1995 Jack Rickman

Jack Rickman - builder, business owner, friend, older guy, big heart.  Jack is a great guy.  I think he is going to Elizabeth Baptist Church on Bells Ferry Road in Marietta, Georgia.  I am certain that if he is going there then they know he is there.  He cannot be there without serving, helping and smiling. 

I first got to know Jack as our church built a 5,000 foot expansion onto our existing building.  Jack owned ACME Lumber and Hardware and provided most of the items at cost.  He was on the Church Council (wow, remember those long gone days!) and a deacon in the church.  Jack listened and worked with people.  I remember the first time I really noticed him.  He was about to kill a younger builder named Dart Kendall - a fellow church member - who had not yet mastered working well with others.  Not that Jack was not opinionated but Dart drove him nuts - "It has to be done this way....", Dart would say as Jack tried to lead.

Over time though, Jack stands out in my mind as gentle, slow-to-react but firm in decision.  He is to me, fair and even.  Jack left our church about 7 or 8 years into its development.  He was one of the founders and his grown kids went to the church as well.  Jack left after a horrible year and a half in the life of our church.  The then pastor's wife left with a church member, the pastor's daughter was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the music minisiter launched a coup, the pastor's wife processed a divorce against his will and in the middle of all of it, the church was transitioning from traditional deacon led to a more Biblical elder led leadership model.

Jack did not take sides nor open his mouth publically about the pastor's wife and her filing a divorce.  Jack did not take sides in the music coup and to this day I don't know that he ever stated a public opinion but sought for everyone to find resolution and peace.  Jack did nothing but care for and support the pastor's family and his daughter.   Jack flinched a bit when the pastor announced, "we need to vote and decide the church's stance because I believe that I am free to re-marry and I intend to one day and you all need to know that you can support it."  However, Jack understood his mission and still did not leave  - he had given all and felt led to start and champion this ministry for the community.  Jack did not leave when his kids left.  Jack did not leave when his friends left.  Jack did not join the pack animal behavior of most of the rest of the deacons.  Jack did not gossip.  Jack finally left when the vote came for the Elder Leadership system.  Even then Jack never was disrespectful.  He simply stated - to leadership - that he did not believe that he could make that change.  Jack and Mimi left.

Jack still checked in on the old pastor and when I became pastor, Jack came by to encourage me.  When we added on our last addition, Jack came by to offer his support and planning help.  Jack smiles when he sees all his old friends.  Jack did not run to the "hip" church that so many others left to go to.  Jack and Mimi sought the Lord.  Jack continued to do community ministry.  Jack loves me.  Jack loves God.  Jack understands that God is in charge and is comfortable with his decisions - therefore he can support others in theirs.

I am certain that Jack has an opinion but I don't know it.  I just know that Jack gets major points for following His God and trusting others to follow their God (the same God).  I know that to this day - no matter the disaster of that era, the split friendships of others, the pain of all that trial, the exhaustion of it all that may have led Jack and others to move, and the pain of leaving home - no matter it all - Jack loves me.

More importantly, Jack has continued to love everyone and stay out of the human fray.  Perhaps behind the scenes somewhere with someone else, Jack struggled with all of this but the result of Jack's life is to continue to seek the best for the Kingdom not only where he was led but where he left and where he was not led.  Jack loved us despite it all.  That is character.  Jack chose his own path with God and convicted no one else of theirs.  That is wisdom.