Evendays

He may have been my first “out-of-the-family” hero. The preacher John Banks always paid attention to me and I tried with all my might to listen to him.

Though I was led to Jesus by my parents, John (did I call him John, or Brother Banks?) was instrumental in that process. He was intelligent. He was fun. He was a Bible student. He would often cry when he preached even though to look at him, you knew he was tough as nails.

To a kid growing up in a new church, he was bigger-than-life. He owned a motorcycle (which he once let me ride) and a jeep, and he would drag church members out to the west-side or even to Death Valley (not me) for jeeping. He had a plane (which he once let me fly) and a Bible question and answer show that broadcast from some lost country studio into a sleepy, central-California night.

On Saturdays, Dad would mow and edge his lawn and I would pull his weeds. Bernice, whom he called “Plunk” and who was WAY fun, would fix us ice tea.

He challenged me to love Jesus and he encouraged me to do good. I responded to the call and he baptized me into Christ over 35 years ago.

On Saturday, his body will be laid to rest in central-California soil, awaiting glory, awaiting redemption.

– Check out Steve’s memories of John here. Go on, click on it…