Picture of the day - December 14, 2006

Herman Widener: The Finest Man I Ever Knew

I was just a young boy the first time I ever set foot in Pleasant View Baptist Church, and my most vivid memory of that day is of the man standing up front leading the choir as they sang wonderful hymns of praise to the Lord. Up until that time, the only church I had ever attended in my young life was Grace Baptist Church in Amelia, Virginia. The pastor there always led the singing, so I naturally assumed that the man leading the singing at Pleasant View that day was also the pastor. Well, that man was Herman Widener, and he wasn't the pastor - he was "just" the song leader. Reverend Blaine Eggers was the pastor, and after the choir had finished singing Herman would quietly take his seat among the rest of the congregation and you wouldn't hear another peep from him during the sermon except for an occasional "Amen" to something Preacher Eggers had said, or perhaps when he tearfully led us in prayer. Then at the end of the service, he would re-take his place up front and lead us as we sang a hymn or two during the invitation. That was it - that was all he did during the church services at Pleasant View, or so it seemed to this young boy who was more interested in playing outside with the other kids than paying attention to anything that was taking place inside the church house. But as mom took me to church time and again, I began to understand just what Herman meant to the church and how much influence he had on so many people. This quiet man who loudly sang praises to the Lord while performing his duties as song leader only to give way to the pastor when the singing was through also worked day-in and day-out to help lead as many people to Jesus as possible - and only the Lord Himself knows exactly how many souls are in heaven today as a direct result of Herman's love and discipleship. If I had to guess a figure it would easily be in the hundreds, and quite possibly the thousands. In the army of God, Herman Widener wasn't simply a soldier, he was a one-man battalion - a quiet, yet powerful leader who knew his mission well and lived every day of his life trying to accomplish it. And accomplish it he did. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the apostle Paul said "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:". That oft-quoted scripture would have been no less true had it been written by Herman Widener instead of Paul. As I was growing up in Widener Valley and Pleasant View, only my precious mother had a greater influence on my life than Herman. I came to know the man outside of church as well as in it, and regardless of where I saw him he was always the same kind, loving person and steadfast Christian. I spent many hours with his wonderful family over the years doing everything from playing ball on Sunday afternoons with his sons to taking piano lessons from his daughter Judy - and on occasion even joining them all at their enormous dinner table. I was always made to feel welcome in their home, and that has never changed. I just hope Herman realized how much I love and respect him and his family. He watched me grow up in the church and in the community, and at the same time I watched him live up to the high standards and expectations set forth by his God. He never wavered in his beliefs or shied away from an opportunity to witness to a lost soul - in fact, he sought them out. He knew what the Lord expected of him, and he always did his best to fulfill those expectations. He wasn't perfect, of course. No man is. But Herman Widener was about as close to it as any person I have ever met. The example he set for his children and everyone else he came into contact with must have pleased the Lord to no end. He was a good man who lived a long, humble life. Try as he might, the devil never got the best of Herman. This mighty servant of God remained faithful to the end, never once doubting his salvation or his ultimate destination. As he lay dying with cancer, he did so with dignity, grace and total peace of mind. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that when he finally drew his last breath on this earth, he would instantly be in the presence of God and his loved ones who had gone on before him. For him, death would not be an end but a joyous beginning, the dawn of a new day that would never see a sunset; the birth of a new body that would never get sick or pass away. He knew with 100% certainty that eternal happiness lay just around the corner. All he had to do was finish out his days here on earth with his loved ones by his side, and so he did. Herman is no longer with us, but the saved among us will surely see him again some day. And in all likelihood we'll find him standing at the feet of his beloved Saviour, leading the choir as they sing His eternal praises. He wasn't a preacher, but no preacher ever did more to help his fellow man or try to win souls for Christ. His reward in heaven must surely be great as is his legacy back here on earth. A humble giant among men, Herman Widener was greatly loved and he will be sorely missed, but his earthly struggles are no more. He is now at home.   In loving memory of John Herman Widener - the finest man I ever knew. August 26, 1923 - December 13, 2006   Submit a photo of your own! Picture of the day archives