Names Remembered

This has been an unusual, strange and sad day. I received word a while ago that the Rev. Dr. Barry Van Deventer, former Executive Presbyter of the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery and personal friend, was welcomed into the loving arms of his Savior earlier this morning. Kay and I were youth advisors for the junior high youth group at the First Presbyterian Church, Beaufort when we met “Barry” for the first time on the front door step of the Fellowship Hall on a Sunday evening.

Barry was instrumental in my coming under the care of the presbytery as a ministerial candidate in October 1976 following my discharge from the Navy. Compared to the requirements that are necessary today to become a ministerial candidate, this was a most unusual move. Why? Because I still had three years of undergraduate work to complete before I could enter seminary. Another interesting dynamic was that First Presbyterian, Beaufort was my sponsoring congregation. For six years, FPC, Beaufort and Barry Van Deventer made sure that I stayed on track.

Barry supported my first call as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in service to the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, where Kay and I, and the girls (this was before Sam) were involved in the lives in the people of Edisto for six years before my recall to the Navy, this time as a Chaplain. Following Desert Shield/Storm, I excused myself from the SAN JAC following the early morning muster on a Monday, the day after Easter 1991. I was granted permission to cross the quarterdeck and walked down the pier (Norfolk Navy Base) to a telephone booth where I placed a call to the presbytery office in Charleston. When Barry answered the phone I made the following request, “Barry, I want to come home. At my age, it’s not right for me to leave Kay by herself with four children for long periods of time and besides, I miss parish ministry.”

And this was Barry’s response, “Steve, you wouldn’t believe what I was doing when I answered your call. I was about to pick up the phone and call Washington DC in order to find your location and phone number. I’m hoping that you might be interested in a New Church Development we’ve started in Beaufort.” I couldn’t believe it. The rest is history.

Barry was loyal to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in his position of leadership was a visionary. He initiated a Capital Campaign within the churches of our presbytery and raised enough capital to support five (5) New Church Developments, one of which was the Sea Island Presbyterian Church. Christians sitting in the pews of Presbyterian congregations throughout the lowcountry provided the funds to purchase the 6 acres where our buildings now sit and financially supported our operating budget for five successive years until such time we could stand on our own two feet. Nearly three quarters of a million dollars was invested in this community of faith, all the money coming from people who were not members of this new church family.

You may remember a congregational email a week or so ago when I shared my admiration for the Rev. Dr. Richard Cushman, organizing pastor of the Dorchester Presbyterian Church, Summerville, Honorably Retired. I’ve known Richard since 1965. When I learned of Barry’s death, I called Richard who is currently a patient at MUSC, Charleston. Richard is suffering from advancing dementia. I was surprised he was able to answer the phone. I introduced myself whereupon he said, “It sure is good to hear your voice!” I explained that I had heard that he was not feeling well and wanted to call and say hello. I let him know that I had shared some of our history in a congregational email telling everyone how we were long-standing friends and how much I admired and respected him. At the end of our visit, Richard said something I will always remember. Regarding his dementia, he said that our faith brings us comfort and strength in times of trouble, but our faith never protects us. It never protects us. I said goodbye telling Richard that I will keep him in my heart and prayers. He thanked me and replied, “I’ll pray for you, too, if I can remember your name.” We laughed, but as I hung up I knew what he said was true. If he could remember my name.

Barry Van Deventer and Richard Cushman. Two faithful saints of the church. What a tandem. What friends and mentors they have been for people like me. Hard-workers, serious-minded but not too serious, funny and deeply committed to the Jesus Way. The “Old Guard” begins to pass away. Looking forward, thankful for their lives and witness, the Lord Jesus will always remember their names and I will, too.

It’s been a heck-of-a-day. Life continues. There is a pandemic to fight and ministry to do. In the words of the apostle Paul, “We press on.” Good night my friends as we pray for those who are suffering from today’s severe weather and pray that each of us will be safe in the heavy rain and blowing wind. May the Lord bless and keep you. In Christ +

—
Steve Keeler, Pastor
Sea Island Presbyterian Church