My Dad died this morning.

This is the man.


This is the man that has had the greatest influence of all on my life and made me what I am through his life and example.

This is the man who saw the Christian example of his own parents back in New Zealand, and committed his own life to the Lord.

This is the man who gave up his right to a home, to a wife, and to a family and travelled across the world to preach the gospel, for the sake of our Lord who before him gave up his rights to home, wife and family.

This is the man who endured years of solitude in Bolivia.

This is the man who, when one of the other missionaries had a nervous breakdown, played chess endlessly with him because it was the only thing that would help him through the day.

This is the man who climbed a mountain in the Andes, without any planning or equipment or even strong shoes, just because it was near his house and everyone else had gone away for the day and it seemed like a good idea.

This is the man who, having given up his rights to go to the mission field, now on the mission field found his wife, his home and his family.

This is the man who fathered me and gave me life.

This is the man who was criticised for doing nothing but play with his children.

But This is the man who, by that example and by word and by those two being consistent with one another, led his own children to saving faith in the Lord, and beyond saving faith led them into the paths of righteousness and service and commitment to the Lord. This is the man who walked the talk.

This is the man whose example of living by faith has been my example – trusting God for provision at all times, and seeing that provision come from the Lord always at the right time.

This is the man who, in endless polemics in the politics of church leadership, was never afraid to insist that Biblical teaching should be followed, even when that has been unpopular.

This is the man whose example as a preacher has been my role model in my own preaching – diligence in study, inspiration by the Spirit, faithfulness to the word, passion in delivery, and consistency in practice.

This is the man whose example as a husband has been my role model – loving her as Christ loved the church, serving her, nurturing her and seeking to make her flourish in everything that she does.

This is the man whose example as a father has been my role model - an example to look up to, a frame to climb on - and to pull to the ground and jump on playfully with shrieks of childish laughter.

This is the man who has spent his life on his knees, either in prayer or giving donkey rides to his kids.

This is the man who would hold his arm out and I as a lumpy primary school child would run and jump onto it and swing on it - and he would not fall over!

This is the man whose passing to glory is in some ways a relief – no more suffering, free from the constraints of his failing body.

This is the man whose passing to glory is my grief – you never feel you have thanked enough, you never feel you have let him know how much appreciated he was, or what a difference he made simply by being there.

This is the man some of you may have only known as frail, and leaning on a frame. But this is the man who has always been the frame that I lean on.

This is the man you may have known as the quiet one sitting in the corner. But this is the man who sat in the council of elders, a man highly respected, a champion hero in the Kingdom of God. And now this is the man seated with Christ in God, his work complete.

This is the man that hell is glad to see pass away, And yet his passing marks once more hell’s defeat, and the glorious victory of Christ over it! Another soul saved from the snatches of hell! Another victory celebration for the winning side! Another party in heaven! Another chorus of angels shouting the praises of our God.

This is the man.

What a man!

What a man!

This, is my father.