At the 2017 noon Good Friday service in Terre Haute, IN, at Free Life Community Church, Bill gave one of five messages shared by pastors in the community. After the service Jean Kokoska met me at the back of the sanctuary and said it was a blessing to hear Bill preach again. I asked if she noticed how Bill repeated some points in his message. She said that didn’t matter and, “maybe we needed to hear it twice.”
That was Bill’s last sermon. Bill’s active ministry is over but the fruit of his preaching and teaching continue to grow.
I am a testimony to my husband’s teaching. I have received most of my scriptural knowledge from his messages over these more than 60 years. So I give thanks for God’s call upon Bill’s life, and give God the glory for his ministry.
As a member of Carrollton Ave. United Methodist Church in New Orleans, LA, I heard Bill’s first sermon. He preached on “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Bill was 18 years old when God called him to preach. We were married four years later when I was 18. God is good. Don’t you agree?
From seat squirming uncomfortable (in a good way) to weeks of thought provoking discussions to heart squeezing convictions his messages were ALWAYS a blessing to us. We soaked up every word and have notebooks filled with notes from his sermons. Frank and I often remark that we didn’t appreciate what a gift we were given to have over 8 years of messages spoken to our hearts. Truly an instrument for God’s glory. Big hugs to you both!!
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Your comment brought a smile and near tears from Bill as I read this to him. He was quite curious about why you and others were writing about him. 😉 Thanks much. Love you all.
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