76CB9C22-5D8E-407E-885D-60574ED52FDDOne of the things I do with some degree a regularity is attend and participate in funeral/memorial services.  Having participated in over 200 and attended several others, you could say I have spent a lot of time in somber places.  Tomorrow I will be a participant in the memorial service of a pastor colleague.  His name was John Bouldrey, he was from Ohio and went to Olivet Nazarene University, he pastored the majority of his ministry in the state of Missouri.  His last pastorate was in Indiana and it was in a small church in a little town.  Nothing I have just said about John does justice to describing who he was or how he lived.  John was a leader, he was a part of the denominational leadership team when he lived in Missouri.  John was a friendly, kind, servant leader.  Once while visiting him at church, he sang a special and I realized he had an outstanding singing voice.  He loved his people, he was a shepherd and the impact of his life and ministry will only be fully known when we get to heaven.  John, experienced disappointment and heartache and grief like all in the human family.  He lost his first wife.  He later married Mary Jane and she became the love of his life as well.  We are keeping Mary Jane and the family in our prayers.  Grief is a powerful emotion.  We become overwhelmed by the loss.  Our hope as believers is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Because He lives we too shall live.

John’s quiet confidence had a great impact on all who knew him.  He was your friend from the moment he met you.  As I reflect back on his life I believe John is a person worth emulating.  I always felt better about myself and life after spending time with John.  He had the gift of being encourager even when he was not saying words.  You knew he cared about you.  I would like to follow his example.  He was always smiling and he had a positive influence on me.

His last pastorate was a small church, yet he was not a small person.  He always had big plans and big dreams.  Like John I do not want to be limited by where I serve, but I want to be the shepherd Jesus wants me to be right where I am today.

John did not prepare for death the day his health started to fail.  He prepared a long time ago, when he became a Christian.  Now, make no mistake Christians grieve, but we grieve differently.  The Bible explains the difference, we grieve as ones having hope.  Our hope is that death is not the end!  It is the beginning!  Death is not permanent it is only temporary.  As believers we really believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything.  Including our lives and our deaths.

John recently heard what we all long to hear, “Well done Child of God, well done.”

13 Thoughts to “Remembering our friend John Bouldrey”

  1. Vinita Alcorn

    I went to the small church where he was last. He was the most wonderful preacher I have ever heard. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful man of God. He will be missed greatly but I know he is where he always wanted to be.

    1. Thank you for your kind words. Rev Boudrey was a great man

  2. Rob Santel

    I first sensed a call to ministry praying with John at Pinecrest Camp when I was about 12 years old.

    1. Rob What a wonderful memory, thanks for sharing. God bless you

  3. Lisa Nonneman

    Bro. John was my Pastor in Missouri through my teen years. He and Barb were great influencers in my life. I’m sure as a teenager I didn’t show my appreciation for them as much as I should, but looking back now I can see their fingerprints in my spiritual life today. I will be praying for his family for God’s comfort and peace. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Lisa

      Thanks for your words. I will pass them along to the family. God bless you

  4. My husband, John, and I knew and loved the Bouldreys on the Missouri for years! Such special people and servants of God.

    1. Thank you for your kind words. I will pass them along to the family tomorrow Blessings

  5. Harold Bowlby

    John and I were at Olivet at the same time. We sat side by side in some of our classes and struck up a friendship. Little did I know that he would one day pastor on the same district of which I was a member. What a thrill it was for me to renew our friendship. Loved him with my whole heart and look forward to our reunion in Heaven.

    1. Harold Thanks for your comments. Thanks for your service for the Lord. You are a blessing. Thanks for being my friend

  6. My husband John and I knew and loved the Bouldreys on the Missouri District for years. Wonderful people! Thank you for sharing.

  7. It seems I have known John Bouldrey all my life. I think we first met at Pinecrest Camp in Missouri. I was a teen camper & he was one of the adult counselors. As a teen, I listened as my relatives discussed pastors from around the District. John Bouldrey was ALWAYS mentioned with great love & respect. In the late 1990s when I served near him on the Missouri District, my wife & I came to personally know & love John & Barb Bouldrey. He was a model-pastor worthy of emulating. My life was enriched by knowing him. My condolences to his family.

    1. Thanks Steve for your kind words, I will pass them on to the family. God bless you.

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