His Legacy
Charles R. Beach was the founder of the department and a powerful lay minister for 50 years. He was my trusted partner and
closest comrade-in-arms, for thirty years. He gave his heart and soul to
lay ministries, the Church of God denomination and its people.
He demanded much of all of us—and
he gave every bit as much back in loyalty, leadership, encouragement and
genuine friendship. When others became discouraged or weary in the
effort to win the unsaved, he never wavered. Again and again, he proved
to himself and everyone around him that Jesus came to "seek and
save that which was lost." Thanks to his leadership, his insight,
his incredible drive and determination, he played the central role in
shaping what is now a worldwide ministry of the laity.
These have not been easy days for
him since his illness. But through the shock, the tears and now the
mourning, we have all been sustained by an infinitely, all-knowing,
all-powerful God. If we could see him now we know he would expect us to
carry on this tremendous work. We can do no less—we will do no other.
For this beloved saint we could
easily say "He "endured"—he was tough and was faithful
to God to the end. Also, he "endeared"—he endeared himself
to our hearts.
For any believer who dies in
Christ, death does not have the final word. There is yet another
chapter. John 5 says we will rise from the grave through Jesus Christ,
our resurrected Lord.
We Dedicate These Scriptures to
Brother Beach:
Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven
saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them. (KJV)
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is
good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love
mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Leonard
C. Albert
Executive Director
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His Life
Born and raised in Stephenville, Texas, he served in the U.S. navy
during World War II. It was his experience in the navy, and especially
in returning home, that led both to his salvation in Jesus Christ and
his insatiable desire to win souls. Also after returning home he
received his higher education and ultimately his doctorate from the
University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was a Professor of
Romance Languages at Lee University and at one point the Chairman of the
Language Department.
None of this, however, sidetracked him from soul winning. He
was the faculty advisor for Pioneers for Christ at Lee University, which
trained many students by instruction and experience in soul
winning. He moved outside the confines of Lee by starting,
as a layman, the evangelism ministries of the North Cleveland Church of
God. The Rev. Dr. T.L. Lowery, First Assistant General Overseer
and then pastor of the North Cleveland Church, said, "I will always
remember you as the one who really created the lay ministry program of
training and outreach that still is in place today at our
church...because of your outstanding ability we were able to establish outreach
chapels all over the greater Cleveland area."
It was during this time that he met Lay Ministries Executive
Director, Leonard C. Albert, then at student at Lee. Albert
reminisced that "...(Brother Beach) gave me a copy of Evangelism
Explosion and my life hasn't been the same since! I will never
forget the first witnessing encounter...who would have known that her
ugly dog would bite!" He went on to say "Your devotion
to Bible study, your unbelievable knowledge of the Word, your knowledge
of the cultists, your exemplary prayer life and your love for your wife,
daughter and grandchildren have all greatly blessed and inspired
me."
Beach went from the local church to start the Department of Lay
Ministries (then the Office of Lay Affairs) in 1972, and remained there
for the next ten years. He also developed many of the materials
for witnessing to cultists and other evangelistic materials. He
received many awards including Lee Alumnus of the Year (1964), Church of
God Assembly Educator of the Year (1976), Vision Man of the Year (1978),
and the Stephen/Layman of the Century Award (1986).
Brother Beach was honored at a chapel service and reception at the
International Offices of the Church of God on October 6, 1999, where he
was recognized for his many achievements and the impact he had on the
Church of God and its people. In his own address to the chapel
service, he reminded everyone that the most important thing was to
fulfill Jesus' own central mission: "For the Son of Man is come to
seek and save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
The "Father of Lay Ministries" in the Church of God, went home to be with the Lord November 17, 2000. His death marks a milestone in the history of personal evangelism and lay ministries in the Church of God.
Materials by Charles R. Beach on this site:
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