In his battle with cancer, 10-year-old ministered through a life of joy

ABILENE—People who knew Rex Fleming predicted he would become a minister. And they were right.

Rex died Nov. 25 at age 10 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. But if he had lived to a ripe old age, he couldn’t have been a better minister than he was to those who watched him live his life joyfully and faithfully to the end.

Everyone around him—his parents, friends, and church family at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene—noticed Rex possessed a key characteristic to being a good pastor.

During his 10 years, Rex Fleming (center) touched many lives–not the least of them his parents, Lance and Jill, and his siblings, Ashley and Ryan. (PHOTO/Courtney Cochran Photography)

“He was always aware of other people,” said Jeff Reid, associate pastor at Pioneer Drive and a longtime family friend.

Kimberely McMillon, children’s minister at Pioneer Drive, has a son, Cullen, who was friends with Rex. They went to church together, and they were on the same sports teams.

After Cullen learned of Rex’s illness and uncertain future, he never failed to offer daily prayers for Rex, McMillon said. Her young son saw in Rex a faith deeper than some people ever attain.

“He knew Jesus before his cancer,” McMillon said of Rex. “After his cancer, he pointed people to Jesus.”

Rex’s faith gave McMillon’s son, Cullen, a sense of peace and acceptance. He understood God would take care of Rex, McMillon said.

One of Rex’s favorite hymns, McMillon said, was the contemporary Christian song with the lyrics: “Forever God is faithful; Forever God is strong; Forever God is with us, forever and ever, forever.”

McMillon said she always knew those words were true, but Rex’s death brought new meaning.

“Because of Rex,” she said, “I know that even better now.”

Rex’s parents, Lance and Jill Fleming, saw the budding minister in their son, too. Lance Fleming laughed as he thought about all the cheeseburgers and fries he had bought after Rex insisted they stop and feed a homeless person.

While adults sometimes are cynical about people holding signs asking for a donation, young Rex carried no judgments. When Rex would see a homeless person under a bridge, he wasn’t scornful. He would plead with his parents to help, his father said.

“That was his heart,” Fleming said.

The family credits the people of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church for fostering that sense of ministry in Rex.

Lance Fleming started attending Pioneer Drive in 1987 when he was a freshman at Abilene Christian University, where he has been sports information director the past 15 years.

In 1996, Lance and Jill Terbush met in the singles class at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. They were married and gave birth to three children—Rex, a sister Ashley, 7, and brother Ryan, who celebrated his first birthday on Nov. 8.

Jill Fleming worked as secretary in the music department at the church from 2002 to 2007 and since 2010 has been assistant to Pastor Stan Allcorn and Reid, associate pastor.

Church was a huge part of Rex’s life, his father said, and he would be upset if for some reason he had to miss Sunday school.

“He grew up in church,” Fleming said. “He grew up wanting to help people.”

In return, the people of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church have poured out their hearts and souls to the Flemings the past two years.

Reid, associate pastor, has been a part of the church 20 years. He said it was difficult working closely with Jill and witnessing what the family was going through.

“Life for the last two years has taken a detour off the paved road,” he said.

Sometimes the detour was rough; sometimes it would have smooth patches. When Jill Fleming obviously was having a hard time, Reid offered his office as a quiet refuge. Sometimes the two would talk. Other times, she would take time alone.

Offering quiet respite was one of the many ways people of Pioneer Drive have reached out to the family.

“We’ve seen our church really, really shine,” Reid said.

Lance Fleming couldn’t agree more. Church members sat with the younger children, prepared meals and prayed with the family.

Looking back over the past two years, Fleming said, he and his wife learned in a deeply personal way what it means to be part of a church family.

“They’ve done what a church body should do when something like this happens,” Fleming said. “That’s one of the lessons we’ve taken out of this.”