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