Dear Wayman Family,
I have been in a little bit of a spiritual quagmire trying to wrap my thoughts and feelings around the death of my good friend, The Reverend Dr. Charles H. Belcher. Charles was the pastor of St. John AME Church here in St. Louis. I was eating dinner when I got the call that Charles had died from a massive heart attack while attending his church’s annual picnic. I rushed to the hospital only to find him in a dark room-lifeless- surrounded by his wife, Doris, the doctor, and the Presiding Elder.
I can’t stop thinking about the fact that I had just seen Charles a few days before at the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon. I guess I am wrestling with the fact that in addition to the reality that we only get to have a limited number of friends in life, their journey with us can be so fleeting. This experience has caused me to grieve in a place that I have never been before, but it has also helped to give me a greater appreciation for those who remain and who genuinely care for me.
I will miss the lunchtime conversation with Charles Belcher as he plotted with me to overthrow the power structure of our church (smile). I am going to miss the wise and methodical reasoning that he would offer in leadership settings. I will miss, most of all, picking up the phone and hearing Charles say, “Hello Great Leader.” I understood that Dr. Belcher was not trying to stroke my ego with those words; he was simply challenging me to live up to my potential.
I am weeping over the loss of my friend and I realize that it will be this way for a few days, but I am blessed to have friends and family here in the Wayman Nation. I want to encourage you to value the friends you have, learn from their counsel, and cherish each day you have them as if it is their last.
Yours in Christ,Dr. Timothy E. Tyler
Pastor
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