Sermons from 2024 (Page 12)

Charles Brazeal Funeral November 10, 2008 (died November 6) Note:  In my 50 years of church ministry, no one ministered to me personally as much as Charles Brazeal.  He was the single most supportive lay leader during my two decades in St. Louis, and his death was a huge personal blow, coming as it did less than two years after my father’s passing.   Opening remarks:  We are gathered here today to pay tribute to a very good man, but more than that to…

Doug Schaible Funeral October 16, 2020 (death on October 11) Note:  Doug Schaible and his wife Cheryl, missionaries with New Tribes Mission, became active members of First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita when Doug left tribal work to recruit new missionaries from Bible colleges and seminaries in the states.   Welcome:  I want to welcome you this morning to a celebration of the life of Doug Schaible.  First, let me express the gratitude of the Schaible family for the outpouring of love they have…

Dorothy Watkins Funeral April 27, 2018 (died April 19) Note:  Dorothy was the closest thing to a mother I experienced other than my own dear Mother.  She was a widow the entire 50 years I knew her, a godly woman who loved God’s Word like few others.  She also served as receptionist at First Free in Wichita for many years. Welcome:  welcome all of you to this celebration of the life of Dorothy Watkins, a dear mother, grandmother, great grandmother, church member, friend, and…

Gary Martin Service Monday, February 25 (died February 20, 2013) Note: Gary and Diane Martin were faithful members of First Free Wichita during both of my tenures there.   Obituary:  W. Gary Martin, 71, Allstate Insurance agent, died Feb. 21, 2013. He was preceded in death by father, William H. Martin. Survivors include wife, Diane; sons, Jeff Martin of Wichita and Eric Martin of Milford, NE; mother, Betty Martin of Wichita; grandchildren, Lauren Martin, Carlie Martin, Garrett Martin, Austin Martin and Justin…

George Fooshee Funeral  August 19, 2022 (died on August 12) Note:  George Fooshee was a member of First Evangelical Free Church for over 40 years.  He and his wife Marjean were a tremendous asset to our congregation, discipling and counseling scores of people to become financially free and to walk with Jesus. Obituary:  George Trewitt Fooshee Jr. met his Savior in glory at 92 years old on Friday morning, August 12, 2022.  Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and 13 times adoring great grandfather, left…

Harry Castelli Funeral October 1, 2022 (died September 23) Note:  I met Harry Castelli in October of 1972, when I first preached at First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita.  His family lived in Andover, not far from where Jan grew up.  He and his wife Carol, who joined the church in the early 60’s, became good friends during my first tenure as pastor, and that relationship only deepened when we returned to the church in 2004.  I would count Harry as one of my…

Helen Day Memorial Service September 17, 2022 (died August 28) Note:  Helen Day was an active and valued member of First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita for over 40 years.   Obituary:  Helen was born to George and Marie Rempel in Fowler, Kansas, the youngest of 13 siblings and the only one of the Rempel children born in a hospital. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Meade, Kansas, graduated high school from Meade Bible Academy, and attended Emmanuel Mennonite Church. Helen…

J. T. (James Timothy) Olsen Memorial Service September 24, 2017 (died September 16) Note:  J. T. Olsen was a fifth grader when his family first came to our church in St. Louis in 1983.  He struggled early on, and throughout his life, with severe mental illness, treatment-resistant depression, and after high school, with drug addiction.  Though he made many efforts to get clean, he never fully succeeded.  He passed away at the age of 42.   Message:  Thank you, David and Paul, for sharing your wonderful,…

Janet Carter Schwarz Memorial Service May 17, 2019 (died May 6) Obituary: Janet Carter Schwarz, 54, of Wichita, KS entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on May 6 following a courageous battle with brain cancer.  She was born August 18, 1964 to the late Betty Jean (Crouch) and Billy Roy Carter of Dallas, TX.  Beloved wife of Frederick Kipp Schwarz, Jr. for 31 years, loving mother of Frederick Kipp “Trey” Schwarz III (Oklahoma City) and Benjamin James Schwarz (Seattle). Beloved…