Herb Miller

Rev. Herb Miller left his earthly body October 31, 2018. We will gather for fellowship and remembrance today, November 1, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life of 82 years on Friday, November 2, 2018, at 1 p.m. at LakeRidge United Methodist Church - Wesley Chapel.Herbert "Herb" Miller was born September 20, 1936 in Coal, Missouri. Herb moved with his parents, Herbert and Pearl Miller, to Central Illinois at the age of three. He grew up working hard on their farm before graduating from Lovington High School in 1954. On June 4, 1955 he married Barbara Harlin the girl from the adjoining farm. They lived in Anderson, Indiana while Herb studied at Anderson College. In 1961, Herb began his first pastorate in Gravette, Arkansas. While there, he completed his senior year of college at Drury College, Springfield, Missouri and graduated in 1962 with a degree in psychology. Upon graduation, he moved his family to Kellogg, Iowa to begin serving his second church. He completed his Master of Divinity Degree at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa in 1966 and was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on June 12, 1966.In 1966, Herb began his pastorate at Highland Christian Church in Hobbs, New Mexico. While there, he developed the psychiatric and psychological departments at Norte Vista Medical Center, which served Southeastern New Mexico. He was the chair of the Department of Religion at the College of the Southwest and became the Regional Minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in New Mexico.In 1975 he was named the Hi-Plains Area Minister for the Christian Church and the family moved to Lubbock, Texas. He began his successful writing career and became an internationally recognized authority in church health and effectiveness. He authored 17 books, hundreds of magazine articles, and dozens of leadership-training resources and videos. His syndicated monthly columns appeared in The United Methodist Reporter and numerous other denominations’ publications.Across four decades, Herb flew more than 5 million air miles to conduct church leadership training events and consultations with more than 1000 congregations, regional and national organizations, and seminary lectureships in 25 denominations across the United States, Canada, and Australia. He also served as Consultant in Residence for the Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.After retiring, Herb could be found every day at various Starbucks where he sat in counsel with numerous individuals who found in him a listening ear and skilled advisor.Survivors are his wife of 63 years, Barbara Miller, of Lubbock; a son, Michael Miller of Midland; a daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Brax Wright of Lubbock; grandchildren and spouses, Crystelle and Camden Markley of Georgetown; Elizabeth and John Wright of Lubbock; and Jill and Terry White of Lubbock. The bright spots in his later years were his great-grandchildren, Paxton and Merritt Markley; Laura and Catherine Wright; and Braxton White.