Tribute to Pastor Dale H. Engle

March 21, 1949 - June 8, 2006

Dale H. Engle was a giant in ministry. There is one kind of giant, characterized by Goliath in the Old Testament story; physically large, boisterous, larger-than-life, in your face, and self-promoting. Dale was another kind of giant whose stature sneaks up on you and is not readily apparent; this giant’s impact was seen most significantly over a stretch of time, but it is large.

Dale loved the Lord with his whole heart. And he loved the “Body of Christ.” He loved being a part of the expression of it known as the Brethren in Christ Church.

Dale was first and foremost a pastor. He served two churches over a 30-year span. First Cross Roads BIC in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1997 and then Harvest Community in Maytown, PA for the past eight years. His desire was for each church to be a biblically functioning community, where people would discover God’s love and grow into a life of discipleship. He loved to see the local church communicate the hope of the world.

He also participated significantly in the larger Brethren in Christ community. Dale served on the Atlantic Conference Evangelism and Church Planting Board for 15 years. Starting out as its secretary, he also served as the board’s chairperson in three different seasons. Later his expanding heart for evangelism and church planting led to a six-year involvement on the North American Board for Evangelism and Church Planting.

He was elected the assistant moderator of the Conference three times, demonstrating the high regard in which he was held by others. He coordinated the planning of more church growth dinners than I could count. For the past five years he led one of our pastoral clusters because he was committed to supporting pastors within the Conference.

Dale consistently made himself available for service to the church and was willing to use his gifts when the invitation was extended. He was not a self-promoter, and when he served he was faithful, reliable, consistent, loyal, careful, and humble. He was in it for the long haul--solid and enduring--with a value best realized over time.

Dale was neck deep in strategizing and planning for church planting in the Atlantic Conference and the North American BIC Church for sixteen years, but for him it was more than serving on a board. The words of Jesus from John 4--“open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest”--had increasing impact on his life. Year after year, he longed for his ministry to introduce people to faith in Christ.

Near the end of 1997, I sat with Dale and his wife Mona in the back of Clearview Diner in Elizabethtown, PA and invited Dale to consider planting a church in the Maytown area. Dale wrote later, “I thought church planting wasn’t my gift and that pastoring in a more established setting was my fit. When the Bishop asked, I said 'no,' but then I wrestled with God until He won and I obeyed.”

In 1998, Dale became the founding pastor of Harvest Community Church. He demonstrated tremendous courage in leaving a church he loved to advance a cause he loved even greater. He modeled taking a courageous step of faith at the age of 49 in launching out and planting a new congregation. That is a huge legacy.

When I knew I would be with Dale at a meeting, or riding together with him in a car, I had a relaxed sense of peace because it was enjoyable to be with him. He was kind, gracious, and fun. In conversations with numerous pastors during the past few days since his passing, inevitably they would comment that “he was a great guy.”

Dale never placed giant status on himself. We sat in his home several weeks ago and I shared with them the expressions of love and affection coming from pastors, churches, and individuals.

Individuals were commenting on the personal impact of Dale’s life on their spiritual journey. Dale was overcome with emotion in reflecting on the privilege he’d had to touch peoples’ lives, and said “I hope my life has made some small difference.”

Though Dale’s life on earth has now been completed, the impact of his life and ministry remains, and lives on. On June 8, 2006, Dale H. Engle received the ultimate commendation from his Lord “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your Master’s happiness.”

Bishop Craig Sider
Bishop of Atlantic and Southeast Conferences
The Brethren in Christ Church, North America