In Simpsonville, Texas, standing behind a pulpit with extended arms, Richard Wells fingers are trailing his double-sided embossed braille sermon manuscript as he delivers the message. Pastor Wells works hard to not sound like he’s reading. He deliberately pauses to reword what his fingers had just read, before opening his mouth to deliver the next point. Preparing these sermons and special notes takes an average of 4-8 hours.
I had the pleasure of meeting this Southern Baptist pastor several years ago online when my husband discovered an affordable computer screen reader and browser for the blind and visually impaired. Not only did it offer a whole new world technologically and aid in my independence, but also offered an entire community of support.
Richard worked for them as a tech support. In conversation, I learned he was a pastor, husband, and father. As a pastor’s wife and in the ministry, I often wondered how he was called, and how he faced his challenges. After getting more acquainted, I found his journey in becoming a pastor quite inspiring. I pray you do as well.
Richard was the youngest of four children. His sighted sister was the oldest with all three of her brothers being blind at birth. He attended Louisiana public schools as a mainstreamed student. At home, his musical gift emerged at an early age. By age eight, Richard played country and western music with his brothers on radio and television and performed in his first nightclub at fourteen. Piano is his main instrument, but plays many others, including the flute and bagpipes.
This talent provided a means to be a provider when he married Lila in 1977, after a short courtship. Lila had been married before so Richard became a father to Sandra. They hit it off instantly, then ten months later, Shelly was born to Richard and Lila Wells.
My Christian walk.
“I became a Christian in high school. I already was playing professionally in the music industry,” Richard told me. “I really didn’t trust God to have me provide for my family any other way at this time in my life. The decision to raise a Christian family and attend church was an easy decision for Lila and myself when we married.”
Playing country music for Richard back then was as normal as eating was. However, he was different than many musicians in the aspect He didn’t smoke, drink, or womanize, and held steady spots locally rather than doing much travel.
One day an article came out in the newspaper about Richard’s musical notoriety. his pastor ran across it. Believing it was an opportunity to give Richard some Biblical discipline, he drove to Richard’s home to visit. Placing his hand on Richard’s shoulder, he spoke with love and grace, ,”this isn’t right, Richard. You can’t just sing a hymn then turn around and sing about whiskey and wild women.” The pastor then opened his Bible to passages in James chapter three.
“This had never occurred to me, so it was devastating to me, yet I knew he was right,” Richard thought. During the next 12 years, Richard was miserable, going from denial and putting it out of his mind, to justifying how he was providing for his family, and not on disability.
Conviction had peaked by 1989, and Richard tried to make a deal with God out of his discomfort. “If You’d let me make enough money playing at revivals, I’d quit the clubs, and serve you,” he pleaded with God.
That’s not how it works though. Four more years of skepticism and discomfort followed still singing & playing at revivals then heading off to play at the night clubs. 1993 rocked around and Richard was growing weary.
One night, the club’s owner was on stage with Richard. He spoke sternly to the passive Richard, “Look, if it wasn’t for these people coming out here and drinking, and poking money into these machines gambling, you wouldn’t have a job. You need to entertain these people. Now smile and have a good time.”
Richard shared with me, “That was a bull’s eye. Might as well have been Elijah or Jeremiah telling me I needed to decide who I was going to serve. Am I going to trust God to provide, or not?”
Needless to say, this launched Richard to action. “You’ve pushed me over the edge. I can’t work for you anymore,” he told the club owner.
His pastor reassured him God was bringing him to a point of decision. This also confirmed a feeling Richard held deep inside in regards to totally relying on God, or being let go. It was time to rely on God’s ways instead of the world’s. This feeling was so strong, it might as well have been an audible voice to him.
© 2016 – 2019, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
Michael Woods says
Yes. God is the only way. That’s how it’s always been.