Memorial Day 2011
Memorial Day 2011
Thank God for those who gave willingly of themselves for our country and for our freedom. Their memories are hollowed in our hearts because of their sacrifice. We will never be able to repay that debt. May their love for America never be forgotten.
My father, Carl J. Ballestero and my wife’s father, William R. Starr, both served during World War II. My uncles Stan and Wendell Gleason served as well. Today, my heart breathes a personal word of thanks to them especially.
My prayer is that God will continue to bless America.
My Dad, Pvt. Carl J. Ballestero
Carl J. Ballestero
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William R. Starr
William R. Starr
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There are some veterans of another war that I’d like to honor today too. They fought in a Spiritual War and in a Spirit filled Army. These men all preached to me. Some counseled me and redirected my focus. They fought against hell to save me. All in some measure have affected my life and my ministry and I honor them. May they all rest in peace. They will never be forgotten in my heart.
Starting first with my Father. My Father was also my pastor. He pastored 25 years and evangelized for 25 years. Everything I know and everything I am, I owe to God and to him. If you ever heard him preach, you never forgot what you felt and heard. He was truly a man of God. I miss him everyday. I am very proud to call him Dad.
Carl Ballestero - My father and my pastor.
Carl Ballestero preaching on the streets of Fresno, CA.
My dear Father-In-Law, William R. Starr was a tremendous preacher and a giant among men. He was a wise leader of men, a church planter and revivalist. He not only worked a secular job, but was pastor of a large church and District Superintendent of Michigan for 28 years at the same time. A true Christian if I ever met one. He is greatly loved and sorely missed.
My Wife's Daddy - Pastor William R. Starr
William R. Starr
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My uncles (My mother’s brothers) Two of the kindest and gentlest men in Pentecost. Both of them were great preachers.
Uncle Wendell and Uncle Orion Gleason
Jimmy Davis - My Dad's pastor, a preacher and teacher without peer.
Ike Terry - Whatever he preached or said to you, you never forgot it.
Robert Cavaness - Beloved friend and practical Bible teacher.
Pastor/Missionary Robert McFarland - baptized me.
Verbal Bean - his ministry moved my walk with God to a higher level.
Pastor/Missionary Leamon Reynolds - my pastor when I received the Holy Ghost.
Paul Jordan - Great preacher and friend.
Pastor/Missionary Juan Alvear - his anointing always made me cry when he preached
Roger Evens - What an anointing. Tremendous Bible teacher, singer, musician and friend.
Pastor/Missionary Harvey Davis. My father's friend and mine. What a preacher.
Missionary J.B. Lambeth - Helped put a passion in my heart for winning souls.
Lee Davis - Great family friend and preacher. He built a great church.
H.B. Morgan - I loved to hear him preach on the Godhead.
Bill Bowman - Fearless minister of the Gospel and a dear friend.
J.T.Pugh - This man preached a message that saved me and my ministry. It truly changed me.
Joe Duke - put the fear of God in us and helped us all pray through.
C.W. Shew - Defender of Apostolic Truths and lover of good men.
I thank God for, and honor the memory of these men who helped mold my life and my ministry. They may have all died, but they live on in my heart.
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 
Brought tears to my eyes Elder. The “Hero’s of Faith” doesn’t have to end at Hebrews 11. Thank you for the honor to late “Soldiers of the Cross”.
Mark McKinnney
May 29, 2011 at 12:49 am
thank you…..what a memorial!
kennethbow
May 29, 2011 at 1:10 am
Thank You for the Memorial our fathers and others that have served this country and God!
Marcia Ballestero
May 29, 2011 at 6:13 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I too love and honor these spiritual giants. So grateful to their ministry and the way it molded us and changed the course of direction in our lives. God bless their memory.
Nila Marxer
May 29, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I am searching desperately for a Kleenex as I am sobbing looking at the pictures of these giants of Pentecost. I miss them so much!!! Love hearing my pastor bring reference to them in his sermon. Just today he talked about Bro Duke & Dad. How blessed I’ve been to have most all of these men be a part of my life. I’ve truly been blessed!!! I agree Nila…..God bless their memory. Thanks for not letting us forget, Marty dear. I love you.
Carlene
May 29, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Thank you for such a moving tribute to the great men who have shaped our lives, that stood firm on the Truth and never backed down. I thank God that I can be pastored by a great man of God that still holds true to the Word of God. I owe so much to the men that shaped my pastors life so that in turn I too can carry on in the Truth. Thank God for true hero’s, giant men of God. Awesome post, I enjoyed it very much, brought tears of thankfulness to my soul today.
Daryl Jorden
May 30, 2011 at 10:39 am
Thanking God for Soldiers of our country and Soldiers of the Cross! Enjoyed seeing these pictures of such great men!
Patsy
May 30, 2011 at 10:41 am
Beautiful!!!
Crystal Smith (Morris)
May 30, 2011 at 9:25 pm
“These all died in faith….” what a beautiful tribute~ thank you.
Ellen Gentry
June 4, 2011 at 9:33 am
Excellent Post Elder! What a TRUE Memorial. I too love the men who shaped this country, I moreso love the men who shaped my soul!
Thanks for a wonderful tribute to godly men
james self
June 4, 2011 at 11:33 pm
I love reading and looking at all of the pictures. The Davis brothers are my great uncles and Bro. J.T. Pugh was such a wonderful man. I was searching for pics of Bro. Johnny Alvear and your blog showed up with a pic of Bro Jimmy Davis. Thank you! It’s made my day.
Verlene Barnes Fults
July 28, 2011 at 9:42 am
Thank you. I was looking for a pic of Elder Evens for my new book and I landed here. What a tribute. Blessings!
Bishop Bernie L. Wade, Thd.
August 13, 2011 at 9:41 pm
I thank you so much for these pictures of these ministers. My pastor was Orion Gleason and I was the first convert in his church in Albany Oregon. I believe it was 1952 that I came into the church. His family has always held a special place in my heart.
gauchogran
December 7, 2013 at 12:55 pm