Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Wally Habel was my friend. His life and thoughts were an open book. It is an occupational hazard of those of us who talk for a living. Our paths first crossed while we were pastors in the Capital Area Baptist Association. He sometimes talked like he was second class having not attended seminary, but I had been in ministry at that point for about an hour and a half and I already knew that seminary was not what I needed to be a pastor, and told him so. We soon became lifelong friends. Our paths crossed again when I was a bi-vocational pastor at Camillus Baptist Church, a role with which Wally was well familiar. At that point, we had public school education and ministry in common. There, he was a church member and partner, leading Bible studies and supporting the church in every way he knew how. Since then he or I would call to see how we were doing and remanence, his…our favorite thing to do.
What I always treasured was his Christian life was in no way confined to a church. He and Jackie would hold Bible studies in their home, among the ball players, amidst his school community. He looked after neighbors, gave rides, fed people at home, supported pastors and ministries everywhere he saw a need. He seemed to always have time for you. I know. He and Jackie helped my mother many times. He had strong views about many things, but you always knew he loved you and would do anything he could for you. I know Wally could be “bigger than life” at times, but underneath it all, he was a servant. Jesus said, “If you want to be great, you must become a servant of all.” I will miss Wally Habel, a great man
