66 AND STILL STANDING...

66 AND STILL STANDING…

Do you recall wishing that you were older during those early childhood years?  As the years pass and 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 66^th birthday today.   How swiftly the years pass by – seemingly in the twinkling of an eye!

As I reflect on my life experiences, I am privileged to acknowledge 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, the late Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr. and Mrs. Mary Velma Watts Bass.  They so freely and consistently shared their faith, their love and their life-wisdom with me, my nine siblings 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, who 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 dearest friend.

I am grateful for the love of three wonderfully gifted children, Wayne Manning Bass, II (Madge), Michael Christian Bass (Dionne) and Kimberly Marcelle Bass.  They have ‘been there’ to share the key events of life.  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 I have completed 50 years in the Christian ministry.  And, I am eternally thankful that our Lord has allowed me the opportunity 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 77 nations and 5 continents.  I think of you and pray for you often.  You have unquestionably enriched my life, edified my faith and expanded my ministry.  From my heart, I 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 my journey.

I am grateful for the members of Macedonia, Evangel Temple and LoveStream Temple, very 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 colleagues who have personally touched my life: Bishop Joseph E. Bass, Sr., Mother Mary V. Bass, Bishop Joseph E. Bass, Jr., Evangelist Belinda M. Bass, Bishop J. Richard Bass, Supt. William C. Bass, Bishop Edwin C. Bass, Evangelist Doris P. Bass-Wade, Evangelist Ruth A. Bass, Mother Izetta E. Bass, Mother Wilma J. Keys-Bass, Apostle-Elect Wayne M. Bass, II, Pastor Joseph E. Bass, III, Bishop Hester D. Bordeaux, Supt. John R. Madry, Bishop Jonathan Greer, Bishop Willis Paden, Sr., Bishop Gordon E. Vaughn, Pastor O. T. Tillman, Pastor Frank Tillman, Jr., Bishop H. Jenkins Bell, Mother Mary L. Bell, Mother Freddie Bell, Bishop Willie L. Porter, Mother Elsie Mason, Bishop Cleveland W. Williams, Bishop Clarence L. Sexton, Jr., Pastor David J. Byars, Elder Kenneth Byars, Dr. Ron Eagleton, Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., Bishop Philip A. Brooks, Bishop Frank O. White, Bishop Frank Anthone White, Bishop James Gaylord, Bishop John I. Little, Bishop Samuel Kelsey, Dr. Isaac Clark, Mother Willie M. Rivers, Supt. Larry G. Britton, Dr. George E. Perry, Pastor Larry Crismon, Bishop Oliver J. Haney, Dr. Leonard Lovett, Dr. Bennie E. Goodwin, Bishop David M. Copeland, Dr. Claudette Copeland, Bishop David A. Hall, Bishop Martin L. Johnson, Bishop John I. Little, Dr. Herdleen Russell, Pastor Carlton L. Crudup, Supt. Maurice B. Wade, Sr., Pastor Maurice B. Wade, Jr., Elder Charles W. Wade, Pastor Jerry Littlejohn, Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr., Bishop Kenneth Washington, Sr., Bishop Ivory Holden, Supt. Kevin Ginyard, Evangelist Patricia Ginyard, Supt. Douglas Howard, Mother Ponzetta Howard, Bishop George Adebanjo, Pastor James Pullings, Pastor Jerome H. Lewis, Supt. Jay Gooding, Bishop Walter Willie, Pastor Allen Pulliam, Missionary Carolyn Hedgpeth, Dr. Arthur Mosley, Bishop Willie G. Robinson, Pastor Hubert Powell, Bishop Augustus Pullen, Supt. Thomas J. Bordeaux, Supt. Stephen R. Vaughan, Supt. Samuel Levey, Pastor Calvin Hayden, Pastor Jonathan Aljoe, 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, Bishop Lonnell Lawson, Pastor Robert L. Smith, IV, Pastor Sarah Lewis, Elder Lonnie Lewis, Pastor Marcus Robinson, Elder Elisha Boyd, Bishop Joseph Norfleet, Mother Gloria G. Fraser, Supt. Barry Fraser, Supt. Lee Roy McCoy, Pastor David Washington, Supt. H. Douglas McMahon, Sr., Elder Willie Templeton, Bishop J. C. White, Pastor Michon White-Bernard, Supt. William Best, Bishop Daniel Wade, Pastor Ulish Booker, Jr., Pastor Ranford Lilly, Bishop Colon Haywood, Sr., Elder Colon Haywood, Jr., Bishop Richard Frasier, Elder James Council, Sr., Bishop Oscar Clark, Evangelist Martin D. Johnson, Bishop Isiah L. Qualls, Pastor Anthony Matroos, Pastor Joseph Mosala, Pastor Priscilla N. Nkomo, Apostle Petrus Amukowa, 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 far too numerous to be recorded here. 

I am grateful for a comfortable, peaceful and loving home, for adequate clothing, for daily bread, and for all that Heaven provides for us, both in the here and hereafter.  I am grateful for life, for a reasonable portion of health and strength, for soundness of mind, for emotional intelligence, for healthy relationships with fellow believers, for a Kingdom and Missions mindset, for the joy of the Lord and for a steadfast faith in His Word.

Finally, I am eternally grateful that Almighty God has PURPOSEFULLY connected me to YOU.

In the Service of Christ and His Kingdom,

Pastor Wayne Manning Bass, Sr.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!