Thirty years is a long journey,” Robert “Bob” B. Hatfield said as he recently celebrated that many years as minister of music at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association. “Over those 30 years, there have been lots of presentations, choir tours, worship services and special events. Although they have been significant, the thing that is most memorable to me is the process, or the journey itself.”
Hatfield’s journey began even before he accepted Christ as Lord at age 12.
“God has continued to work in my life,” Hatfield said, noting that as a high school senior, he made a commitment to give his life to God vocationally. “And I’m still on the journey. I don’t think you ever stop.”
Born into a Mississippi pastor’s home in 1949, young Hatfield might not have guessed he would become a minister of music, but 59 years later, he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“My passion is in helping people to use their talents in worship and service to God. My ministry is largely based on relationships,” Hatfield said with a smile. “This kind of ministry takes a long time. I guess that is why I am still here after 30 years.
“I want to do all I can in helping people develop their own commitment to God and also use my own talents and be a good steward — a workman He won’t be ashamed of.”
And that is just what Hatfield has done through his years of service in the music ministry.
Before coming to Dawson Memorial Baptist in 1978, he served churches in Texas and Arkansas.
Hatfield also has served as president of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference, church music chairman of the Alabama Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and adjunct instructor at Samford University in Birmingham and Samford’s Beeson Divinity School.
From the sanctuary choir to the youth choir and the handbells to the orchestra at Dawson, Hatfield continues to lead and impact lives with an immeasurable passion.
“Music is the soul’s speech, representing our deepest feelings of joy, sorrow, pride; feelings of commitment or affirmation and prayer,” he said. “All those things can be expressed through music and worship and give the congregation a voice. It is one way they can express themselves in worship and be personally engaged.
“It’s wonderful to engage people in the process,” Hatfield added.
And engage them he has, said Jeanne Wear, who has served in the sanctuary choir for 29 years.
“One of the big joys for me was instead of using music as a means of showcasing musical abilities, he taught me to use my musical abilities to showcase worship,” Wear said. “Bob is always teaching us how to use music to engage in worship. I think music is a heart issue. It’s something that stirs the soul, and Bob has taught us that.”
During Hatfield’s tenure as minister of music at Dawson, Senior Pastor Gary Fenton has walked alongside him for 17 years. Fenton said it is through friendship, respect and acceptance of each another’s uniqueness that they are able to maintain a healthy ministry relationship.
“He has such an attention to detail,” Fenton said. “I think he brings out the best in me.”
Along with his attention to detail, Hatfield’s humility makes him great at what he does and sets him apart from the rest, Fenton said.
“He really has a passion for excellence in Christian choral music,” Fenton said. “He believes, and correctly so, that Christian music is also excellence. It is to be done with excellence as a means of honoring God.”
Reflecting on honoring God, Hatfield said if he could share one thing with other people, then it would be to take advantage of the life God has given you — to the glory of the Father.
“Life is a precious gift that God gives us,” Hatfield said. “And with the life He gives us, He also gives us spiritual gifts and talents and skills. We have the privilege of being a steward of those, and our lives should be that for God.”
Hatfield said this relates to Colossians 3:12–17, which he has claimed as his theme verse for this stage in life.
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God,” Hatfield quoted. “Not just in church or religious activities, but everything about us should be for God’s glory, giving thanks to Him for that privilege.”
Over the years, Hatfield said his family — his wife of 37 years, Polly, and their two children, Kimberly and Rob — has had a significant influence on his life.
“They’ve been very supportive, encouraged me, participated and helped give me perspective of an average choir member,” he said. “They’ve helped me to dream dreams, and then I guess, most importantly, they have ministered to me. Our home has been my haven.”
Hatfield said Samford’s Claude Rhea and Gene Black and Dawson’s former pastor Edgar Arendall also influenced him during his formative and initial years at Dawson.
Those who have participated in Hatfield’s ministry have also made an impact on his life.
Fenton said if there were one thing others should know about Hatfield, then it is his obedience to Christ.
“He is truly a faithful man of God in his professional life, personal life and in his relationships,” Fenton said.
Wear said Hatfield reminds her of the Bible’s David — “a man after God’s own heart.”
“He is a great musician, but not one person, if asked about Bob, would go to that musical dimension — though it is one of excellence. Rather they would immediately tell you he is a man of character and integrity, a man of steadfastness who is faithful to God,” she said. “It is those things that define Bob, and it is those things that he has taught us to incorporate in our worship.”
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