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A Tribute to Denis Bayle

February 8, 1958-April 1, 2011

On April 1, 2011 I lost a very dear friend and the St. Croix Valley lost a living example of the grace, forgiveness and restoration of Jesus Christ. Denis Bayle was transported into the arms of Jesus as the result of a tragic auto accident. Today’s blog post in a tribute to my friend and brother who never judged me, always supported me and reminded me of what Jesus’ love is about.

The following is a transcript of the Eulogy I was honored to share at his Celebration of Life Service. Denis, may you rest in peace and may the legacy you left us continue until the day Jesus comes to take us all home.

• It’s appropriate that we meet here to celebrate the life of Denis Bayle. Denis believed in the ministry of the Association Retreat Center (ARC). He was our St. Croix Falls marketing spot and it was for that reason that I stopped by the shop on Friday to drop off some flyers for our ARC Wild Game Feed. Denis placed all of our ARC posters and flyers strategically for his customers to see. He was known to have made new copies of flyers at the Copy Shop because I was negligent in giving him enough material. He paid for them out of his own pocket or somehow convinced Joyce that it was in her best interest to give them to him. Friday we had a good chat. Funny thing is I left the shop that morning with a strange feeling I still couldn’t put my finger on. Something was different. He wasn’t the Denis I knew in some way. I can’t help wondering if somehow he knew.
• I knew Denis for several years, but got to know him best during my years as Pastor of First Baptist Church. I remember Denis telling me that he and his family were there because they wanted to make a difference in the church and community, and he certainly did that. Like with anything else in his life, he dug into the ministry. Denis made an impact that is felt to this day in that fellowship.
• Denis loved music. He introduced First Baptist Church to the group ‘Third Day’. It’s said that during one construction project at the church Third Day was heard a block away! Made me glad we’d re-leaded the stained glass windows the year before. Not only did he enjoy listening to music, he loved to sing. Some may question whether he had a ‘good singing voice’ but no one could dispute that he had a song in his heart just waiting to burst forth.
• Denis was the kind of guy who always wanted to give kids a chance. He’d to his best to provide them with all sorts of opportunities to prove themselves. Failure on their part was no reason to quit; it was only an opportunity to try again. Sometimes Denis took his desire to believe in kids to the extreme. I remember the time we were decorating for Christmas at the old First Baptist Church building. We were blessed to have Donna in charge of our decorating. Donna was meticulous and creative in her work. She took pride in what she did and rightfully so. Denis got us a Christmas tree for the rotunda area of the church. We aren’t sure where he got it, but the white house tree may have been smaller than ours that year. After Donna had directed us in how to decorate the building it was time for the tree. Denis wanted to be in charge of putting the glass bulbs on the tree with the Sunday School kids, the majority of whom were six years of age and under. As we were working around the building we heard the sound of breaking glass followed by a wince on Donna’s face. “Don’t worry! We still have 23 left” Denis said reassuringly, Crash/tinkle, “make that 22”. A dozen broken bulbs later Denis went to find more bulbs. In his absence Donna quickly put the remaining glass bulbs high on the tree. Denis returned in amazement that Bills Ace Hardware didn’t carry red, plastic Christmas Tree bulbs.
  • Denis’ love for kids was evident in his teaching. Why just teach about foot washing? Let’s get a bowl, a towel and take off our shoes! The lesson plans provided were never creative or exciting for Denis. He could always find some way to make the lesson more of an event or adventure. Over the past couple days I’ve heard several people tell me that their child accepted Jesus as a result of Denis’ ministry.
  • Denis never grasped the idea of denominations. In his world I don’t think there were any. People came in two types. Those who followed Christ and those who didn’t. If you followed Christ as savior he was an encourager, if you didn’t, he was an evangelist. The sign on the front of his business said Shipping and Handling but that was really a front for the Denis Bayle Evangelistic Association. To Denis, every conversation was an opportunity to share Jesus. If you left ‘Shipping and Handling’ without hearing about Jesus, you simply weren’t paying attention.
  • I remember another time when Denis and I stood talking to a local business man who happened to own a bar. He told me that he’d heard some talk about him from ‘church’ people and it hurt him deeply. This man constantly reached out to many who were in need. He told me he’d always admired the beautiful stained glass windows in our church. I invited him inside. As we entered the sanctuary his cell phone went off. The conversation I heard on my end went something like this. “Hello son….You’ll never guess where I am….the Sanctuary of the Baptist Church…no, really…I’m not kidding you son. I’m in the sanctuary of the Baptist Church!” That day began a relationship that continues to this day.
  • That’s the way Denis was. He was constantly seeking out the ‘misfits’ around him so he could relate to them and be an example of salvation.
  • Denis was always reaching out with grace to those who may have rejected because he knew what it was like to fail. Denis knew what it was like to need forgiveness and be forgiven. He knew what it was like to experience the restoration of a soul, emotions and identity that can only be found in Jesus.
  • It didn’t matter how long you knew Denis, he was a friend you could call on when you needed him and he’d be there. In his world there were two groups of people. Those who were his close friends and those close friends he didn’t know yet.
  • Denis never forgot where he’d come from and the effects of the poor choices in his life. He never forgot that it was only because of Jesus’ forgiveness that he was even alive. He’d do anything he could to keep people from making the same mistakes. Maybe that’s why some people saw him as annoying. He had such a passion for people and such a desire to help that he’d do anything to keep others from making the same mistakes. That’s why, at times, he was a little overbearing. He knew what could happen if you make wrong choices. Denis may not have always done things right, but he was always motivated by love.
  • No doubt everyone in this room owed Denis a favor at one time or another for something he did for you. Were he here today I think his response would be something like “Forget it. The only repayment I want is for you to live for Jesus every day of your lives.