Bro. Tom Simison was my pastor for a short time, but the impact of
his ministry will last a lifetime.
Bro. Simison preached many messages that impacted and blessed me and I remember
one time during his message, "Sons Not Servants" Bro. Simison was
clearly moved with a burden to connect this powerful concept to the
congregation. He said, "I wish I could deliver this the way I feel it in
my heart tonight." You could feel his desire to be a vessel that the Word
could flow through to the Church. I know he was that vessel in
many ways!I served as an assistant youth pastor and Sunday School teacher at
The Bible Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, when Bro. Simison was pastor. I felt
like Bro. Simison was a kind man who was always happy to see us. Even after we
moved, when we would visit or see him at a conference or service somewhere, he
would always smile and say "Bro. McGee!" in such a way that it was
like a long-awaited reunion.
A couple of years after my wife and I started the
church in Richmond, Kentucky, I invited Bro. Simison down to preach our
dedication service. His health was struggling at the time, and he told me often
he would have to sit down while he preached. He asked me if I still wanted him
to come. I said, "Bro. Simison, you can preach better sitting down than
any preacher can standing up! We will get you a special seat for the platform
just for you." He came and preached for us and I remember he got so
stirred up in the sermon that he barely sat down. Years later, people that
attended that service still ask about Bro. Simison and reference that
message!While he was with us in Richmond, we went out to eat and talked about
the ministry and burden for Richmond. At the time, we had not seen very many of
the major milestones a young church wants to see. I was discouraged and trying
to make sure I hadn't missed God's timing. Bro. Simison asked me, "Did God
call you here, Bro. McGee? Do you believe He brought you to this city?" I
said I believed God did. Bro. Simison said, "Then you don't give up and
don't quit. You keep believing and doing what God called you here to do. And
you will see the harvest." That word kept me through many battles in the
years that followed that conversation. It was Bro. Simison who told me,
Bro. Tom Simison was my pastor for a short time, but the impact of
his ministry will last a lifetime.Bro. Simison preached many messages that impacted and blessed me and I remember one time during his message, "Sons Not Servants" Bro. Simison was clearly moved with a burden to connect this powerful concept to the congregation. He said, "I wish I could deliver this the way I feel it in my heart tonight." You could feel his desire to be a vessel that the Word could flow through to the Church. I know he was that vessel in many ways!I served as an assistant youth pastor and Sunday School teacher at The Bible Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, when Bro. Simison was pastor. I felt like Bro. Simison was a kind man who was always happy to see us. Even after we moved, when we would visit or see him at a conference or service somewhere, he would always smile and say "Bro. McGee!" in such a way that it was like a long-awaited reunion.
