After ministering there for almost 30 years, Bill Robertson will preach his last sermon as pastor next Sunday, November 8 at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
The church honored Robertson Sunday, November 1 with a retirement reception.
While he has enjoyed his years at Elizabeth Chapel, Robertson told WJLE that retirement time has come. “I never thought I would get to it (retirement). I have some solemn thoughts about the day. I’ve thought about Monday, November 9 which will be my first day after my actual retirement. I won’t have anywhere to go. I won’t have an office to go to. I won’t have anything to do. On the other hand I have to admit that I look forward to maybe not having anything to do for a while. Maybe I’ll be able to use an old fishing boat that I just bought. I intend to continue to preach as people will allow me or invite me. I won’t be completely useless but I am looking forward to the day. It’s time. I am 72 years old now and the time has come for me to slow down a little bit. I preached my first sermon on March 23, 1963. I have been pastoring churches for 50 years. I’ve been here more than half of that time in Tennessee,” he said.
Robertson shared how he came to be pastor of the church. “It’s a good story. My son, Bill had met a fellow from here in Smithville when he was at Belmont College in those days. He came to Smithville to visit in this fellow’s home over the weekend on a few occasions and the father of the guy he came home with knew about Elizabeth Chapel and told Bill about it. He (Bill) wrote a letter to the Director of Missions here in DeKalb County and that’s how it all started,” said Robertson.
After almost 30 years, Robertson now holds the distinction of being the second longest tenured minister of Elizabeth Chapel. “I’m number 2 on the list. A fellow by the name of Whitlock pastored Elizabeth Chapel for 33 years as I am told back when they were down on Holmes Creek. Those were the days of maybe meeting once or twice a month. I really don’t know. But it’s quite a bit different living right here and being here all day long everyday with three regular services a week. But yeah, I’m number 2. I thought I might try to hang on til 30 years. That would be in July. But I don’t want to be just a hanger on. I don’t want to just be picking up a paycheck and so forth. If I’m tired and not doing everything I think I need to do it was time to leave so that’s what I’ll do,” he said
A native of Florida, Robertson said he and his wife plan to continue living in Smithville. “We live here. We own a house here. My wife taught school here in DeKalb County for 19 years after we married. All but two of my children live in Tennessee now and one of the two (not here) is moving back here as soon as they can. This is kind of a central location. I like it here so we plan to stay in Smithville as long as you will have us,” Robertson continued.
Robertson said he and his family love the people here and the community has been supportive through good times and sad times. “Smithville has been extremely gracious to me. In times of great happiness and in some pretty sad times that we have had since we’ve been here, Smithville has stepped up and really been our friends. You have supported, prayed for, and ministered to us when we had needs. I’ve enjoyed getting to know so many people. My dad would come to town and we would ride around town together and people would wave at us and I’d wave back. He asked me one day “do you really know all those people or is that just the way it’s done in Smithville?” I said dad that is the way it’s done in Smithville but on the other hand I know a lot of them. I have enjoyed being a part of the community. Smithville has been a very enjoyable place for me to live and you all have welcomed my wife. After my first wife died and Joyce and I married you welcomed her and I appreciate that so much,” he said.
Robertson said he has been honored to have witnessed the growth of Elizabeth Chapel in the last three decades. “Elizabeth Chapel has grown. No doubt about it. We’ve got a good group. A good fellowship of people at Elizabeth Chapel and between them and what the Lord has done I’ve had the privilege to pastor a growing church for almost 30 years.” he said
“I’d just like to thank you for loving me and my family. I’m just thankful for God putting me here. I’ll never forget all the experiences I’ve had. Thanks for letting me just say to Smithville thank you. Continue to pray for us. We’ll be here and help you anyway we can. It’s been a really good time,” Robertson concluded.
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