Rev. O Wayne Turner

 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters I will be with you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy one of Israel, your Saviour.

Fear not, for I am with you,

 

Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,

who are deaf, yet have ears!

 

You are my witnesses,” says the Lord

and my servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am He.

Before me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

 

Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

 

For I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.”

 

 

Back when I was a boy, I was asked “What do you want to be when you grow up, Wayne?”  Without hesitation, I answered “an artist.”  This was an obvious answer.  I had shown artistic ability from the age of 6.  The Methodist church was just two blocks from our home.  So, I checked out Sunday School, sang in the choir, attended the youth group.  I liked going to church.  I loved the people.

 

As I grew in my relationship with the church, I became involved in the District and Conference youth activities. The church and the people were important to me and had become my life. 

                   

If I had known Isaiah as I do today, I would have heard --

 

                    “I have called you by name, you are mine…for I am

                                the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your savior.”

                   

All my life people have guided me, encouraged me, and offered me opportunities which I didn’t always recognize.  I think of Rev. Boone, who was appointed to our congregation.  He and I hit it off right away.   It wasn’t long before I was assisting him with various duties around the church, and even during special worship occasions.   It was during my senior year in high school -- Rev. Boone offered to pay my way to college if I would seriously think about the ministry.  He encouraged me in so many ways.   I turned him down.       

 

There were two reasons --

                                                1).   I wanted to be an artist, and

                                                2).  There was a girl about whom I was serious.

 

I graduated from high school in 1953 and looked for  part-time work while I attended the Kansas City Art Institute.  I was on my way to fulfilling my dream, yet I became uneasy as I listened to the talk among the students.  The only way to make it, they were saying, was to go to the coasts -- money was in beer and cigarette ads.  That wasn’t what I had in mind.  I wanted to work with department stores, writing and drawing display ads for the newspaper. 

 

So I quit school, thinking maybe I might find something that would give me the start I wanted.  It would have been here the words from Isaiah would have spoken to me -- “Fear not, for I am with you.”

 

It seemed to me that life was constantly changing as I responded to events, people and opportunities.  While at Macy’s in downtown Kansas City, I was asked – “Ever been a children’s shoe salesman?”  I was offered the opportunity to be trained for a manager of children’s departments.  That meant going to New York.  That is right!   I turned it down.

 

General Electric gave me a job which I thought would be in the art department.  Instead, I sorted and stacked brochures.  I now know that GE expected me to work on the desk and sell appliances.  My boss sat me down after 6 months and suggested that I go to college  --  and, maybe work for the “Y” or the church.  I was surprised at his interest.  YES, I WAS TERMINATED!

 

I enrolled in National College in K.C., which now is Saint Paul School of Theology.  I majored in Religious Education and Psychology.    

                   

Shirley and I were married in 1956.  Prior to the wedding I decided to enter the ministry.  There had been several happenings which suggested the ministry.  I was invited to speak at Shirley’s church (the Disciples of Christ).  At the close of the service I gave an altar call, and eight people came forth. 

 

Also, I had filled in for small churches on the Kansas side.

 

Three months after our marriage, Rev. Boone had worked with the District Superintendent to give us our first church -- a rural congregation of 150 members.   I made $100 a month, plus a parsonage.  It was very difficult to heat in the winter.  Shirley worked in North Kansas City while I attended college.

 

A couple in our small congregation, who were like an aunt and uncle, took us under their wing and helped us begin our ministry. They had a great influence on us.  Rev. Poole was pastor of a 700-member congregation, located in Liberty, Missouri, the county seat and a college town.  He asked if I might consider becoming his Educational Assistant.  I agreed.

 

I heard Isaiah again “Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

                   

Oh yes, I perceive it --

                   

I’ve always made deliberate attempts to grow, to position myself to receive and to give.  I was grateful for the invitation. 

 

Rev. Poole encouraged me, as had Rev. Boone, and gave me opportunities that enriched my understanding of the Methodist church.  He saw to it that I received my certification as a Director of Christian Education.  And while at Liberty, I enrolled in Saint Paul School of Theology.

 

Mrs. Godsey, a member of Liberty’s congregation, had been the secretary to the Governor of Missouri.  She was a Realtor -- very active in the congregation.  She shared such wonderful insights about people and life.  She helped us purchase our first house.

 

However, Rev. Poole transferred after two years -- and another pastor, with whom I had difficulty, was appointed.  I knew I had to leave.  The question was:   When and Where? 

 

God has a way of showing a person what to do if we are open. Hear Isaiah again --“know and believe me and understand that I am God.”    

                   

The Liberty Youth Group went on a retreat to a center just north of The Old Indian Mission; a Y-Camp, I believe.  On Sunday we came to Old Mission for worship.   As we left Old Mission, I told my youth counselor:  “I’m going to work at that church someday.”

 

Shortly thereafter, the director of the Missouri Conference told me about a job offer in a large church on the Kansas side.  He arranged for a meeting with the pastor.   The pastor was Dr. Ben Schmidtke.  He and his wife, Opal, entertained Shirley and me at a dinner in downtown Kansas City and interviewed us.  We were hired!

 

My experience at Old Mission was awesome.  So many contacts with professors of Saint Paul, Superintendents of Schools, teachers, other professionals, and just wonderful people.  I continued to attend Saint Paul.  From there, I received my Masters of Religious Education -- a gift from the church.

                   

Nashville worked with us as we were selected to test new children’s and youth curriculum.  Frances and Dale Dunlap wrote curriculum for the children, and we tested youth material.  We partnered with Saint Paul to bring Christian Education Board Members and Writers to our church for conferences.

 

After eight years working with Ben Schmidtke and Fred Ackman -- including all the wonderful educational opportunities --  [I think about Friday night youth dances, some 300 youth with a live youth band.  So many memories.], the Kansas City Kansas District Superintendent asked me to serve on a new educational project sponsored by the General Board of Mission and the Kansas City District.  It was in Jefferson County, Kansas, near Lake Perry.   I was to coordinate education opportunities for six Methodist Churches.  As I look back, I believe it was a wonderful opportunity to get myself in a position to accept ordination as a Deacon.

 

We moved to Tecumseh UMC, just East of Topeka, where the Turner family served ten years.  In addition to Old Mission, Tecumseh was a rich experience.  

                     

I attended Saint Paul School of Theology and received by Masters of Divinity degree – a gift from the Tecumseh congregation. 

 

 I directed the youth UN-DC Youth Tour for 8 years and co-directed the Adult Tour with Chris Cunard.  While at Tecumseh, we hosted a weekend Conference for foreign students.  It was during that time I joined the group for a luncheon at the Governor’s mansion. 

 

That was when I became friends with Ramona Carlin.  She joined the UN-DC Youth Tour as a counselor.  She gives the Methodist Youth credit for getting her through her divorce.  Shirley and I have kept in touch with her to this day. 

 

When we transferred to Indian Heights, we encountered a difficult situation.  It was a hard nine years.  However, the Bishop asked that we stay with the congregation.  Another learning experience which, at the time, I didn’t appreciate.    While at Indian Heights I served on the Board of Trustees and was an adjunct faculty member at Saint Paul.  The time came, when we left.  Despite the difficult years we were involved in ministry and made friends with whom we still relate.

 

We moved to Bristol Hill U. M. C. on County Line Road for eight years.  I retired from there in 2000.  Bristol Hill was a good match.  We enjoyed growth and ministry -- in an all-new way in some cases.

 

Shirley retired from St. Paul after 16 years, the same year that I retired.

 

A close friend and colleague, whom many of you know, Rev. Sharon Howell, invited me to become Pastor of Children’s Ministry at Lawrence First U. M. C.  Sharon told the congregation, “Wayne is making a complete circle; he is returning to Christian education.”  And she was right, I was returning to my second love -- Christian education.  Shirley was my first love, of course!

 

I finally retired five years later, and renewed my interests in art.  I have an art studio in our basement -- I’m an artist after all !

 

Recently, Butch asked me if I would teach a class on art history and religion at Old Mission in their Lay Academy.  I was challenged to design the curriculum -- another love of mine. 

 

Since then, I have taught art history and religion in the Lay Academy every fall at Grace UMC in Olathe where Shirley and I are members.

                   

I believe Shirley and I were called by God to be the very best stewards of all the gifts, talents, and opportunities entrusted to us in this lifetime.

 

The challenges, the drama, the struggles, the disappointments, the hurts, the personal-life tragedies, the illnesses, and the joy of family -- all of this has been our life’s faith journey.  In August we will celebrate 52 years of marriage.

 

I continue to hear the words of Isaiah:

                   

                                --God called us by name, “Fear not, for I’m with you.”

 

                                --You are my witnesses and my servants whom I have chosen.

                   

--God gives us opportunities and challenges to enable people who were blind yet had eyes to see, who were deaf yet had ears to know, to believe, and understand it is God who is our God.

 

--God has asked us to share that message in our faith journey.

 

--God is clear!  Don’t look back.  Considering the things of old, move forward.

                               

--God is our rock.  There will be fire and water, hurt and disappointment.   Nevertheless, God is always with us.

 

I thank all the people who touched me, encouraged me, and loved me!  “ I really like the church.”  Remember?  “And I wanted to be an artist.”

 

                    Now, I’m both!                            

 

                    FULL TIME!