In Honor of My Friend, Dr. Kevin McCreless

I want to honor my friend, Dr. Kevin McCreless. I knew of Kevin for a long time, even going back to Samford days, but when I was "talking" to Rainsville First about coming to Rainsville, I called Kevin. From that day on, we had a very close relationship while pastoring less than a mile from each other. He was always so kind to me and supportive of the ministry of Rainsville First and me personally. We had a wonderful pastor group together for a year or so and got to know him even better. We tried to revive another pastor group last fall and met one time before we couldn't continue. He introduced me and invited me to attend the Pastor's group of Dr. Haddon Robinson's meeting in Wisconsin and during COVID I did get to attend one of the week-long sessions via Zoom in his office while studying Ezekiel. What a man to give 33 years of his life to one church and community.

He was always a learner...talking about a book that had challenged him, a passage of Scripture that he had gotten new insights from, and always eager to listen to ideas of others to do ministry better or differently.

And I want to thank Broadway Baptist Church for the way you honored him in his retirement. I'm so glad you gave "your flowers" while he was living. And I will always be thankful I got to attend the last part of that service in February.

Thanks, Paul Murphy and Justin Spurgin, for letting me go with you to visit with him one afternoon. I will never forget our time together.

To Mrs. Terri Boles McCreless, I'm so sorry retirement plans did not turn out like you or him planned, but praying for you in the days ahead as you have the support of your family and church family. Blessings to the children and grandchildren. You have a great legacy that's been given to you by a faithful father.

Well done, my friend. Well done... Rainsville will never be the same without you, but to be with Jesus is better and the true reward. "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" (Revelation 14:13)