The “You and God” blog of August 7 was entitled “My Heroes,” featuring a couple of men who impacted my life through their consistently faithful ministries. One of those was my father-in-law, Marvin Beshears, who pastored in North Wilkesboro, NC, for fifty years, and, who, though he had no opportunity to receive a “formal” education, knew the power of God upon his life in an extraordinary way—so much so that he “commanded” the respect of all who knew him or knew of him as being a real-life “man of God.” Upon reading this post, a pastor friend of mine, Dave Stertzbach, wrote to me sharing his experience as a young man in training for the ministry when he met such a man as Bro. Marvin. I want to pass this letter along, with Bro. Dave’s permission, believing that it will be a blessing to you as it was to me, with the thought that a ministry for Christ that will touch hearts has more to do with “Who you are” than” What you have.” Thank you, pastor Stertzbach, for sharing.
This hero’s article was particularly delightful to my soul. Thank you so much. I cherish it because of your love for Dr. Parker and your beloved father-in-law. It reminds me of one such hero of the faith that I met in the hills of Tennessee when I was a seminarian. It had a lifetime impact upon me.
Diane and I were newlyweds. She was finishing her senior year at BJU and, as a married student, I was doing my first year of seminary at BJU and working an almost full-time job. Diane wanted to go to Sparta, Tennessee, to see her great aunt, Lois Hutson, who lived in Happy Valley. Upon arriving there, Aunt Lois had cold sweet tea waiting for us and a warm welcome to her favorite great-niece. It was my first acquaintance with Diane’s cherished aunt, and she readily accepted me into the family, for which I was especially grateful!
Aunt Lois announced that she was going to church that night at her Southern Baptist church up on the mountain. Bro. Pate Ford was the itinerant preacher who was speaking that night. She offered to take us along, which we readily agreed to do. I had graduated from BJU with a B.A. in Bible and was now studying to get my master’s degree. I was pretty impressed with myself in those days and thought I knew a lot about the Bible, but that night was going to change me forever.
I briefly met the preacher before the service and Aunt Lois introduced me as, “This is my great-niece and her husband, David. He is in seminary at that Bob Jones University in Greenville.” I noticed that Bro. Ford was very cordial to this upstart young seminarian. And I viewed him as “just a country preacher” because of his simple vocabulary, his plain, out-of-style dress, and his soft-spoken demeanor. Then … he mounted the pulpit to preach, and everything in my mind and heart changed! He delivered a soul-stirring message from the Hand of God that was anointed by the Holy Spirit in a way I had rarely ever seen. His speech was plain and without the accoutrements of big theological terminology. His illustrations were folksy and heart-touching. And his exposition of the Scriptures was illuminating to the mind, heart, and soul. That night, I heard a true man of God preach the Word. He was a country preacher, but my respect for him was transformational indeed.
After the service, I was eager to shake hands with this new acquaintance. As I now warmly greeted him, I was anxious to know more about him, because he was obviously filled with the fresh oil of God. Since academia was so important to me in those days, I asked where he went to school. He already knew where I was, but this humble man of God lowered his head and said, “Bro. David, I only went to Caney Forks Preacher’s School for six weeks. I learnt the rest by just studying the Bible & letting God teach me everything else. I ain’t never really been to a college or anything.”
It was obvious that I was standing in the shadow of man who was taught by God, which was evident by the powerful preaching I had just heard. I was so ashamed of my pride and judgmental attitude that I went home and got on my knees, repenting of my pride and surrendering to God to be taught of Him like my new hero in the faith.
I never saw or talked to him again, yet he had a great impact upon me for the rest of my life. And I wanted to emulate his humble obedience to be a servant of the Lord. I went on to be pastor for 48 years, but after that day I took on a new moniker. I was thereafter “the Country Parson,” with a desire to only please the Lord, serve Him and His people, and to glorify the Lord like Bro. Pate Ford.
So, my brother Slutz, you had your father-in-law, and I had Bro. Pate. Praise the Lord for the spiritual influencers that God sent our ways and used in such life-altering ways, in both of our lives! We are rich men indeed for such treasured servants in our past!
“Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men…not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God….” (2 Cor.3:2,3)
Note: Pastor Stertzbach (david.stertzbach@gmail.com) is retired from senior pastoring and is now affiliated with the Interim Pastors Ministry of Gospel Fellowship Association, Greenville, SC, Dr. Marsh Fant, Director. (mfant@gfamissions.org)
YOU and GOD 