Tribute to Glenn Polhemus

Glenn Polhemus was a shepherd. Moreover, he embodied the Good Shepherd in ways that were tangible. Glenn was quiet and attentive; he never took his eyes off the needs of those the Lord had put in his care. 

In the ’90s, beautiful partnerships began to strengthen between churches in Texas and the Anglican Diocese of Northern Mexico. The purpose of these partnerships was to build relationships and to help meet the needs of the Church in Mexico. Glenn knew the needs of the churches in Mexico and he knew the hearts of the churches here. Like a shepherd, he gently guided our partnerships. He quietly joined needs with hearts. Before long we had a robust ministry together to care for God’s unreached and marginalized in Mexico.

I first met Glenn at a gathering in the fall of 1998 where plans were underway to establish an Anglican church in Cuauhtémoc. Glenn headed the project. In time, there was great joy with the ringing of the church bells in a new community. Soon in that sacred place needs were met; hearts were filled to overflowing. Previously rejected children received the holy waters of baptism. Sheep were brought into the fold.

We gathered in San Angelo during the spring of 1999. It was then that Greg Spinks first shared the story about the Lord sending abandoned children to his doorstep. Again, Glenn quietly joined the needs of a desperate deacon and the hearts of many churches. Three children became twelve children and then more. Glenn was always, calmly, taking the next step to care for the situation. 

Things moved very fast during those first years of La Gran Familia. The children’s physical and emotional needs were immense and there was much uncertainty. During those hard times, Glenn was like the shepherd who comes at night to stand in the middle of the field. He was our shepherd who kept us calm when the wolf was lurking in the dark.

In order for sheep to flourish, the shepherd has to prepare the fields. He must go up to the high country and prepare the fields for spring grazing. Year after year, whenever we moved into periods of great need, we discovered that our fields had been prepared!

Now as the wolf is again lurking about, we have been shown all we need to know. Glenn has shown us the Good Shepherd. He has always directed our eyes to the One who called him. He has directed our eyes to the One who anointed his head with oil. We know who stands in the middle of our dark nights and will always take care of His sheep. As we have come to this time of loss and grief, we are called to move forward and put our trust in the Good Shepherd.