6.5 DECADES AND STILL
COUNTING…
Do any of you recall
wishing that you were older during those early childhood years? As the years pass and as time seems to
accelerate its pace, perhaps we all experience a change of mind on that
particular matter. Happily however, I am
blessed beyond measure to report that Almighty God has allowed me to celebrate
my 65th birthday. How
swiftly the years pass by…seemingly in the twinkling of an eye!
As I reflect on my
life experiences, I am thrilled beyond measure for the boundless grace, mercy,
goodness and love of my Creator. ALMIGHTY
GOD has been mighty good to me! His
benefits and blessings are far too numerous to recount, but I shall attempt to
list just a few:
I am grateful for the
bountiful blessing of two extraordinary parents, Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr.
and Mrs. Mary Velma Watts Bass. They so
freely and so consistently shared their faith, their love and their life-wisdom
with me, my family and our entire community.
I am grateful beyond measure for my beloved wife, life companion
and ministry partner, Belinda McClendon Bass, who daily cares for me, freely shares
and unselfishly nurtures every moment and every component of my life.
Belinda is a truly wonderful wife, a loving soulmate, a trusted confidante, a
meticulous homemaker, an absolute joy and my very dearest friend.
I am grateful for the
love of three phenomenally gifted children, Wayne Manning Bass, II (Madge),
Michael Christian Bass (Dionne) and Kimberly Marcelle Bass. They have ‘been there’ to share the days and
events of our lives. And they, along
with our two children-in-love, Niki Dieece Nash and Whitney Marie McClendon
(daughters of Belinda) have given me the absolute pleasure of being grandfather
to 13 and great-grandfather to 2 adorable children.
I am grateful for my
spiritual and emotional connections with nine outstanding siblings, of which I
am the youngest: Joseph Edison Bass, Jr., Wilma Jean Bass-Keys, Izetta
Elizabeth Bass, John Richard Bass, Lloyd Dwight Bass, William Curtis Bass, Ruth
Ann Bass, Edwin Clarence Bass and Doris Patricia Bass-Wade. Indeed, they are all extraordinary people and
dedicated servants of God.
I am grateful that
2017 marks my 50th year in the Christian ministry. And, I am eternally grateful that the Lord
has allowed me to serve His Kingdom.
I am grateful for my extended
spiritual family, numbering thousands of dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ,
representing a myriad of nations across the globe. I am grateful for the readership of my daily
devotional, individuals and ministries presently enrolled within 73 nations and
on 5 continents. I think of you and pray
for you often. You have unquestionably enriched
my life, edified my faith and expanded my ministry. Thank you.
I am grateful for
life-long friends from my hometown of Monessen, Pennsylvania. The memories that we forged in earlier and
later years will forever be a precious possession and portion of my life
legacy. And I am grateful for fellow
alumni of Yale University and the Interdenominational Theological Center. You will always be a significant part of me.
I am grateful for the members
of Evangel Temple and LoveStream Temple, special people who have significantly touched
and transformed my years of pastoral ministry.
It is my prayer and fondest hope that I have imparted to you a sincere
love for God and a lasting awareness of His Word and Kingdom.
I am grateful for
numerous ministry mentors and ministry colleagues who have personally touched
my life: Bishop Joseph E. Bass, Sr., Mother Mary V. Bass, Bishop Joseph E.
Bass, Jr., Pastor J. Richard Bass, Supt. William C. Bass, Bishop Edwin C. Bass,
Evangelist Doris P. Bass-Wade, Bishop Hester D. Bordeaux, Mother Sharon Y.
Bordeaux, Bishop Jonathan Greer, Bishop Willis Paden, Sr., Bishop H. Jenkins
Bell, Bishop Willie L. Porter, Bishop Cleveland W. Williams, Supt. Clarence L.
Sexton, Jr., Pastor David J. Byars, Elder Kenneth Byars, Supt. Maurice B. Wade,
Sr., Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., Bishop Philip A. Brooks, Bishop Frank O.
White, Bishop James Gaylord, Supt. John R. Madry, Sr., Pastor Larry G. Britton,
Dr. George E. Perry, Bishop Oliver J. Haney, Dr. Bennie E. Goodwin, II, Bishop
David M. Copeland, Dr. Claudette Copeland, Bishop David A. Hall, Dr. Ron
Eagleton, Bishop John I. Little, Supt. Herbert Russell, Dr. Herdleen Russell,
Pastor Carlton L. Crudup, Pastor Jerry Littlejohn, Bishop Robert E. Smith, Bishop
Kenneth Washington, Sr., Bishop Ivory Holden, Supt. Kevin Ginyard, Evangelist
Patricia Ginyard, Supt. Douglas Howard, Bishop George Adebanjo, Mother Ponzetta
Howard, Pastor James Pullings, Pastor Jerome H. Lewis, Dr. Edna P.
Foster-Lewis, Supt. Jay Gooding, Pastor Allen Pulliam, Missionary Carolyn
Hedgpeth, Dr. Arthur Mosley, Bishop Willie G. Robinson, Pastor Hubert Powell,
Pastor Thomas J. Bordeaux, Supt. Stephen R. Vaughan, Supt. Samuel Levey, Pastor
Calvin Hayden, Pastor Larry Pinkard, Pastor Sarah Lewis, Elder Lonnie Lewis, Evangelist
Priscilla H. Allen, Elder Charles Mitchell, Elder Rich Moore, Elder Ulysses Fordham, Dr. Ardell Tucker,
Pastor Robert L. Smith, IV, Bishop Lonnell Lawson, Pastor Marcus Robinson,
Elder Elisha Boyd, Bishop Joseph Norfleet, Supt. Barry Fraser, Pastor Gloria G.
Fraser, Supt. H. Douglas McMahon, Sr., Elder Willie Templeton, Bishop Rufus
Kyles, Bishop J. C. White, Pastor Michon White-Bernard, Supt. William Best, Pastor
Ulish Booker, Jr., Pastor Ranford Lilly, Bishop Colon Haywood, Sr., Elder James
Council, Bishop Oscar Clark, Evangelist Martin Deshaye Johnson, Bishop Isiah L.
Qualls, Pastor Anthony Matroos, Pastor Joseph Mosala, Pastor Priscilla Ntombizodwa
Nkomo, Apostle P. Amukowa, Bishop Daniel Wade, Pastor Josiah Motloung, Pastor
Jack Tebogo Tsoai, Pastor Thabiso Motsepe, Pastor David Boikhutso, Pastor
Jay-Jay Ngwenya, Pastor Paul Basi Phetlhe, Pastor Cheryl Jones, Bishop Vincent
Mathews, Apostle D. M. Makha, Bishop Champion Malongwa and a veritable host of
Kingdom Ambassadors whose names are too numerous to be recorded here.
I am grateful for a
comfortable, peaceful and love home, for adequate clothing, for daily bread, and
for all that Heaven provides for me, both now and in the future. I am grateful for my life, for health, for soundness
of mind, for the joy and strength of the Lord and for a steadfast faith in
God’s Word.
Finally, I am
eternally grateful that Almighty God has connected me to YOU.
Sisters and brothers, be continually
blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON
COMING KING. Maranatha!
In the Service of
Christ and His Kingdom,
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