People Who Have Influenced My Life

October 5, 2025
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
I will often purposefully sit back and reflect upon those who have gone before me to meet the Lord that were my relatives or friends.  I use that time of reflection as a time to not only reminisce, but to thank them for the positive impact that they have each given to my life in some special way.  Of course, there are those who may not have affected me so positively, but I try to just ignore them. 😊

Excluding my closest loved ones, except one, here is a partial list of those who have impacted my life.  Some of them if only to remember their distinctive voice.

• Ray Welp… He and his wife were close friends of my mom and dad in my very early childhood.  I think they were two special people who helped my mom and dad when they first got started in life.  I remember Ray for his deep, deep bass voice.
• Rollie Fox… Rollie owned the local grocery store in Titonka Iowa, the town in which I grew up.  He gave me my first job and taught me how to work hard and not be a slacker.  He was one of those guys, that when he walked, he ran.
• Mr. Patterson… I don't know his first name, but he was a math teacher and one of my high school counselors.  Though I was never an accomplished student, he inspired me all of my life as I remember him telling my mom, “Allan is a hard worker.”  Could it be that his comment was a consolation prize for not such good grades? 😊 Nevertheless, I have always used his words as words of encouragement in my life to power me through difficult times.
• My grandpa… The most influential man in my life.  Even now as I reminisce about him 63 years after his passing, tears come to my eyes.  Over that time, he has grown to be bigger than life.  He was the first one to ever encourage me, at the early age of twelve, to become a minister with his promise, “I'll buy you a gold watch if you become a pastor.”  “Grandpa, look at me now!  Thank you for speaking the ministry of Jesus into my life!!”  Yep, more tears.

All of these and more, including you who are yet alive, have made me into what I have become.  Who have those in my past and those I know today made me to be?  Though once orphaned, I am now the son of the most high God!  Life doesn't get any better than that!

Praying that you too are the son or daughter of the most high God.
Pastor Allan
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