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Congregation Celebrates Life Of Simeon Nix

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By TOM BRENNAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

BRANDON - They came to praise the Lord and say goodbye to a dear friend.
Bell Shoals Baptist Church's 3,450-seat sanctuary was crammed full as members and friends joined in an emotional celebration of the life of Simeon Nix, the congregation's minister of music and worship.

It was a service Nix would have cherished, members said - long on music, short on homilies and unyielding in its profession of faith.

"I am kind of mad Simeon missed this," said John Avant, pastor of the First Baptist Church of West Monroe, La. Nix's wife, Beth, had asked Avant, who led revivals with her husband, to speak at the service.

"He would have loved this," Avant said. "He was the greatest worship leader I have ever known, who has ever lived."

Nix died of a heart attack Aug. 17. He was 47.

Boxes of tissues we placed strategically between the seats of the auditorium during the memorial service. They were never more needed than when Nix's daughter, Bre'Ana, 7, sang the song "When Daddy Says I'm Beautiful."

The performance drew sobs, rousing applause and a standing ovation from the overflow crowd.

Both Nix children, who the couple adopted from Russia, wanted to take part in the service. Son Sterling, 7, chose a video clip played during the service showing him and his father extolling the need for baptism and salvation.

Beth Nix spoke to the congregation and well-wishers on a prerecorded video displayed on the church's two large video screens. She asked church members to understand why she has not yet responded to their outpouring of concern.

"It is a way for me to deal with my grief and to protect my precious children," she said.

Beth Nix said the best memorial would be a renewal of faith.

"If you do anything to honor him, make God's work your refuge," she said. "Tell others of his precious Jesus, in whose arms he's resting in today."

Simeon Nix's death was the third to rock the church in recent months.

The senior pastor, Forrest Pollock, and his 13-year-old son, Preston, died May 12 after the plane Pollock was piloting crashed into a North Carolina mountain shortly after takeoff.

Avant told the audience the grief caused by the losses shouldn't shake their faith, but rather affirm it and the promise of salvation.

"God will never waste your pain," he said. "So grieve, suffer, hurt and cry, but do not despair. God is here. He cares more about your forever than Simeon's tomorrow."

George A. Thomasson, the senior associate pastor, said a search committee charged with replacing Pollock is being formed and should be in place by Sept. 7.

He said the church is in no hurry to find a new pastor.

"We wanted to be sensitive to the Pollock family and the whole church family, so we did not want to appear we were rushing into anything," he said.

At the service, Thomasson and Avant reminded worshipers that Nix is in a better place.

"I can't image the choir the Lord is letting him direct today," Avant said.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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