Mr. Bill Rehrer

On Sunday I received an e-mail regarding the sudden death of my high school principal, his wife and two daughters from a car accident. The family was on their way to help their son and his wife move into a new house. I attended Believers Academy in San Antonio, Texas and graduated in 1993. I have fond, vivid memories of Bill Rehrer.

Mr. Rehrer meant a lot to me. He was my principal, my music teacher, my choir director, my computer teacher, and more. I remember what a fantastic music teacher and conductor he was—he could get a small school, or a small church choir, to sound like a well-done, experienced chorale—and enjoy it along the way. I eventually went on to college to study music, much from the love of music I learned from Mr. Rehrer. I still remember the songs we sang at Believers for choir and in the singing group I was a part of (Justified). I also remember singing “Peter and John went to pray” in chapel with Mr. Rehrer crazily leading it—I have taught the song to my kids and they still love to sing it!

I think the strongest memory I have of Mr. Rehrer is the following:

I had planned to attend a Christian College, but needed to visit a couple to decide. I had to miss 2 performances with Justified. I remember Mr. Rehrer did not react well to me missing the 2^nd performance. However, I remember him later pulling me aside to speak with me privately to ask forgiveness for the way he reacted. He had told me that his desire had been that the students at the school would desire to go to a Christian College, and here he was actually being a stumbling block to the very thing he had wanted. I will never forget how he, a teacher, humbled himself for a student to confess sin against me. That was so different for me. It was the first time I had ever experienced Biblical forgiveness from anyone (that I remember). Mr. Rehrer was a godly man who sought to do what he believed was what Scripture taught—and he put his life into it.

What a wonderful legacy Mr. Rehrer left. The following links are more information about the accident and about the family.

The Amarillo Globe’s news article: http://amarillo.com/stories/071005/new_2318439.shtml

Master’s College: http://www.masters.edu/DeptPageNew.asp?PageID=2123 ; http://www.masters.edu/DeptPageNew.asp?PageID=2124/