The Brethren Church

A View from the Balcony

By Tim Garner

July 22, 2004

A Tribute and celebration of life lessons learned from Woody lmmel

As a young person growing up in the First Brethren Church of North Manchester, I sat up in the west side balcony of the church. There I worshipped and mostly listened. I will admit that during some services I would listen to Mark Baker plan his wedding, which never happened. There I held hands with my first true love. From the balcony I observed a common man, who week in and week out, served an uncommon God through his pulpit and people ministry. This common man was Woodrow I. lmmel.

Stories from his autobiography are filled with fun, family and faith. He shares of when he was in college how his landlord who lived downstairs would make sure the were up for their 8 AM classes and how on one occasion when they planned to sleep in, the landlord knocked on their door and tried to open it They had moved the bed in front of the door to prevent his entry. A few minutes later the guys who shared the room who awakened with a loud band as the landlord had slide a firecracker through the large keyhole of the door.

He tells us how he learned that the wife of the Landlord was working the crossword puzzles in the morning paper to keep her mind sharp. So, to have some fun, he climbed out of his second story window onto the porch roof and shimmied down to the porch. Picked up the paper went back upstairs where his roommates quickly worked the puzzle and then carefully folded the paper and placed it back on the porch. It took a couple of weeks but the landlord finally figured out what was going on.

Woody responded to the call of ministry and served only one church at N. Manchester first as a bi-vocational pastor and then later full-time. He served the church for over 22 years. With modest humor, loving heart and gentle leadership he created a foundation of health and growth which has served the N. Manchester church well even in a few tough years since his retirement.

This common Man serving an Uncommon God wielded uncommon influence. He was pad of the process by which three individuals at least were called in to full-time Christian service Boyd, Mark Baker, and me.

A Common phrase helped me: I remember after one of my first Youth Sunday messages, how he came to me with the attitude of a mentor and coach and said, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” This taught me a valuable lesson of which I need to be reminded on occasion. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. As we have the privilege of serving from the pulpit we must guard against using that platform as a place from which to bully people, nor to communicate a critical or even condemning spirit. Pulpit ministry must find that balance between the prophet proclamation of truth and the priestly function of grace and love.

A Catch phrase prompts action: Woody sought to be creative in his worship experience. He gave me permission to think creatively as well. The pulpit in N. Manchester sits in the corner of a fairly square room. One Sunday strung across the corner of the room over the pulpit was a big round wooden object with the letters TUIT. He proceeded to on the idea that we too often

use the excuse that we will do something when we get a ‘round tuit. He gave each of us a pocket size round wooden tuit and said, now you have no excuses here is your ‘round tuit.

On one Sunrise service, we entered the sanctuary and everything was draped in black, the pulpit the communion table, the organ. He approached the microphone and said, “Well, Jesus is dead. I guess there is no reason to be here this morning. You can go open.” Just then a person representation Mary Magdelene entered the sanctuary proclaiming that Jesus is alive.

Woody confirmed to be that having a relatively a common ministry in a small common town is an honorable call. We are to minister where we are with the gifts that we have been given. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

I experienced a man of faith who encourage me, supported me, invited me to a marriage counseling workshop. I observed from the balcony a man who lived his faith with earnestness and grace. Even after his retirement he continued to serve by leading as long as he was able, Goldenager trips by bus to various locations. He remained as active as his failing health allowed him. I remember visiting him during one of his several Ft. Wayne hospitalization in his last year of life. He said, “Don’t forget me.”

Woody, I can never forget you. Lord, I know you have allowed Woody great privileges in heaven. I know you have restored his sight, his health and his mobility. Lord, I know that this common man who served you with uncommon commitment will never be forgotten on either side of eternity’s current boundaries. Thank you for a friend, a mentor, and a pastor. May his legacy continue through those whom he lead to you and helped to guide closer to you.

A Memorial to Woody Immel, Joe Shultz, Bob Bischof, and Herb Gilmer

by Bill Walk

I am grateful for the influences Woody Immel has had in my life. This is some of what I learned from my view from the balcony.

Someone once said we are a composite of those around us. I find that especially true of the ones we are remembering today. The impact of the jives of Joe Shultz, Bob Bischof, Woody Immel and Herb Gilmer will last forever.

While was a student at Ashland College a new face appeared on the scene at ATS. His name was Joe Shultz. I didn’t always appreciate what Joe did or said. In fact, I reached a point that if Joe said it disagreed. God changed all of that and I grew to appreciate Joe’s ministry to Ashland, to the Brethren Church and to me personally.

I fondly remember visits made by Bob and Sea Bischof to my church while I was growing up. Missions have always been important to me and I can’t help but believe Bob played a very important pail in that.

I knew Woody more as Carolyn’s dad. That is how I first knew him. However, as a young man in ministry I saw his faithfulness and willingness to work and they impacted my life. I will never forget my disappointment when he was elected to serve as moderator of General Conference but could not serve because of health problems. His response to that was a blessing to me.

The first Gilmer I knew was Clarence. He was my pastor before I knew what one of those were. Watching him I experienced my first anointing. Then I met a young man named Arden, a fellow classmate. Then I came to know Herb. What a man. What a passion for people and their relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, when he moved to West Alex, what a friend.

Our loss is heaven’s gain. But we too gained as these men impacted our lives in many ways for Jesus Christ and our ministry for Him.