Elmer Harrell
APRIL
20, 1908 - APRIL
23, 1988
For forty-six years
Elmer Harrell walked in the path of faith. On April 23,
1988 his
pilgrimage ended. He died in faith, "Looking unto Jesus." Only a year
or two after his conversion, Elmer was ordained as a deacon in the Lookout Baptist Church, Lookout, WV. He faithfully served the
cause of Christ in that assembly until the Lord called him up to glory, under
ten different pastors. It was my privilege to serve as his pastor for nine
years. I was twenty-one and Elmer was sixty-four when our blessed relationship
began. How often his words of encouragement kept me going, when I was cast
down. How many times he gently and wisely rebuked me and helped to temper my
youthful zeal with wisdom. Yet, he ever held his pastor in highest honor,
willingly and anxiously sat before him to be instructed in the gospel and
worship of Christ, and followed his pastor's direction in the service of Christ
and his kingdom. In a word, Elmer Harrell loved (LOVES!) the Lord Jesus Christ,
the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ, those who preach it and
those who believe it. He was not a learned man; but none could do better than
to learn by his example. He was not a teacher; yet he taught me more about
faithfulness, commitment, loyalty and dependability than Bunyan, Gill, or
Spurgeon. He was not a gifted man; but he gave Christ, his church and his
pastor the greatest gift a man can give: Elmer Harrell gave himself. I owe him
much. If I am, by the grace of God, made useful to anyone's spiritual and
eternal good, they also owe him much, for this man, in God's good providence,
was an instrument to mold me in my youth. May God give me and you who knew
Elmer Harrell best grace to walk in the light of his example for the glory of
Christ, until we join him and that great multitude of other sinners saved by
grace around the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Don Fortner