Tuesday evening,                                   March 11th, 2008, I                             listened with keen                                 interest to Dr. James                            Dobson as he spoke to                                  1,000 radio and                                      television broadcasters.                                  His presentation dealt                               with the call of God                                 upon a person’s life.

Dobson, as skillful as he is in communicating with the masses, wasted no time and cut no corners in emphasizing the importance of hearing, answering and being obedient to God’s call in every area of life and to the end of life.

Most churches, schools, colleges, professions, government agencies and service-oriented occupations are looking for talented young men and women who will hear and answer the call to committed and ethical service.  Our nation and world are both facing a severe shortage of leaders whose standards of living are characterized by impeccable conduct and integrity.

It is important that leaders remain faithful to the very end.  Too many fail to finish well.

In recent years the church has said “farewell” to some of its most effective leaders.  I am referring to faithful and gifted servants like Stephen Olford, Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, Bill Bright, Adrian Rogers, Oral Withrow, Gerald Marvel, Robert H. Reardon, Isham E. Crane and most recently, Gilbert W. Stafford.  Others are included in their ranks and more will join them in coming days.

Dr. Gilbert Stafford, a young and energetic 69, lost his battle with cancer and entered into God’s eternal presence on Sunday, March 30th, 2008.  He had retired in May 2007 from his teaching career of 31 years with the Anderson University School of Theology, Anderson, Indiana.

He was graduated from Anderson in 1961.  After two years pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at his Alma Mater, he went on to complete it at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Massachusetts in 1964.  He received his doctorate in theology (ThD) at Boston University in 1973.

He served as a successful pastor in Massachusetts and Michigan before he joined the seminary at Anderson as a professor in 1976.  He served as associate dean, dean of the chapel, professor of Christian theology, and the director of the Doctorate of Ministries program.

Stafford was a prolific writer of serious books, articles and theological papers.  He also distinguished himself as one of the finest radio broadcasters heard on every continent in 10 years as the speaker on the “Christian Brotherhood Hour”, now known as “Christians Broadcasting Hope.”  This program has been the international radio ministry of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) since it began on January 4th, 1947, with a prince among preachers, Dr. W. Dale Oldham, as the speaker for its first 21 years.

I have known Dr. Stafford since he lived next door to Kitty and me during his college years.  He and his wife, Darlene, were married in 1962, and are the parents of four married children and two twin grandchildren.

Stafford, throughout his career, was an active and dynamic preacher and teacher.  All who heard him speak in various venues were convinced beyond any doubt that he totally believed in what he was saying.

He and others have faithfully completed their God-called ministries.  They echo the words of St. Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

The church and the world desperately cry out for youth and adults to hear God’s call upon their lives, to answer it with obedience and faithfully fulfill it until the time of death.

Publisher's Note: Bill Ellis, Award Winning Syndicated Columnist, P.O. Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560.  Phone:304-757-6089
www.BillEllis.Net.