pastor: "a spiritual overseer; a shepherd"
over the course of my life, I have had contact with a whole bunch of fantastic ministers, clergymen, and preachers. However, i only consider myself to have had 4 "pastors":
Rich C.
Roger S.
BG N.
Wayne K.
Today, one of those 4 was called home to heaven.
The first time we met BG was back in 1996, when Corrie and I drove up from EIU to attend a concert at the old Glad Tidings facility on Airport Road.
we were greatly impressed by the warm welcome and friendly atmosphere. so much so, that when we got married and moved to Decatur, we made GT our church home.
Over the next 12+ years, I have so many memories of being taught by, ministered to, and serving alongside BG:
- working with him on the church's website, including taking some of his ideas for the site from vision to reality
- meeting with him and being asked to serve on the Advisory Board for Little People's Prep School
- taking photos at numerous Fathers Day car shows and church events
- taking in his Sunday morning messages thru the viewfinder of the camera I was manning
- him singing during performances of "The Greatest Story Ever Told" at Easter time
- being shocked and amazed by the vehicles, equipment, props, and animals that would appear on-stage for message illustrations
- taking pictures at Blessing of the Bikes the year it was at Cozaihr's pre-ToysRUs location and BG talked to everyone standing on the roof
- his visit to the hospital when Corrie was laid up for a little while
- Farm Progress Show food stand; BG helping run the grill
- his fascination with the strawberry sweater outfit that we'd have our daughter dressed in
- serving on the Deacon team and buying a K-Mart (what an amazing opportunity that was)
- working with BG and the team that popped-up a gazillion floor tiles from the previously mentioned K-Mart
- he and Brenda laying hands on all 3 of our girls for baby dedication events
- crying backstage with him the Sunday morning that his beautiful daughter passed away
- giving each other a mutual nod as his vehicle pulled out of the GT parking lot while I had traffic on Airport Road stopped for Missie's funeral procession
- serving on the parking lot team; having great conversations with him late on cold winter nights
- his contageous smile and encouraging attitude
- his heart for others
i just saw BG this past Thursday evening. i was headed west on Eldorado, when the Harley with "REVBG" plates zoomed past me. he was in his element.... on his bike, whipping thru traffic, the roar of his engine announcing his presence. as i turned off Eldorado towards CVS and Fairview Park, the last glimpse i caught of him was as he rolled "into the sunset" across the Fairview Avenue bridge, motoring westward on 36.
BG, the legacy you have left in your family, in this community, and in this world is a remarkable, worthy, and rich one. i praise God that our paths crossed and that i have all the memories above to carry with me forward in life.
"Always Build Up and Never Tear Down.... Always Encourage and Never Ever Discourage" (B.G. Nevitt)
Matt
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