Durward William Garrett was born Sept. 3, 1953 in Wichita, Kansas. Named after his grandfather, he was called Dude from his first years. His father, Donald Wayne Garrett (a teacher in the Wichita Public Schools) and his mother, Ethel Mae Grundmeier Garrett had been married since July 27, 1952. A second child was also born to this family, David Wayne Garrett, on April 30, 1955.
Dude attended elementary school in Wichita, KS, the school where his father taught, and then in 7th Grade (1965) changed to the school district in which they lived, Towanda, Kansas. He graduated from Circle High School in Towanda in 1971 and attended Friends University in Wichita.
In 1956 Dude’s parents moved to a rural farm house 15 miles east of Wichita and that was the house where he lived until he was married and moved away from home. This rural farm house was about 2 miles from a small Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church. It was there that Dude and his mom and brother attended Sunday School and often worship. In that church, during a revival meeting sometime around 1963 that Dude prayed a sinners prayer and asked Jesus Christ to be his personal Savior and Lord. It was also in that church where Dude was nurtured and encouraged in his faith. Although his dad was not a believer at this time, Dude found a spiritual home in that church and during youth years (1966-1971) became a leader in the church youth group.
The youth group of Central Baptist was very active and grew some remarkable young leaders. During that time they started a singing group that traveled around to area churches holding special services. This group, called “Christians Consolidated” included youth from 2 other churches and at it largest was about 15 members. During his senior year of high school, Dude was one of the leaders in this singing group as well as being one of the two guitar players.
Having an aptitude in science and math, Dude planned to pursue training in engineering, but those plans began to change after the summer of 1970. That summer the youth group took a mission trip to Anadarko, Oklahoma and taught Vacation Bible School in an inner city mission. As a result of that experience, Dude began to think about ministry as a vocation instead of engineering. It was that change that lead him to apply to college at Friends University in Wichita as a Bible and Philosophy major. During his college years, he lived at home and was a commuter student. He also received a scholarship covering most of his tuition.
During the fall classes of that first year of college, Dude spent 10 hours following his pastor around in various ministry functions. As a result of that experience, Dude felt called into ministry. He shared this sense of call with the church and was Licensed to Preach the Gospel on Feb. 13, 1972 by that same home church, Central Baptist.
The next year, Dude began helping with youth ministry in a church about 50 miles away, First Baptist Church of Wellington, KS. He eventually was called as the youth director there and traveled on weekends to teach Sunday School and lead in some of the youth programs.
During this time, God continued to work in plans for the future. A young lady named Karon Wolfe moved from eastern Colorado to Augusta Kansas (the small town near where Dude grew up). Eventually, in looking for a church home, she found her way to Central Baptist Church and was immediately welcomed into the church family by some of the folks there. Although Dude did not meet her at the church (because he was traveling away from home each weekend to Wellington, KS) they did eventually meet at the annual Ice Cream Social for Central Baptist. That July night they served ice cream together and afterward spent many hours talking in the church parking lot. Karon was working at a local bank and Dude was attending college, yet they found lots of time to be together that summer and fall. They decided to get married and on Dec. 29, 1973, they were married at Central Baptist Church in rural Augusta Kansas. They moved into a little rented house in Augusta and lived there for the next 3˝ years.
During that first year of marriage, Karon decided that she wanted to train to be a nurse and so, as Dude finished his college, she began nursing school at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Because Dude did not feel qualified to be a pastor, he worked two years at a local farm supply and feed store while Karon completed nursing training. As Karon attended nursing school, Dude struggled with the sense of call that he felt toward ministry. After much prayer and after Karon’s graduation from nursing school, Dude and Karon decided to move to Denver where Dude attended Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary and continued preparing for ministry.
Their first child, Erin was born during that first year of seminary (March 30, 1978). Both Karon and Dude worked part time in those years, raising their baby and working their way through seminary. Because of work demands, it took almost 4 years to complete the 3 year Master of Divinity program.
It was during that last few months of seminary that Dude was contacted by First Baptist Church in Devils Lake, ND to consider coming as their pastor. After correspondence, conversations and a visit to the church on Palm Sunday 1981, First Baptist Church in Devils Lake, ND extended a call for Dude to be their new pastor. The Garretts accepted the call and moved their home to North Dakota on May 13, 1981. The ministry there was a very good “fit” and there are still many special friends from the more than 6 years of ministry at First Baptist. Also during those years, the Garrett family grew. Daniel and Andrew were born on Nov. 10, 1981 and Katherine was born on Dec. 3, 1983.
In January 1987, the pastor search committee from Temple Baptist Church in Fargo, contacted Dude to see if he was interested in a possible ministry change. His answer was no, so the committee continued its work. Later in June, they contacted him again and asked him to consider moving to Fargo. Although the Garretts were not seeking a ministry change, Dude was willing to consider a move, so he sent them a resume. Later in July, he traveled to Fargo and met with the committee. Then in August the whole family came to visit Temple Baptist Church and Dude preached at a morning worship service. After a full day of visiting, meetings and conversations, the church extended a call to Dude to come and be their pastor.
Unsure of the Lord’s will in this matter, Dude took the decision back to the people at FBC in Devils Lake. He outlined the ministry decision and asked for prayer and advice. After two weeks of prayer and sharing, Dude agreed to accept the call and became the pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Fargo. His first Sunday was Oct. 18, 1987.
Dude has continued in pastoral ministry at Temple Baptist in Fargo since that day. The Garrett children grew up attending Fargo Public Schools and are now in college (or past), all except Michael that is. Michael was born on Nov. 8, 1994. His coming was a bit of a surprise for the family, but it added a special dimension to all their lives even to this day.
Although some would consider Dude’s 15 years at Temple Baptist as a long time, we see that life is ALWAYS changing. Few of the people at Temple Baptist Church today were there 15 years ago. Many special people have come and gone, leaving a legacy of trusting God and serving Him.
Church ministry focus is always changing too, new needs arise and fresh challenges abound. Lamentations 3:22-23 seems most appropriate as we look back, “Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” It is God's faithfulness that is to be honored. He is the one who has been faithful, in the life of a Pastor, in the life of his family, and in the life of the church. Lamentations 3:22-23 is certainly true for the Garretts!
