A TRIBUTE TO MY PASTOR
Pastor Hess Hester praying over me at The Gathering Church - October 14, 2007
This week, my pastor of twenty-five years, Hess Hester, went home to be with the Lord.
God brings people into our lives at just the right time. He is so kind in that way. We don’t normally know who we are looking for, but our Heavenly Father does. And when our hearts are open, God provides.
As college juniors, Christina and I walked into Southern Hills Baptist Church on a Wednesday evening for their midweek service. As students at Oral Roberts University, we weren’t expecting to fall in love with a Baptist Church, but oh, how wrong we were. That evening, we listened as the songs were sung and the Bible was preached. Afterward, we stayed to meet the pastor.
This is a core memory for me.
We were looking for a healthy church and a sincere, healthy pastor. We had been surprised at the first church we served by how unhealthy the leadership was behind the scenes. They meant well, but the results were hurtful. So that our passion for ministry could be rekindled, we desperately needed a positive experience in our next church.
That evening, Christina and I stayed after to discern the heart of the pastor. Graciously, at the end of his long day of ministry, he stayed to talk. Just with us. We asked him about his family, his beliefs, and his vision for the church. We asked him whether two charismatic kids from ORU would fit in.
Hess was so gracious to us. And we knew he was genuine.
This is the lasting legacy that Hess Hester had on me.
Personal kindness and sincere faith in Jesus.
That Sunday morning, we walked into Southern Hills Baptist Church and worshipped with the kindest people we had ever met. We never visited another church. We knew we were home.
There are many stories I could tell about our relationship over the years. Hess married Christina and me in 2001. Hess ordained me as a pastor. Hess was there at the hospital to visit us after the birth of several of our kids. Hess encouraged me when I experienced ministry burnout in my mid-twenties. Hess counselled me through the death of my brother James.
One especially vivid memory I have is of a series of conversations we had at the end of 2004. Hess had encouraged me to start a ministry to college students and twentysomethings that we called The Gathering. By the end of 2004, we were now over a year into our experiment, and God was blessing. People were coming to faith in Jesus, and the room was filling with twentysomethings who wanted to live passionately for Jesus.
As a Theology student, I had studied church planting and how God could use a church to impact its community. I always imagined that I would give my life to that one day. As the year came to an end, I began to wonder if that day was coming sooner than I expected. Maybe God was growing The Gathering with the intent of multiplying the work He was doing through SHBC? Maybe God was raising us up to be pastors of a daughter church? I wasn’t sure, but my heart was beginning to wonder.
I asked to have lunch with Pastor Hess. I shared all of my thoughts, including my hesitancy. He was generous with his questions and his enthusiasm. I am sure he had his doubts. And looking back, I bet he felt sad at the thought of losing the emerging leaders who were working alongside me. But he never showed it.
He gave me permission to earnestly pray for three months and seek the Lord and His will. I was to report back to him with what I discerned. At the end of those three months, I eagerly asked to have lunch again. I shared that I believed God was inviting me to step out in faith.
But then I stopped and asked him, “Do you think I’m ready?” Mind you, I was only 25 years old at the time.
He smiled, chuckled, and said, “Of course you’re not ready.”
My heart sank. Time stood still.
And then Hess said, “You’ll never be ready. It’s like getting married or having kids, you are never ready.”
And then he said, “But you’re ready enough and I’ll support you.”
A year and a half later, we held the very first service of our young church.
And that day, Hess was sitting in the crowd, rooting me on.
His blessing made me feel “ready enough.”
Hess Hester - Celebration of Life - January 23, 2026
This week, I sat at Hess’s memorial service, where his wife Julie played the piano to When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, his three grown daughters overflowed with memories of their dad, and the room was packed to capacity. It was one of the most meaningful Celebrations of Life I have ever been a part of.
I couldn’t help thinking that the room was full because Hess had made everyone else feel the same way that he made me feel.
And I couldn’t help thinking that we all have the same opportunity to be this for other people every day. Our words and our lives can make them strong. We can tell people that they are “ready enough” to believe in Jesus and follow their dreams. We can tell people they are “ready enough” to receive love from others. We can tell people they are “ready enough” to get married, have kids, and attempt great things for God.
Well done, Pastor Hess.
I am proud to carry a small piece of your ministry legacy in our city.
Thank you for believing in all of us - especially me.
With deep gratitude,
Brad D. Jenkins
Hess Hester - Retirement Service at SHBC - December 17, 2023
P.S. — If this has been helpful, please send me a message at brad@bradjenkins.me and let me know. My writing aims to help people enjoy a vibrant relationship with Jesus, and it is an honor to be on this journey with you. To read previous newsletters or to sign up so that you don’t miss future posts, visit www.bradjenkins.me/blog.