Music leads to ministry for 94-year-old Birmingham man

Music leads to ministry for 94-year-old Birmingham man

When William “Howard” Nabors moved into his new home in March 2004, he never expected to be a catalyst for community nor did he think he would be assembling a group of octogenarians for worship. 
   
Still 94-year-old Nabors’ leadership style and natural musical abilities have helped to create community for residents of Hearthstone Assisted Living at Grayson Valley in Birmingham one note at a time.
   
At the same time Nabors moved to Hearthstone, 46-year-old seminary student Ron Hudgens was looking for a five-hour preaching venue for class credit.
   
In what Hudgens called “totally a God thing,” Hearthstone was brought to his attention, and what began as a five-week project has become a church plant within Hearthstone’s walls and has secured Hudgens’ first pastoral role. 
   
Though Hearthstone is not tied to any particular denomination, many of its residents are Christians, spanning a wide array of denominations. Hearthstone relies solely on volunteers to bring church to residents who cannot otherwise attend. When Hudgens, a member of NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville, in Birmingham Baptist Association, arrived, he found his music minister in Nabors. 
   
“I guess I may be a bit unique, being 94 years old and still able to get around,” Nabors said. Hudgens’ choice of Nabors as worship leader, however, was not based on Nabors’ agility but rather his innate musical talent. 
   
Music has been a part of Nabors’ life since childhood. 
   
As America settled into the years just prior to the Great Depression, his family felt the purse strings tightening. 
   
Still his mother supported her son’s musical ambitions. She managed to buy his first harmonica by collecting 50 coupons from Octagon laundry soap. 
   
This act of financial ingenuity became the impetus for Nabors’ musical journey. 
   
Nabors used his musical gift in church, singing in the choir. He also expanded his repertoire by learning to play the accordion. 
   
As Nabors grew older, the Arkansas native continued his study of music while attending Auburn University. But he was forced to leave his studies when his family’s financial situation worsened. 
   
Nabors never returned to college and failed to secure a job during the Depression. 
   
He opted to make ends meet by serving in the Navy during World War II. When he returned to the United States after being stationed in Brazil, he chose to settle in Alabama, where he worked as an accountant. Nabors said his adult life prepared him for the role he is now playing at Hearthstone. 
   
A perennial choir member, he also worked with senior adults at the churches where he was a member, including Roebuck Park (now NorthPark) Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Association. 
   
Leading worship at Hearthstone has allowed Nabors to continue his musical passion closer to home. 
   
His wife, Dorothy "Lois," also resides at Hearthstone and takes an active role in Hearthstone’s Sunday morning church services. 
   
Since the first year, when weekly services drew a paltry crowd, participation has increased exponentially. Today approximately 40 residents attend the services led by Hudgens and Nabors. 
   
Hudgens attributes this success to Nabors, who has encouraged Hearthstone residents to not only come out of their room for the church service but to actively engage in worship. 
   
“He’s one of them,” Hudgens said. “He’s not an outsider who comes in and spreads a little cheer for 20 minutes. He’s there every day and he’s in the community.” 
   
Hearthstone staff members have also noted an increase in morale since the services began two years ago. 
   
“(Nabors) is loved by everybody. He is probably one of the reasons we have such a high attendance on Sunday mornings,” said Debbie Armstrong, Hearthstone community relations director.
   
“It’s easy in that type of community for people to just not participate,” Hudgens said. 
   
Yet this weekly activity has served as an opening for residents to participate in other Hearthstone activities. 
   
These gatherings have not only sharpened their faith, but they have instilled community during a stage of life where it is often absent. 
   
At Hearthstone, community is exactly what Nabors, Hudgens and staff members focus on. “We call it a community, not an old folks’ home,” Hudgens said. 
   
And at Hearthstone, ministry happens because residents like Nabors choose to build community, one note at a time.