About Dr. B.H. Brantly
“Tolerable.” That is the response you receive from Dr. B. H. Brantly if you ask him how he is doing. Although some (such as his wife—Mrs. Nellie) might find that assessment debatable, I have discovered him to be more than tolerable for the ministry sake. Indeed, I would use the language Paul used of John Mark to describe Dr. B. as “profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11 KJV). I am not the only one who has benefited from his pastoral ministry however. He has touched multiple lives here at First Baptist Church, Zachary, as well as members of the larger faith family in our community.
Almost thirty years ago, Dr. B. and Mrs. Nellie moved to Zachary with the intention to live in relative retirement close to their daughters, but God had already been working toward ministry plans for them. They became active in First Baptist Church and quickly were recognized in leadership. Taking on roles as a deacon and maintenance guru, Dr. B. became a catalyst for the promotion of God’s work.
And then the moment came. Dr. B. was asked to consider becoming the pastoral ministry assistant to Dr. Wayne Barnes. The church’s growth had precipitated greater needs within the area of pastoral care such as visitation to the hospitals, nursing homes, shut-ins, etc. Dr. B. became a vigilant minister in these venues and has remained faithful to this day. In fact, I would propose to you that he is one of the best “ministers” to people that you will ever see. I have often even challenged staff members to make a hospital visit with him or Dr. Barnes in order to see the subtleties of making a good visit. Now I want to point out to you that Dr. B. had served in education and administration throughout his career, but God so worked in his life that he has become the genuine example of a pastoral care minister.
I personally thank the Lord for Dr. B’s ministry during my pastorate at First Baptist Church. Through his work, he has constantly reminded me of the importance of the personal aspect of ministry. We are to minister to the people—not just sustain programs. Often these people have been forgotten by mainstream society, and they’re relying on the church to reach out to them. To so many of these individuals, Dr. B. has been a visible presence.
I am also grateful that I count him as a friend. Many years separate us in age, but they do not separate us in fellowship. We have had a bond that cannot be broken by human interference. I look forward to continuing that friendship for years to come, and I am especially excited about celebrating his ministry on July 11. I invite you to join me this Sunday at 4:00 pm to celebrate Dr. B’s friendship and faithfulness.
Some have asked Dr. B. what he will do after his retirement. May I answer that for you? He will keep on going. He may not be officially on staff any more, but he still will be making visits as his health allows. The Green Buick (unless he carries through this plot to sell it) will continue to criss-cross Zachary as the “ministry-mobile.” (So watch out!)
In closing, Dr. B’s life has been filled with both blessing and difficulty. It is an interesting story that cannot be encapsulated within this article. If you would like to hear more of Dr. B’s life escapades, I would encourage you to purchase his autobiography entitled The Story of B. H. Brantly, Don’t You Know? All proceeds from the book sales go to the Facility Maintenance Fund of First Baptist Church in honor and memory of Dr. and Mrs. Brantly’s daughter, Joan Brantly Morris. To learn more about purchasing this book, call Dr. Brantly personally at 654-0323.