A Tribute to My Friend - The Lord’s Servant, Charles McElveen
I first met Charles in July 1961. That’s the year my father became Pastor of Salem Primitive Baptist Church and our family moved back to Wayne County. I do not remember the first time Charles and I met, but over the years our families became close and we shared many memories.
Because a three-year age difference is huge when you are young, Charles and I were not close friends in those early years. Screven, however, was a small and close community and our parents were good friends so consequently Charles and I spent much time together. We grew up in the same church and as we grew older we worked together on the Chris Nichols’ farm.
Our friendship radically changed in the Spring of 1979 as only weeks apart, God by His marvelous grace saved us. Two very unlikely candidates, God made us both trophies of His grace and called us into the Gospel ministry. Both of us could truly testify with John Newton,
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found: Was blind but now I see.
After our conversions Charles and I spent time together reading, studying and learning theology. We both were young and a bit too zealous. For two young men who didn’t know much, we thought we did and at times we both were overbearing. In His providence, God set out feet on different paths that would geographically separate us, but grow us in the Lord and eventually bring us to the same shores of doctrine and service.
In an unprecedented move, Salem Church agreed to financially support Charles and make it possible for him to attend Trinity Ministerial Academy in New Jersey. Although we remained lifelong friends, at this point our paths diverged. Charles moved north, attended seminary, married Fran, began a family and labored in the ministry. Gail and I were already married and I stayed in Wayne County, continued working at Rayonier, started a family and eventually became the Pastor of Culloden Primitive Baptist Church. Something interesting happened however and although our paths diverged our theological persuasions and desires for Christ’s kingdom were mirroring one another.
Because of the gifts of intellect and thought God gave Charles, he grew in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and ran ahead of me in learning and understanding, a difference I never made up. Although separated by years, miles, context, abilities and experiences, we eventually ended up with the same theological and ecclesiastical convictions and desires. Then, after more than two decades apart, by God’s grace, we were once more reunited geographically and as yoke brothers in the ministry.
Charles was my friend. He was a reliable and sound counselor and during the troubled waters of the division we passed through, he was an encourager and support. Charles was both a scholar and pastor. He was as able as any teacher I’ve ever known to take a deep and complicated doctrine and teach it in a plain and understandable way; a mark of a gifted, knowledgeable, able and humble teacher. Charles taught as he lived, with enthusiasm, and an intensity of conviction and love for Christ. Charles was gifted in prayer. Oh, how I loved to hear him pray. His voice filled the room as zeal and love for the Lord filled his mind & heart.
Charles had a great desire to retire or take another job which would allow him to be more engaged in the life and ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church. He often spoke of how much he wanted to be able to engage in the work of EBC in a more dedicated manner. However, he was not to know such retirement and engagement in this life. Sickness came and stole his energy, his presence and gift from EBC and my friend from me. Our sorrow and loss are truly his gain. For he is in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ whom he loved and confessed.
An often repeated phrase to describe death in the Old Testament is, “(he) was gathered to his people” (Gen 25:8, 17, 35:29, 49:33; Nu 20:24, 27:12-13). A question often asked is, “Will we know one another in heaven?” The puritan Thomas Watson answering that inquiry said, “Surely, our knowledge will not be diminished, but increased . . . we shall know one another; yea, the saints of all ages, whose faces we never saw; and, when we shall see the saints in glory without their infirmities of pride and passion, it will be a glorious sight.”
As I said at the grave side of my friend, the Lord’s servant Charles McElveen, “Once again our paths diverge. Again he has outpaced me and runs ahead! However, I fully expect one day that our paths, experiences and lives to merge again. Again, we will enjoy each other’s fellowship and learning more about our Lord, enjoy His fellowship forever.” |
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