A Mighty Forest

A Mighty Forest

Wes Hanson has written a book which records some history of Andrew Hall’s pastorate at Hartford Baptist Church. I served as minister of youth and education at Hartford Baptist 1990-1991 and Pastor Hall pastored here at Dawson prior to his tenure at Hartford, which ran 1944-1949. A further connection between us is that Wes Hanson, pastor of Hartford Baptist 1957-1983, served as interim pastor at Dawson before I came here in December 1996. The obvious connections justify my choice to share a portion of Hanson’s book with you. When Hartford Baptist considered calling Hall, Otto Martin, a young lawyer, expressed concern that Bro. Hall might be too young and inexperienced. Here is Bro. Hall’s response:

I appreciate the words of doubt raised by Attorney, Bro. Otto Martin. Perhaps I can lay some of them to rest. And if I may, let me suggest these words of illustration and consideration:

I am thinking about a mighty forest. Making up this stand of trees, we will find old trees, weathered by the storms of nature. They have endured drought, strong winds, maybe a tornado or two, but they are still standing. Then there are the middle-life trees, and the younger trees, perhaps what we would call, saplings. Saplings are learning to be older trees, and through the experience of storms, disease, blight, and hard knocks they try to survive and become useful for lumber and the needs of humankind. So I see in this forest all ages of trees that make up the complexion of this wonderful wooded acreage. A church is like a forest of trees. We see all ages, all problems.

True, I am only twenty-three years old. God has called me to preach and to be a pastor.

I do not have much experience in my calling. But as a young tree in God’s forest of life, I hope that God will preserve my life, that I will grow to be an older tree, a tree that will endure the trials and sufferings of life, and as God wills, with God’s help and grace, I hope to someday become a tree of courage, strength, maybe even a tree bent by the sufferings of serving the Lord Jesus Christ; yes, dear friends, I hope I am ready to pay the price to become that kind of tree in the Lord’s forest of life and service. And I have the faith to believe, that with the older saints of this church, you will help me realize my dream.

According to Ernestine McConnell, a Sunday School teacher and pulpit committee member who conveyed the defense Bro. Hall gave of himself, after he finished speaking the whole congregations rushed to where the Hall’s were seated and with tears and rejoicing they welcomed the young couple into their church. Otto Martin made the motion to call.

A church really is like a forest of trees, each different in age and size and experience. May each of us be ready to pay the price to become the kind of tree in the Lord’s forest he wants us to be, trees of courage, strength, and bent by the sufferings of serving the Lord Jesus Christ.