Hejl retires as pastor of Taylor Brethren after 40 years
It’s the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one for a 130-year-old church in Taylor.
Last month, the Rev. James “Jimmy” Hejl preached his last sermon at Taylor Brethren Church, located at Sloan and Seventh streets — ending a pastorship that spanned nearly four decades.
“This is the last Sunday I will stand in this place as pastor of this church,” said the 70-year-old Hejl Dec. 29. “After this day, everything changes for this church, and everything changes for us … I will grieve deeply when I leave you.” Members of the congregation, as well as Ron Braley, the incoming pastor at Taylor Brethren as well as a Taylor Press columnist and author of several books, said Hejl’s departure will be felt deeply across the city.
“I have big shoes to fill,” said Braley, the former pastor of Northview Christian Church and an Air Force veteran who holds a Doctor of Ministry and a Master of Divinity from Regent University. “He has been here a long time and done lots of great things, and I know the church will sorely miss him.”
Taylor Brethren, which was founded in 1895, is part of the Unity of the Brethren, a Protestant denomination founded in the mid-19th century by Czech immigrants to Central Texas.
Mark Olsen, who has served as the president of the church’s board of elders, said he has known Hejl most of his life, both through Taylor Brethren and as well as at another Temple-based Unity congregation they attended as youth.
He said Hejl and his wife, Peggy Hejl, went above and beyond for their flock.
“Jimmy and Peggy both poured themselves into this congregation for 40 years and did a wonderful job,” Olsen said. “He was letting God work through him to serve us, and that is hard to replace. We are sad to see him go, but it was time for him to enjoy his family.”
Buddy Michna, another elder at the church, also had high praise for Hejl.
“He has been one of the best preachers the Taylor community could have had — not only for his own congregation, but throughout the community, through his community service and the organizations he was involved with,” Michna said.
Braley, who is on the board of Shepherd’s Heart Pantry and Community Ministries, where Hejl also volunteered, echoed the sentiment.
“He has done a lot of good for the community,” Braley said. “He actually did a lot of work to feed the hungry in Taylor.”
Olsen said Braley’s own volunteer work, including serving as one of two chaplains for the Taylor Police Department, as well as his strong theological training and emphasis on Biblical teaching, factored into bringing him onboard.
“He is very knowledgeable, and one of his passions is discipleship, how to bring people into a deeper relationship with Jesus,” Olsen said. “That was one of the things that intrigued us and impressed us in talking to him and interviewing him — as well as his service to the community.”
Olsen said he and others at the church have an optimistic view about Taylor Brethren’s future with Braley at the helm.
“The reason we are hopeful is because of what God is doing in all of our lives,” Olsen added. “We are really trying to follow God’s lead and listen to God’s voice as we move into the future… We want Ron to be a part of that ministry and hope that he can lead us and guide us into a deeper ministry for our community.”
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“He has been one of the best preachers the Taylor community could have had.”
— Buddy Michna
