Barb and Richard, as their pastor. As a couple, they have walked the walk, living exemplary lives as true-blue believers in this upside-down world. They have been faithful, consistent, surely sober-minded—not running after any wild tangents, but living, as best they understood the New Testament injunctions to believers, holy lives. I never needed to admonish them about any kind of spiritual concern. A pastor would only dream of having this couple to serve alongside of for decades upon decades. Richard was the head of the home; Barb the supportive and loving wife.

Grave. Worthy of respect; honorable, dignified. One person said, “I have never known a better man than Richard.”

Temperate: Clear-headed; self-controlled; marked by spiritual sobriety; without wine; sane.

Sound in faith: I know of no doctrinal quirks that Richard embraced. Not only was he sound in faith, he manifested his faith by his consistent, Christ-exalting works. For years he showed up at church at 7:30 a.m. to get his church bus ready to roll. Over the years, he picked up untold thousands of boys and girls, plus many adults, to bring them to Sunday School. He drove through streets lined with cars on either side of the bus, with inches on either side to spare, with an extraordinary patience and skill.

Charity. His own family could best testify to the generous love that Richard served up, a love that was genuine and ginormous! He never missed a ballgame that a child or grandchild played in. One family member remembers one of Richard’s birthdays when he got his wish: to provide pizza and games at a local pizza parlor that specialized in both good pizza and good games—all for the kids, especially. His love was infectious.

Patience. As illustrated in his unswerving patience as a church bus driver—sometimes with noisy, rambunctious children, 60 or more on a bus, both picking them up and taking them home after church and/or Bible-school. He was a perfect picture of patience.

Don’t get me wrong. I know Richard was not without flaws; I just can’t think of even one, to be quite honest. And, I have never heard anyone else mention one either. But we know he had some struggles with his old nature, as do we all. He just learned how to manage them and, I am confident, how to yield to the Holy Spirit in living the Christian life.

His children and grandchildren adore him. His friends respect him. His pastors thank God for him. His wife loved him and steadfastly walked by his side, day by day, through hard times as well as good times.

Each of us is richer for having known Richard Hall, and for having been the recipients of his kindness. He has left a mark on our lives and a memory in our minds that will never be erased.

As his former pastor, his friend, and his fellow pilgrim, my heart is full of deep gratitude that when I preached my first sermon at Thompson Road Baptist Church on Sept. 9, 1979, Richard and Barb Hall were sitting on the west side of the main auditorium, about 2/3 of the way back. Just where they had been when Pastor Moritz, and before him Pastor Julian, had opened up God’s Word to preach, Sunday after Sunday. The Halls were very seldom missing from their place. When they were, it was most often to visit their family in Evansville.

I hope it does not come across as trite, for I truly mean it: “May God increase their tribe.”

“I thank God…that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.” (2 Tim.1:3)

*Richard quietly and peacefully walked with God and was not, May 20, 2024, at the age of 83.