Remembering Our Past: Rev. Don and Shirley Mills
The Town of Brewster went through a time of tremendous growth through the 1950-70s. The town population grew from 987 people in 1950 to 3,426 people in 1974. Brewster Baptist Church was also growing at this time, and, in 1967, the church bought nine acres of land, expanding the church property. On June 7, 1972, BBC accepted the resignation of Rev. David Coleman and a search committee, for a new pastor, led by Warren Price, was formed. Rev. Everett Washburn, one of four retired pastors who were members of BBC at the time, became the Interim Pastor.
On January 18, 1973, Warren Price made the nomination to call Rev. Donald Mills to be the new pastor of BBC.
Don, his wife, Shirley, and their two sons, Kurt and Eric, moved to the parsonage and began their ministry here that April.
Prior to coming to BBC, Don and Shirley both attended Franklin College in Indiana, then moved to Connecticut, where Don received his Master of Divinity degree from Hartford Theological Seminary and Shirley received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut.
They both also completed graduate study programs at the World Council of Churches at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, and had experience in Christian Center work, Council of Churches work, inner-city ministry, and a broad scope of ecumenical ministries.
They served, with their young family, at the First Baptist Church of Elmira, NY, for 6½ years – Don as an associate pastor, then senior pastor.
They came to BBC because they wanted to be able to share life in a more manageable “people-centered” ministry than was possible in Elmira, and that they did.
Don shared in BBC’s 1973 Annual Report that, in the eight months he had been here, he had gone to visit the homes of 75% of the congregation, as well as, the homes of new visitors who were attending almost every week.
The Church Expansion Committee presented all of its recommendations to a newly formed Building Council and BBC was able to give their largest mission giving in their history.
He finished the report sharing,
“As we look at the opportunities that 1974 presents, I think we can look forward in pride, knowing that Brewster Baptist is on the cutting edge of concern in a growing community and that we are ecumenical in our outlook, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ for, and to, the whole community. Working together as the People of God, God can accomplish much through us. I look forward to serving with you.”
Don and Shirley spent much of the next year immersed in the planning and celebrations of BBC’s 150th Anniversary. Shirley, who had a degree in journalism, did extensive research on the church history to write the Anniversary Booklet that year.
She was also asked to preach one Sunday in June about the rich spiritual history that held the church together through its times of joys and sorrows – that morning the ushers dressed in costumes from 1824.
Other events included an Anniversary Banquet in September that brought back former pastors of the church to celebrate, and church member, Ethel Brown, wrote an anniversary pageant called “A Fresh Breeze Stirring” which told the story of BBC.
During this time, they hired the first church secretary, Dot Linnell, who had been volunteering in the office for many years – and when her youngest daughter was born, Pastor Don had a crib put in his office, so Sharon could come to work with her.
In the years following, Don led the church through the building project of what is now Community Hall, the Lounge (which was then a new kitchen) and the lobby.
Extensive renovations were needed in the Sanctuary (now Chapel area) because of water damage from the steeple – and to accommodate a growing choir.
During this time the congregation continued to grow. The construction process sparked a lot of interest within the community, and they added 98 new members in their first five years serving at BBC.
Don and Shirley were passionate about the church being a part of the community and working with the other local churches to serve those in need.
One September morning in 1978, Don received a call from the Brewster Rescue Squad about a family of 11 who were living in tents in Nickerson State Park. The mother had been hospitalized, suffering from fatigue and hypertension. In June, the family had been evicted from their home in Orleans, their furniture impounded, and the father had left town.
Don and Shirley contacted local agencies, churches and individuals, seeking help for the family. They were able to reach out to the father, who told them that he had been able to find a job in Kentucky and wanted his family to go with him. Don and Shirley spent many hours counseling the couple, and upon learning that they had a Roman Catholic background, brought in the pastor from Our Lady of the Cape to speak with them as well. Don and Shirley were able to gather clothing and supplies for this family, get their furniture returned to them, and get them transported to Kentucky and connected with a church there. Don shared,
“They have seen and felt the love of God as expressed in a Christian community that cares… It is evident that the Holy Spirit has been very much at work in order to accomplish all that has been done in so short a time.”
In 1981, Shirley approached Nancy Sveden about filling a much-needed role of Youth Director. Their sons, Kurt and Erik, were in high school, along with Nancy’s daughter, and teenagers from several other BBC families. It took some convincing, but Don shared, “In November, God directed the congregation to employ Nancy Sveden as the church’s first youth and young adult worker. Already, there are fruits of Nancy’s ministry, and she has been a total blessing to me as we work together in harmony to expand the ministry of this dynamic congregation.” Nancy went on to lead a vibrant and meaningful youth group for the next 19 years.
On April 17, after 10 years at BBC, Don gave his resignation. His letter shared, in part,
“I was originally called to build up and strengthen the Church (the People of God) and then to give major leadership to the whole question of the feasibility of the Building and Renovation project. Following a lengthy period of self-study, the Church voted to move out in faith and to build a new wing and renovate an old structure, which would better give Glory to God and to Serve Mankind! All the changes and fundraising drives, from a 70-car parking lot, to a new flexible space, to new chandeliers, to a new organ, would be too numerous to mention.
Suffice it to say that it has been ten years of growth and constant change, all with an eye to better serving our Lord and Master – without whom there would be no Church, no Body of Believers. After ten years, I feel that the task I was called to do has been, for the most part, completed. As I look at the life of the Church, I believe it is a positive time for someone new to build on the accomplishments and growth of these past years and provide leadership with the congregation’s assistance and guidance, and to wrestle over the question of what does God expect of Brewster Baptist Church for the next ten years…Shirley and I and the boys are not finding it easy to leave you – you have loved us and shared your lives with us and have allowed us to do the same with you. You will always have a very special place in our hearts, our prayers and our concerns.”
The Mills family moved to the First Baptist Church in Greenfield, MA, on June 18, 1983. Sadly, Rev. Donald Mills passed away unexpectedly on June 29, 1986, and their son Erik passed away January 14, 1995. Shirley continued to be an active member of the Greenfield Baptist Church and served on the Boards of The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts, American Baptist Churches, USA, and American Baptist Ministers and Missionary Benefit Board. She also served as President of the Franklin County Mental Health Center. She passed away on May 23, 2020. Their son, Kurt, currently lives in Scotland with his wife, Sheila.