THE LATE PASTOR
ARTHUR E. MILLS
ARTHUR E. MILLS
The Rev. Arthur Mills was pretty sure no one else pegged him for this profession. He considers it an irresistible calling from God.
Mills was considered the oldest serving pastor in Waterloo's African-American community until his death in 2014.
The church started with six people meeting in borrowed space and no money to pay the Pastor. Interest in the fledgling group spread through word of mouth and eventually the church purchased five acres and built a chapel at 915 Willow St.--the very neighborhood where Mills grew up.
Mills was amazed that he, a wayward preacher's kid, eventually followed in his father's footsteps. He was also amazed he was able to minister so close to his roots. "If he was recognized at home, that's a miracle," Mills said. After preaching briefly in Marshalltown, he returned to Waterloo. In addition to starting and growing a church, he also put in 25 years at Rath Packing Co.
For Pastor Mills, the church was about changing lives. Using the Bible as his guide, he strives to help people with their problems, if they'll let him. "You're not going to help everybody but you are going to help somebody". Regulars at Corinthian Baptist said their late pastor was willing to tell people what they needed to hear, not always what they want to hear. Like a concerned father, he dishes out guidance with passion, frankness and at times, humor.
Then the Senior Pastor in town, Mills mentors and met monthly with area clergy. After years of leading by example and training up new leaders within Corinthian Baptist, Mills could take a month-long vacation and everything would run smoothly, no checkup call home needed, said Rev. Ted Keys of Community Southern Baptist Church in Waterloo.
Whatever advice Mills passed on to other pastors, he said, he learned through trial and error. Throughout his tenure, he had come to understand that all that shines isn't gold and anything worthwhile comes only from hard work.
"It's on-the-job training," Pastor Mills said. "No one can teach you." On a recent Wednesday, several dozen men and women met at Corinthian Baptist for Bible study and prayer. Toward the end of the night, Mills held up a brief sermon he typed out in advance and asked for a volunteer to lead the discussion.
He doesn't ask in advance---people get intimidated and decline. He's also learned the congregation is more willing to question and challenge the message if it's not coming straight from the pastor. Mills will jump up from time to time, however, chiming in as he strolled up and down the aisle to help drive a point home.
Mills took pride in sharing the sanctuary which includes longtime, faithful church goers, reformed alcoholics and ex-convicts.
The late Pastor Mills didn't pretend to be anything special. "He said, God started everything with nothing, so God can take nothing and make something". That's what he did with me. Although there were honorary certificates and credentials on his walls of his church office, he keeps a pair of his baby shoes on his desk as a reminder of his humble beginnings. "God took a nobody and made a somebody, said the Pastor."
Mills was considered the oldest serving pastor in Waterloo's African-American community until his death in 2014.
The church started with six people meeting in borrowed space and no money to pay the Pastor. Interest in the fledgling group spread through word of mouth and eventually the church purchased five acres and built a chapel at 915 Willow St.--the very neighborhood where Mills grew up.
Mills was amazed that he, a wayward preacher's kid, eventually followed in his father's footsteps. He was also amazed he was able to minister so close to his roots. "If he was recognized at home, that's a miracle," Mills said. After preaching briefly in Marshalltown, he returned to Waterloo. In addition to starting and growing a church, he also put in 25 years at Rath Packing Co.
For Pastor Mills, the church was about changing lives. Using the Bible as his guide, he strives to help people with their problems, if they'll let him. "You're not going to help everybody but you are going to help somebody". Regulars at Corinthian Baptist said their late pastor was willing to tell people what they needed to hear, not always what they want to hear. Like a concerned father, he dishes out guidance with passion, frankness and at times, humor.
Then the Senior Pastor in town, Mills mentors and met monthly with area clergy. After years of leading by example and training up new leaders within Corinthian Baptist, Mills could take a month-long vacation and everything would run smoothly, no checkup call home needed, said Rev. Ted Keys of Community Southern Baptist Church in Waterloo.
Whatever advice Mills passed on to other pastors, he said, he learned through trial and error. Throughout his tenure, he had come to understand that all that shines isn't gold and anything worthwhile comes only from hard work.
"It's on-the-job training," Pastor Mills said. "No one can teach you." On a recent Wednesday, several dozen men and women met at Corinthian Baptist for Bible study and prayer. Toward the end of the night, Mills held up a brief sermon he typed out in advance and asked for a volunteer to lead the discussion.
He doesn't ask in advance---people get intimidated and decline. He's also learned the congregation is more willing to question and challenge the message if it's not coming straight from the pastor. Mills will jump up from time to time, however, chiming in as he strolled up and down the aisle to help drive a point home.
Mills took pride in sharing the sanctuary which includes longtime, faithful church goers, reformed alcoholics and ex-convicts.
The late Pastor Mills didn't pretend to be anything special. "He said, God started everything with nothing, so God can take nothing and make something". That's what he did with me. Although there were honorary certificates and credentials on his walls of his church office, he keeps a pair of his baby shoes on his desk as a reminder of his humble beginnings. "God took a nobody and made a somebody, said the Pastor."
