March/April 2010 Real Life
In 1973, young, ex-marine Charlie Foster and his wife, Gloria, left their home in Indianapolis, Indiana, bound for Northwest Arkansas with a dream of expanding their family business. While still settling in to their new residence, a bus driver from a local church, First Baptist Church of Springdale, noted a bicycle belonging to the couple’s young daughter in the driveway and stopped to extend an invitation to church. Soon after, a member of the FBCS pastoral team came by the Fosters’ home to visit with the new Arkansans. The result: Gloria Foster accepted Jesus Christ.
Charlie, however, was less than enthused about his wife’s decision.
Still, Gloria determined to attend FBCS the next Sunday. Reluctantly, and after much persuasion, Charlie agreed to tag along. The couple made their way to the church and sat through the sermon together. Gloria, who, at the time, was 7 ½ months pregnant with their second daughter, Dawn, recalls, “When they gave the invitation, I nudged Charlie and asked if this was the time to go down.” Charlie’s response was abrupt. Gloria remembers her husband “snapping at her, telling her to be quiet.” Undeterred, Gloria stood and began walking the aisle toward the front of the church. To her surprise, Charlie came up from behind and managed to “somehow maneuver around her,”beating her down the aisle.
On that day, at the front of FBCS, together on their knees, the lives of Charlie and Gloria Foster were forever changed.
In 1985, Charlie was hired by FBCS as Minister of Singles and Facilities. Today, Charlie continues to serve the church as Minister of Senior Adults and Pastoral Care, a position Charlie both loves and performs with energy and passion. “I can get fired up encouraging our senior adults in living their life to the fullness for His glory. God has also allowed me to walk alongside many who have lost loved ones and encourage them to stay faithful as God is able to see them through the next stage in their life.”
While Charlie feels privileged to minister to the senior adults of FBCS, he also enjoys the opposite end of the spectrum—encouraging young couples as they bring new life into the world. “As I consider what I love most about our church, I would say that it is the people God has placed here and how I have been able to minister to them in many different settings. One of the most miraculous things God has allowed me to be a part of is seeing the wonder of His creation in the life of newborn babies. I stand amazed when I am able to spend time with a young couple and see the joy and love in the gift of a child.”
After twenty-five years at FBCS, Charlie can recall countless extraordinary memories and moments. He shares that some of his favorites involve witnessing God’s healing and restoration in the lives of people. “I have seen Him put together or put back together broken lives—people who have been saved or those who have allowed Him to see them through very difficult times. It is amazing to see God at work.”
When asked to describe how he has seen the church transform during his time here, Charlie answered simply, “The desire to see people come to the Lord has never changed. It was the heart of our church twenty-five years ago, and it is the heart of our church today. As we face the future, FBCS will never fail as long as we keep our focus on Jesus, reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ. And we will.”
So, if you are in the halls of FBCS and see a man in a brilliantly-colored suit, bowtie, and with a tremendous smile on his face, holding open a door or shaking a hand, odds are it is Charlie Foster, still doing God’s work after twenty-five years… and loving every minute of it.
Charlie and Gloria’s daughters, Alesha and Dawn, both graduated from Shiloh Christian School. Alesha and her husband, Corbin, have two children: Presley (2) and Maddyn (7 mo). Dawn and her husband, Greg, have three children, Abbey (9), Emma (7), and Will (2).