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A day in the life: Spending a day with the messenger of God's word

By JESSICA BERNHARDT

Staff writer

Any given morning, Carl Helm can be found in his office at Marion Christian Church with his legs propped up on his desk, writing his daily devotional.

And that's exactly how he was found at 9 a.m. Wednesday, when this reporter showed up to spend a day with him.

The pastor of Marion Christian Church said, "The reason I do this is because my son is in Iraq and years from now when I'm gone I want him to know what I was feeling."

Helm said he usually spends the morning in his office and people in his congregation know that. "People know and usually come in."

In the afternoon, he and his wife, JoAnn, make visits. "JoAnn usually takes visits with me but she's not here this week."

At 10 a.m. Carl officiated at a graveside service in Peabody for Helen Bailey-Tharp. "This is the first time in my life where I'm not wearing a suit (for a funeral)."

After the funeral service, Helm drove back to Marion to visit a member of his church who currently is in St. Luke Living Center. Pearl Baxter celebrated her 98th birthday Saturday so Helm delivered cards from friends at church.

After visiting with Pearl for a few minutes, Carl held her hand and said a prayer.

While out of the office, Helm got a phone call from a couple requesting a meeting. After the private meeting, he finally got around to eating a quick lunch.

But that luxury didn't last long.

Helm received a phone call from the Marion Police Department requesting help for a man to leave town. The man had been in court Wednesday morning and was released. Since Helm makes the financial decisions for Marion Ministerial Alliance, he was called to try to get the man back to Denver. "This is the first time I've ever been called to do something like this," Helm said.

After locating a bus schedule and taking the money for the ticket down to the police station, Helm finally had a chance to enjoy his lunch.

"That's how it is most days — busy."

After lunch, Helm drove to St. Luke Hospital to check on a woman who was being transferred there.

After finding out she wasn't there yet, he checked on a young boy who had had surgery the week before whom he hadn't been to see yet. "That's the biggest frustration. I want to be able to keep on top of everything but it's impossible."

Once a week or once every two weeks Helm tries to visit a few residents of Marion Assisted Living who also are members of the church.

After visiting for about 10 minutes, Helm was finished for the day. "I love visiting and I love talking to people but I don't stay very long because I don't want to wear people out."

In the evenings the Helms usually visit people. With JoAnn out of town, Carl wasn't sure what the night would bring.

Where it all started

For the past 25 years, Helm has been a minister. He started out in Lapalta, Mo. He spent four years there before moving to Aurora, Mo.

After that he moved to Greensburg where he met his wife, JoAnn. The couple spent five years there before moving to Kentucky for about eight months. Then they were off to Auburn, which is just outside Topeka. After that they moved to Dighton for six years and then to Marion, where he has been pastor of Marion Christian Church. The Helms have been in Marion for the past five years.

"The most we've ever been anywhere is six years, but we'll be here the longest. At this point I've never loved a town like I love this town," he said.

The Helms have two children, Jerred who currently is in Iraq, and Jessica who lives in Manhattan.

A little bit of background

When the Helms moved to Marion, the Christian church had a congregation of about 40 members. Helm said that number has climbed to about 200 people.

Helm used to spend his extra time substitute teaching for Marion-Florence USD 408. "As the church grows there is a lot more to do. I have had to cut down on substitute teaching." He said he averaged about two days per month this past year. When he first started it was 10 days per month. Next year he won't be doing it at all.

Throughout the year, the Helms put about 20,000 miles on their car doing church work. "When we first moved here we tried to make 30 visits each month. Now I do that in two weeks."

When he was new to the congregation, his goal was to visit everyone in the church so he and JoAnn would know where everyone lived. He said, "JoAnn and I not only know our peoples' names, we know their dogs' names."

The personable and pleasant minister calls himself a "you get what you see" kind of guy. "I don't throw in any punches," he said.

What's the difference?

People often hear the words "pastor," "preacher," and "minister." So just what do they mean and what does Helm prefer?

Helm explained a pastor is someone who is concerned about relationships, and they spend their time making visits. A preacher is someone who specializes in talking, and they rarely visit people. A minister essentially is good at both.

"I'd like to think of myself as a minister. I would like to think I can hold your interest — that's what a good minister would do."

Preparation

In addition to visits with members of his congregation, problem-solving for the ministerial alliance, and funerals, some of Helm's week is spent preparing his sermon for Sunday morning.

"I usually start thinking (about a sermon) on Monday. What I try to do is just feel what God is leading me to do." Helm said more often than not something will happen during the week to trigger an idea.

On Wednesdays he starts looking through his books to find ideas to support the sermon topic. Then he puts it on paper.

"I go over my sermon so much in my head, I can put it on a 3x5 card for Sunday."

Do Helm's sermons have a common theme? It could probably be said his entire life follows a theme. "We're not lucky, we're blessed," he believes. And that's how folks who know Carl feel — blessed to be acquainted with him.

Be part of the series

Carl Helm graciously agreed to be the first interview in the "Day in the Life" series by summer intern Jessica Bernhardt.

Readers who are interested in being part of the series may contact Bernhardt at 382-2165 or e-mail jessica@marionrecord.com.

The series will continue throughout the summer.

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