Saturday Thoughts...Dad's funeral services

Just to continue some thoughts regarding Dad's funeral services Thursday evening and Friday.

We arrived back home today around 1:30 pm. I really appreciate all the flowers, gifts, e-mails, cards, and phone calls we have received. I know many of you would have liked to have attended but couldn't because of the weather, distance, or having to work. That's very understandable. Nevertheless, thank you so much for your prayers(I don't know what people do that are not covered in prayer)and kind words and deeds.

The service itself yesterday was beautiful. Everyone did a wonderful job. The crowd was made up of some family, friends, and many, many pastors and ministers. My uncle from Arkansas led off in prayer. He is faithful Baptist deacon who has been a successful small businessman in Arkansas for as long as I can remember. He and his wife Carolyn came up Tuesday ahead of the snow storm and went back Friday. They are precious people.

My other uncle, Pastor Jerry Ballard (Columbus, Indiana), followed his brother Bud with the reading of the obituary and a Eulogy. He did a wonderful job sharing about their boyhood growing up in Pumpkin Bend, Arkansas. He talked a lot about the mischief he, dad, Bud, and Gene (my deceased uncle) would get into and how my grandfather would discipline them (the old-fashion way which would be considered abuse today). Jerry and dad have always been close. Dad led Jerry to Christ when they first came up to Indiana to work. Later, Jerry led dad in receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I really appreciated Jerry's wife, Geraldine. Geraldine has been the Executive Secretary & Treasurer at the Indiana State Office for a long time. The State Overseer of Indiana refers to Geraldine as the "real Overseer" of Indiana (he's kidding of course..I think). Anyway, Geraldine made so many phone calls for me this week and printed the programs for the service. I don't know what we would have done without her. She is a jewel!

My dad and mom's pastor, Maggie Phipps, who pastors a church called "Caring and Sharing" in Indianapolis followed with another eulogy. They have a wonderful ministry that feeds and provides clothing and lots of other services to many, many people on the west side of Indianapolis. Maggie is well-known throughout Indianapolis and loved by the community. She is quite a servant of God.

Next my sister's family shared. My niece, Bree, who is a gifted writer, shared her thoughts about dad. The funeral director later told me has has never seen someone so young share so eloquently in that kind of setting before. Then, my sister and her husband shared their memories back to back. One thing that Bob (my brother-in-law) shared that I had never heard before really blessed me. He said back in the early 90's when he and Candace moved to the east side of Indy from Lee College. He got a job selling cars at a car lot not too far from where my dad worked at the Kroger plant before dad went into full-time ministry. Bob told us that he would often run into people that worked at Kroger. He would ask them if they knew Don Ballard. Now this is fifteen years after dad had left Kroger. But Bob said that everyone that he talked with that knew or remembered dad spoke of his "high character and his Christ-like life."

Candace was not on the program to share. Nevertheless, she did a wonderful job. I am really proud of Bob and Candace and their beautiful children, Bree, and Danielle.

Afterwards, everyone viewed a video tribute to dad. I had worked on this particular video all week and I would cry as I would work on it. Annette watched it with me for the first time Wednesday night and we sat and cried together. Anyway, as you can imagine, I don't think there was too many dry eyes in the place. I might play it Sunday AM if the KP family wants to see it. If you attend KP and you want to see it, please let me know before the service starts.

My brother followed the video. I felt sorry for him. But he is such a powerfully anointed speaker...he did great. Tom and I both were with dad when he died Monday. He shared a little about that and some other humorous stories. I might share some of Tom's thoughts at a later time. It was really good!

After Tom, the assistant pastor of dad and mom's church shared an old song called "God Walks the Dark Hills." Of course, it was one of dad's favorites. Then, Woodrow Alley, one of dad's long-time pastor friends shared some thoughts and stories. Woodrow and his wife came and prayed for dad about this time last year. God really used Brother Alley to prophesy over dad. I sincerely believe that God gave dad one more year to fulfill Brother Alley's prophesy. Brother Alley is 75 years old and still evangelizing. I know the KP family enjoys his ministry.

Finally, I concluded the service with a few thoughts and an altar call. It all started with dad back in the early 60's which would eventually lead to all of dad's family (dad, mom, and six siblings) coming to Christ. Dad's children and grandchildren know Christ as their Lord and Savior. But dad was always burdened for a few family members and close friends that were still out there lost. It is my prayer and dad's that everyone that was at the funeral service left there with the assurance of eternal life. Dad will be looking for you when the rapture takes place very soon. I hope he finds you there.

Dad's body was buried in a little country cemetery in Clayton, Indiana, not too far from where Annette and I lived before coming to Ohio. It's a beautiful little spot with a farm and cornfield not too far away. It is definitely dad's kind of place. One day soon he will be looking down on that very ground when his body comes out of that grave (I Thessalonians 4:15-18) and joins his spirit in the air. I plan on following his body to that great homecoming in the air! Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

-Pastor Randy