THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410110096
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
If the Rev. Basil L. ``Buzz'' Ballard's ability to preach a sermon on Sunday morning at the Windsor Congregational Christian Church is anything like his ability to carry on a conversation, members of the small church should be in good hands.
I had heard that Ballard, a retired Army chaplain, had taken over at Windsor Christian after Eddie Walker left. Walker had been at the church for several years and was thoroughly entrenched in the town. Certainly, his leaving was a loss to the church as well as the community.
But members of Windsor Christian who told me about the coming of Ballard were excited about his arrival in July, and townfolks were buzzing as well about how lucky Windsor is to land such an experienced preacher with such an interesting background.
Well, it took a couple of months to catch up with Ballard, but it probably gave him time to settle in. When we finally talked last week, in his study overlooking U.S. Route 460, I discovered he is just as interesting as I had heard.
Operating on fast forward, full speed ahead, Ballard told me his story. I can't recall that I had to ask a single question.
This interesting man who chose the ministry as his life's work was born in Michigan, but when he was a youngster, his family moved to southern Ohio near Cincinnati. Therefore, he said, he calls Ohio home.
Ballard and his wife, Grace, were high school sweethearts.
``She was a cheerleader; I played football,'' he said, chuckling.
But the ball player was a year older than the cheerleader, so they had to wait for a year after he graduated from high school to get married. As soon as the bride was out of school, they tied the knot.
Ballard said he had started working and attending college as soon as he got out of high school. It was his intention to teach.
``Then, just a few weeks after we got married, I got the feeling that there was something unfinished in my life, unfinished spiritually,'' he said. ``I don't know how others explain it - different ways, I know - but that's how I explain it. I know I was being called into the ministry.''
Immediately, Ballard said, his life changed direction. He set goals to finish college and go to seminary. By the time he had graduated from Anderson College and School of Theology in Indiana, after eight years, the Ballards' two sons had been born, and the Vietnam War had started.
Ballard had a degree in religion and psychology and a master of divinity degree, and he felt he had a purpose.
``A lot of my classmates were burning their draft cards,'' he said. ``They were against the Vietnam War. I had a feeling in my heart for the soldiers already over there. I felt somebody needed to be there to remind them that God was bigger than everything that was going on.''
So, in 1969, Ballard was ordained a minister, and he was off to Vietnam, where he spent a year doing exactly what he felt he had to do. His family stayed in Ohio.
Once the tour in Vietnam was over, the family was stationed at Ft. Louis, Wash. From there, they went to Germany, where Ballard was assigned as jail chaplain at a stockade for two years.
``Those were tough days,'' he recalled. ``A lot of soldiers then were involved in drugs.''
From Germany, Ballard served three years at Fort Jackson, S.C., then, Levinworth, Kan., Fort Monmouth, N.J., and then back to Germany. Finally, knowing he was facing retirement, he asked for a hospital assignment and was sent to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.
Ballard started searching for his civilian career about a year ago. An Army buddy was, and still is, minister at Franklin Congregational Christian Church and told him about the opening in Windsor.
When the Ballards were visiting the Franklin family several months ago, Windsor Christian's search committee sat in for a Sunday morning service featuring Ballard. The committee liked what it heard and invited him to Windsor for a trial sermon.
``My wife's mother was born in Virginia, and we had served temporary assignments at Fort Lee, Fort Eustis and Fort Monroe,'' Ballard said. ``We knew the people here were friendly; the climate was great. Both my parents and Grace's parents were gone, so we felt we could go where we wanted.''
They decided they wanted Virginia, and the members of Windsor Christian decided they wanted the Ballards. It was mutual.
There were never any second thoughts about settling in such a small town, Ballard said, since the town they had grown up in had been about the size of Windsor.
``We felt like we were coming back to our roots,'' the minister said.
And they've settled in nicely, thank you.
``We are really happy with the community, happy to be here,'' Ballard said. ``I have one lady in my congregation who is 94. She's been a member of this church all her life, and her parents were here before here. What wonderful stability.''
Well, the former Army chaplain likes it in Windsor. He's joined the Ruritans, bought a pickup truck, established a schedule that gets him up at 7 a.m., when for years he had to get up at 5.
Anything else you'd like to know about the Rev. Ballard?
Just ask him. He's at the church most mornings until lunch time. In the afternoon, he makes his calls and visits.
Drop by and say hello. He's certainly a friendly sort. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
The Rev. Basil L. ``Buzz'' Ballard is a former Army chaplin.
by CNB