Alva Review-Courier -

Pastor Charles Wells had a dream 16 years ago of being senior pastor of a church. It was more than a dream; it was a calling. After a long and winding road, leading through every other kind of ministry imaginable: youth pastor a couple times, chaplain at a nursing home (ministry he adored doing), ministering at a drug and alcohol center, being associate pastor a couple times. It all taught him so much, but for a long time he didn't feel he was quite getting to where he should be.

Wells grew up in rural Pennsylvania near Lake Erie. He married his wife in 2000, both of them right out of high school. They have two children: a 20-year old son and a 17-year-old daughter.

Wells joined a religious organization there that "belief-wise, is the same theologically," as the Nazarene Church, he said. "I was ordained with them until 2017."

Moving South

But the problem with rural Pennsylvania is how economically depressed it is. Wells said the South had much more opportunity for a pastor of his ilk than Pennsylvania did.

"It was God's will that we move to the south. We moved in 2012, and I saw God confirm it. I didn't know what he had for me down here. We took the big leap of faith, and as I look back now, it was all God, he was leading us."

The family lived in Paris, Texas, for 11 years where Wells served as an associate pastor for a couple of churches.

Paris, Texas, is very divided along racial lines, he said. "A lot of the problems go back to racism. And it breaks my heart. Even the pastors are divided on racism there. People are totally different here (in Alva) than they were in Texas.

And then in 2017, he transferred his credentials to the Nazarene Church. "They're exactly the same, theologically," he said.

What's Different and Cool About the Nazarenes?

"If I had to describe it in one word, I would say holiness. We believe you don't have to live dominated by sin. You can have sin eradicated from your life. That doesn't make you perfect, but it means you can draw closer to God without that barrier between you. That's our main theme, talking about how to live a holy life," he said.

Isn't living a holy life incredibly complicated?

"It requires us to take up our cross every day, to follow Him, to give up our will and our way and if we're not willing to do that, it will be complicated. But if we're willing to allow God to have all of us, following him will bring that to you naturally. You'll be bonded with him."

Holiness, he said, goes automatically with fruits of the spirit.

"I believe the fruits of the spirit are evidence of that holiness in your life." These fruits, he said, include love, kindness, self-control, joy, peace, patience, goodness.

"When we allow Christ to draw us closer to him, we'll see more of that. Jesus said 'By their fruits you will know them.'

"It's not what saves us, and we know that, but we believe just as James talked about: without those fruits, without those actions, what's faith? It's something we're hiding in our lives, and that's not what God wants. He wants us to share our faith with our mouth and actions.

A Need for Children's Ministries

Wells' wife plans to be involved in the church, he said. "We're looking at some new ministries that she'll be involved with. I've been hearing like a broken record things about children's ministry, and I think it will have to move up on the priority list. The ministry will involve activities, and just maybe other outreaches – our trunk or treat kind of thing. I jumped on doing something at the Wesley House for the college kids. And I have some goals in the first year: meeting the leadership of the town and trying to get on the same page with them," he said

"I think (many children) they're not being exposed to the faith at home. When I began my ministry in 2002, I was a youth pastor, and I saw a lot of that where the kids were at church but the parents weren't. And just all the negativity they're exposed to today, on social media, everywhere they turn they're being bullied, ridiculed, rumors spread about them – and that's just social media, not even what's going on at school," he said.

"Screens are so tied into our daily lives that we're missing what God is doing around us. We can have a relationship on a screen, but it's not like a face-to-face relationship. We need more of that."

Wells' Graphic Design Hobby Helps the Church

One of Wells' hobbies is doing graphic design, and he's putting his talents to use for the church.

Another effort he's undertaking is "rebranding our social media and website. I just started on that this week. First we re-branded our logo. It's going to be a process, but when we get all that done it'll be great."

"I love to do graphic design," he said. "Everything you're going to see rebranded – website, logos – that's going to be me. I do it more as a hobby than anything, because I just love it. I also do a lot of reading, and just spending time with the family."

Preventing Burnout

Another essential component of his plan to be the best senior pastor he possibly can is to make sure he gets adequate rest during the week. And not just rest, but time to reflect and time to spend with family.

"I've made it where I have two days Xed out (per week for rest, reflection, bonding with family). When I do that, it's going to make me that much better pastor," he said.

"The problem in the Church today is pastors being burned out. Everywhere they turn they're expected to do everything. And on top of that they're not taking days off for rest. And ministry is 24/7, but I pray that other pastors take that mindset on. Because right now pastors are leaving in droves. They're exhausted, burned out. We're losing them so fast. And it's not just a Nazarene thing."

The Nazarene Church has also seen what's happening to pastors, so this year they've made a rule where every five years a pastor gets a sabbatical year. It used to be every seven years, but the Nazarene Church feels that may be too long.

The Alva Experience

Wells adores his new church, the first church that he's been at the helm of.

"As I've come into this church, I've seen their (the congregation's) love for the Lord and see so many people just stepping in and taking care of things. I'm here to lead my church, and I want to see my people blessing others. And that's the body of Christ in action. If I'm doing everything, what are they doing for the kingdom, plain and simple?"

The way Wells and his family wound up in Alva was, to use his word, "unique."

"At the end of June, my sister-in-law was moving back from France, and they were looking for a place to relocate. Then a house in southern Kansas comes open, a 6-bedroom house (so it will fit their family (and the seller only wanted $150,000 for it) so they signed the mortgage papers for it. Two days later I find out about this church."

The interim pastor of the Alva Nazarene Church sent Wells a message that said, "I believe in my heart that the Lord is speaking to someone about this church."

"At that point I felt the nudge from God. It's almost like your heart stops for about five seconds. And I just knew that was where God wanted me. There were a lot of naysayers in the process, and I said, no, I know this is what God wants. So I submitted my resume to the Oklahoma district, and was interviewed twice."

So much about this situation called to Wells. His past work as a nursing home chaplain had been very close to his heart. "The district super said he saw something unique on my resume and it's that Adam and Dayna Jordan are part of our church, and this is one of their main outreaches to the community!

"It was so exciting, and the process went very fast," he said. "I interviewed online, and on Aug. 1 I came down and visited, and on the 6th they voted me in!" It's a process, he said, that normally takes six to eight months.

"From my sister-in-law buying the house to when I was voted in was one month and four days, and all I can say there is only God. Only God. Having the chaplain experience was the confirmation I needed. I was going to get the best of both worlds!"

He went to the nursing home the day before the interview for the first time. "Oooh," he said, "It felt great."

Looking back at that long time of waiting and remaining faithful, he said, "I waited 16 years, but now I think God kept those doors closed for so long because he wanted the very best for me, and the best was right here, (tapping his desk). And that is faithfulness for me, I'm going into a situation where God wants me. And this community has been a breath of fresh air, compared to Texas," he said.

Alva Church of the Nazarene's new logo, designed by Rev. Charles Wells. Image provided

"All we've seen in this town is love and that has been a renewal in my heart. God has been working here. I can see a renewed hope. It's only God working. I'm a vessel of His, but it's Him working.

Conclusion

It's been quite a journey, complete with three back surgeries.

"This last year has just been transformative. I've cut about 70 pounds (of weight) off in the last year, and I have felt the Lord preparing me spiritually."

And not only has he found a kind town and found physical healing, but the stunningly beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Oklahoma are so glorious they make him pull to the side of the road and pull out his camera.

He pointed to a photo on his office wall of a sunset over a long dirt road that he took just recently while driving a group of his people to Oklahoma City.

"I've never taken a photograph that beautiful," he said, and paused for a moment, just drinking it in all over again.