Appreciation: Bill Birdsong.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Appreciation: Bill Birdsong. When I was about 12, our family was invited to a fairly new church in Conway. It was only a couple years old, and I remember the first time we went there were about 200 folks worshiping there that morning. I remember that God’s glory fell every single Sunday, and we would all leave in awe of Him. There were weeks that we'd have 20 additions to membership, so many of which were new salvations. The music was alive and on fire. But it was the Pastor, and his messages, that hooked us. Fire and brimstone was never quite as fiery as when it came out of the mouth of Bill Birdsong.
Bro. Bill was a one of a kind man. And for those of us who had the privilege of knowing him, it seems like the years we got to know him just wasn’t long enough. He would tell you what was on his mind with seemingly no problem, but you knew that he cared when he did it. He was a country guy – hunting in the outdoors was his favorite thing. For a time before he passed away he, Mrs. Sheila, and his sons Matt and Luke lived on a pretty large ranch they’d bought up in Plumerville. And he loved it up there.
I was saved and baptized under the ministry of Bro. Bill. And not long after I accepted Christ, God began to deal with me about another huge decision in my life: ministry. I remember going to Bro. Bill for weeks on end to talk. I always thought it was strange that he seemed to be trying to talk me out of it. I thought that since he was in the ministry that surely he’d want others to be serving the Lord that way, so why on earth would he be trying to convince me otherwise? Later on, I found out from him that he was doing this intentionally. Had he been able to talk me out of the decision to surrender my life to vocational ministry, it would have been something other than the Lord calling me. But here I am today, and never been happier. And that has a great deal to do with the ministry of this great man of God.
It was a tragic day when Bro. Bill went to heaven. I still remember where I was when I got the call. I had to pull over, because the news took my breath away. I must say that’s one of the hardest funerals I’ve ever attended. But the thought of him dancing in glory still brings such an awesome joy and peace to my heart, and I'm sure it does the same for his family.
So today, I tip my hat to another great man of God, Bill Birdsong, who, though in glory now, has impacted countless lives for the kingdom during his lifetime, and continues to today even after his death. And to his family – Mrs. Sheila, Matt, Luke: thanks for sharing him with the rest of us for so long. I can only pray to be half the servant of Christ that he was.


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
Blake

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