Harvest Time to host sendoff for founding pastor

ROCK FALLS – Word has gotten around that the Rev. Dalmus Meeks has retired after 55 years of pastoring, 34 of them at Harvest Time Bible Church, which he founded in 1981.

While he and his wife of 43 years, Jane, were shopping at Farm & Fleet, fellow shoppers kept approaching him. They were concerned he wouldn’t officiate their funerals. In step with Harvest Time’s commitment to serving the community as a whole, Meeks has officiated hundreds of funerals for non-members.

“I had three people ask me, ‘When I die, you will do my funeral, won’t you?’” the 71-year-old Thayer, Missouri, native said. “And I said, ‘Certainly. I’ll do whatever I can.’ I have a heart for ministry.”

Meeks retired Dec. 1 but stuck around long enough for the staff to enjoy vacations. He pastored his last service at the church Jan. 3, and his homily focused on the second coming of Jesus Christ.

It was a calculated decision. He wanted to leave the congregation on the most uplifting note he could think of.

“If we could just believe he could be coming back at any moment, what a beautiful thing that could be,” Meeks said.

“It’s kind of like when you read the back of the book and we win,” said Deacon Mark McGuire, who’s worked with Meeks 22 years. “But no matter what the message would have been, it was a special service.”

The church is hosting a proper sendoff for its senior pastor Jan. 31. Two church services that morning will key on the Word, but also focus on honoring Meeks for his service. Afterward, there will be an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. in the family center. There will be cake, refreshments, and videos of projects Meeks has been involved in over the years.

Meeks was clearing out his office Monday afternoon. After 55 years of buying books, many of them will stay at the church. Some he gave to staff. But a book his mother gave him in 1961, “Simple Sermons on Salvation and Service” by El Paso, Texas, preacher W. Herschel Ford, went to the reverend’s home.

He said she gave it to him before he started pastoring at age 16, and he remembers leaning on Ford’s services early in his career.

“We used to call them simple sermons for simple preachers,” Meeks said.

What a long way he’s come, and what a flock he’s shepherded – but just because he's retired doesn't mean he's going to be put out to pasture. He’ll continue to teach his auditorium adult classes Sunday mornings, and Jane will keep teaching her two Bible classes, and they’ll never be where folks can’t find him.

The church has offered him the chance to maintain myriad roles, and he was offered the opportunity to continue the radio program he's done on WSDR-AM for 36 years. And his likely successor, executive pastor Jason Borton, offered Meeks the opportunity to pastor Sunday night services if he wants.

But difficult as it was to sit through his first service as a parishioner and not a pastor Sunday, he came away impressed and reassured.

“It was tough, but our guys did a terrific job, and I knew that they would,” Meeks said. “They love God, and they love his word, and that’s what’s most important. But, yes, it’s difficult when you’re used to doing it for 55 years.”

“It was surreal, and it’s something that we as a congregation have known was going to happen – we just didn’t know when” McGuire said. “There were a lot of emotions and sadness, but on the other hand, we’re happy that he’ll have some respite – hopefully. I don’t know how he’s done what he’s done. If anyone has needed him, he’s always been there, no matter what the situation is.”

Meeks will stay plenty busy. He said of the 56 funerals he officiated last year, about 10 of them were members of the church. So, while he won’t officiate services that come directly through the church, he encourages anyone who loses someone and isn’t sure where to turn to ask for the good Rev. Dalmus Meeks.

“I think that part of my calling has been being a minister to people – all people.”

IF YOU GO ...

Harvest Time Bible Church, 1802 Dixon Ave., will host an open house to send off its founder, the Rev. Dalmus Meeks, from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 31 in the family center. There will be cake, refreshments, and videos of projects Meeks has been involved in over the years. Call 815-626-1234 for more information.