[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2924-E2925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO BROTHER BOB BEVINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2009

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to a beloved 
pastor from my District who was one of the most tireless servants of 
the Lord I have ever known.
  I knew Rev. Bob Bevington--affectionately called Brother Bob by all--
from the time I was a small boy. He was the advisor to the Christian 
Student Organization when I was in High School, and I had tremendous 
admiration and respect for him.
  Most especially, I admired his unwavering faith during the passing of 
both of his sons. The pain of losing two children is unimaginable, but 
Brother Bob relied on his creator during those dark days and showed us 
all that God can help us even through terrible and tragic times.
  Brother Bob's impact on my District is incalculable. He started the 
Knoxville Baptist Tabernacle Church in 1951, and his calling to

[[Page E2925]]

preach the Word had no limits. The Church continued to grow, and in 
1971 Brother Bob launched the Knoxville Baptist Christian School, which 
is still going strong today.
  Knowing that there were more people who needed to hear his message 
than his pews could hold, Brother Bob also published many newsletters 
and newspaper columns and launched a radio ministry called the Revival 
of the Air in 1948. Broadcasts continued right up until his passing.
  While eulogizing Brother Bob, the current Pastor of Knoxville Baptist 
Tabernacle Church, Brother Tony Greene, spoke of Brother Bob's legacy, 
saying ``From this church have gone hundreds of soul winners, 
preachers, and missionaries. At this church have preached the mighty 
voices of the 20th century.''
  He continued, ``Just hours before his Homegoing, the Lord allowed 
Brother Bob the strength to do one final radio broadcast. What a 
testimony of faithfulness to the end! A life well-lived, to the finish. 
`Well done, thou good and faithful servant.' ''
  In a recent tribute to Brother Bob, a commentator in the Knoxville 
News Sentinel appropriately wrote, ``Maybe the words `good and decent' 
don't tell the whole story. Brother Bob, you were one exceptional 
man.''
  Madam Speaker, the passing of Brother Bob Bevington is a tremendous 
loss for my District, his wife Mary Lou, daughter and son-in-law 
Marilyn and Bob Russell, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 
many other family and friends and the thousands of people devoted to 
his message of loving the Lord. I want to call his service and faith in 
God to the attention of my Colleagues and other readers of the Record 
and thank him for showing us all the way to a better life.

                          ____________________