Thankful for the Ministry of Brother Hinchey

Dr. David L. Chancey's picture

The upcoming Thanksgiving season prompts me to stop and count my blessings, and many of my blessings are not so much possessions as they are people who have touched my life in a special way. I was reflecting this week about attending Ruth Hinchey’s funeral back in July, and about the impact she and her husband Roy had on my life.

Roy Hinchey was pastor of Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church in East Point from 1954 to 1971. The church reached its zenith during that stretch (It’s still a good church with a fine pastor). It was the church of my early childhood and was very instrumental in shaping my spiritual life during my formative years. My family belonged from roughly 1958 to 1966, when my father’s job transfer took us to Milledgeville.

Brother Hinchey was outgoing, witty, and pastoral in every way. He cared for his flock and was even interested in the children. One of my earliest memories as a very young preschooler was his stopping by our house briefly. My mom was home with three young boys, and Brother Hinchey popped in to deliver a Sunday school book or something. He was in the area visiting and thought he’d stop by.

He was a strong preacher, and sometimes would get loud in his delivery. During a Sunday night social after worship, as an older preschooler, I remember slipping onto the stage, stepping behind the podium, opening my children’s Bible, and preaching up a storm in front of that Sunday night crowd.

Ruth Hinchey spotted me, poked her husband in the ribs, pointed my way and said, “Roy, Roy, that’s exactly what you look like in the pulpit!” From that moment on, Brother Hinchey started calling me “his little preacher boy.”

I had no idea I’d end up being a preacher, but Brother Hinchey planted seeds that one day would contribute to a call to ministry.

We lost touch until 1977, when as a college student, I was appointed to serve as a Baptist Student Union summer missionary in Nassau (it was a tough assignment, but somebody had to do it). Roy and Ruth, now retired, were serving churches all over Georgia as interim pastor, and were finishing up this assignment at Nassau’s Central Baptist. They heard I was coming and told the good folks there to take care of me.

After graduation, eventually came seminary, then ordination. I asked Brother Hinchey to preach my ordination sermon, and he and Ruth travelled to Milledgeville on January 1, 1984, to participate in that high moment in my life.

My first post-seminary pastorate was in Indianapolis, and I invited them to preach a revival. They were up in years by then, but they gladly came, and our congregation enjoyed them immensely.

I think back now about the influence both he and Ruth had on me. He gave me my first model of pastoral ministry, baptized me, preached my ordination sermon, and continued to encourage me through the years.

When he died, I called Ruth to share my sympathy. She invited me to come to East Point because she had some of Roy’s stuff she wanted to give to me. When I came, she gave me his robe, and to this day I have it hanging in my office to remind me of his shepherding influence. She gave me some of his books, and some sermon manuscripts, hand written on notebook paper. Among the sermons was the one he preached in Milledgeville at my ordination service.

When I think about his influence, I wonder whom I’m influencing with that kind of impact. I’m thankful that God allowed him to impress my life.

(Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville. The church family gathers at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this week for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. Visit them on the web at www.mcdonoughroad.org.

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