To LaWanda (Jonathan, Sherilyn, Brittian) – I’m writing partially on behalf of the entire Ray Pollard (and Lavonne Pollard-Maddox) family, but also for myself specifically when I say that we are all grieving with you at the death of our beloved and dear friend of our family, Rex. There are no words to describe the pain we feel at your loss. It is hard to even believe that he is now gone from us, but we also know that this is exactly what Rex lived his entire life for - ministering and proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ and giving to others around the world – to finally be at home with Jesus!
Words fail me to a great degree to even know how to express the impact the Rex had on me personally and the entire Pollard family across so many years.
When I think of Rex, I think of the prose that reminds all of us about the measure of man.
What is the measure of a man? Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give? These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Not - What was his station? But - Had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part? Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear? Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need? Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorrowful when he passed away? These are the things that measure the worth - of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
When I think of Rex Bullock’s life I am consumed with the thoughts of a life well lived. Rex lived well and died well. A life well lived honors God and inspires others, but it also produces rewards for the one who lives it.
Rex had the sustained cultivation of an exemplary character. Day after day, year after year, Rex was committed to the pursuit of justice, humility, kindness and most certainly strong Christian character and noble ideals grounded in the word of God. It was a bone-deep beauty that drew people to Jesus Christ.
Rex doggedly did what was right and generously modeled kindness and it was clear in his life that he had an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ – a conscience that provided relief, freedom and joy and was expressed to others.
I’ve heard it said that a transparent soul is a haven for the Spirit of God. There is no doubt in his ministry and mission that Rex’s heart was fully committed to God and was a haven for the Holy Spirit. If you were around Rex very long at all, it was easy to realize that Rex was a person you could walk a mile or two miles or three miles in his shoes with. His message and life were always captivating.
I always viewed Rex not only as a teacher and leader for others, but also as a mentor – he was one who earned the right to become a trusted counselor, personal coach, and guide who played a significant role in shaping another person’s life. Heroes, as crucial as they are, generally live at a distance. But a mentor is someone who lives up close and personal, providing hands-on guidance, correction, and affirmation in face-to-face encounters. This, in my observation, was Rex!
When it came to Rex’s ministry that I observed up close in my home when he visited, or when I visited with him face-to-face (as I was privileged to do most recently in Seattle in October 2021 at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Auburn church) and other churches I pastored across the years where Rex (and you LaWanda) served as evangelists (as well as my father’s churches and the Pollard household) and at a distance across the years, keeping in touch along the way, I know that Rex did not seek to finish his life beaten down, beached, and broken. Through all of his preaching and exhortation, whether in the pulpit, singing, or Dayspring media (which I listened to faithfully all these years), the thought of finishing his life "disqualified” was neither imaginary nor remote (1 Cor. 9:27). Finishing well was Rex’s lifelong goal. I know he did exactly that.
When we do what is right, love kindness, and walk in humility, the natural product will be a lingering legacy and faithful love by which anybody would want to be remembered. Rex, I believe, has left a priceless, lingering legacy and love for those he loved – you his family and all those lives he has touched around the world.
On a personal note, Rex was a model of faith and hope, when he interacted with the entire Pollard family at the death of my father, Raymond, in 1982. Rex of course was one of the vocalists with Richard Beckham and sang my father’s favorite song “O Glorious Love!” Wow – and now Rex is experiencing the fullness of all that he sung about and preached about and I have no doubt that he and my father have already had a conversation in heaven – if that is what heaven is like!
Rex always was the one of the first to post on my Facebook page his appreciation and admiration for my father anytime I posted about celebrating my father’s birthday, or remembering his death, or at Father’s Day. Without exception, Rex would always post the words, “I still greatly miss your dad – even after all these years.” He would offer a remembrance or a word of grace every time across all these years – even through social media. He never forgot!
When I went through my own personal struggles in a marriage relationship while pastoring a church, Rex Bullock was the first person to call me long distance and come alongside me in my pain and offer words of hope and encouragement – even in the midst of a painful journey.
When I was seeking to move from the Kansas City area to pastor, Rex was the one who “went to bat” for me to offer my name to pastor in Lake Charles. He encouraged the leadership there to recruit me as the pastor which they did and I served there for several years. But it was Rex who led the way to encourage them and me.
Rex knew I have ministered in Haiti for many years, so there was always a common bond there if and when we had casual conversation across the years. He knew of my love for the Haitian people and he encouraged that in me – as he also had a great love for Haiti.
On and on and on the stories could go, but let me just end this by saying that Rex Bullock impacted my life through his preaching ministry, his writing ministry, and his Dayspring ministry. Outside of my own father, there are very few people that have impacted my life in such significant ways – but Rex was one of those who did!
I can still hear Rex’s baritone voice loud and clear – and I am one who has gone back and listened to his songs again in these days since his passing – and being reminded that every lyric he ever sung is now his full reality in heaven with Jesus!
I know Rex is realizing the full expression of something he sung about –
But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!
Heaven is richer and sweeter now for all of us – in your dear family and all of your extended family of brothers and sisters around the world! What a day, glorious day that will be!
Until then, my prayer is that your hearts will go on singing. Until then, may you all with joy carry on. And may each of you, along with all of us, carry on until the day our eyes behold the city – until the day God calls all of us home. What a grand reunion!
LaWanda, Jonathan, Sherilyn, and Brittian – may the God of all grace comfort you in all your sorrows both now and in the days ahead. I know that life will be different for all of you. But I also know that Jesus will be with you all!
May Jesus walk with each of you every step of the way in the days and weeks and months ahead. Keep the faith! Don’t lose hope! May your tears of mourning be turned into joy! Weeping only lasts for the night – but joy comes in the morning!
My prayers follow you! I will miss Rex here, but I plan to meet him over there!
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