16 Dec

IN MEMORIAM: JACK BOHANNON, AN EVANGELIST TILL THE END

RMCNews with Eric Nelson … Jack Bohannon, long-time evangelist, pastor, and Union president, went to sleep with Jesus on November 24, 2021, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jack Bruce Bohannon was born on November 29, 1933, in Fitzgerald, Georgia to Bill and Belle Bohannon. He was one of seven children.

Times were tough for the Bohannons during war rations. Jack’s parents divorced, and the family struggled. At one point, there was talk of placing the children in a Methodist orphan home in Selma, Alabama. However, the family did remain together when Bohannon’s stepmother agreed to keep the seven children.

In 1946, Pastor William Hatch (future Colorado Conference President) conducted a series of evangelistic meetings in Titusville, Florida where the family had moved. Bohannon and his sister sat on the front row. He was soon baptized. The church encouraged him to attend Forrest Lake Academy and helped fund his education. He also attended Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tennessee graduating in 1957 with a theology major. It was there that he met and married Donna Weber on May 31, 1955.

Jack began his pastoral career in the Georgia Cumberland Conference as an intern and was sponsored to the seminary, completing his studies in 1958. He returned to Georgia to write and broadcast radio programs and conduct revival meetings.

In early 1962, the Bohannon’s accepted a call to Iran to serve as pastoral and evangelistic missionaries, learning the Fasi language. During a furlough, Jack completed a doctorate in speech communication and a minor in radio and television production from Michigan State University in 1968.

He became the chair of the Theology Department at Middle East College in Lebanon in 1962.

Returning stateside, he became the ministerial director and evangelist for Colorado developing a unique three-screen, nine-projector media program for his presentations. Soon, he was called to serve as an evangelist for the Central Union (now Mid-America Union Conference).

He served as pastor for the College View Church in Lincoln, Nebraska and taught homiletics at Union College. Before returning to Colorado, he moved to the Lake Union Conference to serve as their evangelist.

In 1987 Bohannon was called to be the Union President for the newly-organized Uganda Union Mission.

He retired in 2005 from official full-time ministry, having completed 46 years of service for the Lord.

In 2007, he and his wife Donna became leaders at Colorado Springs South Church with a passion for educating and training leaders in the church.

Reflecting on Bohannon’s life and ministry, Eric Nelson, former RMC vice president of administration, said, “His ministry included a breadth and versatility that few have ever experienced.  His life was a testimony of how God can use His servant coming from very humble beginnings to serve the world church as pastor, evangelist, missionary, theology professor, trainer, conference administrator, and union president.”

Nelson added, “I’ve never known anyone with such breadth of experience. Though Jack was not one to mince words, there was never any question of his dedication and love for Lord.”

Bohannan was in the middle of a Revelation Countdown series of meetings at the Colorado Springs South Church when he went to sleep waiting for the trumpet to wake him.

Dr. Jack Bohannon is survived by his wife Donna, two brothers, one sister, and his children–Dale, Lorielle, and Scott.

–RMCNews with Eric Nelson, former RMC vice president of administration

11 Mar

THE FUTURE LOOKS HOPEFUL

By Eric Nelson – Denver, Colorado … In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our region in a big way and during the ensuing year, life has changed drastically. The resulting impact and the accompanying angst have caused many to become anxious and discouraged and to feel isolated. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of God’s plans to give us hope and a future. Our hope for the future is not just in a more normal existence, but in a wonderful walk with Him in this life and an eternity spent with him.

In recent weeks, hopeful signs indicating a decrease in restrictions and a lessening of the impact of the pandemic within the Rocky Mountain Conference are beginning to emerge.

On March 2, Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated that he was looking forward to a “more normal” summer, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon announced that his state will remove its statewide mask requirement and resume normal operations on March 16. This decision reflects the state’s continually-improving health metrics and is consistent with the governor’s approach of balancing public health with protecting livelihoods. We view these measures as hopeful signs that many of the restrictions may be lessening and our lives returning to a “more normal” state in the near future.

Within the Rocky Mountain Conference, steps are being taken to re-open several events that were put on hold this past year. We look forward to the re-opening of camp meetings, Town Hall meetings, in-person church events, and summer camp.  These events are currently in the planning process and we are very hopeful that they will occur even if in an altered state.

Out of an abundance of caution, we will continue to encourage the practice of safety measures until our communities and states indicate it is no longer necessary. We are, however, anticipating a lessening of restrictions within the near future.

In the meantime, stay connected with each other, stay connected to God and stay connected to your church family.

–Eric Nelson is RMC Vice-President for administration; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

27 Aug

TOWN HALL MEETINGS UNDER COVID-19 CONDITIONS

By Eric Nelson – Denver, Colorado … The pandemic has changed many things in our lives from normal to new normal, or at least an adaptation of normal that accommodates our unusual circumstances.

RMC Bylaws direct Conference administration to conduct Town Hall Meetings once a year in each of the six regions of the conference. These meetings facilitate hearing from our members and allow leadership to share information and reports regarding the status of the conference Due to the restrictions in the three states in our territory, it is not possible or advisable to hold area meetings of this size.

As a result, the Executive Committee has authorized RMC administration to receive input from the membership in the form of questions. These questions can be sent to the special email address established for this purpose – [email protected]. Please include your name and the name of the church where you are a member of. The deadline is September 1, 2020.

RMC leaders plan to record a presentation that will be placed on the Conference website that will share reports from administration. A portion of the Town Hall video will be spent in answering questions emailed to administration. This presentation may be viewed personally or as a group at your local church on or after October 9.

While this plan is not as enjoyable as sharing face to face, it will fulfill the intent and requirement of the Bylaws and is an alternative that we need to use during these challenging times.

–Eric Nelson is RMC VP for administration