A Witness to The Life of Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded 

by such a huge crowd of witnesses 

to the life of faith...

let us run with endurance 

the race God has set before us. 

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, 

the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Yesterday, a great hero of the faith

went home to be with his Hero.

This man of courage, character and passion

for his Lord, Jesus Christ, influenced many--

well beyond the borders of his own family

and the community that he pastored.

He ran with endurance; he completed the race.

He kept his eyes on Jesus and never lost sight

of His champion who was perfecting his faith

up until the hour of his death.

The crowd of witnesses are those whose lives

were a testimony and a demonstration of faith.

This man was such a witness.

I have been overwhelmed by this life that mattered.

The outpouring of love and words of affirmation

are not common in this culture.

People from all over the world wrote words of encouragement

to honor him in his last weeks of life 

for his faithfulness to his God and his love for his people.

Pastor Dennis, I honor you and your life.

You are a man of valor and wisdom.

You pulled the purposes of God in your generation and fought 

that the generations coming behind you would continue 

to pull the King's carriage all the way until Christ returns.

This "Joisey girl" has been greatly impacted by your life-- 

because you were undistractedly devoted to Him.

Those kinds of lives ripple for a very, very long time.

I will deeply miss you.

May my life bring a measure 

of the glory of God that yours did.