“What does the Lord require but to act justly, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.
What do you get when you combine a girl from the piney woods of East Texas with a boy from Gas City, Indiana? In this case, the result is Eleyce and John Hinant, a couple who has given inspiration to countless persons across six decades and who continue to bless others in many ways.
As Eleyce was progressing through her school days in the Lone Star state, John was engaging in an amazing variety of jobs. He harvested spinach alongside Mexican migrants; as a mathematician, he helped modify the B-36 bomber and assisted the design team for the first supersonic bomber, the B-58, called the Hustler; and he counted mold formations in Birds Eye food containers in a laboratory setting – all while exploring his career horizons. Then, choosing the ministry, he enrolled at Brite College of the Bible at Texas Christian University (T.C.U.), where he chanced to meet Eleyce, who came there a bit later. They married while still students and came to Indianapolis to study at Butler School of Religion before John accepted a call to a United Methodist Church in Kankakee, Illinois. Although not on staff, Eleyce assisted in a wide variety of programming there, especially working in children’s ministries.
John then served eleven years at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C where he championed racial justice, and Eleyce joined him in a number of community ministries. They witnessed the destruction that hit the city when Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed, much of which was visible from the church’s front steps. Three Disciples U.S. presidents have worshipped there. John laughingly boasts of briefly having authority over Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), commanding him to “Rise!” (for the Call to Worship), which the president obeyed along with 500 others. “Back Home Again in Indiana”, they both completed their Butler degrees and were members of the first graduating class of Christian Theological Seminary (C.T.S.) in 1959.
Eleyce served as assistant to three presidents of C.T.S. and played the organ for chapel services. President T.J. Liggett encouraged her to gain a license for ministry. John was Associate Pastor at Northwood Christian Church for 25 years, gaining distinction as a Christian educator. His doctoral dissertation from C.T.S. focused on the place of children and the Lord’s Supper. He credits Eleyce for editing his manuscript into a book for congregations. (Check out a copy from the LIFE classroom.) Eleyce also pioneered programming at Northwood for young children. She then worked for several years with the staff at The Christian Church in Indiana’s regional office.
Following John’s retirement, the Hinants moved to Robin Run Village in 1999. John served as Interim Minister with seven central Indiana congregations and then served for a decade as a Regional Elder, supporting clergy and churches in southern Indiana. Eleyce offered her musical talent as Organist to the Hoosier Village Retirement Center for 14 years.
The Hinants are not all about work. At Robin Run, John offers leadership in educational programming at the Village’s historic log cabin, the site of countless field trips by local school children, civic groups, and Village residents who want to learn about frontier life. Eleyce has directed the Village Hand Chimers for twenty years, offering three concerts per year. John learned the skills of glass blowing and has created some striking art objects, including the beautiful Chalice and Paten that adorn the Communion Table at Allisonville Christian Church (ACC) most Sundays. The Hinants share one very special pastime – ballroom dancing, a hobby they began some twenty years ago. They are a part of a performing group of dancers. During the last “Music for Mission” at ACC, the Hinants nearly stole the show with their performance.
Their family is the crowning joy of their lives. Their four children and eight grandchildren have pursued a variety of careers and are scattered across America from New York to Oregon and Florida. Soon, both Eleyce and John will be in their 90’s. Most likely, when their lively family members come to visit, they will leave their home to the kids and stay in a Village Tower apartment as they have done before. Not a bad plan! How proud we are to claim Eleyce and John as part of our church family.
