Bob Miller

Bob Miller, pastor of three GCI churches in Alabama (Birmingham, Good Hope and Hokes Bluff) retired last May but continues to work part-time.

Bob started serving people a long time ago when he worked as a bellhop at a motel while in high school. “I assisted the manager in waiting on customers, ran the switch board—one with all the wires like you see in old movies. I would make beds and clean rooms. A daily ritual was to wash the glasses at the local restaurant and wrap them for the maids to put in the rooms. I turned on lights at night (screwing in the light bulb at every outside door) and shoveled snow during winter. Our business rate for a single room was $6.30 a night.”

Bob, who grew up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, had a desire to teach from a young age, “but no real direction in my life. I have never been one to do a lot of long-term planning. I believe God has nudged and pulled me along and placed me where he wanted me to be—sometimes with me pulling a Jonah and trying to run.”

Bob started attending the then Radio Church of God in Pittsburgh when he was 16.

I rode to church with a neighbor who had taught the MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) I attended. Another young man, who became a WCG pastor, now deceased, Danny Bierer, rode with us—he and I attended high school together. Jimmie Friddle was our pastor and recommended us for Ambassador College. I consider him my father in the faith. As a young man I found the church’s teaching something solid I could grasp and it gave me a sense of direction and purpose in life. I found, being a teenager, a lot of encouragement and acceptance from the way the members loved and supported me.

Ambassador College gave Bob more than an education. It was on the Big Sandy, Texas campus that Bob met his wife-to-be, Ruth. “We were married at Big Sandy by Dean Blackwell on January 22, 1977.” Bob and Ruth just celebrated their 36th anniversary in January. They have three children: Lisa; Laurie, who is married to Mike; and Brian, who is married to Kristen. They have one grandchild, Jackson Miller Dewey, who is 2½ years old. Another grandchild is due in May.

Ruth has a passion for women’s ministry and has been leading a fall women’s retreat for many years. She also enjoys teaching, and is currently teaching a women’ss discipleship class in their Birmingham congregation. She also gives occasional sermons. She works full-time as church secretary for Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills.

After graduating college, Bob served for a short time as a ministerial trainee in Tennessee. In 1970 he began working for a US Steel subsidiary in Akron, Ohio working in their data entry and computer department for five years. He eventually moved to church headquarters in Pasadena and was hired full time in the Postal department and ended up working in the Ambassador Publishing department all through the 70s and 80s. He also served as a deacon in the HQ congregations. “I was ordained an elder in 1988 and sent to Birmingham, Alabama in 1989 as an assistant pastor. When the doctrinal changes were introduced, we lost our senior pastor and I took his place in 1995. I have served in this area ever since.”

Bob said the best part of being a pastor is “giving encouragement and helping someone find their spiritual giftedness to serve God.” This is clear from his most memorable moment as a pastor. “I was blessed to baptize a man in prison and twenty-three years later participate in his ordination and serve with him in ministry.”

Bob and Ruth love that GCI has enabled them to be part of a worldwide family. “Ruth and I have been privileged to serve in many aspects of the denominational work and have come to know and love many dear friends. GCI has been so good to us and the way our denomination presents the gospel is the most encouraging message I can imagine.”

Bob’s hobby is gardening, but his passion is to help others understand the love of God. “My passion is to nurture and encourage others in their faith journey.”

When asked about people who have been mentors for Bob, he was quick to respond. “Two men come to mind: Jimmie Friddle and Roger Lippross. One was my pastor and the other my boss. Both encouraged me to do better and gave me opportunities to improve my life and the lives of those I love. They both set examples of faith, perseverance and a love for preaching the gospel.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Bob said, “When struggling with life’s problems and receiving the peace of God during prayer and the counsel of my best friend and dear wife that keeps me on track.”