It is time to think about being in Mexico tomorrow, but my mind is on Willard Tate. In fact, as I think about the lectures that I will deliver on the subject of personal ethics for ministers to a group at a seminar in Mexico this week, my mind is drawn back to all those who were role models for me when I was much younger. Internships for ministry students in graduate school were not as common or as structured as they are today 25 years ago. I was just fortunate.

I interned with at a small, country church in the community of Hamby. The only things in Hamby at that time were a mom and pop store, an elementary school, the volunteer fire department and three churches. It was a friendly farming and ranching community. The church that I served eagerly reached out to the college students who would drive out in the country to attend a church that felt like home.

Students from rural backgrounds were especially drawn to Hamby. My friends at school called it “The Church of the Holy Belt Buckle.” Cowboy hats were spread all over the shelves in the church foyer.
I was hired as an intern to teach a Sunday school class comprised of kids ranging from 6th to 12th grade! I was charged with formulating activities for the college students. And I was given the privilege of preaching when the minister was traveling on Sunday. Willard Tate served the Hamby church on a part time basis for many years. After a successful career as a NCAA Division II basketball coach, he taught university level speech communication courses, traveled the country as a motivational speaker, and of course preached for the little congregation at Hamby.

Willard was a great mentor. He was kind and patient. And he had a wonderful sense of humor. In terms of speaking style as a preacher, he was ahead of his time in many ways. I was of course a graduate student, and graduate students know everything. They have all of the answers. I knew more than Willard at the time. And he was so patient…

I was known to do impersonations of Willard as a public speaker. We loved to poke fun of him when he was off doing one of his motivational speaking seminars. And then he got wind of it… He asked me to do my impersonation for the entire church at our going away party in 1987. When the church at Hamby knew that I had officially accepted my first full time ministry role after graduation, they threw us a great party. They were wonderful.

Tomorrow I will travel to Torreon, Mexico to lecture to ministers about ethics.  I am going to be delving into some very sensitive areas. I am not sure that I have earned the right to say the things that really need to be said. I will do the best I know how. I am so thankful that Willard helped to get off on the right foot professionally. Many ministers are not so fortunate.

Willard is on my mind tonight. I was told several days ago that hospice is saying he is most likely in his final week on this earth. He has been battling cancer for quite some time now. I am grateful that I had a long phone conversation with him while I was driving home from Austin last year. I think we both knew that it was going to be our final time to interact in depth. He could not believe I had been in full time ministry for well over 20 years. He told me how proud he was of me. I told him how much I appreciated all he had done for me over the years. He has always given me excellent references to prospective employers. He told me he loved me and I of course reciprocated.

I started to forgo the Torreon Trip this year, because he could very well pass this week while I am gone. But Jan encouraged me to go. She told me that Willard would be so proud to know that I am lecturing to ministers this week. I am not so sure. I think he would shake his head and say: “Those poor ministers in Mexico have no ideal what they are getting themselves into!” May God bless Willard with peace this week… I will be forever indebted to him.  It is time to think about being in Mexico tomorrow, but my mind is on Willard Tate.