Goodbye Old Friend

Panda

Panda

Sr Mod/Webmaster
Staff member
Senior Moderator
It is with great sorrow that I must announce the passing of my friend and mentor Pastor Gary . He has been a steadfast rock for Christian Forum Site and he will be severely missed. His oversight and advice to all of us can never be replaced.

He was one of the first Christians that I have ever met online, and has been responsible for training the entire staff, from the earliest days of the site until last week when he was taken to the hospital. Even in the hospital, his dedication to us has been without equal.

I can't remember a time without his presence and I hope that you will all join us in sharing your best memories of his wisdom.
 
I remember a time or two when Pastor Gary would call due to a member who was in dire straits. I did not answer the call. I PM'd him and I told him why I did not answer the phone call, because of my severe stuttering. He wrote back and said he fully understood, putting me at ease over the whole situation. In this case, I saw his sensitivity towards others.

Edit: I also recall him telling the staff, again and again, 'not to let this ministry interfere with your other obligations.'
 
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Pastor Gary's almost 20 years at Christian Forum Site helped me learn of his examples in the Christian forum environment;

Honesty and transparency of laying our trust to the Lord when logged on.

Quiet time with the Lord to post.

Prayer time for the members within the site.

Pastor Gary was a bass guitarist and musician. He shared that worship is an integral part of our relationship with God when we're logged on.

I always saw Pastor Gary's example of patience and endurance here, thus his 20 years.

May our brother rest in peace.







 
Panda said:
It is with great sorrow that I must announce the passing of my friend and mentor Pastor Gary . He has been a steadfast rock for Christian Forum Site and he will be severely missed. His oversight and advice to all of us can never be replaced.

He was one of the first Christians that I have ever met online, and has been responsible for training the entire staff, from the earliest days of the site until last week when he was taken to the hospital. Even in the hospital, his dedication to us has been without equal.

I can't remember a time without his presence and I hope that you will all join us in sharing your best memories of his wisdom.
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He will be missed greatly.

When I joined here 16 years ago and he saw that I was a pastor, he called me to welcome me and to encourage me to give Biblical insights to this forum.

Over the years he has called me many times to ask for special prayers for moderators and their families. I always enjoyed those calls and was blessed by his compassion for his workers, friends and their families!

May God bless him and his family!

Major
 
Pastor Gary was one of the first members at CFS and a dear friend I knew here for the longest. He and I interacted frequently in the early days. We had our differences. I was young and a bit reckless, he was wise and mature. A couple of years later, he took over the leadership, and I only assisted with technical and financial support. My involvement here was almost nothing later on, but he occasionally sent me private messages to check on me and to let me know everything was going well. What I know about him is his ability to mentor and guide leaders, to communicate clearly, and to be there in times of crisis. He was a very learnt person, patriotic and most importantly, put God first. When I heard of his passing away yesterday night in Sydney, I was shocked, but I knew our Lord was passing on a batten to us, one which was held by someone He chose and decided to call him home. I miss you, Pastor Gary , but I know you are home with who you loved most. Farewell, my brother, until we meet again.
 
My Dear friend... who is in heaven...

My heart is filled with absolute and sheer elation that you are now in a place of PERFECT PEACE... This comforts me.

At the same time... I think I have cried an entire lake... the tears have been free-falling since Friday night... I am filled
with an emotion that I don't quite understand because I have never experienced it before.

You have shone a light upon my heart leading the way for this little black sheep to enter a place of ABSOLUTE safety and comfort
within the forums. When I got stuck in a wire fence... and the wolves had their eye on me... you found me and picked me up... rescuing me from the fowler's snare. ( No one will know what I am referring to here but PG does ).

THANK you my precious friend... for loving me in such a way that I KNEW ... that I KNEW... that I was in the right place.

See you when it's my turn to enter into the KINGDOM. I LOVE YOU my friend!!!
 
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I'm still personally mourning and miss our Pastor Gary. I'm at peace knowing he's in the embrace of our Father in Heaven.

My wife Hazel remembers when Pastor Gary and I talked. Many times it was his request that we pray for individual members at CFS besides the staff.

We'll continue to pray for Gary's wife and family.

God bless Christian Forum Site.
 
Such sad new he wont be here any longer to encourage us all. Good news is I will meet him in heaven.
My deepest condolences for our loss. Our Father has gained another worthy warrior.
How do we mourn those whom we never met? The holy spirit in me feels this earthly loss.
 
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