Months before Wes Bell was called to Calvary Baptist Church, Eufaula, as its pastor, the church learned to lean on God for leadership in the absence of a pastor. Now church members again seek God during their bereavement over the death of Bell, who died Dec. 30 after battling cancer.
Under Bell’s leadership, God had a plan, and during his pastorate Calvary learned to pray for God’s will. During his illness Bell lauded the church, its people and their mission. A few months before his death, Bell wrote to The Alabama Baptist about his church.
“I have a nomination for the church of the decade — Calvary Baptist Church in Eufaula,” he wrote. “Calvary has a heart for ministry. I want to let them know that I appreciate them.
“They have not just maintained, but they have grown numerically and spiritually. When they could be discouraged, they see the need to continue.”
Bell wrote that he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999, had a reoccurrence in 2001 and in 2003. He said the church rallied around him and his family, meeting their every need.
“Through all this time, my church ministered to me and continued their work,” he wrote.
“Our church has exploded during the past six years under the leadership of Pastor Wes Bell,” said Henry Hines, member and deacon for more than 20 years. “We were without a pastor for more than a year before he came. Our pulpit committee worked hard, and the answer came.”
When Bell was called to Calvary in Eufaula, he was living in Decatur, Ill., with his wife, Laureen, and three daughters. Their fourth child, a son, was born later in Eufaula.
The Bells were coming home — his home was Wetumpka, and Laureen’s home was Fairhope.
Calvary was not struggling but stagnated. Sunday School and worship attendance each averaged in the 150s.
Bell was able to implement new ideas such as developing FAITH teams, and the Sunday School began to grow.
But amid the hard work and success of the church, Bell’s illness presented new challenges. The church prayed, Bell responded to cancer treatments and the church continued to grow.
“Calvary has seen God give direct answers and fight this sickness through him,” Hines said. “God gave Wes strength to lead even when he felt bad. The strength of God is in this place, and we will continue to grow as He wants us to.”
“Through it all our pastor gave God the glory and was an inspiration to all who knew him,” wrote Kenneth and Yvonne Howard, church members and ministry leaders. “To us Wes was everything a pastor should be. Our daily prayers have been that Wes be healed, but more importantly, as Wes would say, that ‘God’s will be done.’ ”
During Bell’s illness the rounds of treatments would stop the cancer for a while, but time after time it returned. The night Bell told the church about the cancer returning in 2003, Calvary voted to begin a building project.
The building program is under way, and ground will be broken in February to construct a new education building. Plans are to enlarge the existing fellowship hall, construct a new youth center and add an elevator.
But Calvary is about more than building structures. It’s about building lives, as Mike Burkhalter, church member and ministry leader, noted.
“We began attending Calvary three years ago,” Burkhalter said. “We were immediately met with an awesome spirit of love. Under Brother Wes’ guidance my whole family accepted Christ as Savior. But thankfully our guidance did not stop there.
“Brother Wes led us in discipleship and made available many ways for us to serve God. He always sought God’s will for himself, for us and his church. His faith in God through all his trials has had a tremendous impact on my faith. I now truly believe that God is in control of all things.”
As 2004 begins Calvary has more than 200 in Sunday School, and Sunday morning worship has grown into two services. The church has purchased four houses next to the church property. Presently, the houses are being utilized as Sunday School rooms. Through Calvary’s faith and desire to serve God, it has grown into a house that humbly serves God and seeks His will in all things.
“We are saddened by the loss of our pastor,” Hines said. “However, God has a plan. Our building program continues, and we remain focused and confident that our interim pastor will take us to the next level. Meanwhile, our pulpit committee will begin another search while God continues to use us.”
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