by DENNIS WATKINS
Twenty Boston Marathons and Counting!
W
ILL E.L. “BUD” WISSEMAN ever Bud and Sonia settled in as faithful
stop running? members of the East Ridge Church of
He has run every day for the God where Bud was influenced by such
past 21 years and averages 35 great pastors as Bob Blazier, Wendell
miles per week. In April he completed his Smith, John Lemons, and now his pre-
20th consecutive Boston Marathon . . . sent pastor, Terry Harris, at “The Cross-
which means he has logged 50,000 miles ing” (the church’s new name). Bud and
in that one event alone! Sonia are the type of members that a pas-
Bud began running in 1978 with the tor can count on.
encouragement of fellow East Ridge (TN) The Wissemans are rose growers, and
Church of God member Johnny Johnson. you often will find them carrying large
Along the way he has made many life- vases of beautiful roses to the church,
long friends. usually to be given to a widow, a shut-in,
Reared in the Milford, Delaware, area, or someone else who needs encourage-
Bud’s earliest memories are of his mother, ment. Their rose garden has been on the
Alice, and sister, Ethel, diligently praying Chattanooga Tour of Roses. As usual, Bud
for their brothers in World War II. A is unassuming about this talent. He sim-
product of the Church of God, his first ply enjoys being able to help others.
pastor was W. Edwin Tull, whom he was Bud says he is most thankful for the
named after. Pastor Tull showed Bud a blessings of his Pentecostal heritage and
great example of a man committed to for good health. He suffered a seriously
doing God’s will. This encouraged him to sprained ankle just six days before this last
be faithful to the Lord and to his church.
Bud Wisseman
Boston Marathon, which easily could have
Bud recently visited Pastor Tull, who is 95 kept him out of the race. He immediately
years old, to let him know again how become a familiar place for him since he went to two sources for prayer: Pastor Har-
much he influenced Bud’s life. Wisse- had visited often and worked there two ris and the Thursday women’s prayer
man, age 69, described it as a very emo- summers. There he met his wife, Sonia. group that Sonia attends and which has
tional and special time for him. Bud says the first time he saw her she was prayed during each of his marathons.
After serving in the Air Force and smiling, and she is still that same cheerful Miraculously, the painful swelling went
graduating from the University of person today. Bud says many friends down on the day of the race, which
Delaware (B.S./mechanical engineering), have told him, “It’s a good thing Sonia allowed Bud to complete his run!
Bud came to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to married you, because no one else would Bud is not hesitant to share his faith
work for DuPont. Chattanooga had put up with you.” with others. He even was able to witness
to someone during his most recent
Sonia Wisseman in the
marathon. Bud also promised God that if
couple’s rose garden
he was able to finish this past marathon,
he would kneel at the finish line to give
God thanks, and that he did.
Like any other athlete, Bud has goals.
He wants to run the Boston Marathon 25
years in a row. There are only 36 active run-
ners in the quarter-century club. Knowing
Bud, it is likely that his faithfulness and dis-
cipline will help him to get this done.
Dennis Watkins serves as
legal counsel for the Church of
God International Offices.
EVANGEL • SEP 2009 27
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