With the nation and the world, I was shocked to hear of the death of my friend,
Jerry Falwell. We had been  
friends for 40 years after
meeting at a National
Religious Broadcaster's
Convention in Washington,

Since that time we have
met in other venues as our

Kitty and I quickly attracted to his beautiful, talented and well-educated wife, Macel, who was the daughter of Sam and Lucile Pate and grew up in the county next to me.  Their youngest son, Jonathan, became a very special friend.  Over the years we have exchanged Christmas greetings, letters, occasional phone calls, but being together somewhere was always the best.

I listened for several hours to the various television programs on Tuesday, May 15, the day of his unexpected death.  Many of those who made comments were also people I have met.  Dr. Robert H. Schuller said, “He was an American icon.”  Franklin Graham states, “We lost a giant today in the Christian world.”  Then he added, “All our children went to Liberty University.  He was a wonderful man.  He loved others.  He was a man of God.”

A few of his critics sounded off and impressed me about as much as they had moved Dr. Falwell to change his mind and direction.  A few were vitriolic in their comments.  We, as Jerry did, must smile, pray for them and go on serving God in the fellowship of His church.

What Jerry Falwell did during his ministry is unparalleled in American church history.  He was a man of vision and big dreams.  Nothing was impossible to him that he believed to be in the will of God.  In his autobiography, FALWELL, The Inside Story, he wrote: “God has a vision for you.  Don’t settle for second best.  Don’t ever retire.  Don’t ever quit.  Let your vision become an obsessive reality.”

He was first of all a pastor and preacher of the Word of God.  His name will always be linked with the mass media.  In 1985 he became the 18^th person ever to be inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.  With that honor he entered the company of such great broadcast leaders as his friend, Billy Graham and Charles E. Fuller who had such a tremendous influence on young Jerry Falwell who often listened to Fuller’s powerful radio sermons.

Rev. Gerry White, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, Hurricane, WV, for which Dr. Falwell preached the dedication sermon on April 5, 1998, spent nine years working closely with Falwell.  White lives in my area so I called and asked for some of his impressions of Dr. Falwell.  He said of him: “He was uplifting and encouraging.  He was a wonderful example of Christ Jesus.  He never liked anything negative.  He stood as a giant for God.”

Jerry Falwell was a man of indomitable spirit and courage.  He knew what he believed.  He hated sin.  He loved sinners.  He preached the Word of God with deep conviction and compassion.  He once said, “Preachers have not been called to be politicians, but soul winners.”  I am convinced that he believed the message of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ could change people, churches, society and nations.

He was one of the kindest and most caring individuals I ever met.  He was warm in his personal relationships.  His death took something from me.  I miss him.  My life, however, is much richer because I had the privilege of having him as a personal friend.

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