In Memory of Melvin Drews
Intended for his memorial service, snowed-in at the
Dallas airport instead!
Isaiah 22:22-23 (KJV) – “And the key of the
house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall
shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a
glorious throne to his father’s house.
I first met Mel Drews when I came from
Marshall, Minnesota to provide oversight at the Assemblies of God church in
Spearfish, South Dakota. He was the owner and operator of the KOA Campground in
Lead/Deadwood.
I left Spearfish three years later to serve as
Executive Vice President of Trinity Bible College, providing hands-on
leadership to the school while the President, Evangelist Lowell Lundstrom,
extensively promoted the school to his national audience and gave a clear and
concise vision for the campus.
Part of my responsibilities involved
creating the spiritual formation calendar every school year, something I
normally did during the summer months. Besides the daily chapel schedule I
incorporated a Spiritual Emphasis week in the fall and a Week of Prayer in the
winter. The spring included College Days and Graduation Ceremonies.
In my last year on campus I was
praying about whom to invite as a Spiritual Emphasis Week guest speaker and
sensed a strong nudging to invite Charles Greenaway. I knew Charles as a
successful African missionary and a great Missions speaker but never considered
him for spiritual emphasis. Nevertheless the divine prompting would not subside
so I extended an invitation and Charles graciously accepted.
Charles was Irish. He was as tough
as nails, a critical component for serving on the African continent during the
early years of missions. He had strong convictions, could sometimes be
stubborn, and occasionally came across harshly toward others. Yet if you looked
deep enough, looked carefully at his heart, you discovered a sensitive man,
extremely compassionate.
When the faculty returned to campus I
took a few moments during their orientation to talk about the Bible theme for
the academic year and the chapel schedule, including the Spiritual Emphasis
week. I mentioned Charles would be speaking. A couple of faculty members knew
him very well and privately spoke to me about a concern. They were not sure he
was up to the task. I assured them this was an act of obedience on my part to
the Holy Spirit. The students ended up benefiting from him in a variety of
ways, both in chapel and on campus.
Charles came and was true to his
calling, and character. His messages were powerfully delivered, rich in content
and life-changing. The altars were full of young people crying out to God in
every service. Those concerned faculty members were amazed.
Yet occasionally Charles spoke
harshly, especially to sound technicians and musicians. If they failed to meet his
expectations the reaction was an immediate public rebuke. His occasional gruff
demeanor and bluntness was confusing to students, some were hurt and offended.
He was not perfect, yet heavenly results were clearly witnessed throughout the
week.
In the final service he read the
text from Isaiah quoted above. He told a story about a young missionary who was
deathly ill, lying in a small hut at a remote African village. As an Area Director
for the continent he immediately set out to find him. Searching and arriving at
the village lying deep in the wilds, he located the hut and discovered a young
emaciated body lying on a mat. His heart broke for the dying man and wept
silently.
Charles vigilantly stayed with the
missionary, consoling him, praying for him, comforting him, loving him. Shortly
before dying he looked at Charles and asked, “Do you think I did enough?” Charles
assured him that he had. The young missionary left his earthly vessel of clay
and entered the loving arms of Jesus.
Charles looked at the students in
the Chapel and said, “He was a nail in a sure place.” There was not dry eye at
the altar that evening.
From the Black Hills of South Dakota
and beyond Melvin Drews has left an indelible mark. He was a nail in a sure place.
Dependable
When we moved to Spearfish the church facility was in need of several
repairs and updates. The place had been used extensively for children ministry,
showing extensive wear and tear. Classroom walls had cracks and holes, doors
did not work properly or close correctly, a few rooms were constructed poorly or
left unfinished. Bathrooms and nurseries needed updating and better equipment.
I never had to worry about carrying a key for the building. The front doors
could easily be jimmied. During the high transits
season of the summer months I often wondered who to expect in the building
when arriving each morning. I
talked with church leaders about the numerous items needing attention. We began
to prioritize projects and pray for answers.
I would occasionally go to the KOA campgrounds and visit with Mel about what
would make the facility more presentable and welcoming to guest. Simple repairs
got immediate attention. He taught me how to effectively repair holes and
cracks in walls, making them disappear. He fixed and adjusted doors. He drew up
plans, determined the material costs, and projected the amount of work for larger
projects. When funds were available and major jobs became approved he sacrificially
gave valuable time for labor, along with his son Alan. He was someone you could count on, a nail in
a sure place.
My
father, a railroad engineer, died while my family and I lived in Spearfish.
Mel, a collector of railroad memorabilia and models, compassionately came
alongside and lovingly provided fatherly advice, when needed.
After serving at TBC I moved to Chicago. The church in a northwest suburb
started doing construction trips to Central and South America. I contacted Mel and asked if he would join
us. He personally covered all
his expenses, including the additional flight to and from Chicago, and became
the team foreman. He even got personal friends and churches to financially
donate toward building materials.
I told other team members I would get them into and out of the country,
but at the work site Mel was in charge. Before leaving he gathered information on what equipment we
should bring. Upon arrival he talked with the missionary, learned the status of
the project, determined what could be accomplished in a week’s time, and
oversaw the work. The missionary
got maximum performance from the crew. Time was well spent and much work was
done under his leadership.
Skillful
Mel knew the value of a carefully
placed nail. He knew how to effectively
use a nail for framing, shaping, securing, and strengthening. He was a
craftsman, a worker with tools, a designer. He could take a block of wood and
turn it into a piece of art.
Go to a church in southern California and you will see his expert skills.
Churches in the Northern Black Hills give
testimony of his handiwork. At the Spearfish church the front overhang leading to the
sidewalk from the building was designed and built by him with the help of his
son. He prepared the framework for new industrial-grade commercial glass doors,
securing the facility. The last
time I walked into the Lead church I noticed
the door trim entering the auditorium and said to myself, “Mel was here!” The
mark of excellence is found at entranceways and altars in various places.
Some may not have known Mel before he had a stroke, years ago. He was as tough as nails, had strong
convictions, could occasionally be stubborn, and sometimes appeared harsh.
Like all of us he was not perfect.
He was a man with a low tolerance for mediocrity. The word mediocrity was
not even in his vocabulary. He could not and would not settle for inferior
workmanship. If it was not going to be done right, if he was not given the freedom
to fully apply his expertise, he did not hesitate to emphatically voice his
disappointment or not get involved. Some became confused and possibly offended, but if they took time to
listen and looked deep inside his heart, they would quickly recognize a
sensitive man, desiring to honor God with his very best.
Nail scared
hands
Jesus
is the nail in a sure place, paying the price and providing salvation for
people bound by sin. Mel loved the Lord very deeply. In some ways he may have
better understood the Savior trained as a carpenter. He knew how painful nails
can be when puncturing skin. He understood the potential agony caused when nails
pierced hands and feet.
Mel embraced all the promises given
by Christ and fully understood what was meant when Jesus said, “I go to prepare
a place for you….” Jesus, the Supreme Construction Manager, has designed and
built a place beyond comparison to anything someone can presently comprehend. And
with confidence Mel is at that place.
(The word confident is the
combination of two Latin words cum fide, meaning with faith.) Mel was a man with sincere faith and now abides in a
custom-designed, perfectly built, heavenly place.
Nothing would make Mel happier than
for people to take time and affirm their faith in God. If you are a follower of
Jesus then celebrate God’s goodness and grace in providing peace, joy and love,
as well as an eternal dwelling place.
If you do not know Jesus, and you
know who you are, it is obvious to you, your life does not demonstrate love for
God and you are not living the Jesus way – then place faith in God. More than simply
convert, become a disciple. More than
an impromptu decision, enter a lifelong journey.
Genuinely follow Jesus.
You have an opportunity right now to
commit your life to Christ. No one
can live a perfect life, yet everyone
can live a forgiven life. Instead of walking further away from God, do an
about-face and come to Christ. Ask for forgiveness and willfully turnaround. Experience
firsthand the fullness and best of abundant life.
Include yourself in the promise of
an eternal dwelling place. According to God’s word a spectacular spot in His
presence awaits everyone loving the Lord. Many who personally know you are
already abiding in a heavenly home and want to see you there, including Mel.
Make the right decision. Talk to God!
Pastor great message. I really get about the true friends. As I get older and hopefully wiser I see who are my true friends and I am grateful for them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful memorial and inspiring lesson.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that. It made me cry because it is so true about my dad. So sorry you couldn't be there in person.
ReplyDelete