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How do I begin to tell you about Belle? Where do I start? Is there a place? I am not sure. The only thing I know to do is to wade in and start from the beginning and try to bring you to the present.  

I met Belle for the first time in 1977 at work. I had re-dedicated my life to the Lord in 1975 and was truly on fire and ready to go for God. One of the things I enjoyed the most was being around God’s people and just worshipping the Lord. So, when our niece Faye told me she wanted me to meet a good friend of hers who was also in love with Jesus, I was excited.  

We went on break and she introduced me to this tall slender lady whom I sensed immediately in my spirit was about to impact my life. Little did I know how much she would influence my walk with God! From the minute she began to talk to me, it was obvious she had an anointing on her life. This lady could speak more about the love of God in five minutes and have more impact on people’s lives, than most preachers who have been to seminaries and speak eloquently in churches every Sunday. When she spoke you listened. 

We began to pray on our breaks anywhere that we could find a nook or cranny within the workplace. When it became so overcrowded with other people that we could find no privacy we began to go to the home of Faye’s mother who lived nearby on our lunch break. Even though our lunch break was only thirty minutes and it would mean no lunch, we were spiritually filled to the brim. 

Isaiah 52:7 – How beautiful upon the mountains, Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings good tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God Reigns”

Belle has a purity that I did not know could exist among Christians. In the twenty-five years since I met her I have never seen a flaw in her character. I have never heard her speak a word of doubt. She only speaks forth the faith of her God. You cannot make this Woman of God anything less than what she is “A true Saint of God”. It didn’t matter whether she had little or a lot as far as financial wealth; she was always the same. She was “Belle”. 

I asked her once, "how do you do it Belle"? How do you go on when your whole world is crumbling down? She said, "Betty, I just take it to the Lord and I say God, It’s Belle again, “I have this problem, and it’s too big for me. I can’t fix it, but Lord, I know that you can, and then I leave it there." Does that sound like the God kind of Faith? Well it certainly does to me! How many times I have inserted Betty into that same sentence and prayed that same prayer? And you know folks! He has always answered, you see He already knows the Problem before you ask and has the Answer before you Call.  

When I first met Belle, I knew nothing of the conditions of her life and the circumstances evolving around her family. She had at one time been an average Christian, like so many people are, saved and satisfied, thinking she was doing God a favor by her attendance in church on Sunday. Then, she lost a son to death and while going through the grieving process, she began to REALLY read the scriptures and God began to speak to her heart that this thing was REAL. She studied on her own until she became so hungry for ALL that God had for her that she received the Holy Spirit in all its fullness. Belle was never satisfied again to sit on a pew.  

During the first stages of our meetings I did not know about Belle’s husband who was dying with cancer. I remember when I found out, I could only look at her in awe, as she was so amazingly strong. I said to her one day at work “Belle” how can you bear to come to work and leave Robert with him so sick. I knew that she might not see him again in this life, when she walked out of her front door. I will never forget her soft answer “Betty, she said, when I leave him, I leave him in the best hands I could leave him in. I ask Jesus to take care of him and either way “it will be alright”. I knew then, that this lady had a special kind of faith in God and that it would take her from the loss of her son and keep her now, as it grew near to the time of the death of her mate of many years. Being a fairly new Christian, I marveled at this woman’s strength and endeavored to try to follow Christ in the same way Belle did.  

I remember her strength as she endured the loss of her husband, always uplifting the Name of Jesus. She was never too busy to talk to someone who needed her or go where angels feared to tread. I remember one of my first sermons was preached on a street in a bad neighborhood where Belle and some of our friends dared to go. I don’t know whether the “Wino” or the others that came forth that day ever held on to God, I just know that obedience is better than sacrifice and that’s what we were, just obedient servants to God. 

Belle started having prayer in her home after a while and these prayer meetings were to change her life forever. Shekinah Temple was birthed out of those prayer meetings and is a large, thriving church today with Belle still the Pastor. Her daughter “Angie” is now the Co-pastor. The Lord instructed Belle as to the building of the Temple even to the grounds it is built on. She went to the Banker and the Realtor and explained that God told her to buy the property on the Lay-A-Way plan. They both thought they were dealing with a crazy woman. But several months later, the owner not only let Belle purchase the land on “THE” Lay-A-Way plan but also told her she could go ahead and build the church and use it while she paid for the land. Belle wasn’t being brash or impudent, she was only following the same instructions God gave to Noah when he built the Ark. She was just being obedient and doing it God’s way and He in return was honoring His Word to her. 

Now, Belle tells me she leaves much of the running of the church to the young folk today, but I think she is probably being very modest. I heard her testify recently, and she is still that fiery preacher lady I met and loved twenty five years ago.  

Down through the years, I have watched as she has lost other family members to death, including another son who got killed a few years ago. Have I ever observed any bitterness or resentment toward God? I tell you that I NEVER heard a complaint.  

She was by my side when I lost my only child to death in 1983, always telling me to look up, the Sun’s going to Shine in the morning. How could I fail God with my own loss when I had such a role model as “Belle” to lean on? There were sweet and bitter times as we rode the winds of the gospel together for several years until God called me into a ministry with my own husband. But the love I have for this special lady will never wane. 

Belle is getting up in age now, she came to a revival meeting at our church this past year and I was blessed to see that, the same strong “Anointing and Wisdom” still rest upon her and the same Word still abides within her. I could not write about Belle without just saying that alongside my “Grandfather Preacher” who was my hero, “Belle” is the most outstanding example of a Christian I have ever met. She has been an Evangelist and a Pastor but most of all “To Me” she has been my Friend. She is the most “Godly Woman” I have ever met. 

Rev. Betty Lester  

Copyright by Betty Lester 2002 

Proverbs 31:10-31 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  

She is like the merchants ' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. 

Copyright 2002 by Betty Lester