Before preaching the sermon at the memorial service of his friend Harry L. Reeder III, on May 24, 2023, Sandy Willson recalled his experience of the previous week.
“I was in my study at the back of my house, and we had a micro-storm… There was a very large oak tree that fell across our front yard, and I said to [my wife] Allison, … ‘I always knew that oak tree was large. I had no idea how huge – how gigantic – that oak tree was until it fell across our yard.’ Then, two days later, there was another storm – a personal storm – and another, human, oak tree had fallen. I knew he was large. I knew he was gigantic. But we had no idea how large until he fell.”
Of course, Willson, interim president of The Gospel Coalition, was talking about his close friend Harry Reeder.
Reeder’s sudden passing on May 18, 2023, came as a shock to everyone who knew him. A year later, his life and ministry continue to have a lasting impact. The Reeder family and a number of the ministries associated with Briarwood Presbyterian Church have spearheaded the publication of a collection of essays to celebrate and communicate his spiritual legacy.
The volume is entitled “A Pastor’s Heart: Essays in Memory of Harry L. Reeder, III,” edited by Derrick E. Brite and published by Christian Focus Publications. The festschrift includes a biographical sketch and 13 essays by family members and pastors who pay tribute to the contributions Reeder made in their lives and ministries. The contributions cover a variety of pastoral and theological topics prominently featured throughout Reeder’s public ministry.
Ike Reeder, president of Birmingham Theological Seminary since 2018 and Harry Reeder’s son, organized the project and immediately recruited Brite as editor and contributor.
“The vision for the volume is that it will serve a rising generation of ordained Christian leaders as a deep resource for their ministries, and young pastors in particular as they develop, because Dad was deeply committed to mentoring young pastors,” Ike said.
Subjects covered include preaching, corporate worship, evangelism, missions, pastoral care, leadership, the pastor’s personal life, and more.
Brite speaks for many when he says of Reeder’s influence on his own life and ministry, “I don’t know that there’s an area in which he hasn’t influenced me. Under his influence, I learned how to be a better pastor to my people: trusting in the Scriptures for wisdom, guidance, and leadership.” When asked about contributing to – and leading – the essay collection, Brite said, “It means far more to me than Ike or anyone else will ever know. Going through the project – reading, working – I felt as though Harry was in there in the mix teaching me still.”
The overarching theme of the book is captured in Reeder’s oft-quoted vision for the church’s calling: on mission, on message, in ministry. This collection of essays provides an in-depth resource to carry this memorable saying – and what it communicates – to the next generation.
This volume emphasizes the singular focus of Reeder’s biblical understanding of what it means for the church to be “on mission.” Brian Cosby of Wayside Presbyterian Church in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, captures the mission of the church as “making disciples of Jesus Christ by going, by baptizing, and by teaching – so that all nations might glorify God and enjoy Him forever,” citing both the Great Commission and the opening questions and answers of the Westminster catechisms.
But Reeder’s focus on making Christian disciples in obedience to the Great Commission did not lead to detachment from denominational affairs or irrelevance in the public square. Rob Pacienza of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, noted about Reeder, “Never had I encountered a man who preached with such authority, cared deeply and personally for every member of his flock, and was equally at ease interpreting Scripture and culture.”
Much like Reeder himself, the book is characterized by personal warmth. Kevin DeYoung currently pastors Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, a church first pastored by Reeder. DeYoung says of his predecessor, “If you spent time with Harry, you didn’t forget Harry. He was such a dynamic leader and engaging preacher. He also had an amazing memory – not just for sermon outlines and troop regiments, but for people’s names and stories.”
What should readers of this festschrift know about the man in whose honor it was published? According to Reeder’s daughter, Jennifer Reeder Toomer-Hay, “Dad never looked to be the big name on the circuit, or the smart guy posting on social media. He didn’t publish a lot of books. He just worked really hard at being a pastor. Years of seeing Dad’s ministry just convinced us that all of this stuff he was about and we watched firsthand needs to be out there and available to everyone everywhere.”
“A Pastor’s Heart” reminds us of the good fruit produced during Reeder’s ministry and enables future generations to continue benefiting from it.
Zachary Groff serves as pastor of Antioch Presbyterian Church in Woodruff, South Carolina.