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5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Romans 16:5  

It seems like yesterday, but it has been over 25 years since a single mother and grandmother sat on a loveseat in the basement of Harold Hatman’s home after our Tuesday night Bible Study and patiently heard the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was that evening when Pat Shell trusted the finished work of Jesus Christ to save her soul. Raised in a strict Roman Catholic home withing view of the neighborhood Catholic church, it was a wonderful relief to know her sin debt was paid and all she had to do to receive eternal life was call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

Pat was the first soul to receive Christ in the Harrisonville Bible Study, and she would go on to be one of the first souls baptized at Heartland Baptist Fellowship in January of 2022 along with eight other new believers. Pat was not only the first fruit of Heartland Baptist Fellowship, but she also went on to become our first employee! Our Treasurer, Harold Hatman hired her to look after our bookkeeping responsibilities. Pat was employed at HBF and worked in the office until her retirement in 2018.

At 1:30PM on Monday May 4th, Pat’s faith became sight as she was ushered into the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Before Pat passed, she let her grandchildren know, she was going to be fine because she was going to be with Jesus. I am so glad Pat is absent from the body and present with the Lord. I look forward to seeing her when we all get to Heaven.

Pat’s granddaughter Rachael wrote this today: “It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our beloved Ma (Pat Shell). She went home to be with the Lord today. She was surrounded by love and was happy and content in her final days. She was the absolute greatest Ma that anyone could ever ask for & we will miss her every single day. Per her wishes, we will not be having a service at this time. In honor of her memory, please be kind to one another. Smile at a stranger, help out a friend and hold your loved ones a little tighter.”