Apostolic Friends Forum - This Makes it all Worthwhile

Today I went to a funeral of a good friend who was only one year older than me, that died of a massive heart attack Thursday evening. His wife used to cut my hair (don't judge me) about 22-23 years ago and we both had baby boys. I invited her to Friend Day at church and someone else had invited her husband. They came and that morning, they came to the altar and got saved. Their lives were radically transformed immediately. They were baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost shortly afterwards.

Our sons became best friends and remained that way for years. They are now 23 and 24 years old. They spent so many hours at each other's houses. I have so many good memories of those years.

He was one of those businessmen in town that was honorable and respected by everyone. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. Almost the entire community came out for the funeral!

About 20 years ago, I started directing a big Easter cantata called "The Victor". I asked this man to play Jesus, as he most closely fit the idea of what I wanted, both physically and spiritually. He humbly asked me to let him pray about it and then came to me and felt that the Lord had given him the ok. He portrayed Jesus for many years and each year the production became bigger and better. So many people came to the Lord from watching him on that stage. I will never forget the sad song that this other guy sang as Jesus (Sid) came in with that cross on his back, all bloody and barely able to walk. Then the crucifixion scene, the burial, and finally the resurrection as he came forth in a white shiny robe with these huge keys in his hand.

Today there was a large framed picture of him in the foyer taken at that very moment - standing there with the keys of death, hell and the grave lifted up above his head in the resurrection scene. It sent chills all over me - knowing that he has entered into his reward.

We left that church ten years ago to start this new one in Jackson, so I hadn't seen him and his family as much as I used to. But it's such a great feeling tonight to know that he's in heaven. He's one of our "success stories" in ministry that makes me happy to be a pastor. His dad passed away about a month and a half ago and Sid was able to lead him to Christ in repentance two weeks before he died in December. Now I believe that Sid and his father are with Jesus.

Anyway, just an emotion filled night and I wanted to share......