Retired firefighter takes 19 mission trips in 6 years

LAKELAND (FBC)—Six years. Nineteen mission trips. And the number is growing.

FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Ed Hall, retired firefighter and member of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, frequently volunteers for mission trips.

For 30 years as a firefighter, Ed Hall served the people of Lakeland. On more than one occasion, he saved individuals from fiery infernos. During the past six years since his retirement, he has been serving people worldwide. Through numerous mission trips to varied locales, he does his part to share through word and deed the meaning of eternal salvation to anyone he meets.

"I’m not a preacher," he is quick to say. But he is a builder. A chainsaw operator. An apartment cleaner. A distributor of food. A servant.

"A servant leader demonstrates the love of God in a practical way. Ed is that kind of person," said Jay Dennis, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, where Hall is a member.

"Anything that is hands-on helping people, Ed is going to be right in the middle of it," he added.

But it hasn’t always been that way. Although raised in a Christian home, Hall became disillusioned with the institutional church as a young adult. For 30 years, he and his wife Barbara eschewed anything remotely religious.

Retiring at 50 years old, Hall knew he wanted to stay active. A fellow firefighter had often shared with Hall about involvement in volunteer mission trips. The man’s exuberance was contagious, and Hall inquired about joining him on an upcoming trip. Soon Ed and Barbara went to Haiti where, with active hands and open hearts, they saw "a different side of Christianity." Returning home, the Halls sought forgiveness, rededicated their lives to Christ and joined First Baptist Church.

They haven’t slowed down since. "After being on one mission trip, it got in my blood," explained Hall. In the past six years Hall has returned to Haiti three times and also has traveled to Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Montana, New York, Louisiana and, of course, throughout Florida.

Often his mission trips are last-minute disaster relief efforts. In November 2001 his telephone rang. It had been only two months since the devastation of September 11, and help was desperately needed in New York City. The Halls, along with 11 other Florida Baptist volunteers, didn’t hesitate. They spent nine days in a ministry of scrubbing apartments from the soot and debris of the terrorist attack. At night they slept in jail cells. After cleaning six apartments, the crew prayed with the grateful residents and gave them Bibles. Through sweat and tears, Ed Hall believes his team showed the love of Christ.

Hall also has helped in other disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Lili in Louisiana and the tornado in Inglis. His involvement has included getting out a chainsaw and cutting away trees that have fallen on homes, to providing food and emergency supplies to individuals in crisis. He also extends his ministry as he trains others interested in serving as disaster relief volunteers. The Florida Baptist Convention, through its Florida Baptist Men’s office, helps coordinate and fund many of these disaster relief projects and training events.

This summer Ed and Barbara expect to spend a month in Brazil where they plan to be involved in several church construction projects. In these projects, as they toil shoulder-to-shoulder with local construction workers, Ed Hall will show the "love of Christ in action" and offer a verbal testimony of Jesus Christ.

That’s just the way it should be, according to pastor Dennis. "Before people are willing to hear us talk about Jesus, we need to demonstrate what Jesus is all about. They need to see Christianity in action before they’re willing to hear about our wonderful message. One leads to the other," he said.

For those reluctant to volunteer for mission opportunities, Hall is likely to say, "God can put you to work. All it takes is a willing heart."

Such a willing heart warms the heart of Fritz Wilson, director of Florida Baptist Men. "Ed does not just teach or tell. He goes and serves. He has a servant’s heart that seeks to help by serving both the people and his co-workers."