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Notable ministry continues
Rev. George Lee to mark 45 years as Methodist minister with hymn sing
By LINDA M. LINONIS
austintown
A celebration in song will mark the Rev. Dr. George L. Lee’s 45th year in pastoral ministry.
The pastor of West Austintown First United Methodist Church has incorporated music as part of his long-time ministry.
He is a self-taught pianist. “It’s a gift from God. I’m humbled by it,” said Pastor George, who said he prefers that title. “When I play, I get lost in it.”
During his ministry, Pastor George recorded two albums, “Sacred Music” and “Jesus is Coming Soon” with the Gospelaires, who invited him to record with them. On “Sacred Music,” he played the piano; Cynde Burger, violin; and Elizabeth Burnson, organ.
“It’s amazing that these LPs are old and still have perfect pitch after all these years,” he said. They have been converted to CDs. He also organized the Master Quartet when he was pastor of the Church of The Master.
Though Pastor George has had a life-long love of music, his call to the ministry wasn’t as direct. He admitted that when he was a teenager, he felt the call of God. “I talked about it,” he recalled, but noted that he didn’t act.
While serving in the U.S. Air Force during the 1960s, he became active in the chapel and choir, and directed the first USAF women’s chapel choir. It also was in the USAF that he became a Methodist; he had grown up in the Nazarene church.
One day as he was engaged in devotions, his life changed when he read a passage from Matthew 28:18-20. “Jesus came up and spoke to them saying, ‘all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and to, I am with you always even to the end of the age.”
Pastor George said it seemed the Holy Spirit was telling him “this is what you should do.”
And he did. After his discharge from the USAF, he returned to his home church, Central Methodist Church in Mansfield, where he declared his calling. That was 45 years ago this spring.
Pastor George explained in the Methodist Church, pastors are moved around to churches as needed. Accompanied by his wife of 42 years, Trudie, he has served at multiple churches. The couple also traveled extensively. They have four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Pastor George related one trip to Acapulo, Mexico, where he and Trudie visited an Episcopal orphanage. “I was invited to participate in the liturgy,” Pastor George said, noting he was to give communion. He set the scene, describing a simple hut with benches. Then he and his wife realized who was there .... Billy and Ruth Graham and George and Barbara Bush. “We couldn’t believe it,” Pastor George said.
And when the Lees returned a year later, the Grahams were also there. “And Ruth recognized by wife,” Pastor George said.
Around 1985, the couple were on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that went on to Rome, Italy. While they were visiting the Sistine Chapel, they had the chance to be part of an audience with Pope John Paul II. “I admired him so much for his love of children and youth,” Pastor George said.
Though Pastor George had a fulfilling ministry, he retired from Canfield United Methodist Church in 2003. “I knew I had made a mistake the next day,” he said. He remedied that by joining the Boardman United Methodist Church staff. In 2008, he became pastor of the Austintown church.
Pastor George said retirement isn’t in his plans. “When God calls me home to be with Him in heaven, I want to be all used up for the glory of God,” he said. He said preaching and sharing God’s word would continue as his life’s work.