The last time I saw Clint, a year and a half ago, was at the family farm - Bolton Ornamental Grass Farm - just south of Battle Creek, MI. M66 to H road S and about 2 miles west. Clint was working, running a front loader mixing dirt with cow manure to spread on his ornamental grasses. But, I'm getting ahead of myself...
Clint's funeral was yesterday at the North Athens Baptist Church. I believed that I had given myself enough time to get to Athene and to find the church. Driving south on M66 I began to wonder if Clint and Arlene would drive that far on a Sunday morning. Athens is really not that large but there was no Baptist Church sign. Getting through town in a couple of minutes, it was time to stop and ask for directions. I went into a small restaurant and asked the young lady if she knew the directions to North Athens Baptist Church? "Yes, it is north on M66 to M road S, then turn left." Thanks you, I still had time!
North on M66 - pasted N road S and the next sign I saw was L road S. I must have missed my turn. Back down M66 and turned into M road S just in front of 2 or 3 other cars with 2 or 3 other cars in front of me. This must be the right road! Two miles later I see the spire of a white church. As we neared the church we could see what must have been a couple of hundred cars and the hearse at North Athens Baptist Church.
I was dressed in my black suit, light blue shirt, dark blue tie and dress shoes and was completely over dressed. I go to city funerals.
Clint and Arlene's church is a country church. A group or 200 plus people who gathered as a community of believers had come their building for Clint's funeral. There were 3 generations of the Bolton's with their friends. Friends with whom they had lived their whole lives together. Clint and Arlene were married in the church with the white spire which was across the street, having been replaced by the new building several years ago.
Jonathan Bolton's remarks about his dad were incredible. He told about the wooden cross which hung back of the pulpit. Jonathan called the cross, "A WORKING MAN'S CROSS"! It had been hewn from a tree on the family farm and had been put together by his grandfather and his dad. The cross has been hanging in the church for over 25 years now. Four generations or more of the Bolton's have now worshipped under that cross, been part of that community of believer. Clint's grandchildren know about this Jesus whom grandpa served since he became a disciple of Jesus as a 14 year old boy.
In the biography they called Clint an agriculturist but he was really a farmer. .Farmer Bolton@ was his email address He was given the opportunity. to work with farmer and volunteers in over 25 nations. He was part of the Peace Corp in Cyprus and head of the Peace Corp in Sierra Leone West Africa. At the American University in Beirut, Lebanon Clint taught Farm Mechanization. It was at this school that he taught Jose Zaglul who is now the President of Earth University in Costa Rica. This agricultural school has students from all over South and Central America and, when I was there, from 9 countries of Africa.
For the past 10 or 12 years Clint and Arlene have gone to be a part of Earth University and to serve Jose in any way that he needed. True to himself, Clint was able to have a regular bible study with some of he students while he was on the campus. And now, after 10 years, some of the African students have picked up the vision to carry on - they now have 38 students with whom they now keep in touch for encouragement and discipleship!
Clint was a quiet, gifted, humble and dedicated student, teacher and disciple of Jesus until he died last Sunday. His community gathered yesterday. They sang, they spoke of Clint, they spoke of his work but mostly they gathered because he and Arlene are part of Clint's family!
From the grave site the people came back to their home building to talk and to eat. This was no ham and scalloped potato dinner. This was a family dinner from dozens of kitchens, family receipts, and loving hands who made salads and pies and loaded the tables! I entered the Fellowship Hall through a side door - a lady who was cutting a cake into squares was blocking my way, so I said to her, "You don't need to cut that cake, I'll just take it home as it is!" She had already heard that line so I too late. Besides, there were strawberry pies, brownies, berry cobblers, etc. I could not have decided any way,.
Lee, Joe and Gordan, men from the Battle Creek group were at the funeral to honor Clint's life.They were also there as a part of the Gideons and as a part of a 25 year old fellowship with Clint and Arlene - to encourage and to continue this community centered in Jesus Christ - the person whom Clint had worshipped since he was a 14 year old boy.
Because of Clint I had been introduced to Earth University and Tillers International.. Interacting with students at Earth I now share something of Clint's dream and hopes that Jesus will open the door for someone to fill Clint's shoes. I'm not an agriculturalist, but I'd be willing to try --- especially in February and March. Michigan winters don't need Wilma nor me and Costa Rica is far enough south ----- but more than that, the kids (students) at Earth are so open!
