Tribute to a Godly Man

Two weeks ago, when my blog posted on Saturday morning the 20th, soon after, my watch alerted me that I had a blog post visitor from Hastings Michigan. Shortly thereafter, I received a reply on my Facebook post from Robert Allan Welch… “Thanks for sharing this Daryl” as was his custom after faithfully reading my blog posts each week.

After reading his reply, I answered him back. Then the thought crossed my mind, “I really should call Bob and see if I can come over and have coffee with him”. Why I didn't call him right then and there, I will never know. Bob decided to get a head-start on all the rapture theorists expecting the rapture on the 24th and crossed over into heaven to be with Jesus.

How I wish I had called him…

Bob’s passing made me start thinking about all the memories I have of him. Bob was my Youth Pastor when I was in high school and he filled my heart and mind with memories that would last a lifetime… those kind of memories you know you’ll never forget when they happen. Starting with the “Eternal Life Singers“… the eight-voice high school ensemble, Bob put together,  I was chosen to be a part of. We were a smash hit and even cut a record. We were not as famous as, “Love Song”, but we definitely made our mark on First Baptist Church of Hastings… Selling, I believe, a total of nine records. (Bob bought one and the other eight were bought by our parents.)

In my senior year of high school, Bob accompanied me on the piano for an invitation to play my oboe for a competition at U of M. From the competition, I was ranked the number two oboe player in the state of Michigan. But honestly, I think I only ranked that high because Bob’s accompaniment was amazingly brilliant. I never could figure out how he could play the piano so fast and so beautiful with such big fingers.

I believe my favorite memory of Bob was when he sang at Donna and my wedding. Donna picked a song for Bob to sing… The John Denver song, “You Fill Up My Senses“. If any of you remember the song, John Denver sang it really high… Much higher than Bob could sing. Those were the days when the tape background was in the key that the artist was singing… No fancy adjustments like today where you can lower the key. If John Denver sang it in a crazy high key, Bob had no choice, but to sing in the same key! He pretty much sang the whole song in falsetto. Standing to our left by the piano, his rendition of the song was amazing and the bright red glow on his face added to the ambience of the wedding.

All kidding aside… Bob was an amazing man of God who had a profound impact on my life. The love he poured into me and the rest of my classmates in my youth group was unparalleled to any experience I have ever had from any other spiritual leader in my life. My spiritual walk with the Lord today, finds its roots in the foundation the Lord used Robert Allan Welch to lay out for me.

In Acts 7:55, it ways, “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing (not sitting) in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”  I’d like to believe when Bob was received into heaven, the Lord gave him a standing ovation and exclaimed, “Well done,Bob! Good and faithful servant!”

I will miss you, Bob. Thank you for showing me what a Godly, faithful man looks like.