Las Cruces pastor honored for decades of service

Dozens of parishioners crowded a Las Cruces church to honor a man who has given more than fifty years of service: Pastor Cleo Bell.

“He had a lot of knowledge that changed the lives of young men throughout the city, I being one of them,” the church’s current pastor, Robert Ramzy, said.

Bell first led the Greater Saint John Church of God in Christ fifty years ago, mentoring generations of young men.

“He taught a lot of us how to dress, how to carry ourselves,” Pastor Ramzy said.

“(I put) a lot of work in it,” Pastor Bell said. “It has grown. I’m here and I’ll be here if I have to build me a tent.”

Mayor Ken Miyagishima presented Bell with a key to the city and declared July 22 as “Pastor Cleo Bell Day” in Las Cruces.

Bell also started the city’s first gospel radio station. The mayor said communities of faith play integral roles in the city.

“It’s important that all of our residents, regardless of faith, to have a place to get together,” Miyagishima said.

“He deserved it a lot,” Mario Bell, the pastor’s son, said. “He’s a good man. He loved everybody.”