By Victor Knowles
Abraham was such a godly man that he drew the applause of Heaven. God gave him ultimate praise: “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just” (Genesis 18:19). Dwight L. Moody said, “I believe the family was established long before the church, and my duty is to my family first. I am not to neglect my family.” Strong families produce strong leaders that produce strong churches.
Perhaps the most famous father-son preaching pair in the Restoration Movement was Thomas and Alexander Campbell. In the book Home Life and Reminiscences of Alexander Campbell, Selina Huntington Campbell extolled the virtues of their “family circle” in which “nothing was permitted to interrupt.”
Christian Standard asked me to interview several father-son combinations in order to discover how the home environment and ministry experience led the second generation into ministry. I spoke with four families.
The Russell Family
Rusty Russell, lead minister at the Jeffersonville, Indiana, campus of Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, Kentucky), is the son of Bob and Judy Russell. For many years, Bob Russell preached at the parent church.
Rusty said the reason he is in the ministry is because of his mother. “Nobody”s perfect, but there is one thing I never heard my mom do: criticize my dad or complain about being the preacher”s wife or living in the “˜fish bowl.”” Rusty always wanted to follow in his father”s footsteps. “I thought my dad was a great preacher. I loved hearing him preach. It was natural to think, I”d love to be able to do that for people when I grow up. When I did begin preaching, my dad was my best encourager.”
Bob, who now directs Bob Russell Ministries, had a good example in his own father. “He was not a preacher, but his faith was so real and the church such a vital part of our family routine and discussion, that choosing to go to Bible college was normal.”
Bob and Judy did their best to “extol the joy of preaching and the positive aspects of the church” to their sons. “Our sons experienced nightly devotions and frequent conversations about how the Lord was at work in their lives,” Bob said. The Russells also entertained preachers and Bible college students in their home. Both Rusty and Phil (who chose law enforcement as a career) married Christian women, are faithfully serving the Lord”s church, and are teaching their children to know Christ.
The Stone Family
Jeff and Dave Stone are the sons of Sam and Gwen Stone (Sam is a former editor of Christian Standard). Jeff is senior minister with Bright Christian Church, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, while his younger brother, Dave, is preaching minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. Both brothers praised their mother for her positive support of their father”s ministries and churches they served.
Dave said, “When dad was away from home preaching, Mom would point out how fortunate those people were that they were getting to hear our father preach.”
At age 5, after a service, Jeff would stand with his father at the door of the church and help him “shake them out.” Jeff added, “Our dad took us with him when he would go calling on people. His day-in, day-out integrity was compelling.”
“We encouraged our sons to be faithful Christians, actively serving the Lord, but we didn”t “˜push” them toward ministry,” Sam said. “We always prayed that they would grow up and stay true to the Lord. That was our first priority!”
When Gwen was seriously injured in a head-on auto accident, she was confined to bed rest every afternoon. Jeff and Dave were 8 and 6, respectively, so Sam would leave one boy with Gwen and take the other boy with him on ministerial calls.
Said Sam: “By spending all this time with me, they became comfortable in visiting with people of all ages. God used that tragic accident to bring good””helping them both realize they could become comfortable in ministry too.”
The Kastens Family
Bob Kastens was born and raised in New York City, but did not enjoy the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. He joined the Air Force and, in 1962, married Etta Raulston, a member of Mountain View Church of Christ, Maryville, Tennessee. Soon after that, Bob became a Christian. They attended a North American Christian Convention in 1966 and answered God”s call to the ministry. After many years of ministry in Louisville, the Kastens now serve with First Christian Church, Crossville, Tennessee.
Their sons, Rob and Ron, have chosen to follow in their father”s footsteps. Rob is executive minister of Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Maryland, and Ron is senior minister with CrossWay Christian Church, Nashua, New Hampshire.
“My mom and dad modeled for me a tremendous love for the church,” Ron said. “I have seen my dad toil in very difficult situations, often in obscurity. Their desire to love people and help people influenced my decision to serve.”
“Mom and dad simply loved people,” Rob added. “We joke with them now that we never remember a family meal or holiday when we didn”t have a guest with us. Their love for people shaped me as well.”
Why did both boys choose to enter the ministry?
“My dad is a living example of the power of God”s love and grace to change a life,” Ron said.
“Once my dad placed his trust in Christ, it became a fire within,” Rob said. “That same burning passion for the local church has consumed me as well. The igniting spark came from what I saw and experienced with my father.”
The Idleman Family
Kyle Idleman, teaching minister at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, is the son of Ken and Kaylene Idleman. For many years, Ken served as president of Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and he now serves as senior minister with Crossroads Christian Church, Newburgh, Indiana.
Kyle recalls his parents” consistent faith. “If my parents forbade us from watching a certain movie, I knew they wouldn”t see it either. When I came down the steps for school, Mom was there with a coffee cup in one hand and a Bible in her lap. Every night my dad would kneel beside my bed and pray. In his prayers he would often confess some of his sins and ask God to help him be a more loving husband and patient father.”
“I took Kyle with me on preaching trips from time to time,” Ken said. “I remember him, as a 5-year-old, pulling me aside one Sunday evening, saying, “˜Dad, I want to pway fo” you befo” you pweach.” A few short years later I would stand beside him in the “˜green room” at Southeast Christian Church and say to him, “˜Son, I want to pray with you before you preach.””
Ken and Kaylene emphasized starting the day right.
“In the morning at 7:30 we gathered for breakfast, a daily thought from the One Minute Bible, and prayer before school.” The couple also exposed Kyle and his sisters to respected Christian leaders by hosting them in their home and listening to Christian radio.
“In a nutshell, our approach was to pray, model, counsel, and expose our children to ministry as a high calling, privilege, joy, and adventure!”
Victor Knowles is founder and president of POEM (Peace on Earth Ministries), Joplin, Missouri. POEM”s Web site it www.poeministries.org.
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