Memory of Dr. Joe

8 years older than me, Joe was my leader. He became one of Mitchell’s boys. Dr. Mitchell was my pastor too. As a camper at Trout Creek Bible Camp, I remember the skits he did with Wil Jensen, like “Honey and the Bee.” As Junior Class President at MSB in 1968-1969, everyone reported to me that Joe Aldrich raised an extraordinary amount of money as a fundraiser when he was Junior Class President. Joe went to DTS, got his doctorate, then taught classes as I began studies at DTS. Dr. Joe was pastor of a large church in CA and then he followed his father to be President of Multnomah School of the Bible. I served as pastor of a small church in Texas, then was called by Multnomah in 1988 to be a Professor at the new seminary started by Dr. Joe.

What a creative, unseminary-like curriculum! Two plus two courses, 12 hours of credit earned in local church internships, management, leadership, conflict resolution, family ministry, all designed by Dr. Joe. He and Terry Dirks welcomed me to Prayer Summits, invited me to speak to pastors, elders and deacons. His vision for washing the feet of churches in the Pacific NW was contagious.

Dr. Joe would call faculty meetings where nothing was on the agenda except a concert of prayer where deep prayers mingled with acapella songs of worship. A Day of Faculty Prayer at his dad’s house on Livingston Mountain would be punctuated by shouting to the fading hearing of Dr. Mitchell, who sat on the couch, “Do you have anything to say, uncle John?” Dr. Mitchell would humbly begin and then wax eloquent on the faithfulness of God while tears were streaming down my cheeks.

One Prayer Summit at Cannon Beach, Dr. Joe was leading. He invited me to come after I finished classes. The circle of 40 pastors sang, prayed, and waited on the Lord…..It was one of those cherished moments when the Lord’s presence was palpable… no one moved or spoke for several minutes until one said, “Lord, we don’t want to leave. Your presence is wonderful.” And we stayed in silence longer…then went to dinner. Dr. Joe Aldrich experienced his final commencement, and he enjoys the Lord’s presence now and forever.

Wish I could have attended the memorial service … I had a class in Daniel/Revelation to teach that day (Dan. 12:2-3).