Enterprise minister Wells retires for second time

Frank Wells likes to do things in pairs. He has served on the missions field in Indonesia two times, served on staff twice at First Baptist Church, Enterprise, and now has retired for the second time.
   
His second retirement, as minister to senior adults at First, Enterprise, was made official Feb. 28, nearly 50 years ago to the day he was ordained into ministry as a college student.
   
While studying architecture at Auburn University, Wells had lung surgery in Birmingham. While he was recuperating, a nurse commented on his progress and noted that the Lord had His hand on Wells’ life.
   
“This really made me think about the direction of my life,” said Wells. “I had been a Christian but this made me get serious.”
   
Wells transferred from Auburn to Howard College, now Samford University, as a junior and got involved in the Baptist Student Union (BSU). After the BSU director left, Wells was asked to serve as the interim director. Thus began his career in ministry.
   
Upon completing his degree in English at Samford, Wells went to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., for his masters of divinity degree. In 1976, Samford University awarded Wells with an honorary doctorate degree.
   
“I made a commitment to missions while in seminary,” he said. “We served first at a church in Selma and then they appointed us to Indonesia in 1961.”
   
Wells and his wife, Jo Ann, served in Indonesia for 10 years. When they returned to the United States, Wells was called to be pastor of First, Enterprise. “Enterprise was a wonderful place to raise a family,” he said. “I’ve moved a lot during my life and this town is the only home I’ve ever known in some ways.”
   
After serving the church for nine years, Wells left and had a variety of ministry positions in Texas, Virginia and Georgia. While he was serving as pastor of a church in Atlanta he had a major heart attack and subsequent surgery led to severe complications.
   
“After a lot of recuperation, I returned to south Ala­bama and became interim pastor at First Baptist, Dothan,” he said. 
   
Wells served in Elba for a while and then 11 years ago, retired for the first time. “I returned to Indonesia for six months and then seven years ago, First Baptist, Enterprise, asked me to come back as their minister to senior adults,” he said. “This church welcomed us back from the missions field and then offered us another opportunity to serve them.” 
   
Lance Hogan, pastor of First, Enterprise, said he and Wells have had a unique and valuable relationship.
   
“It usually doesn’t work when a former pastor comes back but his personality, humility and willingness to help have made us quite a team,” Hogan said. “There’s no insecurity or competition on either of our parts.”
   
Hogan said Wells has been more than a fellow staff member to him.
   
“He’s been a good mentor for me,” he said. “He’s shared his wisdom and expertise, and I regret that his time here has come to a close.”
   
Wells has also been involved in denominational work during his 50-year career. He served as a trustee for the then-Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources), the then-Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) and then-Mobile College (now University of Mobile). He also sat on the administrative committee of the executive board for the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
   
Wells said he has mixed feelings about retiring.
   
“I’ve had a close relationship and known some of these people at First Baptist, Enterprise, for 16 years,” he said. “We’ve shared at the deepest level. I will miss my pastoral role and caring for people.”
   
Shirley Holland, who has served as president of the senior adults at the church for five years, has worked closely with Wells and also knew him and his family when he was pastor.
   
“We’re going to greatly miss him and his wife, who teaches one of our Sunday School classes,” she said. “It will be sad to tell the Wellses goodbye again.”
   
Holland and others in the senior adult ministry at the church organized a scrapbook of photos, memorabilia and letters that span Wells’ ministry. They presented it to him at a church reception given March 6 in his honor.
   
Wells said he hopes to do some interim and supply work as well as do some writing. 
   
“I’ve had a long and exciting ministry and would like to share it if I can be disciplined enough to get it on paper,” he said. “I’d like to write about my missionary and ministry experience.”
   
Wells and his wife have four daughters — one of whom is deceased — and six grandchildren.