David Donnan

Last night I found out my good friend and mentor Charles Houston passed away yesterday. Pastor Charles was the pastor at Statesboro First Methodist in 2006 when I was the interim youth director. I remained on staff as an intern and worked with Pastor Charles for another year.

Charles was the first pastor I saw up close as I considered what it meant to be a good pastor, leader, and preacher. It was by God’s providence I got to learn so much from him and his wife Elizabeth.

While I still have a ways to go to be refined it was even more so as a teenager working on the church staff. Charles was always graceful with my shenanigans and willing to look for opportunities to pay me back. There was one youth scavenger hunt he still owes me payback for.

I had talked briefly with Pastor Charles several weeks ago after I saw on facebook he and Mrs. Elizabeth had been in a car accident.

In a recent staff meeting at the church I pastor, we recently had prayed for Charles’ ministry as he was at Apalachee High School as the teachers returned after the school shooting there.

The past couple of days I reflected on some of the important moments I will remember about Pastor Charles.

He was there for me in one of my toughest moments

In late summer of 2006, I found out one of my parents was moving out and my family was going to look a lot different. Even though I was at college this was still very distressing.

I found this out on a Saturday afternoon. I don’t remember talking to anyone until I went to church the next morning.

The church had a prayer and communion service before we began the regular worship service. I went early and Pastor Charles was the first person I ran into. He could tell I was upset and asked what was wrong. He listened. We held hands and prayed. He served me communion. I don’t remember what he said. I do remember he was there and a means of God’s grace for me in a very hard moment.

Charles preached for me the day Luke was born

Even though I worked as a staff person for Charles for around 14 months I was around often in Methodist circles.

Early on in my pastoral ministry I was going to need someone to cover the Sunday my son was born. I was honored to have Pastor Charles fill my pulpit that morning. 

The closing hymn this Sunday was Because He Lives. The bulletin prescribed the congregation to sing the first and the last verse. However, He made sure they sang the middle verse on the day Luke was born.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

It was a sweet touch to a special Sunday.

Charles Loved Serving Law Enforcement

As part of my time as a divinity student at Asbury Theological seminary we had to take a class called Mentored Ministry. We were to serve in an area outside of our church. Charles let me help serve at the International Conference of Police Chaplains conference he was helping lead. Charles lit up at this conference. He loved seeing pastors learn how to better serve law enforcement.

Charles really enjoyed serving law enforcement. He particularly enjoyed serving the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources. He had a very strong, vibrant, and fruitful ministry called Caring Connection Chaplaincy. 

Later on, while serving as chaplain for a local fire department, Charles was a resource I would lean on and call when I had questions handling tough situations. He helped me to get proper denominational credentialing so I could serve as a fire chaplain well.

Charles Loved People 

Charles loved people. While his work with the police allowed him to serve law enforcement it also allowed him to come into contact with the people law enforcement served. Usually this meant some of the people were having the worst day of their lives.

One day at Statesboro First Methodist another youth staff member and I were called and told there was someone threatening they had a bomb with them inside the church. The other staff person and I were ready to go down stairs and combat this intruder. While we were creeping up behind the individual, Charles came around the corner and said hello to the person. Charles took them outside to talk with the person and the police. It was smooth, loving, caring, and Christ-like. He moved the person away from everyone and got them the help they needed with dignity.

I’m sad I will not see my friend again this side of heaven. I am grateful for the time we had together. I also realize these few snapshots are just a small part of the decades of years and thousands of people he came in contact with.

Thanks be to God for the life of the Rev. Dr. Charles L. Houston.