Chosen To Be A Soldier, by Pastor Terry Upcott

This is what Terry wrote for Dad's Committal Service.

Our family would like to thank the honor guard for their services today. Dad was a Korean war veteran, and was proud to have been able to serve his country. He would often get emotional when he would talk about the veteran's here in Lincoln.
Pastor Campbell served the people of Lincoln for 291/2 years as the pastor of Bible Baptist Church. The story of how a boy from White City, Fl. wound up in Lincoln, Maine is interesting, and having just come off the 4th of July holiday, as well as Memorial Day, I'd like to take the time to tell you how Pastor Campbell's service for the Lord relates back to his military service.
II Tim. 2:4
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
Pastor Campbell enlisted in the United States Navy after going to electronics school in Chicago. He had no idea that while volunteering for his country's Naval service, he would soon be serving in a different army. He had been chosen to be a soldier.
While awaiting orders in San Francisco, Pastor Campbell stayed at a service men's center. A local church group ministered there with scripture reading, sharing the gospel, and just befriending the young men who were away from home. Through their ministry Pastor Campbell not only realized that he was a sinner, but that Christ had died for him to forgive him of his sin, and to offer him a personal relationship, as well as home in Heaven. He had joined the Navy, but he was now a soldier of Jesus Christ.
The chaplain at the center and other Christian men prayed for Pastor Campbell to be stationed in a place where he could be taught the Word of God and grow. The Navy sent him to Guam. His Lord had prepared that as well. Pastor Campbell came under the ministry of Missionary Cecil Green. Cecil encouraged him to seek further training when he got back to the States. The Navy man was in basic training for the "One who had chosen him to be a soldier".
Pastor Campbell was later assigned to Winter Harbor, Maine. His Lord once again used the Navy to transport His soldier. Pastor Campbell found Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ellsworth, where he met the Clarks. They became lifelong friends, and would be used by God to bring Pastor Campbell in contact with Bob Jones University. If Guam was God's basic training, BJU was officer's candidate school. Pastor Campbell learned to preach and how to minister under one of his heroes of the faith, Dr. Bob Jones Sr.
Following college, Pastor Campbell returned to Maine, where he would work and minister in the Bangor, Skowhegan, and Athens areas; as well as in the woods of Maine as he served with Christ for the Lumberjack Mission.
Pastor Campbell received his final posting in Lincoln. He became the Pastor of Bible Baptist Church, and served faithfully for almost 30 years. Even in retirement he stayed on active reserve for his Commander. He would continue to preach as long as health would allow, and even ministered to his health care providers as his sickness became worse. Pastor Campbell had been chosen while in the Navy to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled the commission he received. He is now resting in the presence of the one he served so long and well.
And so we come to the cemetery today. There has been a little time to adjust to life without Dad. We still miss him, and occasionally even forget for a second that he is gone and expect in that instant to see him. Those moments hurt, but scripture gives us hope. Not a wishful thinking kind of hope, but a sure confidence that we will see Dad again.
I Thess. 4:13-18 speaks of this hope. We commit only Dad's body to the ground today. His soul is with his Savior, and we look forward to the day of reunion.