Some Remembrances of Dwight F. Zeller

In the title of this post I originally typed “Dr.” in front of “Dwight F. Zeller.” And indeed he had a doctorate in Greek Language from Eastern Baptist in Philadelphia. Yet, I don’t recall him hardly ever using the title “Dr.” He was not the sort to emphasize that. And so I removed it from the title.

Well, Dwight Zeller’s passing away this week came as a shock to me. I had known he had his share of health issues in recent times, but I wasn’t aware that his end was near. I kept thinking “When Dwight reaches 100 years of age, I’m definitely coming to the party.” The Lord blessed him with 95 years. And a great life it was.

I attended Sangre de Cristo Seminary for three years (2013-2016) and so studied under Dwight — the founder of the seminary —and lived in the same community as him up on the mountain; the base of Horn Peak. This Sunday, praying for his family at church, I stopped mid-prayer and was unable to get my composure for almost half a minute. It hit me that “he’s no longer here with us.” My own church members here in New York naturally did not know Dwight, but they clearly saw my affinity for the man.

So I want to note a few remembrances of Dwight. But first a comment on the picture above. These are the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in John’s Gospel. Dwight gave this to me, which, as it says on the bottom, is a copy made of an original from his father, Frederick Sylvester Zeller who was a United Presbyterian minister. It hangs on the wall among other signs at Sola – Appalachian Christian Retreat, our ministry to hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

A few brief remembrances:

• Shaky knees dance. When Dwight would preach — even in his 80s — he was always animated. I remember especially on one occasion him doing something I can only describe as a “shaky knee dance.”  I can’t recall how it fit into the sermon, but he certainly drew your eye to him when he was preaching.
• Dwight loved the Greek language. He would often say to his students, “proseuchometha” or “shall we pray” before a meal. And he helped us out with folding his hands incase we didn’t yet know that Greek word.
• Perhaps my favorite memory of Dwight was on Reformation Day when all the students and faculty and family came together for a dinner. And I had planned for some weeks a complete Francis Schaeffer costume. I had the tall socks, the swiss shorts, the right shirt, the beard trimmed into a goatee, and even my hair slicked back. I came up to Dwight and said “do you know who I am?” I shouldn’t have even asked. He knew. Dwight had never met Francis Schaeffer and I don’t really know his feelings on the man, but I got a good “Oh man” from him that I’ll never forget. Dwight was an eclectic renaissance man. He should like Schaeffer.

Well, Dwight was a character for sure. An honorable man. Accomplished in many ways. He was suited to pave bigger paths, preach at bigger churches, but the Lord called him (along with his brother) to ministry in the mountains. And the students of the seminary and the visitors to Horn Creek camp must be forever grateful for that.

Not being able to attend his funeral, I just wanted to give my respects to Dwight in this post. Dwight is to be buried at Ula Cemetery; the same place where his father-in-law Gordon H. Clark is buried. I suppose that in the resurrection their first conversation will be with each other.