Jeremiah 5:5 I will get me unto the great men…

I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God… (Jeremiah 5:5)

I met Brother Ballew back in the fall of 2004 in Odem, Texas. He was preaching on the home. My wife and I got saved shortly after that meeting. Long story short, in the summer of 2006 we packed up and came to Resaca, Georgia to attend Faith Baptist Institute. My first year there was Brother Ballew’s last year teaching there. He may have taught again years later. I’m not sure. But for my part, this is where I spent the most time with Brother Ballew. Occasionally, he’d have a Sunday evening off the road and we’d see him at Concord. But other than that, it was at missions meetings, revivals, and camp meeting that I would get to hear him preach again. I got to drive him twice to meetings and even got to clear some brush at his house.

So you see, I don’t have the depth and intimacy with Brother Ballew that many others have been blessed with. I don’t claim to be close him, but I love him just the same. I am grateful for the man of God he has been to me. When Brother Ballew asked my son Frank to help drive him to meetings this past year, I was as grateful as I was envious. I was hoping he would ask me. I wanted that for myself, but I knew there would probably never be such great an opportunity for Frank than to spend some time with Brother Ballew.

I dare not boast more about our relationship than truth can tell. The last time we spoke might have been the first time he got my name fully right. Like I said before, I know I lack the depth and intimacy that others have had the privilege of. But understand that I’m an introvert by nature. I lack depth and intimacy with everybody. That being said, little is much when God is in it. It may be little, but with tear-filled eyes and a full heart I can honestly say it’s everything I’ve got. I’ve been under the influence of Brother Ballew all my Christian life.

Every time I fill out that little envelope on Sunday morning and look at the words Faith Promise, I think of Brother Ballew.

Every time I turn my bible to the letter to the Hebrews, because of Brother Ballew, in my heart I’m turning to The Book of Better Things.

Every time I think of the local Church (my local Church especially) and the doctrine of the Church, I think of Brother Ballew.

Every time I think upon Faith Baptist Camp I see Brother Ballew up there with his hands up raised shouting, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I think about that night on the way to the dining hall he stopped Patty and me and said he wanted to have a word of prayer with us. He prayed that we would know God’s will for our life. At a time I couldn’t get a prayer through I think maybe Brother Ballew got one up for us.

When I think upon Faith Baptist Institute and the sacrifice that my teachers made in order to help me, I think of Brother Ballew. He gave himself to us one night every week. I hardly remember all the different things he taught. But I do remember his faithfulness to the ministry of the college. I do remember his love for Christ and the Word of God. I do remember that he cared about us young preachers. I remember his heart’s desire to pass on what he’s learned. He may have not known me personally, but he gave of himself personally.

When I think upon the call to preach, I think of Brother Ballew. He is the preacher’s preacher. He is Elisha’s Elijah. Just tonight, as I sat under the tent at the Copper Creek Farm and as my son preached out of Luke 15, I looked over on the other page and found a note I had written:

Bro Ballew 6/20/07 CHARGE!!!
1) Cross to be carried…
2) Cost to be counted…
3) Course to be conquered…
4) Consequence to be considered…

When I think upon the Spirit-filled life, I think of Brother Ballew. I read something just a little while ago from another brother that sat in the same class with me that year at the college. Brother Chris Simpson couldn’t have said it any better:

Thank you Dr. Ballew for challenging an entire generation to go higher with God.

Lester Roloff once said that the old preachers used to preach on Calling Out The Call! Brother Ballew put it out there time and time again. I don’t know if he was pushing me or pulling me. After every message he preached, I always came out with greater hunger for the things of God. Always!

I remember sitting down there at Faith Baptist Camp on Monday morning of the 2017 Thanksgiving meeting. Brother Ballew preached on The Importance of the Church. You talk about grievous chastening! I wouldn’t be back here at Concord with my family serving God in His perfect will if it had not been for this precious man of God being faithful to preach that Monday morning.

Everything I know of the Word of God and of this life in Christ has been touched in some shape or form by Brother Ballew. His influence on me is probably more than I can even comprehend. The typing I’m doing this very moment is a testament to what Brother Ballew means to me. I write because he writes. I guess that’s what a hero does to you.

God bless you Brother Ballew. I’m proud of you. Living down here knowing that you’ll be up there among the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on makes me want to go with God.