Lots of people loathed him...BUT A TON OF PEOPLE LOVED HIM....
I went to the High School...I went to the college...I went to the Church....
He was my pastor.
I have read it in so many places but I will say it here....many knew him as controversial....but if you lived there...YOU HAD A FUNNY STORY ABOUT HIM! He was a very VERY funny man...he didn't travel in a limo, he drove a suburban...he didn't have 3 wives....he had 1 wife and they just celebrated 49 years in April...he had 3 children and 8 grandchildren. They were all part of our community.
When I was in high school and college you would see him around and he was always joking and messing around. He loved to make people laugh. You weren't required to call him Doctor, or Pastor, or Reverend...Jerry would do just fine...and he got a kick out of it if you said "HEY JERRY!!!!!!!"....
ALWAYS SMILING...
He would come to the Liberty basketball games and CHEER and YELL and STAND UP....
He wasn't a "televangelist"....he was a pastor of a church whose services were broadcast on TV....that was my church...just like any other church...I went to my youth service and then sat in the balcony for "big church"...every Sunday... kids played outside and ran around....we had a big picnic every year...it is a REAL CHURCH with REAL PEOPLE....not a TV studio.
He was my pastor.
He was a Godly man who felt his convictions at his core and wanted to see the world Saved...he loved people, even those he disagreed with....and those people he disagreed with are mourning too...
It was a shock to hear about this yesterday. Someone like him, who's been in your life for so long and who is so important just seems like they will always be around....it almost takes your breath away.
So today I am mourning the passing of my Pastor an awesome man of God...
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