BITS AND PIECES

The book tells, in his own words, what life was like in his childhood, and how the children responded to circumstances and how the family lived in poverty. He tells in honesty of his own behavior and that of his family. He also tells how and when his life developed into the person that he became and his later service to the Christian community and to the places where he lived. He lived during the earthquake in Bakersfield in 1952 and tells of the survival of the church when he was Pastor. Some people have read his stories and said they could not put the writing down. Others told him that they relate to the kind of life pictured in the book.

Henry W. Hause, July 8, 1918...September 12, 2002

Pastor, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor and friend

Born Henry William Hause on July 8, 1918, Henry was the fourth of ten children.  He attended a one-room school house when he was able to go to school, since there were times the entire family worked picking cotton in order to survive.  At the tender age of 7, he ran a tractor and helped cut trees to clear timber land.

At age 17 Henry left the family circle and worked in the fields, picking up potatoes and sugar cane in order to attend Bible School in Nebraska.  At a Sunday School Convention, Henry met his wife, Ethel (Beth).  Marrying in 1940, they served the Lord and raised a family together.  Henry attended Anderson University and Theological Seminary in Anderson, Indiana.

In 1946, at age 28, he moved his young family to Bakersfield.  He pastored the Oildale Church of God for 14 years and returned at a later date for another six years.  Under his leadership, the church was rebuilt after the 1952 earthquake.  He and other faithful church members labored many hours themselves on the actual construction.  These years built many strong friendships and cherished memories.

Henry Hause served his first pastorate in McDonald, Kansas.  After this, he served as pastor in Filmore, Missouri, Chanute, Kansas; Bakersfield, Sacramento, Laton, and Morro Bay, California.   He was ordained with the Church of God.  During the last few years of his life, he attended the Calvary Bible Church in Bakersfield. 

He was asked to begin a church in Morro Bay, Ca.  While living in Los Osos and pastoring the Morro Bay church, he owned a Christian Book Store.  He was active in the Central Valley Churches, in Youth Camps.  After retiring, he was active in the "No Name Fellowship" in Bakersfield as well as visiting and singing with his guitar in various convalescent homes.  His genuine respect and care for senior citizens, even as a young man, served as a wonderful example to others.

Henry Hause loved people and never met a stranger.    Henry had over 1,000 cards printed “God can take away our emptiness, and flood our souls with love, joy and peace.  But to keep it flowing we must pass it on,” and passed them out to friends and strangers.  He passed out over 1,000 cards and had another 1,000 printed.  Henry shared his love of God up to his final days.  He wrote the song Happy There Forever in the year 2,000 and sang it to and with over 50 of his neighbors.  This last year he professionally recorded tapes, Love Thy Neighbor, and personally passed them out to 80 of his neighbors.

He cherished his time with children and could be found playing with the grandchildren and neighborhood children.  He served as life guard at the Youth Camps for eight years and loved to swim, play and mentor young people.  Henry Hause taught us how to love, face our doubts and demonstrated courage and strength.

Henry was a father, mentor, and a spiritual caretaker to many.  His life was a shining example of compassion and love.  One of his principles of life was that "if we will look at other people as having needs instead of faults, we might be able to find the answer to their needs."