Brewer follows purpose

Like Jonah of the Old Testament, Edwin Brewer ran.

And ran.

And ran.

“It scared me to death! I ran. I was trying to get away,” said the 51-year-old pastor with a sheepish grin and twinkling eyes.

“I ran away from family, friends, everybody.”

Pastor of Pea Ridge Assembly of God for the past six years, Brewer is passionate about his Lord and about children. He said he completely understands the rebellion young people often go through, and he tries to let them know they’re unconditionally loved.

“My desire is that our church become a spiritual hospital in this community, that no matter what the need is, it can be met,” he said.

A native of Pottsville, Brewer said, “I was raised in the bunk beds of a Greyhound.” His was a “singing family” and were The Galileans, a gospel group. His parents, Helen and Charles Brewer, traveled with their children until he was about 13. He is the youngest of three children.

Brewer’s maternal grandmother, Clarissa Mitchell, was one of the first female pastors ordained in the Assemblies of God in Arkansas, he said. She pastored Strawberry Assembly of God in Lamar and Carden Bottoms Assembly of God in Dardenelle.

Saved at 13, Brewer said he knew he was called to preach, but was intimidated.

He said he didn’t mind talking to people one on one, but getting up in front of people “made me very nervous.”

After high school, Brewer joined the military and served in Germany for several years. There, he drove a truck. Two serious accidents nearly cost him his life - events he believes God was using to get his attention.

Just before being deployed back to the States, he attended a church service. He was struggling with fear about flying home but said he had never been afraid to fl y.

At a revival meeting, a lady whom he did not know approached him and told him God’s story in great detail.

I’ve told you to do, it’s going to be OK.”

Brewer returned home, got a job at ConAgra Foods in Russellville and continued to run.

“I’m really hard headed.

I got back and didn’t follow the call,” Brewer said tearfully. He said he told no one, not even his wife, Beverly, about his turmoil.

He was at another revival meeting - this time in the United States with his wife - when the speaker stopped preaching, looked at him and said: “God just showed me a call on your life. Within the next seven days, you’ll never question again.”

Brewer said he was flabbergasted. He said he had told no one of his struggles except his parents. Seven days later, the revival speaker shared his own story, which Brewer said was identical to his own.

“I said OK,” he said, crediting his wife with going along. “Bev is so sweet. She’s amazing. I could never have asked God to give me a better help mate.”

“God’s meticulous. He has a purpose and plan,” Brewer said, crediting God with pairing him with Beverly, who now joins him in the ministry. The two have been married for 31 years, have two grown sons and five grandsons. Beverly is the children’s pastor of the church.

Brewer was “credentialed” in 1987 and preached his first sermon at First Pentacostal Church of God in Russellville. Then, he pastored Belle’s Church Assembly of God in Atkins for three years.

Jackie Crabtree, mayor of Pea Ridge and a deacon at the Assembly of God, praised Brewer: “He does a really good job. He’s really focused with church, the community. He helped us establish our Wednesday after-school program. He gives to the community with the Freedom Fest.

“He and his wife have been a real asset to our church and community,” Crabtree said.

Several years ago, Brewer instituted a Wednesday night program for children and picks up anywhere from 50 to 100 students from school, takes them to church, feeds them and provides activities.

Brewer said there is a movie room, a room for studying and homework, games and food. Many teens drive to church after school.

Every summer, just before the Fourth of July, Brewer and the church staff and membership host Freedom Fest, a summer gathering which includes games, food, music and concludes with a fireworks display.

Brewer,owner of USA Fireworks, donates the fireworks.

“I just want to be a pastor to the community. I love this community,” Brewer said.

“Pastoring is so rewarding,” he said, recalling time after time when he has worked with people who didn’t know the Lord.

“Some of the most amazing things happen dealing with someone who doesn’t go to church.”

“One of the best friends I have now, threatened to kill me,” he recalled, reciting a story from years ago when he was a new pastor and was called to talk to a man who was going through problems with his marriage and alcohol. “He was one of the meanest men I’ve ever met ... we’re best friends now.”

“For six years I’ve preached - we’ve got to get to a place where we accept people for who they are.

God’s a huge God. He can fix it. Love people just because they are - love ’em.”

Brewer teaches an adult Sunday school at his church, is president of the Pea Ridge Ministerial Alliance, men’s director of Section 1 of the Arkansas Assemblies of God and mentors young pastors through the Arkansas School of Ministry.

“You know, preaching - the part I was scared of - is actually the easiest part,” Brewer said, smiling.