Blaine and Deloris Anderson: Retirement Years and Kingdom Advance

  In a recent blog, I focused on John Shepherd and how he started a whole new ministry, Calvary Road Ministry (CRM), at the age of 63.  I mentioned that I wanted to put the spotlight on John and
what he accomplished in his latter years of life as a means to challenge and stir up the 60 and over crowd.  The message this segment of the USA population constantly receives from TV and other forms of media is that ones retirement years are to be all about recreation, hobbies and finally taking it easy.  However, as I pointed out, because John acted contrary to that popular message, and instead chose to use his influence and resources to start CRM for the purpose of Kingdom advance among the Maasai of

Kenya, he was able to enter the moment of meeting his Maker knowing that his latter years had been blessed with more souls won for the Gospel of Jesus than in his previous years.  What a blessing!

     In this blog I want to put the spotlight on a couple who were mobilized by John to serve a vital role in the growth and spread of CRM's influence: Blaine and Deloris Anderson.  John was both their pastor and dear friend when he retired from the active pastoral ministry to start CRM.  John recruited them to serve on the first team which came to work with me in Maasai-land in January of 1998.  After that first trip, Blaine was "hooked" and quickly made 5 or 6 trips to Kenya within a year or so.
 

     Now if you have never met Blaine, let me tell you, he is the classic example of an East Tennessee resident.  He has a library of old time country expressions to draw upon at the appropriate moment, and he uses them to full effect.  He was raised on a small farm in the hills near Knoxville and learned to plow behind a team of mules.  This bearded, always jolly giant of a man discovered that there was a niche for him to fill in Maasai-land: to bring a Gospel witness to older Maasai men who would not listen to men who were younger.  

 

     Deloris is as sweet as a well made TN apple pie, and she has proven herself to be a woman of many talents.  Currently she serves as CRM's treasurer, a role that has expanded greatly over the years.  She and Blaine have over the years become like a loving aunt and uncle to Renee and me, and we cherish each opportunity we have to enjoy the hospitality of their log cabin home.

     When I started partnering with John and CRM, I told him that one goal I had in mind for the partnership was to get more personnel for our Maasai Team.  Little did I know at the time that Blaine and Deloris would fulfill that goal. 

      Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, our sending agency had an ISC program which would allow senior citizens to serve on a field team for a period of between 4 months to 2 years.  Well, after

Blaine had made around 7 trips to Kenya, he shared with me and John that he felt the Lord was leading him to serve with us on the field for an extended period.  We prayed for him as he returned to his TN home to share this impulse with Deloris.  We were thrilled when we received news that she was very open to this idea, IF they could get medical approval from the agency to do so.

     You see, Blaine's physical heart had rhythm  issues.  His doctor had already been forced to stop his heart from beating 6 times so that it could be restarted in the proper rhythm.  But Blaine, being the man of faith that he is, felt such a small thing should not stop him and Deloris from serving!  

     So it was that they moved to Kenya the first time to serve a four month term, so that all involved

could see how their health held up.  The focus of Blaine's particular ministry was to be witnessing to older Maasai men.  We wanted him to travel all over Maasai-land, gather Maasai elders for a goal roast, and while together share with them stories from God's Word which would lead to a full Gospel presentation.  Who is better fitted for eating goat meat out under an Acacia tree in the African bush than an E. Tennesse hillbilly?  Nobody!  During that 4 month period, God blessed Blaine's willingness and tender heart with much spiritual fruit.  Ditto for all that Deloris did among Maasai women and children.  So at the end of that period, we asked them to return for a 2 year term and they agreed.

     Well, as the saying goes, the rest is history.  Blaine and Deloris not only proved to be willing and able witnesses to Maasai people, but they also came to be loved by all their colleagues.  After they finished that 2 year term, they continued to work with John and CRM.  Blaine's experience on the field equipped him to be a fine trainer of other older American men who would also serve in Maasai-land via CRM.  He also became something like a Logistics Coordinator for CRM's work.  Through the years, Blaine has had to work through a number of medical/physical issues, as is common for men in their 60s, 70s, and now 80s, but he has refused to allow any of them to throw cold water on the passion of his heart to see souls won for Jesus.  

     As I have observed the Andersons over the years, I have noted that their willingness to put the Gospel and Kingdom advance first in their lives during their retirement years has not necessarily made their lives all rosy and easy.  No, their Gospel-centered lives have in fact made things tougher in many respects.  There is a lot they have had to do without.  However, you would never know it when around them, because their laughter and good spirits are infectious.  

     So what motivates people like Blaine and Deloris?  Well, while I have never put this question to them directly, I can make a good guess.  I suspect it is the words of Jesus the Messiah who said "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  (Matthew 6:19-21)

     As I over the next month walk the section of the AT between Damascus, VA and Springer

Mountain in GA, I will think often of the Andersons.  And when I need some words of encouragement, I will call "Uncle Blaine."  I will also pray that God will enable Renee and me to finish up our lives in a fashion akin to that of John Shepherd and the Andersons.  I know it will not be easy.  But I also know it will be rewarding.

Uncle