Spotlights – Fall 2019
Saving for Retirement Service
The couple who came to visit… and haven’t left yet!
Hugh & LaVon Jarrell
Hugh and LaVon Jarrell were successful in the business world for many years, starting and running their own company. When the time came, they sold their business and set out in an RV to travel and enjoy retirement. Along the way, Hugh and LaVon stopped by SLM to volunteer for two weeks. Hugh’s experience in inventory control, manufacturing, and distribution made him the perfect person to revitalize the Publications Department. He got it up and running well again, but there was no qualified person to take over the role, so Hugh stayed, and stayed, and is still here!
LaVon uses her skills in multiple avenues at SLM, including helping Hugh in Publications. She says, “Realizing that every single lesson that leaves this building has the potential to change someone’s life and eternal destiny is why we do what we do.”
Whenever the Jarrells think of officially cutting ties and crossing back into full-time retired status again, Hugh can’t help but ask, “Where else would I be as needed in what I’m qualified to do as here?”
He adds, “Just because a person or couple retires doesn’t mean that their usefulness is over. We all look forward to a time that the demands of our work are not there. However, after playing for a while it has been rewarding to be able to do something that has a value in God’s kingdom. In our case, it has been over six years of volunteer work in various ministries… settling at Source of Light. We live in our motor-home on the property here.”
Hugh concludes, “You have useful skills, and in an organization of this size, there is a place those skills can be applied. There is a place for you.”
Trained for Service
Mary Hines
“I grew up in a religious family, but we were not spiritual.”
Mary Hines says she was a worldly, spoiled, and unsaved girl, but was drawn to the Bible and spent time studying it.
At her first job, a coworker invited her to church. When Mary’s mother found out she went to a Baptist church, she, as Mary puts it, “went up and came down in about sixteen different directions!” Mary began regularly attending Baptist churches, often under conviction, but not repenting, baptized—twice—but not born again.
In 1967, God brought her and her family to a Gospel-preaching, missions-minded fellowship where conviction overcame religion. Mary knew, “I did not have what they were talking about.” At age twenty-seven, she got on her knees and received Christ.
Mary had decided, “When I retire, I am going to do something in missions.” God had plans for her sooner than retirement. When the economy dipped, her job was cut. “I knew that it was the Lord’s timing.”
By faith, Mary joined Source of Light. “My job skills fit into Source of Light as if I had been trained for it.” She worked in several departments, but it was in shipping, helping put the Word into hands around the globe, where the greatest blessing came. No longer able to lift the 55-pound boxes, she transferred to the Advanced Studies Department. Now she still sends the Word, but without the backache!
When asked what kind of person she would want to work with her, Mary says that even more important than academic level is “a heart for missions. You can get committed to an organization. You can actually get committed to ministry. But to have a heart for people…you have to think of them as individuals.”
Looking back through it all, she is certain of this: “God has had His hand on my life, and still does.”
Dr. Bill & Ruby Shade
On June 22, family, friends, colleagues, and guests from around the world gathered to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Bill and Ruby Shade. Tribute was given for the Shades’ years of service from the early days all the way until now. God had used them in church ministry, radio ministry, camp ministry, itinerant evangelistic and teaching ministry around the globe, as well as administration over many ministries for over 63 years.
Few have served so faithfully, so long, and continue to do so well into and after retirement. But as Dr. Bill made clear on many occasions before and again on that day, he will still be traveling, preaching, and teaching… as long as God gives him health and breath!
Source of Light owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Bill and Ruby, for not only leading well for many years, but also loyally and humbly continuing to serve under its new leadership. This afforded Dr. Barnes the ability to glean from their experience, their wisdom, their encouragement, and their unquestionable support!
God bless you, Dr. Bill and Ruby, as you begin your next phase of life and ministry!
IN MEMORIAL
Obituary for Mr. Eugene Nelson Bunt
Even in retirement he continued to communicate, represent, and pray for the needs of the Central and South American Source of Light Ministries.
On June 8, 2019, Eugene Nelson Bunt, age 90, went to be with our Lord and Savior following years of faithful service, well after his “retirement” from Source of Light International. Even in retirement he continued to communicate, represent, and pray for the needs of the Central and South American Source of Light Ministries.
After earning a degree in Theology in 1961 and pastoring churches in Rhode Island and Georgia, Gene answered the call to serve in the mission field where he served in Brazil from 1967–1986, Georgia from 1986–1997, and a Source of Light Branch in New Mexico, Bible Studies by Mail, from 1997–2005. From 2005 on, he continued to serve with Source of Light Ministries as Regional Director for the Central and South American Branches.
Gene was preceded in death by his first wife Grace Sobin Bunt (married 36 years) and second wife Grace Poelman Arsenault Bunt (married 17 years), a son David Bunt, and his two brothers, David and Morris.
Gene is survived by his wife of 13 years, Hortense Koth Davis Bunt, and his five children: Eugene Bunt Jr, Gail B. Johnson (Dan), Paul Bunt (Beth), Rachel B. Jones (Wesley), and adopted daughter Anna C. Bunt. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
