A Tragic and Interesting Day

[Neck]

Originally Posted by SoCaliUPC

Today was a rather tragic and interesting day at church. We arrived to church this morning with the presence of police cars and an ambulance at the entrance with a host of people outside in groups just in a silent shock. One of our faithful members died at church this morning. The first morning service ended and in the 15 minutes or so between that service and Sunday School he passed out and went to his eternal reward.

Because the death happened at church and people were around, the police sent a crisis staff and counselors to talk to the family. One of the counselors said that in all of her years she has never seem so much support for an individual and their family. Pastor said...we are a family.

He was a great teacher. A private man but had a wealth of knowledge. He was creative and detailed. Doug Church will be missed...but he went out of this world doing what he loved...we went to our first morning service and was about to go teach his Sunday School class of new converts. What a life and what a testimony.

I end with a Doug Church quote that was displayed in his class...live your life according to the gospel and sometimes use words. If you knew Doug Church...he was a man of few words...but his life preached what he believed.

Remember that most biblical names tell us about the person. Well with the name such as Church. It is fitting he met his reward in his name sake.

I pray the Lord comfort you, his family and church family...

[StMark]

Originally Posted by SoCaliUPC

I don't know where he was from.

I guess another thing stood out to me. He was a very quiet man but touched sooooo many people. The tears that were seen from people, I commented...for someone who did not talk a lot....look at the lives he touched. He was definately a quiet leader.

how did the 11am service turn out? did it still carry on ?

[StMark]

Not too many people will be afforded the opportunity, but i think it would be cool to die in church

[Barb]

I want to leave here doing the will of the Lord...encouraging and uplifting others.

Will be praying for the family and church family, SoCal...

[SoCaliUPC]

Originally Posted by StMark

how did the 11am service turn out? did it still carry on ?

It did....but it was different. It was definately hard to focus...knowing (and for some) seeing a beloved member die. It was hard for Pastor to get through the sermon. He preached the same sermon he did at the 8:00 service.....God's Grace In The Time of Your Need. Elements of his sermon took on a different meaning the second time around.

I lead praise and worship and then was summoned to the area in which he was in...making sure only proper individuals entered where the family was...and the body.

As I said....very interesting day. I also think it was rather fitting that tonight we are seeing a video from GC of that last night....do you want to be a hero or celebrity. He was a true hero. He could teach right alongside the best in Pentecost...but he was a silent hero to so many. His life was one of teaching people this truth which he loved so much. His funeral will be big and you may think he was a celebrity... But he was a hero.

[CC1]

SoCali,

How old was this man?

[Sherri]

What a beautiful testimony of this man's life and witness to your church!

[SoCaliUPC]

Originally Posted by CC1

SoCali,

How old was this man?

He was 62 years young.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by SoCaliUPC

He was 62 years young.

Man....that is YOUNG!

[Sam]

I remember a story of several years back. Some people from a small local church came to a neighbors house and asked to use the phone. They said, "Sis. ---- passed away while she was shouting."

That was back in the days before cell phones and the service was being held in a small church which did not have a phone.