Darlene Bishop said some of the church leaders suggested someone else — anyone else but her — should deliver Sunday’s message. They were concerned that Darlene may not be mentally prepared for such a challenge.
“You wanted to hear me talk,” she told the congregation, her voice raspy at times.
For that, she received her first of several standing ovations. It was like she was delivering “The State of Solid Rock.”
For about 20 minutes, Darlene Bishop talked about her husband’s “vision” to turn Solid Rock into one of the area’s most influential churches, and how the former horse trainer and auctioneer, backed up those wishes with hard work and dedication.
Throughout her sermon, many in the congregation — from the first pew to the last row in the balcony — wept when Darlene mentioned her husband, whom she referred to as “your pastor.” Ushers passed out boxes of Kleenexs.
“He was your daddy and he loved you,” she said. “The vision is here and it’s going to come out of the pulpit. He needed to run harder, do more.”
Others in the church suggested canceling Sunday night’s service. Given the circumstances, one service was enough, they told her.
“Are you serious?” she asked them. “How does the saying go, ‘He’d turn over ...’”
She said it was important for the congregation to grieve, but also in the coming weeks, months and years, to remember to keep the church’s vision in focus.
“We are an army ... we are this force that can’t be stopped,” she said.
Toward the end of the service, as she was taught by her husband, Darlene invited those in the congregation forward for an altar call. It was time to “please your pastor,” she told them.
“He’s watching this,” she said.
Darlene told the congregation that her husband secretly has battled lung disease for the last 18 months. Working with his horses and preaching — his two biggest loves — became more and more a challenge because of his breathing problems, she said.
“He has prepared me for this day,” she said.
A few days before his passing, while sitting in bed, Bishop asked his wife for corn bread and milk. She fixed it.
He asked for popcorn. She popped it.
He wanted ice cream with chocolate topping. She scooped it. This story brought a rare laugh from the congregation.
Then she dropped this bomb: That’s when she realized he was “a sick man,” and he told her death was near.
Services will be held at noon Friday at Solid Rock Church, 903 Union Road. Dwight Thompson, Rod Parsley and Steve Fender will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the church and from 10 a.m. until the service Friday.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.
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