Posted on by loia

Some Men Say It… Some Men Live It

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

This is Pastor Wendell Wilson…
he discipled me.

I met him in June of 2o08…
and ended up living with him for about five years.

He ran a Christian rehab for men down in Florida…
and after I finished the program…
he asked me to stay on…

become his resident director.

So I did.

I served there for four years…

and somewhere in all that time…
he became more than a pastor to me…

he became a father.

He was one of a kind…
a remarkable man.

I could tell you story after great story…
so many memories…

but what stands out most…

is how he lived…

How he loved people…

I’ve never met anyone who genuinely loved others like he did…

And the way he spoke to you…

man… he had a way with words. He backed them up too.

He would say things to you…
right in the moment…
exactly when you needed to hear it most.

One profound thing he told me that never left…

“Son… people would rather see a sermon any day… than hear one.”

That stuck like Chuck with me.

I still carry it.

Because as powerful as words can be…
they don’t mean much without something behind them.

I can say the most beautiful things…
turn your stupid heart to jello…

but at some point…

I need to shut my mouth…
and be about it.

Show you.

Let you see it.

Because I’d rather see something real…
than hear something perfect.

No matter how well penned it is…
it’s empty…
it has to be lived…
it’s just beautifully nothing…

I’d rather see things clearly…
and say things simply…

let action… with feeling… be the real pen…

…

Pastor Wendell passed away at his home in 2o16…
surrounded by friends and family…

and it was beautifully real… to see.

…,’…,’…t

…

© 2026 Bryan Loia Hudson | bryanforchrist | All rights reserved

`’.,°~

14 Replies to “Some Men Say It… Some Men Live It”

  1. This is deeply moving and authentically written there’s a raw honesty here that doesn’t try to impress, it simply reveals. Your tribute to Wendell Wilson carries the quiet weight of lived experience, not just admiration.

    What stands out most is the truth he left you with:
    “People would rather see a sermon any day… than hear one.”

    That line isn’t just remembered it’s embodied throughout your reflection. The way you describe his life makes it clear that he didn’t just teach faith… he demonstrated it.
    Your closing thought “it has to be lived… it’s just beautifully nothing…” is especially powerful. It echoes the core of all real wisdom: that words, no matter how beautiful, find their meaning only in action.
    This isn’t just a memory.
    It’s a legacy quietly continuing through you.

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  2. What a deeply moving and heartfelt tribute this is 🙏

    You’ve painted such a genuine picture of not just a pastor, but a mentor, a guide, and truly a father figure. The way you describe his presence—how he lived and loved—speaks louder than any list of achievements ever could.

    That line he shared with you is incredibly powerful: “people would rather see a sermon any day than hear one.” And the way you’ve carried it forward shows just how deeply his influence shaped you.

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    1. Thank you my friend … I feel that. You said it right… he was more than a pastor to me. And yeah… that line stayed with me. I’m just trying to carry it the right way… appreciate you.

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  4. What a beautiful story about a beautiful man who shaped your heart. This so true isn’t it? Leading by example is so powerful. People that actually do the work rather than talk about it is the real story.

    Thank you so much for this! BTW I blast Rascal Flats and sing by the beach every chance I can!

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    1. Thank you… he was something else… I had 8 years with him total… and I’m forever changed… because of it…

      Lol @ blasting RF @ the beach… I used to do that often 😁

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