Heavy Metal Pastor? No Way. (Happy Birthday, Pastor Bob Beeman!)
by Seth Metoyer, Heaven’s Metal Magazine,
Happy Birthday, Pastor Bob!
On this special day, we want to extend a heartfelt Happy Birthday to the legendary “Heavy Metal Pastor” himself, Bob Beeman. Pastor Bob has been a guiding light in the lives of countless people across the Christian Metal community, and I’m no exception. We could probably fill pages with stories of how Pastor Bob has touched our lives—those unforgettable interactions, the lessons, and the steadfast encouragement that he’s shown us all. But today, this message comes from all of us at Heaven’s Metal and the entire Christian Metal family, as a celebration of the incredible impact he’s had on this community and beyond.
Growing up in Montana, not far from where Pastor Bob was born, I remember my first “Note From Pastor Bob” when I was just 15. Those handwritten notes were incredibly special, and 36 years later, they still live rent-free in my mind. I moved to Sanctuary in 1992 and then followed the ministry to Nashville a few years later, where I had the blessing of staying with PB for a time. It’s inspiring to see Sanctuary grow through the years and know that Pastor Bob is still out there, doing what he’s always done. Sometimes I wonder, if there had been the internet as we know it today, back then, would I have left Montana with my brother to journey all the way out to Redondo Beach? Or would we have just tuned in online? For that, I’m grateful that the digital age was still in its infancy—some things are meant to be experienced in person.
For many of us, Pastor Bob’s picture inside our favorite 80s and early 90s metal cassette tapes was iconic. And those “Teaching Tapes” he sent on cassette—what a connection they created. Pre-internet, this was how Sanctuary connected its message to us. Letters, snail mail, physical tapes, and even an occasional phone call kept us close. If anyone needed someone to talk to, there was even a 24/7 800 number you could call, and someone at Sanctuary would always answer. If not, you could leave a message, and someone would call back as soon as possible. I managed those phones myself for a time, and it was truly a life-changing experience. Years later, in the early 2000s, as I lived in Nashville with Pastor Bob, we talked about moving his teachings to CD (back then we used the term “burn them to a CD”). True to form, he was adamant: “I don’t want to charge people for them.” Today, with a few clicks, you can dive into his messages on YouTube—a fitting transformation, though his generosity and spirit of giving remain the same.
When I first moved to Tennessee in 1998, I even kickstarted a “Sanctuary Magazine,” not unlike Heaven’s Metal but covering topics beyond music. We managed to release one or two issues online, and I still remember designing the digital cover and doing our first “digital interview” with Gary Lenaire about his project Echo Hollow. Pastor Bob encouraged me then, saying, “You’re a good writer, Dennis!” (my given name). To be honest, I never quite believed him. But here I am, still writing, and maybe he was on to something after all.
The Sanctuary ministry is a lifeline for many, but they’re always in need of donations to keep things running—from food for the hungry to keeping freezers and vehicles up and running. If Pastor Bob has ever inspired you, now’s a great time to drop some change in the digital donation box as a thank-you for his years of service.
So, with all the warmth and gratitude from the Christian Metal community, Happy Birthday, Pastor Bob! You are loved by so many, and we deeply appreciate everything you do.
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