When the Chair is Empty – A Tribute to Dr. E.H. Bean

A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article appears below. Daniel MacKinnon is minister of Bridlewood Church Agincourt, Ontario.

“This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8

“So with you, now is your time of grief but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22

It’s always an honour to sit at the feet of a master and learn from him. I’ve had such an honour as I sat at the feet of Everett Bean as a young Christian, then as a student for the ministry, and finally as a minister. I remember the day I first plucked up enough courage to go and knock on that great wooden door of the office in Bethel Church in Sydney, Nova Scotia, not unlike Jack entering the giant’s castle, to tell Dr. Bean that I thought maybe the Lord wanted me to become a minister. With much fear and trembling I related my tale to this spiritual giant who attentively listened, and then did as he always would, made me feel comfortable, like there was nothing that I couldn’t do or be for Christ.

That day Dr. Bean neither danced, nor laughed, nor cried but in a matter of fact way acted like the step I was taking was the most natural in the world, almost as though it was expected. Perhaps it was because ministry was the most natural thing to him. He then began to make the arrangements for me to pursue this step which would lead to my selection of a university and the whole of my future. During this process he always made me, like all the other students (and there were many who would go into the ministry from Bethel Church) feel like I was special both to him and to God. Somehow he always made you feel like you had just discovered penicillin for the world and you could make a contribution to the world for Christ. This was the man who was my spiritual father.

When I gave my life to Christ it was from Dr. Bean I learned how to read the Bible; it was his sermons that taught me the truths of the Scripture. It was he who taught me respect for the eternal truths of God’s Word and its power. He showed me the personal discipline of having a devotional time each day, and demonstrated his love for people in his prayer life. He set the master’s standard for ministry. This was the man who was my mentor for many years.

Like many masters trying to make something out of very raw material I’m sure Dr. Bean despaired for me on many occasions as I cut my teeth in ministry. Too many times I suppose, I knocked on that great wooden door and walked in to say I didn’t know if I could keep going, but somehow he would manage to provide sufficient encouragement to push on. No doubt the grace I received was due to the prayers of the man of bent knee. Through the difficult times he helped me to learn that quitting was never a solution, only a bad habit to get into. He taught me to persevere, to take what I had coming, and more that I did not, because the accomplishment of the goal brought more blessing and joy than any trial could ever bring trouble. This was the man who was my counsellor.

When I finally made it into the ministerial ranks there was Dr. Bean, not only as an example, but as encourager still. Within my first months of ministry in Northern Ontario there was mail from him, remembering the first charge and offering helpful tips on the do’s and don’t’s of ministry. He set the standard for ministry; my goal was to follow. Following meant a great love for the Lord Jesus, a great love for people, a love for God’s Word, and a deep love for his church. Dr Bean’s commitment was evident in all of these. The first priority of his day between 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. was time with the Lord, followed by sermons prepared through prayer and study. Time would also be given to the various levels of church life and its government from the visiting of his own congregation, to the work of Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly. His love for people was displayed in his care for his congregation and such outside activities as the Mental Health Association. He set a pretty tough example but this was the man who would be my example for ministry.

The chair is empty now; the master has been called to go to sit with his Master. Like many students of the past I feel there’ll never be another to fill the chair but there always is, for my master was just one of many who have been trained and given by the Master Teacher himself, the Lord Jesus. My spiritual father, my mentor, my counsellor, and my example has gone to be with the one he has worked his whole life to be with, and now I have the task of being a spiritual father, mentor, counsellor and example for the student sitting by my chair. The lessons I learned at the feet of Dr. Bean I now apply to teaching others, and the example he set I still strive for. My master has borne much fruit for our Master, and now he rejoices at being able to see the Lord himself. I pray that like Timothy who learned how to serve Christ from Paul, I may have learned my lessons well from Dr. Bean. The chair is empty but the master carries on through his students.