Daily Press Writer
MONTROSE — It’s official: After 25 years of service, Ronnie Hanna retired from the Montrose Christian Church.
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“At the time I was the vice president of Dallas Christian College,” Hanna said. “The church (Montrose Christian Church) contacted the college looking for a new pastor. My position with the school was to help churches find ministers and ministers find churches. They were looking for names. I sent them a list. They then called back to see if I would be interested in the position.”
Hanna explained he never applied for any of his pulpit positions, but God brought them all to him.
“The Lord has always opened doors for me,” he continued. During his time with the church he fulfilled many duties including preaching the sermons and building the pulpit, however, he said his favorite part of his position was his association with the people.
“My main concern was talking to them about their relationship with Christ and the church,” he said. “I wanted to help them build their relationship.”
As a minister, his service activities including visiting with people in their homes, presiding over funerals and officiating weddings. He was also active in the Montrose Memorial Hospital chaplaincy, the Montrose Association of Churches and the Kiwanis Club.
“I did not have much spare time,” he said. “I am going to miss all the people I have come to know over the years.”
Hanna said his decision to retire was a result of a stroke he suffered in February.
“I realized I need to slow down,” he said.
“This was the Lord’s way of telling me. So in March I announced that I was going to retire. ... My physical condition demands that I slow down so we thought it best to relocate. I am going back home to be near my children and grandchildren.”
The couple plans to return to the Dallas metropolis where two of their three children and their families reside. The couple’s third child lives in California. Collectively the have seven grandchildren. The Hannas are trying to sell their home there and then they plan to relocate.
“As soon as the house sells we will move,” he said.
Since his stroke, Hanna said he has been working on his physical recovery. He said most of his life was devoted to the church and his calling was something that came quite naturally to him.
“Church work was my hobby,” he said. “Mainly work was my hobby. I just felt the divine spirit to serve from God. I made my commitment to enter the ministry as a junior in high school while living in Amarillo, Texas. I was 16-years-old.” Hanna attended Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo. and Cincinnati Bible Seminary.
During his career, Hanna served multiple full-time ministries ranging in communities from Terra Houte, Ind. to Odessa, Texas. Ultimately he ended up in Garland, Texas, working for the Christian College.
The Montrose Christian Church has a congregation of about 1,000 people and in addition to three services on Sunday, hosts several Bible study classes and other activities. The current senior pastor is Steve Shaw.
“It’s difficult to say goodbye to people you have known for 25 years,” Hanna said. “But you realize life goes on. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 — there is a time and purpose for everything and the time has come to retire.”
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