FOUR SHEPHERDS
by Ed Rosenberry
As everybody knows “Pastor Appreciation Month” is October, right? Did you know that this national and even world-wide celebration began in 1993, making this the 15th year? I trust that churches across our fellowship are in the midst of this month long recognition. If you’re looking for more information or ideas, try contacting Focus on the Family Ministries on the web. At any rate I want to express my personal appreciation for the pastors across the Churches of God who faithfully minister every day, week and month of the year for years on end. We’re talking about a committed group of men and women who deserve our faithful prayers and loving support year round, but especially during this month …so they may know we care.
I particularly want to lift up four men who, in the course of the past half century, have meant so much to us all. I’m referring to our four former CGGC shepherds. I have had the privilege of knowing and working with each of them and as you know, if you know them at all, they each have dedicated their lives to the Lord’s work and touching lives for Christ. They will no doubt be embarrassed to be singled out, but I want to encourage the body of believers everywhere reading this email to express appreciation for these four shepherds. Each of them continues in ministry to this day in different fields, but we in the CGGC owe them a great spiritual debt for their ministry to us all. See below for contact information.
Dick Wilkin and I first met in 1981 at General Conference that year. For some unknown reason (providence perhaps?) the delegates elected me to the administrative council. I was a young buck, still quite wet behind the ears, as they say. For the next triennium, I had the honor to learn from Dick’s gentle leadership style. What a gracious man of God! Dick was ordained in 1953 and served the local church (Anthony Wayne in MRC; Wharton and Neptune in GLRC) before accepting the call to serve as our first executive director in 1970. He gave heart and soul to the work for seventeen years before retiring in 1987. In 1981, under his administration we completed construction of the Center for Christian Ministries on East Melrose Avenue in Findlay where our world offices are located today. Dick has continued to serve his Lord and the church as an elder at College First Church and as a trustee at The University of Findlay, among other duties. God bless you, Dick!
Bill Reist and I go back a long way! One very hot June evening in 1976 the (then) East Pennsylvania Conference ordained the two of us along with several others to the gospel ministry. From that crucible night until now, our paths in ministry have intertwined like forged iron. He served as our CGGC executive director from 1987 to 1991. I can’t begin to tell you the committees, commissions and councils on which we’ve worked together over the years. They are legion! In every case without exception Bill brought a 100% plus dedication and insightful leadership. College First is not only privileged to have him as their senior pastor, they are blessed. I will admit I am not unbiased, but you can ask the church leaders wherever Bill has served (Marysville, Elizabethtown and Middletown in ERC and Winebrenner Seminary). During Bill’s time at the CGGC office we began a journey of denominational revitalization asking ourselves tough questions about ministry outcomes that continue to drive us. God bless you, Bill!
Dave Draper acted as our interim executive director from 1992 to 1994. My first experiences with Dave date to the early 1980s when Linda and I helped with Family Camp at Doubling Gap Center. Dave and his Linda also served as vesper/Bible leaders. An instant and long term friendship formed, too much to tell here now. Dave’s life-long commitment is to education. He studied to be a teacher, but early on after graduation from college felt a call to ministry. He pastored our Pleasantville congregation in Maryland before coming to Winebrenner Seminary, and as a student pastor served the Mt. Pleasant congregation (GLRC) being ordained in 1978. In 1979 he accepted a call as editor of The Church Advocate and three years later went on staff at Winebrenner. When George Weaver of blessed memory retired in 1988, Dave became president of the Seminary in which capacity he continues to serve. We have all benefited from Dave’s ministry and will continue to do so for years to come. The new Winebrenner Seminary facility stands in tribute to his ongoing vision and leadership, not to mention every student who matriculates there. God bless you, Dave!
Wayne Boyer and I first met each other in 1991 when he interviewed with the Church Vocations commission before going to our Central Manor congregation (ERC). At that time Wayne was new to the CGGC having served several independent congregations (Immanuel in MN, Bethel in IL and Faircreek in OH) and needed to take a course on CGGC doctrine and polity. Guess who the teacher turned out to be? You guessed it! In the class I felt I really got to know Wayne. I found in him a genuine love for Jesus and the Word as well as a sincere desire to serve the Church. Wayne was originally ordained in 1969, but received CGGC ordination in 1994. It was shortly after this that Wayne became the new CGGC executive director and I became the conference minister for the East PA Conference (now ERC). Over the next thirteen years we served together in our respective roles and I got to see Wayne in many different contexts. Never did I discover anything other than what I found in him when we first met. This man is a true servant of our Lord. Even now (in retirement?) he’s pastoring our Living Faith (ERC) congregation. God bless you Wayne!
Wayne Boyer Shooting the Rapids (front center)
I’m hoping that you may take the opportunity to thank any one or all of these men for their faithful service to us in the Churches of God. What follows is their contact information for your convenience.
Dr. Richard E. Wilkin
rwilkin@woh.rr.com
(419) 423-6977
Dr. William H. Reist
wreist@collegefirst.org
(419) 422-7365
Dr. David E. Draper
president@winebrenner.edu
(419) 434-4200
Dr. Wayne W. Boyer
wayne@livingfaithweb.com
(717) 290-7130
