Herb Bleakney”“Unpaid, Unsung Youth Ministry

By Shawn McMullen

My father-in-law, Herb Bleakney, worked for decades in a Pennsylvania steel mill. That was his day job. But in the evenings and on weekends, he was part of an elite group of men in his smaller church who took upon themselves the task of discipling the young people in their congregation.

The men who helped him also worked full-time jobs, cared for their families, and served the church in many other ways. Even so, while my wife and her siblings were in their teens, these men poured themselves into the lives of the church”s youth. They planned activities, took them on distant trips to youth events, and gave up weeks of vacation time to be with them at Christian service camp.

MULTIPLIED IMPACT

As I understand the story, it began this way. The teens at First Christian Church in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, had developed a reputation for running off Sunday school teachers. The exasperated leaders of the church asked Herb to take the class. The first Sunday morning he met with the class he began, “I know you”ve had a few teachers recently who came and went quickly. I just want you all to know that if anyone leaves this class from now on, it won”t be me!”

Not every teacher could get away with such a stern introduction. But Herb had the unique ability to combine a no-nonsense approach to youth ministry with a tender affection that endeared him to the kids he taught. And so for several years Herb and his coworkers””Harry O”Brien, Don Gehring, and Bob Higgins””taught the young people of First Christian Church to know, love, and serve God.

Through the efforts of these men and the support of the church, 22 young adults from their youth group enrolled in Christian colleges during that period.

Two members of the group, Dennis Herko and Mary Pascoe, married and now serve as missionaries to Jamaica.

Sharon O”Brien met her husband, David Pryor, at Bible college and the two served for years with Pioneer Bible Translators in Papua, New Guinea.

Nick Tomeo entered the youth ministry and now teaches youth ministry at Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian University.

Herb”s daughter Janine met her husband, Dale Cornett, at Bible college. The two have spent the last quarter of a century equipping and encouraging church leaders at Boise (Idaho) Bible College.

Kevin O”Brien, another member of the youth group, serves Johnson Bible College as public relations director.

Youth group member Carol Faroni met her husband, Ken Henderson, in Bible college. For more than 30 years the two have worked side by side in the ministry of Teen Mission USA, equipping church leaders and sending missionary teams around the world.

I”m particularly grateful for Herb”s influence on his youngest daughter, Ree. She and I met as students at Cincinnati Christian University. Although I had to wade through a pool of male admirers to gain her attention, we eventually married and have served together in ministry for nearly three decades.

Many others from this youth group are serving Christ today in their local churches and as faithful Christian servants in the workforce.

The impact Herb and his coworkers had on the young people in their church spread to young people in other churches as well. Because their work in Christian service camp brought them into contact with many young people from area churches, they became well known in their region of the state. While visiting my in-laws on vacations and holidays, it wasn”t uncommon as we walked through a department store or sat in an area restaurant to be approached by adults who greeted Herb with a warm hug, thanking him for the spiritual impact he had on their lives through a youth group, in a Sunday school class, at a youth rally, or during a week of church camp when they were teenagers.

LIFELONG IMPACT

It would be difficult to measure the impact these men had on a generation of young Christians. However, I caught a fleeting glimpse of their influence last winter when my father-in-law lost his life in an automobile accident. The memorial service we attended in his honor was held in the auditorium of the church he had loved and served for so many years. The building was filled to capacity.

Kevin O”Brien, one of the young men from the youth group Herb had discipled, stood before the congregation and told how Herb had challenged him as a young man to continue his preparation for the ministry even though he had made other plans. He had completed a year of Bible college but had made up his mind not to return in the fall.

That summer Jerry and Sally Deemer, members of the Ellwood City church, flew to Arizona and asked Kevin to bring their car to them from Pennsylvania. (Sally is Herb”s sister.) Before Kevin left on his trip, Herb called and asked to meet him at the church building. When they came together Herb said, “Kevin, you know you have many long hours ahead of you as you travel out West. I want to encourage you not to listen to the radio while you drive, but rather to spend your time talking to God about your direction in life.”

Kevin took Herb”s advice, and midway through the trip stopped at a pay phone to call Herb and tell him he had decided to return to Bible college and continue his training for ministry. He acknowledged that he is in the ministry today largely because of my father-in-law”s influence.

When they heard about Herb”s death, Dennis and Mary Herko searched diligently for a flight from Jamaica to the States so they could attend the funeral. When they realized they couldn”t return home in time, they faxed a letter to be read during his memorial service thanking God for Herb”s love, influence, and direction. In the days that followed, “kids” from his youth group called, wrote, and stopped by the house to pay tribute to Herb and express their gratitude for the time he and his coworkers invested in their lives.

This remarkable ministry took place years ago in a smaller church where a few ordinary but faithful men with no formal training took it upon themselves to disciple the church”s youth. Outside of an occasional pat on the back or a word from a grateful parent, these unsung heroes received little recognition for their work. But then again, they weren”t seeking it. They were simply serving Christ and his church the best way they knew how.

The Christlike love and sacrificial spirit Herb and his coworkers displayed while discipling the youth of First Christian Church have made a difference that spans generations. Their examples inspire and encourage me.

FUTURE IMPACT

As the minister of a smaller church, I have great respect and admiration for the men and women who volunteer in our children”s and youth ministries. We have a number of godly young people in our church today largely because we have a number of godly adults who are passionate about helping them grow up into Christ.

These adults have full-time jobs, care for their families, and serve the church in many other ways. More than likely, they will receive little recognition for their efforts outside of the encouragement they get from the local church. But then again, they”re not seeking it. They”re simply serving Christ and his church the best way they know how.

Still, who knows the extent of the impact they”re having today on future generations for the sake of the gospel?

 

 

Shawn McMullen, editor of The Lookout (www.lookoutmag.com), also leads Standard Publishing”s Energizing Smaller Churches Network (www.escnetwork.com) and ministers with the Church of Christ at Milan (Indiana).