WEST ISLIP, N.Y.—Leland “Bud” Hall, 54, went to be with the Lord in his sleep on April 14. He was serving as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Bay Shore, N.Y. Prior to his ministry in Bay Shore, he served on staff at Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Mich., for 22 years. He graduated from Baptist Bible College, Clarks Summit, Pa., in 1980 and from Baptist Bible Seminary in 1984.
Bud’s foremost ministry was to his family. He was a faithful husband to Sandy for almost 29 years, and a devoted father to his five children: Jeremy, Joanna Syroteuk, Jason, Janelle, and Joseph. They will always remember how supportive and involved he was in each of their individual sports and pursuits, as well as how he and Sandy taught them to walk with God daily and love Him with heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Pastor Bud’s passion for the local body of Christ was evident to all. His greatest pursuit in church ministry was evangelism and discipleship. While pastoring at Evangel Baptist in Michigan, he became trained to teach Evangelism Explosion and devoted much time to equipping believers of all ages to share their faith. As a youth pastor, Bud’s vision for those in his youth group was to be servant leaders in their own sphere of influence; he accomplished this by encouraging the teens to step out of their comfort zone and take responsibility in ministry even at a young age. A large percentage of those teens, many who are currently training for or are in full-time ministry today, have attributed their spiritual walk with Christ to Pastor Bud’s example, vision, training, and equipping.
As pastor of Calvary Baptist in New York, Pastor Bud’s passion for discipleship in ministry involved a greater emphasis and involvement in preaching and teaching. Through corporate worship, men’s or couple’s Bible studies, or one-on-one relationships, Pastor Bud encouraged believers to take the next step in their spiritual walk with Christ—whether baptism, sharing their faith, getting involved in the body of Christ, reaching out to brothers and sisters in Christ both local and around the world, or becoming spiritual leaders in their own families. Although he ministered in Bay Shore for only five years, he had an incredible impact in both the local church and the community.
In his community, Bud conducted many devotions for Christian Youth Soccer League, Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and was a fixture on Saturday mornings, cheering on the kids. The soccer league says, “Truly we have been blessed by knowing this man and his ministry. We give God the glory for his wisdom, kindness and grace which was so evident in the life of Pastor Bud Hall.”
Bud’s family says, “Though in our perspective his life was brief, as a man of integrity, wisdom, vision, and devotion, Leland ‘Bud’ Hall has left a rich legacy for the glory of God.”
