On Sunday February 7, 2010 a great Saint passed on to be with Jesus. Dr. Ken Hubbard died on Super Bowl Sunday, the Day the New Orleans Saints played the Indianapolis Colts led by the former University of Tennessee Quarterback Peyton Manning.
Dr. Hubbard had been suffering from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease for the last several years. This was very hard on all of those who loved him and his wonderful wife, Faye. If you are a Tennessee Baptist you probably already know how influential he was in Baptist circles. For my family he was our pastor from 1988 to 2005. Our son Jeremiah was the first person Baptized when he first came to First Baptist Smyrna. It was a cold morning with cold water in the Baptistry. The heater had quit again. Dr. Hubbard said that it was a bit cold but Jeremiah would do fine because he was a brave boy. So the time came in the service for Jeremiah to be baptized he went into the water and it hit him this is cold!! His teeth started chattering and he started walking on the water. Dr. Hubbard quickly dunked him. Jeremiah said that he was a believer and that he was following Jesus and wanted to for the rest of his life. He was in Kindergarten so it was a big decision for a young boy; it ended up being more memorable than he could ever have imagined.
Jeremiah grew up in stature and the wisdom of the Lord at FBC Smyrna, receiving a good foundation from the Children and Youth Workers. He has helped in a Church Plant and taught children in several churches. He married a wonderful Christian girl.
Dr. Hubbard started the transition from a midsized church to a very large Church where lives are changed and people sincerely care about being a Christ follower and realize what it costs. He made several courageous decisions that were not always popular. He mentored several people who are strong leaders today.
Towards the end of his pastorate at fifty some years in the ministry I was in charge of the benevolence ministry. I would work from 6:00 to 2:30 at Nissan as a maintenance technician, then I would drive over to the Church and help people in need. Sometimes it was food and electric, other times it was a place to stay because they were homeless. I worked in the Stamping Plant where it is very noisy so we hardly ever received phone calls. Dr. Hubbard would call and after I made it to the phone he would say in his deepest Holiest voice: "Dan this is your Pastor calling". This was very disconcerting because I felt for sure that something had happened to my family. It was always about whether we should help someone in need.
Last week Ken Hubbard hear the call from his Shepherd calling, "Ken come home, we have your place ready, many are waiting to greet you!
Dr. Hubbard thank you for influencing our family, you truly made Jesus proud.
