What a Relief it is!

This week we celebrated the life of Geraldine Shirley Berre, Gerri. Gerri, with her husband Henry, have been married for 65 years and active members of Glad Tidings Church for over 50 years. Gerri was 92 when she went home to be with the Lord.

What a relief it is to know that Gerri is with Jesus. What a relief to know that Jesus has prepared a place for each one of us. The prize for serving Him is greater than we can ever imagine.

Gerri always encouraged those around her. She remembered people and always had an uplifting for her friends and new acquaintances. For those of us who she knew well, she could be direct. When something was going that we could not control, she would be very direct. Just pray about it, she would say. Gerri never cooked never cooked that was OK.

The first person I met, when I first came to Glad Tidings Church, 12 years ago, was Henry Berre, he handed out the programs and the envelopes. The second person was Gerri. They welcomed me. Then I met the Pastor, Pastor Beiser, I knew I was home.

My granddaughter, Aspen Elizabeth Seeley, was born on July 26, 2011. I was anxious to tell Gerri. My mother died in February 2011. I did not think of Gerri as my mother, much more as a friend.

I was traveling so I did not hear of Gerri’s death until days after it occurred. When I heard of her death, the first thought I had was: “Gerri was a testimony.” It was fascinating, because a few days earlier, somehow the subject of what I would want on my tombstone came up. At that time, I thought the phrase I would hope for, would be, “Frank was a testimony.” Gerri loved Jesus and was a true testimony in everything she did.

Twenty plus years ago a friend of mine died, Ken Scott. Ken was a loving father and husband. I had given testimony to him a number of times. I do not know if Ken ever reacted to the calling of the Holy Spirit. At Ken’s memorial service, his wife asked me to read the following from John 14. All I can say is Oh What a Relief if is!

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father, as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Gerri has gone to the place Jesus spoke of, to the home He has so carefully and thoughtfully prepared.

Frank is the founder and an active leader of Glad Tidings Mens Ministry International. GTMMI is active men in ministry making a difference, one man at a time.

How Forceful Should We Be When Witnessing

I was doing some research and found that more than 62% of America is un-churched. This has been multiplying throughout the generations, unless something happens the numbers will continue to grow. In 1950, it was 15%, in 2000 the number was 40%, 10 years later it is over 60%. In baseball on a losing streak the manager will go with his best pitcher, we call the stopper. As Men in Ministry, we are the stopper in Jesus plan.

It is clear that Jesus has one plan He commands in Matthew 28:19 and 20: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teach them to abbey all I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always even to the end of the age."

We are the means for everyone to receive a quality hearing of the love that Jesus has for all men and women. The 62% of adults in the United States equates to 195 million people. That is a large number. Nearly 2 out of 3 Americans are un-churched. No need to travel to other parts of the world when it is most likely that your neighbors and friends are in need of a quality hearing of the Gospel Message.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” How will it feel when we are in heaven and friends are suffering. Will I have that impression of the time, I had an opportunity to witness to that person, and I passed it up. We past because we were afraid of what the person would think about us.

Less than 1 in 10 people make a decision for Christ in a church setting. Most people will make a decision for Christ based on seeing His life lived out in their friends, family members and business associates.

In Luke 16:19 and following is a story that Jesus told about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The beggar and the rich man both died. The beggar was carried off to Abraham’s side. The rich man went to “Hades.” He begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to tell his family to repent. Abraham told him your family did not believe the prophets they will not believes a person who comes back from the dead.

We live among the 62% we can be the example of the joy that a relationship with Jesus brings to our lives. Based on the growth from 40% in 2000 to 10 years later 62% by 2020 the number will be 77%.

We should have a sense of urgency, one man at a time.

In Glad Tidings Mens Ministry International, we are active men in ministry making a difference, one man at a time.