What brought you to Wilshire and when?
Mike and I started attending Wilshire Baptist Church in 1972. We have not left since joining.
Who was pastor when you joined?
Bruce McIver was pastor.
What was the building like then?
Wilshire, the physical plant, has changed a lot. Additions were made by adding the third floor, additions to the children’s area, the porte cochere, and improvements to the chapel and the parking lots were made.
What ministries or staff members have impacted your life?
I don’t know when we began serving Wednesday night suppers or when we hired professional cooks, but I think it was a good addition to the staff. I would have to say my Sunday School class, Compass, has impacted my life the most. But I also cherish my many friends in other classes, and I love my Tuesday Evening Book Club. And I especially loved traveling to Peru twice and the Dominican Republican once as the Spanish translator on mission trips.
What are some favorite memories or defining moments?
We were in the Young Adult Sunday School department, which had only a men’s class and a women’s class. The Moorheads, Barners, Beilues, Marises and Tinsleys all wanted a coed class, so Mike asked Larry Shotwell, minister of education, if we could form such a class. He reluctantly agreed after telling us it would not last a year.
What’s different, and what’s the same?
Wilshire, the church body, has changed a lot since that time. We have publicly become accepting of the LGBTQ+ community; we have several of that community who are now members and deacons. Wilshire appealed to us because it was a progressive Baptist church with a good children’s program. It was not long before women were being asked to serve as deacons and in other positions of responsibility. We love and support all the changes Wilshire has made in recent years.
Why have you stayed so long?
We have stayed so long because we have no unmet spiritual needs there. There are many fine Christians here, and we all enjoy the fine preaching and the wonderful musical programs as well. We never plan on leaving this church. For 53 years it has had the best programs in Dallas. If you don’t believe it, try it, and you will probably like it, too.