On Saturday, February 18Th a great man went to be with the Lord. Robert D. "Bob" Hammond was the Activities Minister at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas where I grew up. Bob and his wife Rosie came to Broadway in 1967 when I was only 2 and he retired 29 years later. Bob had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease for many years.
Bob was a vital part of my growing up to love church and to love our Lord. He never preached a sermon but he did teach me to love Jesus and my fellow man by his actions and leadership. Bob held Family Night in our chruch gym every Friday night where they served hamburgers, the kids skated and the adults did, well I don't really know what they did. We were there with other families who loved the Lord and were bringing up their children in the same way.
Bob coached a girl's basketball team when I was in 5Th grade. We were not very good. One game we lost 100-2. We scored only because the other team scored for us. It was never a problem that we lost. He taught us sportsmanship and good conduct. Bob also coached our softball teams. He was always there with the uniforms, equipment and just enough players.
In middle school and high school it seemed as if we could never keep a youth minister. They would leave for various reasons. Bob would fill the void. He took us to youth camps, choir trips, camp outs and made sure there was plenty to keep us busy. One canoe trip to eastern Oklahoma ended with all of our gear being washed away in a downpour. He contacted the BSU at the nearby university and we "camped" on the floor of the BSU with college students bringing us dry clothes, dry sleeping bags and pizza.
Bob's wife Rosemary was my GA director. She helped me learn about missions and missionaries and taught me how to give of myself. Bob's children were my friends.
What I am most grateful to Bob is that he introduced me, as a high school senior, to Oklahoma Baptist University, his alma mater. I had no idea where I wanted to go to college. Bob knew me and knew OBU and he put us together. My experience at OBU was life changing.
I am every indebted to Bob and Rosemary for giving of their family and their lives to make ours better. My sister went to Bob's funeral today and told me about all of the friends of our youth who were there. What struck me is that there were no athlete superstars, US presidents, or Hollywood stars there. Who was there were Christian moms and dads who are raising their children to love Jesus and to love family and to love church as much as Bob loved us. I too am raising my sons with Bob's legacy in mind. I am raising my sons to love Jesus, to love family and to love their church. For this I am eternally grateful.
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