Indiana
I was sitting at my desk when the receptionist informed me I had a phone call. I picked up the phone to answer, and was I surprised as an elderly gentleman on the other end cordially greeted me and introduced himself as "Pastor Roy Evan Phillips." Evan told me he had been a pastor for 57 years in a church of another faith. As we talked, I learned Evan was 85 years old, and he retired in 2002 because Opal, his lovely wife of 57 years, died, and he could no longer be a minister. I was both amazed at Evan's rich experience and sympathetic to what he was going through. It was obvious from our conversation that this pastor was both genuine and intelligent.
Evan startled me with the question that was on his mind: "Who changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday?" I have been around long enough to know that was a loaded question. Not knowing where this was going, why he was asking me, and wondering if Evan had an agenda behind that question, there was a great moment of silence on my part. Taking advantage of my silence, Evan broke in with additional, very helpful information. He said that from his personal Bible study he long ago decided that the Sabbath was Saturday and was still valid for Christians today. He added that he tried to share this conviction with his former members and fellow pastors, only to be shunned. Undaunted, Evan declared to me his firm conviction and wanted to know the history behind the change. Since I was a Seventh-day Adventist, he figured I knew the answer.
Again I was silent, but for a different reason this time. I was so astounded by his explanation. Evan again took full advantage of my silence by concluding, "From my study of the Scripture, I figured it was [the medieval church] that did it, but I would like historical proof of that fact."
At that, my silence left me. Hallelujah! I thought, I can answer that question! And so began a relationship that I know will last for eternity.
I soon found out that this sincere, Bible-literate, godly man had the same beliefs I do. Everything I shared with Evan he inhaled, and all it did was confirm his beliefs, not change them. After a number of visits and phone conversations, I realized that Evan was a Seventh-day Adventist through and through. In the meantime, I called Fred Troxell, who is pastor of the Irvington Church near Evan's home. The pastor and his members took this wonderful man under their wings and loved him the rest of the way into God's church of Bible truth! He called me every week to tell me what a wonderful church Irvington is and how happy he is to have a loving church family again.
In a few short months I began to pray, "Lord, should I say anything to Brother Evan about baptism?" This man was a pastor for 57 years in a number of churches and even denominations. Evan ran a street ministry and a mission in downtown Indianapolis. He was a seminary professor who taught Daniel and Revelation, among other things, and was baptized before I was born! Should I ask him? But there was no need for me to worry or wait, because the phone rang one day and it was my sweet friend Evan, asking me to baptize him at the Irvington Church on December 15, 2007. Would I? You bet I would! And what a grand and glorious day it was!
If you ever go to the Irvington Church on Sabbath morning, don't miss this happy gentleman (who is now 86) with the infectious smile! If you talk with Evan, you will see how much he loves Jesus and how he lives only for Him. That is if you can get to him, since he is always surrounded by so many of his new church family!
Peter Neri, ministerial director, Indiana Conference
