After his retirement as the Executive Vice-president and Director of the Bedford, Iowa National Bank, Carl H. CUMMINGS became well-known throughout southern Iowa and northern Missouri as a lay minister. In June of 1953, Reverend Robert M. PETERS of the Methodist Church at Bedford approached CUMMINGS, then the Sunday School superintendent, about filling the pulpit in Hopkins, Missouri for a couple of Sundays. CUMMINGS replied, "You know, I can't do that." Rev. PETERS retorted, "Why, no, I don't. As a matter of fact, I've promised that you would." Thus began CUMMINGS career as a lay minister.

He first served on an interim basis at Garden Grove and High Point in Decatur County, Iowa, in 1957. He worked on his sermons during the weekday evenings, typed it on Saturday, then drove 65 miles on Sunday to deliver two sermons.

Throughout the years, CUMMINGS served the Methodist and Christian (Disciples of Christ) churches in Beaconsfield, Grand River, Kellerton, New Market, Braddyville, Bedford, Clearfield, Clarinda, Tingley, Afton, Villisca, Jerusalem, Dodge Center, and Hopkins, Missouri.

Of his wife Helen, Carl stated, "She has shared me for all these years. She raised a family and kept the home fires burning while I was preaching."

CUMMINGS said, "The greatest reward of my ministry has been helping people and serving the Lord."

SOURCE: Beaconsfield Centennial book, p. 43.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010