Richard V. Clearwaters

My only contact with Dr. Clearwaters was tangential. In my time at Maranatha, we never played Pillsbury even though one would have thought it was a sister school. The two schools never played or competed head-to-head or in third party tournaments. As students, we always put it down to the animosity Dr. Clearwaters had for Dr. Cedarholm. So, a Yankees-Dodgers rivalry never developed during that period of time. A rapprochement only developed in my junior year when Pastor E. Robert Jordan visited the Campus in Watertown. He found out that we weren't Babylon-on-the-Rock River.

[ September 11, 2003, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: Squire Robertsson ]

 

In 1948, Dr. Clearwaters "dedicated" me. My parents did not attend, but though it the correct thing to do.

We began attending faithfully in our search for faith in 1957 and it was under his preaching that I saw my need of repentance and faith and at home at night, after a Sunday message, I trusted Christ.

On Easter Sunday 1958 I was baptized by "Doc". He encouraged me to enter the ministry in 1963 and I began taking night classes at the Bible Institute and Central Seminary from him and other great men surrounding him.

As a senior in high school in 1965 he allowed me to preach at the 4th Baptist Church (1000 members) and the church supported my attending Pillsbury BBC in nearby Owatonna.

During my first few years of college, I worked as Jr. Youth Pastor for Doc. Ran Primary church (150 kids) then was promoted to Junior Church (200 kids). I was the last "volunteer" in that area, after which they hired a full time man.

In 1968, over a huge rift, Doc and I came to a complete disagreement. I sided AGAINST Doc and my home church, believing him to be wrong in an issue. That summer I had the privilege of being "excluded" from the membership of the church, by executive order of Doc!

We were never close again (obviously), and I was teaching at Pillsbury BBC when he died and I attended his funeral. He had strong fighting spirit - hurting some friends at times - but it was what I needed and wanted and emulated in my young ministry . . and made me the ifb'er I am today.

 

Doc Clearwaters was my pastor and mentor while I was a member of Fourth Baptist and a student at Central Seminary. He was a truly great man. A bit flawed where his ego was concerned, but a great man nevertheless.

He defined what Independent Baptists are all about. Separated without being isolationist. A strong leader without being dictatorial. A man who learned to follow before he learned to lead. And a living testimony to his mantra, "When God calls a man to preach He calls him to prepare!"

Were it not for R.V. Clearwaters, and men like him, I would not be celebrating 37 years in the ministry. Unfortunately we see few men like him, today, which causes me to fear for the future of true fundamentalism in America.

I consider it a great honor to have had him as pastor, mentor, teacher, and friend.