Bro. Berry Is My Hero

Pastor Berry followed me as pastor at the first church I served right out of seminary. That was 20 years ago. He now celebrates his 20th anniversary at the same church. That is quite an accomplishment, given the propensity of pastors to "move to a new field" quite frequently.

Most will not recognize Bro. Berry's name. He serves in an out of the way place at a church that seems almost forgotten and literally sits a mile from Mexico. The church itself has an interesting history. It occupies a former cantina and holds Sunday School in rooms formerly dedicated to the pleasure of the Cantina's customers. The Church's fellowship hall sits on the site of a pit that has been since filled in that housed the former cantina.

The church has largely served an Anglo congregation and is surrounded by Spanish speakers. One of my frustrations was being unable to speak Spanish. Bro. Berry is fluent in Spanish and started a Spanish work at the church since his arrival. Over the years, the church has had it struggles. During one particularly painful trial, it almost lost all of its property and buildings to a pastor intent in building his own kingdom instead of Christ's.

If I named Lakewood Church, Second Baptist Houston, First Baptist Atlanta, or Saddleback church, you could probably name the pastor. I could talk all day about Bro. Berry and his church and most folks would respond with puzzled looks.

I have often said that it may well be that many pastors who labor faithfully in relative obscurity will hear a "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" long before some T.V. celebrity pastors will. Somehow we have bought into the largely American cultural belief that the larger the church, the better the pastor.

Bro. Berry is my hero, not because he is relatively unknown, has served his church for over 20 years, or even because he speaks Spanish.

I got a letter from some members of his church this week. It mentioned the pastor's anniversary and upcoming celebration. It also noted the church's recent struggles with finances. The letter noted as well that pastor Berry had served the summer months with no pay as a volunteer. The writing was quick to note, however, that finances had improved a bit and Bro. Berry's salary had been caught up. This past summer, the choice was either pay the electric bill. (in a South Texas summer this is quite a chore) or pay the pastor. The pastor chose the light bill over himself.

This was done without fanfare. This was done unknown to much of the world. But the Lord knows.

After I read that letter, I had tears in my eyes. This pastor served for free last summer to keep his churh open. Compare his unselfish act with those who constantly solict more money for their ministries and promise miracles to those who give. Think of Bro. Berry in South Texas when you are tempted to think that most preachers are in it just for the money.

For Bro. Berry, it wasn't about the money. It was about the kingdom.

Happy Anniversary, Bro. Berry. You're MY hero.