Kassiquan

Paul & Timothy

Today’s message at Grace Community Church brought forth memories for me. Both the message and my memory were “preparations” for a new experience. Both the message and my memory were based on Paul’s life lessons to Timothy and Paul’s charge to Timothy to “Preach the Word...correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience (long suffering) and careful instruction. In reading the Second Letter to Timothy you can feel the strong bonds and affection between Paul and Timothy. In fact, Paul once called Timothy his “son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). This bond I witnessed today as Pastor Doug Weygand gave his message. Yes, this message was for the congregation, encouraging us to be ready “in and out of season” to preach (be witnesses); this was for Pastor Isaac Ketner. I could hear “Paul” speaking to “Timothy;” a charge was being given. And I was remembering a dear Sunday School teacher, my “Paul.” 

From 1981 to 1987, I was watching a man, George Faul who was teaching the adult Sunday School class at Norris Square Presbyterian Church (Norris Square is no more but a new ministry has blossomed in the same building). During those years, I already had a year and a half of Bible College under my belt and started to grow spiritually, led youth groups, planned weekend youth retreats and eventuality, ordained an Elder. My father died of Emphysema and other lung infections in 1985. My Pastor, William H Gage was very supportive and became my surrogate father. But George Faul was different. 

George started to get ill; I had Deja-Vous. George was diagnosed with the same illness as my Dad and, like my Dad needed a portable oxygen tank to carry with him until finally a wheelchair was needed. I was sad. My Mom and I would walk to his house to visit with him and his wife Florence about once a week. I needed to spend as much time with him as possible. During his last few months I started to think. I needed to put what I felt about him on paper. I thought about Paul and Timothy and read Paul’s letters to Timothy a few times. 

Before George got really ill, he came over to me one day and sat with me. He had a package in his hands. First, he asked me if I would take over teaching the adult Sunday School class; that was a big task. But George knew I would do so. George gave me the package he was holding; a brand-new Scofield King James Bible with his admonition to me, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

I know what to write! After knowing what George wrote in the Bible to me, and what I read in Paul’s letters to Timothy I wondered, “What would have Timothy said?” I wrote down words and added my own music (Yes, I write my own songs). Later, during one of our Church dinners, which includes four other Churches in the surrounding communities, I took the opportunity to sing the song I wrote for George in public directly to him. It would be the last time he would hear it; weeks later he passed away. I sung the song again at George’s memorial service. 

Yes, today in honoring Isaac and Abby, I heard Pastor Doug’s heart. There is sadness in departure but there is also joy in knowing that a “son in the faith” has grown spiritually, wisely and is filled with God’s Spirit will take “The Charge” and Preach the Word, with patience (long suffering) in correcting, rebuking and encouraging...rightly dividing the Word of Truth! I am sure that Isaac is a “Timothy!” Just listen to his heart... Pastor Doug has! So have I! The fields are plenty, but the “Laborers” are few! 

Here is the song, I wrote and sung for George.