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Eureka First Baptist pastor celebrates 50th anniversary

By Dede Biles

Sep 9 2013 12:01 am

STAFF PHOTO BY DEDE BILES
The Rev. John L. Arthur Jr. celebrated his 50th anniversary at Eureka First Baptisit Church on Sunday.

The Rev. John L. Arthur Jr. celebrated his 50th anniversary at Eureka First Baptist Church on Sunday, and he's hoping to spend many more years in the pulpit at the small, rural house of worship on Johnston Highway.

“I'm not going to retire,” he said. “I can't find anything in the Bible that speaks about retirement, so I'm going to keep on going as long as I can go. I'll probably die with my boots on.”

The church's congregation and Arthur observed his big milestone with special musical performances led by Ken Arthur and a sermon froma visiting pastor, Dr. Eddie West, who is one of Arthur's many friends.

Following the special service, Patricia Clark said she never would forget Arthur's comforting presence after she lost her father when she was only 11 years old. As word of his death spread, friends and neighbors stopped by Clark's home in Vaucluse to offer their condolences. But the visitors were mostly adults who wanted to talk to other grown-ups, and Clark ended up alone and scared on the front porch on a chilly November night.

“There were so many people there right after it happened,” Clark remembered. “Preachers from several different churches were going in and out, comforting my mother and my grandmother. But he (Arthur) was the only one who sought out the little girl who was