Remembering Pastor Tom Simison, The Bible Church, Indianapolis - Pastor Appreciation Month, 2017

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,

"Preach about the Blood. The enemy has no defense against the blood." 

What I reference many times when I tell others about Bro. Simison is the wisdom he had. He was truly the wisest man I have known. Bro. Simison could cut to the core of an issue, struggle or battle and give the wise and direct counsel that was needed. He would not mince words and he would just tell you like it is. I remember his directness in situations and I appreciated knowing where he stood and what he believed. After I became a pastor, I found myself calling him with questions and for counsel. Bro. Simison would listen to me relay issues that I or the church was facing. When I asked him what he thought or recommended about certain situations he would answer directly what was really going on in the spirit behind those visible battles. It wouldn't be very long before what he described would come to the surface. Bro. Simison counseled from the Bible and from decades of ministry experience. But I also know he spoke to issues and questions as he was directed by the Holy Ghost. He was open to God speaking and revealing to him what was really going on.
Bro. Simison pastored The Bible Church for 34 years. He passed away in 2012.

Rev. T.L. Smith said at Bro. Simison's funeral, "Pentecost has lost one of its greatest preachers." Bro. Smith told the story of Bro. Simison's missions trips and conferences he preached in the Philippines. Filipino leaders both religious and secular have stated that Bro. Simison was one of the most powerful speakers who ever spoke in their country.Bro. Simison's funeral was a powerful testimony of a man of God who gave his life to Christ.  Bro. Paul Mooney spoke that day and said when he first moved to the Indiana district, Bro. Simison was the first minister to call him and welcome him to the district. Bro. Simison took him out to eat at Steak 'n' Shake. That welcome, and the resulting friendship, made a lasting impression on Bro. Mooney.

I love Bro. Simison, his family and the church he pastored. Those years at The Bible Church are still a source of great memories and strength for us in our ministry. I relied on Bro. Simison's wisdom in many situations and came to appreciate him even more as my pastoral ministry developed. I did not expect how often I would miss him after he passed away. Almost five years later, and I still miss him and wish I could pick up the phone and talk with him. I still come across questions and topics of Bible study I would love to discuss with him. I wish I could've had him preach for us more in Richmond. I am thankful for what Bro. Simison poured into my life from his ministry and wisdom. Even though I can't call him now, I feel that I know how he would have handled many different situations and battles. I remember advice he gave that conveyed principles I can apply in other situations. There was great theological and Biblical depth supporting his words. I know when I go to the Word of God, I am in a place that was familiar territory for my pastor.

Right after Bro. Simison passed away, I felt a more profound desire to go to Heaven than I had felt in a long time. I look forward to that long-awaited reunion. What the songwriter said was very true for me after Bro. Simison departed this world: "I've got more to go to Heaven for than I had yesterday."I am thankful for the powerful ministry and the lifelong service that Bro. Simison gave to The Bible Church and to the Church worldwide. There are many lifelong saints at The Bible Church who could write far beyond what I've covered here. There are missionaries and pastors and ministers who Bro. Simison impacted and sent around the world. There are family members and dear friends who know firsthand how much this man loved people. It was a great blessing to have him as my pastor. It is still a blessing to draw encouragement from the words he shared and preached!