HEROES IN HEAVEN

HEROES IN HEAVEN: Gwen Glover who ministered alongside her husband, Jonathan as a pastor’s wife in Colorado and a missionary in Africa, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, September 4, 2010. The funeral will be Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at Central AG in Springfield, MO. Jonathan and Gwen had a very fruitful ministry and are some of the finest people you will ever meet. They had a powerful impact on my life when I was a teenager. I remember distinctly when they came to Englewood AG itinerating and how impressed I was with their ministry and Christ-like spirit. At the time, in the early 60s, I was finishing High School and preparing for College. I had saved $1,600 for College and after the Glover’s service spoke to my dad about the possibility of giving everything I had saved to the Glovers for their ministry in Africa. My dad was a godly man who faithfully gave to missions. He said, “You can’t out give God, but why don’t you consider giving half of what you have saved”. I followed his advice and never regretted that sacrificial giving. I finished my BSEE degree at the University of Colorado debt free. The Glovers were a great investment!

I spoke to Jonathan Monday afternoon and he was rejoicing in Gwen’s entrance into heaven even as he experienced the personal sorrow of her absence. He said, and I am paraphrasing, “This is real, our faith in God and the hope of heaven is real. Gwen is looking into the face of Jesus and I envy her. When you boil it all down the only thing that matters is knowing Jesus.”

Another saint entered heaven Saturday, September 4th; George Cook, Bob Cook’s dad. George served God faithfully as a minister, business man, church man, and family man. The funeral will be Thursday, September 9, 2010 at Victory Life Church in Grand Junction, CO. Our prayers go out on behalf of these two families.

RECENT CONNECTIONS: Since my ebulletin of August 19th I have had the privilege of connecting with many of our ministers. Let me share a few.

Sunday, August 22nd, I visited Plum Creek Community Church in Castle Rock, CO where Doug Miller Pastors. This church is flourishing with hundreds of people in attendance and a growing influence in the community. Doug was in a sermon series on the Ten Commandments and dealt with the seventh commandment “You shall not commit adultery.” See, I remembered. Important teaching! People may not always remember your sermons, but I heard it said that we don’t remember the specific meals we ate in the past yet we are nourished by them. Your congregants may not remember specifically your every sermon, but the body of biblical truth they receive nourishes them into strong mature believers.

August 30 through September 2, I traveled through Southern Utah to visit several of our pastors. Ray and Nancy Paschen in Moab, Willard and Betty Coleman in Richfield, Jonathan and Stephanie Holiman in Cedar City, Mike and Jana Trail in St. George, and Gerald and Emma Van Iwaarden in Cedar City. These men and women are champions of the faith. They are doing a great work building churches in isolated communities and challenging situations. They are sowing the seed of God’s word, watering it, and harvesting souls as God adds to the church. I pray God supplies their every need and increases the harvest of souls through their ministries.

Sunday, September 5th, Loretta and I visited Red Rocks Church in Golden, CO where Shawn Johnson Pastors. The church has grown to over 2,000 people in attendance. Shawn gave a very clear biblical message on how to receive salvation and how believers can share their faith with others. Many are coming to Christ through the ministry of this wonderful church.

God brought us together in this great partnership of ministry. I thank Him for each and every one of you and the unique calling He has placed on each of your lives. Whether your ministry is large or small, rural or urban, famous or unknown you are important to the fulfillment of His plan and purpose. As Jonathan Glover said, “This is real…When you boil it all down the only thing that matters is knowing Jesus”. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).